smoking clouds like cigarettes

Theea

The sun is falling behind the trees. It dapples in stunning ways against the fae architecture, leaving a golden haze behind as twilight descends. It's all soft lanternlight and curling shadows as I walk its winding paths all the way into the closing market, my backpack slung over one shoulder and my feet just beginning to ache in my boots. There's music somewhere—faint, lilting, the sort that always sounds like it's being played just around the corner, no matter where you are.  The Sidhe village always feel like dreams stitched together with silver thread and moss.

My stomach grumbles, but I ignore it. Again. I've got plenty of food left, but I'm not ready to stop yet. Stupid, annoying human needs like food and sleep and using the bathroom. I'd probably be half way to Torchline if I didn't need any of that.

I've asked at five houses now, an inn, a shop, three closing stalls, and even a little herb stand with a wooden fox carved into the post. Nothing. "No room," or "No work for you," or the most common: that polite but pointed smile, the kind that doesn't quite meet the eyes. I don't blame them. A newcomer without anything to offer, trailing dust and questions. I suppose I'd been lucky to meet Nikki, kind as he is. I think to find him and ask for a place to sleep that isn't the wet woods, but I can't bring myself to ask for more from him.

So, I keep smiling when I ask the next person for work and a room. I try to mean it, too.

Now, with the sun folding itself into the trees, I settle on the edge of the silted pathway. My feet dangle over the glittering Symphony as I sip the last of my water. The evening is chilly but not cold. Not yet. I'll camp again. It’s fine. The woods aren’t far and I passed a little alcove beneath a flowering tree that looked sheltered enough.

It's fine. Really. 

I wish I'd asked my mom more about skyships. Then I'd really be halfway to Torchline by now, and that much closer to meeting the family from all her stories—the whole world's stories.

I swing my bag around to plop beside me, and my arm dives in all the way up to my shoulder. After some rummaging, I'm able to retrieve tonight's positively delectable dinner: more jerky! Bread too, that I was able to trade my bucket hat for; it had gotten me two apples, too. The jerky is set aside, and I grab the bread —

"Fuck!" I fumble it straight into the river.

cause we waited years and years

just to make it worth the tears

to find out that we're not in this alone

so keep your head up high in these hours of the night

so when atlas drops the world on your shoulders, you still won't fall

Elizabeth

Having finished up another productive session with a client, Elizabeth finds herself content to indulge in her favorite past time: people watching. She knows she'll have to find a room for the night, since the skyship doesn't leave until first light, but there's still some time before she needs to turn in, and with so many visitors in the Greatwood, plenty of temporary inns and other housing have popped up to accommodate the influx of tourists. As such, she clutches her notebook under her arm, her eyes scanning for a bench with enough lighting to do some writing of her observations. 

A loud shout reaches her ears, momentarily distracting her from the search as worry flares in her chest. It doesn't take her long to spot the young woman sitting by the river in obvious distress, and Elizabeth rushes forward. "Hey! Are you okay?" Just as the words leave her mouth, she notices the bread that the woman reaches for - the one floating lazily in the current. 

Reaching out with her telekinesis, she plucks the food from the clutches of the water to deposit it in her hand, the sopping texture making her nose wrinkle. Elizabeth offers it gingerly for the woman's inspection, sympathies thick in her brown eyes. "Ah. I don't think you want to eat this anymore." As she looks for where she might set the soggy mass, she notices how hungry she is (for something other than wet bread), deciding that this woman might also benefit from some new food. "I think I saw a bakery just down the street. I was heading that way anyways, if you want to join me." Finally choosing a nearby rock to empty her hands, Elizabeth wipes her damp palms on her brown travel pants before giving the woman a friendly smile.

There is beauty in the journey, regardless of the outcome.
Let's grieve and hope and fight together.

Theea

At first, I don't realize it’s me being spoken to. I stare down at the floating bread, and I take a moment to mourn the bucket hat half wasted. Bread is just so much more filling than what I’ve got. It starts to drift lazily down the river, a lovely meal for a duck, I’m sure.

And then it starts floating in the air instead of the water.

I blink, and then I do realize that the woman who’d called out had, in fact, been calling to me. I follow the bread up from the water and to her waiting hand, which holds it out for me to see. Looking up further, I’m greeted by warm, sympathetic eyes.

”No,” a laugh a little, ”I think you’re probably right.”

I turn away for half a moment, grabbing the small sack of jerky to shove back in my bag before I rise, slinging it over one shoulder. The invitation lifts my brows, and I cast a look in the direction she’d gestured to, and my stomach rumbles. Again.

I give the woman a smile. ”If you don’t mind the company—thank you.” I slip the strap of my bag back over my other shoulder. I wonder if the baker would take the two apples I’d gotten… bread is just so good. I force myself not to pout at the clump of soggy wheat and flour on the rock, and hold out my hand to the woman. ”I’m Theea.”

cause we waited years and years

just to make it worth the tears

to find out that we're not in this alone

so keep your head up high in these hours of the night

so when atlas drops the world on your shoulders, you still won't fall

Elizabeth

Her smile is bright with excitement to hear her offer accepted. "Not at all. I love company." Anyone who knows Elizabeth would probably call that an understatement, knowing that she loves any and all social interactions. She wouldn't have picked her profession otherwise - or rather, her profession wouldn't have found her. 

Clasping the Theea's hand in hers, she takes note of the name with a nod of her head. "I'm Elizabeth, but feel free to call me any variation of the name." People still have yet to take her up on the opportunity, but she likes to suggest it all the same, the warmth of her gaze friendly and inviting. 

With introductions complete, she turns to start walking towards the darkening streets aglow with lights. She speaks with the ease of someone used to casual conversation, slipping into it naturally. "The bakery's only a few minutes away. I've heard this place has great jam." Looking again to Theea, she smiles, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear as she asks, "Are you from around here? Or part of the flower hunters?" She already has her guesses based on the traveling pack but wants to give her the chance to share her story if she wishes. Or to ask questions of her own.

There is beauty in the journey, regardless of the outcome.
Let's grieve and hope and fight together.

Pushing up from the ground before you is a blood-red rose.

---

You’ve encountered one of Vi’s Roses.. This counts as a rare creature encounter for the purposes of levelling, but does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention. You can post a link to this thread in the character updates thread if you pick the rose, to have it added to your inventory.

Vi's Roses (rare): A beautiful crimson flower with thorns of deep gold, it is rumoured that these roses are coloured with Vi's lifeblood. When planted, they have the ability to cleanse the area around them.

Theea

“Elizabeth,” I repeat, and I nod. “I met an Elizabeth that went by ’Biz’ once.” I’ve met a lot of people, and yet I don’t know anyone.

She begins walking and I fall into step beside her, thumbs hooked into both my straps. The village feels warmer now, either from the lantern light or the company. I was never made to be alone. “And I do love jam,” I reply a little absently, missing the shortbread tarts mom had sent me with.

I decide not to think about that too long, or the fact that I don’t know when or if I’ll ever have one again. I meet Elizabeth’s eye when she looks at me again. She’s really a beautiful women, and her smile is a soothing one. “I’m not from here, no,” I answer. “Just… trying to pass through. I’m not here for one of the roses, this just happens to be where I started.” Then I cringe. “Not that I don’t want to help! I do, I just… I wouldn’t know what to do with one, and I have to find my family first.”

I see it too late.

One foot already mid-step, my eyes catch on the shimmer of petals so vividly red they almost glow in the twilight. Not just any rose—A golden-thorned rose. Vi’s fucking rose.

It’s growing right out of the earth between two wooden boards of the Bodega, right in our path, right as we spoke about it.

And I’m about to crush it.

I twist mid-step with an undignified squeak, arms flailing, trying to avoid the blossom. For a terrifying half-second I’m sure I’m going face-first into the ground. But somehow—by sheer panic and maybe divine grace—I manage to stumble, spin, and land square on my ass instead.

“Holy shit,” I huff, wide eyes on the gleaming, perfect, untouched flower. “Maybe I should be flower hunting.” My wide eyes swing up at Elizabeth. “Have you been…?” Maybe she needed one more than I did. Or knew someone who might.

cause we waited years and years

just to make it worth the tears

to find out that we're not in this alone

so keep your head up high in these hours of the night

so when atlas drops the world on your shoulders, you still won't fall

Elizabeth

Her eyebrows raise and a soft laugh accents her words. "Aww. I like that one. I haven't heard that one before." And if that's what Theea would like to call her, Elizabeth won't mind in the least, as evidenced by the carefree expression on her face as they walk down the street.

Glancing back at the young woman, she gives an encouraging smile. "Don't worry about it. There are plenty of people looking." Although she's more curious about the other portion, immediately wondering if there's something she can do to help while simultaneously wondering about why she's looking for her family and where they might be. "Who's your - " Her question is cut off as she also notices the red petals, glints of gold catching the lamplight. At first, she assumes it's a trick of the light, or just her hopes manifesting in a hallucination, but Theea's stumbling reaction confirms that it's not just her. She tries to reach out to catch the young woman with no avail. 

Elizabeth has difficulty pulling her eyes away, worried the rose may vanish when she's not looking, however, she manages to turn towards Theea's sprawled form, offering a hand for her to stand. "Are you okay?" She assesses for any injuries, relieved to see that there aren't any visible scrapes or bruises.

Once the woman is standing and brushed off, she moves to kneel next to the rose, her voice filled with awe. "This is incredible..." Elizabeth reaches out a delicate hand to brush it against a single petal, feeling the soft velvet of it along her fingertips. Something so rare and mythical is surprisingly real, and she doesn't look up as she says, "I've been trying to keep my eyes peeled, but I'll be honest, I hadn't expected to find any - not with how diligently everyone else is searching." Finally lifting her eyes to Theea again, she asks gently, "Would it be okay with you if I took it back to Halo? The Warden could really use this." In fact, they'd been talking about it just a few days ago, about how necessary they would be for future visits to Starfall.

There is beauty in the journey, regardless of the outcome.
Let's grieve and hope and fight together.

Theea

I take Elizabeth’s offered hand up, and I dust off my rear. ”My body, sure. My pride, questionable. Thanks,” I flash her a smile before I marvel at the rose again, shaking my head in disbelief. I shove my hair back and crouch down beside her, just to get a closer look. How many times in my life will I have a chance to see such a thing?

My eyes are drawn back up to Elizabeth, and I look back at the rose. I could bring it to Remi and Ronin. Would that put me in their good graces? Make them more likely to accept the wayward kid of a woman they haven't seen in a decade? 

That couldn't be a more selfish thought. Shit. And what kind of acceptance is a result of bribery with a good deed? Sounds like something the gods would ask for, not family.

"Take it," I urge with an earnest smile. Even indirectly, I think that not taking the flower is helping. "The leadership fighting all this need to have it. I'm sure the Warden will use it well."

cause we waited years and years

just to make it worth the tears

to find out that we're not in this alone

so keep your head up high in these hours of the night

so when atlas drops the world on your shoulders, you still won't fall

Elizabeth

She smiles at the jest, still very distracted by the flower but happy to hear she hadn't sustained any injuries - although pride can be slow to heal. Nodding her head gratefully at Theea's agreeance, Elizabeth is already moving to collect the flower. "Thank you." It takes some maneuvering to shift aside the planks, but she doesn't want to harm the roots and makes sure she exposes the dirt before gently lifting it from the soil. Luckily, she has a small leather pouch in her travel bag, pulling it out to reverently place the rose inside. As delicately as possible, she cinches the top, watching as the red and gold vanish within.

Elizabeth carefully secures the flower in her bag, making sure it isn't crushed beneath any of her books or other writing supplies. Standing, she gestures with her hand towards the street. "Come on. This flower isn't going to fill us up." She then leads them a little farther down the lamplit road, her mind forming plans to visit Deimos the moment she touches down to Halo in the morning. It doesn't take them long to reach a little shop that smells of yeast and fresh-baked bread, a warm glow flowing through the window and into the street, beckoning them forward. 

A bell chimes above the door as they enter, announcing their arrival to the tall, lanky man behind the counter. Every feature is long and gentle, from his flowing red hair to his prominent nose between soft brown eyes all the way down to his hands kneading a lump of dough. He brightens at the sight of her, recognition passing over his face as he wipes his hands on his apron. "Elizabeth! I'm glad you found the place okay! Are you done with your session already? Here, let me get you something." Without letting her get a word in otherwise, he starts shifting behind the counter, gathering breads and jams with a buoyant energy that makes her laugh. "You're too kind, Pete." He lifts his head up to throw her another bright grin, not pausing in his tasks as he glances to Theea. "Does your friend want some too?" Elizabeth looks to her with an encouraging smile and a raise of her eyebrow in question, inviting her into the conversation. 

---

Elizabeth takes Vi's Rose!

There is beauty in the journey, regardless of the outcome.
Let's grieve and hope and fight together.

Theea

I watch her gather up the rose with a good measure of awe. Mom would never believe it. That flower is going to help clear away the damage The Family is doing, and I can’t stand in the way of that. Elizabeth puts it gingerly into a small sack, and that’s the last I see of it. I wonder if I’ll ever see one again.

She rises, and I smile with an enthusiastic nod, stomach growling in punctuation. I walk beside her, still a little lost in my amazement. I wish I had someone to tell about it… Maybe Nikki? Is he a friend? He could be, I suppose, if I keep seeing him.

The lovely looking bakery comes into view, looking as inviting as dry clothes had been after the rainstorm in Ludo’s Wood. It’s glow draws me in, and I eagerly follow Elizabeth inside. The smell wraps around me like a blanket that’s been by the fire, and I relax from tension I didn’t realise I’ve been carrying. There’s fewer scents that are better than a bakery—it brings me back to sitting in the kitchen while mom did her baking.

I stand behind Elizabeth with my hands clasped behind my back, mouth quirked into a half smile at the interaction. I wonder what he means by session, but I’ll ask later. He’s an interesting man, long and willowy, and so friendly. I should have gone into this shop sooner. When he looks at me, my brows lift, and I glance at Elizabeth… and I nod, looking back at the baker.

“I have some apples to trade, if you’d like. I just lost some bread in the river, but I think yours is going to better—everything smells amazing. It was sweet bread, I don't know what kind though.” I haul my bag around to my front, opening the flap to dive my arm into it. I flash a sheepish smile. ”The apples are here somewhere.”

cause we waited years and years

just to make it worth the tears

to find out that we're not in this alone

so keep your head up high in these hours of the night

so when atlas drops the world on your shoulders, you still won't fall

Elizabeth

His laughter is breezy, like reeds bending in the wind, a hand raising to dismiss her offer. "Unless you're asking me to add it to a pie, you can keep your apples." There's humor in his eyes, soft and kind in a way that makes Elizabeth smile. Pete doesn't hesitate to catch Theea's words, his demeanor brightening further as he dips behind the display. "I know I have some sweet bread around here..."

When his head pops up again, he has two bundles full of sweet bread, jam, and a small loaf of sourdough. "This isn't enough, but I hope you enjoy! I tried a new method with the sourdough, so you'll have to let me know what you think." Elizabeth steps forward to accept the packages, giving the baker a large, warm smile that lightens the brown of her eyes. "You know it's too much, but thank you, Pete. You're amazing." Her hands linger for a moment, expressing her gratitude before pulling away. As she steps towards the doorway, she hands one of the bundles to Theea, glancing back towards Pere with another smile. "And tell Juniper to let me know when she's ready for our next session." He gives a nod of his head, returning to kneading the dough on the counter with a content expression on his face. 

The bell above the door chimes again as she leads them back out into the street. Her eyes meet Theea's in the lamplight, casting them in an orangey hue. "Do you want to find a bench and eat together? Unless you have someplace else to be?"

There is beauty in the journey, regardless of the outcome.
Let's grieve and hope and fight together.

Theea

The way the shopkeep laughs is warm, and I stop digging in my back with a perplexed sort of smile. It’s almost unbelievable how kind he is to someone he’s never met, who’s never done a thing for him. It seems Elizabeth has, apparently enough to make the baker adore her.

He vanishes behind the counter and then reappears with bundles of food in his arms, which he passes smoothly off to Elizabeth. I accept the package from her as she steps toward me, and I almost say are you sure, but the rumble in my stomach stops me as I touch the package, still warm with the delightful smelling bread inside. My interest is piqued at the mention of another session as we exit, but I make sure to turn and wave. “Thank you Pete!”

The bell above the door rings in farewell as we step back out into the street. My smile doesn’t feel forced anymore as I meet the woman’s warm eyes, gleaming under the lantern. "Do you want to find a bench and eat together? Unless you have someplace else to be?"

“Nope!” I say. “Eating together would be great.”

It doesn’t take long to find a nice bench. It overlooks the Symphony, but isn’t so close that my bread will become another sopping glob of rehydrated dough. You’d think for someone with good reflexes and decent balance, I’d be doing a better job at being a human being today. I sit and plop my backpack down beside me, just under a lantern.

”Thank you,” I say as I unwrap the bread, and I grin at Elizabeth. ”Really. I’ve been trading things, so losing the bread was more expensive than I’d have liked it to be.” I take a bite of the new sweet bread, and I curse through the mouthful as it practically melts in my mouth with how fluffy and rich it is. ”You’ve got one hell of a connection there. He said something about sessions?”

cause we waited years and years

just to make it worth the tears

to find out that we're not in this alone

so keep your head up high in these hours of the night

so when atlas drops the world on your shoulders, you still won't fall

Elizabeth

She settles into the bench next to Theea, pleased that she gets to enjoy some company while they eat. It makes her even more grateful when the woman talks of her struggles. Elizabeth isn't unfamiliar with the nomadic life of trading and bartering, having done plenty of it growing up, but it doesn't mean it's easy, and she frowns a little. "I'm sorry to hear about that. The Greatwood isn't the easiest place to make a living if you're not a Fae." Especially with the forest working for some people and against others. She thinks about the peculiarity as she dips a piece of sweet bread in the jam. 

Laughing at Theea's reaction, Elizabeth almost misses the question. "Hm? Oh. I'm a therapist. Sometimes people can't pay with money, so they offer goods or services. It sometimes has its perks." She glosses over the topic, aware that it can make people uncomfortable, thinking that she's always trying to 'fix' them. Sure, she analyzes interactions and intentions more than other people might, but she tries not give advice without people asking for it. 

Elizabeth takes a bite of the bread, giving her own dramatic groan that devolves into warm laughter. She smiles around the bite as she asks lightly, "You mentioned looking for family earlier? Did you lose them?" Aware that it might be a sensitive topic, she doesn't let her gaze linger too long, keeping her interest gentle and kind, open to however Theea might want to respond.

There is beauty in the journey, regardless of the outcome.
Let's grieve and hope and fight together.

Theea

I tilt my head a bit. Therapist. That’s a new one. ”Never actually met a therapist. You talk to people about their problems, right? Tell them how to figure it out?” I take another bite of the bread, thinking for a moment. ”My mom would never, but she could use that.” I smirk a little, though it’s shaded with sadness. I wonder, if she would just talk to someone about it all, would she be a different person?

Then comes the topic of lost family. I pull a flask of water from my bag, taking a small drink before offering it to Elizabeth with a brief, ”It’s just just water.” Some people don’t like sharing drinks, but I can’t not offer.

“I’ve never actually met them,” I reply. ”At least not since I was forming memories. I think I met them when I was very young. They’re my uncles—and I guess I’ve got cousins too.” I smile at that, eyes gleaming. ”It’s been like ten years since she’s spoken to them, so I’m going to find them to meet them for myself. Not related by blood, but she called them brothers.” Then I clear my throat a little. If she knows one legendary figure of leadership, maybe she knows others, too. ”The White Knight. And the Bastion. Have you heard of them?”

cause we waited years and years

just to make it worth the tears

to find out that we're not in this alone

so keep your head up high in these hours of the night

so when atlas drops the world on your shoulders, you still won't fall