[open] harpstring moon catch-all

[snowslip]

Who: Marianne and you!
Where: Around Aldrip
What: Catch-all log
Warnings: N/A


i.

[ Though Marianne has made her life in Aldrip for many moons now, the remodeling of town has her losing her way. You might run into her doubling back around, entering an establishment only to quickly excuse herself, or stumbling into shadier alleys looking terribly out of place for a woman of the cloth. ]

Excuse me— where is this?

[ Apart from running her usual errands, she can also be found putting up recruitment posters around town for the Artzenritter healer troop. Come take a look? Or perhaps lend a hand at graphic design, technology is a struggle. ]

ii.

[ The memories of the other Aldrip linger, an alternate life where she wasn't plagued by her Crest and she held hope and confidence in herself that she never knew she could. On one sleepless night, she writes an anonymous message to the network after much fiddling with the new charms. ]

I still feel troubled by the memories of the other life we lived. Is it the same for anyone else?

[ If you know her already, she may feel comfortable enough to confess in person. ]

Some days, I feel like I don't know which of my memories to trust.

[ ooc: Her usual haunts are the Willow Clinic where she'll be trying to ease pollen symptoms this month and Astralin's farm and the surrounding meadows where she can be found tending to chocobos and her horse Dorte. Feel free to PM or ping me at ahlyo for a custom starter! ]

Comments

@minato

[snowslip]

Her name's Myrtle and she's a gentle one. You'll be in good hands.

[ Marianne rubs the horse's shoulders affectionately as she introduces her friend. She can think of none more suitable than the mare with her calm disposition for a beginner to ride. Spring wildflowers are in full bloom and the sun shines down on them gently where she stands outside the stables with Minato. Quiet as they are, they'd exchanged a few words in passing since he joined the troupe, but it wasn't until he brought Koromaru in one day that the ice broke and Marianne began to ease into conversation. She feels comfortable striking one up now. ]

Um, I'm curious. What made you want to join the Artzenritter?

[memori3s]

[ That's the nice thing about animals, always excellent in fostering a comfortable environment for fellow introverts. Koromaru's not here today though. It's just Minato, who offers Marianne a small nod in response to her reassurances.

Fortunately, she's asked an easy question. He'd joined the Artzenritter for the same reason why Minato did anything at all. ]

Ethlyn asked if I wanted to join.

[ It was the first thing the woman asked as soon as she'd learned Minato had access to healing magic. That seemed a little more important to the Artzenritter's mission compared to whether or not someone knew how to ride a horse, but really, he probably should know how to do that. ]

...I didn't see any reason to say no.

[snowslip]

Really? Just to help us out?

[ Their numbers have been dwindling and Marianne had been saddened to see one of their long-time members return home even knowing that he is where he should be. She's glad to welcome Minato into their troupe (and honorary member Koromaru, it shouldn't be forgotten!). What with the persistent strange happenings around Aldrip, there continues to be need for the Artzenritter to act. Her hands goes to affix the saddle to the horse and she smiles. ]

You're very kind.

[memori3s]

[ There's a part of Minato that feels Marianne's giving him too much credit. He's perfectly content to help the Artzenritter out, but he can't say he'd specifically agreed out of the goodness of his heart. Not necessarily, anyways.

Sometimes, it's easier to say yes instead of no.

It's why Minato finds himself shaking his head as Marianne smiles. Surely, it's not that big of a deal, even if he'll always inherently want to help others however he can. ]

I just... didn't want to say no.

[ ... ]

But now that I'm here, I should learn how to ride a horse.

[ Step 1 of joining horseback medical troupe: failed. ]

[snowslip]

[ Hearing him put it like that, Marianne wonders if Minato had a hard time saying no to people. She knows she herself is easily pressured and would have found it difficult to refuse a sincere request. ]

If it turns out that it's not, um, not to your liking, you don't have to stay. We'd just be grateful for the help you've given us.

[ She knows Ethlyn would feel the same. Not knowing how to ride a horse is no problem, she'd be happy to show him. She just hopes he's happy being part of the troupe. ]

Here. I'll show you how to put on a saddle, then you can try it.

i.

[melnik]

[ The change in scenery did certainly take some getting used to. The sheer increase in the number of buildings made navigation much more difficult in the early days. Miller, however, has not necessarily found the adaptation hard for those reasons. For him, the trouble exists more with the implications. If something were to disrupt this, would the entire world change once again in the blink of an eye?

Of course, he cannot say, but forced to acclimate, he keeps what could perhaps be seen as an over-vigilant attitude in the current task he's found for himself.

And right now that's security for the casino. When he witnesses Marianne in the alleyway outside, he is quick to approach her—though the suspicion is really not directed toward her personally. ]

We are outside the casino. Is there some place you were headed, young lady? This is not the best area to be wandering around.

[ Take it from him. He's seen some weirdos in these parts. ]

[snowslip]

[ Ah, a casino. Marianne has visited an establishment like it before, when the first casino had been built on the fringes of what used to be a quiet town. The glitz and glamour of the gambling den was lost on her as someone who finds no pleasure in the pursuit of wealth, and the presence of a stern-looking guard makes her wring her hands self-consciously. ]

Ah, I am paying a house call to a patient and I was sure this was the address... Do you know if there are residential areas nearby, sir?

[ It's possible the home is still nearby, just shuffled with the rest. In that case, she doesn't want to give up before scouring the alley. ]

ii

[baldrshand]

[Ethlyn is busy with a dusting cloth in the clinic's kitchen--open windows in the springtime are a must, but that does let in the pollen, and she's a little distressed that the cloth is coming away a distinct shade of yellow-green--but she pauses when Marianne says that.]

Neither do I. [She sighs.] I do believe I know the reason why, now, but... that doesn't make it much easier to deal with.

[snowslip]

[ Marianne had been sorting through a drawer and refilling it with gloves and supplies, but now her hands go still as her thoughts cloud her. ]

It's just. Hard to let go of those memories.

[ The life she lived had felt so real. Her expression turns wistful and her voice quiet. ]

Do you feel like you were happier in that other life?

[baldrshand]

[Ethlyn contemplates the question for a moment. Was she happier? She was a widow still, childless, she had a reputation as the town's fussy busybody.

But it was a life without war--a future that, while change, had not ben cut down. She had lost her husband, but she had not failed anyone, the way she had failed her children, her brother, and her country.]

...Yes. [When she looks at it honestly, yes. It had been a happier life.] Despite the loss of my husband, I was... unburdened, except with those things I chose to burden myself with. I wasn't weighed down by the past.

That was probably why I avoided regaining more than a few memories.

What of you?

[snowslip]

I was the same. I looked away from my real memories because I didn't want to accept the me I saw in them.

[ The person she is now is plagued with worries and self-loathing. Becoming a disciple of Aldrip's religious order, on the other hand, was horrifying in retrospect, but there were other aspects of her life - being born without a Crest, having a family again - that brought her happiness only to have it snatched away when she awakened to reality. ]

[baldrshand]

[Ethlyn looks up at Marianne in surprise. She had thought the answer might be similar to her own. Levi had, after all, suggested that there was no shame in not wishing to regain memories of war and horror, and Marianne is such a gentle person.

But why would she not like the self who was in those memories? Of course, Ethlyn knows about the curse Marianne fears, and besides that, her uncertainties about her position as her father's heir. But she is a kind and honorable soul.]

What did you not like about her...? [Ethlyn shakes her head. It's a tactless way to ask.] Did it show you only what you feared?

wildcard

[bulleting]

[Thanks to the new setup in Aldrip, it wasn't nearly as easy to keep a chocobo in the city. The growth of the city itself was one thing, but also the new and increasing changes in technology meant it wasn't as safe to keep him there, and the significant decrease in green spaces meant less room for him to run around and stretch his legs. This meant leaving him more and more at Astralin's farm, which means her visits to the farm increased more, to spend time with her bird and just enjoy the fresh air that came with the open fields outside of Aldrip.

That's where she was today, cleaning the stall and overall just tending to the bird. She's so engrossed in his grooming and care that she doesn't even realize anyone else was in the vicinity.]

Doesn't that feel much better, being clean again?

[snowslip]

[ In all honesty, the new Aldrip has caused Marianne some grief not just because she must relearn her way around town and adapt to the mystery that is modern technology, but because it had ushered in noise and traffic. Marianne takes ever more solace in Astralin's farm where it's peaceful and quiet, and she's nearly moved in by now with how often she stays over to look after the animals. It's on the farm that she encounters a familiar face today. ]

Hello, Caitlyn. It's good to see you.

[ She announces her presence softly, observing them with a smile. ]

Toby looks especially delighted today.

[bulleting]

[Caitlyn turns at the sound of the voice, unable to help but smile in response to spotting the familiar face.]

I was hoping I'd see you today. How are you, Marianne?

[It's always nice, running into her. It seems she spends most of her time here, at the farm, since that's where Caitlyn seems to spot her more often than not these days. Caitlyn worries about her being isolated outside of town like this, but there are others that help on the farm, and she reminds herself that some might find more solace in the quiet with just the animals, too.

At the mention of Toby, he chirps in reply, rustling his feathers happily. He likes Marianne, too, of course. She did help save him, after all.]

Yes, he's rather fond of grooming days, which is a blessing. I can only imagine what a pain it would be trying to tend to him if he didn't.

[snowslip]

Well. Looking very handsome, Toby.

[ Marianne looks the chocobo up and down as if appraising Caitlyn's handiwork, complimenting him with a soft laugh. His feathers now possess a healthy sheen and his movements are full of vigor in stark contrast to the injured bird they found moons ago, and she thanks the heavens for his smooth recovery. ]

I'm doing alright.

[ She has worries on her mind, as is typical for her, and her gaze lowers briefly in thought, but she soon raises her head again. In the company of animals, she can never stay depressed for long. ]

The weather's so nice, I thought I would take Dorte out for a ride.

[bulleting]

[It is remarkable, isn't it? To think of how far the bird had come. But it was in large part thanks to Marianne. Caitlyn might have been the one to find him, but his recovery was in large part thanks to Marianne helping her. Neither Caitlyn, nor Toby it seemed, had forgotten it.

Caitlyn still had trouble deciphering Marianne's moods. She was always so quiet and kept to herself, so she was never sure if something was ever on her mind or bothering her. She hoped, after everything, Marianne wouldn't be afraid to talk to her, but it was obvious the other woman was most definitely more at peace in the presence of animals.]

If that's the case, mind if Toby and I join you? I was thinking of taking a ride, myself. [It was hard to resist, when the weather was this pleasant. It was only a matter of time before the heat of summer arrived, so they needed to enjoy it while they could.]

i

[entreats]

[ Ange does stare a little as she watches Marianne stumble about like that. It does seem like there's something up with the other - and since Ange herself is rather quick at adapting to new places and memorizing them, she doesn't even realise that Marianne's problem could just be that she doesn't know the city well yet. So she imagines the cause could be something worse.

It's enough to move her to action, even if Ange would never admit to worrying about the other. She moves across the street when she watches Marianne head into an alleyway that Ange knows to be shady, grabbing a gentle hold of the other's arm to keep her from entering.

Her expression is vaguely troubled. Just a bit more of a pinched brow than Ange's usual poker face. ]

.. Marianne? What are you doing?

[snowslip]

[ Over the past year, Marianne had gotten to know the quaint little town of Aldrip by heart. Now the town can't be called little the way it's sprawling with concrete buildings. A modern youth would have reached for their mAPPS app and navigated themselves around, but the charms that Marianne was just getting used to have now gone and transformed into a whole new device. Goddess have mercy.

She startles when her arm is grabbed onto, but seeing who it is, her shoulders relax. ]

Oh, Ange—hello. I'm looking for a store around here.

[entreats]

I don't think you're going to find it in there.

[ Unless Marianne was looking for something really shady. But even if Ange might not claim to know absolutely everything about the other - far from it, really - she does figure that Marianne really does not seem like the type of person to be looking for something like that.

So even though she slowly releases her hold on the other's arm, Ange still stays right next to her, like she's ready to try and stop her in case Marianne wants to head down the back alleys after all. It doesn't show all that much on her face now, but there's still a bit of that worry. ]

I mean.. [ ... ] What kind of store were you even looking for?

[snowslip]

It was a shop that sold medical supplies. I thought I would pick up more needles and gauze for the clinic... but the town's changed so suddenly from when we first arrived.

[ Marianne murmurs, wringing her hands in thought. Most likely, the shop that used to be here had packed up and left. The needles actually being sold are not the kind she's thinking of... ]

wildcarding if that's okay!!

[feintofhart]

[ It's been a while since Claude and Marianne had a chance to catch up. Honestly, things have been strange ever since Aldrip changed on them; they had to grapple not only with trying to navigate this strange new place filled with strange new technologies, but also had to grapple with an entirely different life inside their heads.

An entirely different life where he and Marianne were at each other's throats, and not in the fun way. Sure, his own lot was a sobering reminder of how he could have acted if he'd gone down a different route, but Marianne had been in a cult -- a cult that probably wasn't so different from the Church, if Claude is being honest.

In short, he's worried for her. Which is how he winds up at the Clinic's break room with a thermos of tea and a basket of goodies, knocking on the doorway. ]

I hear the world's best healer is on her break right now, [ he says, sing-song. Don't tell Ethlyn he said that. ] Can I come in?

perfect!

[snowslip]

Um, I believe Ethlyn's with a patient for...

[ Marianne trails off when it hits her that by 'world's greatest healer', Claude is referring to her, and she flushes pink to her cheeks. Why...he shouldn't tease her like so!

Her vexation fades quickly though, nothing like the exasperation she had held for him back in that strange other world. Marianne has returned to her withdrawn self, and for the past month she'd had trouble meeting his eyes, too shocked and embarrassed by her previous behavior. She looks askance now, her fingers fidgeting with the sleeves of her medical gown. ]

What brings you here, Claude?

[feintofhart]

C'mon, you can't tell me I was talking about anyone besides you.

[ He waltzes in like he owns the place. He can see the hesitance in her frame, the hunching of her shoulders, the way her eyes flit to look everywhere but his face. It's been like this for a while now, and Claude has been afraid to ask if it's because she was horrified by his behaviour or her own, in that strange little town. He had been a philanderer, a drunkard, an enabler, a cad. And she had become a religious zealot, regarding the world through theological blinders.

It had exacerbated the worst parts of them. None were so strange to feel as though it wasn't a path they'd go down, once upon a time. Still, he marches forward, refusing to look away, as though he feels none of the awkwardness between them. ]

Treats, [ he says, taking out a thermos and unscrewing it, filling the breakroom with the warm smell of cinnamon, and then setting some pastries on the table. ] Cinnamon tea and sweet buns. The baker assured me they're quite good.

[ Marianne's favourites, not Claude's. He's never had much of a sweet tooth. ]

I thought we could catch up. I haven't seemed to be able to pin you down, these days.

[snowslip]

Oh...Thank you. They look good. I'll just—

[ Distractedly, Marianne makes space on the break room table for the treats, taking the long route around the room to put a book away. Claude appears ever himself, like he's already put those strange events behind him. Marianne still recalls that other world vividly, sometimes with lingering confusion, sometimes with horror.

She almost can't recognize herself in the woman who had been so self-assured and yet assuredly wrong in her faith. The things she had said to him... She cringes to think about it. How can he act like nothing has happened between them? ]

I've been busy lately...

[ Marianne trails off. Certainly, she has her work cut out between the farm and the clinic, and this season's pollen symptoms have brought an influx of patients, but in the past she's managed her busy schedule and still showed her face at Claude's apothecary to pick up herbs and spoil Zafeera with treats. Put plainly, she's been avoiding him. ]