Dragon's Brew [closed]

[Hal]

Tani narrowed her eyes at Isabelle.  Her wound ached.  It was why she'd not paid for a healer.  Her lips thinned as she stared at the other woman, unabashed now; there was no room for awkwardness or false modesty.  She took what measure she could of the other woman, chose to hear what she wanted, and made her own interpretations.  It was thus that she turned on her heel, without a word, and strode through the Doman sliding doors and into the room beyond.

 

She wanted out.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle smiled and turned towards her potted plant. She wasn't sure if Tani could hear her, "So.. this is what it feels like to be.. a real person..?" 

 

The elezen would pick up the plant to tenderly put it back upon it's spot on the table.

 

"Perhaps I do have a heart someplace..Surely I felt something that I have not felt in such a long while beat."

 

Thinking Tani had fully left, Isabelle began to hum a soft tune to herself as she gathered the tea cups onto the tray for cleaning.

[Hal]

Tani paused at the door that lead out to the hall, listening.  Her lips firmed, and she shook her head before passing out into the hall.

 

She shut the door firmly behind her.

 

___________

 

There was always something that needed to be done. It was why Tani enjoyed being a bookkeeper so much. It kept her busy, and when she was busy she couldn't think, and when she wasn't busy she distracted herself with people. People, she enjoyed. Isabelle, she did not. The thought was unwelcome, and distracting as Tani stumbled over a list of figures. She carefully scraped the heavy paper, and started anew. Two scrapings later, and she forced herself up, looking around the room. Barren room, cluttered by other peoples' forgotten things.

 

Saiyah had been too busy to help her, so Tani began puttering around, clearing the floor, and taking out the old mop she'd borrowed. Cleaning hurt, but it kept her busy. It kept her mind busy. Busy enough, except when the plant she'd almost killed --almost, but for Isabelle's aid -- kept catching her eyes. She went to the back rooms instead, moving things, cleaning things, floors, walls, windows: anything in reach.

 

She returned to the front room only when the pain in shoulder and pectoral muscles intensified and sharpened.

 

The plant stood there, idle, accusing. Yellowed leaves. Drooping leaves. She frowned at it, but it remained unchanging.

 

She'd forgotten the water can.

 

Swearing, she stormed out of her almost-office, noting that the sky had darkened considerably. Maybe enough time had passed. Yeah, right. Her knock on Isabelle's door was harder this time, and she far more certain.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Approaching Isabelle's room, if one was careful enough, the faint sound of a harp playing could be heard. With the hard knock, there was a sound as if something had been knocked over. A mumbled curse and things moving.. finally, the door slowly opened as Isabelle peeked out again, "Yeees..?"

 

Tani likely saw the surprise in Isabelle's blank face. The elezen was not expecting her to have returned so quickly. 

 

"Oh.. for the tray? Tis still drying but I suppose now is better than ne'er.."

[Hal]

Tani's face, in turn, was extraordinarily bland.  "Yes," she said, leaning against the door frame.  "I believe it is also time to water the plants?"

 

She hurt.  Her jaw tensed.

[Moonlit_Demon]

"Ah.. yes.." Isabelle would leave the door partially open. She would fetch both the water can and the tray.. as well as something else. Once the elezen returned to the door, she had something extra to give. 

 

"I forgot to give this to thee earlier."

 

Isabelle had a cane for Tani. It was decorated with moogles singing carved all along the length of it. The watering can was on the tray. Marked obviously, for Tani to know exactly how much water to pour. The tea cups were cleaned and stacked neatly as well.

 

She would resist letting Tani actually take the tray though, "Shall I carry this..?"

[Hal]

Normally, Tani would have refused without hesitation.  It marked her, that she did hesitate, left hand rising unbidden to the bandage that covered right shoulder and stretched down to the top of her pectoral muscle.  She shifted where she stood, eyeing the unexpected item.  "Is that... a cane?"

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle nodded. Offering the item to Tani. She was wordless otherwise and held the tray firm.

[Hal]

Tani did not reach out to take it.  Her eyes narrowed, suspicious.  "...Why?"

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle answered a simple question with a simple answer, "Thou needs it."

 

She held it out for a moment longer, but if it was not taken, the elezen would shrug and start to put it down.

[Hal]

"My legs are uninjured," Tani said, her voice and bearing stiff.  "But I will thank you to carry the tray."  Without waiting to see Isabelle put the cane down, she walked back to her office, her back straight and proud.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle would smirk. She would wait for Tani to turn and walk away before taking the cane with her anyway. She'd follow wordlessly trying not to grin and throw further fuel to the fires that still seemed to burn from earlier.

[Hal]

The trip was silent and uneventful, ending when Tani opened the door into her rooms and gesturing Isabelle inside.  "The floor is fine," she said, her voice tight.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle looked for a table anyway. She would set the tray there instead and take the watering can outside to fill it with water with intent on watering the plants, herself, instead. Isabelle inspected the plant and would tenderly touch the leaves, cooing softly to it. "Hush now.. you'll be fine. A little rest and a little love." Isabelle paid no attention to Tani. It was like the spicy little accountant wasn't even there... in her own office. 

 

Secretly, she'd left the cane outside by the door.

[Hal]

There were no tables; a large storage trunk and a few chairs -- plus the two plants -- was all the furniture currently in the room.  Still, they provided surface area adequate for the tray.  Tani watched her, left hand on her hip, her other arm hugging herself around the waist.  An eyebrow raised at Isabelle's temerity, but she didn't comment.  She just stood.  Watching.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle would turn to Tani, "Dost thou have some sissors..?" She spoke plainly, calmly, as if their heated conversation earlier had never happened.

[Hal]

Tani glanced about the room, her eyebrow yet raised.  Empty but for her writing supplies, bookkeeping detritus, and the leftover furniture.  "No," she said, her own voice cool.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle shrugged. From a hidden compartment in her boots, the elezen would pull out a knife. She'd trim those dead leaves as if she were cutting the hair of her own daughter, ending with a sweet little, "Ahh..~" She smiled brightly, taking the dead leaflet clippings. Isabelle even took a moment to admire the neatly-trimmed potted plant

[Hal]

Tani looked between pot and elezen, dubious.  There was nothing for her to do, apparently, so she scooped up some  of the receipts she'd been recording into one of the account ledgers, and resumed her work.  She sat on the floor, leaning up against the big trunk with the work in her lap, studiously ignoring Isabelle and the damned plant.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle glanced around the room. There was still a bit of cleaning to do. At least, more thorough cleaning. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and started to wipe the vase clean of any dust it may have accumulated before stuffing it in her pocket.

 

The elezen glanced at Tani once. There was an awkward silence. Quietly, she'd excuse herself and gently close the door behind her... of course, after sneaking the cane inside.

 

She'll use it. She needs it. She's just proud, like me.