2017-10-31: Rest Now

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  • Log: Rest Now
  • Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline, Lily Keil
  • Where: Wayside
  • Date: 31st October, 2017
  • Summary: Lily visits Wayside under cover of night, finding Riesenlied to be undertaking her physical therapy regimen.


<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Wayside's had a bit of a series of interesting visitors since Lily's last come about -- she was there for the Demon of Elru, but she was last indisposed when a certain Vash the Stampede came about and proved rather popular with the children! But that is then, and this is now -- and towards the time of dusk, Wayside's starting to settle down for the night...

... and Riesenlied, for once, is in the dojo with Mikaia watching, as she goes through one of Lily's prescribed physical therapy exercises for her. The Metal Demon is wearing something approaching a tracksuit -- shaped for her unusual bodyshape -- as she winces and trembles, walking along a set of rails as she gasps.

"... just-- another pass," as she breathes and wheezes out. Her horns are wilting...!

"Y-you can do it, Riesemama!"

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Lily didn't precisely publicize her plans when she was last in Wayside, taken away quickly for dangerous matters... But being back here is different from the Palace certainly, even if...

Well. Wearing black, a long dress with a large shawl for warmth, she steps one bootprint at a time through the town, glancing here and there. She's still wearing an eyepatch, a hand brace now, carrying a beautiful ARM over her shoulder, a long rifle with a rosewood stock. Her medical bag is at her hip.

A light touch from her gloved hand rests on the doorframe. She's pale, quiet, an wathing Riesenlied move.

"...You're doing well," her voice filters from the entrance.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline looks almost comically out of her depth as she watches. She's already had to promise not to interfere, and is battling herself and her desire to hoverhands over the other Metal Demon - and even then, her paired ARMs are still hovering in place around Riesenlied's ankles as a compromise, ready to try to break her fall should she slip.

'Physical therapy' isn't really a thing that Noeline's ever had to contend with, after all. The idea of repeated actions to build up strength is perfectly sensible, but to think that Riesenlied might be in sufficient danger as to need to remember how to simply balance is-- somehow a little troubling.

Not to mention, of course, Janey bobbing along the exact same beam behind Riese - at least until Noeline collects her with a little bit of a huff. "... you'll unbalance her," she grumbles lightly, setting the more energetic of the two children on her shoulders as she watches, and sucks in a slow breath. "You've reached yesterday's distance, at least. One more, then. --and perhaps another," she teases, trying to keep her voice light.

She doesn't jump when Lily speaks, but does slightly incline her head.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied lets out a wheezing gasp as she-- whirls her head around and has to surprisedly go-- "O-oh, Miss--"

Mikaia kind of bursts in to the frame from below, holding her hands up. "Miss Lily! Miss Lily Miss Lily--!" Yaaay, she's an adorable bundle of cutenergy as she races up to Lily's feet and gawks up at her. So cool...!

"Miss Lily, I was concerned...!" she murmurs, and-- stumbles just a little bit as she yelps and trips, one foot sliding off with an 'ack--!', needing Noeline or Strife to catch her.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Lily doesn't nod back at Noeline, but she looks at her for a few extra moment, a look of acknowledgement from the quiet woman at the entryway. The information is good enough for now, as is spotting Janey there, and--

Mikaia rushes to her feet and Lily looks down at her as she approaches, inclining her head to the little girl just like a real adult greeting. "Hello there Mikaia," she comments gently, and looks up sharply at the yelp--

"Riesenlied--" She steps forward, gesturing Mikaia to come along as she moves into the room, away from the door. "...I'm sorry to worry you, and to distract you." She is, if nothing else, a bit milder than her usual approach. ...Though she offers a hand to Mikaia on her way before she pauses.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline sees the stumble coming, perhaps before it even registers in the rest of Riesenlied's movements as the metal demon suddenly darts forwards, one arm kind of sliding down the winged woman's legs to then tug her quickly away from the beam before she can catch her wings or her head on it in turn.

For a moment, it seems like it might be a significant effort, what with the way she winces - then she looks balefully up at where Janey, not wanting to topple off, has instinctively grabbed one of the demon's long tails of hair. "D-do you mind?" she whines with a wince, and then huffs as she holds Riesenlied to her in what is indisputably a princess carry, and turns towards the woman in black.

"... Miss Keil," she greets, as if she weren't just carrying Riese right there. ... certainly, she doesn't seem about to put her /down/...

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied whimpers and-- gets held in Noeline's arms as she collapses, her rather tattered wings flipping up for a moment as they delayedly try to balance her. "M-mm..." as she leans her head down.

Mikaia whimpers for a moment, but is relieved to see that her mom is okay. "Don't push yourself too hard, Riesemama..."

"It's all right... is-- is everything all right?" Riesenlied does have to ask gently. "I'd heard of new bounties from Aveh, and while that isn't surprising..." Well, she has to ask regardless. A frown. "I even saw poor Miss Jacqueline's face on one of the posters."

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

There's not much Lily could do about it in turn--though she looks a little overlong at the simple movement of Janey tugging Noeline's hair. ...It's amusing, though it's hard to judge the sorceress's feelings to look at her. She glances around once to see...

"Noeline," she returns, and then suggests before anything else, "Mikaia's right. Why don't we find a place to sit?" Her suggestion passes before she answers the question, "It's..." How best to answer?

"...Jacqueline is fine. She did very well." A pause, "We accomplished our mission, I'm just a little under the weather. It was... Rigorous."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

"... pushing herself is kind of the point of the whole thing, unfortunately," Noeline has to admit to Mikaia with something of an uncertain frown. "But, rest assured I've got her back when these things happen, hm?" she adds quietly, and true enough she's kind of doting over Riesenlied for a moment, brushing some of the hair out of her face. Never mind that Janey is /right there/ on her shoulders probably making Calvin and Hobbes 'bleeehhhh' noises.

"Still... good work," she admits quietly to Riese with a light nod of her head, before looking up and quietly regarding Lily with something of a frown. Trying to read people is something of a habit, after all, but there's not a great deal to read there. "At least let's go back over to the orphanage. The evening is going to bite soon enough, hm?"

She snorts, at least, at Lily's final word. "So I imagine. But you're up, and moving - both good points in favour, usually."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"A little at a time. But yes, some pushing is certainly important..." Riesenlied has a tired smile as she accepts a towel and wipes her face with it gently, draping her arms to her sides. "I must thank you for your exercise recommendations again, Miss Lily."

It's been... terrifying and difficult, to have your body kind of go through a rather significant amount of decline in a short period of time. And she's kind of nursing a stomach wound at the same time.

"Yes, it shall become quite chill, the orphanage is warm..." she nods. "And, I knew you would all prevail." Of that, she has a warm and certain smile.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

What /isn't/ there to read makes some suggestions for Noeline at least; Lily is more closed-off than usual. That, and the fact that upon further examination she looks sort of terrible, only un-obviously because she's a deft hand at makeup. Ill, to say the least.

"...Of course," she agrees about Riesenlied pushing herself, and she shakes her head. "You're welcome. I'm only offering what I think will help." Downplaying, she looks over Riesenlied herself, admittedly understanding without having to ask about difficulties, stomach wounds...

"I am both of those things,' she answers. "...And I appreciate the confidence." She hesiates before sighing. "...I was captured." She shifts her stance, preparing to follow.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline is still holding onto Riesenlied, of course, even as she carefully manoeuvres the other metal demon out of the dojo; an elegant sort of nudge with her boot completely fails to close the door behind them, which makes her grumble, but then Mikaia is there to be a Good Girl and help out by closing it for her.

"I've only heard bits and pieces of news thus far. Fortunately, given that Wayside /is/ a village, I'd previously managed to convince the Adventurers Guild to keep us in the loop as far as bounties are concerned; that has provided much of the story, at least in terms of who managed to get away safely," she admits with a flick of her hair.

She pauses, as Lily makes her declaration, and stops her pacing to actually stare at the Yggdrasil officer for a long moment. "... just captured?" she asks before she can really stop herself, but then immediately glances at the children and furrows her brow, rethinking whether she wants an answer out in the open.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied does seem quite natural in Noeline's arms, doesn't she? The two've had practice for a couple of centuries by now, even as she says, "I shouldn't rely on you too much like this..." even if her cheeks are a little red, shivering as she feels some of the exposed skin meet the cooler dusk air.

Mikaia is pouting as she says, "You had to do dangerous things again, didn't you, Miss Lily...?" A pause. "I've been, I've been a good girl and studying!"

Janey grins to go, "Suck-up!" to which Mikaia pouts louder as she runs off ahead up the hill with a cackle.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Lily doesn't comment on the obvious closeness of the pair, on the way Noeline easily and elegantly carries Riesenlied. She does glance, and look a little past them as she thinks, thoughtful. It's certainly not something she minds.

"...It's not so bad to rely on someone once in a while," she offers.

Noeline mentions the tales, the bounties, and inclines her head. "I hear that mine is higher by now. At least you have news. ...I'll be sure not to publicize my visits, so as not to cause you trouble."

Noeline's stare receives a quiet look in return, and the memory does haunt her somewhat; she remains a little smaller than her usual presence, still imposing but even so. The question comes and Lily, too, glances to the children.

Even after Janey runs ahead Lily answers, "I did. I had some very important things I had to do, but they weren't very safe. Someone important helped me." A small smile, more the ghost of an expression given her fatigue, "I'd appreciate it if you could show me what you've been studying while I'm here. I wouldn't expect you to be anything less than good."

Finally she lets her good eye flick between Noeline and Riesenlied, and shakes her head. Not just captured, of course. [OOC] Lily Keil says, "it sounds worse when I'm censoring it for the kids somehow"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

"... well, I have more than enough time to make up for, hm?" Noeline teases Riesenlied back, but before long she's managed to carefully set the metal demon down in a rocking chair, fussing over her as she adds a blanket or two. The orphanage isn't exactly centrally heated, but there is at least a fire in the grate.

Following a pause, the 'Crimson Noble' stands up with rather a rich snort, glancing across at Lily with a single raised eyebrow. "Believe me when I say that we have much, much bigger potential problems than association with known bounties. If Gebler knew we were here at all, we would be in much worse straits. As such, I wouldn't exactly worry about it, hm?" she points out with a shrug of one shoulder.

"You know," she adds towards Mikaia with a light grin. "It seems like Miss Jay's been doing dangerous things as well. You'll have to give her a piece of your mind when she next comes back to see us, hm?"

Her only response to Lily is the tiniest possible nod of recognition, because she knows enough to not expose them to it. Besides, she's found it's a lot of fun weaponizing the children against completely unassuming and generally innocent targets like Jay.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied sucks in a slightly more shallow breath, smiling very quietly as she sits down on her rocking chair... upon which Mikaia clambers on, like that's her default position in the family seating.

Riesenlied does also give Lily a nod as she speaks rather vaguely about what she did, knowing that isn't exactly the time to do that. "It's good to be careful, but my own bounty is rather large... even if Gebler were to discover us -- we've certainly given thoughts to that contingency."

"It's, it's... al-kee-mee!" Mikaia beams as she holds up a book on alchemy, which curiously bears Jay's name on it. "It's kind of complicated and hard, but I've been memorising... words! Like... beaker, which isn't a bird beak!"

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Lily rubs at her arms as they make their way into the orphanage, accepting some of the warmth gratefully without adding to it herself. She watches Riesenlied and then Mikaia sit, her attention lingering there before she returns her attention to Noeline.

"...Of course," she replies with a nod, chagrined. "I just don't want to add to your troubles. Gebler..." She trails off, and briefly, her quiet look turns to something much, much harder. "Mm."

It's for the best that she doesn't voice /those/ thoughts.

"Yes, you would have to, of course. I admit a part of me doesn't think of this place as..." She shakes her head. "I'm not sure how to put it."

Mikaia speaks up and beams, holding up her book, and Lily bends slightly to look at her. Weaponizing the children must be fun of course, "She certainly has." And then, "My, that's quite the nice book you have there. I'm sure you can do it." A beat, "Alchemy is something even I don't know well."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Gently, Noeline chuckles. She seems content to stay at Riesenlied's side for the moment, even if it means continuing to stand; she's at least on hand to accept the cloth once the other Metal Demon is done with it, folding it up before rather absently tossing it onto one shelf for later. She's-- certainly come a long way from the dohohoho Crimson noble, after all.

"It is a home," she finishes Lily's statement with the beginnings of an amused grin, and perhaps the teasing vampire isn't all gone from her just yet. "A bit of a strange one, I'll gladly admit - and it might be difficult to get memories of Old Petra out of the way - but we've done what we can to make it our village. That includes making ties and friendships, which are going to be a lot more important in the end than a bit of secrecy here and there, if you ask me."

She pauses, as if to punctuate her paragraph, and pats Mikaia on the head. "... getting decent glass out here might be difficult, but I suppose I'll have to see what I can do."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"It's a home... but it shouldn't feel like a liability. Because each of us that have marched here... we've all gathered to share in the struggle of what we believe in," Riesenlied nods very gently. She coughs very gently, as she smiles and pats Mikaia in the head very proudly.

"I even know a recipe already! Sugar, flour, milk, eggs and love... can make Janey a roly-poly!" Mikaia beams.

"Hey!" Janey balks from the bedroom in the back where she's changing.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

...Definitely /some/ of the teasing vampire. "A home," she repeats, and inclnes her head. It wasn't quie the word she was looking for but it's one that suits. "Home seems like a lifetime away," she admits.

"It's special, the way you can all come together that way. Though... Secrecy is one of the things I'm good at," she points out. A beat before, "And strange isn'tsomething I mind."

She does manage a smile over at Mikaia at her recipe, before she slowly takes a seat where she can find out. "It's certainly lively."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

The Crimson Noble probably can't help the light snort, one eyebrow raising. "... I see. Perhaps don't tell Mr. Albus that, hm? I'm sure he'd never admit it, but I don't doubt he'd like to provide one, however temporary. ... after all, the Ebony Wings have gotten rather good at deciding for themselves where Home might be."

She does pause, at least, and share a glance at Riesenlied before she admits: "At the very least, however, the thought is appreciated. --should I ask further what happened on the day? It's not as if we got all the story," Noeline grumbles to herself afterwards.

... as she puts the kettle on. Yeah, she's gotten pretty domesticated.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

I'm just saying, with these cat analogies...

"... it's come over a very long period of time, and a lot of struggle. It didn't come overnight... and it wouldn't be possible without the personal sacrifices that each of them have made, in supporting each other through the most difficult and trying of times. Through loss, and through pain... but also being there with what we can celebrate."

Riesnlied smiles softly as she says, "Shall we teach you a mint recipe next? It's tingly in your mouth..." Mikaia nods enthusiastically. Mikaia, are you going to be an alchemist or a baker?

"We had a run-in with Mister Leon, though we... have come to something of an agreement with Captain Bart afterwards, while you were gone," she has to explain. The stomach wound, Lily might know, is actually from when she had to fight Leon. "I think the Alliance and us are on clearer terms now."

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

"I'm sure he would," Lily agrees with Noeline, "But even so. ...We're used to living on the road regardless. We were at war, after all." Were? She doesn't think she's sure of that, as she thinks it over.

"Yes... I've seen how you can all come together." A pause, as she onsiders, and then shakes her head. "I'm afraid that I don't know everything that happened myself; I wasn't... well." She closes her eye, "Her Highness completed our mission, and sealed the Guardian statue we'd gone undercover to secure. ...That's why I disappeared so suddenly; I had to help."

Well, she didn't have to, really.

"...My memory is hazy of that day. I..." She trails off, and nods. "I'm glad you've come to that agreement. I'd prefer not to have such run-ins. ...Call it being soft, I suppose." She shakes her head, opens her eye. "...Mint... I wonder if we can find her any Kislevi recipes."

Lily glances to her weapon, placed beside her, back to Riesenlied. "...I'm sorry, but may I ask if there's somewhere I can go to rest? I find myself... fatigued."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline's eyebrows raise up at the news of the Guardian statue; apparently, that was news to her, which certainly suggests there's already something of a rift in communication between these Metal Demons and the rest of their forces in Photosphere. Which... might really rather be for the best. "... I see. I don't expect I'm in much of a rush to really find out the whole details of what happened, so long as the important bits are obvious enough."

Gently, she nudges a warm cup towards Riesenlied's hands. "... as for rest..." she trails off, and - seems almost to wait for Riesenlied to give the word. She is the village chief, after all, and the Grand High Riesemama.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

There's something of a trembling noise, as she thinks of the Guardian statues. Riesenlied sighs gently as she nods, saying, "... I understand. ... we've been occupied with finding out some strangeness in Wayside's waterways, though I hope that it's all just unusual quirks rather than something dire."

She gestures towards the stairs and says, "You're welcome to one of the rooms -- the ones on the end with the red marks are still empty," with a gentle smile.

"And welcome back, Miss Lily!" she beams brightly, cheerfully. "Please rest well!"

Riesenlied nods as she holds onto Noeline's hand in turn. "Yes... welcome back."

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Considering Riesenlied and Noeline, Lily could've left the matter of the statue out... But she didn't, and the surprise there allows for only a moment of tension on her part. She can tll it's a difficult subject. "...I hope you can find it. If you run into trouble while I'm here..." She trails off, the start of an offer. "But I think that's the key fact."

The rest... Riesenlied answers, and Lily inclines her head. She starts to speak--but there's Mikaia, cheerful as can be. "...Thank you," she says, looking to her first, before the others. "I'll do my best." Welcome back... The sorceress brings herself to her feet, picks up her weapon. "I'll... See you later." She dips her head, and starts slowly down the hall. ...It's nice to be here.