2017-07-17: Corgi!
- Log: Corgi!
- Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline, Maya Schrodinger, Cetiri
- Where: Lacour
- Date: 17th June 2017
- Summary: Maya catches up with Riesenlied to speak of strange memories... and a corgi is also present.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
It's been a trying day for Riesenlied -- she's started the day on a high note, getting quite a lot of things done, but... by the end of it, she's started a coughing fit as the impurities in her blood start to cause imbalances that've made her feel rather off-kilter. Jacqueline's medicine has helped, to be certain, but it's definitely time to retire and call it a day. By the time Maya Schrodinger happens to fortuitously pass her on the halls of the hotel they're both staying at, she's sniffling and hiccuping a little.
Of curious note: There's a super adorable corgi just going 'eeeeee--' and wagging its tail next to her, seemingly tagging around her. Aaa cute!!
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
As talented as the recently-recuperated Maya might be, she can't help out with whatever dialysis Riesenlied probably needs to return to the Photosphere for at some point soon. That's a shame. Still, she doesn't know that. And the last time they ran into each other, the blonde was in a helluva state, trying to find... some kind of neutral ground with the most sympathetic of all Metal Demons.
So, perhaps owing to Riese's faded senses, she doesn't detect the sunshine-coloured gunslinger until a gloved hand extends into her field of view holding a folded handkerchief. "Here,"
There she is. The Gunslinger of (Local) Legend, back in form. Strong. Healthy. Vibrant. Handing Riese a hanky. "You sound like you're in a right state! Did you eat something dodgy from the... from the--"
Nevermind, Proudest Gunslinger is now on her knees, trying not to fret over the corgi. Her eyes shine. Her fingers waggle. M--must pet... must pet!!?
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline has been giving Riesenlied a little in the way of space, but also doing her best to be nearby in case of troubles; from time to time this means assisting the Tainted commander with an arm and a shoulder, particularly at times like this when the blonde has been taken over by a coughing fit.
"... easy, there," the Crimson Noble comments gently, helping Riese down the corridor towards their room; every so often, her gaze flicks towards the little dog sneaking along at their feet, and she can't help but snicker hugely for some unknown reason - especially when Maya's attention quite obviously drags towards it in a big way.
"Ah... well, look at you," the spy grins brightly in return, her eyebrows up as she decides to take Maya's curious return to form as a good thing. "And I'm afraid you might have to excuse Riese just a little; she's had it a little rough, you understand. Still, that's true of all of us to an extent, I don't doubt."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied lets out a little gasp and another sniffle, rubbing at her nose as she looks towards Maya with wide eyes. "Oh--" she takes the handkerchief, because hers is kind of disgusting by now. "Mm... no, it's just--" A pause. "It's a sickness that I have."
She lowers her head with a little gasp, moving towards their room without even thinking, sitting down on a nearby chair that looks like it's fluffed up to become something of a nest for her to recuperate in. "My body is not particularly strong, even for a... ah, a Hyadean. But-- enough of me..."
She looks with wider eyes still. "Do you feel better since... ah--" she frowns. "You look more hale, Miss Maya. For that... I am glad."
The corgi bobble bobble bobbles over as it tries to dodge Maya and go by Riese's side! Snubbed?!?!
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya has no idea about the corgi's true identity, but hell, she's clearly back in normal not-a-reasonable-human-being spirits. As if the world were a storybook, and she one of its titular characters, and aware of it. "Wah." she deflates a little as the fluffiest little disguise prances away from her on stubby widdle footsies, and is back on her feet again in an instant. Adjusting her ribbon and cocking an eyebrow playfully at Noeline and Riesenlied.
"Well, of course I'll excuse Miss Riese. She was ever so considerate of my bad health, it's only fair to return the favor." and wears a smug (but pleasant) little smile as the winged woman toddles on over to her Cucco Queen Nest. "Yep. I'm back on my feet again. Can't keep me down for long!"
Nothing like the scared little meganekko at all. "What're you two up to, anyway, you come to watch the festivities? Hiro and most of his pals are in on it, so here I am to cheer."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Helping Riesenlied to a seat is second nature to the vampire, who is notably being a little more... clingy... than she otherwise was before, a little more obvious in her feelings and the distinct tenderness. That said, she does manage to leave a heeled boot in the way of the door, holding it open for Maya to evidently be allowed passage - not to mention the corgi with them as well.
"I had no doubts whatsoever," Noeline huffs, her eyebrows up as she returns the grin in kind. "That is the nature of humans, after all, to bounce back faster than anyone could think possible. Perhaps not quite so literally, at times, but you do look all the better for it."
"Well--" she puffs out a breath as she waves Maya to a seat; already on the table are what appear to be a collection of pastries and bits and pieces from the food stalls around the Arena, skewed more towards local specialties than general ones. "--the answer to that will depend on how much you're aware of Old Petra, and the goings-on there. Suffice it to say, we are doing our best to rest and recuperate, in general. As much as /someone/ might be incapable of it," she chortles as she takes a spot near to Riesenlied.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Helping Riesenlied to a seat is second nature to the vampire, who is notably being a little more... clingy... than she otherwise was before, a little more obvious in her feelings and the distinct tenderness. That said, she does manage to leave a heeled boot in the way of the door, holding it open for Maya to evidently be allowed passage - not to mention the corgi with them as well.
"I had no doubts whatsoever," Noeline huffs, her eyebrows up as she returns the grin in kind. "That is the nature of humans, after all, to bounce back faster than anyone could think possible. Perhaps not quite so literally, at times, but you do look all the better for it."
"Well--" she puffs out a breath as she waves Maya to a seat; already on the table are what appear to be a collection of pastries and bits and pieces from the food stalls around the Arena, skewed more towards local specialties than general ones. "--the answer to that will depend on how much you're aware of Old Petra, and the goings-on there. Suffice it to say, we are doing our best to rest and recuperate, in general. As much as /someone/ might be incapable of it," she chortles as she takes a spot near to Riesenlied. [OOC] Noeline says, "whoops sorry"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied reaches down towards the corgi to rest her hand on it, even as the corgi -- shivers and lets out a little 'mrrr' and otherwise... starts to pad back towards Maya's side. Wow, is someone feeling a bit jilted today? Awww. Or maybe it's just curious.
"... I am a rather difficult one to ask to rest ..." Riesenlied admits with sagged shoulders as she leans back and rests her head against the pillow. "Mm. Yes, I could catch you up to everything that has happened, if you were not aware...?"
It's rather rich to get the news from the Metal Demons themselves, but...
"But, ah..." she lowers her head. "Suffice to say I plan to... return sometime soon... to pay respects for all those that have passed away." She frowns, looking grieved. "... it was rather a... trying time."
An electronic-sounding voice suddenly chimes from somewhere: "Stop yourself, before you dwell in your own misery once more, Riesenlied." E-eeh?!
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
The billowing orange skirts and fashionable leggings are too irresistable for cute corgis, perhaps. Maya seems so mnuch more at-home and at-ease in here, she's taking a load off and sitting down without /immediately/ helping herself to the food. "Hmm, but this human is a little more bouncy than your average one. Naturally." she points out, a hand on her chest. Eyelashes flutter. "As for Olde Petra," how did Maya pronounce the e? Gah!
"I heard it was blown up. Kaboom. Gone completely. That's all, though, I was in no real state to go a-checking on these things. You'll understand." there's a pause, and the Gunslinger leans onto her elbow, a hand framing her pretty little jaw. "For when I'm forced back into that form, well, I'm a little helpless. Do tell?"
Riesenlied, predictably... tells. And Maya, for all her pomp and playfulness, listens sharply.
Her smug little smile remains, but it loses its damn-the-world lustre. Ah, that's right. Tragedy and war unfold, alien to this brave and playful heart. "Do you want me to come with? I don't mind, and--eh!?"
Where did that voice come from!?
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's eyebrows can't help but soar at talk of 'being forced back into that form' - she's immediately and obviously curious, leaning forwards ever so slightly in her chair, though perhaps it speaks to her respect for the Fiends and their associates in general that she doesn't immediately come out and ask about it right there and then. "I see... no, that's quite fair enough. Suffice it to say that you have about the right idea, save that it wasn't a human that actually did it, but something else entirely."
She pauses, for dramatic effect, and rests a hand on Riesenlied's arm. "It was 'Id' - a fierce figure of legend, it seems, that decided to come out of nowhere and vent his ire on the Hyadeans - as he apparently has done before." She tilts her head with a prideful little air, seemingly responding to Maya's playfulness with her own. "Riese managed to stop his advance long enough for the rest of the Wings to evacuate, at least - but it was a rather unpleasant thing, nonetheless."
Does she even remember who knows her as a Crimson Noble and who knows her as a Metal Demon anymore? Ah well.
She drops the talk of Old Petra, though, as Cetiri rumbles out her warning - and chuckles richly to herself instead. "Really, now. Even my tongue isn't that sharp when it comes to warning her not to get too down about things," she responds to the room at large, purposefully not targeting the little dog.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... a figure of legend..." Riesenlied murmurs very faintly, squinting to one side. "But, here he was in the flesh -- no, more than that." A pause... then she remarks, "I was in... a deeply troubled state for a while -- not dissimilar to what you experienced. He trapped me in a mindscape of his own doing, when I used that same light I used upon you..."
A pause, and a sigh. "I suppose I don't need to, but I advise caution on doing anything near a psychic or mental level near him, of course..." She sighs quietly. "It was a Crimson Gear -- with menacing wings, and he himself was possessed of red hair..."
Riesenlied blinks once -- before looking towards the corgi, who kind of... dissolves towards the metallic, sleek chic-black dog with a long, lazily bobbling tail. She looks up towards Maya for a moment longer, before remarking, "I felt my disguise threatened. She stared longingly at me with a gaze that spoke of the desire to feel fluffy fur, and I have none."
She sounds... /remarkably/ upset at that truth, actually.
"Ah-- um," she swallows. "This is Cetiri. A member of the Ebony Wings, our head of science, research and development and..."
The metal dog finishes:
"Her mother."
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya's eyebrow furrows a little at the idea of more than one joker running around with Riesenlied mind-rays. "A figure of legend? Destroyed it, you mean?" she asks, "And how the heck would /I/ get near them? I'm not like the Shepherd, or as strong as you guys. A human playing with guns wouldn't stand much of a chance. If I see a red gear with a red guy in it, I'm outta there."
"Can't say that name rings a bell at all, though. Id? Not something I saw in the history books..." the blonde rubs her chin and relaxes her frown a little. Can't go creasing that face, after all. "Ah, heck, all this world-shaking business.... I'm new to it. It suits you two a lot more than me."
Before Maya can try to divest herself of any responsibility to help or investigate further, the cute corgi dissolves into a Cyber Hound, causing the Gunslinger to *giku* in her chair and recoil briefly. "W--warn me before you introduce me to your mother!" she ... well, recovers nicely for that response, so as not to alert anyone listening in any adjoining rooms.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"To be entirely fair, it /did/ seem like simply shooting him could work, at least for a while. Humans and demons came together to help hold him off, I am pleased to report - as far as I'm concerned, it was quite the silver lining. But-- yes, we're hardly telling you to take him on yourself. Just a warning, after all - and the more who know it, the better."
After a moment, Noeline snickers quietly to herself, shaking her head. "That said... I've never really considered myself a world-shaking sort, and yet here I am. For that matter, there are many humans that would say the same, completely unaware of their role or the way they can stride across the continent. I suppose what I am saying is - do not put yourself down too much, hm?" she adds, flicking out her hair after a moment with an amused grin.
"Ah-- really, anyone would think you were jealous, Cetiri," she adds, her grin tugging wider still. "I'm sure we could make you some kind of wig, perhaps?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied looks startled and-- ends up in a bit of a hacking cough, as she can't help but giggle a little inbetween her fits. "Um-- I-- I'm sorry, I rather have no control... Cetiri, do please play nicely..." while pausing to dither to go, "No, I don't mean to sound patronising..."
Cetiri simply huffs softly, before remarking to the both of them, "I do not know what you mean. And you are still rather straining, are you not? Sit back. Rest."
There's a little furled snarl as the metallic dog hops up to curl up on what seems like a larger basket containing some pillows. Looks like even metal dogs have such a habit, as she snorts. Which is a heck of a sound, given that it winds up sounding like some FM-synth soundbite.
"... it is rather something to keep in mind, yes," she asserts in tandem with Noeline. "If I might ask... how did your recovery go? Was it a matter of time and support...?"
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
"... hmm." Maya glances briefly at Noeline, as if trying to judge whether humans could really, /actually/ hope to contribute anything in such a dire situation. The testimony is probably true, though, so she doesn't press the point. "So I say, but then, I seem to wind up bleeding for the greater good in all kinds of places these days." she fluffs her hair vainly, but by now, Riese and Noeline can probably see through the motion. A kind of 'I'm not a hero! Huff!' kind of play.
Anyway, Riesenlied looks like she's dithering a little much for Maya's tastes, so she asserts some control over the conversation and gestures gently towards the stressed Demon. "Anyway, relax. While we're here, we might as well dwell on something pleasant for a bit. If you're wondering about my recovery, time was one part of it. The other was realizing--hmm..."
Maya briefly thinks on the dawn breaking over a waking Lucia's form, and a room full of tears. Heartfelt admissions and bonds formed between strangers. A feeling of... not being so helpless.
"A fair few things. I'm not so worried about those strange memories of mine you tickled, fair Riesenlied. Even if they /do/ perplex the heck out of me!"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Leaning over, Noeline rests a hand on Riesenlied's back, carefully rubbing amidst the feathers and the blonde woman's wingspan for a moment. "... it is alright. I have no doubt that Cetiri knows what she is doing, and it isn't as if Hiro and his group have been anything but helpful to our cause, hm?"
"You will have to excuse Cetiri," she adds with a tilt of her head towards the bright yellow adventurer. She certainly doesn't sound like she's doing a lot of excusing herself, mind you, her smile vibrant and bright. "Or, rather - she is of a similar mind to Riesenlied, on the whole, but somewhat lacking in actual patience at times."
Pausing, Noeline snickers. "Ah, but at least you get to look suitably heroic while doing so, hm? Bleeding for the greater good is that sort of endeavour, after all. I've even done a little of it myself, though I do try to make the point to cut and run before it gets that far whenever possible." Her voice is light, but-- well, even she looks a little ruffled from talk of Old Petra, her unflappable nature slightly stripped away just a little.
And, again, Maya leaves her a tidbit, her eyebrows going up again. "Aah... well, this is very unfair," she grouses as she folds her arms, and promptly pouts to herself as she turns towards the winged woman next to her. "You've evidently been learning lots of interesting things without me." Huff!
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
As much as Cetiri grumbles, Riesenlied does make her way slowly up with Noeline's aid so she can sit by the basketside and -- stroke at her metallic chin for a moment. It takes just a moment... before she finally shivers and shakes, much like how a real dog does, complete with an electronic 'mrrr' noise.
Someone doth complaineth too much.
"... the Fiends are a good source to convalesce... it is good camaraderie," Riesenlied murmurs, then pauses as she lowers her head. "They have a strong sense of justice." The way her eyes cast about and down is perhaps telling, the way it rather sinks her down.
"Justice was never a word you liked," Cetiri comments.
"... perhaps not," she sighs very faintly. "Those memories... do you still have no clue as to where they came from?" A pause. "I am not probing to inquire for my own mind, rather, if it would help you...?"
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya briefly glances back to the Robo-Dog, and then to Noeline again. Her expression is carefully neutral, but relaxed. "Oh, I don't mind, surprise aside. Palling around with you two is an educational experience." it seems Cetiri gets something of a pass for now, if only because challenging the Lion in its lair is a bad idea.
"Justice isn't a word I like much, either." the blonde pipes up after Cetiri, "Means too much to too many different people, usually in short supply in practice." and then, a pause for Riese's sake.
"No, I'm afraid not. Now that I'm back to normal," a hands-on-hips grin follows, "I'm not sure if they're mine? They could be. I'm headed home after the tournament's over to see if there're any rooms under the mansion like that."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline knows better than to intrude on the mother-daughter... um... chin-scratching. Metal Demons have some unusual relationships, okay? Either way, she's not about to push into that space, instead just helping the winged woman over to the bed before settling back into her chair with an amused hum, ever so slightly soft as she watches the pair.
"In that case - why even use the word 'justice'? It is a word prone to being misused, after all. The simple fact is that Cetiri and the Ebony Wings are your family, and that is surely more than enough to symbolize what matters most about your connection to them," she hums as she makes the point, shrugging one shoulder as if to emphasize it.
The Crimson Noble might not be entirely clear what's up with Miss Schrodinger, but she can at least infer bits and pieces from the conversation back and forth - not to mention freely make crap up and run with it, as is often her wont. "Oh, almost certainly. It's practically a guarantee that a family with a manor will end up having that one odd uncle who chooses to pepper the place with secret passages and pieces of folly. Do make sure you lean against each of the bookcases on both sides, for a start." She's-- teasing, but apparently not looking to be snide about it, so much as just enjoying herself.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied closes her eyes in consideration... before looking to Cetiri. "If it was Cetiri, it would have been a pressure-sensitive plate... or, perhaps, with a voice-activated console." She leans back against Noeline as she follows her to the bed.
Cetiri lets out a rather rude snort, which, again, 8-bit sound effects, sounds like a mixture of adorable and horrible cement mixing. "Please do not categorise me under the 'mad' scientist label. Would you rather be here if I..." A pause. "No, perhaps it was because I was mad that you are here now."
Riesenlied blinks a few times, before sighing to Cetiri in turn. "... I'm glad you chose to be mad, then," before she looks back towards Maya. "Rather than secret passages... perhaps family journals, old friends -- that kind of search would be fruitful?"
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya scoffs gently at Noeline making light of the situation, but hardly seems peeved. "If I had any sketchy uncles, they would've been my first port of call. Nope, the Schrodinger family is down to just my brother and I. And a whole lot of books." she leans forward with a sketchy grin, following Riesenlied's passage from seat to bed. The cozy cucco queen, indeed. "But there's probably a secret passage or two in there."
"Good suggestions, but all ones I've tried before. Well, something will turn up!" the blonde puts a hand on her chair and begins to rise. "I'd stay and chat a little more about what I saw, but Riesenlady looks like she needs a nap, pronto."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
With a light cackle, Noeline shakes her head. "It couldn't hurt to see what you could find, certainly. After all, better to know your own home, hm? Otherwise, secrets do have a tendency to pile up. --that said, if it were me, I would try to make some kind of hidden spiral staircase. It lends the proper air to the proceedings, if you have to step down one of those," she sniffs pridefully, even as she rests a hand back on Riesenlied's arm, the gesture somewhat marring her over-the-top roll.
"Well-- at the very least, do not be a stranger. We will be in town a while yet, I suspect, and our door is... while not exactly open, certainly possible to knock upon," she comments ever so lightly, especially as her grin widens. "So long as you knock twice, then three times, then twice again."
Given the one telling Maya this, there's every chance there's no code at all. Fortunately, scenes can take care of that.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's a rather faint and put-upon sigh from Riesenlied at the two of them. "Really... I would not put any such staircase or hidden passage at all! That simply sounds terrible. One should be loving with their family, should they not be...?"
Cetiri lets out a little cough and mumbles, "... that is so." Riesenlied certainly looks the part of cozy cucco queen, the way she kind of pulls up in her comfortable robe and continues to stroke at the dog's head. "... but... from what you said earlier -- yes, if you would come... I would be more than happy to have aid in Old Petra when we return." There's a faint sigh. "... this is no matter of Hyadeans anymore. I would pay to everyone's respects..."
She quietly descends down onto the bed further, sniffling and coughing further. "... it was... good to see you again, Miss Maya. Please be well."