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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:31:08 GMT -6
On a particularly bright fall morning, Aubrey walked with Yeo-reum to the job board once again. Their last trip had gone surprisingly well, even though Aubrey hadn’t been sure at first whether they’d be able to find the culprit. And it had been good to get out of the house, even if he did feel more sluggish this time of year. Yeo-reum, at the very least, seemed to have enjoyed himself; the Tat-lung was in high spirits today too. “You had a lot of fun last time, huh?” Aubrey said, with a slightly chagrined smile. A chill wind blew, and he huddled further into the scarf he’d wrapped around himself, trying in vain to hide himself from the cold. Yeo-reum, whose eyes had been narrowed with mirth, paused to glance back at him, concern writ over his features. Aubrey shook his head. “I’m fine,” he said, quickening his pace. “Let’s go.”
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:31:18 GMT -6
The board was waiting for them when they arrived. Aubrey blinked to see it; everything had changed so much in a month. It made sense, since this was a public posting, but it was just another reminder of how much faster the pace of life was in the city. Aubrey had grown up in a comparatively idyllic countryside life, so he was still adjusting to the hustle and bustle here.
While he took in the state of the board, Yeo-reum was browsing the postings themselves with a keen eye. Which was a bit of a funny reversal from what it should have been, since Aubrey was the one who could read. Granted, he wasn’t very good at it yet, but it was still more than what Yeo-reum knew, which was none at all… They’d have to remedy that sometime soon, but for the moment, there was no way Yeo-reum could tell what the postings said.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:32:04 GMT -6
Even so, he’d apparently found something that piqued his interest. A moment later, he was gesturing excitedly to Aubrey, who came out of his thoughts long enough to have a look at what had gotten Yeo-reum so excited.
“What is it?” he said.
Yeo-reum pointed at a note written in what must have been crayon, on colorful paper to boot. There was even a crude drawing of someone and… was that a Rakai? It was a little hard to tell, but the second figure was probably a pet of some sort. That must have been what had caught Yeo-reum's attention, since he couldn't read any of the words.
The contents of the note itself were even harder for Aubrey to decipher than usual. A lot of it was misspelled, and several letters were backwards. “Dear… Light?” said Aubrey uncertainly.
Yeo-reum looked on with a mix of curiosity and amusement as Aubrey struggled his way through the note.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:32:29 GMT -6
Only after he’d finished did Yeo-reum ever so helpfully point out the scrap of paper attached to it, this one written in a much neater hand. Aubrey blinked, then sighed, though he couldn’t help a small self-deprecating chuckle for not noticing earlier himself.
“It looks like someone’s puppy is sick,” he said, after reading the second note. “And someone else wants us to help them out. What do you think? Can we do it?” Aubrey himself was all for it. He loved babies, humanoid or otherwise, and it was clear that the child who wrote this was very concerned about their friend. But Yeo-reum was coming along with him, and they were partners in this endeavor--- not to mention that Yeo-reum was at least as smart s Aubrey, so it was hardly fair for Aubrey to boss him around.
… Not that Aubrey really thought Yeo-reum would let him if he tried, actually.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:32:40 GMT -6
He needn’t have worried. Yeo-reum merely inclined his head to one side, apparently unbothered by Aubrey’s proposition. Aubrey smiled. “It’s decided, then. Let’s see here… I think there’s an address…”
It took Aubrey a little while to memorize the address. He’d thought that would be the hardest part of it. He was wrong about that; finding the place itself proved to be much more of a challenge. Truth be told, Aubrey had only really acquainted himself with the part of town immediately surrounding his apartment because he’d been worried about getting lost if he wandered too far. Now that was coming back to bite him, since he wasn’t sure where he ought to be going now.
Yeo-reum was no help either, gamboling this way and that as though they were just playing a game. At least he didn’t mind that Aubrey had no idea where he was going.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:34:31 GMT -6
Maybe it was his way of being patient; with Yeo-reum, it was kind of hard to tell.
Eventually, after a lot of backtracking and several attempts to ask for directions, they finally arrived at the address. Several people gave him odd looks when he presented the address, and now that he had arrived, Aubrey could guess, a little, why they had.
It was a massive property, complete with a well manicured garden that sprawled out before the huge mansion that dominated the scene. Standing outside the gate, still clutching the note with the drawing on it, Aubrey stared wide-eyed at their apparent destination.
Was this really the home of the child that had written this?
But just as Yeo-reum hadn’t shared Aubrey’s worries about finding the way, neither did he share in Aubrey’s amazement now. The Tat rose to his hind legs and pushed a button on one of the pillars beside the gate.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:34:50 GMT -6
By the time Aubrey noticed what Yeo-reum was doing, it was too late to stop him, and all he could do was clutch nervously at his scarf as he waited for them to… well, he didn’t know. Be thrown out, he supposed, except they were technically outside, so…
Goodness, he hoped they didn’t turn their guard dogs on them or anything. Neither he nor Yeo-reum knew how to fight, so all they could do was run away…
A moment passed, and then two. Aubrey became more and more certain of his impending doom. And then a man appeared at the door, wearing the outfit of a butler. Aubrey watched uneasily as he made his way to the gate. No guard dogs so far…
“May I help you?” said the man. He was older, his hair greying with age, but he had a kind face and he was smiling as he spoke.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:35:04 GMT -6
A little of the tension eased from Aubrey’s shoulders. He offered up the note, smiling a sheepish smile of his own. “I’m, um, here about… about this,” he said, unsure as to how else to explain the situation. “And this is… Yeo-reum is my friend, you see, and…” Aubrey glanced back at Yeo-reum, who took the opportunity to draw himself up to his full sitting height, waving both forepaws in a thoroughly comical manner.
Well, at least it didn’t make him look dangerous… probably....
The butler chuckled politely at Yeo-reum’s antics, then turned his attention to the note. A look of recognition crossed his features, then one of resignation. “Ah, it seems the young mistress has snuck out again,” he said with a sigh. “Very well. Do come in, please.”
Aubrey and Yeo-reum traded a look, the former uncertain and the latter full of mirth. Yeo-reum seemed to anticipate a good time.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:35:22 GMT -6
Aubrey could only hope that he was right as he followed the butler through the garden and up the steps to the house, where the older man showed him in, opening the door with a courteous bow. “N-No, that’s quite alright,” said Aubrey,but the butler merely raised a brow at him until he entered.
The house was no less lavish within. The ceiling was high, the floors polished, the walls dominated with huge paintings of people and scenes. Aubrey had no eye for whether they were good, but they certainly looked expensive.
He couldn’t imagine a child living here at all.
Even some of Yeo-reum’s cheer had abated upon entering the mansion itself, though maybe it was just as well. Some mischief at the gates might have been overlooked, but if he caused trouble here, never mind being thrown out, Aubrey was sure they wouldn’t even be able to pay the damages.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:35:34 GMT -6
He sent up a quick prayer under his breath that neither of them break any expensive, irreplaceable vases as the butler led them up the stairs.
The halls they walked through bore more of the same decor. They passed several doors, all of a uniform make, though different in size; the one they finally stopped at was one of the smaller ones Aubrey had seen. The butler rapped gently upon the door and, clearing his throat, said, “Young mistress, excuse the intrusion, but there is someone here to see you.”
For a moment, there was nothing, and Aubrey waited in uneasy silence. Then he heard the faint patter of footsteps. The door clicked open, swinging inward to reveal a young humanish child, a girl with small golden horns growing from her brow. Her eyes, a vivid blue, flashed as they took in Aubrey’s figure, and then that of Yeo-reum, behind him.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 16:35:44 GMT -6
The butler frowned.
“Where is Ninnette?” said the butler.
“I gave her the day off.” The girl lifted her chin, as though daring the butler to contradict her. Aubrey watched the man’s expression grow pinched for a moment, before he smoothed it back to neutrality. The girl, who had been watching him, turned her attention back to Aubrey. “I don’t know him. Why is he here?”
“He has come to fulfill a request,” said the butler, handing over the same note that Aubrey had given him at the door. “I will show him out if that is what you wish, but I thought you might like to see him first.”
The girl took the paper from him, frowning at it. “Oh,” she said. “You’re here for Poppy. Okay. I guess you can come in.”
Something about her words troubled the butler still, but he didn’t stop Aubrey and Yeo-reum from entering as the girl paced back into the room.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 17:32:12 GMT -6
The room itself was decorated a little differently from the rest of the house, the paintings smaller and the furniture more cluttered, but the biggest difference was how messy it was. There were clothes strewn across the floor, overturned books and toys on various surfaces, and even a half finished bowl of food sitting on the bed. And there, tucked away in one corner of the room, was what must have been the puppy in question, a young and wretched-looking Rakai.
“Oh, you poor thing,” said Aubrey, walking towards it without thinking. The girl looked sharply at him, and Aubrey caught himself. “May I take a look?” he asked gently.
The girl considered him for a moment before nodding, though there was a tight frown on her face. Maybe she didn’t trust him. He couldn’t blame her; after all, he was a stranger, even if he had answered her posting.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 17:32:29 GMT -6
With her permission, however, Aubrey approached the pup, who whimpered unhappily, but wasn’t in any state to fend him off even if it had wanted to. Aubrey stroked a gentle hand over the pup’s head and then down his back. The pup’s paws twitched, and it gave another low whine.
“How long has Poppy been like this?” said Aubrey.
“A few days,” said the girl. “Gerald said Poppy would get better if I let her rest, but she hasn’t.” The girl left off staring at Aubrey to level an accusatory glare at the butler, who didn’t react.
“Did she get into something?” Aubrey asked.
“No.” The girl’s tone was mulish and a little defensive.
Aubrey frowned. “Are you sure?” When the girl didn’t reply, he moved closer and said in a whisper, “I’m not going to tell anyone if you don’t want me to. I just need to know so I can help your friend. Okay?”
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 17:32:45 GMT -6
He gave her what he hoped was a comforting smile, while the girl searched his face.
After a moment, she seemed to come to some sort of decision. “She got a little cold,” she whispered back. “Because I took her out to the garden when no one was watching us. Ninnette got us this horrible concoction that Poppy hated, so I gave her sweets so she’d feel better like I do after I take my tonics. But now she just lies there and whines all day, and won’t play with me.” The girl’s gaze returned to the prone form of the Rakai pup, while Aubrey made a small noise of sudden understanding.
Rising, he said aloud, “I think I know what’s wrong. I can… make something that will take her tummy-ache away, if I could just use your kitchen for a bit.” He’d said it with a great deal of confidence, though the reality was that he wasn’t sure he’d be able to.
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Post by Briar on Nov 23, 2019 17:32:57 GMT -6
Herbalism was something he’d only begun studying since he’d ‘grown’, and so far the unfortunate test subjects had mostly been himself and Yeo-reum.
There was no telling whether they’d have the right ingredients either, but this seemed like an affluent household, so it was worth a try, at least. And if they didn’t, he could always come back tomorrow, though in the meantime he’d have to try and convince the girl not to feed Poppy any more sweets.
The girl’s eyes narrowed. “You’re just going to make another horrible potion for her, aren’t you?” she said.
“I can make one that won’t taste so bad,” Aubrey promised. “And you can play with Yeo-reum while you wait. He knows some great tricks.” Aubrey motioned to Yeo-reum, whose eyes went wide--- he hadn’t been expecting to have a girl foisted on him all of a sudden.
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