Spirits of the Earth

Southern Le'raana => Zantaric => Topic started by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on September 29, 2017, 05:33:50 AM

Title: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on September 29, 2017, 05:33:50 AM
@SilverDragonsBlood

*sigh*

Chrysanthemum Lynnette washed her hands in the basin outside of the house. There had, unfortunately, been a miscarriage. After finishing, Chrys stood up, took a swig from her flask, and went to go comfort the mother. It wasn't much, but it was all she could do.

Ten minutes was all the the free time Chrys could spare the woman. Not only did she have a schedule to keep, but she had also used the last of her goldenseal root- she'd need to get more before her next appointment. After saying her goodbyes, Chrys left the house and began to head in the direction of Blue Orchid. Taza usually gave the Friends discounts- though Chrys wasn't sure how true it'd be in her case. Still, it was worth a shot.

Of course, this is Zantaric. One doesn't simply walk to the store without something going wrong.

As Chrys walked, she noticed that two men had begun to follow her. Their pace matched hers, and even as she sped up they were always five steps behind her. Exasperated, she ducked into an alleyway, hoping to lose them.

Big mistake.

This alleyway was dead end. Sighing, Chrys turned around to face her pursuers. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes were cold. "I have places I need to be today. What do you want?"

"Hey, hey." one of the men said. "Danny, did you hear that? The lady has places to be, Danny."

Danny stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Places to be, huh? Well Horace, I suppose we'd better make this quick. I don't want to come off as rude, after all."

Taking a step forward, Danny threw a punch at Chrys's stomach. The midwife was unprepared for the blow and collapsed., dropping her handbag and flask to the ground. "D... damn you..." she muttered, looking up at her assailants with contempt.

"Ha!" laughed Horace. "Lady, do you know where we are? We're all damned here." The man picked up Chrys's bag. "Now, we'll be taking this and leaving. We don't want to inconvenience you any more today, ain't that right Danny?"

The two men laughed as they left, leaving Chrys alone with nothing but her flask and her sour expression.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on September 29, 2017, 03:30:59 PM
Zymeria looked into the cracked mirror that hung on a slight angle in her bedroom. Her reflection stared back at her, a bland emotion that somehow triggered pain inside the girl. Bunching her raven waves into a thick ponytail, she held it up and assessed the look without tying it. She dropped it again with a sigh. Changing her hairstyle wasn't going to change who she was.

No use dwelling on it, though she obviously still would. Meri pulled on her boots, wrapped her cloak around her, and slid on her black glove. She only had the one; she only needed the one. Her cursed being was only accessible from her left hand.

Walking out of the house, she looked at the sky. It seemed strange that a place as dampened in society as Zantaric would have sunny skies.

Meri heard the hoarse laughed of someone who obviously didn't sincerely find anything funny. She moved to the side, her back against a building in wait for some evidence of who the man was.

"We're all damned here," she heard the man say from the alleyway. And if that wasn't true, nothing was. Zantaric was a haven for the damned and cursed. The man exited the alley, followed by another. They were both large, much larger than Meri. One of them carried a handbag, and he wasn't the type to accessorize.

Meri sighed. She took a quick look around, scanning for any onlookers. Nobody.

She walked briskly behind the two men, removing her glove. She took her dagger out of her thigh sheath and threw it with perfect precision, planting it into the back of one of the men's throats. He started choking, as blood squirted from front and back of his neck.

The other man, the one carrying the handbag, whipped around angrily. Meri extended her left hand towards him. Her eyes were consumed by blackness, and five twisting smoke streams emerged from her fingers. The smoke surrounded the man, whose anger was quickly replaced by fear. She watched with an emotionless expression as the man began to turn ghostly white, his eyes taking on a grey film...his heart stopping.

Meri walked over, her eyes no longer completely black, and pulled the dagger out of the one man's neck. She wiped the blood on his clothing, then put her black glove on again. She picked up the handbag and glanced back in the direction they had come.

She walked into the alleyway and saw a woman crouched on the ground with a flask in front of her. Probably could've use a drink at that moment. Meri approached slowly; she wasn't sure what the woman was capable of, and one could never be too careful in Zantaric.

"I think this was yours?" She said quietly, holding the bag out with her right hand a little too tight on the hilt of her dagger.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on September 30, 2017, 11:22:35 AM
Grimacing, Chrys tried to push herself up off the ground. No matter what she did, there was always something preventing her from living the peaceful life she desired. At times it seemed that fate itself had sided against her- a possibility Chrys refused to accept. She would have the life she wanted- she just had to overcome the setbacks.

Looking up, Chrys saw a teenage girl enter the alleyway. She was wearing an elegant black dress, which at one point in time Chrys would have considered very bizarre- but having to deal with the Von Musel brat on a daily basis had desensitized her to it. The girl was also carrying Chrys's bag, which was concerning. "She's going to try and sell it back to me." she thought, eye twitching. "Just wait."

To Chrys's surprise, the girl simply handed the bag back to her. Eyes narrowed, Chrys gingerly reached out and grabbed it from her. "Yes... Yes it is..." she said slowly, unsure if what this girls game was. She cautiously picked up her flask and stood back up, eyes never leaving the girl. "I suppose you're going to ask for money now?" she asked, completely deadpan. "Is that how this works?"

"There is no chance in hell this woman isn't aiming for something."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on September 30, 2017, 02:27:37 PM
It wasn't surprising that the woman would assume Zymeria wanted something in return. The people that inhabited Zantaric weren't exactly the most generous, so why would she assume Meri went out of her way to do a favor for a stranger?

"No catch," Meri said simply, taking a step back.

The girl looked at the woman, who cautiously stood up with her flask and bag. Zymeria was accustomed to not being trusted. Part of her really wished she could pack up her few belongs and go stay with Abri on his farm. He had always been her rock, the one who could make everything dark shine again. She belonged in Zantaric, though. That was where her gift would be most useful.

"I don't want your money," she said. "I've had things taken from me." Meri stopped briefly, thinking about the first fourteen years that she would never be able to remember. "Only those deserving of it should have things taken, and I don't see innate darkness in you. I choose to believe those two brutes didn't have any reason to steal."

Wouldn't expect any trust from people here, Meri thought to herself with a slight shrug.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 01, 2017, 07:58:28 AM
Chrys gave the girl a confused look. "... That's very kind of you." she said finally. "You didn't have to." Chrys made a motion as if she was about to leave, then stopped herself. "She can't really be that naive, can she?" she thought to herself. "I suppose I could spare a minute to get to know her. Just a minute."

Giving the teenager a sympathetic smile, Chrys tried to be neighborly- something she was not used to at all. "...My name is Chrysanthemum. Are you new in town?"

"That would explain her being a goodie two-shoes, at least."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 02, 2017, 02:59:40 PM
Meri shook her head. "My name's Zymeria. I go by Meri. I've been here for a little over four years." She shrugged. "I'm actually a midwife, if you can believe it."

She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. She really expected the woman to just up and leave when she got her bag back. When Chrys didn't, especially when she spoke to Meri, that was an interesting turn of events.

"And I know I didn't have to," she said, rubbing her left arm. "In all honesty, I don't know why I did. Either way, you got your bag back, right?"

The woman held a reasonably skeptical look in her eye, which mirrored the one Meri wore. She couldn't figure out why Chrys didn't leave immediately. Meri would have, so she couldn't help being suspicious of what the other woman was thinking.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 03, 2017, 05:42:04 AM
Chrys raised her eyebrows when Meri stated her profession. "A coincidence? Certainly an odd one if so..." She clutched her bag a bit tighter. "I should test her, she could be trying to trick me."

Chrys smiled. "But I'm a midwife too! I was just heading to Blue Orchid to buy more goldenseal when those two thugs stole my bag." Chrys feigned relaxation as she spoke. "It's always so nice when I meet somebody else in the field." She tilted her head slightly. "Now, are you classically trained? Or was it something you picked up from your parents?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 04, 2017, 10:24:12 AM
After hanging around with her Time Master brother, she knew there was no such thing as coincidences - only fate, destiny, and all of that crap that she still didn't believe in. Meri shook her head. "Neither, actually," she said.

Why am I being honest? What the hell do I owe her?

"Actually, I never knew my parents," she continued. "I am incapable of birthing a child of my own, so I turned to caring for others' children. Coming here, there was just so much death that I felt it was better to bring life into the world, rather than always end-" Meri stopped quickly, realizing she almost let her power slip. "- rather than always watch it end." The girl's heart skipped a beat. Her power was one thing she always hid to anyone who wasn't on the receiving end of it.

Have to watch myself more carefully than that.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 05, 2017, 11:54:07 AM
Chrys's eyes narrowed. "This is wrong. Nobody just comes out and says 'I'm infertile'." She swallowed. "This has got to be one of that bitch Hildegarde's friends. She always wants me watched, and since I've gotten good at avoiding Sarah she must have hired this new girl to do it instead."

"And I know exactly how to prove it."

Chrys smiled at the girl. "But that's why I came here! The infant mortality rate here is absurd, so midwifes are in high demand." Chrys's smile became a grin. "Say, would you like to come to Blue Orchid with me? I get a discount there, I'd be happy to help you restock on anything you need. It's the least I could do."

"Taza's kid should be back from his errands by now- if this teenage brat works for Von Musel, he'll probably recognize her and say hi. That's all the proof I'd need."

Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 05, 2017, 07:27:13 PM
Meri felt a sudden wave of discomfort pass over her. She rested her hand on her dagger; an action that had become something of a safety net for her. Her black eyes searched Chrys for obvious deception, but all she had was a small hint of a grin.

That's not evidence, she thought.

Though she did have somewhere to be, the offer to go with Chrys was really difficult to pass up. It wasn't like supplies, especially for their field of work, were cheap. If the woman had the ability to lessened the price, Meri just might have to push her other errands back. She thought about the little shop down the street holding her ink for her, but she might have to figure something else out. Career comes first.

Why should I trust her? For all I know, this woman could be walking me into a damned robbery! She shook her head briefly, as if trying to make the thoughts fall out. No, I'm done thinking the worst of people - for now.

"Thank you," she said. "I'd really appreciate it."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 07, 2017, 10:21:08 AM
Chrys's eyes lit up as the girl violently shook her head. "Hah! I knew it. You know that it'd give you away, so you don't want to go." The woman let out a satisfied hum. "I bet you thought this would be easy."

Then Meri did something Chrys didn't expect- she said yes. Forcing herself to keep smiling, Chrys clapped her hands together. "Perfect!" she exclaimed, walking past the teenager and out of the alley. "Why are you doing this to me? What's your game?" she though angrily. Motioning for the girl to follow, she continued to fake being upbeat. "Come on, it's only a few minutes down the road!"

Assuming Zymeria followed, Chrys would attempt to slip her up once more as they walked. "So you never knew your parents? You must have been awfully young when you first came here."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 07, 2017, 03:44:51 PM
Something about Chrys' reaction just felt a little too excited. Of course she was making quick assumptions about the woman, but Meri would never expect someone she barely knew to appear so eager to have company.

She's so interested in me, Meri thought, walking alongside Chrys on the road. Why does she want to know so much? Polite conversation isn't exactly customary here. What does she want?

Meri shrugged slightly. "Actually, no. I came here when I was fifteen. My brother raised me." Don't lie! No one will want to trust you! It was a lie, but she really couldn't say what her life was before she was fourteen. "I was in Connlaoth before coming here." At least that much was true.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 09, 2017, 11:22:52 AM
Chrys's eyes narrowed on the road ahead of her. "In-ter-est-ing." she said, putting an emphasis on each syllable. "Connlaoth is a long way away from here." Chrys frowned. "Then again, Von Musel came all the way from Hyoite. It's not that unusual. Still..."

Chrys looked at Meri with curiously. "Forgive me if I'm being rude, but... You don't look particularly Connlaothian. Were you born there?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 09, 2017, 02:48:08 PM
"No," Meri said simply. And that was all she was going to say. There were many things that she was willing to touch upon in the little memory she had of her past, but she stopped when it came to what she couldn't remember. It was a sore spot for her, as she knew she would never fully remember, so she refused to even politely humor the question.

There was a moment of slightly awkward silence, then Zymeria looked at Chrys with a raised eyebrow. "You've taken particular interest in me," she said, concealing the suspicion behind her words well, "and I am truly flattered, but I know nothing of you. What brought you here?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 10, 2017, 10:45:32 AM
Chrys raised an eyebrow. "I see. So she didn't think her supposed back story all the way through. She's clearly-"

Her thoughts were interrupted when Meri suddenly asked about her. Chrys's eyes seemed to glaze over a bit, and when she spoke it was in an odd, monotonous tone. "Ever since I was younger I wanted to leave the world a better place than I found it. My mother was a midwife, so I got a head start learning the trade. After I graduated from school I came here- life expectancy for infants in this city is incredibly low. I want to change that."

A few moments passed where nothing was said. Finally, Chrys pointed to a nearby building. "That's it, the one at the end of the street."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 10, 2017, 11:12:43 AM
It seemed Chrys wasn't exactly accustomed to talking about herself.

On top of her tone being strangely separated from her words, Meri highly doubted someone as guarded and innately suspicious as Chrys was would so easily give up her story. Meri might have quickly, but she made sure to always keep part of herself guarded. Chrys was completely detached from her answer.

That didn't make any sense.

Still, Meri decided not to push it. If Chrys wanted to stick with that story, it was her own decision. When Chrys pointed out the building at the end of the street, Meri relaxed, glad it wasn't too far a walk.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 11, 2017, 11:09:18 AM
The sound of wind chimes could be heard as the two women entered Blue Orchid, and they were soon assaulted by the overwhelming scent of flowers. Potted plants in a wide range of colors sat on every surface that could hold them, and sunlight flooded from the windows in the ceiling. Jars of herbs and spices lined the shelves at the back of the room. Chrys coughed softly. "Hello?"

"Oh!" exclaimed a small voice behind one of the shelves. A small, grubby looking boy walked out carrying a pot of white mushrooms. "Welcome to Blue Orchid, home to all the colors of- ah!" The boy let out a timid squeak upon seeing the two women. "Taza! She's here!"

Chrys smiled at the boy, eyes gentle. "Hello Randal." she said sweetly. "Do you have goldenseal in-"

*ahem*

Chrys watched in disappointment as the shop's owner, Taza Faah, stepped out from the back room. "Randal." the dark skinned woman said sternly. "Can you go check on the merchandise in the basement please?"

Randal nodded quickly, setting down the pot he'd been holding. "Yes! I can do that!" he said as he hastily left the room.

As the boys footsteps disappeared down the stairs, Taza crossed her arms. "Now, what was it you wanted?" she asked, eying Meri suspiciously. "Goldenseal?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 11, 2017, 07:37:42 PM
The sound of the wind chimes was a welcome one for Meri, who related the chimes to her brother. He always had wind chimes on his farm, saying that they were to inspired peace in his heart. She smiled softly, wanting to remain in the memory.

The boy with the mushrooms, Randal, seemed innocent enough. He was young, but children of his age could easily be more meddlesome than they originally appear. The way he reacted upon seeing Chrys, though... How he was so willing, almost eager, to leave the room made Meri a little uncomfortable. Chrys had regarded him with affection, but it felt like Randal just wanted to leave.

Then, another woman entered the room. This must be Taza, Meri thought to herself. It was clear that the woman was weary of strangers, and rightfully so, but her strangely unwelcoming eye might not be the best for new business. "Jasper," Meri said simply. "If you have it." She was accustomed to the way people looked at her, so Taza's suspicious gaze was nothing unfamiliar. It certainly wasn't going to stop her from saying what she had come for.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 12, 2017, 11:49:07 AM
Taza nodded slowly, never taking hers eyes off of Meri. "Alright. It's on the top shelf, let me get it for you."

To say that Chrys was confused would be an understatement. "I was sure Taza would be friendly, but..." She tilted her head slightly. "She's treating her like she treats me... Was I wrong about her?"

"So." Taza's voice snapped Chrys out of her thoughts. She had returned with a small potted shrub.  "Making friends I see." She motioned towards Meri. "That's new."

Chrys narrowed her eyes. "I'm allowed to socialize."

Taza raised an eyebrow. "Never said you couldn't. It was just an observation." She handed the pot to Meri. "Here you go dear. Unfortunately I don't have any of the leaves or flowers in stock, just the plant itself. That's 30 silver, unless there was anything else you needed?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 13, 2017, 03:57:59 PM
Meri paid close attention to the manner in which Taza and Chrys regarded each other. It was interesting. They must have some kind of history, though most likely not the most familiar.

She nodded, walking towards Taza. "Thank you," she said with a small smile. "All I needed was the plant. Flowers and leaves are just decoration." The girl pulled out her coin purse.

The other women's quick back and forth exchange interested Meri, as she enjoyed watching the dynamics between others: it helped her to understand people better.

"I take it Chrys isn't one for company?" She asked Taza, while silently counting the coins in her mind. "I'd think she was the center of attention." Her comment was completely sarcastic, but she used it to possibly get a little more information about the woman she had met.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 14, 2017, 11:11:15 AM
"She doesn't spend much time around people, no." Taza replied before Chrys could object. "Nobody close to her own age, at least."

Chrys balled her fists in anger. "I am a midwife! Being around younger people is my job!"

Taza glanced at her dismissively, the shadow of a smile on her face. "I never said it wasn't. It was just an observation."

Chrys's eye twitched. Clutching her handbag tightly, she turned around and stormed out of the shop. The door slammed loudly behind her.

Taza made a small clicking noise with her tongue.
"Huh. I had figured she was here to buy something, but I guess not." The woman rolled her eyes. "So dramatic..." She looked at Meri expectantly. "You have the money?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 14, 2017, 11:52:57 AM
"She did." The girl watched Chrys storm off in an unexpected onset of anger.

She felt that Chrys' reaction to Taza's answer was incredibly passionate; not exactly what even close to what she had expected from the woman. Then again, Taza's tone was a little...dark? Meri couldn't pinpoint exactly what she was holding back.

"Oh, uh, yeah," Meri said, handing the silver coins over to Taza.

As soon as Chrys had disappeared from the shop, Meri smiled with the very tip of her tongue between her teeth and lower lip. It was a common expression she got when she was eager for adventure or mischief. Whichever came first!

"All right," she started, "I make a hobby - more of an obsession now - of studying people. There is no way she got that upset over 'an observation' you made. What's her deal?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 17, 2017, 11:35:48 AM
"Thank you." Taza said curtly as she took the coins from the girl. She wasn't entirely sure who this woman was or why she'd been spending time with somebody like Chrys, so when she asked her question Taza was naturally suspicious. "Well..." she began slowly.

"Is she gone yet?" Randal had poked his head out from behind the basement door. "I checked on all the merchandise already."

"Yeah, she's gone." Taza replied, shooting Randal a motherly look. The boy nodded and got back to work rearranging pots, and Taza looked back at the woman. "You see... Chrys has issues with interpersonal relationships, and it makes it very difficult for her to get along with other people. It's really a private-"

"She asked if she could touch me once." Randal interjected. "Wanted to know if I would hang out at her apartment with her."

"Randal!" Taza said exasperatedly, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Hildegarde asked you to keep that a secret!"

The boy looked at her sheepishly. "Right... Sorry."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 17, 2017, 03:02:59 PM
Meri's jaw fell, and she accidentally clenched her gloved fist. "She did wh-"

She almost couldn't form the words. Things started to connect in her mind, making links between the way Chrys had acted and the energy between Randal and Taza when she walked into the shop.

If Randal hadn't come right out and said it, Meri didn't think she would actually have been able to piece the whole thing together. Chrys seemed nice, but Meri knew she was hiding something. She didn't imagine it would be so... Chills ran up and down her spine.

Hildegarde, she then thought. Her thin eyebrows knitted together, and she glanced to the right. Why does that name sound so familiar?

She shook the thought from her mind and brought her attention back to what was brought up by the boy. "What happened? Why would Hildegarde want to keep it a secret? Is she close with Chrys?" Shaking her head once more, Meri held up her finger. "One thing at a time. Why is it a secret?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 19, 2017, 05:51:23 AM
The two florists shot each other worried glances. Finally, Taza sighed. "Randal can you-"

"Already on it!" the boy said quickly as he locked the door to the shop. "You want me to draw the curtains too?"

Taza shook her head. "No, it's fine." She looked at the woman in from of her, eyes cold. "If what I'm about to tell you gets out, you'll have worse than Chrys to deal with." She took a deep breath, then continued. "As I'm sure living here has taught you, there's a difference between a bad guy and a monster."

"We're bad guys!" Randal cut in excitedly. He looked like he was about to say something else, but a glare from Taza caused him to look at his feet sheepishly. "Sorry..."

Taza sighed. "Anyway, my friend Hildegarde has a very... unique sense of humor. To her, letting a pedophile like Chrys live her life normally, only to then get cockblocked at every turn, is high quality entertainment." She shook her head. "I don't get it, but I'm not about to argue with her."

Again she sighed. "I guess letting people know about Chrys ruins the joke somehow? I dunno. She and Sarah are the only ones who think it's funny."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 19, 2017, 08:53:51 AM
The girl fought the smirk creeping up in her, but she liked Hildegarde's style. "Not funny at all," she whispered, the very corner of her lips turning upward. "Bad guys are fun," Meri said, giving Randal a genuinely playful wink.

"My sister knew of a Hildegarde," she said, "in Hyoite a few years back. She was a... unique person."

Meri sighed, looking at the jasper plant. Regardless of Chrys' perversions, didn't she still need...? "Wait, is that why Chrys is a midwife?" She asked suddenly, thinking aloud more than actually expecting an answer.

Even for a pedophile, that seems a bit young, she thought.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 20, 2017, 05:43:57 AM
Taza's eyes flashed dangerously. "I wouldn't talk about that here. Lady Hildegarde doesn't like her past being brought up."

"We didn't even know she was from Hyoite until Addie joined." she added silently to herself.

Taza shook her head. "No, I'm pretty sure she's a midwife so parents will let her into their homes." She shuddered. "Ugh, just talking about her makes me want to take a bath."

Randal, who had been staring at the woman excitedly, finally spoke up. "Are you a bad guy too? Like, with bad guy magic and stuff?" He beamed. "I bet you are!"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 21, 2017, 12:39:56 PM
Lady Hildegarde? Meri thought to herself. Didn't know she was nobility.

"If that's so, let's not talk about her anymore," she said. "For now, at least."

Meri looked at the boy's excited eyes, and she couldn't help but smile. The innocence of a child, no matter how much they've been through, was something she loved to see. His question was complicated, though. She wanted to say that was good and her magic was forced on her, but was that completely true?

With a slight shrug, Meri wiggled her gloved fingers on her left hand at the boy. "You would win that bet," she said, giving him the simplest answer. Her smile lied and her eyes did a poor job of hiding the conflict she was having with herself, but someone as eager as Randal wouldn't have noticed. "Bad guy magic and everything!"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 24, 2017, 01:54:13 PM
Taza watched with interest as the woman told Randal that she was a "bad guy". She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Well, this is interesting. Most people here shy away from that label."

Randal bounced on his heels, grinning wildly. "Really? What do you do? Do you kill people? You're wearing black, l bet you're an assassin or something awesome like that! All the super cool people wear black!" He slowed down and took a deep breath. "Well, except Lady Hildegarde. She wears pink. I asked her why, and she said-"

Taza cleared her throat. "Randal, calm down." she said, an amused twinkle in her eyes. "You don't even know her name yet." She leaned across the counter, arm outstretched. She smiled at the woman. "I'm Taza."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 24, 2017, 02:37:55 PM
"Meri," the girl said, nodding her head to Taza.

She grinned at Randal's little burst that nearly left him breathless. The boy's excitement was contagious and warmed her heart. Meri glanced at her glove for just a second. Even if he would be excited, her full self wasn't something she wanted to reveal, especially not to strangers.

Still, what's the harm in giving him a little taste?

"Keep back," she said, her heart racing. "I don't want you to be accidentally hurt." She hadn't used her power for entertainment in...well, ever.

Meri took a common little flower and removed her glove, placing it next to her jasper plant. She waved her left hand over the flower, as her eyes turned completely black. Streams of smoke emerged from her fingers, twisting around the plant until it shriveled. Her eyes went back to normal, and she slipped her glove back on.

"I'll pay for that," she said in a small voice.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 25, 2017, 11:53:06 AM
Taza's eyes narrowed as Meri ignored her outstretched hand and merely nodded at her. She crossed her arms. "Rude."

Randal watched in awe as the woman took a potted flower and, taking of her glove, promptly killed it. The boy bounced up and down excitedly. "Wow! That was so awesome! And it was a aegis poppy too, those things never die! That's why they cost so much!"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 26, 2017, 02:28:45 PM
Of course, Meri said with a defeated smirk. Maybe I should listen to Padi when she rambles on about flowers.

She knew that her refusal to shake hands would be a little off-putting, but she had an issue with touching people when she had recently used her magic. It wasn't really a fear, but more of a cautionary habit to make sure she wouldn't do something by accident. Since she used her magic twice in a single day, surely there would some remnants of...death...on her.

"Yeah, well," she shrugged. "That's my bad guy magic. That's our little secret, okay?"  Looking at Taza with slight regret on her face, Meri forced a smile and pulled out her coin purse. "How much for the poppy?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 30, 2017, 09:12:47 AM
Taza looked at the dead aegis poppy, eyes wide. She the looked at the woman's coin purse. "You'd need a bag three times that size to hold the amount you owe me." she said bluntly. "Unless you have anything else valuable on you, you'll need to work off your debt somehow."

"Work it off?" Randal asked, frowning. "You mean she'd be, like... indentured? You know I don't like that stuff."

"Well, do you have a better idea?" Taza replied. Randal was silent for a moment, then shook his head slowly. Taza sighed. "Exactly." she said. She looked back at Meri. "I don't think you can even begin to fathom how long it took me to get that flower."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 30, 2017, 10:02:15 AM
Slowly putting away her purse, Meri frowned at Taza slightly. "I understand. As long as it doesn't interfere with my duties as a midwife, I don't mind."

She smiled at Randal softly, assuring him that she was okay with Taza's request. His visible discomfort upset her because she didn't want to think of him as forced into dark situations.

"Just so you know, I'm quite close with someone who...has access...to any kind of herb, flower, or root that you need." Meri smirked, rubbing her arm. "You could have seven aegis poppies within the month. Never mind that, though. The most valuable thing I have is my magic, but I'm sure that's not what you're looking for. What kind of work will I be doing?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 30, 2017, 04:13:47 PM
"Your sure the decay magic isn't what I'm looking for? Really now?" Taza thought as she studied Meri carefully. "And do you really expect me to believe you have connections like that? What a load of malarkey." She blinked slowly. "If you're trying to hint at something, you may as well just tell me. I'm down several thousand, I'm not in the mood to play games."

Randal watched the two women nervously. "Uhhhh..." he said, trying not sound like a nuisance. "If she can kill stuff that good, won't Lady Hildegarde want to know?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 30, 2017, 06:34:10 PM
"I'm sure Lady Hildegarde has better things to tend to than a girl with deadly magic," Meri said to Randal.

She was slightly unnerved by the way Taza was looking at her. Meri didn't feel intimidated, but rather guarded suddenly. It was a completely instinctive reaction, and she wasn't yet sure whether or not it was warranted.

"I'm not trying to hint at anything," she said. "I have someone who can easily get you whatever kind of natural supply you need. If I'm good for anything, Taza, I'm good for my word."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on October 31, 2017, 09:05:40 AM
Taza sighed. "No," she said flatly, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Randal is right, Hildegarde will want to meet you. If your power is what I think it is, she'll be very interested in you."

"Why does she have to be so insufferable though?"

Randal bounced on his heels excitedly. "Do, d'you want me to go get her?" he asked, grinning.

"Honestly, it's better you take her." Taza replied, motioning to Meri. "I still need to run the shop, we can't hold a job interview here."

Randal nodded. "Okay!" Assuming Meri would let him, the boy would grab her hand and lead her out of the shop. "Come on! She's nice, you'll like her!"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on October 31, 2017, 02:36:56 PM
When Randal went to grab her hand, Meri whipped away quickly and shifted her position. "Sorry, kid," she said. She took his hand with her gloved one, making sure he would be safe thanks to the magical seal on it.

She walked out of the shop with Randal practically pulling her along. I'll get the jasper from Padi, she thought. Let the thirty silver pieces go towards replacing the small fortune she had cost Taza.

"So, Randal," Meri started, swinging his hand while walking, "do you have bad guy magic, too? I bet you do!" Her voice mimicked his own when he asked her the same question.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 01, 2017, 06:44:16 AM
Randal led Meri out of the shop, leaving Taza behind. "Oh Kia, this is so cool!" the boy thought, grinning excitedly. "There haven't been any new friends since Addie joined up!" Randal put his finger on his chin thoughtfully. "Come to think of it, she joined after walking into Blue Orchid too..."

Meri's question snapped the boy out of his thoughts. "Yeah I do!" he said as he pulled Meri down a side street. "Hildegarde calls me a synchromancer, but I don't know what that means." He looked up at the tall woman and beamed. "It's really cool! I need drugs to do it though..."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 01, 2017, 10:05:07 AM
Meri smiled at him practically glowing. "Well, I don't have any drugs on me, but I'd definitely like to see that one day."

She looked around at the unfamiliar scene. She hadn't come that way before, always sticking to the streets that were necessary for her. If there was some event, she'd take a look, but the girl knew it was better to keep relatively unnoticed in a rough place.

"What can you tell me about Hildegarde?" Meri asked him. "Taza seemed pretty secretive, but I'd bet you have all kinds of cool stories about her. What should I expect, huh?
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 01, 2017, 11:40:17 AM
Randal laughed. "Taza was being secretive because she doesn't trust you!" he said happily. "I mean really, coming in and asking about Lady Hildegarde's home life?" Randal ducked into an alleyway, dragging Meri behind him. "Su-spis-cous~!" he finished in a sing-song tone of voice.

He looked at the woman, beaming. "I don't trust you either! Not when we live in this city!" The boy's grin suddenly became somewhat sinister. "I do have drugs." he said softly. "If you try anything funny, I'll kill you." The boy's cheerful smile returned as abruptly as it left. "But you seem really nice! I don't think you'll have to worry about that, Meri."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 01, 2017, 02:26:34 PM
The way Randal was so easily able to shift between playful and creepy as hell was...well, it was creepy as hell! Always the young ones, Meri thought, shaking her head.

There wasn't a doubt in her mind that Randal could do as he said. Having a childhood in a place like that would definitely breed some interesting people. Either way, she didn't want to find out. "Smart," she said. "Don't trust anyone without them proving they can be trusted."

They continued in the alleyway, Randal not letting go of her hand. "So, where are we going to meet Hildegarde?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 01, 2017, 03:52:01 PM
Randal's smile faded at Meri's response. "Aw, what? She's not scared?" he thought dejectedly. "Man, that stinks. I've been practicing my creepy face in the mirror too! She could have at least pulled her hand away or something..."

Of course, it hadn't been an empty threat- there was a reason he'd chosen to lead the woman by the hand instead of just telling her to follow. It still hurt though, and the boys disappointment was audible when he answered Meri's next question. "Her favorite restaurant... She's usually gets her lunch there..."

"This is so dumb! How am I supposed to be a bad guy if I can't even creep people out?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 02, 2017, 12:38:20 PM
Meri realized a bit too late that Randal was actually trying to scare her. Shit, she thought. I'll make it up to you later. I need to know what I'm getting myself into.

"Come on, buddy," she said, squeezing his hand affectionately. "Can you tell me your favorite story with Lady Hildegarde? Ever go on any cool adventures with her?"

If I can just get him to drop something, I'll at least have an idea of who I'm dealing with.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 03, 2017, 01:45:02 PM
"Well..." said Randal, thinking of what he could tell the woman without giving too much away. "Hmm..."

"There was this one time where, like, our biggest opium supplier was trying to get out of sending us that month's shipment of poppy latex. Apparently somebody was offering him a better deal somewhere? Anyway, Taza couldn't get him to budge, so she called in Hildegarde to deal with him directly." Randal began to giggle. "As soon as the guy opened his mouth to talk to her, he starting speaking in a really squeaky voice! He got so scared, he backed down right away and sent us two shipments for free!"

The boy beamed at Meri. He was making a face like this!" Randal made a look of exaggerated terror and then began to laugh. "Man, you should have seen it! It was really funny!"

Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 03, 2017, 03:10:03 PM
A squeaky voice? Meri thought to herself. A bit odd.

She was slightly unnerved by Randal's enjoyment of someone's fear, but it wasn't too unexpected from that kid. Meri chuckled breathily, a feigned reaction because she felt anything but pleasure.

"She sounds really cool!" The girl said. "I can't wait to meet her!" That was probably the biggest lie she'd told so far. She definitely wanted to meet the woman, but something just felt off. Randal's story made it seem like she didn't even do anything to the guy! What kind of woman can drive such terror into a person just with her presence?

"So, what kind of 'bad guy' is she?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 04, 2017, 05:23:25 AM
"The big kind!" Randal said, grinning. "Like the one at the end of an adventure story!" He looked at Meri, eyes twinkling. "She's the coolest ever! I wanna be just like her when I grow up!"

Randal gave the woman a thoughtful look as they emerged from the alleyway into a more crowded street. "So, um..." he began slowly. "What kind of bad guy are you?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 04, 2017, 11:40:00 AM
"The kind that last forever," she said, smiling like she was joking. It was too complicated to explain to a kid, so she just decided to go with simple and vague.

Meri's eyes wandered around the surprisingly busy streets. "By the way, I think you're going to be way cooler than she is when you grow up." She kept most of her attention on the streets, looking for any sign of something different from the usual suspicious people.

"She's like the bad guy at the end of an adventure story," Meri repeated, smirking. She brought her attention back to Randal. "You like adventure stories, huh?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 06, 2017, 12:42:58 PM
Randal side-eyed the woman. Between the vague answer and the sudden compliment, it was obvious that Meri was hiding something. "I can't let her know that I know- that'd be bad." the boy thought. He smiled cutely at her. "Thanks! I really hope so too!"

He tilted his head. "I don't like how those stories end. The hero always wins! It's not fair." He suddenly pointed to a building that was bustling with activity. "There it is! That's her favorite place to eat!" He pulled Meri forward. "They have really good pasta there! I usually get the pierogies though..."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 06, 2017, 06:44:47 PM
With a slight shake of her head, she smirked. "If you really think about all of those stories, there's always a way that the hero is actually the bad guy."

Meri loved a story where the hero saves the day, but she didn't want to tell that to Randal.

"Oh, pierogies are so good!" She said enthusiastically.

She hadn't had pierogies in... She didn't even remember when the last time was. Meri returned his smile and looked at the restaurant Randal was gesturing to. It was surprisingly busy, but that must've meant the food was really good. She was a little nervous about meeting Hildegarde. She'd learned some things about her, but nothing that was exactly warm and fuzzy.

"Any last advice for me for meeting Hildegarde?" She asked. If anything, she definitely wanted to make a good first impression.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 07, 2017, 01:52:59 PM
"Yeah!" Randa said enthusiastically as he opened the door to the tavern. "Don't disrespect her, because she gets mad easy!"

The inside of the restaurant was packed- there was barely any room to walk around! He gripped on to Meri's hand tightly. "Come on, I think I see her over..." he squinted. "Yep! There she is!"

***

Hildegarde Von Musel sat in a booth at her favorite tavern, The Bloody Rat. She came here for lunch nearly every day- it was the only place in town that served pasta primavera.

Finally, her waitress came. "Y-your pasta ma'am. It's fresh, j-just like you requested."

Hildegarde accepted the plate happily. "I see she learned from last time. Stupid bitch serving me day old pasta, I shoulda just killed her." She beamed. "Thank you very much Marian! This is exactly what I asked for!"

The look look of fear in the waitress's eyes was incredibly satisfying, especially since she was trying to mask it with a smile. She hurried away, and Hildegarde turned to her pasta. "Finally. That took way too long."

"Lady Hildegarde? I brought someone who I think you'll wanna meet!"

The gang leader looked up to see her youngest friend Randal holding the hand of a tall, pale woman. Hildegarde smiled at her. "Hello! What do you do?"

"All black clothes, black hair, pale skin. A Vampire? She has one glove- That's probably her shtick. This one might be cool, but she also looks like she could be a bit dull. You'd better be worth my time."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 07, 2017, 05:10:03 PM
Randal pulled Meri along through the crowded tavern. The girl waved at people apologetically while moving through the small spaces. She thought about Randal saying Hildegarde always wore pink, so she scanned the tavern and saw a woman with blonde hair and a pink dress.

She really is flashy, Meri thought, taking a breath.

The waitress serving her seemed terrified, so that didn't exactly bode well in Meri's mind. That changed when Hildegarde's cheery attitude appeared when seeing her with Randal.

Maybe it won't be so bad, she thought.

When asked what she did, Meri wasn't entirely sure what to say. She didn't know this woman, but something told her Hildegarde could smell bullshit a mile away. She definitely knew that she didn't want to piss Hildegarde off.

"I kill...well, anything," she said quietly, suddenly uncomfortable. She hadn't admitted that to herself since her last life. "I killed an aegis poppy."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 07, 2017, 05:24:47 PM
"Kill anything, huh?" Hildegard said, scratching her chin. "Alright, show me- kill Randal." She pointed at the boy, who smirked at her. "Aww, he already knows what I'm up to? Would have been better if he acted scared."

It was, of course, a ruse- Hildegarde would not let anybody who'd willingly murder a child become one of her Friends. "If she refuses, we're golden. Any threatening moves or incantations, boom! Chlorine right in the lungs!"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 07, 2017, 05:45:54 PM
Meri dropped Randal's hand, her brows knitting together with a frown spreading. She didn't even look at Randal, instead locked on Hildegarde's unwavering stare.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Meri asked, genuinely appalled at the request.

He's just a kid! She thought. I thought they were friends! What kind of psychopath is this lady?
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 07, 2017, 05:51:39 PM
Hildegarde grinned. "Perfect!" she said, clapping her hands together. "That is just the answer I wanted to hear!"

She motion to the bench opposite hers. "Sit, sit, we have stuff to talk about. Your name first off, unless you wanted a codename, in which case it will be a really silly one."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 07, 2017, 06:21:18 PM
Slightly flustered, she sat where Hildegarde had indicated, smoothing her skirt before settling. "Zymeria,"she said. "No code name, please. Just call me Meri."

She looked at Randal's smirk and pursed her lips. Of everything he said, he couldn't have warned me about how convincing her bluffs are?

"To be frank, I'm a little confused." Meri tucked her hair behind her ears, a nervous tell she didn't even realize she had. "I met a midwife, went to get jasper, killed a flower, and now I'm here. What exactly do we have to talk about?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 08, 2017, 07:51:37 AM
Randal looked at Hildegarde dutifully. "I'm going to get back to Blue Orchid now." he said. "Taza wanted me to box the opium, and I haven't done it yet." Turning around, he waved goodbye to the two women cheerily. "See you later!"

Hildegarde waved back. "See you tonight, bud!" She turned to look at Meri, properly sizing hr up this time. "So you didn't ask to join? Randal just thought you'd be useful?" Hildegarde played with her hair thoughtfully. "Interesting. You know who I am, of course, so I'm sure you know what this is about. I'm always on the lookout for interesting abilities. You've thoroughly tested this power of yours, I assume?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 08, 2017, 09:31:13 AM
Meri smiled at Randal as he left, then looked back at Hildegarde, who was obviously seeing what she was dealing with. "I didn't ask to join," she admitted. "I didn't even know Randal was one of yours."

She glanced around again, making sure no one was listening. "If by 'thoroughly tested' you mean I know how to use it, then yes." Meri saw no point in beating around the bush. "I can kill anything, provided it has even a hint of a soul. At most, I can take out six grown men at once. I have good aim with my dagger, but my magic is more effective. Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of using my magic because I don't like to kill unnecessarily, but I absolutely can."

A relieved sigh escaped her lips, and her heart was racing. Meri didn't realize how freeing it would feel to just lay it all out on the table like that.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 09, 2017, 10:46:59 AM
"Pffft! Of course he's one of mine!" Hildegarde snorted. "This is my city, my people are everywhere." She took a bite of her pasta. "Ya know, ahm shur ah coul' find sumthin' for ya to do." she said with her mouth full. She swallowed. "It doesn't even- oh! I got it!" She smiled. "You could-"

Hildegarde was cut off when the waitress returned. "Y-your pulled pork sandwich, ma'am..." she said nervously, placing a plate of hot food in front of Meri. The waitress left as quickly as she arrived, eyes wide with fear.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 09, 2017, 01:34:06 PM
With a clearly confused look, Meri glanced at the food, then at the waitress, then back to Hildegarde. "I didn't... I don't know why... I-I don't even like pork."

The girl looked around the tavern with a suspicious glare. In her experience, you should never take food from a stranger. Especially not in a place like that twisted city. Meri pushed the plate to the side slightly, folding her hands on the table.

Hildegarde's way of eating was a little animalistic, complete with trying to converse while stuffing her face. Meri shrugged it off; no one was perfect. "You were saying?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 09, 2017, 01:59:05 PM
"Um..." said a small voice from beside Meri. "That would be mine..."

A small... person was sitting at the end of the booth, crammed between Meri and the wall. The person quickly took the sandwich and began to eat.

"Man," said Hildegarde. "This is what, the eighth time they almost forgot to bring you your food?" She shook her head. "I'll have another talk with them when we're done here."

"It's fine. I don't want to be a pain."

Hildegarde's expression became genuinely soft. "Terry, you're not a pain." She smirked. "I wouldn't buy you lunch every day if I thought that." Looking back at Meri, Hildegarde smiled. "How would you like to get paid for only saying you use your powers?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 09, 2017, 02:37:13 PM
Meri quickly moved to the other end of the booth, her mouth opening slightly. How didn't I see him? She asked herself. Must have some kind of cloaking spell on him or something.

It wasn't the time for that. She was having a discussion with one of the most powerful people she had ever met. It wasn't time to get distracted. Just like that, the boy at the end of the table vanished from her mind as quickly as he had appeared.

"You mean you would actually pay me to not use my power?" This was definitely new to Meri, who only came across people who wanted to pay her to use magic. "I don't understand; what would you get out of it?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 10, 2017, 07:10:30 AM
Throwing one last smile Terrence's way, Hildegarde turned back to Meri. "Well." she began. "What matters more? You being able to kill anything, or people believing that I have somebody who can kill anything?"

Hildegarde didn't wait for an answer. "You could be lying out of your ass, and it literally wouldn't matter- enough people in this restaurant overheard you say it. Rumors will spread, and soon enough "Lady Hildegarde has a new Friend who murders everything" will be common knowledge."

Hildegarde smirked. "Do you follow me?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 10, 2017, 12:24:40 PM
Meri looked around, realizing that Hildegarde was right. It was clear that several people were consciously trying not to look their way. She did have a good point, though. There was no use in having a power if people didn't believe in it... Maybe belief really was more important.

She smirked, leaning forward with a slight nod. "I'd be a fool to turn you down. Hell, there's no downside." Meri thought for a moment. "I'd still be able to do my job, right? I'm absolutely in, but I enjoy my life as it is. I don't mean any disrespect; just trying to understand exactly what happens when I sign on to follow you."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 12, 2017, 06:44:18 AM
Hildegarde frowned. "That really depends on what your job is." She scratched her head. "I mean, if you work as a fence or something than no. That would damage my Friend's business." The pink clad woman rested her arms on the table. "Unless you're the one person in this city who doesn't run some kind of side hustle, I'm afraid you will need to make sacrifices."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 12, 2017, 10:48:32 AM
Meri smiled, shaking her head. "My business is completely innocent," she said. Talking about her job was one of the few things that really brought a light to her eyes. "I'm a midwife. Plain and simple. You have my word."

What her word was worth to Hildegarde was a different question. Either way, it was true. She had nothing else really going on. "That's why I wear this." Meri lifted her gloved left hand. "The glove was created with life magic, so it prevents accidents with my own magic. As long as I can still do my job as a midwife, I'm in."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 14, 2017, 07:58:28 AM
"Pffft!" Hildegarde snorted. "Oh, alright, that's actually perfect- you can keep an eye on my other midwife for me." She outstretched her hand to shake Meri's. "Welcome aboard, Friend."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 14, 2017, 11:34:02 AM
~ One Month Later ~

Meri gently placed a crying baby into the new mother's arms. She smiled, looking at the other midwife in the room. "Meri," Taiga's voice said in the girl's mind. She excused herself briefly. "Meri, I need to talk to you about Hildegarde."

"Tai, I'm busy at the moment," Meri said. "Can it wait?"

"No! You said you know Hildegarde, right? Well, her younger brother, Eckhart..."

Meri listened to what Taiga had to say, before rushing back into the room. She washed the blood off of her, apologized, and told them that she had an emergency to take care of.

Running all the way to Hildegarde's apartment building, Meri found the woman's home and burst through the door with wide eyes. "Hildegarde, I need to talk to you," she said urgently and breathlessly. "It's about your brother."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 14, 2017, 07:33:20 PM
Hildegarde sat at her desk, mulling over a report Taza had written up. "So those Soot Wolf guys won't let us get a foothold in Arca, huh?" She crossed her arms and frowned. "Well, we'll see about that."

Hildegarde stood up, stretching her arms above her head. It was the little things like this that got to her- the small stuff like reports and signing things. The act of lifting a pen to paper was eerily good at taking the wind from her sails, she much preferred action.

It was then that her newest tag-along, Meri, burst through the door. Hildegarde's jaw dropped. "Oh no..."

"What? Did the dragon get him? Spit it out, bitch!"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 14, 2017, 08:28:29 PM
Meri felt her heart racing. "The dragon? What? No!" Meri shook her head, knitting her brows together with a frown.

"He's okay, from what I heard," she prefaced. "My sister just contacted me. She met your brother at the site of an overturned carriage in Serendipity. She said that she and Eckhart were chased by some assassin who called herself 'Wasp.' I know my sister; she's very powerful and knows very powerful people. She said this assassin was the best she'd ever seen."

Pausing for breath, she continued. "She said that Wasp almost killed your brother. Ignatius was able to take her down, but he didn't kill her because some guy who called himself 'Spider' stopped him. Apparently Spider knows about you. From what she told me, sounds like another gang.

"She said when she left, Eckhart was on the mend. He had a wood plank in his side and a dagger in his back. Both from this Wasp woman. She said that the assassin turns rocks into explosives with her breath."

Meri shifted nervously, unsure of how Hildegarde would react.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 15, 2017, 09:26:55 AM
Hildegarde stared blankly at the woman. When Meri had finished speaking, she sighed, walked to her liquor cabinet, and removed a bottle of Essyrnian brandy. She looked at the bottle with a strange mixture of fear and sadness.

And then, with a scream of rage, she flung the bottle at the wall behind her, shattering it. She stared at the broken glass furiously, breathing heavily.

Finally, Hildegarde took a deep breath. She returned her gaze to Meri, as if daring her to comment. Finally, she spoke. "Where did this happen?"

Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 15, 2017, 09:39:03 AM
The girl jumped slightly when Hildegarde's shockingly calm demeanor switched so suddenly. Meri already knew better than to say anything. When someone, especially someone like Hildegarde, was unstable, better to just let them do their thing!

"I, um... She said in Serendipity." Meri tucked her hair behind her ears, glancing at the shattered glass. "On the road to Maestaso? No, it was Maestoso. She said the guy had a gryphon, though. They could be based anywhere."

She let a moment of silence pass. "I'm sorry about your brother. It sounded like Ignatius got there just in time."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 15, 2017, 11:31:54 AM
Hildegarde's mind began to race. "Maestoso is the capital of Tiral, which is in the southwestern part of the country. That means that Eckhart didn't head back home like I asked him too." The young woman's eyes shifted around the room. "The Soot Wolves are in Serendipity, but they aren't bug themed..." Hildegarde's breathing grew sharp. "Damnit, I need control!"

Hildegarde looked at Meri, growing more visibly shaken with each passing moment. "Is Ignatius still with him? If he is, I want Eckhart brought back here. I won't feel safe unless he's here with me."

Hildegarde then turned to Terrence, who was nervously playing with the buttons on his shirt. "Terry, get Taza. I think we found that Fly person she complains about."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 15, 2017, 12:37:22 PM
Meri saw Terrence and knitted her brows. His presence no longer shocked her, but it was still baffling how he was able to go unnoticed every single time.

"No," she said. "My sister left after Ignatius did." Meri felt a little helpless, watching Hildegarde stress over her brother's safety. "How much does Taza know about this person? Has she actually met them?"

She's too emotional, Meri thought to herself, biting her lip. You're smart! Please, don't do anything you'll regret.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 15, 2017, 02:53:32 PM
Hildegarde sat back down in her seat, burying her head in her hands. "Iggy." she said. "Iggy, Iggy, Iggy. What the fuck were you thinking?" The gang leader shut her eyes tightly. "Why would you leave him there? He could die!"

She looked up, slowly shaking her head. "No, they've never met. All we know is that somebody in Adela who goes by that name makes it very hard to do business there." Hildegarde took a deep breath. "It's the best lead we have..."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 15, 2017, 03:07:05 PM
With a frown, Meri shook her head. "How would they even have known about your brother, though? Let alone where he is?" She couldn't help but feel like something wasn't quite adding up. "Plus, if they're in Adela, why would they go after him in Serendipity? That's not their land."

She understood where Hildegarde was coming from, but it was strange seeing the strong woman practically crippled by her brother's injury.
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 15, 2017, 07:18:57 PM
"No, no, you don't get it!" Hildegarde said frantically, shaking her head. "You don't get it at all! This is about me! They're hurting him because they want to hurt me!" She stood up and began to pace back and forth. "This is all because of me. Nobody would want Eckhart for him, it has to be for me, it-"

"Hildegarde!" Taza had arrived, and immediately walked over to hug the smaller girl. "Hildegarde, Tommy told me everything. It's going to be okay."

Hildegarde didn't return the hug, and stood with he arms hanging limply at her side. "Meri. What were the other bugs? Spider and Hornet? We need to find them before they go after him again..."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 15, 2017, 07:32:50 PM
Meri thought for a second. "No, uh, it was wasp. Spider and Wasp."

She frowned, getting chills on her arms. She found it kind of creepy how they used bugs' names. Meri felt awful for Hildegarde; not pity, but empathy. The pain and helplessness the woman must've been feeling was unimaginable, especially for someone who was so accustomed to being in complete control.

"How do we even begin to find him or them?" She asked. "By the time anyone was able to get to Eckhart, he'd be long gone. And Adela's huge! What would you do to find people who use bug code names? How can you find either one of them?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 16, 2017, 01:53:56 PM
Hildegarde didn't waste a second. "Terrence! Go find Addie and have her send you to Ketra. Hang around the bad part of town, see if you can't find any info on groups with bug themed names. Make reports every three days through the meeting place, at the usual spot."

The younger boy nodded quickly. "Right away Lady Hildegarde!" he said, cheeks tinged pink. "I'll find them, you can count on it."

The boy seemed to vanish, and Hildegarde gave a slight smile. "I love how he never questions me."

"Um..." said Taza. "We don't even know if Fly is based in Ketra. You could be sending Timothy on a wild goose chase."

Hildegarde shook her head. "I believe in him." She turned to Meri. "You have people in Serendipity right? Tell them to keep an eye out for my brother, alright? Preferably keep him in one place if they find him. Can you do that?"
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Celegwen on November 16, 2017, 05:34:42 PM
"Lacey, Elysia," Meri whispered into her hand. "I need you to keep a watch for a blond boy with nervous energy. Possibly with bloodstains on his clothes."

"Got it," Lacey said.

"I know him!" Elysia said eagerly. Meri's eyes widened slightly, and she dropped her hand to her side. "Yeah! I know him! I wanted to pet his cat."

The girl shook her head, glancing briefly at Hildegarde. "Elysia, what cat? No, hold on. Where'd you see him?"

"Before Taiga left for Hyoite, I saw him. His name's Eckhart. I gave him bread and cheese before I left."

Meri sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She pursed her lips and turned away from the blonde woman. "I don't care that you fed him! Just... Can you get him? Please, Elysia. This is important."

"I'm on my way to Connlaoth," she said. "Sorry, Meri."

She looked at Hildegarde with a light shrug. "One of them said she'll keep an eye out. The other said she saw him when my other sister did, but she's on her way to Connlaoth. He's probably gone already, anyway. I'm sorry. There's nothing else they can do."
Title: Re: I Just Want A Quiet Life... (SilverDragonsBlood)
Post by: Eckhart_Von_Musel on November 17, 2017, 09:07:23 AM
Hildegarde stared at Meri, face contorted into a confused grimace. "Since when did Eckhart have a cat?" she asked nobody in particular. "He didn't have one when I last saw him..."

Taza looked at her and shrugged. "Maybe he got it after you left? I mean, it's probably not important right now."

Hildegarde shook her head. "He always told me he wanted a pet seal though..." She sighed. "You're right, you're right. It's just... Been a while, I guess." The pink-clad woman turned to her tagalong. "Thank you for trying, I guess..." Walking over to her window, she looked towards the sky sadly. "Please leave me. I need time to think..."

Hildegarde would wait until Taza and Meri had left before allowing herself to cry. "This is all my fault! I didn't take him with me all those years ago, and now fate's repaying me for it!" she thought despondently as tears rolled down her face. "If I told him I wanted him around now, would he even listen? Sweet Ansgar, I'm such a fuck up!"

Hildegarde was unsure of what the future would bring, but one thing was clear- she'd finally have to confront her past.

~fin~