2022-10-11: Making Friends In Low Places
- Log: 2022-10-11 Making Friends In Low Places
- Cast: Riley Arwell, Lan Lilac
- Where: Guild Galad - The Lower Reaches
- Date: October 11, 2022
- Summary: Riley's Revenge Rondo ends not with a bang, but a meat bun.
=====================<* Guild Galad - The Lower Reaches *>====================== Despite centuries of archaeological excavation, Guild Galad has yet to fully chart the Demon ruins around it. Portions of the citadel were crushed and buried during the battle that destroyed it, while others remain protected by alien security systems. Most of this unexplored territory lies on the city's lowest levels, in Voids that were never finished. The Master's enforcers do their best to keep it locked down, but even they can't be everywhere. Despite the danger, people make their homes here. Most of them are truly destitute; they gather together in small, temporary shantytowns, and salvage what they can from the abandoned Voids. Some of them even venture into the uncharted sectors, in hopes of finding treasure. More often, though, they find death. The Lower Reaches are full of lethal surprises. BGM: Sunless Skies - Forlorn Prison
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Riley has recently been scolded for embarking on a series of vengeful mini quests by a Xander who found them worrying and deeply embarrassing, but you know what? He already got a tip to track down Lan, and that means he can't stop now because it's destiny.
And so he sets himself up in an area she has been said to frequent--some of the ruins at the outskirts of Guild Galad--leaning against some rubble while strumming ominously upon his Blood Guitar, a grim-, wild-grown looking instrument wrought of dark wood, encircled with black vines, and adorned with crimson flowers.
And then he keeps an eye out. If she never shows up... well, it must not have been destiny after all?
But should she happen come into view, she will be greeted with the tableau of a known murderer lying patiently in wait for her (with a guitar)!! And an equally ominous greeting: "Have you reflected on your crimes?"
Riley, you are the one who is a criminal, here!
<Pose Tracker> Lan Lilac has posed.
What if she doesn't show up, indeed? Is destiny truly so fickle??
--Oh wait no, there she is, stuffing her face with some kind of doughy-looking bun. There's a small paper bag in her other hand; it is gently steaming. Guild Galad really isn't that bad of a place, Lan reflects as she wanders. Sure most of it's kind of dank and chilly, and there are occasionally people with really weird vibes, but for the most part it's just another town. An underground one, but still.
And speaking of weird vibes... Huh, that busker...
They've never met before, but Lan was pretty recently on the receiving end of some super gothy flower-based violence, on behalf of Riley Arwell. "Are you feeling better?" she asks him instead of answering. "Xander was so worried about you."
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Riley's eyebrow twitches as his target enters into view and is UNRUFFLED by his presence. (Riley, it might help if she had ever met you before! Just because you investigated her a little bit to track her down doesn't mean she did the same to you.). His music twangs a little to match the jump of annoyance in his emotions.
"Yes, I'm feeling much better!" he affirms grumpily. "Though I was almost IN MOURNING thanks to a certain group of vigilantes who came around and attacked him while he was minding his own business."
Xander had attempted a murder recently, it is true. But at that particular moment, he was being more than innocent! He was looking for a cure for their affliction!
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
"Wait-- did you or didn't you participate in attacking him?? And what's this about sexiness? You aren't a rival for Xander's affections, are you?" That would be a whole new challenge he wasn't prepared for! Xander, what kind of details did you leave out of this story??
He bristles at the lecture about how if you kill to survive you have to accept that people are going to want to stop you.
"Yes, yes, I understand that. But I've decided to be unreasonable this time, because Xander almost died while I had stupid amnesia thorns in my brain and rejected him for being a murderer, as if I wasn't one too! Can you imagine if he had died thinking I hated him for the things he's done for me?? It would have been horrible, the absolute worst! So everyone involved needs to be punished!
He strums a somehow dangerous-sounding note, before pausing. "Except-- were you or weren't you involved, I'm confused, now."
It is probably becoming apparent by this time that Riley is taking out his own guilt on other people...
<Pose Tracker> Lan Lilac has posed.
"Once everybody else started attacking him, he attacked back, and I guess he thought I was one of them? Even though I didn't even know there was going to be an attack." She was literally just in the wrong place at the wrong time!! And so was Hicalu, because she was taking her sweet time returning home from Shevat and he got worried and came to look for her.
He seems offended by her concerns regarding their sexiness, and Lan hurries to try and explain that comment. "No no, not targeted sexiness. Like... general sexiness. I think maybe they know about your other job?"
Lan, blessed by the Guardians, ridiculously powerful sorceress that can make even Magilou Mayvin duck and cover now and then... still kind of thinks they're doing prostitution on the side. It's not like murders pay the bill at the inn, is it?!
"--Which I don't understand why they're so upset about that but outsiders are kind of weird about love and sex and things like that. But don't worry, I'm not interested in anybody that way." Lan seems to remember something, and tilts the paper bag towards him. This is a time-honored peacemaking tactic that rarely fails her. "Want a meat bun? My brother made them."
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Riley makes a 'hmm' noise that's almost a bit of a growl as Lan explains that she didn't attack Xander so much as get swept up in the fight that erupted around him, most likely getting attacked by him and having to defend herself.
"Taking Xander's side instead of the attackers was always an option," he grumps. Even though he doubts Xander would have made that seem particularly viable.
Riley Arwell says, "Other...job?" OH WAIT. The first time he heard Lan's name was in a funny story, wasn't it? He covers his mouth to stifle a laugh that does not suit his attempt to posture as a mysterious and dangerous villain bent on revenge.
"Oh, right, that job. But it's even MORE unfair if they were coming after him for THAT job," Riley laments. "You definitely should have taken his side! What kind of vigilante are you??" Didn't she say she wasn't one?
He looks out at the horizon woefully. "Poor Xander, targeted for your sexiness..." Is it possible to tease someone who can't even hear you? Riley is testing the limits.
But don't worry, I'm not interested in anybody that way.
Riley's mood seems to ease, suspicion turning to curiosity. "Really? Nobody?" Riley finds himself companionably accepting a meat bun and contemplating Lan's love life."
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Riley makes a 'hmm' noise that's almost a bit of a growl as Lan explains that she didn't attack Xander so much as get swept up in the fight that erupted around him, most likely getting attacked by him and having to defend herself.
"Taking Xander's side instead of the attackers was always an option," he grumps. Even though he doubts Xander would have made that seem particularly viable.
"Other...job?" OH WAIT. The first time he heard Lan's name was in a funny story, wasn't it? He covers his mouth to stifle a laugh that does not suit his attempt to posture as a mysterious and dangerous villain bent on revenge.
"Oh, right, that job. But it's even MORE unfair if they were coming after him for THAT job," Riley laments. "You definitely should have taken his side! What kind of vigilante are you??" Didn't she say she wasn't one?
He looks out at the horizon woefully. "Poor Xander, targeted for your sexiness..." Is it possible to tease someone who can't even hear you? Riley is testing the limits.
But don't worry, I'm not interested in anybody that way.
Riley's mood seems to ease, suspicion turning to curiosity. "Really? Nobody?" Riley finds himself companionably accepting a meat bun and contemplating Lan's love life.
<Pose Tracker> Lan Lilac has posed.
"Normally I might have," Lan counters reasonably, "Except that he attacked me before any side-choosing could get done! And then I was defending myself and my little brother, who isn't really much of a fighter at all. Who Xander also attacked, and I heard a funny story about someone chasing him here in town and making him cry." Lan stares flatly at him for long moments, before taking another bite of her meat bun (without breaking eye contact until she's chewed and swallowed it).
"...Anyway, I'm not a vigilante! I'm a Drifter and a shaman! I'm supposed to be helping people out, not..." she makes a vague gesture that looks a little bit like someone trying to conduct an orchestra, "getting involved in vigilante stuff!"
Lan huffs a bit, and settles back more comfortably to lick sauce from her fingers. She seems to think she's made her point...! But she looks up when Riley asks a question she's heard more than once. "Huh? ...Nobody," she confirms. "Not ever. ...What you two have is pretty special, if you'll go to such lengths for each other. Even thorns in your brain couldn't make you forget forever, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
I heard a funny story about someone chasing him here in town and making him cry.
Riley hesitates, a guilty smile creeping onto his face. One of these encounters was a bit unusual.
"I... did get a vibe like maybe he wasn't a combatant after all..." Riley admits. "Hold on."
He swallows down the remnants of the meat bun and moves the guitar aside, scrawling out a quick apology letter for Hicalu that includes an apology for the misunderstanding and the various frights, harms, and perils, an official rescinding of all threats, and a small picture of repentant-looking Riley and Xander faces.
Not ever.
"Not ever..." he echoes. "Well, I hope that isn't lonely." She doesn't seem bothered by it, at least. "We do have a very special relationship," Riley says with a fondness entering his eyes. "Although transcending the amnesia was sadly more about Xander appeasing an evil god than the power of our love. Maybe someday the power of our love will manage something." It sure hasn't gotten them out of this mess. In fact it got Xander into it.
<Pose Tracker> Lan Lilac has posed.
She waits patiently (and a bit curiously) as Riley pulls out... pen and paper? "Oh," she hums, pleasantly surprised, and watches him write. The little doodle is even really cute...! "Thank you. And knowing Hicalu, he'll forgive you, so don't worry about it too much, okay?" He'll probably jibber a bit about Lan making friends with people that want to end the world, but she's pretty sure that's not what Riley and Xander are really after.
Not an end to everything, just their own misfortune and suffering. And that's what everybody wants, isn't it?
Lonely...? She looks out across the street. "I have plenty of friends, so it's not so bad. I can't help wondering what it's like, though. ...Though I guess for you guys it's not really all roses... uh." Yeah, that came out of her mouth before she could think. "A-anyway, why not pray to Raftina? She's the Guardian of love. I guess it's a real long shot, since she'sone of the Guardian Lords, but... well, if you want a love miracle, go to the source." She shrugs. It can'tleave them any worse off than they already are, right?
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
"Oh, yeah, it's harder to have friends when you're evil, so there's a bit of a tradeoff..." There's also the fact that when the thorns get bad he starts to fantasize about killing people when he hangs out with them. That seems like a tidbit he shouldn't share. "We do have a few evil friends, though." Is that really a better thing to say??
He considers her speculation about the unknown feelings associated with romance, and perks up with excitement as a thought occurs to him. "Oh, hey -- I can communicate feelings through magical music! I was going to use it to punish you for hurting Xander, but maybe I can try to play a song that would convey what it's like!!" He starts to strum with new purpose, then stops himself before anything magical comes out.
"Wait, maybe that would be bad? Like it might be better not to know so you can't miss it..." There's also a chance it wouldn't work. He's never tried to evoke a feeling someone isn't otherwise capable of before.
He is, meanwhile, advised to pray to the Guardian of love. There's a flicker of resistance before he relents.
"I... guess a prayer wouldn't hurt..." They did have an actual audience with a Guardian earlier, courtesy of Dean. Sadly, no miracles were procured.
<Pose Tracker> Lan Lilac has posed.
For some reason, that makes her chuckle. "That seems to be the experience, yeah," though surely Lan doesn't know that many Capital-E Evil people? "But everybody needs friends. Probably especially if you're evil." Because otherwise, why bother trying to become un-evil?
But the idea - just the thought - of maybe experiencing those kinds of feelings - something flutters in her chest, but it's not hope. Thankfully, before she needed to say anything, Riley has realized the potential dangers. "Y, yeah. What if it's like tasting the most delicious ambrosia in the world, and then I never can have it again, and it makes me go crazy or something?" There are enough dark forces chewing at the edges of Lan's sanity, she doesn't need any more!
But she settles a bit, once he's come to the same conclusion. "I don't know much about the curse of Valmar," she admits, "And not even much about Granas. But if it's love, maybe ask for her blessing. I wouldn't count on it to solve the curse - the Guardians aren't as powerful as they used to be - but maybe something else good will happen. That's all."
There's still a single meat bun left in the bag. Lan weighs it in her hand before spontaneously handing it to Riley, and won't take no for an answer. "Give this to Xander if you see him again soon. Loved ones should have nice things, right?" she winks.
<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.
Riley waves his hands a bit in apology for dangling the strange offer. "Yeah, it's probably better not to experience forbidden feelings ambrosia and go crazy," he agrees. If he ever DOES need really powerful revenge, though... (Riley, no).
Maybe something else good will happen. That's all.
Riley is quiet for a moment, his resistance softening further as that particular sentiment resonates with... something. Maybe almost a life philosphy? He nods with a smile. "I feel like the universe might allow that. I'll send a prayer."
She offers an extra meat bun for Xander, and he accepts it with a laugh, imagining Xander's reaction at an edible souvenir of this encounter.
"Oh, sure -- he'll be thrilled to hear about all this."
He pauses, because it's starting to feel like a parting, and he should consider what he wants to be sure to say.
"Thanks for listening, even though I was threatening you."
<Pose Tracker> Lan Lilac has posed.
Forbidden feelings ambrosia... Riley's newest, secretest weapon?? Hopefully he won't have a need of this nuclear option any time soon...!
Well, she said what she wanted to say, and thinks she might understand Riley and Xander a little bit better. And she didn't get stabbed or anything either, which is definitely not something Lan wants to experience again any time soon, thanks. So even if meeting here was destiny or complete dumb chance, it's already a good day.
She folds the letter for Hicalu carefully and hides it next to her heart, with her medium. "I'll give this to him. Thanks again for reconsidering~"R
He thanks her for listening. Even though he was threatening her. "You're welcome," Lan tells him sincerely, before standing up. "Don't take it too personally if you can avoid it, okay? I fight one of my best friends all the time. Sometimes people disagree and try to stop each other any way they can. Even if you love someone..." She glances up at what should be the sky, twirling a piee of hair around her finger as a thought occurs to her. "Actually, I guess maybe especially if you do."
And with that, Lan gives Riley a wave and a smile. "I gotta go. Let's meet again, okay?"
Hopefully next time with fewer death threats, but Lan can work with those too.