MASS TEXT; USERNAME: HAWKEYE

[strictdiscipline]

[In the end, she opts for the efficiency of a brief written message. (The message functionality of the jewelry still amazes her from time to time, but she's becoming increasingly fond of how fast it makes communication with others.)]

My name is Riza Hawkeye. I'm a military officer from the nation of Amestris. [Vague credentials, for anyone that really needs them.] There are a lot of us here gathered from different places and times, with different skills and areas of knowledge. I've spoken with a few others and we've agreed it would be beneficial for all of us to have a database of skills to pull from, both for this mission and otherwise.

[Most likely 'otherwise'; she can't be the only one suspicious of ALASTAIR after what happened in Anwick.]

If you're willing to provide a brief listing of the skills you possess, magical [because that's a thing that exists, apparently??] or otherwise, it would be greatly appreciated. If you're uncomfortable using the communications device I'm also happy to meet with you in person.

[And if you're not willing that's cool too. Everyone's got their secrets.]

Comments

ughhh i'm so sorry, i lost this notif somehow

[strictdiscipline]

[Sieglinde's comment about mobility throws her for a loop - a quick scan shows a girl in prime health with delicate features and feet. Perhaps if she'd looked closer or had foot-binding been more prominent in stories or other documents, the source of Sieglinde's woes would have been made clear.

As it is, Riza focuses on the question asked, first and foremost.]

I don't, I'm afraid. You'll have to point me in the right direction. [She'll accept her duty as volunteered menial labor. As for the other point they need to address...] Would travel be easier if we found an alternate means of transportation?

[A borrowed cart, a rented horse.....there's always the option of piggybacking but honestly that's not a thought that'll cross Riza's mind until push comes to shove.]

I can't say anything...

[grunehexe]

... it would, yes.

[Though asking to be carried on the other woman's back would be easiest and less hassle, it doesn't actually occur to Sieglinde, either. She's never been carried by her female servants, only Wolfram... and the size difference between the hulking manservant and the woman in front of her was. Substantial.

Not that she thought her weak, she simply didn't register as an option immediately.

Eyes darted around, though, fingers tightening in her skirts. With the state of the town it wasn't as if it was bustling-]

Failing that, if you would lend an arm...

[She wasn't incapable of walking, after all- simply hobbled.]

we can be slow together....

[strictdiscipline]

[Riza's reply is immediate, the older woman taking a step forward and extending her free hand.]

Of course.

[It's a simple enough task, even if her typical role isn't to provide physical strength and backup. Still, there's no room for weakness in the military, and even if it tires her out she'll do what's necessary to complete this task. It's important to be well-supplied, particularly in the case of a medical emergency.]

We'll ask for assistance while we head towards our destination to save time. How does that sound to you?

[Maybe she's a little too efficient about this, but she's never seen any point in wasting time.]

Crawls

[grunehexe]

That will do.

[As much as Sieglinde wished to be selfish, was tempted to give in to her usual expectations... But this wasn't her manor, or her village, and since her arrival she'd been very much aware of how different her situation was now. So instead of protesting, she reached out and took Riza's hand, her grip firm- needed it to be, to steady herself.

One footstep in front of another was how she took it, her gaze continuously dropping down to her feet to make sure of where she was putting her weight, how she was balancing, occasionally having to stiffen her grip and use the older woman as a ballast.]

- thank you.

[Belated as it was.]

[strictdiscipline]

It's no problem.

[She'd been young and overly idealistic when she'd first joined the military academy, and though many years and many battles had worn away most of her shine, there's a small part of her that still clings tight to her beliefs from once upon a time. The role of the military is to protect the people. Even if she's in a different country now, surrounded from people of all different nations, the basic principles of what she'd been taught still hold true. She'll help the people here - both of Chantes and of ALASTAIR - as much as she can.

It's some minutes before they pass by a stable, one tied up horse outside busy shoving its lips into a bag of feed. Letting go of Sieglinde's hand with a murmured apology, Riza goes on a hunt for the owner. He's a stout man, well-built, and they trade words and offers back and forth for five minutes before he goes around the back and retunrs leading a small donkey, tail swishing lazily from side to side. It's the best he can offer, he says, and a whole lot more than anyone else in town would do. Riza glances back at Sieglinde.]

Will this do?

[Not quite a horse, but it's a form of transportation nonetheless.]

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde doesn't even acknowledge the murmured apology- though she did raise her arms a bit for balance, rocking back and forth as she stared up mesmerized at the horse.

Of course, she knew what a horse was, they were in art and books and all sorts, and she'd seen them from a distance since her arrival, but there hadn't been any in the village, and they were... Far taller in person. Riding a horse suddenly seemed much more potentially risky than she'd ever imagined. ... She wasn't about to admit being a bit relieved when a donkey was brought out instead.]

I am sure this will work well.

[Surely.

Though unsure of what to do, she hesitated to touch the animal, having little experience with pets or domestic creatures. Instead, she looked it up and down, then her own legs, then the animal again before looking up to Riza.]

If you will assist me initially...

[strictdiscipline]

[Agreement set upon, coins pass between hands with dull clinks and the rope tethering the donkey's handed over.

One obstacle down......many more to go. Riza's own experience with four-legged creatures meant for transportation is also fairly minimal; she'always relied on only her feet to carry her before she'd moved to a populated city and become accustomed to riding taxicabs.

Thankfully for the both of them, the stable owner swoops in to save the day, stepping in expertly to lift up Sieglinde with a 'pardon me, miss' before depositing her neatly on the donkey's back.]

There ye go. All comfy?

[grunehexe]

[She was riding a four legged beast.

There's a moment when the shock of the new experience has her frozen, legs out awkwardly and arms still locked out in a "T" shape, unsure of what to do with herself after being put on a ho- an ass? But eventually she jerks herself into motion, clamping her legs tightly against the animas side and fisting her small hands in its bristly mane. That... That was correct, was it not?]

M- most comfortable!

[A bluff to try and cover how very new this whole probably normal experience was, but. She's hoping it will be left to slide. It's embarrassing.]

[strictdiscipline]

[In reply, the stablekeep roars in laughter, though he does refrain from slapping the ass on....the ass....and launching it forward in surprise. (How kind.) He does, however, offer Sieglinde a few pointers - how to start, how to stop, how to turn the donkey when it stubbornly wants to head in the opposite direction - before giving both of them a wave and disappearing into the back again.

Well.

Guess they'll have to make do with this. Riza turns towards Sieglinde, face composed.]

Where would you like to go first?

[grunehexe]

[The humiliation of it all.

But Sieglinde bears with being instructed, and her red cheeked humiliation at being laughed at eventually turns to focused efforts to remember- imitating what she's told to do until she might just have it.

She even remembers to thank the man.

But it's a stiff upper lip when she turns to face Riza.]

- The edge of the woods has the most potential for useful herbs.

[Carefully, she pulls a hand from the animal to point to the east.]

[strictdiscipline]

[Riza gives Sieglinde due space and silence, knowing better than to remark on the unfamiliar (and potentially embarrassing) situation. Instead, she directs the focus elsewhere.]

What do these herbs look like? I'm not familiar with very many herbs.

[Even when it comes to every day herbs like rosemary and thyme, she'd probably struggle in differentiating between them all. Let's not get started on the more highly specialized medicinal herbs they're looking for right now.]