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RESPITE CLINIC - AFTERNOON
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Narrator: Sadly, given the nature of her arrival, Lianne has had to spend her first days in Respite in the clinic. Thankfully, her wounds have been tended to and she isn't dead. As restricting her wings in this state would only serve to be painful, Lianne has opted not to be clothed, preferring instead to merely use the sheets of her bed to cover herself. Her luggage sits on the floor nearby.
Lianne Sparr herself looks quite well for a woman who has been shot four times. She's casually reading a book to pass the time until she's officially kicked out of the clinic.
Louma soars to a scuffling landing on the road outside the clinic, her wings shaking out before folding against her back as she slithers toward the clinic door, a messenger bag swinging under her arm as she adjusts her uniform. After knocking and a quick word with Plume, the curtain dividing the overnight room from the exam room is pushed aside by a white feathered hand. A swan enters the room shortly, looking around to Lianne with a nod, though below the guard uniform a snake body supports the bird half. "Good afternoon, miss."
Lianne Sparr drops her attention from her book towards the stranger, her eyes giving Louma a quick double pass over. "You're. . .Captain Louma, right?" Lianne questions, pausing for confirmation.
Louma tilts her head slightly before giving a slight bow. "Yes, that would be me. I suppose someone may have told you to expect a visit, hmm?" She glances at the book, entering the room, though remaining near the door for the moment as her tail coils around itself. "This isn't an inopportune time, is it? I have a few questions for you, miss...?"
Lianne Sparr: "No, I wasn't informed of a potential visit." Lianne responds, setting her book to one side. "But I did see you and your guard heading out to check into vagabonds before I'd barely stepped foot into town." Lianne smiles. "Lianne Sparr, at your service. I am certainly available for questions."
Louma nods, though she pauses. "Ah... In that case I suppose my first question is how you came to know my name and rank, but that's not necessarily important." As she speaks, Louma draws a folder and pencil from her bag, slithering closer to Lianne's bed before resting into a nest of her own coiled tail. She sets the folder on her coil, pulling a sheet of paper to fill out as they talk.
Lianne Sparr: "I was with Nesseth at the time I saw you in the skies and I asked him. He was a very polite gentleman, I must say." Lianne explains, calmly.
Louma nods, smiling slightly as she looks back to Lianne. "Ah, that clears that up, thank you. I didn't find much out that way along the road, unfortunately. How long were you walking with those injuries?"
Lianne Sparr: "Probably about five hours, give or take." Lianne responds.
Louma nods, jotting that down on the page, then looking back up to Lianne. "We definitely went that far out, perhaps they fled along the road towards Bairnell's Foothold. I'm terribly sorry you were attacked. May I ask, were you travelling alone?"
Lianne Sparr: "Scoundrels happen. I'm merely thankful to be alive." Lianne maintains positive vibes. "Yes, I was travelling alone."
Louma hums, tapping the pencil on the page. "But why? There are caravans that travel the road frequently, one of them would have been generally safer."
Lianne Sparr: "I. . ." Lianne hesitates, glancing to her luggage briefly, then back to Louma. ". . .Suffice to say there are those. . .Interested in my work. Risk assessment deemed it safer I travel alone and quietly, instead of publicly and in the open."
Louma tilts her head slightly before adding a new note to her page. "That plan went a little bit sideways, I take it?" She taps the pencil again, humming. "Though that does bring up the usual questions you would have been asked in normal circumstances; where are you from and what have you come to Respite for?"
Lianne Sparr: "Plans fail." Lianne flatly responds. "As you might expect, I'm from an underwater city known as Saliris. Originally, Respite was simply a stop on my journey further inland."
Louma jots the city name on her notes, nodding, her response somewhat automatic. "I have heard of it, but I have never had the opportunity to visit. Inland you say? Hm."
Lianne Sparr nods. "Sorry for being vague. Ears can be anywhere, I can't rule out that possibility."
Louma sets her pencil down, nodding. "I don't really care to pry, as long as you don't intend to cause trouble for the people of Respite Falls. Some of us are sitting on the edge of a razor due to some recent events."
Lianne Sparr: "Of course not." Seizing the topic change, Lianne asks, "Recent events?" in a curious tone and expression. "Anything I should be worried about?"
Louma shakes her head slightly, setting her hands on top of each other on the paper as she relaxes somewhat. "Nothing ordinary, so not expected to be a repeating issue. This town is usually quiet, and with the generator back up, it should hopefully return that way."
Lianne Sparr: The generator back up? An extraordinary happen stance? Interesting. "Fair enough for being vague. In any case, you needn't worry about me. I feel like I've already added to your pile enough, let alone have any desire to cause further alarm."
Louma nods, slipping the notes and pencil back into the folder, and that back into her bag. "You have no idea how much I appreciate that sentiment." She lets out a light sigh as the vision of two mornings of unfinished paperwork comes to mind, shaking her head slightly. "So do you have any more questions of your own?"
Lianne Sparr: Lianne smiles warmly. No, perhaps she doesn't know. "Nothing that really pertains itself to your job, I suppose. Just some general questions about the town itself, given I'm currently bedridden, but I'm certain I'll figure that all out for myself once I'm out and about in due time."
Louma returns a faint smile, nodding into a slight bow as her tail begins to uncurl from around her. "In that case, I'll take my leave and let you rest, Lianne. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Respite."
Lianne Sparr: "Thank you, Captain Louma, and further thanks for taking time out of your day to come check up on me." Lianne offers kindly.
Louma: "Thank you for accepting my inquiry. Perhaps we'll meet again under different circumstances. Good day to you." She turns away, slithering for the curtained doorway and ducking through it, her tail taking a few seconds to keep up with her on the way.
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TRAINING GROUNDS - AFTERNOON
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Brunilda gives her latest sparring opponent nod before parting ways with them, opting for a break. She picks up a towel to wipe her forehead, having once again given her all into a 'simple' sparring activity. The elephant makes her way to the crude benches, sitting down heavily. Something beyond the sparring is clearly on her mind once again.
Fiora has been sitting nearby, spectating some of the matches while out for her usual 'walk' while her ribs continue to recover. She grins as Brun takes a seat at nearby bench. "Nice match, Brun."
Brunilda blinks and looks up, not having noticed the giraffe: "O-oh. Hey, Fiora. Guess it was."
Fiora chuckles, "Hey! I've been doing all my fighting from the sidelines, so hope you don't mind me spying your match."
Brunilda tiredly waves a hand: "Nah. If I minded I wouldn't spar at the busiest time."
Fiora nods, "Fair point. I'd give you a real match if I could, of course, but for now I'm benched. You just out here to practice, or what?"
Brunilda shrugs, giving a weak smile: "Practice, yeah... just want to get my mind off things at times. You know how it goes."
Fiora nods, "Hoo-boy, do I. So much easier to punch stuff then to think it through. That's... basically my life mantra."
Brunilda sighs, resting her hands on her knees as she leans forward a bit: "So much, yeah... I don't know if I think too much or too little, anymore."
Fiora shrugs. "I think too little. I think we've proven that." She frowns, crossing her arms as she looks at Brun. "You're a thinker though. And a fighter. That's a rough combo."
Brunilda lifts a hand to her temple: "Yeah... I don't know." She looks down: "Why must everything worth doing bring complications with it?"
Fiora shrugs. "To prove it's worth doing?" She lifts her head up a bit. "Listen, I don't know anything about your upbringing Brun, but my Mom taught me to fight. And I don't just mean sparring, but like, to fight for everything I cared about, and to be strong enough to do that on my own. If you feel like giving up, then what you wanted wasn't all that important."
Brunilda nods, musing: "True... still, every time I dive in before I can think, who knows what happens?" She glances at Fiora's chest, frowning slightly.
Fiora glances down at her chest and laughs. "Well, at least this time it didn't hurt anyone important. A bruised rib is pretty unimpressive honestly. No cool scars even. But I guess the lesson there is, uh, spend more time thinking beforehand? Or less time thinking afterwards. Not like you can change what's already done."
Brunilda shakes her head, giving a wry laugh: "Maybe. No clue, honestly." She glances a Fiora: "How are you healing, by the way?"
Fiora thumps her chest softly, "Eh, I'm made of pretty hardy stuff. I'm healing just fine. It's slowed me down, sure, but it sure as hell isn't going to stop me."
Brunilda nods slowly... then blinks, blushes and looks away as she realizes she's staring at Fiora's chest. "Y-yeah. Made of tough stuff, me too."
Fiora grins, "Damn straight. I'd avoid getting your ribs broken though, just a heads up." She pauses, "Err... how are you? I'm not used to asking others like this. I know you didn't get like, physically hurt but..." She trails off, not really sure what she's asking.
Brunilda lowers her voice somewhat as she thinks: "Just... off. We charged up the generator, or rather this mage-lady Elizabeth did it, and... something went wrong. Had to dive into the middle of that magic, get her out to the clinic. I feel fine I think, but..." She trails off, not sure how to put into words.
Fiora blinks. "Huh... went wrong like magic shooting out of the generator kind of wrong?"
Brunilda shrugs: "I don't really know magic. There was this cloud, and it... sorta got angry? She screamed, I dove in, didn't think. Just did."
Fiora thinks back. "Was this like, the other day? In the afternoon? Cause we heard this big noise and then whoosh and Gareth and I were walking then he got hit by whatever magic stuff, and huh. He's fine by the way. Though, I don't think you like him much."
Brunilda blinks, looking up: "Yeah, it was... huh. I wonder what actually happened?"
Fiora shrugs. "I thought we were being attacked. Wouldn't be the first time. But otherwise... hell if I know. Magic. Other then paying an arm and a leg for enchanters to work my armor, I don't know the first thing about it."
Brunilda shrugs in mirror: "Yeah, me neither really." She glances at her chest: "The Doc said I was fine, and I feel fine, but... I think that Elizabeth lady is a pretty powerful magic user, to do that. Who knows?"
Fiora nods. "Most magic folks rely to much on range. If you can throw something or shoot them, or just charge through whatever magic they sling at you, you're golden. Just gotta be careful with the tricky ones who don't react by just throwing a fireball."
Brunilda nods, leaning back on her hands: "Best just not to mess with them... 'cept I suppose with magitech I kind of am now getting into some of it." She sighs. "As noted, complicated."
Fiora shrugs again, holding a hand up, "All that stuff is beyond me. I know how to run a forge, and I know how to punch folks. Hopefully I'm punching folks who deserve it. Magic and magitech is more then I can think through."
Brunilda sighs: "Life was easier, in a sense, when I was always told what to do. Not that I really miss it, but..." She shrugs: "Y'know."
Fiora grins, "I really don't... that sounds awful. I was always told to find my own way. Mom set up guidelines, but it was up to me to find the right path." She pauses a moment and sighs.
Brunilda looks at Fiora: "...what was your Mom like?"
Fiora closes her eyes and takes a moment of silence before she answers. "She was strong. Not just like, physically but like... everyone knew when she walked into a room. She was a hard woman too... but still caring. When she needed to be." She sighs. "I used to ask her if I was doing the right thing. She'd just smile and say 'only you can answer that'."
Brunilda looks at Fiora as she listens, nodding slowly: "She was a presence... someone to respect."
Fiora nods, uncharacteristically silent for a long period with her eyes closed.
Brunilda hesitates for a moment, then gets up, moving to sit next to Fiora. She lifts a hand to the giraffe's shoulder, giving a small smile.
Fiora glances at Brun, opening her eyes before craning her neck downward. "Crap... sorry."
Brunilda shrugs, but doesn't lift her hand: "For what?"
Fiora sighs, "It's not your problem. I don't want to throw all this at you."
Brunilda looks at Fiora, then quietly wonders half-aloud: "...but what if I want you to?"
Fiora looks back up at Brun, "Bwah?"
Brunilda blinks, blushing: "I uh. Nevermind. Don't know where that came from."
Fiora waits a moment, then nods. "Right... right. Nevermind."
Brunilda sighs, looking aside: "I'm not really that good at this... stuff. But..." She looks up, offering a small smile: "...I think I want to know more about you."
Fiora chuckles, "Not much to know, I'm afraid. I mean, I think we've both seen I'm not much better at uh... stuff."
Brunilda nods slowly: "It's... stuff. Makes no sense. But I like you." She blushes, smiling.
Fiora glances at Brun, then nods, "I mean. Yeah... stuff is stuff. I don't get any of it either. But... I don't know. I'm still figuring crap out but..."
Brunilda finds herself having a hopeful smile: "...but?"
Fiora shrugs, and slowly smiles back. "Well, I mean... I like you too."
Brunilda blushes at the words, but doesn't look away. She finds her throat suddenly very dry, though.
Fiora turns to look straight ahead into the distance, "I really have no clue though... how things go after that."
Brunilda follows Fiora's gaze: "...me neither, if I'm honest."
Fiora chuckles. "Just... go on ahead then without thinking?"
Brunilda blinks, then laughs a little as well: "Seems so."
Fiora laughs, "That's the only plan I can ever make anyways."
Brunilda nods, smirking: "I guess... we'll see."
Fiora sits besides Brun for awhile long, just letting the elephant keep a hand on her shoulder for a moment more.