(2023-03-17) An Unlooked-For Blessing?

Details

Author:	Jessa
Summary:	Jo and Ben keep their plans to meet up and catch up when a free-roaming warlock spots Jo. Introductions are made, concerns are voiced, and Ben has a but.
Rating:	T for Teen

Jocoza wanders into the inn at Westguard.

Sabitha pauses, heading toward the door and out, and eyes Jo.

"Humans do build to a model, don't they?" Jo mutters.

Sabitha sidesteps a little.

Jocoza adjusts her goggles and looks around for familiar faces. Seeing none, she settles in at a table to wait.

Sabitha offers up a smile. "Um. I'm so sorry, excuse me, but you're in Cobalt Company, yes?"

[Sabitha]: It's just… I recognize the tabard.

Jocoza looks up in surprise at Sabitha, and then smiles. "Oh, you were talking to me! Yes, you could say I'm in Cobalt Company. How can I help you?"

Sabitha's smile grows. "You look like the Captain. Jocoza Sparkwire, I believe. I've seen posters."

[Jocoza]: There are posters of me? *Jo straightens, startled. Then she slowly nods.* Yes, right, there probably are. That's me, Captain Sparkwire. Are you in need of mercenary help?

[Sabitha]: Well, I'm more in need of joining a mercenary company. Not need, exactly, I suppose. It's just that I'm an admirer of your company and I'm rather out here on my own these days.

[Jocoza]: In Northrend? On your own? *Jo frowns, and gestures at a nearby chair.* How did you manage that?

Sabitha sits in a chair and laughs a little. "There really wasn't anyone to stop me," she admits. "I couldn't go to Outland, but I said the next time Stormwind deployed or sent troops somewhere, I was going. So I just presented myself at the docks, and ended up here. Only it turns out there's more to all this than just showing up and yelling, 'Does anyone need help?'”

Jocoza nods. "Everyone's all up in their own groups. Cobalt, the army, the Argent Crusade, the Ebon Blade."

Sabitha shrugs and smiles anew, helplessly. "And I'm just here. Sabitha."

[Sabitha]: So you can see, a group would be useful. It'd make it easier for me to… to find people to help.

Jocoza nods, her brows drawing down. "I can see that, yes. Though, you know, they have a whole enlistment line back in Valiance Keep. But anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. What all've you done to help so far?"

[Sabitha]: Um. Well, I've been helping get back cannonballs. And finding food for the cook. It's surprisingly difficult to find problems around here, actually. Everyone just walks off purposefully and I stand around looking hopeful while trying to look strong and competent. I am competent, of course!

[Jocoza]: Of course, I'm sure you are. *Jo smiles* What… what do you do, exactly?

[Sabitha]: Well, that might be the difficulty.

Sabitha tries not to look like she's plucking her fingers in the brocade of her sleeves. She's bad at it, because that's what she's doing. "I'm a warlock."

[Jocoza]: Like Lena, then. *Jo nods.* Have you run into her? She's been working in these parts.

“I know Lena! We were going to have a picnic once.” Sabitha's brightness dies. "I… couldn't go in the end and then we lost touch."

Ben jogs down the stairs, whistling softly through his teeth. He rakes his hair back with one hand and flashes a smile at Innkeeper Celeste Goodhutch, then sweeps the room with a look.

[Jocoza]: Oh! Are you friends from… warlock school? *Jo may not have a clear idea of how warlocks learn their warlockery*

Ben spots Jo first, tucked by the pillar. His smile widens and he heads toward her. "Hey, Cap'n. M' I late? I 'pologize.”

Jocoza’s smile brightens also when she sees Ben. "Not at all! I was just meeting a new friend."

Sabitha is instantly all bright and shiny again. "Mr. Hazan!"

Ben looks up from Jo and blinks at Sabitha, and his expression changes to one of startled warmth. "Missus Lambert? Damn, hey, hi!"

[Jocoza]: "You two know each other?"

Sabitha smiles fetchingly at Jo. "Mr. Hazan was a friend of my late husband's."

[Ben]: That's right. I known — we have met before. I known — knew her husband, a while back. Growin' up.

[Sabitha]: He was kind enough to visit with me and share all those memories with me, from the old days.

[Ben]: I did not know you was in these parts. Alliance army? *Ben peers at Sabitha searchingly.*

[Sabitha]: Uh, not army, no. I just got on a boat.

[Ben]: … oh. Huh. Well, I mean. It's real nice to see you.

[Sabitha]: I was just speaking with Ms. Sparkwire here about whether or not there were any positions in Cobalt Company.

[Ben]: Oh? Yeah? Well that's — *Ben's expression fades a little as he considers what that is, actually. He looks to Jo.*

Sabitha sheepishly offers, "Unusual?"

[Ben]: Initiative? *Ben suggests gently.*

[Sabitha]: I just didn't want to be held back this time.

Jocoza opens her mouth, and then closes it. Then she says, "I was just about to mention that. She says she's out here all on her own, having a hard time finding her way. And Sabitha, to be honest, I'm not completely sure. I wasn't really thinking about recruiting in Northrend, you know? I sort of figured it for a frozen wasteland.”

[Sabitha]: They do say the unlooked-for blessing is usually the greatest one, you know.

Ben shifts his weight.

Sabitha is also bad at hiding emotions. She looks hopeful. Then she looks at Ben. Aigh, argh, hope dies.

[Ben]: … anyone want a drink? Lemme buy y'all drinks.

[Jocoza]: Sure, yeah, I could use one!

[Sabitha]: Is… Is it not a good idea? For me to join? I'm staying either way. *Her jaw sets stubbornly.*

[Ben]: Lemme get you a drink, Missus Lambert. We can all sit and talk it over, yeah?

[Jocoza]: If you're not Cobalt, then I don't see that I would have any say over where you go. And if you are, then you're here already. *Jo shrugs.*

Sabitha nods a little and looks down at her fancy-dancy sleeves.

Ben leans on the bar to speak quietly to Bartender Jason Goodhutch, then straightens again to wait.

Sabitha looks after Ben, slightly guilty.

Sabitha says softly to Jo, leaning toward her a little, "I didn't mean to put him in a bad position."

[Jocoza]: Are you? Because he knows you? *Jo looks at her curiously.* It sounded like you were on good terms.

[Sabitha]: We are. Were. Are.

Ben returns carrying three flagons of honeymead carefully. He sets them on the table and distributes one to each of the ladies, then drops into a third chair himself.

Sabitha takes a bracing sip of the mead.

[Jocoza]: Ooh, honey, *Jo smiles.* Much sweeter than the usual beer. Alright, let's discuss employment with Cobalt Company. How it ordinarily works is, you'd put in an application. Then, if we thought highly of you, we'd bring you in for an interview.

[Sabitha]: What is it that makes you think highly of someone?

[Jocoza]: I… probably have some application forms somewhere, though I admit, it wasn't top of my mind when I was packing… *Jo starts to pat pockets and bags, humming thoughtfully. When Sabitha speaks, she pauses and looks back up at her.* Me? Curiosity, ingenuity, creativity, compassion. That's off the top of my head, at least.

Ben takes a couple of long swallows of mead and surveys the two women as they talk.

[Sabitha]: I do try to be compassionate. I've had and lost enough to make me very empathetic to those going through the same. *Sabitha sneaks a glance at Ben from time to time.*

Ben is inscrutable. No scruting.

Jocoza nods, smiling kindly. "We've all had our share of loss, I'm sure."

[Sabitha]: Mr. Hazan, you should just be open with your concerns. You won't insult me.

Ben nods politely and sets his flagon down. He smiles at Sabitha, earnest and a little pained. “So here is the complication. You know I would be glad to have you on board. I reckon I might've said somethin' like it, too, when we have talked before. An' you know I would like Mayellen on board too. I would vouch for either or both of you.” Ben looks at Jo and nods.

[Jocoza]: That's a strong endorsement. *Jo nods back.*

Sabitha waits for the but. Ben's but.

Don't we all.

[Ben]: But — Sir Elohad, the foundin' fellow. He is a lieutenant now, Captain Jo is the captain, but you know he has got weight. And he is… real set against warlocks. Generally speakin'. May been scared to death to apply on account of it, though I been tryin' to talk her 'round.

[Jocoza]: But we do have warlocks on board. Lena and Hex here, and Sandy down south.

[Ben]: That is true, ma'am, and for my own part I am glad of… Lena an' Hex. Lena for sure. She is on my squad, an' level as hell. I rely on her.

Jocoza shrugs. "I rather like May. She joined a science club that I started back in Ironforge. She's pretty sharp, and not afraid to answer things wrong sometimes."

[Ben]: Oh, I like the hell out of May, ma'am, you know I do. I like the hell out of Missus Lambert, too. *Ben nods to Sabitha.* I would snap the both of 'em up for Cobalt. But it ain't my call, or I'd've called it already. *Ben shrugs.*

Sabitha draws herself up, affronted. "That's hardly fair. Why is he so set against us?"

[Ben]: I reckon you know why. You was at — you know what demons can do. Sir Elohad does too. He worries about… control. An' corruptin'. You know he ain't the only fellow around who feels like it.

Sabitha snorts. "Well you tell him that it's easy for most people to stay good. I'm sure Paladins have it easiest of all with the great good light shining out of their–" um "–ears. Has he considered that we work at it, that it's hard? It's hardly a good idea to isolate and lock us all away, just in case something goes wrong. Empathy and compassion are needed, to help us stay on the narrow path.” Sabitha takes a scowling drink of mead before she can keep on lecturing.

[Jocoza]: Well, yes, but… I don't think that's the argument you want to make for gaining employment.

Ben raises his eyebrows at Sabitha. "I am not sure I would say paladins have it… easiest. It can be a pretty hard road to walk on, I reckon, to stay in the Light's grace, an' we do our best to keep walkin' it every day. Just like other people do their own bests, I know.”

[Jocoza]: I haven't said no, Sabitha. But… if we bring any more warlocks into Cobalt Company, it's going to be because everyone in charge agrees to it. We're not having any'second-class' employees or anything.

Ben picks up his flagon and takes another drink. He looks thoughtful.

Sabitha shakes her head. "It's not the same. People like me, like us, we need good people around us. We need their voices to counter the other ones. Don't… We can't live in basements our whole lives." Sabitha sets her glass down and watches the ripples in it. "I apologize. I have rather strong feelings on the treatment of warlocks. I'm sorry."

[Ben]: I hear you, an' I am with you. But I can hear the other side of it, too. I can think of … ideas, though.

[Jocoza]: I never asked you to. *Jo blinks at her.* Though there is something to be said about basements. Nice and safe and enclosed.

Sabitha smiles a little at Jo. "I've been in one almost every moment, since Hyjal."

[Ben]: Captain, can we entertain some thinkin' for a moment? *Ben sits back and scratches his jaw.*

[Jocoza]: I will always entertain some thinking, Ben.

Sabitha makes as if to rise. "Should I go?"

[Ben]: No, you can stay, it is thinkin' as pertainment to you.

Sabitha takes a moment to parse 'pertainment'.

Ben doesn't notice. Everyone knows ‘pertainment’.

[Ben]: I do not love the idea of a young lady — Alliance war widow, all that — on her own up here to Northrend. I 'preciate that she was determined to put in for the cause an' fight with the rest of us. I do not think she ought to be left roamin' around on her own to do that. No one up here ought to be.

[Jocoza]: Okay, that I can agree with.

Sabitha fiddles with her glass.

[Ben]: Okay. So, how about we kind of — contract her for a specialist? Adjunk, or — whatever? She is not Cobalt proper, she don't wear the tabard, but she is one of Cobalt's associates. An' she works with us. We get her under our wing, like?

Sabitha looks hopeful again and checks to see what Jo thinks.

[Ben]: It could be… kind of a tryout for her. An' meantime, while she is tryin' out, we get her an' Lena back together again an' she can kind of… not 'prentice, but you know. Shadow Lena. Lena knows a fellow too, her teacher, who is up here someplace? Seventh Legion fellow. Maybe Lena hooks her up with him, too. Sir Elohad respects the hell out of a Seventh Legion fellow.

[Jocoza]: Right, yes, Zath Tyrrell. I talked to him about her before we assigned Lena out here.

Ben nods. "That's the one."

[Jocoza]: And I wouldn't say anything against our people working with you, so long as you're here? And they want to, of course.

[Sabitha]: Of course, only if they want to! I'd work with anybody, just to be able t– To *do* something with this. *Sabitha trails a hand through the air, purple-black light trailing after.*

Ben studies Sabitha.

[Jocoza]: How long have you been doing this? With the demons and the shadow, I mean.

[Sabitha]: Since Hyjal. When my husband died in my arms, I — Well, honestly no one's really sure what I did. But I tore a hole in the world and everything was dark. A priest drew me back before I could kill anyone. And since then I've lived in a Stormwind cellar.

[Jocoza]: Hmm, *Jo says thoughtfully.* But you haven't killed anyone, accidentally, have you?

[Sabitha]: No! No. In the early days, there were a few problems and honestly, it's good they had me where they did. But I've learned to control it all, they just don't trust me or… Well, I suppose they don't trust what I can do. Nor what I will do. They don't know how I can do things no one ever taught me. But for me, it's easy.

[Ben]: Okay, I am of two minds again about this.

[Sabitha]: You have a lot of minds, Mr. Hazan. *Sabitha sips mead, hiding her cheekiness.*

Ben nods gravely, a glint of amusement in his gaze. "I am many facets."

[Jocoza]: Ben, you can say your bit, and then I'll give what I think.

[Ben]: Anyhow. Yes'm. So, one thing is, the thing at Hyjal. There was — a hell of a lot of fel sh*t flowin' around at Hyjal. I can see how if you was in… a certain kind of way, you might've just grabbed somethin'… not-ordinary. And not the kind of thing you are gonna do in your sittin' room accidentally of a Tuesday night.

[Ben]: On the other hand, if you an' them ain't all sure about your powers, I am not sure how we get someone to vouch about your control on 'em, you see? If they just come on you dangerous an' fast all at once, an' no one knows why.

Sabitha starts to speak, but then looks at Jo and doesn't.

Ben looks at Jo as well.

[Jocoza]: Okay, so can I chime in here? This ties into something I talked about with the officers on Lena.

[Ben]: I am expectin' an' hopin' you will chime in, ma'am. I have said all my piece.

Ben picks up his drink again.

[Jocoza]: The whole idea that it's easy, and that you can do things that no one taught you — that's dangerous. The fel is dangerous, full stop. If you want to find your way into Cobalt company, you'd have to be willing to set limits and to stand by them. To slow down if your teachers ask you to. To be cautious.

Sabitha bites her lips and waits.

[Jocoza]: Is that something you think you can do? Because to be honest it makes me nervous even saying you can hang around our people, if you might be likely to try something dangerous because it seems easy.

[Sabitha]: Well, I'd say it is except I don't really have teachers anymore. I left. But! What if Lena is willing to call me her student? I could do what Lena says.

[Ben]: It ain't a question of if Lena is willin' to call you. Are you willin' to be, pretty much? An' maybe if she could get you in to see this Tyrrell fellow?

[Sabitha]: Yes, absolutely.

[Ben]: Again, it does not put a tabard on you. But it puts you under Cobalt's wing, says you are an associate we can work with.

[Sabitha]: And I want to reassure you both, it's never out of my control. It's more like someone describes a thing, and I know how to do it. Mostly. I'm not good at summoning demons; I don't like them much.

[Jocoza]: Oh, well, I bet Elo will like that much.

[Sabitha]: Demons cannot be trusted. Ever. Not even I think they can be. And I won't do anything to tarnish Cobalt's reputation! I wouldn't, not ever.

[Ben]: That is a good start, then. *Ben nods firmly. He settles back in his chair and looks at Jo.*

[Jocoza]: And if you play your cards right, and no warlocks do anything terrible between now and next time Ben, Paluuva and I are in the same room as Elo… we'll see whether we can get you an interview. You and… May? *Jo meets Ben's eyes with the question.*

Sabitha looks from Jo to Ben again, muffled hope.

[Ben]: I would hope May, yes'm. I would like to see Missus Lambert an' May both, as I said.

Sabitha murmurs, "Sabitha, please."

[Ben]: An' it would do you good, Missus Lambert — uh, Sabitha — if you introduce yourself an' get to know our Lieutenant Paluuva.

Sabitha says brightly, "If it helps, Zeke used to call me Little Bit."

[Ben]: That is real sweet, ma'am. Sabitha.

Sabitha grins.

Ben is not going to call Zeke Lambert's wife "Little Bit."

Sabitha looks to Jo. She's not got pleading eyes. Not at all. But.

[Jocoza]: Little bit. *Jo giggles.* I might call you that, just for the irony.

[Sabitha]: I'll answer to it, but I might look surprised. *Sabitha relaxes into a real smile.*

[Ben]: Lieutenant Paluuva is a draenei anchorite an' scholar. She will have some perspective also on fel magic an' all. An' she is a good judge of character. She is a real kind lady, too.

[Sabitha]: So, does this sound reasonable, then? If Lena agrees to be my teacher, I'll report to her and in the meantime I'll look for your Lieutenant?

[Jocoza]: I think that sounds reasonable, yes. She's got a good base from Bennett and then Tyrrell, at least.

Ben nods.

Sabitha beams. "Wonderful! I'll be staying here at the Inn, and I'll keep myself available for whenever anyone wants to tap on my door."

Jocoza smiles at her. "I might be heading back over to the Tundra soon, but you can mail me if you need me for anything. We have mail now!"

[Ben]: An' Lieutenant Paluuva an' me are the rankin' officers here in the Fjord. Another reason to get familiar with her.

The three of them say their farewells and depart.