2077/Roses in Dun Realtai

Roses in Dun Realtai
Date of Scene:	23 April 2015
Location:	Dun Realtai
Synopsis:	A lost Elphelt comes upon Saber in Dun Realtai
Cast of Characters:	346, 740

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Elphelt Valentine (740) has posed:
Elphelt Valentine frowns as she walks to the village square of Dun Realtai, a map in her hands and a frown on her face. The oddly dressed Valentine sticks out her tongue in indignation as she once more pours over the warpgate connections map. One that she's holding upside down, and that's about four years out of date.

In retrospect, buying a map of the Multiverse from Totally Trustworthy Trader Bob in Slum Urbania may have been a mistake. Hands falling to her sides limply, she lets out a dramatic sigh as she just slumps forward a bit in that slightly jilted mechanical way of every movement she makes.

"This...this isn't Illyria, is it?" She laments to just about anyone in earshot, a note of despair and dissappointment in her voice. Even her cloth-ears on her bridal veil seem to droop. She's the picture of a maiden lost.

With a shake of her head, she recovers however. Giving her bouquet a little hug, she stores the map inside of it as it poofs out of existance in a little burst of pink sparkles. Heading towards the Inn, she'll seek to bother some of the locals as she takes out a photo of a dark skinned woman, prepared to to ask the first person she's met if they've seen this girl!

Saber (346) has posed:
     It was a lovely spring day in Dun Realtai, with a light, cool breeze and clear skies. The ground, however, was somewhat muddy from the recent (and frequent) seasonal rains...or, at least, they had been seasonal before the unnatural winter, according to the native townspeople. Now, with the last vestiges of winter properly dispersed, the land seemed to be reverting back to its normal pattern. Now all that remained was restoring life to the land, a project already well underway.

     The Servant Saber had been reluctant to leave, given the weather and an appointed lord with a propensity for overworking himself. But offworld supplies were still very much needed, which required a few trips to Njorn Station to bring back what was required. As necessary as it was, however, Saber disliked being away from home for very long.

     She smiled to herself thinking about that. Dun Realtai was home...a /true/ home. Even Camelot had never truly been that for her, nor for Sir Bedivere.

     Thankfully, the trip had not pulled her away from the tiny village for very long. Dressed in somewhat modern work clothes consisting of a flannel long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and work boots, Arturia returned with a few crates in tow, loaded up on a cart she pulled behind her. Once upon a time, the villagers would have started at the sight of a petite young woman pulling the load of a well-built grown man, but had since become used to their lady's curious strength.

     What stopped her instead of exhaustion was the sound of an unfamiliar and very obviously lost voice. "No, it is not," she answered the confused young maiden. "This land is Dun Realtai. I think...perhaps your map is somewhat out-of-date."

Elphelt Valentine (740) has posed:
The bridal-bot shoots up straight as Arturia takes note of her, only to quickly put her hands in front of her and beam a cheery, if slightly goofy, smile to the woman.

"Oh...oh! Yeah, of course it's not! How silly of me, I must have...taken...the wrong warpgate. Again. Hah hah hah." She trails off with nervous laughter, trying to brush it off with cheer and smiles. It might not quite work.

She stands a little straighter, however, and soon there's a picture being thrust towards her of Ramlethal.

"But that's okay! I mean, I get to see this cute little village! It's very homey, you know? Like the ones in the storybooks about medieval knights! With princes and princesses and brave warriors going out to save the kingdom, giving their wives scarves and telling them 'Hold onto this for me, my love, and I'll come back for you!' And then the knight goes searching for the magical artifact to save the kingdom, and his faithful wife waits for yeeeears faithfully until one day they reunite and rekindle their love!" Gushes the odd woman suddenly, hands on her cheeks, including that picture. She seems lost for a moment.

Then she blushes horridly. She thrusts out that picture once more! "U...uhm. Uhm, have you seen this woman? Name's Ramlethal...about my height, deadpan voice, acts kinda like a robot, and uh, has these really big swords?" Asks Elphelt, holding up the picture. She then shakes her head a bit.

"Oh! I'm Elphelt Valentine by the way! Nice to meet you! Do you need any help with those?" She points to the cart of crates, not once losing that smiling, cheery visage. It's a little odd perhaps, so much smiling hardly seems to strain her.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber was rarely thrown off her stoic or otherwise neutral composure...but then, without warning there was a very exuberant mechanical girl flapping away in embarrassment, gushing over fairytales, and thrusting out a picture of someone the knight had never seen. There was but one thing to do, one appropriate reaction:

     Blink owlishly.

     "A-ah..." she started, attempting to gather her wits about her. Fortunately, it didn't take long. "I am afraid I have not seen this person," Saber replied, shaking her head.

     Once she was over her initial bewilderment, however, the petite blonde was able to offer a small, friendly smile. "Any help is most welcome," she replied. Even if she could handle it, it was only polite to allow someone to help if they were that enthusiastic about it. "Lady...Elphelt, was it? Well-met. I am called Saber."

Elphelt Valentine (740) has posed:
In the vast sea of reactions the very unique person that is Elphelt has received, owlish blinking is on the kinder side of things. She actually seems to beam a little brighter. There's also sudden pink sparkles as she just twists side to side, and rose petals float off of her bouquet as if on cue.

Her femininity protocols are working overtime to work up such a display.

The initial answer causes her smile to soften, and let out a tiny sigh. Less outwardly dissappointed this time, her face more accepting as though she's heard that one before.

"Oh well. It was worth a shot! Uhh, just one thing? If you /do/ see her? Be careful. She's dangerous. And call me, okay?" She'll offer her personal radio number on a very, very flowery piece of stationary.

Then she leaps up onto that cart, balancing on the side lip of the thing. Reaching down and whistling a bit, she stacks up a good five crates before leaping down, all without missing a beat. Aside from a light 'harumph' of effort, it seems this woman has her own stores of above-human strength, nevermind balance.

"I'm always happy to help! Mister Kiske would always say 'Oh, that's okay Miss Valentine, I'll take care of it'. Or 'I'll have the maids do it'. Oh! Have you ever heard of him? King Ky Kiske, Third King of Illyria? Tall. Blonde. Good with a sword? Reeeeeally nice?"

Then she's smiling right back.

"That's me! Elphelt Valentine! That's an interesting name! Do you live here Miss Saber? This place seems so peaceful! Dun...Altai? Realtai?" She tests the name on her tongue.

Saber (346) has posed:
     The extremely feminine robot was hardly the strangest being she had ever met. But she was more than a little surprised, somewhat off-balance in how to necessarily react. Preternatural senses were more than adequate to pick up on the mechanical sounds her body made, though Saber's rather archaic thinking tended to process such beings as 'metal elementals'. It was really the only way she could wrap her mind around living machines.

     And they certainly were alive, as her introduction to Gakupo attested. Machines which merely mimicked life would not have had the creative spark necessary to write music. Arturia tilted her head slightly to one side, considering a possibility. The over-thye-top femininity struck her as showy enough for one of the robotic bards. "You would not happen to be one of the...I believe they are called 'Vocaloids'?"

     When given the equally-flowery note, the jade-eyed knight nodded. "I shall do so. However, should you need assistance in dealing with this person, it is my duty as a knight to assist any in need."

     Likewise, there was a decided lack of surprise at the Backyarder's strength. She did, however, shake her head slightly at the mention of this unknown king. "I am afraid I have not," she admitted. "Moreover, I have yet to visit a kingdom called Illyria."

     As enthusiastic as she was, the Servant could hardly find it in her to be rude...or to do much besides smile pleasantly. "Yes, Dun Realtai has become a home for myself and others, as well as a haven for any in need. As long as the law of hospitality is honoured and obeyed, all are welcome."

Elphelt Valentine (740) has posed:
El perks up a little, blinking just a bit with those big green eyes. "Vocaloid? I'm...no. I'm a Valentine! What's a vocaloid? Are they artificial beings too?" Wonder and amazment lurks in her being! The thought of other artificial humans gets her quite excited!

At the offer of help, Elphelt gives a little smile. "Thanks. She's...important to me, so I'd like to stop her without her getting hurt."

Both pump into fists, and she bounces just a bit on her toes. "I'll make it up to you too! Come on, let's get these inside!" Then she's all but skipping along with her boxes in her arms!

"So you're a knight? Where from?" She questions.

Saber (346) has posed:
     The flaxen-haired knight nodded. "Yes, if I understand correctly, they are programs to create music on a computer. However, some have gained self-awareness and have had mechanical bodies created for them."

     Saber smiled slightly. "The one named Gakupo is a part of the Union and is an occasional guest of Dun Realtai. Perhaps you shall be able to meet him sometime?"

     Approaching the thick oak doors to the great hall of the keep, she paused to open them for Elphelt even as she continued. "However, there are quite a few other artificial beings, as well. However, I have yet to meet them personally."

     The once-bare great hall now seemed to be a distribution point of sorts, with other boxes of already-organised seeds already stacked against a bare wall. They really should have a storage area built for the supplies they had been importing. "Over here is acceptable," she indicated before continuing almost absently. "Oh...I am from a land called Britain. However, it would seem that our era is a distant past for most of the multiverse."

Elphelt Valentine (740) has posed:
Color Elphelt fascinated. She very nearly loses her boxes over it, literally.

"Ooh! Living music programs! Oh, so artsy! I love it! Man, they must have the best concerts! Gakupo, huh? I'll have to meet him for sure!" Are those tears in her eyes as Saber mentions the amount of artificial beings in the Union.

Definitely. Sniffle.

"I'm not alone anymore! And neither is Ram!" She shouts suddenly, before urk'ing, and trying to calm down.

Finally, down the boxes go! El whistles a bit. "Yeesh, never knew farming need so much stuff." She peers at a few labels curiously.

A nail goes to her chin, tapping as she ponders the name.

"Britain? Never heard of it! But from the way you act, I'll bet it's full of knights and princesses, and noble warriors protecting innocent people from evil with their shiney swords of justice and peace!" She waves her bouquet around like some sort of sword here! The woman would be a hit with the kids no doubt.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Just before the crates come tumbling down, Saber caught one deftly, seemingly unperturbed. To underscore that point, the jade-eyed knight simply continued to smile. "I have heard some of his compositions performed here. Though artificial in means, I found the music to be pleasing to the ear." Which was generally the point, she thought...though there was apparently some music which was not meant to produce the same feelings. Still, she did admit that she was acclimated enough to the modern era to enjoy some vocaloid music.

     "I have heard their voices over the radio, frequently. It should be a simple matter to meet with them," she replied with a light chuckle.

     Setting down a crate next to the already-stacked ones, the Servant nodded. "Indeed, it does," she replied. "On a smaller scale perhaps not so much, but even for a small village, it requires much and a great deal of planning. Though, it would require less had it not been for the unnatural winter and dark magic which had destroyed the vegetation which was previously present. It required a concerted effort to restore fertility to the land."

     The Backyarder was awarded with a self-depreciating chuckle. "Not filled with them, precisely....yet we did what we could for the sake of the people."

Elphelt Valentine (740) has posed:
"So cooool! I wonder if he puts out records. Haven't gotten any more music for the bridal express in a while." Comes the woman thoughtfully, suddenly grinning. Then she takes a breath, stamping down on another stream-of-consciousness rant, and smacks her hands together.

"Alright! That settles it. I'm going to host an Artificial Human party! So all we Union members can meet! Oh, but don't worry! All the humans can come too, and...well anyone really! I'll get some cake, some punch, maybe a band! Ooooh! Oh! And maybe I can get Mister Gakupo to sing!"

By now, she's forgotten all about boxes, at least briefly. Then she pauses.

"Maybe I should have it at Njorun...hmmm...."

DArk magic!? Artificial winters!? El looks absolutely horrified for a moment.

"Oh no! Is everyone okay? Is there anything I can do? Uhh, I don't know much about farming, but I am a medic! Mister Kiske even let me take the certification test while I was in the stasis pod! See?" Reaching into her dress, she pulls out a nicely embroidered card. It reads 'Elphelt Valentine, Certified Medic of Illyria', with Ky's flowing writing underneath it.

Saber (346) has posed:
     The Servant tilted her head slightly in what was her equivalent of a shrug. "Perhaps," she replied. "But it would be best to inquire directly whether he has any recordings. I fear that our own musical pursuits have been of the more...traditional sort." In other words, only someone like a Vocaloid would be able to synthesise an entire orchestra single-handedly.

     She decided, probably wisely, not to inquire about the 'bridal express.'

     For her part, Saber managed to keep up with the topic shift, though she was not entirely certain how to necessarily handle Elphelt's...exuberance. Not that it was a bad thing, but she wasn't entirely sure how she could respond or be of any particular help. Yet, she made the effort. "Ah, well..the station has the appropriate facilities for such a gathering. Moreover, it is easily accessible."

     The King of Knights held her hands up slightly in a reassuring gesture. "Yes, they were all right now...the true winter has passed and we were able to prevent even a single soul from becoming lost to it. In addition, the previous lord had been dealt with, and we have been granted indefinite stewardship of the land. What remains now is the re-establishment of agriculture." Smiling reassurance, Saber added, "Assisting with supplies is of considerable help. You have my gratitude, Lady Elphelt."

     Her eyebrows raised slightly at the card, however. "A medic? There is always a need of those skilled in the healing arts."

Elphelt Valentine (740) has posed:
Here, Elphelt sighs a bit. 'Traditional'. She turns around, peeking out and spying the village.

"This really /is/ like going back in time." Comes the woman with equal amounts slight distress and a little wonder. Some people just can't get used to non-high-technology.

Elphelt swats herself on the side of the head. "Of /course/! Oh, why didn't I think of that!? Perfect!"

By now, the woman's practically skipping along as she walks over, plopping herself down gently on a box. It creaks a bit under that dress of hers.

Here, though, she offers a bow! It's almost courtly! Then she trips over those big shoes of hers, and flailing her arms, tumbles to the ground.

"Eh heh heh heh, welcome! I like helping people, and besides, I think stuff like this, well...makes my kind seem less like 'evil murderous emotionaless deathbots'. Eh heh."

Cue another card! Like the previous one, it's all embroidered and generally pink and cute. It has a radio number!

"Once everything's over in Illyria, I want to become a doctor. So, I consider this kind of thing practice. Call me any time, and I'll be here quick!" Grin!

Then, the woman eep's as her radio goes off. Her face lights up!

"Oh! There's another Ram sighting! Miss Saber, I have to go, but it's been nice meeting you! Let's go get our nails done together or go shopping some time, okay? Byyyyye!"

Out comes that bouquet, and in a blast of pink hearts and sparkles, there's a rather large, rose-patterned bow-wrapped rocket. She hops in the front seat, and the thing blasts off in a spray of magical pink jet-power.

Team Valentine is blasting off again!

Saber (346) has posed:
     The gynoid was awarded another chuckle. "There is some small amount of technology of the current era," Saber replied as she nodded to one of the lanterns suspended from the ceiling. In contrast to the torches along the wall, it was clearly lit with an LED. "We have simply decided that it was best for the people of the village of such technology was as non-intrusive as possible. Though we have dealt with the threat, we have no wish to disturb their lives further than is absolutely necessary."

     When Elphelt took her spill, Saber moved to help rebalance her, though it was probably not especially necessary. Still, her chivalry demanded the effort. "Careful, my lady," she cautioned. Some might think of that as a malfunctioning machine, but Saber was incapable of that line of thinking, hailing from a time well before complex machines in the shape of people were even conceived. To the Servant, she was simply an awkward, enthusiastic girl.

     "In truth, most of the artificial beings I have encountered have been indistinguishable from human beings in that regard. There are honourable and kind humans, as well as those capable of cruelty and evil."

     Accepting the card, Saber offered Elphelt a small smile. "Then I wish you good fortune, and we shall call upon your services soon." After all, there was always some need of medical attention, even in a small village.

     Once more, the Servant was reduced to wracking her brain for a good way to respond; the Backyarder seemed to have thrown her into the deep end of a swimming pool filled with pink strawberry champagne. "Ah. Indeed, it was a pleasure to meet you, my lady. Take care..."

     Saber had seen a great many strange things which seemed to defy explanation, met beings and fought creatures which would be considered incredible even in her own varied world. But somehow, the sight of a gynoid in rabbit ears and a dress even frillier than hers -- bouquet in hand -- leaping astride an equally frilly rocket and blasting off into the sky was perhaps among the strangest things she had ever seen. Somehow, she doubted anyone would believe her if she tried to describe it.