Bata/Meria - Spiders are Neat

Meria Boucher || There is a light tap-tap on the door to Batachikhan's room, an unobtrusive yet oddly rhythmic noise, like the caller has a rather particular pattern of knocking.
Batachikhan Dalamiq had been checking her supplies and necessary ingredients, the usual after a long day of brewing and whatever else she does in her free time. Upon hearing the knock, she glances to the door before voicing that it was fine to come in. Though she remained for the most part undisturbed and returned to what she had been doing before.
Meria Boucher turns the handle, pushing open the door with a soft click and stepping inside with a quiet rustle of fabric. "Good evening, Miss Batachikhan," she greets in her normal monotone. "Am I disturbing you?"
Batachikhan Dalamiq shuffled around a few emptier bottles while turning her head to greet Meria. "Oh, of course not. You are always welcome to visit." She offers a soft smile. "Would you like tea? Or perhaps your arrival does not call for such pleasantries." Her brow raised slightly, curious as to what would call Meria to her door.
Meria Boucher || This offer seems to cause Meria to pause, as if she's assessing proper social protocol or weighing her options. "I would not be against tea," she offers after his contemplation. "But there is no need for you to feel as if you must formally entertain me as a guest. I am here regarding the mission you sent us on. I have something for you, and - " A pause. "A few questions, if you might entertain them."
Batachikhan Dalamiq continues to smile, moving away from her potions to gesture Meria into one of the chairs behind her. "Tea it is." She adds, pulling open a drawer with an immeasurable amount of different teas. Most exotic or created personally by her. "Do you have a preference?" She questions while also reguarding her other words. "But yes, I would love to hear of the mission. And you may ask whatever you like, I am an open book."
Meria Boucher shakes her head lightly. "I was raised on tea prepared in the Ishgardian style, but I have been taking the opportunity to sample other varieties. Choose whatever you will." After contemplating the grass flooring for a moment, Meria lets out a soft exhalation that is caught by the curve of her mask before taking a step. If Bata is inclined to notice such things, the hem of Meria's coat seems to float slightly and her feet don't quite touch the ground. As she settles into the chair, she -
Meria Boucher - ceases her ridiculous use of aether, apparently meant for no other purpose than to avoid trampling the woman's grass.
Batachikhan Dalamiq seems content enough with the answer. She lets out a soft hum before picking out a dark colored tea. "Mandrake and Lavender has often been a favorite of mine." She pulls open another drawer to fetch two tea cups and a pot. She offers a soft laugh before adding, "do not fret, the hallucinogenic properties have been neutralized through my own means." She goes about filling the pot with water from a large container of fresh water before putting it over the flame of the fireplace to boil. >
Batachikhan Dalamiq takes a seat then while waiting for the kettle. "Please, if you would speak of the mission. I am eager to hear it through you compared to what I saw through Mortem."
Meria Boucher does not comment on the particular choice of tea she is being given, or Bata's assurances that she isn't trying to drug the woman. At least, in that way. "Hm. Well - the meeting with your Embalmer went about as you'd said it would; I assume you already know about the man's state, and I mainly remark upon it now because of a few curious things he mentioned during the exchange about the Scorpions that have lead me to have certain... questions about their intentions. I suppose that's mainly -
Meria Boucher: - why I've come to give you what I have for you in person, along with a report - numerous things and statements we encountered seemed... odd.
Meria Boucher waits for Bata's reaction for this before continuing.
Batachikhan Dalamiq listens intently to Meria's words as she speaks. Occasionally her gaze would trail over to the fireplace, but quickly return to the one speaking. Giving a slight nod once Meria paused to reassure her to continue.
Meria Boucher: He said he had engaged in dealings with one of them because they had... 'wares that were of interest to him as a keeper of the dead'. That had struck me as unusual; during the mission, I'd been curious about what, exactly, drove the Scorpions to bother you the way they have been. My curiousity only increased when the Embalmer gave us a sack of bloodied aether crystals and fresh meat in exchange for the draught you sent it with, saying it would 'lure what they feast upon out of hiding'. This -
Meria Boucher: turn of phrase, along with the location given to us - the ant-filled caves by Cutter's Pass - made me expect we'd be luring out some manner of beast from the tunnels. To my surprise, what emerged from the hole we threw the bag into was a man. ...One who complained about the stench. I remember that quite particularly. It wasn't rotten meat, and while I understand the scent of blood is unpalatable to some...
Meria Boucher: ...A man hiding in a vilekin den, unwashed and unkept, complaining about the smell of... what, precisely? Mm. It is perhaps a detail I am focusing too much on, but what I found later gave me questions along that line.
Batachikhan Dalamiq waited until Meria had finished for the time to stand, the tea pot now boiling. She moved quickly when it came to handling the heated object, placing it on the counter near her chair as she readied the tea leaves. Pouring just enough water in both cups before placing the leaves in and stirring both cups with a tea spoon. She hummed to herself while doing so, as if thinking upon Meria's words. "It is quite interesting, is it not? I was fairly taken upon what I saw as well. The Embalmer >
Batachikhan Dalamiq: has never given me reason to doubt his word, but to send you to such a place and receive greeting by such a man. I had little to think of what this altercation would bring." Once she finishes with the tea, she brough one cup to Meria and returned to her seat. Taking a moment to indulge herself in the aroma before speaking again. "The falsehoods being spread and
my contacts seemingly disappearing has been enough cause for concern, but now this." She frowns. "It's troubling to say the least."
Meria Boucher watches her prepare the tea - at least, it can be assumed she's watching? Her mask is continually angled towards the motion, at least, and when she takes the cup from Bata, she nods her thanks. "It is peculiar. Yet, technically he did do what he promised. I wish to extend an apology, by the way. It was very shortly after the man emerged from his hole that I realized that if the Embalmer was telling the truth, it would mean the Scorpions were pursuing him - therefore, we were about to be -
Meria Boucher: ambushed, yet even though I was on-guard for it, I still could not stop him from being killed. It was a failure on my part. However, how few we encountered - and how relatively easy they were to subdue - gives me questions as well. It also makes me think the Embalmer was not purposefully sending us into a trap.
Meria Boucher: ...If he was, it wasn't a particularly good one...
Meria Boucher says this in a way that almost seems like she's offended, and as she releases the tea cup - allowing it to float in the air just above her lap - she reaches up to take off her mask.
Batachikhan Dalamiq hummed again but this time in a slightly deeper tone, as if deeply thinking on how the situation unfolded. "I can not see reason he would do such a thing. He has little to gain from making an enemy of me, and his payment was given. It seems to we were merely in the right place at the wrong time. Tis a shame indeed the man in the hole did not live through the ordeal, but given his... behavior I do not know how much protection I could have offered." She brings the cup up to her lips, >
Batachikhan Dalamiq taking a moment to drink. Eventually relaxing back as she brought the cup down. "I am curious to hear of what you have come to give me in person?"
Meria Boucher reaches into her coat, withdrawing the paper she'd retrieved from hole boy's corpse and holding it out to her. "I investigated the cave he was hiding in after, along with the body. Given this, and the things he said, I wish we had been able to question him further. This seems extremely targeted, after all. ...Quite specifically, towards you. They seem to want information on you. And," A slight pause, "Given that the contents of Mister Hole's pockets consisted entirely of worms and he was -
Meria Boucher: killed by a group calling themselves the Scorpions, I have... questions.
Batachikhan Dalamiq leaned forward a tad to retrieve the note from Meria. Her gaze inquisitive as she read it over. "It is clear whoever this is has a vendetta against me, and perhaps what I do. Though most of my contacts do not even face me directly, least of all know any personal information. I have taken great lengths to insure the hand that acts is that of you and the others, rather then my own. Little can be done if your enemies have seen all of your cards." She took a moment to raise a brow. >
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "You may speak your questions freely, and I shall do my best to answer."
Meria Boucher curls her hand around the tea cup. "Are you, or were you formerly part of, some manner of vilekin-worshipping death cult?"
Meria Boucher: ...I'm not judging you if you are, it simply seems like - given the circumstances - I could do my job a bit better if I knew.
Batachikhan Dalamiq was slightly taken aback by the sudden question, though it was hardly evident aside from her expression. She has to shield part of her lips with the back of her hand to stiffle some of her laughter. Slowly shaking her head, she answers in a humored tone. "I know you ask in earnest, tis an honest question. One I have been asked before as well, it seems I often give off the aura of such. Or that I am in line with some voidsent dealings." She closes her eyes for only a brief moment to >
Batachikhan Dalamiq still her amusement before she finishes. "To answer you, no. I am not, nor have I been apart of any cult." She then raises a finger, after sipping a bit of tea she adds. "There is one with us, however, who was. Though said group has long since been dismantled, I do not see much correlation to our current situation." She takes a moment to look over the note again. "However... it does raise the question of what we are dealing with. And if a cult is in fact apart of the picture."
Meria Boucher tilts her head quizzically as Batachikhan mentions this is not an unheard-of inquiry. "I am given to understand that things like performing experiments on Mhacian spiders to increase their size and number of spikes is off-putting to some," Meria offers helpfully. "At least, given the social protocols I've observed. But that isn't why I asked, really. The acts of the Scorpions... seemed to upset you on a more personal level - or, well. That is what Isaudorel mentioned to me when we spoke of -
Meria Boucher: it. You yourself commented on how scorpions consume spiders as a part of their diet. Calling cards... an extremely targetted act, but for what purpose? The hole-man highly implied he was supposed to be gathering information on you. Those that attacked us had their mouths sewn shut - a... not unheard of behavior for cults. Indocrination, you know. Isolation -
Meria Boucher pauses.
Meria Boucher: ...Regardless. Usually acts such as these would be related to commerce; but... I cannot see how or why their behavior would be economically beneficial. So: the benefit must lie elsewhere. It seemed natural to wonder if it was something that lay within your past.
Batachikhan Dalamiq remained quiet for a time, her expression difficult to read. Though eventually she smiles. "You are correct, it would be quite off-putting. In fact I recall even some of our company being disturbed upon meeting my dear. Though as I said before, the reason I take this so seriously is that it is jeopardizing only me but all of my contacts and the information that I hold. It is my job to keep secrets from running amok; this Scorpion would put my work in shambles for what? To out me? >
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "for revenge?" She pauses. "It is understandable to question where they might be coming from, and why. Though it seems more... we simply do not have the entire picture. This man from the hole was one small piece, isolated." She waves a hand. "What can be done with a single piece of a puzzle when you have no other pieces to fit it with? But your inquiries are welcomed, in fact I appreciate how much you have taken it upon yourself to consider the possibilities." There's another
pause, >
Batachikhan Dalamiq slight longer then before. "I believe you have the right of it to question my past, and how it might link to this. I often am questioning my past as well. I still suffer from lingering amnesia, some things have returned. Some only in dreams, still unknown if truth or my imagination. It is possible it is an enemy I have encountered before my fall, but it would seem only time will tell the reality."
Meria Boucher - for most of the time as Batachikan speaks - merely uses her tea as a rather fancy finger warmer, though as her employer begins to speak further about herself, she does raise the cup up - to smell, mostly, contemplating the scent and her words in turn. "Amensia. I ask not to pry, but for a specific purpose - do you know how such a thing came to pass? Or is that a mystery to you as well?"
Batachikhan Dalamiq lightly shook her head. "I know little of what came before, or for how long I lay upon the stone in the Steppe. Eventually a Kahkol found me, or my unconscious body. From waking to this moment, the holes in my memory have shrunk but it is still a mystery to me if it was a mere accident or ill-intent that the fall had all but nearly claimed my life."
Meria Boucher: It seems to have been a physical blow, then? A long fall, the trauma of which nearly killed you and made it difficult to remember what came before?
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "Upon inspecting for injury afterwards, It did not seem I had been struck. Merely the way I landed had been unfortunate enough to likely cause a concussion and lack of conscious." She then frowns, though there was a small hint of sadness to it. "I do not remember my childhood, or my parents. Or if I have siblings. I was suddenly very alone with only a name to which hardly felt like my own."
Meria Boucher continues to think before taking a small, quite delicate sip of the tea. "Another thing that I am perhaps overthinking is another odd thing Mister Hole said - what was it exactly..." A 'hmn' noise. "'I'd like to know myself - who am I?' or something quite similar. But. That seems like quite an unfortunate position to be in. I believe I better understand the attraction this place may have to you as a 'family'."
Batachikhan Dalamiq nodded. "Yes, considering there is nothing I can remember of what blood of mine is else where. I have found it enduring to refer to this company as a family rather then simply what it is, a company. It feels more personal, a better place for strong ties to be forged compared to something within a business relationship. I am always forthright with my intentions and my goals. And since I have taken hold of this establishment, my mind has yet to fall off course. The goal being to amass a >
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "comprehensive network of information, a web, in which to live and grow. To learn, to experiance. It is my nature to taste the lives of all around me and commit it to memory. As if to replace my lost ones."
Meria Boucher takes another small sip. "I can only imagine that there is some hope that if you amass enough information, you'll acquire something about yourself as well. In that vein... many misunderstand what astromancy is, or further through their misunderstandings relegate it to the realm of cheap dockyard charalatans or pseudoscientific fallacy, but... all that is, was, and ever shall be exists within the cosmos. I cannot promise I'll be able to give you a wealth of new insight, but would you like -"
Meria Boucher: me to try to do a reading for you at some point? I can see what I can try to divine about the Scorpions as well; it is on my list of things to map out.
Batachikhan Dalamiq finishes the remainder of her tea, and sets it aside for the time being. "I would be quite interested in that. I know little of Astromancy. Unfortunately even my collection of books downstairs lacks in such magics. I would welcome the reading, however. I am never one to turn away such help, and considering your exceeding skill I would not question it's authenticity."
Meria Boucher: That is a very kind compliment. I do not mind providing some of the material I have for you to look through, along with explaining some things myself - though I admit, my practice does deviate quite significantly from the way it's taught in Sharlayan. Though, my readings of the stars still draw heavily from what I learned there. It was much of the rest of it that I instead adapted to war.
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "I have always found Sharlayan to be an interesting topic, along with the Astromancy we speak of there is not much I know of where it came from." She smiles. "I believe that all magics should be used to there full potential, given they are used in the correct hands. A fool is often to make a much louder, obnxious display to pin falsehoods to those who would use it for its true purpose. It's unfortunate that fear can dictate the lives of so many, but understandable to an extent as well I suppose"
Meria Boucher continues nursing her tea. She's still drinking it, so she probably likes it? It's hard to tell from her expression. "When we have such incidents as the War of the Magi to look back on, I understand some manner of trepidation. But the way that the Forum handles such things is..."
Meria Boucher: ...Mmm...
Batachikhan Dalamiq nodded slowly. "Perhaps my thinking differs merely on the fact my life was spent hidden away within the Steppe. If you have found yourself in such location, you can imagine how little information of the outside world gets to there. There was much I had to read on, and still struggle with in reguards to the history of Eorzea. The Mhachi was indeed such a highly interesting topic, that I had to see the Yafaem Saltmoor for myself."
Meria Boucher: Is that how you came to meet Mortem?
Batachikhan Dalamiq smiles much more prominently. "Yes, he was but a young spiderling. Tiny, easy to make prey of. I imagine he would not have grown much larger, and his life would have been much shorter if I had not thought to bring him with me." She
gestures around her room. "I made the attempt to replicate his natural environment through magics and natural means, though there is only so much I could do. Though he seemed to have taken to it well, and with his modification's it is hardly an issue."
Meria Boucher looks about, nodding in something that is probably approval. "What drew you to them? Spiders?"
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "An interesting question, one with an answer that I have often thought on myself. It is often such creatures are thought of as pests, to be rid of and forgotten. I wished to show that small and powerless, can be much more when given number and the correct skills with which to act. They become the hunters, stalkers unseen with the power to induce paranoia and the sensation of six eyes staring into your back." She chuckles softly. "That, and I am merely fond of their apperance."
Meria Boucher: Mm... a rather singular fascination, then - comprised of many emotional and symbolic components. But they really are very cute, are they not?
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "They are indeed. To this day I find it hard to believe so many react with such disgust or prejudice." She shrugs. "I may never understand, though it is their loss. Perhaps they have never seen a spider along their web, the creation itself intricate to witness. Or to see one quickly capture their prey upon it. Something I shall never tire of." She gains a dreamy like stare as if imagining it.
Meria Boucher nods, and though her voice still has that uncanny evenness to it, something about the way she holds her cup indicates an enjoyment in this topic. "It's always seemed quite short-sighted to me. Spiders are an incredibly valuable part of the ecosystem. Where some see a malevolent creature, what exists is a necessary part of the world's function. In fact, they are beneficial to our societies, preying on other creatures that carry diseases and illness, though I do not like to quantify a -
Meria Boucher: creature's ecological worthiness using a metric which places Spoken being's needs as the most important. Their biological systems as well are uniquely fascinating - the creation of a web is a manner of tool-creation that is quite distinguished among other species. They are extremely prolific and adaptable, and the toxins they produce vary so widely species by species...
Batachikhan Dalamiq nodded a few times, clearly very fascinated on the topic. "I couldn't agree more, their presence is often a comfort to me above all else. I have been able to make such an array of potions from their venom, all which differing effects. Something I believe most alchemists take for granted. I have found that through Mortem and my experiments, a very rare kind of flower will bloom upon his many legs only once every few moons. It resembles a rose in apperance but it's properties are amplified>
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "beyond anything I had expected. I have yet to run a complete test, but I've found it's almost some type of curing agent. One when added to certain mixes can have a range of effects on the consumer. Not only that, but race seems to have a part to play as well. It is something I have kept an extensive journal on, perhaps I will have to show you sometime."
Meria Boucher: I would enjoy that very much, though truthfully, Isaudorel would be the one much more likely to fully appreciate such research in its intricacy. Once the topic turns to alchemy and the mixing of regents, his knowledge has ever outweighed my own, though he frequently consults me for my insight on insects and we even won a - ...well, that's in the past. I'm curious, though. This flower... I'm very interested in what could have brought it about, and further, if such a plant could be cultivated -
Meria Boucher: beyond Mortem, or if it has a... necessary symbiotic relationship with its host. Or - if perhaps it would be more accurate to say, 'this is simply another of his natural biological structures'...?
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "I have considered many options as to what caused this phenomena, considering much of his body was infused with plant substance that was cross-bred together after extensive trial and error. Much of which I still consider luck given the numerous possible outcomes that which could have been achieved. Though the final product was tested on him, the other failed attempts were given through injections on local smaller insects. Most of which would produce the blackish, almost slime like vines that he>
Batachikhan Dalamiq: " is able to create. Truely, it may as well just be a biological wonder. And the addition of such growth of flora, as it seems to do him no physical harm, in itself is something I have yet to determine where exactly it might originate." She then sighs a bit. "I may never know, but he remains steadfast and eager so merely his company is more then I could have asked for."
Meria Boucher very lightly chews on the edge of the teacup while she mulls over this. Is that just a slight eccentricity of hers when she's very deep in thought, or...? "Have you ever tried to reproduce these effects on another of his same species? I wonder if there's some critical component that lies on his place of origin."

Batachikhan Dalamiq shook her head. "I have yet to return to the saltmoor since my original visit some time ago, but it is not an ill advised idea. I may plan to do such. I imagine Mortem may find comfort in another of his kind, I will have to consult him on the matter."
Meria Boucher nods. "It's only proper. He might enjoy the visit?"
Batachikhan Dalamiq nodded as well with a familiar smile. "I imagine so, I often wonder how his size has effected his cognitive thought. He has displayed signs of learning, and understanding of simple words. I would be interested to see if he might remember his origins."
Meria Boucher nods. "I'm quite curious to see your results. I also must admit - I am thoroughly enjoying this discussion, but the bells toll on and slip deeper into night. It would probably be to my benefit to get some rest."
Batachikhan Dalamiq made a soft 'ah' sound at the mention of how late it had likely gotten. "I have enjoyed this conversation as well. We will have to meet again at a later date and discuss more." She stands with a smile. "It as been a pleasure speaking with you reguardless, I appreciate you bringing me this information on the Scorpion, as well as your insight to the possible enemy we may be dealing with."
Meria Boucher holds out her empty tea-cup to Batachikan, saying "Of course," before she stands. The initial lift of the hem of her coat is more pronounced this time, given she has less opportunity to subtly lift herself up in her refusal to trample Batachikhan's grass. "I would enjoy meeting again as well to talk, and should I discover anything new regarding recent work, I'll be sure to inform you."
Batachikhan Dalamiq: "Good, I shall hold you to that." She takes the tea cup, placing it next to her empty one. "Have a good rest of your evening, rest well."
Meria Boucher: Yourself as well, Miss Batachikhan. Until we see each other again.