2021-03-19: Ragnell-in-the-Box
- Log: Ragnell-in-the-Box
- Cast: Azoth, Seraph Ragnell, Seraph Liath
- Where: Celesti Wastelands
- Date: March 19, 2021
- Summary: Agreeing to meet up to search for the Drake, Ragnell gives Liath a surprise in using Azoth as a vessel. Azoth learns how much the two mean to each other... with an obnoxious amount of amusement.
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
The search for the Drake continues. It also, unfortunately, continues to be as successful as it has been. Which is to say, not very. Much as Azoth's getting a feel for Seraphic signatures and Malevolence and related energies, he hasn't been able to utilize it to pinpoint the Drake's location. Or should he call him Yvain? The sight of the flute and the way the Seraphim reacted to it still occasionally plays through his memories for analysis.
But he's not designed to give up, and combining efforts with those more experienced may get better results. Not to mention, it's unlikely anyone's going to want to be alone if they actually do find him. Where others may be less impressed with Ragnell's selective investment, Azoth questions it not, and is more than happy to have her company -- and offer any help he can. And Liath... Azoth's still curious about her in a number of ways. One of those ways is her apparent very specific opinions on probably a very specific lightning Seraph.
Agreeing to meet with the two of them for another attempt, Azoth waits at their designated meeting place within the wastelands. He appears to have arrived first, a robot waiting lonesomely for light and lightning to join him. The only hint that Ragnell's in his circuits at all is that he allows himself a moment to close his eyes and just... be while he waits -- not exactly a behavior anyone but maybe Ragnell herself would even know to look for, being the only one who knows the overwhelming intensity and conflict rattling around inside him.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
It's fine if they're somewhat of a ways behind the drake; it's not as though they can actually do anything meaningful to him. But "just in sight" and "well out of sight" are two different things. They need to be able to tell those who *can* use purification powers where to go once they're ready to, well, get going. As such, Ragnell decided to invite Azoth and Liath to join her. Azoth has his scanning abilities, and Liath... well. Ragnell would want Liath nearby anyway, but after hearing about the reveal at the tea house... it's just even more so.
Ragnell herself is also at the waiting spot--but nowhere in sight. After all, she's chilling out in Azoth's circuits, the flow of electricity within him quite comfortable to the Lightning Seraph. She's familiar with the strain on Azoth's circuits, and every so often, heat vents in cloudy plumes outside of him--a low level, original Seraphic arte designed specifically to help cool the android down. An Ice Seraph's magic would help more, but eh. One takes what one can get.
Even with this sign that there is *some* Seraph present, though, those who know Ragnell know she hasn't taken a proper vessel in ages. It'd be a stretch at best to guess that it's her inside there. And if one didn't catch the heat vent or understand the significance of Azoth closing his eyes... it might be even more of a surprise!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.
Hunting for a drake is not just a dangerous thing -- it is oftentimes deceptively difficult, too. One might think such a large and hellacious manner of Hellion wouldn't be difficult to track, but if nothing else -- when it comes to Hellions, even - especially - Seraphic ones, things are rarely so cut and dry.
But then again --
"Master Azoth!"
-- that is why the people of Filgaia have some more knowledgeable help in this particular matter.
The voice comes before the Seraph, carrying with it a stereo quality that makes it seem to come from the very air that surrounds the waiting automaton. It is a preface to the twinkling bend of light -- and then the way that light refracts into a dozen dozen flowing ribbons of colors, converging into a prismatic whole roughly ten feet from where Azoth stands until it flows together into the much more recognizable, smiling form of the Seraph Liath.
She may be an infrequent presence in these matters, and others, but when Liath promises to be somewhere, she is there. Exactly when she promised it.
"I hope you have not been waiting overlong. I... hm?"
Which might be why the radiance of her smile dims just a bit as she watches Azoth. Her head tilts. She squints.
That golden gaze sweeps the area around him. And then she cranes her head to look over her shoulder. And then the other.
And then she just straight up does a full, three sixty pivot on her bootheel, every degree of the rotation diminishing her expression from a shining smile to a perturbed purse. By the time she faces Azoth once more, her eyes are narrowed, and now she's just -- frowning.
Frowning Big.
"Ragnell is not here, I take it." she flatlines so profoundly it requires the briefest butchery of grammatical etiquette to emphasize it. "No doubt philandering about with no wherewithal to the time that she is so brazenly thieving for you. Hm. Hm."This is likely when someone else might wait for a return answer. But --
"Worry not, I shall see to this."
--perhaps Azoth can get some manner of idea as to Liath and her opinions on Ragnell by how she does not even wait for that before she offers a beamingly jubilant smile so broad it squints her eyes shut.
"Wait here, Master Azoth. I shall find that malingering ne'er-do-well forthwith and drag her here by the ear if I must."
And then immediately begins to just start marching off, apparently intent to hunt Ragnell down before they begin hunting the Drake down.
liath please
doesn't she realize this would probably just waste more of azoth's time than waiting--
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
Azoth's eyes snap open. Every sensor is alert, yet the voice is registered well before recognizing Liath.
Until suddenly, there is a Liath! Azoth's eyes widen, mouth open into one of his tiny 'o's as he gives a little clap to witness the prismatic display of arrival. "That was beautiful!" he gushes.
He starts to shake his head when she asks if he waited, but then as she gets distracted, so does he. Does she notice something? Something Drakelike? Azoth glances, too, only his eyes moving before his gaze lands back on Liath frown.
"Ah --" is all he manages to say when she speaks of Ragnell's absence. Inside, he is smiling. Perhaps in a literal way -- Ragnell can feel it where it's completely absent on Azoth's face.
With hurried steps, he chases after Liath. "Miss Liath, please wait...! It may be dangerous alone!" Then he finally does smile, if faintly. "You sound like you've known her for a long time."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
It's okay, this is normal Liath. Which means that when the Light Seraph moves to track down her erstwhile companion and Azoth moves to chase after her, a familiar deep voice barks, "HEY!"
Now, it's absolutely true that Liath's arrival was beautiful, heralded as it was by all that prismatic light. And Ragnell certainly doesn't *dislike* it. But given how Liath gives her literally zero seconds to show up... honestly! Even if she can feel Azoth smiling on the inside, she can't just sit back and do nothing. Not when...
"Who you callin' a malingerin' ne'er-do-well? An' here I arrived before you did!" Ragnell's outraged voice sounds. She isn't visible yet, even should Liath take another panoramic look around, but the sound of her voice is coming from very close by. In fact, if Liath turns to face Azoth--
Ragnell will BURST from him, first as an orb of golden light, then as her usual handsome, handsomely-dressed self, one hand on her hip and the other waggling a finger in Liath's face. "Wha'd'you have to say for yourself about *that*, Li?!"
Not when she can *shove Liath's lateness in her beautiful dumb face.*
Oh and also give her a metaphorical shock, no big whatevs cool cool cool cool cool
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.
Liath has known Ragnell for a very long time.
It's an observation that doesn't receive an immediate, or at least verbal response. The Seraph's only response is to Azoth's initial worries as he gives chase, a gloved hand lifting to confidently dismiss his concerns as she sallies forth.
"You need not concern yourself as to my welfare, Master Azoth. Ragnell's wiles are no danger to me," that's not what he meant at all "and I have grown very adept at tracking her down when need arises, and it has so arose."
And it's only here that she stops, to turn and offer Azoth a sun-bright smile. It's only slightly* smug.
*more than slightly
"I can say to a certainty that there is no where on this star or the next I cannot find R"HEY!"agnell?!"
It goes without saying that, thusly and immediately shown up at the cusp of her own brag, Liath's gold eyes widen in surprise and alarm. She does, in fact, spin about, but it is more than her sight that goes into the looking this time. She feels the movement of the ley as -she- moves, focuses on sights beyond sight, and she sees --
--Ragnell quite (meta)physically bursting out of Azoth like some kind of thing that bursts from chests and suchlike to wag a victoriously accusatory finger in her face. She is shocked. Utterly bamboozled.
Liath has known Ragnell for a very long time.
"I say you have deliberately set me up the fool, much like a malingering ne'er-do-well might!"
Which is completely confirmed by how she completely forgets the shock of Ragnell's very specific appearance to fall immediately into old habits, jabbing a counter-finger the Lightning Seraph's way with an electric PING of flustered agitation.
"I was precisely on time! And it is no offense of mine to assume the standard of your blatant and shameless flogging of etiquette and timeliness! This is no victory of yours, it merely underscores your irresponsibility! And furthermore, I was -precisely on time-! The very fact you have gall enough to feel you can simply -- simply -- SIMPLY BOUNCE OUT OF SOMEONE LIKE A CLOWN'ED JACK-IN-THE-BOX AND SHIRK OFF ALL DAMING PAST HISTORY BY SHEER SWAGGER ALONE--"
She pauses in the middle of her flustered rant. Blinks. Looks from Ragnell, to Azoth. Azoth, to Ragnell. She rewings the clock of her rant ever-so-slightly.
"--bounce out of someone like a clown'ed jack-in-the-box--?"
Back to Azoth. Her lips purse.
And suddenly it is HIM she is pointing at, looking shocked twice over.
"Why did she bounce out of you like a clown'ed jack-in-the-box?!"
just how many times can she say clown'ed today
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
Wait.
Is Ragnell... ruffled? Agitated? Irked?
Miss Liath's annoyances were already a known property, but to think she could get under Ragnell's skin so effectively and immediately in turn...!
Once Ragnell arrives in full handsome form, Azoth clasps his hands together with an all too bright smile and all too bright eyes that give off subtly, but literally, a bit of a sparkle. "Miss Liath is truly an impressive individual!" Maybe there is just the tiniest bit of smug borrowed into his own smile with this delightfully novel turn of events.
This might go unheard under Liath's continued accusations, though. Azoth folds his arms behind his back, rocking back upon his heels as he witnesses the fallout. He has learned, in his time aware and conscious, even with memories corrupted and encrypted, that there is a lot more to be read between lines than on them. He's reading a great many things right now, and that it's not direct data perhaps pings that puzzle solving part of his robotic mind with even more entertainment than the alternative.
But when Liath's rant takes to confusion, Azoth blinks right back at her. He points at himself as she points at him -- innocent as a baby fawn -- then brightens up with a decidedly robotic, but questioning chirp-beep.
"Oh, um. I'm a... machine," he says. Liath had left the room by the time he announced that before, and he'd avoided mentioning it when he first met her with Ida. He gives a more nervous smile. "So I guess I work as a vessel...?"
He also knows now that might not quite be the source of Liath's shock. But that part isn't for him to address.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
Now, in another time and context, Ragnell would actually be quite pleased to know that there's nowhere on this star or the next that Liath could not find her. It's... a warm feeling, and one that she cherishes, knowing that.
But this is now, and this is *this* context, and in this context, Ragnell is ragging on Liath, after having been ragged on by Liath. And now getting ranted at by Liath. To which Ragnell scoffs--*scoffs!*--and rolls her eyes and she folds her arms. "You made yourself look like a fool," she declares back. "You didn't even give me a chance to say anythin' before assuming I was just late! An' even if I *was* late, what--you couldn't give me five minutes?! Five minutes, Li! How many hundreds o' years are the both of us? You can wait five minutes, ya flope!"
What is a flope? Is a flope, in fact, anything, and not just a word Ragnell just made up to irritate Liath with her damnable shirking of the common language? Would Ragnell pretend towards one or the other based on which infuriates Liath more in that moment? All mysteries waiting eagerly to be solved!
But then it finally dawns on Liath that Ragnell had, in fact, been chilling inside a (seeming?) human, and she is, in turn... quite clown'ed by the concept. Azoth cheerfully declares Liath an impressive individual, and Ragnell shoots him a hairy eyeball. "Hey, hey, not that you're wrong, but exactly what inspired that comment, robot boy?" she utters, poking him in the head with one finger if he allows it.
Still, he goes on to reveal that he is a machine--and his follow-up comment makes Ragnell chuckle, her shoulders relaxing. "Humans can serve as vessels too--but since they produce a lot o' Malevolence, there's not a lot o' them that're safe to inhabit," she explains. Then she turns to Liath. "But yeah. This baby boy's actually an ancient robot! His circuits are comfortable. You gonna make somethin' of it, Li?"
IS THAT A CHALLENGE
(yes)
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.
Sadly, Liath -does- miss that declaration. She has a lot to get off her chest, and most of it she has to come up with off the cuff. It's very hard work.
But in Ragnell wrangling, there is true that there is no one as great as she. It's just --
"A -- wh -- you--!!"
-- a two-way street.
There is a period of time where Liath exists as Schrodinger's Seraph, hovering between two branching possibilities simultaneously without committing to either. It is very clear that she wants to object to Ragnell's assessment of time and has some very decisive things to say on that front. On the other hand, however, Ragnell just called her a flope, and she's very quickly and visibly quaking with the need to assail the sheer audacity of Ragnell using this clearly made up word to insult her.
There's also a half-a-second's glimmer of Liath internally debating whether or not 'flope' might in fact be some hip new slang of the Youths that she's unaware of which is a very real possibility.
But ultimately, upon observation, or maybe half a second or five after that --
"There is no such thing as a flope, and if there were, it would surely not involve anything that could adequately or rightfully describe me, you -- you -- charismatic coistrel!!"
-- Liath collapses into a single state because Liath has a firm grasp of her priorities, unlike the average quantum uncertainty.
There's a little lingering uncertainty, of course, in whether 'charismatic coistrel' is an insult or a compliment or both at the same time, but it falls to the wayside in the face of Liath's dawning epiphany. She is still wide-eyed, her mind clearly racing for more reasons than the immediately obvious; this might be all the clearer when her response to Azoth's robotic revelation is a slightly more muted one than it might otherwise have been. It's still there, of course: her brows climb until her forehead creases, and she's sort of -- frozen in place for a moment, finger still jabbed as if just for the sake of jabbing, head cocked towards an owlish rightward forty-five degree angle, and lips pursed.
"... A... machine...?" she echoes in his wake, but it is here that she grows more subdued. Her brows soften out. Her gaze narrows. Her hand finds its way back to her in order to cup her chin as she looks groundward in consideration.
"So... you are an existence made by man, then? But to compare you to something akin to a Spiran machina would be to do you both a disservice. Hm." It's clear, from the light in her eyes, the curiosity lacing through her body language, that she has many and more things to ask. But...
"... Ragnell is correct. There is little that we cannot reside in, should we wish to. But..."
... But, her stare eventually, inevitable tracks back to Ragnell, first, with an expression more unreadable than those previous, far more naked affairs. For all that Liath wears her heart on her sleeve, in this moment, the Seraph looks more questioning than anything else discernible as she listens.
"You have chosen him? As a vessel?"
The words are laden with meaning and weight. She looks back towards Azoth, as if considering him in a new light. She has questions, of course. But first...
'You gonna make somethin' of it, Li?' r
"... I most certainly am."
And this is when she turns upon Ragnell, expression steeled, approaches her --
And immediately moves to sweep her up in the biggest, most jubilant of embraces there could ever be.
"This is wondrous, Ragnell! I am so happy!"
She's going to make merry of it.
CHALLENGE --
ACCEPTED
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
Term 'flope' not registered. But it's about to be.
Ragnell gets the most innocent look of all, but the kind that's too innocent. "Noooothing," he says to Ragnell, sing-song. Azoth tilts dramatically with the head poke as if it were more forceful than it really was.
It's more entertaining that Ragnell can't even say it without the little nod of praise toward Liath, and Liath's own insults slip into the same. Azoth takes joy in seeing bonds between the unlike. He's seen a Seraph engaged to a human, a Reploid adopted by her tiny bat mom, and a nanomachine colony with a family of Hyadeans, just to name a few of them. Ragnell and Liath, both Seraphim, if one of light and one of lightning, yet with an undeniable unlikeness to them.
And an undeniable bond.
It alters some of Azoth's Ragnell theories, though it isn't, necessarily, mutually exclusive with some of his hypotheses. More data required. But those calculations are almost a game at this point. It isn't a priority. It isn't his purpose to know. Maybe if he survives long enough, he'll see it for himself.
Ancient robot. He wonders, too, how well Ragnell's dated him based on all of her time in there. But rather than react or question it, he gives Liath a wave as if meeting her again for the first time. "Sorry. I -- well, I used to be kind of worried about it, so..."
But he puts on a steadier expression, lips just slightly upward. "Yes. Made by men, but not the same as Spira's machina." That she recognizes that, that both could be done a disservice... Azoth finds himself liking her more and more. It's not unexpected, though, the way she personified Gears and wish to spoke to them. Oh, if only she knew. If only he could answer.
Vessels. The subject has Azoth straightening under this new scrutiny. Ida tried to explain the importance, but it wasn't until Yvain's flute that Azoth began to understand the gravity. And now for it to lead to an embrace--
Azoth steps back. He's not in the way, but apparently he would like Ragnell to be extra aware he's not going to begin to protect her from this fate.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
That's okay if Azoth over-reacts to the headpoke, because when he faux-innocently sing-songs that word, Ragnell just pokes his head that much harder. Luckily for him, she promptly gets distracted by bickering with Liath over frankly totally unimportant things. It's the sheer magnitude of their unimportance that makes the bickering so fun, after all.
And as Azoth observes this undeniable bond, Ragnell just goes an makes it even *more* undeniable by grinning toothily at Liath's claim that 'flope' is NOT new slang and follow-up attempt to insult her back. "Awwww, you think I'm charismatic? I'm gonna blush, babe!" she drawls, winking rakishly. Looks like she took it as a compliment... and honestly, calling her a synonym of a 'knave' was never going to get under her skin. Ragnell relishes too much in being a scallywag.
But the machine relevation comes. "Yeah, he's a lot more advanced than... anythin' they have over in Spira, really." Ragnell looks from Liath to Azoth. "No, he finds his origins on *this* planet... I think." As for how well she's managed to date him--don't worry, Azoth! Ragnell doesn't date dudes, so you're totally safe there.
But then Liath says, with great gravity and significance: 'You have chosen him? As a vessel?'
Ragnell can only grimace broadly. "I wouldn't make too much of it, it's not like I can or want to drag him wherever I go, an' he's got his own things he's doin' on the side, so it's not like he can *really* be a vessel, an' it's not like I need one anyway--"
Ragnell is in the middle of this denial when Liath crushes her with a delighted, jubilant hug. As the two of them sweep around together, Liath as light as her element, Ragnell as stiff as a board, Azoth steps back enough to get a clear view of Ragnell's *utterly* appalled expression.
"*Eeuueughgueughghhh*," she grumbles, as if she were some sort of sideshow performer.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.
And so it was that Sideshow Ragnell was caught in the figurative endless rake field that is Liath's joyous affection.
For all that their fighting might have revealed the bond between them, so too must the way Liath looks so genuinely, radiantly ecstatic for the other Seraph as she sweeps her up within the vice of her sentiment. Liath is genuinely, terrifyingly strong.
But right now she's mostly using that genuine, terrifying strength to spin Ragnell about in her arms like a
... *rag*.............. doll,
and not even the most irate of grumbles can stem the tide of her elation.
All embarrassingly heartfelt Public Displays of Affection must end sometime, though; while this one might *feel* like an eternity (of happiness!), it only last so long before Liath finally, slowly comes to a stop; though she sets Ragnell down anew to let that terribly wonderful embrace abate, the warmth that shines so radiantly in her features never flags for a second. It makes her smile beam, it crinkles the corners of her eyes in her mirth. She just looks...
"Regardless of your grousing excuses, this has been the best news I have heard in an age. Truly, Ragnell."
... so completely, unabashedly happy.
And she still looks so, even as she wheels around to face Azoth.
"You are looking after her, yes?" she asks suddenly, head tilt. "For a living creature to serve as a vessel is to express an indelible amount of trust -- it is putting our life quite literally in another's hands."
The Drake, and the flute, unliving though it may be, serve as testament to that importance.
She approaches suddenly; really, the brisk pace she advances into Azoth's personal space is fairly remarkable. She's just kind of -there-, eyes intent as she leans in to seek out and seize Azoth's hands and hold them between her own, sandwiched between cool armor and warmer glove.
"And she has been treating you well, yes? This bond is a two way street! Should she be remiss in her own duties to you, Master Azoth, let me know with haste. Ragnell can be uncouth sometimes, but try to remember -- it is all a ploy to hide her more tender affectations. For the lion's share." Her brows screw together.
"... There was that one time, however, that I lost a dear Normin key's chain, and though she swore up and down she had no hand in it, I -know- there was some manner of foul play afoot..."
It's a (mostly) glowing review!
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
Azoth grins in foolish delight with the increasing intensity of head poking. Once it's through, he's right back up, cheerfully no worse for wear.
Aha, that one Azoth is allowed to confirm! "That's right. I was built on Filgaia."
Once Ragnell is done suffering her hug -- a truly unexpected and wonderful sight to have the privilege to behold -- Azoth smiles at her. "Even if you don't really need it... I'll still protect from Malevolence, if it'll make things easier. And... whatever else I can." That smile brightens obnoxiously. "But I don't think I'm strong enough to guard you from Miss Liath. Sorry."
Liath's attention turns to him, and his locks onto her, yet finds himself still shocked by how there she is, like she belonged in that space all along as she takes his hands in hers. His, covered in synthetic flesh, mimic a human's well even in warmth from the energy that must run through them to operate. Though with close enough inspection, one may find the texture slightly off, and the 'bone' beneath not quite the right shape.
Azoth stares back at her with open surprise. Ragnell insists it isn't a big deal while everyone around her declares everything to the contrary. It's a testament to Ragnell's demeanor that he's still unsure how big a deal she does find it -- especially after witnessing just how much being completely honest with her feelings might be something of an anathema. But nor has he forgotten she started all this because she thought it might help him. ...Or maybe because she thought it might help the Trial Knight. Well, it can be both, he concludes, with what he knows of Ragnell.
He smiles back at Liath warmly. "We both have an important understanding of each other," he says. "I don't want to betray that trust."
Ragnell isn't inside him right now to sense the way his currents spike with pain at a statement at once true and empty.
His smile turns a little more bright. Too bright. "And of course, I'll let you know right away~." It's sing-song again. Ragnell's learning his weaknesses. It's just pragmatic to hold on to one of hers!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.
Absolutely Ragnell does not care at all for emotional honesty. General honesty is one thing! But having gushy, vulnerable *feelings*? Gross. And the worst. Ragnell will pass, thanks. (Save for the part where she absolutely does have those gushy, vulnerable feelings, whether she likes it or not, as Liath is delighted to explain at length to Azoth.)
She's still grimacing when Liath, with all her titanic strength, puts her down. She's still grimacing when Liath beams at her with total, absolute, radiant joy at this news, and expresses her happiness at it in no uncertain terms. She's. Still. Grimacing. And if Ragnell has to fold her arms and pointedly look away so the brim of her hat can hide the color that rises in her cheeks, well, that's just a coincidence so better no one focuses overly much on that. "......" This doesn't change any when Azoth goes on to assure her he'll protect her from whatever he can--except of course for Liath. Ragnell's irritated grimace only twists that much wider. ".................."
And then of course Liath has to start badgering Azoth with *questions* like a mother meeting her daughter's charming new boyfriend, which is a distressing comparison on many levels. Ragnell opens her mouth to point out that a robot is not an organic creatures, but she shuts it soon after; it's a fine distinction in terms of 'living,' and that's the term Liath uses. And it doesn't get any better when that questioning turns to if *Ragnell* has been treating *him* well, like honestly...
"I *didn't*!" she cuts in from behind, outraged, at the vile implication that she might have had some hand in the disappearance of the Normin key's chain. "Jus' because I *would* doesn't mean I *did*! You ought t' do somethin' about that suspicious nature o' yours, Li." And then she huffs. *Huffs*! She'll turn into Noeline at this rate.
But...
'We both have an important understanding of each other. I don't want to betray that trust.'
Ragnell doesn't need to be inside Azoth to guess at how his emotion circuits might go briefly haywire at such a statement. She's familiar at how he can and must twist words to be simultaneously completely honest and utterly deceitful at the same time. ...It's a skill she possesses too, after all. And so, from behind Liath, Ragnell only sideeyes Azoth with slight but knowing frown.
But then the teasing train resumes. Ragnell can do naught but heave a deep, heavy, *pointed* sigh while Liath and Azoth gush and sing-song at each other. "Are you two done? Can we get back to what we came here for? Somethin' we still need to get on in the first place?" she grumbles, folding her arms.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Liath has posed.
But I don't think I'm strong enough to guard you from Miss Liath. Sorry.
"There is naught to guard; I will never let any harm come to Ragnell. She is irreplaceably dear to me."
It's an open question whether Liath is truly oblivious to the subtext here or is cleverly assaulting Ragnell with continued barrages of affection.
She's terrifyingly, harrowingly earnest all the same.
"... All our most minor squabbles aside, mind you."
INSERT PROLONGED MONTAGE OF RAGNELL AND LIATH FIGHTING WITH WORDS AND/OR FISTS HERE
It is here that Liath watches Azoth for a quiet moment after his statement, hands clasped in hands. Her head tilts slightly to the left; there's a weight to that stare that's hard to explain beyond simply the demanding, piercing nature of Liath's presence, in these moments where she is -not- squabbling or bear hugging Ragnell into oblivion. That stare holds, for a moment.
"Few of us do," she says, after a time, before her smile returns anew.
"But true understanding is beautiful and rare gift, Master Azoth. Never forget to treat it as the treasure it is."
She'd have more to say - especially with Azoth's crooning confirmation - but there's Ragnell, huffing behind her. Hands are released before any more meaningful words can be shared so that Liath can plant her hands on her hips, spin to face Ragnell, and lean in, eyes aflame.
"Oh, yes, I ought be less suspicious around the Lady Ragnell, Seraph of Skulduggery! By all means, say to me that you would not lay out a masterful prank centuries in the making all revolving around something as innocuous as my most favorite of Normin-based keepsakes--" it wasn't exactly her favorite but that's not the point shut up "-- straight of face and I shall unburden myself of all suspicion with immediacy! And FURTHERMORE--"
She pauses. Blinks. Ragnell had said something before, didn't she?
"--Ah, yes. We must track the Drake." She considers a moment, brows furrowed. Frowns. "... My apologies. This is not a time for such comparatively trivial matters as the sanctity of your friend." And if nothing else, even if stubborn, Liath is nothing if not earnest even in contrition. Even if--
'SOON,' goes unspoken, but heavily implied.