etraya | un: shadowheart

Is this a matter of urgency, or a long-suffering ailment?

That depends on how one defines 'long-suffering.' This problem hasn't befallen me today, if that's what you're asking, but I'd happily be rid of it today if I could.

It's been of concern for two or three months, more or less. It's urgent in that it could take a turn for the worse with very little warning.

I may be able to help with any pain while you endure your condition, if that is a concern, but if this is something only a doctor can tend to, then perhaps Dr. Lecter can help.

You can help with pain? How so? What sorts of pain?

I am well acquainted with the use of tonics and salves using the herbs that I have been able to recognize whilst here.

[She thinks long and hard before responding.]

Do you know anything of poisons?

One must learn about the most dangerous plants in order to understand the best applications.

[ That's a yes. But just saying 'yes' might look a little suspect on a public network... ]

Some can even be beneficial in certain ways, in very low amounts.

Can we meet?

In front of the cafe, an hour and a half.

If you wish. And who might I be looking for?

[ Her senses will likely help guide her to someone who is clearly so anxious, even if others are around, but mistakes can happen. ]

My name is Shadowheart. White hair. Half-elven. And one of the only people around here who wears armour.

[ That does paint quite a picture. ]

My name is Vanessa Ives. I will be the dark-haired woman in a dress of black and red.

I will meet you in an hour and a half, then.

[ She'll be prompt, too! Not really bringing anything special along, since if Shadowheart wants access to poison, then they'll need to move to a secondary location. ]

[Shadowheart appears punctually as promised, wearing armour and with an ornate spear strapped to her back. She brings Scratch along, not wanting to leave him on his own if she can help it, and the dog trails after her obediently, tail wagging more in curiosity than in overt excitement.

She stands for a moment, steeling her nerves as she surveys the place, making sure there's only one person who matches the description she's been given before approaching the dark-haired woman.]

Are you Vanessa Ives?

[ Given how unique the description of Shadowheart was, Vanessa is already heading toward her when approached. Somehow the dog is the most unexpected thing to see, but then she wouldn't expect most people to have pets here. Especially a supposed half-elven...warrior? Witch? She knows too little, really.

Vanessa is subtle in her once-over, not lingering on the delicately pointed ears or striking white hair, but she does privately marvel at the sight that Shadowheart makes.

Outwardly, her half-smile is polite, and her tone only mildly curious under the circumstances. ]

I am. And I am to presume you are the one seeking information about a poison?

[ The slight head-tilt further suggests her curiosity, but she can already begin piecing together the possibilities.

Something nags at her, though, a familiarity she can't quite place. ]

[Shadowheart is less subtle in her once-over, her gaze raking over Vanessa's unusual dress – unusual in a way that's different to everyone else's unusual dress – and the way she carries herself, finally finding Vanessa's face, observing the nuances of her expression. She has, if nothing else, a confident air about her. Hopefully she's someone who knows her particular discipline well, and can provide what Shadowheart needs with little fuss.]

Yes. I am.

[She lays a hand on the back of Scratch's head, hoping to reassure him should he sense anything amiss. He tilts his head curiously up at Vanessa, waiting for her permission to sniff her.]

Shall we move away from any prying ears? [This is not a conversation she wants overheard.]

[ Vanessa has never been one for pets, given her rather ~~irresponsible~~ unpredictable lifestyle back home, but she can't help but think of a little wolf when looking to the dog. There's a natural connection there, making her think of Ethan in the strangest of ways. Predator animals tend to be humbled by her, but nothing is a sure bet, so she doesn't reach out despite its friendly disposition.

She admires both for another moment before nodding and turning to lead them away. ]

I have a house near the apartments, not far from here.

[ A humble word for the Victorian mansion that awaits them. ]

[She follows Vanessa, and Scratch dutifully follows her. It's indulgent, she knows, having him here, but... Is it too much to admit she loves him, even to herself? She wants a pet so badly, and he's such a sweet boy.

As they walk, she pulls out a biscuit and breaks a piece off to feed him.

It quickly becomes apparent that the building Vanessa is leading them towards isn't quite a humble 'house.' She doesn't know what a reasonable size for a city home is, but this would feel more at home in the Upper City than the Lower City, she's sure. And it's certainly fancy in a way she's not used to.]

This is where you live? A little much for one person, isn't it?

[ The remark draws a flicker of sadness into her smile as they draw near the entrance, and she nods while minutely shrugging her shoulders. ]

In London, where I once lived, this house belonged to a friend, and he allowed me to stay with him. I'm not certain how Aurora was able to make such an exact replica, but despite the insult of it, I can't bring myself to ignore it. It may be a mockery, yet it is still something of...home.

[ The closest thing she ever had to a home, at least. No one place would ever really be that, though. Not for her. ]

I am not always alone. My companion is often there when not busying himself elsewhere.

[Something of Vanessa's tone catches Shadowheart's ear, something in the word home. It's a sense of almost... a lack of belonging. Something she herself can relate to, if she's got it right. To her, the word 'home' carries no meaning, conjures no images or feelings or memories. The closest thing she's ever had to a home is a little campfire in the wilderness, surrounded by her friends.

She reaches down to scratch Scratch's ears.]

As long as we'll have privacy. I'm looking for someone with a knowledge of dangerous plants, but I'd also hoped for a certain amount of discretion.

Then you have chosen well who to seek out.

[ Not many would be so willing to offer such knowledge, or even more than that, without a thorough interrogation, but so long as the woman doesn't plan to poison the entirety of Etraya en masse, it shouldn't be her business. She can sense no such malice in her, not on such a grand scale, at least not towards all of the other captors.

To herself, or the ailment she suffers, is another matter...

Could it be a malady brought on by magic? That, or even the fact that she isn't entirely human, may prevent initial entry. She pauses outside the door with a glance over one shoulder. ]

I'm uncertain if you will be able to enter with ease... For some, certain ceremony is required.

[ Nothing is certain when other worlds are involved. Curious, Vanessa will open the great steel door (pointedly not matched with the rest of the grand house) and step in before turning to face her. If she can enter on her own, best to first try, rather than attempt blood magic on her without needing to. ]

But there is no harm in first trying without.

[ She'll only meet an invisible wall if it is to affect her. Vanessa can still remember the first time she encountered such a spell, unable to even cross into her old friend's front yard. ]

No harm? [She stops, eyeing the doorway. There are spells she's aware of that ward an area, and none of them are harmless.] You'll forgive me my skepticism if I ask what, exactly, might prevent me from entering?

[Scratch starts towards the threshold, but Shadowheart holds out a hand to warn him back. She wants him walking into a potential trap even less than she wants to do it herself.]

[ The skepticism is a fair trait that Vanessa can admire and understand well enough, and there's a little smile when she notes how the dog is held back. The woman clearly has a soft spot for the animal. ]

A protective measure that I was forced to take some time ago to keep out certain types of witches. Sometimes unfortunately, it can keep at bay anyone who is a bit more than animal or human. Especially those affected by magic. ...It causes no harm.

[ Unless a demon is foolish enough to be inside the barrier when she casts it, but she won't make that mistake again. ]

If you are unable to enter, that can be remedied. Unless you are one who follows the Dark Prince.

[ It's only a half-jest, but she's rather sure there are no elves in her world to serve Lucifer, and if this woman was a demon, Vanessa surely would have been able to tell. ]

Not a Dark Prince, no. [She was, until recently, the follower of a Dark Lady, but that's behind her now.

She is, however, the daughter of a lycanthropic elf, and whether she inherited her father's lycanthropy or no, she certainly inherited his elven blood. And that's before taking the magic into account.]

I hope you'll understand if I take my own protective measures.

[Vanessa must have some power, if she's warded her home against non-humans and mages, and she strikes Shadowheart has the type to be unafraid of using that power. While Shadowheart is loathe to use a great deal of power over what might be nothing, best to take precautions.

Her eyes burn with a flash of golden light as she casts death ward and freedom of movement on herself in quick succession. For a moment, the holy symbol of Selûne – two eyes surrounded by seven stars – burns itself into the air in front of her, and more golden light swirls around her before subsiding.

As soon as the light fades, she reaches out towards the threshold, only to have her hand brought up short by what feels like an invisible wall. Irritated, as though she wasn't warned mere moments ago that this might happen, she shoves on the barrier. Nothing, of course, happens.]

It seems your house has deemed me too elven and too magical to merit entrance.

[ The specificity of her initial response has Vanessa incredibly curious, especially if some godly or demonic connection grants her the sort of power she just displayed, but that's something perhaps to investigate a bit later.

Rarely is she accustomed to magic being so...visible, and the golden hue is lovely, yet she can sense nothing holy in it.

Curious. ]

If nothing else was going to keep you at bay, such spell-craft likely would.

[ But she can understand. It must have been Shadowheart's own protective ward.

Kneeling for but a moment, Vanessa lifts the hem of her skirts just enough to procure a small knife that had been strapped to her ankle. ]

Does blood offend? It is required for entry.

[ Joan hadn't really given her the option, but nothing was going to scare Vanessa off at that point. ]

[When she sees Vanessa pull a knife from beneath her dress, Shadowheart bristles, shifting sideways in front of Scratch.]

Depends on whose blood it is, I suppose. If you intend to spill your own, by all means, go ahead. If you intend to spill mine, well... I'm not in the habit of opening my veins to just anyone.

[ Again with the little smile. ]

I should hope not.

[ She keeps more than one knife with her, just as useful for collecting herbs as they are blood magic, but she would rather not reveal the one concealed closest to her breast. Some things are best kept for worst-case scenarios.

But she likes Shadowheart, at least what she's seen so far, and this invitation can always be reversed should that ever change, so there's no hesitation or even a flinch as she slices into her own thumb with a practiced swipe. The knife is left on the table just inside the door before she steps back out and reaches up with her bloodied thumb. Again, she'll pause, showing far more consideration than was ever given to Vanessa herself. ]

I will need to mark you.

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cw: we got blood magic here fellas