2017-11-05: Dad's Old Friend

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  • Log: Dad's Old Friend
  • Cast: Amelia Rose, Sephilia Lampbright
  • Where: November City Market
  • Date: 2017-11-25
  • Summary: By chance, Sephy and Amelia Rose bump into each other. Sephilia fills in her Dad's old friend on what's been happening, and shares her disapproval over a previous incident.


<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia's on her way to the library. She's been laid up with a cold for a week or more now, and is burning through reading material (and sometimes, fever, though thankfully not today) at an extraordinary rate, especially for someone who hates book-words. She's got a satchel that's full of books and Chauncey, and has today decided to forego the weight of her larger ARM, the Foxington Flintlock, since she's just headed into town for a little while.

No big guns today for Sephy!

As she walks, she unconsciously hums a hymn to Althena, trying to keep herself distracted from the unfortunate misery of the illness.

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia is heading back from the market! There's a rather heavy pack slung over one shoulder, jingling full of potions, food, as well as quite a bit of raw herbs and other materials. It's like the woman is lugging around half of a field hospital from the smell! Thankfully Silver is doing the watching as she heads towards the hotel where she's currently calling home in November.

But a familiar tune catches her ear. Her heart instantly pangs, childhood memories sparked almost instantly. How many nights had that hymn sung her to sleep from her mother's lips? How many times had she herself calmed a wounded patient with it?

Teeth grit. She jingle-clanks right over up behind Sephilia. The elf's voice doesn't raise, but the frown on her face and her ears bending down horizontally shows her displeasure.

"Sephilia Lampbright, where did you learn that?" This is in Priestess Tone. She looms just a bit over the smaller girl.

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia stiffens at the familiar voice, stopped in her tracks by the tone. She turns, and flinches back a little. "M-my Mom used to sing it to me when I was sick, before they said the Goddess banned music," she stammers. "I...I don't like that rule, an-and we're not on Lunar anyway, and I..."

Normally Sephy's pretty sassy about things like this, save for two factors here. One: She's got a cold. Two, and far more important: Amelia Rose is a friend of her Dad's. Sephy will mouth off to White Knight Leo without fear, but anything that might result in her Dad being disappointed in her is anathema to the girl, and somehow she wants the elf woman to not be upset.

Even though she's a little mad at her for what happened to Talise's lute, all those months ago.

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia keeps her gaze level at Sephilia's voice. She silently lets her stammer out, looking every bit the judgemental Guard member. It hurts. She knows exactly what the girl is feeling.

A minute of terrifying silence passes, and her face softens. Kneeling down, she puts a hand on Sephi's shoulder comfortingly. "Sephilia." Still serious, but much less accusatory. "I know. It is a difficult rule, but you have to follow the Goddess' wishes. Especially here on Lunar. We're Her voice on this world. Only by being on our best behaviour can we lead these heathens into proper worship and good lives. They need Althena's guidance away from so much pain and misery."

She offers a sad smile. "Promise me you won't break the rule again, and I'll forgive you. It's been some time. I'd like to catch up." This time, it's a hug on offer.

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia pauses. Lying doesn't come naturally to her, which presents her with a problem here. She doesn't want to lie to Amelia, but she also knows if she makes a promise that she won't sing or hum again, it would be a lie. Luckily for Sephilia, clever Chauncey presents a solution to this dilemma.

"We promise, don't we, Chauncey? We'll never break the rule again." It's true. Chauncey won't, so it won't be a "We", it'll be an "I." That's not a lie.

Sephy hugs Amelia tightly, satisfied by her little mental gymnastics, firm in the belief that she isn't doing anything wrong. "I...I'm glad you're all right," she says. "A lot of things have happened, it feels like. Scary things."

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.
Nor was Amelia born yesterday. Quite a bit of the opposite, in fact. Still, the elf's stern look only lasts for a moment. A poke to the nose. 

"I will be holding you to that."

And then, she relaxes. Standing up, letting go of the hug, she's her usual self. That is to say, always with a hint of grumpiness that's tempered by care for her old adventuring partner's kid. Her free hand is offered, and Silver is free to pad along near them both.

"Do you want to talk about it? Now that I have supplies, I'm free for a bit. My last stop is the library." How convenient!

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy takes Amelia's hand and beams. "I'm going to the library too! I didn't used to like books, 'cos we never had lots of them when I was back home, 'cos we were pretty much a tiny little hamlet an' all, but I'm learning a lot of stuff here from them. I want people to take me seriously an' stuff, after all. Even when I carry the Foxington Flintlock they don't sometimes, and it's bigger than I am!" She pauses, momentarily lamenting that she's still, mere weeks from her sixteenth birthday, shy of five feet tall.

"Anyway there was...all that big war stuff, an' the stuff with the Guardians--that was kind of...awesome." she pauses to make it clear that she's using the word in the sense that it was full of awe and terror, rather than in the superlative sense. Sephy's learned some book-words, after all.

"An' there's been fighting here, too...and...and then there's the Pyre Witch. She's after me." The girl speaks matter-of-factly about one of the oldest and most frightening legends of Lunar being out to get her. Her hand squeezes on Amelia's as she trails off with that thought...

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia lets the girl lead her along, somehow seeming that much more pleased. Especially since Sephi's been learning! "Good. The Goddess' faithful must be both pious and learned. They must share their teachings and what they learn so that the world...both Lunar and Filgaia, can be better."

"You're using an ARM?" Somehow, Amelia looks amused.

"Be wary of these Guardians. Every tale I hear of them marks them as heathen spirits. But at the same time, wisdom can come from strange places." Cautions Amelia.

"The pyre witch!?" Amelia's tone lilts up, first surprise, then seriousness. She squeezes in turn. "If she truly is, and isn't just using the name...do not give into such temptation. Nothing good will come up turning away from Althena for power. Why is she after you? Can you give me anything that will let me identify her?" Silver pads over. Ruff! Tough doggie! Ruff! A lick of Sephi's hand.

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia smiles at Silver and pets him as she explains more about the Pyre Witch. "She calls herself Agatha, an', don't worry, me an' Talise an' Ida plan to be the first to beat her in any of the stories. She...she offered to send me home, 'cos...I miss my Mom an' Dad. A lot." Sephilia sniffles. It's the cold, honest! She's a big girl and she's not crying.

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Agatha. Amelia slowly nods, and takes out a pad and pen. She's etching in little dips to the pad. "What does she look like?" The woman clearly intends to track her down. Especially if she's being a threat to Sephi! News that the little heathen bard is on the case gets a frown, but she just keeps writing.

"I believe you. That's exactly the sort of thing a liar like the Pyrewitch would offer. Even the Guard hasn't found a way out of here yet. So don't think anything of it, Sephilia." Smile. Her hand rubs the top of the girl's head. "You've been a very faithful girl to not give into something like that. Let...Miss Talise...and company know I'm willing to help. For your sake."

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia frowns, tapping her nose as she provides a description of Agatha. Then, at the mention of Talise, Sephy's grows quiet, and when she speaks again her voice sounds really small, even to her ears. "I dunno if Talise would accept your help. Not...not after what happened. How come you did that to her lute? You coulda just like...talked to her about it, but...do you know how important it was to her? An' you broke it!" She bites her lip. "Sorry. I...I just...don't understand."

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia's frown returns, but it's not directed at Sephilia. "I'm a member of Althena's Chosen, Sephilia. I may not give Miss Talise a choice in the matter. This is definitely a matter for the Guard."

A flick of her hair. A small breath. There's the briefest flash of guilt on her face. "It wasn't a particularly kind way to do things, but she left me with no other option. She blasphemed against the Goddess, and wouldn't repent. So I had to use force to show her the consequences. If that instrument was precious to her, then I lament that it was necessary."

"You're a very kind girl, Sephilia. But I've seen much of Lunar. And now quite a bit of Filgaia. Sometimes you must be cruel to teach lessons, much as the Goddess denies us dancing and singing. It's for our own good. And for /her/ own good." Offers Amelia.

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia sighs. "I...I don't think I agree...Dad was never cruel to me an' he taught me so much." She frowns. "I think...I think it's just..." She sighs again, unable to articulate what she's feeling.

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia nods slowly in agreement. "A Father..." Her entire body tenses. For a moment she seems...angry? But it passes quickly. "Should be responsible and never be cruel to their child."

"But adults are much more difficult to teach. And most aren't good people like you, and your Father, Sephilia. It's not pleasant, but sometimes necessary."

Once again, she pauses, and kneels down to be on Sephilia's height. "Take your time." Encourages Amelia. "You do not have to agree with me, Sephilia. Your Father didn't always. All I ask is that you follow Althena and Her Heroes. I won't be angry if you don't like how I do things."

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia slowly nods. "I...then I don't agree with that. But...I definitely believe in Althena and Her Heroes!" She hesitates a moment. "Even if White Knight Leo treated me like a kid, like a big jerkhead."

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia nods. She can accept that much, at least! "Good. You won't always agree with your traveling companions, or people that you love. The important part is to love and respect them, and support them."

And then, she laughs. A little tweak of an ear! "Don't say that out loud. Lord Leo is a fine, pious, strong man. Very, ah, unique. So think of it as a more experienced adventurer passing down his wisdom in his own way." Wink!

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"But it's true, he did! I'm not a kid! I'll be sixteen in just twenty more days!" Nope, not counting down at all.

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia shakes her head, chuckling just a little. Reeeach. Another ruffle to the head. "Yes, very soon you'll be a wonderful, pious woman. Have you thought about your celebration?"

More notes. Clearly Amelia seems to be planning to attend. The elf's ears wiggle just a little! Silver wuffs in excitement!

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"I..." She has, in fact, thought about her celebration. She thought, in fact, that she'd have it at a pub and get drunk. That clearly won't work though.

"I am still trying to find the place in town with the meatpies most like Mom's," she says instead, which is actually true. It's another of the little ways where Sephy's homesickness shows up.

"Nothing's quite right though. Sometimes...sometimes I go out at night, and look up at the sky, and I make believe like somewhere back home Mom and Dad are looking at the same stars..." Aww, now it's real crying, not just the sniffles.

<Pose Tracker> Amelia Rose has posed.

Amelia pauses. Slowly, at the suggestion, she starts to speak. "Maybe I could..." Silver immediately is up and doggie-lick-growling her.

~Years Ago, At Camp~

Amelia is up for cooking duty. Sephilia's father is out cold, as is the rest of the party. So it's up to her. Five minutes later, after poking at the recipie book, she takes up a surgical stance and lights the fire. The toasted ham sandwhiches were fairly edible. Ignore the third of a missing forest. That totally wasn't their fault.

~Now~

After snootle-booping Silver, she manages to wipe off doggie spit. "...If it's the kind I think they are, I'll be sure to look. Let's keep in touch, hmm, Sephilia? I want to see how you've learned."

And then? Sephy misses her parents. Warm arms wrap close. Even Silver is nuzzling against one of Sephilia's legs.

"Shh...shhh...they're proud of you, Sephilia. You're becoming such a strong, independent woman." Comforts Amelia, ready to hug and /be/ there as long as the girl needs.

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy hugs tight to both Amelia and Silver, saying nothing.