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* Tyl walks in, her hood back. Her hair is tied back in a green ribbon. * Rhys walks in from the back room, unlocks the front door, and settles behind the bar. "Hall's open... and good evening, Tyl." * Tyl stomps her feet briefly on the doormat. <Rhys> Can I get you anything? <Tyl> Evening Rhys. I'll be glad when all this white stuff is gone... <Tyl> How about something warm? Hot toddy maybe? * Maeli hobbles through the door, leaning heavily on the cane clutched in one hand, her large handbag in the other. She limps over to a chair near the fire and sinks into it gratefully. <Rhys> Of course. ::begins preparing the toddy for Tyl:: Good evening, Goody Maeli. Some... cider, spiced, with a dollop of apple brandy, if we've got it? * Temire walks through the door. She's dressed in black leather britches, a black shirt, and is wearing an undyed cloak. She has a rapier belted to her hip. * Temire takes off her cloak, hangs it by the door, then walks over to the bar. <Rhys> Good evening, Temire. It's good to see you back. Can I get you anything? * Rhys passes Tyl her toddy. * Maeli smiles weakly at Rhys. "You're such a dear. Yes, please." * Rhys begins preparing Maeli's tea. * Temire smiles at Rhys, "I'm still ecstatic about being alive, surprise... Within reason that is." * Rhys walks around the end of the bar and walks Maeli's tea over to her. "Here you are." * Maeli carefully takes the teacup from Rhys. "Thank you, dear." She takes a careful sip, closing her eyes in pleasure. * Lisl limps in through the door, favoring her left leg and wincing a little. "Ah, Rhys...." (Her voice sounds like she's trying for careless, but it comes out a little breathless and shame-faced.) "You don't have anything like a...umm...hot compress around, do you?" * Rhys returns behind the bar and scrutinizes the taps. "Surprise within reason.... give me a minute..." pours a shotglass of a vivid red liquid for Temire. "Try this. Drink quickly, and then breathe deeply." <Rhys> I can make one, Lisl, if you'll give me a moment in the kitchen. ::vanishes into the kitchen:: <Lisl> ::waves her arm:: Take all the time you need. I'll be... ::plops into a chair:: ... umm... right here. * Temire drinks the red liquid as quickly as possible then gasps loudly. * Maeli takes another sip of tea and leans back into her chair, teacup cradled in her hands on her lap. * Rhys comes out of the kitchen bearing a bowl with a steaming compress in it, which he carries over to Lisl. "Here you go." * Temire blinks a few times, "I think I'll have another one of those Rhys...And some water." <Rhys> Very well, Temire. Anything for you Lisl? * Temire looks at Lisl, "So what happened to the leg Lisl. I thought you were all healed up." * Rhys sets Temire up with another shotglass of the cinnamon schnapps and a mug of water. * Tyl sits at the bar and wraps her hands around her mug <Lisl> Ahh...thank you. Don't peek, now, if you're a gentleman. If you're not, well, I don't particularly care either. ::flashing a weak replica of her old grin as she lifts out the compress and wrings it, balling it into one hand as she grasps the bloody edges of a rip in her leggings and tears it wider, revealing a nasty-looking cut:: <Lisl> Mul-- um...on second thought, a glass of brandy, please, Rhys. * Maeli opens one eye carefully at the sound of tearing cloth. <Rhys> That looks awful, Lisl. Would you like me to send for a cleric? <Lisl> ::shaking her head:: I'll be fine, really. ::looking up at Temire:: I *was* all healed. I was just stupid, and got involved in something I shouldn't have. That fight...took a lot out of me. I should be fine in a few weeks, but I've got to be a little more careful 'til then. <Lisl> ::cleaning carefully around the edges of the gash before dipping the compress again and squeezing it into the cut with a hiss:: * Temire drinks the red liquid and gasps again. <Lisl> Damn, I'm getting old. <Temire> What makes you say that Lisl? <Rhys> Would you like a clean compress Lisl? <Maeli> D'ye need that cut stitched, girl? <Lisl> ::giving Temire a sour look:: Because I am, little girl. I don't bounce back like I used to. Of course, I generally don't bear-bait a pair of mean-tempered wizards, either. * Rhys raises an eyebrow. "Mean tempered wizards? Do tell..." <Lisl> ::purses her lips and looks at the gash again:: I think just the brandy, and a fresh compress. It's not deep enough now for stitching. ::With the blood and gore cleaned away, the cut *does* look much less serious than it did when she came in:: * Maeli shrugs and closes her eye again. * Rhys fixes a full-size snifter of Sembian brandy for Lisl, and carries it over. "Here you go. It's the first cask from the harvest after that beetle infestation four years or so ago that wiped the fruit crop out. Let me know if it's not up to par." <Lisl> All the same, thanks for the offer, Goody Maeli. ::grin:: It would be a shame to have some of *your* stitching on me if you put it where I'd have to cover it over, anyway. ::grins:: * Maeli chuckles softly. "My stitching ain't meant to be seen." <Lisl> ::smiles her thanks and nestles it in her cleaner hand, sniffing the brandy:: Smells about right. ::takes a sip:: Wow....the pruning did them good, I think. If anything, it's better. ::smothers a grimace as she splashes a small bit of brandy onto the cut:: Ohhhh, yah. Definitely better than it used to be. <Lisl> Anyway, the wizards....::settles back with the compress resting on her thigh over the cut:: Michelle's ex showed up to complain about the marriage settlement. ::grins:: Or something like that. Temire probably knows the history of it better than I do.... <Lisl> The problem is, he partnered up with...umm...an old, old enemy of hers, and decided to come calling the night she was resurrecting Temire here. <Temire> I still don't understand where Lan came from. It had something to do with those mirror spells that Michelle found. Zoya's probably the only other person who understands any of it. As for Yamato, he...I don't really know how to explain that one either. ::Temire looks sheepishly at her mug of water and blushes furiously.:: <Lisl> I promised Michelle I'd watch her back during the resurrection, and make sure nothing distracted her...::looks rueful:: And as it was, Temire here wound up saving my bacon in the end, anyway. * Temire smiles Lisl, "Thanks for letting us stay with you now that our house is gone." <Lisl> ::grins:: Hey, I've got Michelle's promise that she won't let *this* one fall down. * Tyl glances over at Lisl and smiles <Lisl> Yeah...anyway, this should give you an idea of what happened to the first one. ::digs another coin from her belt pouch and tosses it on the table. The coin-- at least, it's got the right amount of gold in the lump-- has been melted by fire, scored by acid, and generally looks like it went through hell and out the other side:: And then I had to go get uppity and take on a bloody gang of gentleman rapists.... <Lisl> I mean, honestly, who goes around armed with a piece of silver frou-frou like that idiot cut me with? <Temire> What's frou-frou? <Lisl> Frou-frou....you know...::gesticulating extravagantly with her hands:: overly ornate...like what Jaret wears sometimes. <Tyl> Sort of like a doo-dad, but more valuable... ::grins:: <Lisl> I'd swear there was more decoration than edge on that thing...::grimacing::..except there was enough edge to do this. ::gesturing to her thigh:: <Lisl> ::takes an overly healthy swallow of brandy, and coughs slightly:: * Maeli snores slightly. * Lisl takes another sip to clear her throat. "Well, it's feeling a bit better for having been cleaned up, at least." <Rhys> You've been reticent in accepting help, Lisl, but would you like me to alert the Purple Dragons? I know they don't have the best of reputations within these walls, but they are at least mildly competent at times. * Temire drinks some of her water. <Lisl> Um...that might not be the best of ideas, actually. ::blushing slightly:: The last I heard, they were looking for someone to...umm...assist them in their inquiries regarding a decapitated corpse in Michelle's old digs. ::giving Temire a look:: I'd rather not bring me to their attention just now. <Lisl> And besides....::looking rather satisfied:: Those "gentlemen" aren't likely to be raping anyone again. Ever. * Temire shudders for a moment, "Lisl, do you know when your mother will be in town again?" <Lisl> Um....::thinks:: She drifts in and out, and rarely gives me warning...something about not giving me time to skip out on her. ::frowns a little:: She's been spending a great deal of time lately consulting at Candlekeep...come to think of it, I haven't heard from her as recently as I'd like....::frown deepening:: <Temire> Maybe we should go out there and surprise her for once. ::Temire grins mischievously.:: <Lisl> ::chuckles:: Well, we could go out there. But it would take a full-blown raid with heavy magical support to surprise her. ::grin:: <Temire> Temire shrugs, still grinning, "So we'll invite Michelle along as well." <Lisl> ::shakes her head:: You're shameless. At least give me a day or two for this to scab over. She'd throw a tearing fit if she saw me injured. ::looking perfectly serious:: <Rhys> I can whip up a salve for that if you'd like, Lisl? <Temire> I didn't say we had to go right this second. And what's shameless about giving you an excuse to get out of town for a few days? <Lisl> ::makes a tsk'ing noise:: And I'll need to go buy *another* pair of new leggings...too late in the season to tan my own now. ::exploring the hole with her finger, looking rueful:: The way I've been going through pants recently, I swear.... <Lisl> That would be great, Rhys, thanks. ::smiling:: Tho' it would serve me right to go without. ::shakes her head:: I can't *believe* I let that whelp got under my guard. * Maeli wakes up and looks around, confused. After a few seconds, she realizes where she is. She carefully puts her now-cool tea on the table, and pulls a half-made blanket out of her bottomless bag, and spreads it over her legs as she begins knitting. * Rhys goes in the back and comes out with a mixing bowl with some water in it, carrying a mortar and pestle in his other hand. He sets it all down on the bar top. * Lisl picks up her snifter and hobbles over to the bar, holding the compress firmly over her wound. * Temire sips her water. * Rhys reaches under the bar and pulls out a rack with bottles of oils, herbs, nectars, and all sorts of oddities neatly arrayed. "Here. I think all of this is available around here, so you're welcome to watch and take notes if you'd like, Lisl." <Maeli> ::Maeli's knitting slows, bit by bit, until she once again is dozing.:: * Temire perks up and looks at what Rhys is doing. * Tyl finishes off her drink * Tyl takes a coin out of her pocket. * Rhys fiddles around and picks a bottle. "Oil of Thistle. Stings, but helps things stay clean." He adds some to the water. <Lisl> ::picks up a bottle and sniffs delicately around the neck without uncapping it, nodding and putting it down again:: Thanks...I hope not to need it so frequently, but it's good to know about. <Tyl> Here you go Rhys... I have to meet a friend for some business... <Rhys> Very well, Tyl. Good night, and be careful. <Tyl> I'm always careful... * Tyl waves cheerfully and exits the Hall <Lisl> Sleep sweet, Tyl! * Lisl sips her brandy as she watches Rhys interestedly. * Rhys selects a bottle with a powder inside, and taps a couple thumbnails worth of it in. "Fickleweed, although I think it's also called St. Jorius's Tears. A painkiller." <Rhys> That's the pollen. Takes forever to collect, but I've got a nice stock of it.... <Lisl> ::nods:: Go easy on it, will you? I won't remember to favor it unless it hurts. <Lisl> What do you typically use as a base? Beeswax? * Rhys finds a tube with some dried leaves inside. He puts two in the pestle and begins to grind them up. "I put some in to try to counter the thistle oil, but it'll still have sensation. Have no fear of that." <Lisl> ::wrinkles her nose at the savour released from the ground herbs:: * Rhys nods. "I used to use, of all things, the mud that I collected at the side of a stream in the Cormanthyr. Turned out to have some marvelous properties, but I didn't discover them until after my hiking trip, and my cartographical skills aren't what they should be." * Rhys finishes grinding the leaves. "Mulberry leaves. Helps things knit together." Adds them to the mix. <Lisl> ::chuckles as she rests her head on her folded arms, on the edge of the bar:: Do you go adventuring much, Rhys? <Lisl> Those I'm familiar with from the East. They're emollient, too, did you know? Softens the skin, promotes healing. And if you feed them to the right kind of worm, you get silk. <Rhys> Adventuring? Depends on the definition. I don't clamber around tombs, invade "abandoned" towers, and the like. I occasionally go for walks in the countryside, and sometimes "adventure" interrupts my peace and quiet. ::he smiles:: * Rhys fishes a pouch out of a sleeve. "Now's as good of a time as any for the beeswax." He pulls a cube of wax out of the pouch and begins crumbling and stirring it into the mix. <Lisl> ::smiles back:: That's a good way of putting it. I used to do a lot of the tomb-raiding kind when I was younger, but not so much now. ::shakes her head:: It takes more than I typically find there to get the blood pumping these days. <Maeli> ::One of Maeli's knitting needles drops to the floor as she relaxes in her chair:: <Lisl> ::looking wistful:: Maybe one of these days I should go around to my old adventuring haunts and clean up after myself...Aerdrie knows I made enough of a mess of things in Myth Drannor.... * Temire drinks her water. <Rhys> And lastly, to bind it all together... ::finds a bottle of gray powder:: some bark from the jub-jub tree. It's not native to the area, but I think there's a specimen in a garden in the city somewhere." ::adds the powder and stirs some more. <Lisl> ::glances around at the sound:: Tho' I think it'll be some time before I get *that* relaxed about things...::as she slips off her stool to retrieve the fallen needle, the compress peels away and falls, revealing raw-looking-- but whole-- skin beneath. Lisl picks up the needle and slides it gently into Maeli's lap.:: * Temire shakes her head, "If I healed the way you do, I probably wouldn't have died." <Lisl> Oh....no..... * Rhys finishes stirring. "There. That looks about right. If you want, I can add some cinnamon oil to make sure it stings enough... although you seem to be doing fairly well as you are." * Lisl drops to one knee next to Maeli, taking her hand in hers. After a long moment, she pulls her boot knife and uses it to carefully cut the yarn free of the blanket Maeli was working on. Carefully, she knots the end so it blends seamlessly into the border. <Rhys> What's the matter, Lisl? * Rhys gets a concerned look on his face, blurs *through* the bar, and hastens to Lisl's side. * Lisl turns to look at Rhys. There's a tear on one cheek, but she's smiling. "Maeli's gone. She died in her sleep...among friends." * Temire jumps off her stool and rush over to the others. * Rhys looks alternatively grief-stricken and furious. "She... no, not on my watch. I... Oh, Kossuth's breath, no..." <Lisl> ::shakes her head:: There's no need to run. There's nothing can be done now save honor her life. ::putting a gentle hand on Rhys's shoulder:: It was her time, Rhys. I've suspected it for awhile. * Rhys looks at Lisl, takes a small metal flask that has an infinity symbol etched into it in white out of a sleeve and puts it on the table. "This was for her. I was saving it for... for a time when I could talk to her alone, without bringing it up in front of everyone. But I delayed too long." * Temire suddenly cries out, "Maybe Michelle can bring her back like she did with me?" * Rhys bends down, and with reverential tenderness, bends down and effortlessly picks up Maeli in his arms. He looks at Lisl and Temire. "I'll take her home to her family. The Hall is closed." * Rhys walks slowly to the door. It eases open as he approaches. * Temire grabs Lisl's sleeve, "Come on. We've got to find Michelle." * Temire starts dragging Lisl towards the door. <Lisl> Temire, it wouldn't have helped. She's old, child, and her soul has gone on, to join the friends and loved ones who have all gone before her. ::gently disengaging Temire and walking to the door:: Thank you, Rhys. Take care. * Rhys walks through the doorway, turns, and walks away. <Temire> ::Temire's eyes well up,:: But she can't just die... <Temire> ::tears are streaming down Temire's cheeks now:: ...but... but... SHE can't... <Lisl> ::leading Temire out gently, an arm around her shoulders:: She *can*, Temire, and she did. And if I'm any judge, I'd say she chose how she wanted to go...peacefully, with friends, no fuss. ::smiling a little:: She had a very full life, and a peaceful end. Don't begrudge her that, Temire. C'mon, let's get you home. * Temire lets Lisl lead her away, sniffling the all the while. ::the lert shuffles out of the kitchen, and closes and locks the door. The lights dim, and all is black:: |
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