RP:One Way Or Another
Summary: The goose is loose. Also, one way or another, Meri's going to find out the information she needs about Viera.
The Tranquility, Cenril Wharf
Goose || Terrified shrieking could be heard coming from the wharf. Some people were running. Others were… fighting? But they were not fighting each other. You see, the Goose was loose and it felt the need to cause a bit of chaos. Goose had bided its time long enough in Northern Sage, quietly taking stock of the new land it’d found itself in. Goose hated it. Every bit of it. Hated every single person and animal it happened to come across in its journey. It -did- enjoy that tiny home it’d found for itself, near Larket’s borders, but other than that--HATE! Only now was it finally making its hatred known. There was plenty of hissing like the cobra chicken that was, the conqueror of the Demon Archipelago showing anyone and everyone on the wharf who’s boss. Try to shoo Goose away with a broom? Snap! It’s broken by the might of Goose’s beak. Try to ignore Goose and its antics and carry on with your cargo-loading job? HONK! You’re in the ocean now, you fool. Goose made itself look as large as possible as it ran around honking and hissing and breaking things and making people cry, its wings on full display. Fear Goose, mortals, and despair!
Brand || Viera watched the chaos from the deck of the Tranquility. Unlike those people on the wharf, she was as calm as she could be -- smiling, even -- and casually enjoying a glass of wine. Her outfit today was as overwrought as ever: delicate metalwork inlaid to the shoulders, embellishing both sleeves with the form of a lion; reds and golds in brilliant shades; embroidery and sequins, as always. Once she’d watched her fill, she stepped over to the gangplank and called out from the top of it. “Goosey, dearest! Is that you?” As if Viera wasn’t already enough trouble on her own, it seemed that she was acquainted with the greatest arbiter of chaos to walk this side of the planet.
Meri is not just going to make herself known and waltz right up to the deck of the ship demanding answers. Nope. Meri is disguised, putting that little trinket that Eleanor gives out to all the rogues to good use. No surprise there. Though the woman is thrown for a bit of a loop given that the Goose in on the scene. It's really not every day that a goose is raising all hell down at the docks. Actually. This might be a literal first for Meri. A goose? She doesn't dwell on it for long, instead using the chaos that the goose creates as a means to creep around with further ease. She was going to try and get as close to the ship as possible without being noticed, so she can watch...from a distance. Like a creeper. Or maybe a very concerned sister who is really thinking about cutting a B right now.
Goose || Goosey? GOOSEY?! There’s only one person that was ever allowed to call Goose that and it immediately got all heart-eyed. Goose honked joyously and barreled its way through the rest of the crowd, like a bowling ball--and it even got a strike, in the form of knocking someone else into the water! Viera was Goose’s only friend in the world and it had thought that it’d left her behind in the archipelago. It had been very sad about this decision, but the Warrior’s Guild had to be punished for disturbing Goose’s territory! “Honk! Honk-honk!” It made its way up the gangplank, but stopped halfway. Viera was… not a spirit? Goose sniffed at her cautiously, doing that thing that cats do where they open their mouth somewhat after taking a big sniff of something. Oh yeah. This was Viera all right. It honked a bit more calmly and then bowed its head to Viera. Look, Goose respected the Catalian a lot and if she had been a goose too, Goose likely would’ve made her its Goose Queen of Chaos.
Brand || “Oh, it IS you! How wonderful!” Viera cradled Goose’s head in her hands and stroked it delicately, much like a person cherishing their pet dog. “But how did you get here?” A beat. “Ah, well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. I’m just happy you’re here. You wouldn’t -believe- what I’ve been through…” Being an agent of chaos didn’t always work in her favor; sometimes chaos bit back. Exhibit A: her new and annoyingly persistent infatuation with Khitti.
Meri continued to watch from a distance. There were a lot of questions pouring there Meri's mind right now. Like. Viera's appearance, for example. And how everyone was just so readily able to accept that the new Captain of the Tranquility was..this woman? There was an entire crew to be dealt with, one she knew to be quite loyal to Brand. It was all pretty perplexing business for the psion, and she was pretty sure Viera would not willingly give up those answers...So for the time being? Meri does not break her position. She's just watching, and stalking, and tripping out over this weird friendship with this clearly crazed goose. Then again, Meri has seen wilder things in her days…
Goose || Comforting honks were given to Goose’s bff as it led Viera up onto the Tranquility. The Destroyer of Worlds hopped up onto the ship’s railing and nuzzled Viera once she joined it. This gave Goose a good view of the madness it’d created. But, it looked as though people were trying to get things back to normal? Nope! A very pointed “HONK!” was given to them. No, you only get to go back to work when Goose tells you. Deal with it. “Honk-honk honk?” Goose was questioning Viera and motioned at her, the ship, and everything in general with a wing. What’s been going on? Why do you have a ship? And why are you not dead?
Brand || It just so happened that Viera spoke fluent goose. (Whether or not Goose spoke Viera’s language was another matter, but Goose is very intelligent, so… maybe?) At any rate, she would speak back to the goose while gently grooming its feathers. “Oh, you know. I’ve been… around.” As she said this, she began looking around for potential eavesdroppers. Whether or not Meri was actually close, Viera didn’t seem to note anyone suspicious. “I needed to get revenge and take care of some old grudges. You know how it is.”
Meri was close, but she was nothing more than a shadow right now, trick that she has grown partial to during her years as a rogue. She would not remain that way for much longer, though. Alas, Meri was starting to grow impatient with trying to wait to see if she would hear any good gossip. There was something about old grudges, and maybe if the blonde sat still for long enough? She'd hear more? She does not though. Instead, she waits until Viera appears to be distracted with her conversation with the goose. Then from out of the shadows the woman steps, striding down the docks in plain view now. She does not make any attempt to greet either the goose or Viera, but she's definitely moving closer to the ship. It'd be impossible to not see her now.
Goose nodded. It -nodded-. Are we sure Goose isn’t actually a person in disguise? No, no. Goose is just smarter than the average fowl. One has to be in order to not die in the archipelago. But, Goose understood Viera completely. It honked a little sadly at her. Goose had missed her, but it was happy to hear that she was doing well for herself. Revenge was incredibly important. Goose started to tell Viera about that meddling Warrior’s Guild--the same one that Viera’s lovely girlfriend was a part of--and how Goose was trying to find them to punish them for disturbing the peace it’d created in its former home. Goose doesn’t get too far though when it spots Meri just walking along like she owned the place! The nerve. She’s gifted the same pointed honk that the others in the area had gotten when they tried to go about their day. It was a warning honk.
Brand || Viera was listening attentively to Goose’s story. Yes, yes, the Warrior’s Guild. She was quite familiar with the meddlesome bunch by now. Its leader had recently caused trouble, trying to convince Khitti that Brand was a person who had ever existed. She was maybe about to tell that story, too, when Goose gave off its warning honk. Viera peered off in the direction of Goose’s honk, looking for the offending presence. She was coming closer, whoever she was. Well, if she didn’t run in fear from the chaos duo that was Viera and Goose, she would get what was coming to her. Viera was quite sure of that.
Meri would definitely not be running in fear, but she was quite on guard....Though it might be hard to tell with how relaxed she seemed and the way a smile easily curved at her red lips. No, running in fear was not on the agenda...just poking the bear. Meri does not actually get too close to the gangplank, for she has zero intention of setting foot on the ship. Not this time. She speaks to the goose and Viera from a distance, however, "Tell me. Do you know where the Captain of this ship is right now? Is he available to speak with? I heard that sometimes he takes on odd jobs for the right price..." Meri didn't really hear this, she's just making things up for the sake of a reaction out of Viera at this point.
Goose was the one caught off-guard by Meri’s lack of fear. What. The. Hell?! How do you not fear the Goose? The Alpha Avian? The Honktastic Horror? The Foul Fowl? The Galvanic Gander? Goose was baffled. Baffled and offended. So what does Goose do? It ruffled up its feathers and hissed at Meri. Hiiiiissssssssssssss! Take that, Meri. You are now number two on Goose’s hate list, second only to that damned Warrior’s Guild. Goose eventually stopped hissing, but its feathers remained ruffled. Goose would let Viera do the speaking though. She was good at that. And could, you know, speak Common. Alas, even if Goose wanted to learn that filthy language, Goose’s vocal cords were not equipped with the power of speech. This was all the more reason to hate it, of course!
Brand || Viera gave Goose a soothing pat. There there, Goose. Viera could handle this. “I think you have the wrong ship, perhaps,” she said to Meri. “There’s not been a male captain on -this- ship for a mighty long time. Though, I can take on work that needs doing if it fits the skills of the crew. Can I ask who’s asking?”
Meri feigns dumb, and completely avoids Viera's question. The woman lifts a brow, and hitches a thumb over her shoulder in the general direction of where the Whaler was. "For years? Are you sure about that? That's not the talk that I was overhearing down at the Whaler a bit earlier this evening. They swore up and down that this ship was captained by one....Brand...? I think his name was?" Once more Meri's lips are curling up into a smile. All of Goose's antics are ignored, for now. So long as the crazed beast keeps it's distance.
Goose was definitely a crazed beast. If Meri had actually said this, Goose would have proudly honked in agreement. It hopped off the railing finally and wandered back over to the top of the gangplank. It wouldn’t get any closer than that to Meri, though. But, Goose was definitely going to be a good watchgoose and protect Viera. Goose would certainly unleash some honkin’ heck on Meri if need be! Instead, for now, Goose just settled down on the ship into a Gooseloaf and stared at Meri. Despite obviously being a bird, it really acted like a cat sometimes.
Brand || Viera wasn’t going to lose her cool -that- easily. “If you think you can trust the word of a bunch of drunks and those that enable them, I really don’t know what to tell you. You can ask any of the crew to verify, if you like -- I’m the captain of this ship, and have been the captain for quite some time.”
Meri :: The Goose was on the move, and Meri was not too keen on finding out what else that beak might be able to snap. Though the psion was pretty sure that she could mentally punt the creature into the ocean? Maybe? ...but she also liked to play her cards close at hand, much like Viera is doing now. So when Viera insists that Meri is a fool for trusting the word of drunks, Meri responds with a simple, "Hm. You must be right. No need for me to ask the crew." Frankly, the woman was not about to set foot on that ship. Something had happened to Khitti's mind, that much the blonde was aware of. "I'll be on my way now." And as if to show she is good on her word? Meri begins to back the eff up. She probably would have turned to leave, but damn goose…
Goose tilted its head at Meri, like a slightly confused dog. It stood up again as Meri backed away and watched her go. It even hissed again. It wasn’t as loud, but it was sort of like getting the last word in a conversation. Once that was done and over with though, Goose looked to Viera for answers, even going so far as to honk its confusion at her. What the heck just happened? Who the heck was that? What the heck is wrong with all of these people? “Honk honk.” That translated to: These people need to be conquered. Or eaten. Or both.”
Brand || Viera wasn’t sure what had just happened, either. “It’s okay, Goose. We -will- conquer them. Or eat them. Or both.” Not that Viera was truly into cannibalism, but it was the sentiment that counted. Some people just deserved to get eaten, duh. And if she could help Goose with that, she certainly would.