RP:Reporting to Hildegarde on the Subject of a Certain Businesscrab

From HollowWiki

Part of the Thy Kingdom Come Arc


Summary: Pilar returns to Vailkrin with news of her mission to find Kreekitaka. The crab has agreed to design for Hildegarde! Whilst there, Hildegarde and Pilar talk about Frostmaw, Queens, and love.

Vailkrin Capitol Foyer

Hildegarde had not yet heard from Larewen about her proposal and that wasn’t a bad thing. Honestly, it showed her that the woman was taking her time and considering the offer quite seriously rather than jumping to an answer. If the vampire had leapt to an answer, the knight would likely have doubted her sincerity or serious commitment and would have insisted on her taking some time out to think about it. But alas, the necromancer was intelligent and had the virtue of patience. While waiting for her answer, Hildegarde spent most of her time planning and scheming; regaining her physical strength and assessing her resources and means available to her. Today was one of those days dedicated to her physical strength and physical fitness; in the rather empty foyer of the castle, the knight was attired in a cotton shirt and trousers of a civilian. She would punch at the air here and there, making short and quick jabs before suddenly running on the spot: bringing her knees up as high as she could as quickly as she could. A thin film of sweat clung to her flesh, but it didn’t bother her. Strength was her goal.

Pilar came to the castle to bring word of her success to Hildegarde. It had been awhile, longer than she'd intended. She just had some... personal issues to sort out. She was going to apologize up and down for the delay, though of course Hildegarde wouldn't be upset. Few things seemed to really rile the dragon. Pilar was wearing her usual bright yellow dress, and would have been easily spotted from the doorway when she entered. She didn't immediately approach, though, as Hilde seemed to be busy. She recognized solo training when she saw it. She'd done similar exercises herself, as her self-defense teacher had instructed. Assuming Hildegarde looked her way, she'd smile and wave.

Hildegarde continued to run on the spot as Pilar entered the room, though she quickly dropped to the floor to perform some on the spot push-ups. Quickly enough, the knight has sprung onto her feet once again and offers a little smile towards Pilar, “Miss Pilar!” she greeted fondly, jogging on the spot in a seemingly more relaxed pace than before. “It is good to see you again,” her words are punctuated with a little huff of breath from the movement of her exercising.

Pilar took that as her cue and approached Hildegarde. "Hildegarde, it's good to see you, too." She watched Hildegarde exercise and she wondered if she'd make a good sparring partner, when she needed practice... Nah, she was a Steward, she'd be too busy taking care of Frostmaw to help her with her fighting, once this was all over. Besides, she had other friends who could help. "I have news of Kreekitaka," she finally said.

Hildegarde wouldn’t be able to answer Pilar’s query unless the vampire actually asked her! But it was a known fact within Frostmaw and the wider community that the knight was the head of the Warrior’s Guild. As Pilar claims to have news of Kreekitaka, the knight ceases her movements and stands tall and sweaty. “Please, enlighten me,” she asked of the illusionist, offering her a smile. “Might I offer you some refreshment?” she asked politely, gesturing to a series of carafes set upon the small and decorative desk at the side of the foyer. Obviously, with this being the City of Vampires, one of those carafes would be filled with refreshments more suitable for vampires.

Pilar's eyes moved over to the desk. She could smell a variety of delicious drinks from where she stood, including a jug of O positive. Some refreshment sounded really good, if she was honest with herself. "Sure. Join me?" She walked over to the table, accompanied (or not) by the Steward, and poured herself a glass of blood. Mm, tasty. She sipped her drink, letting the cool, sanguine nourishment flow down her throat. She licked her lips before facing Hildegarde. "He's agreed to design for you, though he asks that, if you want to talk to him, you see him in Cenril. He refuses to set foot in Vailkrin again. I do not know what happened to make him refuse to come here, but I can guess." She pulled a paper from her frock and handed it to Hildegarde. "This is a list of his armors, and what kind of information he needs from us." And it was quite comprehensive, too. Sharkskin armor, razor-sharp and abrasive. Pufferfish armor, toxic, paralyzing spines. Hagfish, inflates to reduce impact. Eel, stuns any who touch it with lightning. Further down, he had some optional additions like weight reduction and lower visibility. Beyond that, requests for sizes, the number of suits, when she needed it by, and, of course, cost. Kreekitaka was nothing if not a businessman... crab.

Hildegarde would, of course, join Pilar at the table. While there was plenty of options for the more natural denizens of this city, the knight would not be opting to drink blood. Instead, the carafe she lifted was filled with clear and simple water. She poured herself a glass and took a hearty gulp from it before quickly topping up the glass again. Exercise was thirsty work! “And what would you guess are his reasons for not coming to Vailkrin?” the knight asked, though her tone was casual; as if she didn’t view the information as particularly important or had a terrible need to know, a conversational tone overall. Accepting the slip of paper, the knight quickly perused the list and nodded with interest. He certainly knew his stuff. “Interesting,” she said thoughtfully. “Tell me. What are your thoughts on Kreekitaka? What sort of…” man? crab? “person is he?”

Pilar shrugged. "There are a number of... dangerous beings in the city. You saw that attack the other day. I was attacked here, once. And not all vampires are like me, or Lady Larewen. But besides that, there's just something about Vailkrin. It's a dark place, and I do not just mean literally. Necromancers are common here. It just is not very welcoming." That was her take on it, anyway. She only lived in Vailkrin herself because it was where Larewen had given her a home. "As for Kreekitaka... he was very... eager to sell. Helpful, but in a way, that is also self-serving. I did not get any bad feelings from him, but I think he's very focused on his business and earning money."

Hildegarde nodded slightly as Pilar explained her impression of Kreekitaka. “I see,” she said thoughtfully. She had quite the proposal for Kreekitaka. But she would need to consider how he valued it. Hopefully, with what Pilar had said, she had judged him appropriately and would think her offer to be appealing. “I will meet with Kreekitaka in Cenril,” she affirmed, “as it is always best to meet with a potential ally in person.” The Silver offered Pilar a smile and most gracious dip of her head, “I thank you, Miss Pilar, for your kindness in helping me and for attending to tasks on my behalf. It is most kind of you.”

Pilar smiled back, though it was strained. "Of course, Hildegarde. Frostmaw deserves better than Balgruuf." She said that, but part of her... didn't mean it. The Frostmaw she'd come to know best was the one where she and her dear friend had needed to hide for their own safety. The Frostmaw where being a non-giant was the same as wearing a target on your back. The Frostmaw that saw elf hunting as sport. She didn't fight for Frostmaw. She fought for the innocents Frostmaw was hurting.

Hildegarde grunted in agreement, “Frostmaw needs justice. It needs someone to bring justice to those who are doing wrong and someone who will uphold that justice; someone who will protect those who cannot protect themselves and protect those who are being harmed,” she said, her voice rising with every word as this was, undoubtedly, her passion. “I would give my life to liberate my people from this tyranny. But… I have the understanding, sadly, of war and victory to know that throwing my life away as a one-woman-army would only mean the tyranny would endure and more would suffer. They must suffer now… so they never need suffer again.”

Pilar's smile became a little more genuine as Hildegarde spoke. "Said like a true queen." Yes, she was still on about that. She couldn't help it, whether Hildegarde believed it or not, she was the very picture of what a queen should be, at least to Pilar. "I hope you can end the suffering... No, I KNOW you can."

Hildegarde chortled at Pilar’s remark of being like a true queen. Hildegarde was very much the opposite when it came to traditional images of Queens. She was not comely or sweet; she was ugly and blunt. She was forthcoming and honourable, but she was a fighter and one who would kill her own enemies rather than send out an executioner. “Do you know many Queens or would-be Queens?” she asked with a smile, obviously attempting to be a little light-hearted. “Titles are not what I seek, but you already know this. I should like to think you and I would make good friends, Pilar. You are honest and you value life.”

Pilar had an odd look on her face at that. "Larewen, Reginae... Artia. Yes, I know many who wish to be queen, or to rule. More than I ever thought I would. And comparing you to them, I would have to say that you would fit in nicely." Barring the one she'd broken up with. Naturally she didn't think her ex would be a decent queen. But that wasn't important at the moment. "I would like us to be friends, too. You are a good person. Better than many I have met."

Hildegarde recognised the names of Larewen and Reginae, she even nodded along in recognition until Artia was mentioned. She didn’t know Artia. “I, unfortunately, do not know Artia… I know Reginae and her love of Alithrya,” she blushes for a moment. “And I know Larewen, too. But who is Artia?” she asks, evidently wishing to know the would-be players and shakers of the political landscape. Yet the knight shook her head at the mention of a comparison. “But I do not wish to be Queen. I do not wish to rule and I never have. I never even wanted to be Steward,” she admitted the latter quietly. “I am no better than any person. But I know myself to be loyal and true, much like you. Let us be friends, Pilar,” she smiled fondly, “and get to know one another.”

Pilar swallowed. Who was Artia? She hesitated to answer. She wasn't feeling very charitable towards her right now. "Artia is Larket's Apothecary. She is... she is..." How to describe her? She didn't want to be a gossip, didn't want to burn other peoples' bridges. But she hadn't been so charitable before, and towards someone who didn't deserve it... It was those residual feelings that stayed her tongue, it had to be. She swallowed again. Well, Hildegarde had said she wanted to get to know her better. "... she is my ex-girlfriend."

Hildegarde hadn’t been to Larket in a very long time. When last she visited it, she had been wined and dined by the Duke and then had a rather awkward meeting with Javier in the stables. It wasn’t a place she had particularly fond memories of. “Ah,” she said softly. “The course of true love never did run smooth,” she said gently, quoting words she had heard from a bard before. “I am sure you will find your Queen or princess one day, Pilar,” she said it kindly, trying to be the supportive friend before quickly becoming awkward and babbling: “That is not to say that you only date Queens and princesses! But not to say that it’s wrong to only date women. I, er, no, I mean… I do not mean you date only women of class. No, no, not to say that people who are not noble lack class…! I…” she frowned. Oh, Hilde.

Pilar actually laughed a little. Oh, she would get along with Hildegarde just fine. "It's okay, I know what you meant." She blushed lightly. There actually was a queen/princess she liked... Whether that blossomed into something more, only time would tell. "Thank you."

Hildegarde had so rarely flubbed her meaning in the last year that she had foolishly begun to think of herself as quite the natural conversationalist. Silly dragon, conversations are for people not overgrown lizards. The knight smiled with relief, her cheeks having reddened in the wake of her verbal meltdown. “I am relieved you caught my meaning,” she said softly, with genuine relief.

Pilar wasn't much of a conversationalist, herself. She knows that feel, bro. She tried to be understanding when someone put their foot in their mouth. She smiled reassuringly. "Of course. So... do you have a prince or princess in your life?" She asked, a twinkle in her eye. Oh, she was a sucker for romance.

Hildegarde laughed at that question! “Oh, Aramoth above, no,” she replied with a smile. “I don’t, no. I’ve had suitors, but… no one who I have ever been with nor wished to really be with. So no, no prince or princess in my life. I’m quite boring.”

Pilar shrugged at that, still smiling. "Well, romance is not for everyone. If you're happy on your own, with close friends, that's good!" She wished she was one of those people who didn't want a lover. It seemed to hurt a lot less, even if people constantly trying to hook you up with someone got annoying.

Hildegarde nodded in agreement, “I like the idea of love. I do. I think loving someone and to be loved is a sweet and great thing, but… it can hurt and it is frightening. And for a woman like myself? It is probably not wise,” she said thoughtfully.

Pilar cocked her head. "Not wise? What do you mean?" She knew Artia used to worry... or claim to worry... about Pilar being used against her. Did Hildegarde have such fears? Frankly, Hilde probably had more reason to fear such a thing than Artia did. Artia wasn't queen yet, after all, while Hilde had actually been in power.

Hildegarde inhaled deeply, as if taking the time to correctly and carefully word her response. “I would not claim I am a powerful or important woman. But… I have been held prisoner before. I have had my dearest friend used against me in a sickening game,” she answered softly, though her eye closed for a short period at the use of ‘dearest friend’. “I have been strung up and hacked away at, left as a token and symbol of threat and harm against my Queen and my friend.” The Silver paused for a moment before continuing and perhaps getting to the root of her explanation. “We all do mad things for love. Things we would consider out of character, things that we would consider as unseemly or things we would never normally do. I… I have lost many a friend. I could not bear to lose someone who held my heart in the palm of their hand. I could not bear the thought of endangering someone purely by loving them.”

Pilar grimaced as Hildegarde spoke. She was right about the fear of love being used to harm, but when she mentioned love making someone do mad things... She remembered what she had done. Forsaken her principles for Artia's sake. She should have been glad that nothing bad ever really came of it, but still... That relationship had been toxic from the start. Pilar took Hildegarde's hand in her own and clutched in comfortingly. "I understand... It's sad that you have to fear love in such a way."

Hildegarde’s hand was large and rough, scarred and ungentle. There was no softness to it, perhaps due to her experience in battle or perhaps her scaly nature. The Silver shook her head a little, “It is but a reality and a price I pay. I have an oath, Pilar, and I hold it dear to my heart. Love is kind, love is sweet… but love is not blind, it is blinding. With only one eye, I cannot afford to be blinded by love. I cannot afford to let love change me or my principle. But most of all, I cannot allow love in my life for fear it will kill that person.”

Pilar said to Hildegarde, "You are not without love, Hildegarde. Your friends who care so much, and who you care about... That love is as real and pure as romantic love. I hope it will be enough for you, as it is... not enough for me."

Hildegarde offered Pilar’s hand a gentle squeeze, “I thank you for your kind words, Pilar,” she said it quite seriously. “I march to war soon and I find comfort in these words. I wish we had become friends sooner!” she laughed softly, but her laugh was brief. “Then I hope that you find that lady love of yours, Pilar. I hope you find a woman who is worthy of your kindness.”

Pilar smiled. "Thank you, Hildegarde. When this is all over... I hope to be able to see you again, when you are not busy. I could use some help with my fighting..."

Hildegarde said to Pilar, "Fighting? Ohoho! Now that, my friend, I am good at."