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 Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:01 pm
xxxxxxxxxxWho: Lady Estratus, Sloane, Elsie Crane, coffee cup
xxxxxxxxxxWhere: North Base, Shyregoed
xxxxxxxxxxWhen: Middle of the night, roughly past midnight
xxxxxxxxxxWeather: Flurries, maybe a foot of snow on the ground
xxxxxxxxxxMission Status: Completion; Elsie must present her findings to Lady Estratus to be welcomed to the Fellowship
xxxxxxxxxx
What during the day was so white and featureless was now a nearly inky darkness, broken only by the moon, stars and the occasional bright torch protected by metal and glass. One every few yards was lit bright in a line leading toward the base after a certain point. Travel and navigation were hard enough in Shyregoed with its frequent white out blizzards, it wasn't as though the average assassin could adequately find their way through the freezing cold and white anyway, especially not to that point, so either only the Fellowship's closest allies or their most stubborn enemies would manage to even find the line of torches Sloane looked out over now.
The large wooden doors were closed behind him, but not locked--they were expecting someone. His lady had seen that this hopeful Grimm, this Elsie Crane, had arrived at the base as she had been ordered and was now on her way up, but her Sight could only reach so far and so the status of her mission was completely unknown to them. If all were so easy as to find out such things from a large distance, Sage could have just spied in on the base instead and the mystery would be solved. Due to that being an impossibility, Sloane found himself exceptionally curious as to what was going on in there. If it were just some stray family holed up in there because they had nowhere else to go, he was going to be disappointed. Relieved, but disappointed. The mysterious air the situation gave off told him it was something more, something heavy, but just what couldn't be described.
He had lost himself for a few hours at the front of the base, passing time with pacing, running and climbing up the front walls, playing small jokes on the guards at the interior of the doors, and other various things, but mostly he had been pondering what this Elsie Crane was like, how her mission had gone, what information she would yield and, most important of all, what the dear Grimm was caring for.
At that current time, there were a sparse few other Plagues he knew of; Adal the hat, Sydney the mirror, a lovely paintbrush, the bundle of ashes known as Clurie, and a ring. All were such lovely items (except perhaps for Adal, but first impressions could always change in the future), and if Elsie was anything like the other Grimms coming in new to the whole deal, then hers would still be inanimate, an item in the clearest sense of the word.
Here, again, he was beginning to lose himself, and nearly didn't notice the black dot in the distance beginning to draw closer. As soon as he did, Sloane perked up and rushed inside to fetch a thick cloak made from furs. It was usually one he wore, but there was no expected storm and his current thick cloth garb was proving enough to shut out what cold he could feel. Stepping out once more, he had the bundled garment flopped over his shoulders as he awaited the arrival of the woman, his mind positively a twitter in anticipation.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:16 pm
Soon, soon.
The darkness had settled in a lot faster than Elsie had hoped it to, the distance she had covered in that day not nearly enough to satisfy her tastes. As she shivered against the setting sun, the clothing she wore about her shoulders provided not enough protection against the snow that threatened to fall. She could have gotten something warmer from the houses she passed, the people offering her shelter from the cold and a bed for the night, yet it was with terrified eyes that Elsie did little more than scream in their faces. She had seen what some of these kind people were doing here in this country, and where she once welcomed them she was now afraid.
How long ago had she last had a meal? Was she even going in the right direction? Elsie was too tired, to driven by her will alone to think of such things as her most likely frostbitten legs carried her further up a trail. When she was brave enough to ask for directions she'd managed to get pointed down the right path so at least she wasn't wandering off into unknown woods, but how much longer could she carry on this way? She was tired, she was terrified, but she needed to report.
Almost there. Keep going Elsie, they need to know. Jesse would want this.
So it was with weary legs, arms bruised from her impact with the wall, and eyes so tired from no rest that Elsie started to limp her way down a path towards a lit building in the distance. The sun had long set past this point and the air was freezing. If there was light Elsie could probably see her breath before her, see the frost that was settling on the tip of her nose and eyelashes, but as it was all she could see was that building far ahead of her. She needed to get there! She...she...
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:32 pm
The figure was drawing closer now, closing the distance from the long walk. A thought occurred to Sloane; had she walked all the way here? As she came closer, it was easy to tell how weary she was, dipping to the sides here and there and putting so much effort into her steps. Shivering. Bearing it no longer, the sword Plague clutched his furred gift to her tightly and began to run, his metal armor cutting through the soft snow with ease. The two met half way, and it was clear the woman was in ill sorts; both in body and in spirits.
"Miss, might you be Elsie Crane?" his words cut through the dense silence like a knife, a sharp but still somehow comforting tone lingering on them. Without waiting for a response, he pressed closer to her shivering form and draped the cloak around her, wrapping her up so that her arms were tucked inside with the rest of her torso. Careful, he made sure his clawed gauntlets receded so as not to poke the poor woman--she had clearly gone through enough without that.
Tucking the linings of the fur in so now air escaped, he stood beside her and wrapped his arms around her, rubbing to generate some friction and warmth beneath the fur. "You couldn't have walked all this way...? Terrible. Awful! I am deeply regretful that you were put through such a task--I know humans are much more susceptible to the elements than one such as I." And with that, he began slowly leading her up the rest of the path, acting as a crutch if she needed it. Whether she actually was or not wasn't important, she clearly wasn't an assassin bent on their destruction and she needed warmth, food and shelter. She had come all this way, the least he could do was let her inside to get warm, have some hot soup and sleep.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:56 pm
Elsie all but collapsed the moment a figure came rushing out to her side, touching her with strange hands that somehow warmed her. She couldn't even see whatever it was he put on her, it didn't even register in her mind, as her eyes did their best to stay open and her legs kept shuffling her forward. One of her arms moved up to touch the the fur, fingers barely bending to pull it tightly against her shaking frame. Her other hand stayed atop the cup, a finger tapping that as well. She needed to keep going, even if she couldn't properly hear whatever was being spoken to her. Elsie thought she'd heard her name and perhaps a question as to what she was doing, so she did her best to squeak out a reply.
"Lady....report. . ."
Was that scratching sound really her voice? Did she honestly sound that pathetic in her words? Elsie would have blanched at her tone were she able to do so, but instead she merely kept trying to repeat the same phrase over and over. She was fairly certain somewhere in her babbling she would make enough sense to get a standard answer from whomever was beside her.
"Children....castle. So many bodies. Oh, Jesse. . . "
There were no tears to cry, only a heavy weight as Elsie swayed on her feet to lean against this figure. He was warm and she felt as though she should trust him - he'd come to get her after all from the place she thought she was meant to be going in. Was he going to keep her safe? Would he take her to Lady Estratus? As they drew closer to the building this seemed to be so, so there was no reason to fret any further. She just had to keep her legs moving and everything would be alright.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 7:08 pm
He could feel the woman's weight sag slightly--she really was worse for wear--but she still managed to croak out some semblance of a reply, which he just barely managed to discern from the wind beginning to pick up. Pulling her closer and wrapping an arm tightly around her, Sloane attempted to walk faster. "I will take you to Lady Estratus," he said calmly, though what he didn't bother to finish with was After you get some hot food in you.
Sloane could not abide such a situation, not for a woman, not for a child, and not for a man; no one should be denied such necessities and he would be sure to get this poor woman into a state of normalcy--at least as normal as she could be now--before the mission progress was reported.
Finally, the two reached the main gate. Sloane pulled one of the large wooden doors open, flakes and flurries wooshing in behind them as the wind picked up, but ended abruptly as the guards closed it and locked it up.
"Is that her?" one of them asked, attempting to look over Sloane's shoulder as the Plague towered over her, looking the frozen woman over and still rubbing her shoulders. Warm, he needed her to be warm.
In response, all he offered was a nod, before he began leading her down another hall. The North Base was one of the largest facilities in Shyregoed, but the farthest out of the way; entirely self contained and nearly self sufficient, it was very close to being its own small country with Sage's current heading of it. Turning a corner, the two entered a warm room, complete with several long wooden tables and a large fireplace. "Please, dear Elsie, find a seat. I will fetch you the warmest soup and stew we have and Lady Estratus will be down to meet you within minutes." Finally releasing her, Sloane gave an elegant wave towards the room, indicating she could situate herself anywhere she pleased and, just before stepping out, he made sure to bow to her.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 7:27 pm
Aside from all the moving and bring brought indoors, Elsie was now hardly aware of anything else. The figure with her kept talking, his voice so strange to her ears - welcoming and terrifying all at the same time. She wished she could see him better other than the blur of colors that unfocused eyes allowed her to view, but the smile she managed to place on her exhausted lips hopefully acted as enough of a thank-you for all the kindness he was showing. Elsie still could not trust any of the people in this country, not after what she'd seen, but at least she was no longer out in the cold. This person was keeping her safe at the very least, so that she was grateful for.
"Than....thank you."
Her gratitude still showed through as she was lead into a large room with a roaring fire and several pieces of fine furniture. The man (?) with her moved away after saying something else (she heard her name), and if she could reach out and grab him to make him stay she would. Instead her arms did not move, her mouth did not make any more sounds. Her legs could not longer support her weight now that he wasn't by her side anymore as well, and she crumpled onto the ground without much ceremony. If it hurt she probably didn't feel it, if she wanted to cry out she didn't. Instead she merely sat where she dropped and shivered beneath the warm furs, doing her best to nod and warm herself.
The ice from her eyes was slowly melting and she could see the blue hue that decorated her fingertips like a soft dusting of color. The tips were numb, frostbitten, but nothing she couldn't recover now that she was inside where there was heat. Her stomach growled as in indicator that it too was thawing, and she hunched herself a bit more inward.
". . . . . . "
Her neck turned slowly to look towards Sloane now that she could somewhat view his visage, and she blinked back the cold to let him know she was still alive and listening. He could go and come back, she would still be here.
"Lady....please."
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:27 pm
It was a relief to Sloane now that she had managed to at least choke out a solid phrase, however small, and he smiled, though not enough to reveal his dangerous maw. However, once he had let go of her and bowed forward, all he heard was a dull thud. He cringed, rows of sharp teeth glinting in the fire light before he rushed to her side and knelt, resting a hand on her shoulder. She was still breathing, curled up and nodding, making small sounds--he could have laughed if the situation were less tense, as he realized it was her stomach--but she nodded and urged him on. Even in her near frozen status, she had the will to complete her mission.
Sloane was almost envious of this poor woman, and again he offered her a smile, though this one much weaker. "I'll get her. Just stay here and keep warm," offering her shoulder another gentle rub, he stood and stepped quickly out of the door. Keeping a steady pace, one of the guards from the front door caught up to him, giving him a curious glance. He did not return the man's look, not bothering to turn his gaze even slightly from in front of him, but he did issue an order; "Move the girl in front of the fireplace and bring her a large bowl of stew--make sure it's hot!--before I come back with Lady Estratus." The tone Sloane kept was stern, not with the same welcoming spirit that he had offered to Elsie. This was a tone of business and urgency, one the guard did not ignore as he immediately fell back once the command was issued and rushed to Elsie's side.
He entered carefully, unsure of why Sloane would ask him to bring the girl to the fire when she should be perfectly capable of doing that herself, but his jaw nearly dropped when he saw the poor girl in a crumpled fur covered heap on the floor. Mumblings of "Oh God" and "Are you okay?" were issued frantically as he tried to heft her up as carefully and gently as possible, carrying her and letting her rest before the warmth of the fire. And then, the second command--food. "I-I'll go get your stew," he tripped over his own tongue before rushing out of the room, wanting to get to the kitchen as soon as possible.
In tandem with this, Sloane's own pace had quickened and he had taken to dashing up flights of stairs, circling across the interior of the highest tower now. There was where Sage's loft was. A drop door in the floor was present, which he opened to reveal a large and open study. Up a ladder, another drop door, and there was his own well adorned room. One more drop door later, and in he crept to Sage's silent and black room. He knew it was late, how dark and cold it was. Her window was closed and the curtains drawn, not a single bit of candle or even moon light poking through the darkness, but just barely he could discern silhouettes.
"Sage... Sage, she's here. She's in a bad way. She walked here." he spoke softly, rising to his feet after his swirled eyes adjusted and slowly made his way to her beside. Her black hair swam about her head, covering her face like a curtain of ink. Leaning close, he whispered her name again, brushing some hair away from her eyes.
The contact made her react, shooting up to a sit and grabbing his wrist. For a split second the two stared at each other in silence before he said again, "She's here," and that was all it took for Sage to swing her legs off the side of the bed and begin descending. She didn't bother dressing up, nor even adorning shoes. No, the head representative was coming down the stairs, publicly indecent in her sleep wear which was more suited for a male in the short white trousers and shirt--all warm for the weather.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:49 pm
Elsie really needed to do something about the gaps in her ability to pay attention, for the next thing she knew she was being comforted, moved, and then offered something warm to eat. She managed to squeak out another word of thanks to this new man, her faith in the people of this building growing quite strong, and she smiled softly as she attempted to grip the spoon that was resting in the bowl before her. It smelt amazing, her stomach nearly causing her to vomit with hunger and want, and it was with gingerly sore fingers that she reached for the spoon. A soft cry of disappointment escaped her lips when she found she could not properly grip it enough to bring it to her mouth, and hot stew trailed itself down her chin and onto the fur and her outer clothing. Several more attempts at holding the spoon followed, each met with similar failure, and Elsie's face screwed into a look of displeasure at her inability to eat. She was hungry and it smelt good, so there had to be a way for her to sip it.
The easiest way to do so was to simply sip it the same way one would drink from a cup. The fact that it had meat and vegetables in it could be overlooked, those chewed once they entered her mouth, and Elsie took a deep breath before she undertook this venture. It was easy and succeeded fairly well, the young woman ignoring the burning pain that something piping hot may have inflicted on the inside of her mouth. She needed to eat her fill now, she'd worry about the pain and suffering that came with it after everything was settled. Elsie was still so childish in her aspects of wants and needs, but that served her well in this case. She was growing warm and her stomach was growing full. Now all that was left to do was wait, and sure enough-
- the door opened, showing a woman she had only seen once before and briefly at that. It was the Lady Sage, the person who had sent Elsie into a den of horror that would likely haunt her memories and waking dreams for as long as she allowed it. PErhaps Elsie should feel bitter towards her, to lash out with blame over the blisters on her feet and the general lack of feeling in all of her limbs. It would be well within her right, since she had been sent off like some common caller to investigate a house of death, yet Elsie bit her tongue and struggled to rise to her feet. If she were going to make her report she wanted to do it standing!
"My Lady, your servant Elsie Crane has. . . . I...come bearing a report for you, on the activities of the Castle."
Her words weren't nearly as forced, but her legs would not allow her the dignity of standing. They merely stayed folded beneath her weight, keeping her grounded.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:04 pm
Long, dark locks a mess, Sage didn't even bother adjusting them though some parts were sticking up, others were oddly placed and hanging in her face, but still her pale skin and vibrant orange eyes were visible, and she closed the distance between Elsie and herself. Sloane stood just a few inches away from the two women and the guard that had brought Elsie her stew was a few feet back, looking on in disbelief as the poorly their poorly dressed Adviser got on her knees in front of this frozen woman, resting her hands on her shoulders firmly and keeping eye contact.
Something seemed to happen, and odd tingling sensation as their eyes met, and Sage's face was eerily blank as it occurred. In that time, it seemed as though the woman didn't even blink, but once she did, the tingling subsided and she spoke. "Tell me. You're too shaken, all I can see is negativity..." Sloane lifted his head as his Lady said this, reaching a level of understanding; Sage's magical powers were based on her aperture, centered in her forehead and what she referred to as her "third eye". It allowed her to see and sense things others could not, even move things without touching them or uttering a word, but these powers were delicate still and would only work best under the most positive of conditions. Sage had been attempting to read Elsie's thoughts, but all she got was a flurry of emotional response.
The fire was doing a good job of keeping the two poorly dressed women warm, and as Sage relaxed, she pulled away from Elsie to allow her some comfort room. There had to be some reason she had trekked here on foot from such a distance with so little clothing and likely no food, and the reason had to be connected with the castle's situation, which likely meant whatever she had found there was in need of urgent attention.
The situation now was all very candid; no one had ever really seen Sage in such a state, and Sloane only realized moments later that the guard was still present, watching the two women. Quickly, he made his way to the guard, grabbed his shoulder roughly and led him off out the door, closing it behind the man, but staying inside himself.
What had poor Elsie Crane gone through? What did she find?
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:14 pm
Elsie had felt so calm to see Sage before her, so safe to know that her mission was almost over and all of it would end in a way that provided her with the protection she sought. Even though everything that happened could not be willed away at the very least she would not have to bear all of the secret alone, and maybe now that this woman was here, listening, something would happen. The furs that wrapped around her body loosened a bit as Elsie thawed from the heat of the fire, and she tentatively wiggled her fingers in an effort to see if they could still move. They could, and she was pleased.
"My Lady....they are making Plagues inside that castle, in the dungeon. Men, women. . . children. . . . "
Her tone faded for a moment, her words catching themselves inside her throat. She would have to keep speaking, there was no other option now that the Lady could not read her troubled thoughts. Elsie knew that she was to blame for that, if she wasn't so scared of what she'd seen this would all be easier, but her own cowardice at remember forced her now to verbally relay all that she had seen. While she spoke it was almost as if she could see the building all over again, seeing and smelling and hearing all that was trapped inside.
"They had them all chained, my Lady, to the wall or tables. Plague victims, in various stages of the disease. I do not know who is behind this, they wore dark robes, and I fled in fear lest I be discovered. Forgive me for not founding out any more, but I placed my own life above going deeper into the bit. I know that is inexcusable."
Her hands folded in her lap, palm out and up as though she were holding something precious. Almost without any thought she moved one of them to touch the cup at her side, the gentle tap-tap-tap that eased her nerves and gave more pleasant memories, yet this was hardly a time for such actions. More information was needed.
"From what I did see, they did not appear to have any Plagues actually walking around the room. As I am a commoner from Isimus, the streets to be more specific, I can hardly tell the difference between things in the manner you can, so I hope I am not sounding too forward in my assumptions."
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:34 pm
Sloane's hands gripped the door handles tightly and his head lifted at Elsie's words. His back had still be turned to the both of them when she resumed speaking, but immediately her words caught his attention; making plagues.
Was it possible to construct such beings intentionally?
He turned, gazing at Elsie in disbelief as she continued weaving her terrible tale. Such atrocities, all in one building, and poor Elsie felt guilt at not having risked her life? Just as she finished, Sloane stepped away from the doors and began speaking, wanting reassure her that she need not feel such things, but his Lady cut him off; "You did as you were asked, which is all we could ask for." Sage's tone was calm, but it belied her true feelings which her current expression read perfectly; distress, disbelief and an incredibly uncertainty he had never seen her exhibit.
"Dark robes..." she repeated, eyes narrowing as her face returned to its more typical expressionless state, "I have my suspicions, then." At the current time, there was only one active and marginally well known group of people that would stoop to such atrocities against humanity, against suffering lives. "Obscuvians. Cultists. They are beginning to grow more active, make a mark on our society." Their exact means and ends were a mystery to most, but it was obvious that they were an incredibly destructive lot with complete disregard for others and the world at large. The Plague was some sort of blessing to them, a sign of good will from the God Obscuvos, or so it was told. Still, to resort to such tactics...
It was clear at that moment, Sage was at a loss. Her brow furrowed and she could only stare at the mortar between the stones on the floor. Sloane wondered if she was trying to think of something to ease Elsie's mind or deal with the situation at the castle. Raising her head again, she sighed and rested a hand on Elsie's shoulder once more, gripping it lightly. "You have done what you must, we will ask no more of you. Remain here with us if you wish, our doors are open." Nodding to Elsie, she removed her hand and stood, looking to Sloane briefly, but then back to the still thawing woman, "We'll gather the guards into a platoon, send them in to eradicate the robed ones, whether they be Obscuvian or something else, and try to save who we can. Were there any still alive when you were there?"
Sage hated to ask such a thing at this point. In truth, now that Elsie had relayed the information, there was a small bubble of guilt welling up in her gut and it made the woman cringe; she had ordered this common girl who had no experience with this sort of thing to investigate a situation she had thought to be uninteresting, but it turned out to be the complete opposite.
"We will do everything we can."
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:55 pm
Survivors?
The word stung Elsie's mind, forcing her to recall the scene once more. That boy from before had been alive when he noticed her, before he'd been kicked to the side and given off his death rattle. The cries and pleas she'd also heard were good indications, but such thoughts did not make the young woman happy. Knowing she'd heard the cries of the dying, to know that she'd watched a young boy die without assisting him, trying to save him. . . such thoughts she couldn't handle. Cold tears started to brim in the corner of her eyes before they dropped themselves down her cheeks, pooling at the base of her chin before silently dropping off into her upturned hand. Another tear followed, and then another, until Elsie was silently weeping from her position on the floor. She did not sob and cry like those chained to the walls, she did not attempt to wail and bury her face in her hands to hide the shame she ought to be feelings. Instead she merely let herself stay that way, her gaze turned so her eyes could meet the Lady Sage's and the woman could perhaps understand what she was feeling.
She willed this woman to see that dying child, to feel that same terror that Elsie had felt mixed with her pure helplessness. There had been so many other children in that pile he was kicked in, as well as young woman who likely were her own age. There had been elderly there as well, and people of middle age. Her memory dared to tell her that a woman amongst them all may have been pregnant, but at this point in time she didn't trust herself to keep thinking straight. She just needed to report the facts, nothing more and nothing less.
"By the time you reach them, they will all have died. It looked as though they were on the same level as cattle, allowed to rest in their own filth and disease."
If she had not been so afraid to ask for rides she would have gotten to the conclave in a third of the time, but Elsie was not going to risk her own life more than needed. It would be her fault if they raided the castle and only found dead bodies scattered around, but whose to say that they all weren't dead to start with? No one could blame her then, maybe.
"As for you....please, let me stay here. I have no where else to go, no where that doesn't have something I would wish to stay away from. Even if it is only for this night, or until I can stand on my feet once again. When that time comes I will leave your presence."
The tears were still softly falling down her face, a small puddle gathered in her hand.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:13 pm
Such news. Such terrible news.
Sloane's eyes darted back and forth between his Lady and Elsie, judging both of their expressions and words, their tones and body language, and then--oh, and then--poor Elsie, all she had gone through culminated and could no longer be ignored by her body. Finally, in its now thawed state, it had caught up with her emotions and her sadness spilled over. Just the same, it was beginning to do the same to him. Such raw emotion right in front of him, Sloane gritted his pointed teeth, fists clenched, but not in rage. Rather, it was empathy. As he watched this woman cry in silence he, too, began to well with tears of such anguish, such despair that Sage would not let herself openly feel.
His Lady did not show the same empathy he was, but he was certain she could feel it, see it as her eyes closed and brows furrowed as though she had just been stricken with a headache. Her hand rose, a few fingers gently resting at the center of her forehead--her invisible aperture--and Sloane was certain that she could feel Elsie's terror while she had been in that castle, seeing the bodies stacked and screaming live ones, if they truly were so. However, it would not matter presently whether Sage could empathize with Elsie or not, the woman would not, could not allow herself to show that level of emotion, especially not to a new Augur.
"We will do all we can," she repeated, her expression tense now, frustrated, but not with Elsie. With that, she turned away from the woman and walked past Sloane without sparing him a glance, opening and closing the doors in her wake. She was gone, and only Sloane and Elsie were left in the room now.
Was it really possible for a being like him to shed a tear? Whether it was or not, one slid from his eye down his cheek and to his chin, resting coldly there. He didn't bother to wipe it off or deny its presence, as most human males would. Instead, he crept back over to Elsie and sat on one of the wooden benches in front of her and the fire place, leaning over to rest a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Please don't worry, dear Elsie... You are here with us now. We will take care of you for as long as you are here. If you leave, we will welcome you back upon your return. Please... feed and rest yourself. She really will do all that she is capable."
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 12:23 pm
Elsie managed a small smile, a gentle and motherly smile, as Sloane drew closer to her with a tear of his own still on his face. He hadn't wiped it away and from the looks of it against his visage, it was really out of place. She was finally able to see him better, see what all entailed about him, and if she hadn't already seen the horrors of the past she might have freaked out. Instead nothing even bothered her anymore, and she gingerly lifted a hand out towards his face. The motion hurt, her joints were still stiff from the cold, but somehow she managed to wipe the tear from his face. If he didn't like it, she could always apologize, but in her mind it was just something she wanted to do.
"You shouldn't cry. Grown men don't cry, which is why God gave them women. To shed tears in their stead."
Her mother had often said that phrase to Thomas, when the boy would cry over something in their childhood. Elsie had actually not been the crybaby in her family, her brother the one easiest to tears, so it had been her job to take her mother's words to heart and keep them all in mind. Elsie didn't know if Sloane thought her daft for saying such things, but at least it eased her heart - and reminded her slightly of home.
Her hand was quickly pulled back and dropped to her side, her wince more visible now against the cold, and with the desire to take their offer up and not seem rude, she once again tried to rise to her feet. This time she actually did get into a vertical position, though the sway was still strong.
"If...I may rest. Please, I...want to sleep. Sleep and forget those cries."
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 1:00 pm
As her hand reached up, Sloane closed his eyes; he could see what she was going to do before she even touched his face, smirking to himself without flashing his teeth. Elsie's cold fingers felt soft and feathery against his cheek, slipping against the tear, and then they were gone. What she had said, he had never heard before; were men really not allowed to cry? He chuckled slightly, opening his eyes. Sloane quietly offered "I am no ordinary man," before going quiet once more and moving his hand to rub her back as she seemed in thought.
The motion had been comforting to the Plague. If she had enough time to worry about the well being of others in her current state, then she must have been recuperating, if only slightly. Any good news in a sea of bad was wonderful to him, after all, even if it was more exaggerated than truthful. As she winced, his smile faded, but she seemed intent on taking their offer up. Good. Perfect. He nodded to her and stood, towering once more as he began to step away.
"If your stew needs warming, just ask one of the guards." The sword Plague gave her as comforting a smile as he could, hoping it would make her smile in return.
He made his way to the doors once again, resting a hand on one of their knobs, but stopped himself. Pausing for a few moments, he turned back to look at Elsie as she was, another smile present. "If there is anything you need, dear Elsie, do not hesitate to find me. I will assist you as best I can," he spoke softly, inclining his head in a partial bow afterward, a more humble one than his previous show of extravagance. It had no place here, not with how she was feeling, but hopefully the prospect of having a somewhat familiar face around to help her if she needed it would put an ease on the woman's mind.
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