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RESPITE GENERATOR - AFTERNOON
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Maybelline is having a relatively average day, taking some time to sit down and sketch out some potential ideas for upgrades and enhancements, things that the recent increase in output might make possible. The stress of wedding thoughts and sisterhood thoughts aside, it's just a bit of indulgence, working through a problem she can wrap her head around and just enjoying the process.
Leana finds her way to the generator. After the more-than-a-little-awkward dinner, she was left with a feeling that she actually wants to speak with Maybelline without her Sister present, to figure out who the stoat actually is. The lesser coatl is dressed up as usual, in a white wrap-sash and the white gloves to go with it. She rings the doorbell, somewhat unsure how this will go but feeling it needs to be addressed regardless.
Maybelline hears the door buzzer, taking a moment to set her drafting pencil down and stretch before walking to the door, "Yes? How can I help -oh! Leana... I'm guessing this isn't a service call then?"
Leana smiles and gives a nod: "It is not. Hello, Maybelline. I wished to speak with you alone, if you do not mind."
Maybelline motions for Leana to enter, leading her over to the side room that used to be her home, where she still has a table set-up for lunch and such. "Well, I'm afraid if you're looking for gossip about your sister, I can't help you. I can tell you most anything about the town's power grid though."
Leana follows Maybelline in, appreciating the power architecture she understands nothing about. "You take care of all of this? Impressive. That is a lot of work, I can only imagine."
Maybelline shrugs, giving a bit of a smirk, "Well, I had help building it, but a lot of the systems are self-sustaining now. I just watch the readouts and make sure nothing is going wrong."
Leana smirks: "Cozy enough job, then. Time to keep my Sister busy, too." She coils next to table and gives Maybelline a studious look: "But no. It was actually you I wish to know more about. Sudden as this situation is, will you allow me to indulge my curiosity about who my Sister is planning to marry?"
Maybelline blushes slightly under Leana's look, giving a small hand-wave, "I mean... yeah? I guess that's only fair that you'd be curious and all. I can try to answer whatever questions you've got."
Leana leans her arms on the table, resting her head on her palms. She gets a bit of a devious look: "You must have something special for my stoic Sister to fall for you. So, tell me, how did you end up down here?"
Maybelline climbs up into the seat she's added the booster too, sitting down and looking across the table at Leana. "In Respite? Well, I graduated Sarn Central University with Certifications in ICEE Generators, but timing made that particular set of expertise a little... less than desireable. I needed a job, and Respite was the only place looking for my skills. I submitted an application, and then one boat ride later, here I am."
Leana shrugs, shuffling her wings slightly: "I can not fault you for that, probably. I am here fairly... loosely, myself." She pauses, humming: "So magitech, then. It is pretty respectable a pursuit, if nigh-incomprehensible for an artist like me."
Maybelline chuckles, "I suppose so. It's been a bit of a passion of mine nearly my whole life. Taking things apart and putting them back together. Knowing how stuff works, and being able to solve problems like that. But I can definitely respect an artist. I don't know how folks can just... 'make something up' like that. I'm follow pre-established rules and design ideas. My sister does fashion design, and it seems like her job is all about breaking the established rules."
Leana raises an eyebrow: "Your sister, hmm? I might need to meet her, if that is the case." She shakes her head: "But I digress. After arriving to Respite, how did you and my Sister end up together? Guard Captain and magitech engineer do not sound like they would cross paths so much."
Maybelline laughs, shaking her head, "You'd probably get along great with Maecy. But yeah, the generator was in pretty bad shape when I first got here... I ended up in a pretty bad accident as a result. One of the guards under Louma's command saved my life, and Louma and I first met while I was recovring at the local clinic." She looks away with a bit of a blush, "I guess I made an impression, because she approached me later on to ask for a date. And once we started seeing one another, it all just... clicked."
Leana hums, nodding: "Well, as long as you are not doing any shady side business behind my Sister's back, I guess that is fine. Hard to that stubborn mountain of feathers would find anyone, but perhaps I have to, now."
Maybelline frowns slightly. "Just because I'm a stoat doesn't mean I'm shady. I got here through good, hard work. And believe it or not, she found me, and I'm so, so lucky she did. I love Louma dearly, Leana."
Leana hums again, crossing her arms: "Well, good if you are. My Sister may be an idiot, but I would not want anyone to take advantage of her." She smirks: "I think you are in the clear unless I hear contradicting information."
Maybelline smiles with a bit of false warmth in front, "Well, fortunately our plans aren't contingent on anyone else's opinion of us."
Leana giggles: "I can not imagine they would. Louma would push through regardless of the amount of objections or obstructions, and I get the same sort of feel from you."
Maybelline relaxes a little, shaking her head. "Quite. We've both got that stubborness in common, I suppose."
Leana smiles with just a bit of an edge to said smile: "As long as you actually make each other happy, I have no reason to do anything except let you be." She frowns: "Well, presuming Louma does not just want to chase me out of town. I am still unsure."
Maybelline sighs, "If she'd wanted to do that, she'd have probably already done it." She leans back in her seat to eye Leana carefully. "Louma's happiness is foremost in my mind, and you've caused her a lot of stress, worrying you're here to try and drag her back home too. I know all about your family history."
Leana rolls her eyes: "I told her many times already, I want to be just as much away from family as she does."
Maybelline notes the expression, but pushes past that. "...she put an awful lot of effort into dinner the other night."
Leana looks at Maybelline: "She could have put better effort if she had not invited me over on the same night, though."
Maybelline folds her arms, "Hmm, maybe. She could have not tried at all, too. Maybe I'm just overthinking it, but I think it was important to her to have you come. Important enough to rush that dinner, just to have you come over the house."
Leana frowns somewhat: "Important enough to grill me on my intentions, at least. I know my Sister. She wants to know all that is going, soon as she is able."
Maybelline hmphs, "Then why not just do that at the guard outpost? You think you know your sister, but you two haven't seen each other in years. And lets face it, you've got some pretty deep trust issues because of all that crap with your family business."
Leana glances aside: "She made it pretty clear she was not happy to see me accidentally ending up in the same town, didn't she."
Maybelline narrows her eyes. "Unhappy to see you? Or unhappy with what you might have represented. She's spent a long time building a happy life here. Suppose you were working for the family. Sounds like you know better than anyone what it would feel like to have to throw away everything you've built up because family comes calling."
Leana raises an eyebrow: "How about you, then? Do you think I have some secret agenda, coming to sow distrust and discord in your lives?"
Maybelline shakes her head, "Nope. I think it's an accident, or chance, or what have you. If you want my opinion, I think you both want to trust each other, but you're both too cautious to do it. Honestly, listening to you both over dinner, it's obvious you're sisters. That said, know that I'm gonna side with Louma if push comes to shove."
Leana relaxes, if only rather very little: "She is my Sister, yes." She then goes quiet for a long moment, before nodding, having gathered herself: "I think you have satisfied my curiosity. Thank you, Maybelline. Perhaps we will talk again."
Maybelline sighs again, standing up to climb out of her chair and look up at Leana. "I hope so, I do. And I hope we can have another dinner at our house, with a little more preparation and a lot less fear. ...take care of yourself, Leana."
Leana gives Maybelline a polite, if somewhat less-than-warm smile: "You as well. I hope all goes well." She then turns to leave, seething inwardly about this whole mess and the utterly STUPID reasons her life has been upended in such a short time.
Maybelline leads Leana back out of the generator complex, watching her head out, and feeling a little conflicted over the whole situation as well.