|
|
Post by black379 on Mar 23, 2018 15:37:40 GMT -8
"No..." Adeney's shoulders sank and he stared dejectedly at nothing in particular. While he soaked in the water, he rubbed his hands and knuckles to wash some unseen stain from them. He looked to Florence as she submerged herself. Truthfully, it would have made no meaningful difference if she had been there with the extra supplies. Yet he clung to some irrational blame.
"Where were you?" His tone was apparently accusatory.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 23, 2018 16:23:49 GMT -8
"I was locating Celeste." Florence answered, seemingly unaware of the accusatory tone. She saw it as any other question.
She was scrubbing her unshaven underarms quite contentedly.
"I would have located you and Alphonse, as well, if Celeste were not in dangerous condition. You seemed to have returned before I did. It was fortunate."
|
|
|
|
Post by black379 on Mar 23, 2018 17:26:36 GMT -8
Adeney was frustrated by the woman doctor's ignorance. But what good did it really do to clutch this grief, insisting to pick at the scab. He sighed and sank further in the water, until it reached his sharp jawline. His head laid back on the edge of the tub and his eyes closed.
"I knew the girl. She didn't earn to die like that..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 23, 2018 19:29:05 GMT -8
Florence was now scrubbing behind her ears, frowning some as she felt a pimple.
Perhaps she wore the mask too long.
"No one chooses to die." She rubbed her fingers between her toes to clear the lint. "All we can do is accept it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 23, 2018 19:33:22 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
It was a spriteful jaunt into the Abbey, he found himself renewed with energy on bringing Florence some newfound peculiarities to poke and inspect. Though he wasn't too sure if she'd be interested at all... Want was her way.
Still, he eagerly pushed open the grand Abbey doors and shut them behind him, trailing some residual wetness in as he wiped off the shoebox sized crate he'd found. His mind raced over the countless variables, as Florence always listed off, though he still felt like he was missing some. And failing many of them.
It reminded him of his younger years, a peculiar train of thought that sparked back on the dreary beach with Courcy, who was ever intriguing but damnably off. He couldn't spell why, but he couldn't find himself to pursue the girl in any right outside of idle play. She was a grand friend, he knew, and it was bizarre to put off someone who offered themselves unto that level of trust, to lay with them so.
It was something he couldn't remember doing... Ever, until now.
The thought was unnerving and consuming enough to cloud his mind as he bumped into a monk on his ascent from the Undercroft; both muttered their apologies and carried on, thankfully, as Lekalis quickly opened the door, cradling the box in both his arms.
"Florence!" He called out with a grin that quickly faded, immediately noting a stark lack of the familiar scratching papyrus and pen.
With a hum, he saw to scouring the Archives best he could for Florence...
|
|
|
|
Post by black379 on Mar 23, 2018 19:40:42 GMT -8
She struck upon what had bothered him, that hadn't revealed itself until Florence spoke it plainly. In his haste, Adeney could never know what Silvant would have said, if she were able. Whether she had accepted her death or not, he had forced it on her.
"She was a young doctor. More talented than she would ever admit." He went on.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 23, 2018 20:21:48 GMT -8
"That would make sense." Florence agreed dryly, glancing up to the ceiling, "Talent is useless without diligence and discipline. The truly talented will only admit to the latter."
She slicked back soaked-straight bangs and made to depart from the bath once more, seeking a towel on the crate on the opposite side of the room.
"A pity that she died young."
|
|
|
|
Post by black379 on Mar 23, 2018 22:22:27 GMT -8
Adeney's eyes opened as he heard the woman stirring from her bath, only granting her a fleeting glance. He rubbed his shoulder beneath the water and scrubbed down his arm, careful not to irritate the sickly scars.
"Her name was Audrey. Doctor Silvant." He corrected abruptly, clearing his throat. "You may keep Celeste, and the other injured who were rescued in your mind, but... would you remember her too? For her sake."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 23, 2018 22:44:13 GMT -8
Florence thought on this a moment and found the request do-able, at the very least, although she did not understand the motive why.
"Hmm... Doctor Audrey Silvant. Diligent physician with great potential." She bent slightly, hanging her hair forward as she drew the towel over it to dry the strands.
When they were no longer dripping, she would wrap the towel about herself for decency's sake.
"Yes, yes... I shall remember her." She tapped her temple, as though she could submit information to remember through that alone. "I assume you will remember her, as well."
|
|
|
|
Post by black379 on Mar 24, 2018 7:03:23 GMT -8
Adeney scooped up handfuls of water to wash through his hair. His fingers combed through to undo knots and straighten his tousled locks. He was beginning to feel clean again.
"For as long as I live, I will." He answered readily, nodding toward Florence. He wondered if the other doctor really understood - she seemed rather aloof. But then again, no one was completely level headed after spending time in the Warrens' sewers.
"Thank you." Adeney took small comfort knowing he wouldn't be alone in carrying the girl's memory.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 24, 2018 7:32:15 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
Bookshelf after bookshelf, dusty table and shadowed crevice; neither bore any shiny-lens'd or gently snoozing Florence.
His heart slowly rose to his throat; perhaps he should have checked the graveyard first? How long had it been since he'd left? He'd only counted seven sun's passings, with this one verily being the seventh... But now, he worried.
Even if it was but an hour into his search, he worried. His hand saw to idly grooming the box; he'd said he'd leave it here for her but... he'd wanted to see her reaction to his diligence.
For once, he was able to finally and truly support her ventures. But what if she'd passed away?
It was only idle rumination, he told himself. It was fair to think on such terrible fates in such a terrible world, it was only natural and expected. He wasn't discouraged, she was surely in the Hamlet somewhere.
But he worried.
Chewing on his lower lip, his mind drifted to Tilly; what a fool he was to leave her unattended as well... She was laden with child, and tired and weak. She'd missed a meal before they marched. Courcy too... her arms needed tending sooner rather than later. The Sanitarium would have her wait t'ill her arms rotted off and--
His vision stopped racing in a blur of book cases and foggy lights to settle on a shock of ginger hair staring at him; the Quiet Monk was watching him with wide eyes before looking to the two buckets of water on a stick over his shoulders.
The boy gave a small, tentative smile before turning away and walking up and away from Lekalis.
With another, weary sigh, he looked down at himself; his cloak half tarred in blood still, not counting the mud and bits of deadwood sticking out from tedious creases.
He needed a bath... Clear his mind. It brought more welcome memories of the women who weighed so heavily in his life. There were a few shadows, sure, as he ascended the steps out of the Archives. But for the most part, they were happy.
Half a mind chuckled at the fact he'd sent Tilly out to talk to the Heir before bathing. Lekalis supposed it might do well to prove their venture wasn't founded on lies too much... Though they had pulled out early, a trick he'd need to learn for certain.
His wits coming back to him from the miasma of paranoia and logistical fretting, he slowly made his way back to the main hall of the Abbey, weaving his way over to the Bath-house door.
\\
/The Quiet Monk/
With some due haste, he quickly made his way back on track to the Bath-house; manoveuring the two bucks of water on a stick on his back so he might shove open the door to humbly enter his duties location.
He kept his head bowed, but noted the man and women sharing in idle conversation with some scrutiny, as he walked over to the man's tub and set down two fresh pales of water before making a quiet departure.
\\
|
|
|
|
The Abbey
Mar 24, 2018 8:01:35 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 24, 2018 8:01:35 GMT -8
Florence wasn't quite sure how to respond as she approached her satchel, left beside a bench.
It wasn't difficult to remember what little information she had been given.
She supposed the right thing to do was to say 'you're welcome,' so she said, "You are welcome."
As she scooped out the remainder of her gold and motioned to the quiet monk,
"This is payment for both of us."
|
|
|
|
Post by black379 on Mar 24, 2018 8:26:52 GMT -8
Rinsing his face, Adeney finished up washing himself. It was more to soothe than to clean anyways. He watched the monk come and go before rising from the tub and moving to fetch a towel himself. Once he was dry, the cloth was fastened about his waist and he stood by the other bath, with his robes soaked.
"Thank you again. I have coin." He offered Florence with a neutral look of his own.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 24, 2018 8:42:31 GMT -8
/The Quiet Monk/
He gave a passing glance over Florence, then to Adeney with some awkwardness as he waved his hands dismissively and pointed to the door a few times before quickly shuffling out; leaving the door open and minding his way past the slower Red cloaked Ex-Lord.
\\
/Lekalis/
He gave a passing nod to the boy in thanks as he made his way to the door and noted the voice of Florence; her monotonous drone impressively irreplaceable, it was enough to bring his mind back from the dim gutter it found itself in the Archives as he swept into the Bath-house with a grin that, in a fast gradient, slipped to something of surprise as he spied Adeney with his towel draped about him, and Florence there too.
With his mouth slightly parted, he seemed to stammer for words as his eyes flicked between them and he slowly closed the door behind him.
"Ah... Hello... There." He nodded, sizing Adeney's lanky frame up, then Florence's own. It was surprising she pursued a bath by her lonesome... Or, rather, paired with another.
Though he supposed she typically lacked the volition to do so alone. He pursed his lips, and habitually set a hand atop the pommel of his slightly bloody falchion, tapping it.
"Hello." He said again, to Adeney rather poignantly as Lekalis rolled his own dirtied and bloodied shoulders while looking to the soaked robes with a squint.
"Funny, I was looking for you, Florence." He offered a quick, rejuvenated smile for a moment towards Florence before making his way slowly over to a nearby basin.
He gave another quick 'Hello' to Adeney, and wondered if the current boiling sensation at the back of his mind was what Roderick felt. The thought was worrying on several layers, and his incapacity to fully grasp it was one of the reasons he gave the pale, sickly man a terse smile.
"What's your name then? New in town? You look frail..."
He spoke quickly, staring at Florence; his eyes horribly probing for small details, before suddenly turning on his heel to face Adeney and doing the same.
"... Frail folk don't fare well here."
\\
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 24, 2018 8:50:57 GMT -8
Florence smiled widely; an alien expression on a typically neutral visage.
"You have returned early, and safely. I am pleased." Her eyes looked him over, as though to visually scan for injuries.
"Are you well?"
She held out the coins to Lekalis in spite of Adeney's response.
"Here is payment."
|
|
