[08:46] While Stienar was preoccupied with 'business' matters, Buster would take this time to walk over near the Malibu. He'd simply take a coin out from his bag, and hold it between his thumb and index finger.
"Howdy there kid, just wanted t' entertain ya' for a minute. Ya' even heard of th' blue-farmer?", he'd toss it in the air.
"One day there was a man sittin' atop a ridge, disappointed with how his farm yielded little to know reward.", he'd catch the coin, concealing it within a hand.
"This is where he met a girl who was simply passin' by. She asked th' man why he seemed so blue.", he'd toss that same coin once more. "He told th' girl his problems, and she took out a coin, and tossed it in the air.", he'd then catch the coin, concealing it again. "She said to em', never look down, never turn back, the moment ya' do, yer world will turn black. Always keep yer head up, an' ye'll never have t' turn tail n' run ever again."
Buster would then reveal the coin to the kid; it was heads. "Second chances, lead t' redemption.", he'd then gift the kid the coin.
"Always keep yer head up."
(B. Busterlamb)
[08:54] Fauste says, "I think I'll go back to my old style, unfortunately."
[08:54] Fauste says, "I'm too used to it."
[08:54] Elizabeth Montelione says, "That's fair."
[09:00] "..."
The girl would tilt her head as the man approached. Instinctively, her hand would ride toward her hip, where a pistol was latched onto it's holster. It wanes, riding closer to her belt as the man approached with a curious accent and expression. The teenager was silent, merely observing the ongoings and conversations. Perhaps she had wanted to talk to Mnemosyne herself? Offer her thanks for saving her brother?
Alas, the woman was dealing with other matters. So, she'd offer her attention to the other. Her eyes, while at first anxious and sparce, offer curiosity as he approached. Canary hues widen, as the man would seem...awfully similar to some of the stories she read when cooped up in that room of hers. Especially the accent...
"..."
Still, she remains silent. Offering her gaze instead, and of course, her ears.
The smell of smoke lingered off the man. A tired expression, canary hues gazing upward to someone who towered over her entirely. If there was one thing that could be described from her change of expression, it was that she went from anxiety and caution, to simply awe.
What an odd man, this was.
"..."
The story is told, his query of the blue farmer, marked with a shake of her head. It seemed she did not know.
"..."
Her eyes dart to the tossed coin, it's metal twinge ringing through the air, caught in the palm of the man's hand.
And then again.
"..."
'Never look down, never turn back, the moment ya' do, yer world will turn black.'
The coin is passed on to her, along with a gentle rise of words and advice. She takes the coin, holding it gently in her palm, noticing her reflection upon it's features.
Always keep yer head up'. He said.
A smile erupts from the girl after he is done with his tale. In fact, one might even enact a giggle as well, if it weren't from the silence that would emit from her throat. She covers her mouth, as if to giggle but unable to do so.
She found herself in the farmer. For just the slightest moment, did she relate. Who wouldn't be disappointed at themselves at a life that would yield no reward? No purpose?
And yet everyone deserved a second chance...
Did they not?
Even herself?
"..." She cusps the coin in her hand, it's metal felt clearly in her palms. The man's story would cause her to contemplate. To think. For even one such as she would know the weight of that coin. Of a second chance, even.
Naught else is given but a smile as she looks up to the man once again. A determined nod, her head held high for just naught but a moment, as he had told her.
Perhaps she deserved her own redemption, even for someone so small. A redemption of her identity.
The man had inspired her. It was almost as if he had come out of one her stories! Awestruck, she tilts her head, clasping the coin in her hand yet wanting nothing more than to ask.
'What is your name?'
A query delivered, as she swiftly writes in a notebook carried at her hip, opening the page to write, and expressing it to the man in question.
(Maria Malibu)
[09:05] He knew not nor cared for a reaction from the kid. Nevertheless he simply understood the trifles of life, and what it may bring. For awhile before he was there, whistling on by longing for a purpose; for that same redemption.
Yet what he found to be, was something akin to what he once knew before. The comfort of knowing that every step you take, paves a fine road that'll keep your steady.
It was simply about believing in yourself.
The man would reach out a hand, patting the kid atop the head before taking a step back. Crushing out a cigarette, he'd then tip his hat down upon reading that notebook.
"Ya' can call me Buster."
After that, he'd turn towards his Commander, before sliding back on next to them. A small reminder that even the smallest interactions, may yield a far greater reward then even that old blue-farmer can ever even fathom.
(B. Busterlamb)
[09:06] B. Busterlamb says, "One last thing, never lose that Revolver."
[09:16] Redemption.
"..."
A word instilled in her heart, as it was the coin. It made that girl smile to the brim. It were as if she were awestruck. Inspired by a figure right from her storybooks of outlaws, ruffians, and villains.
A longing of purpose, a redemption of oneself.
Perhaps the child would want that herself, deep down.
She simply nods. Perhaps it was as easy as he told. To believe in yourself, even if the voice in your mind forbade it so.
A pat, the mute girl accepting it with a small pout before he leaves. She watches him depart with the coin in her palms, now placed on her chest.
It was a good thing she went outside today.
For the world was larger and bigger than what that blue farmer can ever imagine.
Sometimes you just had to get out there and pave your path.
"..." She watches the man named Buster walk off. Her eyes clear and full of admiration and awe. As if she were a gazing at hero. Perhaps the man was one or not. It did not matter to her. Merely the words set to her, as simple as they were and as meaningless they may be to others...
They were a small nudge. The tiniest of pushes. Not entirely a leap of faith, but a small step on a path.
A path toward redemption, hopefully.
"..." A nod, as she agrees to the man's words. She'd make sure to keep the revolver at her hip safe and sound. It was an outlaw's best friend, after all. And a bad guy's worst nightmare in the hands of a skilled gunslinger. It would be a shame to lose such an ally.
Her gaze turns to Mnemosyne, now. She sort of waves her hand, as if to get her attention. Hoping that she wasn't butting in to the conversation, at this point...
(Maria Malibu)
09:19] Mnemosyne Montelione says, "... We got her back, of course."
[09:19] Mnemosyne Montelione says, "And the trident, as well."
[09:19] Stienar Thorruhn says, "That's good, least she's alive."
[09:26] "..."
And with that selfsame revolver proudly at her hip, she watches as the man and his Commander depart. Her attention turns to the siren now, with but a simple offer.
"..."
Timidly, she walks up to her. Perhaps the siren would find similarities to another. Perhaps her many siblings or her own mother, but she was here for a reason, a simple one at that.
Already, did she prepare. She opens her notebook once again, in writing being the words 'Thank you for saving my brother' written with an elegant touch. Perhaps the girl heard of the siren's deed's along with Aline and their infiltration of the island.
And yet, as appreciative as those eyes were, did anxiety and worry linger.
"..."
Her face contorts into worry, before a small smile is given to the woman once again, eye contact barely suitable but...almost there!
(Maria Malibu)
[09:29] Stienar Thorruhn waved at Elizabeth before hooking a thumb towards the field. Making a gesture with his hand as if to talk.
(Stienar Thorruhn)
[09:29] Elizabeth Montelione says, "Ah, sure."
[09:29] Elizabeth Montelione asks, "Sure, what's up?"
[09:30] Elizabeth Montelione exclaims, "... Oh!"
[09:30] Elizabeth Montelione says, "Actually yeah, that would work."
[09:31] Elizabeth Montelione says, "I don't do a lot of..."
[09:31] Elizabeth Montelione says, "'Rewinding.'"
[09:31] Elizabeth Montelione says, "Not to that level."
[09:31] … Eyes find the writing on the notebook and, almost instinctively, Syne rubs the forearm of her swordarm; there is nothing, there, yet it nevertheless lingers in the mind how close of a call the entire affair was.
Dull, violet eyes flicker off to the distance, momentarily. There is little that speaks of warmth when one looks at Mnemosyne, yet all the same Maria's gratitude thaws some of that veneer, as shoulders sag. "It is nothing. I would've done it for anyone - and I know that most would do the same for me, in return."
"I do not ask for much. I simply do my best to make this world a little better, day by day." There is a pause that lingers in the air, there, as a hand rests against one of her cheeks, brushing against the silvery scales. "But there is one thing."
"Do tell your sibling, Lavenza, to not do anything too stupid, yes? Whatever it is they thought they were doing, it has clearly not worked out in their favour."
(Mnemosyne Montelione)
[09:31] Elizabeth Montelione says, "Due to my role as Memoria's champion I'm very careful about messing with the timestream."
[09:31] Elizabeth Montelione says, "Oh no no, I'm willing."
[09:31] Elizabeth Montelione says, "It's possible."
[09:32] Elizabeth Montelione says, "... Yes, I think I can do that."
[09:32] Elizabeth Montelione says, "Pfft."
[09:32] Elizabeth Montelione asks, "What do you mean?"
[09:33] Elizabeth Montelione says, "They don't but this isn't quite that."
[09:34] Elizabeth Montelione says, "You see, whilst what Talguth suggested -is- that... I can do something similar without that."
[09:34] Elizabeth Montelione says, "No no."
[09:34] Elizabeth Montelione says, "So I'm -also- a blood magi."
[09:34] Elizabeth Montelione says, "And your circuits are a physical thing."
[09:34] Elizabeth Montelione says, "What I am going to do is something akin to a guided surgery."
[09:34] Elizabeth Montelione says, "Well no, I'll numb you."
[09:34] Elizabeth Montelione says, "Come, follow me."
[09:39] 'Tell Lavenza to not do anything stupid? If only it were that easy...' her thoughts linger. If Mnemosyne knew telepathy, perhaps they'd be able to catch a glimpse of her thoughts. Or merely instill her own into Maria's.
She huffs, at that statement. She was discontent with her sibling. More and more did they seem to start delving into odd studies and mannerisms. She shared a room with them, so finding oddities locked in chests, odd scribblings and sigils across the floor, and disgusting stenches of mana would only fuel her worry for them.
'If only it were that easy...' she tells herself, sighing and tilting a gaze to the side. Nevertheless, she smiles at Mnemosyne. She had read in the papers and of course, heard the news of how close of a call it all was. That Lavenza and her brother were lucky to be alive.
And yet what was she doing the entire ordeal?
Afraid? Scared?
She was still a child. Yet so were her siblings. And here she was, doing nothing to save them..
It ate her up inside, alongside those thoughts. If the siren could not detect, the mere furrow of her brow and the instances of contorted features were perhaps enough to express such anxiety.
There is no warmth to the siren. At least not at first. Maria did not seem to mind, however. Her mother followed a similar demeanor, after all. She was a cold woman, when not in special circumstances.
"..." Maria nods to those words, keeping them locked in her psyche. If the most she could do was make the world better day by day, of course she'd do it.
Little by little.
She'd only wonder how.
"..." Maria remains bashful. Even if she could speak, did she have naught else to say...
"..." She turns to leave, before awkwardly turning back. She turns a page in her book again, offering the name 'Maria' to the siren. Gesturing to herself, of course.
"..." A gesture of her hand expressing itself outward. A handshake, perhaps. A 'Nice to meet you' in the only way the timid and soft girl can really express.
(Maria Malibu)
[09:49] [TRANSCEIVER]
{Maliland02das} Meryl Malibu transmits: "who's awake"
[09:49] Mnemosyne, most certainly, is telepathically capable, as has been demonstrated earlier. Dull, violet eyes watch the child, studying her; the calm contrasts the anxiety.
As that hand is offered, the Siren accepts it easily. Webbed fingers slip through to grasp the little hand of Maria, cool to the touch and gentle in the grip. "I am Mnemosyne, Maria. It's nice to meet you."
A moment longer passes, and she does not let go of the hand so easily. "Things seem difficult, but you must understand that, as much as we must respect and abide by the wishes of those we love and care for as family, they must also respect yours."
"Sometimes, it is important to put your foot down, and force a discussion, if you do not like where things are headed for the ones you care for. Sometimes, people do need interventions from others. Sometimes, they do make foolish decisions, and need to be shown that the ones they love are worried, afraid."
With that uttered, she lets go, at last. There is a hint of a smile on her features, then. "You are worried, and that's fine. The world, right now, seems bleak, and dark. Many dangers are around the corner. That is why..."
"That is why you need to be able to find solace in family, and friends. They have to be your pillars that support, rather than something that eats away at you. Remember that."
(Mnemosyne Montelione)
[09:50] Maria Malibu says, "..."
[09:50] Maria Malibu nods.
(Maria Malibu)
[09:50] Maria Malibu thinks, "I understand..."
[09:51] Maria Malibu looks at Mnemosyne, before smiling timidly. She waves goodbye, the woman's words echoing in her mind.
(Maria Malibu)
[09:52] Mnemosyne Montelione waves in return!
(Mnemosyne Montelione)
[09:52] Mnemosyne Montelione says, "Take care, kiddo."