video | username; sieglindesullivan

[grunehexe]

Ahem.

[The video reveals a rather proper looking young girl (ignore the old blood stains on her dress), sat in front of a rather impressive sprawl of vials, jars, and herbs.]

I am Sieglinde Sullivan, and though I have made some of your acquaintances, there are far more of you than one can expect me to know- so please consider this my formal introduction.

[She pauses, until. Yes, that's right, no one could reply yet.]

My true purpose in contacting you all is to find out who among you is capable of healing, whether that be in the scientific or magical sense. I am aware of some of you, but I could use some assistance in the production of potions and salves if there are any among you competent with such things.

Even someone unskilled could be of use if you are willing to learn and have a steady hand.

I would also appreciate the chance to speak more leisurely with those who may have knowledge of healing methods different from those of my own.

I await your contact with pleasure.

Comments

[grunehexe]

[Now is the moment of truth: does she reveal her ignorance and ask what a "date" is?

... Not yet. If she goes she can figure it out for herself.]

Well. If you are insistent...

[hardtohandle]

Ab-so-lute-ly. You're working so hard that I feel sleepy looking at you. [Does he have to pointedly yawn for emphasis? He will, don't doubt him.]

What part of town are you in? I'll come pick you up, Little Miss.

[grunehexe]

I assure you I am not working as hard as I ought to be if I am about to leave my work.

[Which she... Actually feels guilty about when she says it out loud.]

I have a room above the market apothecary.

[hardtohandle]

[That's sort of sad, in its own way.]

Right, right, I'll be right over. [He closes out the message. He had been relaxing in his spare clothes, but he takes the time to change into his usual fare. It didn't take him too long to find the place. The fact he was getting so used to these darkened streets didn't really make him happy. But, if he were starting to get gloomy about it... it would be even worse for a shut-in workaholic.]

Oiii, [a knocking at the door] Little Miss, you haven't passed out at your workbench, riiii~ght?

[grunehexe]

[No, she most certainly did not.

Except that she sort of had. Only sort of, she was only resting her eyes. But the sudden thumps of noise (books falling on the floor) after the knock on the door might be a give away, even though Sieglinde managed to rub most of the tired out of her face before she answered the door.

Just. Don't mind the piece of parchment stuck in her headdress...]

I most certainly have not!

[What a greeting.]

[hardtohandle]

... Right. Of coooo~urse. [That's a little worrying. More than a date, she should be in bed. However, he can tell from the little miss' stubborn streak that, rather than fighting it head-on, it would be easier to just tire her out.]

I was thinking we could stop a few different places, so it would be really bad if you were sleepy or anything like that. [This chuckle is obnoxiously light-hearted.]

[grunehexe]

Well, it is fortunate that I am not, then, is it not?

[She's not a good liar by any stretch of the word, but she is shamelessly bold in her declarations as only a child or the foolish could be. A quick shake out of her skirts and head dislodged the parchment stuck to her peculiar hair style, (messy, not done up carefully by the servants of her manor), and let loose a few crumbs from lunch- or had it been dinner?

Never mind. Small heels squared her stance as she pulled on the chatelaine chain looped about her waist, pulling up the dangling end of the chain that held a potion, a key, and a circular piece of metal that served as her ALASTAIR communications device, carefully twisting about to shut and lock the door.

Then held up her arms to be picked up.]

[hardtohandle]

[............... the blankest stare for the world's most insensitive (and selectively unobservant) sword.]

Eh... I thought you just said you weren't tired.

[grunehexe]

[omg boys are so dumb]

It is not because I am tired.

[The response comes quickly, sullenly, and though Sieglinde has grown used to needing to explain why she prefers being carried to walking herself... It didn't mean she liked doing it. She didn't want the reminders of the fact that her feet had been broken and folded over, made unnaturally small in order to hobble her movements and keep her close. In her village everyone had known and there had been no questions for it at all. She'd been proud of it once- the proof of her inheritance of the title Green Witch.

But now she knew the truth and they were just reminders of her own naivety.]

[hardtohandle]

[It's that sad look, again. When he'd first seen it at the festival, he was expecting simpler problems. A shame on him for underestimating the troubles of children, he supposes. There are a few rude thoughts rushing through his head, but,]

All right, all right. [He sighs and kneels down, turning away.] I have to carry the lantern still... It's fine like this, right? [He just hopes Little Miss isn't too proud for piggy-back rides. He would love to princess-carry her, that would look great, but the last thing he needs is one of those fancy skirts drifting too close to the lantern. Then the entire evening is ruined.]

[grunehexe]

[Unspoken as it was, she was grateful that it didn't come to explanations. She'd tried them- barebones ones that simply tried to explain it in medical terms, roundabout ones... But they were all reminders of what she wanted to forget. Her handicap, her need to rely on others for even the simplest of things.

So she simply nodded, scrambling somewhat awkwardly onto his back and lacing her arms loosely around his neck.]

It is fine like this, yes.

[She was growing used to the somewhat improper method of transportation- though she supposed she couldn't fault anyone for it. Her manservant had carried her easily on the crook of one arm, but he had been a specimen of a specific muscular caliber. She couldn't fault people for wanting use of their arms, after all. Or lanterns.]

[hardtohandle]

Tell you what, when we get the sun back, I'll do it properly. [It will be swoon-worthy! But, for now, this will have to do. He hauls her up and starts off at a brisk pace. He begrudgingly realizes this might tire him out more than Sieglinde, but... he's doing his part, that's all.]

[grunehexe]

[When we get the sun back.

That makes Sieglinde hum pensively into the back of his shoulder, grip tightening to keep holding on as he picked up the pace. "When".]

- have you any ideas? About the sun.

[Ideas she had in spades. But actual things to implement...]

[hardtohandle]

Ideas? Eh... [To be honest, very few. For all their time here, it felt like they had pitifully little relevant information. Still, it was safe to assume one of two things: either they would get the sun back, or they would fail and probably no one would want to be princess carried about it. Still, he gives the question fair consideration.]

The best I can tell is- it's probably something related to magic... From the signs at the festivals, the rumors... If there's a group or person behind the spell, then by stopping them we stop the spell, right? [Despite being an animated sword spirit, the idea of magic is still fairly strange to him.]

[grunehexe]

Only magic can explain its loss without the loss of life that ought to follow...

[She agreed with that assessment, at least. Even if she'd been told of "science"... didn't all natural laws say that without light, all would eventually die? First plants, then animals, and then man...]

But destroying the enchanter does not always dismantle his spell.

[At least, such was what she had read.]

[hardtohandle]

Not always... ahh, I guess. [He sighs. Why can't all things be as simple as "kill problem"? Not that he imagines Sieg would approve of too much arbitrary violence.]

We found a book, at one of those abandoned houses, but whatever spell did that [he tilts his head upwards, towards the blackened sky] was missing. They tore a few pages out. They're probably out of our reach, by now... [Destroyed, or tucked away somewhere "safe."]

[grunehexe]

What?

[She almost strangled him for a second there, her shocked reaction knee jerk turned odd by the fact that she was in the middle of a piggy back ride.]

You found a spell book? Where is it now?

[hardtohandle]

[Gk-!!] Eh, well, yeah... [He's supposed to be getting Sieglinde away from worries and work. He messed up.]

We're just assuming it's real, for now. It's not something you need to worry about. [He speaks dismissively, testing the waters and seeing if the topic can be dropped.]

[grunehexe]

[Though she'd seemed tired before there was little trace of that in her behavior now (besides the shadows under her eyes), interest piqued by the idea of a spell book.]

What do you mean it's "not something I should worry about"?

[In fact she sounds offended at the suggestion.]

Having a look at something like that is our chance to determine what sort of magic the person who put out the sun used- that's the first step to figuring out how to undo what he's done!

[hardtohandle]

Well, like I said, the important pages seemed to be torn out! Are you saying you can figure it out, then? Even with that information missing? [Attempt to dissuade, part one!]

[grunehexe]

Maybe we can't figure out the exact spell, but if we can understand what sort of magic he uses-

[Oooh, it's so frustrating to try and talk magic with someone who didn't have the right background-]

If he uses sigils, or the elements, or certain ingredients... it will work as clues to figuring out what we may need to undo it...

[hardtohandle]

[He's got the completely wrong background and that doesn't help him effectively dissuade her at all.

Ah, I guess I sort of get it. [blatant lies] Aaah, I was excited for our date, but we could go see it... [Time to try and play off a presumed delicate lady's sensibilities.] There's just one little problem.. The book's in my room, you know? So, we'd have to head there... [Every drawn-out word has implications strewn into it,] together, in the dark, just the two of us...

[grunehexe]

[Heading to the room of a beautiful man unaccompanied in the dark. Alone. Just the two of them. In. A. Bedroom. (Maybe.)

Sieglinde's imagination is impressive even without the help of his tone, and her cheeks color and gaze drifts upward- combined with the weird twist up in her lip, it was. Rather perverse for a young girl.]

W- well. That wouldn't be a problem unless you had some sort of... Intent...

[TO RAVISH HER?]

[hardtohandle]

[He can't see her expression but the tone of her voice... doesn't seem dissuaded. He's not sure if that works in his favor or not.]

Ah, well- sometimes intents change, you know? [he puts on an airy tone, like he can't promise anything] The right atmosphere, things happen... A mature lady such as yourself knows these things, right? I'd hate to put you in any sort of uncomfortable situation...

[grunehexe]

["A mature lady such as herself"! She clears her throat a bit suddenly to disguise another expression or noise she may otherwise have made, holding a fist to her mouth for a moment. Of course she had read much of such encounters, but... Sebastian and Ciel had been quite firm on insisting the outside world's interactions between men and women were not so... Lust-driven.]

Of course, I am well aware...

[Said in her most commanding and mature of voices, never mind she's being carried piggyback at the moment...]

But this situation is serious. If the spell book is in your residence we ought go there at once. I am almost positive I can control myself.

[Almost. Positive. (Well, she's not about to lie, who knew what could happen-).]

But you will need to take care and think only of business. I understand this may be difficult for you-

[After all, what if her charms were more formidable than she thought...]