RP:Like a Bridge

Location: Elegant Bridge, Sage/Larket

Summary: A complete coincidence: Leo runs into Emilia in the same place he had many years ago. A turn of tables as he searches out her help, recognizing her from the healer's academy he carried her to before.

Elegant Bridge

Emilia sighed softly as she leaned over a portion of the bridge closer to Kelay-Sage side. Long curls of white flustered around the little woman with the gentle breeze billowing off the rushing river below. With a grunt lost in the breeze the little healer pushed off the ground with her stomach becoming the only part of her grounded on the bridge. Slowly squirming and the Genasi managed to lean herself further over the side of the bridge. A pale hand clutching tightly to the portion behind her while the other hand, pitch black in coloring, reached down toward something on the other side of the stone. Finger tips fully stretched out toward the strange green plant growing off the stone; the frozen woman was not quite able to reach it. Bare feet up in the air swaying as Emilia precariously balanced by her midsection teetering on tipping over into the water with one wrong move or massive gust of wind.

Leoxander had gone from a long wolf to a collection of shadows often trailing him in the past two and a half seasons, but not in the sense someone of the dark arts would claim. Old acquaintances, separated pack-family, new ‘friends’ and the ‘Mouse’ often shared the path, but today he had purposefully escaped their company on a task he wasn’t sure how far he’d follow through with. It had been a very long time since he’d stepped into Larket territory - the last time being on a mission of royal business, which in Leo’s terms meant stealing from the rich on their wedding day during the chaos of some ground shakes. But it was the sight that he came across on the bridge robbed the pirate of his attention and piqued some curiosity, his approach stealthy for a tow-headed man in thick-tread combat boots, black (somewhat grungy) attire adorned with a simple, silver chain around his neck that hid a medallion under the collar of his short sleeved shirt, a steel belt buckle hollowed out for handy storage of some small vials of poison or illegal substance, and an abundance of tattoos. He knew better than to just grab hold of part of her, startle her, and risk a clean swipe of a blade skimming his throat so a few feet along side and out of range of a right hook, he leaned on an arm to glance over the railing, his low voice suddenly right there in her ear. “...Lose somethin’?” Only if she threatened to topple forward over the railing would a work worn hand reach out to the back of her lower calf to keep her from face planting in the stones and water below.

Emilia slid a fraction of an inch further over stones until it was only the bones of her hips and a single finger tip curled tightly against the bridge. The silent approach of Leoxander went completely unnoticed as every bit of focus the lady had was on not plummeting into the water below and reaching out for the plant growing just out of her reach. It was not until he spoke that the healer became aware of his presence near to her. It was not a swinging fist nor a kicking foot that moved toward the man from a startled defensive response. Instead it was a covering of ice that quickly spread out from the hand in contact with the bridge itself. The frozen water extended out from the upside down lass toward his arm resting on the railing. If he failed to notice a thin, easily breakable, layer of ice would stick to his flesh. If he moved then it would continue to spread along the railing for a few feet past the man. Turning her head to face the voice of the stranger, Emilia cast her icy blue gaze upon Leoxander with a single white brow raised, "No? Maybe? Can it be lost if I only just found it?" Deep blue lips curved into a smile as a black index finger pointed to the green slime over what looked to be a custer of steams and odd shaped leaves.

Leoxander reacted, albeit not quickly enough to spare a little ice that encased around his wrist and knuckles, and the lycanthrope flexed his left, branded hand to shatter it, whether the high body heat of his curse assisted in shaking off those frozen crystals or not. Blue eyes of a summer sky’s hue tore away from her for a moment to follow the way those shards enveloped the bridge railing a short distance further before he returned his gaze toward her. He recognized Emilia, even if they didn’t often interact; hadn’t interacted in what had to be years on years. Grasping his hand to rub some feeling back into it or just test the mobility after that, he studied her with just a hint of suspicion for a moment before he risked taking some of his focus off her to spy the plant she’d been after. A full foot and a couple inches taller, he would be able to reach it, but not only was he somewhat hesitant to expose his back, he wasn’t sure that plucking it from its nestled spot in the dirt and rocks was her intention. In the back of his mind, the rogue remembered that the woman was a healer, only he’d been the one to carry her from that self-same bridge to their quarters on their last and perhaps only one on one interaction. Still, two for two, Leo seemed to treat her less aggressively and more patiently than most - even if he couldn’t quite figure out why. And there was the fact that coincidentally, he’d come to Larket in search of just that. A healer. “Just… pick it?” He asked, starting to lean over with a reach that would make up for that fraction of her reach coming up short. Confirmation or instruction of how to retrieve it would most likely result in him standing upright again to hand the plant over her way, unless it all was some clever trap.

Emilia continued to stare idly at the upside-down man for a moment before deciding that it may be best to right herself before too much blood would rush to her head. Lowering first her legs down before letting her stomach rest against the stone. She paused a moment before slipping backwards off the rail and back onto solid ground. The sudden position change had the woman’s double hearts beating at a faster unsynced rate. A mass of messy curls tangled around the healer as she stared out at the man from between gaps in her locks. There was something about this man that seemed very familiar to the Genasi, though she had yet to place him. The job of tending to the wounded brought many faces before the healer, yet he wasn't forming a connection to an injured face. A hidden smile flourished over her features as Leoxander began to reach over for the plant. The excitement bubbled out of Emilia as she began to bounce back and forth from one foot to the other, mismatched hands clapping together as she spoke, "Oh, yes! Please, if you could that would be absolutely wonderful. Just pinch it about an inch from where it grows out of the rock. Try not to get too much of the slime on your fingers. It can cause blisters for some individuals." While she coached him in how to pluck the plant Emilia dug into a bag she had haphazardly thrown down on the bridge to dig out a container. Pouches of herbs, quills, a book of sorts, some coins, and a few other random assortment of items fell out scattering over the bridge as she pulled free a medium sized jar. The lid was removed by nimble fingers before she held out the glass that would house the slimy plant once picked.

Leo could almost swear he picked up on that palpitated heartbeat, but he never would have guessed it a percussion of two. Meeting her arctic eyes briefly, he judged it safe enough to risk that lean and did as she instructed, knowing well enough to get the root with it so she might replant it at her convenience. He did get some of that sap on his thumb and forefinger, but callused as his prints were and rapid as his healing could be, it wasn’t likely to cause the rogue any sort of injury or pain he’d pay much attention to. Not that his gloves would have helped, cut off at the knuckles as they were. A brown brow raised under the strands of sun-highlighted blonde that was overgrown, uneven, veiling his stare but not as thickly as the platinum white concealed some of her freckle peppered features. Cooperating, he deposited the plant into that proffered jar, and carelessly just wiped his hands on the hip of his distressed, dark denim pants. “I remember you…” He finally said, getting that sun-in-his-eyes trademarked look where he was either scrutinizing or studying with a gaze that sometimes gleamed gold and green in lantern light, but they had enough late afternoon sun to avoid that eerie reflection, for now. “Call it chance or Lady Luck’s favor - I was actually headed to that place I took you, once. Those ‘floating houses’, you called them. You were lookin’ for Sabrina. A healer.” She’d been freezing, so the ice provided a good initial clue that he was correct about her being a part of that memory, even if half his brain was a blur from his impromptu return washed up on shore, missing a ship.

Emilia felt like a small child being given the gift they had been asking for when Leoxander dropped the plant into her jar. No sooner had he let go and the healer was sealing it shut again. A scrunched nose as she twisted it extra tight to be certain for herself it wouldn't come open in her bag. Speaking of her bag there was a small rustle that started inside it before an animated right hand, just as black and icy as the healer's present right hand attached to her arm, severed at the wrist scurried out and began to return the fallen items into the bag. Emilia listened to the man as she bent down to store the jar into her satchel as Righty crawled back into it with the mess cleaned up. Slinging it over a shoulder before using her free hand to flip her wild curls out of her face. The face revealed seemed sad for a moment before she was half smiling once more. She spoke in soft tones, "Sabrina is long gone. It has been years since she had been about these lands. You won't find her there. However, if you are in need of a healer then perhaps I can be of assistance instead of her?" Then out of absolutely nowhere the frozen woman moved with a lack of grace toward the man with her arms open. A sudden tight hugging embrace if he allowed her to make physical contact with him. "You are the bridge Man! From the tailor shop whose bed I woke up in..I owe you a mighty thanks. " With guidance from his memory her own broken bits of memory from that night started to piece back together.

Leoxander might have flinched just a little the moment the coal shaded ‘Thing’ went on the move to retrieve and replace her belongings to a pack, but he realized it wasn’t a spider and he had seen much stranger things in Lithrydel over the years. He hadn’t been enough of a gentleman to stoop down and help with the mess but at least he’d taken the moment to deliver the plant. Caught a bit off guard, Leo almost took a step but was a little late to avoid the sudden, possibly chili hug received, if only for the fact his body ran hot like hers had cold, in the past. Arms up a bit in surprise and hesitance, he’d been broken into being social just enough that he managed a light pat on her shoulder in return. “Leo…” He offered, getting more accustomed to giving out his shortened name. “An’ don’t worry about it. You get people out’a worse binds, I’m sure. Couldn’t leave you layin’ there.” Backtracking on the thought of Sabrina, his expression sobered a bit, something of a frown evident amidst the facial hair grown to a shadowing half beard over several days without a shave. “Yeah. There’s quite a few missin’.” Some of which was disheartening, others a relief. Returning to the reason for being there, his eyes resumed search of her porcelain features when she released him from that unexpected hug. “Thing is, my…” Come on, Leo, you can say it. “My fiance.” Such a strange word spoken out “She’s… human.” Clumsily described, searching for the right words to put in order. “She gets sick pretty damn easy. Takes this broth for her innards. Sage witch put her on some elderberry syrup and… some kind’a tea. I just want to fin’ a way to avoid this from happenin’ again. See if there’s something we can do to get her back to good health an’ keep her that way.” Beside the bite that would turn her into what he was, obviously.

Emilia gave the unexpecting member of the embrace a fairly tight squeeze for one of her stature after he had patted her shoulder. Then she let go of him while taking a few steps back to return to him his personal space. She had forgotten just how warm some people like him could be. Though she wouldn't lie to say finding one she can hug without giving a cold was a nice fact to have tucked away for the future. "Leo…" she half whispered in return after he had given his name to her. "My son shares a name with you," she commented without sharing that it too was only a shortened part of his name. When he switched over to talk about the ailments of his fiance the wintery woman's facial expression changed in a blink. Carefree hanging over walls and hugging practical strangers attitude was replaced with a serious look. Each bit of information shared was mentally stored together and pieced together trying to find connections to symptoms to answers. Concentrated in flipping through mental knowledge her nose scrunched up. Fingers taped against her thumb from pinky to index then back from index to pinky. Each finger tap her nose gave the faintest of wiggles before Emilia finally broke the silence. Spoken in a serious tone, "There are a few options I can think of without my books for reference. Beyond a new regiment of herbal daily supplements a fecal transplant from another living with them can help rework the biome of the innards… If that doesn't work and we have a fresh body with matching blood markers I could remove the innards not working properly and replace them with the harvested ones… Though I really would suggest an examine with said person then time to consult some books before choosing course of treatment."

Leoxander had seen a lot of brutal and gore in his time, but the way she expertly explained things did get a bit of a stunned look from the pirate, and his complexion might have gone a shade or two paler. “Fecal… transfer?” Replacing innards?? Was his Loravelle really that sick and masking it as she’d done most her life? “Do you think I could bring her in, sometime?” Whether that be to the floating place of schooling and training or a more private setting with the Genasi, he had to ask. The woman meant far too much to him to risk that half conscious state of illness that had nearly taken her out. It was still an uncertainty whether or not the book keeper would agree, but he wasn’t about to stand idly by waiting for that moment he had no other choice but to go through what he had gone through so sick - which had resulted in the lycanthrope state he lived in, now. “She’s a bit scarred up from an attack some time back. Think it messed her up more’n she cares to admit.” He didn’t give away too much detail on behalf of Lora’s privacy, but he did gesture to the torso and lower stomach area a bit. “I don’t know much beyond what she’s told me regardin’ that, but she hurts when she don’t drink her brew.” The possibility that this was the cause of an assumedly barren status was not shared with the white-haired healer, yet. That was his bride-to-be’s prerogative to divulge.

Emilia gave a very slow nod to Leo, "Fecal… like your poop into her poop shoot." She explained back to him as if he had not understood what it was she had suggested as a possible treatment of one of a few. With the topic of a serious nature fading into something more casual the softness came back to the Genasi's face. "I am sure that it might be best if you were to bring me to her, if she would allow a visit. Moving to different locations that have different exposures could make her ill again. I would happily come and visit with her. Get a baseline of what is going on and get some information from her." Digging into her bag she was searching for something before Righty handed her a small jar. Taking it from the hand she turned to hand the jar to him that contained a perfectly preserved snowflake, "Just melt this on your tongue while speaking your message to summon me when you are ready." A shake of her head, "Scars don't bother me. I have more than my own share and have seen many enough varieties of wounds to scars. If it is a touchy subject I will carefully work around it. Now, I should get going. Get this plant all adjusted in a new home." A smile, a wave, and a blown kiss of frosted snow his direction and the icy woman was heading back toward Sage.

Leoxander knew Loravelle wasn’t going to go for that, and although religion wasn’t his strong suit and he didn’t pray like she did, he had to hope to the gods it wasn’t so serious it came down to something like that. “...There’s a new technique I ain’t seen.” The rogue drawled that response in a low brogue. Reaching out for the strange jar, even he was a bit immersed in studying that enchanted snowflake with a slow nod. Leo and Lora didn’t hold the highest trust in magical means, but her words had suggested to him she had other knowledge of healing and why shouldn’t she? He’d met her many years ago, unexpected, so he could only guess how much farther her ability had blossomed between now and then. “Say hi to the sprat for me…” Leo, he meant, as he lifted his gaze from the gift to watch the pale woman retreat, reviewing the way she held herself, which was a far cry from the crumbled form he’d once carried across that bridge toward the river bank. No ‘thank you’ was issued, because those words were reserved for rare moments, but he was careful with that link of communication she offered. He’d have to leave it a surprise where they might meet, vaguely wondering how she might fare on a sun caressed island, but eventually turned to head in the opposite direction back toward Sage and Cenril. She hadn’t really given -her- name, but names weren’t as important to him as accomplishments and attitude. Emilia was much the same as he remembered her in that brief encounter before. Likely the reason he was disarmed from any aggression or suspicion when it came to the Genasi.