tushanshu_logs | i won't leave any doubt [May, catchall, open]

Entry tags:

i won't leave any doubt [May, catchall, open]

Characters: Raine Sage and OPEN
Date: May, most of it
Location: Keeliai. Healers' Guild, Earth Sector, assorted other
Situation: many, lots.
Warnings/Rating: None currently, will update if that changes

A | Healers' Guild | OPEN

Raine can be found at the Healers' Guild perhaps even more often now, even though she was supposed to be delegating to free up more of her time. With the recent loss of some personnel, and a recent brush with friends from home as well, she's been working as hard as she can, and possibly forgetting to take as many breaks as she should. At any point during most days she can be found tending patients, or in her office working at any number of administrative tasks, or making a beeline from point A to point B, walking briskly and with purpose. She's rarely in the entrance hall, but any kedan volunteer can point out where the head of the Guild has gotten to at most times.

Fairly generally, if she leaves on time, it's because someone else has reminded her to, whether it's Solomon coming to pull her away from things or one of her coworkers reminding her about the fine art of delegation.

There is only one instance in which she falls asleep on her desk.

After the seventh of the month, there will be one or two instances in which she can be found at the empty pool in the courtyard, looking visibly and unusually troubled.

B | markets | OPEN

Raine, mid-errands, has a basket under one arm and appears to have been sidetracked (yet again) by her questionable cooking choices. This is currently manifesting in the shape of a conversation with a shopkeeper about sea prunes.

She herself is intent, brow furrowed and questioning earnestly. The kedan appears somewhat more concerned. "No," he's saying, "you can't put sea prunes in cake."

Raine does not appear to believe him.

C | a particular tavern | closed to Lin and Pepper)

Finally following up on the lead Solomon uncovered for her regarding last month's anonymous donation, Raine goes from kedan orderly to a specific tavern where she has been told they usually drink, around the hours that would make sense for such a thing. She really should have made time for this earlier, but the practicalities of running the Guild combined with the pressures of the Milyn problems only made her busyness mount, instead of easing.

In contrast, it's almost pleasantly simple just to go out to a tavern with a friend. Even if there is an ulterior motive. Raine invited Pepper half because she really could use a second point of view on this problem, and half because she wanted an excuse to spend time with a friend, in the middle of everything else that's happening.

She's looking for a scrawny kedan with colourful hair and a stutter, and she'll head his way when she spots him.

D | wildcard | open

[ooc; if you have questions about the Healers' Guild, or questions in general, or want to plot, drop me a pm here or at

makaricrow c: Or just throw things at me, that's cool too!]

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Oh, honestly. Raine sighed, her shoulders dropping a little. There would be no arguing with Sheena about this, would there? "I said it wasn't necessary," she tried, for form's sake, and resigned herself to a gift. "It's simply that that's where the tradition of wedding-gifts likely originated..."

She could tell when protests were falling on deaf ears. "...In any case, I'm glad you're back. You'll need a place to stay. Knowing it may be somewhat more permanent, would you still like to stay with us?" It seemed that things hadn't lent themselves to Sheena properly meeting Solomon while she'd been there last, and now, with the influx of strange rootless Foreigners gone, the factors that had prevented it were mostly gone.

Raine was only a little worried.

"You didn't encounter any trouble?"

Come now, Raine couldn't possibly expect to be able to convince Sheena otherwise, could she? "Oh you did? Guess I must have misheard you." Not that it was going to change Sheena's mind. She gave Raine a flat look tinged with humor. "From what I remember, we have a habit of not exactly following tradition."

So, la la la, Raine. You're getting a gift.

"I'm glad to be back, too." Her voice was unusually quiet, giving credence to her sentiment. And at first, she was ready to politely refuse Raine's offer, but stopped herself. It hadn't been so bad when she visited, right? "I'd like that," she told her friend. "If you don't think I'll be in the way, that is." And gives a little lift of an eyebrow. Not exactly a waggle, but close enough. "I'm looking forward to meeting Solomon." Why she hadn't before made her curious, but that wasn't as important as making sure he treated Raine right.

Brows furrowing, the ninja shook her head.

"No, I didn't. Why? Has there been some trouble?"

Raine had hoped. Usually, people here saw sense in the end, when she started trying to talk logic into them. She'd forgotten to account for sheer stubbornness when attached to goodwill and friendship. She could hardly argue with that, and so she simply lifted her shoulders and offered Sheena a rueful smile in return.

"You'd hardly be in the way," Raine said, before the playful lift of Sheena's eyebrow caught up with her and she processed the other attached meaning. The faintest hint of a blush rose high on her cheekbones, but she maintained her equanimity otherwise. "The spare room is still open, and in any case I think it's only practical. As for Solomon..." Raine considered it again. They had talked about it, but with this becoming somewhat more of a permanent arrangement... "Why don't you meet him first, and make up your own mind?" she suggested. "I don't anticipate a problem -- even he and Genis managed to get along eventually -- but if you want to be sure beforehand that you can live with him as well, then it would be the logical solution, and he has a workspace here at the Guild as well; it would hardly be a long detour."

At Sheena's last question Raine hesitated, tilting her head in a way that was neither really yes nor no. "Things have been more or less peaceful lately, but relations between the factions are shifting. Some of the Foreigners have also proposed to form and run a police force in unison with the kedan, and while that will likely have a positive long-term effect, it will also likely unbalance some things in the short term."

Raine should know better than to try to use logic on Sheena to begin with. If it were any other type of situation, the ninja just might give in and see it the mage's way, but this wasn't that kind of situation. This was about friendship--where the rules of logic didn't always apply.

"Glad to hear it." There was a playful lilt to Sheena's voice that only enforced the double meaning behind her earlier words. A meaning Raine obviously got--if that blush was any indication. Of course, Sheena was genuinely happy for her friend and wouldn't do anything to ruin her happiness.

But, as a friend, she has to kid her--a little.

Sheena chuckled warmly. It was nice to see that Raine hadn't changed here, either--always the pragmatic and practical one of the group. That was probably something that wouldn't disappear from the mage--much like Sheena's stubbornness and loyalty to her friends. She gave her friend a sincere smile. "Like I said, I'm looking forward to meeting him. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance the last time I was here." And then, the question would become could he live with her? That was a test she was going to have to face and take. Hopefully, she'll pass. T the mention of just how close he could be, Sheena blinked in surprise. After not seeing him before, now it would be easy.

"Is he here right now?"

Raine's answer to her question set the ninja to pacing before she stopped and gave her friend a solemn look. "You mean the kedan having Foreigners enforcing their laws? That the kedan should take care of the kedan?" It wasn't anything she had heard, but she had a good idea how some of the kedan felt about the non-natives. Atia's solution had been two police forces; something Sheena doubted would be possible here.

Just because friendship was an exercise of the heart before the head was no excuse for logic not to apply there as well, honestly. Raine had to try; but, then again, emotional logic did not always agree with the better-known system of that name.

The blush stayed, faint but notable.

"He does some work for the Guild," Raine explained, "in addition to keeping something like a laboratory here, as well, albeit somewhat further in than the majority of the areas which see patients." In case something magical went wrong, as was more than possible. "While he handles the unclaimed dead here, his research takes more of his time. He should still be there today." Provided she hadn't lost track of time, but then again some people had been taking to making sure she did leave the Guild on time.

"The idea seems to be to supplant the Snakes," she provided, as Sheena paced. "They're the most militaristic of the factions, and responsible for what currently passes for law enforcement, despite being in some eyes little better than a large gang. They are, as you might imagine, not unbiased enforcers. Those Foreigners proposing the shift appear to intend to work alongside the kedan, with an eye to providing a structure that will last even when we're gone, but since it may effectively take power from one faction..." She blew out her breath, and shook her head. Trouble brewing, almost certainly.

For Sheena, it wasn't exactly that it didn't apply; it just didn't always work well for her. Sometimes she needed to be literally pulled away from something in order for it to sink in. Amazing how that really hadn't changed much in four years.

Stubborn thing.

And oh yes, she could still see that blush there as the mage spoke about Solomon, but she decided to keep quiet about it for now. There was a fine line between friendly teasing and cruelty, and Sheena wasn't about to cross it. "If he's still here, would it be possible to meet him? If it won't interfere with his research." Her brows knitting together, the ninja thought for a moment. "If I remember correctly, you said you met him while he was doing research. Was that before he started helping the guild?" An innocent question, which is almost quickly forgotten as a frown appears. "What happens to those who are unclaimed?" Unclaimed and probably forgotten; that didn't sit too well with her.

Sheena's pacing stopped in mid-stride and she turned towards the mage. "So, basically what they're calling for is a rebellion and a coup, is that it?" That sounded so much better than "gang war", didn't it? "And everyone will be caught in the middle--whether they support one side or the other." Shaking her head, she gave her friend a flat look.

"We just can't get away from trouble, can we?"

"Quite technically, I suppose, we met when I healed him, but it was an exceptionally busy day," Raine said, absently. "We didn't begin to get to know each other until he helped me gauge the efficiency of my artes after a power-boost, and then again, researching the Dreaming plane in Valishaera... it's been about three years since we met, counting the Dreaming year. The Guild I've only had charge of since the December before last." This was mostly to put the timeline in order for Sheena, but the time she'd spent here sometimes still startled her. It really had become a second home.

"It's ensured arrangements are made for them according to kedan tradition," Raine added, reassuring, catching Sheena's concern. "It's rare, in any case: the kedan value family very highly, and I don't see many people who are completely without." Solomon worked with them, not instead of them. "And yes, it should be possible. He takes precautions if he's working with anything volatile, and introducing yourself should be enough to get his attention."

The way Sheena put it really did sound better than 'gang war.' Raine had only a quietly rueful look to offer in response. "It was worse, during the fight against Malicant, but sometimes I wonder if it isn't easier to have one obvious enemy rather than a political mess."

Sheena cocked an eyebrow. "Too busy to remember him very well, or remembered despite it being a busy day?" she asked teasingly. The tone disappeared as the timeline sank in, and Sheena shook her head. Both of them being somewhere other than home for several years and able to mention the time without really batting the eye also astonished the ninja.

But it wasn't the length of time that made the ninja chuckle warmly. "Leave it to you to find someone with the same passion for research," Sheena said. "Except I bet he knows when to take a break, right?" She paused and added almost as an after thought, "How does he feel about ruins?"

For a moment, Sheena stood in silence after Raine explained what Solomon's work with the unclaimed dead entailed. "So, someone still remembers them and honors them," she finally said quietly, "even if they aren't family." To die alone without family was one thing; to die and not be remembered as though you never existed was another. Another moment of silence passed before Sheena looked at her friend askance, a smile starting to form. "Well, if it's possible, how about we go ahead and do it?" the ninja suggested. "If your duties permit it right now, that is."

Yeah, such a pretty term for an ugly thing, right? Rebellion, conflict, coup--all pretty terms for something so messy. And while Raine's expression was rueful, Sheena's became thoughtful. "Malicant... Why does that name sound familiar?" She turned to her friend. "Did you mention them to me the last time I was here?" It was entirely possible that all of her memories from her last visit hadn't quite caught up with her. And Sheena had an answer for Raine's musing.

"Neither one of them easier," she said. "Since the 'obvious enemy' can always change midway through, turning everything you know upside down." And she wasn't just talking about back home, either.

Definitely remembered despite. Raine smiled fondly, which was likely more than enough answer. "Between us, we can remember breaks," she said delicately, which was not quite a yes. "Solomon's difficulty is temperature, lately-- the heat went out and he didn't notice until he was frostbitten." Honestly. "But we can compensate for each other's weaknesses, and while he may not precisely share my passion for ruins, he understands it."

It would, fortunately, be very possible to introduce the two now. Raine took a breath, remembering how disastrously Solomon's introduction to Genis had gone, and then made herself relax. This was completely different. "Yes," she said. "All right, this way. I'll take you there." It would be simpler than giving directions, and this way she could ensure nothing went terribly wrong.

She directed them more purposefully now, farther into the Guild building where less people visited or passed them, though at least the light was still good. "Malicant was the creature we were brought here to fight in the first place," she explained as they went. "It wanted to reach back through us, to corrupt and destroy more worlds. We were able to defeat it, but it was... difficult."

Perhaps, at some point, she would tell Sheena about that fight; about the ocean, and Virginia. Not right now. Raine shook her head. "It may simply be a mess for the foreseeable future. I'm glad to see you, though." One more door, and Raine stopped, checking the handle on the next one. There was a little sign hung over it, which said, incongruously, 'Interrogation.'

Raine let her breath out in something suspiciously like a resigned sigh, and tapped firmly at the door before opening it partway. "Solomon. Sheena's back."

The corpse on this occasion had been found two or three days old in an alley. Solomon had asked around for gang affiliations, but usually the dead were picked up long before they got cold if there was anyone to look out for them; the gangs were very attentive in that regard. If a body was left that long, they probably weren't from the area.

Murders didn't come his way very often, despite the city's gang presence (or perhaps because of it). Drug overdoses were far more common. Tracking those were useful for keeping an eye on the ebb and flow of the drug sales and user demographics, and that was like keeping a pulse on the underground. Some of the gangs were waging a quiet war on distributors; usually they were the ones who paid for the information Solomon got out of the victims.

So behind the door was the quiet murmur of voices, one patient and Irish-accented and the other strangely flat. The sounds stopped when Raine knocked, and Solomon straightened up from the table, his head turned toward the door without actually looking its way.

"Your friend from last month?" he asked. They hadn't met, but Solomon had heard about her, of course. "She has a soul-gem, I hope; or else I'm going to have to lock myself in the laboratory again to escape the incoming flood of visitors." But he was smiling faintly as he said it. "Any objections to my finishing?"

Read: Did Sheena have any visceral objections to watching corpses talk, or should he finish the interrogation in an hour or so? Ordinarily he wouldn't mind leaving it, but the older the corpse the more difficult it was to get answers, especially if he stopped. He'd rather not stop in the middle in this case.

Sheena could only stare when Raine told her about Solomon's "difficulty". "Frostbite? Seriously? Was he concentrating on something, or can he not feel the change in temperature?" The second, of course, being worse than the first.

Putting that aside, she fell into step beside Raine, listening intently to her explanation about Malicant. There was something about the way she said "difficult" that concerned the ninja, and she turned to her friend. "I can't imagine what you went through, Raine, but I'm glad you're all right." Worded a little oddly, but it was Sheena's way of extending an invitation to talk to her about it--if Raine wanted. "And I'm glad to see you, too."

Soon, they were in front of a door, and Sheena tilted her head in confusion. Interrogation? Oh. This was probably where Solomon talked to people about the unclaimed dead her friend mentioned. (Little did she know just who was being questioned.) And sure enough, there were voices coming through the door until Raine knocked. The ninja couldn't see too much into the room past her friend, but that didn't stop her from answering Solomon's question.

"That's the one! And I really don't want to take you away from your work." Not because of seeing a corpse talk--although if she knew about that, it would definitely be reason number one. But the unclaimed dead shouldn't remain that way any longer than necessary--if at all.

Leaning close to her friend, she said quietly. "It's okay, Raine. I don't mind waiting until he finishes."

"It's the latter," Raine said, with a wry grimace. "A side-effect of his magic, we believe. It's stronger than it was. Mine is, as well, but is fortunately absent any odd side-effects." It just meant she was more easily able to heal even those without exspheres, which Raine would take as a win.

She sighed at the half-closed door, considering the options. In the end she turned to Sheena. "Solomon's magic is necromancy," she explained. "Death, and darkness; an almost perfect reversal of my own. In this case, he will have briefly recalled an echo of a person, in order to discern the facts of their death as precisely as possible." It didn't sound like Raine was very concerned about this, and in fact one of their first conversations on the nature of his magic had involved Raine working out the ethics of it. "If that will bother you, another hour or so won't make much difference."

The choice she would leave up to Sheena. She looked back up, pitching her voice to carry to Solomon. "She's here to stay," Raine added. "Ideally, with us-- which is why I'd rather the two of you meet properly before you run into each other in the kitchen."

"Excellent," said Solomon, a tad absently because he was keeping his power gathered in the corpse, two fingers laid on its forehead. "Much better than my unexpectedly running into you in the kitchen." He smiled to himself. "Unless under certain conditions, of course."

Their physical relationship had taken some rather interesting turns not all that long ago.

"You may as well come in, then," Solomon added, catching Raine's explanation through the half-open door. Sharp ears counted for something these days. "There's no point in her being taken by surprise if I happen to use my magic at the apartment, and this is as controlled an environment as we can get."

He had no desire to be attacked by a friend of Raine's because of some kind of misunderstanding.

Wait. Had Raine mentioned something about having her powers the last time Sheena had "visited"? The ninja couldn't remember. Nor had she paid much attention if anyone at the Welcome Center had mentioned it, either, since she was more excited about popping in and surprising her friend.

Besides, after so many years of having only a portion of her powers, she really hadn't thought about them being returned.

But now... "Did something happen to make them stronger?" Maybe during that time in the Dreaming? Sheena wasn't sure how that applied, but it was the only thing she could think of. Before she could ask further, she felt her jaw drop when Raine explained Solomon's magic. But it wasn't out of fear that she took a step back--but recognition. The dead? Coming back to life?

Yeah, that was old news to her. In this case, however, she knew that it wasn't for anything unethical--or that the dead had to give up something. It was to help them and let them find peace and remain who they were. So, there was no inner argument about ethics going on inside Sheena, and she had opened her mouth to inform Solomon that she was fine with his work, when his comment about the kitchen made her give Raine a knowing and impish look.

Well, that was one thing the two women had in common, it seemed. A talent for something other than cooking in that room.

Knocking on the door, the ninja pushed it open further to call in. Although she was agreeing, she felt that Raine should be the one to lead the way. "Oh, I don't think it'll be that bad," she said. "After all, I know a few magic users from home," she said with a chuckle.

"There was an incident with an attempt to contact the turtle, some months ago," Raine explained. "They weren't successful in waking him, but the fact that he lived was established, and I believe it changed something of his state. Afterward, many of us noticed somewhat of a boost."

She remembered, still, coming home to find Solomon in the kitchen with hands like ice and a strangely distant expression. Not worth mentioning now, though; Sheena had the gist of the issue.

Instead Raine turned slightly pink at that knowing look, and led Sheena into the room rather than commenting. Already the interaction, even if through a half-closed door, was promising. "Solomon Wreath, Sheena Fujibayashi," she said, by way of a 'formal' introduction. Each had titles she could append, she supposed, but they were hardly necessary at this point.

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i won't leave any doubt [May, catchall, open]

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Info Handwave Point Ahead!

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Whoops! Forgot it was my turn. ////

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i won't leave any doubt [May, catchall, open]

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Info Handwave Point Ahead!

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Whoops! Forgot it was my turn. *////*

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Whoops! Forgot it was my turn. ////