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 Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:31 am
"Y-You're not a hindrance!" she blurted out, barely giving the Captain enough time to finish. She'd mulled over it for some time, and yes, she figured that he would probably feel a lot more comfortable inside her dim-lit room. But then again, she didn't want him to feel like he was being held captive either. She'd probably be able to do something about the lights downstairs too... Hmm...
Yes. It was decided.
Coline paced towards the door and, after shifting the weight of the garments into one arm, swung the door open. Walking back with the same display of hastiness, she took Jessie firmly by the hand. "Let's go." she said, a certain commanding quality in her tone, practically yanking the drow out of the room and towards the hall.
Her steps were hurried, panicked, but mostly done as a form of reassurance. He was a guest, not a fugitive, and it was her utmost priority that he felt welcomed into their home. Their home? Coline shook her head; was this really the time to be thinking about technicalities? Well, thoughts aside, the two soon found themselves at the bottom end of the staircase.
...Only for another thought to come and haunt her.
Her eagerness paved the way to her own oversight. It was only then that she remembered that there were other things that called for her attention; the Captain's clothes, the ever-growing pile of presents by the front door, and everything in between. She hung her head in defeat, but only momentarily, for a strange aroma springing from the kitchen seeped into her nostrils. "Ah. The Priestess must be cooking."
She turned to Jessie. "I... will need to sort out a few things first. We have a fire going, so if you're feeling a little cold... And if you're thirsty..." she said, lips stretching out into one thin line. How cruel words were, to escape her now of all times. "W-What I'm trying to say is, you don't need to strain yourself. I'll take care of everything. Just sit back, relax, and please, make yourself at home." she smiled a warm smile. "I promise, I won't take too long."
Coline didn't bother waiting for a response. With a soft squeeze of the hand, she scurried off towards and out the front door.
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:24 am
"Just let me give you everything, as I desire..."
Jessie allowed himself to be pulled from the room cheerfully, after a moment of surprise. It was always a surprise when Coline chose to be forceful - but a pleasant one at that. He liked to see his little kalye'chev coming out of her shell. It meant that she was comfortable enough with herself and with him to be confident in her decisions.
He also grimaced at the sight of the boxes piled high inside the doorway. They were going to have to do something about that very soon, before Corie came back with the second load. How long had it been? 10 minutes? They had plenty of time if that was the case. If not...
Coline's remark about the cooking caught him by surprise. "Really? How do you know?" he inquired, not thinking that she must have been able to smell something he couldn't. The drow sense of smell is... not the best. He often took for granted his inability to sense things the humans could in this respect.
She seemed too preoccupied to answer him, however. He didn't blame her. There were a lot of things to be done. As she scurried off, he finished walking down the last few steps and looked around the corner. Sure enough, the priestess was hard at work bustling around the counters.
He dithered at the foot of the stairs, unsure of whether to simply wait for Coline or do as she'd instructed and make himself at home. Would it be rude to sit down and take a cup of the tea uninvited?
Better to be safe than sorry. He took a couple of steps towards the table, halting just behind one of the two chairs on the side closest to the front door, fingertips resting on its back. With any luck, if he was allowed to sit down, Coline would be able to come and take the seat next to him.
"Excuse me, priestess," he intoned politely at the woman's back "May I...?"
"...And believe me when I say that I love you."
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:45 am
Do I control the blades in my hands?
He was staring off into nothingness, listening to Cressa's explanation.
"That is not all you know," he said, breathing the words as they came in a chill mist. He looked over then.
The Drow was in an upright fit. He watched as she unceremoniously tore the beautiful wrap from the box, take hold of whatever it was inside, and discard the box.
In her hand was the single most beautiful piece of jewelry he had ever seen. I mixture of Drow profanity and common was slurred together in her rage. there was something about the box, and the paper....
Captain Jessie's Gift boxes?
It had to be. He moved to say something, to somehow calm her, but he couldn't get a word in lengthwise whilst the string of curses was being issued. The Necklace, in it's shining glory, was flung out into the night.
He tried to watch where it went, maybe to retrieve it when the drow finally fell asleep, but he was confused and angry himself.
"What in the abyss was that all about?!" He burst, preparing a tirade of his own. "Seriously," He continued, "Coming from a world so war torn as ours, wouldn't you know that losing your temper that easily is just plain stupid? Especially over a man and what he gives his kalye'chev!"
He stopped, taking a breath. then he realized that had been the first time he had spoken in drow in this land, and to her.
"Think about it! If every jealous or old lover was to stay so possessive-" he stopped, hearing something in the rain. He held his finger in the air to stop what he knew she would say back to him. His head snapped over his shoulder, and he knew there was something prowling in that abyssal muck.
His shirt and armor were still tucked off to the side, and he took his sword in his hand, swinging down into the blasting storm's fury.
Or do they control me?
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:23 am
"Well that does seem very boring indeed, But it is you. At least you have people who rely and talk to you. However..." He said, most hesitantly. "If you'd ever like a change, perhaps you'd like to join me some time?" He said looking away from her, almost turning away completely. He had never been so bold, and had liked his privicy. Why was this woman so different then others?
"Oh this spell? I suppose so, it's not as dangerous as a lot of them. Just don't flip around too many of these books. Some say that they bite. Although some spells activate themselves once the are opened. I had one scroll so evil that when I tried to open it, the thing lit itself on fire." he said, turing with her to his desk, as he brought the book between them.
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 12:44 pm
 ☼ "I come from the North, where there is no autumn..."
Meta yawned. Good lord, why did transporting always make her yawn? It'd been a while, for sure, but she didn't ever think she'd get used to those bright lights in the inter-spatial corridors.
Good lord, but she was tired. It was raining cats and dogs (all too literally, she'd later learn), and she'd luckily managed to get everyone fed before it really started coming down and ruined the bread. She hadn't thought she'd need platter covers, but that was not the case.
Unfortunately, though, the storm had really become a drencher as soon as she'd finished, just walking back to the Kitchens. She was soaked to the bone, right through her winter coat. It wasn't designed for rain, only for snow.
She took a detour and trudged into the Bathhouse.
"...Where the cold crouches over you like a snow leopard waiting to pounce." ☼
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 12:55 pm
I don't like to think of myself as "evil," as such...
Cressa glared at him, arms folded and eyes narrowed.
"We are not, never have been and never will be lovers," she huffed "I am just a spoiled, petty princess."
He lunged off into the torrential rain. She simply rolled her eyes. "Ussta'ilhal... remind me why I slept with such an oaf."
"Hmm," she continued, scooping to pick up her cloak and wrapping it around herself "When shall we two meet again; in thunder, lightning or in rain?"
She smoothed her robes, continuing to mumble loftily to herself as if the man were stuff present. "None, I hope - nor blazing sun. Usstan sinair ticondo d'lil tar'annen del nesstren. Time to go!"
She kicked off from the ledge, diving into the curtain of rain.
[Levitation]
Within seconds, she was skimming the treetops; getting VERY wet, VERY quickly, but at least she was making a quick getaway.
There was, however, another way of escaping with haste. Corie! Corie!
Perhaps summoning her familiar in her true form was not the best idea considering the circumstances, but so long as that imbecile had his hands full with whatever caught his attention it should hardly matter. Corie!
It seemed that there would never be an end to the forest, or the rain. Soon enough, however, the green disappeared from under her... and she felt herself grasped by two gigantic hands.
"" the frog-beast rumbled, pulling the floating drow down to cradle her like a baby in one arm; the other shielding her from the driving water.
"" the woman replied melodramatically.
Corie complied, and they set off at a similar incredibly fast but jolting pace as when the creature had carried its previous passengers. "" the servant asked suspiciously.
""
"" Corie chastised.
"" she mumbled, stretching out on the length of the beast's arm.
""
"" she replied ""
Corie's expression, unseen, took on a look of concern. ""
"" she suddenly shrieked, sitting bolt upright ""
"" the creature replied cannily ""
""
...I much prefer the term "morally challenged." (( Here Cressa is quoting two famous works - the human Macbeth, and the drow "In the Luurden Valley." The quote translates as "I grow weary of the company of men." ))
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:21 pm
They wouldn't love me if they knew what I look like...
The Priestess turned to him, frowning. "You have people who need you and talk to you," she argued, her lips quirking up into a smile. "Me, for instance."
Looking back downa t the book, she reached out to touch the pages. "I feel honoured that you believe I could be of help to you. I'd absolutely love to spend time in here with you - working, that is," she blurted "I... used to want to do this kind of thing when I was younger."
...Beneath these robes, and this dye, and this stupid fancy title.
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:41 pm
((I'm waiting for Bapp to respond to what I said like ten pages ago to his chara))
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:49 pm
((Grun, I don't know if I'd wait for him...he seems to be waiting to make another grand entrance and none of us know when he will decide the perfect time is for that....))
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:06 pm
((Haha thanks for the help guys!! ^^
I think I might take a break for a little while...pop in with some random post or something. Maybe I'll have Alexi do something cawaaaayzeeee XD
I just gotta think somethin' up....))
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:11 pm
 If a diety created all that is...
A grumbling stopped whatever reply might have been forming in Xeiashi's head. "well...okay...This might be the last time I eat real food for a while now anyway." he replied, subdued by the mere mention of Panda's name. She can't be talking about that Panda...could she? nah...I heard he disappeared after the war.... he thought as he paused at the door, swaying slightly in his weakness. He steadied himself against the wall, though his unused body still refused to cooperate fully.
He did, however, feel slightly insulted at being told, 'I will take you to the books'...It made him feel somewhat childish. As he waited, he attempted to conjure a small donut, though the end result was something more like a pancake. As he munched on it, he thought, never was too good at that one...I should practice sometime
...wouldn't all writers be dieties of their own worlds? -Xeiashi Zakariz
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:33 pm
Do I control the blades in my hands?
He was back in the storm.
The storm he knew from his previous life. The tropic thunder, the clash of lightning, the pounding rain. It all felt so surreal to him. He knew that Cressa had taken off, he wouldn't stop her. He waded, The muck and mud half past he knee, through the jungle foliage. He had heard something, and it was something that he remembered.
Soon he found his way to where the necklace had fallen, stooping to pick it up off of a broad leaf that had conveniently caught it. He pocketed it. It was amazing, the glittering gold, the inset gems... And the beauty of it called.
A strange thing happened then, a twinge in the weave. He either found it to be something small, insignificant, or he had lost his ability to hear it. The thought was not truly adverse, simply a bit of a bad taste one couldn't remove from the mouth.
This night was too much like something from a dream. Something that he had left behind and forgotten, a passing thought, a fleeing love.
It was that night, back on the Isle.
He came to a high spot in the muck, a place where his boots were not submerged passed the ankle. There, the familiar voice beckoned.
But he could hear it.
"So I have found you at least, dear brother," it boomed. The voice was as if the rolling thunder had manifested with the roar of a lion. He spun, on guard, his sword in his hand.
Just in time for the tow handed blade to come crashing down onto the cold steel sword his father had given him.
"I see you have improved," he said, coming into view. He had a smile like that of a wolf's on his face, and a slow melodic chuckling issued forth. "It took me years to find you, and it seems that you have had not even a month of time lapse over. The power that old b*****d had, sending you here, was incredible. I will have to take his head on my return to faerun," His smile made Storm's stomach twist. they circled around one another. "How did you get here?" was all Storm could ask. The question loomed over his mind like a dragon sacking a castle.
Why, I thought you would have like to see me, brother. I spent so much time looking for you, honing my skills for when I saw you again. And this is the welcome I get. If you must know, I traveled by boat. But, different boats at a time. Several vessels ago, I found myself a lovely dark elf to share the voyage," The grin seemed to get wider.
The thought made Storm retch, imagining that Cressa was both with him and this b*****d. the man was tall, inches above Storm. 6'7" perhaps, and his body was covered in dark armor, littered in spikes.
He probed this man's reactions with a few feints and jabs.
It was no good, the man was a tank. The armor was obviously enchanted, and a blow striking it simply glanced off to the side, leaving him completely open.
Storm Was still in only his boots and pants, leaving him vulnerable to any strike.
The eyes glowed yellow on this man, illuminating the air around him as they paced in the circle. Somehow, he had to get past the defenses, cut him off from his assets.
His head was bare, and it was a good enough chance.
His strike was plain for his brother to see, and Sarevok saw exactly what was coming.
Initially.
In fact, Storm dropped his sword, the familiar blade falling from his hands as he dove, too close now for the Bhaalspawn's blade to skewer him. The spikes, luckily, were on the outside of the armor, the knees, shins, shoulders. he took his brother down to the mud, the two handed blade flying into the night.
The straps were on the only exposed placed. the buckles slid easily with a deft clinch, and the man's armor fell off easily.
From there on, it was fists. Storm had him pinned beneath him, slugging his half brother in the head with all his might. Blue light fell from his eyes, mixing green with what yellow could slip past the already swelling eye sockets. his brother got his bearing after about the tenth punch, and threw the man off of him.
"You will Pay!!" Storm cried, his rage and anguish unleashing itself onto his family's murderer. he was back on his feet in an instant, his arm drawn back for a haymaker, which struck the man square in the jaw.
This dropped Sarevok back into the mud, a splash came up, but then the sound of the battle faded into the falling rain.
The lightning in the sky illuminated the scene, seconds at a time.
His brother was a bloody pulp, lying unconscious in the mud. From the light of the sky cracking, he could see a silver glimmer in his shoulder. reaching over to his left with his right hand, he grasped the handle of a dagger, caught up the the hilt in the flesh and bone of his left shoulder.
"Bhaaall," Storm said, dully, as he fell next to his unconscious brother in the mud, fading into blackness as well.
~~~
He awoke somewhere he did not expect. in fact, he had not truly expected in his subconscious state to even wake up at all.
He reached over, without opening his eyes, to grasp at the wound that was there.
But it wasn't. He sat up with a start, his eyes wide and darting about the room. It was a huge domed cavern, or at least, it may have been, without the pulsing flesh of the walls and the air flowing with measured steadiness.
"W-what?" He said, pulling himself up.
He looked around, perceiving the place more clearly. It had a regimented bone structure, all around him, and the walls and floor indeed made of flesh. His wound was not there, and he felt fully rested, shaking his head in disbelief.
There was an exit in front of him, a tall orifice, somewhat like the flaps of a tent, but... fleshy.
everything was bloody though, and the scent of it made his stomach twist as though Sarevok was smiling right into his face with that wolfish grin.
"W-Where Am I?" he asked aloud, testing his now returning voice.
"You are in a plane of existence created by the taint in your blood, godchild," the voice was soothing, a woman with an astral quality. He turned and the sight he beheld was amazing.
A solar, in all he glory stood before him.
"To what do I owe the honor, Servant of the gods?" he asked, not really knowing exactly what to say. It was nerve wracking, The idea of the gods sending him a messenger, here of all places.
"What do you mean, plane of existence?" he pondered this for a minute. It was really not even like anything he had even heard of or read of in books. The place truly was organic, a living, breathing thing.
"And how do i go back, to see justice served?" he finished.
"To return to the lands of your previous life is to forsake your vows. It would be impossible for you to travel there now, with such a pact made. But to go anywhere, you simply need ask the plane itself. It can take you anywhere, even when other means of transportation would end in failure or even certain death. You may come here, at any time, and stay for as long as you need. You can bring others, those whose fates are tied to yours. But this plane is bound to your blood, to your diving heritage," the Deva explained. it listed off what would work and the limitations of this magic.
Finally, Storm looked up to the eyes wreathed in living flame, and asked simply, "why me?"
She looked at him as if the reason was plain to see, as if the answer was on the end of his nose.
he didn't expect an answer, and he stormed off to the... flaps that served as an exit. seeing them closer, they seemed to be like two spines, ribs setting a form to the edges, soaring high to where they met at the top.
At the sides where horrid things, perhaps sculptures, even gargoyles carved from flesh and blood, bleeding into the fleshy walls. they stared at him, and his stomach, already knotted, swam in his gut.
They looked at him, boring into his soul, and he could hear their thoughts, asking him where it was he wanted to go. they asked him many other questions too, but the thought of escape from this abhorrid place was what he was focused on. He turned, expecting to see the Astral Deva behind him as he exited to only the gods knew where, only to see his still brother, lying on the ground.
~~~
It was still raining as his mind re-entered his body. the same day, and not but five minutes after the fight with his brother. he was dressed in his armor, and his sword was at his hip, though how they got there, he had no idea. He stood in front of an inn, quite the spectacle to the passerby. he had suddenly appeared under the awning, causing many who were still out in this storm to scurry away. Either that, or the telltale blue green of the order and the pendant he carried of the order's initiation.
He turned to go inside, opened the door and was welcomed with the smell, sights and sounds of what he had come to love in a tavern.
He could smell the kitchens before exiting the entryway, the pork roasts and spiced potatoes filling the air with their sweet aromas.
the light from the fireplace was a welcome sight as compared to the hasty crash of lightning, and he found a table off in a corner to sit and think. the tobacco, even herbal smoke was beautiful in it's own way, filling the air, mixing in with the feelings of the tavern.
He stopped the serving girl as she did her rounds with a quick touch on the arm, and asked her for a pint of mead, and she obliged.
Or do they control me? [[It was time for a specifically big post in which I did some personal development. Training end, endure training start, whatever comes next xP]]]
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:33 am
Eurydice turned to regard the Captain with a weak smile. "Oh, but of course. Help yourself to some tea, dear, there's a lot more where that came from." she said, gesturing towards the table. "And please, call me Eurydice. The war had long ended; there is no need to call me by my title any longer." Her eyes lingered over the drow's form, inspecting him silently, before she directed her attention back to her cooking. "His clothes fit you. I am relieved."
Time passed and a verbal silence filled the room, so much so that the bubbling sound emanating from the pot on the stove became very much audible. However, this was soon overpowered by a quick succession of footsteps belonging to none other than Coline, who was carrying a stack of chopped firewood under one arm, and Jessie's robes--which have been squeezed out of as much water as possible out in the covered entrance--under the other. She knelt in front of the fireplace, dropping the stack carelessly onto a space nearby with an inelegant clatter.
The commotion caught the Priestess' attention, of course, and she frowned upon seeing the now-drenched recruit who set about to hanging the clothes by the fire to dry. "Coline." she called out. "You look absolutely soaked. Change into something dry, would you dear?"
"Yes, in a minute..." was her quiet response. Her eyes were trained on the dark garments, focused, hands glazing over them to ensure they were spread out as evenly as possible. After the task was done she slowly lifted herself up from the floor, hands raised up cautiously--they won't fall off, will they?--before bolting towards and up the staircase without another word.
Worried emerald eyes followed the young girl's retreating body. With a soft sigh she turned to grab hold of the ladle to resume stirring at the bubbling pot, and what felt like an eternity in the Priestess' mind passed in thoughtful silence. "...How is she?" Eurydice inquired breathily, back still turned.
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:55 am
"Just let me give you everything, as I desire..."
Jessie obligingly took his seat, saying nothing, though his eyes snapped with interest to the priestess. Whose clothes was he wearing, exactly?
It was hardly important. Something more pressing, which nearly caused him to speak out, was her refute of the title granted to her. It was not his opinion that one's status could be revoked as simply as she thought. As long as she still believed - and she did, didn't she? - she was still a priestess through and through. Every woman, save for the most common, in his home was an ordained priestess. To them, priestess was a state of being. It wasn't symbolised by robes or by title, but by simply belonging.
Memories of tall, obsidian buildings and misty cobbled streets began to surface. The Captain brushed his hair back, turning his attention to the tea. He poured himself a cup of the coppery-black liquid, before eyeing the honey with suspicion. Jessie wasn't sure if he was fond of bee excreta. His experiences with the gloop had been mixed. As he deliberated, Coline returned noisily - or what was noisily in the silent room - to the right, behind him. He turned to watch her fussing precisely with the hanging of the robes, smiling as she put all her concentration and effort into ensuring they were optimally arranged. His eye then glanced consciously towards the priestess - fortunately, she was watching the girl, not him. He quickly picked up a teaspoon and dolloped a small amount of the sugary substance into his cup, stirring to dissolve it.
"Coline?" he replied unthinkingly, not expecting such a question "She's fine. She seems... happy," he continued, somewhat more uncertainly as his mind had a chance to catch up with his mouth. He paused briefly, before continuing with greater conviction in an undertone. "I try and make her happy."
It was the truth.
His mind began to work further then. What might have the priestess preferred to hear? Tales of her fainting, of how she works herself too hard - to exhaustion? Praise of her abilities, her intelligence, independence and rapid progress? If that was what she wanted, she wouldn't get it. He wasn't a teacher. Those things were private, between the two of them, and he'd never breach her trust as, for a few minutes previously, he'd believed she might have breached his.
He nodded to himself, comforted by the knowledge of their silent solidarity. Eurydice wasn't going to get anything out of him. It was him and Coline together against the world. Nothing was going to break their bond; their secrets stayed with them.
"...And believe me when I say that I love you."
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:41 am
She halted for a moment in surprise before resuming her stirring. How very curious...
"I see. That's good." she answered simply, resigning herself to a slight smile. "Though I have to say, that was not the kind of answer I was expecting to hear from a combat instructor." She had to resist the urge to giggle then, as to not appear rude to their honored guest, but she found this all to be rather amusing. Her dear Coline disappears for a week and then brings home a...
Well, she would find out soon enough if her speculations were correct.
Lowering the heat from the stove Eurydice then turned to the Captain with a sigh, sweeping back stray strands of hair away from her face; goodness knows how that could have happened considering how her hair was coiled into a tight-set bun. "But you are quite right, she does seem happy. It has been a long time since I've last seen her smile the way she did." a warm smile returned to her features. "It would seem that your efforts were not in vain, Captain."
The Priestess adjusted the shawl over her shoulders, leaning against the counter as she eyed the drow with a certain curiosity. Fascinating... "You are a dark elf, are you not?" she inquired, lowering her head ever so slightly. "Forgive my being forward. I've only met very few of your people in my thirty six years of life, you see. It is an honor to receive you as a guest into our home."
All the while, Coline had been busy at work; mopping up the puddles, shuffling out of her own drenched robes and into dry ones, and taking said robes out to the covered entrance for some much-needed squeezing only to leave them there--she'll hang them by the fire later--to carry the first set of boxes up to her room. The rumbling of footsteps were very much noticeable, so full of life, yet in contrast the Priestess remained unfazed and passive.
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