That's gotta hurt
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4 yrs ago
Wishing a relaxing weekend for everyone. Take some time to be kind to yourself, to unwind, and to have some rest. <3
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6 yrs ago
I ate a brownie once at a party in college. It was intense. I felt like I was floating. Turns out there wasn't any pot in the brownie. It was just an insanely good brownie.
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There was an explosion at a cheese factory in France. De-Brie everywhere.
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Bio
that elder scrolls / mass effect roleplayer
I put a spell on you
I put a spell on you
“I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive.”
Most Recent Posts
Into the Fire
31st Last Seed, Gilane
The walk from the cultural centre to her father’s lodgings had been nothing short of awkward. The Redguard who was guiding her stayed a little too close for her comfort, and each time that she would try to side step from him she would be met with an instant glare from his heavily lined eyes. As stubborn as she was, this was not a fight she would win, and so she chose to walk faster and make the journey pass quicker. As they arrived, he ushered her into the den, her father was waiting ahead of the door with a smile on his face.
“Zhaib, wait at the door please. I want no unexpected visitors,” he said dryly to his hired guard, before taking Raelynn into a soft embrace as his greeting. “Raelynn, I trust your morning has been productive. I have been waiting for you.”
“So I heard…” she cast a sour look back at Zhaib, whose nostrils flared out as a retort. “He’s lovely by the way, you couldn’t have picked a friendlier and more charismatic guard…” Salosoix laughed as he led the way into his lounge - the same room from the night before. Only this time without the dinner setting, it looked different. It looked official. Scrolls were laid out upon the surfaces and he had his various lockboxes in sight now. “Don’t mind Zhaib, he is abrupt but he is loyal. He is sworn to me, to us.” Abrupt? That’s an understatement. She didn’t say it aloud. Her eyes scanned the room again - incense was burning in the corner and there was a tea set sat beside it behind the billowing fragranced smoke.
“Take a seat, we have much to discuss and I’m afraid not a lot of time now - I’ll cut to my point. I need to know who the strongest are in your party, from the group that you arrived with.”
His prying into such matters turned her stomach. She felt no such loyalty to the group at large, save a few of the individuals, but she didn’t like getting her father involved in the business. Whether it was a feeling of apprehension of their paths getting completely crossed and him getting hurt, or him seeking them out and getting them into trouble. It wasn’t right. But she would not disobey him.
“There is an Argonian named Jaraleet - he’s very capable. I healed him after a frightfully violent battle.”
Her father sighed, pacing the room. His initial warmth melting away as he held his tongue. His brow furrowed and Raelynn could sense his agitation. “Papa? Are you alright?” She was used to him having such mood swings - he was a fast thinker and had an active mind, she often imagined that his mind must be filled with a cacophony of thoughts. “What of the Imperial?” he asked, resolute disappointment in his tone.
She tilted her head, wondering how he knew of Gregor - it didn’t take her long to piece it together. “You had me followed last night, didn’t you?” she asked, arms folding over her chest in frustration. “Of course I did Raelynn, it was past curfew…” he replied quietly, thumbing over some scrolls awkwardly on a chest of drawers. “You’re a grown woman, your romantic pursuits are none of my business--”
“You are correct, I am, and they’re not. I’m glad you’re feeling awkward over this. I know that I am.”
“I may have work for them is all Raelynn. I… I am sorry. But the situation here is fraught and I wanted to be assured you were safe so I had Zhaib track you. He came back once you reached the inn. He’s your guard but he believed the Imperial to be capable to take care of you. He… didn’t feel that you were at risk--”
“Oh well thank the Gods then, if Zhaib says so! Papa, please. Yes, Gregor is capable. I have personally watched him in battle. He is capable and powerful. Are you satisfied with that answer?” Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and even Salosoix couldn’t make eye contact with his daughter. “So the Argonian and the Imperial. Do you think at least one of them would assist me?” he asked, obviously having shaken off the awkwardness of the moment, his face serious again, the sparkle gone from his eyes - all that was left was a stare of cold professionalism. “Yes, I can be sure of that at the very least. Papa, you still haven’t told me what you’re doing here, what is this all for?”
She was short in her tone, and direct - flashing him a heated glare. Tired of his kryptic dancing around the point - tired of not knowing. He simply brought his hands together and held an authoritative posture as he uttered the words to her - shattering the silence as if it were a pane of glass.
“I want to remove The Poncy Man from his poncy throne.”
The walk from the cultural centre to her father’s lodgings had been nothing short of awkward. The Redguard who was guiding her stayed a little too close for her comfort, and each time that she would try to side step from him she would be met with an instant glare from his heavily lined eyes. As stubborn as she was, this was not a fight she would win, and so she chose to walk faster and make the journey pass quicker. As they arrived, he ushered her into the den, her father was waiting ahead of the door with a smile on his face.
“Zhaib, wait at the door please. I want no unexpected visitors,” he said dryly to his hired guard, before taking Raelynn into a soft embrace as his greeting. “Raelynn, I trust your morning has been productive. I have been waiting for you.”
“So I heard…” she cast a sour look back at Zhaib, whose nostrils flared out as a retort. “He’s lovely by the way, you couldn’t have picked a friendlier and more charismatic guard…” Salosoix laughed as he led the way into his lounge - the same room from the night before. Only this time without the dinner setting, it looked different. It looked official. Scrolls were laid out upon the surfaces and he had his various lockboxes in sight now. “Don’t mind Zhaib, he is abrupt but he is loyal. He is sworn to me, to us.” Abrupt? That’s an understatement. She didn’t say it aloud. Her eyes scanned the room again - incense was burning in the corner and there was a tea set sat beside it behind the billowing fragranced smoke.
“Take a seat, we have much to discuss and I’m afraid not a lot of time now - I’ll cut to my point. I need to know who the strongest are in your party, from the group that you arrived with.”
His prying into such matters turned her stomach. She felt no such loyalty to the group at large, save a few of the individuals, but she didn’t like getting her father involved in the business. Whether it was a feeling of apprehension of their paths getting completely crossed and him getting hurt, or him seeking them out and getting them into trouble. It wasn’t right. But she would not disobey him.
“There is an Argonian named Jaraleet - he’s very capable. I healed him after a frightfully violent battle.”
Her father sighed, pacing the room. His initial warmth melting away as he held his tongue. His brow furrowed and Raelynn could sense his agitation. “Papa? Are you alright?” She was used to him having such mood swings - he was a fast thinker and had an active mind, she often imagined that his mind must be filled with a cacophony of thoughts. “What of the Imperial?” he asked, resolute disappointment in his tone.
She tilted her head, wondering how he knew of Gregor - it didn’t take her long to piece it together. “You had me followed last night, didn’t you?” she asked, arms folding over her chest in frustration. “Of course I did Raelynn, it was past curfew…” he replied quietly, thumbing over some scrolls awkwardly on a chest of drawers. “You’re a grown woman, your romantic pursuits are none of my business--”
“You are correct, I am, and they’re not. I’m glad you’re feeling awkward over this. I know that I am.”
“I may have work for them is all Raelynn. I… I am sorry. But the situation here is fraught and I wanted to be assured you were safe so I had Zhaib track you. He came back once you reached the inn. He’s your guard but he believed the Imperial to be capable to take care of you. He… didn’t feel that you were at risk--”
“Oh well thank the Gods then, if Zhaib says so! Papa, please. Yes, Gregor is capable. I have personally watched him in battle. He is capable and powerful. Are you satisfied with that answer?” Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and even Salosoix couldn’t make eye contact with his daughter. “So the Argonian and the Imperial. Do you think at least one of them would assist me?” he asked, obviously having shaken off the awkwardness of the moment, his face serious again, the sparkle gone from his eyes - all that was left was a stare of cold professionalism. “Yes, I can be sure of that at the very least. Papa, you still haven’t told me what you’re doing here, what is this all for?”
She was short in her tone, and direct - flashing him a heated glare. Tired of his kryptic dancing around the point - tired of not knowing. He simply brought his hands together and held an authoritative posture as he uttered the words to her - shattering the silence as if it were a pane of glass.
“I want to remove The Poncy Man from his poncy throne.”
2nd Midyear, late-afternoon, somewhere in Gilane
CRASH
The booming sound broke the silence, and then footsteps - heavy footsteps that brought shifted the energy in the room, stirring it with an icy air until it fell to a grinding halt, darkness seeping in like rain after a drought. “Gregor…?" she whispered from under the bag as she heard the whistle of a sword striking down upon the Khajiit, his death cry piercing and chilling. The sound of his pain permeating through the black of the room. Then she felt arms around her, cradling her from the chair. Her weakened frame sinking against his chest - his heart pounding. “You came for me, I knew-”
A ringing in her ears shot through and pulled her to consciousness. The sting from her hand was so hot that it was radiating outwards. Audible pain. She wanted to scream but no sound left her lips - just bloody drool. She could taste it, coppery and foul. She spat it into her lap. With the free hand she pulled the bag from her head finally, bringing her fingers to her mouth. She had bitten down on her lip when then nail had impacted her, split it open. She whimpered, terrified. Her legs shaking tremendously. Nobody was coming to help her. Nobody even knew she was here.
Is he coming back? She thought to herself as she reached out to her other hand, gingerly pressing against it - feeling the pain instantly. She stamped a foot on the ground to stop herself from calling out. The blood was still wet and warm, it must have only been minutes that she had been unconscious. She had to act now to get out. The strap of her satchel was by her foot. If she could only reach it, she had herbs and -- ALOE! She had to get the Aloe. It pained her to lean down to pick up her bag, and she felt the pressure build in her hand as she pulled against the nail.
She grabbed it and poured the contents out onto the desk, feeling her way over everything until she found the aloe leaves, placing them in her mouth and chewing them until the gel burst onto her tongue - she kept chewing it into a paste before she spat it into her hand, and then let it drop onto her other hand. It instantly provided relief - but it wouldn’t last long. She had at the most, minutes.
She reached for the bag, scrunching it as best as she could, shoving it into her mouth so that she would have something to bite down upon. Her right hand quivered as she touched the head of the nail. Just touching it ran a shock through her hand and up to her elbow.
You can do this Raelynn. You can set the bones of Nord men back into place Raelynn. You are strong enough to do this, Raelynn.
It didn’t come easily, and she had to wriggle it against the wood to crack it ever so with each fraction of movement sending shockwaves through her entire arm. Then in one hard, fast tug she wrenched it out. Screaming at the top of her lungs into the bag - the deafening ringing in her ears drowned it out completely.
The soothing sensation from the aloe was gone and her hand bled out against her. She took the canvas bag and shoved the bloodied, mangled hand in there and wrapped it as tight as she could. Her flowers and herbs were left strewn across the desk, droplets of her blood staining their once delicate and pristine petals.
She ran for the door and didn’t look back.
CRASH
The booming sound broke the silence, and then footsteps - heavy footsteps that brought shifted the energy in the room, stirring it with an icy air until it fell to a grinding halt, darkness seeping in like rain after a drought. “Gregor…?" she whispered from under the bag as she heard the whistle of a sword striking down upon the Khajiit, his death cry piercing and chilling. The sound of his pain permeating through the black of the room. Then she felt arms around her, cradling her from the chair. Her weakened frame sinking against his chest - his heart pounding. “You came for me, I knew-”
A ringing in her ears shot through and pulled her to consciousness. The sting from her hand was so hot that it was radiating outwards. Audible pain. She wanted to scream but no sound left her lips - just bloody drool. She could taste it, coppery and foul. She spat it into her lap. With the free hand she pulled the bag from her head finally, bringing her fingers to her mouth. She had bitten down on her lip when then nail had impacted her, split it open. She whimpered, terrified. Her legs shaking tremendously. Nobody was coming to help her. Nobody even knew she was here.
Is he coming back? She thought to herself as she reached out to her other hand, gingerly pressing against it - feeling the pain instantly. She stamped a foot on the ground to stop herself from calling out. The blood was still wet and warm, it must have only been minutes that she had been unconscious. She had to act now to get out. The strap of her satchel was by her foot. If she could only reach it, she had herbs and -- ALOE! She had to get the Aloe. It pained her to lean down to pick up her bag, and she felt the pressure build in her hand as she pulled against the nail.
She grabbed it and poured the contents out onto the desk, feeling her way over everything until she found the aloe leaves, placing them in her mouth and chewing them until the gel burst onto her tongue - she kept chewing it into a paste before she spat it into her hand, and then let it drop onto her other hand. It instantly provided relief - but it wouldn’t last long. She had at the most, minutes.
She reached for the bag, scrunching it as best as she could, shoving it into her mouth so that she would have something to bite down upon. Her right hand quivered as she touched the head of the nail. Just touching it ran a shock through her hand and up to her elbow.
You can do this Raelynn. You can set the bones of Nord men back into place Raelynn. You are strong enough to do this, Raelynn.
It didn’t come easily, and she had to wriggle it against the wood to crack it ever so with each fraction of movement sending shockwaves through her entire arm. Then in one hard, fast tug she wrenched it out. Screaming at the top of her lungs into the bag - the deafening ringing in her ears drowned it out completely.
The soothing sensation from the aloe was gone and her hand bled out against her. She took the canvas bag and shoved the bloodied, mangled hand in there and wrapped it as tight as she could. Her flowers and herbs were left strewn across the desk, droplets of her blood staining their once delicate and pristine petals.
She ran for the door and didn’t look back.
2nd Midyear, evening, Salosoix Hawkford’s Residence
It had been sheer adrenaline that had carried her back to the town centre and to her father’s residence. It had been Zhaib that saw her stumbling through the back alley. It had been Zhaib that picked her off her feet and hurried her inside.
“Raelynn, my daughter what happened?!” Salosoix cried as she fell to her knees on the patterned throws across the floor. She couldn’t answer him - it was as if the dam had finally burst. The restrained emotion that she had bottled within during her interrogation came flooding out. Zhaib gabbed at her hands - she didn’t even have the energy to wince and pull them back. Her father reached for his healing potions - pouring out the contents onto the wounds of each hand. The relief was instant but it wasn’t enough.
“I fucked up Papa,” she wept, her body felt heavy and like dead weight.
“It certainly fucking looks like it, what did you do you stupid girl?” he demanded, standing upright over her, his face like thunder but behind the expression he was barely holding himself together. He had to be strong.
It took them some time, but Salosoix and Zhaib eventually patched up her hands as best as they could with what they had. Cloths, healing potions, and bandages. Eventually they settled on dressing them in a pair of black gloves. Salosoix walked away silently after that, an uninviting aura following him like a cloud. He left Zhaib to clean away Raelynn’s face of blood and rinse her hair clean too. She looked better, but only moderately so. He was gentle and unlike the brute she had thought him to be.
“You’ll have to dress yourself M’lady, maybe in the morning…” Zhaib said with a sigh. As she looked at him, even though Raelynn had sold him out, his eyes appeared soft in the light of the hearthfire. “You father has some fresh clothes for you. He even said that your mother made them.” The thought of wearing something made by her mother made her heart ache for her. It had been so long since she had seen her, wearing those garments would help her to feel close - maybe they would make her feel stronger too. “I’m sorry Zhaib, I reall-”
“Don’t. I swore my life to your family, I will be okay. As long as you are safe tonight, then I have done my duty.” He walked to the other side of the room, bringing one last potion of healing to her; “I’ve seen this before. I’ve been… Where you are. Your father wants to help restore Gilane - if I die for his mission, then it is a noble death.” He held the bottle to her swollen lips, taking drops of it onto his fingertips and running them over the torn flesh there. The rest of it she drank.
Unlike just days prior, Raelynn could recognise what her father had seen in Zhaib. He was right, the Redguard was loyal. The guilt at having given his name to her torturer churned her insides. “Go to sleep Raelynn, I will return you to your hotel in the morning,” he said, his placing his hand on top of hers gently as he watched her drift off to sleep in the bed. “You are safe tonight, I promise. When you wake your strength will have returned and we will go back to working on your hands.”
Salosoix had remained distant since hearing Raelynn’s tale. He was sat at his desk, a glass of wine in front of him, his breath meditative and his expression grim. He clenched both fists as he watched his guard comfort his daughter. A quill was resting against his fingers as he began to aggressively pen his correspondence.
How could this have happened? Were the words that continued to play in his mind. This was not part of his plan. There would be some severe consequences for this.
It had been sheer adrenaline that had carried her back to the town centre and to her father’s residence. It had been Zhaib that saw her stumbling through the back alley. It had been Zhaib that picked her off her feet and hurried her inside.
“Raelynn, my daughter what happened?!” Salosoix cried as she fell to her knees on the patterned throws across the floor. She couldn’t answer him - it was as if the dam had finally burst. The restrained emotion that she had bottled within during her interrogation came flooding out. Zhaib gabbed at her hands - she didn’t even have the energy to wince and pull them back. Her father reached for his healing potions - pouring out the contents onto the wounds of each hand. The relief was instant but it wasn’t enough.
“I fucked up Papa,” she wept, her body felt heavy and like dead weight.
“It certainly fucking looks like it, what did you do you stupid girl?” he demanded, standing upright over her, his face like thunder but behind the expression he was barely holding himself together. He had to be strong.
She told him everything that she could, recounting every detail to them both while they were still fresh in her mind.
It took them some time, but Salosoix and Zhaib eventually patched up her hands as best as they could with what they had. Cloths, healing potions, and bandages. Eventually they settled on dressing them in a pair of black gloves. Salosoix walked away silently after that, an uninviting aura following him like a cloud. He left Zhaib to clean away Raelynn’s face of blood and rinse her hair clean too. She looked better, but only moderately so. He was gentle and unlike the brute she had thought him to be.
“You’ll have to dress yourself M’lady, maybe in the morning…” Zhaib said with a sigh. As she looked at him, even though Raelynn had sold him out, his eyes appeared soft in the light of the hearthfire. “You father has some fresh clothes for you. He even said that your mother made them.” The thought of wearing something made by her mother made her heart ache for her. It had been so long since she had seen her, wearing those garments would help her to feel close - maybe they would make her feel stronger too. “I’m sorry Zhaib, I reall-”
“Don’t. I swore my life to your family, I will be okay. As long as you are safe tonight, then I have done my duty.” He walked to the other side of the room, bringing one last potion of healing to her; “I’ve seen this before. I’ve been… Where you are. Your father wants to help restore Gilane - if I die for his mission, then it is a noble death.” He held the bottle to her swollen lips, taking drops of it onto his fingertips and running them over the torn flesh there. The rest of it she drank.
Unlike just days prior, Raelynn could recognise what her father had seen in Zhaib. He was right, the Redguard was loyal. The guilt at having given his name to her torturer churned her insides. “Go to sleep Raelynn, I will return you to your hotel in the morning,” he said, his placing his hand on top of hers gently as he watched her drift off to sleep in the bed. “You are safe tonight, I promise. When you wake your strength will have returned and we will go back to working on your hands.”
Salosoix had remained distant since hearing Raelynn’s tale. He was sat at his desk, a glass of wine in front of him, his breath meditative and his expression grim. He clenched both fists as he watched his guard comfort his daughter. A quill was resting against his fingers as he began to aggressively pen his correspondence.
How could this have happened? Were the words that continued to play in his mind. This was not part of his plan. There would be some severe consequences for this.
2nd Midyear - Early Afternoon
Today had been a nicer day than the previous one, at least it had started better. She hadn't felt exhausted, or felt any residual pain from the mission gone awry - in fact she felt fully cleansed of it. As she meandered carefree through the markets with her satchel over her shoulder she made out a familiar face in the distance. It was Alim. She watched him for a few minutes acting as he often did - a roguish swagger was his way of getting around, and he often had a look on his face which was a hybrid of intense concentration and complete relaxation. It was strange in a charming kind of way. She couldn't help but smile. Today he was concentrating and she took the opportunity to carefully creep up behind him.
Once she was within arms reach of him, she ran her finger down his spine gently - just enough to spark a tickle in him. “How's your back these days?” she said, an air of playful arrogance in her voice. She propped her body against the pillar of the market stall that Alim had been perusing, waiting for him to respond.
Alim had been a bit too busy being hungry, his eyes scanning the delectable foods being sold. He didn’t realize Raelynn had gotten the drop on him. Wait a minute...he knew those fingers. Her honeyed voice simply confirmed who it was, and he had to bite back a flirtatious comment. Don’t. You and Ani are... What were they? He didn’t even know what to call it. Still.
“Oh it’s been very flexible, thank you.” he said, turning to her and giving his trademark grin. His eyes twinkled, colored like rich gold in the sun. “And to what do I owe this lovely visit?” he asked, stepping away from the stall with, placing a banana in Raelynn’s arms as he hid a pineapple in his pack. He had truly been surprised at Raelynn’s arrival, but he had used the appearance of his own distraction to hide his small thievery.
“Here, let’s find a place to sit.”
With a raised eyebrow she took the banana and sat down upon a bench which looked out onto the streets. “I realised we haven't spent any time together, well, we haven't spoken since Anvil.” She began to peel the skin of the banana, she hadn't had one for a very long time, the sweet smell was pleasant to her and she inhaled it deeply. “I realise I left you hanging a bit, it wasn't very considerate of me. So I'm sorry for that I suppose.” She took a bite.
The rogue chuckled, though his smile was genuine, almost heartwarming. “I didn’t think you’d care.” he said honestly. “But I’m glad you do.”
He pulled out the pineapple, and took out his knee, beginning to carve away at the hard skin. “I see you’ve taken to Hammerfell nicely.” he said, and even though he didn’t look at her, it was clear he meant her attire. “It suits you. Not as much as me, but we can’t all be perfect, you know?” he joked. Alim cut enough of the pineapple on his knife to slip it into his mouth. “My back’s been much better. Sometimes a little stiff but much more manageable. I’m more interesting in how you’ve been.”
“Well, I had a bad turn after the mission of course. I can't quite remember when we got back after ours… But it took a lot out of me. The Nord was hurt in the scuffle and…” she slowed down, lowering the banana into her lap. She didn't really want to have to talk about it again, she hoped that her silence would be all that Alim needed to gather the gist of what she was trying to convey.
She shook her head, as if shaking away the feeling once more. A smile returned to her and she faced him; “I heard your mission went only a little better than ours?” There was a coy expression on her face all of a sudden as if the best thing to do now was to make light of their mistakes.
“Aaaaaaaa little.” he said slowly, guiltily even. “Let’s just say I had to toss up a desk to block a door so Ani and Sol could get out of there. But I try to look at the bright side of things.” He offered her a slice of pineapple. “The mission was completed, and now we only have all of the Dwemer looking for us.” He nudged her with his shoulder.
“Then again, I kind of like it.” He admitted. “Announcing yourself while still remaining anonymous. A thief under an alias, if you will. I’ve done it a few times before.”
“We hope it's just the Dwemer,” she replied, taking another bite of the banana and savouring the sweet taste. She took a slice of the pineapple too and ate it quickly. The taste was explosive. “You know, I am certain that pineapples are quite amazing and somewhat magical fruits. So tangy, -- something in them is just a cure for all digestive ailments you know… As for bananas, well - they're the perfect energy source for a healthy body.” Stifling a laugh, she placed her hand on Alim’s leg for a split second, “sorry, that probably sounds completely absurd and dull to you. They're just fruits after all.” She ate the last of the banana, placing the skin in a planter beside the bench. “How are finding it here? Hammerfell is your home, is it not? I mean besides from High Rock of course.”
“Whoa wait, you kidding?” Alim asked, referring to the fruit comment. He placed the pineapple down and flexed his arms, though he was obviously being facetiously arrogant. “I might not be as medically inclined as you, but I wouldn’t be as sculpted if I didn’t know my food groups.” He crossed his arms as if to say ‘take that.’
He then deflated, smiling with amusement. “Oh I love it here. Sun beating down on you,” he patted his bare chest for emphasis. “The smell of the sea. The music, the dancing, the intrigue. I might not have been born here...but it feels as home to me as Highrock does. Maybe we’ll soon venture there…” he said, looking off into the distance.
“It is beautiful, you’re right about that. Stretches of gold for miles around... I've never been here, and it's a world apart from Skyrim. To feel heat bathing my skin instead of bitter cold nipping at it… It's refreshing.” Raelynn too gazed off into the distance like Alim, holding a silence for a little while, just breathing in the fresh air. “I miss High Rock. I miss my family home, I'd love to return there soon. I think that Gre--” she stopped herself and almost blushed, taking a slice of the pineapple. “I think our group would enjoy it - the culture, the couture… Ahhh, I just miss that perfectly temperate climate, the food, music in the streets… it's home.”
Alim agreed with her sentiments, but his ears were far too sharp to miss half spoken name she had uttered. He broke from his reverie and looked at her, giving a small intake of breath and opening his mouth as if to speak, before casually looking away with a sigh. “Nevermind.” he said nearly indecipherably. His next words he spoke up. “You are right. I think once the weather grows even hotter, Vasora or...whoever is in charge will think it’s best to move north to Highrock.”
He’d been so caught up being in Hammerfell, he had nearly forgotten the cost of having gotten there. He felt a tinge of sadness for Rhea.
“I’ll have to show you my parent's shop. Although you must promise to keep your sticky fingers at bay…” she rounded off her sentence with an airy chuckle, her attention was swiftly grabbed by a handsome bard who had been setting up in the street, beginning his jaunty song. She looked back to Alim and observed that his usually untroubled aura was deflated all of a sudden.
She held a breath as she weighed up how to break him free of this unexpected case of gloom, and she decided on something wholly uncharacteristic and spontaneous -- quickly rising to her feet, rolling her shoulders back in time with the music, holding out her hands to Alim. “Dance with me,” she gave him a friendly smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Don't make a lady dance alone in the street now…” It was obvious that a woman like Raelynn could dance, but the way in which she moved her body now was almost deliberately humorous, and in a way, purposefully goofy. It wasn’t something she would ever do, but something about seeing Alim less than himself, and something about the happiness she was feeling just drew the vibrant energy from her.
Her mood was infectious, and he found himself giving off a smile and shaking his head. Alim stood up, outstretched his hand and said. “You know I could never permit that to happen,” he said, and once she took his hand he’d guide her through a merry dance, though of course they both knew she knew what she was doing. It was more so he could gain a better mood, and it was working.
After only a few moments their dance matched the music that flowed in from one of the taverns, and they moved very smoothly, in near perfect unison.
The Breton couldn’t help but smile from ear-to-ear. It was probably the first innocently fun thing she’d done in a very long time. While they moved together like this, she felt like she was home - and that their lives weren’t potentially in peril. “You dance well my friend!” she laughed as she spun in a circle around him - noticing that they were fetching quite the crowd of watchers around them. It was only then that she got a little shy in her efforts, until finally others came up to join them in their impromptu cavorting.
“You dance better than I, I have to say. You’ve been holding out on me, haven’t you?” he asked her, their dance having slowed a bit, though he smiled widely. As the others joined, he picked Raelynn up and spun her around along with him, keeping her held up in a pose until he gently set her back down again, giving a bow to her.
“I have many secrets Alim, just as you do…” as he bowed she gave him a curtsy as the music began to slow to its stop. Unsure of whether to acknowledge his earlier change in mood, she merely smiled at him again. “I do hope you're okay, things are difficult right now…”
Alim slipped one of the waves of his dark mane behind his ear and gave a light, heartfelt laugh. “You know, if you would like to ask me something or have something to tell me, you don’t need to butter me up with a dance first. Not that I did not thoroughly enjoy it. It reminds me of my days in Highrock.” he said honestly. “But have I ever judged you before?”
One of Alim’s many talents was being abruptly earnest in the middle of his maelstrom of quips and flirtatious comments. He had a strange honesty to him, for a thief that is.
She bit her lip to the side and ran a hand through her hair. “You haven't. You're about the only one who hasn't, actually. That's what I like about you.” Something about the rogue always allowed her to feel free to speak more than she ever normally would. Maybe the bond of having come so close to death by his side was the reason. “Your face changed, that's all. You were going to say something and then you didn't and your face changed.”
They began to walk together slowly, past the many stalls of Gilane - so much colour and vibrancy surrounded them. “I consider you to be my friend and don't friends take care of each other?” The concept really did confuse her, she'd gone her whole life without ever really growing close to anyone in a way that wasn't beneficial to her. “I'm just not good at it, I could use some work at the whole thing…”
“You seem to be doing fine to me,” he said warmly, his arm hooked within hers. “Cheering me up by threatening me with a good time. Dancing in the street...you are far better at being a friend than you think, at least to me.” He shook his head, the sunlight now blocked by various buildings to their right, giving them a nice spot of shade to walk through as less and less people mingled about them, leaving them relatively alone.
“Pay no attention to me, I was just...concerned about Gregor and... you.” he declared honestly, biting his tongue. “But, it’s not my business. Besides, I tend to be a talker, but when it comes to more intimate matters I try to stay quiet until I know for certain whether something is right or wrong.” He placed a hand on her arm. “I’m just being a fool. More than I usually am, which is saying something.”
She moved her arm away from him, a troubled look fell upon her face. “So many are so quick to share their concern right now… I -- he’s a good man. It's not your place to share what may or may not be right or wrong. I just…” she shook her head and sighed, she didn't want to get angry at Alim. Afterall, he really wasn't wrong at all to voice his concern, he was being a friend. “I'm okay, I promise.” She placed her hand back on his, letting the expression of worry wash off, trying to replace it with a sincere smile. “I just… we understand each other.”
She felt awkward, and she could feel sudden awkwardness between them - it fell on her to once again alter the atmosphere. “Besides, speaking of intimate… You and the Altmer. You have a spark there, I think.”
Whenever Alim spoke to Raelynn, he always seemed to say something wrong and she would skitter off. Luckily this time that didn’t happen. As for Gregor being a good man, he had first hand experience as to the contrary, but he wouldn’t bring it up. “As long as you’re ok.” he said, honestly. When she spoke of Anifaire, he blinked. “I...maybe. I mean yes there is one, but we haven’t done anything about it yet. I sometimes wonder if she’d be better off with someone less…” He tried to think of the word. “Opportunistic than I. But we’ll see what happens.”
“Opportunistic? Aren’t we all that way in this world? Now more than ever too,” she didn’t want to hear him speak like that about himself. For some reason it made her feel a slight sadness. “Maybe she can decide for herself whether or not you’re good enough, Alim.” Granted, Raelynn didn’t know enough about Anifaire to be able to speak about it. She had only noticed the way they looked at each other innocently, the way he made her smile - and vice versa. “I think that our lives are not guaranteed -- Gods, look at what happened to Calen! If you feel anything at all for the girl, chase the feeling.”
She was unsure of how to feel about what she had just said. She’d made confessions to Gregor since the mission - and he to her. They were certainly closer now and there was no denying that, he had been the first one she wanted to see. There was something in that. Still, she couldn’t leave it at that - she had to make it trivial and light-hearted once more. “But it’s okay my friend, if you’re just too hung up on me.” It was self-centered of her to say it, but she dressed it in a satirical grin, and an overly flashy flip of her hair in his direction so that there was no way he would take it seriously. It did make her look at him differently though, they had a special connection - and she would be lying to herself to say she had never thought of the two of them in some way.
If there was anyone better off without someone, it was Alim being better off without her.
Alim absorbed what she had to say, and he had to give a smirk at her last comment. Though she was joking, it brought something boiling up from within him that made him speak. He decided to not be coy for once and even stopped walking so he could turn to look at her. He almost went from caring, to coy, to a casual yet blunt manner where the words seemed to flow out of him as if he was telling a story from long ago. “I’ll tell you the truth.” He said. “I am interested in Ani. I plan on seeing where I can go with her. But if you had asked me to dinner two weeks ago, we’d likely be in a room at the moment and you’d have a very expensive necklace around your neck that I would have undoubtedly stolen.” He chuckled at the thought. “And I wouldn’t have minded. Because I’m attracted to women like that. Like you. But that’s how opportunities work, isn’t it? We either do something, or we don’t, and it dictates what happens for the rest of our lives more often than not.”
He smiled a friendly smile, and reached up to smooth a bit of her hair behind her ear. “Just make sure you remember that deserve has nothing to do with relationships. As long as whoever you’re with brings out the good in you, it’s a good one to be in. Don’t just be with someone who shares demons. Be with someone who silences them so you can make something of yourself you’ve always wanted. If that’s Ani for me and Gregor for you, then I’ll have no complaints. But always make sure of that. As a friend, that’s my thoughts I thought you should know.”
Demons. What he said resonated with her in the harsh light of day...
She imagined the scenario in her mind, the thought of lying with Alim, dripping in stolen jewels gifted to her by him and nothing else... It caused a stir within her that her face couldn't hide. It was a nice feeling to be desired after all. “If it is meant to happen, then it might yet. Who knows what will happen between us Alim? But for now I know that I…-" she stopped. The rest of her words hanging from her tongue as she weighed up whether or not to say them - but today was a day for honesty and openness “you're my friend, maybe one day much more than that. But I'm not a clairvoyant, I only know where my path sets me now. I trust you Alim, probably more than I have trusted most people in my life…” She smiled, in a carefree and earnest way “I am happy on my path, who knows if I would stray from it. But I want you to be happy, we all deserve happiness after all, you are right about that.”
She placed a hand against his, and let it linger there for perhaps a moment too long. “I hold you in high esteem, always. I want you to know that.”
Alim had not thought she felt in such a way. He did not wish to further complicate things, nor did he want to besmirch his own honor when it came to Anifaire. He was oddly protective of her, and he did feel as if there was something there. Hopefully there was, he realized. However, he did know he and Raelynn were kindred spirits in a way, so he decided to end it on a good note. He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “And I feel the same to you.” he said, and let the words hold for a bit, before he added. “Friends.”
She felt awkward in a way - she'd said too much. As she took her hand back from him, she felt herself savouring the kiss he left there. After all that had happened, it was like Alim was able to scratch her surface and find some sincere goodness and humanity under there. “Well, I should probably get going… I have a number of things to do today and the afternoon seems to have gotten away with us.” She turned away from him to look over in the distance, the back of her hand stroking her forehead. “It was good to see you,” she said to him with whatever smile she managed to conjure to her face, and then she made her way into the bustling crowds. Before she completely disappeared she turned one last time to him, and called out; “you should get her a gift! Take her something nice!” She held her gaze on him as if it was the last time she would be permitted to do so. The sight of him now… it made her confused.
Another abrupt ending to their time together, it was becoming a thing.
Alim too felt a pattern. “I will!” he told her with a wink, giving a sigh as she left. Once there was no one in earshot, he said under his breath. “I can tell this will be a problem for later.”
This time he made sure not to appreciate the sway of her hips as she walked away. Wow, he had a lot of things to work on.
Today had been a nicer day than the previous one, at least it had started better. She hadn't felt exhausted, or felt any residual pain from the mission gone awry - in fact she felt fully cleansed of it. As she meandered carefree through the markets with her satchel over her shoulder she made out a familiar face in the distance. It was Alim. She watched him for a few minutes acting as he often did - a roguish swagger was his way of getting around, and he often had a look on his face which was a hybrid of intense concentration and complete relaxation. It was strange in a charming kind of way. She couldn't help but smile. Today he was concentrating and she took the opportunity to carefully creep up behind him.
Once she was within arms reach of him, she ran her finger down his spine gently - just enough to spark a tickle in him. “How's your back these days?” she said, an air of playful arrogance in her voice. She propped her body against the pillar of the market stall that Alim had been perusing, waiting for him to respond.
Alim had been a bit too busy being hungry, his eyes scanning the delectable foods being sold. He didn’t realize Raelynn had gotten the drop on him. Wait a minute...he knew those fingers. Her honeyed voice simply confirmed who it was, and he had to bite back a flirtatious comment. Don’t. You and Ani are... What were they? He didn’t even know what to call it. Still.
“Oh it’s been very flexible, thank you.” he said, turning to her and giving his trademark grin. His eyes twinkled, colored like rich gold in the sun. “And to what do I owe this lovely visit?” he asked, stepping away from the stall with, placing a banana in Raelynn’s arms as he hid a pineapple in his pack. He had truly been surprised at Raelynn’s arrival, but he had used the appearance of his own distraction to hide his small thievery.
“Here, let’s find a place to sit.”
With a raised eyebrow she took the banana and sat down upon a bench which looked out onto the streets. “I realised we haven't spent any time together, well, we haven't spoken since Anvil.” She began to peel the skin of the banana, she hadn't had one for a very long time, the sweet smell was pleasant to her and she inhaled it deeply. “I realise I left you hanging a bit, it wasn't very considerate of me. So I'm sorry for that I suppose.” She took a bite.
The rogue chuckled, though his smile was genuine, almost heartwarming. “I didn’t think you’d care.” he said honestly. “But I’m glad you do.”
He pulled out the pineapple, and took out his knee, beginning to carve away at the hard skin. “I see you’ve taken to Hammerfell nicely.” he said, and even though he didn’t look at her, it was clear he meant her attire. “It suits you. Not as much as me, but we can’t all be perfect, you know?” he joked. Alim cut enough of the pineapple on his knife to slip it into his mouth. “My back’s been much better. Sometimes a little stiff but much more manageable. I’m more interesting in how you’ve been.”
“Well, I had a bad turn after the mission of course. I can't quite remember when we got back after ours… But it took a lot out of me. The Nord was hurt in the scuffle and…” she slowed down, lowering the banana into her lap. She didn't really want to have to talk about it again, she hoped that her silence would be all that Alim needed to gather the gist of what she was trying to convey.
She shook her head, as if shaking away the feeling once more. A smile returned to her and she faced him; “I heard your mission went only a little better than ours?” There was a coy expression on her face all of a sudden as if the best thing to do now was to make light of their mistakes.
“Aaaaaaaa little.” he said slowly, guiltily even. “Let’s just say I had to toss up a desk to block a door so Ani and Sol could get out of there. But I try to look at the bright side of things.” He offered her a slice of pineapple. “The mission was completed, and now we only have all of the Dwemer looking for us.” He nudged her with his shoulder.
“Then again, I kind of like it.” He admitted. “Announcing yourself while still remaining anonymous. A thief under an alias, if you will. I’ve done it a few times before.”
“We hope it's just the Dwemer,” she replied, taking another bite of the banana and savouring the sweet taste. She took a slice of the pineapple too and ate it quickly. The taste was explosive. “You know, I am certain that pineapples are quite amazing and somewhat magical fruits. So tangy, -- something in them is just a cure for all digestive ailments you know… As for bananas, well - they're the perfect energy source for a healthy body.” Stifling a laugh, she placed her hand on Alim’s leg for a split second, “sorry, that probably sounds completely absurd and dull to you. They're just fruits after all.” She ate the last of the banana, placing the skin in a planter beside the bench. “How are finding it here? Hammerfell is your home, is it not? I mean besides from High Rock of course.”
“Whoa wait, you kidding?” Alim asked, referring to the fruit comment. He placed the pineapple down and flexed his arms, though he was obviously being facetiously arrogant. “I might not be as medically inclined as you, but I wouldn’t be as sculpted if I didn’t know my food groups.” He crossed his arms as if to say ‘take that.’
He then deflated, smiling with amusement. “Oh I love it here. Sun beating down on you,” he patted his bare chest for emphasis. “The smell of the sea. The music, the dancing, the intrigue. I might not have been born here...but it feels as home to me as Highrock does. Maybe we’ll soon venture there…” he said, looking off into the distance.
“It is beautiful, you’re right about that. Stretches of gold for miles around... I've never been here, and it's a world apart from Skyrim. To feel heat bathing my skin instead of bitter cold nipping at it… It's refreshing.” Raelynn too gazed off into the distance like Alim, holding a silence for a little while, just breathing in the fresh air. “I miss High Rock. I miss my family home, I'd love to return there soon. I think that Gre--” she stopped herself and almost blushed, taking a slice of the pineapple. “I think our group would enjoy it - the culture, the couture… Ahhh, I just miss that perfectly temperate climate, the food, music in the streets… it's home.”
Alim agreed with her sentiments, but his ears were far too sharp to miss half spoken name she had uttered. He broke from his reverie and looked at her, giving a small intake of breath and opening his mouth as if to speak, before casually looking away with a sigh. “Nevermind.” he said nearly indecipherably. His next words he spoke up. “You are right. I think once the weather grows even hotter, Vasora or...whoever is in charge will think it’s best to move north to Highrock.”
He’d been so caught up being in Hammerfell, he had nearly forgotten the cost of having gotten there. He felt a tinge of sadness for Rhea.
“I’ll have to show you my parent's shop. Although you must promise to keep your sticky fingers at bay…” she rounded off her sentence with an airy chuckle, her attention was swiftly grabbed by a handsome bard who had been setting up in the street, beginning his jaunty song. She looked back to Alim and observed that his usually untroubled aura was deflated all of a sudden.
She held a breath as she weighed up how to break him free of this unexpected case of gloom, and she decided on something wholly uncharacteristic and spontaneous -- quickly rising to her feet, rolling her shoulders back in time with the music, holding out her hands to Alim. “Dance with me,” she gave him a friendly smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Don't make a lady dance alone in the street now…” It was obvious that a woman like Raelynn could dance, but the way in which she moved her body now was almost deliberately humorous, and in a way, purposefully goofy. It wasn’t something she would ever do, but something about seeing Alim less than himself, and something about the happiness she was feeling just drew the vibrant energy from her.
Her mood was infectious, and he found himself giving off a smile and shaking his head. Alim stood up, outstretched his hand and said. “You know I could never permit that to happen,” he said, and once she took his hand he’d guide her through a merry dance, though of course they both knew she knew what she was doing. It was more so he could gain a better mood, and it was working.
After only a few moments their dance matched the music that flowed in from one of the taverns, and they moved very smoothly, in near perfect unison.
The Breton couldn’t help but smile from ear-to-ear. It was probably the first innocently fun thing she’d done in a very long time. While they moved together like this, she felt like she was home - and that their lives weren’t potentially in peril. “You dance well my friend!” she laughed as she spun in a circle around him - noticing that they were fetching quite the crowd of watchers around them. It was only then that she got a little shy in her efforts, until finally others came up to join them in their impromptu cavorting.
“You dance better than I, I have to say. You’ve been holding out on me, haven’t you?” he asked her, their dance having slowed a bit, though he smiled widely. As the others joined, he picked Raelynn up and spun her around along with him, keeping her held up in a pose until he gently set her back down again, giving a bow to her.
“I have many secrets Alim, just as you do…” as he bowed she gave him a curtsy as the music began to slow to its stop. Unsure of whether to acknowledge his earlier change in mood, she merely smiled at him again. “I do hope you're okay, things are difficult right now…”
Alim slipped one of the waves of his dark mane behind his ear and gave a light, heartfelt laugh. “You know, if you would like to ask me something or have something to tell me, you don’t need to butter me up with a dance first. Not that I did not thoroughly enjoy it. It reminds me of my days in Highrock.” he said honestly. “But have I ever judged you before?”
One of Alim’s many talents was being abruptly earnest in the middle of his maelstrom of quips and flirtatious comments. He had a strange honesty to him, for a thief that is.
She bit her lip to the side and ran a hand through her hair. “You haven't. You're about the only one who hasn't, actually. That's what I like about you.” Something about the rogue always allowed her to feel free to speak more than she ever normally would. Maybe the bond of having come so close to death by his side was the reason. “Your face changed, that's all. You were going to say something and then you didn't and your face changed.”
They began to walk together slowly, past the many stalls of Gilane - so much colour and vibrancy surrounded them. “I consider you to be my friend and don't friends take care of each other?” The concept really did confuse her, she'd gone her whole life without ever really growing close to anyone in a way that wasn't beneficial to her. “I'm just not good at it, I could use some work at the whole thing…”
“You seem to be doing fine to me,” he said warmly, his arm hooked within hers. “Cheering me up by threatening me with a good time. Dancing in the street...you are far better at being a friend than you think, at least to me.” He shook his head, the sunlight now blocked by various buildings to their right, giving them a nice spot of shade to walk through as less and less people mingled about them, leaving them relatively alone.
“Pay no attention to me, I was just...concerned about Gregor and... you.” he declared honestly, biting his tongue. “But, it’s not my business. Besides, I tend to be a talker, but when it comes to more intimate matters I try to stay quiet until I know for certain whether something is right or wrong.” He placed a hand on her arm. “I’m just being a fool. More than I usually am, which is saying something.”
She moved her arm away from him, a troubled look fell upon her face. “So many are so quick to share their concern right now… I -- he’s a good man. It's not your place to share what may or may not be right or wrong. I just…” she shook her head and sighed, she didn't want to get angry at Alim. Afterall, he really wasn't wrong at all to voice his concern, he was being a friend. “I'm okay, I promise.” She placed her hand back on his, letting the expression of worry wash off, trying to replace it with a sincere smile. “I just… we understand each other.”
She felt awkward, and she could feel sudden awkwardness between them - it fell on her to once again alter the atmosphere. “Besides, speaking of intimate… You and the Altmer. You have a spark there, I think.”
Whenever Alim spoke to Raelynn, he always seemed to say something wrong and she would skitter off. Luckily this time that didn’t happen. As for Gregor being a good man, he had first hand experience as to the contrary, but he wouldn’t bring it up. “As long as you’re ok.” he said, honestly. When she spoke of Anifaire, he blinked. “I...maybe. I mean yes there is one, but we haven’t done anything about it yet. I sometimes wonder if she’d be better off with someone less…” He tried to think of the word. “Opportunistic than I. But we’ll see what happens.”
“Opportunistic? Aren’t we all that way in this world? Now more than ever too,” she didn’t want to hear him speak like that about himself. For some reason it made her feel a slight sadness. “Maybe she can decide for herself whether or not you’re good enough, Alim.” Granted, Raelynn didn’t know enough about Anifaire to be able to speak about it. She had only noticed the way they looked at each other innocently, the way he made her smile - and vice versa. “I think that our lives are not guaranteed -- Gods, look at what happened to Calen! If you feel anything at all for the girl, chase the feeling.”
She was unsure of how to feel about what she had just said. She’d made confessions to Gregor since the mission - and he to her. They were certainly closer now and there was no denying that, he had been the first one she wanted to see. There was something in that. Still, she couldn’t leave it at that - she had to make it trivial and light-hearted once more. “But it’s okay my friend, if you’re just too hung up on me.” It was self-centered of her to say it, but she dressed it in a satirical grin, and an overly flashy flip of her hair in his direction so that there was no way he would take it seriously. It did make her look at him differently though, they had a special connection - and she would be lying to herself to say she had never thought of the two of them in some way.
If there was anyone better off without someone, it was Alim being better off without her.
Alim absorbed what she had to say, and he had to give a smirk at her last comment. Though she was joking, it brought something boiling up from within him that made him speak. He decided to not be coy for once and even stopped walking so he could turn to look at her. He almost went from caring, to coy, to a casual yet blunt manner where the words seemed to flow out of him as if he was telling a story from long ago. “I’ll tell you the truth.” He said. “I am interested in Ani. I plan on seeing where I can go with her. But if you had asked me to dinner two weeks ago, we’d likely be in a room at the moment and you’d have a very expensive necklace around your neck that I would have undoubtedly stolen.” He chuckled at the thought. “And I wouldn’t have minded. Because I’m attracted to women like that. Like you. But that’s how opportunities work, isn’t it? We either do something, or we don’t, and it dictates what happens for the rest of our lives more often than not.”
He smiled a friendly smile, and reached up to smooth a bit of her hair behind her ear. “Just make sure you remember that deserve has nothing to do with relationships. As long as whoever you’re with brings out the good in you, it’s a good one to be in. Don’t just be with someone who shares demons. Be with someone who silences them so you can make something of yourself you’ve always wanted. If that’s Ani for me and Gregor for you, then I’ll have no complaints. But always make sure of that. As a friend, that’s my thoughts I thought you should know.”
Demons. What he said resonated with her in the harsh light of day...
She imagined the scenario in her mind, the thought of lying with Alim, dripping in stolen jewels gifted to her by him and nothing else... It caused a stir within her that her face couldn't hide. It was a nice feeling to be desired after all. “If it is meant to happen, then it might yet. Who knows what will happen between us Alim? But for now I know that I…-" she stopped. The rest of her words hanging from her tongue as she weighed up whether or not to say them - but today was a day for honesty and openness “you're my friend, maybe one day much more than that. But I'm not a clairvoyant, I only know where my path sets me now. I trust you Alim, probably more than I have trusted most people in my life…” She smiled, in a carefree and earnest way “I am happy on my path, who knows if I would stray from it. But I want you to be happy, we all deserve happiness after all, you are right about that.”
She placed a hand against his, and let it linger there for perhaps a moment too long. “I hold you in high esteem, always. I want you to know that.”
Alim had not thought she felt in such a way. He did not wish to further complicate things, nor did he want to besmirch his own honor when it came to Anifaire. He was oddly protective of her, and he did feel as if there was something there. Hopefully there was, he realized. However, he did know he and Raelynn were kindred spirits in a way, so he decided to end it on a good note. He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “And I feel the same to you.” he said, and let the words hold for a bit, before he added. “Friends.”
She felt awkward in a way - she'd said too much. As she took her hand back from him, she felt herself savouring the kiss he left there. After all that had happened, it was like Alim was able to scratch her surface and find some sincere goodness and humanity under there. “Well, I should probably get going… I have a number of things to do today and the afternoon seems to have gotten away with us.” She turned away from him to look over in the distance, the back of her hand stroking her forehead. “It was good to see you,” she said to him with whatever smile she managed to conjure to her face, and then she made her way into the bustling crowds. Before she completely disappeared she turned one last time to him, and called out; “you should get her a gift! Take her something nice!” She held her gaze on him as if it was the last time she would be permitted to do so. The sight of him now… it made her confused.
Another abrupt ending to their time together, it was becoming a thing.
Alim too felt a pattern. “I will!” he told her with a wink, giving a sigh as she left. Once there was no one in earshot, he said under his breath. “I can tell this will be a problem for later.”
This time he made sure not to appreciate the sway of her hips as she walked away. Wow, he had a lot of things to work on.
Baby
Quill
spoopy as hell
Via Purifico
It looked like an endless corridor. A narrow passageway with cold stone walls that had a dampness to them, and a smell of rot lingered in the little air that was down there. The only illumination were the small sconces of ruby light set into the middle of the walls in a line - leading down the path, the only path. There was a grim tension and an ethereal quality. Each of her footsteps echoed and bounced off the walls in the confined tunnels that she found herself in. Nothing was strange, yet everything was. She walked in the only direction she was able - forwards.
The heels of her sandals clacked on the stone floor steadily. One two. One two. One two. Only the string of red light, nothing at the end - if there was an end. It occurred to her that she hadn’t looked behind her, and now she was too fearful of it. It was like the moment that she realised she hadn’t, that she felt a foreboding presence behind her. A sudden chill shot up her spine and had the hairs on the back of her neck on end, and her footsteps hastened. Something spoke. An emotionless voice ringing through the darkness.
How long have I been walking? Were the words that sounded in her mind. She had started to feel breathless and despite the feeling of a presence in the tunnel, she slowed back down and kept going until she finally came across a fork in the path which placed her before two tunnels now. Only one of them was lit up, the other was dark and a piercingly cold breeze blew at her from within, she felt it even dance around her before stopping.
Curiously, she stepped into the dark tunnel and immediately it’s walls were illuminated by a single dim white light, and below was the slumped body of a Redguard soldier. “Casimir…?” Her voice was barely a whisper, but the soldier’s head turned and she could see that half of his face was bloodied. “You need help!” she said before moving swiftly to his side, upon closer inspection, she could see that his eye was gone. Obliterated. Parts of it splattered against his cheek. “Sit still, I can fix this for you…”
Snapping into her precision mindset with urgency, she worked magicka into her palms, the light of it shone against his face as she held it to him. His right hand came up to meet hers. It felt like ice, and there was a stiffness to it. I know what this is… Rigor Mortis. Casimir placed Raelynn’s hand into her lap, lingering on her touch for a second more. “It’s too late for me m’lady…” he groaned, a soft splutter at the end of his words. “You don’t have much time for the boy… You have to help the boy…” She brought her hand back to his cheek to at least offer him comfort. What a gruesome way to die. She moved back from him, bowing her head as he began to take his last laboured breaths, she observed the skin on his face to quickly become dry and tighten against his skull - he became gaunt in a matter of seconds.
The singular light above him flickered violently, and from behind him a number of rotting skeletal hands burst from the wall and clutched at him. Raelynn gasped and stepped back in horror. There must have been twenty of them, clawing out around the shape of his body leaning against the stone wrenching him back into an abyssal void of swirling dark energy. Each one a different size, some with missing fingers, some had rings, and some were dressed in torn bandages. Each one had the same desperation to drag him wherever they were coming from. “GO!” he coughed out one last time, causing Raelynn to jump back further in shock before the wall closed back up. She could swear that she heard it murmur in agony.
The boy?
The air began to grow thick as if a fog had formed - not that she could see it but the atmosphere changed, the air thick and damp and even more bitterly cold. She wrapped her arms around herself as she moved away from the wall. She didn’t want to touch it, scared of what might reach out from behind it, and yet she was still staring at it and wanting to move towards it. It was supposed to unnerve her and it did, and yet it did not.
As her fingertips touched the stone where Casimir had been taken, she felt an organic warmth emanate from it, and it didn’t feel like stone at all - but like flesh -- human skin. As if it were alive. She was immediately disturbed and pulled her hand back - she had to go to the boy. Her fingers were wet, and as she stepped back into the red light she could see that it was blood. The wall was bleeding, and as soon as she recognised it as such it was as if she heard the wall of flesh tear and begin to pour out and spill it’s contents onto the ground, another whimper of pain rang out. Everything was strange, and yet nothing was. She began to run down the path - feeling a sense of great urgency.
There he was. A boy, lying at the end of the tunnel in a small circular room, in a pool of his own blood with a series of white lights circling him. They flickered in a fitful manner. As she examined him, she saw a gaping wound in the centre of his chest with blood oozing out rapidly. All that the boy could do was stare at it. His face, who was the boy? Had she met him before? She couldn’t see his face in the light. Or was it hidden. Each time she tried to look at it, it faded out of focus and her eyes were drawn back to the wound, spluttering blood out like a bodily geyser. Now that was something that she knew wasn’t right, and when she realised it she saw the wall crack - the same void that had devoured Casimir leaked through.
As she had done so with Casimir, Raelynn dove into action, golden light pouring from her palms as she applied pressure to the wound, straddling him with her eyes locked onto his. “Look at me,” she began, her energy streaming into the hole in his chest as blood continued to cascade out from it. There was so much blood. “You are going to be fine, keep looking at me, don’t look down there. Look at me.” Her voice was serious and authoritative but there was no vicious bite to it, a comforting warmth lay on her tone. She turned her face to look back down the tunnel, and she could see each of the lights that had led her here were extinguishing one by one. Running out of time.
Raelynn had both hands against the wound now, focusing her light into him, she could feel it bringing everything inside back together again bit by bit. This was not the wound of a blade or of magicka, this was something else. The entrance of the wound was right between his ribs - she suspected that they too would be damaged. As she let her fingers press against them, she felt that at least one was broken which only made the situation become more urgent for them both. As his face twisted in pain and his body began to writhe and contort against her, she placed a hand on his forehead - bathing him in the stream of her restorative magic. “Be calm…” The serene sensation of it would offer him a wash of relief, at least momentarily.
From inside of the crack in the wall, hands erupted forth - their fingers twitching. Not just the wall, as she brought her attention away from the boy and to the room, she watched as the edges where the walls met the ground formed the same dark energy and more of the undead hands rose up. She was surrounded. They were surrounded. It would not deter her from this, the feeling in her chest that this was something she had to do outweighed the feeling of horror as she watched the army of hands begin to slowly drag themselves towards she and the boy in the centre. “I have no time for you,” she spoke out against them, as if to make them stop.
By now, both of her hands were covered in the boy’s blood, her magical stamina was dwindling and she began to feel light-headed - but now was not the time to let up. If she stopped now, he would die. Both of them would die. The hemorrhage was too severe, the wound too deep and foreign even to her. Unfortunate positioning for this, it’s so close to his heart - his lungs… Whatever else was happening around her was unimportant. This was her priority now. As the wound began to close she stopped - sliding in her fingers carefully between the two ribs - she curled her finger against the broken rib, projecting the magicka against it. It wasn’t an instant cure but it would start off a natural healing process at least.
Somewhere in the distance, she heard the sound of thunder - of a storm, or of magic. The sound of weapons and armour, incoherent shouting. The ground rumbling beneath her - beneath them. The foreboding presence growing larger - large enough to panic her
With her fingers in the wound, she felt something small, hard, and warm. It was a piece of metal, a bullet? It had been what had broken the rib, and it must have been a ranged shot, or else it would have gone right through him. She couldn’t decide if that was better or not. Regardless, she pulled it out as she removed her fingers. The wound was smaller and bleeding less - but she didn’t have enough left in her to finish the job.
What happened to you?
“This isn't right. It wasn’t this easy. The wound is not the same, it was in his chest but different - he jumped." It was coming back in waves, and as she listed off aloud what she knew, it finally clicked "this is just a drea--” Once more, the realisation caused the walls of the room to burst with an almighty crashing sound followed by a deafening and petrifying shriek that caused Raelynn to instinctively clasp her hands to cover her ears and cower, her body pressed against the boy. Blood poured out from the stone - washing the hands away and drowning them, but behind the walls now was light - real light. And then nothing.
The heels of her sandals clacked on the stone floor steadily. One two. One two. One two. Only the string of red light, nothing at the end - if there was an end. It occurred to her that she hadn’t looked behind her, and now she was too fearful of it. It was like the moment that she realised she hadn’t, that she felt a foreboding presence behind her. A sudden chill shot up her spine and had the hairs on the back of her neck on end, and her footsteps hastened. Something spoke. An emotionless voice ringing through the darkness.
”Time.”
How long have I been walking? Were the words that sounded in her mind. She had started to feel breathless and despite the feeling of a presence in the tunnel, she slowed back down and kept going until she finally came across a fork in the path which placed her before two tunnels now. Only one of them was lit up, the other was dark and a piercingly cold breeze blew at her from within, she felt it even dance around her before stopping.
Curiously, she stepped into the dark tunnel and immediately it’s walls were illuminated by a single dim white light, and below was the slumped body of a Redguard soldier. “Casimir…?” Her voice was barely a whisper, but the soldier’s head turned and she could see that half of his face was bloodied. “You need help!” she said before moving swiftly to his side, upon closer inspection, she could see that his eye was gone. Obliterated. Parts of it splattered against his cheek. “Sit still, I can fix this for you…”
Snapping into her precision mindset with urgency, she worked magicka into her palms, the light of it shone against his face as she held it to him. His right hand came up to meet hers. It felt like ice, and there was a stiffness to it. I know what this is… Rigor Mortis. Casimir placed Raelynn’s hand into her lap, lingering on her touch for a second more. “It’s too late for me m’lady…” he groaned, a soft splutter at the end of his words. “You don’t have much time for the boy… You have to help the boy…” She brought her hand back to his cheek to at least offer him comfort. What a gruesome way to die. She moved back from him, bowing her head as he began to take his last laboured breaths, she observed the skin on his face to quickly become dry and tighten against his skull - he became gaunt in a matter of seconds.
The singular light above him flickered violently, and from behind him a number of rotting skeletal hands burst from the wall and clutched at him. Raelynn gasped and stepped back in horror. There must have been twenty of them, clawing out around the shape of his body leaning against the stone wrenching him back into an abyssal void of swirling dark energy. Each one a different size, some with missing fingers, some had rings, and some were dressed in torn bandages. Each one had the same desperation to drag him wherever they were coming from. “GO!” he coughed out one last time, causing Raelynn to jump back further in shock before the wall closed back up. She could swear that she heard it murmur in agony.
The boy?
”The boy.”
The air began to grow thick as if a fog had formed - not that she could see it but the atmosphere changed, the air thick and damp and even more bitterly cold. She wrapped her arms around herself as she moved away from the wall. She didn’t want to touch it, scared of what might reach out from behind it, and yet she was still staring at it and wanting to move towards it. It was supposed to unnerve her and it did, and yet it did not.
”Touch it.”
As her fingertips touched the stone where Casimir had been taken, she felt an organic warmth emanate from it, and it didn’t feel like stone at all - but like flesh -- human skin. As if it were alive. She was immediately disturbed and pulled her hand back - she had to go to the boy. Her fingers were wet, and as she stepped back into the red light she could see that it was blood. The wall was bleeding, and as soon as she recognised it as such it was as if she heard the wall of flesh tear and begin to pour out and spill it’s contents onto the ground, another whimper of pain rang out. Everything was strange, and yet nothing was. She began to run down the path - feeling a sense of great urgency.
There he was. A boy, lying at the end of the tunnel in a small circular room, in a pool of his own blood with a series of white lights circling him. They flickered in a fitful manner. As she examined him, she saw a gaping wound in the centre of his chest with blood oozing out rapidly. All that the boy could do was stare at it. His face, who was the boy? Had she met him before? She couldn’t see his face in the light. Or was it hidden. Each time she tried to look at it, it faded out of focus and her eyes were drawn back to the wound, spluttering blood out like a bodily geyser. Now that was something that she knew wasn’t right, and when she realised it she saw the wall crack - the same void that had devoured Casimir leaked through.
”It’s time…”
As she had done so with Casimir, Raelynn dove into action, golden light pouring from her palms as she applied pressure to the wound, straddling him with her eyes locked onto his. “Look at me,” she began, her energy streaming into the hole in his chest as blood continued to cascade out from it. There was so much blood. “You are going to be fine, keep looking at me, don’t look down there. Look at me.” Her voice was serious and authoritative but there was no vicious bite to it, a comforting warmth lay on her tone. She turned her face to look back down the tunnel, and she could see each of the lights that had led her here were extinguishing one by one. Running out of time.
Raelynn had both hands against the wound now, focusing her light into him, she could feel it bringing everything inside back together again bit by bit. This was not the wound of a blade or of magicka, this was something else. The entrance of the wound was right between his ribs - she suspected that they too would be damaged. As she let her fingers press against them, she felt that at least one was broken which only made the situation become more urgent for them both. As his face twisted in pain and his body began to writhe and contort against her, she placed a hand on his forehead - bathing him in the stream of her restorative magic. “Be calm…” The serene sensation of it would offer him a wash of relief, at least momentarily.
From inside of the crack in the wall, hands erupted forth - their fingers twitching. Not just the wall, as she brought her attention away from the boy and to the room, she watched as the edges where the walls met the ground formed the same dark energy and more of the undead hands rose up. She was surrounded. They were surrounded. It would not deter her from this, the feeling in her chest that this was something she had to do outweighed the feeling of horror as she watched the army of hands begin to slowly drag themselves towards she and the boy in the centre. “I have no time for you,” she spoke out against them, as if to make them stop.
By now, both of her hands were covered in the boy’s blood, her magical stamina was dwindling and she began to feel light-headed - but now was not the time to let up. If she stopped now, he would die. Both of them would die. The hemorrhage was too severe, the wound too deep and foreign even to her. Unfortunate positioning for this, it’s so close to his heart - his lungs… Whatever else was happening around her was unimportant. This was her priority now. As the wound began to close she stopped - sliding in her fingers carefully between the two ribs - she curled her finger against the broken rib, projecting the magicka against it. It wasn’t an instant cure but it would start off a natural healing process at least.
Somewhere in the distance, she heard the sound of thunder - of a storm, or of magic. The sound of weapons and armour, incoherent shouting. The ground rumbling beneath her - beneath them. The foreboding presence growing larger - large enough to panic her
With her fingers in the wound, she felt something small, hard, and warm. It was a piece of metal, a bullet? It had been what had broken the rib, and it must have been a ranged shot, or else it would have gone right through him. She couldn’t decide if that was better or not. Regardless, she pulled it out as she removed her fingers. The wound was smaller and bleeding less - but she didn’t have enough left in her to finish the job.
What happened to you?
“This isn't right. It wasn’t this easy. The wound is not the same, it was in his chest but different - he jumped." It was coming back in waves, and as she listed off aloud what she knew, it finally clicked "this is just a drea--” Once more, the realisation caused the walls of the room to burst with an almighty crashing sound followed by a deafening and petrifying shriek that caused Raelynn to instinctively clasp her hands to cover her ears and cower, her body pressed against the boy. Blood poured out from the stone - washing the hands away and drowning them, but behind the walls now was light - real light. And then nothing.
Her eyes opened and she sat up violently, panting hard with an intensely dry sensation plaguing her mouth as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Her face was flushed and red. It was a dream. She was back in reality, in Gilane, and she was out of the tunnel and with that jolt of awareness the events of the mission flooded back to her and she remembered. It had all gone so wrong.
She let her eyes adjust to the light and looked at her hands, they had been cleaned by someone, but not fully. There was still a slight stain to her skin, and next to the bed was a bowl of bloody water and cloth. She was dressed differently, they had relieved her of the bloodied and torn clothing. Bandages. She had made bandages for Calen from her clothing. Had it been Gregor who had brought her here? Latro perhaps? Had she seen any of the others from the other missions when they each made it back? It was more likely to have been one of the handmaidens who had brought her here. She recalled the feeling of being completely devitalised and passing out as soon as they had gotten Calen to safety and handed him over. It was one of the Poncy Man’s men who caught her. How ironic that Raelynn should have such a moment after the events of the mission, if she had been in better spirits then it may well have made her laugh.
How long have I been out? What happened to Calen? There was so much blood
A sense of time evaded her. She could have been unconscious for hours, or even days. Until she met with one of the others, she wouldn’t know. It wasn’t her concern. She knew that Calen would be alright, she wouldn’t have fainted if there was anything else she needed to do for him. She wouldn’t have allowed it. She had to trust that the healers knew what they were doing.
She wanted to rush to seek him out, but her body wouldn’t let her. She had spent too much of herself during the mission, on keeping him alive long enough to make it back, on carrying him, and on keeping him calm. All she could do was sit and feel the aching pain of each muscle of her body and the swelling intensity of a headache behind her eyes. She took several deep breaths, the horrors of her nightmare scared her now. The images that her mind had conjured up -- they were ghastly and twisted, never before had she suffered such a nightmare. She felt pangs of great agitation hit her in the stomach and bubble in there when she thought of it again. She was alone in the room, and was thankful for it. She needed time to process the events of the mission and mull over everything. It wasn’t the only thing she was left to consider, there had been the meeting with the Dwemer Governor, and the shocking confessions of her Father.
Wrought with disquietude, she moved herself to her lockbox and pulled out her journal. This was a day she had to record while it was fresh, and it was all she could think to do in her current state of fatigue.
Besides, soon there would be questions. She needed her mind to be clear of clutter, and her story to be straight.
She let her eyes adjust to the light and looked at her hands, they had been cleaned by someone, but not fully. There was still a slight stain to her skin, and next to the bed was a bowl of bloody water and cloth. She was dressed differently, they had relieved her of the bloodied and torn clothing. Bandages. She had made bandages for Calen from her clothing. Had it been Gregor who had brought her here? Latro perhaps? Had she seen any of the others from the other missions when they each made it back? It was more likely to have been one of the handmaidens who had brought her here. She recalled the feeling of being completely devitalised and passing out as soon as they had gotten Calen to safety and handed him over. It was one of the Poncy Man’s men who caught her. How ironic that Raelynn should have such a moment after the events of the mission, if she had been in better spirits then it may well have made her laugh.
How long have I been out? What happened to Calen? There was so much blood
A sense of time evaded her. She could have been unconscious for hours, or even days. Until she met with one of the others, she wouldn’t know. It wasn’t her concern. She knew that Calen would be alright, she wouldn’t have fainted if there was anything else she needed to do for him. She wouldn’t have allowed it. She had to trust that the healers knew what they were doing.
She wanted to rush to seek him out, but her body wouldn’t let her. She had spent too much of herself during the mission, on keeping him alive long enough to make it back, on carrying him, and on keeping him calm. All she could do was sit and feel the aching pain of each muscle of her body and the swelling intensity of a headache behind her eyes. She took several deep breaths, the horrors of her nightmare scared her now. The images that her mind had conjured up -- they were ghastly and twisted, never before had she suffered such a nightmare. She felt pangs of great agitation hit her in the stomach and bubble in there when she thought of it again. She was alone in the room, and was thankful for it. She needed time to process the events of the mission and mull over everything. It wasn’t the only thing she was left to consider, there had been the meeting with the Dwemer Governor, and the shocking confessions of her Father.
Wrought with disquietude, she moved herself to her lockbox and pulled out her journal. This was a day she had to record while it was fresh, and it was all she could think to do in her current state of fatigue.
Besides, soon there would be questions. She needed her mind to be clear of clutter, and her story to be straight.
@everyone - hey all,
After much deliberation I've made the decision to end the game. It's not moving very fast - mostly this is my fault. I rushed this game out without proper prior planning, even though it has been something I've been wanting to do for a long time!
I'm sorry to all of you who made character sheets and have participated. I know that it is incredibly disappointing for an RP to end. I wish I could have been a better GM and rallied you, inspired you, and pushed this game along.
If in the future, I pick the Star wars rp back up and come back with a fleshed out idea, please know you all have an open invitation with your character.
Thanks all for being a part of it - even for just this short time, at least we all got to hang out for a while and learn from each other and write even a few things.
I hope to see you all in other roleplays soon, and as I said - you each have a place in any other SW projects I do.
Have an excellent day, and May the Force be With You.
After much deliberation I've made the decision to end the game. It's not moving very fast - mostly this is my fault. I rushed this game out without proper prior planning, even though it has been something I've been wanting to do for a long time!
I'm sorry to all of you who made character sheets and have participated. I know that it is incredibly disappointing for an RP to end. I wish I could have been a better GM and rallied you, inspired you, and pushed this game along.
If in the future, I pick the Star wars rp back up and come back with a fleshed out idea, please know you all have an open invitation with your character.
Thanks all for being a part of it - even for just this short time, at least we all got to hang out for a while and learn from each other and write even a few things.
I hope to see you all in other roleplays soon, and as I said - you each have a place in any other SW projects I do.
Have an excellent day, and May the Force be With You.
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