10: Setbacks (Open Action)

[enchantressofore]

A. Library or Sycamore Cycles (Genessia), Daytime, Action

[ She said she could do it… She has to try, doesn't she? But at the same time, the more she looks into it...

More and more, Adela is forcing herself into her books, calculations, and any plans that might apply. She hasn't really been talking to anyone regarding that, getting more and more absorbed, but the more she does...

Adela's pouring over her books, her papers, and frowning as she feels exhaustion getting to her. It's starting to feel like, more and more... How daunting of a task it really is starting to get to her. No, it has gotten to her. It isn't just daunting... More and more, the fact that it's impossible for her to do as she wants to is becoming clear.

Eventually she lets out a frustrated growl, letting her head fall to the desk with a harsh sigh. All of that talk and bravado, and again it's going to amount to nothing? ]

B. Memoria Park (Genessia), Late Night, Action

I have had some trouble sleeping, so I have gone out for some fresh air. I will be back soon, but I have my communicator on me if you need me for anything.

- Adela

[ Hopefully, that note is enough to set the man's mind at ease if he finds her missing. As it is, Adela, dressed in her nightgown and a coat, wheels away from the shop once she's locked up the store. It won't be Garden Park, but she always finds herself drawn to the more natural areas.

Of course, it still takes a long time to reach the park, and when she does Adela finds herself in front of the slab. With the brakes on her chair in place, she finds herself looking between the slab, at the familiar names there, and the sky. For quite some time, she's lost in thought – perhaps too lost, as she has even no inkling that she isn't alone there. ]

Comments

A // LIBRARY OFC

[fierybluebird]

[Brings her a bottle of green tea.]

You're not a phoenix, yoi. You need to take better care of yourself.

A // I figured xD

[enchantressofore]

Marco.

[ She snaps out of her thoughts when he speaks, blinking at him before sighing and smiling at the offered gift. ]

Thank you. I know I am not, nor have I even met one - save for you. It is because I seek to care for myself that I work so hard.

[ ... She might have misinterpreted just what that meant. ]

[fierybluebird]

That is why nakama are important, even for phoenixes, yoi.

I can't protect the rest of my family without them looking after me too, and making sure I actually get some sleep.

[enchantressofore]

Nakama? Is that another word for family?

[ Thankfully he gave context, but she still has to ask -- if only to make sure that she actually has it right.

Though, she will add onto that a little defensively; ]

I have been sleeping. Much better in general, in part thanks to you.

[fierybluebird]

Family, comrades, crew, people you fight with but still love and would fight the world for.

Aye? [Head tilt, and grabs a seat.]

[He's half tempted to point out she pretends to be all right about as well as Ace, which is to say "poorly," but he refrains for now.]

And all this is helping? [Raised eyebrow.]

[enchantressofore]

...

[ Sigh.

She frowns back at her papers, slumping a little in her chair. ]

Well... I cannot say it is, anymore. I may have been too ambitious in this, as much as I am loathed to admit it.

[fierybluebird]

Too ambitious?

[OH GURL HE KNOWS THAT FEEL WELL.]

[SO. DAMN. WELL.]

[And also lectured babiest-bro (younger than Ace, if just barely... actually by this point, he's actually not, but time shenanigans = yolo) on trying to have MORE ambition, so you have his interest piqued. Greatly.]

You don't seem like the type to take over the universe single-handedly.

[Spoilers: That may or may not be Marco's ambition. Don't ever ask if it is, the answer will scare you either way.]

B

[ironforged]

[she might hear the distant thud of hooves on hard packed grass. Though it's evident as he notices her sitting there in the dark and guides the pale cream horse he rented onto one of the paved walks. It is a nice geld, he thinks, but not very subtle for night time.

On the other hand he isn't trying to surprise her either]

Are you alright, miss?

B

[enchantressofore]

What?

[ She seems a little startled when the other approaches her, raising a brow at him man and... Horse? Huh. One usually didn't see those outside of Fayren...

Getting off topic. She shakes her head before turning back to the wall of names before her. ]

I am all right.

B

[ironforged]

[he doesn't entirely believe her. She seems especially vulnerable somehow, a young handicapped woman alone at night. There is no saying how dangerous this place is]

In that case, would you mind if I kept you company?

B

[enchantressofore]

If you insist - in this place, I have no business stopping you.

[ She's not really paying him too much mind. Honestly, she feels like she can deal with anything that may happen save for certain exceptions, but she doesn't think it'll happen there. Not in such a peaceful place in the city.

Apparently, it also seems like she doesn't want to keep up the conversation. ]

B

[ironforged]

[that's alright. He'll dismount and guide the gelding closer, holding it loosely so that it can get at the grass if it likes. He looks at the slab with her for a while in thoughtful silence and then]

Did you know them?

[he assumes they are dead]

B

[enchantressofore]

A few of them, though probably not well. Do you know any of them?

Action

[justicereigns]

[Presumably, she did it to be alone, but Smoker figures it was more for night air, and to clear her head. He did the same thing sometimes. And while that usually meant he didn't want to be found...]

[It's not like Smoker can sleep either.]

[For all that he intended to keep Portgas COMPLETELY out of mind, he can feel the prowling lurking on the edges of his haki, like a panther stalking territory.]

[He can say it's none of his concern... but he promised Weiss. And he doesn't want a war. Especially not over something stupid.]

[Well whatever.]

[In any event, Smoker leaves a note of his own attached to hers, in case he doesn't find her and she gets back before him.]

No worries if you're back before me, just thought I'd get some night air as well.

- S

[Safer as a whole than his world, and even Loguetown after 3 years of Smoker beating the shit out of every pirate who came through and 2/3rds of the more obnoxious gangs or not, there are certain dangers that he is not completely convinced of being gone. Teenage girls wandering around past midnight just sets off alarm bells in his head. Not enough to call her, but if he should happen to be able to find her? So much the better.]

Action

[enchantressofore]

[ Well, he'll probably find without a doubt the most peaceful place in all of Genessia - no seriously it's illegal to start a fight there for any reason, even law enforcement ironically enough. Hopefully Smoker is aware of that when it comes to Memoria Park.

If he does come across her there, she'll still be in front of the memorial stone, though currently she's looking up at the stars above. There seem to be less here, somehow. ]

Action

[justicereigns]

[Smoker isn't sure that that will stop anyone, but whatever, he's not here to fight of course.]

[He sits down next to her, a good two arms' length away, but all the same, next to.]

[....]

[Oh right.]

[Do you remember from their awkward not!Dates that Smoker tends to not say much until prompted? And then it's like kicking a hole in a dam and the whole thing just busts out.]

[Right now that dam is all blocked up.]

[Silence.]

Action

[enchantressofore]

[ Somewhere she does hear him sitting down, and after a moment she does finally look to see who it is.

And jolts a little because somehow she wasn't expecting him. ]

Smoker?

[ ... He didn't come out looking for her, did he? She doesn't know, she left a note and the logical part of her knows he would've said something over the communicator if he was really that worried. So after a moment she does relax, wearing a weak smile. ]

I did not wake you, did I?

Action

[justicereigns]

[GRINS.]

[SHE REALLY IS LIKE TASHIGI GOSH.]

No, you didn't.

[Peripherally, he knows he should explain himself better, but he's ungodly bad at it...]

[So again... sorry Adela.]

Action

[enchantressofore]

[ Adela sighs, shaking her head at him before looking back to the slab. Should she mention what's on her mind? ]

... I should have warned you properly about the nightmares. Sorry for that.

[ Well, it's a start. ]

A; Library

[namemeansbeauty]

[Belle knew she was meant to be ending her shift soon would be ending as she was checking to see if there was anymore books that were needing to be put away. Looking over at some people she could usually tell, except for one.

Walking over, she leant over slightly.]

Hello. I assume you still need all the books, correct?

A; Library

[enchantressofore]

What?

[ She has to sit up, blinking hard before nodding. ]

Yes, I do...

[ Where has she seen this woman before? Maybe she was in Fayren when Adela still lived there? ]

A; Library

[namemeansbeauty]

Okay, I just thought I would make sure.

[She still had some parts of her job to do, like put some books away before she pays attention to the covers of the books.]

Interesting choice of books.

A; Library

[enchantressofore]

They are needed for a project I am working on.

[ Right, back to it then.

Maybe she can find a way to make it work, something she just hasn't seen yet... ]

A; Library

[namemeansbeauty]

I won't inquire because that would just be rude, but I believe there are a few more books on the subject if you want them?

[She had seen some in the back at least.]

A; Library

[enchantressofore]

... I suppose I could take a look. Thank you.