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@windmaedchen-lavinia
// This is a small and simple rp-blog for Lavinia, a knight of the Heroic Order. I will likely rarely use it. ;-)
// Lavinia's timeline is following real-time the development of AFK Journey. She has reunited with Valen about 9 months ago (events of Knight of the Dark) and is currently stationed in Holistone.
Lavinia grabs the hilt of her sword nervously, as she stands in the chamber in front of Eryndor. Her luck that Merlin had already gone through the difficulty of claiming an audience with the Solitary, so her visit was simple. The task, however, was not.
She takes a deep breath and clears her throat. The gentleman is waiting after all.
"I am Lavinia, colleague and ... girlfriend of Valen. I need not explain who he is, do I? I simply wish to inquire if there is anything I should know before he and I-- before we tie the knot."
(@windmaedchen-lavinia)
Valen... that name certainly does ring a bell.
Ah, I remember now. The young man whom I had banned from the Pavilion five years ago for disrupting the balance of the games. His card skills were certainly... memorable.
Unfortunately, that meant many dissatisfied customers complaining of their chances being stripped away in his presence.
As an organisation who prioritises fairness above all else, I am sure you understand that something simply had to be done.
...But even so, I see that fortune has continued to smile upon that young man. I must admit, I had not expected him to get engaged so soon.
But regardless... allow me to convey my sincerest wishes for your happiness with him.
Lavinia's grip on her sword loosens as her shoulders drop in surprise.
"He was ... he was that good?"
She knows that Valen's card skills are good. After all he just recently had entered a local casino and successfully concluded the related case. But she frankly had just attributed that to luck. If this is his background, though, then no wonder does he know so well.
"And that is all?", she continues carefully. "You have offered this information so willingly, I can't help but wonder..."
...Yes, I can assure you that is all.
As for this information on his card skills... heh, it's hardly a secret. Feel free to ask any of the regular customers, or even my dearest receptionist Mei... and they will tell you the same.
"... No, that won't be necessary. I believe you. I just didn't think--"
Lavinia stops herself. She DOES think him to be a troublemaker at times, so really she shouldn't be that surprised. After a sigh, she gently straightens her back and nods at the gentleman before her.
"Well, since you have nothing to prevent me from doing so... I shall keep Valen tied in Holistone and away from your establishment."
"Thank you for your time. You have eased my mind tremendously. May business be ... smooth, for you."
Lavinia grabs the hilt of her sword nervously, as she stands in the chamber in front of Eryndor. Her luck that Merlin had already gone through the difficulty of claiming an audience with the Solitary, so her visit was simple. The task, however, was not.
She takes a deep breath and clears her throat. The gentleman is waiting after all.
"I am Lavinia, colleague and ... girlfriend of Valen. I need not explain who he is, do I? I simply wish to inquire if there is anything I should know before he and I-- before we tie the knot."
(@windmaedchen-lavinia)
Valen... that name certainly does ring a bell.
Ah, I remember now. The young man whom I had banned from the Pavilion five years ago for disrupting the balance of the games. His card skills were certainly... memorable.
Unfortunately, that meant many dissatisfied customers complaining of their chances being stripped away in his presence.
As an organisation who prioritises fairness above all else, I am sure you understand that something simply had to be done.
...But even so, I see that fortune has continued to smile upon that young man. I must admit, I had not expected him to get engaged so soon.
But regardless... allow me to convey my sincerest wishes for your happiness with him.
Lavinia's grip on her sword loosens as her shoulders drop in surprise.
"He was ... he was that good?"
She knows that Valen's card skills are good. After all he just recently had entered a local casino and successfully concluded the related case. But she frankly had just attributed that to luck. If this is his background, though, then no wonder does he know so well.
"And that is all?", she continues carefully. "You have offered this information so willingly, I can't help but wonder..."
"Alright, that's about it, I'm retiring"
"Holistone is now in the hands of @sir-valen, good luck"
Oh, come on, General. You're not that heartless are you? We've been so busy here in Holistone already, and now you want to dump even more work on me?
Nope. Absolutely not. Try again in about a decade.
"Hahahaha."
Lavi gently chuckles. Something about the situation amused her. Was it the obvious fake, uncaring nature and lack of responsibility of her General, who would never dream to simply step out of his duties like that without proper preparation? Was it the fact that Valen reacted too seriously to it? Or perhaps that both knew how ridiculous it was and still played along? She calmed herself and gently shook her head.
"General, I am afraid I must remind you of the procedures necessary for such a step. If you insist, I will get the papers for you and personally deliver them to Savannah... or... perhaps you wish to take some time off first, privately, without much fuss? Rest assured, both Valen and I will make sure things keep running smoothly."
She pushes her elbow into Valen's side, a smirk on her face.
"Isn't that so, Valen?"
have you ever used your sword to chop wood? valen did
"No, I have not. And Valen shouldn't either. Goodness gracious, swords are not suitable to chop wood with."
There is a hint of exasperation in her expression as she imagines Valen trying to slice chunks of wood. She sighs deeply. "I hope Stormcaller is undamaged... and that Valen learned a lesson."
' Dear Lavi, How's it been (thsese) - (these) sheesh, Common tongue decided to (sya). ...Say, bye-bye tonight it seems. There goes the first paragraph of my letter. How's it been lately? I heard General Hogan escaped death by a hair because of Priestess Velara's orders, and, also the gist of what happened to Sal'thorin. (Mostly from whispers on the winds around Ryeham, plus Valen and Kallina -my baby sister- filling me on the matter when I last went to Holistone.) I hope this letter finds you all well and thriving - And you're all taking good care of yourselves as each other. I... actually was planning on coming by with Carol, Callan & fam but.. Well you know how chaotic and whimsy Merlin can get on my end, so I'm hesitant to plan any trips. I'm not making any promises, but do hope Mr. Loony mage settles down a bit 'n lets me actually visit without worrying he'd pull some antics. (I swear he's like Igor and Berial fused into one..not in the fun, goofy way only.) Maybe I could let Berial keep him busy to buy me "time-off"...? Thoughts, thoughts; (Also I'd be lying if I say the rumors of a blood moon & war on the horizon don't bother me.. It's probably best I stay out of it but knowing my luck sometimes? I won't be surprised if I find myself on the front lines. Also I hear Soren will be a fellow teammate/crewmate this time around since it's the desert. It's.. kinda how I found out about this war thing- Alsa and Soren wrote to me recently half on behalf of Brutus: To warn of this. Apparently there are tensions between Maulers and Lightbearers in that territory that might be rising to conflict..) Hope to see you folks in person (cause this letter is already almost as long & rambling as Lorsan's and I apparently got a lot to say.) - Hugs & best regards to all, your Work-addict ---"Little Finch" @eclipse-descendant
With a cheeky smile, Lavinia waves the paper of the letter in front of Valen's nose. "I'll be busy answering this, so the dishes will be your task today."
"Just - today." He responds and pats her thigh before she gets up to grab a pen and delve into her response.
Dear Vanja, thanks a lot for your letter! We are doing fine, really. It's not very busy at the moment, so thankfully we can actually enjoy our time off and won't have to rush in for some extra hours. The same applies to General Hogan. He is still, in some way, recovering from his trip to Brimstone Village. It is still not public knowledge but there is an underground society living beneath the mines, that was protected by the dwarfes for centuries! The General was taken down there and it has really shaken him up! Thankfully my Magister Merlin was there to get him back and thanks to the work of and the contacts among the Solitaires, he was instantly taken care of once back on the surface. He will be fine, I am certain. Oh, it would be so lovely to see you and Carolina again! The others, too. Valen and I have asked for some time off BEFORE the usual chaos of the Winter Carnival, so we might come round Cedartown ourselves. We will be in touch about that. As for the new Blood Moon news... we have heard something similar. The Solitaries are on it. Hopefully it won't be dragging you into it, because you really should not need to solve the problems of others all the time. The Maulers we have met are our friends, so I hope they will do everything to avoid conflict.... but I can tell already... in the end... you are just as good as my own Merlin. If there really IS a problem and your friends are concerned? You won't rest until everything is resolved! In that case, don't forget that you have people around you to help. You are not alone. And I am certain that Ludovic has no intention to see you fight alone. In that regard, perhaps I should wish us both luck for the future. May we both be strong enough to protect and love enough to be protected. No matter what comes, we shall meet when the snow comes! Promise! Give my warmest regards to everyone. Yours Lavinia
A Tired Essail Guard appears in front of Lavinia outside Holistone from a flash of blue light. She is bathed in a faint purple glow. She yawns before speaking.
"Toplander. I am here on orders from @high-priestess-velara. Have you come across any foreign documents?"
Lavinia looks up in some surprise. Even though the contact with Magister Merlin allowed her to get used to magical appearances out of nowhere, she didn't quite think it was possible, or necessary, in the outskirts of Holistone.
Still, even though she has never seen a design such as this, she recognizes the visitor as a fellow soldier and stands up to salute her.
"Welcome."
Short but sufficient. The yawn and tired eyes of the guard tell Lavinia she isn't here to cause trouble. No need for particular caution then.
"No, I cannot say I have seen any documents that I wouldn't know what to do with."Â
Lavinia's thoughts move to Valen's reports, which, as foreign as they sometimes can appear to be, still were easily dealt with.
"Are you missing important documents then? I can be of service to you. The Heroic Order can help with the retrieval of lost items. If you wish, you can open a report with me. As soon as that is done, we can get started with the investigation."
@high-priestess-velara
"Indeed. I seek important papers stolen from the priesthood archives of Sal'thorin."
The guard yawns before continuing her speech. The purple glow surrounding her flickers.
"I do not have time for a full investigation by Toplander forces. If you would direct me to the place stolen goods often appear, I will handle this."
"Certainly." Lavinia nods and gestures the guard to follow her. "We keep lost and found items in our headquarters in Holistone, it's not far. I would be surprised to see your missing documents there, though."
Lavinia noticed the flicker of the magic surrounding the guard but is uncertain about its effects. She makes a mental note to share this strange magic with Merlin later on. She guides the Essail over the bridge towards the city gate continuing to inquire and see if the guard is willing to trust the Heroic Order with the task.
"I can see that you have come from far away, so what has compelled you to visit Holistone in particular? Do you have any leads on the culprit? Surely the papers haven't come here by accident?"
The Tired Guard yawns and shakes her head.
"We only know they have been taken from the priesthood archives and contain information vital to the prosperity of Sal'thorin. My own suspicion is that they were taken by one of our own kin, but High Priestess Velara insists we seek even here, despite the magic required for this investigation. If you can show me they aren't in your Order's possession, I can return to the city and not disturb you further."
Lavinia nods. "That can be done."
Her impression that this guard is putting in hardly any effort is not communicated. Perhaps it is better not to expend resources for help that aren't truly desired. The lost and found cabinet will do, it seems.
"There, that is the Heroic Order." Lavinia points at a building just across the road now and she leads the guard right into the main hall and off to the side. There is a large cabinet that hold various smaller sized items, including books and other paperwork.
"Please, have a look. This is where we keep all found documents for some time."
She steps aside to give the guard some room. What a strange approach to try and regain the lost items. Where ever this guard came from, they must either be short on proper investigators or they don't have any to begin with.
"I thank you. This will be done shortly."
The Guard bows with a hand to her heart, then rubs her eyes before sifting through the files. As she does, the purple glow begins fading. She cries out and collapses to the floor.
"Stay away, please!"
Before Lavinia can approach, the Tired Guard holds out a hand to discourage any attempted assistance. She utters an unintelligible string of words and vanishes in the same flash of blue. The purple glow fills the space as Mind Control magic is released to obscure any lingering memories of the Essail's presence.
Lavinia blinks. She thought there was some sort of scream but looking around the entry hall, nobody seems to have heard it. Business continues as usual.
Strange. Returning to the offices wasn't peculiar, but why did she stop here by the lost and found items? She takes a couple of papers and sorts them back into the drawers.
She can't remember and shrugs her confusion off. It is not important then. Lavinia turns around and heads back to her own desk.
A Tired Essail Guard appears in front of Lavinia outside Holistone from a flash of blue light. She is bathed in a faint purple glow. She yawns before speaking.
"Toplander. I am here on orders from @high-priestess-velara. Have you come across any foreign documents?"
Lavinia looks up in some surprise. Even though the contact with Magister Merlin allowed her to get used to magical appearances out of nowhere, she didn't quite think it was possible, or necessary, in the outskirts of Holistone.
Still, even though she has never seen a design such as this, she recognizes the visitor as a fellow soldier and stands up to salute her.
"Welcome."
Short but sufficient. The yawn and tired eyes of the guard tell Lavinia she isn't here to cause trouble. No need for particular caution then.
"No, I cannot say I have seen any documents that I wouldn't know what to do with."Â
Lavinia's thoughts move to Valen's reports, which, as foreign as they sometimes can appear to be, still were easily dealt with.
"Are you missing important documents then? I can be of service to you. The Heroic Order can help with the retrieval of lost items. If you wish, you can open a report with me. As soon as that is done, we can get started with the investigation."
@high-priestess-velara
"Indeed. I seek important papers stolen from the priesthood archives of Sal'thorin."
The guard yawns before continuing her speech. The purple glow surrounding her flickers.
"I do not have time for a full investigation by Toplander forces. If you would direct me to the place stolen goods often appear, I will handle this."
"Certainly." Lavinia nods and gestures the guard to follow her. "We keep lost and found items in our headquarters in Holistone, it's not far. I would be surprised to see your missing documents there, though."
Lavinia noticed the flicker of the magic surrounding the guard but is uncertain about its effects. She makes a mental note to share this strange magic with Merlin later on. She guides the Essail over the bridge towards the city gate continuing to inquire and see if the guard is willing to trust the Heroic Order with the task.
"I can see that you have come from far away, so what has compelled you to visit Holistone in particular? Do you have any leads on the culprit? Surely the papers haven't come here by accident?"
The Tired Guard yawns and shakes her head.
"We only know they have been taken from the priesthood archives and contain information vital to the prosperity of Sal'thorin. My own suspicion is that they were taken by one of our own kin, but High Priestess Velara insists we seek even here, despite the magic required for this investigation. If you can show me they aren't in your Order's possession, I can return to the city and not disturb you further."
Lavinia nods. "That can be done."
Her impression that this guard is putting in hardly any effort is not communicated. Perhaps it is better not to expend resources for help that aren't truly desired. The lost and found cabinet will do, it seems.
"There, that is the Heroic Order." Lavinia points at a building just across the road now and she leads the guard right into the main hall and off to the side. There is a large cabinet that hold various smaller sized items, including books and other paperwork.
"Please, have a look. This is where we keep all found documents for some time."
She steps aside to give the guard some room. What a strange approach to try and regain the lost items. Where ever this guard came from, they must either be short on proper investigators or they don't have any to begin with.
A Tired Essail Guard appears in front of Lavinia outside Holistone from a flash of blue light. She is bathed in a faint purple glow. She yawns before speaking.
"Toplander. I am here on orders from @high-priestess-velara. Have you come across any foreign documents?"
Lavinia looks up in some surprise. Even though the contact with Magister Merlin allowed her to get used to magical appearances out of nowhere, she didn't quite think it was possible, or necessary, in the outskirts of Holistone.
Still, even though she has never seen a design such as this, she recognizes the visitor as a fellow soldier and stands up to salute her.
"Welcome."
Short but sufficient. The yawn and tired eyes of the guard tell Lavinia she isn't here to cause trouble. No need for particular caution then.
"No, I cannot say I have seen any documents that I wouldn't know what to do with."Â
Lavinia's thoughts move to Valen's reports, which, as foreign as they sometimes can appear to be, still were easily dealt with.
"Are you missing important documents then? I can be of service to you. The Heroic Order can help with the retrieval of lost items. If you wish, you can open a report with me. As soon as that is done, we can get started with the investigation."
@high-priestess-velara
"Indeed. I seek important papers stolen from the priesthood archives of Sal'thorin."
The guard yawns before continuing her speech. The purple glow surrounding her flickers.
"I do not have time for a full investigation by Toplander forces. If you would direct me to the place stolen goods often appear, I will handle this."
"Certainly." Lavinia nods and gestures the guard to follow her. "We keep lost and found items in our headquarters in Holistone, it's not far. I would be surprised to see your missing documents there, though."
Lavinia noticed the flicker of the magic surrounding the guard but is uncertain about its effects. She makes a mental note to share this strange magic with Merlin later on. She guides the Essail over the bridge towards the city gate continuing to inquire and see if the guard is willing to trust the Heroic Order with the task.
"I can see that you have come from far away, so what has compelled you to visit Holistone in particular? Do you have any leads on the culprit? Surely the papers haven't come here by accident?"
A Tired Essail Guard appears in front of Lavinia outside Holistone from a flash of blue light. She is bathed in a faint purple glow. She yawns before speaking.
"Toplander. I am here on orders from @high-priestess-velara. Have you come across any foreign documents?"
Lavinia looks up in some surprise. Even though the contact with Magister Merlin allowed her to get used to magical appearances out of nowhere, she didn't quite think it was possible, or necessary, in the outskirts of Holistone.
Still, even though she has never seen a design such as this, she recognizes the visitor as a fellow soldier and stands up to salute her.
"Welcome."
Short but sufficient. The yawn and tired eyes of the guard tell Lavinia she isn't here to cause trouble. No need for particular caution then.
"No, I cannot say I have seen any documents that I wouldn't know what to do with."Â
Lavinia's thoughts move to Valen's reports, which, as foreign as they sometimes can appear to be, still were easily dealt with.
"Are you missing important documents then? I can be of service to you. The Heroic Order can help with the retrieval of lost items. If you wish, you can open a report with me. As soon as that is done, we can get started with the investigation."
@high-priestess-velara
"Good night, Valen." Lavi murmurs as they step out of the tavern but as she turns to leave the other way, she looses her footing and stumbles against another late night visitor. "Oops, my apologies."
Woah, easy there. (Valen reaches out a hand to help steady Lavi before turning to the other visitor).
Sorry about my friend here. We've had a long day, so we're a little tired. I guess she didn't see you there.
(Turns back to Lavi) You alright, Lav? Don't tell me you spent so much time behind a desk that you've forgotten how to walk. I might have to carry you if that's the case, and no one wants that.
Unless you do. I won't judge.
"No! I don't-" Lavinia starts to blurt out but then quiets down immediately given they aren't alone on the street "- want that. I am not an invalid."
If there is a blush, it's well hidden in the early darkness of the night. "Even if I did, I'd hardly tell you."
She readies herself and takes two more steps out onto the street, but it's not quite as steady as she'd like. Perhaps that one drink on the house wasn't the best idea. Then again, it's hardly anything more than just being a little tipsy. Not that Valen needs to know that, though.
"Besides", Lavinia turns around to her colleague again, a teasing smirk on her lips. "I am rather heavy with my armor and you'd look way too undignified carrying me. I don't want to ruin your reputation."Â
"..." she pauses for a moment. She wouldn't have hesitated to hook her arm into his a few months ago, but somehow things became a little more difficult each day. Now, she just adopts a rather sheepish small smile before hesitantly reaching out to him. "But... I wouldn't say no to you offering your arm to me. Just until we gotta part further down the street."
"Hello Sena", Lavinia says when joining him sitting by the bar of the Noble Tavern. "I have just a very quick question. I recently realized that I had always envisioned the gods as timeless beings born the way they are... but I think I remember you told us about your own childhood. So I came to wonder whether there are any rituals or celebrations to mark the transition from childhood to adulthood for gods like you? Or was there maybe something only the Maulers do, which you enjoy or even got to participate in?"
She doesn't get too comfy, as she is running errands, but the odd minute or two she can easily spare.
âHello there, Lavinia,â Sena greets warmly as he turns to face the knight. âYour assumptions about the gods arenât entirely incorrect,â he begins, sliding the knight a glass of cold fruit juice.
âMost gods did come into existence as fully formed beings, and stayed that way until their fall. Me being born as a child and then ageing into an adult was actually quite the anomaly,â Sena says matter-of-factly. âAnd since the other gods were essentially ageless, they never saw the need to commemorate developmental milestones the way mortals do.â
A small smile tugs at the gods lips. âMaulers on the other hand have several customs that mark the transition from childhood to adulthood, many of which I got to experience while being raised by my father.â
âFor instance, Maulers with more predatory natures often embark on their first solo hunt when theyâre between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, though the exact age varies depending on the clan. Itâs a very significant event for most young Maulers, and usually consists of them temporarily leaving their clan in order to track down their quarry. If their hunt is successful, they will return home with their prey and be acknowledged as an adult who is capable of providing for themselves. This is usually accompanied with a celebration, and a ceremony to mark their first successful hunt as a grown up. But if they fail, theyâll continue to be treated as a cub until theyâre ready to try again,â he explains.
âA Maulerâs first hunt is a point of pride, and usually serves as a predictor for the type of person theyâll grow into. Everything from their chosen prey, to how it was caught contributes towards how the hunter and their triumph will be percieved.â A nostalgic look crosses Senaâs face as he leans back in his seat. âFor instance, my first hunt had happened entirely unplanned. I was fifteen at the time, or rather, the relative equivalent of that, so I was still in my young and impulsive phase. When I heard about a viscious beast that had been plaguing a small settlement near the outskirts of Karthik, my first instinct had been to just get rid of it. So when it fled after being injured in our fight, I gave chase. I didnât realise that it counted as my first hunt until after the deed was done,â Sena recounts with a rueful shake of his head.
âBaba said it was just like me to do something so reckless,â he chuckles. âTo get so protective that I rush into things without thinking it through first. And I guess he was right about thatâŠâ
Sena gives a bittersweet smile, mindlessly tracing the scar on his chest through the fabric of his shirt. A tangible reminder of just how accurate the Dusk Lordâs assessment had ended up being.
Snapping out of his reverie, Sena slips off his gloves, revealing the intricate golden patterns etched into his skin. âThereâs my markings too,â he says, shifting the focus of the conversation.
âTattoos are another major part of Mauler culture. When children are still young, theyâre either entirely free of identifiers or receive temporary ones in the form of paint, dyes or henna markings. When a Mauler comes of age, they receive their first permanent tattoo, though the style, colour and placement vary per individual. Tattoos are often added to mark important events, connections and achievements. They can signify everything from ones clan, heritage, and marital status to oneâs accolades in battle. And as such, are strongly tied to oneâs identity.â
âTheyâre normally bestowed by an elder, accompanied by a small ceremony, but since Iâm a divine being, mine tend to just appear and disappear as they see fit,â he says, half-jokingly.
He then glances back at Lavinia, noticing the way she shifts nervously in her seat, fidgeting with the empty glass, hey eyes occasionally darting towards the clock on the wall.
âMy apologies, Lavi, it seems I ended up rambling again. I wonât keep you from your duties any longer,â he says sheepishly, giving the knight a curt nod.
Translations:
Baba (Hindi): Used to refer to one's father, grandfather, or male elder. Often used as a term of respect or endearment for an older male relative or a spiritual leader.
(OOC): I actually have so much more to say about tattoos and Mauler culture, but I realised my response was running long. If you'd like more information, feel free to DM me either here or on Discord.
// Reblogging just to say that's cute. Sena became an adult without even realizing or trying. <3 At least, he went through the ritual without really knowing. xD
Lavi will maybe one day have the privilege to see more of Sena's tattoos, I think I read somewhere he's not so willing to show them off.
Anyway, she's off to her errands again. <3 "Thanks for the minute, Sena!" she shouts on her way out, already out of sight.
Hey, Lavi. What are the chances youâre free after work next week? The General has me investigating this party at a nearby estate, and I figured itâd look suspicious if I showed up alone. I promise itâll be fun. Worst case scenario, Iâll need someone to watch my back while I rifle through their ledgers. Best case scenario, we get to spend the night just hanging out with plenty of free food and music. What do you say?
Your favourite knight, @sir-valen
"Very good, actually", she responds immediately. "I only meet up with the Magister twice a week and can always postpone that."
She then tilts her had and slightly furrows her brows. This wasn't out of the ordinary work for a Solitary and they often worked in pairs but she can't recall having heard about this particular on-going case.
"What's the case file? I should probably have a look at that before next week. Better be prepared than sorry afterwards. And even though I will primarily help you complete the looks of your cover, two pairs of eyes are better than one, right?"
Lavinia shares an eager smile. While her observation skills are excellent, she isn't the best of actors after leaving the capital. But this is an easy enough assignment and being out with Valen always lifts her spirits.
@sir-valen
It's nothing major, just some suspicious spending activity from one of the nobles in the area. They're probably just being frivolous with their money, like usual, but The General wants us to investigate just to be safe.
He's worried they might be funding the Adamant Syndicate in secret since they knew Lord Franz, but I think he's just being anxious. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to check.
And when it comes to a case like this, there's no one I'd rather have by my side than you.
Besides, you've been so stressed lately. A simple mission like this is exactly what you need to unwind. With both our skills put together, we could have this case open and shut in under an hour. Then all that's left to do is relax and enjoy the party.
Upon hearing Valen's preference of her company over that of other knights, Lavinia tries her best to remain serious, but the corners of her mouth betray her. Even the gentle shaking of her head cannot cover up the apparent success of his compliment.
"You just enjoy me taking over the paperwork afterwards, don't you?" Lavinia responds while she gently but decidedly pushes away Valen's hand out of her way. "But the straightforward task division between us certainly does contribute to ... a shared sentiment."
She then sighs, crossing her arms for support as she bends over a little bit. "'So stressed' is perhaps a little exaggerated but I definitely have seen too little of Holistone, the Traveler's Light, even my own room... not that I envy you running around in the light rain of the past few days but the amount of foreign reports I had to examine was definitely ... something."
And just as her mind returns to the glaring inconsistencies of those papers, the questions about Valen's case come flooding in, too, and she mumbles more to herself, brows furrowed again.
"Is that the only connection? But that's not even... and what would our discoveries even result in? Have you thought of..."
See, overthinking like this is the exact reason you get so stressed in the first place.
I swear, sometimes you and The General act more like worriers than warriors.
Listen, don't focus too much on the details. Just have fun, and I'll handle the rest.
Besides, how often do we get a chance to go to events like this? Even if it's for a mission, it can still be a fun experience. Besides, I think we've both earned a nice break from handling bandits and appeasing unruly merchants, don't you?
"Relaaax." Lavinia is breaking out of her thoughts, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder for a faint shake. "I shall do the thinking in quiet then, for now. Hm?"
"And if you truly wanted to have a break, you would need to bribe Dura into sending us less trouble to deal with, colleagues who cover for us and a General who's relaxed enough to let us go."
Lavinia sighs heavily. Her work was everything to her but the idea of having so much time at hand to go out for a nice long evening without having to worry about any cases or mornings after is really rather alluring.
"Ah, it'll be nice, I am sure", she remarks thinking about the event next week. "Since you prefer me not to think at this point, please do instruct me as soon as you can about dress code. And your contingency plans, please."
Then, before returning to her work, she quickly reverts to her serious business-self, placing her hands onto her hips while adopting an ever so slight reprimanding tone. "And after that investigation, Valen, We do need to share thoughts. You can't invite me to support you in a case but expect me not to think about it."
Hey, Lavi. What are the chances youâre free after work next week? The General has me investigating this party at a nearby estate, and I figured itâd look suspicious if I showed up alone. I promise itâll be fun. Worst case scenario, Iâll need someone to watch my back while I rifle through their ledgers. Best case scenario, we get to spend the night just hanging out with plenty of free food and music. What do you say?
Your favourite knight, @sir-valen
"Very good, actually", she responds immediately. "I only meet up with the Magister twice a week and can always postpone that."
She then tilts her had and slightly furrows her brows. This wasn't out of the ordinary work for a Solitary and they often worked in pairs but she can't recall having heard about this particular on-going case.
"What's the case file? I should probably have a look at that before next week. Better be prepared than sorry afterwards. And even though I will primarily help you complete the looks of your cover, two pairs of eyes are better than one, right?"
Lavinia shares an eager smile. While her observation skills are excellent, she isn't the best of actors after leaving the capital. But this is an easy enough assignment and being out with Valen always lifts her spirits.
@sir-valen
It's nothing major, just some suspicious spending activity from one of the nobles in the area. They're probably just being frivolous with their money, like usual, but The General wants us to investigate just to be safe.
He's worried they might be funding the Adamant Syndicate in secret since they knew Lord Franz, but I think he's just being anxious. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to check.
And when it comes to a case like this, there's no one I'd rather have by my side than you.
Besides, you've been so stressed lately. A simple mission like this is exactly what you need to unwind. With both our skills put together, we could have this case open and shut in under an hour. Then all that's left to do is relax and enjoy the party.
Upon hearing Valen's preference of her company over that of other knights, Lavinia tries her best to remain serious, but the corners of her mouth betray her. Even the gentle shaking of her head cannot cover up the apparent success of his compliment.
"You just enjoy me taking over the paperwork afterwards, don't you?" Lavinia responds while she gently but decidedly pushes away Valen's hand out of her way. "But the straightforward task division between us certainly does contribute to ... a shared sentiment."
She then sighs, crossing her arms for support as she bends over a little bit. "'So stressed' is perhaps a little exaggerated but I definitely have seen too little of Holistone, the Traveler's Light, even my own room... not that I envy you running around in the light rain of the past few days but the amount of foreign reports I had to examine was definitely ... something."
And just as her mind returns to the glaring inconsistencies of those papers, the questions about Valen's case come flooding in, too, and she mumbles more to herself, brows furrowed again.
"Is that the only connection? But that's not even... and what would our discoveries even result in? Have you thought of..."
Hey, Lavi. What are the chances youâre free after work next week? The General has me investigating this party at a nearby estate, and I figured itâd look suspicious if I showed up alone. I promise itâll be fun. Worst case scenario, Iâll need someone to watch my back while I rifle through their ledgers. Best case scenario, we get to spend the night just hanging out with plenty of free food and music. What do you say?
Your favourite knight, @sir-valen
"Very good, actually", she responds immediately. "I only meet up with the Magister twice a week and can always postpone that."
She then tilts her had and slightly furrows her brows. This wasn't out of the ordinary work for a Solitary and they often worked in pairs but she can't recall having heard about this particular on-going case.
"What's the case file? I should probably have a look at that before next week. Better be prepared than sorry afterwards. And even though I will primarily help you complete the looks of your cover, two pairs of eyes are better than one, right?"
Lavinia shares an eager smile. While her observation skills are excellent, she isn't the best of actors after leaving the capital. But this is an easy enough assignment and being out with Valen always lifts her spirits.
@sir-valen
Magister... I am glad you are here. Say, Valen didn't come round by any chance, did he?
*Lavinia is no longer in her armor and wears a light shirt over fitting trousers and light, short boots. The sword is still hanging by the side of her hips. She appears a little agitated, however, which is a little unusual.*
He did warn us that his assignment will take a couple of days but... it will 5 days tomorrow and... I just can't help to worry a little bit.
âOh, hello Lavi,â Sena greets warmly. âItâs nice to see you again.â
He pauses for a moment, his expression pensive. âBut no, Iâm afraid Valen hasnât popped by recently. Heâs been rather occupied with âofficial Heroic Order businessâ as he put it.â
Sena pauses, giving Lavinia a reassuring smile. âIâm sure thereâs no need to worry though. Valen often gets side-tracked when chasing down leads about a new case, every time he stumbles across a particularly interesting tidbit, he canât help but investigate further.â
âAnd besides,â he continues, his voice taking on a more playful note, âIf he hasnât contacted me to bail him out yet, then things canât be going that badly, can they?â
His expression softens. âYou seem stressed though, Lavi, would you like to sit down and have some tea? Perhaps tell me the real reason youâre so worried?â
*Lavinia sighs and a resigned smile appears on her lips for a moment. upon hearing Sena joking about Valen's tendency to get into trouble.* I know. He's fine, I am sure. I, too, am gone for days on occasion. The Whiteridge business had me gone for nearly a month!
*When Sena offers the tea, she is visibly hesitant. She fiddles with the sleeves of her shirt and a tint of red appears on her cheeks.*
Oh, well... sure, why not. I always enjoy tea.Â
*She pauses again, thinking about how to explain this to Sena. She trusts this man more than anyone else, apart from Valen of course, but she wasn't at all sure that he was the right person to mention this to. If she had a choice, she would rather talk to Esme, but she wasn't around and letters always took a while even if the pigeons were quite efficient.*
It's really nothing serious. I mean, it certainly shouldn't be and I do trust Valen. Really. *A pause* But I happen to know some of the people he needs to get in touch with and ... one of them just ... she likes to get really warm with people like Valen.
... and she's really good at that, too.Â
*Lavinia's hands are tensely intertwined and she frowns bitterly over her own silly weakness. She really should know better.*
âAh, so thatâs what this is about.â Sena mused, giving Lavinia an understanding smile as he poured her a warm cup of chamomile tea.
âI assure you, Lavi, my son isnât the type of man to be so easily swayed. Especially not when heâs already found someone heâs so thoroughly captivated with,â he mused, shooting the knight a playful wink.
âThough I suppose itâs only natural you feel this way,â he reassured, handing Lavinia the ornate teacup. âWe all get a tad bit jealous now and then, especially when someone is being a bit too attentive towards our partners.â
Sena chuckles sheepishly as he retrieves his own cup, bringing the delicate porcelain to his lips with a wistful expression. âI would bet my very soul on Hoganâs loyalty, but that doesnât stop me from acting like a disgruntled house cat whenever someone else tries to win his affections,â he jokes, his tone amused but somewhat self-deprecating.
Senaâs gaze softens as it flickers over to the knight, taking note of her tense posture. âWhat Iâm trying to say, Lavinia, is that itâs a perfectly normal reaction to have in this situation,â he says earnestly. âItâs not silly, or weak, itâs just...human.â
Sena lets the silence linger for a moment, giving his words a chance to set in before continuing. âBut if you want to talk about these feelings and why theyâre bothering you so much, then Iâm always here to listen.â
"No... you are quite right. It's normal, I suppose, to feel like that. I just haven't truly felt that before."
*Lavinia accepts the cup of tea and even though it's quite hot, she prefers to hold and play with it before she relaxes enough to take a careful sip.*
"And in your case at least, I hope, you know by now that you can talk with the General about it. For me, I feel like I would insult Valen greatly by daring to mention it once he's back. As if I didn't trust him."
*A small sigh escapes her lips.*
"I just remember her from the offices in Savannah. She made all her relationship issues our business and thus kept reporting about her plans to "conquer" another colleague of ours. To my horror she actually succeeded with her overly tasteless, suggestive approaches."
*She sighs deeply, looking down into her teacup. She even hunches over a little, trying to become smaller to evade the grasp of her uncomfortable feelings. Then she carefully looks over to Sena, her face taking on a red tint.*
"Do you think I should try to be a bit more... like that?"
âI donât think Valen would feel offended if you mentioned how you were feeling,â Sena reasoned, adding a few extra sugars to his teacup. âIf anything, I think heâd find it quite endearing. You know Valen loves getting a reaction out of you, especially when itâs one he can tease you about. Iâm sure this will be no different.â
He takes another sip of his tea, listening patiently as Lavinia explains the situation, his brows furrowing slightly.
At her question, Sena sets down his cup, giving Lavinia a soft, almost paternal look. âIf Iâm being honest, Lavi, I think that Valen likes you the way that you are,â Sena assures, his voice earnest. âHe fell in lo-â Sena abruptly cuts himself off, clearing his throat quickly as if he just realised he was about to let something slip. âHe developed feelings for you because he likes the real you. Because he admires everything about you, from your convictions to your character. I doubt heâd ever want you to compromise on that for his sake.â
âAnd while I do think heâd appreciate you being more forthcoming about your feelings towards him, itâs important that you do that in your own way and only when youâre ready. Your approach should be honest and from the heart, not something you copied from someone else. After all, Valen cares about you,â Sena advises.
He pauses, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. âBesides, I think you both deserve something genuine, donât you? Pretending to be someone or something you're not seems counterintuitive. â
Sena lets out a soft chuckle. "Trust me on this, Lavinia. If there's one thing that marriage has taught me, it's that you need to be able to talk about these things with your partner. It's a lot better than getting stuck in your own head about it," he says, sounding very much like he's speaking from experience.
Sena hardly finished his remark about getting reactions out of Lavinia, when she tilts her head and gives him a reaction. A look that quietly expresses both definite resistance and resignation to that notion. Being teased about her insecurities wasn't exactly what she wants but if it was Valen... he somehow does it right.
She lets Sena continue and quietly listens to his views. She hummed here and sighed there to show that she heard him but there was little she could respond. It didn't take much contemplating to understand that he's right.
With a blush and shy smile she turns to him for a thanks. "I always thought how unexpected it was that of all the young men out there I had to set my heart on Valen, and after so many years of separation ... but even more unfathomable is that he actually seems to like me back. It's just so special, it scares me to think of any possibility that might break it."
"But what you said also suggests that communication is the glue to hold it together, so...", she inhales with newfound conviction and straightens up, "... I will talk to him when he's back. Somehow."
After another sip of her tea, she turns over to face Sena fully. "How did the General- I mean, how did Hogan react when you needed to talk about something like this?" And then she moves a little bit closer, eyes no longer dimmed from her worries, but clear and full of curiosity. "And what did he do to make you feel the need to bring it up?"
"Lavinia, I see you have been quite busy. Unfortunately, I'm here to add to your already heavy workload, I need you to lead a patrol group towards the west just for a few minutes, and report back what you see. I know it isn't quite what youre used to, but I trust you deeply."
The General seems to be herding an already rattled group of the local farmers, hands full.
(@general-hogan)
General! *Lavinia salutes immediately, the files in her arm notwithstanding.*
Of course! I can always make time for your orders. I shall take these papers inside and then be on my way. Guywin and Joey are on back-up, I will take them with me.
*She nods but before she turns to get ready, she asks one or two more things.*
General, is there anything in particular you need me to pay attention to?
"I am certain this is a hypogean's doing, but it feels moreso like... a prank? That kind of behavior sounds familiar but the Magister is not around, so we'll have to deal with this issue carefully."
"If you see the hypogean Berial, do not seek confrontation and come back inmediately"
Lavinia freezes in her stance. She did not expect to hear that and maybe she shouldn't have asked. Her heart is beating harshly against her ribs and for a moment panic knocks at her mind to be let in.
"General... I-"
She swallows heavily. He is clearly busy and they cannot afford to loose much time. But she also knows for a fact, that her legs could never take her to risk a meeting with Berial after what she's been through.
But Valen wasn't there. At least not in immediate vicinity. There was maybe Miles, but he is at the end of his shift and tired. Wait, what if? She spoke as soon as the idea struck her.
"General! Please let me take care of the farmers. If it's a Hypogean we are talking about, then you might best need to look for yourself. And once they are sorted, I can find Valen and follow you."
