001 - open

[silvergarden]

🧙 WHO: Rinea & anyone [+ closed prompts in comments]
⚔️️ WHAT: alchemized fabric & potion advertisements
🕒 WHEN: May!
🗺️ WHERE: Unspecified Tailor's Shop^(tm) & noticeboards around the city
⚠️ WARNINGS: None yet!

The Clothes Alchemize the Man

[Rinea may not have won the sewing contest last month, but the renewed interest in magicked textiles it caused has made the tailor's shop she embroiders for quite busy. Rinea has had a quiet month, just catching up with orders... and when the tailor closed for a holiday, Rinea thought it would be a good time to go into the shop herself to drop things off.

But turning in her embroidery is but the work of a moment... and with time to herself Rinea is admittedly curious. Maybe she can get in some practice? She has managed to enchant simple decorations into her work, but what if she could use alchemy and kinetic magic to infuse the fabric itself with magical qualities? Like floating?....

When the shop bell dings at the door opening, Rinea looks up with surprised from the lacy, long-tailed bow she was enchanting. She had meant to lock the door behind her, but--!!]

Oh! I'm sorry-- the tailor is away for the moment. [Rinea hurries to curtsy in greeting and the ribbon flutters sadly back to the table, enchantment abandoned.]

Is there-- Is there something I can help you with?

Potion of Don't Die

[Rinea is still not very familiar with using the network. When she wound up with extra doses of her emergency potion after her venom quest, and hoped to do a public service by providing them to others... well, her first thought was putting up posters.

You may see Rinea with her ever-looming familiar posting her little advertisements around the analog notice boards around the city. The posters read:

First Aid Potion - Doses Available
For Emergencies in the Absence of a Healer
Stabilizes a gravely wounded person's vitals to allow their rescuer to transport them to a healer.
Lasts 15 minutes-1 hour, depending on severity of the wound.

current stock limited - pay for cost of materials

It also lists dates and times she's available, and where to contact Rinea should you want one made after her current stock runs dry.

She seems to have the potions on her, if the satchel on her person is any indication-- so you're free to approach!

OOCly, if you'd like a potion of don't die outside of this prompt-- just comment here and we can handwave!]

Comments

[silvergarden]

"Chris," Rinea makes out, voice wavering as she tears her gaze from her fiancé. The appearance of her friend is both a boon and a bane; as reassuring as Chris's presence is, deep in her mind Rinea knows she never wanted the two standing before her to meet. How is she supposed to behave, now? Is this a public setting? Is she supposed to pretend everything between them is fine, like Berkut is apparently doing?

"Rinea?" the illusory Berkut prompts again. His expression clouds over, reminding her more and more of the last she ever saw of him. "I don't recognize this... knight. What is going on here?"

He rises from the water, reaching for a lance. The motion jolts Rinea from her frozen state, panic spiking in an instant. No matter how she feels about Berkut, she can't give up what she has now. The thought of it makes her sick.

"Stop!" she cries, seizing Chris's arm and stepping back. "Milord, please! Please listen— w-why can't you attend to—!"

The siren— for it is a siren, even if only clear to Chris— pays no heed to her plea, and readies to strike and separate Chris from its prey.

[ofsilverflame]

Chris is quick to interpose herself between the two, her own sword drawn in retaliation to the lance being drawn by the man-beast in the water. "Stay back!" She barks angrily to it. "Rinea are you—" A quick look back and Chris can see the anguish on her friend's face, the fear. It's an expression she never expected to see on a woman as kind and empathetic as the Rigelian noblewoman's. It speaks to something deeper, as do her words of pleading to...to whoever she thinks the siren in the water actually is.

This is a battle, but it's not a battle of swords and lances, and not even Chris' battle to fight, though she'll do what she can. Her expression softens.

"...It's going to be all right, Rinea. You're not alone." Chris reassures her. "We can face this together."

Turning back she readies herself in a defensive posture. "A gentleman would respect a lady's wish." She warns the siren. "I tell you again, stand away!"

[silvergarden]

Rinea can feel hot, itchy tears spill down her cheeks as she fights to control her breath. So much is happening at once that her head is spinning, but Chris's voice is clear and steady, cutting through it all. Rinea holds her hand tighter, nodding.

It's okay. It's going to be okay. Chris is here, and she's going to be safe, and words will not bring the whole world crashing down upon her again. All she needs to do is speak.

"B-Berkut," she begins again. The snarling illusion of Berkut, made nervous by Chris's sword, fixes Rinea with its betrayed gaze. Looking at it is excruciating, like her heart is being torn in two-- she wants to rush to him, to reassure and console her dear prince. But right now, Rinea has done enough for this man. She can't manage his reactions to this any more. She can't pull her emotions into herself to reassure him any more. She has to speak her needs into existence, or what lesson did she even learn?

"Milord." Rinea's wavering voice gets stronger with every word. "When I last spoke to you, I truly meant every word. I was happy! I didn't care where we might end up. The only thing important to me was that we were together.

"But right now... I can't do that any more." Rinea is trembling head to toe, but she keeps going. "I can't pretend that y-you didn't... that you didn't hurt me. So if you do anything else for me, if you have any love left for me... leave me alone!"

The siren is quiet and still, lance lowered. Rinea's eyes are so blurred with tears that she can no longer see its face, but the creature smiles, and nods, and sinks deeper into the water until is disappears completely.

Rinea scrubs hard at her eyes, barely keeping her balance. She's bawling. It's awful, it feels like free-falling, it's undignified-- but still it feels cathartic in some horrible, messed-up way.

[ofsilverflame]

Chris relaxes, lowering her sword as the Siren disappears under the water, but she doesn't let go of Rinea's hand. The man, Berkut, had been Rinea's...lover? She had not looked upon him with the eyes of one truly happy to see her beloved, however. The relationship must have been...turbulent. Or worse. Some of what Rinea says gives Chris pause. What had happened to them? To her?

But Rinea manages to stand strong and dismisses the Siren from her sight. It seems that whatever her relationship to this Berkut had been, she is ready to move past it and him, though the effort does not come without cost. As Rinea breaks down, she is caught by Chris, who helps keep her steady. "It's all right, Rinea. You did well." She says kindly as the Rigelian sobs. "I think you are stronger than he gave you credit for." And perhaps he wasn't the only one.

Chris remains there for as long as Rinea needs to get it out of her system before she speaks again.

"Shall we go home, my lady?"

[silvergarden]

Rinea holds Chris tightly for some time, her weeping gradually slowing from wracking sobs to quiet sniffles. She is flooded with both shame and relief that Berkut's appearance had not in fact been real. Truly, what a scene she had made over nothing-- but thank the fates it was nothing. (But is she even allowed to harbor such relief, towards the absence of her Prince?)

When Chris finally puts forth her gentle question, Rinea manages to nod fervently. Yes-- home. She has one here, doesn't she? It's safe, and warm with friendship, and with no weighty expectations that leaved her muted to keep the peace. She thought she had that in Rigel as well, but...

Ah... she owes Chris so much.

"I'm-- sorry," Rinea whispers, eyes trained on the ground, heavy with guilt.