2017-11-12: Hurt and Comfort
- Log: Hurt and Comfort
- Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline
- Where: Wayside
- Date: 12th November 2017
- Summary: Riesenlied returns to Wayside after she bids farewell to Lord Siegfried, and convalesces by Noeline's side...
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
It's dark in Wayside now, and the kids have been put to bed... but Riesenlied has been gone after leaving her note that she was departing somewhere for the day.
It is perhaps telling that she arrives not through the usual channels, but with a flash of light -- a telltale indication of a teleportation manuever that had landed the leader of the Ebony Wings some distance away from Wayside. She arrives at town with a hail from the guard, seated on Muni-Muni... her capelet is draped extra-tight around her as she sets down upon the town proper, looking pensive and quiet.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline may grump, but she's ultimately quite an accomplished babysitter - adept at letting herself go to impulse in order to cope with Janey's whims, while imaginative enough (and with a breadth of experience) to be able to come up with a bedtime story for Mikaia out of nowhere. Riesenlied's absence is certainly felt, but Wayside is at least able to look after itself for one day, and the children are tucked away with a promise that Riese will be there to meet them in the morning.
The spy isn't there to meet her partner's return in person, but she /is/ outside waiting when she spots the pinpoint flash of light, and it doesn't take much to determine from that where Riese must have been. What does take some time is processing the fact that Riesenlied has chosen a time like this to return to the Photosphere, and all that might have happened in the wake of that - and Noeline finds herself springing up to her feet, snagging a lantern from a hook on the wall to strike quickly out into the gloom.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied does find herself looking very guilty that she kind of sprung this on everyone without really telling them where she's going... and-- as she settles into herself, it's with an emotionally unsteady look that she wipes at her eyes and gathers herself as she looks towards the approaching lantern. "Noeline...?" she calls out.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"--I'm here," the spy replies - her tone is a softer than might be expected, and when she emerges from behind the glare of the lamp it's with a very wan and amused sort of smile. "Honestly," she adds, in basically the same pitch of voice you'd use for 'Welcome home'. "Here I thought you were off doing something that would end up in you getting hurt. Instead, imagine my surprise that it's something even /more/ ill-advised."
At least Noeline's not pushing for details immediately - instead, she comes closer, offering a shoulder of support and an arm around the other woman's waist. She doesn't even move yet, smart enough to realize that the other woman might need a long moment just to take in the spread of Wayside laid out below them.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied blinks just a few more times, as she takes about halfway of the distance towards the orphanage... before choosing instead to lead them towards a bench to sit down on. She shivers just for a moment, gasping as she wipes at her tears for a moment longer. "... it is ill-advised, yes... but, at the same time, it was extremely necessary for me." A pause. "Please forgive this poor fool."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline gently helps Riesenlied down to the seat; she looks chagrined almost immediately, not having noticed Riesenlied's tears in the lamplight. "... I am only joking. ... I know you would not have gone back were it not for a very good reason," she adds, admitting it with a soft grump as she stays standing, if only to fuss over the other woman and offer Riesenlied a lace handkerchief from a pocket. "There is nothing to forgive."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... there still is," Riesenlied admits, very quietly... as she takes the handkerchief and draws just a bit closer. "I came back there to... close a chapter of my life there."
She swallows, sniffling further as she closes her eyes. "... that it must come to this, in this way... if only I could say I had no regrets in the slightest." The night air is breezy, as she watches Muni-Muni fly off to join her retinue at the home where their Dragons sleep. "If only we could bring more people on the journey with us..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Slowly, Noeline nudges a little closer; she doesn't sit down yet, but perhaps that's for the best. Instead, she can cradle Riese against her, brushing gently at her hair. "... in any situation like this, regrets are natural. Even someone like me has to admit that. If you did not regret-- well, you would not be Riesenlied," she comments, the slight edge of a smile playing on her features as she leans down to hug onto the other demon.
"... there may yet be a way to bring more of them. Do not give up hope just yet, hm?" she adds as she lifts away enough to let Riese see the quiet smile on her face.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I saw Mother again," Riesenlied admits after a moment longer, as she leans in Noeline's cradling posture, as she strokes at her hair. "... I wanted to know, deep in my heart... if we can even be said to have a heart... what it is that I really feel. And... I know what I felt on that day..." She lowers her head. "And I spoke to Lord Siegfried again."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
For a moment, Noeline's fingers twitch in agitation as they move through Riesenlied's hair; it's accompanied by a slight intake of air, a natural sign of wariness from the spy who for the longest time preferred to dance through life without thinking too hard about things. "... I see," she offers after a long moment, her brow furrowing. "... per Janey's orders, I think I am supposed to yell at you for suggesting you might not have a heart," she adds, letting amusement filter through her voice. "... but... go on."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
They are rather natural counterparts to each other, are they not? Riesenlied has never so much as lived through life without worries, thinking too hard about everything. "... I admitted -- I admitted that I encountered a Guardian. ... I did not mention you," she whispers. "I asked him... I asked him if he would even entertain that it could be possible... to talk to the Guardians, to hear what they have to say. About the war. About Mother."
Her head droops. "... he has not forgiven himself. He does not allow himself to heal... and until then... it will not be possible to each him... oh..."
She takes that handkerchief to sniffle and wipe her tear again. "... I bid farewell." The meaning is rather clear, even if it may not be a literal physical one. "... aah... Noeline, it does not stop hurting..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
For a moment, Noeline's fingers twitch in agitation as they move through Riesenlied's hair; it's accompanied by a slight intake of air, a natural sign of wariness from the spy who for the longest time preferred to dance through life without thinking too hard about things. "... I see," she offers after a long moment, her brow furrowing. "... per Janey's orders, I think I am supposed to yell at you for suggesting you might not have a heart," she adds, letting amusement filter through her voice. "... but... go on."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline suits her actions to her words, silent as she lets Riesenlied get out her thoughts and her worries. The only noise she does make is when Riese admits she did not mention Noeline's name, earning a soft huff of reproach for her trouble. "... I have pledged to be by your side," she says first, afterwards. "I am no longer worried about being quite so squirrely. Still... thank you for the consideration," she admits.
Sucking in a long breath, she lets it out slowly. Silence reigns for a while longer, as she tries to marshal up an idea of what she can offer in sympathy. "... nothing is forever, I don't think," she admits eventually, slowly. "Even farewells. It may look hopeless now - but we have overcome much to get here, and more still lies ahead. In time, perhaps--" she hesitates. Truth be told, she doesn't really believe it herself - she's seen enough in the way of jingoistic humans to be able to extrapolate what the eventual outcome might be - but a little sympathy never hurt. "--perhaps we might still come to an understanding, hm? All we can do is follow our beliefs, and remain patient."
Still, her hold tightens gently, cradling the other demon to her. "You can let it out, you know. I would not dare ever think of teasing you about it," she grumbles, a little bashful.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... it was not necessary, for that conversation, is all," Riesenlied deigns to answer, dabbing at her cheek again. A pause. "It's-- it's okay. ... I know you do not have the same faiths and beliefs that I do." There's a deeper, shivering breath as she looks down towards the ground, noticing the reflection on a nearby pool of water and looking up towards the moon. "If such a day would come, that would be truly wonderful... but..."
She bites her lip.
"... it hurts still... to know you've lost a friend such..." as she sobs a little more heartfully, clinging onto Noeline's side. Shuffles a bit closer, still. "Tell me wonderful things... comfort me, Noeline. Distract me."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Slowly, Noeline shakes her head, letting out a slow sigh as she looks up towards the night sky, her fingers brushing through Riesenlied's hair slowly.
"... we may not share the same faiths - or rather, not to the same degrees - but I can still recognize and respect what Siegfried means to you," she states, trying to be gentle. "By nature, I am the one who plans for the worst. I would rather you hope for the best. It is that hope and belief that's led us here, brought us so far," she adds as she leans down to place a kiss in Riesenlied's hair, then slips to one side to take a seat on the bench.
She draws in a breath as if to provide a little mental punctuation, and then takes Riesenlied's hands in hers. "... Janey has apparently decided she wants to learn how to grow multiple arms," is her rather abrupt report, delivered in a deadpan that comes from long hours of dealing with the excitable girl. "While I believe that Mikaia made a number of drawings for you to see when you returned. Both of them wanted to wait up for you, but I managed to get them into bed in the end," she huffs softly, nudging her shoulder against Riesenlied's.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... he has taught me, given me opportunities. He is a friend, and that is not something that can be changed even though we go our own ways," Riesenlied whispers... and her misshapen arm gently draws a little closer, wrapping around Noeline's waist. "... I do hope, against hope. I do believe. Even when I have been made to doubt... even as my own damage and insecurities are exposed and made manifest, I will continue to believe."
She has a quiet, wan smile as she asks, "Ah-- um, is it Kalve that inspired her? And-- oh!" She looks towards Noeline with a little suckle of breath. "... what of?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
With a snort, Noeline rubs at her forehead; her mind is obviously somewhat stuck on what Riesenlied said, full of worries in her own way - but she's doing her best to push that down, and just indulge in more idle chatter instead. At least she's entirely used to Riesenlied's arm, misshapen or not, and settles into it with a hum as a hand rests atop the draconic metal.
"I suspect it might be, yes. I tried to explain she didn't have the right bits of bone, for a start, and she proclaimed grandly that she'd go find some somewhere. Then I asked how she was going to attach them, and she decided that 'string' would be appropriate." She sighs rather theatrically; this is a common back and forth, where Noeline slowly picks apart one of Janey's plans just to see what imaginative excuses and twists the girl will come up with.
What she's /not/ adept at is interpreting one of Mikaia's drawings. "... it-- I believe it was Wayside as it currently stands, and some of its occupants," she suggests slowly. "A lot of orange was involved. --really, we should get them a few more colours should we find something suitable. And some more books. I am beginning to run out of ones I can /safely/ show them."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I am sorry. But-- you are here," Riesenlied whispers, full of affection. "Mm. And when you are by my side, I am... I am strengthened. I did not know that I could feel such power from such an emotion, but... I truly do..." as she holds the other Metal Demon's hand to lace their fingers together. There's a fond moment of silence between the two as she listens to Noeline explain, chuckling very softly.
"... that is very fond. Yes, I would like to hang the pictures they draw on the wall, and... hmm... we do need to find more books, don't they? Miss Amelia said she'd teach them mathematics."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline lets out a soft sigh, rewarding Riesenlied with another kiss in her hair, and a gentle squeeze of her hand. "... I, in turn-- I would not have come this far were it not for you. That is no exaggeration. It was your own example that led to my growth," she admits, leaning in to rest her cheek against Riesenlied's, scales or no scales. "... I will not leave you again. I swear it."
She straightens up afterwards with something of a luxurious sigh, and-- stoops just enough to suddenly pick Riesenlied up in her arms, humming slightly to herself. "Come. If you need reminding of the home you have built for your people - for the things you've done for them - surely the best way is to go see it." While it might be true, does Noeline need to carry her?!
"Hanging up the pictures is easy enough," she muses as she starts to walk, easily shouldering Riesenlied's weight. "As for books-- November City is big enough that surely I can find some sort of teaching materials, I suppose. It may be worth another glance around."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's warming cheeks as Riesenlied presses it against Noeline's, and-- the two sneak a kiss in the midst of the night, softly. "... I trust you on that. I don't want to be alone anymore."
She-- blinks with a gasp, as she tucks herself in a little more timidly as Noeline does one of her patented princess sweeps, climbing her up as she drapes her arms tighter around her. "... hehe... I never am tired of you carrying me, either. ... I have not grown heavier or anything, have I?" She rests her head at Noeline's shoulder. "It would be nice to take them someplace new as well. Marze, perhaps?"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline returns the kiss in kind, once she's gathered Riesenlied up into her arms; the whole thing might be to help distract the ailing Metal Demon, but Noeline seems content regardless, humming like some kind of prideful cat. "... it's not something I say /lightly/, you know," she adds with an amused wink. "I'd have thought that much was obvious."
With a chuckle, she shakes her head. "You are the same as ever-- though perhaps a little lighter," she adds, brow furrowing momentarily as she wonders if that's a good or bad thing. She lets it go the next moment, preferring not to think too hard about such things tonight. "I can't help but think that Mikaia would like Nisan," she thoughtfully adds after a moment. "Though I suppose that might be rather more of a trip than is strictly appropriate. Of course, I have no doubt that they'd adore the Thames," she adds, improbably arch about it.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's still a rather evident and familiar fondness from Riesenlied; you don't date and become lovers with someone for this long without developing little intimate exchanges and rituals, after all. "Even if it was obvious, I still like to say it. Because it makes my heart feel more fond."
She tilts her head gently as she remarks, "... I will have Kalve inspect me again. And-- mm. Nisan is a bit further away, and the borders have become more dangerous to cross... but, we will consider it."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline hesitates at the doorway; she's paused in part to huff, hiding the mild blush on her face as she leans in to offer a kiss of her own. Even now, she's still terribly weak to Riesenlied's more earnest moments, not quite able to smoothly cope with open adoration without kind of turning into a butt. "... then, say it all you wish, and I will do the same," she grumbles, but still manages to be /kind/ of suave about it--
--right up until she starts moving again, carefully maneuvering Riesenlied through the doorway. "... I hesitate to even suggest it, but-- perhaps we could enlist the help of some of our allies. It wouldn't hurt to give the two of them a chance to peek around the Kinship when it is fully open, for instance, or perhaps it might be easier to get into Nisan with the help of the--"
She stops dead, having just imagined Janey on board the Yggdrasil. Maybe not.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
When Noeline nudges through the doorway, there's a telltale 'doomf doomf doomf' as the two children exclaim, "Welcome home!!" Oh no, they were asleep just a moment before, but they've conspired to climb out of bed when Noeline's not looking! Of course, the fact that Riesenlied is being carried romantically in Noeline's arms causes the both of them to gawk.
"A-ah--" Riesenlied looks blushy and surprise, and Janey cheers to say, "Kiss her, kiss her, Mommaline!"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline puffs up in somewhat wounded pride. "You were supposed to be /asleep/," she rather grumpily points out. "And I'll have you know that your mother's had something of a rough day. Go a little easy on her, hm?" ... she says that, but... she's leaning in--!
And places a gentle kiss on Riesenlied's temple, fortunately choosing now of all times to be chaste about things.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied sucks in a breath as-- she bashfully leans her head in for Noeline to kiss her on the temple, aww... there's a fond smooch in turn as Mikaia hides her eyes behind her fingers (but totally peeks anyway). "Let's get you warm and comfortable in bed, Riesemama..." Mikaia beams brightly, which helps soothe the Hyadean's worries as she looks to Noeline. "Let's retire..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Gently, Noeline tilts her head in agreement - but finds the time to privately add, as she carries Riesenlied to their shared room: "... you've much to be proud of. Whatever else might happen, that can't be taken away. This home, along with all the others you've built," she adds with a tiny, quiet sort of breath.
And then she 'oof's, because Janey's collided with her back and is trying to clamber up her. "--mind the skirts! If you rip anything I'll be quite annoyed!" she grouses.