2018-10-04: Crab And Butterfly

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  • Log: Crab And Butterfly
  • Cast: Seraph Amaranth, Lily Keil, Loren Voss
  • Where: Adlehyde - Town Center
  • Date: October 4th 2018
  • Summary: Loren and Lily cross paths in Festina Lente, forcing Katherine Weaver to avert a potential crisis. Donuts save the day.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.

    The Festina Lente has been a presence in... Adlehyde, in a way that's probably not even surprising to anyone who even passingly knows of the flighty and kind of mildly mysterious ways in which Katherine Weaver the seamstress works. Despite the fact that it was in West Nota before and... Meribia before that.

    Katherine's having kind of a pleasant day just to herself as she hums and sets a new batch of Apple Gelly Doughnuts to bake in her oven; she's dressed extra-pretty today, in a black and white dress with a lot of ruffles and lace with a big red ribbon on her necklet with her hair in slightly curled waves and tied into her traditional two ponytails. Maybe she's expecting Talia?

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

It's still a little unusual for Lily, who does not know all that much about the way Katherine Weaver works. ...But she's investigated a few of the rumors, as fits her general level of wariness, and has decided after all to come here. The right building...

Dressed in dark clothes, an old armored black jacket with a gray undershirt and long pants in sturdy boots, the one-eyed one steps into the store, glancing right and left as she does. She can smell the baked goods there. ...And despite her practical attire, a seamstress looking at her will still note a deft cosmetic hand.

"..." she says, Dog padding along behind her pleasantly.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

    Loren's on leave.

    This isn't to say that he's had zero responsibilities -- there was that mission he'd been optionally assigned just days prior -- but more accurate to say that he's more or less free to spend his time as he pleases as opposed to being on staff somewhere or sticking his neck in some decrepit tomb or another.
    He doesn't have to be anywhere if he doesn't want to. He doesn't even have to talk to people if he doesn't want to. He doesn't have to do anything if he doesn't want to. Save for the upcoming threat coiled in the mission to Elru, he can almost relax.

    It's nice.

    Even if it's a wreck, Adlehyde has its good side, he supposes. There are signs that the city's making a comeback--

    And he notes, after a moment's stunned silence, the familiar sign for the Festina Lente. In Adlehyde. On Filgaia. ...Maybe it's just a coincidence?

    So that's why the door jingles merrily as he steps inside to be greeted by some familiar sights, among them Katherine Weaver. The strange woman who made the very outfit he's wearing.

    The young man is silent at first.

    And then, nonplussed: "...You're a baker now?"

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

    He has not, it seemed, noticed Lily. YET.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.

    Hum hum hum hum~

    There's a light shower of sparkles and stars and doves as Katherine moves about her space, blinking and perking up as she claps her hands to exclaim, "Oh, good morning!" She really does act and look like the part of someone who's definitely expecting a date later.

    She glances up and down over Lily appreciatively-- before perking up to double 'aaaaaa' at Dog!!

    *poof* A comfy dog-pillow and a fresh bowl of water has appeared out of nowhere, along with some treats if someone is a good boy...?

    But then...

    "Oh, yoohoo, Thomas-kunnn~!" Yes, Katherine is so Katherine that even when you've got the dubs on, the suffixes stay there. "Fancy meeting you here!"

    T-that's... that's... definitely the same person that made his fancy outfit once... yes...

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Yes, relaxation. That's something. ...Of course...

Dog lifts her head to look at Loren as he enters too, wagging her tail thoughtfully at New Person though she does not actually approach. Instead, she nudges Lily to notice him, though it becomes unnecessary a moment later--Lily blinks as she sees sparkles, stars, and doves from Katherine, surprised--but Dog, a very good girl, wags her tail at the sudden appearance of fun things. She makes a light bark as if to ask permission, and Lily glances--and then nods.

Dog will eat treats.

...Lily, on the other hand, frowns as she notices who else is here, shakes her head after a moment. "...I'm sorry if I interrupted something," she says to Katherine instead, because, c'mon, she knows what someone expecting a date looks like. "I thought I'd drop by."

No comments for Loren??? ...Apparently not. The general antipathy that comes with having noticed him was practically audible, though...

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

    Fun little fact: Katherine Weaver (would it be 'Baker', now?) is one of the stranger people Loren has ever met. And he's met some very strange people since being assigned to the forces in Aveh.

    She has some of the strangest powers he's ever seen, too.

    Bringing a shop to Filgaia, somehow.

    But it's pretty clear he wasn't expecting such a cheerful reply -- what's she all dressed up for? -- by the way that he sort of backs up against the closed door as if pushed back by the sheer force of it.

    Before he takes into account that he's not the only person in here.

    He hasn't met Dog before. Which means he eyes her as if he's uncertain what an animal is doing in here -- he's well aware of the fact that many surface people keep pets but it never really stops being 'strange' for him -- before his gaze instead settles on Lily.

    The antipathy in the air is nearly audible in the silence that follows, and palpable.

    He in particular stares at her face in silence for a few moments more. Before finally asking of her one simple question:

    "...Again?"

    In reference, it seems, to her eyepatch.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.

    Perhaps Katherine Weaver-Baker will have a long chain of professions by the end of this MUSH's lifespan, given how the Festina Lente's just seemingly tacking on more businesses again and again, if the counter with the lovely doughnuts is any indication.

    She puts her hands behind her back and delightfully says, "No no! It's all right. I'm expecting a special sweetheart later, so I'm just preparing~! I'm Katherine Weaver, as Thomas here knows~"

    ... yeah, she has no idea about the history between the two, does she?

    "Oh, you look really gorgeous in that getup, Thomas! I'm so glad you're still wearing it," she beams with a giggle, kneeling down and petting Dog. GOod girl, doog girllll.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

"Good," Lily answers Katherine, inclining her head. "...Lily Keil," she replies. She glances to Thomas, again. Dog, on the other hand, is a good dog but is susceptible... to pets, and she wags her tail merrily and licks Katherine's hand because of course she does. She likes her!

...And of course she, being a dog, can see Seraphs.

Lily on the other hand lifts an eyebrow to Loren at his question. She answers casually, "If you'd like to ask about it again, you're welcome to step closer before you do."

It doesn't sound unpleasant, or harsh, but it is definitely an invitation for Loren to get his face punched.

She waits a beat though and glances between the two, considers... "Heh," she answers. "She's right, though. It works for you."

Oh she's enjoying this. She's not even being sarcastic about the compliment, either.

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

    That gives him pause. "A... a sweetheart?" Like... a date? Does he want the details of some Lamb's private life? "Right..."

    Lily suggests he come closer and say that again. Suffice to say, he knows better than that.

    "I think I'll pass," Loren replies, shaking his head at Lily's suggestion.

    The comment may be undercut the moment Katherine compliments him on the his look and the young man... visibly falters.
    Is he not used to being told he looks good?
    He's not.
    The sense of 'a fish out of the ocean, never mind the water' might only grow when Lily chimes in. Genuinely at a loss, the medic glances between the two of them, then draws himself up and shakes his head.
    It... has to be a joke at his expense. Has to be.

    "...Very funny," he says flatly, settling into the one mode he's most comfortable in: affecting disaffection.

    "So what did you do to yourself this time, Keil? Play games with another sword-wielding maniac?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.

    "A sweet heart! I think we might, ooh, think about dinner and then... well, I'm not certain yet what's wonderful around here. Are there any theatres or performances or anything...?" Katherine winds up nattering just a moment, giggling brightly as she nods and swans closer to Lily--

    "Miss Lily, then! My, you're a wonderful dresser! I don't suppose you're looking for a new flair to your autumn wardrobe?" as she places a hand towards her chest.

    "Oh, do you two know each other?" she rather delightedly expresses brightly as she actually holds her hands out to form a heart.

    It's like a non-spoken 'nooooo fightingggg' gesture.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

"Sweetheart. Something you tend to call a romantic partner," Lily offers Loren, deadpan as ever. He says he'll pass and Lily shrugs at him, as if she's fine either way with that possibility. She considers Amaranth though--and before she can mention that she doesn't actually know about local theatres, Amaranth is right up next to her, and being--

This woman is pretty adorable. A heart, with her hands?

"This? This is just a set of old things," Lily answers, casually, because yes she's that sort of person. "As a matter of fact though, I am. I could use something to wear that's a little less..." She gestures down at her armored attire, "Workmanlike. Occasionally, at least."

She looks back to Loren, as Dog settles onto her pillow cheerfully.

"We know each other," Lily agrees. "His arm healed awfully quick after I broke it." A beat, "But no, I lost the eye fighting that monster you needed a Gear to go up against."

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

    "I'm aware," he replies to Lily, equally deadpan. He bristles, as if already on the defensive.

    "...What?" This comment is for Katherine. "I don't know. I haven't been here in a year. Whatever isn't destroyed, I guess," he offers uselessly. "Or destroyed the least. ...Speaking of destroyed, if she's looking for an outfit, perhaps you should consider something that won't show the blood stains when she inevitably gets wounded again," he continues.

    Katherine makes a heart with her hands, which might be some sort of plea for sanity and peace here between the two of them. It might also be too late.

    If looks could kill--
    Well, this one would wound, at least.
    He'd been terrified in that moment back then -- nearly a near ago -- when she'd managed to slip her bonds and self-administer Drive. There had been nothing but him and her -- a Lamb who didn't even have the decency to respect her place in the world -- in a pitch-black room, with no support.
    The soldiers had died as soon as she'd left anyway.

    But this isn't what he comments on, though the fingers of that hand twitch.

    Instead, it's the matter of Sin.
    "Oh, so you fought that thing on foot. That enormous thing that destroyed an entire city and killed God-knows-how-many people." He pauses, for just the moment, as if for effect. "Have you ever gotten a diagnosis for whatever it is that's wrong with you, Keil? It might be enlightening, if only for academic interest."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.

    "Something a bit more showy?" Katherine offers, tilting her head with a bright smile. "I'm almost excited to make you try something other than black. Not that I have anything wrong with it, mind you, I think black is absolutely striking--"

    A pause, as she giggles and scratches Dog for a little bit longer, before cupping a hand against her cheeks.

    "Oh, so you're from the Blue Star, Thomas?" She lets out a little hum and says, "I guess that would make sense, hehe..."

    She siiighs just for a moment to go, "Oh, that big ... thing was just absolutely terrifying. I'm glad you're both... well, reasonably all right, as far as an encounter with Sin goes!"

    ... what were you doing there, miss shopkeeper?

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

He should be on the defensive, really. Lily is certainly offensive enough to him.

Loren actually answers, and Lily could apply something--and then rolls her eye. "Yes, because I intend to wear something nice next time I go into combat," she answers. Promptly after that she looks to Amaranth and inclines her head. "That's fine with me. I remember this old green dress--"

Dog happily watches the others. ...Well, she looks happily at Amaranth and Lily, anyway.

"We both are," she answers about the Blue Star, and can feel the memory of that moment at least, smirks at Loren as if she understands what he's thinking. ...It wasn't pleasant for her, either, but those soldiers did die.

"And I was part of the effort to keep it occupied so that as many civilians as we could evacuate escaped," she answers him. "And you? Ah, you were only there on orders, I expect, yes?"

What's wrong with her? "I think what's wrong with me right now is that it's just difficult not to show you exactly how I feel right now." At least the light pulse of Ether in the air, the violet light gleaming from circuits at her hands, doesn't actually result in anything cast.

"...If you were there," she says to Amaranth, the light fading, "Then I'm glad you're all right as well. Whatever injuries I suffered were worth what we were able to save, as far as I'm concerned."

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

    Katherine asks if he's from the Blue Star, and though he pauses a moment as if to register the term she uses, he was on Lunar long enough to get an idea of the local customs and slang. So he nods. "Yes, I suppose you could say I'm local," he says, though local might be a bit of.... stretching the definition.
    Still more local than Lunar, though.

    "Did I say that you would get injured going into combat?" he replies, just short of snapping at her. He gestures vaguely outwards. "Knowing you, you would manage to get into a duel to the death while out shopping, or somesuch."

    What was she doing there? Did she pick the worst possible time to move shop?
    In any case, blue eyes land on Katherine for a moment, as if to evaluate her briefly.

    Or perhaps more than briefly when Lily elects to mention that he might have had his orders. "And your point is?" he asks, folding his arms over his chest. "It was still incredibly stupid of you to fight it on foot. Evacuate people if you must, but if you think for a moment you managed to distract or damage that thing in any way..."
    He should know. He had been assisting van Houten.
    And she'd died.

    There's that light, once again...

    "Violence again, Keil?" he asks, unfolding his arms and taking a step forward. "I know perfectly well what's on your mind. You're a predicatable animal, do you know that?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.

    Katherine kind of just absorbs the atmosphere between the two with a vaguely sparkly look as she giggles and claps her hands together, saying, "You really care for her that much, don't you, Thomas? I'm sad, of course, that you were injured, Miss Lily, but... well! There was very little we all could do, so what little does help...~"

    As if on cue, or perhaps just to plan, there's a 'ting~!' as the oven finishes, and she gasps to go, "My Apple Gelly Doughnuts are done! Would you two like to have some? I'm running a little bakery business on the side and I wanted to showcase a Lunarian favourite!"

    There's a bright little smile as she says, "We can talk dresses and outfits over them and some tea."

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

"While shopping, is it?" Lily asks Loren. She could call it an invitation, really. ...But she doesn't, this time. He asks her point--

"My point is that regardless of what I do, at least I make the decisions for myself." A beat, and she actually grins--it's a grim look, a fire in her remaining eye. "But that's something you don't understand. I did damage it. Not enough, no, not enough to stop it... But I made it notice. And that tells me we can find a way."

Violence again, of course. He mentions it. "An animal, is it?" she asks. "There you go again--"

Katherine says 'Thomas' cares for her, and Lily turns to her and stares for an instant. She considers--"...That's... one way to look at it," Lily answers. "But yes, we did what we..."

Doughnuts. Huh.

"...Sure," she answers, after a moment. "I'll go for one." To Loren, "Don't worry, Voss. I'll hold it back, for now. ...I have my reasons."

She turns towards Amaranth, 'Katherine', and inclines her head. "I'd love some tea. Thank you."

<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.

    "...What?" Katherine earns the sort of look that suggests she's grown another head sometime in the last half-minute. "What makes you think that I...?"

    Somehow, in spite of the dark stormclouds that are currently gathering and threatening to engulf Miss Weaver's fine establishment in violence, the storekeeper herself maintains a happy, cheerful demeanor. She is in fact indefatigable in doing so.

    Still, Loren himself puts up a game fight against being submerged by such relentless cheer.

    Lily contends that at least she's making her own decisions in life. He shrugs. "And? What does it matter? I thought you were a soldier once, Keil. Or are your armies as poorly disciplined as that?"

    It's a low blow, and one he knows has brought her wrath before. But that may perhaps be what he is attempting to do.

    "Perhaps you should stop proving my point, Keil," he snaps back, in those moments before the oven goes 'ding' cheerfully and, at once, Loren is aware of a nice scent wafting in from the kitchen.

    "..."

    "......"

    His stomach growls.

    Loren hunches his shoulders. "...Ugh. Fine. ...Yes. I'll have some if you're offering."

    Perhaps nothing speaks for peace as loudly as... fresh doughnuts.
    And tea.