2017-09-10: Seraphim Are Basically All Jerks

• Log: 2017-09-10: Seraphim Are Basically All Jerks
• Cast: Rose, Seraph Ragnell, Amelia Rose
• Where: November City - Market Street
• Date: 2017-09-10
• Summary: See title x100.

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=======================<* November City - Market Street *>========================

November City is the greatest and the largest of the Seed Cities. When it appeared after the Night of Falling Stars, it was already a large settlement, built by the survivors of that day quickly. It has since grown enormously, appealing to people in the Badlands in search of some security and the refugees from failed and lost Seed Cities. Market Street, its main thoroughfare, demonstrates this. On the outskirts of the city, shantytowns and shacks pop up along the street, gradually becoming the larger buildings in the heart of November.

The street is named for the huge market that has sprung up across it, occupying the three and four story brick buildings along each side. It's a wide, paved road (a rare thing in the Badlands) and connected to Central Station, where all of the railways come. Here, one can find anything they want. The laissez-faire nature of November City's government makes the black market an open one, and this is one of the few places where ARMs and stolen goods from Aveh and Kislev can be bought with ease.

There are also saloons, taverns, restaurants, and hotels to be found. November City is a true melting pot, where Drifters from across Filgaia mix with foreign merchants and locals of every class. Men wearing suits brush by peasants in homespun, while Drifters and knights bump into each other. The police force usually prevents outright gunfights in the streets, but November City's officials are infamously easy to bribe.

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFi2pwQRRzQ

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

It's probably unsurprising to everyone that the Sparrowfeathers have already set up shop. Of course, the day is winding down, and as the last of the day's business goes by and they start packing up, Rose takes a moment to disappear in one of the wagons and complain audibly to the Seraph on the roof. That's Dezel, naturally, who seems completely unbothered by the heat as he lays there with his hands behind his head and his hat covering his face.

"Who do you even DO it? You're wearing black and just sitting in the sun all day, you should be melting!" she whines, taking both of her jackets off to leave only the red tunic on.

"There's always a cool breeze blowing for us Wind Seraphim."

"You could make one blow for me too then!"

"I could."

Of course, he doesn't. Rose storms out of the wagon, glaring up.

"So how about you DO that instead of lazing about all day!"

"Effort."

Rose slumps defeatedly atop a crate. Eguille comes up from behind to hand her a wet towel. "Ghost problems, missy?"

"More like lazy bum problems. Thanks Eguille."

If the noise isn't enough to attract a certain Seraph, maybe the fact Rose feels highly different might. That Resonance is in full swing, pretty much on-par with the Shepherd's now. That's hard to hide.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

It probably doesn't help at all that, at the end of this exchange, Rose will hear a familiar laugh from nearby. Indeed, Rose's Resonance is more vibrant than usual today--or maybe she's just grown that much more?--so that Ragnell, who comes and goes as she pleases, had to swing by and see what was up. She didn't interrupt while Rose was complaining to Dezel, but her grin has grown until she can't help but laugh at her frustration.

"He's right, y'know," Ragnell remarks from atop another caravan, grin still wide and razor sharp, arms folded under her chin as she peers down at Rose and her fellow Sparrowfeather--not that Eguille can see her. "You're a businesswoman, Rose! You oughtta know better than to just tell someone, 'hey, do somethin' for me with nothin' in return'! You gotta offer him some incentive to do what you want! Ain't that right, Dezel?"

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"A snack'd go a long way," Dezel replies, lifting his hat back atop his head rather than covering his face. "I'd settle for tea once in a while." He lifts a hand to vaguely wave towards Ragnell, the closest to a proper hello you can get out of him.

Rose crosses her arms, huffing. "Considering he gets to hang out on OUR caravans all day long and do nothing I'd say he's the one who needs to make himself useful!" the merchant replies to Ragnell, before finally swiping the cold towel and wiping her face. "Oh I'd kill to have Mikleo around right now instead of the windbag."

"See what I have to deal with all day now?" Dezel turns to face Ragnell.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

Ragnell, who still is unaware that Dezel is blind (it's not like anyone's told her, and he seems to get along just fine with all that hair in his face), lifts a hand in a two-fingered salute of greeting back at Dezel. "See?" she says as Dezel offers what he'd want.

Rose's retort just gets a snort and another laugh. "Really, Rose? Really? An' is he so heavy that your horses need extra hay? Is he so heavy that it takes a little longer to get where you're goin' each day? Jus' 'cuz he's hangin' out around you doesn't mean he's gettin' anything special out of it." This is a blatant lie--Ragnell even knows it's a blatant lie, though she's unsure of what extent--but who is she to pass on a chance to wind Rose up? "An' would the occasional cup o' tea *really* break your budget? Offerin' tea to a guest is just common courtesy. I thought even humans knew that!"

The complaint about wanting Mikleo over Dezel gets a third laugh. This time, she says to Dezel, "Well, I can't fault her there. Mikleo's so pretty even *I'd* look twice at 'im," she says in amusement. "Maybe Rosie's startin' to like us 'ghosts' a little better than she expected~?" She cackles, then sits up, legs dangling off the edge of the caravan. "Too bad he's not here right now. Though I wonder just who she'd kill for the sake of coolin' her face a little? Any ideas, Dez?"

Uh oh. Sounds like she's inviting Dezel to double-team Rose with her.

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"Me," "Him," the both of them answer together.

Rose, of course, corrects Ragnell's beliefs immediatly. "And don't you get any ideas! I just think it'd be convenient to have a Water Seraph around when it's so hot outside. I think I can put up with having a Seraph inside me if it's free air conditioning," she says, with context that makes sense to her but is likely to be twisted by Ragnell.

"Better she be treating him like a tool than me," Dezel asides to Ragnell on that subject, avoiding a statement like 'you know I could cool you down from the inside too right' because if Rose knew he'd never catch a break.

Collecting herself and relaxing once that towel's gotten her sufficiently cooled, Rose regains her smile and peers up at Ragnell, curious. "So what brings you about? Need another kit to clean that gun of yours? Or did you just sense I was in distress and came a'running to pile it on?"

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Suddenly, a bark! After a while trying to navigate November City's massive market, she's left the job to her partner! Luckily Silver has a good nose for herbs and potions, and the dog leads the way. Down an alleyway, past some shadey dudes, and then back out? She's suddenly in front of the market stall where the trio are talking. Luckily she's missed the conversation almost entirely.

With a little wiggle of her ears, Amelia cuts a small bow. Silver hops up on his back paws to look at those behind it! He wags his tail and barks three times!

"Ahem, good evening and Althena's blessings, Children. Silver here says you sell potions and herbs? I'm looking for a few things." She has a list in her hand, and offers it over. The penmanship is understandably scratchy. Very Doctor-esque. Everything from bandages to quite a few herbs and potions. Someone's stocking up for a journey, perhaps? Or starting a clinic.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

Ragnell laughs again. "You two are so in sync! It's almost like you've been together forever," she half-jokes, smile turning just a bit sharper. It fades when Rose clarifies her meaning, only to make it more obscure in some ways; at this point, Ragnell raises an eyebrow, resting her chin on one hand. "Oh...? You already took the Squire pact, then?" She looks over at Dezel, frowning at the talk of being used as a tool, red eyes narrowing. However, she leaves that be for now to focus on something else, and perhaps damning him--there are reasons you should be clear with what you say!!--she wonders, "I thought you weren't gonna tell her?"

But Rose asks her what's up, and Ragnell half-smiles back. "Nah, I'm fine on that front. I actually came 'cuz your Resonance felt stronger than usual today, and I figured I'd come see what's up." She winks. "Messin' with you is just a bonus."

A dog's bark interrupts her then, and Ragnell glances to one side to see... huh. An elven woman with a remarkably well-mannered dog. "Huhhh," she murmurs at Silver's small act. "She's got that one well-trained." Other than that, though, she doesn't interrupt Amelia and Rose, though she does cast a glance over Dezel's way.

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"Huh-uh! You have standing before you one of the Shepherd's two Squires!" Rose says, hand son her hips now, looking quite proud. "Oh and also one of his Seraphim I GUESS," she offhandedly mentions about Dezel, to which he vaguely shrugs. He'd already told Ragnell, after all, that he was after the Shepherd's powers. Told her, though? OH. Oh. Oh no.

Dezel rises from his slumber, clicking his tongue. "I don't know what you're talking about. Oh look, a dog." Dezel hops off the caravan and takes a few steps towards Silver, the Seraph apparently quite at ease with animals. He's going for a pet right off the bat, and Rose raises a brow.

"You're good with animals? Really?"

"Animals're a lot easier to deal with than you humans," he explains.

Rose rubs the back of her neck and turns to Amelia, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry! I've got some ghost problems, don't mind the crazy lady talking to herself. Herbs, potions and assorted curatives, coming right up!" The merchant wanders back towards a few crates, shuffling about until she's produced a nice, big pile of recovery items. Potions, gels, berries, bandages, healing patches. "Geez, that's a lot! Planning a week-long dive into some ruins?"

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

"He's amazing, isn't he? I wouldn't be able to do half the things I can without him. Such a good boy Silver. Yes, you can pet him." Silver, too, is very clearly looking at Ragnell. His ears perk up. Arf! Arf arf! Wag wag wag.

Oh yes, these two are odd ducks it seems. Dezel immediately is ambushed by a fuzzy head, leaning right into those pets! Wag wag wag! Happy Silver is happy, and Dezel will get some licks if he's not careful! Amelia gives a wan smile. She's not saving him.

Rose does get a frown. She politely ignores the arguing from Rose and the Seraph. "...Ghosts. Very talkative for ghosts. What's your names?" It seems this particular priestess can definitely hear the lot of them. It helps she's met Nimue and Sorey.

"No. Well, not directly. I'm going to be operating a clinic in the cities I travel to. There's a shocking lack of competent healers here." At least, to her. The lack of white magic from Althena's Blessing unnerves the woman, despite having learned quite a lot of Filgaian mundane medicine since coming to the planet.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

"Hehh. I figured that was probably it," Ragnell says, half-smiling at Rose's pride. She glances over at Dezel. It's no surprise that Dezel's made the Sub-Lord pact now that Rose is a Squire, but that wasn't what she was asking abou--oh. He 'doesn't know what she's talking about.' Rose seems quite well distracted by Dezel going to pet the dog, too. "Hmmm. My mistake, then."

But then Amelia responds to Ragnell's remark on Silver, and the Lightning Seraph blinks. "Hmmmm," she murmurs. "Looks like he's a real help to you, grandma."

She leaps nimbly off the caravan too, landing light on her feet as her poncho settles around her, and strolls on over to Silver as if also going in for a pet. "Cuter, too," she drawls, coming to a stop close to the Wind Seraph and offering a hand to Silver, who looks to be a very friendly pup indeed. Ragnell smiles at the dog, and it's even sincere--but then she leans in towards Dezel and murmurs under her breath, "You're only gonna make things worse for yourself when she finds or figures it out. An' as a Squire, she has a lot more tools now to figure it out. She's not stupid. You know that."

Amelia asks her name. Ragnell gives her another assessing look; then she replies, "Ragnell."

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

Oh, don't you worry. Dezel likes dogs. He'd be happy to go as far as pick Silver up if the dog allowed. It's probably unusual given Dezel's looks, all dressed in black and looking grumpy.

Rose is more surprised that Amelia can see the Seraphim. "Oh, you can see those two? Talk about unusual! Well, the rude one's introduced herself, and mister windbag over there is Dezel," Rose says, before adding: "And I'm Rose!"

In whispers, Dezel responds to Ragnell with: "Cross that bridge when I get to it. You know us Wind Seraph ain't much for planning ahead." As he continues to pet Silver, his face turns to look towards Amelia, eyes ever hidden behind those curtains of white-green hair.

"A clinic though, that's great! There's always so many people who need a good doctor around here, usually Drifters. Oh, there's someone I can refer to for more specialized medicine, hang on!" She shuffles under the table, into a crate, and pulls a pamphlet out advertizing Jacqueline's Curatives and Curios store, and the rest of the Caravan Kinship's wares for that matter. She hands it to Amelia, and side-whispers: "Don't let the Seraphim get under your skin, I think they enjoy it."

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia suddenly stands straight up. "G...grandma!?" The elf's ears wiggle angrily, and her face flushes! "I'm young for an elf, thank you! And...and I'm...am I really that ugly that you think I'm so old?" It sounds like Ragnell might have hit a soft spot on the priestess. Then her hands go to her hips.

"Besides! You're insulting a priestess, if you're going to call me old then at least show some respect! Amelia Rose, Chosen of Althena. You have a sharp tongue, Miss Ragnell."

Up goes Silver! Now that tail really wags, constantly batting Dezel in the face! He's all but snuggling the big man! Yessss. Silver now has a friend. Amelia smiles. "Be sure to return him in one piece."

"Hear them, yes. I'm afraid I don't see much of anything." A waved hand over the blindfold. "A pleasure, Miss Rose. Ah, thank you. That would help, I'm out of sedatives. I swear, you'd think soldiers and Drifters wouldn't scream so much from little things like bullet wou..." Pause. Amelia's jaw drops suddenly.

"S...S...Seraphs!?!? The holy messengers of Althena!? I...I..." She drops to her knees. "Oh, Lady Ragnell! Forgive my rudeness! I'm unworthy to stand before your radiance with such poor manners!" Woops.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

"Not as unusual 'round these parts, but still," Ragnell chimes in, shrugging, on Rose's remark. At least she has the discretion to not say 'on this planet.' Given her lack of discretion with Claude, maybe Lailah's scolding had an effect?

Something else that has an effect, curiously enough: Dezel's response. Her carefree expression clouds over like a sky set for a thunderstorm, and her lips pull thin as something flinty enters her red eyes. Wind Seraphim aren't much for planning ahead. "No kiddin'," she mutters, glancing away to wither a nearby pebble with her glare. Huh. Although it's subdued, that's a rather... intense reaction. Did Ragnell always care that much about how Rose feels?

Amelia only adds to it when she scolds Ragnell herself. The Lightning Seraph eyeballs her, frown deepening. "If you think age equals ugliness, that's your problem, not mine," she says bluntly. "But for the record, the oldest woman I know is also the most beautiful, so maybe *you* oughtta hold *your* tongue, Priestess Amelia." Tch. The Church of Althena sure keeps hiring annoying folks, she adds silently. Ragnell has nothing against elves, but to her, this is just what she's come to expect from an institution largely and traditionally run by humans.

Still, she falls silent then, stepping back to give Silver and Dezel space to cuddle, and silence to let Rose cut a deal with Amelia, as she folds her arms behind her neck. She already confirmed what she was curious about; maybe she oughtta ditch these guys already... As she's considering that, Rose lets it drop just what Ragnell and Dezel are, and Amelia reacts accordingly.

Ragnell blinks once, twice. Then she bursts out laughing, good humor returning to her, as she unfolds her hands and lets her thumbs hook into her jeans pockets. In a tone now lofty, even (bizarrely, for those who know her) elegant, she replies in archaic language, "O child of Althena, though thou art blessed as one of Her flock, thy tongue stings yet sharper. Know thee not the age and agelessness of the Goddess Althena? Know thee not the wisdom afforded only by the passing of years? If thou hears mine words as insult, then thine heart is, as thou claims, immature indeed."

A beat.

"Just kiddin'," she drawls, grinning, back in her usual voice.

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"Well I didn't want to assume, some people wear blindfolds as a fashion statement around here. I think it's very silly and dangerous but apparently that just excites Drifters," Rose replies, not skipping a beat. She seems about to say something when Amelia literally falls to her knees.

Dezel grins towards Rose. "See, now that's how yer supposed to treat us Seraphim," he says, and the merchant can only glare daggers at him back for it. Well, that's priests of Althena for you. Must be a member of the Guard, too. Didn't Sorey mention they weren't too keen on him being the Shepherd or something like that?

"I'm pretty sure the only people they're holy messengers for is themselves," Rose replies, just in time for Ragnell to prove her completely wrong in Amelia's eyes, no doubt. Rose smacks her face with a hand. Dezel actually gets a chuckle out of it, there's another rarity.

"Oi, you two. Don't pick on the faithful," she grumbles, likely to no effect. Dezel, for his part, has his gaze, or rather face, focused back on Ragnell for a moment. He might not have the best eyes in the world, but reading the wind is accurate enough that he can see colors, so ominous silences don't escape him.

"Somethin' wrong with what I said? Or're you offended on her behalf?" He vaguely nudges his head in Rose's direction, to indicate who he means, before returning his attention to Silver.

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

The poor thing is blushing in shame up to her ears! Slowly, Amelia gets back up, leaning on her cane a little. She doesn't dare 'look' at Ragnell now, those twin ears drooping just a little at the points. She's almost pouting. The Guard would laugh at her like this.

"Of...of course, Holy Seraph! Wisdom...Honestly, I feel myself woefully lacking. But, I pray to Althena that she might grant me wisdom and the experience to be able to lead the flock and keep them whole in soul and body! We'll stop this vile Destroyer on this world, and lead the ignorant masses here to prosperity as Holy Althena would have us do! Thank you, you're truly wise and beautiful!" The laugh, the wise words. Amelia looks a little starstruck, really.

'Just kiddin'. Amelia steps back a moment. "A...aah. Miss Rose, is Lady Ragnell always this...animated?" Help Rose! Save the beleaguered priestess!

"Drifters on the whole are idiots. Crybaby idiots that wouldn't know professionalism if it hit them in their ale-soaked livers." She does nod enthusiastically to Dezel though! But then back to Rose. "Miss Rose! Don't speak such blasphemy! The Seraph are perfect, heavenly messengers! You should heed their wisdom!" Oh yes, now the priestess is riled up, even shaking her cane lightly at Rose. Huff.

She does pay for the goods! And a little extra. A donation to the Seraphs, maybe?

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

Blindfolds as fashion statements... Ragnell can't say she's seen that one before, but honestly, she'd believe it. Humans are even wilder around the Badlands than they were around Adlehyde or on Lunar. She's pretty sure she saw a wanted poster for a giant man-child who carries his father in his front pocket somewhere in November City.

She snorts at Rose's glaring and grumbling, though, good humor (mostly) restored. "Acknowledgment of thy mistakes and effort towards reconciliation is the first step towards growth," she intones. An eyebrow rises at what Amelia goes on to say about stopping the Destroyer and leading the ignorant masses--a raised eyebrow that she then points towards Dezel and Rose in turn--but then she snickers. "Yeah, Rose. Such *blasphemy*. You really oughtta listen to us Seraphim more," she teases, grinning. Switching back to fancy-speak, she adds, "Priestess Amelia, were you aware that this young woman refuses to make an offering of even a simple cup of tea to my compatriot, Seraph Dezel, here?" She clicks her tongue, looking Rose right in the eye. "How shameful, do you not agree? You must instruct her differently, so that she may properly receive our blessings."

But Dezel murmurs to her in between giving pets to Silver, and Ragnell frowns, gaze momentarily unfocusing. Then her eyes flick over to him. "Mmm. Not exactly. Either Rose'll deal with it herself or she won't," she murmurs back, just for his ears. "Just, irresponsibility seems to come part an' parcel with the Wind Seraphim I know." That might sound awfully funny, coming from her.

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

'Is Lady Ragnell always this animated,' Amelia asks.

"You have no idea," Rose replies with a sigh.

'Heed their wisdom!' Amelia says.

"Seems like the Shepherd should have picked her as a Squire, not you, huh?" Dezel says towards Rose, piling the misery on.

The merchant struggles to keep a straight face, accepting payment and packaging the goods all nice and secure in a small box. "Well, DEZEL, if you're such a nice, righteous Holy Seraph, why don't you carry the crate to wherever it needs brought for the nice priestess? And THEN I'll make you an offering of tea."

Dezel actually puts Silver down and hoists the box up. "Sure, why not. Haven't stretched my legs today." And briefly, he asides to Ragnell, "Some things're worth being reckless for. The wind doesn't think about where it blows, but it can blow strong regardless. Then he moves past the tables to stand by Amelia, waiting for the conversation to end so he can escort the priestess back home with her goods.

Another grumble from Rose. "You have no idea how lucky you are having such a high opinion of the Seraphim." She avoids calling it blind faith for... several good reasons.

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Slowly, slowly, Amelia's arms cross. Gasp! Somehow, the priestess looks even more offended. "N...not serving good tea to the Seraphs! Blessed by their presence, and not knowing how to give them Althena's blessed drink!?" Amelia might just like tea a bit.

Point! Right at Rose's vague direction. "Miss Rose, I'll be staying with you tonight." She lets that hang there. "You'll grow under my tutelage. And I'll make dinner for all of you. I simply can't let you wander around with these wonderful messengers and not treat them well! My Child, I'll whip you into a proper servant yet!" Her voice is that of someone who's set on a course and isn't going to budge.

A Seraph, helping her with crates? She looks like she's near to falling over! "L...Lord Dezel! You'd really? Ah, merciful Althena, you exceed my dreams! But a moment! We'll need to stop by the other markets and get enough food for everyone. Ah, you've met Lord Sorey? Of course you have, foolish me. Tell him that I wish him the best. I haven't met him in a while." There's respect in her voice. She whistles for Silver.

"I'll return Lord Dezel in one piece. Until tonight, all of you." Then, she's heading off for the moment! Is Rose doomed!?

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

Animated? Oh yes. Ragnell smiles at Rose's sighing response, then chuckles when Dezel adds in on teasing her. She's a touch surprised when Dezel actually agrees to carry Amelia's stuff for her, but maybe he was just so enamored by her dog that he can't help himself. Ragnell's smile turns wry at the thought, then fades altogether at his response. "Mmm," she murmurs, and lets it go at that.

hough at least Amelia declaring she'll be staying with Rose and raise her up and make dinner and etc etc makes Ragnell snort and laugh again. "Ahh, what a devoted follower of Althena," she declares with a smirk. "How blessed you are to receive her benedictions, Rose! An' all's well that ends well." She waits until Amelia, Silver, and Dezel have gone; then she grins outright and adds, "Haaaa haaaaa hahahaaa haaaaaa." A beat. "So're you gonna thank me for snaggin' you a free dinner or what?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

Animated? Oh yes. Ragnell smiles at Rose's sighing response, then chuckles when Dezel adds in on teasing her. She's a touch surprised when Dezel actually agrees to carry Amelia's stuff for her, but maybe he was just so enamored by her dog that he can't help himself. Ragnell's smile turns wry at the thought, then fades altogether at his response. "Mmm," she murmurs, and lets it go at that.

Though at least Amelia declaring she'll be staying with Rose and raise her up and make dinner and etc etc makes Ragnell snort and laugh again. "Ahh, what a devoted follower of Althena," she declares with a smirk. "How blessed you are to receive her benedictions, Rose!" She waits until Amelia, Silver, and Dezel have gone; then she grins outright and adds, "Haaaa haaaaa hahahaaa haaaaaa."

A beat, and then she adds, "So're you gonna thank me for snaggin' you a free dinner or what?"

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

Well, at least Amelia doesn't seem to hate Sorey. Rose is going to have to ask Sorey for clarifications regarding that whole mess at some point. For the rest, it seems the merchant accepts defeat. "Fine, fine~. Always room for another at the Sparrowfeathers' table, but I can't promise I'll be your most studious disciple, priestess," she finally answers, cheerfully.

With Dezel and Amelia leaving, Rose turns to look at Ragnell like a disappointed mother, before she bursts out laughing at her remark. "I'm letting you keep your head on your shoulders as thanks, O Holy Seraph, but try not to make this a regular thing, mhm?" She sits back down onto a crate, sighing wistfully. "I can't complain too much, that was a good sale. She paid extra, I'm guessing it's for you guys. You want your share or can Seraphim not carry our silly human currency?" She hadn't really asked how humans giving Seraphim things worked, exactly. Mostly she'd experimented with taking Dezel's hat, not giving him things.

"Althena's Guard though, am I right?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

Who knows what the deal is with Althena's Guard and the Shepherd? At the very least, White Knight Leo accepted help from Lailah and Edna while hunting down the Vile Fiends--but they're Seraphim. Whether he has it in for Sorey himself is another matter, no doubt--and that, too, is a trial for the Shepherd to overcome.

Ragnell lets Rose respond to Amelia, laughing at Rose once the others are gone. "Probably was an offerin' for us Seraphim, yeah," she replies, amused. "I don't mind that she's reverent, but..." She snorts, asided by Rose offering her her share. "Hey now, we can carry gold an' coins an' such. Take a look at this." She dips a hand into her poncho and pulls out a beautiful bejeweled gold necklace. Not exactly coinage, but it's clear it's actual gold and jewels. "Picked this up from a ruin with Lailah," she explains. "This an' a few other pieces o' jewelry. I'll sell it to ya if ya want." She grins and winks. "I'll even cut y'a deal on some bracelets I picked up, too. Bet you Alisha would be pleased as punch if you gave her such a nice gift, after all~."

Althena's Guard, though? "You're 100% right. Goddess almighty. I'm sure she fits Althena's Guard like a glove," she says dryly. "With an attitude like that, she probably *is* young like she says. Though who knows? There's no lack of old folks with their heads stuck up their asses, either. I'm sure Alisha could tell you all about it."

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

Rose swipes the necklace the moment it comes into view. Her eyes inspect it so closely you'd think it's the solution to all of Filgaia's problems. "You FOUND this? Geez, why didn't you tell me sooner?! Of course I'll cash in!" It's unclear if she's cashing in for Alisha or for resale purposes, but needless to say when they have some time to discuss it, Rose will offer Ragnell a very fair deal. Whatever it is Ragnell needs money for she won't be in need for a while, unless she's the sort to waste it.

At the matter of old crones, Rose laughs, nodding. "I don't have to ask her, believe me. Surely you remember what my night-time occupation is?" It went without saying Rose has met and... disposed of, a lot of less-than-noble politicians and nobles with sticks far up their --

"Ahah, well... it's fine, I guess. To each their own. I'm not very religious, legends about the Shepherd aside, but I'm not about to knock it too hard either. As long as they're not using faith to justify heinous acts, we'll get along just fine. It must be a pretty big source of Malevolence, right? When people take up arms in your or the Goddess' name and kill each other? I hadn't thought about it before, but that has to suck, having to watch humans do that while you guys are all but invisible to them." Sympathy, from Rose? Enjoy it while it lasts, Ragnell.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

Woah. That was fast. Ragnell blinks, the necklace gone from her hand in the... well, blink of an eye. She peers at her now-empty hand, then shrugs and pulls out the remainder of the jewelry. "This is the first time I've seen you since I went," she points out, "an' I was considering givin' some of these to someone as a present. Don't have anyone in mind who'd make use of 'em, though, so..." She shrugs and holds out a second necklace and three bracelets, all well-crafted and made from gold or silver. They'll fetch a nice price--though the silver pieces will need polishing first, age having tarnished them well. The actual deal-making can go down later, after the scene has faded to black. ... ...wait, what?

She chuckles. "True. But you don't exactly go payin' 'em night-time visits just for bein' stuffy, I'd imagine," she points out. No, it's the traits that come with stuffiness--and corruption--that earns those types a visit from the Scattered Bones.

As for Malevolence and those who worship the Goddess potentially being a source of it... Ragnell tilts her head at Rose's sympathy, something in her red eyes flickering, then back to look up at the first several stars of the evening. "...Did you know the last Lord o' Calamity from a few hundred years ago was a woman o' the Church?" she says quietly. "Not sure if she infiltrated it or if she was part of it from the start--I always used to assume the former, but these days I'm comin' to wonder about that. Those were... hard times, indeed."

Emotional sincerity, from Ragnell? Enjoy it while it lasts, Rose.

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"I'll buy the ones you don't want to gift for sure, these are REALLY well made. Wonder how old they are?" Probably quite a bit, and that just means they're even more valuable.

Rose chuckles at Ragnell's comment about the Bones, nodding. "'course. We triple-check everything before we go, and someone has to really have it coming. Let's say being stuffy is still a common trait among them though," she finally settles on. Then the matter turns back to Seraphim and Malevolence.

"Someone from the Church, huh... goes to show faith isn't everything. I'd rather people do right because they believe they should than because their faith tells them to, you know? Too strict a faith and you just end up with..." Rose ponders word choice. "Wars and zealots. Calling someone a Lord of Calamity and a Destroyer without having the whole picture."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

"Who knows? Probably a couple hundred years, at least. An' like I said, I don't have anyone I'd wanna give a present to who'd like this kind of thing." A beat. "Well, there's Lailah, but she was there when I found 'em, so that's no fun." Possibly Edna too, but Edna's never struck her as the type to be impressed by jewelry. And there's Alisha, but Ragnell is none-too-subtly trying to push Rose her way. And aside from them, she doesn't have any ladies she'd like to give a present to--or if she does, they aren't the type to enjoy jewelry for its own sake. "If I change my mind an' you can't sell somethin' off, though, I'll let you know," she adds.

"Mmm. Same here. The Goddess's been asleep for a long time, you know... She only just recently woke up. So most o' Church scripture? Actually written by humans," Ragnell replies, unusually subdued. "I don't think it's a bad thing to have unswervin' faith in yourself and what you're doin'. I admire people like that. But you also gotta have a sense of... mm. Of curiosity. Of wantin' to learn, of wantin' to know more. If you've got faith *and* you assume you already know everythin'... then it's just as you say."

Calling someone a Lord of Calamity and a Destroyer without having the whole picture. Ragnell peers at Rose. Hmmm; sounds like she's not on board Lucia's reputation. That's a little unexpected, considering she's a Squire now. But that also means... "Well, that's all in the past now," she declares, shrugging like it doesn't matter. "For you humans, it may as well be ancient history."

She winks and salutes to Rose. "In any case, I'll let you take care o' sellin' off those pieces o' jewelry. If I come across anythin' else I don't have a use for that might sell, I'll let ya know." For now, though, Ragnell will hop up onto the wheel of one of the caravans and climb back up to the top to await Amelia and Dezel's return--and a presumably delicious dinner later tonight.