|
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 6:05 pm
(1/10)
He'd wanted to take a ship from Matori. It was the reasonable venture, the preferred option. But the truth of the matter was that when Yngvara, fixing him with a look as if he was nothing but manure on her boot, told him that the airship from Sauti was faster, cheaper, and less dangerous... he had nothing he could say to defend his original plan. Because yes, it was. All of those things.
But he couldn't describe how much he did not want to fly. His father had, according to his sources, taken the route through Matori, so surely that was the better way to go! And... and besides--
It was simply unnatural, to fly. Earthlings weren't meant to, if they had been they'd have wings like a raptrix! But he'd purchased the ticket, walked on board without his guide, and promptly locked himself in his cabin, trying his best not to be sick.
People such as him couldn't be seen in public, being ill, it was unseemly!
Finally though, after the most harrowing trip he could have imagined (there was rumbling and rocking and every groan of metal made him sit up with heart palpitations), they landed in Belrea, and now began the search for his father.
He didn't want to alert his father's 'agents' by blindly asking around, and he couldn't trust that anyone he tried to hire wouldn't just run off with it. His family name meant little here, after all. So... he would seek out healers, and see if any of them recognized the symptoms his father's malady showed, to see if they recognized it and pointed him in his father's direction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 2:31 pm
Life as a father of four was vastly different than being a father of two. Adjustments had been made to accommodate the twins that included, but weren't limited to, teaching his elder sons basic care for when their resident healer (himself) was away. At first keeping Asa in the home was the smarter, more economical choice, but money was tight. They'd lived comfortably before the twins were born though no where near as lavish as Asa had been raised. The moment he'd stepped away from the estate Asa had to learn the art of saving and getting creative with limited resources, something his partner was all to eager to show him (mostly so no more coin would needlessly be spent). So, now that the twins were old enough to be in a more 'stable' condition he'd started taking smaller jobs again just to keep coin flowing into the home.
If anything he wanted to make just enough so that his wife could have a break. The thought of her being the sole provider for their family as well as caring for not only him now, but two ill children worried him. While he did as much as he could around the home to make it comfortable for her Asa never truly felt as if he did enough. He'd even though of seeing patients out of their home, but really, who wanted to see a healer for wellness with a screaming child in the background?
So, he'd hit the streets early in the morning and by midday he'd already proven successful. Asa was, naturally, exhausted from many a sleepless night and walking about the city though the exercise seemed to do him well. Dressed in Belrean garb, with a touch of Zenan flare, he looked almost posh enough to return home...as if he would ever do such a thing. The iceling stood outside an apothecary he frequented, adjusting his satchel and the various herbs inside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 12:22 pm
(2/10) Amon really was out of his element. As a young man who'd grown up with healers' employed by his family, it was a shock to him that many healers here seemed to spread themselves out in offices. He was so used to healers or doctors who were fetched by a servant to come attend to him, that when it hit him just how immense the city was... his initial hopes to find his father fell to pieces. The first few he'd managed to find had dismissed him, saying they'd never share information about a patient, and when he offered substantial coin for it he'd been escorted out harshly.
Right, well. That was... hasty of him, but being so close he felt desperate.
Soon enough he'd need to find an inn to stay in, and as much as he'd detested about traveling with Yngvara, she at least given him the reality check of just how quickly his gold would deplete if he was to seek out his typical standard of service. And the last thing he wanted was to run out of funds, and be forced to return home empty handed - especially with the wrath and likely punishments he'd get from his grandfather when he returned.
Shaking himself, Amon peered down the street, eyes locking on signage that suggested the place was yet another healers' office. He took off towards it, though as he neared it he realized it was a shop for supplies, not an actual office - but perhaps he could question a few of the patrons as they came out. Sure enough, a short man stepped out, face turned away as he secured his purchases in his satchel, and Amon lifted his chin as he strode forward.
"Sir Healer, a word. ...Please." He said, adding some awkward manners into his request. He was used to ordering people around, but had already found out this morning how unlikely it was to get him help. Perhaps, his fellow ice-blooded traveler would be a bit more understanding than the locals, who bristled at his behavior.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 1:23 pm
"Ah, yes?" With his hand still half in his bag, Asa turned toward the voice. His eyes widened considerably when instead of a Lightning lad or even a Geian gent he was met with a Zenan. Now that's a sight. It had been some time since he'd seen another of his kind and it was enough to give him pause. The surprise didn't keep him long, however, and Asa found himself straightening with a poise he'd never lost. "Apologies for my impudence; the day is long and it seems courtesy has left me. How can I be of assistance?"
Upon inspection the youth looked hale and hearty enough. An illness with a companion, perhaps? His tailored attire spoke of wealth just as much as the imported dyes no doubt used to color them and he held himself with an air of confidence not many wastrels had. It...unnerved Asa. Why was someone like this here? And that necklace was...Surely it was just a bold, gaudy piece of jewelry.
Nothing more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 2:30 pm
(3/10) You would think that Amon would suspect something, anything, about this man. However, there wasn't a spark in his mind that suggested this might be the person he'd been looking for. For one, he'd always imagined his father was as tall as he was, if not more so. Yes yes, he understood the man had always been ill, but he'd not heard any descriptions of him, and his manor lacked any of the typical portraits that people of his status normally earned. Originally, Amon had thought that was because it hurt his grandmother (somewhere, buried deep deep...deep? down) to remember him. Now, after his discovery, he realized it was because his grandfather must have felt betrayed by his leaving.
Secondly, he had never heard any indication that his bloodline had magic, nor would he ever have suspected a relative of his to pursue such a profession. If his father had fled to Belrea, it was to immerse himself in the merchant guilds here, most likely!
So there wasn't a single spark of recognition, or inkling, in his head as he approached the older man. His expression did brighten however when the man, dressed in finery that soothed Amon's nerves after weeks of traveling among common folk, was paired with manners that he was more familiar with.
"Not at all, it's a relief to see a kinsman so far from home." He said graciously enough. With other healers, he'd begun with a 'I'm looking for a patient of yours who--' but that had been enough to shut the conversation down. The lordling pondered how else he could phrase the question that might offer a bit more... information.
"I've been searching for a ... treatment, but many healers don't seem familiar. It is a Zenan disease, I suppose. Perhaps you would be able to offer some insight for me, and point me where I could find - this treatment. Or I could seek advice from any locals who have similar maladies." There. Maybe that would be ... subtle enough.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:14 am
If only I could say the same. As pleased as Asa's soul felt to hear the familiar cadence and thread of an accent his blood was on edge. He'd come to fear anyone from Zena as a potential threat, but the logical side of his mind was trying to calm him. This lad was barely a man and certainly no threat to him. There was certainly a chance he wasn't alone, after all this was a foreign country so far across the ocean, surely the boy hadn't come all this way on his own, but what were the chances he was tied to any of Asa's kin?
"A treatment for a Zenan disease?...In Belrea?" Now that...was getting a little too close. He narrowed his eyes, but that could have easily passed for confusion and not suspicion. "You'll have to forgive me; it just seems a little odd." And now, time to fish for information. "If you'd like to accompany me I was just on my way to have a little afternoon snack. Perhaps over a cup of tea you can describe to me the symptoms you're researching and I can see if they match with any that I'm familiar with? I have a patient I see regularly who suffers an illness from birth but I'm uncertain if it is the same malaise."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 9:44 am
(4/10) Sure enough, Amon didn't see the crumpling of the man's face as anything but him thinking hard on the subject, and when he agreed to talk further, the heir was pleased and agreed instantly, his interest piqued. He had a patient with a disease from birth? Surely that was a match, unless he admitted the patient wasn't a Zenan at all; but it was the best lead he'd found so far in this gods' forsaken place.
"Of course, that sounds agreeable. I'll follow your lead, kind sir." And he gestured for the man to go. He briefly considered introducing himself, but the healer had made no move to do so and if he was honest the heir didn't much care to know his name, just whether or not he knew of anyone with his father's malady.
They walked at a sedate pace, with Amon only barely biting back an annoyed query on if the older man could go any faster! Of course, the man wouldn't understand why he was in such a hurry, but he found himself frustrated that his time was to be held hostage until he could get the answers he so desperately wanted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 6:43 am
Even on Asa's best days his pace was far from hurried. He took each stride as calm as the last without betraying the unease inside of his heart. Occasionally he would look to the young man under the guise of making sure he was 'following him down a particular street', but in reality Asa was studying his features. There was a familiarity there, though it wasn't one he could pin down, at least not while they were moving.
It didn't take him long to lead them to a cozy little café. Esker's was a familiar enough haunt for his family that Asa half expected to see his beloved or his children there, hoped for it actually, but when he saw no such forms the iceling found a spot at one of the many outdoor tables. After all, the weather was lovely and....if he needed an escape route he'd rather not have it cut off.
Once his accoutrements were organized and drinks were ordered Asa spoke up. "What sort of context can you give regarding the patient? Any sort of specific information you have could be helpful; even the most insignificant of details may yield results." When a plump, youthful Belrean lass came by with their tea she smiled at the two foreigners and Asa passed a demure one her way.
"Would you care for a pastry? Or something warmer?"
"Just toast for me, please. Gooseberry jam." Asa motioned to his friend, "And whatever suits him."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 9:50 am
(5/10) This was nervewracking. Amon let out a rather improper sigh of relief when they finally stopped at a cafe, which was... quaint. It was better, at least, than the dodgy sort of places Yngvara had encouraged them to use in their trip to Sauti, which had made his very skin itch just to be in! This was... well. It reminded him of Oona's space in the best of ways, with little things hanging about for no apparent reason, filling the void that his parents and grandparents preferred in much of the manor. He found his eyes tracing a few of the knick knacks, like a wind chime hanging from one of the wooden posts, until they were set to order their tea - then Amon was at attention once again, sitting primly, hands settled comfortably so he could look relaxed but attentive, just as his grandfather had instructed him.
Finally! They were getting to the important bits! Amon opened his mouth to answer, but then their drinks arrived, and his frustration eked out of him with an immature flop backwards against his chair, giving her space to put down her tray. He was used to the servants back home, invisible and unobtrusive, but on the road he'd come to encounter the other sorts. The ones who lingered, eyebrows raised, for gold coins in tips, or the ones he paused by the table to chat with you, ignoring all hints to LEAVE.
Thankfully, this one was professional in that she didn't linger past her welcome - once the healer made his order (and Amon shook his head, his stomach too tied in knots to consider food), they were left alone again.
"It is a blood disease. Or - it is passed through the family. The sufferer would have bouts of weakness, perhaps coughing at times -" He wracked his mind for the symptoms, because his grandparents didn't discuss Asa, and only liked to refer to him as 'sickly' or 'ill'. The rest he had gathered from prying Oona for stories. His own family were so ready to cast Asa aside that he wasn't even included in the portraits that hung in the gallery or the halls - a fact that had been sorrowful as a boy, but understandable now that he knew the man had abandoned his responsibilities. His grandfather, after all, could hold a grudge.
"Healers said they'd have a short lifespan, but - ... well I'll be honest, I - there is one specific patient somewhere in Belrea with this malady, who I am looking for. You see I-"
He'd tried this previously. To say he was looking for Asa, only to be coldly shut aside. He could... thread the truth in, but also make himself more piteous and sympathetic. "I have an engagement." Not a lie, though he knew very little about the lady in question. "And my father is here in Belrea with this disease. I could pass it along, of course, and I need to know more about treatment - and to know how he lived so far past when any healer said he would."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 10:33 am
Well, if Asa was unsure of whether or not he was in the presence of a true adolescent those thoughts were beyond him. The Zenan lad fidgeted just as much, if not more, than his eldest sons and at one point he tapped the tabletop twice to get the boy to watch himself. A stern look could do wonders, especially when in the presence of a lady, which is exactly who that sweet little waitress was. While perhaps a little more open than he would have liked, she'd been nothing but good to his family since coming here so he wouldn't stand a stranger giving her grief, however minor.
Thankfully she didn't seem to notice any of his irritations and went away to acquire Asa's toast.
"A disease of the blood, but this individual is the only one afflicted?" Asa delicately added a bit of citrus to his tea, and gingerly lifted it to his lips. If need be he could use a burst of wind to knock the table back, hopefully catching the lad off guard and make a break around the back-
"Ah, so that's it then." His father? Well, then that couldn't possibly be him. His children were all with his beloved and far too young to reside anywhere other than their side. Asa settled his cup back down atop it's little saucer and paused for a moment to greet their waitress when she came back with his snack. A pleasant little exchange, a bit of coin and she was on her way once more. "Whatever malnonem your father suffers from may very well reside within you and could pass to your children. If your betrothed also has a history of illness in her family then the risks would be much greater, but I assume your family has vetted any possible brides for that."
Still, Asa couldn't help thinking that this 'father' may very well be a ruse. Something to gain his trust... "May I inquire as to your father's name? You needn't share a family name if you don't wish to, just his given name will do. I'm curious if my patient and your mystery man aren't one in the same."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 10:46 am
(6/10) Any other situation, and Amon would likely have puffed up in offense at anyone daring to correct him. Who did this healer think he was? But in truth, the young noble was far too focused on getting the information he wanted, so at the tap of the table (which, honestly, reminded him of his grandfather, but in a gentler way as if Geir got to that point he would slam his hand to the table to make those around him jolt and quake in their seats). Nonetheless, Amon took it for the signal it was and settled, at least until the woman left, seemingly none the wiser.
When she returned, Amon behaved himself, eyes locked on the older man as he delicately considered his teacup, and his answer. He nodded along, because yes his family was sensible, and wouldn't allow any other illnesses into their bloodline if they could help it; though that also meant his pick of brides was more limited than it ought to be. Money and wealth bought a lot, but only so much these days - especially with the world opening up in trade, and their family having to work harder to keep the level of wealth they were used to.
The Sargsyan family wasn't quite what they were, before his birth - not that Geir would ever admit that openly, to anyone especially his grandson.
The suggestion of giving a name should have set off alarm bells in Amon's head, but eagerness at being so close to finding his long lost father made him hasty. He was at least present enough not to offer his surname - any Zenan respectable and refined enough as this man would recognize it. "My father's name is Asa." He said, earnestly, leaning forward just a bit, one hand curled around the warmth of his teacup. "Is that him? Your patient? I have quite a lot to ask him - both... relating to this bloodline of ours, and other concerns. I'm not sure how long he's been here, in Belrea, but it must've been a least a few years."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 11:01 am
Asa's grip on his teacup tightened. For a moment the Zenan didn't breath at all, but rather took in the visage sitting in front of him. A refined young man with an atrocious necklace had come all this way for a sickly man...Father indeed. Had they paid him to traipse about in the public eye? Surely if Asa had seen anyone older than this boy he would have hid out immediately, but who would cast immediate distrust on someone so young?
"I have to admit...I wasn't expecting our patients to line up, but it seems they have." He offered his best tempered smile and slowly released the hold on his teacup. For all appearances Asa was the same friendly soul he had been originally, but there was a cooler edge to the man now. They were here; they'd come all the way to Belrea to find him and now everything he'd built was in jeopardy.
"I'm well acquainted with Asa and his family. Lovely bunch, really; I've been serving them for the better part of a few years now."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 11:15 am
(7/10) Amon had been brought up, trained even, to spot the tiny expressions on a face, to see when someone was being duplicitous. But his experiences with using such skills were limited, at best, because despite having these classes... his grandfather didn't trust him to actually USE those skills. Which meant that despite the cooling of the man infront of him, the tension of his grip on the cup, Amon's own emotions blocked him from catching the signs - a lesson that he would have been scolded for quite sternly, if one of his teachers caught him. He watched the man intently, and when he said ... he said Asa was his patient - Amon let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding.
Then he continued, and Amon couldn't quite contain the flash of betrayal he felt at that simple statement. He'd only known that Asa was alive for a short few months - but in all that time he'd somehow never let his mind go to the obvious conclusion, that he'd gone off and made a complete new life for himself. Abandoned him. He probably should also be upset that he'd left his mother, Isanna, behind - but she'd never expressed much fondness for her first husband, and never spoke about him. Amon figured it was similar to how he felt about his own fiance - he knew so little about her, the only betrayal he'd feel if she ran off with someone would be to his ego, nothing more.
He took another breath to steady that flash of anger, forcing himself to take a steadying drink from his tea, before he put it down - maybe a little heavily, if the clack against its plate was any indication. "Perhaps - do you think you'd be able to make introductions? He is my father, but he left home before I was born." And that was the truth, of course. At least the truth as Amon believed it. "I know it's outside the purview of his healer, er-- you have your... vows of privacy I suppose, but - a letter! I could give you a letter to pass on!" Because if Asa knew he was here, why wouldn't he at least see him?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 11:58 am
He was upset, but why? What was the real reason to that flash of emotion across his face? For a moment it burned so bright that Asa tensed in his seat, more prepared than ever to bolt, before it was contained. His breathing hitched, causing the barest tickle of a cough to gurgle up in his throat, but Asa was quick to drown it out with tea.
"Patient confidentiality." He answered easily. "I am unable to tell you more about him at this time than you already know, but I could deliver a letter. If he's agreeable to meeting with you then you can work out the details from there." Of course the kindest thing he could do would be to give the lad some of his own parchment from his satchel and yet, Asa wanted to flee quickly. So, instead, he offered the 'suggestion', "This café doesn't close until the lanterns are lit. If you leave a letter with the very same waitress we've had today then I can pick it up in the morning on my way out for rounds."
And, of course, he would take it straight back home to read over with his wife.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 12:12 pm
(8/10) The man cleared his throat at him, and Amon's expression furrowed, unsure if he'd made another faux pas of some sort... but the healer simply sipped at his tea, and made no complaint. When he finished though, he confirmed Amon's worries - he wouldn't tell him where his father was. But... at the very least, he would pass his message along. Amon had suggested it, of course, but that still wasn't his favorite solution to this problem; he wanted to see his father. Now!
... If he passed along a letter, his father might never respond. Would he be able to handle that? To have that confirmation that Asa knew he existed and simply didn't care? Oona had always said his father was kind, he wouldn't do that, would he? Then again, before she passed the old woman had also felt Amon was gentle, and that was far from the truth, wasn't it?
"I... forgive me, this is a very important letter. Is there any way I can reach out to you later? To confirm you received it, and that... young lady didn't misplace it?" he tapped his finger against the tabletop, once again fidgeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
