[PRP] The Only One

[Chrystali]

If someone had told Tsura even a handful of years ago that she'd be in the great library of Anica, reading, she would have laughed it off as a lovely tale. Even as she sat there midst towering bookshelves, musty tomes and the few mages that were utilizing their use, she could scarcely believe she was there. Her reading was still slow - she used her index finger to guide her eyes, as she often became overwhelmed by the sheer walls of words - but she could read. Writing was still short and succinct, but she was working on it, as she was with every other aspect of her life.

Tsura paused at the end of a paragraph, lifting her bright eyes and looking out one of the slim windows in the room. Since she was inside, she did not don her turban, though she still dressed modestly and wore a shawl about her shoulders, most of her unruly hair tucked beneath its folds. It had taken over a decade, but she had slowly become more comfortable with her position in the Fellowship, treating her successes as a means to guide others and her satisfaction with her progress as a way to express herself in more womanly, less reckless ways - starting with letting her hair down, literally. The problem was that she still felt the desire to run outside, to play with Pali and delve into the depths of their connection. She wanted to continue with her studies and be a greater asset to the Fellowship, but she wanted to shirk all her responsibilities and just...be, just for a little while.

In short, it was a vicious circle: she wanted to study and perfect the practice of the teleportation spell she was researching, but she wanted to go out and be a middle aged woman who played and danced and reveled in the life she'd built for herself.

Largely, she blamed her seemingly restless mind on the hatchet 'neath her bed, the object's constant presence causing her more distress in the recent years than not. The nightmares were steady despite her attempts to do anything but think about it, but then again, that might be why they exist to begin with--

Pali stirred on her lap, easily sensing the woman's discord. "Hush, little one," she murmured soothingly, stroking the pale fur with her free hand, bringing her back from her musings of staring off into nothing out the window and back to reality. "It's nothing."

The fox snorted in his sleep. She didn't know why she still tried to tell white lies for comfort to the familiar...he was as much a part of her as her own heart. Perhaps closer.

Sighing with a rueful smile, Tsura dug her fingers into a firm rub against the neck of the small beast, earning a soft, happy whine and flattened ears of contentment, the moment passed. He was as restless as she was, but at least he could sleep it off. Hovering her index finger over the words that explained the theory of the spell and its execution with her other hand nestled in the warm fur of her companion, the dark-skinned woman squinted and continued to read, absently mouthing the words as she did so. Focus was not coming easy, but it wasn't for lack of trying to overcome it that ailed her.  

[DystopicRhythm]

She had always received such strange and near hateful looks when the brush would enter the library. It was considered odd enough that she could read, but many worried that her mere touch tainted the books she carried with her. Blaithe had tried to explain, though no human would listen. She rarely saw other Plagues present within its large walls and many shelves – usually only stunteds or Excito. Those were the only people she could gain caring looks from. Most of the time.

Blaithe could not spread, nor could she heal the plague that surrounded Panymium. Just like her Grimm’s father, few non-Grimms understood that concept. She was not a Locos, she was not an Infitialis; she was a Quietus, a Plague equivalent to a mage -- to think that the Fellowship could not look upon her as such. No, she was taint. She couldn’t receive the same welcoming and open arms that the Council held for her kind.

Hero had nestled himself quietly in the pouch of Blaithe’s apron, relishing the warmth that surrounded him. The library was one of the warmer rooms of Anica, much to the Anhelo’s relief. Her limbs and fingers still felt stiff but soon it would subside.

With her nose deep in the pages of the tome, Blaithe mindlessly wandered through bookshelf to bookshelf in thought. Normally she would have clung to Sloane, but now was a busy time for the Infitialis and she had come to understand that she couldn’t be attached to his side at all waking hours. She missed his companionship but it was more important that he filled his duties than play babysitter. The brush would have faced such boring chores as meetings just to be around her knight.

Or Cyril, for that matter. He had not come calling that day, and she felt a ping of sadness from it.

So light, so faint, she could smell the taint of death from within the walls. It wasn’t surprising with so many Grimms present, but it was the proximity that surprised her. Not many Grimms were able to read, so few of them had reason to enter the library. It was faint, but it was close. Whoever it was, the putesco was not on their person. Frustrating, very frustrating. Blaithe couldn’t just approach every single person and ask, but she could smell it, and it was close. It hadn’t grown yet, she could tell, as it was concentrated death and decay.

The snort of a beast had caught Blaithe’s attention, and for a moment she lifted her glowing eyes from her book to take a quick look around. A woman she had never seen before sat with a lovely white creature in her lap – another she had never seen. It wasn’t a surprise; there were so many people in Anica and hardly a handful could she put a name to. To her luck, however… she carried the stench of death closer than any other.

”Excuse me,” Blaithe chimed, taking an awkward step toward the bench Tsura claimed for her own. It was hard to tell what her eyes rested on, but indeed they were upon the Seer. ”I apologize for interrupting you and your friend, but perhaps… would you happen to be a Grimm?

"Or, more accurately, a Grimm-to-be?”  

[Chrystali]

In an automatic response, Tsura lifted her eyes from the book to the one speaking to her, an immediate smile curving her lips before she even knew who was the one doing the addressing. When her eyes fell upon those pale orbs, shock tempered her smile, and before she could breathe a word, the question stole the air from her lungs.

For a moment, Tsura felt frozen in fear, as though the Quietus had just accused her of murder instead. She could feel the jolts through her mind that told her to flee, but her rationality was keeping her in place. The question was far less damning, but no less terrifying. It didn't help that she was staring into the face of a remarkably beautiful and flawless woman that was born of the same magic her own hatchet possessed. Tsura felt like she needed to be pinched to taste reality again, but instead, she was given a cold nose in her ear.

The woman jumped a little, uttering a soft sound of surprise at the fox that was no longer asleep on her lap but wound around her shoulders, nose pressed upon her ear lobe now. It was as good as any pinch. Lifting her hand from its frozen position where the fox once was, she scratched behind Pali's ears, giving herself a short, sharp shake of her head and immediately blossoming her shock into a warmer smile. "I -- yes, I am. To be. A Grimm." Tsura winced a little at how her broken response didn't exactly net her any respectability points. "I'm sorry, I -- you're the first to ask." Wrangling another apologetic smile, she tucked a lock of black behind her ear before closing her book, scooting over to the far side of the bench to give the other room to sit if she so desired -- especially as Tsura noted the unique leg.

Settling the folds of her dress about her legs, she retained her smile, though there was a little bit of tightness around her eyes. "I certainly hope I don't smell like it, that would be an awful impression to make here in Anica." Tsura tried to laugh off her disquiet, the likes of which was aimed at herself and not at all at the other's presence. In fact, she was grateful for the distraction, putting her hand over her own chest. "I'm Seer Dalca. You can call me Tsura, if you'd like, I'm still adjusting to the whole title thing, even though it's been a few years." She shrugged, the fox undisturbed by the gesture, focused on the Quietus with wide, unblinking eyes, more a reflection of Tsura's internal feelings that were less polite to display. "I'm pretty sure I've never seen you before. I'd remember someone so beautiful! But I'm pleased to make your acquaintance now."  

[DystopicRhythm]

The woman’s fear was registered almost immediately, like all the others, and instinctively Blaithe took a step back, her wooden leg clacking dully against the cobblestone flooring. Her neutral expression remained for the most part other than her brows knitting lightly. She didn’t mean to startle a guest of Anica.

”I apologize,” said Blaithe, eyeing the offered seat and instead taking the one right in front so that they may face. ”You do smell of putesco but I assure you, it is not noticed by humans.”

Meeting Pali’s gaze, Blaithe listened quietly to Tsura’s introductions before finally looking up. Politeness was important when meeting others, especially when Plagues were given such a low pedestal as it was. She couldn’t, or more accurately, wouldn’t risk walking on ill terms with a new Grimm. She did her best to use manners on everyone she met, even if she was still becoming adjusted to this new body.

The woman’s compliments fell on Blaithe’s ears, the glow of her stars brightening and thrumming for just a moment. Waving as if to blow them away, a smile finally broke on Blaithe’s lips. ”Surely you are mistaken,” she laughed, her hands reaching up to idly meet a messy, unkempt braid. ”But I thank you nonetheless. I am Blaithe, a Quietus of Anica. As a Seer, you must be of great importance.”

”My Lady sells herself short,” Hero said, emerging from his pocket. ”She has once illuminated an important document.”

”Hero, that is hardly of importance to a Seer,” Blaithe hushed, slightly embarrassed from her companion’s outburst. ”I do apologize again. This is Hero, my travel companion. He was gifted to me long before I had grown to Anhelo.”

”A pleasure,” he spat, hardly trying for manners. He was hushed with a gentle tap to his head.  

[Chrystali]

Tsura exhaled in a visible sigh of relief, giving Pali a solid scritch on his cheek before dropping her hand to join the other in her lap. Of course it was good she didn't smell. It did not ease the pressure of her pending responsibilities and the emotional tethers to them. "That is good," she replied at length, knowing not else to say. She was speaking with a grown Plague about the murder weapon under her bed; there was little tact and light-hearted discussion to be had about it.

The soft glow of the stars upon the female's skin lit a warmth in the Seer in turn, earning a polite but sweetly intended smile. This Plague - Blaithe, as she introduced herself - displayed more human response than most mages she knew. Well-mannered, polite perhaps to a fault, observant and clearly understanding the terms of flattery and when to use it -- it was no wonder they were feared, displaying all the characteristics of humanity as they ought to be. Ideal. And with magical control without so much as reading a book. Tsura, in her decade in studying, could only imagine the power Blaithe wielded that she could not hope to understand in a lifetime dedicated to her craft. Even so, the Seer was warm, finding it a little ironic that her first real show of compassion and kindness in years would come from a Plague.

Will mine be so delightful?

Her smile easily reached her eyes. "You are humble, dear Blaithe--oh!" Her expression fell into one of surprise, brows lofting at the small black figure that emerged from the Plague's pocket. The words he uttered were no less surprising, earning a pleased little laugh from the Seer. "Please, you needn't apologize, dear Blaithe - it is very good to meet you, Hero. And good of you to keep your lady honest." She did not mind the manners - or lack thereof. Tsura could only think of her absent siblings, and though she was certain his crassness might cause trouble for others, she was not so inclined to take offense if he didn't care for her. She didn't know their story.

"I actually find that most interesting and would love to hear of it some time, in a place we might speak more easily without disturbance." The Seer chuckled to herself, about to comment further when she felt Pali moving off her shoulders and into her lap, pausing at her knees and staring with great interest at Hero. For a moment, she looked aghast. "--oh, where are my manners? This is Pali. He wont be a bother, he's very curious and is not quite bound by social etiquette as I am." He was, in fact, her curiosity embodied. "Ah, but, as I was saying -- I would be most interested to hear any tale or feat you might share in an appropriate venue. It would be a reprieve from constant study."

For a moment, she forgot what had prompted the Plague to join her, smiling in an intrigued manner at Blaithe and her companion.

NeonMace

 

[DystopicRhythm]

Hero, in turn, watched Pali with interest – though perhaps his was more out of concern. He did not wish to be eaten and he did not know this fox. The excito backed into Blaithe’s open palm as she held him, and if he had fur he would have bristled.

”Come now, Hero. I highly doubt that our guest would allow Mister Pali to do anything to harm you,” Blaithe said, her voice low and assuring.

The feline did not calm, but instead crawled back into the pouch on his companion’s apron.

”I am so sorry for Hero’s lack of manners, Miss Tsura.” She offered, giving her an apologetic smile. ”Hero sometimes is not the friendliest—“

At the offer, Blaithe scooched forward on her own bench, her rear hardly resting at all. She wasn’t one to boast of her own doings but the woman was interesting and seemed to have curiosity over her. The Quietus found herself more interested in Grimm’s than she had when she was small, and with Tsura having her own companion, yet to have grown, she wanted greatly to meet them.

With her smile easing into a gentle curve, Blaithe offered, ”Any questions you may have that I hold the power to answer, I will be glad to do so.”

Chrystali