2017-05-06: A Farewell to ARMs
- Log: A Farewell to ARMs
- Cast: Riesenlied, Ida Everstead-Rey
- Where: Adlehyde
- Date: May 6, 2017
- Summary: Riesenlied drops in on Ida and bequeaths both her trust and a symbol of it it to her... before all but saying her farewells.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has spent the last couple of days since the attack on Descartes' base busy coordinating plans, issuing orders and ensuring that her intelligence was on the move, but... she has spent some time to check on one of her compatriots from their assault as well. By the time she's able to, it's a couple days after -- she knocks on Ida's room at the Saloon, assuming that she's still staying there and hadn't moved to another establishment in Adlehyde.
"Excuse me, Miss Ida? It is Riesenlied."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida, despite her frequent presence at the Saloon's restaurant, isn't actually staying there--she's got a long-term arrangement with another hotel, a slightly higher-class one that caters to visitors with money. So let's go with that.
Someone peers through the peephole. A moment later, the deadbolt slides loose, revealing Ida, who is as dressed-down as she ever gets in public. She's still wearing the usual slacks and button-down shirt, but her sleeves are rolled to the elbow, and she's not wearing her jacket. A book sits open by the window, a quill pen and ink vial next to it--which probably explains the rolled-up sleeves. "Riesenlied," Ida says, brightening instantly. "Come in, have a seat. Pardon my mess, I was just copying notes." She crosses the room to the little table, pulls out the other chair, and waits for Riesenlied to seat herself before doing the same.
There is no mess on the table whatsoever--just the journal, the pen, the ink, and a blotting cloth. Is that a mess?
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied is dressed a little differently -- her cloak's been replaced with a nicer, albeit more exotic-looking one; one of Elru design, perhaps, with a capelet layer and an asymmetric one underneath. It's black, with a woolen weight and a lightly furred trim. "Hello, Miss Ida," she bows her head, chuckling as she steps in. "Oh, no, I do not mind at all."
She might have a bit of a connection with Ida regarding messes and what they regard it such. She keeps her workdesk extremely tidy and meticulous, and doesn't tolerate clutter at all, after all.
"I wished to check up on you after the assault on the base," Riese speaks. "It seems you're keeping busy, so I assume all is well?"
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"Oh," Ida says. "I've been doing quite well, thank you." The notes on the page seem to be a lengthy description of some sort of fungus native to the Port Timney area, complete with a well-done sketch. The ink is drying. "It seems as though every time I'm getting used to the excitement, things become even more exciting." For example, she never thought she'd have to rescue a king from bandits! Now, she has rescued a king from bandits, and is now trying to figure out how to deal with this 'Malevolence' thing someone tracked in from Lunar.
"Yourself?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has lowered her head for a moment as she murmurs, truthfully admitting, "It has been a very busy last couple of days. That we saw Garlyle's insignia only corroborated some of my fears about what my neighbor from the east has been up to here in Ignas." She pauses with a quiet frown. "I wish to speak to King Ardyn about this. This is not something I can let lay low any longer."
She crosses her legs gently and lets her horn perk just a little. "... I was rather surprised at -- what you utilised during the battle," she also admitted.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida looks down at the drawing, then up at Riesenlied. Her work seems so much simpler in comparison. "If I may impose," she says, "I, too, would like to know more about why Garlyle is active." If nothing else, she needs to know why they were interfering with her mentor's work. Then Riesenlied makes an observation that shouldn't be awkward, but kind of is anyway. "It... surprised me a little, as well," Ida admits. "I'd never seen the weapon act quite that way before. It may be a sign of further synchronization."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Years ago, we thought Garlyle to have been finished," Riesenlied explains. "They've been a thorn on our side for a long time. But I never felt as if... things added up. Despite the stories that we know about Slayheim turning into salt in a day, and the Day of Collapse, or even the Humanoid Typhoon..." she frowns and tries to figure out her phrasing. "It felt as if their military was crushed a bit too cleanly, too swiftly. And there was too much missing. And what we found in the Sult Ruins, what we've discovered at that base... we may just well be following where they've moved to."
She sighs. "And that isn't good news for Ignas, with how precarious the political situation is."
The horned woman glances towards Ida once more and says, "Synchronisation..." A pause. "I could feel the echoes. The Devil's Due's resonance. It hurt a little, to be truthful," she couldn't help but have a sad chuckle.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida had Riesenlied pegged for ex-military for a while now--she's got the bearing, the sense of tactics, the discipline. And yet, the way she's speaking now... "If I may prevail upon you to ask," Ida says, "where did you serve?" Obviously somewhere she's probably never heard of. Her cheery public face then flickers, just a little, as Riesenlied describes her reaction. "I didn't mean to," Ida says. "I thought you were far enough away that the shot would be little more than background noise, especially with the Gear active." Is it the noise Riesenlied's commenting on, or something more esoteric? Ida's never really asked about her relationship with Dragon Fossils, and assumed it was a quaint cultural tradition.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Elru is... a very remote place," Riesenlied speaks. "You have Arctica, Garlyle, Elluria... but in the midst of those countries, there's a harsh snowfield that never lets up to anyone. It's a wide expanse where small gatherings start and fade almost every day. I had my start there, along with several of my lifelong companions. So I could not say I served anywhere -- especially not with any backup to speak of," which... is a little half-truth, given how the Tainted were treated. The Photosphere /didn't/ deign their scouting group worthy of sending backup or resources for, however. "You could say I was part of a nomadic group."
There's an almost tired-sounding sigh, and she continues, "No, it was not... the noise." She pauses, and shakes her head. "Just recall what we've spoken on the purpose of ARMs, Miss Ida. Recall what you've taken that ARM up for, and what it is not for... do not let those flames consume you."
She reaches into her cloak and places a small bundle, which looks a little heavy, placing it on the table. She undoes the knot, and reveals it to be... one of the Dragon Fangs that they'd thought lost during that dig, given what happened.
"I also came here to bequeath this upon you." A pause. "This is the most intact one of them all, and subsequently the one I believe you could learn the most out of. I have taken the rest to be buried in a safe, sacred place."
She closes her eyes, having a sense of gravitas to her expression. "Please let me believe that I can trust you with this, Miss Ida."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida's public face just sort of disappears. She's still looking at Riesenlied, and she's still engaged, but her eyes darken, and the smile fades. Times like this make Ida realize just how somber Riesenlied really is--how much she's probably seen, and what she's endured. "I know," Ida says. Her voice is tiny, but there is iron in it. "Thank you."
Ida's eyes widen a little at the sight of the bundle. "What," she says, "is this the--" It is, she thinks, there's that notch on the cutting surface she saw while she was pulling it out of the rock. Ida goes completely silent. How did Riesenlied get this back from Agatha? Did they fight, or did she-- "Please tell me you didn't bargain with her for this," Ida says, her lips tightening. "I know I was angry she took it, but--it's not worth being indebted to her."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"I'm afraid the specifics are not something I can speak of..." Riesenlied is once more quiet as she brushes a lock of her hair aside. "The situation is unfortunately more complex than I'd like to have it be. But rest assured I do not intend to let her get the upper hand."
She replaces her rueful expression with a soft smile. "... I do not mean to alarm you, if I have, Miss Ida. But I do mean this genuinely. There are many that would simply like to reduce this into fear and myth," she gestures. "I believe it would be better for Filgaia if we can step past the superstition... else, we'd be haunted by phantoms of the past forever."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida brushes fingertips across the fang, as if to reassure herself that it's really there. She's silent for a while longer--perhaps she's just trying to process this. "I trust you," she says. "I do not trust her. Please." Ida looks up at Riesenlied, her gaze wavering. It's like she's trying to get all proper again, but can't quite seem to. How odd. "Promise me that you'll seek help if you need it."
The rest... Ida doesn't have anything to say about that, but that's because it's a lot to think about.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied stands up as she feels something twinge in the air; already, she's called for. She just wanted to sit down and speak about so many things, but her attention is beckoned to for so many things. She looks back towards Ida. Could she seek help when she needs it? Certainly, she wants, but... part of what she needs to do... perhaps necessitates burning that bridge. It pains her to just think about it. But leaving that bridge open may invite further disaster... such is the position of those who are not loved by the world.
"I will, Miss Ida, should the situation call for it," Riesenlied answers in return. "And I thank you for being there to rescue the King, once more. I must go now... but I would like to spend some time to speak with you again, sometime."
It sounds so very forlorn, like she's beginning to commit to farewells, as she rises to head towards the hotel room exit. "Be well, Miss Ida..."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Oh Granas, Ida thinks, what did she do? What did that witch ask of you, Riesenlied? Ida folds her hands in her lap; as Riesenlied rises to leave, she turns to look at her, her face settling back into its familiar mask of calm. "I do as well," Ida says. "You've been a good friend." And that's not something she says often, especially not of people who are so different from her. Something hitches in her throat.
"Thank you."