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RESPITE MARKETPLACE - MID-AFTERNOON
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Maybelline is walking back from the North Gate a little giddy. Though the rescue team has departed, leaving things feeling a little empty at the walls. But their departure has also taken pressure off the supply convoys, meaning Bairnell has set a convoy of relief wagons with some much needed supplies, as well as a few parts that Maybelline was required to sign for to be delivered to the generator. She walks through the marketplace now, having taken a moment to check in on Jennica's booth and chat with the lizard-knitter manning it, but no word on where Jennica has disappeared to, leaving May only a little crestfallen as she walks back towards the Generator to prep for the coming delivery.
Jennica is sitting against a building at the edge of the marketplace, not really trying to skulk hidden anymore. Not having had the courage to show up at the booth... or the generator, for that matter, she has just dedicated her time to... basically anything else. Right now the kobold is staring at her claws, still not sure how to deal with such sharp implements at the end of her hands. She's been feeling both more energetic and crestfallen lately, a combination which barely even makes sense. But what is one supposed to be doing when one turns into a kobold?
Maybelline flips through the sheafs of paper that make up the new manifest, idly lifting her head to ensure she doesn't run into anyone. As she nears the edge fo the marketplace, she vacantly nods to the Kobold. "Strix... Wait... Ugh, sorry! I wasn't paying attention, um, hello? Are you new in town?"
Jennica blinks and looks up... and promptly freezes: "M-meuh. May. S-sorry. Hi. U-uh... um. Hi."
Maybelline freezes upon hearing the kobold's voice, something deeply unsettling in just how familiar it seems, but... "Um... you... know me? Have we met? I'm sorry I don't really... I don't..." She lifts her hand over her mouth as the pieces fall into place, causing her to take a subconcious step backwards. "J-jennica? Can it really... Oh gods, what happened?"
Jennica shrinks into herself, holding her knees close to her chest. "Y-yeah. Um." She takes a breath and looks up: "D-don't blame Strix. H-his potion, but my fault."
Maybelline resists the urge to face palm, being internally quite glad she didn't take up Strix's offer to test his potions. She puts on a very clinical mask as she does her best not to freak out at the idea of what's happened, a feeling that is pushing away a lot of her prior thoughts of apologies and such that she'd been looking for Jennica to resolve, "Ohhhkay. I would have probably assumed as such... Strix is a lot of things, but I don't think he would do something like this on purpose. His potion. You've either already talked to him and there's nothing that can be done... or you've been avoiding him to keep from hurting his feelings, yes?"
Jennica looks aside: "T-that... last one. Sorry." She starts getting up, feeling still a bit disoriented by her small size. "I... I was all stressed out, and he had sold me that potion to... make more healthy and I g-guess it sorta did that, just..." She gestures at herself and sighs.
Maybelline cringes with a sigh. "...well... I'm guessing I didn't do much to help that stress..." She glances away, "Was looking for you at the booth. Rhask is a bit worried, hadn't heard from you in a bit... and the last time I saw you I kinda... kinda ditched you." She had seen the damage done to one of the walls by the cow after her departure to meet with Louma. "For as little as it's worth... I'm sorry about that."
Jennica sighs, frowning as she wants to be angry at her friend but unable to bring herself to even voice it. "Y-yeah... that... that happened. You sort of... left." She sighs. "D-doesn't even matter if they c-can't find Em."
Maybelline shakes her head, "That absolutely matters! I just... ...I have no excuse, really, no. I definitely wasn't thinking of her in that moment, or of you."
Jennica gives Maybelline the smallest of smiles: "I... yeah. I don't know. Wasn't... my b-best moment either. D-dunno if I'd have been a-any better if it was... the other way around." She sighs, hesitates, then offers her hand to Maybelline.
Maybelline takes Jennica's hand and gives her a supportive squeeze. "Louma told us where she is. That rescue team is out to find her right now. They've got the tools we built them to help keep them alive... so let's just focus on one thing at a time. Most immediate thing; You're a kobold, which is... just so far outside of my sphere of knowledge I can't even call what I have knowledge... Are you... okay? Like, physically?"
Jennica pauses, but then nods: "...y-yeah. I think I am. Just... tinier. Scalier." She looks at her hand and the claws on it: "...sharper."
Maybelline nods, glancing over her claws. "So... different at least." She ignores the fact that Jennica is still just a bit taller than her. "But you can cope with different, clearly. You're walking, and talking, so motor control is fine."
Jennica nods, glancing at her lot-stiffer tail and giving it a shake: "Yep, I seem to be fine there. I'm still... me, I guess, just different." She flexes her arm, thinking: "Nothing like that different, just... you know, different."
Maybelline follow's Jennica's gaze. "Well... that makes sense. So, physical you've got some significant differences but nothing that actively restricts or restrains you. Mentally you're still yourself, which would be my biggest concern too. How are you doing for food?"
Jennica frowns somewhat: "B-both curious and disgusted about meat. I-if that makes sense."
Maybelline flashes her own sharp teeth with a chuckle, "No... but yes. I was going to suggest shifting your diet. You may not like it, but not going to help things if you hurt yourself trying to force your old diet onto this body." She sighs, rubbing the bridge of her snout as she thinks. "A potion to make you more healthy. But it turned you into a kobold... hm."
Jennica lets out a giggle despite herself as the thought occurs to her: "...made by a kobold. I-it sorta makes sense!" She looks down at herself, for a moment seeming like another round of self-pity is about to come, but she shakes her head sharply instead. Nope. None of that now.
Maybelline tilts her head at Jennica. "It... does? I mean, obviously Strix is a kobold."
Jennica nodnods: "S-so, whatever is healthy for his design... m-may not match for me."
Maybelline thinks it through, "Healthy... for a kobold is... being a kobold." She sighs, "Strixlogic. Yeah, okay, I see it."
Jennica laughs a bit, shaking her head: "I-it's pretty off, but..." She looks at herself and gives a shrug: "Well, here we are."
Maybelline laughs along, "I've stopped trying to figure out Strix's inventions... he works... well, a lot like you do, honestly. More magical, more feeling what's right to you. I... don't have that."
Jennica shrugs: "It's sort of all I know how to do. Well, assuming I still can, but I think I do? Hmm." Her mind starts pondering about possibilities: "...need to try to find out."
Maybelline nods with a bit of a smile, "Being a kobold doesn't stop Strix from his tinkering. No reason to think it'd stop you. But magic is magic... it's definitely not my thing."
Jennica nods, humming: "Y-yeah... don't know really." She looks at Maybelline: "...um, were you going back to the Generator? I could, uh, fix my damage too."
Maybelline nods. "A caravan just came in with a delivery, so I'm heading back to open the main door, yeah." She smiles. "I patched up the wall already though. Just lucky you didn't punch one of the reinforced ones."
Jennica blushes, wringing her wrist with her other hand, then wincing at hitting herself with a claw. "Uh. O-okay. Still... try and see where I stand with this, and my magic, right?" She sighs, giving a weak smile: "I'm sorry."
Maybelline shakes her head, "No, I'm sorry. We can both be sorry... but you're still welcome to come along if you want."
Jennica smiles: "I'd like that... I mean, if you're okay with it."
Maybelline grins, "Well... we are friends, right? I mean... beyond a bit of a... of a thing. I hope we're still friends, at least."
Jennica nods with a hopeful smile: "I... I certainly do hope we are. I might, uh..." She looks aside: "...c-could use a good friend or two, I think, right now."
Maybelline smiles back, "I've been there, for sure. So... yeah. Absolutely. Yes."
Jennica hesitates for a second, then steps close to hug Maybelline briefly before stepping away, smiling: "T-thank you."
Maybelline oofs at the surprisingly strong scaley hug, but hugs back in turn. "Of course, Jennica. Any time. All the time."
Jennica nods towards the Generator: "B-by your lead. It's not like I have much else to... do." She hums: "W-well, besides locating Strix sometime soon."
Maybelline chuckles, "I've mostly found that... Strix will show up eventually. If you've checked his alley already, and he's not there... he'll turn up."
Jennica nods, giving a lopsided grin: "W-well, easier if I actually go looking... but anyway."
Maybelline laughs again, starting to walk towards the generator with Jennica, "Well, take the time you need to get your head straight."
Jennica chuckles softly, shaking her head: "Might take a moment or two. But let's find out if my magic is even where it was, first."
Maybelline: "Right... one step at a time is the best way to do these things."
Jennica: "Even if those steps are a lot smaller than I'm used to." She looks down at her clawed feet: "...feels so weird, but not like, wrong-weird? Just new."
Maybelline shrugs, "Even a small step forward is in the right direction. I guess I'm just used to smaller steps. Would be weird to take a bigger one like the taller folks always do."
Jennica looks at Maybelline, giving a small grin: "Never know what can happen, it seems."
Maybelline nods, grinning back, "I just hope I take it as well as you seem to be. I'm sure you weren't this collected at first though."
Jennica shakes her head: "Definitely not. I'm glad you weren't there for the, uh... panicking and screaming and crying. Honestly part of me still feels like doing that, b-but there are more important things to focus on." Her voice is resolute, or at least not really wavering as much now.
Maybelline smiles, "I can only imagine... I'd say you needed at least a bit of screaming and crying to figure it out. But I'm glad you're doing alright now, though."
Jennica sighs, but smiles: "Y-yeah... so am I. I think." As the two arrive within view of the generator: "So... have I missed anything else while I was, er, hiding?"
Maybelline shakes her head, "...probably not? Rescue squad is on its way out. Caravans creeping back in. ...My weather shield is done! Just looking for an excuse to do the final field test."
Jennica nods, humming: "W-well... you got to at least let me see how you installed the shield." Curiosity is definitely a cow-bold trait.
Maybelline grins, "Mostly with simple machines! Well, and some complex machines, but ultimately they're all simple when you break them down. Mounting it on the roof was... a challenge. I'll show you though!"
Jennica grins in mirror: "I c-can't wait to see. You have such a way with making designs work the best, I'm a bit jealous."
Maybelline blushes a tad, "It's simple application of good engineering practices, nothing fancy. But... thank you. I'll accept that I'm good at what I do."
Jennica smiles: "N-not everyone can be the town engineer, May."
Maybelline blushes a bit deeper, it's very clear she takes pride in her work. "I... I do my best to live up to that title, Jennica."
Jennica nods as they arrive to the door: "Well, f-from what you've told me, you do a great job."
Maybelline moves to unlock the door, "I try. I... I really try. I owe this town a lot. And I want to do right by it, and everyone here." She glances in, motion to Jennica. "Make yourself cozy. I'll get the big doors open."
Jennica nods at Maybelline as she steps in, feeling just the slightest bit of vertigo at the size of everything. "Yuh. I g-guess if... if and when the Guard get Em back, I owe... a lot too."
Maybelline moves over to a small panel by the large double doors to the side of the entrance she and Jennica just moved through. She unlocks the panel, and powers up the gears that grind open the huge sliding doors, watching them slowly slide open. "This town just... cares. A lot. A lot more than anywhere in Sarn at least."
Jennica hums, nodding: "...a-and probably more than rural Vamas too." Which isn't entirely fair of her to say just because of her own family, but anyway. She looks up at the generator: "Oh wow. Was it really that big?"
Maybelline turns back, walking up next to Jennica to look up at the generator. It's about a two story high installation, set into the center of this large domed building. Reinforced catwalks and walkways surround it at various points, connected by stairs along its side. May stares at it with pride, "Yep. She's a bit smaller than the average ones I've worked with. And the Policaster Mark VI was nearly three times as big. That generator was a beaut.... probably gone now... ours might be the last of her kind."
Jennica nods, stepping closer to admire the... everything, of this big generator: "It is very pretty. I mean, I saw it before, but... it's like, bigger now? Even if it's just me being smaller." She giggles, shaking her head. "Or something. It's great, May."
Maybelline giggles, "The biggest advantage for me is that my small size means I can get inside it and work on the innards much easier than the average folks can. I know her inside and out. I mean... I literally built her from the ground up."
Jennica nods, then pauses: "...h-heh. Guess I can sorta do that now too. Well, not with my trinkets, but... yeah." She trails off, just admiring the craft in front of her.
Maybelline stares up at her work. "Never dismiss anything you make yourself like that. Your trinkets are just as impressive. Just... maybe not as big."
Jennica nods. She then thinks of something and wanders to a sidetable, where various piece of unused scraps are waiting for project or another. She picks up a small piece of scrap... and as soon as she does, her claws glow subtly purple. Her magic is intact, no doubt. "...well. That answers that, I g-guess."
Maybelline starts doing a bit of paperwork as she awaits the delivery from the caravan. She glances over at Jennica as she starts to manipulate the parts, "Oh?! Good! That's a good sign! This generator has had enough missing magic associated to it."
Jennica fiddles with the piece long enough to satisfy her curiosity, then turns back to Maybelline with a smile: "I t-think it will be fine. I can feel... a-all the magic I ever had, still here." She looks at her claws, humming softly.
Maybelline walks over towards her and grins. "So. Self. Check. Magic. Check. What's the next step, Jennica?"
Jennica pauses and hums: "I guess... finding Strix, seeing if we can't... reverse this." She shakes her head: "B-but that can wait. I'm fine."
Maybelline gives Jennica another hug, "Good. Fine is... good. I'm sure you can figure this out. I'll help as much as I can, but I'm no expert on magic, or on potions."
Jennica hugs back: "But you're pretty good a friend for a distraught cow like me."
Maybelline giggles softly, "I try my best there to... not had many friends before I came to Respite... none at all, actually."
Jennica nods slowly: "I, uh... just Em." She looks down for a second, before smiling at Maybelline: "B-but more now."
Maybelline nods, "More now... for sure."
Jennica smiles slightly wider: "I am glad we are friends."
Maybelline giggles, "Me too, Jennica. Can never have enough friends, I think."
Jennica giggles in mirror: "Probably. Or if there is such a number, we're not remotely there yet."
Maybelline nods, "Not remotely at all, no." She releases the hug as she hears the workers arrive with her supplies, giving Jennica a thumbs up as she walks over to meet them.
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THE UNRESTING EXPANSE - LATE NIGHT
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Narrator: The rescue troupe has found their way to what passes for shelter in the largely non-sheltered expanse around them, having set their camp in a small ravine that perhaps once hosted a stream but now has merely the signs of it left. The mood among the Guards so far as is expecting, even hopeful, although no one can quite deny the potentially deadly nature of this rescue.
Victoria is standing on the edge of the ravine above the camp, looking at the expanse ahead of them along with a scattering of other guards posted for duty - who knows when their inevitable 'welcoming committee' decides to attack, after all. Victoria herself is not feeling too tense as she's plenty used to staring at nothing happening for hours, though after a day of walking it is somewhat trickier than usual staying alert.
Annika: "Hey" Annika sidles up to Victoria, she's been practicing being unobtrusive, but she's wise enough not to try it too much around Victoria, just slowly approaching, and making enough noise to know that she's coming. She gives her a small hug around the waist, before standing beside her "What's on your mind?"
Victoria blinks and near-starts into action, before realizing who it is and smiling. "Hey. And just... this all, I guess." She motions towards the near-desert ahead of them: "No idea really what awaits us there."
Annika: "Well" She considers "I suppose not, but that's why we're going, isn't it? So that we can find out. If everything was known, and we all knew exactly what to do we probably wouldn't be needed"
Victoria chuckles softly, her tail swishing: "You're probably right." She lowers herself to squatting just to change position: "Times I almost wish I was still feral... staying watch would be easier on all fours."
Annika: "Yeah, but then you wouldn't have thumbs, or fingers, and think of all the uses they have!" She pauses then adds a little hastily "Like hands"
Victoria blinks, turning to look at Annika. "Y-yeah. That... I d-don't think I really miss being in the wild all the time either."
Annika: "Well, you can still explore the wilds on two legs, but you also get to be indoors too" She curls her tails gently around VIctoria "But..I can see the appeal of the simplicity"
Victoria pauses inwardly at Annika's tail movement... before her own tail - entirely of its' own accord - wraps around Annika's waist. "Mmmhm. I guess there's that. There was a degree of... just me, and my prey, nothing complicating it. Most of the time."
Annika: "Right, but there's good complicated, and bad complicated..like..the two of us..it's..uh..complicated" Very complicated "But I like it" One tail moves and gently curls around Victoria's, giving it a light squeeze. She seems barely aware of it too.
Victoria blushes just slightly, which thankfully is not visible in the darkness around them. "Y-yeah. Complicated." She looks up towards their destination for a second, before looking back at Annika's eyes: "I... I have never felt like this."
Annika keeps the eye contact, she's blushing a bit too "Uh..like what?" She has a pretty good idea, but she just wants to hear it said out loud.
Victoria swallows, lowering her voice as she gathers her thoughts: "I... I worry. Whatever days to come bring, I want to keep you safe." Her heart feels like it's jumping towards her throat: "Y-you matter a lot to me, m-more than I ever thought."
Annika gives Victoria a gentle stroke on the cheek, before squeezing her shoulder, fingers running through her fur all the while "You matter a lot to me too, and, I'm going to do my best to let you keep me safe, okay?"
Victoria smiles warmly, swallowing again: "Yeah. We just got to stick together. Like hunting, but..." She pauses, frowning a bit: "...maybe a lot more dangerous."
Annika: "Yeah..I know, but I took the guard uniform, and I knew what I was getting into when I did. I know I can help and..well..that's why I'm coming"
Victoria hesitates, then her hands wander towards Annika's hips: "Doing what we can, right? For others who can't."
Annika leans into Victoria's hands, and returns the motion with her own hands "Exactly. You couldn't stay back..and..well, I don't think I could leave you do it alone"
Victoria smiles a bit: "Y-yeah... guess we're both a bit too stubborn and worried to do that. Or something like that."
Annika: "There's probably better ways to say it..but yeah. Pretty much" She giggles
Victoria tilts her head slightly: "I've never been good with words. What you see it what you get."
Annika: "Oh, any other way of saying it would just be to make it sound better to other people. Yours is the most accurate"
Victoria: "I don't think we care about sounding good to others." Her hand wanders to travel over one of Annika's tails, just feeling how great it feels to touch. Which is to say, very.
Annika: How the heck does she keep that fluffcare regime all the way out here? Out of all the dark arcane powers she's shown, surely this is the most dark and arcane. Annika flips her tail for better access for Victoria "Besides, if I wasn't here, my tail wouldn't be there for emotional support~"
Victoria giggles despite herself, continuing brushing her hand over Annika's tail: "Mine pales in comparison, and not just in the emotional support part."
Annika: "Yours is very emotionally supportive! The only thing my tail has the edge on is sheer volume"
Victoria grins at the fox: "I don't know, you sound somewhat biased." What guard duty?
Annika: "Maybe I am. Maybe you don't value your tail enough" She grins back. There's two of them there, even if they're both half distracted. It's fine, probably.
Victoria brushes her hand on Annika's arm: "Value it? I guess I don't do... whatever it is that you do with your tails, to keep them like that."
Annika: "It's just shampoo, and..well, maybe a few tricks~" She smiles "But, I mean, your tail is already great! Even if you don't think it is as great as it is"
Annika: "I can share some of those tricks, if you want"
Victoria pauses: "Maaaybe." She considers a second: "Wait, you think my tail is great?"
Annika: "Yes! Not even accounting for the fact that you're attached to it"
Annika: "It's all long, and strong, and it does this thing where it'll wrap around something when you're not concentrating..."
Victoria blinks: "Huh?" She the connects the dots and blushes in the darkness. "O-oh. Like, uh..." She very consciously wraps her tail again around Annika's waist. "Like this?"
Annika: "Yeah~" She runs her paw along it, from tip to base, gently against the grain "It's really cute when you're doing it when you're focused on something else"
Victoria hums, smiling as she gazes at Annika: "...o-or someone else, I suppose."
Annika: "Oh~ What other person are you thinking about when the tail is around me?" She knows that's not what Victoria means..but it's fun to tease.
Victoria blushes, verbally backspacing: "O-oh! I meant you. And not your tails. Much." What is she even talking about?
Annika giggles "I know~ I just couldn't help myself"
Victoria blushes further, but does not seem to be able to let go of Annika either: "Y-yeah. Of course."
Annika is perfectly happy to be so close to Victoria anyway, so there's no issue really "By the way..ah..it's okay if there's a bunch of stuff you want to say, but can't bring yourself to say. I..know. It doesn't matter really. I'm here, you're here. We both know what we're thinking..and..that's enough, right?"
Victoria smiles and nods: "Y-yeah... I guess it's sorta hard to deny some of that now." She leans closer, close enough that the holding turns into a hug easily: "I c-care about you. You're cute and smart." She blushes, but now that the mental floodgate is open, she continues: "...you're both beautiful and generous with all that clothing stuff, but also a great hunting partner."
Annika blushes a bit "You..you're strong, and you're beautiful too..and.." She's bad at the 'real emotion words' stuff "You're an inspiration for me to be stronger, and push myself to be better than I am" She gives Victoria a kiss, if she'd accept it "And I want to see how much better you can make me"
Victoria is in no position to deny that kiss she herself also desperately wants, even if not consciously. She looks at Annika lovingly, both their eyes glinting in the near-darkness.
Annika just squeezes her tightly "Don't worry...I know you're scared of this, but I promise you I won't betray the trust you're showing, okay?"
Victoria whispers with just a bit of a laughter in her voice: "Y-you're the first to say that sort of thing to me."
Annika: "Well..Obviously, I was the first person you found worthwhile" She whispers back
Victoria nuzzles at Annika's neck briefly: "Y-yeah... yeah. I like you a lot."
Annika takes this closeness chance, to rub Victoria's ears, before biting her lap "I like you a lot..but..uh..I think if we keep going with this..uh..well..I'm fine with distracting you a little from watch..but..we're going to be way, way too distracted soon" She's flushed red, though, isn't she always red?
Victoria holds Annika close, only sort of listening to the actual intent of the words: "Mmm... mmhm. Distracted, maybe a bit." The leopard wouldn't notice an actual approaching army the way she's currently paying attention to the fox in her arms.
Annika: "Just a little" She giggles, giving her a squeeze "So..I think I'll have to leave you to it for now..but..uh, once your shift is done, I'm happy to distract you in any way you like, okay?"
Victoria smiles with just a bit of blush as she lets go: "Y-yeah... we can do that. See you then."
Annika walks away, with only the smallest tail wiggle.
Victoria looks at Annika go before finally turning around to do some... guard stuff.