2017-09-06: Better Late Than Never
- Log: Better Late Than Never
- Cast: Josephine Lovelace, Lily Keil
- Where: Dazil City
- Date: September 6th 2017
- Summary: In Dazil, as promised, Lily and Josie reunite. Banter is had.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
According to the actual plans, they were all supposed to meet up in Dazil.
Josie had arrived here, about a week or so ago. Josie had found that no one else had been here. One thing led to another, sort of.
As a result, Josie is both not going back to November City anytime too soon if she can help it and has learned a bit about sandworms.
One of these things is probably more likely to affect her future than the other.
Which is also probably one of the reasons she swung back to the east.
Dazil, for those not accustomed to the heat of the desert, could be called a hellhole. It's hot, and while water is available, one can and will easily bake even in the shade.
Josie is used to the heat of the desert.
Which is also why Josie isn't outside -- it's the middle of the day, she's not an idiot. Tucked away in the relative cool of the bar, she is, perhaps shockingly, not drinking alcohol.
Penelope sits, apparently roosting, under her chair. A small dish of water rests before the bird.
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Lily, of course, was going to be late. After all, she had business back on the other side for a while yet, had people she wasn't prepared to leave... But a little late became later still, given the eruption at the war front.
But that was then, and she'd be the first to say that complication happens in matters like this. ...But apparently she's not the only one with a little bit of complication going. Already.
Lily Keil is outside in the midday desert for a time however, her ARM hidden and wrapped, her eyes carefully watching out for Aveh soldiers who might if nothing else recognize her face from the posters.
So might the people in the bar, as she steps indie, boots padding along the wooden floor, her dark hair tumbling down. Lily pauses, and the telltale sign of Malevolence does not gie her away. Little does except for a few people turning to look at the imposing woman.
But for her part, she just walks up to the bar and sits down beside Josie without saying a word to her.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
That part, Josie has heard about -- the commotion in the warzone. The details and whether anyone had gotten out alive, though...
Well, if there's one thing she (mostly) has faith in, it's in Lily's ability not to die too quickly.
...Though...
But in any case, at this very moment, Josie's thoughts are elsewhere, her gaze fixed somewhere in the middle distance as she slowly sips her water. Perhaps it's about time she leaves a message via the Memory Cube, or something...
Nothing alerts her at all, up until the point that wrapped-up stranger approaches her table and before Josie can so much as get out a 'hey?', the archaeologist has company.
She sits up a little straighter, her gaze first flinging off towards the barkeep, who she knows has an ARM, and the guard lingering by the front (and drinking, actual alcohol too) who must have an ARM.
And then, sidelong, she looks at her mysterious masked stranger.
And squints, slightly.
"...That you, kiddo?"
She lets out a sigh. "Next time, you should leave a message, you know..."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Information is one of the hardest things to get out of a warzone, after all... and Josie well knows that Lily's concern for her safety is not always the best. But she does have experience in that sort of environment.
Now, she has experience in being a bit of a mystery, and the shorter but still tall woman watches across the table, golden eyes set on Josie for a moment as she studies her--studies her demeanor, studies her condition...
And nods, if anything a bit amused. Lily spotted the probable ARMs on the others here. It's not hard to guess that she has one herself.
But she answers, "Good to see you in one piece, Josie." A beat, "Though you could've been here sooner..." A shake of her head. "I was busy. We were both busy, I gather. Kislev's been taking prisoners in the aftermath of all that."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
Under the table, the pigeon continues to doze peacefully. No fell presence alarms or disturbs her.
Josie is definitely ARMed. It's not as taboo to do so in this place. Bledavik, maybe; Dazil... well, concealed carry, but regardless.
"Same to you," she murmurs, lifting her cup of water as if in a toast. "Sounds like you guys must have had a hell of a time. Maybe you should have come along with me?"
She pauses. "...I did get here, you know. But it was really lonely on my own..."
There is no way that comment could have been meant seriously.
And then, Josie pauses. Sets down her cup.
Looks Lily over.
"...So when'd you lose..." She gestures vaguely. "'that'?"
She can't catch so much as a hint of Malevolence around Lily now.
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Lily is more concerned with someone trying to confiscate her ARM or otherwise give her trouble than merely with having a weapon... but the hint of one does enough to dissuade more trouble.
"You could call it that," Lily agrees about her time, but shakes her head. "...So sorry to leave you alone," she quips, and it might even be humor. There is something different about Lily generally; she looks serious as always, but less exhausted. Maybe part of it is the aura, certainly.
Lily reaches up and tugs the lower part of her wrappings from her mouth, shaking her head. "I had things I had to do."
She pauses, at that. "...I met a Guardian," Lily explains, in that Temple that was uncovered. I originally went in to drag Fei back out, but found more than I'd expected. The experience gave me a lot to think about. And that Guardian--Dan Dairam--healed me. ...Not before showing me what that aura really looked like."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
Josie shrugs, shoulders rising and falling in a manner that can really only be called 'a little overexaggerated'. "I know, I know. I meant what I said, you know? You had to be with your boy." She waves a hand, then leans onto the table. "Between Penelope and the horse, it was a crowd anyway."
She glances over at the younger woman. "Besides, sounds like I lucked out. Maybe it wouldn't have been too bad, but a warzone I can do without."
She pauses.
She pauses for a long moment when Lily says she met a Guardian.
White eyebrows lift.
"Really."
She pauses again.
"...Well, you're not really the lying type, kiddo, so I believe you. ...The Time Guardian? ...Fengalon's balls, kiddo, you sure know how to get attention."
With an overdramatic sigh, the archaeologist leans back in her chair. "At least that's settled. So, hear anything yet from our illustrious partners on this expedition? ...Without Mr. Hawthorne," and the Mister is not very serious here either, "We might be out of luck."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Josie's particular demeanor is a little refreshing for Lily at the moment, the younger woman weathering it without her usual sighs. ...Or not as many. Instead, "Yes," she agrees. She did have to be with Leon, for one. "...Yes, I can imagine. Penelope isn't used to having her own horse."
Josie says she lucks out, and Lily nods. "You did. Kislev deployed an operational Golem. I saw its handiwork."
But Josie pauses, and pauses, and lifts her eyebrows, and patiently the black-haired sorceress just waits, lowering her hood as well with a gesture.
"Not about this, at least," Lily opines about her lying, and actually laughs faintly. "How very you. ...Yes, apparently I do. It's... Well, there's a lot to explain."
She pauses, "It is, I think. I'll be continuing my research, but carefully. I'd prefer to have a counter for others in that position. However.." Illustrious partners. Lily shakes her head. "I haven't. And as I said, I've been busy. ....Fairly busy." Pause. "...I might've spent some extra time in November while I had the chance."
'Mister.' Lily adds, "We'll see. Apparently there are a number of exposed ruins from that general time period. But Hawthorne..." She shrugs. "I can't say. We'll have to wait and see."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
Under the chair, as if stirred awake by her name, one eye slowly opens. The pigeon blinks, sleepily.
And then resettles and falls back into whatever dreams Penelope might have. The Malevolence is truly gone.
"...I'd heard something about that," Josie says, frowning severely. "On one hand, I sort of want to take a look at it... but on the other hand, I want to live. So, it's an easy decision, actually."
Like hell, essentially.
Again, Josie waves a dismissive hand. "Look, there's fibbing and then there's lying. You're not a liar, you're maybe a... hmmm." She gives Lily an appraising look. "Class B fibber. Tops. Anyway, I'm pretty sure even if you gave me an explanation for it, it'd still sound..." She haves a hand in a sort of 'ehh' motion. "You're essentially saying you saw my gods, you know."
She pauses, then adds, flashing the younger girl a brief grin, "...Anyway, I try my best to be me."
Now settled back in her chair, she nods appreciatively as Lily goes on to explain what she's been doing. "To be honest, I've just been trying to make some money. It's amazing the way it seems to vanish! So, have you heard anything good? ...November City, huh."
Josie somehow manages a pretty good poker face.
"...Anyway, I doubt he's dead. He probably just found some pretty little thing and got distracted, heh..." She huffs out a bit of a chuckle, and outright smirks. "Well, if he's a no-show, I've got one ace left. There's a lady named Frea I know... but as I recall, she's not the most pleasant person."
Another pause.
"Of course, I put up with you, kiddo..."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Lily does not poke at Penelope. She looks at Josie instead at the frown, at the consideration, and then nods immediately. "It's a problem to be dealt with..." she agrees, "But I'm glad you aren't going to go chasing after the thing. There are other ways."
But then, Josie did want to study a certain other death machine, so...
A beat beore she adds, "Class B." Her voice is dry. "I'll keep that in mind." The idea of her not being a liar makes her skeptical, but she's more amused than anything for the moment. "I suppose I am," she admits. "I wasn't really expecting it. Truth be told it was a bit awkward, at first."
A beat, "I will explain some of it; some of it is pertinent to you, if you want it to be. But not now." She waits and actually chuckles back briefly. "You have to try? That's good to know. I wondered."
It might be a joke.
"...Money can disappear when you spend it, yes, it's a strange concept." This is about as dry as it gets. "I've heard interesting things in November City, yes. About horses." Pause. "...Been investigating a few things myself, and yes, looking for money. Money, and Gear enhancements."
Josie doubts he's dead, and Lily rolls her eyes. "Of course he did. That man." She shakes her head. "...All right then. A backup plan is best. If it comes down to it, we'll investigate one way or another. I'm still on board."
Lily looks traight into Josie's eyes. "I think it's more accurate to say that I put up with you..." But she actually looks amused. A little livelier than she's been.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"That, and there's, what, two, three armies having it out? I've got bigger fish to fry, so to speak," Josie says, settling the matter with a nod.
Gryndille is completely separate from Sado, anyway! See, one is a death ARM and...
Huh.
Maybe it's time to reconsider that thought.
"Maybe later. ...Not here," she says, indicating the rest of what passes for a bar with a nod of her head. There's a couple excavators here, probably, judging by clothing. Someone from Ethos. A local. That drunk soldier. The bartender. So it's not that crowded, considering the time of day. ...Noon is a bad time to be out and about.
But still probably -- even if they're keeping it relatively quiet over here -- not the best place to have an indepth discussion on certain topics.
...Well, more than they've had.
You have to try?, Lily wonders, by the by.
"Very funny," Josie replies, briefly scowling. It's probably an act though.
There's only more dry to come, unfortunately.
She sighs. "...I only borrowed that horse," Josie protests, lifting a finger. "I can't help it that some kids caused a ruckus at the time." She does blink, though. "...Gear parts, huh? Sounds like you might have scored big. ...Well, if that's the case, we've got time to kill until Hawthorne stops chasing girls."
Actually, she's not so certain that is what's got him tangled up...
"We'll just play it by ear for now. So, Leon, is he okay? ...What about the Yggdrasil? I think they were taking care of something of mine. Come to think of it, I should see if I can track down Shalune, if I've got time to spare."
There's something she's had in mind, and maybe that girl can give her a (literal) hand.
At which point Lily looks her RIGHT IN THE EYES.
And Josie... just grins. Cheerfully as ever.
"You wouldn't be the first one to say that~"
Lily's certainly in high spirits, she notes in passing.
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
"Mm," Lily agrees. She doesn't want to continue that subject much anyway, and since Josie's settled it, Lily lets it rest anyway. Gryndille, well...
Maybe that's part of what gets Lily thinking, maybe it's not.
"I already expect trouble," Lily admits. "Anyone listening can hear my accent, and that's a problem of its own here." It's not tht crowded, but this isn't a good place for many discussions at all. Even what they've had, yes, is likely more than it needs to be...
It's fine.
"Was it?" Lily remarks back at that scowl, lightly. But she waits through that sigh and shrugs. "It doesn't really matter. It's just logistics for a little while. Though I almost imagine you're starting to get fond of horses."
A beat, "I did. I'll show it to you next time we get a chance; I'm planning to see what I can do with it." Lily is a little biased; Noah gave her that... nickname, of his, after all...
"Leon's fine," Lily says. "We both have a lot to do, but I haven't spent that much time away from him. ...Maybe more than I'd like." A pause. "I can help you track Shalune, probably. And the Yggdrasil made it through intact."
Another thing for eavesdroppers to pick up on.
Josie thogh... Josie grins, and Lily rolls her eyes. "I know I wouldn't be. I know you well enough already." ...But she doesn't mind. Josie's note is accurate, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
Lazily, Josie gives Lily a thumbs-up. "Then it sounds like a plan. We'll see what we can do about our little income problem, and play it by ear until the boys decide to show up, or drop a line, or whatever. Deal?"
And she can see about those metal chunks from Rephaim in the meantime.