Soleanna - Hidden Figures

[Wren]

"I just don't..."

Sitting in a cafe with several papers spread out in front of her, Prism should really reconsider having important documents from SWORD out in public like this-- but then again, with their small, dense fonts and denser text, it'd be hard to discern with a passing glance. The subject? The Sol Emeralds. Having searched for them for quite a while, her treasure hunting days seemed to dry up with each passing failed trip. SWORD employed her for her talents, not for her failures. She always took them quite personally. Having no memory of who she was, her landmark achievements were the only thing she had in this life.

She'd been advised to avoid underworld contact, but she was considering it as a last option. It was a strict order with no seeming reason. She was a grown woman, wasn't she? Perhaps naive just a little bit... oh well. She'd gather up these reports and stuff them into her bag, where a few glowing gems pulsed with energy. They weren't chaos emeralds or sol emeralds, but they were at the very least pretty to look at.

"Excuse me." She approached someone quietly with a gentle smile, tapping their shoulder for good measure. "Do you know the way to the train station? I-- have some business I need to attend to."

[bunnikkila]

The day's duty - a patrol around the coast, solo, lasting from a few hours before dawn to nearly noon - was over. It was time for a bit of relaxation, starting with a cold drink. His favorite cafe had a most excellent frozen coffee... and so the seal was heading out with his drink, mind idly wandering over the patrol route he'd taken. As such, he didn't immediately respond to the 'excuse me' - but the tap on the shoulder did get his attention, and he blinked at the fox before smiling slightly and nodding.

"Of course. It isn't far... I would be happy to show you the way."

[Wren]

"Oh, would you? That'd be great. Thank you."

Wait a minute... that uniform. Had she seriously encountered someone from the royal guard?

"Are you sure you can be showing me around? I would hate for you to abandon your post just for me."

[bunnikkila]

Kim smiled, whiskers flaring in an open gesture.

"Not at all - as it happens, I have just come off duty. Therefore, I have all the time required - and I would be delighted to be of assistance, Miss...?"

[Wren]

"Prism." She answered, offering a hand to shake. This one didn't seem to recognize her, but the royal guard had no business in the underworld. It was just a matter of time before someone who knew the real Prism turned up and gave her the shock of her life.

"And you would be?"

[bunnikkila]

"Kim."

He took the fox's hand to gently shake it, smiling.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Prism."

He released her, stepping back slightly. No sense intruding on her space, after all.

"Now, as to the train station... is there anywhere you would care to go before that? I know this area fairly well, so if there is something you need...."

[Wren]

"Oh! ... Actually, now that you mention it..."

Prism began to search through the maps in her (very top secret) paperwork. There was one hidden place in Soleanna that used to boast a Sol Emerald, a temple that kept one for protection ages ago. If she could just investigate it, she might be able to figure out what happened to the rest. Her job was hinging on this. She passed the map to him, which he might notice the SWORD logo on.

"Do you know this area?"

[bunnikkila]

He did notice the logo - SWORD had been a prominent part of his childhood after all, even if he'd decided to take a different path - and glanced curiously at it before studying the map properly.

"As it happens, yes." Exploration, after all, had been a favorite activity ever since he moved to his beautiful adopted home as a child; countless hours following all the nooks and crannies left him very familiar indeed with the ins and outs of Soleanna. "It's been some time, but I believe I remember the way. It is easiest for me to navigate by walking along the canals; I hope you don't mind."

Kim smiled, bowing slightly.

"Please, follow me."

[Wren]

"Thank you."

Tucking the map underneath her arm, she proceeded to follow him. "I'm surprised, honestly. I didn't think a member of the guard would so readily help someone like me out." The words feel unfamiliar on her tongue. Why would he be wary of her? There was no reason. She was an honest, hard working person. Perhaps her memory loss made her slip up from time to time. Something strange bubbling under the surface that she'd rather keep down.

"... since you are a member of the Royal Guard, can I share something with you?" She asked, curiously. She knew SWORD secrets were important, she just needed to... ask questions.

[bunnikkila]

"Someone like you?"

Kim gave the fox a slightly surprised look.

"Miss Prism, the duty of the Royal Navy is to the people. I would be remiss both as a member of the organization and as a citizen myself if I were unwilling to aid you. Please do not think yourself unworthy of regard; I am pleased to be able to offer assistance."

Her next question brought a gleam of curiosity to the seal's expression, and he nodded once.

"Certainly, Miss Prism. What is on your mind?"

[Wren]

"SWORD has been reporting some destabilization within Terra, but they haven't been able to pinpoint the source. I'm a master artifact finder-- or at least, that's why they hired me. I think they want me to make sure nothing has entered from Gaia that would throw us off course, so to speak."

That was wrong, naturally. SWORD had no idea what Nega was planning, and therefore no idea what was causing the upheaval. That information was privy to only a few people. All they could report was that natural oddities had been popping up all over the world, and that something must be the cause... with the portal open between Gaia and Terra, it was only a matter of time before some things went wrong, right?

"That's why I want to check out this location. To see if something has taken roost... so to speak."

[bunnikkila]

"Destabilization?"

Kim thought that over, idly sipping his drink as he considered.

"I suppose it makes some sense - after all, it will likely be some time before we have a true grasp of the effects of such travel, will it not?"

Another pause.

"Have you a plan in place, should you accompany something that has, ah... 'come to roost'?" he asked. "I would prefer to assist you as efficiently as possible, of course."

[Wren]

"Um... no. Good point."

She looks sheepish at that. Not exactly a combative fighter, she wouldn't know what to do in a situation like this. She just thought maybe some local things had knocked something loose that could easily be put back into place, but in a dangerous world like this, that was thinking too kindly.

"Can I count on you if something comes up?" She pulls open her map, makes sure she's going the right place, nods, and smiles. "I don't think there's been reports of anything going on there, it's just a hunch. So we're probably safe?"

She gives a shy smile.

[bunnikkila]

"Of course, Miss Prism."

He nodded solemnly, laying a webbed hand to his chest for emphasis.

"Should trouble arrive, I will do my utmost to shield you from it. So please rest easy."

Kim glanced at her map then, whiskers fanning curiously.

"So - shall we see what it is you are detecting?"