2017-11-26: Black and White
- Log: Black and White
- Cast: Riesenlied, Lily Keil, Mikaia (NPC)
- Where: Wayside
- Date: 26th November 2017
- Summary: Lily reunites with Riesenlied and discusses recent events, and their plans forward.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
It's been a while since Lily has last been at Wayside -- and in the meantime, the rumor of the eruption of light at the village has spread...
...though fortunately, it seems that the village is all right -- no one is worse for wear, and the village has been bustling with the tuber festival recently, even. Riesenlied has offered Lily room and board as has been usual, and the Hyadean is seated in a nice white gown as she carries in a cup of tea on a tray as well as the medical records that she and Lily have been using to track their progress.
Mikaia is helping too, because she's carrying a tray of cookies beside Riesenlied, aww! "You like cookies, MIss Lily...?"
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
It's been some space since the events in Aveh, at Bledavik, and Lily Keil has had a lot to do of late. ...But she did hear about the rumors of what happened at this village, and she never intended to avoid going back to check on a certain patient in Wayside. But that's all distant, abstract matters.
In the moment, the black-haired sorceress is here, dressed in blacks and greys for her dress with wide sleeves, gloves as always, sturdy boots. The sleeves are gray, an underlayer where the black ends farther up her arms. ...And she is still standing, having been possibly pacing to look at her. She looks up, watching Riesenlied... And sees Mikaia with her, which gives her just enough pause as she deals with how adorable she is. "...I like one now and then," Lily allows, indulging just slightly in being nice to the orphan before her even though she doesn't usually care much for sweets. "Yours look lovely."
A look back up to Riesenlied, "I'm glad to see you're at least well enough," she comments. The dust of the road is still on her, her ARM propped up against the wall and her satchel down on a table.
What /is/ different is that she shows both eyes again, gold and untouched, as if she'd never been injured in the first place. She is as pale as ever, even with the heat of the road.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied is wearing a contrast that's rather striking, isn't she? Her almost bridal-looking gloves and laced capelet againt Lily's black. She takes Mikaia up to her lap so that the girl can put the plate of cookies on the table, chuckling softly as she pats her head. "Mikaia has been studying music as of late."
"It's really fun...! I didn't know you could play-- music like that," Mikaia sounds incredibly enthusiastic.
She glances towards her eyes, for a moment; and then nods gently. "I've been... getting back what I'd lost, slowly--" she gestures to the records, where the therapy regimen Lily's prescribed has been having some effect. It's not amazing, but it's an upwards trend. "And I thank you for that."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Bridal to almost funerary, with as formal as Lily tends to be. It's definitely a contrast. Gentle movements are less so though; Lily at least is careful, watching the two together thoughtfully and tilting her head slightly at the talk. "Music, hm? Are you focusing on an instrument in particular?" The enthusiasm strictly is catching... But as is her way, Lily keeps a little distance, even as she moves to sit down across from Riesenlied, smoothing out her skirt once placed and reaching towards the records with one hand. "That's good," she says. "The fact that it's helping is a good sign." She does look them over, considering the trend, the speed of it... But some effect is definitely good.
"Mm, it's only my work," Lily demurs about the thanks. "You don't need to thank me for letting me do that much."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Mikaia rummages into her pocket and shows Lily a cheap little wooden recorder, blowing on it and playing a little tune Lily might recognise as 'Twinkle Twinkle Rigdobrite', a famous children's tune. "Aren't I good...? I've been practicing..." she smiles warmly.
"It makes me feel hopeful -- that there is something I can do against it," Riesenlied expresses. There's a soft pat of Mikaia on the shoulder, and says, "You look like you've recovered too... I'm glad to see it."
She tilts her head with a soft smile as she says, "And I think I've... discovered some-- leads to being more assertive in my mental defenses, thanks to that... incident the other day." A pause. "Ah, you might have heard about it... a column of light erupted over the village. It has drawn some attention..."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
The tune's easy to recognize; music's not exactly uncommon in a soldiering town, and Lily did her time learning that tune just like any other. "You are," she agrees,and there is just a /hint/ of warmth back at her, like banked coals a little away from the edge of the firepit. She puts out a gloved hand just enough to set it on the table between them for a moment. "I'll look forward to hearing more tonight, if you don't mind." After all... she does intend to stay, and her business won't take the whole day.
A look to Riesenlied with a nod. "...That hope is the most important. There /is/ more you can do, and I'm sure you'll continue to recover." It's not unfamiliar subject matter to Lily; she speaks with gentleness but also authority, the sort that comes with an ease of experience. A beat before she sighs lightly, "I have, eventually." She looks... almost uneasy about it, for an instant, her unscarred face darkening briefly. "And the chemicals are largely out of my system, thankfully." Mostly thankfully.
"Have you?" she asks about the leads, content to focus on her patient here. "Honestly I'm interested for my sake, too. ...But while I've heard about the incident, I didn't hear very much; only the base rumors. Would you like to tell me what happened? ...More to the point, is everyone all right?"
She considers, glances to the door, "....I haven't heard any talk of people coming to investigate the area. You know I keep my ear open."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's a happy look from Mikaia as she nods and says, "I'm studying hard so I can play more tunes!" since Riesenlied probably found her a book or two to study, something simple that she can absorb and learn at her own time. "The chemicals..." Riesenlied has a distasteful look on her face, thinking to how poisons and drugs are often used to disastrous consequences...
"...ah--" she looks to Mikaia for a moment, but she nods. "A comrade -- Kalve -- was trying to find ways to stop the same atrophy we're talking about. He'd had the idea to... 'shock' my senses into forming a defence using a--" She hesitates. "Malevolent needle... I had no idea he was investigating such articles."
Mikaia looks super bashful as she says, "I-- I, um, walked in and called out, and then everything happened..."
Riesenlied hugs her a bit tighter to say, "It's okay, Mikaia." She looks up to Lily to say, "I'd inadvertently created a mindscape from the shock, something that drew everyone into a... well, it is not a hallucination, but... similar. It was... difficult."
She hesitates, and says, "Do you remember Marcus Rider? He came with some companions of his. I know of Miss Elhaym, but there was also a medical student with him... Thomas Blackwell, I think?"
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
While she doesn't intend to admit it, it's obvious probably to Riesenlied the way Lily takes a certain gentle happiness in seeing Mikaia happy herself. "Wonderful," she says simply, and the patient way she looks never gives the impression that she is in a rush to focus only on Riesenlied, that she finds the additional company and distraction unwelcome or unpleasant. ...Though her eyes do flick to Riesenlied at her initial response. "It was necessary," she reiterates, maybe more for herself.
Mikaia--that look suggests to Lily that Riesenlied wants to be careful around the girl. However... When Riesenlied says the word 'Malevolent', Lily's expression subtly turns, sharpening, hardening, focusing. "He--"
Mikaia stepped in. ...Ah. Riesenlied says it's all right, and Lily looks between the two and does not comment at first. "She waits instead, listening. "...I see," she answers, somewhat troubled. She's had poor experiences with things like mindscapes. "...As long as you all came through it."
"This Kalve's methods concern me--but then, I studied Malevolence myself. I think I'd like to discuss it with him, if that can be arranged." ...She has reason to talk to him anyway, but this is business, after all. She waits though. She prepares for Riesenlied's continuation, waiting for that hesitation. Marcus Rider...
She does, of course; she starts to answer, and then pauses abrubtly. Not at Elly's name, which she recognizes. No, the medical student who catches her attention and then that /name/, that causes Lily, subtly, to go entirely and totally still. There is something hard as diamond in her at that moment, an utter malice that she cannot hope to conceal until after it shows. If Riesenlied's other senses are listening, then the message is hate so strong that Lily should not be able to bear her own weight under it.
She pauses, closes her eyes, and takes a quick breath. "...I apologize," she says, as if going still were a serious outburst. "I remember Rider. But you should all be careful of Blackwell. He is..." She imagines what he could be, for an instant, and her fingers curl; a black speck shimmers into being before she controls herself. "Not what he seems."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"While I was really surprised, I..." Riesenlied places a hand to her chest. "Well, I did not want to discourage him from studying it. He is a scientist, and one of the best I know. I know him to be careful, so this was highly unusual... but yes, I can arrange a meeting with him if you'd like..."
She has a weak smile as she says, "It does not affect most Hyadeans, at least... I am something of an oddity in that regard."
She blinks just for a moment longer, as she looks to Lily and shies away from her for a momennt. "Ah--"
Even Mikaia's wings wilt as she says, "M-Miss Lily...?"
"... not what he seems? I--" A pause. "I know the same of Marcus too. The look in his eyes... he is not all that he claims to be. He was present when the Demon of Elru took Garlyle... or at least, that is my hypothesis -- there is anger and loss in his eyes. ... but-- what about this Mister Blackwell...?"
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Surpise is fair. Lily listens to that, hearing of his science, and inclines her head. "It's a dangerous subject," she allows. "Even strong ordinary safety protocols aren't necessarily enough to cover it. But if he's studying it for you in part, I can provide him with some of my own notes on the subject, depending." ...Depending on whther she approves of what he's up to, anyway.
That weak smile gets a little shake of her head. "...I remember when you hoped you could understand it, if only for those forced to deal with it. I admit, I wish you hadn't had your own wish fulfilled." She doesn't mind Riesenlied's oddities; she rarely has. But...
Well, she notices both of the other two have trouble with herself, shakes her head. "...I apologize," she repeats, lips pressing together harder as she attempts to will the feeling to at least be kept only to herself. She shakes her head again. "He..."
She pauses. "...I believe that of Rider. But that's true of many who are here. ...Garlyle, though... That's more concerning to me." She considers, and then looks down the table, not making eye contact as she continues smoothly, firmly, "Thomas Blackwell is a dead man who doesn't know it yet. You don't need to know all of the details."
"...It might be safer for you not to know. But be careful around him." She pauses. She doesn't want to alarm Mikaia, but... A pained expression briefly passes her face. "Don't trouble yourself over it. Just be careful of him, that's all."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied's lips press together for a moment... and she nods gently. ".... I've advised him such that it is an extremely dangerous subject. But it is for the best that we better understand what we must fight against... at least, that is how I try to convince myself..."
She does gesture. "He makes the rightmost cavern by the purifier his home, I will inform him that you wish to speak to him."
She hears Lily talk about when she wished she could feel Malevolence....
"... it's difficult, but--" she pats Mikaia on the head again. "If it were not Malevolence, I could not have understood Mikaia's own pain, no matter how odd the path we took there went... and, I have never been one to avert my eyes from painful truths... if it will scald me, then..."
Mikaia looks just a little more quiet, but there's a supportive little smile, at least, as if she's proud.
"... I-- see," Riesenlied whispers. "Then, I won't probe you for more details..." She hesitates for a moment. "They wanted to help me with some issues around the village, but I will let Noeline and the others know. ... they are more on their guard than I am, anyway."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
"You're right," Lily answers simply. "It's better to know, though it's difficult, and dangerous. But it should be treated as the disease I think it is." A pause, as she attempts with a look to support Riesenlied there, to offer solidarity with her intent... But the note about where he makes his home is useful. "Thank you."
A pause. Mikaia gets lily's attention again, and considers, watching her for a moment. Her pain... It isn't her business, and Lily knows that, as she looks back to Riesenlied. "I see. That's very like you," she admits. "...And it does good for those around you. I suppose I'll just have to do my best to treat the burns you'll suffer."
She waits, though. She hears the whisper, and it /bothers/ her, which may also be clear, the way her lack of control has influenced this conversation, ahs troubled the both of them there. And that much is clear to her, that it has. She waits for the hesitation--
Logic takes over, and she works it out for a moment. "...van Houten is trustworthy," she says, a rare statement from Lily. "You can rely on her. Rider I don't know well enough to say. Blackwell... Just be aware that his eyes are watching, whatever you show him. He may use the knowledge he gains in ways you won't wish. With Noeline and thus others watching, I hope they will be able to assist."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Mister Rider is... someone with a storied history, I think," Riesenlied speaks gently. "His poise and countenance speaks to someone with a lot of experience. Whether it is malicious or not, I do not know, and I would not rather doubt them, but from what you have said about Blackwell....."
She tilts her head, just a little bit downcast. "I trust Miss Elly!" Mikaia suddenly pipes up. "She's the one who encouraged me to try music. She's really kind."
Riesenlied nods gently, as she lets Mikaia down gently, which... at this point, it seems like they have an understanding of when Riese needs to speak about something sensitive, so she trundles off with a wave.
"... I-- have a request to make..." she sighs. "The incident in Bledavik -- that pertained a Guardian Statue, did it not? I heard from Jacqueline."
She chews on her lip. "To be truthful... a few days ago, we investigated odd noises from within our Waterway -- we went deeper into a new excavation site, and we found..." She hesitates. "We found a Guardian Statue there. Schturdark, I believe -- the Guardian of Water."
She's quiet. "... not everyone in this village knows of my position, and-- they still believe in Mother. There are those who are eager to see it destroyed, which... is troublesome -- not just for what it seals, but... we felt a dangerous, threatening presence that it was sealing underneath."
She places a hand to her temple, recalling the feeling. "Something... old and primal..."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
"As a rule," Lily states, "I don't trust. Moreso as the days go on. It's a risk that isn't worth it." Her voice is not gentle, but it is soft enough, quiet in the way that is normal for the withdrawn woman. "So I can't counsel you about Rider. ...I don't /know/ of anything about him that's a problem, but that's all." Mikaia though pipes up, and LIly watches her thoughtfully for a moment before she nods. "...Yes, she is. She's a kind woman. We share some acquaintance."
But Mikaia gets the hint, and Lily watches her go with a nod her way. "I'll see you later."
She looks seriously next to Riesenlied after that, nodding her answers about the statue but otherwise waiting for the Hyadean to speak the rest. She remains silent accordingly, though there's a serious cast that grows more serious at the talk of the Guardian. Her problem comes...
"..." Lily leans backward very slightly against her chair, considering. She finally sets the records down on the tray again, quiet a few more moments before she nods. "...The truth," Lily says, "Is that I have the means to protect that statue myself right now. But if there /is/ such a presence there... Then it's worth considering how to approach that, what to do. I don't know how it would react to the ritual required, and I couldn't address that while performing the magic required."
"Yes," she clarifies, "We went there for the Guardian statue. Moor Gault's, the Guardian of Fire, I believe. I was not... present, for its sealing." She lts that hang, "...But in addition, if there are those here who want your Mother to return, then they might indeed act. We may need to gather allies, just in case. I don't relish the idea of conflict among your people, but even so..."
She shakes her head. "I want to visit this site myself, feel this presence. Regardless, I assume you were going to ask for my help. You have it. I have my own mission, but I can't carry it out if there is no humanity left."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... and in turn, I trust until I am provided reasons to not," Riesenlied has to admit, perhaps inwardsly thinking once more how much they mirror. In their white and black gowns, in how they naturally trust and distrust... She nods just for a moment, though. Her instincts tell her Rider is more than meets the eye -- whether that is inherently untrustworthy... well -- she wants to trust.
"... Jay is assembling an expedition to investigate. If we had confidence that sealing the statue would solve the problem, I would be all for it, but--"
She frowns very gently. "You know how it is... when there are-- two great forces that are perfectly in stalemate with one another -- even enhancing the power sealing it may cause an unexpected disturbance despite our best intentions... we just don't know enough right now."
She nods softly. "... thank you. I can only hope it does not come to the worst of blows... but right now, Noeline and I... have to prepare for that outcome."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Sometimes Lily thinks on the same thing, that difference; sometimes she sighs because of it. "You do. I still say it's dangerous," Lily points out. The white gown Riesenlied wears suits her... But the sorceress has long accepted that this strange mirror, this Metal Demon, is nonetheless kinder than she is by far. "The world provides many reasons not to trust. But you do anyway. ...I hope you can recover when it hurts you again."
Jay... Lily nods, thinking. Frankly, she'd prefer not to be running the operation, so that suits her fine. "That's a concern I had," she admits about what would happen. If not for that, she would ahve suggested the two of them handle it tonight, while no one was looking, solve the problem before it becomes more public, before it has more concern.
"I do know how it is. But... Still." She nods. "It's the sort of thing you have to prepare for, I know. I don't envy you that responsibility. ...I can't imagine why you would want it. If it were me..." She shakes her head. "Mm, it doesn't matter."
"I'll help. Be it in sealing the statue, if no one else can--that is what the ritual is called, that is what would protect it--or by using my magic to stand against whatever force awakens. ...Or whoever comes to claim it. I do not want Wayside to become a casualty of this war."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's a tender smile from Riesenlied as Lily makes that declaration, and she places her hand to her chest again. "... it does hurt, sometimes. But what we have succeeded in making here, however fragile... truly makes my heart very happy. It is okay that there are growing pains, that there will be those who disagree."
She reaches her hand out for Lily, to pat it gently.
"Thank you, once more. I'll let Jacqueline know you may be coming with her -- they're going to be a bit discreet about it, so your skills at stealth would be a boon to them."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.
Lily doesn't return the smile, but she does see it, does absorb it, in the same way that her dark clothes draw in light the same that Riesenlied's lighter seem to give it off, at times. She watches, in some muted concern, and inclines her head. "...I..." She closes her eyes. "You remain more optimistic than I am," she says, before opening them.
She does not draw her gloved hand away at the brief contact, not this time. She considers the words instead. "...All right. That I can help with, at least." She wonders... No. No, it's best not. She looks at Riesenlied again, not in a new light, but in the same after it was darkened. "You're welcome." A beat, and a dry, distant tone, "Breaking a mirror is bad luck regardless, isn't it...? I can't just leave you."