2018-01-14: When We Part Ways
- Log: When We Part Ways
- Cast: Riesenlied, Ambrosius, Janey (NPC)
- Where: Wayside
- Date: 14th January 2018
- Summary: Ambrosius comes to bid farewell to Wayside Village... and Janey gives the Veruni mechanic a promise that she fervently hopes she'll keep.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
The battle underneath Wayside had taken their toll upon the Ebony Wings and the Drifters that accompanied them, yet it would seem there is little rest for the wicked. In the wake of the assault on the Primarch, Wayside's ground is visibly shattered, and a whole lot of construction workers are busy creating safety railings and otherwise creating boards to plug the newly christened holes that have dotted their home.
Riesenlied has been by Noeline's side this entire time, watching over her partner with a concern as she continues to try to heal her; it is of limited effect in the end, and she must trust in her ability to self-regenerate...
... and thus she takes her duties, spreading seeds as she feeds her cuccos outside with a look of worry on her face. One cucco takes notice, fluttering up to sit on her shoulder.
"Are you worried too, cucco...? Don't worry, Noeline is tough..."
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius had heard of the events in Hadal Temple, and head read the bulletin released afterward. The timing was, in a way...inconvenient. It had instilled in him some reservations about the current situation. He felt...hesitant. Troubled.
But it was too late to turn back now. Things were already in motion, and they would move forward with or without him. He would prefer to be the agent of his own fate, as it were. Before that, there was a matter he wanted to take care of. That is why he seeks Riesenlied out this morning.
Ambrosius strolls through Wayside, eyes glancing toward the various construction work going on about the place. It was falling apart...at this rate, Ambrosius wondered if it wouldn't sink into the earth with or without the Quarter Knights' help.
Eventually, he finds the person he is looking for. He watches her quiet for a moment as she feeds her charges, before taking a step closer.
"Miss Riiiesenlied..." Ambrosius greets. Unusually, he was dressed in the poncho and hat that acted as his disguise. Very rarely did he wear them within Wayside's borders...
"Are you well...? I heard abooout...the other day's...commoootion..." He asks.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied blinks very softly, and draws her arms towards the cucco to cuddle it onto her arms. She wasn't quite expecting Ambrosius to return... she knew he was still around, in his own way, but not for him to pay her a personal visit. She wonders if this is a matter of great import.
"... we will hold," Riesenlied admits softly as she steps closer to the fence. "We managed to... repel the presence down there -- the Primarch. It may be of interest to you as well..." The 'you' there is implicitly more than Ambrosius, as it involves the Veruni.
"It was an ancient creation made of... from what I understand, science gone wrong. Swollen from the planet's lifeblood... and in turn, desiring vengeance for those who had defiled it," she explains.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
A presence...made from science gone wrong, swollen from the planet's lifeblood. He had a feeling that this 'Primarch' would undoubtedly not be pleased with him or his people. It's a momentarily distracting though, as he considers how a creature like that could exist.
"I see... Then...you did well...in fending it off..." He says. "A creeeature like that...would undoooubtedly...possess...much power..."
That would explain the damage to the village, as well, particularly considering the encounter with their former compatriots down below, as well.
He's quiet for a moment further, studying the ground at his feet, before returning his attention to Riesenlied herself.
"In truth...Miss Riiiesenlied...and...you may...already expeeect this...but...I am here...to offer my...faaarewell..." He says. "I did not...beliiieve it...proper...to do so...through a mere...letter..."
"I am...sorry to depaaart Waysiiide...in its time of need...but...I must..."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... it was only because of the teamwork we had with all of the Drifters. It was a... very heartwarming effort, though-- though we did pay large prices, to our bodies and minds," Riesenlied is not going to undersell the assistance of the people that were with them. She blinks a few times, and-- and sighs gently.
"... I know. I know that it's... that it was going to happen sooner or later. I know you, I trust you. You are a good man, with good instincts..."
She lowers her head.
"But you have your mission. Your orders. And I cannot possibly ask you to go against them, not when you have a stake back home too."
There's a sigh that sounds -- perhaps frustrated, as if she wishes there were a better answer.
She wipes a little tear off her face. "... do you want to see Janey before you go? I know she'd want to say goodbye..."
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
"I see...this I was not aware of. It is...reassuring...that so many would come to Waysiiide's aid..." Ambrosius replies. He goes quiet, then, as she registers his words. He does not speak, and though his attention is still on her his hat overshadows his eyes for a moment.
He opens his mouth to speak...hesitates, and then nods.
"...Yes. Yes, I...I beliiieve...she deserves that much... I...I have left some notes behiiind...to further her studiiies...but I know from expeeerience...that that is no replaaacement...for a proper teeeacher..." He agrees. "As with you...I would not want to leave her...with a mere letter..."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied nods gently, and... smiles very quietly, as she lets the cucco down and starts walking towards the orphanage proper. "Janey? Janey..."
As it were, Riesenlied is puzzled as she looks around to frown and go, "That's odd, she was eating her breakfast here just a moment ago..."
Ambrosius senses someone lurking behind him! The mouse Beastgirl pouts as she puts her hands to her waist to go, "Heeey, Uncle Ambro, are you goin'...?"
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius follows Riesenlied to the orphanage. He doesn't speak during the entire time, as she calls for Janey...but it would seem the girl is nowhere to be seen.
He can soon detect someone behind him. It is a familiar presence, and he turns, looking down at Janey behind him. After a moment, he nods.
"...Yes...I am...afraaaid so...Miss Jaaaney..." He replies with a nod. "My peeeople...requiiire my aid...and thus...I must go..."
"I..." He stops, and hesitates. "I...do not know...when I will be...able to reeeturn..."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Janey looks up towards Ambrosius for a good long five seconds or so... and lets out a sigh.
"I know... I mean, I don't know everything there is, but-- I know mama and you have your-- your differences! And-- you know, that's okay," remarks Janey. "And-- you know what?"
She puffs up proudly as she says, "I'm-- gonna take over your workshop! I'm gonna keep studyin' hard! ARMsmith Janey they'll call me someday! You'll be proud of the things I'll be able to fix!"
She's kind of putting on a brave face, because her lips are quivering a bit, and so are her eyes...
"So... so you take care as well, okay, Uncle Ambro?"
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius watches Janey for a moment. He's...momentarily surprised, taken aback, by her insight on the situation. And then, with a slight smile, he kneels down. He places a hand gently - and mindfully - on the girl's head.
"I do not doubt it..." He replies. "I have no doubt...that you will become a fine mechaaanic...Miss Jaaaney... Grow...hone your taaalents...and...help your mothers with them...wherever you can..."
"Perhaps someday...I will reeeturn...and allow you to repaaair my own ARM... So that day may come...you must take care too...Miss Jaaaney..."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Janey-- sniffles just for a moment as she rubs at her eyes, sighing. She leans up as she feels Ambrosius' hand on her head... and she says, "I--I know the world's not always fair, y'know? That good people like mama and you can't always stay together... but I'm not gonna-- gonna whine about that..."
She sniffles a bit louder.
"... yeah... I'm, I'm gonna help my moms however I can! And-- and you'd best not overlook my repair store, I'll turn it upside and out like it's brand new!" Janey confidently and emotionally boasts.
She rubs at her eyes again, and throws herself onto Ambrosius' side -- given his tall build, she probably kind of more sufficiently hugs a leg, but it's all the same to her.
Riesenlied has returned at this point, but is just watching by the doorway, giving the Veruni a soft smile...
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
"Iiindeed...the world is not a fair place... It is...in many ways...broooken and damaged... But never forget... Miss Jaaaney...it is a mechaaanic's job...to repaaair...that which is broken... It may not be easy...and some parts...may need to be...replaaaced entiiirely...but with time...eeeffort and...care...perhaps some day...it can be fixed..." He replies, and smiles.
"I will be...looking forward to that..." He says. And then, she hugs him. One of his legs, more accurately, but it's enough to cause his breath to hitch for a moment. It is somewhat awkward, but he returns the hug the best he can.
And then, after a moment, he stands. He meets Riesenlied's eyes for a moment...and then shuts his own. He's quiet, but before long, he opens them and nods.
"...I will...be taking my leave, then..." He says, and then turns away. "...Take care of each other... And...the rest...as well."
With that said, he starts to depart. In a way, this had helped him. He could depart with no regrets, now.