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GUARD BARACKS - AFTERNOON
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Garwin is checking up on his stuff, having been cleared by Plume to get back to work, he's still technically 'off' for the moment, but honestly a bit eager to get back to things. Not that he feels like things have changed much, since he can't really remember the past few... months? That parts sorta weird. Regardless, he's checking in his gear now, making notes of what's missing or gone so that he can get replacement for his armor and such.
Victoria enters the room soundlessly, pausing in her stalking mid-step upon seeing Garwin back to himself. The confident predator gone for a second, leaving only a confused leopard looking at the mountain of a bear: "...Garwin?"
Garwin sets down the shoulderpad he was checking and turns around, "Hm? Oh! Victoria! Oh, you look real different..." He frowns, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Um... hi?"
Victoria blinks, looking up at him: "...you look different too. The cure worked, I hear. Had to come... see you."
Garwin nods, "Yeah, guess it did? I mean, uh, I don't really know? I sorta just remember going to sleep and then sorta waking up in the cell with everyone standing around me?" He blinks at Victoria. "I guess you can get cured too, huh?"
Victoria frowns, nodding. "I can..." She then gets up and starts pacing: "But how about you? Do you remember anything at all?"
Garwin shakes his head, looking a little embarrassed, "I remember we were up camping, on the mountain, and then you went out scoutin', and I made dinner, and they said the flowers I picked were bad, and then I... mostly remember something about it being really important to make sure you were safe. It started getting all bleary and I sorta remember being back in town? Then I woke up."
Victoria stops in her pacing to stare at the bear: "Months. After you changed, we were out there for months. We... well, I suppose we sort of kept each other safe. You were entirely out of it, but still wouldn't harm me." She frowns: "No matter how much I want to claw your face for that mess right now."
Garwin sulks a little, "Oh... Uh... I don't remember that either... I'm sorry, Victoria."
Victoria lets out a bit of a growl, then continues her pacing: "You got us in that mess. You shouldn't have eaten those flowers!"
Garwin scratches his head, "Um, I mean... that's true and all, but I didn't know that! They looked really tasty... I don't even usually like flowers."
Victoria grumbles, shaking her head as she basically walks circles around the bear: "Mrrr. I can see that now. Stupid flowers. Stupid bear. Stupid... everything." She pauses, looking up at Garwin again, as though trying to figure the bear out: "You're entirely back to normal then?"
Garwin takes a seat on one of the benches near the supply lockers, looking rather upset. He takes a moment to look down at himself. "I think so? I mean, I look normal, I think. I feel pretty normal. Cap'n says I can get back to work this week too, since that new Doctor gave me a physical and all. So yeah, normal."
Victoria frowns, looking him over: "Reckon you are. Hmmh. Something good, then." She once again continues her restless pacing: "So I guess that's that then. Everythings hunky-fucking-dory, nothing happened, certainly didn't lose several months wondering if I'll ever get back here."
Garwin's frown deepens and he finds himself staring at a particularly interesting bit of the floor. "I... I guess? I'm... real sorry, Victoria, I just didn't know. We're back now, at least? You can get the cure and it'll all be okay! Right?"
Victoria lets out a deep sound, somewhere between 'hmph' and another growl: "Yeah. Maybe."
Garwin shrinks down a little, "I dunno... maybe I wish I do remember it so I could help you? I guess it's weird that it's already summer."
Victoria glances at Garwin, her expression growing more feral: "I couldn't leave you, so I was stuck with you. At least I still had my wits left." She looks down: "Gods damn it. If you don't remember any of it, if it was all instinct, I can't even blame you for the waterfall."
Garwin sighs. "You can blame me if it makes you feel better... like you said, was all my fault with the flowers anyways."
Victoria groans again as she continues pacing: "Oh don't worry, I will." She then goes silent, a storm of emotions clear in her being.
Garwin 's shoulders slump a little, but he nods. "Wouldn't be the first time, I guess." He stands up and walks back to his storage locker. "Guess I'll uh, finish up later and let Cap'n know what's missing, so I can get home and get out of your way."
Victoria glances at Garwin, then shakes her head: "If I see you again, it's probably too soon." She is about to head out, before she stops at the door and turns to look at Garwin: "Although... you did also save me a few times..."
Garwin glances over his shoulder at Victoria, looking a little hopeful through his crestfallen expression, "Well... you were my partner. I'm just sorry I let you down so many other times, apparently."
Victoria looks at Garwin silently for a moment more, before stalking out. If she has more words to this issue, she's not in the mood to dispense them right now.
Garwin closes up his locker and takes a seat again, sighing to himself as he waits awhile to let Victoria leave before shaking his head rather miserably and following the path she took out of the barracks.
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A SHORT TIME LATER
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Garwin knocks on the door to Louma's office, still feeling a bit unsure of himself after his confrontation with Victoria.
Louma looks up from her paperwork, sighing quietly to herself at the interruption before straightening up with a scowl. "Come in."
Garwin slowly opens the door and steps inside with a sheet of paper. "Uh, hey Cap'n. Sorry for interrupting, but I finished up looking through my stuff and figured I'd give you the paperwork." He frowns, "I don't have all that much except my spare set of armor."
Louma softens a bit seeing it's Garwin, motioning for him to enter. "Good afternoon, Garwin. Please close the door behind you." She drops her attention to her existing paperwork, carefully piling it off to the side and setting a few blank sheets on top of the stack. "Do you mean some of your gear has been misplaced?"
Garwin closes the door and walks around to take a seat, giving Louma the inventory of his locker. "Well, maybe? I just mean, I guess we lost a lot up on the peak. Uh, sorry about that."
Louma looks over the list, nodding as she finishes it. "Well... Given the circumstances, you and Victoria can hardly be blamed. I'll compare this list to what you reported to be taking with you, just to be sure." She sets the list aside, looking toward Garwin.
Garwin shrugs, "Well... mostly my fault. I'm the one who found the flowers and ate them. Victoria's right to be mad at me." He sighs, "I just want to get back to work and do some good, Cap'n."
Louma narrows her eyes slightly, but just shakes her head after a moment. "No, Garwin, there was no way to know what the flowers would do, and I also know first hand how... Alluring they are. As for working, you've already been signed for patrol starting Friday." She sighs quietly, leaning back into her coil. "Don't be hard on yourself over this, Garwin."
Garwin nods at hearing he's been put back on patrol. "Nah, it's fine. And I won't, I just wish I could remember any of it."
Louma shrugs. "Well, perhaps some of it will come back to you over time, perhaps it wont. If Victoria calms down a bit, perhaps she'll share some of your antics with you."
Garwin nods, "I'd like that, but I don't think she's going to want to be around me much." He pauses. "I... was actually gonna ask you to schedule me opposite her, if you could. I'll take the worse shifts, I don't mind. But probably best we don't work with each other if we don't have to. Once she's cured and all."
Louma watches Garwin for a few moments before nodding. "I can arrange that, if you want. I don't think you'll be able to avoid her forever that way, though."
Garwin: "Yeah... probably not. But I think she wants to avoid me." He sighs. "I guess I'm still just confused by this whole thing still, Cap'n. I... definitely hurt Victoria. I still gotta apologize to Nesseth too, since you said I hit him pretty hard."
Louma nods, thinking for a moment. "He seems to have recovered pretty well, and you got just as well as you gave that day." She sighs, looking down at the top of her desk for a few moments. "I'm sorry, Garwin."
Garwin shakes his head, "You and Nesseth and anywone else got nothing to be sorry about. It's just weird, that's all. You know me, Cap'n." He pounds a fist against his chest. "Got a thick hide. You and Nesseth didn't do anything to me that won't heal! The uh, head stuff and heart stuff I'm not so great at though."
Louma shakes her head, chuckling quietly as she looks to Garwin again. "Of course, you're one of the toughest guards in the ranks. I'm just glad that you two are back with us, where you belong."
Garwin smiles, "Me too, Cap'n. I'm not all agile and wiggly like you, or all hoppy and good shootin' like Nesseth, or even uh, what's the word? Good at stragetergizin' like Darmus. But I'm strong, and I'm big, and I can bust up a bar fight better then anyone!"
Louma laughs into her palm, nodding. "All very astute observations. There is one relatively new recruit who may give you a run, though. Brunilda is a pachyderm trained in Ondonga, I don't know if the two of you have met yet."
Garwin tilts his head, "Pachy-what? Like... an Elephant? Huh! Well, I can show her the ropes if that's what you mean."
Louma grins, shaking her head. "She's well trained enough, though also smart enough to be learning magitech engineering while still pulling work around here and training at the grounds."
Garwin: "Oh! Well, that's cool. Guess stuff around here has kept on moving and growing while Victoria and I were gone."
Louma nods. "It has been a very eventful few months, that is for sure." She glances down at the pile of obscured paperwork by her left elbow, grunting. "I would give anything for a couple weeks of quiet, honestly."
Garwin gives a hearty laugh, "Eh, well, peace and quiet ain't all it's cracked up to be, but I guess I'd be happy to just get back into the swing of patrols on the wall, or whatever."
Louma blinks, tilting her head as she looks at Garwin. "The wall? Oh, no, we can't be sure you're entirely yourself yet." Her voice sweetens a little as she smiles. "The safest place for you is SouthEast runoff for the next couple weeks."
Garwin blinks, but his expression only drops for a second. "Eh, I can handle that too, Cap'n! I'm just happy to be useful again."
Louma pauses, chuckling. "I'm just teasing, Garwin, I'm pretty sure you'll be on the South Wall and at the South Gate for a bit, though." She smiles. "Besides, you've got thick fur, the rest of the barracks would suffer as much as you, I think."
Garwin grins, "Eh, got me again, Cap'n! And I shower. I mean, usually. Definitely if I were working the runoff shift."
Louma leans back into her coil chuckling. She watches Garwin for a long moment before speaking up again. "We'll have to get a drink at the Minnow and catch up on less work related things soon, I think."
Garwin nods, "Been awhile since I've had a good stiff beer from the Minnow, even without the whole missing months thing. I don't have much ta update you on, but I wanna hear more about what's changed around town." He pushes himself up from his seat and salutes. "Gonna head home and uh... clean up the dust. With your leave, Cap'n?"
Louma rises from her coil slightly, returning the salute. "That sounds like a good plan. Enjoy the rest of your day, Garwin. Dismissed."
Garwin lowers the salute. "You too, Cap'n. Don't get any paper cuts, err.... if feathers can get papercuts?" He barks out a laugh and heads back to the door, closing it behind him as he heads home.
Louma returns to settling in her coil, drawing the papers back to her. She sighs, uncovering them and reading through the stack over the rest of the afternoon.
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OUTSIDE RESPITE - WATERFALL POOL - LATE AFTERNOON
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Xochi once again makes her ways through the paths towards the waterfall, thoughtful as she slithers along, a small satchel is slung her one arm. She reaches the edge of the water and tilts her head, unsure if Sammi is even here, or how to summon her. She settles down upon her coils and looks into the water. "Hmmm. Sammi?"
Sammi: "Oh. I'm usually not meant to come out for anything less than a good solid 30 minute ritual of chanting" She sticks her head out of the water "But, we're friends! So I suppose I can make an exception!" She pulls herself out of the water, brushing herself down, and stretching "So, what's up, Snake-o-friend-o?"
Xochi starts in surprise, not having expecting that to actually have worked. She settles back down and smiles, "Yes, friend Sammi, it is good to see you again. You are well, I hope?"
Sammi: "Yup! I did all my homework you wanted, and I've gotten a list of stuff..and another list of places we should go" She shows two notebooks "I think I'm ready to explore places that aren't food outlets now"
Xochi glances at the notebooks and smiles, then reaches into the satchel at her side, removing a small container filled with sharp grayish black fragments. "The puzzle you presented me as well. A solution, I think? A creature walked upon six legs, I think, is one who walked upon two, and then four, legs which were their own but yet not."
Sammi: "Ooh!" She claps her hands together, taking the sachet "Yes! That would do it! Also, one of those anty people, but this sort of ritual..well, it kinda works the more clever you are with the solutions" She folds the sachet up, and puts it into her own bag. Xochi has already seen the trick of 'implied horror within' so she doesn't need to show that off again, she slip it open a bit, and put it in there. "Alright, so" She opens up the notebook, and crosses the top line off "1 down, 5 to go"
Xochi ponders for a moment, thinking about her talks, "Might I ask... the exact nature of this ritual, Sammi? I am not sure I am completely clear on what we are to accomplish. I... do not wish for others to be harmed, of course."
Sammi: "Hmm.." She makes some notes "So, we'll be going for the 'Dozen Eggs' option then..." She murmers, before speaking up "Okay..so..you..have regrets, right?..Everyone does. Don't worry" She gives her a pat on the shoulder, before going on "Well..our magic.it works by..lifting them..like..in a Karmic way..you won't have any memories lost..or weird time travel stuff..but..it's like..it takes all that time you've spent in regret, and brings it to me..where I can ball it up..and" She makes a wrappy motion with her hands and tentacles "You don't have to worry about it, is the point"
Xochi considers this, then nods. "This is acceptable to me, yes. I simply do not wish for a selfish action on my part to harm others. That is the entire reasonI I have come to Respite, so that I may assure none are harmed by my actions... or inactions."
Sammi: "I mean, anything can go wrong, but I don't think there's anything inherently bad that could go up from this" She taps her notebook "Okay, so..Essence of Youth. That'll be the Eggs. I'm kinda giving that you as a freebie, because people get weird otherwise. Alright, number 3. "What you won't miss"..but of a wiggly translation..it's more..a regret, or something that symbolizes it..you won't get it back, because....well..you're losing your regrets.." She wiggles her hands "It's messy, and complicated, but so long as you believe it works, it should" She moves on, getting past that awkwardness "Right, Next.."what you don't have", again..this is all symbolism, so..you obviously need to get it..but uh..actually, just gotta work that one out for yourself, and finally..ah..." She clears her throat, and passes the notebook, tapping the bottom line. "That"
Xochi takes the notebook and reads over the ingredients again, "Eggs...? What I won't miss... what I do not have... and..." she reads the final line, then gives Sammi a curious look. "That? Why... that?"
Sammi: "Honestly? I think that one is just there to make sure you're serious...Like..the rest you could knock out in an afternoon..but..that? Well..you kinda just gotta do the work, right? There's no clever work around for it..and..well.." She leans in conspiratorially "A few of my people?" She pinches her fingers together "A tiny bit crazy at times"
Xochi hums, considering, "That will certainly be... difficult, yes. The others... I shall think on. Something that symbolizes my regret, and something that symbolizes what I do not have. Those I shall have to ponder to ensure that I have... the proper solutions for myself."
Sammi: "Yeah! The more personal they are, the better it'll all work" She nods "Other than that..I was looking at places I might want to go..and..there's a place full of nice guardians? I've always wanted to see a place like that! Do they really do that marching thing?"
Xochi chuckles, "I cannot say, for I have never seen such things. One of my regrets is that I have seen so little of this world." She ponders this for a moment and frowns. "If I lose such a regret, will I lose a desire to see more of this world?"
Sammi: "Well, I don't think it would work like that..It's all very mettyforical..but...do you really want your life to be driven by what you didn't do in the past? Or rather what you haven't done in the future? I've you've got the time to do everything you want, and you've not wasted your time so far..then ..well, it won't actually do anything at all"
Xochi hums. "A very compelling argument, yes. You are right, I would rather think ahead, explore and learn and see more." She chuckles. "Fear... even Captain Louma said these regrets are chains that hold me down. Hmmm."
Sammi: "Louma! That's the one! From the uh..Guardians! Yeah. She's..like..snakey! But Birdy too! You could let me meet her?"
Xochi chuckles, "I have mentioned you to her. I think she would be keen to meet you. She and I are of similar origin." She points at her snake coils. "Her... Guardians... meaning the town Guard, yes? I have met some of them, and they are all quite kind."
Sammi: "Yeah! I want to meet nice ones! I've only ever met really jerky ones!"
Xochi nods, "Captain Louma is herself very kind, as is the Lizard, Nesseth. I know they have mentioned others, as well, who are friends of theirs. But they are the two I am most acquianted with. I have not met any who are 'jerked' in any matter I am aware of."
Sammi: "Oh, not here! Other places! They're all 'Argh, Argh! You want to drive the town mad!'" She pouts "Then they stick pointy bits of metal in me, which realllly hurts"
Xochi frowns, "Oh... I see. I am quite sorry you have been treated as such in other places, Sammi."
Sammi: "Oh..you get used to it! You kinda build up a resistance to it!" She flicks her skin "Anyway, it's totally normal. I've heard some of the stories, and if I believed them I'd be pretty freaked out too!" She never denied them, notably.
Xochi frowns. "You know of my wings. I am the last of the line of Coatls. Two generations back, the one who is my grandfather, was a true monster, who caused much pain and suffering. Many would judge me because of his actions, if they knew what I am. Some do know, yet they do not judge."
Sammi: "Well, just gotta change the opinions of our peoples by being a good example, eh?" Totally unaware of what she was implying to the disguised coatl "That's what I'm here to do, Diplomacy.." She stops "Okay, mostly just want to find cool places to explore..but..like..I'll Diplomance at the same time!"
Xochi smiles sadly, "I suppose that is where this ritual will help me, perhaps? It is a noble cause for you as well, Sammi. Changing opinions..."
Sammi: "Well, it's less noble, and more..I get a chance to cast a cool magic ritual, and people are happy about it!" She claps her hands together "I had to do so many tweaks! The normal one had waaaay too much..bl...blerry..juice?"
Sammi: "That was a terrible lie. It was blood, but not anymore!"
Xochi is about to suggest blueberry, when Sammi says that it is blood and gasps. "I... see..." She looks down at the notebook. "Eggs... do seem a better choice, I think."
Sammi: "Quite! Much easier to get too" She looks back at her notebook, and flicks back a few pages, wincing softly. There was..a lot more than just the eggs doing substitution work. There was a reason that last ingredient was so weird...
Xochi frowns at the list. "I would very much hate to see what That is replacing... and especially in such quantity..."
Sammi: "Yes! That's quite true. You would really hate to see what it is replacing"
Xochi nods vacantly at the list. "Thank you, truly, for making the necessary adjustments, then."
Sammi: "Of course! We're friends after all!" She smiles brightly, not picking up on vibe fully.
Xochi smiles at Sammi. "We are friends, yes. Thank you for that as well."
Sammi: "Anyway! You should work on that stuff fairly quickly, and..uh..when will I meet your guardfriends?"
Xochi laughs softly, "Whenever you wish. I can bring them to you, or you can come to me and I can introduce you. I can also tell them of you, and say you wish to meet them."
Sammi: "Oh! I think I'll come to you, it should be more fun to see where they work, if they're not working..they're not really being guards, are they?"
Xochi giggles, "This is true. It is their jobs, not what they are, yes."
Sammi: "Hmm..." She ponders that, and takes some notes "Right..I'll..remember that..Oh. I also want to find out where all that crackly energy is made..you know..tastes kinda..sparkly?"
Xochi considers. "I know little of this. The... city generator? I believe there is a stoat who is responsible for this."
Sammi: "Ooh! I could go there too! That sounds cool! I've never been to a Gene Raider"
Xochi: "Nor have I. I have little knowledge of magic," She motions to the illusion over her wings, "But none of technologies."
Sammi: "..Oh! More to learn!" She nods happily "This could be super cool!"
Xochi nods, "I know one application is in cooling the air, and freezing water into ice, yes."
Sammi: "Ooh, that's also literally cool! Puns!"
Xochi blinks a moment, having not fully understood the inital meaning of 'cool'. She smiles anyways and nods, "Oh! Yes! Of course." She closes the notebook which Sammi had given her. "Do you wish this back? Or may I use it for reference?"
Sammi: "Oh! Right, yes!" She takes it back, and pops it back into her bag "Right! I need to get a few things up on my end. We need to do it at a half moon waning, so..that's..uh....well, it's some length of time that we both know" Sammi casually leans on a wall behind her.
Xochi bows her head to Sammi, "It... is yes. I do not know when, but I shall find out. I will head back home and consider what to give you for the ritual, and return with what I find, or I shall see you in town, yes?"
Sammi: "We'll work something out! I'll be around at the time, but I'll also start exploring..but, if you call to the waterfall, I should be able to make it over, or..you know..just say my name three times into a mirror, and I'll appear behind you, all spoooooky like" She wiggles her tentacles like some sort of carnival monster, before giggling "But yeah! See you around!" She dives back into the water, vanishing into the depths.
Xochi waves to Sammi as she dives back underwater, then begins the trek back home, still uncertain of this ritual's end result, but feeling better about it all in general, and enjoying the time spent with her friend.