2018-01-22: Fresh Air and Peace of Mind

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  • Log: Fresh Air and Peace of Mind
  • Cast: Jacqueline Barber, Lily Keil
  • Where: Baskar Colony
  • Date: January 22nd, 2018
  • Summary: While recuperating in Baskar Colony, Jacqueline and Lily run into each other. They have a chat, about Lily's condition, her new team, and Jacqueline's resolve...

=============================<* Baskar Colony *>==============================

Baskar Colony is the closest thing to a capital for the Baskar Tribe on Ignas. Nestled high in the northwestern mountains, this small village is where many of the Baskar elders dwell. The homes here are simple but imposing structures, often carved into the walls of the mountains themselves. The scant wood here he goes to providing fire and warmth for cold nights. Provisions are limited to what is given by families who live here, as there aren't any dedicated stores; similarly, no inns or hotels provide respite. However, the elders' knowledge will sometimes lure the determined and desperate to this place.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

For once, Jacqueline had been able to sleep properly. To a certain definition of 'proper', that is. There are those who would question whether or not sleeping partially hanging off a couch with ones glasses still mostly on would be considered proper. It was not the most dignified way to sleep, but she had slept and as far as she knew none of her friends were making fun of her for it.

She and the rest of the Kinship had returned to Baskar Colony, where they were recuperating from their fight with their good friend Lydia. They'd been getting on well with the people of the Colony, anyway, and so Jacqueline had elected to repay them for their kindness by providing them with some extra supplies. This didn't count as 'work', since she wasn't accepting any money for them.

At the moment, Jacqueline can be found pacing about the Colony, getting a good feel for the place. Lately it seemed that they only went here when they had a goal in mind, so it was nice to get a chance to take it in without anything pressing on her mind.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Lily's been less lucky about sleep; it's eluded her largely, though not for any particular moral reasons. ...Though there are a few things on her mind, that continue to keep her awake. The sorceress came into town with the others, hired along and not inclined to travel back on her own just yet. She has waited with the Baskar, where she has been before... and said little to any of them. She learned a ritual from this place. ...She has interest in the Guardians. And yet...

She's keeping to herself because she's ill, mostly. She hasn't had anything to offer them; she can't offer her medical services at the moment, she can't sell things she doesn't have... It bothers her some.

So she's taken to wandering. She has a blanket over her shoulders, meant to cover her arms as best she can--including the deep bandages on her left, the sling she's carrying her arm in showing. Jay is pacing...

Lily comes to a stop, a little bit away from her, perpendicular, and watches thoughtfully. ...She's pale; she's been sweating, though it is desert.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Absorbed in her own thoughts, it takes a little while for Jacqueline to realise she isn't alone anymore. After a moment she pauses and turns around...and lets out a gasp when she sees Lily standing there.

"Ah! Lily! You're up..." She says, turning to face her. She moves closer to her, shifting one of the bags on her person slightly as she does so. It's a new bag. The one that had been in its position previously had exploded. She's still not quite used to this one yet.

"How are you doing? Are you still hurting?" Jacqueline asks. It's the sort of concern one probably expects from her by now. She takes a moment to study Lily, frowning thoughtfully.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Lily has a habit of sneaking up on people; she hears the gasp and closes her eyes, shaking her head a moment. "...Sorry," she says, before she opens her eyes again, looks over Jay for a moment, out of habit. ...Her attention is drawn to the bag for a moment, and then back up to Jay again. "...Thought some air would do me good," Lily answers.

She pauses at that. Concern... Lily shakes her head again. "Doesn't matter," she answers, in what is not a very reassuring tone. Lily definitely looks not just wounded but ill, though her arms are hidden as best she can manage. ...Her shoulders are hidden for the moment, too.

"How about you?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"It's okay, really..." Jacqueline replies, shaking her head. She then offers her a small smile and a nod. "Yes, getting some air can often help. Especially in a place like this. The air here is so...fresh and clean. You don't really see many places like this around."

There is a slight frown when Lily says it doesn't matter.

"I disagree. If you're hurting, it's most likely the sign of a problem somewhere. I have some medicine on me, if you need it. Neglecting your condition is only going to make your recovery take longer." She replies. It's not really a scolding, it's more a matter-of-fact comment. As she speaks, her eyes are drawn to Lily's left arm. She remembers what she saw, how the patterns on her arm had changed...

"...I...I noticed, well..." She doesn't say it out loud, but she does nod toward Lily. With where her gaze had been focused before, it might not be too difficult to understand, assuming Lily had noticed herself.

"As for how I'm doing, well...I'm alright. The Caravan Kinship has had a rough time lately. We've suffered some...losses. That was part of why I went to you for help... It's...nice, for things to finally be looking up for us. At least for now." She admits.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

"...It is," Lily agrees. "Different from the Nortune air where I grew up." Lily looks up to the sky--so easy to see, out here, without all the lights of an urban center. She thinks of some places she's seen... and spots the frown. Hears the very matter-of-fact disagreement.

Lily's dark hair shifts in a light breeze. Her eyes are golden again, not black, have been for a while now. ...But she spots the way Jay looks to her arm. "...That's true," she agrees. "But it should hurt. Healing can be painful. Shows the nerves aren't totally ruined."

"...It's not mostly the pain, anyway." Jay doesn't say it aloud, and Lily glances to the side. She's noticed, all right. "...I'm glad you're doing better. Loss... It can be difficult to deal with. ....Not that you don't know that." A pause. "...It was good to help. Lydia's a good kid."

Finally she adds, "I don't know what happened. She kept.. saying strange things. I don't know what's with the patterns. I don't know why..." She lifts her good hand, and winces, as a few sprks of violet energy crackle about her hand, and then fade.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Adlehyde...well, it was probably closer to this than Nortune, I'd say. A little more crowded." Jacqueline comments, giving it some thought. Was, at least, until... Well, hopefully they could do something about that somewhere down the line.

Lily provides a very reasonable response to Jacqueline and she...folds her arms in front of herself and nods in agreement.

"Well, that's...true." She admits with a nod. "As long as you're sure you don't need anything, I suppose it's fine..."

It wasn't mostly the pain... Jacqueline assumes that the change in patterns might have something to do with it.

"Yes...and, thank you." She replies, and then smiles. "...She is. She can be a lot to handle sometimes, but I'm glad to have her with us."

She listens as Lily continues and frowns pensively, studying those violent sparks for a moment.

"...Hm. I'm afraid I wouldn't know, either... Has anything new happened lately?" She asks.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

"Adlehyde was a good place. ...Is a good place. They'll rebuild." Lily sounds certain of both of those things. ...Nortune, of course, is incredibly crowded, remains so, though Lily hasn't been there in some time now. But her reasonable response... Seems to work. Jay nods. "...I may need something," she admits, "But I wouldn't worry about painkillers. I need to keep my mind sharp. I have a lot of things to think about."

"You're welcome though," Lily says. "...I wouldn't charge if I didn't need the money for some things. I'm going full-time mercenary, now. ...Bringing back the Wolves. Like in Bledavik." A pause. "I don't know her that well, Lydia... But she's made an impression. And not just the teeth marks."

"...Yes, some things have happened, but the... illness started after that battle. I'm wondering if it's gotten infected, but I haven't seen any signs that it has. Since we finished there..." Lily shakes her head.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"I'm certain. Some may see us as softened by peace, but...we've always been a hardy people. I think we'll recover, with time." Jacqueline replies with a faint smile. She appreciates it, and when Lily admits she may need something, Jacqueline nods.

"Of course. I have a few medicines that should help in that regard." She says, then listens as Lily explains.

"Oh, I fully understand. I am a merchant, after all." She comments with a nod. And then...bringing back the Wolves, huh? Jacqueline can't help but smile.

"Ah, I see...is it just you and Leon, or are there others? Either way...I wish you luck. I imagine it's not an easy business...but you would know that better than anyone." She comments.

There's a slight frown, though, when Lily mentions that it happened after the battle.

"That's...concerning. There's all manner of strange devices in that place...it's possible it could be a result of something from there, but...I don't know..." It was...baffling. "Well, I wish you a quick recovery...if there's anything you think I can help with, let me know."

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

"...I saw that much. Your people may not be accustomed to war, but it won't be the end of your land. That much I could see. ...Now, if I can get your Princess to understand the concept of danger..." Lily sighs, shaking her head. The talk of medicine gets a moments' silence, "Thank you. I prefer to treat myself, usually, but... It's difficult to heal, like this. And I don't have a stock of medicine besides yours."

Jay is a merchant; that's a good point. At the smile, Lily looks and meets Jay's eyes. "There are others. ...It's not an easy business, but it's not unfamiliar for Leon or me. ...To be honest... I find the idea easier than adapting to civilian life. I don't have the knack for it. Peacetime... There's not much place for me in it."

Jay frowns, and Lily looks up again. "..I'm pretty sure it relates to having half my arm bitten off," she says, in a bit of an exaggeration. "...My magic is natural to me... So it's possible the condition of my body impacts it. I don't know. I'll... Be fine."

...It's a pretty greivous wound. It should take a long time to heal... and yet Lily's eye healed, when it shouldn't have yet, either.

"I'll let you know. In the meantime..." She considers. "...If you need anything else let me know. And for the record..."

"There's nothing weak, in not wanting to cross the line of taking a life." Lily meets Jay's eyes if she can. "Nothing at all. I respect it."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Yes, she's very headstrong, isn't she?" Jacqueline comments with a friendly chuckle. Honestly, it was respectable in a way, even if she and Lunata had had a...falling out, of sorts. She just wished Cecilia would get a chance to see her friend in a less stressful situation...

Adapting to civilian life...yes, Jacqueline was aware that was a common problem the world's environment these days caused. She could understand that.

"I see...well, I'm glad to hear that you have people backing you up." She says.

"...Ah, well, yes, that does seem like it...might have an effect..." Jacqueline murmurs, a bit sheepishly. She doesn't take it too harshly, though. "Yes, I think that sounds likely. I'm still unfamiliar with your form of Sorcery, so I'm unsure what all factors would affect it..."

She begins to rummage through her bags for some potions but pauses as Lily addresses her. She looks up, meeting her eyes. She stands there quietly for a moment...before nodding.

"...I...thank you. I'm...really glad to hear that." She replies. "It's...hard sometimes, when it feels like there's no other way. And it's difficult, when..." Jacqueline trails off and looks away, a bit sheepishly.

She remembers Ethius's words. She remembers how everyone felt, when they initially encountered Professor Castle and heard of his crimes. There are times when emotions seemed to be at their peak, and it was all she could do to try to calm them...

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

"Yes," Lily agrees entirely. She hasn't spoken with Cecilia in a time... But it is a problem she's had to go over with her before. For that matter, it's been some time since she's spoken with Lunata. Regardless...

It is difficult, for a lot of people in the world these days. "Thank you," Lily answers. "...At this point they won't let us leave them behind," she says with a thought to a few of those people.

Lily may be harsh, but she doesn't tend to mean much by it. Golden eyes settle on Jay's. "...Unfortuantely I don't know what factors affect it either. Even those like me don't have the markings that I do. ...But I've been wounded before. I'll heal." She always does.

That quiet moment though....

Lily nods again. "I'm only saying the truth. ...It is difficult, but so long as you can... Hold onto it, even when it is." She can imagine, how they felt. She can imagine those emotions; she's had them herself. "...It's best if you don't deaden yourself to such things... Like I have."

She glances to the sky again. "...I think air's probably enough, by now. I should try to get some more rest. ...But you can come and talk to me about that anytime. For all I don't know... I at least know about that."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"I hope they're reliable, at least." Jacqueline says, and then contemplates. Hm...no, at the moment, it didn't seem like she could come up with an answer. For now, she would just have to trust that Lily would heal properly, even through this.

And then... There's a soft smile, and Jacqueline inclines her head.

"...Yes. I will. I'll hold onto those words, and this feeling..." She says, placing a hand over her heart. She remains quiet for a moment as Lily glances to the sky, and then nods.

"I agree. Rest is also good. And...thank you. I'm glad I ran into you here." It had been helpful in putting her mind at ease...and it was always nice to talk with Lily.