----------------------------------------------
RESPITE MARKETPLACE - EARLY AFTERNOON
----------------------------------------------
Jennica is sitting on the edge table of her and Emmeline's market tent. The cow is dressed in her usual simple overalls and she's focusing on a small trinket in her hands, carefully fiddling the details of it as she attempts to make something usable out of the virtual pile of magi-scrap.
Narrator: The curious kitty, Teis, is exploring the markets of Respite today. To hell with her Sister's instructions, though - She's brought her magitech artisan-jeweler-like goggles/lenses with her today. Sure, they're at risk of getting stolen out and about. . .But. . . If that stranger she'd met the other day has proven anything, it's that an opportunity to witness wonders can strike at any time and she needs to be prepared! She comes across the large cow's stall, struggling at all to be able to see over the tables at the market on the whole, up on her tippy-toes and resting her claws on the tabletop. The magitech scrap at the table has the kitty's attention. Silently, she observes Jennica working.
Jennica is focusing pretty intently, though after a moment she belatedly realizes that someone is watching her. She glances sideways and to her credit almost manages to not jolt in surprise: "O-oh! Can I help you? Sorry, was distracted." She gets up, rapidly straightening her clothes like she should, grinning a bit nervously.
Teis' tail idly swishes back and forth behind her. "No no, please. Don't mind me. Continue." Teis insists, with a smile.
Jennica blinks, tilting her head slightly: "You're not... buying?" She sighs slightly, then shrugs and returns to her trinket: "It's not really much of a thing, this. Was supposed to soften the mood, sort of create that sort of 'romantic candlelight' thing, but I can't seem to make this quiet enough to not be distracting to have nearby..." As though on command, the small ball of scrap lets out a loud sputter and lets out a small black cloud of smoke.
Teis: "I'm observing. Learning. Meeting people. And what you're doing and what you have intrigues me." Teis replies, those eyes behind her lenses focusing intently on the trinket. "But I don't know if I'll buy. I'm sorry I got your hopes up. Shall I move on?" Teis questions, though is pre-emptively letting herself fall from the table, back onto her feet.
Jennica shrugs, tossing the offending pile of scrap to the side, where several other such creations lie: "I don't mind. We've been successful... sort of, but mostly when my friend Emmeline is here doing the selling. I don't really... have the ability." She looks aside, clearly a bit ashamed as she thinks out loud.
Teis tippy-toes her way back to peer over the edge of the table. "So. . .You do the work? She sells?" Teis questions.
Jennica shrugs, pointing her hand at a row of various small magi-mechanical devices with complicated labels next to them: "More or less."
Teis' little head flicks between each device in turn. Notably, her gaze stops and fixates for longer on the devices that are more magical in nature than others, in a manner that appears to be calculated. "Oh! I get it. That's like me and Sis. Huh." Teis thinks. "Does that bother you?"
Jennica blinks, looking at the devices, then to Teis: "Does what bother me?"
Teis: "That your friend is better at selling things than you." Teis clarifies.
Jennica hums for a second, then just shrugs: "Not really. She's a lot better at doing the social thing, and I'm happy crafting... would be nice to... n-not be so awkward, but I am."
Teis: "Eh. Awkward, weird. . .Whatever." Teis shrugs the best she can given her posture. "So do you fix things? Make them? Both?"
Jennica glances at the pile of scrap, then at the actual completed devices: "Both... I make things that do like these small life improvements. Comfort things. It's, uh, kind of hard to define."
Teis: "But definitions are some of the strongest tools we have!" Teis dramatically complains, though that tone quickly dissipates. "What kinds of things? Like what's this doohickey here? And this and that?" Teis points rapidly to the three devices that she detected to be the most magical in nature of all Jennica has set out.
Teis: "What, like, tensions between people?" Teis asks for clarification on the first. "Hm. Filtering water through magitech? Yes, yes. . .That is certainly easier..." She mumbles to herself on the second. As for the third. . .Teis re-adjusts the lenses of her magitech goggles. Swapping some in, others out, focusing on the metal ball. "Hm. . .Faint auras of both the Aquiline and Saphir bands. . .Seems to me like. . ." Teis mut herself. Suddenly, she looks up to Jennica. "Do. . .You have a glass of water with you?" Teis questions.
Jennica nods at the first question, then she pauses and blinks at the second a moment later: "Oh. Um..." She looks around and locates a small bottle of water and a mug, setting them on the table: "This... this work? What are you thinking?"
Teis: "Juuuust testing your own product for you." Teis replies nonchalantly, leaning back off the table, taking the bottle of water in one paw and the mug in the other. She fills the mug then returns the bottle of water to the table. With her free hand, she clicks her fingers, pointing after the click at the metal ball. It hovers into the air, slowly. Soon, her pointing directs the metal ball just over the mug. Assuming Jennica does nothing to interfere, the ball drops into the mug. Instantly, the enchantment on the ball activates, chilling the water almost instantly. Teis takes a sip from the water just to confirm, with a satisfied 'Ahh'. "Yep. A weak freezing enchantment that activates when in contact with a liquid. Just what I thought." In other words, a drink chiller.
Jennica looks at Teis working with slightly paused awe, not that used to seeing other magic users. Actually talking to people would help, of course, but we digress. "O-oh. Oh yeah, that was the idea. I kind of left it half-done, and Emmeline finished it. Didn't think much of it." She gives a bit of a sheepish smile.
Teis: "You should probably think more of it. Bet there's an upscale bar back where I'm from that'd pay nicely for many of these." Teis sips from the mug some more, though she does click and levitate the metal ball out of the mug and back onto Jennica's table. "Thank you for the cold drink, It does wonders on such a day." Teis thanks.
Jennica smiles a bit belatedly: "Yeah... probably does. Hmm." She seems to lose herself into her thinking for a moment as she stares at the chiller ball: "...I guess there might be a way to... hmm... maybe."
Teis lets Jennica think for a little bit, simply watching for a couple of minutes, thinking herself it seems. "That filter of yours. How much?" Teis questions.
Jennica blinks awake from her thinking reverie: "Oh, um... I think it was something like..." She mumbles half-aloud a sum that seems reasonable, even rather cheap for the uniqueness of it.
Teis fishes out the necessary amount from her bag, placing it as far onto the table as she's capable of reaching. "I'll take it." Teis doesn't bat an eye.
Jennica blinks at having made a sale, finding her smile: "Oh. Well, you're welcome!"
Teis smiles back. She hopes that the filter will be suitable for what she has in mind. "Thank you. Ah. . .What was your name?"
Jennica smiles: "I'm Jennica. Just, uh, sort of came to town. You?"
Teis: "Teis. I'm also new here. And, pardon my forwardness, but I want to watch you work sometime. I think I might learn something."
Jennica blushes slightly, smiling confusedly: "Learn? From me? But I'm not really... much."
Teis: "If you say so. But would that not be up to me to judge?" Teis questions.
Jennica pauses: "W-well... yeah, probably." She shrugs: "If you want to join me, feel free to I guess."
Teis: "Yes Ma'am!" Teis replies enthusiastically. With mug of chilled water in hand, Teis disappears under Jennica's table, crawling through to the other side to join her. Teis. . .No.
Jennica blinks several times upon realizing the small feline is now on her side of the table: "Oh. Uh? I mean, um... might want to ask Emmeline too...?"
Teis: "But she's not here. Do I need to?" Teis questions. "Where can I find her?" Teis tilts her head.
Jennica pauses: "I think she's just out to find lunch for us...?"
Teis: "So. . .I can just wait here until she gets back?" Teis suggests.
Jennica lifts a hand to the back of her neck, hesitant: "I... guess...?"
Emmeline returns to the booth with convenient timing carrying a covered tray. She spots the cat as she approaches and calls out. "Who's your friend, Jennica?"
Teis: "Great!" Teis exclaims. She promptly takes a chair - Presumably Emmeline's chair - And sips from her mug. She's barely there a second before the new stranger approaches.
Jennica turns around in surprise: "Em! This um..." She looks about, locating the quick-moving cat: "...Teis? She's curious about our craft." If Jennica's a bit visibly hesitant about this... it's because she very much is.
Emmeline sets the tray down on the front counter in a clear spot and gives Teis a little curtsey. "A pleasure to meet you, Teis. Any friend of Jenn's is a friend of mine, of course. She certainly needs more friends anyway..."
Teis nods affirmatively to her name. "Ah! So you're Emmeline! Hello!" Teis waves. "Can I watch you work? I want to learn things!" Teis immediately questions.
Jennica looks at Emmeline and shrugs: "Don't see why not."
Emmeline walks around to the back of the booth and enters through the flap. "If Jenn doesn't mind, then it's no problem. What are you curious about? Surely not my satisfactory decorating skills..."
Rondelethia carefully makes her way through the Marketplace, clearly out of place with all those bustling people, dressed in a gown that would be more suitable for dinner party than day to day, and rolling a small decorative fan in her hands. The white rabbit had lost track of a certain cat, and had been tracking her down. It wasn't hard. She just asked about who she would go to find 'dangerous magic', and after one false start that had left her wandering around an empty back alley, it had brought her to here.
Teis: "Oh, uh. I'm most curious as to how you utilize the arcane world in your craft. And how you interact with objects that are already arcane in nature. In short, the creation and modification of. . .Magitech. . .Devices. . ." Teis trails off, her head turning to look at the white rabbit approaching down the street. "Mreow! It's my Sis! Hide me!" Teis hastily requests in a panic, ducking behind Jennica as quickly as she can manage. *
Jennica starts to nod at Teis' description, only to be surprised once again by her quick movements. "Eh? Um? ...err?" She glances at Teis, then towards the sight of impending threat... in much confusion, because she's not seeing much of a threat.
Emmeline blinks a bit at the sudden happenings, but just walks over to the tray and removes the cover, taking half of a sandwich and starting to munch on it nonchalantly.
Rondelethia gets close enough to the stall, and gives the "two" a smile, and a nod "Good afternoon. If I may, could I bother you for a moment? I am looking for a small white cat, about this high" She puts her paw down to Teis's exact height "Rather excitable. Has a tendency to dash off without putting all her equipment away. May have already asked you for potentially explosive ingrediants?"
Jennica pauses: "Well... not explosive." She blinks: "I um... haven't seen her."
Emmeline shakes her head. "No cats here, no. I think there's a black one that sells from a blanket just outside the market proper?" She takes another bite of her sandwich.
Rondelethia: "Thank you.." She turns around, toying with the fan in her hands and stepping aw.. before turning around "I request that any purchasing decisions would be run through myself" She speaks slowly, eyes drifting to the ground level near Jennica "As well as a small list of prohibited ingredients, for safety..." She's intentionally provoking
Teis: "You're stifling my creativity, Sis!" Teis hisses out in response, though remains hidden behind Jennica despite having obviously given herself away.
Emmeline feigns surprise for a moment when the cat reveals herself, but otherwise says nothing.
Jennica blinks in surprise and freezes, now definitely not knowing what to do here: "Um..."
Rondelethia doesn't directly respond, instead reaching into her purse, and taking out a protective case for a pair of expensive magi-tech goggles "Amaryteis Bouquet, if you please"
Teis sticks her head out from behind Jennica, hissing at the bunny. "These are critical to my continued education away from the academy! How am I supposed to see without them? I was watching Jennica here work!"
Jennica looks at Rondelethia: "Uh... h-hi." She glances at Teis, then just looks at Emmeline and mouths 'what's going on?'
Emmeline finishes her half sandwich and then picks up the tray and brings it over to Jennica. "Eat something," she whispers to her friend, not wanting to get in the middle of this family(?) dispute.
Rondelethia: "There are a number of other goggles that could be used outside. These shouldn't be brought outside the lab, as they would be very difficult to replace. Especially out here" She's very nervous about doing this in public, and so is taking refuge in formality. "I don't believe you need a high resolution mana lens outdoors"
Rondelethia continues to roll the fan in her hand as she speaks, trying to focus on Teis, and not anyone else.
Teis: "How do you know if I need them or not?! Did you go to The Academy? No!" Teis huffs, looking to Jennica and Emmeline. "I'm sorry, Jennica-" She briefly looks to Della, "-MISS KILLJOY-" Back to Jen and Em with an ahem, "-Says that if I'm to learn from the two of you, you'll have to come to my lab." Teis grumbles, taking off the goggles and handing them to Della. She crosses her arms shortly thereafter.
Jennica starts in slight surprise at the outburst, more confused than startled though: "Eh um... okay? That... might work?" She absently picks up her sandwich and starts munching.
Emmeline looks between the two and nods. "Well, this seems to be an issue between the two of you. You're both welcome here, but I'd ask that you refrain from having a fight at our booth. It scares away customers." She looks to the rabbit. "So can the two of you be calm or do you need to go elsewhere?" Her tone has barely changed, but definitely has a bit of a harder edge to it. She's a cow who knows and cares about her business.
Rondelethia carefully places the goggles in their case, and equally carefully places the goggles in her bag, before taking out a second case, and passing it over to Teis, which contains another pair of goggles, which are also high quality, but in the sense of being the upper end of 'consumer grade', rather than the 'professional' grade. "I don't believe there is any trouble" She assures both of them with a smile "Merely a small misunderstanding"
Teis reluctantly takes the second case. While in a bad mood, the second pair of glasses does help to alleviate her annoyance somewhat. Combined with Emmeline's complaint, Teis speaks up, focused on Emmeline. "No. I'll be good. I'm sorry, Emmeline. . ." Teis, sounding and looking dejected, apologizes. She then looks to her case, then to the ground. Sad kitty.
Jennica looks at Teis, wanting to say something but nothing really comes to her mind. "Sorry," she just whispers to no one in particular.
Emmeline walks over and rests a hand on Teis's shoulder. "No no, you were fine until your sister showed up... but I understand, family can be difficult, and even Jenn and I don't always get along." She looks over the counter to Rondelethia. "So, now that that's sorted, can I interest you in any of our little charms and baubles?"
Rondelethia turns to the stall, returning to that professional smile "Of course. I would defer to my sister though. She is the expert in the family" She gestures to the cat "What here is the most interesting?" Trying to cheer her up, by getting her to talk about her favourite sweets in the sweet store.
Teis weakly rubs her head against Emmeline's hand in search of any comfort. She doesn't respond to Jen or Em, though seems to take their words to heart. She responds to Della. "You're just going to be mad. . ." Teis replies, taking in a deep breath and sighing it out. She's still sad, though is obviously trying her best to stay positive. "They had a magitech water purifier. I bought it already. I already know a good use for it in my workflow. ."
Jennica shifts to the side and starts fiddling with a trinket not on display, feeling awkward.
Emmeline sets about fixing the display of items, mostly fussing with the decorative bits between them. "We have plenty of other things. The lucky charm is our best seller of course... we're not exactly sure how it works, something about pruning probabilities, I think?" She looks to Jenn for confirmation.
Jennica nods: "It smoothes chance, if you will. Doesn't improve your luck so much as... well, I guess it kind of does that too. Hmm."
Emmeline nods. "Only a minor effect, of course, but works enough to be popular with folks a bit down on their luck." She proceeds to take out a feather duster and starts to run it over the shinier parts of the baubles.
Rondelethia: "Both of those sound excellent" There had been something at some point about 'running things by her before making any major purchases', but Rondelethia had known that that was going to boil down to 'Rabbit has to justify the expense retroactively', and besides..this really wasn't the time. "I don't quite understand what you mean by probability smoothing, but perhaps it would help in your reactions?" She asks Teis.
Teis: ". . .Maybe later." Teis sighs, placing the mug on the table, then crawling back under the table to unite with Della. She looks to Jen and Em with a weak smile, though on the verge of tears. "Thank you both for your kindness. But all I want to do right now is go back home and curl up under a blanket. Sorry for disrupting your day." And with that, Teis starts walking, without waiting for Della.
Jennica glances at Teis, but keeps her focus on her trinket in an attempt to avoid focusing on anything else. Mind wandering bad. Only makes sads.
Emmeline blinks at Teis as she goes and frowns. She looks across the counter to Della, her expression seeking an explanation or something of equivalent value.
Rondelethia looked to Teis, and to Emmeline. She didn't want to let Teis get too far away before catching up "We just arrived here, and there are some difficulties settling in" Which would have to be enough! She turns on her heel, and hustles after her sister "Teis! Wait up" She tries to give her a soft squeeze on the shoulder "Sorry?" She's not sure if an apology is what is needed here, but she regrets upsetting Teis, so it seems appropriate.
Emmeline watches the odd pair go and looks to Jennica. "Well... that was... something." She picks up an apple slice from the lunch platter and munches on it.
Jennica continues fiddling, wandering into her thoughts despite her earlier warnings to... herself. Something about all this is not sitting right with her, but she can't exactly figure out what. So she tinkers. Tinkering helps.
Emmeline takes Jennica's silence as an end to the conversation and just sits down to finish her lunch, sitting quietly with her friend as they reflect on what just happened for a bit.
----------------------------------------------
THE BOUQUET ESTATE - AFTERNOON
----------------------------------------------
Teis doesn't respond to Della for the entire trip back home. She's clutching the second pair of glasses close to her chest, focused on simply putting one foot in front of the other. It's all she can do to keep herself from breaking down in the town itself. But once the pair are past the gates and into their estate, Teis begins to start letting it out, sniffling. Then tears. She's still holding the majority of it back, but the cracks are finally showing proper. She's making her way to the garden - Once there, she collapses under a tree and fully begins crying, letting it all out.
Rondelethia doesn't say anything for the moment, but stays beside her, and sits down when she goes for the tree, and lets her cry it out on her lap, rather than the ground unless she's pulled away or something similar. Once Teis wants to explain why she's so upset, she will, and Rondelethia isn't going to pressure her about it.
Teis curls up into a ball, the second pair of goggles still clutched close to her core. It takes several minutes for her to peter out. Cries becomes sobs, sobs become sniffles, sniffles become silence. Then Teis simply lays there for another couple of minutes. Then, she speaks up, without moving, ". . .Why did you use my full name?" Teis questions in a quiet, seemingly apathetic tone.
Rondelethia sighs "...Because I was upset, because you were hiding from me...I'm not your enemy. I'm trying to help, if those goggles get broken, you wouldn't be able to do half the stuff you want to do in the lab, and they're delicate" They're perhaps not quite as delicate as Rondelethia thinks, but in her defence, she's biased by knowing their price tag! "I'm always trying to look after you, I can't do that if you're running away from me"
Teis: "I treat them with the same respect I did with the ones at The Academy. I don't want to let you down. Which is why I need to keep learning, even without The Academy. . ." Teis speaks. "I can't just ask the entire town to come to my lab. . ."
Rondelethia: "The other goggles are perfectly serviceable for going around the town, and are as good as any Academy mage will expect to have. I know you'll treat them with the upmost respect" ..even if she also believes that Teis is too prone to flights of fancy to be fully trusted 'in the wild' with them "But I can't let them be out of the lab. I'm sorry" She shakes her head softly "What would I tell Papa if they got stolen while you were in the marketplace or something?"
Teis: "I would never let them be stolen." Teis idealistically replies. ". . .The Academy is. . .was. .everything to me, Della. I have to keep learning. I need to keep learning. I can't just fall behind just because we moved. . ."
Rondelethia: "You" She pokes Teis on the nose "Got into the Academy because of what you could do with a mana crystal, and the contents of the larder. You don't need super fancy goggles to keep learning" She gives Teis a critical eye "I have now made a decision. You are being a silly kitten. You know what happens to silly kittens" And, after a momentary check for witnesses, she does a little unladylike dash forward, attempting to get her fingers under Teis's armpits to start tickling her!
Teis flinches somewhat from the poke on the nose. "Please don't. . .I'm not in the mood. . ." Teis, still with that apathetic tone, pleads with Della. But to no avail. Teis is forced into defending herself, in order to keep brooding. She locks her arms, initially succeeding in keeping Della out, squirming away from Della meekly.
Rondelethia: "No. You're not going to sit here, and brood" She doesn't let up "Are you telling me that you can't do magic without your fancy toys? That after all the time that I spent on safety in the lab, that all I had to do was lock up your goggles, and you're helpless?" She twitches her nose "What would Teis say to a silly little kitten like that?"
Teis: "They're for learning." Teis repeats, unable to get more than that out due to now having to spend her energy deflecting Della. Eventually though, Della gets in, Teis starting to giggle, laugh, and writhe from the tickling, which only makes her defence against further tickling worse. "S-Stop it! Della, please!"
Rondelethia: "So, you're learning now by studying things, and watching how they work?!" She acts shocked "Who are you, and what did you do with my sister!" She eventually lets off, and settles back, smoothing her dress down "The goggles are in the lab, for when you need them, but you're not going to turn into someone that relies on all her little toys to get things done. I know Teis, and whover this imposter is" She playfully pokes Teis's nose "I will make sure that she's someone my sister could like"
Teis is growing less and less comfortable with each passing moment of uncontrollable laughter. By the time Della has let up, Teis is rather annoyed, though in a playful way. She puts her case down on the ground. "Oh no! You don't just get to tickle me and stop without consequence." Teis springs up to her feet. With a quick incantation and movement of a hand, her hand begins buzzing with short jumps of electricity.
Teis: "Come here! Time for a makeover!" Teis reaches out for Della, chasing her down if need be to touch her and static electricity her fur and hair into the seven frizzled layers of hell.
Rondelethia: "I spent an hour getting this straightened!" She bounces up to her feet, and runs away, but doesn't get that far. Gowns are great for looking distinguished, but less good for running in, and she's caught, and zapped! "Eeek!" She's left looking frizzy "Oh..It's going to take so long to get this right" Ladies don't pout, so Della is giving Teis a dignified look of disapproval, which isn't a frazzled bunny pout.
Teis: "You didn't care about my plight! Suffer my wrath!" Teis calls out as she chases after Della. Teis giggles to herself upon her success, allowing the energy in her hand to dissipate. "There! You look much better now." Teis, decidedly less dignified than Della, pokes her tongue out, complete with a humming, "Mmmm!" while doing so.
Narrator: It is a testament to her own lessons, that Rondelethia is able to maintain even a shred of dignity when her fur is on end, and her dress is decidedly ruffled. "I hope that this is to your satisfaction Ms. Boquet. Is there anything else that you require?" She opens up the fan, and uses it too cool herself off.
Narrator: Only a shred of dignity mind you. Maybe two shreds at a stretch.
Narrator: And her dress? Two Shreds, you say?
Teis clears her throat. With a cheery bounce, she changes demeanour entirely, putting on her prim and proper posture and voice just as taught to her. Not that she ever uses it. "Why yes, Lady Rondelethia Boquet. I require henceforth that you do not refer to me with any such proper terminology. You are to only call me Teis. That will be all." And with that, she raises her hands snobbily and claps twice, dismissing Della. Two seconds afterwards, Teis can't keep her composure. She breaks out into laughter.
Rondelethia smiles gently in return "That would be acceptable, Lady Teis. Now, I must be off. Duty calls" She takes her leave. She's getting close to pulling off the 'electrocuted bunny' look. Close, but yet, so far.
Teis' laughter is cut short briefly. "Just Teis!" Teis pouts, though then resumes laughing. With Della leaving, she decides to return to her lab. Along the way, she dares to try the secondary, lesser goggles that Della had given her. Perhaps they won't be so bad. . .?