RP:Between Life and Death

Summary: Emilia's daughter comes to the Chapel of Rest searching for a certain blonde child. Joan and Futsuka happen to be present at the time and learn of disappearance of the strange girl's mother. This gives Futsuka the push she needs to do something more with her life.

This is a Healer's Guild RP.

Part of the Mearcstapa Arc

Chapel of Rest

The first thing you notice when you enter this room is how cold it is. As you close the door, you then realize how quiet it is. There are a few wooden chairs for you to sit on. Directly in front of the door is a six-foot by three-foot table and upon this a coffin is placed. Leaning against the right hand sidewall, not too far from the coffin is the coffin lid, upon which a bronze plaque with the name, age, and date that the person inside the coffin passed away on. Inside the coffin a person rests their final rest, their best clothes upon their person, and a small pink shroud covering their face. For the first time it comes to your attention that another funeral director is in the room with you. He lifts the shroud and you see the deceased's face for the first time. They seem at peace, as though they are just sleeping. The director slips out of the room to leave you alone with the body, his only words being 'Take as long as you need, and when you're done, just leave the room.'

Joan had spent a good amount of the last two months here at the Chapel of Rest, working under the funeral directors here as part of her study for both the Healers and Nercomancers guild, doing a cross education. So far Joan has learned how to properly prepare a body for washing, cleaning, body dressing, dressing for viewing and make-up. She has also had learned the art of embalming, removing organs and stitching up the body. Today, Joan was putting away the make-up case after the chief funeral director had made the newest corpse presentable for viewing as the director was lightly drapping the shroud over the made up face.

Emilia | The door to the Chapel opened slowly. As the door closed it was not an adult that had entered, but a young girl in her preteen years if judging by small size alone. Her hair was a mess of wild midnight curls that framed her pale freckled face. She wore a gown of faded grey with a pair of worn black boots, a size too big. Standing there in the place of the dead the girl glanced around with those peculiar mismatched eyes, one a startling green and the other an icy blue. Were it not for the dark curls and heteochromia that plagued her she was a spitting image of the currently missing Emilia. Almost her height too. The cheif director haven taken a double look in the passing of the girl, "Em?" He questioned. The question was short lived as the look of anger flashed on her face and the man ran screaming out of the room with his hands clutching onto his ears. There was no sound, but he acted as if there was something hurting his. The girl grinned to watch him run and walked further into the chapel with slow steps as she wandered.

Futsuka had made it a habit by now to stop by the Chapel of Rest, though she never spoke to anyone beyond asking people what they needed. The albino feline would ask if they needed supplies and would always offer to run and get them while she was out making her rounds. Futsuka liked helping people even if she wouldn't admit it, but she didn't have to. Her heart showed in her actions as she ventured around Lithrydel, trying to aid any known healers like she used to in the wilderness. Now that Futsuka was in civilization she was experiencing a culture shock, but she was adjusting. When the feline entered the chapel a few paces behind the spooky child the hair on the back of her neck stood up, sensing something baleful happening seconds before the man screamed. The ranger's sixth sense saves her from being knocked over as he fled past her, the feline pressing her body and the large pack of supplies she was carrying against the wall. "By the maker..." she whispered, slinking against the wall to explore the chapel proper, wanting very much to drop the supplies off before something odd happened again. "What was that all about?" Futsuka asked Joan, setting what she brought for them on a empty table slowly. The feline hadn't noticed anything specifically strange about the dark haired child yet, but that was probably about to change.

Joan frowned as she turned in time to watch the poor director flee with his hands over his ears, screaming after he question the dark haired girl. The vampire narrowed her voided light violet gaze towards the gowned girl, yes, she did indeed look like a dark haired version of Emilia of this Joan was pretty certain, other then Joan didn’t much bother to take stock of the girl besides the icy blue eye. She had not bother to ask about the head healer’s personal life and didn’t know if Emilia had offspring, it wasn’t much her business either, as she turned her attention back to putting the massive make-up case away her attention is drawn to the feline that draws up towards her, a tilt of her head is given as this time she shrugs as she carefully stores the case in it’s correct slot. “The head director asked the girl if she was Em...as in Emilia I believe, the head of the Healers Guild...she has been missing, taken I believe. The girl is almost a spitting image of her, tho the hair and one eye is different color. Seems the girl didn’t like being compared to or confused for Emilia...” Joan addresses the feline before jerking her pale chin towards the girl, as she made the movement, her Phoenix-Fire Insignia pendent bounced about against her collarbone from where it hung on it’s sliver chain from her neck. It showed she was part of the Healers Guild. Joan would go to reach for the heavy bag the feline would place near the table as she voices towards the girl, “Hello...can I help you? And please don’t be so unkind to the funeral director...you just look like someone he and the rest of us are concerned about.”

Emilia | Lynn listened ask Joan spoke about her mother to this strange woman who didn't seem to know of her parent. She was under the impression that everyone in this land knew her. Surprise. Turning to face both women, studying them with that unnatural gaze of hers. Each in turn would feel a probbing sensation at the outside of their minds. If they were not protected to the mental invasion or willing to let the small voice in they would hear the cold voice of the girl, "I am looking for someone." The lips of the girl never moved as she spoke only into the very edge of their minds, pushing no further. To Joan, "He knows better. If you were concerned you would be looking not working." Then toward the feline, "Names are unqiue and important. It is an insult to call one the wrong name."

Futsuka widened her scarlet eyes in shock as Joan explained the disappearance of the leader of the Healer's Guild. Though she was not a member and didn't know anybody by name, she worked tirelessly to aid them in an unofficial capacity. "Missing...? Taken??" The ranger fiddled with the string of the bow around her shoulder, the news of Emilia bringing much concern to the woman. "That is horrible... How evil must a person be before they start targeting healers? And this child is her offspring, you believe?" Futsuka made the motion to move over next to Joan as she questioned the girl but she halted as she felt the mental probe press against the surface of her mind. A low growl built up in her voice box for a moment but she didn't resist once she realized it was merely a telepathic message and not a threat. "This is some bad juju..." The feline said to herself as she took a few steps back. "I memorize deeds not names, child. If you give a name too much power people can use it against you." It sounded like the feline was a superstitious sort. "You should be searching for your mother. A cursed child has not business wondering about. You could get hurt..." Futsuka glanced in the direction of the funeral director, "Or hurt somebody else."

Joan raised one dark amethyst brow as she felt the soft cold mental brush against her inner mental barrier, ‘You will only find the peaceful deceased here and those that have chosen to work with them and help them pass on child.’ Joan silently sent this message out on a common physic line so both the feline and child could receive with ease. Verbally she said, “I will offer my help when I can in the search, other business has taken my attention. Emilia would understands...” As a novice Nercomancer her pledge was to that cause first and foremost, and she was a vampire...a slightly self centered one at that. A small cold smile is offered as she watches the child and then slides her glance towards the feline. “Mh-mm, what I have read, and I know! I mean...target Healers...was the person just to cheap to pay?! Most of us would just offer to heal and help without asking for anything in turn.”

Emilia | Lynn glanced between the two women who sported two different stances on the missing healer. The one wearing the badge of her mother's guild seemed less worried than the one without the badge of the guild on her being. The girl turned those words of hers to the feline alone for a moment, "I don't give my name and the man knows I am not Emilia. He isn't hurt, he will be fine. You contradict yourself with your words. Don't wander, but I should be searching for her? Begs to differ one must wander to search. I won't get hurt." Then she listened to the response from Joan. Her laugh was eerie as it echoed in both minds of the ladies, "She was taken not because she is a Healer, but because she is an Ice Genasi atleast that is why she was taken before. She isn't with the dead. She still walks on the side of the living so I am not thaat worried about her, yet. Thamalys is searching. She will show up eventually dead or alive, eventually." Her gaze glanced around the parol and her words were back into the minds of the ladies again, 'Has there been a dead boy here lately? Toddler, blonde hair and blue eyes? Lost to illness?' Strange questions from a small girl.

Futsuka gave Joan a long look, examining her cold smile closely. The feline had seen her here in last few weeks but this was the first time she'd seen her up close. She never noticed that she was a vampire before today, but that scent was unmistakable. "...Yes, I'm sure your work here keeps you busy, although I'm certain the dead can wait while the living are in danger, don't you think?" Futsuka didn't know the first thing about speaking mentally to others, so everything was said out loud. The entire concept of someone reading her thoughts made her feel gross. "The Emilia... You said she was your leader? Maybe some thug is holding her for ransom. That is a thing that happens to important people, yes?" The feline lofts a brow at the girl, noting her precocious nature. "Hmm? Wandering and searching are not the same. A wanderer doesn't know where she is going. Like the wind she drifts from place to place. A searcher- a hunter, she knows what she is doing. She acts decisively to get something done. These things are not the same, you see?" The woman crossed her arms as she spoke, her tail flicking in annoyance. "And what is this thing you say? Ice Genasi? Is this more bad juju?"

Joan lightly touches at her pendent, wishing she had at least thought of putting a linking spell on it, that way she could at least have felt if something had happen to anyone in the guild...but that also involved everyone else agreeing to link their pendants with everyone else’s...maybe if she got the chance to speak to someone on the next search. With a ‘tsk’ she shakes her head, to little to late, but there was a chance to share she idea. She’d listen for a bit before moving over towards the funeral director’s small table near the back of the chapel hidden behind some huge artistic looking fabric drapes, on the small table would be his book of recently done funerals. In it would list the deceased, listed by age, sex, race as well as what state the corpse arrived in, what the cause of death was, what the family would like done, what maybe possible, what their personal findings where, what was done to the corpse to prepare it for viewing and where to deliver the coffin and or ashes. Before Joan disappears behind the drapes she’d motion for the two to follow her. “Huh...I didn’t know she was taken before, hm...yeah, maybe...anyways, this book has a list of all that have passed through the Chapel of Rest. You might find him here...or you could have asked the funeral director...tho I suspect he ain’t up for a chat with you right now child.” Her tone amused but seemed distracted.

Emilia | Lynn watched Joan with a curious eye. If the woman had not easily remembered this boy then he wasn't here and her search would be longer to find the body. Her words lingered in Joan's head, "He doesn't talk to me without her here. For good reason." Mismatched eyes studied the woman with the tail with a curious grin on those thin lips. The feisty nature she had for a person she never met, but shared a cause was intriguing to the small girl. Digging a hand into her pocket she pulled over a crumpled piece of folded parchment that was sealed with the wax seal of the Healer's Guild. The letter was handed over to the feline woman as she followed along Joan to the book. Maybe the body could still be here. Her words linked into Futsuka's mind, "Take that to Miss Edith. She will be expecting you. I searched death, she is not there. Now I search for the body of the boy. You are feline? She is Ice Genasi. She is a creature of winter, a Healer, and not bad juju, whatever that is." Now she was scanning through the book looking over the information Joan had shared in regaurd to the bodies that had come in recently. No blonde toddler boys. The lack of results showed on the angry looking expression on the girl's face. Her words sharp in both minds, "Send word if he shows here. Vitally important." Then, rather rudly she slammed the book shut.

Futsuka reached out to take the letter slowly, her posture softening visibly as she examined the seal. "Miss Edith? Where can I find her? I shall deliver this right away." The feline hesitated for a moment as she realized that she had somehow became a sort of delivery girl in her spare time. Convincing herself it was for a good cause the ranger shook those thoughts away. "I see... I have never heard this word 'genasi' but I have heard tale of others like this- some of fire or stone. These are things of nature and not bad juju at all." Futsuka began to tighten the straps of her boots and sheaths, ready to travel anywhere she needed to. She'd rather get back on the road sooner than later, as her idle thoughts would always dwell upon things better forgotten if she sat still for too long. "Anything else you need?" This question was asked of Joan, "I might not be back in some time. I feel like my services as a tracker are better suited saving people than delivering supplies."

Joan said to Futsuka, "*chuckles* I might be seeing you in a guild function sooner or later. *she nods towards the crumpled up letter Lynn gave the feline.” And don’t worry about it, I’m a merchant by trade, I can get what is needed when needed. But, your help would be welcomed in the search for Emilia. The more help the better."

Joan smacks the palm of her hand against her forehead as she finally gets what Lynn meant. “Oh sorry...yeah totally I can sense spirits and see them, it’s part of my nercomancer training. I’m not here all the time, I split my time between the scared shrine with Maude, the Healers hut, up in Vailkrin, here at the chapel also. I can also try to call or summon the child’s spirit. Sorry blanked out...

Emilia | Lynn looked to Joan and spoke into her head, "Keep up the good work. Let me know if that body ends up here." Then her attention was on the feline again as a smile crossed those lips. Her thoughts in her mind one last time, "Edith can be found North of the garden by the Inn as the Healing Academy. She is supervising its finish and the search for Emilia while trying to oversee the guild. Thank you for you concern for Emilia. When she is found I am sure she will be pleased. Stay safe." There was a wave from the girl before she turned to start her exit from the Chapel.

Emilia said to Joan, "I don't need you to see or summon the boy. I need the body to summon the mother. I can see the world of the dead atop that of the living world. But thank you. I just want the body. *mentally spoken*"

Futsuka gave a small nod of her head. "Yes, the gardens north of here, I know the place. Thank you." The feline put the letter safely inside the breast of her traveling leathers before tying the strings of her drab traveling cloak. "Perhaps our path -will- meet soon." And with that the enigmatic woman was gone, off to the Healer's Academy.