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OUTSIDE THE BOUQUET ESTATE - AFTERNOON
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Xochi slithers up alongside Nesseth, falling silent as she approaches Teis and Tarbin now, having been trying to maintain some measure of composure as she's talked with Nesseth on the way towards the manor.
Nesseth approaches the Bouquet estate with Xochi, having spent the walk over doing his best to maintain some level of idle, inconsequential chatter to keep their spirits up. He falls quiet, however, once Teis and Tarbin come into view, though he does wave to catch their attention. "Teis, Tarbin, we're here."
Teis half-heartedly glances in the direction of Nesseth, the expression on her face and watered eyes making everything clear. She remains silent, putting her attention back in front of her as she slowly walks.
Tarbin shudders on hearing Nesseth's voice, nodding in response to it as he slows his pace ever so slightly so they two can catch up easier. His posture is a mix of defensive and defeated, tails dragging behind him. His scales even show his utter sadness, some patches being a lighter blue, even nearly lavender color.
Xochi glances towards Nesseth, concern upon her face rather evident, but she simply nods and lowers her head, following silently.
Nesseth meets Xochi's glance and nods as he moves to catch up to the duo.
Narrator: Once the pair are close, Teis speaks down at the ground, quietly, to the two, in a dry voice. "You two can go. We lost her. Sorry."
Tarbin looks toward the manor perimeter, catching the sound of leaves rustling on the breeze. He lets out a held sigh, slowing to a stop next to Teis, using her voice to lay a hand gently on the cat's shoulder. "Yes. My idea... Killed the spirit. I am sorry." He seems to be speaking to Teis and the others, but also means to address Nature in general.
Nesseth shakes his head as he approaches, moving to one side of the pair as he let's Xochi move to the other side, knowing both of them need some support, just as they leaned on each other for a bit during the walk. "We know... but we're here all the same to talk." He sighs a bit, looking at the two quietly, "Time forced our hand more than anything."
Xochi nods quietly. "Nesseth speaks truth. This is not your fault, Tarbin. We did all we could in the time allowed to us."
Teis briefly stops for Tarbin's hand, placing her own hand on it gingerly and nuzzling her head against Tarbin's lower arm. Then, she continues walking, breaking away. "They're right. It's my fault. Tarbin said his ideas came from me. And I should've known better. This is supposed to be my expertise." Teis quietly retorts, then continues in an even quieter mumble, "What did I even study for. . ."
Tarbin shakes his head slightly, his useless eyes welling with tears finally after voicing his failure, that lynch pin no longer holding his emotions in place. He tries to speak again, but only lets out a little squak as Teis steps away from him. He gathers his thought, stepping after Teis. "Only barely... The lab wards gave me the idea, but it should have been obvious..." He stumbles slightly in his step, taking a knee.
Nesseth moves up next to Tarbin and crouches a bit, gently resting a hand on the lizard's shoulder to help comfort him as well as keep him steady. "Sometimes... our best ideas don't always have obvious consequences, especially when we're trying to rush against a timer to solve something in a way we think is better..."
Xochi sighs, moving closer to the Teis and Tarbin, "This is difficult, yes... but neither of you are at fault. What has happened is what must happen, for one reason or another. Had we not acted... that entity would have had a worse fate befall her, and many others harmed alongside her... I... I am sorry, that all I could do was pray, and watch. But I am certain that... this was what must occur... even if it is not the ending we wished for." She lowers her head once more. "I am sorry."
Teis: "Someone is dead!" Teis briefly turns to snap at Nesseth and Xochi. "And if that someone wasn't an elemental, you'd be hauling us off to Bairnell's Folly!" Teis points to Nesseth, then to herself, then off in the vague direction of the coast. She turns back around, continuing to walk with a heavy sigh, approaching the gate of her estate, which the gate guard Jax opens.
Tarbin lowers his head in a nod, raising a hand to briefly touch Nesseth's at his shoulder, his other hand wiping away at rolling tears. "Teis is right... We killed that elemental. Not only that.... To... Tear the Flow. Only for the reason to fade." He sets his palm on the cobblestones, the magic beneath them dull compared to the vivid glow within the gardens, but still near enough. His scales shift on their own as a lick of the magic meets his palm, leaving a light tingling. His shoulders shudder and a few fresh tears roll away.
Nesseth: hums quietly, still keeping a hand on Tarbin's shoulder as he waits with the lizard. "But Xochi is also right. If we didn't do what we could then with the ideas we had, something worse could have happened to her. The guards were already starting to get a steady stream of complaints from the neighboring houses along the lane... the longer the delay went, the more likely someone else would have done something."
Xochi 's posture slumps back at Teis' shouts, and again at Tarbin's words, her own tears just barely restrained as she is trying to hold onto her strength, and struggling. "I am not saying it is not a tragedy... only that we have... hopefully, averted greater tragedy. I still intend to mourn."
Jax, the wolf gate guard, looks to Teis and the group. Perhaps reading the situation well, or rather, knowing Teis enough to read her misery, thinks better of saying good afternoon to Teis. "Shall I hold the gate for your friends?" Jax politely questions.
Teis: "No, Jax. I don't want anybody to see me." Teis quietly addresses, entering the estate, walking up to the manor slowly.
Tarbin shivers again, a little harder and he inhales against a sob. While the tears flow freely, he's managing to keep himself from outright losing his composure as he shakily stands, looking in the direction of the gate. He manages a weak "Take care...", not that she'd catch it, before turning back to Nesseth and Xochi. "I... Shouldn't have had you get her, Nesseth. I'm sorry."
Nesseth shakes his head as he gives Tarbin's shoulder a gentle squeeze, though he remains quiet as he watches Teis heading up the manor's main path, not exactly certain what to say to the feline in the moment. After a bit of thinking, however, he looks at Tarbin again. "It's also more my fault, [brother]. I told her about the elemental maybe being a doppelganger early on, and she wanted a chance to examine her once we'd done something about the immediate problems. She'd have come along even if we didn't have the ward idea..."
Xochi watches Teis go, certainly not knowing her well enough to follow. She reaches a hand up to wipe away tears, still working to maintain composure. "It was I who convinced the elemental to trust us. I gave her my trust, and took her trust in return."
Jax closes the gate behind Teis, watching her for a brief moment go up the path, in contemplation, with a concerned skew to his lower lip. Ah, screw it. He turns to the group. "Listen. . .Not that I'm paid to delve into the business of the Bouquet's. . ." In fact, he's paid the opposite! "But. . .I've never seen Miss Teis this upset before. And it sounds like whatever happened has. . .Affected all of you." Jax is focuses his gaze on Nesseth in particular, given that Tarbin is a mess and he doesn't know who Xochi is. "Is. . .There anything I should be worried about?"
Nesseth glances between Xochi and Tarbin for a few moments, their tears causing him to start feeling a bit of a prickling, watery sensation in his eyes too, before he shakes his head and looks at Jax. Don't cry, damn it, hold it in for now... "Just... keep an eye on Teis, please... I'm not sure how she'll handle it, but she just witnessed an elemental dying. She... may need someone to talk with her, help her sort things out, help her realize it's not her fault for what happened."
Tarbin nods to Nesseth, managing a light smile at the term. "Thank you, [brother], for your support in all this." He turns to Xochi. "You did nothing wrong by providing comfort and guidance for her, miss Xochi. I know she felt a kindness for you... I could see it in the Flow when you would address eachother. She-" His voice catches in a bold sob, stalling the lizard who simply shakes his head to the rest of his thought as he glances towards Jax's voice.
Xochi sighs, bowing her head to the gate guardian. "We tried as best we could. We had all hoped for a better outcome, of course." She nods to Tarbin, "We all did what we could and gave what we were able to. At least I know that I was able to give her some kindness in her time here."
Jax nods to Nesseth thankfully. He doesn't know what an elemental is, though not knowing perhaps doesn't particularly matter so much. "I'll do what I'm able." Jax replies, otherwise returning to being a wallflower, though listening on with interest.
Tarbin nods towards Jax's voice, starting to turn back down the road to head for the West Gate. He inhales against another sob, shuddering again. A low thrumming ache has been building in his body since their efforts, but it's beginning to build into a familiar sensation, though along with that symptom, the blotches of lighter scales have been growing steadily. "Do we have more... Time to approach the other?" He huffs as he tries to ignore the pain, trying not to let on that he's more than just upset.
Nesseth looks at Tarbin for a few seconds, then just pulls the lizard into a warm hug. "Yeah... the one at the forge is just tending to things like Cavro normally would. There haven't been any complaints from the folks near that place yet."
Xochi nods, but begins to draw back as she sees the changes coming over Tarbin. "Though... perhaps... are you feeling alright, Tarbin?"
Tarbin feels the contact from the other lizard and immediately cries out, his body painfully protesting. He catches a flash of Nesseth's history of bruises and scars in his mind, but his arms do not push back against Nesseth.
Nesseth startles and pulls back, worrying he might have accidentally aggravated a wound or something. That's when he blinks, noticing the splotches of lavender scales slowly spreading across Tarbin's body. "Oh, crap! Sorry, Tarbin! I, uh... hang on... uh... your scales...? That's... not your normal coloration, is it...?"
Xochi moves forward, glancing at Nesseth, "This is not normal, yes? Should we get him to the Doctor?"
Tarbin stumbles against the wall, then kneels. "Wh-what... C-c... No something is wrong... Feels like Teis' spell..." His palms meet the cobblestones and turns color, though rather than lavender they shift their normal orange, the warm color mirrored on his tail. He sucks air through clenched teeth, orange seeming to spread up his limbs until it's about to meet the lavender.
Nesseth moves with Tarbin, though he's careful to do nothing more than just gently rest a hand on his shoulder. "Teis' spell? Do... should we get you to Plume, or is this something for Teis?" He looks over at Xochi for a moment, clearly a bit helpless if this is something magical in nature.
Xochi isn't helpful here as well, she glances at the gateguard, then back to Tarbin. "Is it somehow related to this ritual as well? Has... h-has something else gone wrong? Oh... Tarbin..."
Tarbin digs his claws against the stone, not seeming to respond to Nesseth's touch this time, but his back arches when the colors overlap, pained tears streaming from squeezed lids. He lets a low, agonized moan go as the Flow pushes through his body. Tarbin is quickly shifted entirely orange, except the strange blotches which begin to shimmer before Tarbin shudders rather violently. Lavender scales start to shed from him as an unbearable heat fills his core, indescribable in voice, though the silent shout his jaw is locked open into might be a hint.
Nesseth glances between Tarbin and Xochi, uncertain yet wanting to do or say something, but instead, he gestures towards Jax to catch the wolf's attention. "Jax, do you have a piece of leather or something like that on hand? If you do, wrap it around a stick or something, so Tarbin's got something to bite down on other than his tongue, just in case."
Xochi hesitates, then approaches Tarbin and folds her hands in prayer, giving Nesseth the space he needs to help their friend, and not sure if she can bare a second tragedy today.
Tarbin finally coughs out the held breath, painful looking raw patches where the ejected scales had been as the rest of his body gradually shifts back to it's regular deep blue color. He's left shivering and aching, and more than a little dizzy, flopping to sit against the nearest wall and draw in raspy breaths. "[What the...
Jax quickly glances around his little gate house, looking for anything that might particularly be of use and disposable. Sadly, most of everything here isn't his to have bitten, much as he would like to use it. "Sorry, Nesseth. Most everything in here is Bouquet property." Jax frowns.
Nesseth lets out a quiet, relieved sigh as Tarbin slumps against the wall, the pain seeming to have stopped. He gives Jax a thankful glance, even though there was nothing useful in the gatehouse. "Thanks, regardless, Jax... Seems we're okay, though." He looks back at Tarbin's bare skin where the scales fell off, "Er... somewhat okay, anyway... [Are you okay, brother?]"
Xochi perks up slightly at Tarbin's words, though she does not understand him, "Tarbin! It may be best you not move?" She looks at Nesseth, "Perhaps... should I fetch Doctor Plume and bring them here?"
Nesseth looks over at Xochi and nods. "Yeah, and quickly, please. I'm not sure what just happened, but Plume can check for injuries."
Xochi gives a grave nod to the two, "I shall be swift as I am able." And with that, turns the full speed of her tail to the task of retrieving the Doctor.
Tarbin just sits looking dazed and listening to the others' voices for a few minutes before he opens his milky eyes and looks toward Nesseth's voice. He lets out a hoarse, mumble, clearing his throat. "Yes. Yes, I... Am very sorry. And sore."
Nesseth nods. "Just rest for now, Tarbin. Xochi's gone to get Plume to look you over, make sure you're okay. Catch your breath for now..." He looks around at all of the shed scales for a few moments, "Think I should gather up the scales you shed, though?"
Tarbin blinks at Nesseth looking worried. "Sh-shed? I shedded? Yes... That might be a good idea..." He sighs, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. "Thank you again, [brother]. I... Don't know what that was... Just know pain, but I could feel the Flow through me, as well..."
Nesseth nods as he moves and starts to gather up the shed scales one by one, tucking them into a pocket of his satchel. "I don't know what that was either, but you had some weirdly-colored scales that sort of... popped off while you were channeling magic through yourself. I dunno, looked like... that magic was trying to clean you, or something..."
Tarbin coughs dryly, the energy in his responses low. "[Maybe it was revenge... Taking a strip off me for attacking the Flow and leading an avatar of Nature to death.]"
Nesseth shrugs a bit as he looks over Tarbin a bit once he's collected all the scales that were shed. "[I can't say one way or the other. Is Nature vindictive like that?]" He goes and kneels next to Tarbin after he snaps his satchel pocket shut, "[Also, I know you're exhausted, but... try to stay awake, okay? At least, until Plume gets a look at you. I don't need you falling asleep and we can't wake you back up.]"
Tarbin nods, looking toward Nesseth's voice. "[Might be able to walk partway there... The ache is subsiding.]" He gingerly starts to push off the wall, managing to stand with some steadiness. His tails take on orange scales in contact with the ground, though mostly unnoticable. "Feh...[Yes?]"
Nesseth rests a hand on one of Tarbin's arms. "[If you think you can walk, we can try. Xochi's already gone to get Plume, so we might run into them on the way over. We'll take however much time you need, though.]"
Tarbin nods, starting on the way but of course relying on Nesseth to lead them in the right direction.
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JENNICA AND EMMELINE'S APARTMENT - LATE EVENING
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Jennica is tinkering with an unfunctioning mood affecting device that's about as unfunctional as her good mood right now. One could argue this might not be the best use of her time, but after today's fiasco at the Bouquet manor she very much prefers to not even look at Bracvar's generator right now.
Emmeline finishes putting away the dinner dishes in the kitchen and is going to return to her reading, but instead decides to go check on Jennica. She knocks lightly on the doorframe of the office so as to not surprise her friend too much. "Hey Jenn, you doing okay? You've been quiet ever since I got home... and dinner was a bit basic for your cooking. What's bugging you?"
Jennica mrrph's at the comment about her dinner, frowning at the device in her hands before tossing it aside. She frowns and stares down: "Them Bouquet's bought my water purification trinket, right? Well, I saw it taken apart, making some bigger project with it..." The cow is not happy. She's very definitely not happy right now.
Emmeline walks over and rests a hand on Jenn's shoulder, squeezing gently. "Ok? I mean, they bought it so they can do what they want with it... but a bigger project? What do you mean?"
Jennica sighs: "Something about blueprinting and making more of them. Said they'd already talked to you. But have they?"
Emmeline cocks her head. "Uh, not about that. I got an invitation to meet with Miss Rondelethia, but it didn't say what it was about other than 'business'. I thought they might just want some of my decorations or whatever." She wraps her arms around Jennica holding her gently from behind. "I take it you don't want them to do that, from what I'm hearing? Copy your thing, I mean?"
Jennica leans slightly into her friend: "Just... they're my creations. Mine. It's... it doesn't feel right." She sighs, turning to look down again: "...I'm just being stubborn and wrong and stupid, aren't I?"
Emmeline shakes her head. "Not at all. You have a right to your creations. Like, folks can break them or throw them away or put them in a bank vault or whatever, but they can't copy them." She hugs tighter. "I'll have a good talk with Rondelethia, see what they actually want to do, but I won't let them just use your trinket, OK?"
Jennica hugs and sniffs, nodding. Emotion getting to her, she just turns to lean on Emmeline's neck: "...I-I d-don't know how you tolerate me, sometimes. Thank you."
Emmeline brings a hand up to stroke through Jennica's hair. "I could say the same thing... but I always will. I promise." She gives a soft sigh and turns, planting a quick kiss right at the base of Jennica's horn.
Jennica blinks at the kiss, glancing at her friend but doesn't otherwise react, just holds Emmeline tightly. "L-luh, um. You're the bestest."
Emmeline blushes a bit, not having intended to do more than maybe nuzzle a bit. "Oh, um.. so are you..." She quickly releases Jennica and turns away so her friend doesn't see the blush. "So... uh... I guess all this put off actually fixing Bracvar's cooler?"
Jennica lets go as well, feeling slightly embarrassed at her slip: "O-oh... sort of. I went to Teis to try and find a solution for the power, but that whole thing with my water purifier kinda... distracted me. Sorry." She wrings her wrist with her other arm, realizing the other part of her blunder.
Emmeline shakes her head. "No, it's fine... I'll sort that out too. We'll get you back in that lab so you can fix it." She fusses with her hair for a moment, retying the ribbon holding it back. "I just hope that we can smooth this all out. Having a good working relationship with the Bouquets could mean a good amount of money coming our way due to the association." After a moment she continues, realzing how Jennica might take those words. "But none of that is more important than you. We'll tell them to go hoe rocks if they're not going to treat you right."
Jennica nods hesitantly: "Y-yeah, uh... i-if it's actually good for us, I'll... swallow my pride." She glances at Emmeline and gives her one of her usual shy, thankful smiles: "T-thank you."
Emmeline turns and smiles back at Jennica. "Anything for you, Jenn. I mean, I wouldn't move across an ocean with just anyone."
Jennica: "W-well... neither would have I. S-somehow, you got me here with you. S-so we just gotta stick t-together, right?"
Emmeline blushes again and gives a little nod. "Y-yeah..." She then turns away and walks back. "Anyway, uh... you get back to what you were doing. I'll go see Rondelethia tomorrow."
Jennica smiles at Emmeline, swallowing back words a part of her really wants to say. "Y-yeah. I'll get back to... that. T-thank you again, Em." As Emmeline leaves, she sighs deeply at her own inability to bring up her feelings.