2018-01-12: That Desire That Has Led Us
- Log: That Desire That Has Led Us
- Cast: Riesenlied, Josephine Lovelace
- Where: Wayside Village
- Date: January 12th 2018
- Summary: In the aftermath of the events at Port Solde, Josie and Riesenlied have a chat. Josie mourns the loss of a good coat. Riesenlied makes an offer.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Port Solde had been... a difficult setback for Riesenlied.
The thief was more resourceful than expected -- and disappeared without a trace even in a Gear due to some symbological object. The fossil they put for auction was stolen by one of Ida's cohorts, someone Riesenlied sensed had some deep grudge against her for a reason she did not know. And the media was quick to assign blame on the Ebony Wings for 'smuggling'.
In many ways, it was business as usual, but... it stung nonetheless.
Riesenlied is mending to some of her wounds, as she rests at the side of the orphanage at her rocking chair. For once, her children aren't here -- though the noise of kids playing inside can be heard. Several wraps of bandages encase her arms and legs... and a cucco is sat on her lap for company instead.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
It isn't long before a pigeon joins the crowd, so to speak. Trotting along as she owns the place, the black and white bird approaches orphanage.
Where there's one, the other's probably not far behind. Cigar in hand, the one and only Josephine Lovelace makes her approach, sans usual coat and scarf.
"How's it going, Sunshine?"
Port Solde had been...
Well, Josie's had better, honestly, but most situations where she's ended up with a building partially landing on her and slightly 'on fire' are somewhat less-than-ideal.
Also it essentially wrecked her coat. She'd liked that coat, and it's going to be hard to find one she likes as much as it again.
Perhaps she'll find that Gear pilot someday and present her with the damages bill. Include an additional charge for 'distress'.
Also, probably, present her with bullets.
"Can't exactly say that was the outcome I was hoping for. Oh well..."
She fiddles with the cigar in her hand before lifting it to her lips.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied lets out a faint wince and tilts her head, as the cucco flutters just a little and floats off her lap. "It is not... but, it is unfortunately a possible outcome we had to expect," she responds with a sigh.
She tilts her head. "I am sorry for your jacket as well. Though I am glad you made it out of there fine. I don't think those Galadian authorities saw you, so you shouldn't have any risk being associated with us."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
The cucco may quickly come face to face with the one and only Penelope. Slowly, the pigeon blinks, quirking her head as she stares the other bird down.
"Ehh. I suppose so," Josie allows, shrugging her shoulders with a sigh that can only be described as theatrical. "Frankly, if I'd known they were going to bring along a Gear..." Her lips tilt into a lopsided smile. "I would've brought a bigger gun."
Before her expression turns more contemplative. "I wonder what kind of Gear that was. Not Aveh style, but not Kislev. Doesn't look as shiny as those Solarian Gears, either. Hmm..."
She has an inkling of an idea, but not enough experience to see the right of it.
She waves a hand through the air -- her right -- stiffly. "Ehh, don't worry about it. I'll find a new one or maybe it's time to try something new." She briefly flashes a grin, white teeth bared. "I've always wondered about suspenders... Or maybe something a little more daring."
...Whatever the hell that means, coming from her.
"Anyway..."
She approaches the outside of the orphanage, slumping hard against the wall. "Not getting in anyone's bad books is just fine by me. And I suppose you don't have to worry too hard out here about Guild Galad. So perhaps we should just say all's well that ends well. In a manner of speaking."
She's got a good idea of who walked off with the Dragon Fossil skull, too.
Or at least, Josie sure has three suspects on her list.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
The cucco pauses and gazes upon Penelope. Once, Muni-Muni and Penelope gazed each other into a standstill... but what of the garden variety death bird? Will this be more than a match for the pigeon?!?!
"We expected that there may be such a case, but..." Riesenlied shakes her head. "It certainly was more resistance than we could field. ... I thought that I saw -- Symbols upon it, but I cannot be certain. Certainly not something I've seen before..."
The topic of something 'daring' comes up, and Riesenlied looks innocently confused for a moment, horns wiggling in place.
"Our fossils are still at large -- and so is our thief. I'll pursue more leads, but... what about you, Josie? It is a time to procure fresh leads, so if you wanted to clean your hands of this affair... I certainly could not blame you."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
Penelope bristles, feathers fluffing. She has met the enemy, and they are cucco. This shall be a standoff for the ages!
"Yep. Those were definitely Symbols. Not ones I'm all that familiar with, but I can probably find 'em out for you with a little research. Maybe it'll be a lead."
Whatever 'daring' means to Josie, she doesn't elaborate, though she does briefly cast a glance Riesenlied's way and raise an eyebrow.
"Well, to be honest Sunshine, I sure am thinking it. Not because of what went down though, mind -- I've had worse than that before. It's more of an issue of, eh..." She gestures vaguely for a moment with her cigar, scrunching up her face. "Getting sidetracked, I suppose? If I come across your Fossil, I'll see if it's possible to get it back. If I ever cross paths with that pilot, I'll make her regret this. But other'n that..."
She sighs, her expression taking on a more distant, pensive cast.
"Sometimes, I wonder just what I'm doing."
But she shakes her head. That smile -- briefly vanished -- makes an appearance once again like sunshine over the horizon. "Well, moping about it won't fix anything." She laughs. "Heh heh... I might not know where I'm going, but the course is already set."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Beady little black eyes... stare against beady little black eyes. This is the phenomenon even scientists are unable to decipher, when two black pools that suck up all light face against each other.
"... if you can turn that up, that would be deeply appreciated," Riesenlied sounds just a little surprised, but remembering a little of Josephine's background last they spoke.
Josephine admits she thinks of leaving the investigation, and... being sidetracked.
"... I understand," Riesenlied nods slowly. "This was surely not part of what you are pursuing here, whether in Ignas or the Badlands. And I could not blame you for feeling that way, but..."
She tilts her head. "Do you feel a sense of uncertainty as to which path you go on...?"
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
It's said that at times, black holes can collide, a meeting with no comparison. What happens when these two similarly-arrayed forces cross paths?
"Believe me, I have some places I can check," is Josie's somewhat dry comment on the matter of the skull.
Honestly, she'll just have to work her way down the list and see what falls out.
Assuming none of those three have done anything with it.
Now all she needs is Hawthorne involved, and she'll have the complete set of the dubious cast.
(She is in fact aware of the irony of her having this line of thinking.)
She shrugs. "...It's a consideration I've had. There are other things I've got on my plate, so to speak." Then she tilts her head. "Though, if you want to keep me around, if you make it worth my while, I'm all ears..."
She arches an eyebrow at Riesenlied's question. "You're a nosy one, you know that, Sunshine? Oh well. ...But to answer your question, the path itself's not the problem. I've known for a long time what I'm doing."
She leans back, shaking ash off the end of the cigar. "Maybe it's the end of the path. The idea of not getting there." She frowns, grimacing. "Well, that's unlike me. Thinking about the future, and all. Heh..." She huffs out a laugh, the corners of her eyes crinkling. In spite of the topic, this is an honest smile.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
A speck of light shines down between the two birds' gaze. It would be the last mistake it would make, for it never escapes once more. Upon the endless stare of the deep, it feels as if the very sum of humanity and its sins could be judged...
... until the cucco gets pulled up, in which it bristles and bobbles happily in Riesenlied's arms once more.
It balefully stares at Penelope, as if to go, 'You win this one, Penelope!' for like, a second, before it enjoys scritches.
"... we could certainly arrange for payment," Riesenlied admits. "You work well with our members, and you provide a background of knowledge we have gaps in. You would also have access to my resources and information, and, of course, Wayside as a place to rest and recuperate."
She smiles ever more faintly, however, as she says, "I am perhaps too nosy... it is what they have spoken of me from the start."
A pause. "'You are a machine. You do not need to think or feel. Stop asking questions...' and..."
A tender chuckle. "It is here that thinking and feeling has led me. ... and as I pursue my pilgrimage, to speak with the Guardians... perhaps I will go to even stranger places..."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
The pigeon keeps her gaze steady. Staring. Staring. This is a battle that will be won, on pain of death! There is no place for a--
Well, that or Riesenlied unknowingly intervenes, scooping up the cucco.
Penelope is a victor this day but it is a hollow victory.
And considering which one of them is getting the scritches, who is the real winner?
Lazily, Josie smiles. "Now you're talking. Throw in some spare ammo, and I might just reconsider." She laughs to herself, softly. "Hmm, maybe this mercenary thing's not so bad, after all. I was thinking about branching out a little... Archaeology just doesn't pay well at all."
And neither does selling findings for a profit, considering the 'downpayment' for even getting into the places, half the time.
"A place to sleep for free's nothing to laugh at either."
Particularly for a woman without a home.
Josie huffs out another breath, as if vaguely amused. "Maybe, maybe. There's a time and a place, y'know. Though I guess I'm just as nosy, given my occupation. Heh, I always wonder if I'm due for a haunting or three someday..."
She lifts her cigar to her lips again, falling into a contemplative silence.
"That's the fact of life, you know. You never know where you're going to end up for certain. Heh, makes me wonder why I'm worrying about it at all."
Because it's all this time and distance and you still haven't found them.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I admit I do not really understand ammunition, but Jedan has been collaborating with you on rifles and ammunition, I believe?" Riesenlied smiles warmly. "'Mercenary'... mm. Well, we are more selective than such, and I would request non-lethal rounds like we have been using, do keep in mind... but otherwise."
She places her hand to one cheek, particularly the one that's threatening to be completely infested by her scales. "... even if we do not know where we head ... every one of us here-- we have had the strong desire for a place to belong. It is that desire that has led us out here, to carve out our own little village... outside of the ceiling of harsh oppression that has plagued us for so long."
She smiles just a bit more warmly. "That, perhaps, is why I worry for them. To chart forth a direction."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"Well, it's... eh, never mind. I'll talk with him about it." She waves a hand, intent on letting the matter rest, it seems.
Until Riesenlied mentions using non-lethal rounds.
At which... Josie sighs. "One of these days, you're going to have to make a rough choice, Sunshine. It's your call if you're paying, but personally speaking..."
Her gaze shifts to the middle distance. "I like making sure my enemies won't come back to haunt me."
Which is then broken by a quick flash of a grin. "But the choice is yours. Just remember, all things have consequences."
She's not precisely what she would have expected out of some ancient fell creature of legend. It's still baffling.
Unless it's all an act, of course, but to what end?
There reaches a point where paranoia becomes as much a liability as credulity.
"Hmm. It's not such a bad thing, I guess," Josie allows, as 'Sunshine' speaks her piece on destinations and desires. "I'm not sure it's what I would've done, in the same situation, but different strokes and all that."
She leans against the wall, slouching. "I think I'm just too restless for all this."
Not until it's done. Maybe not even then.