2019-01-16 The Realm of Contention
- Log: The Realm of Contention
- Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline, Ambrosius
- Where: New Petra
- Date: 16th January 2019
- Summary: Ambrosius drops in on New Petra to visit old friends...
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Several weeks have now passed since the Tainted's gathering back in their first Ignasian home, New Petra. The village has bustled much since then, with the ever-more-robust gathering of Hyadean survivors and the Azadians and all their contributors strengthening their bonds time and time again...
Riesenlied has been spending quality time with everyone -- with her friends, with her people; with her family, with Lydia and Maya and Janey and Mikaia, and of course, with her beloved, Noeline.
She's making progress with her recovery -- today she's leaning on two railings meant to help her balance as she makes the difficult first step to actually walking again. The wheelchair is set just beside her as she holds onto the balance beams, gasping and wincing as she keeps walking -- her draconic legs jittering and struggling to sustain her, but there's a strained smile as she continues onwards.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
For Noeline, the reestablishment of New Petra has been a whirlwind of new experiences. Even if the rest of the Wayside Outreach are more than capable of looking after themselves and have deliberately been giving the pair time to rest, marshalling together a settlement has been an exercise in logistics, and she's frequently chosen to step in and help out of her own volition.
She's also been trying her best, after the brief argument she had with Riesenlied, to act like more of a leader - to better show her investment in and connection to New Petra. Though it's difficult to let go of her habits just like that, she's been making strides in getting more involved, in not trying to play off the respect people have for her - even if it sometimes leaves her awkward and bashful as she tries to face down glowing praise she's not used to.
Noeline has absolute confidence in Riesenlied's inner strength, quite certain that she'll find it in herself to get through her rehabilitation. On the other hand, Noeline is also still coming off the back of a harrowing time where she nearly lost Riese entirely - so in the end she's hovering nearby like a helicopter parent, trying her absolute best not to leap in at every twitch and stumble. Even then, she can't entirely help herself, one hand on the balance bars as she waits at the far end.
She doesn't shout any encouragement aloud, but then she doesn't need to. The glint of her ring, her connection to the Dragon's Tear, makes her feelings clear enough to pick out.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Directly following the battle for the Photosphere, Ambrosius found himself with a lot of work on his plate that kept him in Elru for a time. There were things that needed to be addressed and repaired, but now that the bulk of it has been completed, he is able to turn his eyes to Ignas once more.
One place in particular is high in priority on his list.
New Petra is just as he remembered it, though the population had of course increased significantly. It was...nostalgic, in a way. It reminded him of his days spent in Wayside, with everyone working together regardless of where they came from.
He missed those days.
And so, he's come to visit. His first order of business is to check on Riesenlied, and so how she's faring. Many of the settlement's inhabitants remembered him, of course, so it wasn't difficult to get pointed in her direction.
He finds her now, carefully leaning against a pair of balance beams designed to help her walk...and, of course, with Noeline right by her side.
Ambrosius does not immediately announce his presence, though he makes no effort to hide himself either. He simply doesn't want to startle her and potentially cause her to fall, even if Noeline is there to catch her. For the moment, then, he waits patiently by the side.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
It's inspiring for Riesenlied to see Noeline take on that mantle; it's perhaps been too long of a fear of hers to see that reticience of hers, hiding deep-seated fears that she might flee her again at some point... but their bonds have grown too strong for those fears to control and rule her, now.
She's smiling as she looks to her at the other end, their rings shimmering for a moment. "Nearly-- nearly... there..."
A pause, as she looks towards the doorway and gasps for a moment. "Oh-- Mister Ambro--" she nearly falters as she loses her balance, her knee buckling as the odd shape of her more lizard-like leg tucking in, but she catches herself before anything too untoward happens. "Oops...!"
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
She might be a co-mayor these days, but Noeline is still a spy and warrior underneath it all, and would like to think she tends to be fairly observant. It doesn't take her long to pick out Ambrosius' presence, not least because of how tall the Veruni is when compared to many of the people around New Petra - but she clearly doesn't want to interrupt Riesenlied's attempt, and so restricts herself to a quick glance to one side where the Veruni awaits, and the tiniest of nods of greeting.
"Just a little further," she replies to Riese, and she can probably be forgiven for stretching a hand out towards the other Hyadean in a mixture of support, concern, encouragement, and a desire to tug her the rest of the way.
Instead, Riesenlied spots Ambrosius and nearly buckles because of it. There's a sharp gasp from Noeline as her partner pitches to one side, and she's bolted forwards before she can stop herself - which leaves her with her arms around Riese even as the latter manages to catch herself. "... really, now..." Noeline sags her shoulders with relief, and then helps Riesenlied slowly back to a full stand.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius returns Noeline's nod of greeting with one of his own. It seems they're in agreement on not wanting to interrupt Riesenlied's attempt...but even so, Riesenlied inevitably does spot him, losing her balance but managing to catch herself. He tenses for a moment, but relaxes once it's clear that no real harm is about to come to her. Noeline being there to steady her certainly helps.
"My apologies...Miss Riiiesenlied... I had no...iiintention...of staaartling you..." Ambrosius says, with an apologetic bow of his head. It seems as if he's slipped back into his old manner of speech, now that he no longer has to be as on alert.
"It is good...to see the two of you again... I regreeet...that I could not visit sooner..." He states, looking between the two of them. "How goes...the reeecovery...?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied lets out a trembling laugh as Noeline catches her, faster than she can even see; she does lean a little bit as she holds onto the balance bar and reaches for the wheelchair, perhaps cheating a little as she sits down and relinquishes the burden of standing for a moment.
"I can take a break, can't I?" she asks just a little jovially to Noeline, if only to indicate that she's not under duress as she looks to Ambrosius. Her expression lightens further.
"It's okay... I was-- surprised to see you, but happy. ... ah--" A pause, as she gestures to herself with a faintly wheezing breath. "I'm getting there. I'm admittedly on a lot of medicine to help sustain me right now... but I think I'm getting stronger and stronger."
Her smile softens just a bit as she looks to Noeline. "We've missed you -- Janey, too. And... thank you, for all that you've done."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline takes a moment to respond, her heart still a little in her throat; it's only once she's helped Riesenlied to her wheelchair that she dares to take a breath again, her hand at her chest as she sags for a second time. "... I think you've earned one, yes," she admits with a rather wry smile in return, her eyes glinting with amusement. "And I think I could do with one as well, after that."
Still, she does look up to evaluate how far along the beams Riesenlied was able to walk, and how quickly. The humour drifts out of her gaze, replaced by a quiet pride. "You certainly did get further - faster - than yesterday. Well done," she adds plainly, brushing some of the hair away from Riesenlied's face as she fusses over her partner.
Carefully, she maneuvers Riese out from under the bars, letting the pair of them draw up to Ambrosius' side. "Believe me, we are quite aware of the problems that conflicts of interest can cause," she shoots back in response to Ambrosius' regrets as she allows herself an amused hum. "I understand that things may have cleared up on that front, at least for the time being. Or at the very least, a Sentinel can see fit to stride on in as if nothing is wrong."
"We are getting there," she adds after a moment, nodding as she agrees with Riesenlied. "Step by step, as we've always gone."
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius shuts his eyes for a moment, an amused smile on his face at Riesenlied and Noeline's back and forth. He notes Noeline's pride, and Riesenlied's response to his question.
"It pleases me...to hear that..." He replies. "If there is any way...I can assist...do not heeesitate...to ask..."
Noeline's response gets a knowing chuckle out of him, and a nod of agreement.
"Seeentinel Elvis...I assuuume...? He always does...as he will...but that is where...his streeength lies..." He says respectfully. "But iiindeed it has... It is possible...he had a hand...in that as well..."
Riesenlied thanks him, and Ambrosius bows his head gratefully.
"I did only...what I beliiieved...to be right." He says, then hesitates for a moment. "Truuuthfully...I have missed you all...as well... How are they...handling it...?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied looks up to Noeline as she breathes with her, laughing just for a moment as she says, "I'm sorry it's hard to look after me." It'd be plunging too hard on self-deprecation again, if she weren't still trying to keep it light and jovial. Humour, as she knows, can be a way to keep spirits up after all.
"Yes, it was Elvis..." Riesenlied tilts her head. "I'm not certain if we can say it's official, but we've been trading notes and knowledge about the VR Factor. As best as possible..."
A pause, as she lowers her head. "I want to keep the dialogue and relationship between us alive." She smiles just a bit fonder as she says, "It's been exciting... a lot of people are seeing-- the world for the first time."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's eyebrows pick up in surprise for just a moment as Riesenlied makes that comment - she has to hesitate and gauge the rest of Riesenlied's mood for a brief second before she leans down to give the other Hyadean a kiss on the lips, right there in front of everyone. Gosh. "It is a full-time job sometimes, I swear," she teases back - but offers a squeeze of her hand atop Riese's. "But one I'm glad to have the chance to do. ... I mean it," she stresses afterwards. "You did very well today."
Straightening up, the Crimson Notble lets out a huff of air at Elvis' name. "I do appreciate his attempts to look into things, and the chance to have him look into the Tainted condition is welcome, certainly, but it would be nice if he could-- slow down from time to time," she grumbles under her breath. "Honestly, when he first thundered through I thought we were under attack."
She doesn't look entirely serious, thankfully.
Ambrosius' question affords her a moment of serious reflection. "... it feels like those two might be tougher than we are," she chuckles eventually, referring to their children. "If it weren't for their support, I don't know what would have happened in Elru. They've begun leading the other children here around, encouraging them into lessons and helping out. And exploring, from time to time," she adds, the weary look of someone who's had to run Dig Babysitter a couple of times.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius chuckles again, then looks toward Riesenlied as she discusses how they've been trading information with Elvis. Ambrosius nods.
"Out of all of us...Seeentinel Elvis is...best equiiipped to...tackle the diiifficult queeestions...before us..." Ambrosius replies. "If you are...cooperaaating with him...you are...in good hands..."
He smirks slightly at Noeline's not entirely serious comment.
"His feeervor can certainly be...a little overwheeelming..." He comments.
Noeline continues, elaborating on how Janey and Mikaia have been handle the situation. Ambrosius nods, looking a little proud.
"I see...I am glad to hear...they are doing well...despiiite everything..." He says. "Has Miss Jaaaney contiiinued...her study of...machiiinery...?"
It had been a while since he had been able to give her a lesson personally. Perhaps he should consider making time for that, now that his schedule was a bit more open.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied's little bit of cheek is awarded with a kiss, which-- sends her on the spiraling path of squeaking as Noeline gets the one-up on her. "... tell me you wouldn't rather be elsewhere," she sulks just for a moment, thumping a little as she presses a hand to her chest.
She smiles just a bit wider as she says, "They're very brave, but we'll be there to look after them when they need it..."
She does look towards Ambrosius for a moment longer... she thinks of Janey, as the mechanic asks her about her studies.
"She made a companion to that... butler robot that she was building," Riesenlied tries to recall. "They can walk together at the same time now," she chuckles very faintly, thinking back to the times when they'd call for Janey to come for dinner as she hung around at his workshop.
"... with, ah..." A pause. She looks reticient, since this isn't the first time she's asked before. "Would you consider... working with us again, with Sentinel Elvis' blessing? I could-- ask him if we can consider an arrangement. With... your approval, of course."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The dark-haired Hyadean allows herself a rich smile, the first in some time - an indicator that they're recovering, and growing anew. "I would /not/ rather be elsewhere," she replies plainly, obviously taking some glee in the way she can tease Riese by doing exactly what she was asked; there's a light touch at her partner's arm that accompanies it, though, quietly affectionate.
"Was /that/ what that terrible clanking and grinding the other day was? By the time I went up onto deck it had shuffled off," she grouses slightly when Riese reveals what projects Janey has been up to. She sighs, rubbing at her forehead - but can't hide the light grin. "She has been learning from all and sundry. A bit here, a bit there... very much in the spirit of Wayside, if perhaps a little prone to blowing up in my experience with that kind of thing."
She pauses, as Riesenlied makes her request, and has to chuckle slightly. From what Ambrosius has said, Elvis' blessing may not exactly be the most reliable thing around, and perhaps not exactly honoured by other Veruni - on the other hand, Wayside has drawn at least a little of its success from such arrangements and loopholes. In the end, she can't imagine it would hurt to ask.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius smiles fondly, giving an approving nod as Riesenlied recounts what Janey has been working on...and especially as Noeline adds her own observations.
"It seems...she has been doing well..." Ambrosius comments. She was making good progress, certainly - it was a testament to the wide array of knowledge she was receiving, as Noeline pointed out. He doesn't point out that 'prone to blowing up' is /also/ very much in the spirit of Wayside. "Iiindeed..."
And then, Riesenlied makes a suggestion, that he consider working with them again. ...Ambrosius hesitates for a moment, shutting his eyes in thought. Truthfully, he would like that. He no longer had to worry about his people's alliance pitting them against each other...
...But was it really proper, to join up again as if nothing was wrong...? And there were other issues to consider, as well. But...
"...I have my own duties to consider, as well. There...may be times where I must prioritize them." He says, opening his eyes.
"...However. If that is not a point of contention...then I would very much like to." He concludes. "Provided Sentinel Elvis agrees."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied... does remember. She's been shot by him before, after all, due to how the Veruni's duties come first. It was necessary for Ambrosius to extract himself from Wayside given the growing conflicts. But now, with the alliance between the Metal Demons and Veruni null, and with more argument for collaboration, at the very least amongst the least conventional of the Sentinels...
It's scary, certainly. But still maybe...
"Mmm, I think Lydia's guidance doesn't lead to subtle machinery," Riesenlied chuckles bashfully. "Her engineering is loud and proud, and... yes, explodes a lot, it seems. But fun, nonetheless."
She looks between the two, clinging to Noeline's hand a little closer. The Medium at her neck shimmers for a moment; Alhazred's work is difficult to hide, and perhaps it was best that she didn't feel it as a point of contention she had to disguise unless necessary.
"We will try, then. We should also perhaps ask Avril and the others... their opinion and feelings are also as worthy of consideration, after all," Riesenlied speaks to Noeline, but nods at Ambrosius.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline takes a moment to consider Ambrosius' answer; it is as pragmatic and as cautious as she expected, and it makes her chuckle quietly under her breath as she compares the Veruni's words to her own stance once upon a time. "It is a bit difficult to say whether it will be a point of contention until something actually happens," she points out with another of those wry smiles - but she squeezes Riesenlied's hand in support as she draws in a breath.
"Still-- I think I speak for Riese as well when I say that I would like to think the Outreach has room for those sorts of considerations. This place might not be Wayside, but many people here will likely still remember you - and that makes it home, of a sort. We all have our differences here from time to time," she chuckles quietly.
She hesitates as Riesenlied brings up a terrific point by mentioning Avril's name, and her eyebrows suddenly soar as she tries to imagine Avril pulling rank on the Sentinels. It's one piece of information she still hasn't exactly gotten her head around yet - but even if she doesn't know the full extent of Avril's past, she has picked up enough to realize that things are probably seriously complicated.
On the other hand, well, Avril and her friends are part of the Outreach. "That's true. At the very least, we should inform them we've made the offer," she considers - and then glances over at the settlement arrayed around them. "You know, Mikaia floated the idea that we need a newspaper now, or at least a newsletter."
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius doesn't know Lydia very well himself, but Riesenlied's comment gets a chuckle out of him for other reasons.
"I can see why...Jaaaney would take well to that approooach..." He comments.
Noeline makes a very good point. They won't know if it will until something happens. Ambrosius hesitates, and then nods.
"...Indeed..." He admits, then looks between Riesenlied and Noeline.
"...Truthfully, I would like to think that, as well..." He says, with a nod of agreement.
A valid point is raised, that the other members of the Outreach might have their own thoughts on the matter. Ambrosius considers this for a moment.
"I see...I would not wish to pull you all apart..." He says. "Perhaps I should meet with them."
A newspaper...Ambrosius chuckles to himself at that. With the eclectic mix of Wayside, he could only imagine what they would produce.
"I must admit, I would like to see that..." He says.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I... will consider anything we do that could have a strong point of contention carefully," Riesenlied speaks for a moment longer after recovering her breath. She breathes a little bit softer, looking out the nearby window. "The Outreach is a loose gathering that comes and goes, after all -- we do not demand anything so outlandish like loyalty."
She smiles just so as Noeline points out that many people remember Ambrosius, of the time when he was family to them. "Just so."
The idea of a newsletter is certainly interesting, and they've already got something of an imprmoptu bulletin board that people just come and go and slap post-it notes on...
"Well. We can consider the longer-term later. If you're staying for a while, I'll send for someone to prepare a room for you... and, of course, Janey'll be excited to see you again too," Riesenlied offers.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"I don't think we need to be too formal," Noeline chuckles to herself with a shake of her head. "Being cautious is wise, but it isn't as if it's going to pull us apart or significantly change the decision," she adds with a nod in return to Riesenlied. "So I really do not think anyone needs to be doomsaying, or anything of the sort. Dean can get on with more or less anyone, and I suspect-- that Avril might want to have a word with you regardless," she hums to herself, quietly wishing she were a fly on the wall for that.
"Besides," she looks to Riesenlied with a quiet smile. "I think we are somewhere out of the realm of 'contention' for a while. I doubt we have much planned in the short term outside of securing supplies and building a settlement. Moving it, perhaps, but I doubt anyone will complain too much at that." The touch at Riesenlied's arm is an attempt to steady her - to relax her, and reassure her that it'll be alright.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius nods. He can trust Riesenlied in that regard. And Noeline has a fair point as well, that they don't need to be too formal.
"I see...I will trust your assessment, Miss Noeline." Ambrosius replies. Avril would want to meet with him, hm...? Yes, he likely should meet with her at some point.
"If you require any assistance with construction, do not hesitate to ask me. I will do what I can to help...and my Nimue, of course, may be useful as well." Ambrosius offers, then looks toward Riesenlied with a thankful nod.
"...Thank you. I must admit...it will be nice to have a proper place. And a workshop, if that could be arranged." He says. Ever since departing, his time had been primarily spent in a cave. The surrounding area made an excellent place to test out his inventions without worrying about anyone stumbling upon it, but it was a little lonely. He smiles slightly, then.
"I think I would like that, as well..." He agrees.