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Post by Èdan on Jul 1, 2021 4:43:36 GMT -6
The knight's relaxing goes hand in hand with the cat, as if the de-escalation is a mutual agreement between the two. He's not comfortable enough with assuming the beast to be fully cleared of danger, however. The manor can be a rueful thing if it wishes, and playing a trick of trust isn't outside of it's ability (Nor experience). So he'll keep an eye on the beast, best as he can, for any signs of deception.
A topic which comes into immediate sharp perspective when the lady tries to stand to her feet. The knight moves closer to her side, offering a hand to carefully help her up, "Perhaps almost no-one?" It's flat, but the knight's jokes tend to be that, though not for a lack of trying. All the same, it's clear that the lady is far from recovered yet. "Do you require more water? I believe there might have been some type of cold food on one of the tables, which could help."
The head turns towards it, to point it out, but isn't able to even begin the gesture before another cat shows up from a side alley. (Well, faex.)
. 34 . June: 66? (Assuming the taming still counts towards June)
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Post by Nadia on Jul 1, 2021 12:42:27 GMT -6
Nadia had no option but to make use of Sarv's hand, no matter how embarrassed she felt. Without it, she would have surely fallen over - she didn't need any extra humiliation on top of everything else. Her fingers only grazed his for long enough to help her straighten up, though. "Yes, I... perhaps more water, something cool--" Whatever she was going to continue saying got lost, as a shape appeared from the nearby alley. Was that...? "Oh, dear." There was greater reason to be cautious this time. The caterfly was carrying something, and there was no telling how defensive it would be over that thing. The best case scenario would be that both parties were equally startled, and wouldn't get unnecessarily grouchy. Dylan didn't make a surge that time, but was certainly staring. She was quick to slip him more food to chew as a distraction. "Ah, hello..." She sounded tired, and wary, but still warm. "Would you... like a treat too?" [67]
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Post by Silver on Jul 4, 2021 0:18:41 GMT -6
The creature quickly surveyed the room when it realized it was not alone. It blinked a few times and tried to assess what was happening. There was another Caterfly there, and it seemed happy enough. For that reason, it went in without its guard up too high. It looked up at Nadia, who had made a noise. "Prrrup?" it said, as if asking 'who are you?'. As soon as its mouth opened, the prized magical crystals tinkled to the floor. The Caterfly didn't seem to mind.
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Post by Èdan on Jul 4, 2021 4:19:40 GMT -6
Now he is certain the Mansion is messing with them on purpose. To send two cats at them is one thing, but to have one of the beasts tumble in with arcane shards on a proverbial gifted platter? There is reconciliation, and then there's pandering.. (And one usually had a lot more strings attached than the other). A few months back he wouldn't have even known what those shards are, but some book learning and general exploration of the City showed they are quite the value here. The first he'd seen tumbled out of a broken clay pot almost casually, as if no different to the other items he and the panther had found back then.
But now he knows there's people in the City who could resort to all manner of methods to obtain these things, for they held power.. So walking around with some doesn't necessarily make them any less a target. (Although.. Walking around with the shards while flanked by two mountain lion sized possibly-magical felines would improve the odds, now that he thought about it). Much like before, there isn't much he can contribute to the friend-making effort, in large part due to his very nature. It's a hindrance more than anything - Good for frightening off aggressive monsters, not so much when trying to make peace with them - so he keeps back. The food would have to wait a little longer, seeing as the beast has put itself between them and the potential remedy for the lady's heat-related condition.
He could scare it off, to reach the food faster. But no - The lady has spoken and she's looking to make friends, so he just keeps a distance, to avoid his presence causing a stir, while eyes closely follow every movements and motion from the beast. A wrong kind of twitch is about as much notice as he's likely to get, should it turn aggressive.
. 35 . June: 68
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Post by Nadia on Jul 6, 2021 2:41:10 GMT -6
Prrrup indeed. Even though the cats were the heralds of chaos to some extent, Nadia was pleased to see them - they were cute, they hadn't been aggressive, and they weren't making the situation unbearable. In fact, it was a great distraction from the fire still lingering in her throat. "Ah, be careful," She murmured as the crystals plonked to the floor. A part of her had expected them to shatter on contact. "Are you perhaps seeking food too? Your fellow... um... feline... enjoyed some." Dylan wasn't overjoyed to see his treats being given to someone else, but there was nothing he could do about it. Leash looped around the post, he was bound to stay a safe distance, staring longingly at his human (or more specifically the meat in her hand). The treats were laid out in front of the newcomer, but kept a little distance away from the crystals, in case it changed its mind and decided to be territorial. Being cautious was the best option after the drama prior. [69]
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Post by Silver on Jul 6, 2021 19:45:20 GMT -6
The Caterfly with the headband made of flowers considered its options. It looked down at the crystals. Those were boring, at least to it they were. It had seen enough of them in its time here. People with food, though, that was brand new. It prr'd again and walked up to Nadia cautiously. Would she give it more food? If she did, it might just stick around and see what she was up to. [Congrats, you've tamed a Caterfly!] A few moments later, just as if it had happened on cue, a bowl of frozen treats with a lit sparkler fell to the floor next to the crystals. Was it someone's birthday, or did the mansion just really want them to eat some ice cream? (Or... whatever that was.) [You may start your July count now. As a little "good roleplaying" bonus, I've counted this as '70' for you.]
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Post by Èdan on Jul 8, 2021 9:27:21 GMT -6
The first to break the tension of the scene turns out to be neither the knight nor the cat. Instead, it's the dull sound of something landing, followed by the decidedly more vocal clattering of it being something solid against another solid. The knight's attention switches towards the movement in reflex, only to see another food bowl and some fizzling stick precariously perched on top the unsteady bed of crystals. The manor is rather beginning to give up on subtlety, it seemed.
He checks in on the taming process, seeing the cat (mostly) relaxed around the lady, so there's strong suspicion to err on the side of things evening out (If the beast was hungry enough to want to eat them, surely it wouldn't spend so long on the effort). Taking a broad circle around both feline beasts, lest they pick up on that sense of his, the knight makes his way toward the new food bowl, conveniently closer to them than the other two and sans cat in between now. He turns and stabs the glaive tip-first into the soft ground, to free both hands, and picks it up.
The scent is.. minty. So not made from spice, which is good (Although that didn't stop things from happening previously, either). He takes a taste, waits, measures, and eventually nods, turning towards Nadia, "It seems safe, my lady. And quite cold. If there's any ill effects, surely they would show."
Poor choice of words (In hindsight, always in hindsight), as a breeze picks up no sooner than the sentence is finished. There's probability, there's causality, and then there's a rather twisted sense of paracausal humour. There's a tingling along the surface of the skin (He assumed it to be the food), and suddenly he thinks himself to smell salt (Oh, no, this was something else. Something familiar, in a whole other kind of way). The wind continues, starting to flap the carpets and drapes of the stalls, kicking up dust, then dirt, then sand.
And the world dissolves into a momentary sand storm and mist. The stalls bleed away, the wares and lights fade back into oblivion, the fabrics unravel to thread, and then further on into nothingness. A bright, hazy blue hue replaces sunlight, flickering in slow, steady motions. A soft sandy expanse forms underfoot, while weather-worn and tide-struck boxes replace the table where the items had been laid out on. There's a shift in the air, as if the balmy summer and cool ocean war for whose breeze reigns supreme. When it fades, the market has become a beach at first glance, but something much deeper upon closer inspection - Distance is fuzzy, but there's a wall somewhere, hidden behind slowly bending kelp and swaths of coral, like little corridors, a smattering of rocks large and small, sea shells dotting the sand floor, fish darting around the air and a breeze that seems part air, part-tide.
From underneath a night-time market, to what could best be described as an underwater garden, if it weren't that they could still breathe.
. 36 . July: 1 (Aw, thank you!)
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Post by Nadia on Jul 14, 2021 4:04:40 GMT -6
What a relief. Nadia's whole body sagged and a breath whistled out of her; they would not be eaten by ferocious flower-crown wearing cats today. What was more curious was the crystals that had tinkled to the ground. Her fingers had just about closed around one when she felt the rush of a breeze, and the world began to melt away. It was difficult not to be afraid. Though she had no energy for a big reaction, she threw her arms up to shield her face, too scared to watch as the bazaar became no more. Dylan's nose was in the crook of her arm instantly, his whimpers of fear audible above the whipping wind. The scent of spices and smoke made way for salt and brine. And then all was still. Slowly, slowly, she peered out once more, only to be flabbergasted by the sight. Rippling sunlight, sandy beach... were they underwater? It was beautiful, to be sure, but how could they be alive? Not that she was going to look a gift equillion in the mouth. "We seem not to get a moment's rest, sir..." Still a croaky little voice, but with some humour injected. "I would much enjoy that pudding, if you'd be inclined to share." [2]
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Post by Èdan on Jul 14, 2021 5:52:54 GMT -6
As the world settles around them, the knight's posture seems largely unchanged. By comparison, it ends up being a fairly calm transmission, and he slowly looks around them to take in the newly altered surroundings. So.. The sea again. Not quite the flooded ship of last time, but perhaps not that far off about the 'flooded' part. At the very least, it seems that whether breezy air or strangely magic water, their surroundings at least allowed them to continue breathing. (Small favours).
He observes a small yellow-red fish float past his face, as casual about it as if it were a bird, and turns to return to the lady once more, "It seems the manor's chosen to alter itself. I've seen and heard it do so from time to time, to take upon it a new theme. It's fairly harmless when it does so, there should not be a need to worry, my lady." Not that she seems worried, but given the previous high-strung situation, any assurances can go a long way, once the stress comes crashing down. He approaches slower once the cats are in range, and only in step with them backing up - They could stay if they wished, but they better behave in the process.. He wasn't above using that sense as a weapon, if needed.
Reaching the lady's side proper, he kneels down and offers the bowl to her, "The taste is novel to me, but it seems harmless. I believe it is quite close to what the people here call 'iced cream'."
. 37 . July: 3
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Post by Nadia on Jul 22, 2021 8:27:05 GMT -6
Dylan was eager to explore straight away. Nadia was grateful that he hadn't reacted badly; there was no knowing what those kinds of magical hijinks would do to a creature, so she counted his curiosity as a good sign. The houluh disengaged from her arm and went scurrying to a knot of seaweed nearby, sticking his snout right among the plant's fronds. "I should hope it will be harmless, after all of that..." Heartily embarrassed, the woman focused on accepting the bowl and spooning the dessert into her still burning mouth. The cool tingle of mint against her tongue was bliss. She couldn't quite reign in her undignified sound of happiness, and was back for another bite as soon as the first was swallowed. "Quite right, sir. The most delicious and convenient bowl of ice cream I have ever had the pleasure of tasting." She supposed they would have to mention it, sooner or later. After putting them both in peril, whether she had meant to or not, she couldn't pretend nothing had happened. There was no eye contact, but her sheepish expression was all too clear. "I really must apologise for causing a fuss." [4]
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Post by Èdan on Jul 22, 2021 9:54:12 GMT -6
Ah, excellent, the food has worked - Finally something is actually going according to plan. Seeing her enjoy the meal, he nods and stands to get the rest. In a short span of time, all the other scattered objects and items are collected from their various new positions, precarious or otherwise, before he returns and deposits them on the sand between them. Even the flower crown from one of the cats, dropped as it backed away, is left among the pile. Of course, the smaller flame creatures largely do as they wish, but with the scene changing they coalesce around and above the metal brazier's quietly flickering flame, as if finding comfort there. (And just as well, if they're all in one place, it's far easier to keep an eye on them).
He sits in the sands across from her, on the other side of the brazier, only stealing one of the other bowls for himself, and begins to eat. (Say what they will about the City's tendency to experiment recklessly, he cannot fault some of the culinary choices here). When she speaks, the knight looks up from the bowl at her, but for only a moment, before resuming to eat, "There is nothing to apologize for, my lady. The fuss was not of your making."
A pause, before he adds, in slower, more measured words, "In truth, I would count us quite fortunate the manor decided to change when it did. I was.. not confident I could have helped you on my own.." The helmet stays bowed, focusing on the bowl.
. 38 . July: 5
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Post by Nadia on Jul 22, 2021 13:56:21 GMT -6
It was strange, to see the flames flickering beneath the water. At least, that is what appeared to be happening - Nadia couldn't tell if anything about their ordeal had been real other than the pain in her throat. Her stomach gave a growl of protest at her lull in eating, and it spurned her to go for another spoonful, if only to stop further humiliation. Dylan had disturbed someone in his investigations. A trio of colourful fish darted out from the seaweed, and the houluh tumbled after them, yapping and wagging his tail. Where were they going? How were they doing that in the air?! He sprang up as if he might imitate their graceful swimming. "No, sir..." It ached Nadia, to hear him speak that way. Sarv had been quietly self-assured until that point, and it was almost uncomfortable, to bear witness to his doubting himself. "You acted admirably. I am ever so grateful. Please, worry not... all is well again." [6]
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Post by Èdan on Jul 22, 2021 14:16:34 GMT -6
The spoon moves around in the bowl, but it mostly pushes the creamy delight from one side to the other, without a bite taken. "My lady is certainly kind to say so, but.. As I've said, I am not yet a full sir and I fear the inability to assist could have nearly cost you much more than your voice.." There's a pause as even the spoon stops moving. How to put this.. "Were it an evaluation, my lord would have surely been most disappointed. A true knight should be able to have done better."
Harsh, perhaps, but not entirely untrue. The water had barely had an effect, and though it might have helped if more were brought, it certainly wouldn't have fixed it like the cold dessert had done. Ultimately, the saving of the lady's health, caused by the manor, was also fixed by the manor. Not him. (There was perhaps only some nudging of cats this way and that, with him to retrieve the bowl, but still. A proper lady-saving tally it did not make).
Finally the helmet rises to look at her directly across the fireplace, the pale blue eyes and general expression regretful but solemn, "I'm sorry for nearly failing you, lady Nadia.. It is my job to protect you here, and I could not. It is not a mistake that I intend to repeat.."
. 39 . July: 7
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Post by Nadia on Jul 28, 2021 13:20:06 GMT -6
Nadia wasn't sure how she could describe the emotions she was feeling. The sight of Sarv, solemn and repentant, made her heart ache with pity - though he had nothing to be sorry for in her eyes, she could understand that he would hold himself to high standards as a knight. Falling short of those lofty goals would undoubtedly be painful. More complicated was the warmth flooding her chest. Not the burn from the spice, thank goodness, but still unfamiliar. It had been a long while since she had experienced someone looking out for her, and being actively concerned for her welfare; the knight was bound to such things by honour of his post, but that didn't change how it touched her. "Failure is an aspect of growth, is it not?" She tried, her tone gentle. "Not that I for a second feel that you have failed me... but we stumble so that we may learn to better lift ourselves up again. You can only become greater from here. You still have my full trust." Not Dylan's, though. Something was keeping the pup from drawing too close to Sarv - he was happy to pad around the sands at a respectable distance. [8]
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Post by Èdan on Jul 28, 2021 13:42:21 GMT -6
The knight doesn't look away, although many others would certainly be tempted to avoid eye contact after such a confession. He needs to make sure the lady understand the sincerity of the words, for he isn't one to speak any not worth being spoken. Nor one to back down when the situation becomes difficult, even if the proverbial battlefield here dances a fine line between etiquette, accountability and trust. (Especially trust).
In truth, a reprimand would not have been out of place, even if he'd assumed the lady to be more softer with her words, but when she speaks, he listens with a sense of focus that has an underlying sense of tension at how each sentence would end - Any word to follow could be rejection. Dismissal. A way to let him down gently before a harsher truth. Instead, what he receives is inspiration in its purest form. Reaffirmation. Encouragement.
Trust.
The expression is careful, well measured to stay within the limits their respectively bound to by their stations - There's admiration, mixed with appreciation, all within the same small polite smile, as he bows his head in gratitude. "My lady is indeed wise beyond her years. I could not argue your reasoning even if I so desired. For such a lofty goal, and for the trust you've given me, I shall strive to do and be better.. In your name."
. 40 . (added) July: 9
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