RP:When Flowers Attack
Summary: Kailani gives insightful tips to choosing certain flowers, but before she could help Brennia find many more plants, tragedy strikes.
This is a Healer's Guild RP.
Laurelle's Lake
Nestled close to the hunting lodge is a large lake, whether it is there by the design of man or nature is hard to tell. The water sparkles and reeds blow gently in the wind. In the depths an occasional flash of silver can be seen as large fish come to the surface, if you were to start throwing food in they would come to the water's edge, sliding over each other and almost taking the morsels from your hand. Animals come freely from the plains to drink here, you can see them now, some familiar to you, others bizarre and unlike anything you have ever seen. Trees are dotted around the lake's perimeter, the North side being dominated by a massive willow that just touches the water with it's delicate leaves. At the lake's edge you see a small jetty with a rowboat moored to it. The reason for this is clear, a small island is clearly visible in the centre of the lake. What lies within the island's depths is hidden from you by the trees that line it's shore and you are tempted to row across and explore. However, something tells you it is a private area, a sanctuary and haven for whoever dwells in these parts. Loathe to leave this beautiful area, you sit by the water for a while, enjoying the peace and tranquility.
Brennia arrives at the lake on foot, which is unusual for a winged being since the boundary between Venturil and Chartsend is a slight hike from Schezerade, but here she is nonetheless. Since the weather is warmer and dryer here than Schezerade, she opens her wings to reveal her typical oversized chord knit sweater that hangs low over her black legging clad thighs. The avian is without her naga bodyguard nowadays even though she is still on the mend and looking a hundred times better than anyone's seen her in the last year. She could still benefit from gaining a few pounds, but there is this contagious optimism about the woman these days. Soft leather boots tread lightly, almost as if mere feathers were falling upon the grass by the lake and the footfalls halt by the water’s edge. After pulling her hair up into a high ponytail so it doesn’t dip into the water, Brennia reaches into a bag that is hidden under the fold of her wings against her back and pulls free a pouch along with an old half of a bread loaf. She begins to softly hum a melody while pulling tiny pieces of the load off in order to drop them into the water and then she leans over to watch as the silvery fish speed beneath the surface to devour their treat. A soft raspy giggle emits from the bard before she repeats the process between taking moments to lift her chin up to the skies and let the peacefulness of the lake make a lasting impression on her this time. Recalling the past and how wrapped up in unimportant things she used to be the few times she had visited or even passed right through this place without even taking a moment to really look.
For the time being, Brennia would be alone at the lake so she would have plenty of time to really enjoy the silence and take in the details of the environment. When she takes the time to look around, she’ll start to notice that the area surrounding the lake is considerably greener than the surrounding region. There is also a considerable number of flowers growing around the lake, a lot more than she was seeing while strolling her way toward the lake, and not all of them are native to the region. Bre might also come to the realization that there are two different living spaces around the lake, one small lean-to built from plant life that is readily available in the immediate vicinity while the second was more of a tent-like structure and was a bit larger in size than the first. The two lakeside campsites have been established on opposite sides of the lake. If Brennia is feeling especially studious of her surroundings, she might even notice the footprints belonging to two distinct creatures, one set significantly larger than the other. The bardic woman was about to meet the owner of one of those sets of footprints, as a deep growl of warning is coming from behind the woman. When Brennia looks? She will find herself locking eyes with a juvenile blue dragon who is currently having mixed feelings about this stranger in his territory. Or maybe it was the because the growing blue dragon was feeling protective of the druid that is almost constantly found in his company? Her voice mingles with the sound of the growl, her tone also one of warning, except this warning was directed toward the dragon, “Aspen.” By the time she is finished speaking the dragon’s name, she is standing directly by his side and has a hand resting upon his head in a bid to assure him that everything was fine. “This is Brennia,” she explains before turning her blue-eyes to the bard and addressing her directly. “I am surprised to see you all the way out here. Although perhaps I should not be considering that I have encountered you in Venturil before...Are you well?”
Brennia takes her time, indeed! It’s been a while since she’s been completely alone and in the quiet, but she quickly regrets the ‘alone’ aspect when she dares to look over her shoulder from a kneeling position next to the water. The bard used to be so quick to at least attempt a calming melody while batting her wings so she can escape, but in her weakened state and loss of her magic, she loses her balance. Plopping right on her bony arse with a soft squeak escaping her as she’s trying to pull free her kalimba and in her panicked nerves, the little instrument tumbles to the grass out of reach. A voice saves the day and the wide eyes shift to the familiar face as the little color Brennia did have drained from her own. “O-oh… uh. H-h-hello Kailani,” soft and short nervous laughter covers up the quickened breathing. In her fragile state, it’s a surprise she didn’t outright faint! Shaky hands pick up the kalimba to put it back in the hidden pouch under the wings and she eventually stands back up before placing her hand on her stomach as if she could physically push the nerves down. “Ah, I’ve passed through here on my way to Chartsend a few times and always wished to stop, but,” she takes a deep calming breath and smiles warmly again which pokes dimples in her cheeks. “I never had the time and now I’m on the lookout for some plants.” When Brennia is asked if she's well, there is a subtle secret twinkle in her eye as she answers with a subtle shrug, “I will be. How about you, Kailani? How are you on this fine day?”
Kailani’s eyes go wide as she watches Brennia lose her balance as a result of being spooked by the dragon. Her hand remains resting upon the head of the dragon to keep him still until Brennia has a chance to put herself back on her feet. Once the bard is settled, Kailani whispers to the dragon, “Go enjoy yourself.” For the dragon, enjoying himself is going to entail sliding down into the banks of the lake and lounging in the cool earth, maybe doing a bit of snoozing. Now that Aspen has come to realize that Kailani is comfortable with Brennia’s presence, the dragon is far more at ease. The druid is still a woman of few words, but it’s never her intention to be rude so she does her best. “We are doing well out here,” the druid answers with a brief smile. “Were there any plants in particular that you were looking for? I am quite familiar with the region.” As the blue-haired woman speaks, her gaze falls to the instrument that Brennia has brought with her. Given her reclusive habits and despite effectively living with the bardbarian, the world of music was very new to her. It was a detail that was bound to change given enough time, but for the time being she was going to be peering quite curiously at the kalimba. No question is vocalized though, perhaps because she was already asking Brennia about the plants she was looking for? Or maybe because Kailani is still working on those conversational skills.
Brennia returns the small instrument to her pouch while explaining, "it's just a kalimba. A small thing that sort of mimics a piano. I think I was playing it the last time we had the pleasure of meeting." She lets out a soft sigh even though that warm smile stays planted on her lips, "I guess I pulled it out due to memory reflexes because playing a lullaby in order to escape potential danger won't really work if you don't have the magic to back it up anymore." For someone who bases the whole life on music and performance, that -should- be devastating, but the avian doesn't seem pressed as she shakes her head at her own foolishness while softly chuckling. While picking up the empty pouch from the grass she had pulled out earlier, she asks, "which plants you say?" Those teal optics dance around to all the different flora, "I honestly do not know. I figured I would know it when I saw it," with that she begins slowly meandering her way along the bank of the lake while picking some flowers to put them into the pouch. "I am trying to look for things I can grind into a paste or powder to use on the face, potentially covering up imperfections or adding pops of color around the eyes. Maybe even some things I can make cleansers with and facial masks." An awkward pause to follow, "of course a vain avian is looking for these things right?" With that she offers up a wink and sly smirk. Brennia isn't oblivious to the way avians are viewed, but she's never been one to take herself so seriously.
Was Brennia playing this the last they met? Wasn’t it at a river in Venturil? For a second it seems like Kailani was going to keep these thoughts entirely in her own head, but the druid manages to vocalize them. She’s trying! “Were you? I suppose I do not remember honestly, I think the detail that stuck out in my mind the most was the pig…” The druid watches Brennia collect flowers from around the lake, making mental notes of which ones the avain is taking with her. It was not that Kailani minded, it was that the druid wanted to keep the stock plentiful for Orion. “Yes, the trees being in the state that they are in has been causing trouble for many, and in different ways. I would have thought there would have been more of a push to try and heal the trees but…” Kailani in the end shrugs and is content to let that subject line drop, as even she was guilty about not being proactive on this matter. The druid side of her wanted to, but her reclusive nature made organizing such an endeavor quite a challenge for her. Instead Kailani devotes her attention to what she is certain that she can help with, and that is Brennia’s little herbal quest. When Brennia first begins to describe what she is after, a paste or a powder to cover imperfections…? There is no recognition on Kailani’s face, which should be unsurprising. Does the druid even wear makeup? The answer is no. For a change, Kailani actually sounds a bit excited while speaking, “Oh! I know of plants that could potentially work for a cleanser. Or that might be rejuvenating for the skin.” Yes, Kailani could probably help with the more practical aspects of what Brennia is looking for. As for Brennia’s joke about vain avains? Kailani does not react. The druid has encountered three and a half avains in her years, she hardly qualifies as an expert, and thus casts no judgement. "Do you want me to show you? Or do you prefer I try and describe where I last saw these plants? Or perhaps I could gather them as I see them and have them delivered?"
[1]Brennia lets out a raspy giggle at remembering the runaway pig as well, "call me crazy, but was that pig wearing clothes when it was finally caught?" Her bright smile is shown over her shoulder as she continues to meander along the edge of the lake, caressing a beautiful plant here or there and even indulging a sniff of one at times, "what happened to the trees?" She continues to pluck random plants and place them gently in her bag before slowly moving on. The bard is genuinely interested in what Kailani has to say, stopping here or there to make eye contact and react accordingly, but what she wasn't expecting is the hermit to become so animated suddenly. The avian doesn't outwardly react to it, though, but she does feel lucky to be sharing something with the druid. "Let us search for them together and you can impart any wisdom upon me whenever we find some good options," Brennia is always down to learn new things, especially when others are passionate about it. "I have heard that an aloe plant plays quite a big part in facial care and even hair care…" Curiously, she plucks a tiny royal blue flower that fades into a soft pink color in the middle. Morning Glory, mostly harmless and innocent enough looking, "hmmm."
[2]Her teal gaze is fixated on the tiny flower and for some reason she feels compelled to eat a petal, but when she does, there are a few seeds that she accidently eats as well… There lies the trouble. After stowing the flower away, Brennia turns and looks down at Kailani with an odd blissful looking expression. A comfortable silence rests between them as her gaze doesn't move from the druid's face, as if admiring every facial feature of the woman before her, but then her gaze drops to the woman's lips as she leans her head down just a little. Is Brennia going to try and plant a kiss on the near stranger?! "Why are you hiding a rabbit in your mouth? It wants out, let it breathe…." Her timbre is oddly calm, but then she stands straight up again and whips her attention one way before abruptly turning her head the other way, "sh!" Eyes widen and she whispers, "d-do you hear that?" Then she jumps and shrieks as the bag she had drops before she pulls the sleeve of her sweater up to scratch at her arms as if she's trying to shake something off of her.
For a few fleeting seconds, Kailani was thinking about just where into the wilds of Venturil she would end up leading Brennia and what sort of plants would be most useful. Her gaze travels away from Brennia and to the north during these few brief seconds and by the time she looks back? Brennia is eating the petals of a morning glory? Kailani can’t issue caution fast enough, not for the petals themselves but....The seeds ingested take effect far faster than Kailani has ever seen, which is probably for the best. She would hate for Brennia to be feeling the way she is currently while they were out in the middle of the wilds of Venturil. Luckily for Brennia, the druid is not so full of herself that she is quick to assume that the avain is leaning in for a kiss. Even on a good day, this is the last thing Kai would assume anyone would want of her. “Oh no…” is what Kailani says to Brennia when she starts going on about a rabbit in her mouth, and how it wants to breathe. Oh my. And then she starts screaming. Kailani has never encountered someone in such a state and thus she’s not entirely sure what the proper reaction and response should be. She’s just going to...do her best to be patient with the avian until the seeds have run their course. Surely it could not take that long, could it? It’s not like Brennia ate that many, right? All that shrieking though has alarmed Aspen, once again. These are not sounds that the young dragon is used to hearing up at the lake. The blue dragonling is coming to investigate again, and Kailani unfortunately does not think to try and put a stop to his approach. Hopefully this does not send Brennia into too much of a panic….Kailani, not really thinking too much about the dragon, goes on to say, “You know, I really am not sure if right now would be the best time for us to go and try and find these herbs. I think that perhaps you are not feeling well.” If Brennia does not have a total meltdown over Aspen rejoining their company, the oh-so-serious druid will go on to say, "Maybe you should have a seat by the lake and try and relax a bit...?" Kai might have to get a bit more creative if Brennia does not feel like having a seat and settling down....
Brennia, looking shocked anew, gasps at Kailani, "sir king, no-no no-no no. ON the contrary, I have never felt better." With a wiggle of her brow and a subtle nudge from her elbow as if she is sharing some sort of insider joke with Kailani, or whoever it is that she thinks she is talking to. Then her hands reach out to gently rest on the druid's shoulders all misty eyed, "can't you -feel- it?" This is one wild hallucinogenic trip! The avian does give a glance over her shoulder to the dragon and with a puzzled look, she cautiously asks Kailani, "did… did that mountain just -move-?" Without much preamble or reasoning, Brennia pulls the recluse druid in for a warm hug, accented with those dark glistening wings to envelop the both of them within. "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou," she whispers softly during their embrace, but suddenly the other side effect kicks in, which helps immensely… in it's own way. The lanky bard rips away from the druid as the color drains from her face and she almost looks a little green before taking a few steps away, but ultimately Brennia is falling to her knees and the vomiting begins. Good thing is that the seeds will be removed and the side effects should die down, bad thing is… well… it's gross.
This was indeed one wild trip and it was an experience that the fairly straight-laced druid was struggling to fully understand, even if she was trying her best to be patient. The reclusive woman barely has a chance to process what Brennia is saying, let alone form any sort of sensible reaction, before she is pulled into a hug. This is not something that Kailani is used to, given how she has spent the bulk of her life living. There is literally one person in her world that could get away with this antics at this point, try as Kailani might to be more forward and social. Unfortunately, that person is not Brennia. Every muscle in Kailani’s body grows tense and the confusion that mars her face shifts into a light frown. The druid really is not inclined to stay stationary, wrapped up in Brennia’s arms and wings, and is trying to figure out how to peel herself out of the winged woman’s hold without causing upset in what is currently a clearly delicate state. The first attempt will be a polite one with the druid simply trying to step away from Brennia. There will be no second attempt, because unfortunately it seems Brennia is going to end up being sick to her stomach. While Kailani tends to have more reclusive habits, the sight of someone else vomiting does not seem to cause her to react too much beyond a slight crinkling of her nose. She’s also not about to stand around stationary while Brennia is sick, the bard is given a bit of privacy. It might seem like Kailani is walking away from her in a time of need for a few short moments? But the druid is only going to the edge of the water, only to collect from fresh water for Brennia. Kai will be returning shortly only to wordlessly present Brennia with a waterskin. From here she’d wait patiently for Brennia to recover, still trying to be mindful that the bard might appreciate a little space and privacy at this exact second. Or at least, Kailani would if she had just puked her guts out.
Brennia's knuckles turn white with the force that she is griping the grass as she heaves the poison out of her body. Spitting is the last to follow before the avian sits back on her feet and sniffles while rubbing the tears from her eyes. When she opens them again, the waterskin is accepted with a raspy, "thank you." Her throat feels so raw, but she doesn't take a sip without wiping her own lips with a kerchief first. The avian drinks down all the water and offers it back up to Kailani before she works herself up to slightly shaky knees. "I am not entirely sure about what just happened, but I've got the gist of it," with that she looks to Kailani, concern knits her brow together and she looks just pitiful as her cheeks flush a shade of red. "I am so sorry," her velvety black wings hug her own slender frame a little tighter as if trying to comfort herself. "I- uh… I am going to head on back to the bard's college, Kailani," she picks up the sack of ingredients she has collected and stows them away in that hidden pocket under her wings. "It was very nice running into you again." She paints a smile on even though her embarrassment is still very fresh. "Thank you for your help finding some flowers," with that she gives a goodbye wave, wiggling her fingers before heading the direction for home.
Kailani observes Brennia rise to her feet, albeit in a shaky fashion. When Brennia announces she wishes to return to the bard’s college, Kailani does not object. The avian woman was just ill, it was probably better that she rest instead of galavanting all over Venturil for some more of those herbs that Kailani had in mind. “You should be careful which plants you decide to ingest,” the druid says gently, still wondering what promoted Brennia to eat the flower to begin with. “I am sorry for my part as well.” Her part being that she was not of more use in locating these herbs, but also the druid has an awareness that her reclusive tendencies were not always received well. Surly there were worse quirks to be had. Kailani attempts to make up for it, “As I travel around? I will be sure to send samples your way, along with tips as to what I think it might be useful for.” The druid had a few more thoughts on the matter, but they are kept to herself. Circle back to the point that Brennia was just ill and expressed a want to return to the college. “I hope that you feel better soon.” There is a smile that is sent Brennia’s way before the bard departs back to her college.