Blackburn's Crossing Chapter 4: Snake Eater

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Blackburn Manor:

James nodded allowing himself to relax into the chair for a moment after shutting the door. He listened carefully not fully understanding the complexity of the issue until she started to explain. "So wait, you think I'm two people...?" says James as he takes a finger to his temple. "Up in here?" James seems to take a moment to let that process and then motions for her to continue.

"Well I guess that would explain the 'second person' but what worries me is, we don't really know the personality of this second person... what if it influences my actions.... would I even know?" asked James half expecting Leone to have an answer, but he could see by her look that she didn't look. "And if we go to fix it.... what if that part of my mind is the part that fell for you...?"

He leaves that train of thought almost immediately not willing to contemplate the path. "If he could do this, and no matter how hard I search my brain I can't remember what you say for the life of me.... then something might trigger a change. A word, a sound, an event...." he said going through possibilities in his head. Literally anything could happen, and everything in the room became something to be feared. Was he being manipulated some how? His attention snapped back when Leone said the last line. "I... I'm concerned to. It implies he wanted someone to find that memory, someone that wasn't me."
 
Léone continues to mull over the memory, trying to pick apart every word and detail. "The 'other' person seemed more... calculating. Single-minded. Unconcerned that other people called him a madman for his research. Willing to do whatever it took to rise up, because he believed he had grown up on the streets fighting for scraps of food." When he speculates which part of him fell in love, she shakes her head in denial. "The James I see in front of me is the one that had childhood friends in the Crossing, that felt guilt for his past actions, and that is currently doing everything in his power to help others. And it's the real James," she says adamantly, trying to reassure the both of them.

Noting his discomfort she quickly stands up and goes to him, taking his hand and squeezing it. "You're going to be fine. You are fine. I had my worries too but that's why I inquired what you remembered first - if the effect is as powerful as I think it is then I doubt that a mere trigger would break it. Hell, even telling you all this didn't do anything." She didn't know if that was true, but she had to convince herself to believe for the time being. "Even if it leaks through, I doubt that it would be anything too drastic. You're still you James, I promise."

At his final thought she slowly nods. "Yeah... it does seem to imply that, doesn't it? I don't know if he somehow managed to predict the future, and expect me specifically to find out... but it's been on my mind." She glances briefly at the door before turning back to him and frowning. "Furthermore... the Helle Welle. The timing is impeccable, almost too perfect. It could be a bad idea but I'm not willing to risk withholding something we don't understand from someone we can't oppose," she says softly, looking into his eyes. "...We'll deal with this together, alright? I'm not leaving you in the dark here."
 
Kallisto picked at her beads as she tried to figure out how to explain boredom to a raven. "Hmm ... boredom ... is like instead of having a forest of interesting things, things to watch, things to mess with, you're instead stuck in an empty field. The dirt is empty, the sky is empty, nothing for miles. And you're stuck there -- no matter which way you go there's nothing to catch your attention." She paused, realizing the way she'd worded things, turning to Aluc who was nestled into her hair, "It's -- it's not a real place, but a place in your mind. Sometimes though you can get stuck there for awhile, and it gets tiring, until finally something changes and you have something to focus on again."

"When people get bored, they usually have some sort of 'hobby' -- like my wood carving, you've seen me do that a few times before." Kallisto lifted her arm that still wore a string of beads, "Something they do to keep themselves busy, keep them from being bored."
 
Bernard sighed, "It just doesn't make sense... why would Heather lie about something as obvious as Grimdosh?" He shakes his head and looks around the room. "I think I need to have another chat with her. I don't know what reason she could have for this or why she might be caught up in the murder. It could be nothing I suppose."

Bernard looked to Bjorn, "I'm sorry for the suspicion Bjorn, I am doing my best to react fairly to what I learn. I have to admit it will be strange not seeing you at the butcher's block, but I'm happy that you've returned to your passion. If I have any more questions, I'll have to stop by. Oh, and Maria had mentioned that Jonathan seems to have some penchant for enchanting. If he recovers, you might consider taking him on as an apprentice, if Derek doesn't drag him off to Nova Vessa."

He took a step forward and extended a hand to his friend, "You're a good man. I'll be sure to let you know when we've caught the... cocksucker." He grinned before turning to Arissa, "We should swing by the church, I need to speak with Archibald and you can grab some of those records. If you still want to join me of course."

Bernard headed towards the door.
 
Arissa smiles to Bernard as he headed to the exit. “Just a moment, Bernard.” She then turned back to Bjorn and looked at him apologetically. “I am sorry that we had to meet under such unpleasant circumstances. I assure you, your... heritage was not a cause of suspicion to either of us.”

Arissa hesitates briefly, unsure of how to broach the subject before smiling to him. “In fact, I would be quite interested in hearing more about you. Perhaps over that drink tonight at the Rapids? If the offer is still standing, that is. In any case, please do take care, Bjorn.”

Arissa curtsied to him once again before heading over to Bernard by the door and smiling teasingly to him. “That is agreeable to me. Besides, I am certain de Vader has very important churchy business to attend to. Shall we?” She takes Bernard’s arm with a grin.
 
The Green:

"No, place does exist. I go there when I left home. Home in the large water. All family live on home until the great blank," says Aluc as she listens to Kallisto explain boredom. "Only one of your kind there. One and only one. Can no find home now."
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Stoneshatter Smithy:

"I'll keep that in mind," says Bjorn before reaching out a hand to grab Bernard's handshake. "We'll see how he ends up doing in the end. I'm sure one of yer human gods will end up finding him mercy in the end. And if ye are still around then I'll be at the Roaring Rapids for sure. Got to get some cheap booze where they don't up-charge ye for being too short." As you go to leave Bjorn starts to take up a hammer again and proceed outside to the forge part of smithy once more.
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Blackburn Manor:

"I pray you are right, for both our sakes," says James squeezing Leone's hand for a moment. He leans forward head against Leone's for a moment as if her mind could help his be stronger. After a moment he retracts and stands up. "I'm going to make arrangements for the Helle Welle's transport. The sooner we get that thing out of our hair the sooner we won't have to deal with it. Hopefully with that, it will be the last of Azalin Rex's meddling."
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Church of Ezra:

Things go about the church as acolytes come and go along with people coming and going for different reasons. Archibald stands up from healing a wound one of the loggers had taken while out on the job. Thanking him they offered to by him a round at the Roaring Rapids but he politely declines. He looks up seeing Bernard and Arissa coming in and heads over to them. "Father Bernard, I hope all is going well this morning."
 
Blinking a few times, Kallisto tried to understand what Aluc had just said. Her eyes caught movement in the distance -- a wave from Arissa as her and Bernard left the Smithy, already rebranded and marked for Bjorn's new ownership. Focusing her sight she noted Arissa was wearing her pendant, along with a symbol of Ezra. She waved as well, slightly distracted, before her sight returned to focusing on Aluc.

"...what do you mean by the great blank?" She thought back to what she'd heard described by Atanase and Marcus, how mist had surrounded them and placed them elsewhere. "Was it like the white clouds along the ground sometimes in the cold mornings? A mist?"

Gently she ran her hand along Aluc's back before asking, "What... did the person look like...?"
 
Bernard smiles as Archibald approaches, "I've had better luck other days, but I needed to let you know there's some danger in the swamp which is threatening the town, a giant snake called a Naga which is hunting people. It is ancient and very powerful, I'll be joining an expedition to deal with it turns its site on town. We'll likely be heading out tomorrow and will be gone for several days." He looked around the church, "If you could give us some privacy, Arissa and I need to look over Maria's body. I'll let you know when we're done."

Bernard began to walk off towards the back where Maria's body was before turning back around and approaching Archibald and whispering, "There's gold in the safe in my office for the church. Should I not return, it should be used to continue the works in the way I have instructed." He smiled and nodded to Archibald.
 
Church of Ezra:

"Very well, I will make sure none disturb you," says Archibald bowing slightly before turning to Arissa. "Good day to you as well Arissa." He starts to move when he notices Bernard come back and whispers. Archibald nods his head. "Yes as you wish, but Ezra will guide you back to us. I have faith in it."

With that Archibald takes his leave to inform people that both of you are not to be disturbed for awhile. Both of you enter into where Maria's body is being kept shutting the door behind you. She is as still as the day you found her, laid upon her back and eyes closed as if sleeping an eternal slumber.
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The Green:

"Big white, morning come, evening come. Somedays all day come," says Aluc as she looks about but shakes her head. "On the Island one person. Long black hair, and she spoke with my thousands of brothers and sisters in flight."
 
Arissa smiled and curtsied to Archibald. “It is good to see you, Archibald. I trust that the church will be in safe hands until the time of Bernard’s return.”

Arissa follows Bernard back into the room where the Maria’s body was being kept and tried to avoid looking at it. She seems so calm and still... almost as if she were sleeping... She shook her head and then turned to Bernard. “I do not know what it is you had in mind back here, but if there is anything I can help you with, do not hesitate to ask.” She smiled slightly to him. “If anyone can solve this case, it would be you, Bernard. There is a reason why Jonathan came to you, and it was not for the muscle. He believes in you just as I do.”
 
Yelcan smiled and quickly sniffed as she wiped the tears from his face. "Yea, I agree, knowing is so much better than guessing." Yelcan nudges Hyde with his forehead as he climbed onto his shoulders, then looks back into Peri's eyes giving her a wink. "Yea this little guy is a lot more intuitive than he seems." Yelcan chuckles as Hyde nips his neck in mock offense. "See what I mean? But no, he has not shared any of your secrets, but now that our feeling are no longer obscure, you can now cut out the middle man and just tell me -- ouch!" Hyde looks at Yelcan mimicking Peri's innocent expression surprisingly well after he just slapped Yelcan in the face with his tail.

Yelcan rolled his eyes, still keeping his arms wrapped around Peri during these shenanigans. Looking back into her eyes, he smiled once more and gave her a quick peck on the lips before letting her go. He walks over to the over side of the room and grabs his pack, then holds out his hand towards Peri and asks "To the curio shop?"
 
Léone nods slowly, leaning into the partial embrace. "It's fine, you're fine, we'll figure this out. I just thought you deserved to know," she says softly, glancing back up into James's eyes as he retracts. "For now, don't dwell on it too much. We'll deal with these other problems, and then we'll look into this okay? Until proven otherwise I refuse to believe that this changes anything between us," she declares, reaching up and kissing him firmly for a few seconds before releasing. "Whatever happens, I'll be there for you."

Standing up herself, she picks up her bag and drops her things inside before slinging it over her shoulder, before dropping the Grimm's Fairy Tales book into a smaller separate bag. "Think that's enough moping for one morning. I'm going to get dressed and then do some shopping for supplies before I stop by the Marsh house at noon to check if the others are ready." She hands him the bag with the fairy tale book, while Attimer flies off from her shoulder to James's side. "I know you said you planned on seeing us off but just in case - Bernard asked that you keep this safe until we get back, and I told Attimer to follow your orders to the best of his ability while I'm gone."

She flashes a small smile, trying to move past the paranoia as quickly as possible. Worrying themselves to death would only make things worse. "I promise you it'll be okay. Now go on - day's a wastin'."
 
Blackburn Manor:

James looks over Mischeiviously towards Attimer for a moment. "Is that so.... Attmier stand on one--- just kidding." he says shaking his head. He moves over to grab the Helle Welle and starts off. "Be safe, and I'll keep this book safe. I promise."
 
Chuckling she scratches Hyde under the chin, “He is a good boy,” scrunching her nose she smiles as Yelcan pulls away to grab his things.

Taking hold of Yelcan’s hand she nods and lets him lead her through the Manor and out towards the curio. “What are you looking for at the curio? I was hoping to ask Reginauld if he had something that helped with charm effects maybe some potions. Bear is buying me a net.”

“If we run into trouble I have my bark,” she chuckles again bumping Yelcan playfully.
 
Léone chuckles with a smile, waving him off as she leaves. "Same for you, stay safe. You better keep your promise or I'm coming after you myself." Trying to take her mind off of it she immediately heads out the door and back to her original room in the side wing, changing into her general traveling gear and stuffing a few more changes of clothes into the small pack before closing the flap shut. Before leaving she briefly glances around the room, noting that she really didn't keep that many belongings in general. "Shouldn't be hard to move up to the room then," she muses, heading down and eating some late breakfast from Grimdosh before exiting the manor.

Figuring that she still had a couple hours or so before they were supposed to meet up, she began to wander through town while mulling over all of the mind-taxing things that had happened in the past few days. "It's only been a few days... they just seem to be getting longer and longer, don't they?" Even without Attimer, she found that talking out loud to herself helped clear her thoughts. Shaking her head, she continues on her walk to the general store to get some supplies. "At this rate, I should pack some wine with me just to forget everything that's happened for a little bit... heh, would I seem weird for buying wine so early in the morning? Eh, there's worse rumors around."
 
Bernard looked over Maria and turned to Arissa, "Help me turn her over. We should take a look at the wound." With Arissa's help and her encouragement, Bernard looks over the body, listing his findings. "The blade went in right here between her shoulders and pierced her heart. It's straight in, someone around her height likely did it or she was already lying on the floor when it happened. No signs of struggle, I guess there's not much to learn here unless Bjorn got a ladder to do it." Bernard let out a heavy, somewhat defeated sigh as Arissa helped him put the body back into a more appropriate resting pose. He looked to her with a frown, "It doesn't seem like Heather has any reason to kill Maria, and she honestly may have been too short to do it. I guess the only thing left to do is to confront her and see what comes of it. We may have to... encourage her to be honest." Bernard did not seem confident in his assessment of the situation though he seemed to have done a decent job of looking over the body.

He led Arissa out of the back, telling Archibald that the vigil could continue before taking her to Jeremiah's records where he found some family trees and other records, stashing them in his bag for her. "Hopefully this helps with your fake Maria mess." He smiled and closed up his pack, setting out for the manor to find Heather Blackstone.
 
Blackburn Manor:

Violette comes down the main stairway walking down the entrance as Bernard and Arissa arrive. She moves over to greet them. "Are most of us all set for the trip? I think Leone might be lagging behind a bit but I saw James already head out for the day. It's getting kind of empty in the manor again now that all the guests have left after the ball," says Violette as she does a quick examination of her rapier, and armor just to reassure herself that it was still there. "I'm ready when you are to head out. Let me know if you need me to run any quick errands."
 
Arissa grimaced throughout the task of examining Maria's body and frowned at his conclusion. "I cannot imagine what motive Heather might have had for committing this crime, but I have a hunch that if she was the culprit, magic was involved. I could hardly picture Heather as a capable warrior. We should be cautious about how we might handle this interrogation." Arissa then followed Bernard out of the back room where Maria's body was being kept, and smiled sadly to Bernard as he retrieved the records. "I suppose we can hope, ja? Perhaps Léone can take a look at them for me. I am certain that girl knows her way around a book."

As Violette approached her and Bernard, Arissa smiled brightly. "Hello there, Violette! It is a pleasure to see you today. There are actually two matters you could perhaps assist us with. First, by any chance have you seen Heather Blackstone today? We had hoped to ask her a question or two to clarify what she had seen the night of Maria's death. There is a slight discretion that is in need of correction. Second..."

Arissa reached into her coin pouch and dug out ten gold coins and smiled to Violette as she held them out. "I am afraid that there are several tasks that I will need to complete before I am ready to set out. By any chance would you be willing to assist me with one? My homeland of Carmanth is a far warmer climate than the one I have found myself in here... By any chance could you make a trip to Sereal's shop and purchase some warmer clothing for me? I would ask someone else but I fear that you are the only one I trust with such an important task, given that you seem to have a good eye for fashion."
 
Blackburn Manor:

"Heather? She didn't mention to you that she was leaving yesterday?" asked Violette seemingly confused at the notion. She smiles a bit at the last part of the request. "I will make sure it's something suitable, and functional. We don't want to frees our tails off out there." She takes the gold coins from Arissa and then moves back to the previous subject. "I believe she was headed back to our homeland. She barely had time to speak with me as it was, though I was hoping to find out if she had figured out anything from the books James had let her borrow. I'll be writing a letter to my brothers to keep an eye out for her so they can ask her about the research. Did you need me to include something in that as well?"
 
Yelcan smiles a bit sheepishly, "I'm in need of some more health potions actually...last night I made a bit of a silly decision that resulted in my needing to fight my way out of the swamp -- but don't worry, don't worry, I'm totally okay. I was hoping that I would be able to simply speak with the 'Fiend in the Forest' and try and figure out what his deal was, but it turns out he doesn't like to chat. I don't think I'll be visiting again anytime soon, unless we need to go to him to help Jonathan."

As Yelcan kind of rambled on about his late night adventure, the pair of them near the curio shop. Yelcan stops a few feet outside and turns to Peri to look into her eyes once again. "Listen, I know that this is all super duper new between us, but I just want you to know I never want to lie to you Peri. I went to see the Shadow Man last night because Arissa had told me about Jonathan, and I knew he was one of your close childhood friends, and I wanted to find some way to help make him better for you. He...that fiend showed me the scene where you kissed Jonathan last night, but it faded before anything was explained, and knowing how I felt about you I was hurt to think that you might not feel the same way. That is why I was acting so weird this morning; I didn't think that you had feelings for me, but the fact that you were able to be honest with me meant so much. I guess I just wanted to thank you I guess, for being such a pure honest soul in such troubling times, it is really impressive to me, and I admire you for that." Not for the first time, Yelcan was worried that he was rambling on and on, muddling the point he was trying to make, and he kept his mouth shut as he waited to hear her response.
 
Peri frowned at Yelcan’s confession of his evenings activities. Her hand squeezed his tightly as he fell silent. “Yelcan, Thank you for trying to help Jonothan, I am glad you weren’t ..” she paused not wanting to think about having possibly lost him before even revealing her feelings. “I’m glad you won’t be going back. He is dangerous and even the swamp can be more than deadly by itself at night.

Looking up into his face she squeezes his hand again. “I am very sorry to have hurt you, but I am glad you accepted my explanation I promise I won’t be kissing anyone else.” Smiling to herself she leans her head on his shoulder. “and you don’t have to worry about me, I want to be completely honest with you too. I have nothing to hide is there anything you want to know?”

As they reached the shop she pulled away and opened the door for him with a curtsie. “Mr. Xistsrith.”
 
Bernard furrowed his brow, "She... Neglected to mention it. You are from the same domain, right? Perhaps we could discuss her sometime." Peering into the manor Bernard spied Grimdosh slowly re-rolling party streamers which had been draped over the decorative armors and plants lining the halls. Leaning over he gave Arissa a quick kiss.

Pushing past Violette, Bernard commented, "Sorry, we'll catch up later." Raising a hand he shouted after Grimdosh, "Grimdosh. Grimdosh! Can you please show me to Heather's room?"
 
Blackburn Manor:

Grimdosh slowly finishes the roll and then looks over to Bernard. He thinks for a moment. "Heather..." he says before walking down the hallways and up the stairs to the guest wings, comes to a door and produces a key opening the door. Heather's room has books scattered about the place as if she was going to come back, many of the books from James' library are open upon the desk and bed.
 
Arissa managed to keep a dignified expression as Bernard kissed her in front of Violette and then looked to her and shrugged with a smirk. "I suppose he was especially excited to see Grimdosh today. I believe I will allow him to have his fun for the moment, as I had said before there is so much that needs doing if we are to leave today." Arissa smiled teasingly to Violette. "I am certain you are aware of how seriously I take the matter of my dress, so I trust that you will conduct the task accordingly, ja? We are likely going to meet at the Marsh residence, so if you would not mind dropping off the clothing there, I would be ever so grateful. Oh, and if you see Annabelle working, tell her Arissa is looking for her, and is at Jonathan's. There is something I would like to speak with her about before we leave."

With a final curtsy, Arissa turned and set off for the Einhorn house, intending to say what she hoped would not be her final goodbye.
 
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Blackburn Manor:

"I am aware that you like to look like the fanciest person in the room. Luckily since we'll be outside you won't have to try so hard for those standards and we can focus on practicality," says Violette before she seems to watch Bernard head down the hallway. "Very excited.... but do not worry. If I see Annabelle I will let her know, maybe she might be able to visit on a break or something."
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Einhorn Haus:

When Arissa arrives knocking on the door she has Derek unlocking the door and motions towards the hallway. "He just got back up from sleeping so he should be fine to talk," says Derek. "Don't keep him too long."
 
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