"You seem to care deeply about what she thinks," Tius said, sipping his own coffee, "it speaks well of her. If I may ask; what do you think makes a decent man?"
He took another sip and smiled politely, nodding in the direction Drayel had gone. He felt bad for staying; he truly did. Talia was barely present in the conversation and her attention kept wandering, but he could hardly leave her collapsed on the tabletop either. No, he'd have to keep her company, at least until Drayel came back. If Drayel came back, he corrected himself. He was uncertain, but something in the man's manner caused him to doubt. There was more going on here, and he'd noted Talia's off-handed comment that she didn't feel safe sleeping.
"Would you consider Drayel to be a decent man?"
He let a smile spread across his face slowly.
"Or just a convenient one to scare the monsters away?"
Picking Up the Pieces
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Talia Idris
- Citizen
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:20 am
- Name: Talia Idris
- Race: human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
Talia laughed tiredly, "Well she and Vadim have done so much for me. Work and a place to live, a few bishani to spend and save and even food sometimes. I don't know what I did to deserve this but I am very grateful to them. I think Bepa thinks of herself as a mother-of-sorts to me, she at least acts like a mother hen sometimes." Talia chuckled into her cup taking another sip as she tried to ward off the the sleep that seemed to be creeping up on her even with all the caffeine that she was attempting to consume.
She tilted her head, the question she was thinking clearly written on her face - was he asking for himself? A second later it seemed like her question was answer and she nibbled on the last of her bread before answering his question. "He is a city guard." She stated almost reverently if not naively. "I would not have asked him to come if he weren't. He is like....." She stopped before saying 'like a brother', she had never had a brother and the few people she was close with didn't have any siblings that she was aware of. Was he like a protective brother, did he act out duty to a damsel in distress or was it something else?
She realized that she had left the conversation rather awkwardly. "He may seem like a rough and gruff guy but deep down...really deep, he really is a softy. But don't let him know I said anything. He has basically adopted a homeless boy and a shifter." Her nose wrinkled in mild distaste for a second before her face fell....she was basically grouped along side Shade now. Sure as far as she knew she didn't turn into anything other then what she was, but there was magic in her if the sword was to be believed which made her no better then him.
After what happened with her family Talia had no love for magic. She didn't outright hate it like some people did but she did her best to avoid it, to keep her distance, to protect herself from being hurt by it again. But it seemed like she had failed, in the worst way possible.
She tilted her head, the question she was thinking clearly written on her face - was he asking for himself? A second later it seemed like her question was answer and she nibbled on the last of her bread before answering his question. "He is a city guard." She stated almost reverently if not naively. "I would not have asked him to come if he weren't. He is like....." She stopped before saying 'like a brother', she had never had a brother and the few people she was close with didn't have any siblings that she was aware of. Was he like a protective brother, did he act out duty to a damsel in distress or was it something else?
She realized that she had left the conversation rather awkwardly. "He may seem like a rough and gruff guy but deep down...really deep, he really is a softy. But don't let him know I said anything. He has basically adopted a homeless boy and a shifter." Her nose wrinkled in mild distaste for a second before her face fell....she was basically grouped along side Shade now. Sure as far as she knew she didn't turn into anything other then what she was, but there was magic in her if the sword was to be believed which made her no better then him.
After what happened with her family Talia had no love for magic. She didn't outright hate it like some people did but she did her best to avoid it, to keep her distance, to protect herself from being hurt by it again. But it seemed like she had failed, in the worst way possible.
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
Drayel stared up at Talia's window with a dull frown, axe in hand. It had been in her room, had it not? How did it get out without breaking something? He wished he could get a hold of Shade, have him follow the scent and track him down that way but he wasn't going to leave his post either. Growling he swatted at a nearby fly before turning away to examine the alley instead.
He couldn't smell anything out of the ordinary save the nice little patties Misneach had left behind and the occasional whiff of spice that poured out of the nearby window a while down. Somebody was making a spicy stew tonight apparently though why anybody would be cooking at this time was beyond him. Drayel rolled his eyes. Then again, he was cutting wood at this time so all was fair.
"Can't get Shade either." Drayel grumbled to himself as he turned to the chopping block and various piles of wood. Not wanting his shirt covered in sweat for the ride home he pulled it over his head and placed it on the doorstep of the bakery, grimacing when the chilled air agitated his scar. Grumbling he got to work, his brain still whirling as he tried to piece things together and keep an ear out for anything potential muggers. Today was one of those days after all.
He couldn't smell anything out of the ordinary save the nice little patties Misneach had left behind and the occasional whiff of spice that poured out of the nearby window a while down. Somebody was making a spicy stew tonight apparently though why anybody would be cooking at this time was beyond him. Drayel rolled his eyes. Then again, he was cutting wood at this time so all was fair.
"Can't get Shade either." Drayel grumbled to himself as he turned to the chopping block and various piles of wood. Not wanting his shirt covered in sweat for the ride home he pulled it over his head and placed it on the doorstep of the bakery, grimacing when the chilled air agitated his scar. Grumbling he got to work, his brain still whirling as he tried to piece things together and keep an ear out for anything potential muggers. Today was one of those days after all.
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Vicentius
- Citizen
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:47 pm
- Name: Vicentius Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
It was fascinating to watch Talia's thoughts play across her face, even if Tius could only guess at them. Around them, the kitchen creaked and groaned as the wood and metal shifted with the temperature, but Talia seemed at sea with herself. He narrowed his eyes, hearing the muted thud of Drayel's work outside and stifled a mild feeling of surprise, listening to Talia talk about her newfound family. There was also a twinge of...nostalgia? Yes, nostalgia as he listened to her speak. He'd met many such people in his travels, as well as many less pleasant people. But life was a learning experience, after all, and leaving Marn had been one hell of an experience. He smiled.
"Neither one nor the other then," Tius said, watching Talia's expression change, "but still a useful friend to have. It's good that you have people you can trust. My own circle of friends can be rather less...generous with their time."
There was a thoughtful pause as Talia seemed to sink further and further into her thoughts, or perhaps it was the exhaustion taking hold. Still, there was something weighing upon her, and it was a recent burden to judge by her manner. She had not been carrying it when they had spoken at the Gala. Could it have to do with Drayel? The way she paused... Was his surrogate brother status in question? No, it felt more...urgent than that. He drummed his fingers on the table.
"Someone once said to me that when you live a hard life, it is important to have people with whom you can be soft, lest you forget how," Tius said, sipping his coffee, "it's good that Drayel has such people. Too many guardsmen are harder than their armour."
He took another sip and swirled the liquid in the mug, considering. Placing the mug down gently, he opted to go for concerned tolerance. There had been a distance about her around the healers at the Gala.
"What is it about Shade that causes you such discomfort? Shifters have a right to be here too," he said. "Marn was meant to be a beacon to all races and even to those touched by magic. No-one is undeserving by birth."
"Neither one nor the other then," Tius said, watching Talia's expression change, "but still a useful friend to have. It's good that you have people you can trust. My own circle of friends can be rather less...generous with their time."
There was a thoughtful pause as Talia seemed to sink further and further into her thoughts, or perhaps it was the exhaustion taking hold. Still, there was something weighing upon her, and it was a recent burden to judge by her manner. She had not been carrying it when they had spoken at the Gala. Could it have to do with Drayel? The way she paused... Was his surrogate brother status in question? No, it felt more...urgent than that. He drummed his fingers on the table.
"Someone once said to me that when you live a hard life, it is important to have people with whom you can be soft, lest you forget how," Tius said, sipping his coffee, "it's good that Drayel has such people. Too many guardsmen are harder than their armour."
He took another sip and swirled the liquid in the mug, considering. Placing the mug down gently, he opted to go for concerned tolerance. There had been a distance about her around the healers at the Gala.
"What is it about Shade that causes you such discomfort? Shifters have a right to be here too," he said. "Marn was meant to be a beacon to all races and even to those touched by magic. No-one is undeserving by birth."
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Talia Idris
- Citizen
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:20 am
- Name: Talia Idris
- Race: human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
"People with whom you can be soft." She echoed back almost to herself, her voice barely a whisper. "Yes, I suppose that is right." She remembered the few times where she had started to harden her own heart to protect herself but somehow someone managed to pull her from that eventually. It was good to have people that were family and friends, people who she could trust. But how long would they stay there for her once they found out what she was? If an inanimate object was able to find her how long would it be until someone else noticed it or until a battlemage or someone came to claim her.
Vincentius' question broke Talia's almost panicked thoughts that were only masked by her tiredness and the fact that she had been staring into the depths of her cup. She looked up at him to answer his question her voice stronger then the moments before. "No, I'm used to Shade. Perhaps not totally comfortable with him but that could just be his personality. It more magic in general. Magic is....." Her voice caught in her throat as her thoughts ran rampant. She was going to say evil but she wasn't evil was she? And Jackel possessed small amounts of magic it seemed and he certainly wasn't a bad child. Troublesome yes but then again...how long until it took hold of him and controlled him. How long until her own apparent powers did the same to herself? She did her best to blink back the tears that where threatening to overflow.
"Magic kills." She finally stated firmly. "It warps a person until they are no longer themselves. You've probably seen what the battlemages have become and that is to protect us from the rest of them. May Teodinus have mercy on them." Again her tone took up almost automatic reverent nature. Talia wasn't exactly a Puradyne, at least not a devout one. She rarely went to any services and wasn't involved in the community but due to her own experience with magic her thoughts often align with the faith. Her eyes had all but dried up but the few tears that had escaped had left streaks down her cheeks, washing away the small layer of flour and such left there from the day of hard work.
Vincentius' question broke Talia's almost panicked thoughts that were only masked by her tiredness and the fact that she had been staring into the depths of her cup. She looked up at him to answer his question her voice stronger then the moments before. "No, I'm used to Shade. Perhaps not totally comfortable with him but that could just be his personality. It more magic in general. Magic is....." Her voice caught in her throat as her thoughts ran rampant. She was going to say evil but she wasn't evil was she? And Jackel possessed small amounts of magic it seemed and he certainly wasn't a bad child. Troublesome yes but then again...how long until it took hold of him and controlled him. How long until her own apparent powers did the same to herself? She did her best to blink back the tears that where threatening to overflow.
"Magic kills." She finally stated firmly. "It warps a person until they are no longer themselves. You've probably seen what the battlemages have become and that is to protect us from the rest of them. May Teodinus have mercy on them." Again her tone took up almost automatic reverent nature. Talia wasn't exactly a Puradyne, at least not a devout one. She rarely went to any services and wasn't involved in the community but due to her own experience with magic her thoughts often align with the faith. Her eyes had all but dried up but the few tears that had escaped had left streaks down her cheeks, washing away the small layer of flour and such left there from the day of hard work.
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
Drayel huffed gathered his chopped wood, wincing as his scar burned protests against the cold and sudden labour. Honestly it wasn't a lot of wood chopped and he felt like he'd cheated her a bit but being outside without his sword made him uneasy, especially with a demonic/ghost/spirit boy running loose not far from here. He grimaced at the thought, turning his eyes again to the alley as if expecting the boy to show himself from the shadows. Fat chance.
Still, he carted his heavy load to the doorway where he noticed his shirt still laid neatly on the steps. Pausing he frowned at it, debating on putting it on or not. He wasn't really shy about his body but certainly it wasn't decent. He grimaced. Tossing the wood heavily on the ground he reached for his shirt and flapped it out, knocking lose any bugs or whatnots that could be clinging to it. He didn't bother to muffle the curse that slipped out of his mouth as he pulled it over his head then bent down to gather his wood again, a piece slipping and landing heavily on his toe. Glaring he picked up the stubborn piece and pulled it back into his embrace with a grumpy huff.
Drayel opened the door with a growl, eyes traveling to look at the duo at the table only to stop dead when he heard her opinion on magic. His eyes travelled to her tear stained cheeks and clenched posture, heard the pause and the sharp tone. He felt his own eyes narrow a little as his temper spiked momentarily before settling again, moving instead to place the wood silently in the woodbox. Then he quietly shut the door and walked back towards them.
"You're wrong." Drayel told her flatly as he came to her side, eyeing Tius suspiciously as he gave Talia's shoulder a squeeze. "Magic isn't anymore damned then the morals of the person wielding it. True, some people do use it to kill and some people let their powers go to their heads but that doesn't mean all of it is. There is magic to heal, grow plants, speak to animals. Shifters transform but Shade's father is one of the greatest men you could ever meet. Though, I suppose your opinions are your own as mine are."
Still, he carted his heavy load to the doorway where he noticed his shirt still laid neatly on the steps. Pausing he frowned at it, debating on putting it on or not. He wasn't really shy about his body but certainly it wasn't decent. He grimaced. Tossing the wood heavily on the ground he reached for his shirt and flapped it out, knocking lose any bugs or whatnots that could be clinging to it. He didn't bother to muffle the curse that slipped out of his mouth as he pulled it over his head then bent down to gather his wood again, a piece slipping and landing heavily on his toe. Glaring he picked up the stubborn piece and pulled it back into his embrace with a grumpy huff.
Drayel opened the door with a growl, eyes traveling to look at the duo at the table only to stop dead when he heard her opinion on magic. His eyes travelled to her tear stained cheeks and clenched posture, heard the pause and the sharp tone. He felt his own eyes narrow a little as his temper spiked momentarily before settling again, moving instead to place the wood silently in the woodbox. Then he quietly shut the door and walked back towards them.
"You're wrong." Drayel told her flatly as he came to her side, eyeing Tius suspiciously as he gave Talia's shoulder a squeeze. "Magic isn't anymore damned then the morals of the person wielding it. True, some people do use it to kill and some people let their powers go to their heads but that doesn't mean all of it is. There is magic to heal, grow plants, speak to animals. Shifters transform but Shade's father is one of the greatest men you could ever meet. Though, I suppose your opinions are your own as mine are."
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Vicentius
- Citizen
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:47 pm
- Name: Vicentius Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
Tius listened quietly as Talia spoke, his interest peaked by her tone and manner. Many in Marn were uncomfortable with the idea of magic, Changers knew it was practically a requirement for citizens, but Talia seemed very certain. That wasn't just puradynism talking, not to his ears, that was the voice of experience. And judging by the sounds of it, the experience had been far from pleasant. Tius opened his mouth to respond and closed it again when Drayel stomped back in with an armful of timber.
"My thoughts exactly, Guardsman," he said, smiling pleasantly at the man's suspicious scowl, "and do the tomes not say; it was not magic, but man run rampant that scorched the lands? We have the good fortune to live in a city where magic is only an option and not a fact of life. I've been to cities where magic was as normal as breathing and the people still thrived. You can never tell."
He finished his coffee and rose to put the mug in the sink, pausing to look thoughtfully at the other two. Perhaps it was cynical and disingenuous of him, but the thought occurred that if Shade's father was as noble as that his son wouldn't be squatting in a guardsman's cottage in Shim. But he knew better than to speak his mind from experience with his own family. People could be so judgemental of strangers.
"Though I wouldn't consider the battlemages a good example of magical potential per se," he said, rinsing the mug out, "more a warning of what people will do given half a chance. But by your tone i see I've stayed too long."
He turn and bowed politely to them both, straightening to look them both in the eyes. He had not missed the directed looks that Drayel had shot Talia's way nor the way his posture had clenched. No wonder the man had few allies, but he was hardly the first such man to wear the armour.
"Thank you for your hospitality, milady," he said, "and guardsman, I wish you luck."
So saying, he turned and headed for the door, making a mental note to make some enquiries in the morning.
"My thoughts exactly, Guardsman," he said, smiling pleasantly at the man's suspicious scowl, "and do the tomes not say; it was not magic, but man run rampant that scorched the lands? We have the good fortune to live in a city where magic is only an option and not a fact of life. I've been to cities where magic was as normal as breathing and the people still thrived. You can never tell."
He finished his coffee and rose to put the mug in the sink, pausing to look thoughtfully at the other two. Perhaps it was cynical and disingenuous of him, but the thought occurred that if Shade's father was as noble as that his son wouldn't be squatting in a guardsman's cottage in Shim. But he knew better than to speak his mind from experience with his own family. People could be so judgemental of strangers.
"Though I wouldn't consider the battlemages a good example of magical potential per se," he said, rinsing the mug out, "more a warning of what people will do given half a chance. But by your tone i see I've stayed too long."
He turn and bowed politely to them both, straightening to look them both in the eyes. He had not missed the directed looks that Drayel had shot Talia's way nor the way his posture had clenched. No wonder the man had few allies, but he was hardly the first such man to wear the armour.
"Thank you for your hospitality, milady," he said, "and guardsman, I wish you luck."
So saying, he turned and headed for the door, making a mental note to make some enquiries in the morning.
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Talia Idris
- Citizen
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:20 am
- Name: Talia Idris
- Race: human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
Her head was pounding as Drayel and Vincentius voiced their opinions. Part of her felt like they were ganging up on her and the other just felt overtired and hurt. They didn't know what she had seen and felt as a result of magic. Perhaps her experience with magic was very limited, but it also had had a very negative impact on her life.
Talia's thoughts were interrupted as Tius saying his farewell. She stood up quickly, not wanting to be rude but all of a sudden the room seemed to spin around. She grasped table as she tried to maintain her balance. Slowly things evened out and she could breathe again. She chuckled tired before nodding politely to Tius.
"Your company is always welcome. It was a pleasure to see you again." She managed to speak. She debated walking him to the door but had a feeling that would be a bad idea. She wasn't sure she would be able to make it there and back without toppling over. She was more tired then she had realized it seemed.
As he left, Talia sunk back into her seat. "I think I'm going to have to head to bed. I thought it would be better for me to stay up but now I'm just exhausted. I don't think that thing is coming back tonight and if it does....well I'm too tired for it to be able to bother me." She looked over at Drayel. "I'm sorry for being such a bother, I don't know what I would have done if I had had to be alone after all that."
Talia's thoughts were interrupted as Tius saying his farewell. She stood up quickly, not wanting to be rude but all of a sudden the room seemed to spin around. She grasped table as she tried to maintain her balance. Slowly things evened out and she could breathe again. She chuckled tired before nodding politely to Tius.
"Your company is always welcome. It was a pleasure to see you again." She managed to speak. She debated walking him to the door but had a feeling that would be a bad idea. She wasn't sure she would be able to make it there and back without toppling over. She was more tired then she had realized it seemed.
As he left, Talia sunk back into her seat. "I think I'm going to have to head to bed. I thought it would be better for me to stay up but now I'm just exhausted. I don't think that thing is coming back tonight and if it does....well I'm too tired for it to be able to bother me." She looked over at Drayel. "I'm sorry for being such a bother, I don't know what I would have done if I had had to be alone after all that."
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
"...Do you want me to carry you? I saw your little wobble." Drayel said with a frown, eyes softening as he eyed the little woman. "As for bothers, it isn't one though, I'm afraid I can't stay the night. Ysole uses Misneach for travel everyday and I need to return him. I could return if you'd like and sleep downstairs as I had last time but it may take me a couple hours before I return."
Drayel mentally tried to calculate how much sleep he would probably get this evening before morning shift. It looked pretty late as it was now, and with a couple hours added to being awake he doubted he'd get more then three hours in. He grimaced a little, lip twitching as he realized just how cross he was going to be tommorrow.
"Anyway, you knew that official correct? After the crap that just happened, I doubt you'd let anybody else in." Drayel stated as he offered his hands with a curious tilt of his head. "Is he a decent kind of man? I don't normally like officials myself but he seems like a good man. Perhaps I'm reading him wrong."
Drayel mentally tried to calculate how much sleep he would probably get this evening before morning shift. It looked pretty late as it was now, and with a couple hours added to being awake he doubted he'd get more then three hours in. He grimaced a little, lip twitching as he realized just how cross he was going to be tommorrow.
"Anyway, you knew that official correct? After the crap that just happened, I doubt you'd let anybody else in." Drayel stated as he offered his hands with a curious tilt of his head. "Is he a decent kind of man? I don't normally like officials myself but he seems like a good man. Perhaps I'm reading him wrong."
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Vicentius
- Citizen
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:47 pm
- Name: Vicentius Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
Tius stood for a moment in the torchlight outside and shut his eyes, breathing deeply as he let himself acclimatise to the drop in temperature. After the coffee and the warmth of the interior, the outside air cut like a knife, and he smiled to himself, stretching. A curious bark from around the corner broke into his reverie and he opened his eyes, striding quickly to collect Shen. Doubtless cold and wretched, Shen strained at the leash in his eagerness to reach Tius, who responded by scratching him behind the ears affectionately and slipping him a small piece of buttered bread.
As Shen hungrily wolfed it down, Tius undid the leash and shivered as the cold washed over him again. Perhaps he should invite Mister Morig out hunting sometime to gauge the man, he thought. If he intended to keep this up, it was inevitable that they would speak again. But a Guardsman was a precarious acquaintance, and the tides of Marn politics were nothing if not unforgiving. Still, if this was handled right it could be of benefit to them both. He stood, looking up and down the alleyway out of habit, but Shen was calm and Tius could see no-one. Satisfied that he was unlikely to be mugged, he gave the leash a short tug to get Shen's attention and set off back into the street, turning his collar up quickly.
"Sorry, Shen," he said, smiling apologetically, "suddenly I'm not in the mood to eat."
Shen barked and Tius set of at a brusque pace, trying to enjoy the darkness while he could before the inevitable curfew was brought into place. He smiled sadly at that thought; as much sympathy as he had for people like Morig, the Guard was nothing if not predictable in its responses. United front, no quarter, grasp the nettle firmly as all that, Tius thought to himself as he walked, wondering if whomever had coined the phrase had ever tried grasping a nettle even lightly. He remembered falling into a growth of them once as a lad and the days afterwards had been...unpleasant to say the least. Was that the future? More and more 'unpleasantness' as the powers that wanted to be argued and lashed out at one another?
Stop talking and start listening. Talia was talking to you both, and you heard her. You need to let her know that you heard her.
No. No, he had to believe that there was another option, even if he had to play the game to make it happen. They turned a corner, and he smiled to himself; he really needed to buy bread tomorrow.
As Shen hungrily wolfed it down, Tius undid the leash and shivered as the cold washed over him again. Perhaps he should invite Mister Morig out hunting sometime to gauge the man, he thought. If he intended to keep this up, it was inevitable that they would speak again. But a Guardsman was a precarious acquaintance, and the tides of Marn politics were nothing if not unforgiving. Still, if this was handled right it could be of benefit to them both. He stood, looking up and down the alleyway out of habit, but Shen was calm and Tius could see no-one. Satisfied that he was unlikely to be mugged, he gave the leash a short tug to get Shen's attention and set off back into the street, turning his collar up quickly.
"Sorry, Shen," he said, smiling apologetically, "suddenly I'm not in the mood to eat."
Shen barked and Tius set of at a brusque pace, trying to enjoy the darkness while he could before the inevitable curfew was brought into place. He smiled sadly at that thought; as much sympathy as he had for people like Morig, the Guard was nothing if not predictable in its responses. United front, no quarter, grasp the nettle firmly as all that, Tius thought to himself as he walked, wondering if whomever had coined the phrase had ever tried grasping a nettle even lightly. He remembered falling into a growth of them once as a lad and the days afterwards had been...unpleasant to say the least. Was that the future? More and more 'unpleasantness' as the powers that wanted to be argued and lashed out at one another?
Stop talking and start listening. Talia was talking to you both, and you heard her. You need to let her know that you heard her.
No. No, he had to believe that there was another option, even if he had to play the game to make it happen. They turned a corner, and he smiled to himself; he really needed to buy bread tomorrow.
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Talia Idris
- Citizen
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:20 am
- Name: Talia Idris
- Race: human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
"I...I think I can make it...." Talia responded hesitantly to Drayel's offer. "I will need to lock up after you leave anyways. And I think I'm too tired for anyone to wake me once I rest my head. And by the time you come back I'll probably be waking up to start work again. I am really grateful for your offer though. It makes me feel...safer, to know that I have such a good friend." She smiled tiredly, still holding onto the table even though she was sitting now.
"I did know him, but just a little." Talia continued answering his question. "We met at the Gala a few days ago. He was practically a perfect gentleman. Honestly if it wasn't for him I don't know how I would have gotten through the aftermath of the explosions and such." She shivered a little as pieces of the night flared up in her mind and she rubbed her eyes sleepily as if to erase the images from her mind's eye. "As far as I know he can be trusted, but then I've said that about other before and been wrong." Talia shrugged, she was beyond caring about anything now and was already planning on simply making her bed in front of the stove tonight. It would be warm and she wouldn't have to worry about trying to make it up the stairs to her room.
"I did know him, but just a little." Talia continued answering his question. "We met at the Gala a few days ago. He was practically a perfect gentleman. Honestly if it wasn't for him I don't know how I would have gotten through the aftermath of the explosions and such." She shivered a little as pieces of the night flared up in her mind and she rubbed her eyes sleepily as if to erase the images from her mind's eye. "As far as I know he can be trusted, but then I've said that about other before and been wrong." Talia shrugged, she was beyond caring about anything now and was already planning on simply making her bed in front of the stove tonight. It would be warm and she wouldn't have to worry about trying to make it up the stairs to her room.
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
"...Alright." Drayel gave her a tired smile as he reached out and gave her shoulder a gentle pat. Then taking it as his queue to leave as well, he headed for the door though not without a pause. Glancing back at the baker woman he let his face fall serious just as his hand rested on the doorhandle. "If it comes back, I want you to head to Shade or the guardhouse. Just tell them I sent you and that you need me to be contacted, alright? I'll be back here as soon as I can."
He waited for a moment to watch her response before sighing and heading out into the cold air. Walking around the corner to where Misneach chewed on some sort of weed, Drayel gave the gelding a gentle pat. No doubt colder than he was but the older horse still gave him a fond nicker and shook out his mane, ready to move the second Drayel's heels tapped his belly.
"Well old man, I think we've had a long night." Drayel sighed as he sat back in the saddle and pondered. He didn't like the idea of leaving Talia alone when he was so far away, especially when she was too weary to actually wake up if that thing came back. A full body shudder took his frame for a moment as he remembered those hissing words in his head. Spirits, demons. They set his hair on edge.
Tius didn't seem a threat either but Drayel knew vaguely the game of politics. To most higher-ups it was a game of life or death with a single mistake meaning your end. Not that Drayel ever understood why it was so important to have such a seemingly judge-or-be-judged lifestyle. He was a guard, plain and simple. Politics was just a swarm of having to remember gossip from three years back about some poor lady accidently showing her bloomers when a strong wind picked up the back of her skirt. Though come to think of it, Talia seemed to care about other people's opinions as well. Perhaps he should start.
He waited for a moment to watch her response before sighing and heading out into the cold air. Walking around the corner to where Misneach chewed on some sort of weed, Drayel gave the gelding a gentle pat. No doubt colder than he was but the older horse still gave him a fond nicker and shook out his mane, ready to move the second Drayel's heels tapped his belly.
"Well old man, I think we've had a long night." Drayel sighed as he sat back in the saddle and pondered. He didn't like the idea of leaving Talia alone when he was so far away, especially when she was too weary to actually wake up if that thing came back. A full body shudder took his frame for a moment as he remembered those hissing words in his head. Spirits, demons. They set his hair on edge.
Tius didn't seem a threat either but Drayel knew vaguely the game of politics. To most higher-ups it was a game of life or death with a single mistake meaning your end. Not that Drayel ever understood why it was so important to have such a seemingly judge-or-be-judged lifestyle. He was a guard, plain and simple. Politics was just a swarm of having to remember gossip from three years back about some poor lady accidently showing her bloomers when a strong wind picked up the back of her skirt. Though come to think of it, Talia seemed to care about other people's opinions as well. Perhaps he should start.
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Talia Idris
- Citizen
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:20 am
- Name: Talia Idris
- Race: human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
Talia nodded and voiced her thanks once more. She waited until Drayel had left, closing the door behind him before she stood up and tittered her way over to lock the door. Leaving the kitchen she moved to the front of house to make sure that the front door was locked. Finally she added one last piece of wood to the fire and grabbing one of the thin cushions from the chair she sunk to the floor. It barely took a second before she was sleeping soundly which she was grateful for, if she had been awake on her own much longer she was certain to start thinking about the things that had conspired that night and who knows when she could have gotten to sleep then.
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Vicentius
- Citizen
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:47 pm
- Name: Vicentius Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
The following day seemed to crawl at a snail's pace for Tius after the puzzling conversations of the night before. He had made it home, slept soundly and awoke refreshed, but his mind still churned over what he had seen and heard from Talia and Drayel, trying to put the pieces together. He would normally relish such an exercise, using it to fuel his daily progress, but today he was reluctant; perhaps because he knew of few directions this line of thought would lead for Talia. But then, he had to ask himself, what was she to him? She was a wonderful woman, certainly, but she was hardly the first such person that he had met and he had felt no such compulsion before. With those thoughts churning, work seemed like a chore.
There was the never-ending stream of paperwork and panicked protests surrounding the Gala and the bombings to deal with, weapons seizures by the Guard from nervous citizens looking to take the law into their own hands, demonstrations by Isyrion's supporters and the sanctions they received for breaking the assembly laws, and even reports from the Hospital about the Doctors need for increased resources to handle the surge in sickness and injury. He could hardly even look out a window without seeing the evidence of these criminals' handiwork and to make matters worse, the atmosphere seemed to have infected the entire office. Some of them had been at the Gala as well, others had been with family, but all felt the blows keenly, and seemed to walk stooped, as though carrying that weight with them. As it was, the office was a very sombre place to be. Tius knew that this state of affairs would pass as such things inevitably did, but the fact remained that he was almost overjoyed to be leaving work at the end of the day. Finishing his last assignment, he packed a few papers away into his satchel for further reading and stepped out into the weak sunlight of another new day.
Walking the streets of the city was always an invigorating experience for Tius and, even with the people in an uproar, it was still something that he looked forward to. As soon as his feet hit the paving his mind started to clear and his mood lifte, letting him turn his attention to the details around him. Life, refreshingly, still carried on unabashed and impatiently, but once you looked closer you could see the cracks and little tears encroaching. Tius saw the placards and the posters demanding action and decrying the bombings but he also saw the hurried looks as people went about their business, the increased guard presence and subtle sense of tension. It was like the whole city was waiting for something but wasn't sure what that was. Tius was sure though, and he feared for when that tension was unleashed, because it would be unleashed.
He sighed, brushing a gloved hand through his hair as he crossed onto familiar streets, and let the thoughts flow out of him. He couldn't fix this problem yet: it was too big right now, but he could do small things and hope that the ripples spread. If nothing else it would stand to him when the angry masses rose up at last. Glancing at his expression in a nearby window, he put on a genuine smile of pleasure and entered Bepa's Buns.
There was the never-ending stream of paperwork and panicked protests surrounding the Gala and the bombings to deal with, weapons seizures by the Guard from nervous citizens looking to take the law into their own hands, demonstrations by Isyrion's supporters and the sanctions they received for breaking the assembly laws, and even reports from the Hospital about the Doctors need for increased resources to handle the surge in sickness and injury. He could hardly even look out a window without seeing the evidence of these criminals' handiwork and to make matters worse, the atmosphere seemed to have infected the entire office. Some of them had been at the Gala as well, others had been with family, but all felt the blows keenly, and seemed to walk stooped, as though carrying that weight with them. As it was, the office was a very sombre place to be. Tius knew that this state of affairs would pass as such things inevitably did, but the fact remained that he was almost overjoyed to be leaving work at the end of the day. Finishing his last assignment, he packed a few papers away into his satchel for further reading and stepped out into the weak sunlight of another new day.
Walking the streets of the city was always an invigorating experience for Tius and, even with the people in an uproar, it was still something that he looked forward to. As soon as his feet hit the paving his mind started to clear and his mood lifte, letting him turn his attention to the details around him. Life, refreshingly, still carried on unabashed and impatiently, but once you looked closer you could see the cracks and little tears encroaching. Tius saw the placards and the posters demanding action and decrying the bombings but he also saw the hurried looks as people went about their business, the increased guard presence and subtle sense of tension. It was like the whole city was waiting for something but wasn't sure what that was. Tius was sure though, and he feared for when that tension was unleashed, because it would be unleashed.
He sighed, brushing a gloved hand through his hair as he crossed onto familiar streets, and let the thoughts flow out of him. He couldn't fix this problem yet: it was too big right now, but he could do small things and hope that the ripples spread. If nothing else it would stand to him when the angry masses rose up at last. Glancing at his expression in a nearby window, he put on a genuine smile of pleasure and entered Bepa's Buns.
Re: Picking Up the Pieces
Drayel marched silently through the market with a grim glower stuck firm to his face, mentally cursing at anybody who dared rile him today. His general lack of sleep was one thing, but now every citizen was on edge and what was worse he wasn't sure who had a weapon hidden beneath their cloaks. He grimaced.
He had to get a favor in order to have this route, swapping with a mouthy lad whose name he never bothered to remember. The lad got the quiet and easy duty of guarding the gates while he marched amongst pickpockets and possible dangers. A crap swap but if Drayel was forced to work he would rather be somewhere Talia could find him. Not that she knew he was on this route.
He had to get a favor in order to have this route, swapping with a mouthy lad whose name he never bothered to remember. The lad got the quiet and easy duty of guarding the gates while he marched amongst pickpockets and possible dangers. A crap swap but if Drayel was forced to work he would rather be somewhere Talia could find him. Not that she knew he was on this route.