2017-09-08: The Shepherd's Squires

From Dream Chasers
Jump to navigation Jump to search 
========================<* November City - Hotel Renais *>========================

Hotel Renais is one of the largest hotels in November City. It is not the most posh, though. It is dedicated to moving a lot of business, and welcomes Drifters as a rule. The inside of the lobby looks nice enough, with wood paneling and gilded decor. The chairs and couches are plentiful. However, a dozen armed men patrol and keep a close watch to discourage barfights.

The rooms are spacious and welcoming, and enjoy luxuries only dreamed of in other parts of Ignas. Hot water and baths can give someone everything they need to have a little time to themselves, and some rooms even have small refrigerators.

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzRqtW1C0Zo

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

All things considered, Sorey was glad they had a nicer hotel to stay in right now.

This was mainly due to the fact that the weather In November could be quite oppressive - being out in the midst of the badlands meant that the heat was considerable, and while his bond with his Seraph friends could help him to ignore the temperature to a certain extent... well that didn't mean it was entirely pleasant. So spending a bit of extra for one of the nicer hotels was an excellent expensive, at least to his eyes.

It was also easier on the books he'd been picking up around the city - Sorey had been on another intensive study spree in learning about November and the history of the city, although he'd run into some pushback from people who felt he was being a little too curious. Being the positive type, he had committed to winning the trust of the locals so he could find out more about the area.

And then there were other things that they needed to take care of. As his discussion with Lailah recently had attested to. And thus Sorey had asked Rose and Alisha to swing by and chat when they had some time. They had discussed the entire situation involving Squires in the past, and now it was time to see what the two ladies had decided. And so Sorey waits, looking out the window at the unusual city spread out before the hotel, with Mikleo manning the door for when Alisha and Rose finally arrive. 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha is, likewise, glad to have some nice rooms to stay at. It's not the sort of luxury that she is used to. Luxury in a Seed City is very different than luxury in a preindustrialized Ladylake. But, having some place cooler to stay does a lot for weather that is...

...well, far beyond what Alisha has ever experienced before.

She received the invitation to come talk to Sorey, and had few illusions about what it concerned. The fact of Squiredom was, in fact, an open question the last time they talked. She had discussed the matter with Rose at some length. She stops in front of the door to that room, beating Rose to it -- if only by seconds, perhaps.

She knocks once. "Sorey?" she asks. "It's me." 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
From within Sorey, Edna's voice rings out.
"You're really going to do this if they say yes?" She asks placidly, body language unknown for now. At least until she glimmers out and manifests nearby, umbrella resting against her shoulder and twirling idly. "Desperate times, I guess." A shrug. "Well whatever. None of my business, really." Just as long as she doesn't die, yeah? Yeah.
She glances at the door as that knock is heard. "Hm. You're up, Sorey." She steps off to have a seat on the edge of the bed, icy blue eyes set to just watch with only the vaguest glimmer of interest. What will they choose? She wonders. ...Well, not so much wonder, but... hm.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"SOREY!!!" Rose suddenly says, as she bursts in through the door, gunning right past Alisha. Probably a very sad fact for Mikleo if he was standing right behind the door.
The merchant is holding Dezel's hat.
"Did you know if a human picks up a Seraph's clothes, the clothes become real?!" This has been a grand reveal for Rose, who had been showing it off to Jacqueline earlier. She taps Sorey with the hat a few times to confirm, and appears to have put some candy in it experimentally, which the Shepherd is free to help himself to.
"So if Seraphim can just MAKE new clothes with their mind, couldn't we ask them for clothes and then take them for fashion purposes? Then they can just make new ones!"
"It doesn't work like that! Give me that back!" Dezel grumps, walking in behind Rose but not so utterly impolite as to shove past Alisha. Almost, though.
Rose sticks her tongue out, extending the hat towards Alisha. "Oh hey princess! Candy?" It's hard candy. Because it's November City, so of course the candy is hard and can break you.
"My hat isn't a candy tray!" Dezel protests.
"Well it is now," Rose insists.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lailah has posed.

After Lailah and Sorey's talk recently, she was feeling even better about Rose and Alisha becoming squires. Even if there were doubts from everyone, she knew deep down that ultimately having them on their side would prove to be beneficial to the team and they wouldn't be forced to just sit back and watch things at times. Even though they both seemed eager to hop right into things, there were still limitations on their abilities. Having them become squires would give the team a boost, especially when it came to fighting malevolence.

This evening, Lailah is here, quietly dwelling inside the Shepherd. She knew that he had called the two women to a meeting tonight and she was anxious to hear what their thoughts were and how they felt about things. It had been a little while since the information was first given and even though a lot had happened with the move to November City it seemed like a good time for this meeting to take place.

Beforehand, Lailah had done her best to reassure Sorey. What ever decision was made, it wouldn't change anything. They were still going to be working together for the time being and should things ever change they could take it day by day. Edna's response makes Lailah sigh a little, "Edna, I am sure they are considering all the possibilities."

And then Alisha, Rose and Dezel show up. For the moment, the fire-seraph is silent, allowing Sorey to greet them and give them the reason for the meeting. She does laugh a little at Rose and Dezel's exchange though. 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Well, there was a chance that this would be a calm, solemn occasion where they devote themselves to fighting evil and defeating Hellions.

Thankfully Rose does away with that possibility in about ten seconds flat as she bowls Mikleo over and rushes into the room with Dezel's hat in hand. Sorey just blinks for a moment as he looks at her, and then stands a bit taller so he can see Alisha where she is left standing at the door. "Hi Alisha! Come on in! ...and maybe help Mikleo up while you're at it...?"

"...help, I've been run over by an out of control merchant...!" Mikleo grumbles from near to the entryway.

"Well, Dezel doesn't have his hat now, so clearly they don't just create new clothing. I remember when Mikleo and I helped make some of our clothing back home, so it's not like it's any easier than the rest of us making something to wear." Sorey sounds amused by the entire thing, although he does listen to the exchange between Lailah and Edna in his head. He does reply silently to Edna, however: "We don't know what the future will hold, but if all of us are stronger together, then we might be able to achieve things we couldn't dream of separately." Left unsaid is the impossible challenge Sorey had taken up - freeing Edna's brother from his dragonization.

But Sorey grins (and steals a piece of candy out of Dezel's hat) before he walks over away from the room. "Now that we've got some free time, I wanted to talk to you both about what we'd discussed before - about the possibility of both of you becoming Squires."

He leaves it at that, waiting to see just what thoughts that prompts from the two of them. 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
Edna is silent for a time, even as Rose bursts in and runs over poor, sad Meebo. ...And then there's a snort. "Really, you should have known, Meebo." She chides without much real weight behind it. Because this amuses her.
Rose's revolutionary discovery is met with stark silence. ".... ....." Dezel already said it doesn't work like that. She's got nothing more to add. Though if it were that easy, boy would Seraphim make a killing. If they actually had a need for money, that is. Hm.
To Lailah, all the earth seraph says in the end is; "...Well, they're all big boys and girls. They can make their own choices. As long as they're fine with the risks." And nothing more. Now is the humans' time to make their thoughts heard.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
You deserve it, Mikleo! Not that Rose says it.
Or intended to do that. Things just worked out!
"Geez, with you and Seraphim it's like everything is always more complicated than it looks, Sorey!" Or is everything just too simple in Rose's eyes? Either way, Dezel swipes his hat back and puts it back on her head, likely only after people have gotten some candy out. He rumbles in the background, crossing his arms.
"Isn't there still candy in there?" Rose asks.
"Shut up." Dezel frowns. (Yes there is.)
With a laugh, Rose turns back to Sorey, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh yeah, that! You should know, Shepherd, the princess and I talked about it and we have a list of incredibly severe demands!" They did talk but not about this!! "Right princess?" Rib rib. Will Alisha hop into the joke or not? Can Rose stay serious longer than five minutes? Find out!!! soon.
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Ah--Rose?" Alisha asks with a soft yelp. She stumbles backward, surprised, and then turns to stare at Dezel. She watches the scene unfold with a confused look, and then a smile breaks out on her face. Then, she covers her hand with her mouth, and giggles softly into it.

She does hold a hand down, though, so Mikleo can help himself to his feet.

She stays quiet, though, while Sorey explains about the conundrum with clothing. She does, however, take a piece of candy and nod. She looks sideways at Rose, then. Her mouth is open to say more -- and then Rose strikes first. She flushes, before she looks back at Sorey. "S-Severe demands? I-I don't think--Rose! You cannot simply put me on the spot like that!"

It seems that Alisha is not quick-humored enough to leap into a joke that way. 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lailah has posed.

Lailah appreciates Sorey taking charge of things. In the end, she didn't really have a lot to do with the final decisions. After all, it was up to them to decide and Sorey had to pick out true names for them. Mostly, she just wanted to be here for questions and to find out what choice they ultimately make. The fire-seraph had a feeling that she knew the answer but it wouldn't be a far stretch for her to be wrong either. Just because she's ancient doesn't mean that she knows everything.

"Demands huh?" Lailah says from within Sorey, before quietly materializing beside Rose. "Sounds like you're serious!" She laughs a little and then looks at Alisha. "It sounds like you're not so sure about that Alisha." The princess gets flustered and Lailah looks back to Rose. "Look at what you did!" Her tone is playful as she says this. 

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Alisha, you're just too adorable when you panic," Rose smiles, in response to both Lailah and Alisha. Then to Sorey: "Eheh, but we did talk~. I'll let the princess summarize that since I'm sure she's dying to set the record straight."
Whoa, she didn't jump back when Lailah appeared!
Actually that just hasn't registered because she was busy ribbing on Alisha. Give it a few moments. Oh, there Rose goes, shuddering and glaring at the Fire Seraph.
<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Mikleo takes the offered hand with a grunt, and smiles at Alisha. "At least one of you two isn't apt to run me over just for being there," he states with a good natured grouse, before going to lean against a nearby wall. He tend to avoid chairs, mainly because being sat on is awkward to say the least.

Of course, Sorey has learned that Rose has a tendency to... overstate things. Quite a bit. And also to claim Sorey had said things that he never did, or... well the list goes on. He's sure that Rose has claimed that Sorey favors a dozen different diners and bars already, all in an attempt to get people to buy things or to wheedl-erm, persuade the owners to give her a discount.

Merchants.

But the Shepherd does chuckle, and crosses his arms. "Well, as the magnanimous and helpful Shepherd, I suppose that I can listen to these demands in the interests of harmony and fellowship among our team. I will warn you however that my Shepherdly vows preclude me from making endorsements, manipulating any games of chance, or attempting to change the rules of nature in either of your favors. My non-divine wallet can also not hold up under an endless supply of sweets as well, Rose, before you ask."

He glances over at Lailah and winks, before waiting to hear what Alisha has to say. 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Being called 'adorable' does not leave Alisha any less flustered.

She takes a moment to calm down, before she lets out a long sigh, and then looks up. She peers between Rose, Lailah, Edna, and Sorey for a moment. She tilts her head to the side -- and gives Sorey a look, one that might say, 'Don't you start, too.' She finally clears her throat, though.

"We did discuss it," she says. "And... we agree that we want to help. And... this is the best way to help. I had thought, at first, that it might divide my loyalties. That I could have to pick an oath to help you or my duty to Hyland. But, as I have thought on it..."

Her eyes close. "...and, as I have seen the toll taken by Malevolence, I cannot ignore it. Malevolence poses as great a danger to my kingdom as war. I think, by being a Squire, I could help that kingdom even more."

She looks to Rose, then. Alisha smiles at her. "And Rose agrees with me, though I won't speak her reasons for her." 

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
Rose takes a grand bow before Sorey, grinning up to her hears. "Why thank you, lord Shepherd! It truly means the world you have an ear for our plight!" Aww man, but no unlimited candy? Good thing Rose can cover her own expenses, at the very least. Once Alisha finishes her much more serious delivery, Rose cuts down on the humor a bit, nodding.
"Well, I hope we can at least count on Mikleo providing frozen treats, that'd SWEETen the deal a fair bit!" A glance at Lailah, knowingly. Then a more serious: "Ah, but, yes! We talked a lot, about each other's reasons for saying yes or saying no. At the end of the day... after everything you've shown me, Sorey, I don't want the weight of knowing my actions might spread Malevolence or make your work harder. I need to be able to clean up after myself, so to speak... but more importantly, I can't let the world ail away like this. What I do in life, I do it because I think I can make the world a better place. This is no different! If there's something I can do to help Lunar - and Filgaia - then I can't let it go by. So I'm willing to learn to be a better person from you, because when I took at you and Alisha all I can see is people who're trying just as hard as I have been to help people, only you've found ways to do it that don't involve unnecessary bloodshed. I want to be a part of that."
Slight pause.
"Oh and also I want Water Seraph-based air conditioning."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
Somewhere, Edna snorts at Rose's reasoning.
That's comment enough as it is.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lailah has posed.

Lailah's eyes sparkle at Rose. "You know Rose, you're going to have to get used to this at some point, especially if you're becoming a squire." The fire-seraph smiles and pats Rose on the shoulder. "Then again, it's kind of cute when you get scared." She did wonder if Rose would ever get used to it but at least she's not in fighting mode when it happens anymore.

Sorey's explanation is a good one. No genies here Rose. It's kind of too bad though. If they were then Edna could conjure up all the mabo curry and crablettes she ever wanted.

Lailah nods towards Alisha, "It's understandable that you want to go where your duty leads you Alisha. I wouldn't expect anything less of you." As the princess continues though, Lailah smiles at her. "I am glad that you can see the danger as well. There are a lot of uncertainties, especially here in Filgaia and a lot that even I don't know as of yet." It's a thought that causes the fire seraph to pause.

Then Rose gives her reasoning and Lailah cannot help but beam at her. It was wonderful to know that her thoughts about the two women seem to be correct. "I am sure Rose.. Alisha... that we would be honored to have you help even more. You two have already done so much and this is just another part of what you will be able to do. To help protect people from malevolence is really what we're here for after all." For now, she doesn't mention the Lord of Calamity as she was pretty sure they were already very familiar with that part of things. 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Sorey is grateful that Alisha is willing to approach this from a far more serious perspective. While he wasn't opposed to joking around and giving a bit more lighthearted air to the situation, this was something he was glad to know that they had thought seriously about. But he nods once as she begins to speak, and listens with all due seriousness.

He listens as Rose picks up their common threat of reasoning for why they want to become Squires - to help make the world a better place.

"I know that Hyland is always going to be at the front of your mind, and that you take your responsibilities there very seriously. But I agree, Alisha, Rose - malevolence and the Lord of Calamity are something that will affect both Filgaia and Lunar, and it's something we all need to deal with together. And while I can't speak for what Hiro and his companions have said, there may be another problem on Lunar we will have to address once we've stopped Lucia and purified her of the malevolence she is carrying and spreading to this world."

He wants to make it clear that he suspects their journey won't be over when they defeat the Lord of Calamity - there are more issues that they will have to look into, to ensure that everyone is protected from the darkness of malevolence.

"Plus I've promised the Guardians I will do what I can to help Filgaia in the face of its current threat. With everything that has happened, I think that once we find a way home, our two worlds will no longer be separated as they once were. And the three of us will be among those who have built bridges between them."

He looks between the two, and then at the other Seraphim. "But I will be glad to have you with me. Lailah, what do we need to do from here?" 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Mm." Alisha nods her head, once. "Yes. We have a lot of problems ahead of us--and things that we cannot, simply, ignore."

The Metal Demons come to mind. The princess looks down, then, and one hand clasps her wrist as she does. She has Hyland to focus on -- and trying to figure out where Hyland fits in all of this mess is a problem that feels almost too huge to grasp. She looks up, though. She needs to focus on the moment, not on everything that could be.

Her green eyes look from Sorey, to Lailah, when he asks that. "Yes," she says. "Please, let us know what we need to do." 

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"I don't think I'm ever going to get used to that," Rose replies to Lailah honestly. "It's just weird! Can you imagine if humans could just come and go out of the shadows like you do?"
A pause.
"... assassins don't count."
Phew, safe.
Then, she replies to Sorey and Alisha. "Yeah, I'm sure it takes more than beating one Lord of Calamity to save the world. There'll always be more problems, right? 'Bad guys'. Metal Demons. Other invaders. Maybe new Lords of Calamity." How often do those crop up anyway? Rose hadn't asked, and Lailah hadn't explained.
Firmly, she nods alongside Alisha though.
"I'm also ready!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lailah has posed.

Lailah laughs at Rose, "Well, I guess I can understand that but still you have seen it how many times now?" She shrugs a little.

With the confirmation though that they are ready Lailah smiles towards Sorey, and she explains. "It's really easy. Once you guys make the pact, Sorey just needs to think of a true name for you. When he speaks it, that's pretty much it. I know it sounds overly simple but it wasn't meant to be a complicated thing."

She pauses. "Keep in mind this also gives you the ability to armatize, although you want to take that slowly as it's a weird thing to get used to." Sorey is probably somewhat used to it by now but for Rose and especially Alisha, should they try, it could be an overwhelming experience. 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Well, this was the moment of truth. Sorey listens as Lailah explains the process - and part of him is amused, as there was not really a great deal of ceremony involved. But that was also the same as what had occurred when he had become Shepherd - in the heat of battle, there wasn't a lot of time to undergo all of the niceties. Part of him had wondered if there might be any more... well, showy process for the Squires, but it didn't seem like there would be.

"Well then, let's get started." And with that profound, earth shaking statement, Sorey turns to look at Alisha.

Sorry Rose, but she had been with him pretty much since the beginning.

...

In a non-trying to stab people sense. Shush.

"So, do we need to take your hand, Lailah? Or... each other's hands?" Man that was getting really personal with the hand holding in that case. For Alisha, he already has a true name in mind. He just needs to let Lailah invoke the pact and that he can speak it.

Rose...

...well it's a good thing Rose is going second, right? 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lailah has posed.

Lailah smiles at Sorey, "Yeah. You should hold hands. It is the most important part." She pauses, trying to hide her amusement. "It's totally necessary." The facade quickly fades though and it's pretty clear that she's joking. As she regains her composure, Lailah adds, "Whenever you guys are ready though..." 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Armatize..."

Ragnell had told Alisha that. She isn't sure, still, if she can believe it. It doesn't feel like something that she should learn to do. The princess blinks, though, and she turns to look at Sorey. Her green eyes shoot to the side, to Lailah. She blinks her eyes once, before she nods. Then, she holds her hand out towards Sorey.

A moment passes.

Then, she cracks a smile. "Ah... this reminds me of the time on the porch of my manor," she says. "The first time I was able to hear the Seraph." 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
"Just think about it. Being able to combine with Meebo at a moment's notice."
Edna smirks, twirling her umbrella against her shoulder. "All his power, yours for the taking with the snap of your fingers. Doesn't that sound nice?"
But why specifically Mikleo?
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
Rose ooohs, taking a step back to watch what happens. She doesn't comment about most of what's said, largely to avoid disturbing Sorey and Lailah! Dezel seems to have taken more than his share of notice at the ability to Armatize. Predictably. Rose still wasn't so sure about that with the way Mikleo put it.
Maybe with Lailah or Edna to start it would be OK...?
<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

"Edna, don't give Rose any bad ideas." Sorey is more than willing to assume that Alisha would be calm and respectful of Mikleo's person, and wouldn't try to armatize with him for Cool Crimes or anything similar.

The Shepherd mentally winces at that terrible pun. Lailah is rubbing off on him.

But Sorey does smile as Alisha brings back that memory. Hard to believe it had only been a few months before. It felt like years sometimes. But he reaches out and takes her hand, and nods once. "Once we do this, I expect you'll be able to perceive things even better than you do now." He takes a deep breath, and look at Lailah. "Alright, let's begin."

And Sorey waits for Lailah to perform her incantation to invoke the pact between Shepherd and Squire. The ceremony isn't terribly long, at least not by the respects that most people who had sat through Althena's litanies and other services might expect.

And at the end, Sorey bestows the name onto Alisha. "Your name in the ancient tongue is Melphis Amekia." Alisha the Smiling. For the princess who would never give up in her struggle. 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lailah has posed.

Lailah speaks as they hold hands. Her voice strong and sure, "A new bud forms on the holy branch. Its flowers bring fruit. Its fruit begets seeds. The circle of destiny turns once more! Give life unto the will of the Shepherd, and let it be proof of their bond. Thy true name as a Squire shall be..." She waits for Sorey to speak Alisha's name.

Once it has been spoken, the power manifests within Alisha. It's not a super amazing show but she would likely feel that something is different. Her power has changed! 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Um--" Alisha looks sideways at Edna, blinking, before she shakes her head. "--I don't think it would be like that..."

The princess's attention, however, is soon back on the Shepherd. She listens to the incantation, and in a way, it surprises her how it doesn't take too long. She expected a sermon. Instead, it is rather short. Her eyes widen, and then she looks at Lailah. Then, she looks back to Sorey.

'Melphis Amekia.' She doesn't know the ancient tongue. She isn't sure what it means. She nods, though.

"My true name?" she asks. "It certainly has a ring to it. I am curious, but--ah!" She looks to the side, at her red-haired friend, and steps away. "We can celebrate and smile about this later. We should finish the pacts, though."

Because even if she made hers, she doesn't consider this done until they both do. 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Sorey would certainly be glad to explain her name if asked, but Alisha does cut in at this point and make the excellent observation that they should go through Rose's pact as well. Sorey nods once, and turns to extend his hand to the red haired merchant. "Whenever you're ready, Rose," he states with a smile.

He can understand if she needs a minute before making the plunge. 

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"That's a weird true name! What does it mean?" she immediatly asks Sorey and Alisha, because unlike them, she's an uneducated pleb who doesn't read a lot of books and thus can't decipher the ancient tongue. Maybe if they showed her a passage on ancient currency she'd be able to decipher it, though.
Though as Alisha steps aside and Sorey invites her over, she looks back at the princess in the way a child looks at a friend who just got vaccinated. Does it hurt? How long is the needle? Was it long? That's what her eyes seem to say.
Once she's in front of Sorey, though, she steels her expression with DETERMINATION. She said she'd help Alisha and Sorey no matter what and she's not backing down. "I'm ready, Sorey!" She takes his hand. "... I swear I won't hit you this time," she then remembers to add. Last time went well enough, but hey, you never know, Sorey might still be concerned.
<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

With Rose's hand well in hand, Sorey looks down at the young merchant for a moment. And he's glad that she's facing her fears of dealing with the supernatural, and is willing to take this step to help protect the world.

"I figure I can explain both of your names at the same time," the Shepherd allows, although he figures that Rose will agree with his name for Alisha. But Sorey looks to Lailah, nods, and waits for her to begin the incantation for the pact.

He can feel Alisha's presence now, a reassuring feeling as she draws upon some of his power for herself. But he can also feel a sense of support as well - while he is giving some of the Shepherd's power to her, she can then use it to support him to a greater degree than if he was just attempting it on his own.

Part of him wonders, as he listens to Lailah speak, if Rose would feel the same, or have her own unique sense of support. He wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, Rose was a rather... unique young woman.

As Lailah reaches the end of the incantation, Sorey decides that it's probably best to keep it simple. "Your True Name is Wilkis Wilk."

No matter what, Rose would always be Rose. 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
The moment Sorey speaks Rose's True Name, Edna's hand claps over her mouth and she has to stop herself from Actually Laughing.
Wow Sorey.
She valiantly keeps it down as to not ruin the fun. No, not yet. This has to play out a certain way.
For her own extended entertainment, naturally.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
Rose doesn't know what to expect.
Which is why it comes as a surprise when Sorey finishes and she feels... it's hard to describe. More alert? More aware of the Seraphim, in some sense? But it's not the same as when Sorey and the Trial Knight let her see Seraphim, it's... different. It's just different. And it might take her some time to truly grasp what Sorey's awakened in the two of them.
She takes a step back, looking at her hands, then towards the four Seraphim in the room. "Wow, this feels... weird. I could see you guys before but now it's like if I close my eyes I can still see you." As she closes her eyes, she actually notices something else. "Sorey, you too! ... and is that Alisha? Wow, I didn't think you meant you'd be connecting us quite this literally! It's kind of warm, in a way, isn't it? Proximity without proximity."
That's the best way she found to put it.
"So is that... is that it? Now we can help and support you?" Wait, back up. Rose pauses and rewinds. "Wilkis Wilk..." she ALMOST pronounces that right. "Cool!! What's it mean?!"
<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

"To be fair, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this... isn't bad." Sorey isn't going to complain about this sense of presence and support. He'll always know that Rose and Alisha are okay now, and they should be able to tell that the other is still in good health. That should be reassuring for them.

"Given this amount of connection... well, while I think that we're going to have a lot of challenges ahead, but I think we'll also be able to face them much more easily. Together." Yes, that strong bond of friendship and comradery. And hopefully it's something Rose and Alisha will feel with the Seraphim as well.

Someone else being able to experience Edna's sarcastic edge as directly as he could would make Sorey feel much better, truth be told. At least someone else would understand! But then again, being Edna's place of residence also helped Sorey understand that Edna did care, it was just in her own unique way.

And then Rose asks the question, and Sorey... is going to have to answer, isn't he? It did just come to him. And he felt it was right. But...

"It means... um..."

Pause.

A slightly longer pause, and then.

"Rose is Rose." 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
"........"
"Pfffft-"
Edna snorts, unable to contain her laughter anymore.
"-fffhhnmhmhahammhmah-"
And there she is trying still not to laugh but laughing all the same, it coming out like a low rumble.
"N-Nice to meet you, Rose is Rose."
Welp.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Yeah, it's not bad! It feels... really, it feels good. It's like that fuzzy feeling when a friend says he'll always be there for you, only it's not fading." Something like that. Rose is sure Alisha and Sorey feel it in their own unique ways. She wouldn't be surprised if Alisha likened the feeling to confidence, for instance.
Rose refocuses her attention on Sorey.
Her eyes sparkle at the promise of an answer.
Then she kind of stares.
"... really, Sorey?" she's not angry! She's more... playfully ribbing? Maybe their connection already lets Sorey know that she's, truly, fine with it. She just wants to prod him about it! Or she would, if Edna didn't immediatly chime in.
"Well at least MY true name is one-hundred percent accurate all day every day! What's your true name mean, Grumpy Edna?" She sticks her tongue out. "Actually, what's Alisha's mean? ... and what's yours, Sorey? Or is there some kind of... code about asking people's true names like that?"
"It's pretty rude," Dezel provides.
"YOUR FACE is pretty rude!" Rose retorts.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
"You'll find out when I feel like telling you." Edna murmurs after calming down from her little fit of amusement. And then she flops backwards, closing up her umbrella. "You don't need to know what it means to say it. So we'll be just fine."
Beat.
"And how can you tell if his face is rude? He's got a curtain over it." Beat. "...Actually that is rude."
They agree.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lailah has posed.

The true names are revealed and Lailah seems to take it in stride. "I like them Sorey!" She smiles at Rose. "I don't mind saying mine. It is Fethmus Mioma, Rose." She pauses. "It means Lailah the Pure." The fire seraph sees no reason to keep it from them and they had probably already heard it once or twice anyway.

She is silent, watching the exchange between Rose, Edna and Dezel. Then she chimes in, "Maybe Dezel doesn't like for pretty girls to see his face." Lailah laughs and glances back to Alisha and Rose, "So how do you guys feel now?" It's an important question! 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Rose is... Rose?" Alisha asks, turning to look at Rose. She bites her lip, then, and tries to not laugh. She doesn't manage that. Instead, she shakes her head, and wipes at her eye. "That... that does fit. In a way."

She gives Rose an apologetic look.

Then, she puts a hand to her chin and considers. "What does mine mean? I don't know the ancient tongue. Ah, I can guess at how to pronounce it," she admits. "But... little else. Melphis Amekia..."

It sounds pretty, at least, she thinks. 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

For all of Edna's laughing, Sorey is glad that Rose hasn't decided that her name is strange or anything similar. Truth be told, while he might have said the same thing if he had to come up with a name in the heat of the moment, Rose's relentless determination to be herself and no one else definitely made it feel fitting.

"A lot of True Names tend to be descriptive in one way or another," Sorey replies after a moment, although he does smile at the byplay between Rose and the Seraphim. I... don't actually have one. If I was given one, it was back before Gramps found me, way back when." And thus Sorey doesn't actually know it. Much like Rose, he was an orphan who didn't know his real origins.

"Alisha, your name means 'Alisha the Smiling'. Because I know deep down, your smile means that you've helped everyone you care about." She might not be someone who smiled all that often, especially when times were tough - but that made the princess' smile even more important, because it was a signal that the dawn was coming, and things were getting better.

"Lailah, thank you for your help. And Edna, thank you for the encouragement." He nods to Mikleo, who knows he's thanked, and... "I'll be counting on you to keep an eye on Rose, Dezel. You know how she gets into trouble." And Sorey gives the Wind Seraph a wink and a grin. 

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Really, you don't have one? What if your true name was actually Sorey all along?" Rose asks, evidently to see if any of the Seraphim or Sorey can gleam meaning into his name. She seems to take everything in stride, now that the dust has settled. She even laughs when Edna makes fun of Dezel's hair.
But if Alisha is going to almost laugh at hers, rest assured Rose will return the favor! "Well, princess, you'd better start smiling more often then!" Maybe that was less a return of the favor and more a statement of facts. Alisha really could use to smile more often.
At Sorey's prompting, Dezel nods. He turns into a bright green mote of light... and shoots into Rose. Cue flailing.
"WHAT. WHAT DID YOU DO? DEZEL!"
Oh. Oh no. She can feel his presence. INSIDE.
"DEZEL, GET OUT!"
"You heard the Shepherd. I'm watching you." he replies.
"OUT, OUT!"
"No."
"SOREY, HELP!" Whinewhine flailflail.
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Alisha the Smiling?" the princess asks. She considers that, then -- appropriately -- smiles. It is a nice name. Even if, she thinks, she doesn't do it as often as she did. She falls quiet for a moment, before she looks sideways -- at Rose -- and smiles. She nods once. "Well... maybe so."

And then Dezel vanishes into her. Her eyes widen for a moment.

"S-So..." She trails off. "...We can have you in us, too, now? You wouldn't always have to be in Sorey?" The idea doesn't bother her as much as Rose, clearly. She just looks between Edna and Lailah, thoughtfully. "That could prove useful." 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
At that, Edna stands up.
"Well, that's a job well done."
She dusts herself off and then smirks. "If this is it, then I'm out too."
Her form shimmers, turning into a golden mote of light... that shoots into Rose as well.
And now she can hear Edna's voice INSIDE OF HER.
"Hm. So this is what it's like inside of you. Hey, move over, Curtains."
RIP Rose.
<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Sorey considers this for a moment. "I think you might be able to manage if we needed to have a Seraphim use you as a shelter, say if there was far too much malevolence for them to remain safe, but I think Dezel might be a special case."

...and then Edna goes and proves him wrong but hopping into Rose as well!

Mikleo just looks at Rose for a moment. And he waggles his eyebrows in what is likely to be a taunting manner.

And then he too disappears, turning into a ball of light and zipping into Rose's chest.

"Hmmm, not quite as roomy as Sorey is. I don't know if that would be considered a compliment or not. I should bring a duster next time, clean all the cobwebs off the skeletons in the closets in here," the water Seraph states, his voice also echoing inside of the poor, brand new squire's head.

"...well I guess that answers that question," Sorey states, tilting his head to one side and resting his chin on the knuckles of one hand, his elbow braced against the other at his waist. "I can't really help you Rose, I've never really felt it was appropriate to chase them out, especially when they've been helping me so much." 

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"?!" Now there are two ghosts inside Rose. Oh no, THREE. The flailing intensifies.
"Edna, don't push people inside me!"
No wait that's not important is it?
"Mikleo don't touch my inner closet! I mean don't touch my skeletons! I mean don't touch -anything-!"
It gets worse when Sorey won't, or perhaps can't, help. Well, she'd better get used to this. Trial by fire.
"And what do you MEAN I'm not as roomy?!"
Just get her angry enough that she can ignore the fact there's ghosts inside her. She brings a hand up to her face, grumbling. "Sorey your friends are weird and don't understand the concept of personal space." Hello pot. Meet kettle. "How're you holding up, though? Didn't Lailah mention sharing your power might strain you for a little bit? Is there anything we can do to make that less... bothersome?"
<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

"Well," Mikleo replies. "A positive way to look at it is that you've got more going on in here than Sorey, so there's less room for us."

A pause.

"The other is that you have a lot more mental baggage than Sorey does." 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"O-oh," Alisha says, as Sorey is proven wrong -- and three Seraphim decide to live in Rose. The princess stares, head tilted to the side, and then looks at Sorey. She shrugs, once. She doesn't even begin to understand this. She looks back at Rose, and then she shakes her head once. "I... I see. That seems like it must be interesting."

But, Rose asks an important question.

"Yes," she says. "What sorts of help can we provide? I can feel--mm." She closes her eyes. "A connection, of some sort. Actually, I--oh!"

She focuses, and then something strange happens. She surprises herself much as anyone else, as she speaks -- but her lips don't move. Instead, her words echo out in their minds. <It seems we can communicate in such a way now!> 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.
"Make that a whole boatload." Edna chimes in. "I think I prefer Sorey." She decides, and at that moment, a golden mote exits Rose's chest and flies off towards Sorey, returning to him. Once inside, she sighs.
"That's better. Now if you'll excuse me..." A yawn echoes and then all is quiet on her front.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"I don't know if I should find that insulting, flattering, or both," Rose answers Mikleo, before noticing Edna zipping out of her and back into the one and true Shepherd. "Well I'm SORRY if my cozy abode isn't good enough for you!" she (playfully) barks out. She's adapting, even if she'll never be fully comfortable with this.
She then staggers back as Alisha discovers telepathy.
"That... must be really useful! Do you think we have to be close together to do it? Like what if I went to the edge of town and you stayed here...?" Something to experiment with later.
She looks back towards Sorey, waiting for his answer to their question.
<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Unfortunately the Shepherd has no answers. "I don't actually know, this is the first time that I've had Squires as well!" he admits. Really, it was new and exciting. Although Edna returns to Sorey rather quickly, and Mikleo reappears in a flash of light a few moments later, the fun having been milked from possessing Rose for the time being.

Sorey, on the other hand, contributes to a new and exciting aspect of exploring their new powers. "Alright, wait here!" he states.

And turns to dash out the door. "I'll try checking in once I get outside! And then I can keep running until we find a range where we start having trouble hearing each other!" echoes from down the hallway, and inside the Squire's heads as well.

This could be very useful, although it seems Sorey's enthusiasm has run off with him again.

Retrieved from "https://dreamchasers.space/index.php?title=2017-09-08:_The_Shepherd%27s_Squires&oldid=9113"