The Silent Runes of Suzail

Shenua relaxes visibly the moment the alternate Cael succumbs to Vorenus's spell, relieved that she hasn't had to cast any harmful magic on a man bearing a face so dear to her.

She watches as he delivers the parcel, empties his pockets, and simply leaves. There is a pull urging her to follow right behind him — to see where he goes, where he lives… to know more. But instead, her gaze drops to the objects he has left behind, and she gasps.

Before Iromae can reach for any of them, Shenua stops her. "Wait."

Without another word, Shenua reaches for the pocket watch and very carefully lifts it, holding it with reverence, caressing it with her thumb as she smiles fondly. Sadly too.

"My dad and I fixed this watch together countless times throughout the years, starting when I was just a kid. I'd say this is the very watch that made me become an artificer." Her voice softens. "How can he have the same watch? Are events in both realities meant to be so similar? This is my granddad's watch. He gave it to his son just before he died."

She pauses, a decision forming.

"If he's anything like my father, he will miss this watch terribly. He may not be my real dad… but I don't want that for him." She turns to the others. "We got what we came for, but I'm not leaving this man without his watch."

Shenua then picks up the signet ring. "Is he a noble?" She examines it closely, considering that its symbols might lead her to where he lives.

"Go. Leave with the thread. I'll go after him and return the watch, if I can still find him. You did tell him to be quick!" She smiles at Vorenus. "Nicely done, Vorenus — truly. You saved the mission."

(OOC: I don't know if it's possible for her to find him right now? If it is, she'll go after him and then she'll meet Iromae and Vorenus at Merienne's. If not, Shenua will keep the watch and the signet, leave along with them and then ask Merienne about the latter, in case she knows more.)

Vorenus smiles as he sees this unfold, but his eyes go wide with the pocketwatch and observing Shenua's reaction.  "Oh.. uh... well.  I don't quite understand, but yes, speed is the most important right now.  I think we need to move along with this package.  Hopefully he's headed out of town, but we can't rely on being safe here, we need to exit as quickly as possible."  He turns to Iromae, saying "I just uh.. have a way of telling people to do something.  And, I've learned how to do it so that no one else hears me.  They are kind of... forced ... to do it.  It has come in handy a few times, and saved my life more than once.  It seemed like the proper time to do it."  

He turns toward Shenua, his jaw dropping open.  "Your grandfather's watch?  Oh my.. we need to hear the whole story, when we are safe, but for now, we need to move."  He takes the packet with the thread from Shenua and stores it away in his pack, then says "Be careful, don't risk your life for this!  I know, you are stubborn in both worlds just the same, I likely can't talk you out of it, just be cautious, please?  Meet us back at the safe house?"  He turns to Iromae, "Right?"

Iromae hesitates just a moment to answer.  "Yes. The safe house," she agrees. As they go, she nods about Vorenus' comment about the spell. "The magic sounds familiar. Though with words, not in silence. You told him to leave town? I presume though he'll come back, later. You suppose he's a part of the government? He'll tell people about us."

So, it seems Shenua is climbing the ladder to follow her alternate father while Vorenus and Iromae are heading back to the safe house. Is this correct? Fair, you rolled a 1 on your check to see if you know anything about the signet ring.

Yes, that is the idea. Since I learned nothing about the signet ring, then I'll give that to Iromae and Vorenus, and I'll only take the watch.

((Correct.  Vorenus hopes that his spell holds for the full 8 hours and that he never sees the fellow again, that he will forget them - but the father of alternative universe Bizarro Shenua interaction might throw a wrinkle into that.))

Vorenus stows the package and begins to move, feeling that every second they wait here is more danger.  As they get closer to where they entered, he begins to take on the manner that he had previously, measuring his steps, seeming to be in a continual state of meditation as he steps out into the alley, waiting for Iromae and the walk back to the safe house.

The trio decides to split up.

Shenua scrambles up the ladder in pursuit of Cael Deamhain. It takes her a second to find the latch, but as she pushes through the trap door at the top, she finds herself exiting a cellar entrance. The town beyond the hatch is late-morning alive.

Vendors call. Cart wheels rattle over stone. A pair of children race past with sticks for swords. Life continues — unaware that something precise and unnatural has just unfolded beneath it.

Half a block ahead, the red-skinned tiefling walks with measured efficiency. Not hurried, and not hesitant. Simply purposeful.

He navigates foot traffic with polite adjustments of shoulder and stride. When a woman nearly collides with him, he inclines his head and offers a brief, courteous wave — pleasantly distant — and continues on without breaking pace.

He does not look back.

Meanwhile ...

Vorenus and Iromae pack up the thread — the abjuration magic steady and contained — and the tiefling's belongings, save the watch, which is with Shenua.

They retrace their steps and return to the door that exits back onto the street. No alarm sounds. No one shouts.

Vorenus skillfully returns to his previous role (deception: 23) as he steps back out into the sunshine.

Back outside, Iromae takes a quick look about, trying to see if anyone might have noted their presence. (Perception: 24) She keeps on moving, though she murmurs softly to Vorenus. "I'm a little worried for Shenua. Her going after that man won't interfere with what you did, will it?" Otherwise, she keeps close to Vorenus and makes her way at a casual pace back towards their hideout. 

(ooc: I'm assuming the tiefling has already forgotten as, as per Vorenus' spell)

Shenua needs little time to spot the man she's after. Fortunately for her, tieflings are fairly easy to pick out — especially one with such distinctive red skin.

Her first instinct is to run straight after him, but curiosity gets the better of her, and she follows at a short distance instead to see where he's headed. Is he walking home, perhaps? A myriad of questions race through the artificer's mind: Is he a noble? Is he married? If he is… does his wife look like my mother?

She knows that digging too deep won't truly be of help — this man is still not her father — but learning a little more about this alternate world might matter.

So she follows him for a while, carefully noting the turns he takes and the streets he passes, making sure she can find her way back to Vorenus and Iromae without trouble. If it becomes clear that he may keep walking for quite some time, Shenua abandons her curiosity — she knows she shouldn't take too long — and breaks into a jog, closing the distance.

"Excuse me, sir! Sir? You've dropped something!"

When Shenua finally steps in front of the man bearing her father's face, she lifts the pocket watch for him to see. "Sorry, I think you dropped this," she says, holding it out. "It's a beautiful watch… and it looks important. An heirloom, perhaps?" She smiles politely. "I hope I'm not mistaken," she adds — a small lie — "but it is yours, right?"

She keeps her hand extended, the watch resting in her palm.

Vorenus pauses in his step a moment, careful in their walk back to the safe house.  “You think she’s okay, don’t you?  How long should we wait before looking for her?  It shouldn’t take her long, to return the watch, right?  Seemed rather important to her, I’d like to hear the whole story when she returns..”. He keeps walking, out for a causal stroll… “That’s it there, right?  Let’s head back.  Then we need to head back to the store..”

“Excuse me, sir! Sir? You’ve dropped something!”

He does not startle. He slows and turns. His eyes meet hers. There is no recognition. No warmth. No confusion. Only polite administrative focus.

She steps in front of him and holds out the watch. “Sorry, I think you dropped this. It’s a beautiful watch … and it looks important. An heirloom, perhaps? I hope I’m not mistaken, but it is yours, right?”

He looks at the watch. Then at her. Then back to the watch. There is a brief pause. Not emotional. Procedural.

“Yes,” he says calmly. “It is mine.” He takes it from her hand. His fingers turn it once, checking its casing automatically. He slips it back into his inner coat pocket.

“Thank you for your diligence,” he says evenly. He gives her a courteous nod, then turns and resumes walking toward the southern road.

Not quite sure about Vorenus' question, Iromae says, "Of course she'll be fine." She isn't quite convinced though but hopes Shenua will be fine. "It shouldn't be long. We'll just wait for her at the hideout then go back to the store." 

Shenua manages only a faint smile in return, watching the man turn his back on her and walk away as she remains frozen in the middle of the street. She shouldn't have expected anything more — and yet, it hurts. Deeply. She would never wish on anyone the pain of being seen and not recognized by someone they love.

With a quiet ache in her chest, the tiefling turns away and begins walking back toward the safehouse, toward her friends, carrying a longing to return home as soon as possible. How many days have they even been here? One? Two? Whatever the answer, it's too many.

She's so lost in thought that she barely registers how quickly she finds herself back in the part of the city where the safehouse stands. When she steps inside, she offers the others a small, sad smile.

"I hope you never have to experience that," she says softly. "I feel awful. I really hope I don't run into anyone else I know from back home again…"

Vorenus looks at her with sadness, saying “Incredibly difficult, Shenua.  I’m glad we accomplished it without anything further happening.  But we must move quickly.”  He pulls out the package, holding it for both to see.  “Who can hide it the best?  Let’s move back to the store, and be onto the next portion of our journey.. yes?”

Shenua sighs and nods. "Let's get this over with, yes. I think Merienne still wanted to give us another mission, so the sooner we start, the better."

Regarding the thread, she adds, "Why don't you take it yourself, Vorenus? You've done a great job keeping it safe so far."

With that, she’s ready to head to Merienne's shop.

Vorenus nods and stores the pack, then looks to Iromae to see if she is ready to head back to Merienne.  If all are ready, he starts out, ready to complete the task.  

Iromae is in agreement with Vorenus keeping the thread. "Yes, you just hold on to it."

She is also very relieved at having Shenua back. She's quiet a moment, taking in her words. Finally though she asks cautiously, "Did he take it? Did he say anything?" She seems really curious to know. 

"It's so strange. Do you suppose people that had died in our world could be here? Or... well, it wouldn't be them though." She stakes her head. "Could there be versions of us here?"

She seems to start to pull it over a moment, then says, "Sorry. We should get moving. Not ponder my strange thoughts!"

You can walk and talk if you like.

"He took it, yes. But—" Shenua shakes her head sadly, "—he said nothing more than a polite thank you. Then he simply resumed walking, as instructed." She offers a small smile. "I do feel a bit better knowing the watch is with its rightful owner. He would have been terribly sad to lose it."

At least, my dad would have.

She exhales, trying to think of something else. Trying to push the unrecognizing stare of this Cael Deamhain out of her mind.

"People who have died?" she continues. "I suppose that is possible, yes. Are you… thinking of anyone in particular, Iromae?"

As for versions of themselves, she adds "That's a good question. I hadn't thought of that. I suppose it's possible. Though Lirae implied that one of us is from this Suzail. That would mean one of us wouldn't have a duplicate here. Right?"

Iromae nods slowly. "Well, you know both my parents had passed before I started school. For a moment I just thought..." She pauses a moment, trying to put her thoughts into words. final she just says, "Well, your situation shows it wouldn't really be them. And... even if it was them I'm not sure I'd want to have to explain to them what happened to their business."

She sighs under her breath and is thankful as Shenua brings up a different topic. "That's right! Could it be Diego? Is that why he ran off?" Her eyes shift to Vorenus though. After the revelation of his lack of wizardry ability, it seemed too easy to suspect him if being something he wasn't. 

"I guess I'm not sure though what that would even mean for whoever it was? Did we come from here when we were young and just don't remember? Or would we have had a while different life but magically had that erased?"

The possibilities are endless. And she isn't quite sure how they would even figure any of it out.