genessia | so many actions

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so many actions

❝ thanks, I hate it ❞
[ Cordelia has dealt with a lot of shit in her life. Actual devils summoned from the Abyss, spears through her lung, literally dying that one time (she got better). But none had been as much of a shock as this single, tiny woman grabbing her wrist and yanking her into one of the shops in town. How she had managed to sneak up on her is beyond her in this moment, and even if she wanted to ask she cant. The woman will not stop talking. ]

Oh, how beautiful! Yes, yes! You're perfect, my dear! [ There's hands on her, and that's when she finally moves, her own gauntlet-ed fingers grasping the woman's wrist. ]

What are you doing?

I needed a model for my new fashion line, and you are absolutely perfect! Those eyes! That hair! [ The woman practically swoons. ] Hidden under all that metal, it is a shame! But we'll fix that soon enough.

[ Cordelia can barely get a word in edgewise. It's not exactly her style, but the woman's intentions are... harmless enough and she even offers to pay her. With no real reason to deny the request, she reluctantly agrees. For a solid two hours Cordelia is on display inside and out of the shop, wearing a variety of spring-themed dresses. She doesn't look uncomfortable so much as she does uncertain and vaguely bored. Please save her from this hell. ]

❝ unfortunately, I love it. ❞

[ When not being accosted by randos on the streets, Cordelia can be seen wandering — not aimlessly, not really — as she tries to familiarize herself with the layouts of the various cities. Eventually she finds her way to the library — it wasn't hard, the thing is huge — and wanders in. Clad in armor, a sword and a shield, Cordelia at a glance might not look like the scholarly type. but boy are you wrong, kiddo. The Knights of The Quill from her homeland were not named as much purely for their brawn. And Scholar Remiel made sure to drill all the knowledge he could into her head. Answers can come from both people and books, and she intends to at least try and find something here.

At some point, though, she falls asleep, not quite realizing that she hadn't rested properly since her arrival a few days prior. With a book propped in her lap, her head lulls against the bookshelf behind her, her breathing soft and quiet, save for a faint wheeze every so often.

catch her before her nap or after, it's whatever. ]

❝ I hope you're somewhere PRAAAAAAAAYYIN ❞

[ You know what sucks? The fact that no one else here worships the Father of Light. Cordelia, so used to the Garsalian tradition of having a church on every corner, seems all but lost as she wanders aimlessly around for a place to pray where she won't be intruding on anyone else's business. Eventually, she finds a shady spot in a park or something, settles down, and prays silently for as long as she can until she's interrupted.

She repeats this too, for a few days, in the same spot in the same park. Sometimes a kid interrupts her when their ball or whatever wanders too close to her and they have to ask for it back, not knowing that she's deep in prayer and should be left alone. She always obliges them though, regardless of the break in concentration.

A few days in, though, she seems... tired. Leaning against the tree near her spot, she simply stares up at the sky and fiddles with the golden winged necklace around her neck.

What a weirdo. ]

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[Ted, who admired knightly garments and romance despite dressing like a clown, could empathize with being all on your own in a faith. Genessia seemed a godless world, and not a single street or place was named after a saint. While people in medieval weaponry aren't anything new, it should be striking enough to catch his attention.

If he weren't an oblivious fool, anyway. He misses her the first few days, yet near the last her gesture strikes him far more severely than her armor. Prayer? In public, no less? Now that's a novelty too tempting to pass up.

He steals a few glances, makes sure she's finished, then waltzes up to her in an inexplicably chipper mood.]

Hello, miss, I'm Ted. Are you new to the world?

[ A vaguely secluded area of a park is hardly ideal, but still not nearly as bad as it could be. Walking into a church here would be... weird. It's not her faith, not her place. This is a fine alternative to doing nothing.

She's been finished for a few minutes by the time Ted approaches, and she can at least appreciate the fact that he waited until she was done to start this conversation. She inclines her head toward him in a nod, the corners of her lips twitching faintly. ]

Well met, Ted. My name is Lady Cordelia Peacebringer. I arrived a few days ago.

[His expression and voice turn dreamy, thoughts turning to Shakespeare and King Lear's only worthy daughter.]

Ah, lovely names both. So you're one of the few who didn't see fit to announce yourself with the phone, eh? Then again, perhaps most are like that and one, logically, doesn't here of them.

A curious inaction. Speaking of actions, would it be too personal to ask whom you were addressing a few minutes ago?

[He's very curious.]

I am ... unfamiliar with such things, and I did not feel the need to announce myself before I properly adjusted to the situation. [ First impressions matter and hers would not have been a good one, had she thought to use the network initially. ]

The Father of Light. Are you familiar with him? [ Probably not, but what the hell. ]

[His tone has one of tepid, burgeoning excitement. That's very close. But he's learned not to get his hopes up.

They flare up anyway.]

That's-aha, that's very close. Did he have other titles or, ah, honorifics?

[ She's probably about to disappoint him. ]

The Holy One, Divine Father. He has many titles — it would take hours to list them all.

[He's gotten used to that; besides, a faithful anything, he's learned, has more in common than otherwise. Still, those are...again, very close.]

Goodness, nearer and nearer. I'd say "I have time" but, aheh, you likely don't.

He didn't ever, ah, become human once, did he?

[ Whatever faint hint of hope she had in finding another follower of her God has already diminished. It's nice at least to find someone with faith in something. Common ground, relatively. ]

No, I fear not. Truthfully, none have ever seen him, but I have spoken personally with his messengers. [ Hope that's not weird. ]

[And there it goes. Oh well; 'twas a long shot. Still, he's taking everything at face value. Genessia's too extraordinary not to.]

Probably for the best; purportedly some are so bright looking on them head-on would kill a man.

Truly? A priest or something more angelic?

[ That seems a fair assessment. ]

An angel, as it were. Came to me in a vision while I was praying at the church. I was given a quest by the Father of Light himself, and they were to come and tell me of the details. [ a beat, before she adds: ] 'Details' being subjective.

That sounds at once both very flattering and very trying, for I would think any detail important enough to be holy duty would strive to be as clear and communicable as possible.

You were pressed into pious service, then?

[He gave her a once over to see what sort of dress she wore.]

Was it something like your surname, or not quite so mild?

[ She should probably find something more suitable to wear here, but as it is she has a dark blue and white tabard, emblazoned with a coat of arms, over finely made - but slightly worn - suit of platemail. On her back is a shield, and on her hip a longsword. A chain hangs around her neck, displaying the symbol of her faith in the form of a golden staff with wings extending from either side in classic cruciform fashion.]

I was given a holy order, and I was happy to take it.

[ "Pressed" makes it sound vaguely unpleasant. And the task itself kind of was, honestly, but she would do it again if it was so requested of her. ]

In a sense, perhaps, but it was more than simply bringing peace to the lands. My father was the one that earned that title for his own valiant deeds long before I was born. [ What a name to live up to, too. ] I was tasked with slaying the Scions of Xitmar, men and women attempting to bring a powerful abyssal creature to the world. They succeeded, but I arrived in time to slay that devil as well.

[Ted almost arrested a laugh at "happy". Cordelia did not seem like one who dallied much with happiness. Or else it were that subtle kind that found a kind of pleasure in something the more severe and sanctified it was. The armor would speak to that. After all, when it comes to giving tasks, angels aren't known for their fun-loving.]

That's certainly one way to achieve peace, yes: culling its disturbers. So much the better if what they wanted could never be achieved by any future summoners. Did the motive of these scions make much sense, or were they simply mad?

["Abyssal" is a word he'd never heard used that way. He's morbidly curious as to what kind of species it'd refer to.]

"Abyssal"? What sort of devil is that?

[ She has her moments. Though she finds it difficult to be anything but serious in times like this, lost in a strange world unwillingly. And so soon after her quest had finished, so soon after Morgan had proposed to her, and so soon after her father gave her full reign of the Keep. ]

Both. They wished for power, and Xitmar was willing to give it to them in exchange for their summoning him to the mortal realm.

[ A pause. She doesn't seem to understand the question. ] A being from the Abyss. The — [ Uncertain, she doesn't know if there's another word she should be using here. ] A corrupted realm below our own, where devils and demons run rampant. Xitmar himself had been a powerful fire-wielding beast, intelligent enough to hold conversation and manipulate anyone willing to listen to his promises.

[Silly cultists. When will they learn? Ted seems to find small relief in that the "Abyss" is full of tangibilities instead of mostly nothing.]

Ah. Well, I'm glad you were successful in that quest. Was there more where that came from, or were you allowed a denouement? Suppose you've got plenty of time to consider what you'd like to do next, eh?

[The evergreen question for 90% of Genessia's population, really.]

[ Spoiler: they won't. ]

As much as I would wish to say no, there are likely others hoping to do the same. If not now, then in the future. For the time being things are peaceful. [ And then she was brought here. So thanks for that, life. ]

I know exactly what must be done when I return home. My father recently gave me control of the Keep we lord over, and it is my duty now to follow in his footsteps.

[Life says she's welcome]

Aheh, and here I thought a heroine's work was never done. Then again I suppose a lot of work might go into running a keep. Were there any suitable suitors that eyed you, or was yours more of a solo career?

[Romance: the best subject]

Quite a lot, actually.

[ Up until this point, Cordelia's expression hadn't changed much. But the question of suitors is seemingly out of nowhere (even though it's not really) and not something she really thinks of much, that she cannot help the tinge of pink that stains her cheeks. ]

I — uh — I was recently proposed to by one of my trusted friends, one who traveled with me to slay Xitmar. He is a knight of the King's order: Sir Morgan Lightseeker. [ It's now she realizes her ring is still on her finger, and that she's idly fiddling with it. ] I said yes, if that is your next question.

[Darn. She comes pre-shipped. He can't but feel a little sorry for her, since the most promising and lovely events of her life seemed far behind. Compared to that, the future might dim. But he's something of an optimist so that thought will pass in seconds.]

Aheh, sorry, I don't mean to needle. You're just something of a rarity here, even by Genessia's standards. The temptation to inspect was rather too strong.

Is there aught I can do to serve one so new?

It is fine. [ The awkward part is that she can't lie about anything he asks. Not that she as a need to, of course, but just vomiting out the answers always leaves her slightly flustered; especially in regards to certain topics. ]

I do not require anything of you, my friend. But I am curious - you called me a rarity. How so? [ besides like. the blessed by god thing. ]

[There's always the "nunyer beeswax" option, which Ted is pleasantly surprised few take. He considers it fortunate that such interesting people are often so willing to share biography. But he probably shouldn't squeeze everything out all at once.

He flashed a smile, eyes sparkling slightly.]

Why, you kneel. It's been a long time since I've seen a woman do that.

[Feeling the meeting had gone as pleasantly as it reasonably could, he made to leave with a rosier candor.]

Well, if you'll neither have nor want anything else, then good morning, Cordelia.

( noctis wasn't exactly a regular at the library... but if he was known for doing one thing around here, it was probably falling asleep. he spies cordelia from between the stacks, glancing quickly for the curator, then back the woman's way. )

Hey. Psst— ( he's whispering. it was weird, not being on the receiving side of this for once. but it's for good reason, he'd learned an important lesson to pass onto others here in the library... ) They don't like it when you fall asleep here.

Ah. [ That's kind of upsetting in a way. ] I see. Then surely it was fated that we should meet here this day.

[ She smiles, nods. ]

Until we meet again, Ted.

[ The pssst is what rouses her first. Cordelia twitches, grunts, and then slowly opens her eyes to look to the man whispering at her. A quick glance around indicates that none of the staff have arrived to tell her the same, so at least there's that? She sits up properly, nodding. ]

Mm. Thank you. I would not care to cause trouble for anyone.

Pretty uncomfortable, too. ( because that's what's important here, to mr/ falls asleep anywhere. but that just meant he knew the criteria for a good, solid nap. and you look like you might be able to use one of those, cordelia.

he emerges from the row of books, giving another quick glance. ) If you're desperate though, there's this one spot in the back stacks I'm pretty sure they don't suspect...

I have slept on worse. [ Far worse, if she really thinks about it. But she's also slept on better so that argument is kind of pointless, isn't it? ]

Oh? I'll have to investigate sometime. I thank you for the heads up.

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so many actions

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