Cleanup Checkup

Log Info

• Title: Cleanup Checkup
• Emitter: Slixvah
• Characters: Slixvah, Patch
• Place: Lower Markets
• Time: August 5th, 2022
• Summary: After a job for the guild turns into a little scuffle, Slixvah checks in on Patch to make sure they're well. The bard inquires if one can get used to such stressful circumstances, to which the bird witch lays it out that one can be prepared, but never truly for such things. Some reassurances are held, as well as some minor revelations before they head over to the defense for a checkup.

Lower Markets, just outside Reubeus's House of Wonders

The Exploerer's Guild job was said and done, the store's security defenses were dealt with, and the group was slowly dispersing to deliver their report.

The Egalrin woman was hanging around the street just outside the front door, a hand reaching out to provide a perch for a little white thrush that flutters out of the store. She lovingly presses her beak on top of the little bird's head, her making kissy noises at them and chittering little encouraging words for how well they did.

The bard had to take a little more time, looking over the chaos, and playing it over again in her mind. It's not long before she comes through that front door with a sigh, a finger picking at that new nick in her hurdy-gurdy. It's enough for Patch to flick an ear at in frustration, but it's not at her instrument, that's soon tucked away under an arm. At the sight of Slixvah, she gives a slow nod. "Sorry. I didn't steal anything. I swear." Patch tries to jest, flashing a smile that only live for but a second. "Slix... do you ever get used to that mess?" she asks, pausing and letting eyes flick to the other woman's thrush. "You saved Braith back there. You and your little friend. I appreciate them, and you. A lot."

Slixvah perks up at hearing someone prepare to leave, and her eyes crinkle in a smile as it was who she hoped it was slipping out. "If ya did, I wouldn't said anythin'" she chuckles quietly.

The weight of the question makes her gaze drop slightly, which lands on her familiar. She pets the little bird with a single finger, the gold eyed thrush softly sighing and looking like they're going to fall asleep.

"Yes and no," she answers after a few beats, one wing extending to settle lightly on Patch. The feathers are back to normal. No weird, super long and lifelike ones. "Yes, ya can be betta prepared for situations. But no, it's always spooky." She intones further. "Thank ya, sugar. Ya did real good too, ya know? My brain went a lil' bleh for a second, but your little ditty got me right back in it. And, you saved Braith too. Don't think I didn't see that."

Patch rolls her eyes at the compliment, but she can't hide the flush, leaning into Slixvah. It's hard to hide, the spot beneath her cheek darkens with her cheeks. "I panicked for a moment, but eventually I knew where I was needed." she reasons. "I was in a good position to cover people, but I didn't know if I should run for the lever, or..." that seeming to weigh on her as the lets the topic die with a shrug.

"So, does your tired friend there have a name?" Patch asks, her free hand rummaging through her coat, and pulling out the two pieces of broken feather. It's just stared at for the moment.

Slix hums a little birdsong, the notes the same as the little ditty that was played not just a few tens of minutes before. She wraps an arm around Patch, giving her a gentle squeeze in a side hug. "Shug. In situations like that, ya gotta make hard choices, and fast. That's why I did what I did in there. We walked in, I thought we already tripped the system. So I played along, thinkin' it'd disable itself if we pretended ta do stuff. Figured it was just going through a routine. Then it moved out of the way. Thought stuff was gonna bust out the back," she elaborates in a hum. "You did great," she repeats.

She looks down to the sleepy bird, who peeks slightly at hearing their name. "No one's brighter, except a snider lighter with a past time for hire, it's Fiadh...!" she says to a little beat, bobbing the bird.

"That's me," the little bird tweets in a tinny voice. Speaks! Sleepily though.

"Taught me everything I know." More beak kisses on the head and kissy noises.

A side glance looks at the feather. "Sorry, That' mojo is fickle sometimes," she apologizes, holding a hand out for the feather. "Might I see that?"

"I felt when it broke. For real. What did you do to it?" Patch asks, offering it when asked, and smirking at that embrace. "I was able to shrug off that bite because of it I think." she doesn't know, but it makes her feel better.

"Fidah's a great name for a remarkable companion. They put in work. I saw it." Patch glancing up at Slixvah after her words. "We did do good, eh? I guess I should feel better. I kind of do." a breath let loose and her shoulders rolled within Slixvah's wing and touch.

Slix takes the feather after putting the sleepy birb on her shoulder, her gently curling her fingers around both halves of the red quill. "I just put a lil' luck in it is all," she intones. "Once the luck runs it, it goes poof."

She shakes her lightly clenched fist with the feather. "Xfi het robplme, indf hte rwesan," she chants. Fingers unravel and... the feather is whole. Slix hands it back. "There ya go, hon. Good as new."

The eglarin chuckles. "Thank ya. They's real great. You are too. I see the potential in ya. Remind me a lot of myself, actually."

GAME: Slixvah casts Mending. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14

Patch is left smirking as she takes that feather in hand, shaking her head after having watched those small magics. "I could of fixed it like that too." she muses, and nudges the other woman playfully with a huff of a laugh.

"Oh, you see potential? I'd hope so." Patch teases. "Thank you. I'm grateful to you, Slix. You were my hero today." speaking warmly, watching the other woman before placing a kiss on the bottom of her beak. "You earned that much."

Slixvah giggles as she's nudged. "Coulda. But I wanted ta do it for ya."

Her face fluffs up at the peck on her beak. She rubs her neck as her wing curls around Patch. "D'aww, ya too sweet, sugar. I just see ya doin' what I do is all. Momma always said 'it just takes a rock to start an avalanche'. It's th' lil' things that make a big impact."

Within the wing hold, Slix murmurs to Patch, a tinge nervously. "... So, you've seen what I do. I... hope I ain't spook ya too much wit' it, yeah...?"

Patch seems confused at Slixvah. "What? No! Not at all!" that thought never having seemed to have crossed her mind. "I told you when we met Mourner Verna!" the feather tucked away again into her pocket, and her hand used to push the woman playfully. "No!" just for emphasis.

"I filed it away. I decided that good people have to know it too, and... well. You did good with it, yeah?" Patch asks, almost as if it was obvious to her. "What spooked me was that damned wooden-puppet-asshole."

Slixvah blinks, her easily breaking into a snicker as she's shoved gently. "Okay, okay, okay!" she laughs. "Mos' people say one thing, but when they see me use th' stuff, they get a lil' spooked sometimes is all."

Her eyes soften. "Yeah..."

Which then turns to a squint, an accusing glance towards the shop behind them. "Feh. That thing was annoying. Most constructs are immune to my mojo." But a wing extends in front of her, and she caresses it lovingly. "But nothin' can stand up getting smacked by /my/ feathers," she coos to the limb, brushing the thick flight feathers.

"Mighty, yes. Gorgeous, yes." The bard listing some things on her fingers. "Humble, working on it." and there is the joke, her smirk broad. "You have a right to be proud of them. I won't deny that."

It's as if something dawns on Patch, turning to look up at Slixvah again, and nodding slowly at what she sees. "So that's it...." a smile broadening. "You were scared for me to see your feathers like that? Since the new one's grew in... you've been different. More accepting of them yourself."

Slixvah laughs, her face fluffing a tinge. "Honey, I haven't workin' on bein' humble in a loooong while. I kno' what I'm good at, kno' what I ain't. Proud of what I am."

She looks down at dull emeralds, her head quirking to the side. Once more, her gaze softens. "Ah... a teeny tiny bit. Felt like I was missin' somethin'. More than just wings. It's like... like..."

The feathers on her wings slowly unravel like a roll of loose ribbon. They waft about on an unseen wind, but a few braid together and stretch around to pick up Fiadh (who's making little snoozing sounds) and carefully puts the little bird into a pocket. "... I lost a piece of me. Felt naked. Vulnerable, ya dig?"

Patch is brought to pause. She had not seen this before, understanding dawning on her. Humbled herself as she is left captivated for a moment at the twirling and weaving feathers and ribbons. "Not just felt. You were naked. Compared to now anyways."

Patch has to take a step to get a better look, peeling away and giving a twirl so she can look at Slixvah anew after a few paces. "I had no idea the extent. None." the bard admits. "We had talked, and I suspected some, but... that's amazing."

Slixvah bobs her head slowly, releasing Patch as she steps back. The egalrin spreads her arms out and slowly extends her wings to their full length. All the ribbons waft about lazily from the city's idle breeze, but the feathers intermingle and twist in with the colors. Wafting on a current that's not there.

She stretches one way, one arm going over as all the feathers on one wing flare out to a massive streamer, then again the other side before she too gives a quick twirl and bows. "My name's Slixvah Unmesi. It's hard ta miss me, I'm a dropout wizard with a little birdie bestie. Welcome to me."

Her eyes squint in a grin. If she had lips, there'd be the biggest smile. "I'm a weird fuckin' bird, but I love it. Thank you. Really."

"Now!" she points a finger up as a slew of feathers cradle around Patch to gently pick her up. There's strength in those feather. "I saw you got some boo boos! Those must be tended!"

Patch gasps in surprise, her short laugh coming as she's swept up and lifted. She doesn't struggle, but she tries to balance and adjust. The normal things a person might do. "Have no doubt, I see you Slixvah Unmesi. Clearly. Patch the bard is impressed." a soft smile offered while quickly adding. "As does the girl, Siofra Galakir." a flush still on her cheeks.

"You are found wonderful, thoughtful, and weird." Patch speaking that last word with warmth. "No one ever said weird was bad. Just that it's different." the smile turning into a coy grin. "I happen to like weird. A lot."

Slixvah blinks, the feathers on her face fluffing up as information and intent is related. "Siofra Galakir. A pleasure ta meet you," she coos, adjusting the arrangement so it's more like being cradled than carried.

"Weird isn't bad, just different," she echoes. Then her gaze meets the grin. She feather-blushes. "... well, I like weird too."

She looks off to the side. "... let's go be weird." Innocent smile. Wait, that's-

Inhale. "WEE WOO WEE WOO, move outta tha' way! Gotta pretty lady 'ere I gotta patch up!" she caws to the crowd in the lower markets as she starts to jog towards the Soldier's Defense, giggling all the way with Patch in tow.

-End Scene-