2017-06-29: Bit of Luck

From Dream Chasers
Jump to navigation Jump to search
  • Log: Bit of Luck
  • Cast: Loren Voss, Jacqueline Barber
  • Where: Adlehyde - Refugee Camp
  • Date: June 29th 2017
  • Summary: Following up on some names of people who had been seen interacting with Ethius, Loren has a bit of luck and finds Jay in the Adlehyde camp.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

It's been a long couple of weeks for Loren. Once again, the young officer has found himself deeply regretting his decisions. Between the Todds -- he never had bothered to figure out which one of them was which, if it mattered -- and the various injured and sick -- including far too many overtalkative old ladies -- this business was wearing on his nerves.

Emperor, if another old lady kept telling him he needed to eat more or kept telling him stories about her cats...

But at least there had been some benefit for putting up with this nonsense. A few of them had seen the person Gebler had no proper name for, ID'd only as the destroyer of the Golem Diabolos. And better yet, he'd been more or less given a few descriptions of people who had interacted with him, a few he had even been able to attach a name to.

One of them had even been a local.

To the refugee camp set up here, he's just another one of the helpful 'doctors' -- a medical student who happened to be in the right place at the right time (...or wrong place...), Thomas Blackwell, previously of Bledavik.

He moves quickly through the camp, blue eyes scanning the assembled people as he searches for one in particular. For now, he's luckily managed to lose his bodyguards and he'd like to keep it that way. He's heard from one of his patients that Miss Barber is in town and he doesn't need those two idiots getting in the way.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline's been going back and forth this past week. After recovering from a major injury she'd received some time ago, she's finally back on her feet and getting back to work. She had a lot of business to take care of, but that didn't mean she didn't have time to check on the refugees of Adlehyde.

She's making her way through the camp now, as a matter of fact. In addition to the bags normally present on her person, there's another satchel slung over her shoulder, this one filled with potions she'd prepared to add to the camps supplies. They could always use more potions, after all.

She's walking at a fairly brisk pace, but wouldn't be particularly difficult to spot among the crowd.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

'Thomas' attempts to move at as brisk a pace as possible, attempting to look like he's in a hurry to get somewhere so none of the refugees 'suddenly remembers' that their joints are hurting again or something. He'd thought he'd be here to tend wounds and illness as his cover, not be a sounding board for every minor ailment that the surfacedwellers here could dream up...

Luck's on his side, though. He'd been given a good description of the woman, and as she heads right his way -- tell-tale bulging satchels and all -- Loren lifts a hand to hail her.

"Miss Barber-- A moment of your time. We need to talk."

It's a little all-of-a-sudden. Not precisely rude, but not particularly polite either. If Jay's been in the area at all in the last couple of weeks, she might have even seen him around.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline steps pause when she hears a voice addressing. She glances to the side, toward the man with his hand held toward her. That he knew her name goes beneath her notice - she is, after all, a common sight around town.

He's somewhat familiar to her. She's never spoken with him personally, but she'd seen him about the camp before. His tone makes her hesitate a bit, however. She glances toward the satchel she was looking to deliver, but eventually curiosity, edged with a hint of concern, wins out.

"Is there a problem, sir?" She asks. She starts walking again, moving to approach him.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

She's a common sight around town, and it's one reason among many he had been hoping to run into her. It's much easier to cut to the chase, for one.

As he approaches her, she hesitates, and for one fleeting instant, Loren wonders if he'd made a mistake. But she approaches him, and something that might be able to be called relief unfurls inside. Externally, Thomas eyes her appraisingly, creasing his brow faintly.

An apothecary, he thinks they called her...

He readjusts his glasses. "Not a problem, a question. Let's go over here." He doesn't take her arm at least, just indicates towards a small gap between two lean-tos, free for now of their residents.

Loren hesitates a moment, turning his head to glance at some of the nearby people. As if conspiratorally, he leans in and lowers his voice. "...It's about a man I heard you treated. A Drifter."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline nods in acknowledgment and begins to follow him. She seems fairly trusting, following him without any further questioning. Or perhaps she just feels confident in her own knowledge of the area, should something happen.

Once they've reached their destination, she leans against one of the walls in the small alleyway he'd brought her to. She studies him for a moment as he takes a furtive glance toward the civilians, and then quiets his voice, as if he didn't want to be overheard.

She folds her arms in front of her and lets out a small 'hm' as she considers what he said.

"Hm...you'll have to be a bit more specific, I'm afraid. I treat a lot of Drifters." She replies with a slight shrug.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

This time, all Loren wants are some answers. Even if he were so inclined, it's too risky to try anything in a place this densely populated -- too many witnesses, and a headache and a half to contain the scene. To say 'this would cause Gebler problems' is an understatement.

At most they get a few curious looks, but people have enough to do in their life than spy on a few people helping with medical support. Leaning lightly against the wall opposite her, he's silent for a few moments more. "This is personal business. He's not ill, as far as I know."

'Thomas' gives Jay a somewhat withering look. "I was getting to that part," he says a touch flatly. Briefly he closes his eyes, as if to regain his composure. "...The man in question would have been of about average build and six feet in height. I suppose he might be of Baskar origin, judging from appearances... Left-handed, I believe, and using a quarterstaff. He had a number of Symbology tattoos on his hands and neck too, I think. Unfortunately, I didn't get his name."

It's a fairly good description of Ethius, at least the parts that might stick in someone's mind.

Folding his arms over his chest, he regards her for a moment. "...I heard that you treat someone who might match that description. He helped me out during the attack, but..." He glances away, as if uncomfortable about something. "...I wanted to thank him."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Personal business, he says. Jacqueline nods and listens to him as he continues. That withering look of his washes right past her, and she doesn't seem forthcoming with an apology.

That description, though...that was unmistakeably Ethius Hesiod. There's a flash of recognition, soon replaced by hints of suspicion in her eyes.

Ethius was a man who preferred secrecy, and she knew there were people after him. Why, then, was this man looking for him? She considers her options, for a moment...but then, 'Thomas' admits, somewhat hesitantly, that Ethius had helped him during the attack.

Jacqueline felt a little bad about being suspicious of him. Somewhat ashamed, her gaze falls to the ground for a moment. She's quiet for a moment, and then she massages the back of her neck.

"...I know who you're talking about. His name's Ethius." She says with a nod, looking back up.

"He's...not really the sort of man would appreciate that. But, if really you want to thank him...he's in Lacour right now, fighting in the Tournament of Arms." She explains. If it wasn't for that, she'd probably be a bit more hesitant about giving away his name. He was practically inviting attention already.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

There, at last. Recognition. Then his source hadn't been mistaken -- she really did know the man he'd been tailing. And just as he'd thought might be the case, she even looks suspicious.

Until he explains.

His expression remains as much 'his' neutral as before as he looks away, as if to suggest being ill at ease with the prospect of any of this. There are times when being somewhat unemotive and uncomfortable in general are assets.

He's well-practiced with shame and awkwardness. Even the timbre of her silence speaks volumes to someone versed in the lingo. And all Loren has to do is behave in kind, shifting his weight from one foot to another. Like a winning hand, things seem to fall into place with the sort of supernatural ease that's...

Uncomfortable. Something about this is nagging at him.

She speaks, puncturing their mutual silence. 'Thomas' blinks, as if uncomprehending at first. "...Ethius?"

Just like that, he has a name?

"...I see." It's too easy, something must be wrong. "Have you spoken with him recently? Since you said that he's participating in the Tournament."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline nods as confirmation.

"Yes, that's right." She says. He seemed almost...surprised. Had he expected her not to tell him? He looked uncomfortable, maybe he just wasn't used to discussing matters like this?

"Well...yes. I ran into him in Lacour. That's how I found out he was participating in the first place." She explains. She pushes off the wall somewhat, standing upright under her own power. She uses the opportunity to shift the satchel of potions from one shoulder to the other. They were starting to get a little heavy. She hadn't quite expected to get side-tracked.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

She looks at him for a moment in a way that makes him stand up just that much taller -- something's wrong, but he can't pinpoint precisely what. As casually as he can, he takes a breath, attempts to relax. Remember who you are, he reminds himself. And she's just a Lamb.

Slightly, he sinks back against the wall. He has a name, and a current location. "All the way up in Lacour... You've traveled a long way, Miss Barber. It must be important to you," he says, referencing the city as as a whole. 'Thomas' gaze slides to the bags on her shoulder as she shifts their weight.

"The refugees said you were an apothecary, or something of the sort," he remarks, perhaps picking up on the tell-tale clink.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Are you alright, sir?" Jacqueline asks, an eyebrow raised. She's familiar enough with people to recognize certain signs. It was an important skill for a merchant to have. He's trying to calm himself.

"Ah, yes... Adlehyde...I was born and raised here. It'll always be near to my heart, especially in a time like this." She says with a nostalgic smile, and then nods.

"That's right. I sell other things, but potions are my specialty. I had a store here...but it was razed in the invasion, unfortunately." She explains. Her smile fades somewhat, but she seems more resigned and accustomed to it than sad.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

His body language is a different story compared to his expression. One's a little more open than the other. Slightly, Loren's shoulders stiffen. Did she notice something? "...I'm fine," he claims, shaking his head. "Tired, I suppose."

Getting a headache again, too, he's pretty sure.

He glances off as she explains things, out at the city. It's a little more like 'razed' than 'raised', even if reconstruction is underway in the city. He looks back at her as she smiles. 'Near to her heart'? "...How charming," he comments a touch dryly.

Van Houten had managed to infiltrate as easily as a fish had taken to water, the thought comes unbidden as he once again drifts towards silence. So why in Emperor's name does he still feel so uncomfortable doing this?

He once again glances away and pushes his glasses up his nose. "Hmm. Too bad, I suppose." Potions. Apparently that's how they handled things here. Even in Bledavik they at least used sols. "Reconstruction is out of the question, I take it?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Tired, was he? Well, that would explain a bit. Jacqueline reaches into one of her personal bags and rummages around, eventually producing a bottle of pale blue liquid that is offered to 'Thomas'.

"Here, this ought to take the edge off, at least for a little bit." She says with a smile. A free sample might convince him to purchase some more for her at a later point.

"I know, I know, it's a bit cheesy to put it like that...but it's true." She replies with a bit of a chuckle.

"It's not impossible to rebuild...but, well...I decided it was about time to start traveling again, and I'll need the funds for the road. People are leaving in droves...and there are a lot of other medical professionals here, so I'm not really needed as much anymore." She says with a half-hearted shrug and a chuckle.

"...Medical professionals like you."

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

He's noticably a touch hesitant to take it, as if handling an unknown insect. Still, take it he does, thought he regards the bottle a touch dubiously, tilting it from side to side as if inspecting its contents. It's... very blue. Very, very blue. "...I'll try it later," he says, pocketing the bottle.

Even that's doubtful. He's seen what passes for surface-dweller medicine -- he recalls someone attempting to sell medicine advertised as 'with mercury' a while back. While this one seems to at least have some magic involved...

She admits that 'it's a bit cheesy'. His brow crinkles somewhat. And briefly, he closes his eyes. "Must be nice," he mutters, operating with some level of tact since he doesn't quite specify what must be nice.

She goes on when prompted, earning her a rather shallow nod from 'Thomas'. "Yes, I heard. I suppose they'll just flood to Aveh next, or something like that. I hope they're prepared," he comments rather dryly.

The Prime Minister will be so thrilled.

"...I suppose." It's at least an accurate statement: he's a medical professional! Just, normally a combat medical specialist. This whole mission has been an Education, and not a particularly enjoyable one. "Hopefully someone else will pick up the slack later. Eventually the people helping now will move on, too," 'Thomas' comments, injecting a bright and sunny ray of light into the proceedings.

And then, much like a rabbit might freeze when a hawk swoops overhead, Loren stiffens. Did he just hear...?

In the distance, there's shouting. Two people -- men, from the sound of it -- are shouting. Something about a cello?

Oh no. Loren looks at Jay. It's the sort of look that at once manages 'help me' and 'I can't believe this'. No more than a second later he's moving fast, out the opposite end of the little alleyway.

Oh no, he's not going to get caught here by them with a woman and go through that again. Not if he can help it!

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

It's true, Aveh was probably about to get a large influx of business. Maybe if she hurried, Jacqueline could get in on that, too...

Well, that could wait for later. She wasn't quite ready to depart yet. She still had plans that needed to come to fruition.

It is true, though, that the doctors would depart from Adlehyde eventually, as well. But...

"By that time, I can only hope we're on our feet well enough to get by without them." She comments...but she can't tell whether or not 'Thomas' hears it, as he suddenly seems very alarmed at something. He shoots her a look...and bolts like an animal hunted, kind of giving her mixed signals.

"...Huh. That was strange." She comments. "I'll have to find his name later..."

With that said she turns to leave the alleyway as well. She had potions to deliver, after all...though she's taking it at a more leisurely pace than he is.