@Dervish & Storm

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The snow glistened off of the street lamps, dancing in lazy patterns in the sky as a gentle and surprisingly mild breeze carried them to their resting places on roofs and on the streets, and even the hats that the citizens wore as their went about their frantic New Life celebration preparations. Far above, when the clouds parted, the auroras danced mesmerizingly in the sky, a treat for those of the South who seldom seen anything like it before, and even for the hardy people of Skyrim, it was a symbol of home, and the only thing more sacred than home for the Nords and others who called the frosty province home was family, and that was what New Life was about; celebrating friends and family.

The group had managed to secure a lodge months in advance thanks to a combined effort of Raelynn and Daro’Vasora, the pair of whom had proven to be rather successful in their own ventures in recent months, and this festival in Whiterun was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the family they’d made on the most incredible adventure of their lives. While everyone spent time around town, finding gifts or food to celebrate, or even just taking in the sights in wonder, the two women walked Whiterun’s streets, arm in arm to keep warm and show their conformity with one another, an unlikely friendship between two women from very different, yet similar, walks of lives and temperaments forged together in a crucible that shaped them for the rest of their lives.

Daro’Vasora were a long grey coat with a wolf-fur liner and an oversized red and black scarf around her neck that was tucked down the front of her coat, the fur-lined hood over her ears to keep them warm. A pair of insulated thigh-length brown leather boots kept her feet warm, and she still wore the Dwemer bangles, and the malachite amulet she had been given from Governor Rourken. Her eyes scanned a cart of caramel apples and baked goods, before turning her attention to Raelynn. “So, what sorts of ideas do you have for Gregor? What does he even do for a hobby now he's not being a crazed nomad?” she asked.

“Hmmmm…” she hummed as she walked, her boots trekking through the snow, the hem of her thick overcoat trailing along behind her. The coat was as white as the snow itself, and lined with the fur of an arctic fox. It was embellished over the shoulders with light silver chainmail shaped like dragon scales. The only other piece of colour on the coat was that of a bronze brooch shaped like a hawk with a single sapphire set into its eye, pinned against her chest. Arm in arm with Daro'Vasora - she hadn't a care in the world, that was until her Khajiit companion mentioned Gregor. Her rosy cheeks immediately fell pale. She really had no idea what to get as a gift for Gregor. “Oh goodness. I've no idea, really. And you know, he'll get me the most perfect gift and… well, I have to get him something at least half as good.”

Raelynn raised her thumb to her lips, and traced the shape. “What are you going to gift Latro?” she asked, putting the onus on Sora now for an answer.

“You know, I think I went all in a bit early.” Daro’Vasora said with a smile. “First it was one of my lutes, then it was the Dwemer shortsword… now I’m just not seeing anything that compares. I suppose I thought I could just keep finding treasures in some ruins and tombs before each holiday and special occasion, but it’s been quite the year.” she frowned, looking at a hobbyhorse that a carpenter was showing to a father and his daughter, admiring the fact he thoughtfully added real horse hair to the mane. “I just never had anyone to spend the holidays with. What will he thinks if it’s inadequate or cheap or something he doesn’t like? You’d think I’d know him by now…”

“I don't know Latro all that well, but I know that anything you give him will be more than enough. He seems the sentimental type.” She gave thought to her own relationship with Gregor. The first time they had really had also been the first time they were intimate. Taking it slow had never occured to either of them. “Ah!” she exclaimed, an idea coming to her. “Our first night together, we had Alto Wine. That's a good start for Gregor…” She smiled, proud of herself. “So what about you and Latro? Goodness gracious I've never even really asked you. Tell me, tell me about it.”

“About us, how we fill in love?” Daro'Vasora asked thoughtfully. She looked up to the dancing lights above. “I guess it was something that we realized over the weeks we were together and apart. Ever since we survived the Falmer, we felt we owed each other our lives. I gave him that lute he carries around with him everywhere in Imperial City to replace the one he lost, and when the city was attacked, the thought I lost him hurt me way more than I thought would be possible. Imagine how I felt when I saw him alive and well again in the Colovian wilds.” the Khajiit said, a shy smile on her lips as the auroras reflected in her feline eyes. “And I was selfish, I almost left him and all of you in Anvil and I don't think I'll ever forget how shitty he made me feel about myself. I just knew then I couldn't be apart from him, no matter what happened. I told him how I felt in Gilane, and here we are now.” she said grinning at her friend, squeezing her arm tighter. “No matter what came next, we had each other and it was more than enough. More than I deserved.”

“That's lovely… You know, I almost left for Daggerfall in Anvil too until we were carted on the ship.” It seemed like so long ago now. “I met Gregor back in Elenglyn. He was patching up Jaraleet. Meanwhile, I was up to my elbows in blood, my hair a mess… No wonder he didn't look twice at me, but I noticed him. His eyes, it was always the eyes. Darker than ebony. I didn't speak to him again until Anvil, and then he noticed me, I was more of myself…” She sighed dreamily, remembering the look of him in the light of the sunset, and then the ravishing gaze he had for her later that evening. “I never expected it to be love… I've never been in love, never thought I could be, never was interested in it. But he makes me feel safe. There is a place in his heart that… that is just for me and me alone,” her eyes glazed over as she spoke, lost in her words.

It was the very same eyes Daro'Vasora found unsettling once upon a time, but she kept that to herself. There was no sense in birthing a contentious mood to the evening. Instead she chuckled, wheeling Raelynn to a cart with daggers and trinkets that she began to investigate with a collector's eye. “You know, when we first met, I rather thought you were incapable of loving anyone but yourself. I will say that I am thankful to Gregor in one regard; he helped you change in a lot of good ways.” the Khajiit said, lifting a glass dagger and holding it eye level and testing its fitting to the grip and how secure the pommel was to the grip. “It's hard to believe that we became friends along the way; it's hard to imagine life without anticipating your letters now.”

Raelynn’s own eyes glanced over the wares. Gregor had no need for a new dagger or small trinkets. He was a man of sentiment, and so her gift to him would be just that - sentimental. But what? Wine was a good starting point. “You know, I thought you were rather catty yourself. I suppose just good timing brought us together. Speaking of friendships, I ought to buy some of the others gifts too… Alim, Jaraleet, Judena, Calen… A pouch of chocolate for the rest should do it.”

The Khajiit offered Raelynn a sideways glance. “Catty? Really? I thought puns were beneath you.” she replied, barely containing her smirk. “Maybe a songbook… a new inkwell and pen for Judena?” Daro'Vasora mused to herself. “Why don't you and I just split catering for everyone, or get surprise bags? Or maybe I'll spike everyone's drink with moon sugar…”

“Make sure you keep it from Mazrah, I think I had enough of her last time we partook in your moon sugar. You’re a terrible influence…” Her voice had an air of humour to it, and she grinned up at the Khajiit, mischief in her eyes. “I think that sounds rather swell, actually. Or, we could just buy one of each of everything here… wrap them, and it’s first come first serve. A festive horror, so to speak.”

Daro’Vasora pouted. “Oh, too bad. I was hoping to see how that panned out last time, you got quite adventurous. I never claimed to be a good influence… just the most interesting one.” she laughed lightly, setting the dagger down where it was set before picking up an amulet. “Maybe we make a game out of it? Anonymous presents that people compete for? Set up some games for pick of the prizes and come midnight, we open whichever ones we have? Could be fun… maybe you get a pretty dagger, maybe you get fuzzy socks, maybe you get a bushel of apples. Could be grand.” she darted a glance towards Raelynn, “You would turn something festive into a horror show. It’s kind of your fetish, miss ‘I only date men who raise the dead’.”

She laughed in response, imaging their friends squabbling and fighting over gifts. A devilish smirk played across her lips in the moonlight. “I like that idea very much. How about adding a box of sweetrolls into the mix? I’m sure Megana would like those, maybe even Jaraleet would. I can’t imagine him to have much of a sweet tooth though…” Raelynn gave Sora a playful slap for her sass. “Now you watch your mouth with that talking of fetishes. I might become aroused.” She wiggled her eyebrows and picked up a bracelet from the vendors stall that had been made from animal bone. “Maybe Latro would like something like this?”

“In my experience, people will always surprise you. Jaraleet probably collects dolls and has tea parties when no one’s looking.” Daro’Vasora grinned playfully. “Come now, you’re always aroused. It’s part of your charm.” the Khajiit said, taking a look at the bracelet and pondering it. “It’ll do for now, unless something else catches my eye. Let’s carry on with our plan; you find the random gifts, I’ll find the liquor and the food, including your sweetrolls and we meet back here in… ten, fifteen minutes?”

Raelynn chuckled at her comment, before pulling herself together to hand over some coins in exchange for a few items from the vendor. “Well, if time is of the essence… I guess we can part ways for now and reconvene…” She smirked, as if it were a race. “I'll see you then friend,” she laughed again and darted off through the snow. Leaving the Khajiit in her dust.