2019-01-09: Being A Part Of It

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<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

It's been a while since Riesenlied saw the CaraKin.

That's owing in part to her not being particularly awake and alert to receive them in the past few weeks; while New Petra continues at a frantic and excited pace, eager to welcome their Tainted brethren and come to unity once more, Riesenlied herself has been in a state ever since the battle at the Photosphere.

But that's all changed, now, on the caravan's latest visit.

We've established Shalune's been around, helping Leon and the Fereshte and the other Tainted; what the caravan can see is a renewed vigour as families and friends are finally reunited, across the ocean, and out of the Gutter.

It's perhaps a spark of hope amidst growing uncertainties; to see an earnest look as a Tainted Hyadean father carries his child in a walk across the village, accompanied by an Azadian guiding them around and making sure he doesn't falter.

A sense of unity.

In the midst of this, a familiar Hyadean is doing her best to come up to the caravan in a wheelchair; Riesenlied herself has been insisting she wants to perform more exercise, and it's with quietly bated breath that she pushes her wheelchair and slowly rolls down a ramp and waves towards the alchemist and tinkerer nearby.

She's looked better. She looks exhausted and weary, perhaps low in energy and in need of all kinds of medical support. She looks more draconic than ever before, with the Original Artificial Medium of Life embedded at her neck -- but as is Riesenlied's wont, she's keeping her cheer high as she visits dear friends.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline might have dropped by New Petra a few times, but each time she found that Riesenlied was asleep. This was okay, though - Jacqueline understood that Riesenlied was having a rough time, and she didn't want to make things harder for her.

Still...looking at New Petra and the way the rescued Tainted have managed to reunite with their loved ones, and even work together with the other refugees from places such as Azado...it really hits her with the enormity of what they've done, and just how many people their actions helped.

Jacqueline exhales softly, then looks toward Riesenlied as she does her best to wheel up to them. Jacqueline smiles slightly, stepping out of the Carakin and returning Riesenlied's wave with one of her own.

"It's...really good to see you again, Riese." Jacqueline says, sounding a little relieved. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't been worrying about her for a while. She was /still/ a little worried, naturally, but she could tell that Riesenlied was doing her best to try and recover.

Jacqueline makes her way toward Riesenlied to meet her halfway, looking about New Petra as she does.

"It looks like everyone's adapting well." She observes.

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Shalune hadn't exactly intended to stay at New Petra for long. For want of a better word, she's been 'around'. Hanging around on Elru to see Granny, and to pick up a significant amount of Veruni metal to allow herself to fix and upgrade both Big Shal and the Little Dipper. Hitching a ride on the Yggdrasil every so often, if only to drag Lunata out of the cockpit of the Rephaim. Lazing around the Caravan for a few days of rest and recuperation when needed.

But New Petra felt like the best place to stash the wreckage of Diablo, with the pink-haired girl reasonably confident that it'd be in good hands under the watch of the Outreach. Two steps forward, one step back - there's still a lot of work to be done on the ancient golem to get it back into working order, especially after the first attempt tore itself apart in the wake of Diablo's attack on Mother.

And as these things go, one thing led to another, and Shalune's rather distractable mind automatically started looking towards ways she could help out around the new town - building ramps, helping erect shelters, and generally making a helpful nuisance of herself.

That's probably why she covers an enormous yawn with a hand, looking sleepy on her feet but more than happy to see the Caravan. "Ja~ay, you're eating okay, right?" she fusses with a pump of her fists. "And you're staying safe? Don't stick your hands back in those gauntlets 'til I can figure out the locking mechanism!" she lectures, rather sure she needs to worry as much about Jay as she does Lunata.

She blinks across and turns as Riesenlied approaches, however. Noeline remains close by to her partner - close enough that she can immediately help if necessary, but far enough away that she obviously recognizes Riese's desire to try to get around under her own power; she puffs a little to herself, still quietly worried over what might befall her partner's health next and what remnants of Alhazred's meddling might still remain.

On the other hand, she looks distinctly proud as Riesenlied manages to make her way carefully down the ramp and across a series of boards. The sudden addition of so many Tainted with mobility issues has led to a series of 'roads' being set up around the settlement - though little more than a series of flat sheets of building material laid out in a line, they still help ensure that the ground is clear and mostly level for those who need it.

Her hand goes to Riesenlied's shoulder when the latter finally stops, letting out a breath and a chuckle all at once. "Miss Barber. ... seeing the Caravan still running feels almost nostalgic at this point," she comments with a rather wry smile.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied lets out a soft yelp as a gap on the wooden planks forming the ramp nearly potholes her wheel, but the wheelchair manages to continue rolling on over as she arrives nearby the caravan itself as she looks to the vehicle with a soft sense of pride, then to Jacqueline.

She's wheezing a little from her exertion, but it's the kind of good one as she dabs at her forehead with a little cloth. She's still adorned in the garb of the Fereshte, though she's somewhat self-consciously covering the Medium with a shawl that's draped around her neck even if the soft shine of the Ley is countering that a little.

She leans just a moment against Noeline as she says, "That was further than the hangar... I'm getting better, aren't I?" with a soft giggle, but looks towards Shalune and Jay and the former's fussing with an affectionate little moment.

"Sorry. It takes me a while to go places now... but... you look well too, both of you."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"I am, don't worry. The others have seen to that." Jacqueline replies in a...mostly truthful manner, with a nervous chuckle that might be suspicious as Shalune lectures her. She's probably not wrong that she needs to worry about Jacqueline, though - that's the case now, but who knows when she'll get caught up in something again? As for the gauntlets...there's another nervous chuckle. "I.../think/ I've got that mostly figured out, but you can look over my work later if you'd like..."

Jacqueline pauses as Riesenlied and Noeline approach, offering the latter a wave and a smile, as well.

"It's good to see you too, Noeline." She replies. "We had to take a little time to recuperate, admittedly...but the world keeps moving, and there are still people who need us, so..."

Jacqueline trails off as Riesenlied addresses her, offering her a smile and a forgiving shake of her head.

"It's alright. I don't mind, but don't overexert yourself, okay?" She says...like she's one to talk. "Ah, thank you. I think I've finally managed to get back into the swing of things, so to speak... You look like you're doing better, too." [OOC] Shalune Amira says, "wah sorry zoned into some work" [OOC] Jacqueline Barber says, "It's okay!"

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"You are," confirms Noeline with a quiet smile and another chuckle. "Bit by bit by bit. Just don't overexert yourself too much," she adds with hand on her hip. "Miss Keil said that this will be a long and slow process. I'd much rather get you back safe after this, rather than try to push yourself a little too hard and undo the work so far." She's trying to be grand about it, but there's an unmistakable note of relief in her voice and a touch in Riesenlied's hair as a reward.

"Of course," she adds as she looks up to the alchemist, offering a nod of her head. "It would be ridiculous to think that anyone would /not/ need time, after everything that happened on Elru." If there's a wry note in her voice, it's only because of those present with her, the two people she'd most expect to go flying off at a moment's notice. "Speaking of which, I dare say Riese could use a little of your help right now, or at least-- well, our supplies have taken something of a beating, especially when it comes to medicine."

Shalune jolts a little at Riesenlied's bump, and mumbles something under her breath as she pats down her pockets for her battered notepad. "Uhhnn... we've really gotta fill in those gaps with something," she decides as she scribbles down a note, then scratches at her hair with the end of the stub of pencil. "I guess some packed-down sand would be the easiest thing, but I don't want it to get everywhere an' ruin the point of it..."

Shaking her head and the thought away, she turns back to the alchemist with a light frown. She's already feeling a little guilty over leaving the Carakin alone for a while, especially given the way Lunata's been doing the same, and studies Jay's face for a silent moment before speaking. "H-hmm... I wouldn't mind, but I kinda feel like they're gonna be Diablo-levels of weird tech that I don't quite understand. On the other hand, that might help me learn a little something." And hang around Jay a bit to make up the time...

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

There's something faintly bashful as Riesenlied warms up and nods to Noeline's encouragement. "A bit at a time. This isn't a race..." A pause, as Jacqueline mentions that the world keeps moving. It puts her in a moment of conflict for a moment, because she is right. But... who's she helping if she rushes herself and hurts herself further?

She pauses to Jacqueline, looking a bit more hesitant. "I'm... sorry. For hurting you, for hurting others... ... for... falling into my self-doubt so much." She kind of wacks herself inside because she promised she'd stop saying sorry so much but it just came out when she saw Jacqueline.

The self-doubt of not feeling like she belongs in the efforts still somewhat lingers in her. Would things have played out the same way if she hadn't overheard that conversation?

"Aah... mm--" a pause as she looks to Jacqueline. "What gauntlets do you mean?" She blinks a few times, and looks to Shalune for a moment as she muses with her technology that she doesn't quite understand. Poor Diablo... she'll have to come and say sorry to it too.

Riesenlied: the Gear Whisperer. (??)

"Ah, true--" she speaks in turn with Noeline as she mentions supplies, rummaging from a pocket and handing a note over. "Miss Lily's putting me on physical therapy again like at Wayside... she mentioned asking you to stock up on some assistive medicines to help with the process like last time."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

It's true...she couldn't think of anyone who /didn't/ have to rest after that. Considering everything that happened, well...it was hard to think of the type of person who could just walk out of that like nothing happened.

Noeline suggests that she might be able to help, though, and Jacqueline smiles and nods.

"Of course! I can get a general delivery in before we go, but if you have anything specific you need, get me a list and I'll make sure you get it." Jacqueline replies. She watches as Shalune fusses over figuring out a better way to even out the road, though Riese gets her attention as she apologizes. Jacqueline watches her for a moment with a frown, then shakes her head.

"...Please don't apologize. I don't...hold any of that against you, alright? I...I understand what it's like to doubt yourself." Jacqueline urges. "There's one person that's responsible for what happened, and it isn't you."

Shalune comments on the gauntlets and Jacqueline looks back to her. Diablo-levels of weird...

"You...might not be too wrong on that. I might've taken a look at them myself." Jacqueline replies, then looks toward Riesenlied. "Ah, I don't know if you noticed them, but a while back I found a pair of gauntlets in a ruin...I needed to put them on to stop something terrible from happening, but afterward I couldn't figure out how to take them off. In the end, they only came off because they ran out of power..."

Technically they ran out because drawing any more from her would've endangered her, but she figures that might cause undue worry, and doesn't mention it.

Jacqueline looks on with interest as Riesenlied brings out a note. Jacqueline steps over, taking it and studying it for a moment. She considers it with a pensive frown, nodding to herself.

"I actually have some of this on hand already, but I'll need to procure the rest of it...I don't think it'll be anything too hard to manage, though..." She murmurs, and then smiles. "You can count on me."

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Ja~ay, don't just stick weird gauntlets on your hands without knowing what's in them first," whines Shalune with the weary tone of someone who knows it'll surely happen again. At least she's not all that serious about it, puffing out her cheeks for emphasis rather than actually looking distinctly upset.

The mechanic pauses as well at Riesenlied's comment, fussing at her hair as she tries to marshal her words together. "Um... we can't do everything, y'know? I'll leave the fighting up to other people, myself, an' just focus on fixing as much stuff as I can. So I think it's okay if you leave some bits and pieces to other people too, and just make sure you look after everyone here real good." The pink blob pouts again, this time at herself; she knows it isn't exactly the most eloquent of speeches.

It's enough for Noeline to huff to herself, and squeeze Riesenlied's shoulder. The ring on her finger glimmers, perhaps giving her enough of an empathic sense to pick out her partner's worries more closely. "Either way... it is in the past, and I am more than glad to leave it there. We had promised to move forwards, hadn't we? And at our own speed, together." The Crimson Notble pauses, then closes her eyes. "... I know you want to help people further - but you need to look after yourself, as well. Knowing your thoughts are with them means a lot in its own way, I think."

"Besides," she adds; for a moment, and her voice almost turns to steel before she catches herself. She doesn't mean to, and certainly doesn't hold any of it against Riesenlied - but even remembering Alhazred is distasteful. "... as Miss Barber says, you are not responsible for a great deal of what happened."

She forces herself back to a brighter smile. "... would you consider involving some of the more able-bodied Hyadeans in arranging the supplies? Not so much taking them into town or anything of the sort, more teaching them a bit of logistics?" she asks out of the blue.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

There's a little bit more hesitation from Riesenlied as her horns wilt just for a moment, even as Jacqueline reassures her. "I know... I just-- it's a bit difficult to work through all the feelings. Given everything that's happened. It'll take me some time, but... I know-- I know there are a lot of supportive people. Including you and Shalune," she manages to finish with a wobbly smile.

She doesn't exactly brush up on the topic of The One Person Responsible. Jacqueline might've had a talk with them already...

She smiles just a bit wider and nods to Jay as she says the medicines would be doable. "Thank you. We just need a couple to help start the process... thank you for your help as always," as she leans against Noeline when their rings glimmer.

A pause. "A gauntlet you couldn't take off? That sounds scary, but... well, I'm glad they weren't-- cursed or anything." She smiles at Shalune chiding Jacqueline and nods in turn as she looks to Noeline at her suggestion.

"That's a good idea. I know a number of the people from the Gutter have been looking for work where they can... and if it would help ease your burdens, Miss Jay..."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline offers Riesenlied an understanding smile and a nod.

"...I know. Just take things slowly, okay?" She says. She listens as Riesenlied comments on all of the supportive people, and nods again. "'We should be kind to ourselves'...it feels like it's been so long since we decided that."

Indeed, it had been a long time...but it was something she kept in the back of her mind, even to this day.

To Shalune, though...

"I-I didn't really have much of a choice...I wasn't sure how else to deal with that reactor going out of control..." She replies, then nods toward Riesenlied. "Yes...if anything, they were helpful. They protected me from a lot of things that might've been dangerous otherwise."

"I'm always glad to help. I'll get to arranging this as soon as I can..." She replies with a smile, but then pauses as Noeline issues a request. She considers it for a moment. Involving some of the Hyadeans in her work?

"That's...a good idea, actually." She agrees with a nod. "I wouldn't mind having an extra hand or two to help, and it'd make things easier for them to get things situated when I'm not around... Did you have anyone in particular in mind?"

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Aww, Miss Rieseee," whines Shalune, as she bobbles forwards on a suspiciously familiar course; Noeline grumbles, but does at least move out of the way enough to let the alchemist flop on Riesenlied in something of an expansive hug. "It's okay! You're doing amazing! I mean, um, you've kind of been through heck and a half, after all!" she starts to burble, but has the sense of mind to withdraw before she can overwhelm Riesenlied too much in body or mind.

Instead, she scratches at her cheek, giving Jacqueline a suspicious little pout. "... I kind of feel you're still not amazin' at being kind to yourself in all the ways possible," she points out as she folds her arms. "I mean, there's looking after your health, sure, but then there's /not/ running off everywhere and anywhere-- aw, but I shouldn't harp on it, I guess," she adds the next moment with an apologetic grin.

"Just make sure you look after the Carakin properly, okay?" she adds with a raised finger, then rubs at her hair. "It might be a couple more days 'til I can pop back up - I really want to finish the first set of plating so Diablo's got /something/ on. Without it, I'm probably risking weather damage on a whole bunch of parts. Plus it's just not modest."

Noeline glances between her partner and the alchemist with an amused sigh. "To be quite honest, I've a bit of a suspicion that it might increase her burdens instead. That was the reason I was asking if she'd be alright with it. There are many people here who don't know the first thing about the outside world. They're eager to help, but I dare say you'd be chaperoning them to some degree, as well."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied pauses for a moment, then her cheeks redden a bit more as she remembers those words they promised to each other. "That's right... being kind to ourselves... to not punish and be so critical." She swallows, smiling for a wider moment as she looks up to Noeline-- before Shalune piles onto her and she bashfully giggles and draws her arms tightly around Shalune. Another daughter to her, after all.

At Shalune's grumble, she at least assuades her: "Maybe not perfectly, but Jay and I are trying to check on each other and make sure we're moving in the right direction. Because we wouldn't want the people who love us to worry."

"I know you have a lot of hardy companions, but it does make me feel safer to see you with more protection too," Riesenlied nods. She looks to Shalune. "And I know you're doing an amazing job, both looking after people and with Diablo and Big Shal too."

A pause, as she thinks about it for a moment... "I think Devet might be a good candidate. She probably wouldn't want to stay away from the Outreach for too long, but she's got a very good head for statistics and logistics and she's always dreamt of managing a business at some point..."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"M-maybe I could work a little harder on that, but..." Jacqueline starts, but Shalune decides that she shouldn't harp on it. Jacqueline sends her a smile, and then looks up at Riesenlied.

"Yes, that's right." She agrees, then looks back at Shalune, reaches over, and...ruffles her hair.

"I'm sorry if I worry you, but...I'll do better about making sure I don't push myself too hard." She says. She notably doesn't promise to not go running off everywhere...that might be a little too much to ask. She nods, though, as Shalune requests she looks after the vehicle.

"Don't worry, I don't expect to be doing anything that'll wear it out too much. I can perform some of the regular maintenance myself, so it should be fine until you get back." Jacqueline agrees, then sends Riesenlied a smile. Noeline considers, then, whether the extra help would actually...help. Jacqueline just smiles gently.

"It's...important, I think, to give them the opportunity. Even if it'll maybe be a little more difficult on me at first, if we're all going to live in this world together, then these are things they'll have to learn anyway." Jacqueline replies. "I'd be glad to help them with that."

Riesenlied suggests Devet and Jacqueline considers this for a moment before nodding.

"I'd certainly be glad to help her with that! I actually have a few books on the subject I might be able to share with her..." She agrees.

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Rubbing at her hair, the pink-haired mechanic gives Riesenlied a wan smile. "I know, I kno~ow... I'm tryin' not to be so critical either, it's just that man, there's really been a lot to fix, and it's all I've been doing, so now I keep worrying if people need fixing too and what else I've gotta look at. I'm feeling a bit separate from it all myself, I guess, but I'll be right as rain in a bit, I promise," she encourages with a brighter smile, looking more upbeat.

"Well-- I gave it a tuneup after we got back from Elru, and dug out all the ice from the chassis. I think it should have mostly dried by now, and any water damage is past, so-- that's probably all well and good," she evaluates the Carakin from a glance, chewing the end of her pencil between her teeth as she glances at her childhood friend. "So I don't think you're wrong, I'm just kinda feeling a bit twitchy. Maybe I'll check if the AC I rigged up survived Elru too, while you guys are here."

Noeline's hand remains at Riesenlied's shoulder, rubbing there and encouraging the other Hyadean onwards as she gets back into the swing of leading. "Perhaps Devet alongside a newcomer," she suggests back. "She'd probably appreciate not being 'alone' and having someone to help her, and I'd like to offer some of the new members a chance to see Filgaia a little closer. ... so long as it's not Adlehyde, perhaps," she adds with a rather wry smile.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied has a soft little nod as she lets the suggestion gel for a moment, looking over the town and putting herself through a pace to not overwhelm herself as she watches several people pass.

"It's... amazing. With all that we've personally faced, it can be really difficult to spot sometimes the opportunity given to us. We've had Veruni come through here, we have Lunarians amongst us, and the Hyadeans working with locals..."

She places a hand closer to her chest for a moment further.

"Thank you for being part of that journey of ours," she smiles to Jacqueline and Shalune. "That's... that's really what's keeping my-- our spirits up. Because there's a lot of amazing, and it's important to remind myself, ourselves of it."

She laces her hand to Noeline's that's on her shoulder, as she chuckles and says, "Would you like to come say hi to some people? I know some people've been eager to see you again... and I've got an exercise track to complete." She gestures to her wheelchair.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Jacqueline learns in, offering Shalune a brief hug.

"...I know. And I appreciate that. Honestly, sometimes I do need someone to remind to slow down a little bit..." She says, letting go. Shalune discusses the vehicle's condition and Jacqueline nods and looks back to the vehicle, considering it for a moment.

"...Yeah, I understand that. You're better at spotting this stuff than I am, after all..." Jacqueline agrees. Frankly, it's thanks to Shalune the vehicle even managed to handle Elru at all. It hadn't exactly been built with enduring cold weather in mind.

Jacqueline looks toward Riesenlied. It /was/ amazing, wasn't it...? So many different people from all over, working and living together...

Jacqueline smiles.

"...I'm glad to have been a part of it. And I look forward to continuing this journey with you all, together - wherever it may lead us." Jacqueline agrees, and then nods.

"Oh, yes, that would be wonderful, actually! Let's go, then." Jacqueline agrees. There were people she wanted to check on, too...

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Noeline raises an artful eyebrow as Riesenlied trips over 'my' to 'our' - but she can't deny that her own spirits have been up and down ever since Elru, certainly enough so that she can't bring herself to deny the distinction. "... really... for all that you worry about not being able to help out, you're certainly better at speeches than I am," she teases--

--but her hand rests against Riesenlied's, letting their fingers curl around each other in an open show of affection, and her smile is quiet and sincere. "Do you think you can manage a little more, or should I take the handles?" she asks plainly and without anything in the way of judgement.

Shalune wahs at the show under her breath for a moment, before squinting as Jacqueline ruffles her hair. "Well, I'm the mechanic," she shoots back with a smile on her face. "That's kinda my job. I'd be a pretty terrible one if I couldn't do that much. ... tell you what, I'll look it over while you walk around, then catch up. I mean, I reckon you're both gonna be pretty easy to spot around the place."