Carantathraiel

Wanderers

He smiled, peering at her as though he could see her face, lovely even if she claimed she wasn't. She promised not to eat his tongue, and he grinned wider, anticipating her movements this time, leaning gently against her. Her touch, the caress against his scarred cheek, the arm she wrapped around him in a gesture that was more than friendly, far more intimate.

When she broke back and spoke, he exhaled, unaware he'd been holding his breath. He could feel her warmth, smell her skin, and the soap she'd last bathed with. "I -" He began, trying to put words to it. "I think we should go inside for some tea. Or I might keep you here all night."

---

He woke to the sound of voices.

As if in a trance, Ruli sat upright, his eyes unfocused, his head turning. It was so quiet, but the singing. It was lovely. Outside his room. Maybe outside the inn. He couldn't tell. Listening to it made him feel... peaceful.
Slowly, he shifted, turning to put his feet on the floor. Don't get out of bed. Ruli felt his eyes blink more than he saw the world dim for a moment. Slow. Heavily. He wasn't sure who had spoken the words, but, unlike the voice, it made him uneasy. Cold.
Suppose the bed was warm. Maybe that was why he shouldn't get out. Stay in bed. With her. The fighter.

So Ruli remained, sitting upright, eyes open, yet unseeing, listening to the song.

Wanderers

Full of surprises. Envy didn't quite comprehend that bit, as it was hardly surprising in his own world that no female ever looked at him in the way he would guess in the way Narda now looked at him. The smell of her skin told him of her nearness before she touched his chin, then his lips. Envy went still, not quite so used to such an intimate touch, nor the chill that swept along him afterward.

And then the kiss. Tender, cautious, like a small bite of a meal you're not sure will be delicious. But he found it to be very much so. "Is that it?" He asked, then blinked. "No! I mean," Envy put his fingers to his brow. "Sorry. Its only ... catching Zeke and Ruli with their women, looking as though they're trying to devour one another's tongues, I find this was far nicer than I was expecting." The elf explained. "I liked it. Yes. I would love to experience more. Just, please don't try to bite off my tongue."

Wanderers

Her words had their own magical effect on him as Envy felt a warmth of gratitude and pride course through him. Ruli, hating having to speak about his own past, never asked about Envy's. And Zeke, growing up with the ever tight-lipped Ruli, never bothered to wonder if Envy was less closed on such a topic. While he had never been ashamed of his past, it was nice to be complimented by the first person to ask about it.

However, when Envy opened his mouth to respond and found Narda asking about making a move, the elf froze. "Uh." Envy stammered, blinking pointlessly. His free hand rose to run through his loose hair. "Just .. I mean, yes. But so long as you're okay with being my .. first kiss." Envy could almost feel the heat run across his face. "Not exactly the foreplay type, my people. I've never practiced."

Wanderers

He chuckled again. "As far as I know, yes." He answered about his sister. "She is the reason that I only have one ear. And I have a scar on my torso from a poison-coated blade she shoved between my ribs. There is no love lost between us. I think she actual loathes me for surviving." Envy smirked.

"Violence is more than a skill, for the Kartaians. Its a way of life. If you don't smash a slaves head against the cavern floor until they stop breathing, or throw your fists against another Kartaian until he is ripped apart by onlookers, you're weak. Unworthy. After a while, I noticed that none of the others looked as ill as I felt after blood was shed. I realized I didn't have the same instinctual adoration for it. And, after that, I knew it was only a time before the others sensed it as well. Knowing how cruel they are in their lessons, I left. Stole away in the night. I was hunted for a time, but I had picked up a bit of knowledge in my days of avoiding conflict. I was able to make myself a shelter beneath the desert sunlight, and those who tried to follow were burned until they gave up. I think they figured I would die there."

Envy traced his fingers along the back of Narda's wrist, feeling the soft hairs on her forearm. "So, I suppose it wasn't so much a turnaround for me. Just, more of finding a place I didn't have to hide who I was. Shortly after reaching the city, I met Ruli, and helping to take care of him felt natural. When Zeke joined, it felt more like a family than I had ever known."

Wanderers

Envy grinned softly. "He worries. Don't resent him for it. I still worry every time Ruli and Zeke run off." He pointed out. He didn't always approve of their actions, either. Like this relationship with Kire. But that, at least, seemed to be going well.

"I don't have much to tell." The Kartaian admitted. "I have a twin sister. She's crazy. Father is unknown. Mother died in some raid." He shifted his shoulder. "What would you like to know? I can't promise a long tale. I haven't lived among them for a very long time. The majority of my life has been with the family I chose."

Wanderers

Envy beamed, withdrawing his magic from her mind in order to enjoy the simplicity of her company, her warmth. He closed his eyes, listening to her voice, filling his lungs with her scent as it mingled with all the flora around them.
"I would gladly accept tea anywhere, if you're involved." He answered earnestly. "My room, your room, the roof. So long as you keep me from falling off." He mused, his fingers running gently up her arm. "Do you live here alone? I find I know little about your immediate family, save for you outgrew them quickly."

---

He grunted, opening his eyes a little more. While he'd waited, his mind had gone back to the tent, to the details he'd let slip. The wound he wanted to scar over again. Envy always insisted speaking helped them heal faster, hurt less often, but Ruli had always dismissed the idea.
Until he'd told her about what he'd been long ago. And the shame had dimmed, even if only slightly.

But this. No, it could wait. She had enough to face already without having to worry about his issues. The details of his broken life.
Rolling, Ruli draped his arm over her as well, tugging her closer.
And slept.

Wanderers

Envy fell silent, grateful for more than just her delightful company. It was wonderous to see. To experience. He had heard talks about how beautiful the seaside sunsets were, but this had to be his favourite. Nothing would ever top this.

And he chuckled as she asked about his comfort. "I'm alright." He promised. "As I don't get sunlight often, I'm accustomed to the cooler temperature. But," He tilted his head, pointing his face at her for a moment. "If you're feeling a little chilly, I should take the opportunity to wrap my arm around you. I hear it is called something of a 'move'?" He grinned, before shifting and raising his arm. Only mostly aware of where she was compated to his body, he gently rest her arm against the back of their seat, running his hand along her opposite arm.
He hummed. "I suppose I do feel like I have successfully made a move." The Kartaian chuckled.

---

"Many thanks." Ysaryn said, taking a deep drink of the ale she offered. Unlike Ruli, however, she found the taste to be a bit sharp, and wrinkled her nose. "Mmm." She mumbled, before taking another drink with a shrug. "I will make my way in a bit." She announced as Kire departed once more. No fires yet, no, and the leaves were doing their jobs and helping those with fevers, at least. She'd stay another few rounds, trying to get a better feel for the scents before she'd retreat to rest.

Ruli, despite his efforts, was hardly awake when Kire entered. He blinked heavily at her, without raising his head, then grinned when she kissed him. "Get in here." He beckoned, wrapping his fingers gently around her arm to urge her to lay beside him. "'Ssume Etta's fine." He said, shifting slightly to make room for her.

Wanderers

"There will be time, sure. For now, I would like to stay here." He said, still studying the fields that stretched forth, the clouds that stood out brightly in the darkening sky, their own structures illuminated by the setting sun. "To be honest, I'm not sure of my appearance prior to the burns." He answered her. "We had few mirrors where we lived. I know what my people look like. Aside from the missing ear, I'm not too different. Or at least I wasn't."
But he shook his head. "Since the burns, no. I haven't seen much since, and never bothered to ask. Somehow I feel like it would bother me."

---

"That's not all dragons are capable of doing." Ruli reminded her. "For all we know, you'll be flying tomorrow. Or have a desire to hoard treasure." He leaned in, grinning wickedly. "My skin is coloured like a metal. My hair like jewelry, one jeweled elf once said." He leaned back, then nodded as she mentioned she'd be going back for the elf. "The sightseeing can wait." He pointed out as she stood, watching her walk toward the innkeeper.
He waited for her to go before he downed his own ale, thanked the innkeeper, and stood, arching his back in a stretch. After a moment of deliberation, he wandered up the stairs to his room and lay himself on his back, waiting.

Wanderers

"Now that I have seen the gardens, I could technically arrive here whenever I choose, but I think I may still bother Ruli for help." Envy said, admiring the light. It didn't bother his eyes, make his skin crawl, it just looked ... beautiful.
"It occurs to me that I may have to ask Ruli to show me what you look like. Though appearances hardly matter, or you wouldn't look twice at my calico face." Envy grinned, wondering if Narda would look his way, and, if she did, if he would want to see his own image. He only knew what he looked like from Sid's ramblings as she cared for his burns, Ruli and Zeke had always been careful not to show him what he looked like.

"You are very fortunate to have such a lovely and safe home." Envy complimented.

---

Ruli studied the Ring as she removed it and held it, then he looked over her. He could see no sign of a fever immediately trying to show itself, no change in appearance no matter how miniscule. "Well, then you wouldn't have to worry about abdicating. You'd just be run out of town." Ruli teased lightly before leaning on his elbows. "If you do manifest anything, like Etta, you're not alone." He reassured. "For all we know, the Ring helps control it. Keeps it from growing too quickly and you from losing control. After aqll, you already know how to handle it. That boy does not."

Wanderers

Envy grinned again, snaking his fingers with hers and gently squeezing. He positioned himself to sit comfortably beside her, relaxing his own great limbs as she did. Gently, he reached into her mind, deciding to announce himself with a caressing feeling of warm. He had considered using an aroma of tobacco, but he didn't want to blanket the smell of her garden.

He inhaled, seeing the view from her perspective; the layout of the garden, the culprits behind that particularly sweet scent in the air.
And the sky. Envy could only follow her gaze, but the stretch of slowly darkening sky above them was breathtaking. It really did look as though the meadows were blushing, the hue of soft orange and red creeping over the reaching faces of the flora.
"I could get used to a sight like this." Envy breathed, taking in as much as he could.

---

Ruli thanked the woman and dragged his ale closer, taking an experimental drink. It was slightly sour, no doubt they'd used some citrus fruit somewhere in the process. Liking the taste, he took a deeper drink, barely reacting when she asked about the slip he'd made. "Not even slightly." He said indifferently before immediately avoiding the topic further. "And what about you? You were chosen by the Seer, why, because you were powerful? I doubt it was your stubborn streak that called to them. So, if you take off the Ring, how do you feel? What powers will you generate on your own?"