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THE UNRESTING EXPANSE; BASE CAMP - EARLY MORNING
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Gareth makes his way back towards the medic tents, a small pack slung over his shoulder that he'd put together earlier, when the medics told him in no uncertain terms to let them do their thing uninterrupted as a nice way of saying to get out while they tended to Lianne and Emmeline. He'd copped a couple hours of sleep at a campfire after putting the pack together, and now makes his way back to maybe try and gain entry to see how Lianne's doing.
Narrator: Judging from the bandages and gauze, Lianne's pretty fucked up all right. Her entire left leg is more or less fully bandaged, with varying shades of white, red and yellow. The back of her left wing is much of the same, with a small amount on the front, as well as the location where Gareth had shot Lianne remarkably close to her torso.
Lianne Sparr is conscious though, which is something. She's looking off into the side of the tent, as if it wasn't there, when Gareth enters, though she doesn't look, expecting it to simply be one of the medics either coming or going.
Gareth tilts his head curiously when he notices Lianne just sort of staring off into the distance, feeling grateful she's at least not completely unconscious in spite all of the injuries she'd received while at the Abyss. He quietly clears his throat as he steps a bit closer, hoping to get the ray's attention without startling her too much. "Mornin', Lianne."
Lianne Sparr groggily rolls her head to look over at Gareth. Painkillers are a wonderful thing, though terrible for awareness and function. It takes her eyes a moment to unglaze and focus on Gareth. She gives off a singular, bemused huff. "Come to rub it in?" Lianne questions, weakly testing the uncomfortable rope restraining her wrists either side of her to keep her from potentially trying to scalpel someone.
Gareth raises an eyebrow as his eyes drift to the restraints on Lianne's wrists. "Rub it in? Why would I rub it in?" He pauses, thinking, "Come to think... what would I rub in? Ye're away from the Abyss and safe with the Respite guards and healers."
Lianne Sparr: "You and your. . .Little chicken alliance." Lianne replies to the question. "Respite guards working with the enemy." Lianne replies. "Nice shot, by the way. Could you do me a favour and put another one in my head?"
Gareth shrugs a bit. "Alliances can pop up from some o' the strangest o' places. I would know, bein' part o' similar ones on the seas years ago." He snorts quietly and shakes his head, "And no, that's one favor I'm not doin', especially since ye seem to have the wrong idea."
Lianne Sparr simply rolls her eyes, letting out a soft sigh. She glances off to the side, falling silent.
Gareth simply stares at Lianne with a flat look for a few seconds, then points at her wrists. "Tell ye what, then. If ye promise to talk this out rationally with me, I'll undo the wrist bindin's so ye can actually get comfortable. No tail stabbin', no chokin', none o' that sort o' thing."
Lianne Sparr: Freedom of movement would be a step up, at least, even if she's in no condition to actually fight Gareth. She glances back to Gareth, silently appraising him for a few moments. She nods, ". . .Alright, Gareth." She tentatively agrees.
Gareth hums and nods, then stands up to undo the bindings. He's gentle about it, though it does take him a few seconds to undo the knots the healers used. Soon enough, the bindings are dangling off of the bed, and Lianne's wrists are freed. He steps back and crosses his arms, feeling pretty confident Lianne's in no fit state to even try to attack or run. "Better?"
Lianne Sparr: The moment the bindings are undone, Lianne attempts to move her arms, slowly. Her right side moves fine, though her left side is shaky and causes Lianne some discomfort, even through the painkillers. She doesn't particularly move that much, just minority adjusting herself to get a bit more comfortable. She doesn't answer Gareth's question. ". . .It's good to see you again, Gareth." Lianne, still wary, admits.
Gareth 's expression softens a little and nods with a small smile. "It's good to see you too, Lianne." He looks down at the side of the bed for a moment and notices a pile of fabric on the tent floor. He bends down and picks it up, quickly identifying it as a light blanket as he waits for Lianne to adjust to her own comfort. Once she's done shifting, he holds the blanket up. "Ye want this on ye?"
Lianne Sparr shakes her head. She's got minimal shame and doesn't particularly need it for the warmth. ". . .What is going on, Gareth?" Lianne questions, in a tone with held back frustration.
Gareth nods and takes a few moments to fold the blanket up just so the healers don't get fussy. "Same as I said before, Lianne. Usid and his clan are allyin' with Respite against the rest o' the Saurs. Some kind o' civil war, almost, led by a religious leader who might not even be legitimate, accordin' to Captain Louma." He takes a moment to scratch his head and gather his thoughts, "Not sure o' the details, but Usid and his clan hit their breakin' point when they figured out they were just fodder fer the Saur leader and nothin' more."
Lianne Sparr: "He shot me with an explosive arrow. I'd be dead if not for my gifts from Sarn. And force marched me across the damn desert into slave labour. Don't care if he's with you, Gareth. I'm gonna kill him." Lianne states calmly with that same undertone of frustration.
Gareth hums. "He shot me with one o' those explosive arrows, too. Got me in the shoulder with one that didn't explode, on top o' that. Still not fully sure how I survived. Ye can take up yer issues with him later, once all this is done." He shakes his head, "Don't need the alliance fallin' apart before it's over because one o' the faction leaders got killed by someone on the same side."
Lianne Sparr: "So once this is over, you'll stand aside?" Lianne clarifies. "Or better yet, help me do so?"
Gareth tilts his head. "What, deal with Usid? If ye want me to stand aside, I will. I'm takin' me payback a different way once we're all back at town."
Lianne Sparr nods. "Alright, Gareth. You have my co-operation." Lianne agrees. Not that she particularly has much choice.
Gareth nods slowly, knowing that Lianne may very well make good on her revenge against Usid once she's able to. "Usid's a warrior, through and through. I figure I can call me own grudge against him good if I humble him a couple o' times in the sparrin' arena back in town." He shakes his head again, "Won't make up fer what he and the rest o' the Saurs did to ye, but if he's actually feelin' contrite, I'm content lettin' him live with that feelin', for however long he lives."
Lianne Sparr is certainly not the type who considers living in humiliation sufficient revenge, but she nods anyway. She turns to face the wall of the tent again, sighing as she has to let her feelings go. . .For now.
Gareth decides to take a seat next to the bed. He lets Lianne just rest in silence for a few seconds, noting that the burns on her left side definitely don't detract from her striking figure at all, before he speaks up again, at the same moment gently resting a hand upon her's. "Not sure how much ye care at the moment, but... I've been hangin' on to some o' yer things from when ye got captured. The guards found them, and I decided to hang onto them while helpin' with the search for ye and the others."
Lianne Sparr arcs her hand up, taking Gareth's in her own. She doesn't like feeling so vulnerable, but the comfort is appreciated. Even if five minutes ago Gareth was a traitorous bastard. She perks up upon mention of her belongings. ". . .What do you mean?" Lianne questions. "Chicken Little didn't just take it all?"
Gareth shakes his head at the question. He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. "They were apparently more interested in just takin' prisoners. That caravan ye were in, whatever wasn't burned was just left there, accordin' to the guards." He smiles a little, "It's how I figured out ye weren't just dead. Yer pair o' sai, and that sapphire necklace ye usually wear, the guards found all o' that a little ways off o' the road but ye were nowhere in sight."
Lianne Sparr: "Hm." Lianne considers the information. "You have them here, or back in town? Not that the Sai'll be useful to me right now." Lianne huffs amusedly. "Hopin' you're not expecting me to fight in this state."
Gareth chuckles. "O' course not. I just figured ye'd feel a bit more comfortable with them nearby. I've got the sai and yer necklace right here, in fact, if ye want them now."
Lianne Sparr: "You're. . .Not wrong. I'd certainly like that very much." Lianne replies. "If you'd please."
Gareth reaches over to the side and picks up the cloth-bundled pack. Careful to avoid aggravating any of Lianne's injuries, he passes the bundle to her. "Here ye go, then. Did what I could to make sure nothin' got damaged."
Lianne Sparr: Only having one good hand right now, Lianne lets go of Gareth's hand to take the bundle and place it carefully by her side. She begins to open it with the one hand, taking out it's contents. A small box, and two heavily wrapped Sai. Lianne sets the wrapped Sai aside, and opts to open the box again, revealing the sapphire necklace inside, to which she places her hand atop it with a solem, wistful sigh. She's silent for a moment or so, looking at the necklace, before turning to Gareth. Quietly, and finally with all the frustration gone from her undertone, she questions, "So. . .I get keeping the Sai. But. . .why the necklace?"
Gareth helps Lianne with any bits of unwrapping she needs assistance with, but offers her a bit of a wry smirk at the question. "Ye thought I'd sell it fer a quick bit o' extra coin or somethin'? I might be a former pirate, Lianne, but I don't make it a habit o' robbin' folks close to me."
Lianne Sparr: "Please. The Sai are worth more. Both you and I know that." Lianne replies, amused at the notion. "What I mean is, why even consider it important enough to pick up? Not like I'm short of jewellery."
Gareth shrugs. "Ye'd have to ask the guards about that one. They're the ones that found all o' that stuff, after all." He pauses, then nods his head a bit at the pair of wrapped sai, "As fer meself... didn't make sense to make only half o' a delivery, ye know? I've seen ye wearin' that necklace enough to figure ye'd like to have it back."
Lianne Sparr nods to Gareth gratefully, "Thank you, Gareth."
Gareth smiles and dips his head in turn. "Yer welcome, Lianne."
Lianne Sparr rests for a moment, hand still atop the necklace. She eventually picks it up, resting it atop her chest. Unprompted, she decides to share something. "The. . .Necklace itself isn't actually that important." Lianne admits. "Not really, anyway. But just knowing that you care is. . .An odd feeling." Lianne sighs. "It's. . .I always try to wear one piece of blue. Not. . .Having that for the last two months has been the hardest part. Weird as. . .That may sound, given that you shot me."
Gareth rests his elbows against his knees as he listens, then tilts his head curiously as Lianne finishes talking. "Guessin' some kind o' sentimental value to it, hm? Or, at least, the color, if not the necklace itself." He pauses, shifting a little awkwardly, "And sorry fer havin' to shoot ye, by the way. Couldn't think o' a quicker way to subdue ye without riskin' meself or the others."
Lianne Sparr: "Don't apologize, Gareth. You did what you had to do. Won't find me apologizing for the way I acted, trite as it may have been." Lianne is quick to respond. "Blue is. . .Was. . .The favourite colour of my beloved. I used to wear blue as. . .A show of my affection. Now I wear it in memoriam." Lianne sighs deeply.
Gareth smiles cheekily in understanding, the apology for doing what he had to being, at best, maybe half-serious. His smile fades, however, as Lianne explains a bit more. "Mmh... so a way o' honorin' them. I can see how not bein' able to do that would put a lot o' strain on ye, especially fer two months straight."
Lianne Sparr: "Mm." Lianne mirrors. "But. . .Enough about that. Do you. . .Need any information about the mines? Or has Fluff-Feather already got you and the Respite folk covered?"
Gareth thinks for a few seconds, then shakes his head. "I think we're covered on info about the Abyss. Usid explained everythin' he could when he first met up with Xochi, the negotiator that's helpin' us out." He gives Lianne a curious look after a moment, however, "Though... I'm guessin' that explosion we'd heard earlier was ye and Emmeline makin' a break fer it?"
Lianne Sparr: "I've got guard positions and movements if that's something he doesn't. Though I'm betting that might no longer be useful after what I did." Lianne replies. "Aye. I mean, yes. Had Emme distract 'em for me, while I set up the explosives."
Gareth can't help but quirk a bit of a smile at that little slip of the tongue from Lianne, but he nods. "Unless the Saurs controlling the Abyss are really dumb, I doubt their positions and patrol routes haven't changed. I'm assumin' the explosion went off without a hitch, then?"
Lianne Sparr: "Little bit tough to ignite. Ain't no magitech that's for sure. But yeah, without a hitch. . .So long as you ignore getting the wrath of fucking Zeus himself straight into my back. Emmeline risked the entire escape to stop and pick me up. Don't know whether to be glad or pissed off."
Gareth furrows his brow a little and nods. "I'm glad she was able to get ye out o' there after ye took a hit like that, at least. Pretty sure I'd be makin' the "Keeper" eat one o' me pistols if ye died." He trails off for a few seconds, then sighs a bit and redirects his attention back to Lianne again, "This Dyvrisse, she actually can control lightnin', then?"
Lianne Sparr: "Mm. I guess it worked out, so. . .Good result, even if it was a bad decision." Lianne moves on, "Forgive me, Gareth, if I didn't stop to look at the abomination of nature while running away from it." She responds snarkily.
Gareth lets out a little laugh. "Heh... fair enough. Either way, from the looks o' yer injuries, however she attacked ye, it hits hard." He pauses, his gaze shifting off into the distance for a few moments before snapping back to Lianne, "That might actually be somethin' worth warnin' the captains about before we make a move on the Abyss. One person gettin' burned to a crisp is already one too many, here."
Lianne Sparr: "I remember hearing all the guards cheering her while she did it. Not sure if that helps, but. . .Yeah. Go do that. I'm gonna need the rest if I'm expected to move for any sort of. . .Well, at all."
Gareth reaches over and gently rests his hand on top of Lianne's hand again, though he doesn't try to move her hand away from the necklace or even really grab hold. "Don't worry about movin', Lianne. I've already been hearin' talk about the guards sendin' some folks back to town early with the folks that we manage to rescue from the Abyss." He smiles, then leans in and gives the ray a gentle kiss on her forehead before standing back up, "I'll let the healers know about the stuff I delivered, so they don't try to take it. Rest easy, Lianne; we're almost home again."
Lianne Sparr lays still as Gareth both holds and kisses her, closing her eyes as Gareth leans in. "Thank you, Gareth." Lianne offers. The word Home though. . .Respite, as home? The notion makes Lianne uncertain.
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THE UNRESTING EXPANSE; BASE CAMP - MEDICS' TENT - AFTERNOON
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Emmeline is still fairly exhausted from the weeks of hard labor and the stress of the escape, but she has also become used to moving a lot and so she finds her hooves itching to walk around, even if the medics insist that she stay inside the tent while doing so. Her tattered dress has been replaced with a simple, plain robe, which feels frankly luxurious, as did the bath she was given last night.
Emmeline has been trying to stay out of the way of the healers, so she finds herself standing near Lianne's cot. She stops her slow pacing for a moment as she watches the dozing ray, really taking in the state of her injuries for the first time. She feels her heart sink as guilt and thoughts of if she could have done more to keep her safe run through her mind.
Lianne Sparr: Now that Lianne knows that she's at least somewhat safe, Lianne has been able to rest. She gets as much sleep and recovery as she can between Gareth's visits and her pain flaring up. Lianne is asleep for a few more minutes while Emmeline hovers around her, still opting not to use the blanket provided to cover herself or any clothing. Her body twitches as she sleeps. When she wakes, she doesn't immediately fully come to. She looks off into the side of the tent, then after a few more seconds, yawns quietly.
Emmeline slowly approaches the bed, though makes sure to approach from Lianne's bad side and stay out of her reach. "Lianne... I realized that I never... thank you. I owe you... for saving me."
Lianne Sparr: "Mmm. . .?" Lianne lowly moans in response to Emmeline's words. "No, it's. . .It's fine, Winter." She loopily replies, then yawns much more deeply. She doesn't turn to face Emmeline yet.
Emmeline is about to correct Lianne when she realizes that the ray isn't fully conscious. "Oh, sorry," she mumbles to herself. She decides to say nothing more and just wait to see if Lianne rouses any further.
Lianne Sparr: Several seconds later, Lianne finally stretches herself out to wake up, at least until she receives a sudden jolt of pain from her leg from doing so. It serves to immediately bring Lianne out of her stupor with a pained grunt. She turns to face Emmeline, perhaps realizing that what she just said was out loud, though she doesn't address it. "Emmeline?" Lianne greets.
Emmeline nods. "Yes, it's me. How are you feeling?" She takes a step closer as her eyes are drawn to the sai and necklace at her side. "And... uh... not sure if you heard what I said before."
Lianne Sparr: "I'll live. Does it particularly matter how else I feel?" Lianne replies, in her usual pleasant demeanour. "About saving you? Don't." Lianne replies. "You were useful, and the useful survive. You earned that yourself."
Emmeline shakes her head, half turning away. "Yeah, but... whatever. Don't worry about it." After a few moments, she speaks again. "Who's Winter...? I heard you say their name earlier while you were asleep."
Lianne Sparr sighs a little bit during the silent interim, in thought. "A close friend." Lianne keeps her response vague, moving on. "You. . .Took a severe risk carrying me out, Emmeline." Lianne starts. "But. . .I can't fault the outcome. You did well."
Emmeline gives a little smile but shakes her head. "It was the right thing to do and I could do it..."
Lianne Sparr: "Agree to disagree." Lianne replies. "I'm still. . .Coming to terms with that Feathered Drumstick apparently helping us now. I don't. . .Particularly trust him."
Emmeline shivers a bit as more flashbacks from the attack on her carriage run through her mind. "Yeah.. no... not at all..."
Lianne Sparr: "And yet, back at the cave, you did so anyway. Why?"
Emmeline shakes her head. "N-no... I trusted the others..."
Lianne Sparr: "Hm." Lianne hums. "Well, your faith didn't earn you a bullet in your side, so I suppose I can't judge. Still, what if was in fact the guards that had turned coat?"
Emmeline sighs. "Then we were doomed."
Lianne Sparr: "Hm." Lianne hums thoughtfully once more, though otherwise adds no further thoughts. She falls quiet.
Emmeline looks down at her hooves. "I'm no fighter... and you were lucky to be able to move from the looks of things now... I don't think we would have had a chance..."
Lianne Sparr: "I don't believe in luck." Lianne replies. "What you saw was the result of nothing but mental fortitude and training. Believe me, my body is paying for it now. And I don't mean because I got shot." Lianne replies. "And maybe not. Still, I'd rather go down in a blaze of glory than with a whimper."
Emmeline shakes her head. "I just... I went with my gut. I don't know why I did what I did... but it worked out."
Lianne Sparr: "That it did, Emmeline. That it did." Lianne says. "So, what of you now? Are you to help the guard rescue the others?"
Emmeline walks over and pulls up a stool to sit next to the bed. "I've promised to tell them everything I know... and even... I offered to talk to Dyvrisse if they need me to... but I'm not a soldier... I'm a merchant..."
Lianne Sparr: "Please, dear." Lianne replies. "I don't particularly know what drives me to care. Yes, you may not be a soldier, nor am I suggesting you join the front lines. But you hold yourself back, dear."
Emmeline spends a long while thinking of how to respond, but just gives a solemn nod in the end. After that she stands again and looks back along the ward to where her own bed is. "I think... I should go get some rest..."
Lianne Sparr simply nods back to Emmeline, "Rest well." With that, Lianne shifts in her bed, rolling a little onto her good side in an attempt to get more comfortable.