RP:Campfire Conversation

This is a Healer's Guild RP.

Summary: Brennia, Emilia and Kailani somehow manage to unwittingly cross paths in the middle of nowhere. They enjoy a conversation around the campfire Brennia has set up for herself.

Winding Stream

Kailani has had worse days, but she has also had better days. The evidence of how her day has been is shown in the armor that she is wearing, the same armor that Brennia and Emilia have seen the druidic half-elf in before. Today though, there is definitely a hole right in the gut of her armor hinting that the armor was definitely pierced by something. This would be hard for Emilia and Brennia to notice from a distance, but it was there. Despite the torn leather armor that the druid is forced to continue to wear until a suitable replacement is procured, Kailani seems to be in good health. The blue haired woman can be seen doing what she does best, wandering the lands by herself. For awhile now, she has let her feet follow along the path of the river. Even though she is traveling alone in lands known to be wild, the druid's posture and demeanor is far more relaxed then what Brennia and Emilia would have witnessed while Kailani was seen in Cenril.

Brennia is accompanying an acting troupe through Lithrydel, as per usual for the summer months while college courses have taken holiday. After a day of supervising plays and acoustic sets, she gets the troupe set up in a nice inn or bed and breakfast before, but for herself and Thedez, they set out to camp outdoors. As the sun begins to set and their humble camp ready for the night, Brennia takes a Kalimba instrument from her bag while Thedez takes patrol around the perimeter of their camp. Thedez, her bodyguard, is a naga disguised as a human with a beard, big muscles and fair skin. For the moment that she is alone, she sits near the small river and is being approached unknowingly by Kailani. Brennia is dressed quite plainly in a pair of leggings and a spaghetti strap camisole with her long chestnut hair woven into a loose braid that snakes over her left shoulder. The large dark wings curve around the slender woman in comfort as her thumbs pluck softly at the instrument in a solemn, yet hopeful, melody and depending on the wind this evening- the fellow healer guild member would be able to pick up notes of her favorite scent coming from the avian.

Emilia was not the most stealthy of beings as she chased after a squealing little pink piglet. Barefeet made loud thumps to the ground as the small woman clad in a deep blue summer dress ran along behind Oinkers. "You little runt! Slow down," her wintery voice echoed through the evening weaving itself into the distant music from Brennia. Still a distance away from being fully visible, a white blurr off yander, the genasi-piglet chase continued towards the river where the bard was camped and Kailani walked near. The squealing turned into oinks mixed with squeals the closer the runt got to the camp. Emilia was getting farther behind the closer to the river Oinkers brought her. The rushing sound enough to send fear trickling down her spine. Her run became a slow tense walk. A toddler could out walk her speed. Oinkers however, ran still until it was greeted by Thedez on his patrol around the camp.

Kailani gives pause when she comes to the realization that she is no longer as alone as she thought she was. Kailani gives consideration for the figure that is ahead of her, taking note of some very distinguishing features. It was the wings that caused Kailani to come to the realization of who was enjoying a camp further downstream. If it were not the fact that Brennia were so easily identifiable combined with the fact that she is a fellow guild member, Kailani would be tempted to just melt right into the stream and avoid contact with both her and the naga guard. One interaction with a total stranger was sufficient enough for Kailani for one day, but Brennia is not a stranger, so she approaches. Kailani's approach was going to be a silent and a respectful one so that she made no interruption of Brennia's song....but then enter Emilia and her choice of Oinkers. There was nothing quiet or subtle about Emilia's approach. Before the blue-haired woman can even make an attempt to try and charm the big with druidic wiles, Oinkers finds himself greeting by Thedez. At this point, Brennia's song has surely been interrupted so Kailani greets her with a quick 'hello' before turning her blue eyes back to Oinkers, Thedez and Emilia. Oh the drama. Would Thedez be eating a pig for dinner?

Brennia continues on playing as she doesn't quite hear the farmer in distress just yet. Thedez is on the case as the squeals and oinks don't exactly sound like the chittering of the goblins that trapped him and Bre for over a year and a half, but that's what post traumatic stress disorder does- makes simple things into what they aren't. Even in his human form, he is quick and agile as he gently plucks the squealing pig from the ground with a chuckle. A glance around is given, but a small pale figure in the nearby tree line catches his eye and he waits for her to fully approach, mostly because he doesn't trust that whatever he is seeing isn't a ghost. The piglet seems to calm now since it's closer to the soothing melody. The song comes to a natural end and her solid teal gaze finds a woman with blue hair, a fellow healer's guild member that she didn't get the pleasure of formerly meeting. "Hello there, Kailani was it?" A warm smile shapes her lush lips and pokes dimples into her cheeks, but then she sees Thedez with a piglet and a shapely brow quirks up at him, "did you find yourself a new pet, because I -know- that's not your dinner." Shifting her weight to one hip and placing her fist in the small curve of her waist. Yes, he's giving major 'tude his way because he knows how the vegetarian feels about eating meat and slaughtering animals. Just then, she spots Emilia and a brighter smile cracks over her whole face as she waves her over, "Emilia?! Hey, over here." Thedez was just about to shake his head at both the notion that this thing could be his pet or that he would dare hurt an animal in Bre's presence.

Emilia arrived last to the group after being waves at by a fellow guildmate, one she had not seen in a long time. There was a brief look of surprise on her face at seeing Oinkers calmed in the strange man's arms. Turning her gaze she found the friendly smile of Brennia and then the figure of the blue haired Kailani, both of whom received a smile from the farmer. Her hands were balled into fists when she arrived, the left palm of her actual hand bleeding from nails digging into the flesh. A frown followed, "I am sorry to interrupt your lovely music and evening here with each other. Darn piglet got out again from the new house." Which reminded her of Kail's offer from the last meeting, "We just signed on a new home here in Venturil, still moving in....what happened to you?" Her sharing about the new house changed fully when she noted the state of Kailani's armour. She couldn't see it until now with the close proximity she was to the druid. "Are you hurt?" The genasi asked with concern laced in her tone as she jumped, startled by the spound of a fish making a splash in the river. Oinkers was totally calm and almost asleep in Thedez's hold.

Kailani's relaxed manner begins to grow slightly tense as the realization of how many people there are at this camp right now begins to settle in on the hermitish woman. It was not the most obvious, especially given how little these people really know Kailani, but her shoulders were carried more tightly and her tongue felt a bit less inclined to wag so loosely. Kailani had every intention of complimenting Brennia's lovely song, but those are not the words that come out. Instead what is said is a considerably more stiff, "Yes. Brennia, right?" Her nervousness about peopling are starting to get the better of her. One on one encounters were admittedly a bit easier for the druid, but she pushes through rather than attempting to make an excuse to leave. "I was shot by accident, but it's okay. What sort of healer would I be if I could not fix myself?" Despite the truth in her comment, the druid was making a half-attempt at a joke. She continues to speak a moment with Emilia, "If you have settled on a house, I will pay you a visit." With a breath, she circles back to her earlier intentions, forcing out the compliment despite nerves, "Your playing is quite lovely," she says to Brennia, "What else do you play?" Thedez just sort of gets this awkward 'hi' from Kailani. She tried at least, m'kay?

Brennia watches the relieved Thedez make his way over to their camp with the piglet in hand after also awkwardly waving a 'hi' to Kailani, but her attention is back on the elf quickly as Emilia notices the punctured armor before she does. "Oh my," the bard's gaze drops to the woman's midriff, but sees no wound since she is closer for now. "What happened?" Her question is answered and she genuinely lets out a soft raspy giggle at the joke Kailani made. The avian can pick up on the tense body language given off by the Ganasi the closer she comes to the water and Brennia decides to motion to her small campsite, indicating they should move away from the river. Two simple canvas tents, a cooking pot, a campfire and a couple of logs for sitting, "let's retire closer to the camp." The smoky alto timbre of the bard sounds so warm and inviting that it might be hard to decline such an offer. The bard's cheeks flush at the same time her wings shift slightly and she shyly smiles after everyone gets comfortable around the small fire, "thank you. I just wing it whenever I get the desire to play anymore." It hasn't been too often that the bard found an opportunity to play for pleasure anymore. Thedez keeps to himself as he keeps the piglet company and sort of disappears into the background of the women's conversations. The shadows of the flickering campfire plays subtle shadows on the tall woman's caramel tattooed skin and it nearly looks like the ink dances on the flesh, but that's definitely just the lights playing tricks. Brennia idly plucks a calming tune on her Kalimba, but it's also quiet enough to not disrupt their conversations, "Emilia, you said you've recently purchased a home here? Thats new and exciting, congratulations," her soft smile genuine and nearly like a verbal hug.

Emilia let out a soft sigh into a giggle at the answer with joke from the druid. "I am happy to hear you are alright, though I hope you don't get accidentally shot too often. If you need some new armour let me know and I can get you the funds to get anything you need," the genasi said with a soft smile on those frosted blue lips. With the offer to come to the camp the farmer easily accepted, anything to get more distance between her and the water. "I will get you the location," she said back to Kail before heading toward the fire. However, the icy woman kept herself away from the flames too. She could tolerate the warmth from where she stood without the overwhelming feeling that she might melt. Looking to Bre the healer nodded, "Yea, we just bought a new house here. Still moving things in yet. We haven't brought the triplets over to pick their rooms and stuff yet. Almost fixed and cleaned enough that we feel it safe for them." The healer flashed a warm smile her way, slowly letting her hands relax. Turning her gaze at Kail she smiled but said nothing.

Kailani did not refuse the offer to join Brennia at her camp, the druid's willingness to chat was aided by the fact that Thedez did not stay in the conversation for long. In time, Kailani would probably grow more comfortable with being in the presence of certain individuals but she'd never be a social butterfly like some. Kailani is content to let the subject shift away from what might have happened to her to the excitement of Emilia purchasing a new house. Emilia's offer for new armor is given serious consideration. Kailani -did- need new armor, but she was not usually inclined to take things without earning them...and as resourceful as Kailani was, making her own armor was beyond her skill set. A thoughtful, "Perhaps we could consider the armor a trade for my efforts around your new home." Beyond that, Kailani fell silent. It was nice to hear Emilia talk about the good things occurring in her life, it was a well deserved moment given the trauma the icy woman had recently suffered. Emilia deserved a little piece of happiness for at least a little while.

Brennia glances at the chunk torn into the armor, "I know where to get plenty of armor pieces, but I don't think titanium avian armor is your type even if it fits. I still think you would probably look quite intimidating nonetheless," it was a compliment on the woman's abilities rather than her cuteness, Brennia guesses Kailani doesn't take too kindly to being called cute. She tucks some loose strands of dark hair behind her long tapered ears, "yeah? We?" Her brow quirks again and her lips curve up into a sly smile as if Emilia didn't just casually the 'we' term three times and expected the bard to not pick up on it. Brennia actually knows nothing about Emilia missing, even with the letters being sent, because she's barely been home herself and when she is, she's working on lesson plans. "Come on, let's hear it. Where did you meet them, how long have you two been a thing and what do they look like?" She knew something was different about Emilia, she seemed… lighter somehow and the bard is a sucker for a good love story.

Emilia gave a warm smile with a nod to Kailani, "Sounds like a perfect trade to me. Anything you need just let me know what you need." The healer didn't go on to share just how much of a ancient dragon's hoard of gold she had hidden away. The healer was one of few who didn't fall to moneymadness when she came into the rich pockets. Turning her gaze back to Bre the farmer flushed a tint of blue across her cheeks, "I suppose I meet them years ago the first time? Then again in a column of fire in the middle of the night..." Odd. Who meets another in the dark in flames? The strange life of the healer. Shaking her head, "Well, I suppose being held a captive in Alithyra helped. Without him I wouldn't be standing here. I guess best friends don't take well to their friends being drugged and thrown into an arena to get beaten up..." Shaking her head to dispell the memories she didn't want to remember. Finishing, "Almost 7 feet tall, beautiful silver eyes... not that an appearance matters over the soul inside."

Kailani would not know how to react to being labeled as 'cute', it has been so long. She is equally not sure how she feels about being considered intimidating. "Metal armor is good for some, but I prefer lighter armor that allows for more movement," but again, Kailani does not dwell upon this subject matter for long. She only offered a few words before giving space for Emilia to gush about her new found love, or by the sounds of it perhaps more like newly realized. There were parts of this story that Emilia was currently telling that Kailani has not yet heard. Though it is clear that she has heard -something- from Emilia, for the blue-haired woman is able to offer up a name to Brennia shortly after Emilia finishes swooning over a description, "His name is Irenic. I've only met him once, personally."

Brennia stopped strumming entirely when Emilia recants her recent bad luck, "oh, Emilia. I am so sorry. If I would have known," then she realized where she said she was held captive and she caught Thedez looking at her with concern knitting his brow together. Did something happen to Reginae? She would never allow something like this to happen on her watch. She does begin to smile sweetly to Emilia as she moves on from that and begins to gush about her best friend turned lover, but her blood runs cold at the name. So, he's alive and still going by the name Irenic, but the current ruler of Vere believes the punishment to be served because he was present at the beheading of Edlin Corier Jr. Very carefully, she doesn't allow her face to display any emotion even though her wings twitch ever so slightly and a soft smile remains on her lips, "I am so happy for you, Emilia." The bard truly is and people can definitely change, but does that mean this man is near? It feels odd aftering being on the run and hiding for so long from him, then from the flewminati. With a deep breath, she concludes that she's not nearly so important and continues plucking the instrument in her hands. "How is the clinic in Cenril coming along? It's sort of an academy, right?" It has been some time since she's been there and visited Zahrani.

Emilia flashed Kailani a smile as she managed to get out his name when she had forgotten to mention it. Relationships were not her thing. The triplets were twelve now while their dad left when they were around two left her many years a single frozen lady. "Yea, Irenic," she said with a warmth to her voice that only shined through when she spoke about him. Then she ran fingers over her white locks and over her shoulder where the circles from the trident were still healing scars, "It is okay, Brennia. Not everyone knows when someone who travels alot goes missing. Ah, but for now the days of being a punching bag and experiment to be cut open are over. No need to dwell on the darkness of the past." Then her attention turned on Kailani with wide eyes, "I totally forget, but I may need that lesson with elements...I accidentally put a spike through someones carriage this week...Is that offer still standing too?"

Try as Brennia might to keep her face carefully in check, the druid picks still somehow manages to pick up on the other avain's dislike for the mention of Irenic. Perhaps the hermit is more in tune with her intuition than she prefers to let on. She's not going to call out Brennia's discomfort at the mention of Irenic, especially not in front of Emilia. "Yes," the druid answers Emilia simply while placing her hands upon her knees so that she can rise and make to leave. "Of course it does. You will send word." To Brennia, lips twist into a soft smile, "It was nice getting to know you better." And then to the both of them, "But you must excuse me. My restless soul needs to wander until it finds a place it seems suitable enough for sleeping for the night."

Brennia couldn't meet Thedez's gaze now. She knows exactly what is going to happen as soon as these ladies leave their company, they are going to try and get to Alithrya to see what or why things have changed. Brennia is worried for Reginae mostly, but she doesn't touch on the subject, either. Unwilling to dredge up Thedez and her own traumas on the goblin slave camps. It's the cause of her weight loss and bags under her eyes. Brennia used to be a healthy six foot two curvy woman with lustrous wings, but lately she looks like a shell of herself no matter how kind and warm she continues to be. "Yeah," she agrees with Emilia about no need to be dwelling on the darkness. The avian lets out another contagious raspy giggle, "you did, what?" Then Kailani was saying her goodbyes and she smiles up at her one last time, "it really was nice, I agree. I do hope that whenever our paths cross, we can do it again." With the wiggling of her fingers, the avian waves a giddy goodbye. Thedez brings the piglet to Emilia now that it has fallen asleep, thanks to Brennia's instrument and its favorite scent coming from her. "Aw, poor guy must be tuckered out," she mentions once Emilia takes the piglet back from Thedez and he disappears into his tent.

Emilia smiled warmly at Kailani before she departed, "I will gladly send word in a few days. It was lovely as always to share your company. Safe travels!" She said with a wave as the druid departed from the camp. Turning her gaze to the other she smiled taking her slumbering piglet back from the other, "Thanks," she said softly before he went into his tent. Her gaze back on Bre she gave a soft smile, "It seems I have a connection to the ground, but I have no control over it. It kinda happens when I get startled. I have put earth spike through a carriage...created many a walls, hit myself with dirt clumps. Really annoying that it just comes when it wants and I can't undo it. However, I should get going home. Irenic will panic if he finds I have been gone too long. We still are not sure if the Queen is chasing after us or if the guard is following me. I really don't want to go back there..." A sad smile as she rose pondering the thought of either one being out there waiting for her. Shaking her head, "It was lovely to hear your music tonight."

Brennia nods, "I definitely understand that." She still won't go into Gualon even though she doesn't even know exactly where her and Thedez had been held. She stands up, "let Thedez escort you back. He's my trusted bodyguard and wont let any harm come to me or my friends." She definitely won't be going to where Irenic is, but at least Thedez can tell her where to avoid." He crawls back out of his tent, having heard everything and dons a friendly smile on his face even though worry is deeply setting into his very bones. Still disguised as a totally normal buff human man with a beard. "Keep her safe," she says with a pat on his shoulder and she gives Emilia a wave, but forgoes a hug, knowing the warmth of her skin and wings might make the ice Genasi uncomfortable.