Those Things that Weigh on Us

Under most circumstances, Kita might be considered a 'homebody' by much of the population. It's rare to see her outside of the area closest to Alne and Tolbana. However, with the need of an artist with the creation of statue near Kallamore, the Imp had dragged herself halfway across the known world to assist.

Since then, however, she has seemed a bit... unsettled. One might have expected her to return home almost immediately, especially with the present danger to both herself and her long-running girlfriend who normally seems to support her activities from the sidelines. Yet, here she still is.

The Imp is currently doing some maintenance to the statue, making sure that areas of it are shined and free of any debris that might have come into the area. Even so, she seems distracted. Even her mote of darkness, a small fire-ball like creature that hovers around her, seems to be circling anxiously.

Yeowang, on the other hand, is used to travel for business, and if adventuring is not a business, then how do adventurers make money? Quests and loot keep Yeowang on the move so much that she hasn't had the opportunity to set up a permanent base of operations anywhere. So, she's poised as ever as she approaches Kita at the statue, looks around for any nearby ears, and satisfied there are none, offers a, "Good morning." Not that Good Morning is a big secret, but their interrelationship is probably best kept low key as Scale has no reason to love NWA, and there is no /publicly known/ link between the two.

Noting something amiss, she changes conversational tack and asks, "Are you all right? Do you need some kind of assistance?" She is less well known as manager of the Red Chain, the major relief organization, and if anyone can get help here, she probably can.

The Mote of Darkness stops first, even before Kita stops sweeping the same spot for the fifth or sixth time. The little being looks over at Yeowang and then darts behind the Imp's head, the flickering of it's black-purple flames only visible behind her ear as it peeks out. "Huh?" The expression on the girl's face is one of someone only just coming back to reality. She blinks, pushing her glasses up on her nose.

"Oh. It's... nothing. Just preoccupied." She shakes her head, one hand drawing a white strand of hair back behind one very pierced ear. Her eyes stray towards the city of in the distance. "I guess Lumina Cloth just reminds me a bit too much of Tokyo. It's close enough to home to make the loss sting a little more than normal." She lifts her shoulders then, dark dress shifting slightly as she leans the broom against a nearby worktable.

Yeowang looks over toward Lumina Cloth as Kita mentions its resemblance to Tokyo. "Minus the electric lights, of course," she amends with a small smile, as Tokyo is very much an electric and neon city, and the lighting in Lumina Cloth is different to her eyes. No brilliant corporate marquees, and much more of what she thinks of as artistic light.

"Thinking about home?" she asks, when Kita admits to being preoccupied. "You should probably not worry about it," she suggests with a smile. "I miss all the things about home terribly, but we are here now, and people who understand games much better than I do are working to see what may be done."

As far as the loss, she has her own losses, things left behind that she'd dearly love to have again, but suggests, "I think the best we can do now is move forward /here/, and if there a chance to go home, we will be prepared to sieze it. Too many players have been lost due to the Palace Landers' cruelty to just assume we can stand by and wait for a solution."

The young woman gives a soft 'mmm' of sound, which may be confirmation that she is, indeed, thinking about home. "Some things can't be replaced, no matter how much we progress technology in this world." Her scarred lip twitches slightly, "My father, for one thing. He was my world, before Jurou came into it. It's hard to just forget about him." She sighs to herself, reaching up tug at one of the studs in her ear, perhaps something she'd gotten with her father at some point in her childhood.

"Don't get me wrong, I love this place for a number of reasons, least of which being that people don't bat an eye when I walk down the street hand in hand with my girlfriend but..." She lifts her shoulder in a shrug. While Kita may be a member of Scale Emblem, she had very good reasons for wanting to stay.

"Is that what brings you here, then? Protecting the Adventurers of the Palace Lands?"

Yeowang nods about things that can't be replaced. She has her own personal list for that, sighing, "My Jae Gu," as the topic comes up, but then shifting topics. Her family was never close, in the family sense, but she has things about RL that are sorely missed. As for liking this place, she admits, "Our Landers are quite kind. The Palace Lands Landers are more of a mixed bag. There are a few of them I would see ... dealt with." The ones that Crown players topping that list.

Unlike most of her NWA associates, she has every reason to go home ... and she might have joined Scale if she thought that was an option. But she's decided that we must be copies of ourselves, if only because if our original meat bodies were stuck in a game, then her father would certainly have bought the company and had her returned, and she understands Haru's family is similarly placed, so that there's no chance some company's computer error would hold us all hostage. But if she's a copy of herself, then this /is/ all there is for this copy of her, and, "I'm here to do the best I can for as many people as I can. But I have another reason: the boy I was in love with had a year left in school in Korea, so we agreed to meet in the game. And of course we haven't met yet because originally Yamato was quarantined, and then the Palace Lands were not cooperative, so I don't know if he's here but in hiding, if he never logged on, if he was here, but got killed .... it's frustrating not knowing."

It's hard to tell exactly what Kita thinks of the Landers either way, both those in Yamato and those in the Palace Lands. She simply tilts her head, her earrings dangling slightly to one side as her Mote of Darkness settles onto one of her shoulders, brows furrowed. "At least the ones that are trouble for us, certainly. I wouldn't mind seeing there be a few less of them."

She, however, falls a bit more quiet at the comment about Yeowang's lost love. It hits a little bit too close to home for her, it seems. "Jurou and I were separated when the Apocalypse hit. I was trapped in Ezzo and she was out here, with no idea how to even play the damn game." Her lip quirks. "It's why, when I got out, I formed the Lost Adventurer Network. To connect people with their friends and family again."

The girl rubs slightly at one of her cloth-covered arms. She seems to have a lot of those little quirks. "Maybe, someday, we can extend that here. Help more people find each other." She bites at her lower lip, just over that scar there, "Have you asked the Uncrowned? Maybe they can help."

Yeowang nods sympathetically at being separated by the incident at Ezzo, which she's only heard about, though she nods sympathetically about not knowing how to play the same. To some extent she feels that's still the case, over ywo years later, but she's got a handle on the important bits. "Lost Adventurer Network?" she asks, unfamiliar with the concept. "That sounds like just what I need. If we can extend that to the Palace Lands, that would be ideal. I have mentioned it to some of them, but no one had heard of him," she explains. "So I wasn't sure what to do beyond simply looking and waiting. He'll recognize me, that's why I was sure to use the body-scan, and my character name was the nickname he knew me by when we were in school together."

The Imp nods as she swipes her fingers delicately through the air, moving through the menus as she pulls out a hardbound book with a number of silk bookmarks dangling from it. As she starts to page through it, something strange occurs. No matter how much she pages, the book doesn't seem to ever get closer to the end. It must be a relic of some sort. The girl turns the book towards Yeowang, showing a few sketches of faces, some of which may be familiar if Yeowang ever checks the boards at the Hunter's Guild.

"We started collecting descriptions of people, creating missing persons posters that were put up at each Guild Hall and Hunter's Guild location. Giving locations and contact information to bring people back together." She explains, flipping the page to settle on one that makes her lips set into a softer smile. Turning it, it is an image of an athletic girl with short hair, one part tied back with a barret. The girl has Salamander scales across her cheeks and seems to be wearing basic heavy armor. "Jurou." She says the name, letting her fingers touch the page. "It's how we found each other, again."

Kita's head tilts, "Well, I could do a sketch of you, provide your name, say you're looking for him and have that sent around. It's something, at least, if we don't know what he looks like in game."

Yeowang looks at the offered pages, and nods slowly. "I see," she says, and adds, "I can't imagine he'd be anything other than human or using some other name. Neither of us had gamed before, my little brother is the gamer in my family." She smirks at the memory of her precocious little brother, so enthusiastic about games, but often so busy with responsibilities that he'd direct one of his maids to play in his stead so as not to forgo making progress.

"I'm not very comfortable with a sketch of /me/ going out," she explains. "What if some impostor shows up claiming to be my Jae Gu? But if you could do a sketch of Jae Gu, then anyone who'd seen him might recognize that as well?" And she wouldn't get skeevy guys just trying to hit on a pretty girl.

"I would imagine that you would know the difference if you met him, but... I can understand that concern." Kita replies, flipping to one of the other bookmarks which seems to inidicate where blank pages start. Once again, it looks simply as if she'd opened to the exact middle of the book. "If you think you can describe him accurately, I can certainly try. It may take a few attempts, since memory and visuals don't always line up perfect the first time."

She draws out a pencil tapping it on the page. "This was what I used to do for a living. Art, that is. I've been selling commissions since I was sixteen or so. It's paid for most of my university time." The Mote of Darkness swirls about her head once more, settling next to the brim of her witch's hat. "At least it has some use here."

Yeowang thinks back to Jae Gu as she recalls him. It's a bit of rose-colored glasses, but the all-business side of her can describe him quite clearly, starting with height and weight, and moving on to his facial features. He's Korean, as she is, and that is certainly distinct enough from Japanese in face shape, and she will go on to describe his face and his hair, as of the last time they'd seen each other. "And that's my Jae Gu Song," she explains. "I have no idea what class he might choose," she admits. "As I say, neither of us have any background with gaming. He does martial arts, but he's quite new, and .... probably more of a boxer, by training. I don't know what sort of class that might lead him toward." Maybe some sort of Heavy Blade or one of the more rough-edged classes, as she thinks of them.

There are a series of questions that go back and forth, things as complicated as how his hair parts to as simple as the shape of his nose. Kita seems to have an almost ritualistic sequence to it all, making sure to gather the exact bits of information she needs. At various points, she checks the shapes with Yeowang to make sure she's on the right track, or to adjust them as rrequired. In the end, what ends up emerging from the page is a striking likeness to the person that Yeowang remembers, or at least to her rose-colored memory of him.

"How's this?" She finally asks, after adding a bit more artistic shading to the piece to make it pop from the page. "We don't have to know everything. Sometimes just seeing themselves in a 'missing' poster is enough to have someone reach out in contact."

The Mote of Darkness gives a little puff of fire upwards, then seems to settle back down again.

Yeowang looks on the drawing and smiles. "Yes, that's definitely Jae Gu," she sighs wistfully. "Thank you so much for helping. I don't know if it will help, or if he ever even joined the game." She remembers their disastrous amusement park 'date', where an emergency came up for him, and she waited all day and he never showed up. She's seen these last two years as a replay of /that/. "I suppose he can contact mee through any NWA or Red Chain group he finds?"

With the picture confirmed, Kita slides the bookmark onto the page. "Well, first step will be to get a few reproductions made. I think our best bet will be to send it out to the various Uncrowned camps first, see if it snags anyone's attention." She explains.

Folding the book closed, Kita gives a nod of her head, tucking the pencil back behind one ear. "It's what the LAN was built for, helping people connect after disaster. My way of giving back to the world and the people who helped me." That seems to be one of the core things about this young woman. She cares about people who have survived horrible things. It suggests she may have survived some trials in her own life, perhaps.

"I'm not likely to stay here in the Palace Lands too much longer." She adds, "Not unless I'm given reason to linger." That causes her to raise an eyebrow. "I assume you haven't heard anything from our mutual friends, have you?"

Yeowang nods about why the LAN was formed and nods again about not lingering here in the Palace Lands. As far as having heard from our 'mutual friends', she says, "The last direction I had from them was to focus over here, and to ensure our supply lines from Yamato to the Palace Lands were sufficiently robust for us to take the fight to them. I have been working on that, though for the moment we are reliant on the small farm at Seeker's Landing and what we can bring over from Yamato. Though I think now that Lumina Cloth is free from the Crowns' influence and the Landers weren't particularly biased against players, we may be able to source some supplies locally."

"Hmm." The sound of consideration lingers from Kita. "I haven't heard from them directly, myself. I've been tasked largely with keeping an eye out for any more trouble from out East." She's being vague, as seems to be part of a requirement for being in their elusive organization. Likely, she means that her role is to watch for any more interference from the Dark Territory or the Wyvernriders of Londonia.

"If there's any way I can assist, let me know. It's possible I can work with some of Scale's farms in the Tower and send some more supplies." There isn't certainty there, as she does not, alone, control those resources. "The war here is important, but we don't want to end up flanked on both sides if we can help it."

Yeowang nods about no direct contact, she hasn't had much contact, herself, and assumed that was just how they worked. It would seem to be in character, as much as she knows of their character. The Wyvernriders of Londonia -are- of interest to her, but mostly as a curiosity, and she can keep that in abeyance.

As far as any way to assist, she says, "I understand Scale has a ship of its own?" Taken from pirates by Proph and company some time back. "I'm not sure what forces Yamato has in the Palace Lands, but I'm sure mapping out a good shipping route would aid us. Are you familiar with the way the Atlantic Ocean's Gulf Stream current travels up the US coast and then across the ocean? If we could map Yamato's westerly ocean, we might find similar favorable currents. Or if they're going the other way, then currents that favor the return journey, that we should avoid in the journey going there."

"We do, but I don't really have much of a say in where it goes or what it's used for." Kita replies with a shake of her head. "Tolbana is really my only place of influence, and it's hardly a location that can lend much of a hand to anyone other than Palace Land Adventurers looking to get out and start new somewhere else. And even then... we have to be careful."

It wouldn't do to let enemies behind their lines. "I'm afraid I don't know much about that sort of thing. Ships and maps and cartography. I was a performer and a graphic design major." The smile that forms on her face doesn't quite seem to reach her eyes. "Not so much on the brains side of things, more on the charm side." This is followed by a shake of her head, "I don't imagine my throng of teenage fan-girls would have been useful regardless. Besides, I doubt any of them would recognize me even if they walked right up and looked me in the face."

Yeowang nods slowly at not having acess to Scale's ship. "That's not a showstopper," she says thoughtfully. "Perhaps I can convince a captain to let he charter his ship for a while?" Because even here, money talks. She shrugs at Kita claiming her area of influence being on non-technical fields, and says, "There are many sorts of expertise, and all are necessary. Anyone who tells you otherwise is just insecure and self-aggrandizing. I could not have produced this excellent picture of Jae Gu that you have drawn, so your fangirls may rest assured that you are quite useful. There is a trick sometimes to seeing what an individual is useful for. And some people put others down. My Jae Gu was told for years he was not useful for anything, and when he discovered that wasn't the case, it was quite a transformation." She smiles at the memory.

As far as not letting Palace Landers in the Tower, she says, "That's probably for the best. I'm no expert on security, myself, but as you say, we all have our areas of expertise." Hers is probably something like business management. But she's expanding also. "I will see if I can't persuade some ship captain to make the critical journey."

"Oh, don't worry, I don't undersell my skills by any means, I just know where mine end and other people's begin." Kita replies, a hint of a wry smirk lifting the corner of her mouth. "Though I know what it's like to have people tell you that you're worthless. Thankfully, most of those people shut the fuck up when they realized I had the most popular girl in school on my arm." There is almost a wickedness to her expression at that. The sort of revenge that hurts no one but still feels righteous.

"I'd talk to Fourland if you're looking to commission a ship for a voyage. They've got the largest navy. Otherwise, you could always take a page out of Scale's playbook and try to steal one of Rosenheim's ships. It would hurt them, benefit us, and get you what you need to map the currents." The Mote of Darkness bobs up and down slightly, though the creature's expression still looks angry. It always looks angry.

Yeowang nods gravely at the advice, and smirks about Kita's revelation. "A victory for you, to be sure," she agrees. She nods about talking to Fourland, and says, "That was what I was thinking. Now that Yamato isn't occupied, they may be more willing to undertake ventures." As to taking a Palace Land ship, she says, "That is an idea that is interesting, but I think the details would grow too complicated before we could complete the mission. How do we pirate a warship? Do we allow a Palace Lander crew, or do we send a prize crew? What do we do with the crew that isn't allowed to stay on? I think a Yamato crew is best. And we could, I think, make ourselves mostly self-sufficient with a bit of prepatory work."

"Well, I don't know that you'd need a warship just to scout tradewinds and currents." Kita's response comes with a shrug of her narrow shoulders. "Any ship that is ocean-worthy would probably be able to do the task." Clearly, she doesn't quite grasp if there are further plans that Yeowang has in mind beyond just trying to find more efficient routes between the two servers.

"If it's a crew manned from Rosenheim, it's likely most of them will fall as part of any sort of raiding party. Those who survive might be worth taking on as prisoners but who knows." Unlike some members of the New World Alliance, Kita is not the sort of person who believes in protecting all Lander lives, even their enemies. This is war, and people will die. That's just part of the process. "But you're right that anyone going after a Rosenheim ship would need to bring their own crew with them to replace."

"I'm an artist, not a strategist, so I can't tell you what the best course of action would be. Everything has risks."

Yeowang nods about everything having risks, and says, "That's why I was thinking of a warship, though in the age of sail, the difference between a warship and an armed merchant was not so great anyhow, was it? Perhaps a merchant ship, then, because we will be more concerned about having a large cargo of food and water for an extended journey." She nods as she thinks about that, agreeing, "What you say is true, about everything having risks. But we will do what we can, I suppose. And a good, safer sea route will also aid our maters in securing safe supply lines to the Palace Lands."

"I..." Kita pauses, as if trying to search for the right words to say. The Mote of Darkness flares a little bit. "I really don't know, I'm afraid. I don't know much about ships." She admits. There are certainly barriers of understanding where Kita can offer little in the way of advice.

"In cany case, I should probably go meet up with Jurou. We're still trying to decide if we're going to stay on here in the Palace Lands or if we're going to head home to Tolbana." There is something in her expression, some uncertainty there. "So I guess we'll see."

Yeowang nods as her question of ships is deeper than Kita's level in Naval Design. Well, everyone has their area of expertise. But as far as wanting to go back to Tolbana, she nods gravely, though sensing the unease level again, she asks, "Is there anything I can help with? You have given me invaluable aid, and I would do the same for you, if you tell me how I can help?" She's not as good at interpersonal relationships, she can't just discern the best way to help. She grew up with no sisters or close female friends. The occasional rival, but that's a different sort of relationship.

"Ahh, well, that's the hard part. Communication. You'd think I'd be good at it, as a messenger. As a performer. But..." She lifts one hand and shrugs slightly. "One of the downsides of having someone you love in here with you. It's hard to reconcile what you need to do, with the risks that come with it." Her previous expression falters to one that is more thoughtful. Perhaps what had been on her mind earlier only coming through now.

"Nothing you can help with, I'm afraid, but if I think of something... I'll let you know." With that, the Mote of Darkness tucks behind her hat, only a few flickers of that dark flame visible. "Take care, Yeowang." She adds, her voice far softer at that.