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RESPITE MARKETPLACE - LATE MORNING
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Annika was relaxing near the edge of the marketplace, enjoying a berry 'tea'. With the restrictions of foods/imports, there needed to be some creativity in drinks, and berry tea was a good choice. It was basically just boiled water, with left over fruit mush from other sources. Efficient! Annika was out of the leathers, and back into more casual clothing, which was a blouse, and a matching skirt, but light reds, and made out of light airy linens. She was on the lookout for someone..she had failed to get Victoria into new cloths, but she knew her better now, and was game for a second go.
Victoria noticed Annika a moment ago from her 'watching spot' on the other edge of the marketplace. She self-debated for a moment if she was in the mood, but in the end... something about the fox intrigued her, and whatever they end up doing it's a good distraction from all the Guard tenseness right now. She gets up and starts walking towards Annika, slightly smiling despite the overall mood of the town. She's not any more dressed than she ever is, not that anyone besides Annika has long since cared...
Annika: "Hey Vic!" She waves over "Come over!" She turns the cup around, to point at her direction she's coming from "They're doing a sort of berry tea right now. It's pretty good! It's kinda..all the spare fruit mulch they have, but I guess most of them were berries?" She didn't seem to be that bothered by the events going on, and is much more bright and cheerful to contrast against the overall dour mood of the town.
Victoria shakes her head slightly at the berry tea offer, but smiles: "Not my thing, thanks. But nice seeing you still so upbeat, considering." If the leopard herself is shaken by the events, she does not really show it.
Annika: "Well, things are pretty grim yeah, but being unhappy isn't gonna make them any better, so..why bother?" She takes the tea back, and sips it again "Actually, speaking of, I've been thinking of our last little trip in the city" She rubs her paws together, and her eyes glint "I think I know what I can get you to wear. I've been pondering it, and I know where I went wrong last time"
Victoria raises an eyebrow, pausing her steps in front of Annika as she crosses her arms: "Oh? Not ready to give up just yet, hmm?"
Annika: "Never! So, I'm thinking you've got a style going here" She gestures at her ..allness "And it's working for you. My mistake was trying to mess with it. What we gotta do is work with it, make it better, make sense, right?"
Victoria hesitates for a second, but can't quite stop her curious smile either: "...maaaaybe. What did you have in mind?"
Annika: "Well, we take the whole..uh..is feral a good phrase? oh! I know! Minamalist! And we just change the colours up a bit, smooth out the raggedy bits, and oh! I bet we can even get pockets in there somewhere. That's my bribe for all this. Pockets!"
Victoria blinks a few times, then leans on a nearby market stand's pole to the mild chagrin of the vendor: "Pockets? I mean, I don't really need much, but... maybe." She shakes her head slightly: "I don't know. I'm curious. Show me."
Annika: "Great!" She stands up "Okay, actually, I've already got it, so you'll need to come home. Do you mind to follow along? It's not too far"
Victoria glances at the her watching spot, then turns back to Annika and shrugs: "Sure. Let's go."
Annika: "Great!" Annika heads off, out of the marketplace
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ANNIKA'S HOME - A SHORT WALK LATER
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Narrator: Annika's home is a few blocks away from the marketplace, up above a small tinkerer's workshop. She pauses just outside, to ruffle the ears of a small fox boy who is 'working' outside the shop (Though exactly what helpful work breaking apart what seems to be a hand telescope is, is left to the reader) "Oh! Hey! This is Olly. Olly. This is Victoria" Olly looks at Victoria approaching through the lenses of the telescope "Ooh! She's so biiig"
Victoria blinks at Olly, then shrugs with a smile: "Big is relative, kiddo." She looks about the building, having certainly known this place was here, but never paid it much attention at all.
Olly puts down the lenses, and looks at them without the magnification "Oh! You got smaller!" He snickers, and makes her 'bigger' again, by looking at her through the magnifier. Annika ruffles his head again, before making her way upstairs, unlocking the door there, to bring Victoria into the top floor of the modest wooden building. Inside was cosy, there were a lot of cushions, and wall hangings, and carved wooden furniture. One corner of the room was dedicated to Olly's little 'projects', with lots of disassembled toys. He was young enough that really he was just a force of destruction..but it made him happy? "Okay! This is what we're here for" Annika steps over to a small table, where there were a lot of what seemed to be wrappings and lengths of colourful linens. "Time to pick colours!"
Victoria looks around the room, not really clear if she's appreciating it all or not. After a moment, she turns back to Annika, then at the selection of colors: "Hmm." She picks through several linens in the predictable red-purple range of colors, but not really arriving to any particular conclusion.
Annika: "Yeah, I kkinda guessed that'd be what you'd want" The materials were a bit stretchy, able to wrap around her body, and then held in place with a few small hooks "If you look on the inside, there's a few little pockets to keep stuff in" The 'outside' has a few small subtle floral designs "I have matching pairs of colours, one top, and one skirt. Bit shorter than I usually go with, but hey. You've got better legs than me" "You're welcome to any of it, but, you need to point someone downstairs if they ever get interested about the hooks at the back"
Victoria picks up the clothing, inspecting it over. Admittedly they are a lot more... intact, than her current wear, having not seen recent combat and carelessness. Just yet, anyway. "Are you sure, though? These feel... expensive. Pretty, but expensive."
Annika: "Oh, these are scrap cloth from work. Perks of the trade" She picks up one of the patterned cloths "The patterns aren't just for style, they're hiding where I darned two bits of scrap together" She shows Victoria "So yeah...it's expensive stuff, but I didn't pay much of anything for it, and Tad downstairs did the hooks. He's a sweetie, and gave me a good deal. I even have" She shows a second pair, this time in a more russet red, and yellows "See~ I'm willing to try your style, see if it works"
Victoria raises an eyebrow: "You certainly go out of your way to plan and get stuff done. I can appreciate that." She muses upon the first set of cloths for a second, then promptly strips her old ones to try them on. "I have to wonder why though. You're nice and all, but what am I to you?"
Annika: "A friend!" She shrugs "Do I need another reason?" She politely doesn't stare as Victoria gets naked in front of her (She doesn't avert her eyes either. Her fur is also already red, so blushes are hard to spot) "I..well.." She rubs the back of her head "I honestly don't know. I've been so out of sorts the last while with" She flicks all three tails "It's..it's been really good having someone who's sure of herself"
Victoria chuckles as she finishes putting the wraps on: "I'm not really that sure, I just do. I leave thinking to others, I just do what my gut tells is right." She admires her new look, clearly impressed, the 'only practical matters' image cracking ever-so-slightly.
Annika: "Well, there we go! I think this is a bit of an upgrade..and.." She shrugs "Maybe if I can get you to be a bit more vain, I can get to be a bit more grounded..speaking of" She puts up a finger "I'm not quite able to just strip in front of people..sooo" She takes her version, and scoots around a corner for a moment.
Victoria looks at Annika with a smirk, but doesn't object either. "Each to their own. I'll wait here." She glances at her outfit. Vain? But she's not... that, right?
Annika returns back without too much time, and while Victoria is able to wear what she does easily, Annika is perhaps a bit too aware of what 'Chest Wrap and Short Skirt' means regarding how much fur gets shown..which is quite a bit, and her chest gets additional 'prominance' too "Well!" She rallies, and gets her smile back "I can certainly see what you mean about all the extra mobility, though..how do you move without..showing everything?"
Victoria chuckles and shrugs: "I don't care?" She admires Annika for a second, then another: "...you look good. Maybe not quite your... er, style, but definitely good. Attractive, even." She flinches inwardly at that last word, not sure where that one came from...
Annika: "Ah..well..you know..isn't that part of the point? Nothing wrong with a bit of vanity?" She seems a bit flustered by the whole thing. It's all well and good playing about, but when you get called on it! "I mean, it's a good look! Right? I just wondered if I could pull it off" Victoria may come to the realization that somehow, Annika may be worse at dealing with her emotions of that nature than Victoria herself
Victoria looks at Annika over, clearly appreciating what she's seeing: "I mean, it looks odd on you compared to what you usually wear, but that's not bad. Works for you if you ever want to accompany me again out there, at least." Totally not hoping Annika actually will accompany her to places. What is with this fox that she enjoys being in the company of so much, one side of her brain wonders. That doesn't last long as that side is gagged and locked into a closet, though. "You look good, Annika."
Annika takes a small breath, and nods "Well, you look good too!" She admitted "and..um..I don't know if I want to go..all the way out there" She motions to the outside "With this on..maybe..we just keep this outfit between ourselves?"
Victoria tilts her head, then shrugs: "If you want to, I can keep this quiet." She's maybe slightly blushing at the compliment, but pushes through: "I appreciate your effort."
Annika: "Anything for a friend, right?"
Annika: "You've helped me a lot, even if you might not know it"
Victoria blinks: "I have?"
Annika: "I've been getting out, I've been helping people..I.I'm able to do stuff..like..magic, and I've not been able to control it at all until you gave me a reason to"
Victoria blinks, that blush creeping back: "I... have?" She dumbly repeats. "I didn't do anything, did I? You did all that helping on your own." A lie, even she knows it's not true, but any attempt at social escaping right?
Annika: "No..it's..the magic hasn't been working well..at first, I thought it was some sort of 'can only help other people'..but.." Oh damn, this is awkward "But..it's source from kitsune magic, and..typically..well.." She pokes her fingers together. How the hell do you just say this "It needs a..um..power source?"
Victoria stares at Annika as she processes this: "It needs... me? You need me, except it's not... exactly like that, is it?"
Annika: "No..No...I don't need you..but..well, it's sort of...attention? Ever since this started, I've been a delivery girl, my job is to be ignored, basically, but when I've been with you..well..like..when someone is thinking about you, I get a bit better, and it comes a bit easier" She pinches her brow "Ah, and when I was trying to reject the power, that's why everyone started ignoring me" She refocuses "I..don't need you because of any power..the power works because..I wanted you to pay attention to me.." *Screams Internally*
Victoria pauses for a long moment: "You uh... oh wow. That's definitely... I mean, I do not mind paying you attention." She blinks, swallowing: "I mean, I do. Mind. You." She looks aside, why are words suddenly so hard to form? Usually she just dismisses any attention she gets, and now she's feeling like this for... giving her attention, whatever that means.
Annika: "We're..both terrible at this, aren't we? Look. I like you, definitely as a friend and....well..ahh..I don't know" She's still not sure, she had turned May down, and she'd been sure then, but now? And..well, ..she's still good friends with May..and..that is still hanging over you "..for now..can we just be really good friends? Who..uh..see each other naked a lot, and are okay with that..and..uh..I mean..maybe a kiss? Between friends" BETWEEN FRIENDS
Victoria is now definitely blushing. Brightly. Visibly. She wisely comments upon the situation she finds herself in: "Umg."
Annika: "...Umg" Yup, that's..about right. Annika has red fur!
Annika will, however, go for the kiss, because brain has checked out of this scene.
Victoria 's eyes widen at the kiss, but her brain having also gone for coffee or tea (we don't really know), she fails to resist it at all and returns it with passion long hidden underneath all that blushing fur.
Annika was very much going to continue with this. The friendship really is quite good, and close...and her denial lasts all of about twenty seconds? It's a good thing that the floor has all those soft coverings, because Annika is not quite capable of staying on her feet for long after this.
Victoria finally lets go of the kiss as they run out of breath. Friendship. Obviously. She gives Annika a blushing, dumb, silly smile no one has seen on the leopard's face... probably ever. "Huh." More insightful commentary from the apex predator currently feeling like melting.
Annika: "That...was nice.." She rubbed her own ears, still really unable to process it "Ah..um.." She pokes her fingers together "I mean..uh..we could try that again?"
Victoria blinks dumbly, then nods slowly: "Y-yeah. Guess I would not mind that." She hesitates, then offers her hand to Annika with a grin.
Annika would worry about exactly how to explain this to May at another time...but for now, there's some friendships to friend.
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RESPITE GENERATOR - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Annika is chipper, as usual, and coming to visit her friend. She's already decided that she won't mention any recent events with her. Mostly because she's not sure what to think herself. She's back in her blouse/skirt combo. The more showy stuff isn't really her style anyway (Well, not for showing other people at least). With all those musings, she knockknockknocks! on the generator door, and waits, rocking on her heels gently.
Maybelline answers after several moments. It's fairly clear she's somewhat exhausted still, but for the most part she looks to be doing okay, still relatively cleaned up and keeping herself together in her usual blue work suit. She blinks a bit wearily at the fox, before smiling in recognition, "Annika? What can I do for you?"
Annika: "Oh! Well, nothing really for me! It's for you. You. Need to get out, hit the marketplace, drink some berry tea, get some new clothes. Fun things like that!"
Annika is attempting to lightly tug on May's sleeve
Maybelline staggers forward a bit at the unexpected tug, "Bwah? I... what? I mean, that all sounds nice and all, but I don't... I don't really think I can? There's a lot to uh, do..." Even to herself the excuses sound pretty lame.
Annika raises an eyebrow, before smiling "You know that I actually listen to your techno rambling? This place could be left on its own for quite a while before there was any big problems" *Tug* *Tug* "I'm more determined than you are reclusive~"
Maybelline manages to laugh, relenting as she lets Annika pull her outside the door. "You do, eh? Guess I can't fool you then. Have I been being reclusive? I guess I have... sorry. Things've been... well, you know. I feel like I make poor company, lately, that's all. I wouldn't want to bring you down."
Annika: "When someone is down, it's a friend's job to lift them up" She waves away her dourness "You don't have to cheer up, I'm going to be be chipper enough for both of us though" She relented with the tugging once she was actually outside "Right. So, have you actually eaten yet today?"
Maybelline smiles, Annika's attitude infectious. "Not yet. I usually take a late lunch." Code for the fact that she often skips lunch.
Annika: "Excellent. Now, there's some slim picking, but there's plenty of flour around, and there's still sugar. So, sticky buns" She puts her paws together "Sugar, and more sugar. Sound good?" She points to the marketplace "..Y'know, I can't actually keep this energy up forever" She lets a little wry smile. "So, food?" She starts heading that direction.
Maybelline giggles, following after Annika on the very familiar path to the baker, "Food. I guess I've not had much sugar lately. I don't really talk about it much cause I used to think it was embarrassing, but I have just a bit of a sweet tooth."
Annika: "Well, so do I" She stops in front of the baker, and pauses a moment "Oh! I'm starting to get the hang of this magic stuff, I can actually show this off" She shows her paws, palms up, and she wiggles her finger, turns her paws over, and then back up again, which now has a coin purse! "Eventually, I'll get to stuff that you can't do with sleight of paw, but..progress~. She comes in, to order up a jam bun..each.."..Actually, 2 each"
Maybelline 's eyes go wide at the magical display. "That kind of thing never fails to impress, magic stuff... I wanna say you're lucky? Maybe you feel differently about it all, but I admit I'm a bit jealous. I'm glad you're figuring it out though."
Annika: "Ah, well.." She wiggles her ears a bit bashfully at the flattery "Well, I don't want to show off too much, but..uh.." She passes over the buns, keeping two for herself "I think I've worked out kinda how it works? It's ..not to get too kid's bedtime story on you, coming from when people are thinking about me? That's the power source. Like how the mana generator..uh..it takes it from the ground, right?" She grins "So, hanging out with a friend is as good as a sticky bun" Which she begins to eat "Better though. Less tooth decay"
Maybelline takes a few bites as well, almost feeling guilty for enjoying the sticky bun as quickly as she does. She smirks at Annika, teasing just a little, "Oh so you just wanted to come see me to get charged back up? Well, for what it's worth, that kinda makes me feel like I'm helping you do cool magic stuff, so it's almost like I'm doing it too. Or at least, that's what I'll tell myself."
Annika: "Well, I'd call you a delicious snack, but that just seems inappropriate" She coughs on her own bun at that. She's still not great at doing the 'flirty fox' thing. "Ah..I mean, I'd hang out, even if I was still with one tail. I kinda.." She shrugs "Well, it is what it is, and I think trying to look back is sorta pointless" She flaps her own thoughts away, and then ..doesn't ask how May is doing. Anything but that topic..or Louma, or Victoria, probably shouldn't mention her... Annika is having fun, but she's also keeping up the high energy, since it's much easier to keep this tone going if there's no stopping to think "Well, since you inhaled that, are you ready for the next step? I've been trying to get an eye for fashion, and I've got all my friends to play dress-up with. Sound fun?"
Maybelline blushes a bit at the initial comment, but smirks, "I was kidding anyways. I mean, I'd say you were always welcome to snack on me but... like you said. Inappropriate." She giggles as she wipes off the last of the sticky bun from her fingers. "Oh uh, guess I was hungrier than I thought? But sure! That sounds like a ton of-wait, dress-up?"
Annika: "Well, yeah! We can get you a wardrobe upgrade! What you've got is working, buuut, I know someone who helped me put stuff together. I think you'll like it~" She finishes off her own bun. The real magic is how her fingers are still clean. That's the real dark sorcery right there "It might not help much, but a better outfit can't hurt, right?"
Maybelline: "Noooooo it can't hurt. I don't really... have any other outfits other then a few casual wear ones." She chuckles, "My sister used to make me play dress-up all the time when we were little and I hated it. Never really did much for clothes shopping since then. But... it can't be as bad as I'm thinking, right?"
Annika squeezes May's paws "..I think you'll find it is. Don't worry, I've been learning, it'll be something similar, not something..stoatally different" She doesn't even act like she made a pun there "Ready to go then?"
Maybelline squeezes Annika back and nods her head with a look that says she's determined to give it a try, and determined to let herself have fun with it. "Ready to go! Lead the way, since uh, unlike the bakery I have no idea where we're going."
Annika: "Not to worry. I do a looot of deliveries, so I get to know the ins and outs of the places" She leads May away, and down a few alleys "So, when I say..deliver to someone who's been looking to order in a bunch of cloth to make dresses, and I also have someone that has a load of cotton going, well..I get to put them together, and Mr. Shaw pays me a bit extra to be on the look out for stuff like that" She eventually finds a small little clothing store, and pushes her way in "There's been no new deliveries recently, but luckily these places have low turn over" The place is darkish...only lit by a few lanterns on the ground, leaving the ceiling notably darker "Ah, Ms. Lthl? My friend is here. I'll show her around!" Annika smiles to May "Ms Lhtl is a bit shy around strangers" She puts a hand to a nearby top, pulling it out. It's silk! A very unique texture though "So~ I'm thinking maybe a shirt, and some pants? You've never struck me as the skirt type"
Maybelline nods as she takes it all in, glancing over all the various patterns and fabrics. "I only know a little bit... Mae went into fashion design, but we've not really seen each other too much. I guess she's a custom designer?" She reaches out to run a paw over the silk. "Ooo. That feels real nice though. And yeah, I don't think I've worn a skirt since I was six. Don't know how much fashion you can get out of shirt and pants, though." She chuckles.
Annika: "I think she prefers the term 'weaver'" Annika runs through "How about this?" She lifts out a frilly looking blouse top, blue, and matches it with some light brown pants "aaand" She puts her fingers into each of the frilly decorations "All these are pockets"
Maybelline perks up, giggling as she glances down at her work suit, "I do like pockets. Those are both really cute... I just don't know if I can pull off anything like that. I'm sorta... plain, don't you think?"
Annika: "Well. You're certainly not plain" She gives May a small nudge "You're very not plain! Pretty even!" She considers "Yes, Pretty. And cute. Both of those" She proffers the clothing, before pointing to the changing room "Now shoo!"
Maybelline scampers into the changing room at Annika's insistence. She carefully removes her work suit, setting it aside before slipping into the pants and frilly blue shirt. It takes her maybe a moment longer then a normal person might take to put on some simple clothes.
Narrator: While May was in there, there was some soft, chittering conversation, and she'd hear Annika speaking again "Sure, you can meet her. I'll break the ice"
Maybelline eventually manages to step back out in the outfit. She cranes her neck around to examine herself, "I dunno about pretty... and not that cute... the outfit looks nice though."
Annika: "Adorable!" She affirms "Now, the lady of the shop would like to meet you, but she's a bit shy, had a few rough encounters, but..well, it's silk clothing. She's an expert in the stuff, and there's a reason that she's still able to make silk clothing even with no supplies getting through" She nods up at the ceiling, timing the reveal for jussst when the gears turn in May's head, as stepping down from the ceiling to the wall, the behind the desk was..well, a spider, quite large too, easily 6 foot tall, and taking up a lot of space, even while she was sort of..keeping all of her legs together.
Lthl: "Ah..H..hello" She speaks haltingly, with soft chittering undertones.
Maybelline takes a moment to process what Annika is saying, as the movement draws her eye to the manufacturer in question. Never being much of one for fear, May takes a moment to process, then gives an unexpectedly formal bow in Sarn fashion, perhaps because she's feeling a bit out of her element in the store as well as the new clothes, "Oh! Ah, Ms. Lhtl, was it? A pleasure to meet you!"
Lthl: "Yess, yess. I wanted to meet you! I'd heard that a stoat friend of Annie was coming. Know of clothier that stoat. Not clothier. Maybe know her? Make pretty dresses. Maybe give some silks. I always want to work with clothier. Weavers work better with clothiers than alone"
Maybelline rises back up to look up at Ms. Lhtl, "Oh uh, no, I'm afraid I'm an engineer, I work with the town generator. ...my sister Maecy is a clothier though? At least, she was working to become one, last time we talked. She always dreamed of making pretty dresses for folks."
Lthl: "Yes? Maybe. Sounds familiar" There was some chittering to herself "If ever you talk, would like to work with. I don't want to work with old stogey clothiers. Boring. I can make old ideas myself" She extends a foreleg to the clothing May has on "Can keep that. Looks good. Bribe to remember me when see sister next"
Maybelline chuckles a bit, "I uh... it really looks good? Err, nevermind. I, uh, sure! I'll write her, been meaning to anyways. I can mention you. I sorta hope she can come out here to visit, sometime soon... once uh... you know. Everything is safe. I'd be happy to introduce you to her."
Narrator: Her fangs rise up, and her eyes narrow..is..is that a smile? She seems pleased "That would be excellent. I shall prepare some masterful silk. I cannot help with the matter outside. I can only snare those that wander into my webs" There was some pondering "I hope that you find the rest of the day well"
Maybelline grins, "Oh, of course! You too! I um... I'm not so good with fashion but... I'll probably be back?" She glances at Annika as if this is solely going to be Annika's decision. She is maybe enjoying the cute clothes more than she lets on.
Annika: "Hey~ Don't look at me. I've made the introduction" She leans in with a stage whisper "Though, I'll be straight with you, we can't afford this place normally" she snaps her fingers "Buuut, I'm sure there's some engineering work you could do in exchange" She knows how to make an exit, which is now, before this matter can be discussed "Seeya Ms Lthl! Ponder that, for the next conversation!" There's a rolling of the eyes from the spider (And with all her eyes, that's a lot of rolling) "Say goodbye May!"
Maybelline waves as she hurriedly follows Annika out the door, "Oh uh, yes! Goodbye, Ms Lthl! Thanks again!" She exits alongside Annika, carrying out her worksuit in a bundle while still wearing the new cloths. "She seems nice. I... she knows Maecy? Huh... Wonder what she's been doing..."
Annika: "She's a bit eccentric. I occasionally do some pick-ups for her. Nice enough. Looks like Maecy is making some sort of waves..oh! She'll probably know about this, but you should know too" They're out on the streets "Spiders get a bit ..weird about property rights. When they make something, and gift or sell it, it's..well, it's yours, but it's also still kinda theirs. You can do anything you like with it, but you can't sell it on, or gift it or anything, and traditionally, it's returned to the Weaver after you're..done with it, who then traditionally would bequeth it back to their heir. Unless the heir is a dick."
Annika smiles softly "It's a good way to keep their product exclusive though"
Maybelline puts a hand against the dress, "Wait, really? Is this really... I had no clue just how big a gift this is... you said expensive... just how expensive was this?"
Annika: "Oh, you can't sell it, so it's worthless!" She smiles softly "Buuuut, I didn't actually cut the price tag off"
Annika points at the dangling tag
Maybelline nods, understanding what that means logistically, but as she lifts the price tag, her jaw drops. "T-that much?!"
Annika: "Yes. That's the blouse" So, not the pants "You're the engineer! Didn't you ever get the rant about spider silk?" She chuckles "The only reason you got spared it, is I bet Ms Lthl thought you already knew"
Maybelline blinks, "I-... I didn't know it was Spider Silk! I didn't know Ms Lthl was a spider! I didn't... Annika, I had no idea, really. I mean, they use spider silk in building magitech stuff, but it's single Threads. Not entire... whoa..." It's a lot to take in.
Annika rubs her back, to help her breath "Hey now. Just keep that in mind when she asks for air conditioning or something"
Maybelline laughs just a little too loudly as she slowly starts to pull herself together, "Yeah uh, no kidding. I'll have to keep an eye out if she makes any requests. And I'll have to get that letter out to Mae as soon as possible."
Annika: "Well, aren't you glad I didn't believe your excuses now?" She teases back "Come on, lets get back. I think you need to sit down before you faint"
Maybelline continues to laugh, but slowly at a more measured pace. "Yeah... sitting might be good. But you're right. Thanks for all of this. I... I needed it."
Annika: "That's what I'm here for" She's winding down herself "What's the point in being friends if you don't hang out when they're down"
Maybelline nods, "No clue. I'm just... I'm just lucky to have such good friends here."
Annika: "Good people get good friends~ It was not luck, but skill" She gives her a squeeze on the shoulder
Maybelline grins at Annika, lifting up her paw to place it over top of Annika's in turn. "I do my best."
Annika: "Anyway. I've got to go. I do actually have a job I've got to do, and I'm helping a friend with the defences stuff" She grins, petting May's paw before breaking away "Okay, I'm in a good mood, so lets see if I can...." She snaps her fingers, and draws the motion out and down..and..clothing change! Into much plainer 'delivery' clothes "Yeah!" She giggles at pulling it off "So~ Having a good day really does make it better!" She gives May a chaste peck on the cheek, before turning tail "I really do gotta go! Mr. Shaw's got the storehouses open, and people need stuff still!"
Maybelline blinks, having not really expected any of this, especially not over what was apparently just Annika's lunch hour. "Well, then have the best day, Annika! You certainly made mine better. I'm gonna... go sit down. Maybe find a mirror..." She grins happily, watching the multi-tailed fox run off before she turns to make the rest of the trip back to the generator, uplifted and properly distracted from the darker thoughts of the day.
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RESPITE STREETS - AFTERNOON
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Tarbin was not particularly pleased about the current situation, particularly how much the West Gate guards had insisted he and Melia abandon his hut and find a place to stay within the walls. Really, the spot they had been staying was within view of the wall, but apparently that was still not advisable. The unnatural natural structure still stands, but the lizard instead is wandering town with a pouch of his scant belongings slung over his shoulder. "At least it will be less of a walk to the clinic to help Doctor Plume..."
Melia has been various levels of up and down since their encounter with Zayzzes, though throughout their days she has been a glimmering beacon of hope, her powers and mood both steadily improving as the farmlands around Respite do. [Yup! Besides, they really need our help, even if it's just... basic healing, rest and hope that we can give 'em. And I'm not even able to be visible for a lot.] She pauses: [...how much do you think I should keep trying? I want to talk with others too, but it does take away from the actual healing...]
Tarbin smiles, outwardly to himself, though Melia can likely feel it. He looks North-westward in the general direction of the farmlands, the lines of the Flow spidering from that direction looking much healthier than before. "We don't have to worry about energy now. As much as you like, if you don't exhaust yourself." His eyes follow the shape of some stairs next to the wall, the lizard shifting their course to head for them.
Melia hums, swirling about Tarbin's chest: [Well yeah, but it's hard to tell which patient has some magic or Flow in them and which don't... dunno if I should keep manifesting that much.] She feels a bit of the Flow in them, definitely strongest it has been possibly since the beginning of her existence: [I mean, I can do it for a pretty long time now, and it feels good to... be.]
Tarbin nods, reaching a hand out o the railing of the stairs as he starts to take them up toward the top of the wall. "I can imagine it does. Who knows... Maybe you'll manage to break free of me on your own with enough time. We will still need to create a new anchor..."
Melia gives a mental nod as she feels about Tarbin's hands: [Maybe, but... even with a new anchor, will I ever be more than this? Just invisible to most.] Her swirling slows down: [...I don't want to be that lonely...]
Tarbin frowns for a moment, shaking his head as he responds. "I don't want you to be. For one... We'll see if we can anchor you to something movable. The other challenge is a new body. Or... Hm." He crosses the landing, walking to the edge of the wall and looking out over the expanse of now-healthy crops.
Melia forcibly distracts herself with the once-again growing fields: [They're healing, like I am. I am glad Zayzzes was so agreeable... I don't know if I could have forced him to stop. Probably not.] She sighs: [I don't think the crop will be the best, but healing is still better than not healing.]
Tarbin nods, turning to look in the general direction of Zayzzes' cave. He sighs after a moment, looking to the crops again. "Yes, they're growing and healing... But they are untended now. We can help them grow, but you and I can't harvest them for the hungry people that will be living in these walls."
Melia pauses, having not even thought about that: [...that is very true. But well, we are doing as much as we can.] Her tone cheers up slightly: [I mean, someone could argue I'm doing an awful lot without even having hands!] She giggles at her own dumb joke.
Tarbin chuckles along with Melia, nodding. "You are right. Restoring Nature had to happen either way. Speaking of Zayzzes though, we should pay him a visit if we get a chance."
Melia: [Ooh, yeah we should. I hope he does not have to vanish too far. At least the Guard don't know. They'd probably just lock him up after he already fixed his error.]
Tarbin nods, opting to speak not of why Zayzzes is related to the rest of their conversation, since to anyone nearby it sounds like Tarbin's talking to himself. Thankfully due to Nesseth's involvement, most of the guard are aware of his situation, at least enough to recognize he's not nuts. "True. He wont be able to make it here, and must feel so lonely."
Melia lets out a bit of a sigh. [I can feel that... I mean, I'm not lonely now, but...] She finds her resolve again. [We need to see him again. Maybe he could have some insight to... well, this. Us.]
Tarbin blinks, smiling as he perks up. "You're right again... We may need his help to get you back to being you."
Melia hums slightly: [Whatever that actually means... I don't want to go back to...] She visualizes the out-of-control mini jungle and the shape of one particular okapi: [...well, that. That's not me, that's Erika.]
Tarbin shakes his head, recalling her new form when she manifests. "You're not some shade of Erika, you're well beyond that now. I don't think you have anything to worry about there, Melia."
Melia: [...but what if I still worry? I don't even know how we're going to go about this.] Her swirling about Tarbin's chest slows down again, her mood hesitant. [I want to, but I also don't want you to risk anything for me again. If that makes sense.]
Tarbin hums, leaning forward onto the railing and looking Southward. Their hut isn't visible from here, but he has a strong sense of where it is. "Not many we can ask about... Summoning... Unless the library..." He rubs his chin, thinking on this. Perhaps... But he can't read Common, so would need assistance there.
Melia: [What about the library? What's in there?]
Tarbin: "Books from different places. Knowledge passed down by writing. Nothing from my homeland, as far as I know, but perhaps some information on elementals and how to summon you. Might lead to clues on getting you a physical body."
Melia giggles: [I know what a library is, silly. Just wondering if our small one would have anything.]
Tarbin nods, standing upright away from the railing. "One way to find out!"
Melia giggles again, swirling faster once more: [Yuh, let's go!]
Tarbin chuckles, grinning at Melia's enthusiasm as he turns and heads for the stairs. He's not had to navigate to the library since regaining his sight, but has a good sense of the general direction to go.