vagabond, stray, or just strange

ooc; nikki is at the border, calling for duskguard to chat
@Genghis is free to come in any time - but mostly for @Olive

Having come, circled around, and come back... It was time to check out Duskguard. She wandered to the strong line of claim, refusing to pass over it. A few gentle chuffs alerted whoever was nearby. While she hoped to see her old acquaintance, Genghis, again, it was purely open for anyone else. The dog said his flock was kind and welcoming. She would take his words as truth.

She did not pace, for that would look suspicious. While the woman was keen to meet those of Genghis' flock, she also had patience. When a pale woman slipped toward her, the fortune teller sat up a bit straighter. "Hello," she began, dipping her head "I need nothing from Duskguard, madame" she added "I am but a humble vagabond. My friend, Genghis, said I was welcome to come to the border."

While she was not looking to join, she would ply her skills until that time. She shuffled her feet, embarrassed. "I, um, had hoped to repay his kindness with a fortune or two given. I like to gleam a bit..." focus, Nikki, focus "I was wondering if any of your people would like their fortunes told. For free, of course. It is my honor to do so." Maybe even this pretty pale woman would like one done?

the staff team luvs u

Slowly regaining her autonomy, Olive was making more of a concerted effort to be out within Duskguard society. Pulling her weight. Being seen. She was constantly plagued by a miasma of worries that led her to believe that Tiberius was overworked, and she had become somewhat lazy in her postpartum haze, and now felt had something to make up for. It wasn't true; she knew it wasn't, but it had all become so heady and confusing lately that it was simply nice to be in control of something. 

That was why she had been near the borders, and had been able to answer the wanderer's call so quickly. Quite proud that her work had paid off so quickly, Olive approached in a manner that was unabashedly perky. She wanted to make a good impression, whatever this encounter would be. Tiberius had never not been proud of her, or so he claimed, but... she just wanted to do good. be better.

The pale woman gave a slight bow when she saw the hooded figure lingering on the border, and returned the introduction. "Olive Shakti-Sage, Priestess of Duskguard. It is my pleasure," she greeted, allowing the corners of her eyes to wrinkle with her smile. "A fortune, you say?" Of course this immediately piqued the seraph's attention; really, the wayfarer could have found no better (or more needy) audience.

"It's not so often that I am on the receiving end of divination," she professed quietly, between them, seer to seer. "And I am certain that you would find plenty of patrons, within this vale." Olive glanced to her left and to her right, and then behind @Nikita, wondering if they were alone, not yet sure what about her life she was willing to openly discuss. Her matters these days were of quite a sensitive nature, after all.

the staff team luvs u

The man, like always, was patrolling the border, having taking some time off was enough (though it was only about a few hours) and he was ready to start back on his work schedule again. So, when he caught the scent of a familiar wolf at the edge of the territory, he damn near sprinted over, though quickly slowed down to a trot as to not scare everyone. He did look like a bear after all and who wants a bear running you down?

It seemed Olive already was there though, causing him to pause for a moment at the top of a hill, looking between the two of them. They appeared to be having a conversation so he didn't want to interrupt... but as he glanced over at Nikita, he couldn't stop his tail from wagging back and forth behind him. 

He was happy to see her, something he hadn't really experienced much of before, and he wanted to talk to her, to see if she was back for good, to ask what she had seen on her travels, to learn more of the plants she worked with.... but he was too much of a gentleman to step into a conversation that he wasn't invited into. And so, he stood there debating everything over in his head. Should he leave and find her later, or go over and make himself known?

the staff team luvs u

Oh, my. Wasn't this darling little Priestess cute? Platonically, of course. Nikki often found others cute and adorable in their own way. Even if Olive was being very welcoming and formal, she found herself drawn to the gentle mannerisms. "I'm Nikita" she smiled, tail wagging. Olive proclaimed she hadn't been on the receiving end of a gleam very much "I should wonder not why - with that title of yours. Perhaps we can trade some little secrets? I only know a few ways to gleam." She giggled softly, already enjoying herself here.

Olive glanced around, wondering if anyone else was there. That's when Nikki saw the giant form of - "Ah, Genghis!" she chimed, lifting a paw over Olive's head to beckon him. She gave the Priestess a maybe later sort of look. It felt quite personal sometimes to do a reading in front of others! "hello" She also chirped a greeting to her old-new friend "I'm back" Obviously "Priestess Olive was just welcoming me" If he came closer, she would smile to invite him "I hope all is well in the Vale?" She asked both of them courteously.

Perhaps to avoid a big scene like reading a personal fortune, she fell back to no pressure tactics. The reading was open to Olive, any time she wanted one. "I'll be around for a bit" she added "though I shall not dare to step over Duskguard's border."

the staff team luvs u

For all intents and purposes, they appeared to be alone. Of course, Olive had forgotten to check behind her, woefully unaware that anyone else besides she had come to attend to the lone woman upon their borders. So when Nikita called over Olive's own shoulder towards the previously unseen Genghis, her body tensed and froze in sudden surprise, a small rush of air puffing from her nose. Oh, so they knew each other! Olive found that all very interesting since Genghis hadn't seemed to have many pursuits besides guarding and culture-sharing. Perhaps friendship was amongst his interests, after all.

The Priestess turned to look at him, beckoned him closer (as if he had needed further invitation), and looked back at the hooded woman, whose offer of a reading was slowly be retracted by the presence of another. The truth of it was that Olive didn't want to wait; she rightfully needed some advice now, as every other moment was filled with cache-filling and pup-rearing, with interminable anxiety percolating through the nooks and crannies between . As Olive saw it, the moment was ripe, and the presence of Genghis was only a bolstering, grounding presence. She didn't need to get that specific about Tiberius's business, in order to apply whatever was gleamed to her life.

"Oh, we mustn't wait!"” she cooed rather empathically, rather surprising herself. "If Genghis is willing to be your escort during your stay, I see no reason for you to not be invited within.” Olive turned her head again to look for his oncoming presence, wanting to assess their interaction together before she asked him to vouch for the wayfarer. At present, it was only an idea.

the staff team luvs u

The man was relieved as she noticed him, his body clearly loosening as he approached. His head would bow to Olive for a moment before glancing between the two of them. Clearly he had interrupted something but he wasn't entirely sure what. "If I need to leave, I can always come back." Sure, he hoped that that wasn't the case, but he was kind enough to offer and would very much leave if needed. 

Glancing at Niki, he found himself sad that she wasn't staying, though that instantly turned to happiness as Olive offered him to escort her. His tail began wagging quickly behind him, "тийм ээ — yes" He said quickly before clearing his throat and calming himself down before speaking again. "Yes, I am fine with that if you are as well." He looked over at Niki, his face neutral. 

Even with his neutral look though, his heart was pounding and his tail wagging. He hoped she didn't noticed how crazy he felt right now, though he was sure Olive could see through his mask.

the staff team luvs u

All at once, the stars aligned. Proverbially, of course, until the night. It was just an expression. The Vale stretched before her now, opening by way of Lady Olive's offer. Nikki giggled at the woman's insistence, her curly tail wagging thoughtfully but excitably. She was always quite happy to do a reading. "Okay then." She would agree, casting a look at Genghis when he agreed to escort her further in. A smile was sent his way, grateful.

She glanced back at Olive, humming.

"Well, I use items found around oneself. Their home or a special place. So, if you could, Lady Olive... Please bring me four in total" Nikki requested gently "Genghis and I will be further in, I think he'd know a secluded area... He can stand guard so we aren't interrupted. Does that sound good?" Always accommodating everyone's needs. Though it needed to be said; "oh, the items don't matter much. You just need to have a subconscious connection to them."

A pause.

"Like, umm... You feel something when you look at them. Like your heart is leaping" A sense of spiritual deja vu! Nikki looked at the invisible line before her before, carefully and cautiously, moving a paw over it. When met with no resistance, she bounced over to Genghis easily enough. Tail wagging at the pair, she grins. "we'll meet you soon, Lady Olive. Just come to me when you're ready, okay?" A nod to her friend to lead her somewhere she requested. Secluded. Quiet.

Away from prying eyes.

the staff team luvs u

Genghis was amongst them, and displayed the deference that she had come to expect from the swarthy guardian. Then she smiled at him, being able to clearly intuit what bubbled within the canid, that Olive wasn't even sure that Genghis recognized himself. But Olive made note, nodding at his eager acceptance of this new task, and looked back at Nikita.

In all truth, it was not often she came across another with the same penchants as she. "I can do that," The impulses and inner recognition that she spoke of, Olive already knew fondly. "I'm familiar with such resonance." Almost immediately, she knew of several items in her stores that could easily serve such a purpose — though she wondered if that was almost too controlled and predetermined, so she conceded to finding at least two items in the Vale. She would see whatever the Gods put in her path.

Nikita made a move to leave and enter the Vale, to which Olive took a step towards her, almost as if to subtly intercept, or give her pause. The Priestess had no intention of stopping her, not after Genghis enthusiastic acquiensce, but she had one more question. "I'll come find you soon, but before I depart for my treasure hunt..." The sylph glanced back towards the wall of a man, as this inquiry was posed to him as well.

"How do you two know each other?"

the staff team luvs u

The man didn't understand or really care about prophesies or fortune telling, or anything like that. However, he didn't mind really, willing to stand guard for anything that was asked for him, even if he didn't particularly believe in it. And so, he would simply nod as they spoke of him standing guard, perfectly fine with all of that. In all honesty, he tuned out most of their conversation, though not to be rude. No, instead, he was simply giving them privacy. 

However, as the question of how they knew each other popped up, the man would tune back in rather quickly, getting very flustered in the process. His tail would start wagging again and he would speak up, his voice rushed. "We just.... we had met a while back when Sir Tiberius told me to take a break. I took a day off and met her near the south part of the Tundra...." Unfortunately that was all there was to it, or at least on the outside it was. He wasn't going to say how much he had enjoyed their talk, or how much he had prayed that she would come back.

A simply look of 'I don't know what the hell I'm doing, help' was sent towards Olive, clearly showing that he liked her but was entirely out of his comfort zone with this. Olive knew his story, knew he was a lone wolf (dog) for his whole life and now, he was as blind as a newborn pup.

the staff team luvs u

"He speaks the truth" she nodded to Genghis' words, taking no offense to the Priestess giving her pause. It was her land and Nikki was respectful, even wary, of stepping foot on it from the start "I also told him about the bistort plant... Um, did he bring any back?" She lifted a brow, amused, and shot a playful look of accusation to the canine "it is fine if not" she added, giggling softly as her eyes drifted back to Olive "we just had a chat and he spoke highly of Duskguard. I need nothing from your community, truly, and mean it no harm."

Obliviousness was Nikki's middle name - if she had one. Unaware if people were attracted to her, or had a subtle crush on her... She really was stupidly aloof. Her words and gestures were naïve and innocent. She didn't know Genghis liked her beyond friendship; she met him once before and didn't know his stumbles meant anything more. It'd probably take some time before she realized. So, she was oblivious as she stared at the Priestess, her head tilted to the side. A pleasant, dreamy smile. Wondering if it was okay to continue.

She'd only move again from Olive's confirmation.

the staff team luvs u

I'll close up for us ♥

---

Nikita might have been oblivious, but Olive was not. She saw clearly the pleading glance that Genghis tossed towards her, and she smiled at him, feeling light and at-ease about the whole thing. The innate matchmaker within Olive deeply desired to say something on the nose, or concoct a small plot to get the two together, alone. She wanted her guest to feel comfortable, and for the first of Duskguard's guardians to be fulfilled and able to see after his own, person pursuits. Above all else, Olive just loved love, and wanted to see more of it around her.

So, the pale woman turned back to Nikita. "Persicaria bistorta,” she affirmed her knowledge of such a plant, but she had none delivered to her recently, even from the maw of the sweet Aries. "I've seen none here, but I know it grows prolifically in the moors just west.” The Priestess flicked her nose in the direction of west, and then turned in the opposite direction. Olive had newly-given task at hand, and she wanted to see to it in a detailed and intentional manner.

"Have a wonderful time in this magical Vale,” she bid her companions a brief adieu before excusing herself back into the depths of the heartland. With a final nod of her head, she said "I'll see you both soon.”

the staff team luvs u