Her head slumps. She had built up the anticipation and now the failure only seems to make it worse. "Of course not." She sighs. "Thank you for trying. I hope I didn't make you lose your wish?" she asks, sighing again.
She looks over at him, confused. "Are you okay? You don't look so good?"
Busted.
Bella frowns. "You know. For not knowing much about humans you sure know a lot about humans."
She pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her hands around them, hugging them. She looks over at Annalla "Annalla. I'm not trying to be rude. I promise I'm not. Human emotions cause us to react before we can think. Sometimes we say things we don't mean or do things we wouldn't normally do because we get so wrapped up in our emotions. I don't know if that makes sense to you?"
"Please don't take offense at this, okay? I'm just trying to learn more about you. You said you have a soul. You have feelings and emotions, I've seen them. Does it ever seem you would say something that you didn't mean because you were embarrassed, scared or confused?"
He tenses up as he says the last words and shakes his head "Uhm... I mean just be you... yeah, I like this you and you don't need to be any other you!"
After he finishes his weird and all over the place semi-speech and Bella asks if he is ok he rubs his head "I think so... my head it hurts something awful. Like its full of too much stuff and is bursting at the seams but... I think I'm ok. Are you okay? You don't feel the urge to kill Sophie or anything right?"
He laughs after he says it but it is a strange laugh and it doesn't seem like it is a joke, but you aren't sure what it is.
Growing very concerned now, she slips down next to Orri and looks him the eye and asks "Orri. You are acting very strange. You're scaring me. Did something happen? You aren't making any sense at all and you weren't this way before you did your wish thing. Tell me what happened? I'm scared." she says, reaching out and touching his head. "Should I go get Sophie? Maybe she can fix it."
Annalla frowns again. "I don't understand. You're still avoiding my question. I thought my data on humans was reasonably complete, but I am mistaken. I ask a simple question. Is it a simple question?" She pauses and seems to consider for a moment. A quick nod follows. "Yes, it is a simple question, but rather than answer, you discuss emotions and speak of things unrelated to my question. The only thing I can infer by this is that I don't understand human anywhere near as much as I thought I did."
She rises from the floor.
"I really don't understand them. Perhaps coming here was a mistake. I don't understand how to behave! There are memory anomalies that persist!"
The android seems to be growing more and more agitated.
"And I hate this rule of wearing undergarments all the time!" she declares as she pulls her skirts up and pushes her simple smallclothes to the floor and steps out of them, dropping her skirts back around her pale legs.
"There is a connection between us, Isabella Lebeda, and I wish to explore it. However, until you speak truthfully and clearly with me then I believe that I am doomed to failure. Our communication protocols are incompatible."
She turns to leave.
His thoughts seem to wander a moment as he stares at Bella but its like he is looking through her and not at her and finally he looks very sad and his eyes adjust as he looks into Bella's eyes "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I couldn't help you like I thought I could. I hope you can forgive me!"
Without waiting for a response, like his thoughts have suddenly shifted back to what they were talking about before he stands up and dusts himself off as he offers a hand to help his sister up "Anyway, I'll be ok. I think maybe I just need to rest... yes I think that would be good. Let's get back, we have to head off to the fort later and I don't want to hold us up."
"Okay Annalla. Wait. Wait."
She rises from the floor as well. She moves up to Anna and stands in front of her. "I'll sleep next to you in your bed this evening. It went okay last time, I think? I think I had a bad dream but I don't remember that. I do remember sleeping in late and being restful, maybe that was because of you somehow?"
She holds up her hand. "No. Forget what I just said. Let me try again."
She takes a deep breath and tries again. "I would like to lay next to you this evening if you will allow me?"
"Okay? Now please put your undergarments back on. Do it for me, okay? And next time you would like to remove them, it is polite to do it out of sight of others. Do you understand why? No. I will explain it to you. If you like? Do you like it when I explain things? It seems I always am frustrating you. If you want me to stop explaining things, please tell me so. I'm only doing it to try and help you, not frustrate you."
She looks up at her gemstone and points "Do you want people staring at that or touching that? No, right? Alright. So. There are certain portions of the body which are like that on people. Their breasts and uh, uhm, their male and female parts that are different, those, yeah, those are what we consider private. Sort of like your gemstone. So when you don't like people staring at that, it's a social mannerism of sorts to wear undergarments to cover those up so they are not seen because they are private."
Something was clearly wrong with Orri, she would need to consult with others. When he apologizes, she just shakes it off "Orri. I only did it because you wanted me to do it. It's not a big deal, I'll be fine. Really. Alright? I think maybe you should go lie down. It will help your head, okay? I'll go make you some tea?"
She escorts him back and insists he lay down for a bit before heading out again.
Annalla turns and looks back at Isabella, expecting another deflective statement.
Her expression relaxes as the woman finally gives her an answer. "Thank you for answering my question, Isabella," she says. "I would enjoy that immensely. But I only wish for you to do this if you truly wish it yourself. 'No' is an acceptable response as well. I wouldn't enjoy that as much, but I am happy with an honest answer."
When the conversation returns to undergarments, Annalla rolls her eyes. She walks over and looks down at the simple thing sitting on the floor. "I still don't understand this. You say I should wear this so people don't see my genitals. Yet I am wearing skirts so the only way that they would see them would be if they lifted up my clothes or stuck their head underneath and then it would be their own fault. This is not rational." She reaches down to pick up the frilly cloth. "This is stupid." She shakes them out. "But I will do this distasteful thing for you because you touched me and I understand that that was distasteful for you."
When genitals is spoken, Bella squirms uncomfortably. ”Yea. Those. Just keep them covered, okay? For me? Thank you.”
Isabella nods and says ”You value honesty more than answering with a response that is not as easy to hear. I understand the logic behind that and I will try to adjust the way I speak to you so that it is less confusing. I just want you to know that is harder for me to do sometimes, Okay?”
”Annalla, I want you to understand there is a difference between distasteful and difficult. Touching you is NOT distasteful. The memories of what happened to me, those are distasteful. Touching you is nice, I like it. You are warm and I love your colors and how they change, it’s exotic and beautiful. It just makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Do you understand the difference?”
"I thought they were already covered," Annalla mutters to herself as she slides the garments back up her legs under her skirts. She spends a moment awkwardly adjusting the fit.
"I will try to be more understanding," she says with a nod. "And I like it when you explain things to me. Just as long as you're not avoiding a question when you do so."
"I do understand the difference between distasteful and difficult. I also know that the most rewarding things in life are the difficult ones. I would really like to touch you as well, but I know that may not happen. I will still dream about it, though."
She nods to the android and then she holds her arms out open as if she would beckon for a hug. She says softly ”Come here, Annalla. I want to hug you.”. She nods to show she is sure. When she closes in, she wraps her arms around the woman and holds her gently. ”There are rules about touching, okay? Always ask permission first. Please don’t surprise me. I might not always say yes, please don’t get upset. Please don’t touch my, private areas we talked about. Now please don’t talk for a minute and let me try to enjoy this.”. She leans her head against the taller womans’s chest silently. She doesn’t squeeze tight and just stands there embracing her silently, trying to not freak out and enjoy it both at the same time.
Annalla looks at Isabella in disbelief when she opens her arms up for a hug. After confirming, she steps into the shorter woman's arms and slowly closes her arms around her. She doesn't squeeze, she just stands there enjoying the closeness. She remains still and silent for as long as Isabella desires.
When they finally separate, Annalla takes a moment to wipe her eyes and is happy to follow the woman out to the common area.
"If it was a Human bandit that attacked you, would you assume all humans are bandits. No, you wouldn't. If a gnome attacked us, should we? You rac-" Chrysa stops, anger seething posture with her hands on her hilts. She wasn't planning on helping anyway, but now she'd rather push their prized wagon in the river further. She stays where she thinks Impeek is.
See, it doesn't hurt. You're fine. Everything is fine. It's just like hugging Sophie or Orri. She's not going to hurt you.
Isabella keeps her arms around Anna for about twenty seconds before releasing the woman. She looks up at her with the beginnings of a slight smile, the tips of her lips more upturned than not. She clears her throat unnecessarily and says "Come on, let's go find the others."
Isabella reaches the shore line and leaps up into the air, propelling herself into a dive to get as far into the water as possible, swimming to the gnomes who are shooting her companions?
What are you doing, Isabella!
"Ow, stupid arrow hurts!" The voice of Ipmeek is heard nearby Chrysa. He drinks his mutagen to toughen his skin for pain relief, also useful if the gnomes decided to resume hostilities.
"Bolt" Chrysa corrects him off hand, still watching the gnomes in case any of them get any ideas "Little difference, and doesn't matter, but people judge. Lean into the role they expect or twist their expectations..." then she sighs and glances over to where his voice is coming from "Sorry you don't need lessons from a former bandit on diction." she gives a slight apologetic smile and then gets back to watching.
Isabella manages to swim out to the horses as Bjorn struggles against the wagon, his feet sliding in the dirt as the wagon slips and moves a couple feet! Sophiel reaches the bank of the river.
The head gnome lowers his crossbow, his eyes scanning for the kobold warily, but he doesn’t seem eager to continue pressing the matter against folks trying to help him either. He turns and calls out to his gnomish compatriots ”Get on that rope with the big guy! Help him pull!”
Four of the gnomes dive onto the rope and begin pulling as well!
Sophie shakes out her arms and legs and says, almost distractedly to the gnomes and Bjorn "keep at it lads and ladies, you can do it!", and jumps in the water, trying to get to the ponies herself.
Sophie aquits herself somewhat admirably, and joins Bella in the water. She smiles at Isabella as her head emerges near the ponies, "always an adventure, eh?" She heads over to the ponies, and tries to calm them.
She manages to get them disconnected, and they start to swim to shore. She treads a bit and says to Bella, "any chance you can get Bjorn some help, love?"
Bjorn's muscles strain, and he pulls as hard as he can.
But despite his best efforts, and the wagon being free of the ponies, the wagon slips away a bit.
Bella grabs a hold of the rop along with the gnomes and starts to assist, helping the wagon doesn't break free from Bjorn's grasp. She struggles to hold the rope, the wagon slipping away.
Chrysa watches and worries about her friends getting hurt to save these stranger's stuff, so without looking to see if the elf was close(since she always was), she says to Elloth "Help them save the wagon and don't kill anyone."
The tall and lovely elf with a permanent scowl shoulders her bow, which had been held ready to rain death on the short ones, and moves quickly to the ropes. Grabbing the rope, she leans away, straining against the weight, keeping her thoughts and curses to herself.
Seeing Bella jump into action Orri realizes that it seems the group is going to be helping the gnomes and not fighting. He puts away his whip and moves up with the others to try and help them pull the wagon back against the waters currents.
"Bolt" Chrysa corrects him off hand, still watching the gnomes in case any of them get any ideas "Little difference, and doesn't matter, but people judge. Lean into the role they expect or twist their expectations..." then she sighs and glances over to where his voice is coming from "Sorry you don't need lessons from a former bandit on diction." she gives a slight apologetic smile and then gets back to watching.
"Bolt, yes yes. Kill you all the same!" Irritated, Ipmeek pulls out and chucks it angrily away, causing it to suddenly appear in view once more. "We should keep wagon as payment for attack!"
Struggling to pull the rope, Isabella shouts
In an attempt to aid her companions, Annalla grabs the rope as well and lends her meager strength to the effort.
shouts Ipmeek back, questioning her decision to jump into the water. Seeing her struggle, Ipmeek feels compelled to fix Bella's poor life choices. Though he wasn't about to admit to doing so.
"Come on, Chrysa, let's help them get out of this mess," he says in Draconic.
Ipmeek was hardly strong, but he could fly. Which meant he could get into a position the others couldn't. Rather than taking the rope, he starts guiding the wagon directly, beating his wings furiously to (invisibly) steer it towards shore.
With the rest of the bigger folk arriving to help, the weaker gnomes step away from the rope to make room for others to get their wagon free. It seems to not slip any further for the moment...
Orri calls out to Sophiel still in the water "Maybe swim down see if there is anything keeping it stuck? If not maybe try pull out anything really heavy to make it easier to pull?"
He continues pulling on the rope trying to help get it out of the river.
His foot slips on a wet rock though and he falls to the ground having to let go of the rope...
. Ipmeek tries and tries some more, but he is sure feeling exhausted from all the exertion! The wagon starts to give way again as he falters. . . .
"Someone needs to keep an eye out of trouble. This would be a perfect time for an ambush." Chrysa declines to help.
But her elf is pulling like she was trying to rip a human's arm off.
Bella's hands are too wet and the rope starts to slip in her grip. She shouts as she screams in frustration.
Annalla grabs the rope in a tighter grip as it feels like the entire weight is on her hands.
Sophie continues to try to inspire everyone to get angry at the lack of holding onto the wagon, while swimming herself to safety and then aiding as well.
But she fails to help.
Bjorn continues flexing, continuing to rage angrily at the injustice of having to pull the wagon almost alone.
Sophie says, ”Now isn’t the time to slack, gnomes! Help us! I believe in you!”
The wagon slips some more as the group fails to hold it steady! The gnome’s are in shock, their leader going pale! Sadly there’s just no more room on the rope for them to aid!
Annalla refuses to give up, but she can feel her limited strength fading.
. The efforts of Ipmeek are entirely in vain.
On a hunch, he peeks into the wagon to see what might be within that is so heavy and cumbersome.
Gritting her teeth, Isabella redoubles her efforts on the cart and pulls for all she is worth!
From the shoreline, straining against the rope, Ipmeek cannot tell what is within the back of the wagon in the river. Several of the gnomes rush forward to try and help, shooing the weaker folks away.
With the combined effort, the wagon ceases it’s forward lurching and the group manages to begin drawing it out of the rougher current towards the side of the river. From there, it’s just a matter of time before the wagon is safely ashore!
”Oh! Oh thank the gods!” the gnomish leader exclaims as he rushes forward to his wagon and hops up onto the back, looking inside. ”Oh no no no. So much water has gotten inside! This will take days to dry out! I don’t see any water damage though...they should all be fine...”
Orri sits on the ground holding onto his arm, just below the elbow, rubbing it in pain as the cart if finally dragged out of the water. He notes to the gnome "Why did you try driving it off into the river to begin with?"
Isabella climbs out of the river soaking wet. She’s wrings her hair out after helping get the cart out. She peeks inside the wagon and asks ”What happened?”
Both Sophiel and Bjorn merely try to help Isabella this time, but are tired.
When the wagon gets stabilized Sophie goes up to Isabella and pats her on the shoulder. ”Well done.” She smiles, and also looks inside the wagon. Bjorn stretches himself out and stands at attention near Sophiel.
Isabella smiles at Sophiel’s praise and nods. She responds ”You weren’t so bad yourself, Sophie.”. Looking around to the whole group she clarified ”Indeed, well done all.” she continues trying to dry herself while listening to the gnomes explain themselves.
The dry Chrysa simply offers a smiling shrug to Bella congrats. Her elf doesn't care and simply goes back to standing guard over her charge.
"What happened" she asked the gnomes.
The gnome leader turns to the nosy heroes and shoos them back with his hands. ”Go on now! It’s rude to pry! Scoot scoot!” he says before hopping down and turning to Orri before replying ”We didn’t try and cross here. We were intending to set up camp when a band of bloodthirsty kobolds attacked us!” he says with a sour look as he looks for the invisible Ipmeek. ”They spooked our ponies before they were unhitched and the poor girls ran off into the river!”
Orri half distracted by his sister being all wet, promptly goes over to her to make sure she is ok, almost overly concerned for her well being. He casts a spell a few times as small gusts of air help in drying out her hair and clothing quicker.
Eventually he turns to the gnome and shrugs "What did these kobolds look like?" He looks around for Ipmeek, but still not seeing him asks out loud "Chief, are there other kobold tribes that could have done this? I'm assuming it wasn't your people?"
Without waiting for a response Orri turns back to the gnome as he notes "Well, I'm glad we could help you out. My name is Orri and you are?"
Annalla looks over the ponies, attempting to sooth them before she rejoins Isabella.
"You were very brave to dive into the water like that. Do you know these people?" she asks.
The disbodied voice of Ipmeek responds entirely in Draconic.
"Tell those ignorant gnomes that not all kobolds are the same. There are many tribes in these lands, including the Razorfrills, Longclaw, and Firescale."
Ipmeek wanders around, looking for the evidence of this supposed kobold attack on the gnomes.
Sophiel nods respectfully, ”Indeed. I see no Kobolds. How did they attack? With bows or spear? They are generally not known for leaving their warrens. In addition, we have it on good authority that the Kobolds of this region are not aggressive, nor do they have the numbers to commit to raids even if they were.” She smiles as the ponies ran to shore. ”And I unhitched them to save their life and keep the wagon from getting lost. What it looks to me like you were doing is trying to ford the river and everything got away from you. There is no shame in this.” She asks Bjorn to wrangle the ponies and bring them back.
”I am Lady Sophiel Medvyed, House Medvyed.” She bows, ”And you are? This is a dangerous part of the world; you should be more careful.”
”Thanks Orri.” she tells her brother after getting scolded for peeking into the cart SHE JUST SAVED.
Isabella shakes her head and offers a small smile as she lets Sophie do all of the talking with the gnomes while she talks to Annalla. ”No, I do not. They were in trouble and needed help, so I went to help.”