Simple Errands - 07/23/20

[Pipino]

Pipino was making her way through the streets of Ul'dah, walking through the markets, in search of art supplies as usual, but also for the adventurous materials needed to cook a surprise meal she wanted to perfect in secret on her own. She grinned as she walked, clearly in a good mood.

[F'loki]

Not long into her errands, she would have felt a sudden tap at her shoulder, followed by a not-so-ominous looming over the shoulder. It was a certain Miqo'te–F'loki to be exact, and almost in mirror of their meeting, he greeted her with a smile and a slight bow of the head.

[Pipino]

Pipino jumped with a start at the sudden touch, whipping around to take in whoever had violated her space. Her surprised and vigilant, suspicious look was immediately replaced by one of cheerful recognition, her face looking upward at him, relieved and pleased to see him.

“F'loki! My, it has been a bit since we have seen one another, has it not? I feel like a wholly different person since we last met. How are things?”

[F'loki]

“Different person you say? Only in good ways I hope. Anyroad, things are….fine, I suppose. I believe I owe you an update and seeing you skip by I figured in person would be better than pearl. Are you….terribly busy?”

[Pipino]

“Oh, no, not really. Just out shopping for some small bits, nothing too pressing. And yes, all good things, I promise!”

[F'loki]

“Very well. Perhaps I can simply accompany you while you walk then?”

[Pipino]

“Yes, certainly. A woman would be foolish to shun such a capable escort,” she says with a grin. “Do I dare to hope the update is also good news?”

[F'loki]

“Well that depends on what you think of as good news really. What would you like to know again? I'd rather start with what interests you seeing how we left things off before.”

[Pipino]

“Oh… well, I believe the question on whether I should be involved with this…. Whatever it is… I believe it was all up in the air. I just… Eligor was supposed to talk with me about compensation wmor what have you but, the whole thing is just so cryptic. I just… I do not want to put myself in a position of too much danger, or… Associate myself with moral gray areas.”

[F'loki]

“Well on the bright side…I can assure you that your protection is strangely high priority. There are uh….systems in place. Almost a disturbing number of them.”

He began to follow her as she went about her business, rubbing at his chin.

“As for the morals, that is probably more good news as well. I'm not sure how many details you want but I can say that Eligor is not setting himself up for leadership. Or, at the very least he does not intend to remain the leader.”

[Pipino]

Pipino walks and adjusts the bag on her shoulder, cocking her head and furrowing her brow upon hearing all this.

“Well…. I suppose that is… Comforting I guess? I just wonder… Why bother to go through all this trouble and expense only to abandon it?”

[F'loki]

“I've my theories but the only solid one is that he wanted to give his daughter a present?”

[Pipino]

“What is that meant to mean?”

[F'loki]

“She's meant to be the leader.”

[Pipino]

“Which one?”

[F'loki]

“Lalafell? Bit temperamental.”

[Pipino]

“The one with the odd colored eyes and the robes, or the one with dark skin and long blonde hair? That man collects daughters like misers do gold, I swear.”

[F'loki]

“Milady, I would not dare to call a cute woman odd looking. It goes against my code to unjustly lie. But yes otherwise the description is quite accurate indeed. Why do you ask?”

“By which I mean, the latter, by the way.”

[Pipino]

She sighs. “Of course it would be her. We have a… strange relationship.”

Her expression becomes a bit gloomy as she stops at a stall and takes a moment to select a couple specialty pen nibs. Stepping back away, she continues, lowering her voice a bit.

“Well.. since you were so up front about your story when last we met, I suppose I can share it with you. He took a blood sample from me at one point and used the small amount of aether contained within it to create her. She shares old memories of mine even. I find her… A troublesome presence. And I have tried speaking with her before, but, well, we did not exactly get on.”

[F'loki]

“I'm….somewhat aware of that. Without explicit proof, I was still able to connect some dots. Why would your protection be so valued otherwise? Far as I've investigated, you do not actually make him any money, nor are you a combatant of some sort. Having you two connect by coincidence in a workplace is certainly….the most natural choice I suppose.”

[Pipino]

“Is it? How is it natural? I can think of a million more scenarios that scream 'natural' before I would even think of ours in such a light.” She stows her prizes away after exchanging sufficient gil for them, moving along down the street again. Her gait was a little bit zippier, perhaps, spurred on by some mild irritation. “I think it is just forced cooperation, perhaps some large ploy to teach me some kind of lesson.”

[F'loki]

“Just so happening to have you two work together does not sound like a classic tactic to you?”

[Pipino]

“If his tactic is to drive me away, then perhaps it is a good one.”

[F'loki]

“You've reason to avoid this girl?”

[Pipino]

“She just… unsettles me! She runs around and has spoken with all my friends more than she has with me, and she even still harbors affection for my husband due to her memories. It is just… I do not like how she seemingly seeks to live out her old life at times. I cannot imagine it is exactly pleasant for her to be around me either, honestly.”

[F'loki]

“Surely you can commend the effort to try though. If you would not give her the credit, why not yourself? You did say she came from your aether no?”

“Now I realize this might not entirely be my field to speak on but…I do think empathy might serve everyone well here. Imagine if you had found yourself in her situation. I imagine from speaking to her that to an extent she has done the same. Maybe. Girl clearly has a lot of things on her mind.”

[Pipino]

“I am sure she does I just… I cannot see why it is so necessary for me to be involved at all. What do I gain from working so hard to become accustomed to strange employment and even stranger people? He could have just required this of me, but instead he phrases this task as a job offer I have the option to refuse. I… I cannot help but feel that me going along with things is just me playing into some kind of scheme. Perhaps if I saw some value to the task or my role in it, then maybe I could see the value in fostering a better relationship, but for now, it seems he just wants to appease his daughter at my expense.”

Pipino seems conflicted as she walks, but clearly taking advantage of the opportunity to vent. It seems as if she has held back these frustrations for some time.

[F'loki]

“I'm not cannot deny that its possible. It just seems that if that were the case, you would have been mentioned more in his outline. He seems….strangely intent on keeping you safe while working. Beyond that…Just plan back? There is a lot happening, and adding in some ominous plot for you on top of that would do more harm than good if you think on it.”

“I realize I've gotten quite vague. The man intends to wage war of sorts on deviancy. Pouring an obscene amount of resources into it as well.”

[Pipino]

She pauses and stops at a stall selling some food items. Rather than break the conversation now, she simply stops and turns to look at him face to face. “Deviancy. And how is that being defined? Such a… broad word.”

[F'loki]

“Well…that leads me to the other point. He sort of….made me second in command. To his daughter.”

“And the definition of that would largely be up to her.”

[Pipino]

“……Well then that… that changes things a bit,” *she states simply, gears turning in her mind as she processes the implications.

[F'loki]

“See? Its….well a mess is what it is, but it is not a mess that we cannot turn into something good. Better than good even.”

“If anything, I think that is the true danger of this entire debacle. The temptation that is borne of being given a resource for real change.”

[Pipino]

“Well, what do you aim to do with such a prominent role in it all? What do you hope it will become?”

[F'loki]

“I'll help. I hate the man but his logic was sound. And if it goes off course….I'll change it. Or stop it.”

“My family is tied up in this too. I'll not let them burn for some warped vision of the future.”

[Pipino]

“What, his logic to punish deviancy? That is the logical part?”

[F'loki]

“I'd just encourage you to speak with him about it. My gift in words does not necessarily extend to uh….convincing people. And truthfully, I do not think you need it. The man that is the problem is more or less planning to excuse himself. What concerns truly remain once he is purged?”

[Pipino]

“I suppose I ought to. My family worries, especially my husband. So…I just am hesitant to fall deeper into something without the option to step back. You at least seem decent enough that I feel like things might not take a turn for the worse. Or at least you would not let it spiral into some strange sadistic experiment. I have no measure of what Novine's values contain. Have you?”

[F'loki]

“Well, I do somewhat, if you're willing to trust my judgment. I tested her rather harshly, and made certain to poke at her character quite a bit. Not only did she pass, she even managed to exceed my expectations. The girl has a good heart, even if she has been all but drowned in her father's habitual arrogance.”

[Pipino]

Pipino sighs a little resigned sigh. “Well… that is… I do not know if a relief is the proper word for it, but… well, I suppose I -am- relieved. Eligor has said something to the effect of her becoming more like him if I reject her. I am hesitant accepting responsibility of any capacity for her in this regard but… Well, there was a point where I was willing to do much and more to keep him from perpetrating suffering on others. It would be negligence to let it happen. But… to be forced to go along with all of this other stuff…”

[F'loki]

The man laughs teasingly.

“You did say he gave you the option to walk away. Forgive me for finding the humor in it.”

[Pipino]

Pipino sighs. “Well, he is not forcing me. I feel like you know what I am getting at though. That to have one outcome, I need to deal with the other.”

[F'loki]

He rubs his chin again, laughing.

“Well onto more pressing matters. What are you shopping for?”

[Pipino]

“Well, I highly doubt it is more pressing, but I have taken up a bit of an interest in trying my hand at cooking. Perhaps getting married has ignited some desire to help with these responsibilities, but… Just some ingredients for a bit of a pasta dish to experiment with, and a couple of nibs for my pen. I am currently working on a book with a friend of mine, a field guide to edible and useful plants in Gridania, and I am providing the illustrations, but I need a couple more sizes to get the desired dimension in the drawings.”

“You know, normal things,” she says with a laugh.

[F'loki]

“Oh I see I've interrupted quite a bit then! Would you prefer to go about your evening now ma'am? I really should be finding a good tailor myself.”

[Pipino]

“Well, you are welcome to accompany me as long as you like, but I shall not keep you if you have business. But a tailor - any special occasion?”

[F'loki]

“Well if I'm to devote myself to a role, I figured I might as well look the part. A proper and charming man in a suit sounds appropriate for a vice leader, does it not?”

[Pipino]

“Well, that makes sense, I suppose. Who knew this was such a formal operation?”

[F'loki]

“Well from what I hear you're getting dressed up are you not?”

[Pipino]

“Eligor mentioned armor, I suppose. I have had quite the dreadful vision of what that might look like, to be honest.”

[F'loki]

“Your hatred of him must run deep.”

[Pipino]

“Nothing good has come of knowing him, so I bare him no strong affection. He would disagree and point how he has given me protection and such, and that living is a reward I should treasure as something good but… I am fairly certain I would have had no reason to be protected had I avoided him altogether.”

[F'loki]

The man crossed his arms, stopping for a moment.

“He has taken everything from me, and I'll never forget that. No matter what anyone says, he is the sickness that has infected my family. He just digs himself deeper and deeper no matter how hard you try to burn him out, and I absolutely cannot stand it. The worm knows how to burrow well.”

He sighs.

“But…he also returned my sister to me when I could not. And he has brought what is left of my family together. I'll not forget that either. And I'll not suffer it to happen again.”

[Pipino]

“I see…,” she says in a rather sympathetic tone. “I do not fault you for that. And… well, I suppose if anything, it has been nice talking with you, for what that is worth. I suppose he helped facilitate that in a sense.” She gives him a little grin. “It would be nice if he would have helped us have cheerier topics of conversation though,” she says wryly.

[F'loki]

“I’d compliment your hair but I still well remember the wrath of a groom.”

[Pipino]

“It is the thought that counts!” *She laughs daintily, that hint of a blush at the apples of her cheeks.* “Anyway, I ought to let you go become the most dashing version of yourself.”

[F'loki]

He gives a slight bow before twirling on the the tips of his toes to face the opposite direction, turning to wave over his shoulder.

“Well stay safe then! You’re all I have to look forward to at my new job!”

[Pipino]

Pipino waves back, grinning. She takes a breath and releases one little sigh before turning to the stall to buy her provisions.


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