Magic Maid II 43

[22:30:41] <[Multi]_Theo> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[22:32:09] * [Co]_River is reading in the commons
[22:33:52] * [grant]_Achel is sitting in the commons drinking from her cup.
[22:36:59] * [Naz]_Zirren walks into the commons, returning from a visit the palace physician. She is no longer hobbling, but bandages still cover parts of her body.
[22:38:32] <[Naz]_Zirren> "Even demons can't keep me down," she says to anyone in the room. Noticing Achel, she continues with "though she did more damage than you managed, vampire," grinning mockingly.
[22:39:12] <[grant]_Achel> We can change that if you would like to end up looking like a mummy. * She takes a sip. *
[22:40:13] <[Co]_River> Now now, you two.
[22:40:42] <[Naz]_Zirren> Another day, vampire. I'll assume your master taught you enough about honor not to attack invalids.
[22:41:25] <[grant]_Achel> Then you admit to being an invalid. I never though I would see the day.
[22:41:43] <[grant]_Achel> (( thought^ ))
[22:42:25] * [Naz]_Zirren frowns slightly, despite that it was the truth. "Only for now."
[22:44:28] * [Naz]_Zirren strides over to River, sitting next to her. "A letter arrived for you, by the way. I'm not sure why they gave it to me to deliver to you though." She tosses the letter onto the folds of River's book.
[22:45:37] <[Co]_River> Oh? Interesting. Maybe I'll read it after I clean up the books that had fallen off my bookshelf.
[22:50:18] * [Naz]_Zirren looks at River quizzically, and slightly worriedly. "Perhaps you should ask Isabella to do it."
[22:50:41] <[Naz]_Zirren> Or our resident Vampire. She is supposed to be our servant, after all, though I don't know how much serving she actually does anymore.
[22:51:37] <[Co]_River> I wonder that as well.
[22:51:41] <[Co]_River> Achel, serve us.
[22:52:28] <[grant]_Achel> I've only heard one request, so it isn't exactly both of you.
[22:53:15] <[Naz]_Zirren> Perhaps you should check on Shizuka then. She seems even lazier than usual. In fact I don't think I've seen her out of her room since it was repaired.
[22:54:17] <[grant]_Achel> She's fine.
[22:55:26] <[Naz]_Zirren> Is she? Well she's not my responsibility, at least.
[22:56:04] <[Co]_River> How has Adeline been?
[22:57:02] <[grant]_Achel> There has been a little improvement, I'm not sure how long it will take for her to return to full strength however.
[22:57:38] <[Co]_River> Perhaps she should be reassigned to a less strenuous line of work.
[22:58:43] <[Co]_River> You should go speak to Theo about that.
[23:01:29] <[grant]_Achel> Why would she need to do that?
[23:03:08] <[Co]_River> For her health, of course.
[23:03:25] <[Co]_River> A nice vacation, away from the stresses of work.
[23:04:02] <[grant]_Achel> Why not just take a vacation then, seems like a simpler solution then moving her someplace else.
[23:04:47] <[Naz]_Zirren> She has proven that neither she or her... "resident" are capable of this. The girl can't take the stress and the demon doesn't know how to behave in our society.
[23:05:19] <[Naz]_Zirren> She may have been royalty once, and perhaps she is older than she looks, but I do not think her maturity matches her station or her biological age.
[23:08:23] <[grant]_Achel> If she wishes to be moved then I think that she would say so herself.
[23:09:08] <[Naz]_Zirren> She is too stubborn to admit her weakness. I agree with River. You are the closest to her, talk to Theo. For her sake.
[23:11:20] <[Co]_River> Indeed.
[23:11:24] * [Co]_River waves Achel off
[23:12:54] <[grant]_Achel> In what ways is she incapable of doing her job? Don't forget that she fills other roles besides serving you.
[23:15:38] <[Co]_River> We define her role.
[23:18:01] <[Naz]_Zirren> Indeed. We ask her to serve us, but both her and her demon are incapable of following our orders, but more importantly, she is currently passed out in her room, and there is no telling when she will be well again. Even if she does wake up, there is no guarantee that she will be physically fit enough to serve again.
[23:22:36] <[grant]_Achel> That is just your speculation, so your second point is useless. As for the first point, she has probably listened to your orders more than I have.
[23:24:36] <[Naz]_Zirren> Are you saying that you should be relieved of your duties as well?
[23:29:44] <[Co]_River> Indeed, you should speak to Theo about your job. Perhaps he can find a more independent line of work for you
[23:31:35] <[grant]_Achel> If you want me to leave the room there are simpler ways to do so.
[23:32:08] <[Co]_River> Not with you.
[23:32:21] <[Co]_River> But now that you've caught on, leave us.
[23:33:49] * [grant]_Achel stands up and leaves the room and takes her cup with her. She exits and heads towards the garden.
[23:34:01] <[Co]_River> Terrible, just terrible.
[23:34:31] * [Co]_River opens the letter
[23:35:37] <[Naz]_Zirren> *Zirren's eyes dart towards River and the letter, a slightly worried look on her face.*
[23:38:24] <[Naz]_Zirren> I did not expect you to open it so soon.
[23:39:15] <[Co]_River> Honestly, I'm sitting right here.
[23:39:27] <[Naz]_Zirren> Is this a safe place to talk?
[23:40:17] <[Co]_River> Depends what we talk about. How are your injuries, will you recover soon?
[23:57:42] <[Naz]_Zirren> I am recovered now. For all his flaws, Theo has amazing healers. I did not want to let Achel know, though.
[23:59:43] <[Co]_River> Excellent, excellent. We are essentially by ourselves, considering how incompetent our servants are.
[00:00:59] <[Naz]_Zirren> Heh. I still feel bad for the girl. As I told Theo, I realize he is not a lord of demons and that the girl is just an unfortunate victim.
[00:01:11] <[Naz]_Zirren> That is good for us in the end, of course.
[00:02:53] <[Co]_River> Perhaps, she will probably still get in the way.
[00:04:07] <[Naz]_Zirren> As she is now?
[00:04:30] <[Co]_River> She'll try, I'm rather certain of that.
[00:04:43] <[Co]_River> She doesn't shy away from personal injury, you know.
[00:05:06] <[Co]_River> For some random little girl in the kitchens, she attempted to fight several mages.
[00:05:19] <[Naz]_Zirren> Oh? How'd that turn out? I'm guessing she won.
[00:06:09] <[Co]_River> I'd interpret that she lost, actually, and caused me some inconvenience. Her powers are rather useless when heavy oaken doors are used against her.
[00:06:32] * [Naz]_Zirren snorts out a quick laugh. "Did someone stuff her in a cupboard?"
[00:09:26] <[Co]_River> No, she attempted to aggressively knock on the doors of the magical laboratory. They flew outwards in defence.
[00:09:42] <[Co]_River> Of course, she wasn't in as bad a state as she is in now, but it did take the wind out of her sails.
[00:11:51] * [Naz]_Zirren stiffles another laugh. "I wish I had seen that."
[00:11:59] <[Co]_River> Anyway, she did that in support for one of the kitchen girls who happened to become the test subject of some wayward magic.
[00:12:11] <[Naz]_Zirren> The girl with the sawn horns?
[00:12:39] <[Co]_River> Pretty sure they weren't sawed off.
[00:12:56] <[Naz]_Zirren> My memory must be fuzzy. Anyway didn't you have a plan for dealing with her? Some kind of paralyzation spell?
[00:13:30] <[Co]_River> For Adeline? More than just paralyzation.
[00:14:27] <[Naz]_Zirren> Could you not act upon it now? In her state, I doubt too many would notice.
[00:16:20] <[Co]_River> Do I need to? It's a rather annoying procedure which I have not practiced very much.
[00:18:25] <[Naz]_Zirren> That depends on how quickly we want to act.
[00:18:32] <[Naz]_Zirren> For now, let us discuss the other one.
[00:19:51] <[Co]_River> I'm sure I can go on an extended trip away from the grounds.
[00:20:30] <[Naz]_Zirren> Would you take both of them then?
[00:21:10] <[Co]_River> If Adeline can travel, then sure, I've done it before. Went hunting for a thief, we did.
[00:21:40] <[Co]_River> It turned into sightseeing shortly afterwards, but it's possible.
[00:23:21] <[Naz]_Zirren> If she can't, I suppose that I would not have to worry about her interfering in any case.
[00:25:08] <[Naz]_Zirren> Do you think it would be possible to find armor or would I have to steal some off our friends guarding the door to our commons?
[00:28:10] <[Co]_River> Could you make some?
[00:32:30] <[Naz]_Zirren> I could, but I am not so proficient with a blacksmith's hammer as I am with an axe, and forging chainmail takes time. Even were I to opt for leather, I don't know where I would get the materials or even if Theo would let me use the forge.
[00:32:51] <[Naz]_Zirren> That is why my plan is to steal it.
[00:34:31] <[Co]_River> That's troublesome. If you were caught making it, you could say you were bored and that is your hobby. If you were caught stealing it, you may be over the hills and far away by the next day.
[00:35:28] <[Naz]_Zirren> Indeed. Perhaps I could talk to the smith by the warg pens.
[00:38:18] <[Co]_River> Remember to be amiable.
[00:38:38] <[Co]_River> Anyway. Do you have a particular reputation amongst your people?
[00:38:41] <[Co]_River> Particularly children?
[00:41:22] <[Naz]_Zirren> I... What?
[00:41:37] * [Naz]_Zirren cocks her head at the sudden, random inquiry. "Why do you ask?"
[00:42:13] <[Co]_River> I encountered a tale of you being known for consuming misbehaving children.
[00:42:51] * [Naz]_Zirren stares at River for a moment, confounded, and then, seeming to realize, lets out a bellow of laughter.
[00:42:58] <[Naz]_Zirren> How did you find that out?!
[00:43:43] <[Co]_River> Misbehaving children was the topic of some people downstairs and you were brought up.
[00:44:46] <[Naz]_Zirren> Surely my legend has not spread this far East. Has Theo taken some Sarahaan kids hostage now?
[00:50:11] <[Co]_River> Potentially. His reach is rather vast and is indiscriminate in its grip.
[00:50:53] <[Co]_River> It seemed rather curious to me, typically ones of such high station do not end up as scary tales for children.
[00:53:21] <[Naz]_Zirren> Heh. Well I am not a typical person. If you haven't noticed, I am rather freakishly large, even for a Sarahaan man. I do not feel ashamed for what I was born as, and I have actually take great pains to use what the Gods have given me to my fullest advantage, as you can plainly see.
[00:53:59] * [Naz]_Zirren flexes a bicep, grinning, and the bandages strain to keep together over the bulge.
[00:55:18] <[Naz]_Zirren> I was a soldier in my father's army, in fact. Though he was not happy about my participating in so many battles, I did gain the respect of the men under my command and more than a few battlescars. But I digress.
[00:59:50] <[Naz]_Zirren> There was one occasion where I my company was marching to war, and as we were leaving the capital, a child, perhaps on a foolish dare from his friends, darted into our ranks and attempted to steal one of my daggers. He was actually able to get it out of its sheathe, but I caught his arm before he could make off with it. I think I may have broken his wrist unintentionally, now that I think of...
[00:59:51] <[Naz]_Zirren> ...it. *She chuckles at the memory.* Anyway, I hoisted him up by his arm, took one look in his eye, and I tell you, the bugger soiled himself right then and there.
[01:02:13] <[Co]_River> How did this single incident spread into such a reputation though?
[01:02:23] <[Co]_River> It seems rather excessive to me.
[01:04:48] <[Naz]_Zirren> Hah, perhaps. You must wonder who would be so stupid as to steal from the princess of Sarahaa, but I guess to some, proving you have balls is worth one's life. I threw him down, but he was too scared to move at that point. Half-jokingly, and hoping to teach him a lesson, I told him I'd eat him if I ever caught him doing bad things again. Mind you, this was a boy of about 7 or so, so I'm sure...
[01:04:49] <[Naz]_Zirren> ...I'd scare him straight with that and told my men to let him go. I never expected to hear of the incident again, but when I came back to the capital, I noticed many of the city's kids, especially the urchins, shied away from me more than usual. I asked around and found out I had become known as the "child eater" among the city's younger members.
[01:06:01] * [Naz]_Zirren shakes her head, smiling at the nostalgia. "Some of the strangest things are made into legends, I'd say. I really hope that that's not all I'm known for when I die though, hehe."
[01:07:25] <[Co]_River> Hopefully. It so happens there are a pair of Sarahaan children in my care on certain days of the week. You could inspire them, if you'd like.
[01:08:14] <[Naz]_Zirren> Inspire? Hah! I'd be more likely give you a whole lot of diapers to change... Though... perhaps I should give it a try.
[01:08:41] <[Naz]_Zirren> It may be the last chance I get to inspire my people in life... *She looks down at the table, and her expression turns suddenly dour.*
[01:10:15] <[Co]_River> There are ways to inspires others posthumously, you know. If you're worried about opportunities of the future, make sure there are those around who know what to write in books about you.
[01:12:38] <[Naz]_Zirren> If I succeed, I won't have to worry about that. If I fail... well, I think the scribes will ultimately be kind to me back in Sarahaa. I may be a freak, but I am my father's daughter. I know that he loves me, and the country respects me.
[01:13:27] <[Co]_River> It never hurts to reinforce their opinions of you and assure them of your intentions in life.
[01:14:40] <[Naz]_Zirren> Perhaps, but there's not much I can do from here. They know what my mission is, in any case.
[01:14:52] <[Naz]_Zirren> Or, at least the right people do. They will make sure the scribes know.
[01:15:34] <[Co]_River> Excellent, sounds like your legacy is in good hands.
[01:17:47] * [Co]_River stands up
[01:18:08] <[Co]_River> Now, I'm going to reorganize my books.
[01:18:18] * [Co]_River returns to her room
[01:18:51] <[Naz]_Zirren> Have fun, princess.
[01:19:34] * [Naz]_Zirren sits in the quiet for a moment, staring at nothing.
[01:20:10] <[Naz]_Zirren> ...I think I need a drink. I haven't had a drop of alcohol since the fair.
[01:20:36] * [Naz]_Zirren stands up and heads out of the commons into the direction of the kitchen.
[01:23:47] <[Multi]_Theo> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~