2018-02-21: The Priestess' Day Out
- Log: 2018-02-21: The Priestess' Day Out
- Cast: Elena, Ryudo
- Where: Great Krosian Plains
- Date: 2018-02-21
- Summary: Elena chases after Ryudo for reasons.
============================<* Great Krosian Plains *>============================ The bulk of the countryside around the capital city of Krosse consists of rolling, grassy fields, a stark contrast from the arid desert sands to the north. Every year, however, the desertification spreads, and more and more life is swallowed up by the sands. As travellers near the capital, the grasslands transition into cultivated fields. The yields from Krosse's farmlands have given the kingdom the nickname of the breadbasket of Ignas, and the majority of its trade centres around grains, fruits, vegetables, and other foodstuffs. While its might pales in comparison to its larger neighbours, Krosse maintains a significant standing army to help deal with monsters and green-eyed neighbours who might seek to seize that bounty for themselves. These soldiers are kept active by frequent patrols and maneuvers throughout the Plains and major roadways; as a result, travel in the kingdom is safer than nearly anywhere else on the continent. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYbFnoRSW6M
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
Ryudo's self-imposed exile had surely been nothing out of the ordinary for him. Wandering about, looking for stray jobs, staying out of people's way. It'd probably worked out, but with the state Krosse is in, work had gotten thin around the borders - mostly because any trip into Krosse territory was a risk most adventurers didn't want to take needlessly, and people knew that.
Isolation has been spreading. It affects even Geohounds.
But a job posting, tied to a treebranch, had caught Skye's attention, and in turn ended up in Ryudo's hands.
"Meet me at the pub in the village south of here. 1000G, easy, quick work guaranteed."
Best thing is, the posting's new. Skye could tell, if Ryudo couldn't, just from the way the ground had been disturbed around the tree, it was a few hours old at best. Someone had gone through some great trouble to get ahead of Ryudo, or it was a hell of a coincidence.
It's not like the village is anything to gawk at either. It's a small village built around a lumber mill, which no doubt mostly houses the workers and their families, and the obligatory pub and small market for their convenience.
There's just the one patron in the pub too, making Ryudo's work that much easier on him. Someone who's chosen to bury themselves in a thick white cloak, and who seems to be leaning against the wall next to their chair. They might be asleep, judging by their posture.
<Pose Tracker> Ryudo has posed.
Ryudo had come to the Krosse borderlands thinking that the lull in "legitimate" work for blue-collar Adventurer's Guildies would create financial opportunities for those who are more desperate for work with a little hazard pay. Unfortunately, all it really did was drive more people into accepting work for Geohounds. Can't win, it seems.
Of course, Ryudo had other reasons for putting distance between himself and Wehaca. He continues to make token shows of griping for Skye's benefits, but the hawk wasn't born yesterday. He just chooses not to point out the obvious.
"Man, another dry day on jobs. We can look forward to hitting the road again at this rate..."
"Maybe not. Look off to the left..."
The freshness of the posting is evident to Ryudo simply from the fact that another hadn't beaten the duo to it. Skye notes signs of haste, but doesn't think too much more of it. There's no reason to suspect foul play here. Not when the Geohound has gone so far out of his way to put distance between himself and those who he has gone out of his way to offend most recently -- truly a novelty.
The abandoned state of the tavern is a familiar sight. Skye remains seated on Ryudo's shoulder, sniffing the air lightly at an odd scent he picks up in the distance. The latter is too busy shifting gears mentally and putting on his business face to notice. He slides into the chair across from the robed chair -- sideways due to the pack on his back -- and folds his arms casually along the edge of the table. "I found your job offer just outside town. You're lucky that it found its way into the hands of the best Geohound this side of Ignas." ... "Hey, uh...you didn't nod off over there, did you?" This is awkward.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
There's a half snore from the cloaked figure.
Their head droops down a bit, and with that, locks of blonde hair, not to mention a familiar face. Elena is asleep, and had probably utterly exhausting herself in managing to get ahead of Ryudo. She's clearly not cut out for this kind of work, but then the Geohound already knew that.
It takes her a moment to snap awake, stare at Ryudo, and then stammer back a bit. "N-No! I was just... resting... I was just resting my head a bit... that is all." Face lost. Elena drops the act and removes that silly hood from her head.
"I am sorry. It was... very difficult to find you. I followed rumor after rumor and when I finally thought I had your heading down I got ahead of myself and ran as fast as I could. I have not rested in days." It's late evening.
"Why did you disappear? You did not even press for extra payment, did you? Despite what ended up happening."
Elena seems sad, which probably beats her usual haughty attitude.
<Pose Tracker> Ryudo has posed.
The calculated and easygoing smile cracks at the edges. Confusion lights on Ryudo's face, followed by a dirty glance in the direction of Skye. The hawk is pointedly studying the nearby window, but the slightly parted beak betrays his amusement.
A word mumbled at the floor: ("Traitor.")
The Geohound's eyes return to the wayward priestess fairly swiftly. Hints of a frown are clearly visible. Maybe she's just imagining things, but it doesn't seem quite as harsh as it does when he's truly angry? Much like learning to read Skye's mood, there seems to be some nuance to his unfriendliness. "I won't pretend I'm happy that you've been tailing me." He foregoes an easy barb about stalking, suspecting that invoking the Book of Granas at this venture would sour the mood too swiftly. Normally he wouldn't care, but she seems...tired? And not just in a way that chasing him across the countryside would explain.
The frown slips a notch. Refirms. This is where he should push away. It doesn't come out as mean as he wants it to be. "I had a contract lined up after yours. It went almost as badly. It was best for my reputation if I moved on." His head turns away from the table. Away from the priestess and the bird.
Fuck you, bird.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
"I apologize. I would not intrude on you in such a way if I did not feel obligated to," Elena says, rising from her seat as Ryudo turns. The sound of a pouch full of coins hitting the table resonates through the pub, a good sound to the Geohound's ears no doubt.
"I was not lying about the payment. This is what you did not collect and a little bit of my own as well. I did not feel it right you did not get more after you..."
She hesitates to say it out loud. She starts moving towards Ryudo, but her body wobbles dangerously and she holds onto the table instead. "The least you could do is let me thank you. I went through much trouble to get those simple words to you." She bites her lips. She holds in the obvious comments. 'I know you are not used to kindness' 'I would have thought you would do anything for some money, so being paid to receive an apology should be up your alley' 'the bird has better manners and it hasn't even said anything yet'. She holds it in! It's progress.
"I do not know what pushed you to save me, but that is what I came to say. Thank you. And also, I am fine, if you cared to know at all. My sleep patterns are odd but my fellow priests insist I am in perfect condition." Nightmares aside, but that's an expected trauma from what happened.
<Pose Tracker> Ryudo has posed.
The Geohound's head does not move at the sound of the coin, and the frown definitely deepens at this point. It's less obvious that this displeasure might be directed at someone other than Elena. Before he can respond, the priestess begins to lose her balance and his hand quickly lifts from the table unbidden -- only to freeze in the air awkwardly as she catches her balance without the assistance.
Fuck you too, hand.
"...Sit down. Take it easy for awhile. I can't have anyone blaming me if you make a scene here." There's no one but the bartender to notice. "...Really. You can stick around, it won't bother me." Which means he has to behave accordingly. Something inside Ryudo wants to scream at the the war going on within himself right now, and the infuriating circumstances that are boxing him in so.
His eyes drift closed for a moment as he takes a deep breath, letting it out again after a pause to center himself. He tries to pass it off as a sigh of forebearance. His eyes lift to hers once more. "If that's true, you shouldn't be chasing Geohounds alone throughout the countryside. I mean, I'm flattered I guess, but you should really be taking care of yourself first." 'Because taking care of number one always comes first.' He doesn't say it, but he figures she'll read between the lines enough on her own to prevent that from being interpreted as genuine concern on that part. Hopefully. His act is at half effectiveness today with his buttons being pushed as they are.
"Come to think of it, why are you traveling alone like this? I wouldn't expect the Church of Granas to be letting you run around unescorted. If not because of what happened, because of your eagerness to kiss the floor."
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
Elena refuses to sit, which shouldn't surprised Ryudo. She has her pride, like he does, and just to show him that she stands up straight, letting go of the table, to step in closer. You can start making your bets now on how long she'll be able to keep the pose.
"I am not unarmed, and perfectly capable of defending myself. If a Geohound were to attack me, I would scream to throw them offguard and then lob explosives at them," she also states, either matter-of-factly or as a threat. You can interpret that whichever way you prefer.
"As for why, I did not tell them of my travels. I am currently meant to be with a few other Sisters near the checkpoint into Krosse to negotiate entry, but they are covering for me." Elena went as far as to lie to the Church to come find Ryudo! That's quite the feat.
Her hand reaches back to pick the pouch of gella back up, and hand it to Ryudo. "Will you not at least take this? Whether your act was selfless or not, I feel you deserve at least this much. You have proven me at least a little bit wrong about your kind."
Though she's starting to think he might prove her right in many other ways at the pace this is going.
<Pose Tracker> Ryudo has posed.
At the stalwart refusal, half of the Geohound's jaw gapes open in incredulous disbelief. "Yeah, and attract the attention of every no-good and monster within a five mile radius. We've been over this what, three times now? And the encounter at the tower didn't give you a big hint that things are really nasty out there right now?" In a twisted way, it's almost a relief to see traces of Elena being herself again. The stupidity of her proclamations remains no less effective at getting his goat. Still, the fact that she lied to her own Sisters betrays the fact that things aren't quite as normal as she lets on. Plus, if he doesn't diffuse this quickly she's either going to collapse here, or -- more likely -- out in the street or neighboring woods. There's only one thing for it, and that's to play his nature against her.
"Alright, alright. I'll take the coin! ...After you sit down. We need to talk business for a moment." That's right. He RUTHLESSLY REFUSES TO HER ACCEPT KINDNESS until she ascedes to his demands, and he knows she can't stand there forever. If it wasn't a requirement for the act he'd be grinning at her in spiteful triumph.
His arms are crossed along the edge of the table again as he continues. If she remains standing, he simply assumes that it will rectify itself shortly. She's not *that* stupid, is she? "Now, about the payment. My contract was with the Church, not you. Maybe you thought you were doing me a favor, but the Church is just as likely to come after me for trumped up extortion if they catch wind of this." Skye turns away from the table again, concealing the eyeroll from the others gathered here. He knows where this is going.
"...But if you let me escort you back, that's honest work, and we can call it even. You paid in advance, so you aren't quite robbing me on this one. Sound fair?"
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
"Things are not going well, and that is why I must be strong and face it head-on," Elena insists, not backing away at the thought the world is turning really nasty, in Ryudo's own words. "I am not scared."
Ryudo accepts the payment, finally, at least as long as she sits down. She takes the hint and accepts his demands, setting the pouch onto the table in front of him. She hears his words, and gets that hint too.
"Very well. Then this is not in payment to work already done but work I seek done. I appear to have wandered rather far from my company, mister Geohound, and need an armed escort able to deal with potential monster or bandit attacks."
Honest work. It's a bit odd, but she'll play Ryudo's game if it lets her actually thank him as she intends.
"... but if you do not mind, I would like to rest here tonight. I do not think I have another trip in me today." There's more than enough gella in that pouch for a room and a meal, especially in this kind of cozy little village. Might bother Ryudo less if some of it goes into that.
<Pose Tracker> Ryudo has posed.
Elena will have to forgive the gentleman sitting across from her as he maintains a thousand yard stare through the proclamation of her bravery. Or maybe she won't. Whether she realizes it or not, she has proven her courage to Ryudo before. But that was then, and this is stupid.
In either event, the glazed look in his eyes softens when she agrees, and he offers her a smile for the first time since his mistaken greeting. It doesn't even look fake or condescending. "You catch on quickly. That will do, and you've got a deal."
At Elena's last suggestion, Ryudo inwardly breathes a huge sigh of relief. That had been the next step of the plan, and the fact that he didn't have to bait her into it is nothing short of a gift from Granas himself. "I was planning to before we met up, so that's fine. The fare here isn't great...supply shortages being what they are...but it's still the best meal that we'll be able to get for miles. We'll stock up on supplies in the morning and head out." Or so he says. If all goes as planned, she'll oversleep and be too busy blaming one or both of them to mistake it for a kindness.
Ryudo leaves the table momentarily in order to place the request. Upon settling back into his seat, an uncomfortable moment of silence passes before he offers an unexpected aside. "...I'm glad you're alright though." Brief, fleeting, and he quickly distracts himself with removing the pack now that it's evident that he will be sitting here for awhile.
This has been a very strange day.
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
"Yes... there seems to be something going on in Krosse. I do not know what. It is a religious matter of some sort. Apparently only members of Althena's Guard have been allowed easy and safe passage through checkpoints. It is a struggle for anyone else. This has resulted in great pain for countless border towns no longer able to obtain supplies from their usual sources."
The Church probably saw in that an opportunity to spread the word of Granas, but that's neither here nor there.
"It is worrying. Many things seem to be happening... the Metal Demons are out in force, an ancient evil emerged from under Wayside, and the Wings of Valmar are..." Free? She stops herself from saying anything else. She still isn't sure. She doesn't know.
But they keep saying she's fine.
"And now, Krosse has shut its border, causing much turmoil in the land. I do not know what will happen next, but I do not look forward to it."
Elena wobbles a bit. She seems a bit sweaty, upon close inspection. Ryudo might realize in donning the big white cloak she didn't ditch several layers of clothing underneath, and she might be too proud to admit it. What with being headed down towards Krosse, and with the weather getting colder, she's wearing some poofy warm robes over her usual attire.
<Pose Tracker> Ryudo has posed.
At this point, many might share their concern regarding the ever-lingering threats on the horizon, or the swelling powers of darkness gathering behind it all. Ryudo...remains pretty unaffected throughout it all. He's a Geohound, so it's likely that he simply knows all of this already. The alternatives certainly aren't kind to consider. But what will happen next? "...People will get hurt. Some who deserve it. Some who don't. Same as always." Pointedly, he doesn't go into the unfairness of it, or offer any solutions. Some sinners simply accept the world for what it is. Or run from it, but he's probably more of the former.
Afterwards, Ryudo seems to turn most of his attention to his beverage. Eventually he notices Elena's discomfort. It won't do to simply give her an excuse to bear suffering to prove a point to him, of course. Or -- heaven forbid -- that she get the impression that he's asking her to disrobe before him. Instead he forces out a yawn, them downs the rest of his cup. "I'm not sure about you, but I'm going to call it a day. There's no work to be had, and I've been out hunting for it since this morning. Probably best to turn in early since there are travel plans."
Standing, Ryudo slings the pack over his shoulder. He 'forgets' that it's the one Skye is perched on, prompting the bird to exit the nearby window with an insignant squawk. "I'm in the third room on the right if anything comes up. Knocking is fine, I'm a light sleeper."
With that, Ryudo makes his exit with currency in hand. Whoever thought it would take this much work to get payment to a Geohound, let alone get him to accept it?
<Pose Tracker> Elena has posed.
"Yes. I suppose they will," Elena uncomfortably agrees on the matter of people getting hurt. If not innocents, Drifters. Animals have learned to flee the flames, but Drifters not so much.
As Ryudo yawns, Elena nods, slowly.
"Y... yes, that is a good idea. I will trust even a Geohound knows not to enter a woman's room unless the situation is truly dire." The tone she uses for that last line isn't condescending, but rather somewhere between tired and vainly attempting to lighten the mood with something she hopes Ryudo can take as a joke. She's not very good at it.
She retires to her assigned room when Ryudo is out of sight, letting out a deep sigh. Indeed who could have guessed it would be this hard to give money to a Geohound. Maybe she should have left the money with the note instead.