2017-04-22: Wine and Roses
- Log: Wine and Roses
- Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline
- Where: The Starfall Saloon
- Date: 499 PC
- Summary: Riese checks up on Noeline, concerned for her fellow metal demon... and of the emotion that burgeons within her.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
A couple of days after their meeting with the Pyre Witch, Riesenlied has taken the chance to visit Noeline again... despite the fact that the Crimson Nooblet isn't ever very far, given how close she sticks to her. She's brought a bottle of wine and a gift box of sorts as she visits her at the nearby saloon that they typically meet at. "Noeline?" she calls.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
For once, Noeline isn't of good cheer; curled up in the battered but comfortable armchair she's earmarked for herself in the cafe, the Crimson Noble seems relaxed enough - but obviously isn't actually focusing on the newspaper in her hands, her distant gaze piercing straight through the black and white print.
Not that Noeline will let that impression of her stand for long - at the sound of her name she straightens in surprise, immediately sitting up in her chair as she huffs and flicks out her hair, as if she were a cat trying to pretend that it totally wasn't doing whatever you just caught it doing. "--... Riese," she greets after a moment, with a light frown - and settles back in her seat just a little. "Really, you could have given me a little bit of a warning."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riese has a single blink, as she sets the bottle and the box down and sits gently next to her. "I... did call you," she murmurs, being gentle, "But you weren't listening. Are you quite all right?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"... I'm fine," comes the rather grumpy response, the 'vampire' huffing a little as she glances off to one side-- though she's at least aware that that's a very unconvincing answer, pausing before she lets out a rather lighter breath. "Our new friend gave me a lot to think about, let's say, and I've been a little hung up on it as of late. Nothing-- major," she adds with a tilt of her head and a raise of an eyebrow. "Still, it is a spy's job to worry about her superiors that insist on barreling into danger. From /time to time/ it is, at least."
The jab, even if it's pretty light by Noeline's standards, does at least give her some time to regain herself - by now there's a light and lazy grin back on her face, sat up in her seat as she eyes the presents with an amused hum. "My~. A little upscale for this place, aren't they?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has a sad smile as she says, "Perhaps, but not for you." She places a hand to Noeline's very gently, deliberately. "... did it feel strange?" she asks directly, knowing that Noeline will know what she's talking about. Her expression, more than ever, feels rather earnest and concerned, though she knows she probably ought to reserve herself a little more.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline doesn't... bristle. She never bristles, after all - the spy has long since learnt that keeping her true feelings to herself is one of the best ways to dance through both the human world and the tight confines of the Photosphere, especially when it comes to the secret literally buried within her. As far as Noeline's concerned, rolling up to Siegfried to go 'hey boss, I've got a bit of Medium buried inside of me' is a surefire way to get scrapped faster than she can blink.
Even if that is something she'd try, at least once, just to see the reaction.
But... this isn't Siegfried. This is Riesenlied, and Noeline is not shy of being biased once in a while. Besides, it's been a long week, and for once the Crimson Noble chooses to lean ever so gently into the touch rather than make a joke of it.
"... that woman is dangerous," she reports solemnly after a long moment - even with her trust of Riese, oblique answers come more naturally than direct truths. "Every bone in my body yelled that much to me. I doubt very much she was lying about her motivations - people of that sort of power rarely need to - but we should take care if she ever gets bored."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
If Noeline and Riesenlied differ in some way, it's how they handle their true feelings. Perhaps she isn't as direct and blunt as how Odjn does it, but it wouldn't be untrue to say that Riesenlied's feelings always are rather earnest and easy to see. She's not a particularly obfuscated person. Complicated, but not in a way that requires a lot of coaxing outwards.
"I know," Riese responds plainly, starkly. "I do not let my guard down around her. Do not mistake my cordialness with a stark, open trust, Noeline. You know me."
She pauses for a moment longer, before she murmurs, "But at the same time, she's a viewpoint that we need. No matter how much I try, you know I can only pierce so much into the ranks. There is much ignorance and hubris in there. Having powerful allies that are free of those preconceptions... is something we will truly need."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
With a faint smirk playing on her lips, Noeline shrugs the shoulder with Riese's hand on it. "... I know," she admits with a light huff. "That is to say, I know you're more than sensible enough to watch yourself - and I'm quite aware we need a few allies here and there. 'No man is an island', is that the phrase? I'd suggest it holds rather true for Metal Demons, and Photosphere as a whole - though I suppose we'll just have to find out in time, won't we?"
She pauses again, then chuckles to herself with a slight hum. "... still, that is quite enough worrying. At the very least, she'll be valuable in the short term, even if I might find some of her methods a little--hmm, what is the word? Crass, perhaps? One should be an elegant trickster, not a threatening one," she hums with not a little amount of self-pride.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I admit, I perhaps find it more interesting to speak to her than you would," Riesenlied murmurs. "Her insight into humans... strangely reminds me of the conclusions I've come to over time as well. For someone from so far away to have so similar an opinion... is there really no coincidence here?"
She sighs, before smiling to put several glasses down. "You should have some wine. It's a sauvignon blanc, from over the ocean."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Humming, Noeline settles back in her chair with an amused and catty little grin. "You are, perhaps, a little predictable," she notes with mirth in her eyes. "I knew what it was the moment you of all people set it down on the table. ... thank you," she adds, accepting the gesture with a respectful nod of all things, and then a too-innocent: "I suppose I should indulge myself /once/ in a while."
Lifting her head again, she grins to herself. "Don't get me wrong. She's interesting, certainly - but it's my job to watch for dangers, and she certainly ranks amongst them. More than that, she's quite /aware/ she's a danger."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Predictable, perhaps, but there is nothing wrong with knowing what I like," Riesenlied answers in turn, with a bit of a huff. Just a little bit of a huff. "Besides, would you rather I act unpredictably all the time? The last time I did, it ended up in embarrassment for the both of us..."
She glances around, and brushes a bit of hair back. She unwraps the gift box and opens some macaroons to display on the table.
"I've long wanted someone to speak to regarding those matters," Riesenlied chuckles ruefully. "I feel as if there are similar frustrations she has, deep within the layers upon layers of trickery."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"My~... you're admitting you can't talk to me about such things? What a shame," she makes a show of pouting, deliberately playing up her cute factor as she puffs out her cheeks - the image somewhat ruined by the smooth way she collects a glass of wine and a macaroon in one smooth motion, cradling both in one hand each.
"... I don't mind your search for different viewpoints. Frankly, I suppose I should approve of it more than anything else, given my own nature. Just, do take care of who you ask. That's all I ask," she adds as she takes a slow sip.
With a pause, Noeline's smile tugs its way towards a full grin, and then she's leant in just a little towards Riese. "Hmm... well, a little unpredictability can just make you more fun..."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"I /do/ speak to you about such things," Riesenlied points out as she picks up a macaroon gently. "But after so many decades, I feel that I need more. ... which-- is not to say that you do not satisfy me--" she realises that she's just walked headlong into a bit of a trap, before clearing her throat and pouring a gentle bottle of wine in the glasses for the both of them.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Breaking into an amused snicker, Noeline's expression is priceless as she watches Riese struggle for wonders. "Oh, /my/. I can't even satisfy you, at this point? ... Riese, dear, you really should learn a few idioms while you're out and about in the human world, you know. I /might/ even take that as an invitation to step up my game," she hums richly, tilting her head to offer a mischievous smile sidelong at the other woman.
"Still, all other questions aside, we learnt a fair bit of information and came out of it alive and kicking. Frankly, there are much worse outcomes," she notes rather flippantly as she shrugs one shoulder. "I suppose I should stop my worrying over what might be, at least for the moment. What is next for our intrepid commander?" she wonders as she leans on one arm. "Have you found a suitable site?" <Entertainment> Heal Berry runs into a hivemind of cat aliens
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I would not say that... I find time with you to be particularly entertaining, after all," Riesenlied answers. "But at the same time, I find that there is a gap within my knowledge and understanding that desires satisfaction... and I know that I must find different places, speak to different people, in order to further it."
She-- closes her eyes and squeezes Noeline's hand gently. "... that isn't to say you are incapable of offering me insight."
She opens her eyes. "Yes. It is a village called Old Petra, by the side of a cliff. There was once a mining site there... as well as a gaol. It has a sordid history... but the structure is excellent, and it will serve useful as a shell for our operations."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline only seems more amused as Riese rather awkwardly goes through her reasoning; it isn't as if she doubts the blonde-haired metal demon, when it comes down to it, but watching Riese run through somewhat circular motions is definitely what the spy considers fun. Out of plain curiosity as to the reaction she'll get, Noeline slowly turns her hand in Riese's, the better to brush a fingertip or two against the other woman's palm.
"Hmhm... well, a sordid history will only work in our favour, will it not? Better that than a place everyone will wish to come and visit and gawk at. I suppose we'll have to watch for Drifters," she adds, as if she didn't just lace her fingers with Riese, "But, I tend to find they can be somewhat dissuaded with suitable measures."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... it will be," Riesenlied answers. "It was just bothersome to... discover, somehow. Just another point of confusion that I have." She-- looks just a bit surprised as Noeline laces her fingers to hers, stammering just a bit as she murmurs, "... it hardly matters for our purposes. It is a piece of old history."
She swallows. "... I am beginning to think people are speaking-- about us. I knew the Witch was trying to probe, as well." She sulks just a bit. "I would rather not have her know about -- /that/."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Oh, this is definitely fun. Noeline hums richly and joyfully to herself as she watches Riese start to stammer, lifting her wineglass to her lips with her free hand. "Hmm... do you think so? I'm not sure she was probing /us/, so much as our opinions as compared to those of other demons. Talise, on the other hand, /well/," she outright snickers, "I think that is a quite separate matter."
"But, really," she adds with a rich hum, challenging Riese a little by leaning slightly towards her to offer a mischievous smile. "You surely don't think I'm the sort to kiss and tell, do you?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... whether you are or not is... well-- no, I do not," Riesenlied finds herself murmuring in a state of minor confusion. "But at some point, she did say -- she did ask if we explored human relations -- /together/. What was I supposed to take that like?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The Crimson Noble does at least draw back a little, her eyebrows going up as she considers the other demon's question. "Ah-- hm, I wonder! To be honest, she mentioned it so quickly I thought she was simply asking if we travelled and studied together. My, is that some wishful thinking on your part, perhaps?" she hums again, her musical notes wafting upwards once more.
"... Riese," she adds with an amused little snort. "I would not do anything to jeopardize either of our positions. I can at /least/ be discreet, you realize." Though it's delivered in a rather amused huff, her gaze is serious as she tilts her head slightly. "Worry not on that front, at least."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I don't worry about /you/. I worry about /me/," Riese stammers as she-- gets yanked forward, her knee halting a little on the cushion of the couch. "You saw how I acted in front of Talise. I worry that I am haplessly out of my depth, sometimes. It isn't-- /becoming/ of me."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline blinks a second time, her eyebrows hitching even further as she barks out a sudden and surprised laugh. "--wh-- Riese, really," she hums richly, a grin tugging again at her smile as she flicks her hair out. "It is not as if I have any real idea what I am doing /either/, so much as just emulating a hopelessly confusing race - in my own way, at least, and after a lot more time watching them than you."
"More to the point - well, I would personally say it looked /quite/ becoming of you," she can't resist the ever so light jab.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied's lips wobble just a moment, as she mutters, "I-- you would so think that!" She sighs and takes a sip of her wine, either for courage or for some measure of relief. It feels a bit better, perhaps, since she sighs with a bit of relaxation afterwards... and then lets go of Noeline's hand, even if she's still a bit leaned forward.
"That you are... emulating it--" she bites her lip, perhaps not wanting to suggest such, but... "... does that make it untrue?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline leans back as well, taking a long moment to savour the aroma of her wine; she huffs softly to herself, then glances over at the other woman with what can only be called a well-meaning sort of exasperation. "... as I said to Talise - and to you... it isn't as if I didn't like it," she grumbles, too soft to be anything but genuine. "At this point, I would like to think I don't do anything 'untrue' to myself."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"You-- do many things that you enjoy, because it simply amuses you, after all," Riese murmurs, not really believing that she's being this defensive with Noeline. "But it is not as if I wanted to trap you into a-- decision, or a commitment, or... anything else either."
She shakes her head with a disgruntled-sounding sigh again. "I feel like I am acting like a human child would..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"To think that the commander of the Ebony Wings would end up so wrapped up in herself," Noeline hums as she leans on one arm and positively grins across. "... rather than a child, you are acting like a worrywart. I am still here, am I not? I guarantee you that if I felt forced, I would not be present here. More likely, I would have decided to swan off elsewhere. Baskar direction, perhaps, for instance."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied raises her eyebrows to say, "You so do love the tribes... perhaps you feel that connection, the one that speaks volumes of spirit where others feel nothing?" She frowns quietly. "I must say I do not share your curiosity."
She shakes her head with a rueful smile to say, "And I never said I was not wrapped up in myself. Was that not how I accomplished so many things? A heavy dose of worry to keep one on edge, so that surprises are less likely to be devastating..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"That is the task of leadership," Noeline retorts quickly, with a wag of her hand and an amused grin. "It is what lets me play around so. ... but it does not counter my point, does it? You need not worry about whether you have forced me into anything, Riese."
"... who can say?" she adds a moment later, humming brightly. "Am I the spirited sort, do you think?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I think you are wonderful, whatever might become of you," Riesenlied admits. "I just do not wish to lose you to anything. No Guardian, or Pyre Witch, or even the scorn of the world."
She lets out a luxurious little sigh as she says, "And if nothing else, I am pleased to have met you in the course of my life, however long it might last."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
For once - for once - Noeline doesn't sully the moment with a trite or impish remark. Instead, she hums softly to herself, chuckling as she dips her head in something like a bow. "You will not," she promises instead. "I certainly would not let myself be done in so easily, at the very least. Did I not promise to stick by you, through whatever may come?"
"--but, really!" she huffs the next moment, brightening enormously. "This is very morbid, don't you think? We have fine wine and sweet treats. We should be enjoying ourselves far more than this," she huffs pleasantly.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riese can't help but chuckle in that soft way of hers. She puts a finger to her lip and says, "You're right. I am sorry; I do not mean to make it so dark." She raises her glass of wine and clinks it with Noeline's. "Here's to you, then. May we continue to have a long and meaningful time together, as we have."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The Crimson Demon visibly pauses - then huffs, her cheeks a little red as she lifts her glass to clink it gently against Riese's. "You know--" she comments after she's taken a sip, settling back in her seat as she snags her newspaper to actually look at the text this time. "--for someone who does not know her emotions, you're remarkably capable of acting smooth."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Perhaps I am just as helplessly confusing and contradictory as the humans I study," Riese admits, sipping from her wine again.