"Willow, I won't tolerate you insulting the Sage, you–" said Smart sharply, turning on her, but she fell silent when she felt the hand of the Lord rise.
Then, the hand slowly gestured to Willow, with glowing eyes staring, expectant. He uttered a single word, a command to her.
"Proceed."
[The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
"Proceed? With which action specifically am I proceeding? Helping Manon and your realm? Or the bit where I compare ya to that one snake eating its own tail? Cause I'm only really keen on one of 'em, but I jus' woke up from a long l nap, so I'm feeling feisty," Willow continued as she began considering where to sit and wait for the council to meet. She'd since decided that if Miss Smith were here instead, the gunslinger would, well, stick to her guns and not leave Manon in distress. Truth be told, she also wasn't all that keen on continuing to berate this locally esteemed individual, especially if he was asking for it. Ever the contrarian, she was.
"Either way, I said I was gonna be attending a meeting, so I ain't heading anywhere until said argybargy is concluded."
"Either way, I said I was gonna be attending a meeting, so I ain't heading anywhere until said argybargy is concluded."
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Willow found her search for a chair concluded, as she was now sitting in a chair. It was an ornate, limestone affair, with a tall back, like a throne. There was no flow to it, no gentle movement, not even an aggressive thrust; Willow was simply sitting.
A flutter of wings announced the arrival of Noble, tearing through the silence. His hooves clattered as he slowed to a trot in the chamber, wearing what appeared to be ceremonial armor. He passed by a chair, which was illuminated with the spiritual figure of Creative.
"I see you are all acquainted!" Noble cheerily boomed, his voice echoing, "Excellent, I was hoping to start–..."
As Clever appeared in her own chair, immediately taken by Smart's presence, Noble noticed the tension. He opened his mouth to speak, but Smart ran her hand across her throat.
"Ms. Fairburn," the man of many names continued in the ensuing silence, "You assume a level of familiarity you have not earned. In my home. In my place. You are brash, you are base, but worst of all, you are rude. Were this in an academic setting, your mother would be getting an honest report of your behavior."
"Fairburn?" asked Noble, before Smart shushed him.
Those glowing eyes continued to bore down on her, "But, let us disregard your current behavior. I have seen everything you have accomplished. Based on your valor and kindness alone, I thought to consider Noble's proposal, just to see if you could truly make a difference. But I have seen everything you have accomplished. Vengeance already knows how to exploit you. To use you."
The man of many names produced something from within the flames. He threw it and it landed at Willow's feet.
It was a piece of a broken oar.
"I expected more from a student of Smith's."
Then, Willow was back in the room she had woken up in earlier that day. Bjorn had also come back as well, but he was still asleep, only now, it seemed as though his wing was mended. She was still in her robe, but the day-time moons were still high in the sky, one of them still immolating blue in a small spot.
A flutter of wings announced the arrival of Noble, tearing through the silence. His hooves clattered as he slowed to a trot in the chamber, wearing what appeared to be ceremonial armor. He passed by a chair, which was illuminated with the spiritual figure of Creative.
"I see you are all acquainted!" Noble cheerily boomed, his voice echoing, "Excellent, I was hoping to start–..."
As Clever appeared in her own chair, immediately taken by Smart's presence, Noble noticed the tension. He opened his mouth to speak, but Smart ran her hand across her throat.
"Ms. Fairburn," the man of many names continued in the ensuing silence, "You assume a level of familiarity you have not earned. In my home. In my place. You are brash, you are base, but worst of all, you are rude. Were this in an academic setting, your mother would be getting an honest report of your behavior."
"Fairburn?" asked Noble, before Smart shushed him.
Those glowing eyes continued to bore down on her, "But, let us disregard your current behavior. I have seen everything you have accomplished. Based on your valor and kindness alone, I thought to consider Noble's proposal, just to see if you could truly make a difference. But I have seen everything you have accomplished. Vengeance already knows how to exploit you. To use you."
The man of many names produced something from within the flames. He threw it and it landed at Willow's feet.
It was a piece of a broken oar.
"I expected more from a student of Smith's."
Then, Willow was back in the room she had woken up in earlier that day. Bjorn had also come back as well, but he was still asleep, only now, it seemed as though his wing was mended. She was still in her robe, but the day-time moons were still high in the sky, one of them still immolating blue in a small spot.
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Willow mumbled along as she listened to the Man on Fire. It was more or less right along the lines of her usual performance reviews back in England, except those ones usually included actual calls to her mother. She did give a couple half smiles to Noble, and hoped she hadn’t caused any undue stress between Smart and Clever; but otherwise maintained her aloof demeanor despite the chastising. Right up until the oar was produced like courtroom evidence, and the MoF having the audacity to rebuke her training with Miss Smith. Before she could raise a complaint edgewise, or even ask how he knew Miss Smith, she was back in her dorm.
Willow’s eyes went wide with surprise and fury as she rushed to the window. Between the robes, the fact that she hadn’t been allow to fetch her things, and Bjorn’s presence she hurried to check the view outside. The moons helped her confirm, and before she tried leaping from the window or charging out the door she hurried to her desk. This was almost certainly an illusion, but in the eventuality anything in here was real she was going to take the opportunity to try and snag some more metal vials.
“Bjorn! Wake up ya skiving harpy! Y’re sleeping more than I was and now’s not the time.”
Willow’s eyes went wide with surprise and fury as she rushed to the window. Between the robes, the fact that she hadn’t been allow to fetch her things, and Bjorn’s presence she hurried to check the view outside. The moons helped her confirm, and before she tried leaping from the window or charging out the door she hurried to her desk. This was almost certainly an illusion, but in the eventuality anything in here was real she was going to take the opportunity to try and snag some more metal vials.
“Bjorn! Wake up ya skiving harpy! Y’re sleeping more than I was and now’s not the time.”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
It was very real, but Willow came to realize that she was not in her own room, but in Smart’s. A couple of wisps floated through and saw that the Allomancer’s arrival had disturbed the bed. They hummed and little hands sprouted from their bodies, gripping the sheets and straightening them out again. One of them began to glow more brightly, and a beam erupted from its body, tracing out the dirt from Willow’s shoes and cleaning the floors. Their tasks done, they bounced once before puttering away .
Bjorn yawned, bringing up his once broken wing to his eyes, only to realize it was not broken. There was a rare vision of emotion on his face, and he stood in his bowl. He flapped his wings, and it fluttered his robe. A brief smile spread on his face, before he saw Willow and then regained his dour composure.
The odinkine scratched his bare chest, before tugging the robe more closed.
“You will have to forgive me,” grumbled Bjorn, “I have been awake for many days at a time.”
Bjorn yawned, bringing up his once broken wing to his eyes, only to realize it was not broken. There was a rare vision of emotion on his face, and he stood in his bowl. He flapped his wings, and it fluttered his robe. A brief smile spread on his face, before he saw Willow and then regained his dour composure.
The odinkine scratched his bare chest, before tugging the robe more closed.
“You will have to forgive me,” grumbled Bjorn, “I have been awake for many days at a time.”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“You’re forgiven, pardoned, and whatever else the Pope offers. I just got put in time out and I am NOT standing for it! Now hop on and hold tight!” Willow’s tone was tense and there was a fire burning in her eyes. How dare that peppery ponce rightfully punish her for her severe breach of decorum? How so very dare?! He’s the one that should be apologizing, and Willow was bound and determined to make sure that man understood that. Securing Bjorn, Willow tore off down the stairs as she retraced the steps Smart had led her down not terribly long ago.
With all of the grace of a prancing bull, Willow stormed the halls until she found Noble’s space again, spun a couple times, and stormed off once more. When at last she emerged onto the road outside she almost toppled over some of the small folk. Toppling to one knee she growled about the robe while quickly looking around. Height. Tower. Matchstick Man’s shrine to egotism was up high, towering over these short citizens. Prick. Moving the storm to the streets, Willow couldn’t quite manage a run so she made due with walking menacingly. More than once she had to growl and scowl and tiny denizens blocking her way as she willed herself through the masses.
Running or jogging whenever she could, the raging teen hurried through the streets until she had at last reached familiar territory. Locating the transport disc, Willow hurried onto it, ready to share her feelings on exactly how she felt.
With all of the grace of a prancing bull, Willow stormed the halls until she found Noble’s space again, spun a couple times, and stormed off once more. When at last she emerged onto the road outside she almost toppled over some of the small folk. Toppling to one knee she growled about the robe while quickly looking around. Height. Tower. Matchstick Man’s shrine to egotism was up high, towering over these short citizens. Prick. Moving the storm to the streets, Willow couldn’t quite manage a run so she made due with walking menacingly. More than once she had to growl and scowl and tiny denizens blocking her way as she willed herself through the masses.
Running or jogging whenever she could, the raging teen hurried through the streets until she had at last reached familiar territory. Locating the transport disc, Willow hurried onto it, ready to share her feelings on exactly how she felt.
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
It had been a bit of a spectacle, as many of the small-folk never saw tall-folk other than the artisans. Smart had told Willow as much, on their last trip to the tower. Now, she got many more stares this go around, but even the knowing glances were blunted by their curiosity. Getting lost had its perks, though, and Willow saw more of the city she had just made it to. Even in the varied paths, she still turned heads, even those of a bunch of Odinkine who appeared to be touching up a long mural on a wall. The mural had people on it, locked in battle, but Willow had passed it too quickly to make out much, except the blur of faces that resembled Mr. Flynn and Ms. Smith.
Bjorn, for his part, was adjusting as best he could, latching on tightly to Willow’s shoulder. When she began to tear through the streets, he took to the air, gliding next to her. He wanted to ask questions, but could see the Allomancer was not in the mood.
Reaching the disc, Willow boldly strode forth and was in the chamber again. The chairs were all empty, and the Man of Many Names was standing at a balcony opposite of her, staring off at the mountains.
“Fairburn,” he greeted, his back still to her.
And then, she was back in Smart’s room again. This time, Smart was present, and thrown completely by Willow’s sudden appearance.
“Metal-eater!?”
A small head rose from the folds of Smart’s robes.
“Willow!?”
It was Clever, or rather, a smaller, cruder representation of her. The figure had all the arms and the clothing, but the head was only roughly similar. A pair of glassy eyes gawked at her, with a small grill where her mouth would have been.
Bjorn, for his part, was adjusting as best he could, latching on tightly to Willow’s shoulder. When she began to tear through the streets, he took to the air, gliding next to her. He wanted to ask questions, but could see the Allomancer was not in the mood.
Reaching the disc, Willow boldly strode forth and was in the chamber again. The chairs were all empty, and the Man of Many Names was standing at a balcony opposite of her, staring off at the mountains.
“Fairburn,” he greeted, his back still to her.
And then, she was back in Smart’s room again. This time, Smart was present, and thrown completely by Willow’s sudden appearance.
“Metal-eater!?”
A small head rose from the folds of Smart’s robes.
“Willow!?”
It was Clever, or rather, a smaller, cruder representation of her. The figure had all the arms and the clothing, but the head was only roughly similar. A pair of glassy eyes gawked at her, with a small grill where her mouth would have been.
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Willow must have made quite the sight. Her robe was disheveled, her hair was a mess, and the moment she processed that she was once more in Smart’s room a smoldering anger began to burn in her eyes. Once her name, or rather names, were called her head whipped towards the source as she looked for an outlet. It was Smart and… was that Clever? Her anger faltered. It was still there, but the unexpected sight had thrown her off balance. Quickly, and with probably a little too much vim, Willow crossed the distance to the other two.
“Hey,” her tone probably held a bit of an edge despite intending a greeting. “Glad it looks like you two are talking again. Has the meeting already adjourned?”
“Hey,” her tone probably held a bit of an edge despite intending a greeting. “Glad it looks like you two are talking again. Has the meeting already adjourned?”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“Can you believe that Smart held onto my homunculus doll? I thought she had thrown it away decades ago!” said the excitable Clever doll, climbing up to ride on Smart’s shoulder in a custom that seemed to be normal in the Elementalia. “We’ve been talking ever since the meeting got out.”
“Which was a while ago,” said Smart, through clenched teeth, her eyes burning in Willow’s direction.
“Ha ha ha! Yeah. After you got your nose put in the corner, we went straight into the Vengeance problem,” explained Clever’s doll, its mouth blinking on every word, “Noble tried to bring you up, but I suppose even the Maker has his limits. The artisans determined that until the attacks stop happening, people will need to get in before nightfall.”
“The canidaer will be patrolling all the realms, now, leaving the city to ensure that the wraiths don’t go unchallenged abroad,” Smart’s voice carried in right after Clever’s, finishing the other sister’s thought. The genial nature that the hooded sister had for Willow was long gone, and her tone carried a little more grit, “Noble will be coordinating the effort, away from his city, and Creative’s odinkine will spread the word. I will be working with my sister to develop a way to track the wraiths so that they can be anticipated.”
“But what do you care? You’re going home, right?” Clever’s doll kicked its feet, “Smart said you found that clown girl you were looking for. Didn’t you do what you came here to do?”
“Which was a while ago,” said Smart, through clenched teeth, her eyes burning in Willow’s direction.
“Ha ha ha! Yeah. After you got your nose put in the corner, we went straight into the Vengeance problem,” explained Clever’s doll, its mouth blinking on every word, “Noble tried to bring you up, but I suppose even the Maker has his limits. The artisans determined that until the attacks stop happening, people will need to get in before nightfall.”
“The canidaer will be patrolling all the realms, now, leaving the city to ensure that the wraiths don’t go unchallenged abroad,” Smart’s voice carried in right after Clever’s, finishing the other sister’s thought. The genial nature that the hooded sister had for Willow was long gone, and her tone carried a little more grit, “Noble will be coordinating the effort, away from his city, and Creative’s odinkine will spread the word. I will be working with my sister to develop a way to track the wraiths so that they can be anticipated.”
“But what do you care? You’re going home, right?” Clever’s doll kicked its feet, “Smart said you found that clown girl you were looking for. Didn’t you do what you came here to do?”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Willow had, in fact, done what she had come here to do. So why did she hate the thought of leaving so much? Was it actually because she just disliked being told what to do that much? While she wasn’t a fan of Mister Mysterious back in the tower, he seemed to be looking after Manon, and even overlooked Willow’s societal transgression. She should be counting her lucky stars, heading home, and dumping out the possibly molded cup of earl grey she had made that morning two weeks prior. There was a pit in her stomach, and it gnawed at her.
“No, I’m not. Not yet at least,” Willow answered Clever just before kneeling down and tearing at the hem of her robe until a slit had been made to just above her knees. “Glad you two are talking again. I’ll probably be back in a little bit, brb. Let’s go, Bjorn.”
With that, Willow once again left the room at a brisk pace. With the general heading still somewhat fresh in her mind she exited onto the street, oriented herself, and began to run. She was still mad at Johnny Blaze and let some of that contempt fuel her stamina in place of Pewter. Calling out to alert the pedestrians of her approach, Willow fell into her practiced running posture and breathing techniques as she once again began her race across the city. The robes weren’t ideal, and she’d rather have her track shoes than these sandals; but c’est la vie. A slight smile grew on her as she imagined what a sight she must be for the short folk, especially since some of the perceptive ones might notice this was her third time passing by.
Dodging citizens, ducking clothes lines, hopping tiny cabbage carts along the way, and a couple close trips over unseen small folk made up her third trip to the tower, and Willow wasted little time before stepping onto the teleportation circle. A look of stolid determination on her face.
“Hey!” Willow called once she was through.
Johann; he looks up to you like a big sister. He sees everything you do as something to aspire to.
Eryk admires your bravery, charging into fights bare fisted.
Chinami is intimidated by your honesty.
Katerina values your steadfastness.
Vrey gravitates to your consistency.
Manon had flattered Willow with these words. The Brit had been down, and the clown had been surprisingly candid and un-bizarre about making her feel better. Of course, Willow had followed it up by downplaying it and framing it as bullheaded recklessness that mostly had good aim. Now however the words came back to her. As did the look on Manon’s face when she’d learned Willow had failed to retake the folder she’d smuggled. Manon needed someone like the person she had described that night, and Willow felt she could identify what that gnawing feeling in her stomach was. Willow wanted to live up to how she had been described.Drysi. Oh, Drysi, do not be confused by her love. She adores you in a way few others do. She looks at you and sees foundation. Support. Vous êtes son socle. Just being near you makes her at ease. I see it when you leave the room.
“No, I’m not. Not yet at least,” Willow answered Clever just before kneeling down and tearing at the hem of her robe until a slit had been made to just above her knees. “Glad you two are talking again. I’ll probably be back in a little bit, brb. Let’s go, Bjorn.”
With that, Willow once again left the room at a brisk pace. With the general heading still somewhat fresh in her mind she exited onto the street, oriented herself, and began to run. She was still mad at Johnny Blaze and let some of that contempt fuel her stamina in place of Pewter. Calling out to alert the pedestrians of her approach, Willow fell into her practiced running posture and breathing techniques as she once again began her race across the city. The robes weren’t ideal, and she’d rather have her track shoes than these sandals; but c’est la vie. A slight smile grew on her as she imagined what a sight she must be for the short folk, especially since some of the perceptive ones might notice this was her third time passing by.
Dodging citizens, ducking clothes lines, hopping tiny cabbage carts along the way, and a couple close trips over unseen small folk made up her third trip to the tower, and Willow wasted little time before stepping onto the teleportation circle. A look of stolid determination on her face.
“Hey!” Willow called once she was through.