2017-07-06: Fear Itself

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<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Why do you reject me?
I... no -- no! I cannot... I cannot...
Please, stay with me!

The last week has been a deeply trying one for Noeline and Riesenlied -- following their near-wipeout at the battle of Old Petra at the hands of the mysterious red-haired man and the Crimson Gear, they've fled to parts of Ignas in an attempt at convalescence. First Gounon, where they thought they'd be safe under Veruni territory... but circumstances were not to be, and the Temple of Rejection had drawn more attention than they'd like. So here they are now at Lacour, under the auspices that it is neutral ground...

But recovery has been trying in turn -- Riesenlied has had anxious fits where her subconscious nature seems to well and truly take her over, and now is one of these times. Noeline has kept a rather close eye on her, but it's during one of their attempts to take a walk that the winged woman -- under her Ellurian cloak and hood -- receives a painful fit and flees, at surprising speeds.

The hooded woman has run towards another part of town, looking around with unfocused and glassy eyes and potentially not seeing where she's going. "No-- please--" she gasps, her voice sounding stricken and choked.

Don't reject me.
I can't come to where you are....
You're a coward.

She cowers just a little bit, stumbling as she knocks a nearby barrel over. Several unsavory types round the corner at around this time, one of them sneering with a grin on his face. "Eh? What've we got here? Looks like she'd be worth a pretty penny, eh boys?"

A guffaw follows from his burlier friends.

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei Fong Wong ends up places. He has his own thoughts and visions from time to time. Right now, he is relatively in a relaxed state of mind. Those whom he truly worried about were revealed to be safe. Or safe-ish, anyway, and he has a slightly better understanding of Riesenlied and, really, a much larger understanding of Noeline because he didn't expect the crimson noble cosplayer was actually a metal demon and, really, when you run into that circumstance you just kind of have to roll with it.

It was you

Fei doesn't hear it. It's a thought underlining his thoughts every day. Those three words. Not even four syllables in all, only three. What he does hear is a commotion, a barrel falling over, an alley. Fei has run into this situation in Adelhyde before as well so he knows what to do.

He approaches from behind and asks, quietly, to a man in the rear.

"What's going on here?"

The tough turns around and he says, "Oh well I'm Alex and these are my droogs, Pete, Georgie, and Dim, and we were sitting in the Lacour Milkbar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Lacour Milkbar sold milk-plus, milk plus vellocet, or cuccoo milk, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence."

Fei nodded, understanding maybe half of that though the important parts he understood just fine. "Yeah?" He says.

"And then this here lady was stumbling about and we were thinkin' to snuff her alright, you want in?" Alex added.

Fei looks Alex squarely in the eyes. "I think you should leave her alone. She's got enough going on."

Alex looks back and gets concerned. He looks at his pals and decides he has to look tough in front of them despite, as he looks in Fei's eyes, feeling quite uneasy. He raises an arm to throw a punch and Fei grabs ahold of it with unnerving easy.

"I don't like violence." He says before flipping him up and behind him judo style. Alex crashes to the ground heavily, back first.

"I jumped, oh brothers!" He cries out. "And I fell hard, but I did not snuff it, oh no! If I had snuffed it, I would not be here to tell what I have told!"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Normally, Noeline would be at Riesenlied's side; she has been all this time, after all, her feelings for the other demon cutting through her natural flightiness more than any sense of duty ever could. The 'Crimson Noble' has been patient and quiet, not least because of her own worries and concerns over Riesenlied's state, finding the two of them a quiet room and uncovering a number of friends and allies within the busy city to try to distract Riesenlied's attention away from her internal troubles.

When a sudden swell of the crowd sends Riesenlied stumbling and panicking, however, she's unprepared for the speed at which the winged woman bolts. She's not immune to surges of panic herself, and losing track of the other woman in the midst of Lacour is certainly something that counts as generating one. Barely managing not to yell the name of a wanted bounty out across the assembled hunters, she instead grits her teeth to bite it back - and abruptly, without much in the way of preamble, uses a couple of stock boxes for a nearby stall to hop her way up to the rooftops to make her way across them.

It makes her presence - and her worry - rather obvious to anyone who cares to look even vaguely upwards at the sight of a girl in an evening dress hopping rooftops, but she's hardly about to worry about that right now, with Riese in danger. More importantly, it gives her a better view of her surroundings as she picks her way across town in the direction of her flight.

And it's what allows her to zone in on a far alley, and the rather suspicious sight of a thug suddenly meeting the ground at Fei's hands.

A moment later, she's dropping silently from above to land in front of the stricken demon, her ornate scythe already in her hands to cover Riese's form. She makes no move to attack the rest of the unruly men, but the way the dark red blade draws spikes when she slams it against the cobblestones is definitely both a challenge and a display of power, and her eyes are alight with anger.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline's week has been fairly busy - she's had business arrangements to make and friends to cheer on in the tournament, but now she finds herself with a bit of free time to use as she pleased.

She was taking what was supposed to be a pleasant stroll through town when she found herself nearly run over by a hooded woman who was in a clear panic.

Those patterns...there were only two people she knew who wore patterns like that. And the person moving toward her from above...it certainly narrowed down the options.

She follows after her out of concern, and this proves to have been a good idea. When she finally catches up to her, Jacqueline finds her accosted by a bunch of thugs.

Fortunately, she wasn't alone. Fei was dealing with one of the thugs, and Noeline had appeared, standing protectively in front of Riesenlied.

"I don't think this situation worked out quite like you thought it would, gentlemen. I'd advise you all turn around and walk away before you lose more than your dignity." Jacqueline says toward the thugs, walking onto the scene with her arms folded in front of her and a Crest in one hand.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Ethius' time in Lacour has been met with uncertainty and complications that, on the surface, might be a by-product of whatever madness ails the mind of a strange man. He speaks with an unnatural clarity with overly wordy dialogue, but it has been difficult to put a straight line through some of his thoughts and decisions as they are laid bare in action. To appearances, a strange man with a worrisome amount of power afforded to him.

Most recently, his strange performance in the Lacour Tournament of Arms. Bluffing with a big spell that did nothing? Running around like a timid rabbit and making ineffectual spear pokes against a heavily armored opponent? The crowds did not like it. What kind of a man gets up to these sorts of silly tactics with a straight face?
He doesn't seem too disheartened by some of the jeers he hears walking down the less reputable streets of Lacour for... reasons. He's about to round the corner to the site of a commotion, when he catches something moving above. He moves to follow at a careful, measured pace with light footsteps as to not announce his presence too loudly upon the cobblestone.
Just in time to hear an eloquent fellow get judo slammed, or to watch a familiar silhouette drop down in front of... someone or another. His vantage point doesn't afford him much ability to determine the identity of the one huddled behind the scythe-wielder.
Even the voice of Jay announcing herself doesn't coax Ethius out of would-be hiding, as he moves to crouch behind a convenient crate to have himself a good listen. He crosses his forearm underneath his poncho as a precaution in case he believes he has cause to (in)directly assist.
The thugs would consider themselves lucky that he has a specific image to be cultivating at present.

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

Riese's condition immediately following the engagement outside Old Petra was... worrying. Disconcerting, even. To see the leader of the Tainted in such a state was deeply unusual. She's usually so strong, so impervious to... To everything...!

As long as 'everything' is not 'an adorable cucco' anyway.

But getting up in the middle of the night, wandering around like she's possessed by something beyond the commander's usual suite of insecurities, it's impossible not to be worried. And so, she has been followed. Not only by her ever-present guardian, but by... A MYSTERIOUS FIGURE ATOP A PILLAR!?

Yes. There is a figure, cast in moonlit shadow, standing atop a nearby pillar.

Cutting to the chase, it's Zed. It's always Zed. When it's not Zed, it's Siegfried. Metal Demons seem to have a certain affinity for being in high places. They're like cats, except marginally more dangerous and significantly less inherently malevolent.

He lingers there for a moment longer before somersaulting from his perch and unceremoniously double-kicking a nearly-grovelling thug right into a wall. "Hmph! I know where this kind of thing is going, and I do not approve, gentlemen! You must date a woman at least FOUR TIMES before going this far!"

He doesn't seem to have noticed the others yet. This is maybe for the best.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied doesn't really understand what they're talking about, either; compared to her normal self, she's hunched and lowered, a shrinking presence compared to her normal demeanor. She does kind of perk up at 'cucco milk', though, though even in her addled state she still is aware now's not the time to think about that.

Noeline lowers herself before her, which causes Riesenlied to gasp and murmur, "N--Noeline...!" as she instinctively draws closer, clinging onto one part of the fabric of her dress.

You can't come to where I am.
We're too different, you and I.

Jacqueline also comes to shield her by her side, prompting a sudden gasp as she lowers her head. She doesn't quite spot Ethius hiding behind a barrel, though he would note the unusual distress plainly marked upon her face.

She also doesn't really understand what Zed is saying, though his presence seems to also console her. "Please-- please..." she begs, but she doesn't seem to be begging to the thugs.

The thugs -- Pete, Georgie and the very unfortunately named Dim -- look towards their freshly judo'ed boss and yelps. "I--I, yo, maybe we shoulda just stuck with the cucco milk!"

"A'ight, a'ight! Y'can't blame us for thinkin, she looks like a mighty fine cucco!"

"Yeah, coulda made cucco queen at some point!"

With those... confusing words of wisdom, the thugs turn tail to run with comical animations, leaving their poor judo'ed boss behind. Just what were those ominous words of foreshadowing, though? One day, upon a cucco-shaped moon, Filgaia and Lunar shall know the true wrath of the cuccoon once more...

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Aw, geeze, Fei thought. Did I not have to throw the guy? I didn't think he'd stop unless I threw him. He was talking about ultra violence! Geeeeeze.

He's not aware that whatever's going on with Riesenlied is basically his fault. He swears quietly to make that Id pay one day... but he doesn't like thinking about him. It makes him feel uncomfortable. He steps away from that line of thought.

But he does kind of nudge Alex with his foot. He'll probably need a few minutes if he doesn't have any broken bones.

Huh. I guess she couldn't handle it either.

He looks up towards the pillar. His expression is unreadable. It is very close to deadpan though. "...But he kinda has a point..." He murmurs to himself. Maybe, he reflects, beneath Zed's goofy exterior lies a noble heart????

Either way he turns his gaze to Jacqueline and says, "Oh." He blinks. "You're friends too." He smiles a bit. "Small world, huh?" He lookelooked to Reisenlied.

It's tough, he thinks, dealing with trauma. "Lily gave me some advice," He says. "Focus on good memories was one part of it, and focusing on your other senses. Think that's about it."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline's response is to simply kneel down and cover the cowering metal demon, keeping the blade of her scythe between her and the gang of ruffians at /least/ until they turn tail and probably beyond; her eyes follow them as they leave, her posture tense and rigid, but she does at least have the werewithal to offer an arm backwards as she catches Riesenlied in a one-armed embrace.

"I'm here," she mutters quietly - and only then seems to recognize that there are others around them, her eyebrows going slowly up in a kind of muted surprise. The resulting sigh is quiet, by the Crimson Noble's standards, and laced with relief as she lets her scythe go to watch it wink out in a collection of motes of light.

That said, she doesn't... exactly relax fully, and there's a still a distinct defensive tension to her posture as she helps Riesenlied up to her feet, and a certain laser focus towards her that doesn't really extend to everyone else around. It isn't that she's paranoid so much as she's still getting up to speed with the situation she just jumped into - and covers that fact by fussing at Riesenlied's hood, ensuring that it's still up and hiding her face from unnamed NPC groups.

For those with actual names present, though, the cat's kind of out of the bag. "... thank you," she nods after a moment, feathers slightly but visibly ruffled. Fei gets a nod, and then Jacqueline; her eyes flick towards a certain crate for a moment, but she doesn't protest. And--... then she has to draw in a long breath, and wonder exactly how her reserves of patience are holding up. "Zed, I am /quite/ sure we have discussed disguises before." Noeline has reconnected.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Fortunately, enough had happened in a short period of time that the thugs were sufficiently spooked into fleeing. What caught Jacqueline's attention most, though...was Zed. She looks up at him with a slight frown.

"I can't even begin to describe what's wrong with that..." She mutters, shaking her head, before turning her attention to Riesenlied.

What happened to her...? She was glad Noeline was here to look after her. For the moment, she looks to Fei and sends him a smile.

"Yes." She says with a nod. He mentions Lily, then.

"Lily...have you found her yet?" She asks, with a hint of concern. The last time the two of them met, he had been looking for her.

She then turns her attention toward Noeline.

"What happened...? I've never seen her like this before...will she be alright?" She asks, referring to Riesenlied.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

From where Ethius is under the idea of being in a hidden place, he does not lower his forearm from under the poncho when he hears the footsteps of people scattering. Grandstanding. Chiding. Once more, he re-links connections in his mind about voice owners and decorum. It was good then, he thinks, that he showed restraint and patience.

Jay's words warrant some concern. 'I've never seen her like this before... will she be alright?' Familiarity, shared between the merchant, the loud one with the green hair he somehow manages to lose track of, the so-called Crimson Noble, and some other guy that tickles famliarity on some level but he can't put a finger on it.
Who might that other one be, that has so much interest? He moves out from the crate, careful as to not give away his presence by sound. (He may already be discovered.)
That is when he rounds the corner, and enters sight. The white hair. That look in his eyes. The lower half of his face hidden under that yellow bandanna. A raised right hand - and, much less threateningly, a piece of garbage bronze spear being gripped from its place on his back with his left.
That's when he gets a clear look at Riesenlied's face. That's...
He lowers the right hand, slowly, an equivalent gesture to someone slowly lowering a gun.
He says nothing. What, no 'hello,' or 'what's going on,' or 'oh my god are you all right?'

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

"What are you talking about?" Zed asks the Crimson Noble. The light shifts, and catches JUST SO to reveal that he's wearing...

...Glasses.

Fake, lens-less, silvery frames.

He adjusts them slightly.

"I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THIS ZED IS. I am mysterious night-time reporter and journalist, Guy S. Trick. Are you two alright, fair maidens!?" He reaches into his back pocket and extracts a notepad and a number 2 pencil. "Hm. Hmhmhm. There's a story here..." He scribbles. Just scribbles. The words mean nothing. There are sketches of an awesome kung fu fight.

There's a beat, too.

"...Well. Anyway! Hello all of you other people," he says, then, with a grin that sparkles in the moonlight. "Thank you all for coming to her aid as well! Such noble souls, such kind hearts. I am stunned and awed!" Noeline has partially disconnected.

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

Beat.

"I'm sure this Zed is totally awesome and very handsome and extremely cool, though. His name... sounds that way." Guy S. Trick stares meaningfully into the distance.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

The embrace they hold onto is rather sweet, all else told -- Riesenlied clinging rather needily to the fancily dressed metal demon as she mumbles, "I'm sorry, I--" It's all she can do at present. Apologise, over and over again, despite Noeline having told her that she needs to focus on something better. And Fei, too, has the same advice. Focus on good memories...

I've never had a friend before. Where are you from? Metal Demon? I don't know what a demon is. But you seem nice.

She trembles, once more, rattled at her experience still. There's a very faint breath as she mumbles, "I--I'm very glad... for all your assistance..." she looks towards Fei as he mentions Lily-- and her eyes widen. "We-- saw her yesterday, at the inn, if you hadn't caught up with her...?"

She glances apologetically to Jacqueline again. She didn't want to cause her more trouble than she already had. There's a more hesitant trembling, as she starts to glance towards the crate at the feeling that eyes are inevitably leering upon her... as she shies away further, when Ethius emerges. His presence seems to unsettle her further. "M--Miss, Miss Jac...queline... ..."

Riesenlied doesn't seem to be in any state to explain what happened to her, unfortunately.

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei Fong Wong smiles, looking relieved. "Yeah." He says. "She's still recovering but apparently this guy named Jude saved her life. She is staying at the inn now." It is indeed a huge relief, quite frankly. He lets out along relieved breath as he remembers seeing her again just drinking. Day Drinking. And that weird aura around her. He isn't sure what to make of it but it doesn't seem to be hurting her.

He pretends to buy into Zed's disguise (but not very hard). "Oh Guy S. Trick." Fei says without inflection. "You are so cool and handsome I mistook you for Zed."

He is about to explain further when he sees Ethius. He stares at Ethius. He doesn't even seem to notice the gun at first because he remembers something else entirely.

"You..." Fei says. "....You set me on fire."

Well technically his target was set on fire but it wasn't exactly pleasant for Fei either.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Two stares meet.

No, that descriptor does one of them a disservice. Fei's stare comes in abruptly as though ambushing him. Ethius' eyes were, until then, gauging the possibilities of what circumstances have led everyone here. Was Riesenlied under pursuit by another party? Was she under the effects of a substance or another? The convergence of so many disparate fo--
The thoughts come to a cease as the eyes of the taller white-haired man lock upon the one who would appear meek and skittish on the surface. To look into what is possibly conveyed upon the gaze...
Ethius blinks. He doesn't open his eyes again after the third one. Is it confusion? Fear? Guilt?
"I do not believe I was ever in an engagement against you," he replies simply.
Zed-- pardon, Guy S. Trick-- might recognize him as the guy that eluded his pursuit by means so obscure and implausible to forever be remembered as a vague point in anyone's memory.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline glances toward Ethius as he steps wordlessly into view. He had been there the whole time...? That was somewhat of a relief, but also somewhat of a concern, as well.

And then Zed, as he has a tendency to do, catches her attention again. She stares at him, dumbfounded, then sighs and massages her forehead. He was a difficult one...but at least she can accept the thanks.

"...It's not a problem. She's a friend." She says, shaking her head.

Before she can say anything else, she hears Riesenlied speak. Jacqueline looks toward her.

"It's alright...you don't have to speak, if it's difficult for you." She says, her voice lowering gently.

She glances towards Fei, then, and nods.

"I'm glad to hear that. The inn? I see...thank you. I'll have to stop by some time to check on her..." She says.

As for Fei's accusation of Ethius...well, it technically wasn't true that they'd never been in a fight. But...it probably wouldn't be a good idea to actually mention that right.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline may not have any actual verbal protest when it comes to Ethius' presence, but... when the man steps out from his hiding place with his hand up, she certainly shifts to place herself in his line of sight to Riesenlied, a dark aura suddenly rising in the air around her. It's distant, hard to pick out, and not especially powerful, but it's there - and thankfully, dies away just as quickly as he lowers his hand. "Mr. Hesiod," she greets, her grin not /exactly/ reaching her eyes just yet. "My apologies for not saying hello. It's been a rather long week, you understand."

She lets the tension go, though, especially given that she considers Jacqueline's presence nearby something of an AED (Anti-Ethius Device). "... strictly speaking, my answer would be that I don't know," mutters the Noble in response to the alchemist's question, then heaves out a concerned sigh. "But more generally, the Demon of Elru's attack on Old Petra and her attempt to repel it took a very great deal out of her. We are here-- to recuperate, and to get her some rest somewhere relatively safe." She looks like she's got more to say on that front, especially when it comes to why /she's/ there, but-- shakes her head, if only for the moment.

"I believe I've discussed /effective/ disguises with you," she amends towards Zed. 'Discussed' is probably a strong word compared to what actually happened, but Noeline's in kind of a grumpy mood given everything as of late; she's prepared to let it slide, just shaking her head. "First and foremost, let us at least get out of this alleyway," she suggests afterwards, letting out another sigh as she slowly helps the other demon forwards. The way she fusses over Riesenlied is clearly affectionate and has a lot more care to it than most have ever seen of her.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"... Lily-- helped me as well," Riesenlied expresses slowly, as if she's not quite sure of her words. She doesn't explain that Lily helped her by giving her, effectively, a dose of elephant tranquilizers to knock her to sleep so that she could have restful, dreamless sleep, but hey, whatever works at this point!

Her eyes widen just a little as she cognisantly realises that she's staring at the man who stole Diablo on Weltall... and the man who set Diablo on fire prior to that. Conflict -- or the potential thereof -- seems to agitate her further, causing her to shrink back.

Ethius does catch her gaze, though. If there are substances involved, it doesn't look like anything he's seen before... no, it feels too -- natural. It's more of the unsettled, frightened stare of someone who's been exposed to something traumatising in so short a time, exemplified by the kind of thousand-yard stare at times... yet, deep within that gaze, there's willpower, seeking to recover. A resolution that will not be denied.

"... many of my kin are scattered... dead..." she tries to supply to Jacqueline, knowing she owes her something of an explanation. But it's rather difficult to speak coherently, let alone explain a drastic and traumatic event. "... the Demon of Elru... yes."

She controls her breathing for a moment longer, before -- Noeline coaxes her out of the alleyway, hopefully towards someplace quieter and less imposing.

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

"Indeed," Zed answers Fei who obviously knows what's up and what the score is and all kinds of other things that are definitely important and worthwhile. "It's a shame that Zed is not actually here, or else I am sure he would be very flattered at this compliment from the legendary Travelling Martial Artist."

There's a beat. He frowns, then, slowly shakes his head. "Do not worry, pretty lady. I'm sure many of those you are worried about are safe. After all, that Zed person has almost certainly spent a good deal of time rounding them all up and bringing them somewhere that they will find refuge for at least a little while."

Noeline gets a stare. A stare, long and terrible, then a shrug. "I do not know what you're talking about! Again! Nobody has even once said 'HEY IT'S ZED' to me all day today! And besides, this is not a disguise. I am Guy S. Trick, not Cool Guy Zed."

He seems firm on this point.

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei looks at Ethius. He could go into detail, or otherwise explain, but he swallows and says, "...Yeah," Pause. "Must've been someone else."

He presses his instincts down and sets aside such thoughts. He lets out a slow meditative breath. Maybe he's also taking Lily's advice. He nods to what Barber is saying, though he still seems fidgety, glancing at Ethius periodically. Despite his intent, he can't quite manage to just move on from that. Fire is something his thoughts keep returning to.

But Fei understands what Riesenlied is going through. Well, he wishes she'd stop mentioning Elru and the red gear, but otherwise he understands.

"Sorry," He tells her, feeling guilty. "You uh...I know what it's like. It doesn't really leave you, but you still have people who need you." He pauses, thinking about Bart's words. That guy's words haunt him because of how true they are. "I trust Guy," Fei tells Noeline. "He's risking himself to help his friend so...he's a pretty noble guy." Nessiod. He files the name away.

"Beer also helps." He says.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

The disengagement from prospective escalation is regarded with further silence, as the Crimson Noble's greeting is itself a bit late to be responded to.

...
Ethius' eyes seem to try and avert any gaze of Fei's that last longer than half a second. About the third time Fei looks back, Ethius brings his right hand up against his forhead as if to block out the sight under the cover of being one of his most reused canned animations (it is, in fairness).
"So it has," he at last responds to her, coolly and without the warmth in one's voice one might have for a well-liked acquaintance. (He sounds that way with virtually everone.)
He listens to the explanation in peace. Old Petra, a so-called Demon of Elru... is that worth looking into, after...
After...
After...?
...
He can't complete the thought. He knows there is something at the end of that sentence. He can't put it together, as that disconcerting gaze of his appraises Riesenlied's own to whatever standards this man must operate upon.
"Yes. I believe this location is unsecure," he seems in agreement, if not in an agreeable fashion, that much could be agreed with.

Fei Fong Wong has reconnected.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"The Demon of Elru..." Jacqueline murmurs, concerned. She'd thought that was just a myth...but it had really happened? She wasn't sure what to say.

Upon noticing Riesenlied shrink back, away from Ethius and Fei, Jacqueline moves in a bit closer, hoping to act as a bit of a shield. She doubted that either of them would try anything, but it was more for Riesenlied's sake than anything.

"Oh, Riesenlied...I'm so sorry to hear that..." Jacqueline murmurs, concerned. There wasn't really much she could do for her in that regard...but for now, she nods toward Noeline.

"Yes...that'd probably be a good idea..." She agrees.

Zed - or rather, Guy S. Trick(?) - attempts to reassure Riesenlied, and Jacqueline could only hope that was true.

"I think there's someplace safe nearby...not a lot of people have been stopping by. It'd probably be best to get in out of the crowds." Jacqueline offers.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Without worrying too much about who might be seeing them or even what the ragtag band must look like - after all, ragtag bands are pretty common around Lacour right now - the vampire leads the little group back towards the Lacour Grande, one of the nicer hotels around the middle green of the city.

"This will do," she nods to Jacqueline - and indeed, the minute they're inside Noeline seems to relax significantly, as if this is some kind of home base for her. The way she directs Riese to a long seat in the corner certainly implies she already knew the quiet spot was there.

Gently, she helps the Tainted commander seat herself, and a brief and prideful glance over at the innkeeper seems to make the man melt away as if he were never there, retreating to the kitchen to arrange something soothing for Riesenlied's sake. Those must have been some favours you called in, Noeline.

"I am roughly aware of the state of things now," she nods towards-- the reporter, meeting his tone with a surprisingly serious one by her standards. "I did spend some time putting out feelers, and checking what exactly happened in the aftermath of Old Petra. Still-- even with the silver linings involved, it is not a pretty picture."

She pauses, as Fei comments, and even glances for a moment at Riesenlied's face as she judges that. Relaxants have worked so far, after all... but she tamps down the thought, not exactly trusting Riese to be anything but a maudlin drunk.

"I was at Old Petra when it fell. I can relate the story - but suffice it to say that Riesenlied attempted to understand the Demon's ire, and this is the result," she instead reports, looking between Jacqueline and Ethius with a furrowed brow. She's clearly uncertain whether to tell them this, but-- at the same time, there is respect back there somewhere. "I do not know that it is anything that a curative would help with - it is more a matter of time, I suspect, and rest." Fei Fong Wong has partially disconnected.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Indeed, in the last week, between Noeline, Zed and the Ebony Wings' efforts, the damage was not as severe as one would've expected. They are scattered, their home burnt to the ground... but they will live on, both the Tainted and the Metal Demons, with varying levels of reactions to the attack. There are those that swear vengeance and have their hatred stoked anew. There are those who have mixed, confused reactions, like Sibyn, who never expected she'd have to work with humans. And there are the Tainted, who are used to taking such lumps... and they will live on, no matter what, used to a world that does not welcome their presence.

But there are still plenty of those that were plainly crushed under Id's wake, and try as she might, as much as she must carry on... Riesenlied must carry the torch for those who cannot see the lighting of the candle in the dark, to the next day.

Riesenlied does seem to adequately settle down when Noeline leads her and the others back to the hotel, like the familiar trappings have now become associated with something resembling safety. She doesn't comment on beer helping her situation out, though.

"... you should be aware, yes, of the man... 'Id', he called himself," Riesenlied warns both Ethius and Jacqueline, though it's with an uncomfortable gaze that she turns her head back to Fei for a reason she... doesn't know why. Perhaps out of some respect for him, given how uncomfortable he was...

"He did not seem particularly attached to anyone but himself... so it would not surprise me if he attacked other human settlements too..." she murmurs very softly. She shakily sighs and lowers her head further. "Yes, I tried to commune with him... but it was too much for me. Yet it was the only way we had on hand to buy time..." [OOC] Noeline says, "noeline totally has riese pegged as a weepy drunk"

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"C...can we stop talking about that guy?" Fei says, a touch on edge. "He makes me kinda...I mean....it's not gonna do any good. It's like yelling Lahan repeatedly at me." He guess it's something she does want to talk about or, at least feels its important to talk about. He personally just feels an instant revulsion towards this being. Someone who destroys cities for fun?? Only a monster would do that. "I mean...I guess if he's something you expect to be a problem again...but he doesn't sound healthy."

He is compelled to stick with the group anyway. He is not sure its he himself moving his body. "How did you uh..." He pauses. "How did you know he was this...demon of elru character."

His left hand twitches faintly.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Ethius seems content to hold position and listen, as he keeps that hand against his forehead as to better block out any intermittent gazes from a young man who grows increasingly irate and unsteady about the subject in question.

The half of his own gaze visible from under the hand affixed to his head might convey just as much curiosity as to whether or not this information should be spoken about freely. Noeline's concerns are valid - what if this guy turns around and decides to melt something incredibly inconvenient for all involved with this information... again?
He takes an instinctive step back away from Fei. He's not certain why. Maybe he thought he heard someone else approaching from that direction?
"This does not sound a line of questioning worth pursuing in the open," he says. Somewhere in that heart of his, shouldn't he at least convey some degree of sympathy or concern for Riesenlied's well-being, like Jay over there has been?

[OOC] Ethius Hesiod says, "sorry for wait there again too"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline follows the others to the hotel Noeline selected and seats herself once they find a spot that Noeline and Riesenlied seem to have been familiar with.

She's quiet as the two of them recount the situation. She's forming a picture in her head of the situation.

"...I see. Thank you, I'll be careful." Jacqueline replies with a nod. He sounded dangerous. A wild card, in an already precarious situation.

"Well...if you think of anything I have that might help, let me know. I don't necessarily know if they'd work for you, but I do have potions to help people sleep..." Jacqueline offers.

She glances to Fei then, who seems...a bit put off by the topic at hand. She could understand that, it was a little concerning to her, too.

She glances toward Ethius for a moment. Honestly...this was pretty much what she expected out of him. All business.

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

"Hrmph," Guy S. Trick harrumphs, oozing out onto a spare chair like he was some exotic form of liquid metal. "I don't know, miss winged lady. Don't you think that there might have been some other way that guy could have been distracted? Maybe by throwing a certain dashingly caped super-star at him?" Seriously! That AWESOME SUPER ROBOT probably could have distracted him for... A... few... seconds? Maximum? Maybe?

Beat.

"Well," he sighs. "I do kind of wish you sacrificed... Something other than your peace of mind and psychological stability. Those are things that are kind of hard to replace, and are in very short supply these days. Arms and legs can always be replaced, you know?"

Beat.

"Mmmn, well, no use complaining or dwelling on the past. All that can be done now is to go into the future and try to solve the problems of the present. And for that, I... May have a solution. Something to clear your mind, to wipe it clean of all unnecessary thoughts...!" Guy S. Trick crosses his arms, firmly. "But I will need a projector and a screen. Hmn."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline remains close to Riesenlied, an arm practically around her. It's a marked difference to her usual flighty, upbeat nature - she is calmer now, certainly, but also undeniably worried and affectionate in equal measure to the other demon who's gone through a great deal as of late.

"... my apologies," she admits towards Fei, apparently quite genuine given the rueful smile on her face. "I suppose you could call it a necessary evil right at this moment. The more Drifters that know of him, the safer the surrounding towns and villages will be as a whole. A trouble shared is a trouble halved, and all that - or rather, you can't prepare without knowing there's something to be prepared /for/."

She studies Ethius once more, her crimson eyes glancing over his form - before she huffs out an amused breath, her grin bolstering itself once more. "That is an odd thing to be concerned about, after what happened at the Exhibition in broad daylight, hm? In any case-- I trust the innkeeper here, and he owes me somewhat. We are fine enough here - and besides, it isn't as if we have a great deal of options right at this moment, hm? We shall simply have to take it on trust," she hums, showboating ever so slightly as she tilts her head... though, given how cagey she often is, saying it so bluntly probably means it's true.

"Sedatives would certainly help, I dare say. In fact-- if you were the one who supplied a certain Miss Kiel, as I suspect you might be, then another bottle of that would probably work some minor wonders," Noeline points out after a moment, nodding her head towards Jacqueline before she addresses the other demon across from them, apparently unperturbed about showing her affection so openly. Is this-- a level up? "... she is on the mend," she notes firmly, perhaps trying to remind herself than tell Zed. "It is just a long and slow process. I brought her here in hopes that company would help."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied looks rather deeply shy and intimidated as Fei requests that she stops -- she nods very slowly with a sigh, though he asks her another question. "I'm, I'm sorry." She places her hand to her forehead, shivering just a little bit as she murmurs, "... seven years ago, in Elru... I was deeply involved in one of the kingdoms that held military dominance there, Garlyle. It disappeared overnight, however -- in a red flash that is very reminiscent of Old Petra... It is one of the reasons I came to Ignas in the first place -- in pursuit of rumors that Garlyle survived, as well as to... prevent another repeat... ..."

She sags and lowers her head. "... to think that it would backfire so, however..."

She blinks a few times at Guy S. Trick, however, and nods rather embarrassedly at Ethius. What she just shared, she doesn't view as particularly sensitive information... it should actually come as more public a warning, but she takes the warning to mind regardless.

That awesome Super Robot was so tiny, too. :( It's kinda cute, though.

"A--a projector...? A screen?" Riesenlied looks like she's at a bit of a loss at all of this. She doesn't exactly seem to know what's going on.

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei Fong Wongis naturally getting further agitated because he can tell Ethius has noticed his looks and he'd really rather he didn't. He isn't trying to feel ill at ease or be otherwise feirocious. It is just happening. You can't trust the quiet ones, maybe. He relaxes ever so faintly when he speaks, though, maybe because he kind of agrees. He is also glad Barber will be careful but he's not really sure why specifically. She should always be careful!

He can't argue against Noeline's logic at all. Wel, no, she has a good point but he has a good point too. He doesn't really want to go into this further, but he feels he has no choice.

"I," Fei says. "Look you can't stop something like that. We can't even stop the metal demons...uh...no offense or anything." He looks back to Noeline. "I don't know what it's like for metal demons but people... Humans, rather. We aren't born with gears. It's nice to think he's working alone. Maybe he even thinks he's working alone..." He frowns. "But you can't work a gear alone. Especially not a gear like that. Not really. Someone built it, that red gear, and those who built it fully wanted it to be able to destroy settlements, civilizations.."

He shakes his head. "It's your business, I mean, I just think... someone wants this guy to do these things. Why isn't he just destroying everything if that's his goal..? It doesn't make any sense...but the important thing is, I'm worried about you. Just...promise when you're done warning people you'll try not to dwell on it."

He looks to Guy who is somehow making the most sense here. "I agree...you shouldn't have to sacrifice yourself for the masses. There has to be other ways."

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Ethius comes along. He forms the back of the group. At some point when they pass by another crowd, he pauses for a few steps to pass them a look.

As they all get situated...
"If you must insist," Ethius replies to Noeline. With half of his face under the bandanna, it's hard to say if he's got a coy smile or a defeated frown under there. Only the slight downturn of his head conveys much of anything in response to the grinning, quippy Crimson Noble. That's still /a/ reaction, at least.
His head lifts up again as he takes the part of the quiet audience as Riesenlied discusses her past history, the reason why she was here... and it does fill in some context as to what had happened when they explored the ruins of Lahan together. His eyes close. Back to his forehead a hand goes, as the subject transitions to speculation about the hows and whys and whats of the red Gear, its immense power...
"Hm." Surely, he has more interesting things to input about sacrificing oneself for so many others than just a 'hm.' That's a waste of a dialogue box. That's an extra button press that conveys nothing.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

A projector and a screen...? That...sounds like a recipe for disaster, honestly, but it wasn't directed at Jacqueline so she doesn't comment. She does, however, nods toward Noeline.

"I was, actually. Did she give you some?" She asks, reaching into her bags. She noted that Noeline had said 'another' bottle, so she took that to mean that she had. If that was the case, Lily might be needing some more soon, too...definitely would have to go meet with her again.

Eventually, a bottle is produced from her bags and set on the table.

"This is all I have right now. I usually don't keep the stronger stuff on me, but today was an exception. If you need more, you know where to find me. I'll probably be in town for the duration of the Tournament, unless business calls me away." She says. She had friends to cheer on, after all, among other business.

She listens to Riesenlied as she explains her history, and Fei as he makes a...very valid point, actually, though she hadn't realized this 'Demon of Elru' had been in a Gear.

"And, yes...that was very noble of you, Riesenlied, but...and I hope this doesn't sound too mean... think about what it does to those who need you. It seems there are a lot of people who look up to you for leadership."

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

W-what is this. What is this, Noel? You are being unrepentently cuddly with Riese, Noel. Well, that's fine. That's fine too! Love and hate in equal measure, that's the way to do it! But that's a digression. Guy S. Trick simply nods at the questions, nods through the reassurances. "Yes, on the mend indeed. But an injured soldier needs medicine, yes? And I just happen to have medicine... For the soul...!"

His hand slides inside his FASHIONABLE BODY SUIT.

And extracts... A DISK!?

"FRESH FROM OUR MUTUAL FRIEND, 'SPECIAL D.'" Guy S. Trick declares! "She guarantees that this will wipe away all those terrible feelings you're feeling, and replace them with..." He pauses, staring again into the middle distance. "Something... Else. I sort of zoned out after that. Anyway! I asked her, and she gave me this! So. Waaaaaaaannna watch?"

He wiggles it a little bit.

And waggles his eyebrows.

"Well. Maybe after this, anyway," he huffs, hiding the CD again for just a moment. "The others are right, though. I know you are very brave, and we all know that too. But there is a difference between bravery and foolishness! Well, anyway. Next time, maybe you let someone else punch the horrible giant monster in the face while everyone else runs away?"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

"... a collection of extremely fair points," Noeline admits towards Fei with an amused sigh, picking at some of her bangs before she flicks out a long tail of hair with a sigh, and decides to just divert her fussing towards Riesenlied instead. "There is-- a very great deal to think about, and I agree that there are very few answers at the moment. Unfortunately, we have had far too much time with which to think lately, and not nearly as much with which to relax. I do promise, I am trying to ensure that neither of us dwell on it too hard - it is just--..."

--well, she trails off before she can say anything more, but her quick glance at Riesenlied says it all; it's difficult to avoid thinking about it when her companion is currently a walking reminder of the Demon's effects. After a moment, she snorts in a good-natured fashion. "... we will try, at least."

"Ah, speaking of which-- it was glowing. Blue, I believe," she adds towards Jacqueline - and raises her eyebrows as another bottle of it surfaces, letting out a faint breath at the sight. "That would probably be a great help. If you don't mind, I shall arrange payment in the next while; I will send it over promptly."

She doesn't respond verbally to Fei's suggestion that humans can't beat Metal Demons, nor to Jacqueline's request that the winged woman be careful in the future; her only reply there is a quiet and internal smile as she huffs out a soft breath. Her own beliefs run counter to both - she's seen what humans can be capable of, and if Riesenlied weren't giving too much of herself, she probably wouldn't be Riesenlied at all. Nor have Noeline's loyalty nearly as strongly.

"... am I to take it that there are explosions everywhere in it?" she asks instead. It's a fair guess, given that Zed is the one holding it. This 'Crimson Noble' certainly seems to be rather friendly and knowlegable about the Metal Demons, not to mention aware of their activities - and yet, spent a great deal of time assisting Adlehyde in the aftermath, as well.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied knows that sacrifice for the sake of the masses would not necessarily solve anything. Yet, if it did... if it ever came to that... she knows that she may very well be tempted to, and it's a sobering, frightening thought in the wake of what both she and Noeline have both spoken of each other, for the burgeoning sake of their feelings towards each other.

Still, Fei has rather a good point. She hasn't associated the red flash with anything else, but to think that he operated on his own was rather odd... but not impossible. Other, stranger things have happened in Filgaia, after all, in the good half-a-milennia of history that has happened.

"... I--I'll be more careful in the future," Riesenlied seems humbled and cowed both by Jacqueline and Fei's worries for her. "I won't dwell on it. I know we have to keep looking forward to the future... for the Tainted, for those that have fallen... and I know... I know that there is a difference between bravery and recklessness. I'll... I will keep that emotion better in check next time..."

She looks towards the bottle with a happy smile towards Jacqueline. "Thank you, Miss Jacqueline. I know I can always rely on you... I hope your own ventures are going fine too." It's spoken with an undercurrent of the windfall she gave her, but she kind of just mentally winks t that.

There's a bit of a confusion at the CD, and this 'Special D', before she stammers, "I... I will be sure to peruse it..."

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

It's okay. Fei is used to the people he loves throwing themselves into the fire for the masses, over and over again. He understands loving them for that trait too. He understands it so deeply that it is deeply ingrained in his core. Little he can do about it but accept it and be a broken record. He hates it, though, he hates it. Can't 'people' take care of themselves, maybe, just a little?

No. Like Bart says, they aren't people who can turn away from suffering. That damnable curse following them, forever and ever and ever. Don't they understand it is no blessing? Too many lashes against one's back, against one's mind...you'll break. Of course you will. Why don't they understand? He's trying to help them.

"I should get going. I said my piece and I'm glad you're okay." He says. "Both of you."

He looks towards Zed for a few moments and adds, "Oh uh. uh... If you see Zed, can you tell him.." He pauses. "Thanks for the tissue. We couldn't beat his time."

He shoves his hands into his pocket. He wishes he could clarify his agitation.

He bites into his lip and turns to depart. At least he can say he tried.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Ethius continues to be mostly quiet.

He seems content to be this strange, out-of-place, foreign element that appears to contribute little towards helping a mutual acquaintan-- no, a friend-- through the trauma of seeing the repeat of an extraordinary situation. The vulnerability that comes from knowing it could happen again, the sheer powerlessness one might feel in being able to overturn it.
That's something some guy like him can never relate to, right? Do people like him even have friends? Can he comprehend what it's like to be able to confide in someone to this degree, even in the midst of racial tensions that appear to have no easy answer for anyone involved without the total eradication and elimination of one side?
He moves well out of the way of Fei when he so much even thinks of turning the direction of the door. There are no parting words offered to him. Ethius doesn't seem to even look the nervous artist in his eyes.
This may also be because his eyes seem to be on the disk, for the period of time in which it is able to be observed, as though that were the most interesting thing here to him.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline's...honestly not sure what that is. It could be watched, apparently, despite looking like some kind of disc...? Neither Riesenlied nor Noeline seems sceptical of the disc itself, just its contents."Of course. Take your time. I understand things must be a little hectic at the moment." Jacqueline replies with a smile. She had Riesenlied to worry over, after all, and she was familiar enough with Noeline now that she didn't mind letting her arrange payment on her own terms...something that most other merchants would balk at, certainly.

Jacqueline nods when Riesenlied says she'll be careful, then smiles when she receives thanks.

"You're welcome! And...they are, thank you." She says with a nod. It's subtle, but the thanks is a response both to her well-wishing and the fact that she made much of what she was working on possible.

Fei gets up to leave at this point, and Jacqueline waves toward him.

"Farewell, Fei. And..." They were being careful about disguises, right...? She might as well play along.

"If you see the Dragon Slaying Slacker, tell him I wish him luck in his next fight." She says with a smile.

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

"Hrmn," Guy S. Trick says to Fei. His arms are crossed. His expression is... Pensive. Thoughtful. And then he reaches out and squeezes one shoulder.

"The secret to the top time," Guy S. Trick says, "Is... Don't think. Do. Be as water. Water fills the low places, fills whatever container it is placed inside. It does not think. It does not consider. It flows. Do not think. Do."

And with that, he releases the shoulder again, and somehow, in the breeze, seems... Almost wise.

Or maybe that's just something he saw in a movie once.

Either way.

"Hmhmhm, no! It's not for solo viewing," Guy S. Trick waggles his finger. "No, no. I was told, explicitly, that this is to be viewed in a group of at least--" he waggles his finger EVEN MORE, now between Riese and Noel, "The two of you. The more the better though. So says Special D. I don't know why, but that's the way of things...!"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

"I still intend to take you up on that painting," is Noeline's parting greeting to Fei, her head slightly bowed; that seems to be all she has to add, because she looks back up to Riese to let out a slow breath. "Still... it may have been reckless, but it /did/ work to save people," she cautions, making sure to make the point with a quiet smile. "The impulse behind what you did - that is not something I believe was wrong. It is part of what you are, after all."

Jacqueline's comment serves to remind her, to make her grouse: "Really, I should probably go and actually see the arena at some point. On the other hand, I'm given to understand it's rather-- loud, this year. I can't say that I approve of the sponsors, either," she adds, huffing out a breath as she folds her arms--

--and glances towards both Ethius and Zed, raising her eyebrows suddenly as something occurs to her. "That said, I do find myself rather curious about how the competitors are doing. It must have been very bad luck that sent you both out on the second match, hm?" she asks of them both, grinning faintly in her curiosity. ... technically she was there to watch Ethius' match, but wibbly wobbly timey wimey.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

It's with a gentleness that Riesenlied rises very slowly and nods towards Fei. She doesn't understand that her gentle demeanor, that smile, that willingness to sacrifice herself... it all rends on Fei's psyche in its own little subtle way, prodding at his frustration of those people who seem to be so ready to sacrifice themselves. It won't ever change, no matter what she says -- like it's ingrained into her very being.

It's in her eyes, and Ethius sees that. A wellspring of compassion, a deep desire to help others that's only limited by her desire to inevitably martyr herself that must be kept in check.

"...I-- want to have that picture together," she whispers of Noeline, as she speaks to Fei, a smile on her face. "It would be nice..."

She nods very gently as she lets out a faint and bashful chuckle. "It was rather loud. I could only cope with one, before I flaked out... I was rather surprised at your grand incantation, Mister Ethius... but... I am glad you did not follow through with it."

Did she truly believe that the grand spell might have happened? She was definitely there, ready to concentrate herself into something resembling a shield of light were it to happen...

The disc, however, continues to be curious. "A group viewing...? I suppose when we do have time, then... it might be fun indeed..."

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

"I would be interested in this... viewing." Why the pause in words? When Ethius speaks, usually he says his words at a pace that suggests a comfort and premeditation that leaves no room for doubt or error about what he means to say. The pause is suspicious, as he brings his hands back behind his back - kind of like a soldier standing at attention.

Attention to the character of Riesenlied's eyes. The vulnerabilities, the way it moves. It's very... soft. It seems incongruous with a many number other elements concerning her. (He's one to talk! Er, think.)
"Yes. I must humbly accept my inadequacies before a superior opponent, in this instance." At least he's a good sport. Yet, those more familiar with the way he moves and does things would have pointed out just how many mistakes he made throughout that bout - and technically the next. One or two flubs in a moment of high stress, even for one of his composure, is reasonable.
He appeared to be consistently making /every/ wrong move towards victory. If Grondo Rawlos hadn't given up out of sheer exhaustion and frustration...
It might be telling that he doesn't comment about the grand incantation. What the hell was all that about, anyway?

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Admittedly, I don't have much interest in the fights themselves...but I have more than a few friends fighting in the tournament, so I need to be there for them." Jacqueline comments with a shrug and a smile. Come to think of it...she knew quite a few people who were participating in the tournament. But then again, as a merchant she knew quite a few people in general.

"Speaking of...I'm sorry I missed yours, Ethius, but there were some things I needed to arrange..." She says apologetically.

Her attention soon returns to the disc, though.

"What.../is/ that, exactly? Is that..." She was about to say 'Metal Demon technology', but catches herself. "Technology of your people...?"

That...probably wasn't much better, but it was more subtle, at least.

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

"Zed had the opportunity to fight the Grim Reaper," Guy S. Trick reports. "He successfully delivered another letter. Pleasantries were exchanged. Everything was better than expected, and it has only driven him to train harder for the next time they meet. Someday, Zed swears, he will defeat his favorite pen pal, and challenge Ge Ramtos himself...!"

"Zed Says," Guy S. Trick clarifies, as if he were some kind of walking steam-kettle robot with some kind of sealed divinity trapped inside.

There's a beat, then, as conversation turns towards the Mysterious Disc. "Hmhmhm. It's pretty great, isn't it? You read the data with a laser! It's awesome!"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

At least, Noeline manages to huff, a little bashful herself at the whisper from her partner; you can see a little colour spread across her cheeks at the thought, before she hides it with another flick of her hair. "Well, really-- whatever do you expect? Of course, together."

At the very least, the conversation certainly has moved to lighter things. You know, just as Fei leaves. Dang. "Indeed," chimes Noeline rather brightly in return to Ethius, a slightly theatrical response. "It /is/ fortunate that the whole thing is just for show. Anyone might think you were simply out to experience as many styles as you could," she adds, allowing herself a moment to tease. It isn't exactly an impulse she can naysay, anyways - or rather, it's one that she can understand. "You certainly left-- Arleph, was it? Well, he seemed rather incensed."

Zed's story just makes the spy sigh, though, letting out a breath. "Zed, somehow, I rather doubt that-- what was it, 'Lululu Wait'?-- is the Grim Reaper. If it was, there would surely be a great--..." she pauses, as Zed's litany catches up to her brain and a certain Guardian's name gets mentioned. After a moment's thought, she simply decides to clamp her mouth shut, instead, and grumble towards Jacqueline.

"I've always preferred books, if you ask /me/. A projector feels like much too much effort."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"... it has been a bit interesting to see the different kinds of styles people have dedicated themselves too, but... yes, it's just a bit too noisy for me at present..." Riesenlied nods, though she does wonder what Ethius is up to in the tournament. She doesn't exactly think he's up to no good, though. And in a way, she started with such crummy weapon like the bronze spear Ethius has, so it's... nostalgic, in a way.

"Um--" at Jacqueline's question, and at Cyre's answer. "It holds... a visual and audial memory to be presented to some flat surface, like a screen," she tries to explain. "We call it a disc. I do prefer books myself..."

She does not speak of Lululu Wait. It would be improper to.

"... but it would be nice to see what this D has in store for us." Look for D, look for D!

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"With a...laser?" Jacqueline repeats, confused. She didn't know what to think about that...but if it actually worked, that would be very interesting indeed. What kind of data was on it? How much could it store?

Fortunately, Riesenlied fills in some of the blanks, and nods.

"Oh, I see...well, I do enjoy books, but that sounds rather fascinating to me..." She comments. And as for the talk of the tourney...

"Lululu Wait...she's not a Grim Reaper, no." Jacqueline says with a knowing smile. She doesn't elaborate further, but it's clear she knows something.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

"It is quite all right. I would say you did not miss much." Self-deprecating, or simply factual?

Ethius takes a step forward away from the door, standing a ways closer towards Jacqueline as she starts to speculate upon the nature of what it is they're looking at. He now stands off a very short ways to her immediate right.
"Operation by laser, you say? That is most intriguing." Oh, he seems interested, even if his eyes aren't lighting up or... any other body language that one would expect from someone that might be eagerly anticipating what they are seeing! Such are the ways of the Technology Hunter, then...?
He doesn't have an answer for Noeline's appraisal of his nonsensical performance. The only winning move, for that moment, might simply be not to play as discussion segues about the supposed Grim Reaper, and eventually to how the laser-operated disc operates.
A hand parts from behind his back and goes to his forehead. "That is a very interesting descriptor, I must say. I would enjoy seeing this item in action."
Barely contained enthusiasm sounds the exact same as anything else he's spoken about.

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

"Hmhmhm. That Lululu Wait... She is far more than she seems, Noeline. I could see it. The great messenger of death that walked alongside her. They... They had my letters...!" Guy S. Trick clenches a hand into a fist. "Finally, after all these years, vindication...! Ahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!"

...

"So said Zed."

Yep.

"Well, anyway!!" Guy S. Trick sets the disc down... For now. "Yes. We should probably watch this sometime soon, before Special D decides that we're taking too long and makes something EVEN MORE AMAZING. Or... Or maybe we should wait...?" (DO NOT WAIT.)

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"... our people..." Riesenlied decides to speak briefly, given that it has Ethius and Jacqueline's interest, "... we do not use paper all that often, if at all. When we first came here, we stored our information in materials similar to crystal. Over time, we were able to refine the devices and create flatter surfaces for carrying purposes, like the disc you see here..." She gestures towards the disc that she's holding.

"Unfortunately, much of it was lost in the great crash when our ancestors first came down on Filgaia... even now, I am still seeking snippets of our ancestors' past, to better find out their motives and desires..."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

If Noeline has any comment as far as the possibility that her disguise might get ruined due to an association with other metal demons, she doesn't voice it - in fact, she seems to have stripped away all such worries in her concern over Riesenlied, letting out a relieved little sigh as the myriad of topics seems to keep the other demon's mind occupied and tugged away from dark thoughts. For a moment, she has to wonder if holing up with her was really the right choice, though it was probably for the best all told.

Besides, a Guardian's name has just been dangled in front of her nose, which obviously has piqued her curiosity; her brow flickers downwards in a frown, as she glances at a schedule posted nearby. "... I see. Perhaps I should have a word with them, then," she grumbles, folding her arms as she frowns at Jacqueline like someone left out of a secret. "I do have a significant interest in the Guardians, if only for my own purposes, and that particular one seems a bit-- inauspicious-- at an event like this," she huffs.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline nods in understanding.

"Oh, I see...yes, I imagine that would be a lot easier to preserve, though I'm sure it has its own problems. But yes, if it isn't too much trouble...I wouldn't mind seeing it in action sometime, myself." She comments with a nod.

That did explain some of her actions before, as recounted to her by Ethius.

"Well...I wish you luck on that quest. Hopefully you'll have some manner of success." She says with a nod, then glances toward Noeline.

"You might recognize her, if you saw her. We were all surprised to see her entering, honestly...even her." She says. Is it...possible that she's teasing Noeline, having noticed the look on her face?

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

"Hmhmhm, it's obvious, isn't it?" Zed nods knowingly, crossing his arms. "She entered... Because she could feel the tides of fate bringing our souls together. Destiny arranged for our meeting, that I could finally be made to see where I must still grow...! And the same, I'm sure, goes for her!"

"SO SAYS ZED."

Beat.

"Well, you know," Zed inclines his head at Riesen. "I'm sure you could ask that... zed... guy." Guy S. Trick winks. "Since he is also... Very old...? You know...?"

What... does Zed even remember from back then...?

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

"I see." Well, at least someone here is... enjoying, maybe... the pre-movie discussion about the magical ways of this amazing laser disk, a hand still to his head. He seems to turn his head towards Jacqueline as if to gauge her reaction to all of this. (Is he doubting the descriptors?)

It's sort of unnerving to take as a whole, isn't it? One moment you have this guy calling down a solar flare to utterly demolish an inactive Golem... one other moment a far time back he's ruthlessly executing bandits around the Sacred Grounds of Linga... and now, he seems to be a captive, well-behaved member of the audience for an impending display of an unknown technology while candid discussion is being had from the Metal Demons and a Maybe-Maybe-Not-Crimson Noble to the two humans that should be, by all definitions, sworn enemies on an issue in which no long-term compromise solution appears to exist.
He appears to have little to say about the fortunes of one 'Lululu Wait,' as though his mind were elsewhere.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied lets out a genteel nod and puts the disc away safely, before placing her hands together. She doesn't comment on this Lululu Wait any more than she did earlier, but she does smile warmly to Guy S. Trick to say, "I do want to ask this Zed more questions. I also want to tell him that I'm glad he's safe, from all the troubles we had at Old Petra... and that he had our back when we were close to the sudden presence of death itself. Thank you, Mister Zed, wherever you may be."

She reaches to Noeline and holds her hand gently afterwards.

"I'd... I'd like to lie down for a bit, after all of that fright," she requests of the Crimson Noble. "Thank you for coming to my aid again, everyone... I'm sorry to have caused trouble in this manner."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline-- Noeline has a guilty moment where she has to wonder whether Riesenlied actually has seen through Zed's disguise or not. There's precedent, okay, it's not /entirely/ a mischievously mean thought. Were Riese doing better she'd even voice it, just to see the reaction.

She relents, though, glancing aside to Riesenlied as she takes the other woman's hand in hers - and makes sure to collect the glimmering potion they've been offered as she nods her head. "Of course. ... we'll be in Lacour a while yet, I dare say," she adds to the group at large, because at the very least she's reasonably certain that Ethius wouldn't discuss their presence with the local guards. Ethius, in general, is not big on discussing things with /anyone/.

"As such, should you wish to come and say hello, all you need to do is come and find us. ... just-- perhaps a little later," she adds with a rather amused little huff.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Of course." Jacqueline says with a nod, and stands from her seat. She could understand how Riesenlied might be exhausted, especially considering the situation they'd found her in.

"Ah...I don't know if Lily told you, but a small shotglass's worth of that before you try to sleep should be sufficient, though you can go with a little more if things are particularly rough. I don't know how it'll react with your physiology, but if you've already used some before then I imagine it's similar enough." She explains, just in case.

With a smile, she nods toward them.

"Take care, everyone." That said, she turns to leave.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Ethius, wordlessly, rises up from his seat. Should there be parting words for the shaken, recovering Tainted whom has had to endure so much horror and sacrifice that seems to have no end in sight? Ethius' gaze is the same as about always. Expressive of little. Not even a show of sympathy? Maybe he could even say 'thank you for your time,' he's at least good at being overly formal, isn't he?

He follows behind Jacqueline, allowing her to take the lead.
In a moment of need, Riesenlied was in the company of several of her greatest friends, with the white-haired Symbologist remaining that bizarre anomaly - but the same could be said even in the company of the Caravan itself, couldn't it?