2019-08-19: Helpful Aura

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  • Log: Helpful Aura
  • Cast: Yue Rohay, Shalune Amira, Jacqueline Barber
  • Where: Djose
  • Date: 19th August 2019
  • Summary: Yue and Shalune make it back to the refugee camps, where they discuss the Veruni, Big Shal, and Jay's Helpfulness Aura (tm).


<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.

A while ago, there was a battle out in the Highroad -- and Yue wound up in a battle against Big Shal! ... sort of. The Big Golem was putting on airs a little so that her former owner didn't really have to try too hard, and by the end of it...

Well, by the time Big Shal is returning to Djose, Yue's seated ontop the scaffolding in a somewhat familiar manner as she likely spends time hearing the mechanic out on her own repairs and way of maintaining Big Shal.

"I see... so you use the fab--" Yue pauses as she looks towards the alchemy pot. A pause, as she stammers, "I--I mean, whatever this magical device might be! To create new parts. Most fascinating."

... you're an incredibly bad liar, Yue ...

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Shalune wasn't exactly present in the fight between Big Shal and Yue, except perhaps in spirit based on the way she's added to and repaired the golem over the years. She's learnt by now that sometimes Big Shal has priorities of her own, and though that does make her just a little jealous if she stops to think about it, she's never been the sort of person to ever demand that a machine work for her. When the golem headed off, she kept watch from as far a distance as she dared instead.

Now she's sat next to the Veruni, letting her legs dangle off the side of the scaffolding; her elbows are resting on her knees and her chin on her hands as she blinks across. "A lot of the time, it's actually just Big Shal doing it. Somewhere along the way I had the bright idea of hooking it up to her repair system, so it can be used on the fly."

A moment's hesitation, and then Shalune puffs out her cheeks a little at the way Yue stutters. "You can call it what it is," she whines a little under her breath. "Jeez, looking back at the way I used to call it an 'alchemy pot'... it's nice to know I've learnt so much since then, sure, but it's also really embarrassing whenever I think about it. No wonder Granny kept me around - I must've been a hoot," she adds 'glumly', though she can't stop the smile underneath from turning the corners of her mouth up.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline has been hard at work lately. Even with the move completed, there were still a lot of people to take care of and things that needed done. Jacqueline, of course, took to this work with the sort of fervor one would expect from her. She was Jay, after all - she might have become better at finding times to pause and take a break for herself, but she was still going to work herself pretty hard.

It's as she's doing this work that she hears rumors of some sort of Machina being spotted heading their way, so she volunteers to ride out and see what's going on.

Was it the Guard, bringing another Golem to bear? She's afraid, of course, and not really sure what she'll do if that /is/ the case. ...But when she finds what they saw, she /does/, in fact, find a Golem...

...But not the killer robot she was fearing.

"...Big Shal? Shalune?" Jacqueline remarks with surprise. She's seated on the back of a chocobo, reins in hand. "...And...Miss Yue?"

Jacqueline pauses.

"Wait, you know each other?" She adds, but then smiles. "...Well, I'm glad it's you three. When I heard a machina was on the way, I feared the worst."

Her chocobo lets out a polite 'kweh' of greeting. She's a very well-mannered bird.

<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.

"Far be it for me to be bothering you with advice, but-- think of a bothersome patient who is used to self-treatment, Miss Shalune," Yue answers with a smirk as she reaches over and pats Big Shal on the head.

"Big Shal is so used to fixing herself up that she needs an extra pair of eyes. Sometimes she'll go, 'it's fine! Do not bother me about this!' like that rock stuck in the filter."

She can sense that Shalune feels a bit jealous, though, and when she remarks that she doesn't have to hide it-- "Fabricator, then." A grin. "Though when I see Granny again -- if I see her again -- I will call it an alchemy pot. She will be so angry at me. It will be great. Ah-- hello!"

That's because they've arrived next to Jay, as she gives a-- well, it's not a hearty wave, because her shackles are still on her arms as always.

"Miss Jacqueline! I hope the day finds you w--"

She pauses, as she stares.

Her face gets paler as her cucco feather nearly drops. Her sproig of ahoge hair is at full attention.

"W-what in the great blazes is that enormous bird you are riding?!" she exclaims in shock, utterly earnest in her flabbergastedness.

Coccoro the cucco lands on her head a moment later, and attempts to imitate a 'kweh'.

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"I'll definitely have to keep an eye out, that's for sure. I don't think I would've ever spotted something like that without you telling me," Shalune admits at a grumble, leaning over to give Big Shal as close to a Granny Look as she can manage. "I guess it's been there all along and I just never noticed the sound being off. Funny thing is, you'd /think/ by now that I'm kind of used to looking past people going 'I'm fine and totally not burning myself out!'"

That last part is added because she's sighted Jay headed towards them - though it's obviously not meant as a serious complaint, not given the way she perks up and waves the chocobo over. "Somehow, I can't wait to see you and Granny argue," she adds. It's offhanded at first, but then she pauses, and bites faintly at her lip as she realizes how genuinely she means it. It's a little like homesickness, but not quite.

"Ah, yeah!" she knocks herself out of her thoughts as Big Shal comes to a stop, then hunkers down enough to give them a safer path to ground level. "Actually, that should be my line! Miss Yue used to look after Big Shal, so we just kinda met that way," she admits out of the blue. "Granny's like family to her, so..."

She shoves off the scaffolding, dropping the rest of the way to the ground in a brief flutter of robes. (It's absolutely obvious that she practiced that in hopes of being Kind Of Cool, so it's a shame Lunata hasn't gotten to see it yet.) "You're keeping healthy, right?" she starts to say, but gets caught out by Yue's exclamation, blinking over in honest surprise.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline winces a little as she finds herself Called Out, but it's partially just an act. She does greet them both with a hearty wave, however, adjusting her course to get closer to them.

"We were neighbors, you could say." Jacqueline explains, using Yue's terminology. "The refugee camp was set up near where she was staying, so she and her Minder ran into us one day."

"I didn't know /that/, though - this really is a small world." Jacqueline comments with a chuckle, as Shalune mentions that Yue looked after Big Shal, and was family to Shalune's Granny.

"And, don't worry - I'm doing fine. I have everyone helping me out, so I don't have to push myself too hard. I-" She pauses, when she notices that look on Yue's face and her question.

"Oh, this is Remedy!" Jacqueline introduces, then gives the bird a gentle pat. She hesitates for a second. "...Unless you're asking what she /is/ in which case...she's a chocobo!"

Remedy meets Coccoro's eyes at that imitation 'kweh', and 'kweh's right back. It seems to be good enough for her...or maybe she's just humoring the cucco.

Somehow it's fitting that when Jacqueline finally comes up with a name for something, it's potion-themed.

<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.

Jay explains that Remedy is a chocobo, and again, Yue tries desperately to not let that cucco feather fall from her head as her own cucco sits ontop of her head.

"C-c-chocobo..." A quiet frown as she looks on, half-enamoured and half quizzical and perplexed. "Truly the worlds offer more splendour than I have experienced..... I must procure literature on them right away!"

She looks up to her companion as she makes friends, before sighing with a tired chuckle. "You truly are wise, Coccoro... too wise for me."

A pause, as she looks back to Shalune.

"It does not mean you were doing anything wrong, mind you. But peer reviews are an important part of the engineering process, is it not? Many eyes make for thoroughness," Yue chuckles very quietly, reaching over and giving Shalune a quiet pat on the head. It's, again, a bit awkward.

But then Shalune leaps off, and Yue takes the cue to follow her. "Oh, have you met 'Granny' as well, Miss Jay? We do have something of a history..."

That's understating it...

"Though... is it fine for me to be here? Things as they are now, I am rather a boogey-woman to some of the refugees." She glances around. "The Commander is not around, at least..." Is she shirking again...?

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Shalune... seems happy to accept that headpat, at least. Even if she's not exactly sure what this new sort of familial connection might bring, she's content enough to roll with it for the time being, acknowledging Yue's answer with a hum. "That's true. I'm relieved, really! It's easy to second-guess yourself when it's just you."

"Ohh, right, that big ol' jail cell," Shalune realizes once at ground level, tapping at her lips once she's satisfied that Jay looks hale and hearty enough to pass her standards. "I guess that makes sense, though at the same time it kinda makes me wonder if we should be moving it from where it is. I can't imagine it's that pleasant around there now," she adds as she glances to Yue. "We could find you a nice beach overlook or somethin'."

"Uwaaa, there, there," the mechanic adds when she can't hold herself back anymore, stepping forward enough to just poff her face right into the chocobo's side as she gives it a hug. "She's cute! And big," she adds with a grin. "Always kinda takes me by surprise how big they are, you know?"

"Ah-- before we came to Spira, we were kind of involved with taking Mother down. Which meant going to Elru, which meant that I wasn't gonna pass up a chance to introduce the others to Granny. It wasn't for long, but she seemed like she was doing pretty well," she reports, deciding for now to leave out the whole business about Diablo.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline chuckles a little at Yue's awe of the chocobo, offering her a smile.

"I have some books on chocobo raising back at camp that I consulted when I first befriended her...I could lend them to you?" She offers. They're complete with pictures, too - that's a plus.

Jacqueline, too, dismounts as Yue and Shalune do the same. It'll probably make things a bit easier.


"Earth-based Sorcery is a specialty of mine, so I /might/ be able to help...maybe if Big Shal supports it?" Jacqueline considers, as Shalune suggests moving it. Maybe they'd need someone a little stronger, too...she's not really sure of the logisitics, and they'd want to be careful not to get anyone hurt in the process.

Yue's question, though, gives Jacqueline some pause. She hesitates, taking a moment to consider it.

"...Hm, it's.../probably/ fine as long as you're with Shalune and myself?" She considers. The frown drops from her face, though, the moment Shalune runs over, burying her face into Remedy's side and giving her a hug.

Jacqueline chuckles fondly. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't done the same from time to time. And perhaps that's why the chocobo does not at all seem surprised by the sudden hug. Instead, she just kwehs peacefully.

"I was supposed, too. Prissa mentioned them before, but I didn't think they would be quite /this/ big. And strong, too - she's been pulling my wagon when I go out." Jacqueline says. There's a proud 'kweh' from Remedy, at this.

"That's right." Jacqueline confirms, as Shalune explains that she introduced them. "She was quite the...spirited individual."

There's a fond chuckle, at this.

<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.

"It's kind of... heavy," Yue points out the first and most obvious problem, "That and... well, it may be in the middle of a warzone now, but /perhaps/ it is better that it is rather than moving it here and drawing the Guard's attention to the refugees further."

An exhale as she tilts her head. "My Commander's rather a stickler to these rules, you know..."

... says the prisoner on solitary?!

Another pause at Jacqueline's offer. "Oh, would I ever be, Miss Jacqueline! I would love to read more about these birds." Maybe she can entice the Minder to start loving them too...

Jacqueline says it's probably fine as long as she's with them... and Yue nods. "I would feel bad the next time I have to follow orders. Really, I cannot tell what they are thinking..."

A pause, as she tries to avert the discussion from war. Back to Granny.

"... hmm ... so when Granny mentioned meeting some people from Ignas when she last visited me ..."

Small world, indeed.

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Mmm... I dunno if even Big Shal could carry it," Shalune is forced to eventually admit to Jacqueline, nodding when Yue points out the obvious. "It'd be a lot of effort, and more importantly a lot of effort we probably wouldn't have time for. It's a shame, though. You'd think they'd give you a better view, at least." Maybe Shalune doesn't quite get the idea of prisons, or maybe she's just being overly flippant about it.

She folds her arms, frowning a little. "Some of the refugees might be pretty angry, but I don't think you've really had that much of a presence in the invasions? I mean, they might recognize you, but it's not like you were doing-- even half of what the others were," she finishes a little lamely, optimism warring a little with realism in her head. "I mean, I think it should probably be fine."

Behind them, Big Shal looks quietly sorrowful that the golem's hands are likely too rough to pet the chocobo; a pathos emanates from the golem, and Shalune finds herself patting the machine on the arm pleasantly.

"She visits you?" she blurts at the mention of Granny, and then as if to clarify: "She visits /anyone/? I can't imagine her leaving her junkyard! She-- well, okay, she complained about it a ton, but it was that sort of complaining that you know means they've got a heart of gold when it comes down to it!"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"...You have a point." Jacqueline admits. She'd like to help Yue out, certainly, but if moving it would cause more problems than not - if they even /could/, which she was not entirely sure of - then it was probably best left where it was. And as Shalune says, even Big Shal might have trouble moving it.

Jacqueline offers Yue a smile as she seems interested in the books.

"Okay! I know right where they are, so I can get them right to you when we get there." She agrees, then looks between Yue and Shalune.

"...I'm sorry. It must be difficult for you..." She murmurs with a frown, looking toward Yue. Being a convict and having to follow orders... But, Yue doesn't seem to want to linger on that subject so Jacqueline complies, smiling slightly.

"Ah, so you've already heard of us...vaguely, anyway." She comments. She looks toward Shalune, then, chuckling a little at her incredulous reply. <Spoilers> Vin Barrett says, "ohhhh yes" <Spoilers> Vin Barrett says, "'I am Gilgamesh, and this is my companion, Enkidu! ...Well, not really. It's been many moons since I saw her, so to ease my loneliness I tamed a rooster and painted it green.'" <Spoilers> Yue Rohay cucco... <Spoilers> Vin Barrett says, "'Alas! It tears at my heart, but I must do the unthinkable, breaking my oath.' 'What-what is it that is so terrible, Inspector?' 'I must...DANCE!'" All channels have been gagged.

<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.

"As a result of it being sideways-up, I do get a better view. If I sit atop it," Yue points out, being just as flippant. Most prisoners don't get to be /outside/ of their cells, you know, Yue...

She bobs her head and chuckles with the faint remark of, "... somehow I am glad I am less noticeable than the others. It may not always be possible for me to shirk like this."

Not with the Minder in the mix, anyway...

But Shalune sounds surprised that Granny visits her. "Well," she scoffs, "How else would she keep contact? Even in solitary I am allowed the odd visit, at the end of the month. Much less than other prisoners. I am not always courted out her way."

Jacqueline mentions that it must be difficult, but...

"... you are too kind to worry about a convict like me, Miss Jacqueline. You are entirely the type to work yourself overhard, I take it..." as she glances to Shalune. A pause.

"Well. Yes. It is rather the topic of debate and gossip in Laila Belle, I must say..."


<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Sure, but it's the highroad, right? Nice for people going by, I guess, but the scenery as a whole... well, it's probably a whole lot better than Elru, that's for sure," Shalune realizes after a moment, puffing out her cheeks before she shakes her head. It would be more effective were her face not buried back in the chocobo's plumes, her arms wide as she tries to hug a bird much bigger than she is.

Not for the first time, she wonders about the Veruni involvement in the Spiran war, and Yue's place within it. She's quietly thankful that it's obvious the prisoner doesn't seem to want to have a whole lot to do with it - whether that's her ideals or just her desire for a peaceful incarceration, Shalune isn't sure, but she'll take it easier way.

"E-ehh... I never saw Granny leave the junkyard when I was there..." blurts Shalune as she looks back up, frowning in thought - that said, it's completely possible she just didn't notice, so wrapped up in her own learning was she while she was.

She scratches at her cheek at the thought of that, but the thought gets derailed when she snickers. "Jay's about the most hardworking person you'll find, for better or worse. She and the Caravan Kinship just keep taking on job after job after job. ... somehow, I'm not surprised she's famous somewhere she's never been," she adds with a lighthearted grin. "Though, I'm not sure if I should ask how they ended up that way exactly."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"...Well, it's good that you can find some, well, good in the situation..." Jacqueline says. It was important to be able to find the silver lining, after all. Even in a situation as dire as being an eternal convict. Shalune comments on the scenery and Jacqueline nods. Remedy, meanwhile, just enjoys the attention.

"I don't think I would've noticed if Ida hadn't pointed it out." Jacqueline comments, on the subject of Yue being less noticeable. Yue's own comments had been helpful in that, too, though.

She pauses, though, as Yue explains that even she is allowed visits. Jacqueline smiles a little.

"I'm glad that they give you at least that..." She says, then pauses as she finds herself once again Called Out. Jacqueline blushes sheepishly.

"I-Is it really that obvious...?" She laments a little, though she isn't being entirely serious. She can't help but smile a little at Shalune's comment on her hardworking nature, though. She pauses a little as Yue comments on gossip in Laila Belle.

"...R-really...?" She says, massaging the back of her neck. That feels just a little overwhelming to her, for some reason. "Well, I'll try not to disappoint..."

<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.

Yue strategically keeps mum about further mention of her cell and the Highroad, as well as her involvement in the war, because in no small part because she's compartmentialised this time as Big Shal time and she's still comfortable in the Golem's presence.

"She scarce leaves the Junkyard, Miss Shalune," Yue chuckles. "Ask her about the city and she will give you an earful about--" A cleared throat as Yue adopts Shalune's granny routine, for once, though a more angry one:

"You whippersnappers and your fast lanes and Nightburn fan clubs and golem licenses!!"

A pause, as she settles back down as if nothing happened.

"Not that I blame her. Laila Belle is always starved for gossip and popular culture. You might just find a likeness of yourself converted to a Veruni daytime soap opera."

She hums quietly and looks to Jacqueline again. "... though I would not pay them too much mind. Fans can be rather... opinionated."

She sounds like she knows.

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Speaking of which, Big Shal has been moving down the road a little until the golem can find a grassy sort of clearing. The machine comes to a stop - and then one of the compartments in the middle section of her torso creaks open, and with infinite care Big Shal takes out a patterned blanket and a large package rolled in cloth. Much more coordinated than you might think, it isn't that long until the picnic is laid out, if a little rumpled.

Shalune watches with the ghost of a smile, especially when the golem finishes with one hand out, low to the ground, as an obvious seat for Yue to rest upon. "Well, yeah, I know that much," she grumbles towards the Veruni. "The only time I asked, I regretted it almost instantly. Though at the time, I think that might've been because she was wanting me not to get shot by sentries, on top of everything else."

"I'd like to go see her after we get back to Filgaia. With you too, of course, Miss Yue," she adds with a smile. "I think it'd be neat. The grand reunion! ... she'd be real grumpy about it, but I bet we could fit all of us in her trailer if we squashed in a bit."

She starts forwards to where the golem awaits, beckoning the others after her. Big Shal has even set out a carefully pruned bundle of Gysahl Greens for Remedy. "I think it's just an aura you've got," she notes to Jacqueline, her tongue firmly in cheek... perhaps. "You just kinda radiate the desire to help!"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline chuckles a little at Yue's impression, though she doesn't comment on it herself. Laila Belle certainly seemed like quite the...exciting place.

"I-I don't know how I'd feel about that..." She murmurs. She's not sure how she'd take a character based off of herself... It would be a rather surreal experience. She nods, though, as Yue says not to pay them too much mind. "That's probably for the best."

While this has been going on, Big Shal has been getting everything ready - which Remedy is quick to take note of, moving over to settle in in front of that bundle of greens. She bows her head with a polite 'kweh' toward Big Shal.

"I wouldn't mind checking up on her again, it's true..." Jacqueline considers, as Shalune suggests visiting Granny when they return to Filgaia. She looks toward Yue, then. "...Though, would you be able to...?"

It doesn't seem like she gets much opportunity to get out - this current unusual situation excepted.

Jacqueline walks toward the picnic set-up along with the others, looking toward Shalune as she does.

"...I don't think I can deny that at this point..." She admits with a sigh. "There are worse auras, I suppose..."

And she /did/ desire to help pretty much anyone she could, so it wasn't wrong, either.

<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.

Yue is ruefully silent for a moment, which is rather a shame because Big Shal is setting up a picnic for them to enjoy. "Big Shal... you truly are wise," she pats her on her bronze-shelled side lovingly, before seating herself down, arranging her hair around her and out of the way of food.

There's a -lot- of hair.

"... that would be rather pleasant. But..." Yue pauses for a moment, looking rather sorrowful.

"The way I am sitting with you now... is nothing short of a remarkable coincidence. I may very well return permanently to solitary, or be ordered elsewhere." Or even ordered against them, but she keeps that mum for now.

".... but! If it really did come to it, it would be rather pleasant," she chuckles, in the end, and angles herself towards Big Shal.

Is... is she angling for a headpat?

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Mm-mm," Shalune shakes her head as she sits down, her gaze bright and straightforwards. "We'd find a way to get you to meet up with her again. Even if I had to tear a Veruni prison down to the ground to get you out, I'd do it. Believe me, I'm /really/ good at taking stuff apart," she boasts, which is perhaps a little out of place, but she seems pleased with herself. "And really good at taking stuff that doesn't exactly belong to me."

... is this the adventurer that Granny raised...? Maybe she's more like the Minder than she'd admit, sometimes.

She puffs herself up even further, if possible, as Big Shal carefully lowers her other hand to pat Yue atop her head, then moves it to act as a backrest to lean against. The mechanic can't help but giggle at the sight. "Jeez, and here I thought I should build a scaffolding on her. Feels kinda clumsy, compared to getting to know her better."

"Is everything okay with the Kinship, anyways?" she wonders as they sit down. "I know it's been a while... but I think Lunie appreciates the company. You should come visit her when you can, though," she adds, with a Granny lecture of her own gearing up behind her voice.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"I have a little experience with breaking people out of prisons. I could help, if necessary." Jacqueline chimes in, as Shalune suggests tearing the prison itself down. She says this with such seriousness that's it's hard to tell if she's joking or not...which, as it happens, she actually isn't.

She should maybe frown at Shalune for that bit about taking stuff that doesn't belong to her, but she doesn't. That was kind of the Drifter way, after all.

Jacqueline can't help but smile a little at the gentle way in which Big Shal gives Yue a headpat, then looks at Shalune. She considers, for a moment, how to answer that.

"...Everything's okay at the moment. There was...a bit of trouble a while back - Mariel was captured by the Guard, but we managed to rescue her." She explains. Things happened there, but it was probably better to not go too deep into it. As for Lunata...Jacqueline frowns a little as she sits down, her eyes finding the ground.

"...I know. I want to, but... it just...feels a little...awkward. And I don't want to do anything would make her feel worse... She has enough on her plate as it is..." She murmurs, massaging the back of her neck.

<Pose Tracker> Yue Rohay has posed.

Even with the headpat, though, Yue's expression doesn't seem to lighten any further.

"Miss Shalune. Miss Jacqueline."

She furrows her brow for a moment as she expresses, "Please... do not speak so lightly of releasing me from incarceration. After all, am I not a convict? I never once said I was blameless. The weight of my sins do speak heavy."

There's a more tired smile as she relaxes -- but perhaps in fatigue, as she says, "I implore you to not trust me too easy, lest other wolves in sheep's clothing take advantage of that helpful aura of yours."

A pause, as she rises to her feet after sampling a sandwich from Big Shal's picnic, because she has to.

She doesn't know who this Lunata is, but that eel sandwich is really tasty. She senses they have their own troubles, though, so...

"But... I have taken enough of your time. I must go see to my Minder's health. It is time for her to take her medicine. Be well, both of you."

She rises and presses her hand to Big Shal again. "And you too, dear Big Shal..."

And she walks off... ... with her cucco still sitting on her head.

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Well... I talk big, but I think even I'd hesitate at doing something that wide-ranging, I guess," Shalune grins sheepishly to herself as she nods along with Jacqueline, scratching her cheek as she does so. "I mean, I never made it close to one of those cities, let alone into it. Still..." she trails off uncertainly, feeling a little discomfited at the thought of Yue on her own.

She nods a little at Jacqueline's stories instead - then frowns as she fixes the alchemist with a steady look, tugging lightly at a tuft of her hair. "You both keep dancing around each other! She grumbles, but I think she appreciates knowing you're there and safe," she fusses - but mercifully leaves it at that, instead humming in thought. "Oh, and, is the engine running okay? It's been a while since I've serviced the Caravan, so if you need anything now's the time to ask while Big Shal and I are here."

She does have to pause when Yue speaks, and turns her attention towards the prisoner with her mouth drawn in a line of concentration. "... I don't think I'm trusting you too easy," she says after a moment. "And it's not that Big Shal knows you, either. It's the care you show /for/ her, and the way you've held back and helped me out too." For a moment, her hand strays to her neck, where a second chain has joined the first. "That's what I'm trusting for the time being."

Even so, Big Shal knows to lower the Veruni carefully to the ground, then lifts up to her full height in a motionless sort of salute. The mechanic bites her lip, wondering what to add - then decides: "Say hello from me."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline listens quietly as Yue entreats them to not speak lightly of releasing her. Reluctantly, she bows her head with a nod.

"...If that's how you feel, then I won't speak any more of it." She agrees. Not to say that she isn't suspect about it - the Veruni aren't completely innocent of imprisoning people who haven't done anything to deserve it.

There's a rueful smile of her own in response to Yue's, though.

"...It's funny. Kaguya said much the same thing to me..." Jacqueline replies. ...Of course, in Kaguya's case, Kaguya was warning her about /herself/, but...

Shalune fixes her with that Look. Jacqueline sighs in defeat.

"I know... I know." She admits. She knows Shalune's right. She should talk to her, but...maybe she was a little scared to. It had been difficult enough even when she was arriving in disguise and Lunata didn't know who she was. "I like checking up on her, too, knowing she's alright... I know things are probably difficult for both of you right now..."

Shalune mentions the Carakin and Jacqueline takes a moment to consider it.

"Doctor Ardan has been looking after it for us, so it's probably fine - he's surprisingly knowledgeable with machines. But if you wanted to come by and do a check-up on it while you're in the area, I certainly wouldn't say no. You might be able to catch something we haven't." She agrees with a nod.

Yue decides, then, after sampling one of the sandwiches, that it's time to head out

"Take care, okay? And I still intend to lend you those books to you, of course." Jacqueline says, with a polite bow of her head.