Collab with [@Polaris North], featuring dialogue from [@AzureKnight][hr][hider=I Don't Have A Clever Title]Lying in wait, like a proper beast of prey, Scarlett lazily tapped her tail against the scattered veins of jagged iron that leaked from her form and built up into the complex gates of Alchemy and Gladr. To an outsider, her tapping would appear to be that of a well-fed, oversized kitten - no more concerned with the world around her, beyond the passage of time; and, with her eyes closed, and breathing relaxed, this could be believed to be true. However, if one would dare a closer inspection, they would find her third eye was flicking around its ocular space in sharp, almost mechanical movements, as if searching for something.

Brilliantly and dutifully, Herne had surmised the properties of the erected rituals, and coaxed Hector into pouring dozens of eyes through for Scarlett to, unknown to any involved, use as eyes - same as she had planned to do with Milli, before her prey came to her. Now, she was scanning through their eyes with each raise and fall of her tail, until she spied something of interest. Money was of no interest, nor rewards, for the alchemist; an inexhaustible supply of pure iron could be bled from her, as if she were her own veritable "goose that laid the golden eggs".

No, her reward was to be more substantive than mere cash and gratitude. It would come of the swamp, which had taxed her much in time and resources, so she wanted some compensation of an equal value.

And, she found it.

Suddenly, she was on her feet - well, hands and feet - and looking towards her self-proclaimed prize. Babysitting Hector, neither Lapis not Shavis were in  position to stop her, as she dug her claws into the wooden floor, and threw herself forward - leading with her large claw, as she powered through the muck and guck of the swamp floor. She moved nimbly, despite - or, perhaps, in spite of - the weighty gauntlet she "wore", as Milli navigated the canopy above.

Normally, a meager grass snake in size, the little lady ignited her internal forge, and increased her size to that of a boa constrictor; her task was simply to remove obstacles, which were any lingering Makara and any of Herne's demi-familiar in the immediate area.

No witnesses.

For her reward, Scarlett had chosen to abide by the Laws of Equivalent Exchange...

"[color=00ccff][b]Time. Resources. Labor. Equally, I take from you, what you took from me...[/b][/color]" Scarlett claimed, as she sat before a clutch of baseball-sized, oblong spheres: Makara eggs.

Taking an egg, she took the nearby water, and removed her sports bra to create a basin to separate the murky water into an isolated source; iron lines spread over the cloth, as she used basic alchemy to remove the impurities and leave herself with clean water to wash the egg with. Once free of straw, dirt, and other particulate contaminants, Scarlett would leave it to drain, as she looked around with her third eye - no for another prize, but knowledge, as the iris changed color.

She had a fair grasp on all the principles of the Six Magicka, but no practice in any but Alchemy - whoever, the old adage, "[i]fake it until you make it,[/i]" still held true, and she knew enough about Thaumaturgy to operate on herself without dramatically compromising her system. Taking her claw, [i]Lymphocyte[/i], she opened an incision into her abdomen, and exercised her extreme control over her healing factor and iron-laden blood to staple open the wound. Summoning Milli over, Scarlett operated by using her eyes as her own, and working in reverse directions, as she exposed her womb...

...before performing the world's first, and likely only, reverse, transpecies cesarean section.

After all was said and done, and all wounds were sealed, Scarlett would strip off her bottoms, and slam [i]Lymphocyte[/i] into the shoreline, and spread the iron out to form a large basin, into which Milli would dive into, and turn the water within into shimmering water as she swam around, while it purified into clean bathing water.

A cover story for when Shavis or Shadar inevitably caught up with her, since she was exposing her scent for the Belua and her Familiar to smell.

[color=fff200]”You are one difficult person to understand Scarlett. And one who disappears way too frequently.”[/color]

Shavis had to leave the pair of Hector and Lapis to deal with the village and their overall success in the mission in favor of searching for their missing black horse and ace in the hole. Following her scent through the bog was both nauseating and terrifying easy, she had practically memorized Scarlett’s scent at some point in her life. So much so that she didn’t even need to rely on Shadar who padded behind her with light interest. He always had been put off by the alchemist, more out of curiosity than any ill intent.

She took in the sight of Milli swimming around a basin of clean water. Something Scarlett had asked the familiar to purify, most likely. The Belua ran a hand through her hair, heaving out a deep sigh. [color=fff200]”That’s such a pleasant sight to see after that radioactive waste area.”[/color] The mere thought of it brought the smell back full force and she had to swallow the bile that she had fought so hard to keep down since earlier. Come on, she couldn’t stop acting cool now of all times.

[color=fff200]”So what? You left the group to take a bath or something. We all stink, you should have just done it back at the Tower.”[/color] Shavis shrugged. [color=fff200]”Then again, we didn’t exactly go in and… uh, take a feast on a mercenary.”[/color]

"[color=00ccff]Come to put me back on my leash,[/color]" Scarlett asks, as she held a cloth of reeds, alchemically spun into fabric, and a small bar of a hardened, golden substance; it looked like sap, yet soap. "[color=00ccff]Quite the unhappy thought, that.[/color]"

[color=fff200]”I’ve come to take you back with us… you know, back home?”[/color] Shavis argued but there was no bite in her remark. She patted her familiar’s head as he settled down beside her, warily eyeing the surrounding as if expecting something to pop out at any time. 

"[color=00ccff]Home, huh,[/color]" Scarlett asks, before washing her face; her third eye closing, before it was washed - as soon as the cloth passed, it snapped back open to watch Shavis, even as she presented no threat. "[color=00ccff]That tower isn’t a home for me. It’s a prison. Erected to sentence me, and those like me...[/color]" Scarlett says, tilting her head, as if looking at Shavis curiously, "[color=00ccff]I wonder, if we will be punished for failing? What do you think?[/color]"

Scarlett seemed strangely open... perhaps, it was because Shavis was her keeper, or was it because they were among the silence and privacy of the outdoors? Either way, her guard was down by choice, so it seemed.

Shavis tilted her head, seemingly mulling Scarlett’s question in her head before shrugging. [color=fff200]”I dunno. I mean, mages like us are always rewarded for achieving great strides. No offense to your research or anything but if this Tower is your prison, then shouldn’t it be restricting your movement more? As far as I can see, theyre letting you do whatever you wanted.”[/color] Though, then again, it had only been a short amount of time since they had entered the Reavers. 

[color=fff200]”Why do you ask anyway? Off doing some illegal and something potentially life-altering and dangerous again?”[/color]

"[color=00ccff]Hm,[/color]" Scarlett answered, vaguely. "[color=00ccff]A prison can allow house arrest,[/color]" she smirked, indicating that was a joke. "[color=00ccff]The water is nice, if you care to clean off. I am about done, myself.[/color]"

[color=fff200]”You haven’t answered my question…”[/color] Shavis said before stepping forward, crouching down to dip her fingers into the basin. [color=fff200]”I think I’ll take a quick wash. Lapis and Hector will probably be a little upset if we take too long.”[/color]

The water was blissfully warm thanks to Milli. "[color=00ccff]Catch,[/color]" Scarlett offers, tossing the cloth and soap. "[color=00ccff]Join in Shadar. Even you need a bath.[/color]"

Milli hisses, as she twirled in the water like a child, and puffed smoke from her scales, before waving at her fellow Spirit Animal.

Shavis quickly grabbed both items before stripping off her clothes and laying it down next to the arguably drier ground and began to wash herself off. It was a pleasant aroma, thankfully, and she did greatly appreciate having a break from the headache-inducing smell of the swamp. [color=fff200]”Alchemists sure do like making wonders. You’re like a portable bath.”[/color] She joked with a light chuckle.

Shadar padded over, dipping his nose first into the water and stared at Milli. He began to pace around the ground before tentatively entering the water to wash off the residue of the battle, residue he seemed to share upon exiting his infusion with his master.

"[color=00ccff]Bath. Kitchen. Bedroom. Alchemists are simply invaluable,[/color]" Scarlett says.

Excitedly, Milli swooshed around Shadar, and wrapped around his body; back-to-belly, twice-around, before resting her head in his mane. He was super-warm, and fluffy. Scarlett snickered, as she free-falled onto her back, and rinsed off with the impact and splash.

[color=fff200]“Psh, yeah. Imagine having almost everything at the end of your fingertips at any time.”[/color] Shavis leaned back against the basin’s edge, letting out a sigh as warmth seemed to envelop her. Hot springs in the middle of this place? Apparently more likely than you think. [color=fff200]“I just learned how to break things. You’d get along well with my friend. Research-focused and all.”[/color]

Shadar let out a grunt as Milli began to wrap around him, not seemingly all too happy with the contact. An exact opposite of his hyperactive and physically affectionate master. Still, he stood his ground and didn’t quite shake her off.

"[color=00ccff]Hm. Sounds interesting,[/color]" Scarlett says. "[color=00ccff]In due time, mayhaps. I’m not fond of socializing.[/color]"

As Shadar was the opposite of Shavis, so, too, was Milli the opposite of Scarlett - affectionate and huggy, happy to nap where she was.

[color=fff200]”[i]Clearly[/i]. You could stand to be a little nicer to people.”[/color] She scoffed, waving her hand idly. [color=fff200]”I’ve learned not to take offense ‘cause I got thick skin and a thicker head. Same can’t be said for like… everyone else.”[/color]

The familiar let out another grunt as Milli seemed to fall asleep wrapped around him. He elected to now ignore her and began to swim around the water, feeling a bit more delighted at the exercise. It wasn’t very often that the Belua and her familiar were assigned to anywhere with clean water and time to swim in it.

"[color=00ccff]You have shown as such,[/color]" Scarlett says. "[color=00ccff]Question is: Why were you assigned my case, aside from the obvious advantages you and Shadar have over me.[/color]"

[color=fff200]”Ask your handler that, not me.”[/color] She responded with a shrug. [color=fff200]”I was bored and decided to agree but I don’t know [i]why[/i] I was chosen. They couldn’t have possibly known we’re going to be both Reavers at that time.”[/color]

"[color=00ccff]Maybe,[/color]" Scarlett says. "[color=00ccff]Never assume Unknowns,[/color]" she says, standing up. "[color=00ccff]Better get back to it. I’d hate to keep Little Miss Clown Hat and the Old Man waiting...[/color]"

Scarlett reached up to recall Milli, before noticing her sleeping on Shadar. "[color=00ccff]Such a trusting, little thing...[/color]" she chuckled, "[color=00ccff]I wonder, if that the fault of her Summoner, or myself,[/color]" Shavis would notice an almost uncharacteristic playfulness to the tone of her question, as she said, "[color=00ccff]I could see that airhead summoning a Spirit that’s equally as head-empty as her.[/color]"

[color=fff200]”Mm.”[/color] It was clear that Shavis didn’t exactly understand what Scarlett was getting at. After all, in terms of brains and brawn— Shavis was all brawn. Still, she stood up and dried herself off and put on her clothes. [color=fff200]”I can already hear her fuming at our absence. I feel bad for her, having to see you at your… worst immediately and not gradually like I did.”[/color]

She recalled Shadar who walked back to her, keeping the other’s familiar attached to him. [color=fff200]”Got a little friend did you?”[/color] He seemed to glare at her, snorting out a huff but didn’t say anything. Shavis looked back at Scarlett. [color=fff200]”Her Summoner? Isn’t she yours?”[/color]

"[color=00ccff]Nope,[/color]" Scarlett says, holding up the gauntlet and the gem embedded into it by Childes’s handiwork. "[color=00ccff]That airhead Nadia did,[/color]" she says, "[color=00ccff]I’m just bumming off her work, since I don’t have much talent in anything beyond Alchemy. Such was my sacrifice...[/color]"

[color=fff200]”Geez, no wonder she’s so friendly.”[/color] The Belua commented. [color=fff200]”Hey, to be fair, your Alchemy is pretty unique. I don’t think anyone’s ever done what you’re doing.”[/color] She paused for a moment as she slipped on her gauntlets, feeling more at ease with its familiar weight. [color=fff200]”I don’t think anyone’s been crazy enough to try.”[/color]

"[color=00ccff]Nobody should be pushed towards the limits of needing to try...[/color]" Scarlett says, wading to the shoreline. "[color=00ccff]They’d be better off dying, then suffering my curse...[/color]"

Shavis wondered if she should pry while Scarlett seemed to be open about answering her questions for once. But deep down, she’s pretty sure she already knows the answer. After all, she had seen it happen time and time again. The consequences of erudition. [color=fff200]”How strong of you, to continue down that path then.”[/color]

"[color=00ccff]I have no choice,[/color]" Scarlett says. "[color=00ccff]In any case, I’m not one to dwell on the past,[/color]" she says, "[color=00ccff]I think, I’ll walk ahead, though. That loser isn’t sitting well on my stomach...[/color]"

Shavis nodded without much thought about Scarlett’s decisions in life. She was free to do whatever she wanted for all Shavis could care. As long as it didn’t end up with any of the other Reavers injured, then she didn’t really have to lift a finger to stop it. [color=fff200]”That’s why you shouldn’t eat random things. You don’t know where that guy has been!”[/color] She admonished jokingly. Oh, how far has she fallen to be able to joke about her companion— charge?— eating a living, sentient being.

But introspection was never Shavis’s good trait and as such she let it go. A problem for another time or a problem for another person. [color=fff200]”I’ll follow behind then.”[/color]

Scarlett would pad through the swamp on her bare feet, and passed the village gate she’d left before. Wordlessly, she passed by Lapis and Hector, and back to the carriage - collecting her cloak from within - and starting back towards Eon Tower.

She meant it literally, she was going to walk ahead.

Seeing Shavis and Scarlett finally appear from within the swamp, Lapis cupped her hands to her mouth and called out to them. [color=6ecff6]”Where have you guys been all this time, I thought some Makara had gotten to you!”[/color] Scarlett would leave her question unanswered, it seemed, as she ignored the reptilian Belua completely. Walking past her, she opened the door to the carriage and fetched her cloak from inside. She then started back walking in the direction they came from, back to the Tower. Lapis’s expression became even more perplexed, still unable to understand the actions of the alchemist. 

[color=6ecff6]”Your ‘friend’ is very strange, Ms. Shavis. Does she truly intend to just walk back to the  Tower? What would be the point of not taking the carriage?”[/color] She said to the feline warrior.  [color=6ecff6]”Also, you two smell rather nice, did you take a bath in the lake water or something?”[/color] She inquired. [color=6ecff6]”I guess you couldn’t wait before you got back to Eon, huh? I don’t blame you, if I couldn’t clean myself on the go, I’d do the same thing!”[/color]

Looking back at Scarlett, her eyes narrowed, as if she felt that something was amiss.  [color=6ecff6]”I sense that she appears to be on guard, as if she’s hiding something. I can tell that she’s used more of her alchemy on herself. What [i]exactly[/i] was that woman doing back in the swamp?[/color] 

Unlike her charge, Shavis immediately turned towards Lapis with a bright smile and a wave. [color=fff200]”Here and there.”[/color] She responded vaguely with a shrug. She watched as Scarlett moved forward to collect her things and began her long trek back to the Tower on foot. [color=fff200]”Using the caririage would be faster you know!”[/color] She pointed out with a shout. [color=fff200]”Just stay put in the carriage, we’re probably gonna wrap up soon!”[/color]

She turned back to Lapis, a smile still on her lips as the latter questioned Scarlett’s odd behavior. [color=fff200]”I really do think she is. She’s the kind of person to do it her way.”[/color] Her way being vague considering something else seemed to be plaguing Scarlett’s head. Still, Shavis wasn’t about to restrict her freedom too much just because she’s unorthodox and doesn’t operate within the set moral limits of the world. Her tail flicked when Lapis pointed out their relatively cleaner appearance. [color=fff200]”Yeah, we did. It was just a short bath but it did wonders. And you’re lucky you can hose yourself down, smelling like you just came out of a radioactive sewer canal is the worst!”[/color] She complained with a huff, bringing her fingers to pinch her nose to emphasize.

Shavis shrugged, moving her hand to rub the back of her neck. [color=fff200]”Dunno. When I got to her, she was already in the middle of bathing. Far as I know, that’s the only thing she did.”[/color] She glanced back at Scarlett. [color=fff200]”Think she did something then?”[/color]

Scarlett didn't halt in her step towards the horizon, as she continued. She just rubbed her stomach; her body was unhappy with its new parasite and its requirements. However, she wasn't parting with her prize...

"[color=00ccff]Just even moving...[/color]"

It didn't matter, as she steeled herself, and carried on her march into darkness and nightmare; Eon Tower standing as her lighthouse in the far-off distance...[/hider]