Pay Attention, 007

    In light of recent events, the Castle and Village of Eas have been turned into something of a ghost town. It would normally seem a most bizarre time for one to do things such as constructing a center for the arts, however that is exactly what the Baroness Wake has done.

    That being done, though, she busies herself as much she can in preparing herself. The regular sound of stones striking the wall of a tower can be heard as she repeatedly practices hitting a target she has fashioned for herself.

    Judging by the considerable pile of shattered pebbles, she's been at it for some time. Considering her placid expression, it is impossible to tell whether she is pleased or displeased with her progress.

It is a strange senstation when one goes through a land that lacks its people. Like an echo of sound or a blurr of motion. It is not whole. Haru has been keeping mobile plenty these last few weeks and the wartime hasn't slowed him down much. Eas is one of those places that requires a visit and the white haired Artificer stands at a high point in the road to exercise a moment of quiet mindfulness. Then there are the stones. Tink tink tink. The man further investigates, taking a moment to dust off his navy blue dress jacket and pat down his button up shirt beneath it. He fits well in a town, like an upscale district caster, right down to the purple tinted monocle. Yet even crafters need to step up these days.

"Is that fun?" he asks, voice silvery like his hair, as he approaches Wake's training ground. Haru reaches down to pick up a small rock, looking at the target, "mind if I join you for a bit?"

    Mid-throw, Wake turns and in a moment, studies her unexpected guest and glides into a curtsey. Even-or perhaps especially-here, where it is least expected, the gesture is done with a lovely grace. She bows her head and with her skirts spread dramatically says, "Welcome to Eas, Haru! I apologize, we are not in our best state to welcome guests. Still, there is food and drink at the inn."

    The Right Clothes, despite the practice session, have woven themselves into an elegant gown of dark purple. Along the hem of its skirt the Rose of Eas is repeated in a pattern of entwined blossoms. Around each of her wrists are thick, silver bracelets of a strangely crude, manacle-like shape.

    She rises and closes the distance with her guest. "Of course you may join, if you like. I wonder, though, what has brought you so far afield this day? Have you come all this way to flatter a noble with some company?"

Haru does the formal bow that a kid from Japan that has had to attend fancy events since birth is keen to do. It is as second nature as walking, but lacks the auto correct functionality of having an appropriate virtual skill. When he straightens up the white haired young man says, "If merely flattery, I am not doing it enough justice. I figure walking five hundred miles would suffice." He looks into the distance, light glinting off his purple monocle in the mock-intellectual pose he is going for, "No. No, I think I'd need to walk five hundred more. To be the man that walked a thousand miles and compliment you at your door." Yup. Thats Haru.

The craftsman's hands are unencumbered as he gauges the weight of the rock in his hand. Haru slings it back and chucks it at a target, hitting it in center mass. "Five points to the Wake. And the crowd goes wild," he adds in. A smile on his face as he turns to Wake in a simple, honest sort of way, "to see you. Notably see how you are doing. This," he tilts his head to the empty locale, "must be a much harder sight on you. I remember when we were moving people to a safer locale." A head shakes, not wanting to sound too much like a sad violen about it all, "and also offer aid once again. I think of all the people involved in this situation, you are one of the few that is thinking on what all of this does to the people who live here and will have to continue to live here after all these wounds are delt." He grabs another rock, "I have an impressive resume," he gauges the weight again, "and it exceeds throwing rocks. Past year or so I've actually been a craftsman. Small things. Accessories. Enchantments. Gadgetry. Fits the class." Which he inspects as an Artificer. Tinkerers gotta tinker.

    The Baroness leaves her studies out of mind for the moment. Instead, she rests her full attention on the young man. It is not a piercing, unblinking stare, but a calm, even regard as she seeks to read more from the bow and posture than a normal eye could.

    "It is true that the land is sad without the sound of children playing in the village, or darting as secretly as they can around the castle. The Lander music has gone away for now, but when they return a lovely gift awaits them. Perhaps.." She lets her musing trail off unexplained.

    Abruptly she says, "Walk with me?" The words do not come out as an order, but the way she reaches for Haru's arm makes it quite clear that she anticipates his polite acceptance. "I would like to show you something."

    The something is the Arcade of Eas, which is a structure dedicated to the Beautiful One. Hallways full of artwork, a statue of the goddess, and the theater itself, shaped like a giant plumeria blossom, stand there, silent but for the distant sound of the falls and the singing of nearby fountains.

    "Tell me, Haru, what do you see as the purpose of this place?"

Walking. Now that is something Haru is about. If the amount of shoes he has gone through is any indicator, his step count is never lacking. Haru offers an arm to walk with. Its a natural occurance. Whomever Haru was before this world, he belonged to some higher level society where all of the small nuances are as important as common as checking the morning email. "So long as you don't take me too far," he winks. Though with a monocle on it could be a blink. Its always hard to tell when only one eye is easy to see.

Gait is even and unhurried. Haru finds a natural sync as if there is a designed tempo for strolling as much as a key to tune to with sad or happy music. He can't help but linger on the artwork with his eyes. Something of an appreciation for it. His monocle even comes to life in a whirl with white semicircles spinning around the lens in appraisal of these things. A natural library, if one only picks the right book and reads. "This place," the blue eyed young man considers, "in context of this particular spot in Eas, I would say that it is its face." He looks at a statue, "You can see its history there on every curve. Its soul in the eyes of its waterfall. Its not something stuck in time, but moves in response to the world without being oblivious to the past as well." A poet's way of talking or thinking. His head turns to Wake, an impressive woman even taller than the tall man by more than a couple inches. "As for the purpose of Eas, Yamoto, or ETO in general? The answer differs and not all of those layers are as nice as this spot here."

    The glib comment manges to steal a rare smirk from the Baroness. "You are an unusual adventurer," she observes. For some time, she offers no further explanation, allowing her serene smile as the only assurance of her kind intentions.

    "I like how you speak of things, and I appreciate your offer. My desire is for Eas to be a haven of dreamers. More than that, I wish for this place to be muse as well. Beauty from every corner of Yamato has been gathered here. Some made by Landers, some by Adventurers. All in the pursuit of inspiring those who come here to dream bigger, better things."

    Her words build in energy as she speaks, as if she were carefully revealing her excitement. In the end, her passion is almost palpable.

    "If you wish to make amazing things, or beautiful things, or both, you have come to the right place. Those who bear those dreams find their home here, and their presence makes this place ever more beautiful."

"Your reputation does not do you justice," Haru admits as he listens. Its the sort of thing where the young man doesn't look her in the eyes, even though he should. He focuses on the area around them. That is where the work is happening. Where things come to life. "Kindness. Strength. Guile. Yes. But it does not capture the electricity in your vision or the heat in how you speak of it. As if mountains and floods both would find themselves wanting to stand in your way." A smile as he looks to a stray flower. Yellow petals against red ones with enough puff that it could just fly away. "Its like the sun," his weird mind wanders, "you can't help but give the land warmth or the moon its mysterious glow."

Now he looks over to Wake. "I'm grateful that there are people like you in this world. In a time where great pains are inflicted, it is not an embelishment to consider it the warmth of a morning sun." Haru can't maintain it that long without his gaze wondering again. Far too much to take in here. More to find than can ever be found. "I do," he admits, "wish to be in a place that supports and nourishes those things. My ambition extends to all of the people. Landers and Adventurers." A pause, "They all deserve to live in a world where the tools for their happiness are within their reach. It takes all kinds of people to make that happen. All kinds. It takes strong leaders to see the value in it. Soldiers to protect it. Artisans to build it. All kinds. No one should be powerless to forge a better world."

    The Baroness tilts her head just slightly, giving Haru a searching look. She lets his praise wash over her, and she smiles, then laughs softly. "This will definitely go to my head before too long, dear. If my fire -or heat- can inspire or protect others, that is well. Unfortunately, I suspect that in this war my light may be pressed into a more harsh role than such fine words are meant for. Our enemy takes away that which I find most sacred: freedom of intention."

    Wake looks up at the statue of The Beautiful One, letting out a gentle sigh. It seems the sight does something for her, as she changes tack, "But there is hope yet. A way towards redemption for our enemies and not destruction. At least, that is my hope. Something in me demands that I believe in the saving power of love. Yet this woman has also prepared an army of her own."