2017-08-10: Handing Over the Reins

From Dream Chasers
Jump to navigation Jump to search
  • Cutscene: Handing Over the Reins
  • Cast: Jacqueline Barber
  • Where: Adlehyde
  • Date: 08-10-2017
  • Summary: While doubts plague her mind, Jacqueline bids farewell to an old friend.

It was the beginning of a new chapter in Jacqueline's life. She had always expected her business was something she'd run on her own. That had been the plan, when she had originally set out from Adlehyde those years ago.

Those times hadn't been easy. There were times where she was certain she wouldn't survive. Times when she had been forced to defend herself. Times when she was forced to start over from the very beginning.

That was then. This was now. Things had changed since then. She was more experienced, more confident as a Crest Sorceress, an apothecary, and a merchant...

...If not necessarily as a person.

And this time, she wouldn't be alone. She had good, loyal friends who would be going along with her. Friends who were capable of such amazing things, and yet somehow were still alright with her leading them...

Unfortunately, however, there was one friend who wouldn't be joining her. This friend had been with her for sometime, stoically carrying her burdens...

Without him, her business wouldn't have gotten as far as it had, certainly. But with the Carakin operational, she, well...

It was rude to think of it that way, but he'd been replaced.

Jacqueline approached her friend quietly.

"You know...I never did figure out a name for you." She said softly.

A pair of large, soulful eyes stared back at her.

"Hmm...Gregory? Kurtis?" She considered with a thoughtful expression on her face. The horse stared back at her wordlessly. "...No, you're right. Those don't fit at all..."

She was in a stable, if it hadn't been made clear yet. It currently housed both her horse - still nameless, it seemed - and her wagon.

She reached up, gently stroking her companion's neck.

"Ah...what am I going to do with you...?" She murmured. It was something she'd given a lot of thought to, but had yet to reach any real conclusion.

It was at that moment that she heard the stable doors open behind her. Silhouetted by the light from outside was a short, mousy-looking girl wearing a pair of large glasses. She had been Jacqueline's employee...at least while Jay's Curatives and Curios had been in business.

"...Miss Barber. I...was told you were here." She said, shutting the door behind her. Jacqueline turned away from her horse, nodding towards the girl as she walked in.

"Heather, good to see you." She greeted with a smile. The girl nodded back. The two of them stood in silence for a moment, until Heather broke it.

"...You're leaving." She said. It was a simple statement. She didn't sound angry or sad, but Jacqueline couldn't bring herself to look directly at her.

"...Yeah. I...sorry. I...should've told you sooner, but...I wasn't sure how to break it to you." She replied, a bit sheepishly. Heather shook her head in response, then took a deep breath.

"No...it's alright. I just...wanted to make sure I had a chance to thank you. For...everything. I...still have a long way to go, but...working at your store has really helped me improve myself." She replied. It was a lot of words at once for her. Jacqueline was a little surprised, but nodded and offered her a warm smile.

"...I'm glad. You were a good worker, Heather. I don't think I would've quite been able to make it work without you." She replied, then hesitated a bit before continuing.

"But, you know...if you wanted...you could come with us. Lunata likes you, and I'm sure the others would too...what do you say?" She offered. This came as a surprise to Heather. For a moment, she looked hesitant. There was silence before, eventually, she closed her eyes and shook her head.

"No, I...I appreciate it, Miss Barber, and a part of me wants to, but...I had a different plan." She replied. She took another deep breath, a clear sign that she was about to say quite a bit.

"Well, I...I know the recipes for most of your best potions, and...I've been learning a lot about the business...so...so...I was thinking, with your permission...that I'd rebuild the store, and...run it. I've had plenty of practice...and...I know it's not going to be easy...or even particularly cheap, with the store in shambles...but...but I'm prepared. To do what I have to." She said.

No...it was a declaration. Though she usually looked shy and timid, there was a look of determination on her face. Jacqueline was taken aback. She stared wordlessly at Heather for a moment. Heather's look shifted to a slightly fearful one, as if she was afraid that she'd said too much, but it disappeared when Jacqueline offered her a smile.

"W-wow, I...I didn't expect that, honestly." She said, massaging the back of her neck.

"If you're sure that's what you want to do, Heather...I'll support you. I'll give you the recipes for some new potions I'm working on, I'm sure you can figure them out. And..." She paused, looking towards her horse.

Her horse stared back. In that moment, the two of them seemed to have come to the same decision.

"...And you'll probably need a reliable method of transportation. I have something better now, so...I'll entrust this guy and my wagon to you. Do you know how to ride a horse?" She asked.

"A little bit...but I'm sure there's more for me to learn." Heather replied with a resolute nod, and Jacqueline returned the gesture.

"That's fine. We can work on it. And, I hope you realize...this means the responsibility of naming him goes to you now!" She said. Heather nodded emphatically.

"Y-yes, that's fine. Miss Barber...thank you! I...I'll make you proud. When you return, your store...Jay's Curatives and Curios...it'll be better than it was before. You can count on me." She said with a smile.

It shook Jacqueline, but after a moment she smiled back and nodded.

"I know I can count on you. For now, though...I'll leave the two of you alone so you can get to know each other better." She said. After giving her some additional basic instructions, Jacqueline left the stable.

Once she was a fair distance away, however...her expression shifted, and she wrapped her arms around herself.

'I'll make you proud.'

Her friends...everyone...they were all so strong.

Would she really be able to do right by them...?