2017-04-26: A Meeting of Ghosts
- Log: 2017-04-26 A Meeting of Ghosts
- Cast: Rose, Seraph Ragnell, Seraph Dezel
- Where: Adlehyde - Fairgrounds
- Date: 2017-04-26
- Summary: Ragnell and Dezel do some kind of bonding that involves trolling Rose a lot.
===========================<* Adlehyde - Fairgrounds *>=========================== Located in the northeast quadrant of Adlehyde, the Fairgrounds are situated on a large open space traditionally used to train soldiers in march and maneuver. As a result of the Ancient Culture Exhibition, however, a large number of tents and other temporary buildings have been set up to showcase the latest in ARM discovery and advancement. Paths between the tents and buildings have been set up more or less at random in the area, making it a bit difficult to navigate, particularly with hawkers and visitors clogging the arteries. The central focus of the Fairgrounds is a large plaza set up for demonstrations, as far away from anything flammable as practicable. A raised platform occupies the centre of the demonstration area, with a (probably not scale) model of Adlehyde's Golems - Diablo, Lolithia, and Barbados - occupying three corners. The fourth corner is taken up by a similarly-scaled model of a gender-neutral individual with an expression of dull surprise, holding a model torch in an upraised hand. A plaque at the bottom of the statue helpfully explains that this is meant to symbolize the concept of INNOVATION; it is accompanied by a smaller plaque that explains innovation means coming up with new things or ideas. Onlookers generally remark that it's nice that the sculptor tries hard, anyway. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MQRL7xws7w
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
It's been a terrible twenty-four hours since stinkbomb prime went off. There were not enough showers and baths in all of Adlehyde to accomodate the party's pressing needs, but they made do anyway. Rose is a bit better off than the others, mostly thanks to the merchant guild's suspicious skill in getting stains and smells out of clothing. From there onward it was just a matter of spending two hours under a jet of water with five bars of soap.
Rose is a merchant at heart, though, and so hasn't skipped a work day over this. The Sparrowfeathers' two caravans are set up in their usual spot at the Fairgrounds, a table between the two displaying all manners of wares that are for sale either individually, or that businesses might want to order larger quantities of. Herbs, spices and various foodstuff, for instance, but also decent weaponry and armor, kits to take care of ARMS, so and so forth. There's a special on beauty and care products today, go figure. Some rare perfumes, soaps, makeup and such.
Rose is manning the table, and seems to have applied perfume to herself while at it. GO FIGURE. A few other nondescript Sparrowfeathers are working in the background getting crates from and to places. Some guy in a black and green coat is napping on one of the caravans, hat covering his face.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
The Stench was truly a mighty and terrible foe, one to be reckoned with and whose victory will one day be revenged. Probably. Ragnell, for her part, is a little luckier than the others: being a spiritual, semi-solid being, she can literally control her appearance to some extent, and that means that getting rid of a horrific stink is not nearly the trial that it is for the likes of Rose or the others.
And it would be 'the others,' specifically Sorey and Alisha, that she'd be following around today, except a) they have their own stink to wash off, and b) Ragnell figures it'd be wise to not tail them around *too* closely to start, given her and Alisha's rocky start. Not that she regrets doing what she did, not in the slightest--and that's exactly *why* she ought to give them a little space. Neither human is likely to appreciate her total lack of remorse.
But it's not like Ragnell's going to skip town, so here she is in the Adlehyde plaza, checking out the humans buying, selling, and pickpocketing their wares. Watching humans is a common pasttime for her, despite not liking humans; it's always best to know who's up to what and keep your finger on the pulse, especially since humans are *especially* prolific sources of Malevolence. Sure, there isn't any of that on Filgaia, but... you never know when that might change.
As she strolls through the plaza, the poncho-wearing Seraph catches sight of a familiar caravan, and changes direction to walk right up to it... specifically, right up to the woman at the desk. "Hehhh...? Aren't you the girl who was with the Shepherd yesterday?" Ragnell muses, looking Rose up and down, knowing perfectly well that Rose can't see or hear her. This show is precisely for anyone, if there *is* anyone, in her group who can. "Don't see why he bothered lettin' you along for the ride... Though I guess he'd be hard-pressed to say no after you gave *us* a ride."
She leans a hand on the table, directly blocking Rose's view if Rose were able to see her. "Can't say I was too impressed with you in there either, little girl."
For now, Ragnell doesn't pay particular attention to the other Sparrowfeathers outwardly--but again, that's the whole reason she's saying all this aloud in the first place: to see who reacts.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
It's predictable, but Rose doesn't react. This perky and unassuming merchant can't see Seraphim, though it really feels like she should. Especially with Ragnell right in her face like that! She doesn't feel like she's disconnected from the spiritual, not like all the common folks around. She's either putting the most incredible facade on, or there's something going on with her. Who knows?
"Don't bother, you're wasting your time," says the person who probably knows, as Dezel lifts the hat on his face with one finger so it plops back... well, not quite atop his head, because it's still pushing his hair down in such a way his eyes aren't visible. It might be stylish but it has to be terrible for sight.
"She's never been able to see Seraphim. Not even as a kid. You can sit there trying to talk to her all day and she won't budge an inch," he explains, not moving an inch from his bed himself. That caravan roof is pretty comfortable, really, and he's working on his tan right now. His face tan, anyway.
"You the one who was tagging along with her yesterday? She hasn't shut up one minute about you. I'd throw you a gold star but trying to sleep while she screeches about ghosts to the others is a pain."
His head turns slightly, but it's to listen, not look. "Y'need something, or you just here to make fun of her? Don't care either way, just curious."
All the while Rose sells some perfume to a rich-looking lady, blissfully unaware anything is happening.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
Predictable, but--yes, now that she's up in her face like this, there's *something* about her that feels... mmm. Not exactly spiritual, but not quite worldly either. Like she ought to at least have some Resonance... or rather, that the Resonance she has ought to be able to let her sense *something*? Ragnell lifts her head, tilting an assessing look at her, even as Rose engages some rich lady who walks in interested in the perfumes. She doesn't actually move. It no doubt looks awkward to anyone who can actually see what's going on.
Which wouldn't include Dezel, who nonetheless can *hear* what's going on, and sees fit to remark on it. Ragnell lifts her head and widens her eyes slightly when she sees him--from the ground floor, she hadn't noticed him. Her first observation?
"Nice hat."
She means that sincerely. That hat is sweet as hell.
"Sounds like you've known her a long time," is her next observation. Ragnell leans on the table, propping herself up to better converse with the unknown Seraph. "Pretty odd that you would, since these guys're traveling merchants and all." Supposedly. On the surface. Though they *are* doing legitimate business, so that's at least not a lie. "Sounds like a pain, either way."
Hasn't shut up? ...oh. That news is fantastic to Ragnell, and she roars with laughter at the news that Rose was flipping out over her *all day*. Troll mode: on. BEWARE, ROSE. "Yup, that was me," she says cheerfully, twirling a finger and rearranging the ions in the air. The next item Rose touches, as a result, will have a bit of a static charge to it--not enough to hurt, just enough to be annoying. "Pretty much just here to make fun of her. I can't resist messin' with such an easily messed-with human." A beat. "The name's Ragnell. Who're you?"
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Nothing that strange to it. Cities're wellsprings of Malevolence, can't stand 'em. So I travel. Having a crowd makes it less boring, it's less of a pain than you'd think. Nobody bothers me either," Dezel answers, before addressing the next matter. "Dezel. Wind Seraph." Wind Seraphim have always been the most likely to travel, so that explains that part too. Not that the green and white hair wasn't a clue!
He sits up lazily, adjusting said hat. "S'why I wear it." That's not the only reason, but it's the only reason he's willing to share. Whatever Ragnell is doing seems to have his attention, and soon enough Rose moves to pick up a sword to place it in an empty spot on the table. One small discharge later she takes a step back, sucks on her finger for a moment, and seems to be getting increasingly agitated. It doesn't help she took more than a bit of notice to Ragnell's electrical prowesses, and she's paranoid enough to start connecting dots early.
Dezel grins, showing his sharky teeth. "Not bad. Careful that she doesn't catch on, she might just get someone else to handle the table and storm off. So, you one of the Shepherd's... what's the term, sub-lord? Mentioned the kid "brought" you along, so I figured it might be something like that."
What does he know about Shepherds, anyway? Well, surprisingly, quite a bit, but it's not his cup of tea. No interest in roaming the land being a hero.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
"True," Ragnell says, nodding when Dezel gives his explanation. "The more, the merrier, huh?" She grins. Her teeth aren't quite so shark-sharp like his, but she does have rather pronounced canines. "It's like your own personal roving entertainment band. I get the appeal." And, as he mentions, Wind Seraphim *are* more likely to travel around than the other types. Ragnell for her part is a Thunder Seraph, though her static electricity trick probably gave that away too, and also big on traveling around, so Dezel's position is pretty legit in her eyes.
When Rose jerks her hand back from the sword and sucks her finger, already starting to freak out from the way she jerks her head and eyes around, Ragnell cackles loudly. The fact that Dezel also thinks her prank is funny is just reason enough for Ragnell to approve further beyond just his sweet hat. "And wouldn't that be a cryin' shame," she says of Rose potentially storming off. Ragnell blinks up at him at the question, though, then laughs again, waving a hand from side to side.
"Me, his sub-lord? Hah, no! Rosie here I'm sure didn't catch the particulars, not bein' able to hear them an' all, but I wasn't so much 'brought along' as I invited myself." She shrugs broadly. "What can I say? I got an interest in the Shepherd." But then, most Seraphim do, since the Shepherd's the bridge between them and humanity. She focuses back on Rose, leaning forward to reach a finger out to her face. She stops *just* short of touching her--not that Rose would likely be able to feel it. "So're you the reason Rosie here's scared of 'ghosts'?"
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"In a manner of speaking, sure. Someone more sentimental might call 'em something like a family," Dezel replies with some level of honesty, though there's that dismissive tone in his voice that also implies he might not really mean it as such. "Either way it makes long travels bearable. Been pretty much everywhere in Glenwood at this point. Not sure how I feel about Filgaia yet."
They've been here a couple of weeks. It's been interesting, running into people who can see Seraphim. Rare as they might be, it's different. Even grumpy old Dezel can't dismiss the value of some change now and again. Not good, or bad, just different.
The clarification that Ragnell's not a sub-lord seemingly makes Dezel relax, or at least go from sitting to laying down again, slipping his hands under his head. "I'm some of it, but that was already there when I "met" her. Not that unusual for humans to be afraid of what they can't see. She just happens to be right that there's invisible things hounding her." He pulls a hand from under his head, briefly, to flick a finger towards Rose. A gust of wind yanks at a stack of contracts and bills, which she's quickly trying to catch before they fly off. Dezel withdraws his hand back into pillow mode, still grinning.
"So why the Shepherd? Sounds like a kid if I believe Rose. Some fresh idealist who doesn't get how the world works yet. What's so interesting about that?"
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
Ragnell listens to Dezel's response, and when she hears it, she tilts her head such that the brim of her own hat hides her own eyes from view for a moment. "Somethin' like a family, huh," she says, her own tone neutral. "What would you call 'em, then?" Though, hmmm... That's merchants for you. They really get around, huh? "They sure took getting zapped to another world in stride," she remarks, looking around at the humans of the Sparrowfeathers. "I actually have to respect that. That takes some nerves of steel." More than you'd get from most merchants, which makes another question pop into her head: "What d'they do for defense?" she adds, looking around for any potential bodyguards. "Against monsters and bandits and such." She grins wolfishly. "Or is that where you make your keep, Mr. Ghost?"
Hmmm, so he's more comfortable with her not being a Sub-Lord. Not that she said it to make him comfortable--it was the truth, nothing more or less than that--but it does stand out to her a little. If there's any meaning to it, though, that's another thing. "Hmmmm," she murmurs, listening to his recounting of Rose. "Guess that's true. S'reasonable to be afraid of something that'll mess with you and you can't do much to stop it." She snickers as he sends a breeze Rose's way, messing with her documents. "Like so--" Then Ragnell snatches one of them out of the air and dangles it over Rose, intending to keep it fluttery but just out of her reach for a couple of passes before finally giving it back.
"A kid? Sure. Around the same age she is, if we're goin' solely by looks." Though, Ragnell will admit she's not always the greatest at judging human ages. They're just so short-lived, and guessing years takes such fine-tuning. Rose could be a full five years than Sorey and Ragnell would still make the same remark on their age. "He might be a fresh idealist, but he's got some steel to 'im. 'Nice' doesn't mean 'pushover,'" she continues. "I'm interested in seein' how he turns out." She shrugs. "Might not be so interestin' to you, I dunno."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"They're more dependable than they look. Not sure what I'd call them though. Companions. Some word around that. Doesn't really matter, does it?" Without betraying even a hint of how he feels, he lets that roll out and glances up towards the sky. "Defense? Part of it's handled by them. Part of it's adventurers they hire sometimes. Part of it's me, when I feel like it. Wasn't luck bandits didn't tend to bother them back on Lunar." It'd be pretty bad for him if the Sparrowfeathers just turned up dead one day. Rose in particular, even if he'd never admit it.
Rose struggles to gather her papers, especially as one sheet in particular seems to be toying with her. She's starting to look kind of angry! When she finally manages to snatch that last page, she slams them back onto the table, puts something random and heavy on top of them, and hands on hips, starts screeching. "It's not funny! Go bug the Shepherd or something!, I'm trying to do my job here!!" Anger trumps fear, although once she's done yelling she kind of shivers. She has no idea if that was just the wind or not, but at this point she had to let it out.
Dezel ignores the outburst, quite used to it. "I don't really care about Shepherds and their matters, no. Seems like a pretty thankless job to me, and there's benefits to not being seen or heard. Not sure what the big hype is. Humans're a lot of trouble. We're better off like this."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
"Hmmm. Well, I guess they'd have to be dependable if they're worth followin' around," Ragnell muses. "Humans are short-lived as it is. S'no point in following around a crowd that dies earlier than most." Whether it matters or not, she doesn't remark. Some things are just personal like that, and right now Ragnell only asks out of idle curiosity, heightened by the simple fact that she's encountered a Seraph following a specific group of random humans around. It's not that common, in her experience, though it does happen sometimes.
Meanwhile, Rose finally gets her papers under control, and yells at Ragnell and Dezel to, basically, piss off. Contrary to Rose's claim, Ragnell bursts into uproarious laughter. "Oh, hun. It's *super* funny," she tells her with a grin. Still, she'll ease up on her a little. No point in letting her stalk off now.
Her attention slides back to Dezel. "Well, Shepherds *do* purify Malevolence," she points out. "S'not exactly somethin' we can do on our own." Now with a somber frown, Ragnell turns her attention back to Rose. "...Not that I disagree with you 'bout humans. Or about Shepherdhood bein' a thankless job." She shakes her head. "It is what it is, though."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Wouldn't really be a point, yeah," Dezel agrees. It might be a somber take on life, but it's what Seraphim are stuck with. The usual debate on whether immortality is a blessing or a curse applies, but being invisible to humans makes it a lot less of a thing.
Rose cannot pick up on the teasing, or she'd no doubt have more screeching to do. Maybe some arm-twisting too. Instead she just looks really weird, and people might have paused their activities nearby to look at the weirdo screaming behind her table. Luckily she doesn't feel much of that bothersome "shame" thing that slows other people down.
"So? If you could purify on your own, would you do it? Go around, being the hero no one can even see or thank? Save people from their own darkness?" A pause, to let it sink in, before: "It's their own fault for having that darkness. Maybe those people are better off dead than purified," Dezel finally says, unimpressed by the idea the Shepherd is special. "The Shepherd can't change the world any more than any of us can. As long as humans're around there'll be those you can't do anything about, who make the world a worse place to be. An exterminator'd be more useful than a shepherd." Not capitalized, for the purposes of the statement.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
Rose *does* seem to recover quickly, doesn't she? She might be terrified of ghosts and quick to lose her composure, but she's also quick to regain it. Ragnell half-smiles to see it... or at least see her totally not give a single damn about the people staring at her.
"Me?" again she echoes. There's a hint of surprise there, before she breaks out into laughter again. "Depends on what was in it for me! I sure wouldn't be doin' it to be a 'hero.' But then, I got a feeling you and I are approachin' this from totally different angles." Ragnell leans her face on one hand, half-smiling. "Sure, humans are a morass of Malevolence, and maybe they're better off dead than purified. But Malevolence doesn't affect *just* humans, an' if it were that easy to axe a hellion, the Shepherd wouldn't be as big a deal in the first place. You're pretty naive yourself if you think this shit's got nothin' to do with you.
"But..."
Her eyes lid. "It *is* true that humans don't change, no matter how noble a Shepherd there is there to guide 'em. They just keep makin' the same mistakes, fallin' prey to their own ambitions and greed, over and over again. And Shepherds might just be placeholders 'til the Dragonmaster comes 'round, but that hasn't helped Lunar any, and it sure doesn't do shit for the people wallowing in their own spiritual filth in the meantime." She chuckles darkly. "I have to wonder myself how differently things would go if the Goddess sent out an exterminator instead."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"It might affect more than them, us even, but they're the source of it. Probably not possible to have a quiet, peaceful world so long as they're around. I'd guess if an exterminator came around they'd take to that stance and we wouldn't be able to walk five feet without stepping on a body."
Dezel shrugs, exaggerating the motion so it sticks out, since he's still lying down on his back and all. "I'm doing pretty good keeping it from having anything to do with me so far. I'd rather keep it that way. With any luck the Shepherd won't drag any of these folks into his uphill fight."
In other words, grump grump lone wolf loner solo rogue Seraph grump grump. That translates what he just said pretty closely!
"It's kept me alive all this time, anyway. Why change what works? I can't purify Malevolence, so I'll just leave it up to those who can to do their thing while I see where the wind takes me."
He's not being honest, but the bitterness in his voice is. A hand pulls out from under his head, waving dismissingly towards Ragnell. "It's your business if you want to get involved with the Shepherd."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
"Hah! That's true--on all counts. Bodies for miles. ...It'd probably create more Malevolence than it got rid of, though," Ragnell muses, voice lowering. "*She* must've figured that too..."
She shakes her head. "Well, you do you, Dezel. I ain't here to change your mind. I'm just out to see the shape the future takes. ...Just kiddin'," she adds, grinning toothily. Was that supposed to be a joke? "Looks to me like Rose might shove herself into the Shepherd's business if she thinks it'll make her some gald, though, based on what I saw of her in the Berry Cave. She don't seem like the type to get put off by a little heaping rotten stench or creepy ghosts, either--I'll give her that much credit." She tilts her head back over to Rose. Yup, she's the stubborn type, all right. Reminds her a bit of...
Ragnell shakes her head. Nah. In any case, making someone else fight for you while you whine and wail is a turn-off. "It sure is," she says instead, taking note of that bitterness but not particularly thinking anything strange of it. She knows how it is. Then she hops off her seat on the table, possibly upending or upsetting a few things in the process, to hop onto the ground. "Welp, that's enough of that, then. S'interesting talkin' to you, Dezel, but Imma get goin'." She gives him a casual salute. "See ya round, if our headwinds happen to cross again." After all, storms are preceded by strong winds, aren't they?
And unless Dezel (or Rose) has anything else to say, Ragnell will stroll off to... wherever it is she decides to go next.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
She? Dezel raises a brow, under several layers of hair, but doesn't press. Maybe another time. There's always other times. As for Ragnell's assessment of Rose, he doesn't say anything. He just doesn't like talking about her. If people figure out she's important to him that'll create a weakness.
"Who knows. Nothing says I have to get involved if it happens either," he finally settles on saying, a bit half-assed. "Try not to let the Shepherd's idealism rub off on you, you're actually interesting to talk to right now. Be a shame to ruin that."
He can compliment people! It's a miracle.
"Y'take care, Ragnell."
He tips his hat back up over his face, returning to napping mode, while Rose squirms about trying to keep things from falling off the table as it suddenly quakes in the other Seraph's wake. She eventually decides she's had enough of that for the day and ropes Eguille into taking her place. That's what subordinates are for!