agentlelog | ( log 01. 🔮 open / locked. )

Entry tags:

( log 01. 🔮 open / locked. )

Who: Zita and you.
When: Through February 12 and the rest of the month of February.
Where: The Queen's Residence and around the city.
What: Activities.
Warnings: None at the moment.

[ it'll be a busy time for zita. promises to keep. meetings to attend. people to meet, whether it's the first time or the third time this month. looking back, she's surprised by all the things she's going to do, but she strengthens her resolve to see all her things through.

if there's one thing she's proud of, it's her ability to keep her word.

that said... she does wonder what the days ahead will have in store for her as she begins to prepare for the day. will she make new friends? learn new things? reaffirm some thoughts she's had since her arrival? what will be in store for her and others in this brave new world they're in?

there's only one way to find out. ]

[ ooc; an all-month log! in the comments are top-levels that pertain to the events that will occur for zita during the month. i will note which are open and which are locked to specific players.

if you would like a your own locked top-level or want to plot something, feel free to hit up my hmd or my plurk over at prognostic! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Haein hasn't ventured too far into the city, and there's a lot he's still trying to get accustomed to. The deal he'd struck with Zita had come at an opportune moment, and it's time he delivers on his end.

He heads over to the entrance of the Queen's residence and spots her easily, then makes his way over. He returns her polite greeting with a small nod of his head, giving off the impression that he was probably raised by wolves and never learned proper manners. ]

No, I'm ready.

[ A bit sore from the early morning training, but that's what he gets for refusing to move out. ]

Let's get going.

[ the greeting he gives is the sort of greeting she's used to back at the carnival. the lone wolves and the quiet souls of the carnival were likely to give that sort of reply, if they felt like giving a reply at all. (hmm... now that she thinks about it, haein reminds her a lot of some individuals back at the carnival.)

nodding at his answer, she begins towards the exit of the queen's residence after she checks her supplies one last time.

now time for, perhaps, the most difficult aspect of this activity for the two of them: idle chat. with how the streets are quiet and the present vendors sleepy and the chatter in the air being more of a lull than a wave - something needs to be done to fill the silence between the two. ]

How have you been since we last spoke? [ she can't help but think of her fortune telling session with him. ] Adjusting to life in the city and the residence well enough?

[ He falls into step beside her as they exit the residence and make their way into the streets. The fact that it's quiet and not bustling with too many people allows for a sense of ease to come over Haein, and while he would have been fine spending the entire outing in silence, he doesn't mind the questions.

This is... what? The fourth time they've spoken and the third time they've met face to face? They don't know much about each other, but Zita's becoming something of a familiar presence for Haein. ]

Still getting used to it.

[ It's taking longer than he'd like, but there's progress being made. ]

Things are a lot worse here than I imagined.

[ her expression grows grave and somber at haein's observation. she nods along to it, directing her eyes back to their current path. ]

I suppose that's why the Queen has asked for so many of us to answer her call. It'll take a lot of hands to help set this world right while we're here.

[ though the definition of 'right' is up in the air with how many people are being involved in this. like all things steeped in politics and affiliations, everyone and anyone has their own desires and wants and needs. it makes zita's skin crawl to be involved in this once more but- she's here for a reason. she has a goal to accomplish and something to gain herself.

up ahead, a man and a woman are walking towards haein and zita. something about the two cause zita to cock her head in faint recognition. it's been a while since zita got to travel for leisure, meaning she hasn't been able to visit folks she's trying to build ties with but-

aren't they the ones they helped with at the auction...? ]

Do they look familiar to you? [ given that haein was her partner that day, it wouldn't hurt to get his opinion. ]

[ Occasionally he'll find his thoughts steeped in doubts as to if they can even help, but he's always been more of a cynic than anything else. It's going to be a long process to see any kind of progress, and Haein has to constantly remind himself of what's on the line.

He's never had to do anything as important as setting a whole world right, but if it means breaking his curse, he's all for it.

His thoughts are broken into when Zita points out the man and woman, and Haein eyes them suspiciously at first. It's when they get a bit closer that his expression changes into one of recognition. ]

The crippled man and his wife. [ Haein?? That's kind of an awful way to remember him by. ] The ones with the roof problem.

[ They probably swapped names with them at some point, but this is Haein and like hell if he remembers. ]

[ to be fair to him... that's a very accurate observation. a rude observation but accurate nonetheless.

the description (and added information) helps finally place the two before her. just in time, too, ]

Katarine! Beryon! [ the couple had swapped names with haein and zita during the roof proofing. zita remembers them easily, now that she can place their faces from somewhere before.

she hurries ahead and is soon clasping her hands gently around katarine's in greeting. it seems she's fond of these two if the quiet cheeriness of her voice and genuine concern is to be believed. ] It's so good to see you two again. I hope all is well. Is your hand still troubling you, Beryon?

[ it is, lady, he answers in a polite and friendly voice, happy to see the kind souls who helped him and his wife in the past. he makes a point to bow his head in haein's direction, more than eager to acknowledge the young man's presence. it's why we're planning to visit a healer today. ]

[ The names are ringing a bell now. If asked, he would have guessed that they started with... consonants, or some other vague description like that.

While Zita hurries on ahead to greet them, Haein takes his time trailing after her. It doesn't take long to reach the couple, and he hangs back as they swap pleasantries. He's not really one to engage in or strike up conversation, and just like before when they'd first helped out with the roof, Haein lets Zita do most of the talking.

He does at least have the decency to nod stiffly as Beryon bows to him. But hey, visiting a healer? What a coincidence. ]

Zita's a healer.

[ The information is offered up clumsily, almost as if Haein figures he should interject somewhere. Look, he's not the greatest at social situations, but he's trying here. ]

[ beryon looks surprised by the information - almost suspicious and unsure, if the tight frown that comes and goes on his face is to be believed - but katarine? she's clearly ecstatic when she turns back to zita, the delight obvious in her smile.

you're a healer, my dear? there's a way she says the word 'healer' while speaking. like there's a specific role. there's something hopeful in her words as well. i didn't know that at all. ]

Ah- It's because I'm not an official one in this world's standards. I do offer healing services.

[ before beyron can say anything, katarine pushes on, will payment be needed? because we are in need of aid and we have payment at the ready if you need money. ]

I would love to help you and for free as well. [ she gestures behind her and haein, indicating the path. ] Please. Find a place to sit. I think I saw a bench earlier.

[ katarine profusely thanks zita and haein while dragging her husband behind him, now in search of a bench for them to rest on. it's nearby enough that they don't need to talk too far, but far enough that zita and haein can have a private conversation once more.

zita turns to him, her expression one of gratitude. between fixing the roof and getting to know the couple better, she had completely forgotten to inform the pair about her magic. ] Thank you for telling them that, Haein.

[ Haein lapses right back into silence as Zita and the couple continue with their conversation. He's done his part by speaking three words, and it looks like what he'd said is being met favorably.

But he still looks puzzled when Zita turns back to him to thank him. All he'd done was mention she was a healer?

He glances over to the couple making their way to the bench, then back at Zita. ]

Is that really something worth thanking me for?

[ He sounds as confused as he looks, expression also appearing skeptical. Zita's thanked him so many times over the course of their meetings that he's starting to wonder if this is just a thing that she does. ]

[ well- haein isn't wrong. this is a thing zita does. though she likes to think she does it for a good reason.

like now: ] It is to me.

If you hadn't told them that I was a healer, I don't think we would be helping them right now. [ she would have assumed they weren't interested in her services, working on the assumption she had informed them about it during their last meeting together.

perhaps she would have realised it down the line and corrected that mistake. perhaps they would have spoken a bit longer and this tidbit would have been revealed regardless. but it's better that it's revealed now than later. ]

I like to think this help them in the long run and that's important. We're here to help others here in our own ways, after all.

[ There's a bit of difficulty following this line of thinking from Haein. He still doesn't entirely get it, and he's certainly not about to say anything like "You're welcome" in a way a well-adjusted, normal person might do.

What he can do is offer a half-hearted shrug, and a short verbal agreement. ]

... Okay.

[ And then he'll follow that up with a subject change so they can move on from this topic and never visit it again. ]

Come on. They're waiting.

Alright. [ she knows when to drop a subject and haein makes it clear when he wants a subject to be dropped. they make a great team when it comes to avoiding certain topics. ] Let's get going.

[ katarine and beryon are already settled on the bench when zita and haein arrive there.

it isn't long before katarina and zita gravitate towards the other, catching up while zita gets out some of her prepared ointments and salves to see if they could be used first to help beryon with his crippled hand. ]

-I've been doing well enough. I've been taking classes with the Head Healer of the Queen's Courts. Hopefully it'll give me insight of how to better conduct myself with others...

[ while the women chat, it seems beryon and haein are left to their own awkward and silent devices.

for a bit. beryon clears his throat, pressing his good hand against while he speaks in a gruff voice, and you? how have you been?

beryon is clearly not much of a talker and is doing everything he can to keep his eyes anywhere but the strangers. maybe his wife convinced him to try and bond with haein while she speaks with zita...? (why, though??) ]

[ There is going to be zero bonding with Haein because bonding with Haein is an impossible task.

Still, he can at least try to be civil. These people have done nothing to offend him which means they're already miles ahead of some of the others Haein has had the great misfortune of meeting.

But at the same time, he'd agreed to come to this thing with the intention of learning for himself what Zita had been taught, and also to familiarize himself with the area, not idle chitchat. ]

Fine.

[ The answer to Beryon's question is curt. Almost too curt and Haein realizes it a second too late. He grimaces, trying to keep his attention on both Beryon and Zita. Maybe he's looking for cues from her, maybe he's trying to mentally communicate (but not actually with a psychic link) that they should hurry this along, or maybe he's just trying to do his job as an escort and keep an eye on her.

Probably all of the above.

But he does try to add more to his end of the conversation with Beryon, though he does seem distracted when he says, ]

I guess you've seen better days.

[ Alright, Haein, still rude. But not incorrect! What with him needing a healer and all. ]

[ the man laughs at the blunt honesty. it seems he appreciates that.

damn right i have. used to have two working hands but got into an accident with some blee- beryon stops himself, his eyes flicking back to zita and to the jewel she wears in her hair. he sighs and corrects himself, got into an accident with some men in the past. been paying for it since.

that seems to be all beyron was willing to say since he falls into silence, keeping to himself. his wife sending him looks now and then or not.

finally, the women stop talking to each other now that zita has given some things to katarina. ]

Unfortunately, I'm unable to heal permanent conditions. I can prescribe you some medicines that should help lessen symptoms, and I can also remove some of the pain Katarina told me you're experiencing at the moment.

[ the first thing he asks is, will it be safe...? ]

It is. I promise you, I'll do my best to make sure this is painless as possible and my magic won't harm you. [ she turns to haein now, no doubt hoping to have confirmation from a second party to assuage beryon's suspicions. ] Right?

[ Haein doesn't mind as Beryon falls into silence as he lapses into one of his own. He doesn't exactly know what to say about how Beryon came to lose the function of one of his hands, and considering Haein doesn't do genuine pity or sympathy, neither of those are an option.

Thankfully, Zita and Katarina seem mostly done with what they were doing.

Haein listens attentively as they go through more of the conversation. When Zita addresses him, he looks a bit surprised. He hadn't expected his own opinion to be counted in any way, but he quickly recovers to answer her. ]

Right. She knows what she's doing.

[ He's seen Zita in action before and that's been enough to tell him that Katarina and Beryon are in capable hands. ]

[ zita looks up at haein when he expresses his confidence in her. she smiles at him, grateful that he's willing to play along.

beryon is- isn't entirely comforted, due to his own personal reasons, but everyone seems confident enough that he's willing to give this a try. it helps that haein strikes him as a to the point sort of man. he can trust that more.

so he grunts his consent to have zita help him and both zita and beryron's wife are happy now. katarine is happy because her husband is getting help that could aid him in the long run, instead of the little intervals that they struggle to shore up the funds for, and zita-

well. zita can tell that this will be a good day for her and haein, beryon and katarine, she's sure of it. ]

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( log 01. 🔮 open / locked. )

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