RP:Truth Blooms
Summary: While trying to regain her bearings in Cenril, Rilla happens upon a newly planted garden next to the Ginger Snapped Bakery. There she finds Khitti and the two talk of some of the changes in the city (and beyond) that had happened in the past five years since Khitti arrived in Lithrydel.
The Goth Garden, Cenril
Khitti || A decent-sized pouch of gold was handed over, from the bakery’s owner to a terramancer that specialized in building gardens. The plants had come from elsewhere, of course--Khitti would not deny her sister’s fiance’s skill in botany and the plants he kept. “Thank you! It looks beautiful,” Khitti said with a smile. The terramancer on the other hand? He was trying hard not to look at her like she’d grown a second head. Who the heck would have something like this built in Cenril? What kind of person was the owner of this bakery? Why did she like Vailkrin so much? What the heck was wrong with her? “You’re quite welcome,” he said, giving a brief bow of his head before skedaddling off elsewhere with his coin. Khitti just blinked at him rather innocently. Sheesh, there sure were some strange people around here. Shrugging, the redhead took a walk around the garden to take in everything, marvelling at the beauty of each individual dark flower. And once she was done? She’d take a seat at one of the tables near the fountain, watching the water cascade down into the basin in silence.
Rilla || Getting her bearings again was a process, and Rilla had been doing her absolute best. Whenever her emotions would tolerate it, the vampire wandered the streets she’d called home once upon a time. They were different than she remembered, although in many ways still exactly the same. She wandered through the bakery, though the items in it held little allure for her now. There was a curiosity that was never quite quenched by experiencing the world alone so often. As she entered the gothic-styled garden she lowered the hood of her cloak, an unexpected piece of a place she’d never called home before in this place she certainly had. She scanned the room, crystal-blue gaze fixed on the red-head, watched her for a moment before she decided there was no threat. As she leaned in to smell a flower that she could not name, braided mahogany hair fell forward, stray pieces around her face falling into her sight line. Who told her to cut her hair? It was easier when it was all once length. She was silent for several long moments until the other woman sat, and Rilla turned to face her once more. “Excuse me, do you know about the flowers?” She asked softly, her head tilted slightly as she looked at the stranger, an excuse to break the ice in truth although the young vampire would never admit it. “I’ve never learned, but these are lovely.”
Khitti blinked as she was spoken to, having not heard the woman even enter the garden. As distracted as she was, she likely would not have even if she were still a vampire. Her olive-green line of sight shifted towards Rilla, her head canted somewhat as she watched the vampire with vague curiosity. “I know some things. Mainly just their names and uses--and some of them are poisonous too. I’m no botanist though. I’m going to have my brother-in-law keep an eye on it for me because I’m not quite sure if I’ve got a green thumb or not.” Khitti shrugged somewhat, finally shifting around in her chair enough to face Rilla.
Rilla gave a quick look of apology when she realized she must have surprised the red-head. She chewed the inside of her cheek nervously, shifted her weight. “Ah, I’ve never really learned about plants.” She admitted with a shrug of thin shoulders, one pale hand reached out for a flower, brushed the petals with her fingertips curiously. “So this was you and your brother-in-law then?” She questioned, brows raised, “it’s beautiful.” Rilla offered shyly, “if you’re not busy I’d love to ask a few questions?” A soft request as her hand drew back and she turned to face the strange woman proper. “This was definitely not here when I lived in Cenril.” She noted as she scanned the room once again.
Khitti || A shake of Khitti’s head was given to Rilla’s apology, as well as a faint smile. “Oh no. I had nothing to do with any of this beyond the design. My talent is typically in the kitchen,” she said, nodding in the bakery’s direction. “I hired a terramancer to set the whole place up and my brother-in-law sent the plants to be added in.” Khitti shrugged again, a hand moving out to motion to the wrought iron chair across the table from her, so that she might be more comfortable while she’s asking her questions. “No, this wasn’t here. Where my bakery, home, and garden now stand, it used to be another bakery called Mrs. Mallard’s. There was an attack about three years or so ago, a lot of people died and Mrs. Mallard was one of them.” The redhead bit her tongue and sighed, choosing not to mention that Mrs. Mallard had been quite the awful person to her while she’d had a bout of amnesia and that she was glad to be rid of the woman. Everyone else seemed to have such fond memories of the woman--and Khitti had too, until she’d been put in a very vulnerable position that was perfect for manipulation. “Her family moved inland to Kelay and set up a new bakery in her honor next to the restaurant that’s been there for some time.” Khitti studied Rilla carefully, awaiting any more questions or comments from her.
Rilla nodded along as the stranger spoke, one of the perks of being a vampire was that when she said the wrong thing, she couldn’t flush rose anymore, otherwise she surely would have. “I understand,” she said slowly, “well, it’s beautiful. Reminds me of Vailkrin? Without the permadark.” She waved her hand dismissively at the idea, crossing the distance between them to take the offered seat and cross one leg over the other. “I remember Mrs. Mallard’s bakery, although I didn’t know her well. I’m sorry to her about her loss.” She bit her lip, her leg bounced slightly. “Congratulations on your home and business though, it’s absolutely lovely here. I’m sure you’ll have full tables before long.” An encouraging smile and Rilla considered where to start, “I’m Rilla, by the way. I’ve been gone for eight, maybe ten years, I lived in an office near the entrance of the city and then in Rynvale with the navy, but I’ve not heard of a battle here yet. Who took the city?” She leaned forward, forearms rested against her knee, although she’d initially been curious about the different plants within the garden, the fate of the cities she’d abandoned would always be a sticking point for the young vampire. “And Rynvale, how did that fare?” So far everyone’s answers were vague, empty platitudes that encouraged her to let it go. She’d yet to return to the city she’d left behind, certainly not eager for whatever she might find.
Khitti smirked somewhat at the vampire’s mention of Vailkrin, “That was my intent, though apparently some others don’t care for it. Sometimes it’s hard for me to split my time between so many regions of Lithrydel, and it doesn’t always make sense for me to go to Vailkrin just to wander around the woods or the cemetery so… I thought I’d bring some of that darkness here. I -had- thought about having the garden enchanted to give the eternal darkness effect, but it might’ve been too much. And thank you. The bakery’s actually been here for a couple years now! And it is certainly doing well. Gotta have that extra income when you’ve got a kid, I guess.” The vampire would introduce herself and so the redhead would as well, “I’m Khitti… and I honestly do way too many things to name off,” she said with a chuckle. But once the attack on Cenril was touched upon again, Khitti’s lips twisted into a frown and a sigh was given to accompany it. “The city wasn’t taken over. It was the first of many attacks all over by a man named Kahran. It was merely to send a message.” Khitti could sense the delicate state that Rilla was in; it reminded her of when she’d had amnesia and how her husband Brand was always so careful about what to say, so that it wouldn’t trigger some sort of unfortunate emotional breakdown. It didn’t always help, but… “Rynvale has been more or less quiet during the five years or so that I’ve been here. There was an incident with massive bugs there and a few other places, and a tortoise the size of a small island, but the Warrior’s Guild and I dealt with all of that. Beyond that though--” Khitti shrugged, as if to say it was business as usual there. “There are, of course, always things going on that needs to be dealt with all over Lithrydel and Rynvale, but I’m sure it’s fine for you to return there. And if it’s not? Well, you just let me know and we’ll deal with it.” She tried to offer the woman a reassuring smile, though whether it worked or not was uncertain.
Rilla || “That really sounds like a them problem.” Rilla shrugged, a soft laugh bubbling from her that surprised even her judging by the look in her eyes. “It might be a good gimmick, maybe make your bakery the new spot for budding lovers.” Once she was going, Rilla could be quite friendly, but it was difficult to find something that left her absorbed enough to stop worrying about what might be around the next corner. “Oh, congratulations, how old?” She questioned politely, although Rilla had little interest in children. Lucky considering how impossible it was for her to have one now. “It’s a pleasure Khitti.” The woman nodded, her eyes fixed on the Khitti. Trying to read people was harder once you stopped practicing. Brows pulled together, considering the words. “Ah,” she started, falling silent again as the woman continued, nodding along with the explanation. “I’m glad to see that everything’s still in one piece, although it’s strange being here and not seeing familiar faces. I assume the others all just moved on.” The way she had too, but Rilla’d come back. Not that it gave her any moral high ground after the massive failing she’d put her clan through. “The Warriors Guild?” She finally questioned, “we didn’t have such a thing when I was here last. I assume it’s what it sounds like, and you’re the unified force?” It was what they’d needed long ago and never had, she scuffed her boot on the ground idly, rarely one to stay still. “Thank you, it’s been hard to get information out of anyone although that may be my fault,” she half-joked with a nonchalant shrug, “what -kind- of bugs?” Rilla stressed curiously, surely butterflies wouldn’t have been a problem, but locusts were a whole other story.
Khitti would certainly be able to relate to Rilla on the subject of constant worrying had she known. “Oh, people around here know I’m a bit of a weirdo, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. People just assume everyone in Vailkrin wants to eat them or something. I mean, they’re not -completely- off the mark, but not everyone is like that. -I- wasn’t like that when I lived there.” Khitti sat back in her chair, her line of sight fixing on the heavens, “He’s three. It’s less that he himself is expensive and more than sometimes we have to replace things he’s set on fire or whatever. Someone decided to grace my child with his magical abilities at the age of two, and he’s gotten them from both myself -and- his father, so… it can be a handful sometimes. That aside, he’s a lot more well-behaved than most. And honestly, people come and go, Rilla. I wouldn’t put too much worry into it. As I said, I’ve only been here about 5 years and the amount of people that have come into my life and left--I lose count some times.” She stopped for a moment, brows furrowing together as she eyed the woman, “Do you want anything to drink? Eat? I’m well acquainted with the fact that vampires don’t need to eat, but uh… that didn’t exactly stop me.” Regardless of whether or not Rilla wanted anyway, Khitti would hold up an index finger to say ‘one moment’, went to the door that led into the bakery and yelled inside to her head waitress, Victoria, the order she wanted. Khitti would return moments later and settled herself back into her seat, “There are several guilds, and I’m a part of many of them, and leader of one of them. If there’s something that interests you, you’ll likely find a guild for it, so long as it’s not too niche. The Warrior’s Guild specifically isn’t like… some sort of a militia for the land. We do help with large scale threats, but we also take care of much smaller ones, even if it’s some dire boar running around frightening people. And not everyone chooses to help out. Most of the guilds are rather neutral and people are more or less allowed to do as they please, within reason.” When the bugs are mentioned, the former vampiress side-eyed the stone path beneath them, “Big bugs. Spiders in Vailkrin--bigger than the usual ones there. Bugs that like to tunnel beneath Sage Forest and the Nameless Desert. It’s honestly not as big of a thing as it sounds, I guess, but that’s just because I dealt with it myself.”
Rilla laughed at the woman’s words, when she’d been here it seemed that people weren’t so wary of vampires, but the culture had clearly changed. At least for the humans. “It’s not surprising that people are scared of it, I remember there being more different kinds of people here. How it seems to mostly be humans and vampires. I imagine the humans don’t like the feeling of being the last potential prey.” Slender shoulders shrugged, she’d never tried to navigate this before, it was all too overwhelming initially and now with some distance Rilla was finally beginning to learn exactly what vampires were capable of. Her nose wrinkled, the woman seemed to be friendly enough, and far more willing to offer information than the others she’d met, but Rilla was often nervous and this was no exception. “I don’t imagine a 3 year old would have any control at all.” She snickered, amused at the thought of it, although she certainly would have been less so if the belongings had been hers. “But with two magical parents, I assume that he’s in good hands.” The rest of what she said Rilla thought on for another minute, chewing the inside of her cheek. “I wouldn’t say no to a cup of peppermint tea.” She suggested almost sheepishly, watching over her shoulder as Khitti stepped away to order for them. Rilla had found a meal recently, but the cool burn of peppermint tea had always been a favourite though she hadn’t had it since she’d been turned. When the woman returned, Rilla offered a smile, listening quietly as the woman explained. What luck that she would find her. “I understand,” she nodded, “perhaps once I’m settled I’ll consider it. A warriors guild would have likely been where I belonged before, although I’m less certain about it now.” Rilla shot her an apologetic look, the once-powerful woman had turned to working as an assassin, thief, and spy in her time away and the honour code she had once been held to had disappeared long ago as a result. She fought, but she fought dirty. “How does one deal with giant bugs?” She asked curiously, fingers tapping on her bare knee, palm rested on the hem of her shorts. The soft snapping sound of skin on skin quickly replaced with that of skin on fabric as she shifted just to stop the noise. “Normally I’d say step on them, but if they’re as big as you’re suggesting, that’s not really an option unless you’re a frost giant.” Amusement flicked over delicate features and Rilla looked towards the kitchen at a noise that caught her attention, then right back to Khitti with a little smile.
Khitti || “It just depends on the people, I guess,” she said, with regards to the vampires and humans. It was a difficult subject to broach with people sometimes. Khitti could see both sides of things when it came to being either race, having formerly been a vampire herself. Sometimes Khitti mentioning that, even nonchalantly, brought on skepticism and it didn’t really seem like something Rilla needed to add to her current repertoire of emotions and thoughts. “Dominic thinks having magic is all a big game to him. We’ve had to invest in a sort of magic-dampening bracelet to keep things under control. I think he’s getting old enough to be taught his father’s magic, but mine is… a little more difficult.” And dangerous. Soon enough, the two would be given large mugs full of peppermint tea, the icy scent of the mint mixing in with the scent of the garden’s flora. “Good choice. It’s my favorite tea. It’s a special blend I was taught at home,” she said offering a smile before taking a sip. “Oh, if the Warrior’s Guild isn’t really your cup of tea anymore, heh, then that’s perfectly fine. We do take people of all types though, not just people that swing giant axes or maces and bash people’s heads in. There’s one for mages, one for necromancers, another for healers, one for adventurers, and a few others--and mine, the Devout’s Guild, is complicated.” The smile that had been there, looked a bit forced. It was difficult to describe the Devout’s Guild without it seeming like a place where it was full of nothing but shiny paladins with extra shiny magicks that did nothing but good all the time. It really wasn’t that at all. She really needed to work on her sales pitch, honestly. But, if none of those guilds spoke to Rilla, then it would certainly be the Rogue’s Guild for her. It wasn’t one Khitti would mention, however. There’s always whisperings of such an organization, but it concerned Khitti very little. There’s always whispering about many things and it’s not like Khitti would do anything about it anyway--she liked the shadows just as much as any rogue, after all. “As for the bugs, you deal with them with a lot of sharp, pointy objects and magic,” she said with a smirk. “Not much else you can do about them. They’re a hive mind, but still not exactly on the same level as the rest of us, when it comes to sentience.” Except for that Spider Queen. We don’t talk about the Spider Queen.
Rilla had never had such an issue with vampires as a human, the only thing she brought with her from her old life into this one was a token of love from one. The little gold ring sat plainly around her neck on a single gold chain that she tugged at gently now, and any other time that she needed to ground herself. “I guess so. After I left here I lived in a place that did not approve of vampires, but I didn’t remember the sentiment here before this.” Her lips pursed in thought, finally bit her tongue and smiled shly. “Truthfully, I don’t know a thing about magic. As a human I never had any gift for anything like that, and I haven’t stopped to think about anything for very long since.” She shrugged, trailing off and taking a breath to restart. “I imagine it’s very complicated, especially teaching it to a toddler.” A civilized response, and her smile turned apologetic before she looked away, thin fingers hooking the cup of tea to bring it to her lips and take a sip. The warmth was refreshing, and she gave an approving nod as she set the cup down once more. “Thank you, it’s lovely.” Rilla said earnestly, licking her lips as she traced the shape of the mug’s handle with one finger. “I’m not even sure if I want to be part of a group of people like me.” Not just like people, really. Any people. She was used to solitude, and though she’d been here for several weeks, groups were always intimidating. She stared down into her mug for a moment, the scent of it was familiar and comforting. “It must have been a sort of fantastic adventure,” she said wistfully, “although maybe it’s better as a memory than it was at the time.” A laugh, “thank you for telling me that story, I’m picturing it and it’s hilarious.” Rilla lifted the glass to her lips once more, taking another sip as she considered the information. “Now, the flowers,” she started, “you said some of them are poisonous, which ones are they?” She questioned as she glanced over her shoulder at the garden around them once more. It was hard to imagine that some of the plants would be dangerous, it all seemed so benign.
Khitti nodded to Rilla, when it came to people hating vampires, “I came from a place where all magic was banned and anyone that showed signs of having it was burned, so… I understand what you mean. Despite the xenophobia that sometimes runs rampant around here, in any of the regions, I feel like it’s still somewhat tame. If you ever need a place to come to, to take a break for a little while, you can definitely do that here in my shop. We don’t allow that kind of thing here. I’ve seen enough of it, been a victim of it, and I won’t stand for it. It’s harder to keep it in check in things like the guilds, but it’s not like you’re required to always work with these types of people.” A shrug was given as Khitti eyed the small bits of tea leaves at the bottom of her cup that had escaped the teapot when the drink had been poured. “And hey, that’s fine too. You don’t -have- to join anything. It helps sometimes to keep my anxiety at bay, but sometimes it can be the source of it too.” Khitti smiled and nodded again about leaving the bugs a memory--as much as she could anyways--and turned her attention to the flowers. “Some of them, yes. They’re all sort of scattered about,” she said, pointing to the flower box in the northeastern quadrant of the garden. “There’s hellebore, calla lilies, and lobelia there. And belladonna too--some people know of that one as nightshade. That box over there--” Khitti pointed at the southwestern box, “--has irises and hyacinths. And the one with the flowers that bloom at night--” Once more she pointed, this one towards the southeast, “--has daturas and wisteria. There might be one or two that I missed, but each one should have a small tag next to it to say what it is and whether or not it’s poisonous. I should put a book together of them and have it set somewhere around here, really.”
“I can’t imagine.” And honestly, she didn’t want to. The fear of those that were different had never been trained into her, she was always too rebellious, too apt to challenge the ideas that she was fed. “Thank you, Khitti, I will remember that. I always need a safehaven.” She smiled into her cup, swirling the tea inside around with a little flick of her wrist to disperse the scent before she took a sip once more and set it down. “It’s all going to be an adjustment, truthfully it’s strange being around people again.” Perhaps the two years felt longer because she’d been running scared for most of them, or maybe it was because she’d been sired that she’d felt that way. “But maybe eventually I’ll try it.” A little shrug of her shoulders and she tongued her cheek sheepishly, her own attempt at being positive felt foreign in her mouth. Rilla followed the other woman’s gaze, nodding along as she explained where the plants were located. “It might be an attraction, especially given that you’ve got such an array of plants here.” She offered a slight smile, business certainly wasn’t her forte, but such a thing must have been an attraction. “Although, it may be best to downplay just how poisonous some of them are if people are still as duplicitous as they used to be.”
Unfortunately for Khitti, getting burned at the stake was something she couldn’t help but think about. The witch killings in Larket and the witch hunters that still lurked in Lithrydel kept it in the back of her mind at all times. “You’re welcome. And I understand. Adjusting to places like Kelay and Cenril and Rynvale, where there’s a large concentration of people is certainly difficult. It was for me when I got off the boat in Chartsend and made my way inland years ago. But, just try to find yourself a quiet spot if you need it. There’s a few places in Cenril that I know of, like the wishing well near The Whaler’s Bar or the garden in the theatre. Surprisingly the beach can be calming too. I’m sure you’ll get used to it in now time.” Khitti shifted her attention back towards her garden. “Eh, I’m sure it’ll be fine. I know a few people that can actually make use of the poisonous ones, so it won’t be much of a big deal. And if there’s others that want to steal it, well… if it wasn’t my garden then they’d find it elsewhere, I suppose,” she said with a shrug.
Rilla nodded her appreciation to the woman in front of her, though she was surprised by the kindness of the people who lived and worked here now. She cleared her throat as she looked away, “I’m not used to hearing everything as clearly as I do now and also being around people.” A sheepish laugh escaped her and her nose wrinkled in chagrin. “I find that it makes it hard to focus, like I can’t tune it out.” Rilla explained, fingers tapping against her thigh nervously as she once more faced Khitti, a steadying breath as she listened to the woman speak. More comfortable with discussing her acquaintances' passions than her own. “That’s true, people who are determined to do something will find a way to do it whether you make it easy or not.” She shrugged, rolled her shoulders back as she stood. A hand rested on the table then, hesitant to come off as rude. “Would you mind if I walked through it?” She questioned softly, her head tilted to one side slightly. “And then I’ll get out of your hair – what do I owe you for the tea?”
“I’m going to be honest, I’m a little envious. Vampiric traits like the sensitive hearing definitely did come in handy. I was a vampire for a bit over a year, but managed to find a cure a few years ago. I hated the curse as a whole, but there’s certain things I wish I could’ve kept. Like the hearing and the speed. I never did find out what my specific vampire gift was, but I think it might’ve been the heightened speed and I sure do miss it when I’m in the middle of a fight. It worked extremely well with my archery too,” Khitti said with a sigh. Every now and then she toyed with the idea of becoming a vampire again, but that would defeat the purpose of everything she’d gone through. And she’d still be stuck with Brand more than likely dying before her and that wasn’t something she’d be able to handle--not when the prospect of an eternity without him loomed over her head. Khitti shook her head at Rilla’s question about walking through the garden. “Go for it. That’s what it’s for. It’s not just for me, but the customers too. Or anyone else really. And you don’t owe me anything for the tea. Just think of it as a welcome back to the city,” she said with a smile, letting the vampire go about her business as Khitti got back to her own (which wasn't really much of anything to begin with).