Appropriate Labels

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 10:18 AM

The bustling port was a jewel. The sea sparkled as the wooden boards of the boardwalk creaked under Delphine's feet. Delphine rushed about the boardwalk stands, smelling the briny fresh seafood, the odd little treats, peering over the seashell jewelry. Tourist-traps, all. She asked a few questions of the people selling chocolate, about the plant and their lives making foods from it -- in most cases, growing it, too. Before, naturally, making purchase of a lovely sipping chocolate as she walked down towards the beaches. For her part, the rejection had stung no really worse than the last one: of course the king wouldn't help. Who'd take that risk? But they had to try. And in doing so, she saw something a little difference. She looked to the positive thing -- there was a show that night at one of the local theatres worth seeing, and she was wondering if perhaps some money could be pooled for an accomodation a little closer to the action... Well, perhaps not. There were things she liked to keep an eye on, anyway. She shook her head airily as she walked, swishing a braid plaited with exotic hot-weather flowers, including a hibiscus by her ear.

Deallocate-Yesterday at 10:39 AM

A little bit further down the boardwalk, a familiar-looking woman in black clothes was arguing loudly with one of the boardwalk vendors. The quarrel in question seemed to involve lots of gesturing to the myriad plants the older vendor had on display. Shanoa's comments could be heard over the other people on the boardwalk. "Look, if you find some random herb, you don't just go displaying it as what you think it is, okay? You get the second opinion of somebody actually qualified for the analysis! If somebody buys this, they could end up endangering themselves if they're under the impression it's something other than what it really is!" The vendor attempted to speak up, but the witch cut him off. "Secondly, if you're going to try to advertise the 'mythical Calamint', choose something that actually vaguely resembles Calamint!"(edited)

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 10:47 AM

Delphine heard the sound of an argument -- and recognized the voice, lifting her head at the familiar sound of her one-time roommate (they'd generally bunked together on the road, out of habit, after that, but at this point, everyone was roommates). She bounced over to the argument, seeing the array of plants on display -- she wasn't enough of an expert to really say if they were mislabeled or not, but she side-stepped to the center of their argument. "Well, good -- well, OK, probsbly not actually good, it sounds like -- afternoon, Shanny. Good sir. What seems to be the trouble?" Not like she couldn't hear it. But if she kept her tone pleasant enough, the yelling part would hopefully give way to a quieter explaining and, surprise, maybe actually making the situation better. She didn't really bother with more than a cock-browed expression, though. There was trying to smooth things over, and there was being a little too cheery.(edited)

Deallocate-Yesterday at 11:03 AM

The older man gave a sigh and rubbed his brow. "This little 'un 'ere thinks she can just waltz uppun tell me what mah plants are an aren't. Lookie 'ere, I've een in da trade for forteh years, an I know wat I know." "Look, maybe you once knew what you were talking about, but right now you certainly don't" Shanoa interjected. "Calamint has thicker leaves, and when cut like that, it oozes fluid. So unless it's dried, which it most certainly isn't, I can confirm for a fact that your herb right there in not Calamint." She picked up the jar to the man's protests and stripped the label off if it. "In fact, I'd say it's the spitting image of fennel. A particularly mediocre example of it, actually." The herbalist tossed the jar to him, which he barely caught. "Change the label on that, old man. Fennel. Remember it." She leaned forward and glared directly at him while he sputtered. "I'll be back later today. And I expect you to be selling your wares with the right labeling. If somebody gets hurt because you're trying to pull a quick buck, you're going to have a lot to answer for."

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 11:16 AM

"Shanny, can you not go chucking around a man's merchandise?" Delphine leaned forward casually, staying roughly as the third point of a triangle, leaning against the stall as she scanned the herbs on display. Delphine shook her head: yes, there was a problem. And there were peole who needed to be yelled at, and all that, but... Maybe she just didn't have the right amount of context. She leaned in a little closer to the guy and said, in a soothing voice, "I am sorry for the trouble... But I really would trust her opinion. She's got a real head for plants." And intelligent hats "Besides... It's a pretty good thing to find a more accurate label, right? I mean, you wouldn't want a customer getting sick and not being able to come back for another round of purchasing your fiine herbs, or buying the wrong thing and ending up disappointed. You're an honest merchant, right?" She asked him, eyes sparkling with a delicately-applied innocence.

Deallocate-Yesterday at 11:24 AM

The older vendor lowered his gaze. "When ya put it like dat, dere's not much I can seh to disagreh. Fine. Consider it done." He turned around with the jar of herbs and began writing a new label for it. Shanoa immediately pulled her friend away and stood with her back to the stall. She seemed to be pondering something, with her hand propping up her chin. After a few moments, she spoke. "Okay, I'll admit. You might have been the slightest bit more effective than me in convincing him." She flashed Delphine a smile. "That was really something, you know. You're really something."(edited)

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 11:41 AM

"Well, you knew the plants -- I was just backing you up," She said, grinning at the praise for her tactics. In the battlefield, she could be pretty useless -- but when it came to people, she could strut some stuff. She took a sip of the thick chocolate, leaving a thin mustache of velvety drink on her upper lip as she smiled. People like that were all pride, and moved by best by appealing to it... Probably. Pride was a good button, even for people who didn't need to really get a hole in it. "I just do what seems like the right thing for everyone and rush around like an idiot. And what about you? That wasn't a walking around wound! And yet, there you went!" She zipped a hand across her field of vision before resting it on her hip, her admiration mixed with exasperation. She had been really worried, but Shanoa didn't look like she had gangrene or anything.(edited)

Deallocate-Yesterday at 11:54 AM

Oh shoot. That's right. Delphine would be working with the infirmary. Shanoa suddenly seemed very interested in anything other than the current topic. After a few moments of trying to find a way to change the topic, she settled on one. "Wow, Delphine, you look fantastic today!" Shanoa closed the distance between them to observe the other woman's hair. "Those flowers do an amazing job of bringing out your latent beauty." She flipped a lock of her own hair. "Hmm, perhaps I should do the same. Maybe some blood-red flower for the brim of my hat, to accentuate the color of my hair. It'd also kind of fit my theme, you know?"

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 12:06 PM

For the moment, she was distracted, adjusting her long blue braid for a better view. Today's look was an over-the-shoulder side-braid, to better show off the array of flowers, most white, but touched with vibrant yellows that caught a contrast against her blue hair. "Latent?" She said, mock-offended. She tossed her head and put a hand to the hollow of her throat. Between the two of them, it'd hardly be a surprise if a person walking through the market stalls turned their head for a second glance. Delphine eyed the other woman carefully. "Maybe an orchid? I bet we could find a nice one... From a different plant-man. One we haven't just hassled." She said, gesturing for Shanoa to follow her... Though, once they'd started moving through the board-walk, she added, "No, but seriously. Is that healing OK on its own? You probably have a poultice against infection, I know, but I'm a little worried." So close, Shanoa. And yet, so far.(edited)

Deallocate-Yesterday at 12:24 PM

"Uaaagh! I didn't mean to say 'latent' as in hidden! More like, pre-existing, and brought into full glory!" Shanoa nodded vigorously, while in her head, she was sighing at her own incompetence. She glanced at her side with the scar, which was currently obscured by the dress. "Yeah, I put a compress on it. In the end, it won't look pretty, but it should ward off any infections and increase the rate of healing." The memory of the pain shot through her mind, causing her to wince. I almost died... That's not something to be taken lightly. Almost immediately, she tried to chance the course of her thoughts to something more pleasant, and considered Delphine's suggestion. "An orchid, huh? Good idea. Beautiful, vibrant, and they smell nice to boot." Just like me. "Although I'd prefer to pick a fresh sample. I wonder if they could be found around here..." Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "We could check out the rainforest right next to the port. I hear it's flourishing with a with variety of flora!" Shanoa turned to Delphine with wide eyes, silently begging.(edited)

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 3:24 PM

Delphine laughed at Shanoa's flustered response -- not a demure little giggle, but a laugh where she tossed her head back, until it ran down a few notes and stopped. She waved it off as if meaningless... And instead focused on the nature of her wounds. "Hmmm...Well, I could give it a run-over, though at this stage, I don't think it won't leave a scar. Sorry," Delphine admitted. She considered some way to lessen the blow, since it seemed a tough one. Perhaps it was just the fear of death... And it was hard not to be sympathetic. "It's not great, but... Like anything you live through, it'll be a story to tell." The idea of exploring the rainforest was a welcome relief, and she nodded eagerly. She rolled up a sleeve with her free hand, pushing it up. "Alrighty! Let me finish my drink, and we'll go!" She took down a deeper drink of the chocolate, cough a little as the flavor was strong enough to nearly be a delicious, chocolatey punch, and licked the top of her lip for the remainder. "OK, there!"

Deallocate-Yesterday at 3:47 PM

Shanoa shrugged. "It's okay. I think I have an idea to remove the scar eventually, if I decide I can't live with it. But due to its dangerous nature, it's a last resort." Shanoa watched apprehensively as Delphine gulped down her drink. "You could have taken your time, you know. I'm in no rush." In a fluid motion, she pulled a vividly colored handkerchief out of her hat. She leaned forward and wiped a spot that Delphine had missed with a giggle. "And here I thought nobles were supposed to be all clean and orderly." she teased.

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 4:01 PM

"Yeah, I wouldn't worry too much," she advised, nodding. A scar was, at the end of the day, not the end of the world -- lots of people had them, without it really mattering much at all. "You look fabulous." Delphine shrugged. The clay cup had been her own, brought along because she'd heard the reccomendation and wanted to enjoy while she walked around, so it'd just be a matter of stowing it back in her light travel bag, draped over her shoulder. She submitted to the handkerfchief with a child's squirminess and a little chuckle of her own. "You say that, but have you seen a post-hunt feast sometimes? My dad threw those, and they could get pretty grimy sometimes. Mother hated them... " She shrugged it off. Those occaisons, when her father could give a little flexibility, and was really enjoying himself... Those had been pretty fun. "Who you're born to doesn't instill in one a nature tendency to be genteel."

Deallocate-Yesterday at 4:10 PM

"I was thinking it might be one's upbringing that inspired this 'genteel' nature. Or, you know, forced it upon you." She smirked. "Good to see that's not the case with you. I wouldn't want to constantly be wondering if I'm acting adequately when I'm in the presence of the imperious Lady Delphine." She stowed the handkerchief away and took a few steps towards the forest barely visible over the port's numerous buildings, before gesturing for Delphine to follow.

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 4:14 PM

Delphine followed after, catching up in a few bouncy steps. The carefulness of her walk holding the pot had been, in fact, just a show. "Lady Delphine, Countess Amarana, you mean," Delphine said in an imperious tone, posinng dramatically with a hand on her chest. It was her best imitation of her mother's cold expression, exagerrated somewhat tomake it, if anything, more clear. "No, I may not be the darling of the upper classes, but... I think it's better to be someone around whom people, just being good people, can always act 'adequately.' I'm not special just for being born."(edited)

Deallocate-Yesterday at 6:06 PM

Shanoa giggled at her performance and gave a mock bow. "My lady, you have my utmost apologies. I only spoke of you so informally because your full and true name is too beauteous to grace my lips. In penance for my sins, I shall forever live in silence." She mimicked locking her lips and throwing away the key. The witch's silence managed to last a good five seconds or so. "How good-natured of you to allow others to treat you so informally." She raised her head in the air nobly. "I'll have you know, if I were nobility, I wouldn't let anybody forget it for a second."(edited)

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 9:38 PM

Delphine nodded regally before proceeding, the witch's silence a welcome thing, seemingly. She didn't bother explaining that no, that wasn't even her full name -- just the stylings of her address. She had, though this would have been a surprise, learned how this worked. It was trash filling her brain. "Ah, much better -- what would the words of a mere peasant, just one in a sea of admiring faces, be to a lady regnant in her own right?" She did laugh as the time of silence was all of five seconds. Like you could have kept that up in the best of world, Delphine thought...Though... It did occur to her that maybe if everyone could forget, life would be better. Easier. She smiled, perhaps just a little strained. "If you demand to be treated formally, though, no one can be anything but formal. You can say goodbye to simple laughing like this -- if that's the world you demand to live in."

Deallocate-Yesterday at 10:06 PM

Her eyes widened as she realized the torment that not being able to laugh would be. "Okay, maybe I wouldn't be so suited for such a life after all. Having people treat me with respect and be polite to me for once would be a welcome change. But having to be all proper and orderly?" She held her hands in front of her in mock surrender. "I'm starting to change my mind. Definitely not worth it."

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 10:16 PM

"Well, I can treat you with respect -- and if someone gives you a hard time, let me know: I can straighten them out!" Delphine made a point of rolling up her other sleeve, showing an arm not at all suited to 'straightening them out.' To her, respect was something you could be super polite and still not show, using what you said to mask what you really meant. She'd seen the frozen manners of her mother, after all, and the sniping of courtiers.

Deallocate-Yesterday at 10:37 PM

Shanoa prodded Delphine modest bicep and raised her eyebrows. "I'm glad I can count on you to come to my aid, Delphy. I only ask that you don't beat them up too much." Before long, the two of them reached the edge of the forest. Shanoa stood in awe at the massive trees that obstructed the entirety of he vision. "Whoah..." she said as a small gasp escaped her lips. "It's... beautiful."

September 17, 2016

LadyDeme-Today at 8:48 AM

She'd opened her mouth to shoot back some response -- but the rainforest caught her off-guard, the high fog rolling through the treetops, as if the clouds were level with the undercanopy -- the bright red bromeliads, hanging from the thick trunks of the trees. The sounds of birds, the crunch of leaves in the distance, all filled the air, counterpoint to the sound of something dripping. "Ah; what wild lands now present themselves -- how vast the world truly is, to contain such a thing... Here, the forest is a glass for the humidity, the rain a fuel of endless growth, as it trickles from the peak of the world to its base," She said, getting lost in the beauty of it as she took a few eager steps off of the road, and into the base of the jungle, the growth of the trees blocking out much that would have interfered with her path, so well below the canopy. The leaves were slightly slick underfoot, and her steps were a little more cautious to compensate.

Deallocate-Today at 10:16 AM

Shanoa hopped after her in her ungainly heels. "So poetic, Delphy. And here I was thinking that 'Whoah' did a perfectly passable job of summing up the magnificence of the rainforest." A chuckle escaped her throat as she continued forward. And so the two of them entered the rainforest together. Whatever secrets it beheld for them would be lost to the outside world as they plunged into a beautiful realm of massive plants and overbearing humidity.

===END RP===