2020-02-16: Wark and Peace

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  • Log: Wark and Peace
  • Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline, Seraph Liath
  • Where: Windfall Island
  • Date: 16th February 2020
  • Summary: Riesenlied and Noeline head to Windfall to practice... and come across an unexpected guest.


<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied made a resolve to herself recently. A resolve that she would fight again, because in her words: She needs to become a love that can fight for those she cares about. To protect what she holds dear.

This has taken the form of many projects -- acquiring a set of mobility braces from Sielje, clasped over her legs and helping her walk in a wobbling way; training to hone her powers to utilise them should the need for combat ever arise again (and they will), and to that end...

She's been practicing in... a Cucco Farm! A particular Cucco farm in Windfall Island whose owner Riesenlied knows -- and seems terribly happy to let her Cuccos exercise with this seemingly Cucco Queen.

The Hyadean is taking a break at the moment, sweating as she places the Heritor's crystalline sword beside her where a Cucco sets it down next to her on the picnic mat they have out.

There's a lot of Cuccos.

They're very very round...

Noeline knows them, of course, the flock that seemingly goes around Riesenlied so much. (Are they all the same flock to Riesenlied? Perhaps there is a universal flock when you have such keen empathy with the birds.)

But does the Seraph... know Cuccos?

Or is this a fateful meeting of the ages?

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

When it comes down to it, Noeline is also someone who is still feeling their way through what it means to fight for those she cares about - except for her, the part she's getting used to isn't having the strength to swing a sword around, but how best to keep encouraging Riesenlied and the rest of her now-extensive family along at times like this.

She was pretty sure she had things down pat on the Fereshte, but it's only recently she's learned that was only the beginning. Nowadays, she's faced with a situation far more grave and sinister: trying to be strict with Riesenlied and not spoiling her if she's not feeling up to exercising.

Fortunately, today's gone well, and there's a satisfied look on her face as she nods and helps Riesenlied down to a sitting position. "Well done," she comments with a quiet smile, not surprised - and only a /touch/ intimidated - by the way in which the flock of cuccos immediately begin to slowly orbit the Hyadean woman. "Are your legs alright? You were wobbling a little at the end - but just a little."

Behind her, one of her spherical ARM-pods is practically gurgling with a succession of electronic noises, making a rough imitation of a cucco as it rolls amidst the feathers of one of the larger ones around. If the cardboard beak and plume is any indication, it's been adopted.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.

Windfall Island holds a certain amount of significance to the Seraph known as Liath, now. There's a multitude of truly viable reasons: it's an intriguing place, the windmill is lovely and fascinating, and the people have so many interesting stories to tell if you take the time to truly talk to them. Liath found one elderly gentleman's treatise on weather to be positively engrossing.

But when one boils it down, there really is one singular reason why she keeps visiting this place, since her arrival in Aquvy:

A precious memory was made here. And for someone like Liath...

Sometimes, memories are all one has, really.

It is for this reason that Liath is on a semi-regular trek towards Windfall's windmill, green tailcoats rippling behind her in the warm spring sea breeze, gold eyes full of wonder. Her path takes her through these farms, time and again; it's the most efficient route, she's found, and she likes talking with the owners in between her trips. One would assume that this means she is very well acquainted with cuccos.

"Truly, those are such small chocobos, are they not?"

One would also probably be very wrong, at least as far as Liath's train of logic goes.

And this would be the Light Seraph, on her way towards the farm's main building, paused in her trek to look over those birds, and the one they loyally flock to, with a warm smile that creases her eyes into bright, golden slivers.

She also has an unconscionably large, unconscionably heavy looking sack slung over her shoulder, strained almost to bursting. What is even in those--?

"And so very round, too! I have only seen such a thing before once in my lifetime, and it was a much larger chocobo than these."

no yeah she just thinks they're tiny chocobos

But it doesn't stop the unmitigated fondness in her voice for what she says next, as her eyes turn towards the <strikethrough>chocobos'<strikethrough> cuccos' would-be leader.

"Lady Riesenlied. It is such a welcome surprise to see you here." Her gaze turns towards Noeline, still filled with that infectious, sunny warmth. "And in good company, it seems. Are you both caring for these chocobos--?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied is always buoyed in Noeline's presence, of course. And perhaps in her own way, she's also training Noeline... to be perfectly comfortable around Cuccos. She doesn't believe that her partner has anything to fear around these perfectly ordinary round birds, after all!

"T-they hurt a bit," Riesenlied admits. "But nothing unusual. Just the whole stiffness after I have been using the braces for a while."

Strife's Cucconess is not lost on her. Perhaps she's added a few feathers of her own.

But she sounds a bit surprised when someone -- and not just any someone -- approaches, and her expression warms up quite a bit. "Oh! Miss Liath!" she waves rather warmly, looking towards Noeline as some of the Cuccos look on curiously and bobble up towards the Seraph.

buk buk

They seem to be really friendly with her, as if sensing something wondrous! And Resonant to boot...? Is this Riesenlied's influence?

Or perhaps Cuccos are just...

"Oh, Miss Liath, these are Cuccos," Riesenlied lifts one up as it flaps its wings gently. "They are my favourite animal in all of Filgaia! They are somewhat similar to Chocobos, but also very different!"

A pause, as she places it on her lap and gestures. "And this is Noeline, my partner and soulmate," she blushes brightly. "We were practicing some basic combat training today in this field, but we are taking a break."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

With an amused laugh, Noeline shakes her head. She's not about to call the Seraph out on the distinction between chocobos and cuccos, because frankly she's wondered the same thing herself. It isn't exactly a stretch to look at the differences between Spira and Filgaia and consider that a Spiran cucco might have evolved towards running spiritedly across windswept grassy plains, while the Filgaian cucco might have prioritized being ready to stab someone in an alleyway.

"They are not ours, no matter how much it might look otherwise. But they're-- certainly friendly enough," she hedges with a grin as she looks up, her comment technically correct while also being sufficient to mollify Riesenlied. "My pleasure, and I hope it's a good morning for you. You'll forgive us if we're a little casual, and remain sitting," she adds as she kneels down a little to check the braces.
"Hmm... they seem like they're in working order, so that's a relief. I was a little worried that the air here might be a little salty for them," she considers after a moment, but rocks back on her heels until she's sat next to Riesenlied, making sure she doesn't catch one of the cuccos on the way back. She is getting somewhat more comfortable around them, she thinks - but then, she has the advantage of knowing she's made of metal.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.

The Cuccos at least seem to have no problems seeing or interacting with Liath. Is this the power of Cuccos?! Or is it--

Regardless, it's with an easy motion that Liath eases that giant sack of... something to the ground as the birds approach, gently, so as not to startle them; there's still a weighty thump as it hits ground, but the Seraph is a gentle, friendly presence as she unhesitatingly kneels in the dirt to greet the smaller, round creatures face to face.

"Is that right?" muses the gold-and-white haired woman, brows raising in unison. She reaches out with one ungloved hand, to stroke one of the enthusiastic animals on the head with the tender application of her index finger. "A variant, perhaps? But how could they cross worlds? Some manner of interplanetary chocobo travel? Could such a thing be..."

So. Similar thoughts to Noeline, it seems. Just. ... Maybe different ideas on how they got there.

It is as she is in the midst of conjuring wild and outlandish pictures of intergalactic yellow birds crossing the interplanetary borders between this star and the next that Riesenlied's enthusiasm reaches her. She considers.

And her smile warms enough that it squints those gold eyes shut.

"I can see why, Lady Riesenlied. You need not be a descendant of anything, little ones. You are magnificent all on your own. Forgive me."

She even bows her head at this. She is going all in on apologizing to a bobbling babble of birds.

It's only then that she rises again; she foregoes lifting the sack up again for now, less out of concerns for the weight and more that her hand is more occupied lifting up to press over her heart. She lowers herself into a deep, sincere bow of respect, head tilted down. "Lady Noeline, it is an honor," she says, with an earnestness that borders on painful. "Lady Riesenlied is a great woman, with a greater heart. I expect the one she gave it to to be of a similar caliber."

And it is only after that, that the Seraph straightens again, smile small but gracious as she runs a gloved hand through her two-toned hair. "Please, do, sit. I would rather comfort than formality. It has been a wondrous day. The people of the town were quite talkative this morning; I'd begun my trek to the windmill, when I happened upon you both." She looks towards Riesenlied, and then to Noeline. Her head tilts.

"But... combat training? Is that something affected by salt levels in the air? I never considered such a thing, but..." Liath does not really know technology. It might be wise to stop her before she comes up with some sprawling alternative to the obvious.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied does not own the Cuccos. Noooo, do not ruin the illusion at all Noeline. It's not her fault her Cuccos are still back in Ignas, or on the Fereshte... perhaps she should buy a few more Cuccos-- no, she made a promise to not break the family account again on a Cucco-related spending spree.

Liath mentioned that she knew a big chocobo, which totally gets her curiosity because she wonders if they might be like Loccy, who is a big Cucco and not at all a Chocobo... ... aren't you, Loccy? *sweat*

"I think Chocobos and Cuccos can get along," Riesenlied answers firmly, seeming to believe it with all her heart. "I want to introduce one to each other, sometime..." Oh no. Riesenlied might inadvertently start something extremely dire...

THE DARK FUTURE

"... we made a mistake," whimpers a bleeding man in the midst of a ruined city where he stares at Red Chocobos and a Cucco Swarm warring the bloody skies over. "We made a mistake..."

THE NICE PRESENT

Unaware of anything that she might be setting in motion, Riesenlied smiles warmly as she looks to her hair for a moment and back towards Noeline, flushing. "Please, I am not... anything so much..." when Liath compliments her. "But Noeline truly is great, I will say, even if I am a bit biased!"

Buoyed up on that praise, she nods as the Seraph explains her trek, but then combat training comes up--

"Oh, Noeline meant these..." Riesenlied gestures towards the metallic leg braces on her draconic legs. There is a Crest Cap placed on the sides of the knees, glowing with soft Ley energy of Geo and Wing alignments.

"If you remember, I was in a wheelchair last we met... I have been training to try to defend myself with the help of these mobility devices. I will show you--"

She reaches for Noeline to get her assistance, and a few Cuccos help too as she... she wobbles... and... unsteadily gets to her feet. "T-There! I did it," she sounds proud, even if her knees are shaking.

"I have a long way to go, but... I have promises to keep to very important people." [OOC] Seraph Liath says, "and thus began the birdpocalypse"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

The sack is definitely rather... incongruous with the rest of the impression that Liath gives off, but Noeline's long-since been aware of the virtue of letting people keep their secrets, or at least waiting until a more opportune time to ask about it. Besides, if she waits, a cucco is probably going to try to barge into it to poke around anyways.

Instead, she returns the bow with a soft chuckle. "Believe me, I know that full well. I am certainly trying my best to keep up, even if I don't think I'll ever be quite on par with her," is how she answers Liath's praise - but there's a light and easy edge of teasing to her voice, the sound of someone who is content with where her place is in the world. ... well, almost. When Riesenlied is the one to shower her with praise she instead folds her arms, huffing just a little under her breath in a bashful manner.

"Well, we couldn't help but meet some of the villagers on our way over. We came out with the intention of starting early, but the local farmers were already awake - at least it meant we could ask for permission, I suppose," the Hyadean comments, and maybe it says something about her own habits that she might be entirely unaware of when farmers actually get up, a little too fond of late mornings curled up.

She's quick to offer Riesenlied a hand up - but only a hand, knowing that it will invalidate the attempt if she simply hauls her partner up. Instead, she acts only as something for the other Hyadean to brace against, watching with a quiet pride and a persistent, gentle concern as Riesenlied manages to stand. "They are honestly nothing like I've seen before. Quite a clever application, but it does leave me a little worried about maintaining them."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.

A grim scene of unmitigated carnage. The skies turn red with chocobo feathers. A great meteor plummets from the skies with a deafening cry of,

                                "W A R K"                                  

But in the present,

The Seraph Liath just smiles brilliantly with so much encouragement it could power a thousand thousand suns for untold ages.

"That is a truly wonderful idea, Lady Riesenlied!"

And thus was fate sealed. . .

If there is anything Liath is, though, it is stubborn; if there's anything she's not, it's someone who will back down on their claims once made. Which is why she gives the firmest, most undeniable headshake in all these great lands at Riesenlied's modest dismissal of her claims; one hand resting on the pommel of her sword, she abandons the overfull but still tied up sack to the curiosity of the cuccos and advances with powerful bearing and great single-mindedness through the greenery of the farm until she can very promptly lean in to take Riesenlied by the hand.

"That is not what I see," she insists, gentle but firm. "What I see is a spirit unbreakable." She looks towards Noeline, and smiles.

"And the bedrock that supports it unceasing."

A second passes by.

"Though both seem very easily flustered and truly adorable in the doing."

Maybe the worst part about this is that Liath does not even remotely sound like she's trying to tease so much as just making an honest, matter of fact observation, like 'the sky is blue.'

(For now. thebirdpocalypsecometh)

"The people here are truly interesting," she asides to Noeline, train of thought thankfully diverted from any other potentially embarrassing observations. There is a look of genuine, pure fondness there. "All of them are in these islands. Travel such a short distance across the sea, and you can find an entirely different people. Different culture. Different lives, and loves, and hates... it is something remarkable to me."

At the very least, though, she steps back to give them both room as Riesenlied begins her demonstration. "I remember. We had quite an enjoyable talk as I brought you back to your dragon's ship," she understands the difference now between 'dragonship' and 'a dragon that is a ship' now, she swears (probably). "You had seemed in a tenuous state..."

But her words trail, as Riesenlied begins to get onto her feet, with the assistance of Noeline (plus cuccos). Sharp, bright gold eyes turn down to watch those braces, her head tilting at the glow of the Ley as if she could feel every little pulse as they help Riesenlied so proudly, if unsteadily, stand. She considers a moment, before she looks towards Riesenlied.

And perhaps it is strange to see for someone whose meetings with Riesenlied have been so few, but Liath looks truly, deeply... proud.

"That... is wonderful, Riesenlied. Truly. You have come so very far from when I saw you last. It seems you've found your way to fight, does it not?" Her expression is so very warm as she says this, smile unfiltered -- but it tempers, briefly, towards a look of curiosity in its aftermath. "You speak of these mechanisms with a level of unfamiliarity, though--" she looks towards Noeline, curious. "Were they of another's conception?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Wark... Wark never changes."

What a dire portent of things that may never come... unless Liath, basically kindred in spirit to Riesenlied, goes and quickens this terrible outcome along.

"You are far ahead of me on many other things," Riesenlied whines almost cutely petulantly, ever quick to cling onto Noeline. But at the same time, she is terribly proud of her partner's newfound confidence, that unshakeable devotion and surety of what she is.

As she accepts Liath's hand, there's even redder cheeks as Liath comments further on them, giggling as she remarks, "We have... both been easily flustered-- but, but adorable? Maybe I will take that. Thank you."

She does ponder just what is in that sack...? Buk buk buk... the Cuccos are really curious. One even goes...

POKE

It's a gentle poke, but a poke nonetheless! With its beak! What might lie inside?

"My bedrock..." Riesenlied smiles at that, but easily gets carried into Liath's conversation of the people of Aquvy. "Yes..." She gestures towards the nearby house.

"The owner of this Cucco Farm is one of my old pen pals. I have known them for decades, but I have only been able to meet them recently," Riesenlied sounds really fond. She looks towards Liath as she catches a bit of that look, and perhaps she doesn't quite understand it on a conscious level, but... she feels really happy about that pride in the Seraph's face.

"I have made the resolve to learn to fight again... because of certain circumstances with my daughter and the people who have done things to her, but also..."

A pause, as she slowly picks up that crystalline sword and holds it in an almost embracing position.

"I mentioned to you the person I love as a parent, the Trial Knight... they told me that it is inevitable that our paths would be at odds, that they would cross. And I have been giving it great due thought, and... I could petulantly say I will never fight them, and perhaps I still believe that..."

She lifts her head to the air, as if pondering where they may be.

"In learning to defend myself again, am I not easing their burden in some small way, should that day ever come?"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

At Liath's final complement, Noeline can at least chuckle again. "Unceasing... well, I suppose so. We have both made it this far together, after all," she comments lightly, even as her mind drifts back to more dangerous times - pitching herself at the Quarter Knights, facing down what felt like the entirety and the enormity of the Photosphere forces. She knows now that she had a lot of help at her back, but back then it hadn't felt at all that cut and dry.

Then, theatrically and right in time, she puffs up her cheeks at the last line, then accepts Riesenlied's complaint with a soft laugh. "I know. Still, I think we've become quite balanced in our old age," she acts the wise elder just a little, eyes closed as she places a hand at her chest.

"I agree," she nods when the Seraph considers the many forms of culture around Aquvy's islands. "It was exactly that thought that led me in this direction when I first came across the region. I spend a lot longer than I would ever admit just touring between the different islands, investigating whatever I could. In a lot of ways, it is a very nostalgic place for me - as such, we have been following my old footsteps around the region, not to mention some of Riesenlied's old penpals."

"... I would say she's found her legs again, more than her way to fight," Noeline wonders. "Or rather-- well, from my point of view, Riesenlied's attempts to reach people have always been her hallmark, whatever or however that wish might manifest itself in a given moment. Still, I don't disagree - and I'm very glad for it."

"That's correct," she adds with a nod, and a smile of encouragement as she offers Riesenlied a hand back down again, noticing the way her legs tremble slightly. "They were made at the academy in Sielje - I can honestly say it is a very unique place. Crest Magic is far from our forte, but we know people who can help us look after them."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.

Cuccos approach the ominous majesty of the sack. It is extremely heavy. But it is also very strained. Whatever's in there, Liath clearly stuffed it to the brim. Which means, when one truly curious and truly courageous cucco casts all caution aside and

POKES

that burlap fabric --

It makes the slightest tear.

Burlap begins to fray, slowly wider.

"A penned pal? Hm." Liath taps her chin at this; her brows rise heavensward in her deepest thoughts. Maybe it's best she does not have time to elucidate just where she might be going with 'penned pals' -- "Well, I am certainly glad they are no longer entrapped." oh nope there it is

The tear widens a little bit more.

"I did not have many penned pals, so to speak," she continues on, and, her wild misinterpretation of the phrase aside, she seems to at least get the gist (enough) as her expression tempers towards something more thoughtful. "... For a long time, I was unable to travel, for... reasons, relating to my duties. But I dearly loved to people watch. There was no one I could speak to then, not truly. But to watch people go about their lives, to see how happy and free they were... how truly complex, in a way I cannot even fully grasp now..." Her gaze softens. Somewhere, a smile has found its way to Liath's lips, gentle. One could call it nostalgia, perhaps -- but there is an enduring quality that speaks to something ongoing, not just merely dredged from the past.

"... yes. I understand what you mean, Lady Noeline. In another life, perhaps I would have spent it simply traveling the world, and learning all I could of the people in it. It would be a journey I could never complete... and that is precisely why it would be so profoundly satisfying."

The tear widens a little bit more.

She quiets, though. To listen to Riesenlied, as she talks of her daughter, and the one that would be like a parent to her, in how she found her inspiration to fight. To the resolve in her voice. She listens to Noeline, as she talks about what she sees as Riesenlied's strengths. And she listens, eyes on that crystalline sword, as Noeline explains about the braces -- her expression tempered towards a look of pensive thought.

"Mm. I thought I felt the flow of the... you call it the Ley here, yes? The lifeblood of the planet. What a miraculous thing." She looks, first, towards Noeline. Her expression is a warm thing, and even if that smile is small, it is a reassuring one.

"To fight does not merely mean to take the sword and shield. It is how I choose to. It may be how you do, or how Riesenlied may yet decide to. But one fights in their own way, on their own terms. Whether it be blade, or words, or even ink on parchment. Lady Riesenlied fights by defying the expectations set for her. By bridging gaps. You are right -- that is her strength. And in that much, I believe she fights more strongly than many of us."

The sack tears a little bit more.

"Lady Riesenlied, just seeing your resolve makes me believe one thing, very strongly. They may not be here to say it themselves... but I think this parent of yours would be truly pleased, and truly proud, to see you standing like this. To see both of you, like this. Walking on your own two feet. No parent would not be."

The sack tears a little bit more, beginning to tremble--

"If you would like, I am somewhat skilled in martial matters myself; I would be happy to assist you--"

And like the breaking of a great dam, the sack bursts, releasing--

"Ah! My melons!"

--a great, cataclysmic deluge of hydro melons, threatening to sweep away anything in their path in their rolling majesty as they spill all across the farm grounds recklessly.

"... ... this is unfortunate."

There are so many of them. So many. why are there so many melons

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied looks to Noeline as they inadvertently share some of the memory of those dangerous times through their link... and there is a heartfelt flourish of gratitude from the Tainted Hyadean. "Balanced... I think that is just so," she answers with a smile.

Noeline mentions that she has found her legs again, and she chuckles -- "That was one of my pen pals, in fact, that I was speaking of..."

Though Liath seems to have misunderstood, but... in a way, she hadn't! "I suppose... I was one such penned pal," Riesenlied confides. "I was unable to travel far from the Photosphere because of my duties... so I do feel... much of what you say, Miss Liath. A lot of what made me desire to write was to know how Noeline was doing, after all..."

To watch people go about their lives... that was something they all had in common, she thinks.

A pause, as she does correct with a smile, "But I meant a pen pal, as in someone you keep in touch with abroad through letters." She rummages through her sack and hands Liath a very old letter, its envelope yellowed and carefully preserved through time.

"I had never met them in person, but I fancied myself living in this very farm through her writing... I imagined being in her shoes, being down there, part of their world."

A potential musical cue pops up, but Riesenlied doesn't quite detect it.

She still hasn't noticed that sack tearing.

The Ley... the lifeblood of the planet. Riesenlied nods as she expresses softly, "Through weal or woe I have been gifted with the ability to channel it... so it is that talent I have tried to refine."

She listens well of Liath's affirmation-- that this parent would be truly pleased and proud... seeing her standing like this. Both literally, and metaphorical. The both of them.

For some reason she doesn't quite understand, she feels like a tear is shedding at her eye, like some kind of relief of a tension she didn't even quite know she had...

"Thank you... somehow I felt like I had wanted to speak that from my heart for a while, and now I feel much better. I would be happy to learn from you--"

But then

Ah! My melons!

Riesenlied's eyes open wide, not in horror, but in... in...

...

True awe? As a cucco sits ontop of a melon.

"W-what is this wonderfully, perfectly round... fruit...?!" Riesenlied gasps in short of breath, suddenly under attack by so much R.O.U.N.D. at once!!! "How perfect... aaaaaaaah!"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline does note the sack beginning to tear. She was once a spy, after all, so her Observation stat is high - but she also used to be a bit of a coward, and has a finely honed sense of when to keep her mouth shut. Interrupting a curious cucco is definitely one of those times.

Instead, she directs her gaze upwards to the Seraph, and purses her lips. The frown that flashes across her face when Liath talks about being unable to travel - to be the one trapped, in her accidental analogy - is a sympathetic one, and it doesn't fade when she talks about the potential for a journey travelling the world and learning all of it. Noeline does chuckle quietly to herself, though.

"... I can definitely say that my journey taught me a great deal," she decides eventually to say. "At the same time... I can say now that I still had a lot to learn. And that I am distinctly more satisfied seeing it all for the second time, though fresher eyes and with a companion. Not that I am saying you shouldn't journey, just to do it-- with open eyes, or something of the sort," she chuckles.

She looks to Riesenlied, her smile tinged with something faint - not quite an apology, not quite a regret, because she and her beloved have promised to look forwards rather than back. Certainly an affection she can't hold back in the moment, as her hand squeezes onto Riesenlied's and then a melon bumps against her ankle and the spell is a little ruined because Noeline is the sort to not get swept up in roundness and instead blink downwards.

"--why do you--" she starts, and then stops. Somehow, it seems better not to ask.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.

Amidst a deluge of hydro melons, Liath, of course, takes it all in stride. It's natural to have so many melons! After all --

"You like them, too??" she wonders, eyes widening in surprise, and then pleasure, at the revelation of a kindred soul. "Are they not so strangely spherical? And the fruit within is without peer! They call them 'hydro melon.' I have been told that it is -not- because they are taken from the sea," though she still sounds skeptical about that; maybe it speaks to Riesenlied's impact on her that Liath is able to accept 'pen pals' as a thing without further questioning --

"Someone very important to me joined me at the windmill here. We had these melons. It was..." She searches for the words a moment, and then smiles. "... it was a wonderful relief in a time I desperately needed it."

She leans down, plucks up a melon. Thinks a moment. And then decides.

"Very well. You both, and your cuccos," they're not theirs Liath they explained that-- "shall come with me to the windmill, and we shall enjoy these hydro melons! There is a tradition of blindfolding oneself and trying to strike the melon open with a stick I am quite partial to, and..."

And, she will gather those melons, with every intention of carrying them all to the windmill. To make new memories.

it really doesn't explain why there are so many but shh

savor the mystery