[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

[snowslip]

Of course, I'd be delighted. Ah, let me get ready.

[ Her voice grows livelier with a reserved kind of excitement. The talk of riding has her shoulders straighten and her footsteps light as she goes to fetch the saddle and reins. Though her woes may still weigh on her, it's hard to dwell on them in the presence of good company. Marianne feels at ease around Caitlyn and Toby which she isn't always around others. Perhaps because she's seen the way Caitlyn nursed the chocobo back to health; animals can reveal a great deal about a person's heart.

A little while later, Marianne leads a chestnut-brown horse over to them. A strong and fit mare able to race to someone's aid, but still with a gentle look in her eye. ]

I haven't introduced you to Dorte, have I? She's my good friend from home. I found her when she was alone and scared, a little like Toby.

[bulleting]

Take your time. I'll need to get Toby ready, too.

[Caitlyn smiles, seeing Marianne brighten as she did. She had worried a little about imposing on Marianne's quiet time, but if she truly didn't mind the company, Caitlyn really would like to join her.

While Marianne was preparing her horse for riding, Caitlyn got Toby's saddle and harness adjusted on him, and was just finishing tightening one of the straps as Marianne led her mare towards them. Caitlyn had seen the horse around the farm before, but this was the first time she was getting a proper introduction.]

Oh, she's beautiful. It's nice to meet you, Dorte. [She offers a hand for the horse as an introduction to her and her scent, knowing better than to make any sudden movements or attempts to touch the horse without permission.]

[snowslip]

[ Dorte lets out a snort as she sniffs Caitlyn, and after a moment, deems it comfortable enough to bump her snout against Caitlyn's outstretched hand. Her ears then perk towards the chocobo as if curious about Toby. Marianne watches the interaction with a smile. ]

Where do you usually take Toby? I know of a hill with a nice view of town.

[ Aldrip looks more like a metropolis these days, but the view still retained its beauty. ]

[bulleting]

[It isn't until Dorte bumps her hand that Caitlyn pets the horses' snout, rubbing gently, before giving a few scratches under her chin. Toby was also curious about Dorte, chirping and clicking his beak as he chanced giving her a few sniffs, as well. He seemed happy, because he hopped between feet and let out a signature "KWEH"]

It depends. Sometimes the coast, sometimes the more wooded paths. Whatever strikes my mood that day. But your suggestion sounds nice. I wonder if I've even been to this hill. [She was all for seeing something new! And given Marianne spent way more time outside of town at the farm, and probably wandering the neighboring areas, she probably did know of the best, less traveled spots.]

[snowslip]

[ Dorte appears to enjoy the attention, ears drooping in a relaxed manner and leaning into Caitlyn's touch. Having lived on the same farm as other chocobos for some time, neither is she startled by Toby's energetic greeting, sniffing the chocobo in return. ]

Alright. Then let's make our way there, and wherever else our mood takes us.

[ She isn't fussed. Perhaps Toby or Dorte will want to weigh in on their routes halfway in, too. Marianne swings herself onto her horse, having traded her usual dresses for riding breeches. She trots a few paces forward, then waits for Caitlyn and Toby to join them. ]

[bulleting]

Sounds perfect. [Caitlyn isn't terrible worried, either. Sometimes plans changed when out riding, like debris in the paths, or other hazards that came up, so she knew to be flexible. Just like how her plans today hadn't involved running into Marianne, but it was a welcome change from how she had originally expected today to go.

Once Marianne mounts Dorte, Caitlyn pulls herself up onto Toby. The chocobo seemed to realize what this meant, and chirped happily as Caitlyn guided him over to where Marianne waited.]

Lead the way?

[snowslip]

[ Dorte gives Toby a curious look, but she's always had a calm demeanor and quietly accepts the presence of a new companion on their trip today. Marianne sets Dorte to trotting at a leisurely pace as they depart the farm following the dirt path into the meadows. ]

How have you been, Caitlyn? So much has happened, I'm glad we have a moment of peace like this.

[bulleting]

[Caitlyn isn't far behind, guiding Toby down the path after Marianne. When they're finally past the bulk of the farm, she's able to use the extra space in the path to bring Toby more to the side of Dorte, rather than simply trailing behind anymore.

She doesn't mind the silence, knowing Marianne is more on the quiet side, but she doesn't mind continuing the conversation either, even if it's something hard for her to answer.]

Honestly? Mostly well, other than continuing to deal with my memories being off. It seems like whatever happened when the town changed didn't completely go away for me. [Even if it wasn't the AU memories that she had, her memories weren't right, and with each month that passed without it improving, it was getting more and more frustrating.]

But I'm glad we've had some peace since. It gives me time to work through it. Have you been well, at least?

[At least she knows her memories are wrong. Vi's corrected her, told her the truth, but that doesn't make remembering things incorrectly any better.]