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Alain had made her way back to the Freehold proper after the crowd scattered when the pyre finally collapsed under its burnt and failing structural integrity, walking in the company of Rhapsody as she did. "Forgive me if it's something you already said; my mind was occupied during the proceedings." How elegantly she referred to the burning of a sworn enemy, a traitor. "Where were you before?"
Rhapsody:
"Oh, New York, but.. not really. I didn't even find the freehold or anything." She smiles at Alain, happily falling in beside her. "I mean, I just was there long enough to like.. try and get my life back and see it ... see I couldn't, or it would have been too hard and ." She looks at the ceiling, messing with her pony tail a bit and then looking back at Alain. "Anyways! Doesn't matter, I'm here now, I'm not sure I caught your name. I'm Rhapsody, if you didn't catch mine." She offers a hand as they walk.
Alain:
"Alain, Alain deVahl," the Snowskin returns, accepting Rhapsody's hand and giving it a gentle, warm shake to seal the introduction. "I was in Chicago. I connected with their Freehold, I was there, maybe, a few months. But otherwise," she gives Rhapsody a smile that is more polite and for the Spring Page's sake than anything else. "A similar boat."
Rhapsody:
"I hate boats." She says with a grumble. "Alain.. alain... OH! Gallowglass mentioned you as one of the people that can stand him." She grins at that. "What sorts of trouble have you two gotten up to?"
Alain:
"I only meant it as a turn of phrase," Alain offers in a conciliatory smile, offering an apologetic smile. "Oh, for the most part, he seeks my dating advice, but I don't think I'm a very good subject to bounce that off of," she admits, raising a shoulder as she lets herself down into a seat. "But I do my best. He's good company, he makes me laugh."
Rhapsody:
"ohhh" she frowns. "Oh no, you really haven't, but I , I mean, for what it's worth I'm willing to bet he didn't tell you enough, or maybe even KNOW enough to ask advice right, so it's probably, I mean, it's probably the best you could do with what you had to work with." She grins brightly at Alain.
Alain:
"That tracks," she replies, offering a conspiratorial wink. "I don't think I have gotten a full story. Mostly just questions. I mourn that he is under the impression I am an authority," she brooks a few small huffs that could pass for laughs.
Rhapsody:
"Honestly. I think he just asks everyone and then tries whatever they say and then. Like if what you said works a litlte bit better than he did on his own, he probably comes back for more." She winks back at Alain. "Have you been on any of his like, fighting adventures with him too then or what kind of stuff do you do around here? "
Alain:
"Me? No," she says concretely. "I am not gifted with abundant martial prowess. Ironside, I was a diplomat for the U.S. Department of State, and now I work in the non-profit sector, locally. For the Freehold, primarily I am an oneiromancer. Dreamwalker," she shorthands, unsure of exactly 'new' was 'new' with respect to Rhapsody.
Rhapsody:
"Oh... that's pretty cool. What sort of non-profit work do you do? I might be able to help, maybe? I can be pretty convincing if i really want to be." SHe nods a bit. "I've heard about the dream stuff. I don't know if I'd be any good at it, but.. it's something I'm kind of curious about? What sorts of things can you do in dreams?"
Alain:
"I manage the Knight Foundation." This might not mean much to someone from out of town, who's not local, but it's a big deal. Alain is a big deal. She doesn't talk about it because it's gauche to do so, but a perfunctory Google Search would pull up her name alongside endless lifestyle pieces about her Instagram, her progressive political fundraising, much of which seems to be oriented towards generating six and seven figure donations from high society, old money, blueblood types. Well-to-do socialite just about covered it, and all the attendant praise and criticism that came with such.
"In dreams? Well, I mean... anything. How familiar are you with Hedgespinning? It is quite similar."
Rhapsody:
"I'll have to look it up, and no, I umm.. Well, I got out, so I'm not super eager to go back, you know? I know it's something we like -do-." She sighs and looks at Alain, slightly vulnerable in that moment. "I'm sort of scared to go back."
Alain:
"To the Hedge?" Alain asks, in clarification.
Rhapsody:
"Yeah, I mean, I came here tonight, but I haven't been in any of the holds very much."
Alain:
Alain nods her head. "Do you mind if I ask what bothers you about it?" Her demeanor, her voice, all of her affectations are kind.
Rhapsody:
"I guess that it's just closer to over there than here is? The unknown. I guess." She shrugs. "I should go with someone and just see it for myself, I guess as a spring I might be able to help with the gardens, I would have to learn some things. Dreams seem safer though, Maybe?"
Alain:
"That has been, frankly, very similar to my own disposition. I don't feel a great urge to spend more time here than is necessary. The principles of Hedgespinning and Dreamweaving are quite similar, but Dreams always felt more," she pauses to select the word, most certainly not one to fall to 'um' and 'er' in conversation, "Natural to me. But, maybe we should both endeavor to spend more time outside our preferred environs," she supposes. "I don't know. I've thought about it recently. Maybe someone would be willing to escort the two of us."
Rhapsody:
"Gal would do it! What about the dream thing, we can all do it, right? Does it take any .. special training or something? I know that sometimes.. sometimes it makes sense to fix things in dreams, right?"
Alain:
"You think so? Hmm... yeah, he would. He's probably durable enough to compensate for my... not durability," Alain offers with a small smile. "If you know how to Hedgespin, then you know how to Dreamweave. The special training required is only practice. There are some Contracts that make the doing of it easier, entering through Bastions and the like, but theoretically, yes, any of us can do it. Would you like to learn?"
Rhapsody:
"Honestly?" She looks over at Alain, studying her features for a long bit. "I think I'd like, maybe, to learn a lot from you, if you'd be open to it. We seem to have a pretty similar outlook on things?"
Alain:
"Well," the Snowskin replies, a bit of a small smile, again polite and perfunctory, "I would probably run out of things to teach you fairly soon. I don't remember very much from my time there, and I haven't been back more than a few years. But anything I can help you with, I certainly will," she adds, in an assurance.
Rhapsody:
"You seem like the type that might carry business cards." She grins at Alain. "Are you? Can I have one?"
Alain:
Alain curves her features into a knowing grin, canting her head a slight angle as if to say 'got me', and hands one of them off to Rhapsody. "Of course."
Alain deVahl
President, Knight Foundation
215.893.xxxx
a.devahl@***.org
Rhapsody:
She looks it over. "Is this your cel number? if it is, I 'll send you a text when we're out and you'll have my number too."
Alain:
"They can forward you to my, oh, you know," and she pulls a pen from somewhere on her person and scribbles it down on the card, then hands it back to Rhapsody.
Rhapsody:
"Cool" She grins at Alain. "Maybe I can help with your foundation stuff too, be an intern or something, see how it goes." She considers, reading the card.. a few times, before she finally slips it away.
Alain:
"That would be lovely. I'm sure you would be a tremendous asset to us, and, a bit selfishly might I add, it would be a great comfort to me to have another Lost nearby. Anyway, we've spent all this time talking about me," Alain waves a hand. "Why don't you tell me more about what it is you do, or what you're interested in doing? I know someone in your court can help you get settled there, but otherwise?"
Rhapsody:
"I don't know." She admits. "I sort of, right now I guess I'm just studying all my options. Everything was... really planned for me before I was taken so now I am maybe... avoiding any kind of responsibility?" she grins sheepishly at Alain. "But now, I think, maybe i need to start trying at something, a little bit, so right now I'm curious about your organization and umm, I play some open mic nights sometimes, but, I might want to keep that for me, you know?"
Alain:
"Oh, do you play music?" Alain asks fondly. "I adore music. All of the arts and humanities. It's part of our mission statement, at the foundation, and, well, I would be happy to make some introductions for you, help you find your footing if you're interested in pursuing that in town. I can't claim any sort of special relationships, but a well-connected person here and there can't hurt," she supposes, a bit coyly.
Rhapsody:
"Yeah, I mean, sometimes, singer songwriter kind of thing, but, do you know J? He has a cafe and does some stuff in that area too but I have to think about what I want to do with that." She glances at the ground for a moment or two, wringing her fingers together. "Anyways, yeah, maybe but if you do stuff along those lines I definitely need to look at what your organization does. Do you guys.... no, nevermind, I'll take a look and maybe call you in a day or two?"
Alain:
"I don't know J, but I would very much enjoy meeting him." Her attention notices the hesitation, but she doesn't press. She rarely does. Instead, she gives Rhapsody a kind smile, and pats her hand. "I think you and I are going to be good friends, Rhapsody. I'm very glad we had this chance to talk. I feel like I was in your position not so very long ago at all. If there is absolutely anything I can do, I will do it. Do give me that call," she implores, starting to rise and make all the indications she's about to leave.
Rhapsody:
"Yeah, I will for sure. Thanks for the time Alain. I'll get Gallowglass out and make him drag us into the hedge for a bit too. You." SHe looks back at the direction the pyre was, then back at Alain. "Well, have the best night you can, okay? I'm off to find some cheap margaritas."
Alain:
"I'm looking forward to that. It'll be nice." Hopefully. That's always the hope, right? But is it ever... she doesn't let her thoughts wander. "It was a pleasure to speak with your Rhapsody." She gestures at the card again with one of those endearingly genuine smiles. "Call that number soon," she insists before she takes her leave.
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