Curious Coeurlian RP Repository

[Tretesta]

Some days after a botched heart cleaning and an awful night on the worst molly you can't get your hands on, Tret wandered up the road to visit his old friends at the the Mercy ~~Mercenary Menagerie~~ Estate. He was dressed far better than he had ended up on his last attempt at furthering the cause, but looked a bit like he'd been run through the wringer a few times. Vice: not even once, kids. A wave to the patrol outside, and he took a look about. Answers were in short supply with Mercy, or at least answers his tiny brain could comprehend. But someone here could surely provide at least some entertainment for the distraction-for-hire

[Synechiae]

The elezen ever clad in white could be spotted just outside the large entrance way that led into the building. She appeared slightly distracted, looking up beneath the stone overhang before out across the lawn with a frown.

It was then that she noticed Tretesta wandering around. She blinked once, twice to make sure, before wiggling her fingers at him in a wave.

[Tretesta]

Stark contrast to the black and silver or gold uniforms of the rest of the ~~MERCYNARIES~~ Mercy patrol, the Hyur caught sight of the Duskwight pretty quickly. And seemed to completely lose the drop on her. Ah well. He smiled and approached Synechiae, raising a brow in return to the wave

“Not approve of the masonwork of the porch? What's got you thinking so hard, Alice?”

[Synechiae]

“I am looking for the rabbit. He ate my tools.” The girl sighed and stretched before looking over at Tret.

“Why are you here? Are you looking for something too?”

[Tretesta]

“Hm. Shame that. Though I was sure rabbits were plant eaters, less so tool eaters… Find the hatter and a dormouse. I'm certain your rabbit will not be far from them. Or was that a hare…”

Tret paused and scratched his head as he mused on Caroll before snapping back as he was questioned

“Me… here… Oh, right! Kindof. Maybe. Actually, you might know just enough.”

He moved over and around and took a seat on a nearby wooden stall counter, making himself as comfortable as he could in the middle of the grounds

“Hearts. What is considered a success when cleaning them?”

[Synechiae]

The elezen tilted her head at his question, taking one more glance around the grounds before crossing her arms.

“…I don't think success is the right term you should be looking for when cleaning hearts. They're all very different you know. Or maybe you don't know yet. Have you asked Pheria?”

[Tretesta]

“Indeed, I don't know. And the whole topic has left me asking more questions every time I get an answer. All different… But there is always one goal. Clean the heart. But if the end always is never the same… is there worry that maybe its not dirty, but you're just looking for filth that's not there?”

[Synechiae]

“No. There is always filth. And even if you clean a heart, untangle the knots and make it really spotless, that does not promise that it will stay that way. There are some hearts that you can't clean either. Too much has happened. Too many scars have been left.”

“Do you like knives? I've only seen you with an axe.”

[Tretesta]

“….Here I am with more questions. Alright, yeah, sure. your turn. Ahhh… Yes. Rather like them. Small, easy to hide, nice for dealing with things quietly. Axe… Ah right, the axe… that ahhhhhh- That was a special occasion. very special….”

[Synechiae]

“I have been making some knives for practice and to try different things. Can I show you?”

It didn't appear like she was going to wait for an actual answer, twirling around to head through the doors of the estate.

[Tretesta]

“…Sure? Can I ask more about hearts and such?”

Also without waiting, Tret hopped up to his feet and wandered after the woman in white

[Synechiae]

“Only if I can answer your questions with my own.” Syne replied with a giggle as she slipped inside.

It would appear that the estate was currently undergoing some renovations in the main hall. There came the smell of fresh paint accompanied by several pieces of new furniture that had not found their forever-placement just yet. The duskwight passed by them as she continued.

“What do you think having a clean heart should mean?”

[Tretesta]

Tret just danced out of the way of getting volunteered to help with moving processes, catching up to right behind and raising his voice to be heard over the sounds of re-arrangement

“That might be where I have the least understanding. I don't know what makes a heart dirty… One of Pheria's sisters said something about being happy. But also talked about trying to help a dad with the loss of his children. It seems like… a very direct and forced mental state.”

[Synechiae]

“Many things can make a heart dirty! Events, thoughts, choices. It's different for everyone because all hearts are different.”

The elezen slowed down, tapping her cheek thoughtfully.

“Just living accumulates dust and dirt really. But some dirty hearts are much more noticable than others, I think. That's why Pheria always knows who to look for. She has the biggest heart of all.”

[Tretesta]

“….What is the dust and dirt? Is there a level of it to have before you all go and clean? Would I know if they've tried to clean me?”

[Synechiae]

“Maybe. Maybe not.” She stopped and looked over her shoulder at Tret.

“I've only helped clean a couple hearts you know. And one of them came back anyway. You were there for that one.”

“I am inexperienced and I don't really have all the answers you desire. I do not know if I can even work with Pheria anymore and I was still learning then.”

Syne pulled at her hair and turned back around, leading them through an open doorway and down a lengthy hallway.

“I can give you advice, I think, if you want it.”

[Tretesta]

Slowly, Tret reached up and ruffled his own hair in light frustration

“It all just seems… unneeded. Forced. Do you clean each other? Where does the dust and dirt go?”

[Synechiae]

“You make it sound naughty.” The duskwight replied before shrugging her shoulders.

“..It can be necessary. Sometimes people cannot help themselves. Frozen, still, huddled in corners, rocking in empty vacant spaces. Sometimes they require aid- untangling the tangles that they might not even be aware of. They might not even know just how dusty they are, how muddled everything has become. Clarity is needed.”

“I'll tell you about Mr. Rabbit if you…hum. If you tell me a secret! That might be fun.”

[Tretesta]

“It seems a bit naughty… though not like you may be thinking. You didn'-… Nope. No, this is about like it goes. Big ideas, but the answers are fuzzy… Which Mr. Rabbit are we talking about? The one that ate your tool, or the one that Pheria Ate?”

[Synechiae]

“My rabbit. Our rabbit. The rabbit. He is all the same.”

[Tretesta]

“… Our rabbit. I am not aware that I was part owner of a rabbit.”

[Synechiae]

“You have met him! You are acquaintances at least.”

[Tretesta]

“Passing, perhaps. The only rabbit I am familiar with is not someone or something I wish to be in contact with again. I'll happily clean Mr. Rabbit from the land if I get the chance.”

[Synechiae]

“I promised that I would be friends, so he stays with me now. But the others got gobbled so maybe those ones are gone.”

[Tretesta]

“…Alright. Please Keep Mr. Rabbit to himself and out of my home, if possible. He or someone within him is not someone I much like. What kind of things might you tell me? Have to know how big of a secret i should trade…”

[Synechiae]

“Just how we met. He is the first heart I cleaned so he is special….even though he came back and made everything worse. But then he got eaten, so it is okay.”

[Tretesta]

“…Hm. Alright. I named my chocobo after one of my brothers. If he could have found out, He'd probably have murdered me on the spot.”

[Synechiae]

“Really? That seems sweet to me. I do not remember my brother's name. Or mine actually. If I knew I'd forget, I would have named something so I could remember.”

The elezen led them into a room at the end of the hall. It looked to be a classroom of sorts, with a couple forges to one side of the area and tables across from those. An assortment of desks had been shoved into the corners with stacks of knives carefully organized by size atop them. Syne went to one of the tables bearing a large bag. She rustled through it.

“Mr. Rabbit's name was Cacao. He was a magical sort but awfully lonely. He came across a child that he wanted to play with forever, so he built a whole place for them to play games and have fun and be far away from our big and awful world. He also set fire to this child's home so that they had no other place to go. That part was buried a bit.”

[Tretesta]

“… Mr Rabbit sounds like he has thrown away his chance at life. He pushed right up against that with me. I believe you said his cleaning did not go well.”

[Synechiae]

“Oh, but there's more before we get to that part.”

“The child grew lonely and sad in spite of Mr. Rabbit's attempts to keep him happy. He would find more children and bring them to this magical world of fun and games and no parents or family.” The duskwight girl looked up from the bag, past Tret and to the wall behind him.

“The child he had taken grew older and loved Mr. Rabbit. He was never prevented from leaving - but where could he go? He only knew of Mr. Rabbit and his lovely world. There was nothing else. And Mr. Rabbit, well he could sense that he wasn't making the child happy any longer and feared that he was going to be thrown out.”

Syne pulled out a slender sheathe containing a slim knife, setting it on table. She blinked down at it.

“Time passed so much. Mr. Rabbit couldn't see that he'd done much of anything bad at all. He was protecting the children, keeping them safe and away from all the terrible things in the world. He was doing a good thing. He was a good bunny. He was wrong.”

[Tretesta]

Tret approached the table and went to pick up the knife for examination, muttering agreement

“Quite wrong. Was running a prison….”

[Synechiae]

“Now imagine you don't know anything of what I just told you! All erased! Poof!”

The duskwight made an elaborate motion with her fingers at the sound.

“..Also I wouldn't poke the tip of that too much. It is a throwing knife. When it hits the target it explodes into painful shrapnel bits. Discourages a continued fight.”

[Tretesta]

“….that's what a cleaning is like?”

The case was carefully pulled off and Tret turned to sit on the table as he inspected the device. His eyes widened like he'd just been handed a puzzle. He was quite fascinated

“… Explodes into shrapnel. I know a lot of fights this might have stopped…”

[Synechiae]

“All I knew at first was that there was a sad rabbit and his sad lover. Hearts are confusing and complicated and tricky. The answers you want aren't always going to given willingly. If they are there's no promise that they are perfectly true.”

“I thought Mr. Rabbit was nice. We played a game. His feelings felt genuine. But he didn't want me to leave either. I spoke and coaxed and though I didn't really want to, he wanted me to end his life because he could find no other alternative. So I did…or else I thought I did at the time.”

“Cleaning can be messy. It can be sad. But mostly, it's never going to go how you expect it to go, so trying to gauge what success really means is kind of silly.”

[Tretesta]

“…Sounds like it works about as well as trying to talk to them. Convince them otherwise. On the outside”

[Synechiae]

“I imagine it is not so complicated sometimes. That is just my experience.”

She shrugged her shoulders and pulled out two more similar-looking sheathes from the bag before sliding them over to Tret.

“Take them if you like. They could use a nice home. I'll be working on an improved version as soon as my tools appear again.”

[Tretesta]

“…Sure. Have you tried them out before at least? Any notes on what the explosive part is supposed to be made of?”

[Synechiae]

“Yes, they've been tested..against machines anyway. They did enough damage to them that I assume a human would have a bad time of it.” In one slick movement she plucked one of the knives from its sheathe and pointed a finger at the handle.

“That is where the explosive is. Some gunpowder. The tricky part is that there's not that much of it, and so to amplify its effect I made this conal piece that sucks up the explosion and then spits it back out! The knife shatters and follows the direction of the blast- which is wherever the point is stuck.”

[Tretesta]

“….Hm. Hmmmmm…”

Tret turned the little war crime over and over in his hands

“It seems far far more complicated that it should be, to just be changing someones mental or emotional being… and invasive. People are complicated enough as is. Going into some… metaphorical but actual space of someone's mind? Just adding on to the trouble.”

[Synechiae]

The elezen slipped the knife back into its home and set it back on the table.

“I believe in what Pheria is doing. It feels nice to help and I don't mind getting dirty. Trying to understand people and their confusing ways, the things buried deep down..making sense of it all.” Syne tucked her hair behind her ears.

“I do not know if you'll be efficient at cleaning hearts if you're full of doubts and questions that aren't as clear as you want them to be. Hearts are not simple. People are not simple. There are not always easy answers and if you do not actually want to help, you might have a more difficult time of it.”

[Tretesta]

“If one of the results is just forgetting all that they've done… Nah. That wouldn't be enough for me. Wouldn't want to guess and wonder if it was enough. I like my answers and my solutions simple, Synechiae. Also like to keep my world nice and small. So don't think I'm much interested in cleaning hearts. Not for strangers at least.”

[Synechiae]

Syne just gave Tret a bewildered look. A long and lengthy bewildered look, which was admittedly quite humorous on the unusually-serious duskwight.

“..They don't forget…nevermind. I think I have said a lot already. Now you can help me.”

[Tretesta]

“Help? Help how? Am i throwing these? Tell me I'm throwing these. I'm sure Novine has spare mercs that can replace the ones we take out.”

[Synechiae]

“No. You can throw those when you need to throw them. I need some rare ore to make a bow for a friend. I know of some trading that happens on the lower docks of Limsa late at night. It might be illegal. Would you know of any names I can reference or look out for when I visit?”

[Tretesta]

“Need to? Damn. Thats like… only a quarter of the time i like to throw knives. Hmmmm…. Ore. Ore ore ore… Depends, really. Do we know what kind of illegal we're talking about, and who you might be illegaling against?”

[Synechiae]

“The Maelstrom tends to keep something called Wootz ore to themselves. I ration that any trader would likely keep any extra of that to sell to smaller, private buyers. It is just a guess really. I know illegal trading of all sorts can happen there. I am certain that ore is tame by comparison.”

[Tretesta]

“Ah. Hm. side deals and such. Far less illegal than I was thinking. That's more a matter of having a little more money that normal to cover the overhead. You've got a fair bit of money, yes? No?”

[Synechiae]

“Illegal only in that no other merchant in hawkers alley can carry it.” She shrugged.

“..And I have some money. Not a lot. Do you think something like that will be costly?”

[Tretesta]

“If they're getting paid by the Storm one price, but keeping some for those not affiliated? There's going to be a markup. Which may mean you getting more money, or doing something much more illegal. So… Kindof!”

[Synechiae]

“..Hmm. I will keep that in mind. I've ways to earn money. I am not concerned.”

“But I could still use any names if you have them. If not, your advice was helpful enough.”

[Tretesta]

“Names… Names… Well, if you want to just walk up and buy from these mystery traders? Head down to the fisher's guild down by the piers. If you look across the way from there, you'll see another building. That's home of the Dutiful Sisters of the Noble … Something. Anyway, tell the guy at the front that a Blue bird man sent you, and he'll either help you or send you to someone who can. Good folks, the sisters.”

[Synechiae]

The elezen tilted her head but nodded.

“Okay. I will ask them then. Thank you. Have fun with my knives. I will go back to searching for the rabbit now.”

She waved at Tret before leaving him to scoop up his new nifty toys, setting off back the way they had come to hopefully coax a fuzzy white animal into existence.

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