2017-05-08: A Gift from the Departed
- Log: A Gift from the Departed
- Cast: Riesenlied, Jacqueline Barber
- Where: Jacqueline's store, Adlehyde
- Date: 8th May 2017
- Summary: Riesenlied visits Jacqueline one last time, readying herself emotionally for what's to come...
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Jacqueline's store receives the odd visitor here and there, for certain, but perhaps few of them are as odd as the horned woman who sometimes makes her patronage. On today of all days, which seems like just another normal day, Riesenlied steps in with a rather visible shoulder injury wrapped in gauze, her cloak slung over one side of it -- perhaps to avoid aggravation. She's also carrying a wicker basket with her.
"Jacqueline? It is Riese," she calls in, stepping forth with the telltale clack of her heeled boots. Her tone seems a bit lower than usual.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline was busy restocking the shelves that day. A crateful of potions sat nearby and she could be seen near the west wall of the store, placing them in their proper positions by color - to match the painted wall behind each row - and effect.
It seemed to be a habit of hers, to keep business going even while she was cleaning things up around the place.
She hears the door open and pauses to see who it is. A smile appears on her face at first as she sees Riesenlied, though it is quickly replaced with surprise as she notices the injury.
"Riese! My goodness, what happened to you? Here, hold on, I'll get you something..." She says, concern clear in her voice. She pulls one of the pale-blue bottles and hurries over to her, holding it out to her.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied starts just a bit with a shy smile, before accepting the potion gratefully with a bow of her head. "An unfortunate run-in with a remote ARM... I was not fast enough to avoid it," she admits. "But we were able to rescue the King of Lacour and push the bandits back."
Jacqueline can see some rather curious herbs in Riesenlied's basket that look like they're from a far ways away -- the white colouration and lack of pigment on some of them suggest they're from a rather cold, arid region. There's some rolled up notes next to them.
"Thank you, Jay. I hope that you are well?" Riese asks as she takes the potion and sips from it. She appreciates potions -- magical healing has a way of... disrupting her, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"The King of Lacour?" Jacqueline repeats with a frown. She thinks back, and then lets out a gasp of recognition. "Oh! I heard about that. I didn't know you were helping out with the rescue effort!" She says. There is a hint of admiration in her tone, even despite the fact that she'd been injured in the process.
Jacqueline does note the herbs, but doesn't look too closely. She's curious as to where they're from, exactly, but doesn't pry just yet.
"Well, things have been a little hectic lately, with everything that's happened. It's not just me working here anymore, though, so I at least don't have to handle all of it alone." Jacqueline replies with a small smile. "Business has been going well because of it, but...I can't be too happy since people are getting hurt."
It was one of the primary dilemmas of her art, and one she still wrestled with from time to time.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's the typical modesty from her voice as she bows her head to say, "It was because of everyone's efforts. I only helped direct them and made sure no one was caught in any crossfires," as she pulls her head back up.
"I have heard... there is the issue of the -- 'Malevolence', as I've heard some people say," Riese quietly frowns, thinking back to her conversation with K.K. "The attack on Timney was a rather major one... I hope you were not caught up in that?"
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"Hey, that's important too. Someone has to look after everyone, after all." Jacqueline replies with a smile and folds her arms in front of her.
The mention of 'Malevolence' darkens her expression slightly. She looks away for a moment.
"I was...I was there. It was as awful as you've probably heard." She admits, shaking her head slightly. "I was able to help out by providing some of my supplies, but...there was only so much I was able to do amongst all that."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied places her hand to her opposing elbow and says, "I am glad. There would have been more injured or even lost if you were not there. Do not be discouraged, Jay. Every little bit helps, even if we cannot save the world ourselves. Solidarity is important."
It rather sounds like she's given that little bit of encouragement a lot over the years; as she pauses, she moves forward with the counter to say, "I... would like to leave these recipes with you, before I go. As a thank you for all that you've done for me thus far." There's a weighty tone to her voice, one of sorrow and distance.
"This is Arctican woundwort, along with some other herbs from the area -- wolfsveil, alpine betonies, snownettles. It would not be common here in Ignas," she explains. She hands the rolled-up recipes with her. "And here are some recipes for some potion mixtures that I and my fellows have developed during our time in Elru. Some of them are useful for staunching wounds, others to stave off diseases and deficiencies commonly encountered in harsh snowlands. Perhaps not immediately useful for you here out in temperate lands, but maybe useful for your studies as an apothecary and alchemist..."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
That does manage to return some cheer to Jacqueline. She acknowledges it with a nod and a hint of a smile.
"...Yeah, you're right. Thanks." She says.
Her attention is soon turned towards the basket. She walks over to where it was placed, her interest clearly piqued, but before she can look through them properly she pauses. She glances towards Riesenlied with a concerned look on her face.
"I appreciate it, but...what do you mean, 'go'? Are you leaving?" She asks. It had taken her a second to catch the tone in Riesenlied's voice. It was the kind of tone that could change the meaning of a sentence considerably.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"In a way..." Riesenlied seems just a bit hesitant. "I will not be able to see you as often, for my task requires me to go where... I would not want you to go. With what I've seen, I leave tomorrow to speak to the King of Lacour, and in pursuit of Garlyle. From that point... who knows?"
There's a kind of staunched, perhaps slightly self-effacing chuckle from the horned woman. "But I wanted to offer my gratitude, for the time I have spent here has been precious indeed. I have learnt many things that I would not have believed possible... and this was the best way I had in mind."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"O-oh. I see..." Jacqueline replies, her voice hitching slightly. Her gaze drops to the ground as she goes quiet for a moment.
"Well...that sounds important. I wouldn't want to keep you!" She replies with a weak smile. "I know how it is. Sometimes business takes you places you'd rather not go yourself...but you have to do it anyway."
She nods, as if to reaffirm herself, then turns around and heads back to the shelf she was working on.
"I've been...glad to count you as a friend, Riese. There were some rough times, but...I would never give them up." She says. As she speaks she removes one of the bags from her person and empties its contents, before filling it with a small assortment of potions.
Then, she turns around, walks back, and holds it out to her.
"We'll see each other again. I don't want to...chain you down with a teary goodbye, or anything like that, so...for now, I'll just send you off with this." Like before her voice was shaking slightly, but she was making an effort not to let it show too much. "And...don't worry. It's on the house."
She attempts a slight chuckle of her own, but it doesn't quite come out right.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
It's difficult.
'Make your peace,' K.K. said to her. But there is no peace... not in the storm of confusion that she was about to incite. Even if it was for the better... there is no such thing as nobility, where she's headed.
Riese nods quietly as she takes the potion bag gently to say, "I thank you, Jay," she swallows. "And... I am sorry, for all the troubles I make."
Her voice sounds just a bit hitched as she turns around, her smile just a bit wan. "It will not be a goodbye. And I do trust you to do what you do, and save those that you can..." Will it be because of her doing, in the end? She can only stop so much bloodshed, so much wanton violence. She cannot speak for all her brethren.
"I am glad to have met you."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
It takes a lot of effort not to rush over and give Riesenlied a hug. Jacqueline could tell this was difficult for both of them. Instead, she merely stands back. She knew that if she did do that there'd be no stopping the waterworks.
"...That's my job. I'll...I'll do my best. To look after everyone in your absence." She says, and then nods.
"...Yeah, me too. Good luck out there, Riese."
And then, a wave.