[Post here first!] Stonevale Harbor

Pride would not allow her to be carried. After a repose, she begrudgingly made her way to the warf. Faisine did not even have time to at least clean the soot from her skin and pale hair. Her gown could not be helped, the smell of smoke and the sour stench that came with the sweat of illness clung to both fabric and skin... She knew that if Dantess Visconti followed Inspector Zurt and Elizabeth Finch , he would certainly understand her misgivings about being so close to people in her current state... After all, he was a gentleman!

She wore a stony expression across her face, most displeased with the situation, really. The adrenaline had still been pumping through her as they had ordered her about like some servant, which she was most certainly not. Why couldn't she clean herself up? Why couldn't she wrap her mind around the events first? Why couldn't they let her recover even just a tiny bit? And why couldn't they simply just ask her if she would come? That was not to say she wasn't grateful for being alive at the moment, but nobody wanted to feel itchy and gross when around others!

Whenever Empress Naoki arrived, she would be met with an are-you-fucking-kidding-me expression if there ever was one, for these people expected her to just be happy to enter an establishment looking and feeling like she had just been chewed up and spit out. It was definitely not the right approach to take with Faisine. 

She wasn't ungrateful, though she didn't know how, nor ask how Liz felt. She did drop her silence after a moment, though, "I'll forgive the blow to the back of my head since you saved my life... I figured it out, so you know." She gave a sidelong glance to the woman, "But next time you want something from me, just ask. I'm not a servant and you're not welcome to knock me out. I would most certainly have come with you, though perhaps after a moment to splash water on my face. Something I've learned of the human condition through the time I've spent among the less fortunate is that nobody likes to feel undignified. Having empathy will do some good... (Long pause) Thank you for pulling me to safety." Then she shrugged and walked over to the water, stooping down to use the salty solution to at least get the grime from her face. That was all she had to say. and it was probably the most polite ass chewing, and even slightly funny in the beginning, but not said in spite or in an offensive manner despite her irritation. She didn't bother with saying a word to the other, she knew he would probably not care.

    Dantess remained quiet on the matter, having a great intuition as to whether or not his input would be appreciated by the relevant parties at any given time. He understood the issue Faisine was having, but all in all, the aftermath of an invading, occupying force on the nation's people seemed considerably less violent and fraught with problems than he had expected.

Faisine of the Usque and Dantess Visconti would be encouraged to wait in the nearby inn for a short while until such a point as an aide disembarks from The Depravity and approaches the pair of them.

The aide is a young man dressed modestly in a crisp white tunic, seemingly quite skilled in formal etiquette. Addressing both of them, he begins, “Lady Naoki has arrived, and is prepared to speak to speak with you.”

Turning slightly to face Dantess more directly, he continues, “Sir, I would ask that you entrust your weapons to one such as myself prior to speaking with Lady Naoki.”

It doesn’t seem as if the aide intends to do much else until he receives a response of some variety. The gangplank leading onto The Depravity remains guarded.

She nodded and moved to the inn, where she was able to procure something clean to wear and an ewer of water to clean herself with. She did not spend too much time doing this in private, but she did what she could to clean herself up. The gown she had worn was discarded for rags, she now wore a rough, wool dress that was a bit large on her. She washed her hair the best she could, then she would pull it out of her face the best she could.

She no longer smelled of death and being clean did much to help her feel better.

Shortly following Liz’ knocking, the door swings inward, permitting The High Commodore entry. The room beyond is relatively large, and could easily be described as a navigation room, save for the fact that The Depravity’s navigation is handled elsewhere, and seems to be instead serving as Lady Naoki’s strategy room. On the table in the center of the room, where one might expect charts and nautical instruments to be found, there are instead maps of Medan and other areas, only a few of which are marked. Latched cabinets elsewhere in the room contain additional supplies to be used in coordinating a war, but they have proven to be unnecessary. Several chairs are placed around the table, and it is in one of these chairs that Lady Naoki is currently seated.

She remains seated as The Commodore delivers her report, occasionally nodding to show that she’s following. This report takes only a few minutes, and the report contains nothing remarkable. Afterward, Naoki stifles a yawn and clears her throat. Fatigue is making things difficult, but High Lady Naoki, Sovereign of The Free States isn’t about to show it. She composes herself for the approaching visitors, drawing herself up in her seat and putting on the face she uses for such occasions.

One entering the room would find Lady Naoki seated directly opposite the door, arms folded on the table, seeming every part the courtly head of state one might expect her to be.

She was sombre as she walked next to Dantess. She was not so nervous about talking to Naoki, but she was not sure what information she could pass along. All she did was heal people and try to get young ladies to safety after seeing for herself the disgusting truth. She did not regret running off to Medan.

Her gaze moved to the man who had offered to help her not so long ago, she gave a slight smile, then moved to stand wherever it was she needed to.

Lady Naoki nods once in greeting as she eyes Dantess. She wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but he seems rather chipper, for on a day like today. It must be a more enjoyable day for him than it is for her, she supposes. Either that or he’s competent, and at the moment, it doesn’t particularly matter to Naoki.

“Mhmh,” she affirms.

“I’m pleased that you and I are able to speak under civil terms. Take a seat, and introduce yourself.” With one hand, Naoki gestures toward the chairs sitting across the table, which are all but identical to the one in which she is currently seated.

Turning, Naoki also glances in Faisine’s direction; she seems to be well and comfortable enough for the moment. Naoki will save her questions about Faisine’s trip until later in the discussion.

She had nothing to do but sit there since Dantess was in attention for the moment. Faisine sat with her hands folded in her lap, watching the proceedings without even the least bit of curiosity. At some point, her eyes started to get heavy, they fluttered closed, and she slept... Only to realize she was asleep and make herself wake up. She was not bored, she was not even intending to be rude like that, it was just that she was dreadfully tired.