<center><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:200%;">CHAPTER THREE
//[[THE ROT ->CH2 Jorah Dream 01]]//</span></center><<set $ch1Complete to true>><<set $n_hostile to false>><<set $n_bandages to false>><<set $dead_soldiers to false>><<set $m_hostile to false>><<set $l_hostile to false>><<set $clem_taken to false>><<set $lea_injured to false>><<set $merry_injured to false>><<set $talia_horse to false>><<set $ch2_healedclem to false>><<set $get_merry to false>><<set $get_talia to false>><<set $get_clem to false>><<set $m_chains to false>>You know you're dreaming, this time. A dream - a memory. You remember this.
The sword is heavy in your hand. You're not used to the weight of it yet - clumsy and off-balance, staggering sideways as you heft it forward, holding the blade in front of you.
Jorah twirls his own sword in his hand, watching you with a stern expression.
"Remember your foot placement," he says, nodding down at your boots, and you quickly shift your stance, glancing down for the briefest moment - but it's all Jorah needs to smack your sword from your hand, and you yelp, jumping backwards and cradling your hands to your chest, your knuckles burning from the flat side of his old, dull blade.
"Pick it up," Jorah nods, and you take a deep breath, clenching and shaking your hand as you reach down and draw the sword from the snow, again lifting it before you. This time, you shift automatically, keeping your eyes on Jorah as you readjust your grip on your hilt, and he smiles, nodding encouragingly.
"Good," he says. Jorah begins to creep slowly around you, circling you, his steps silent, while yours crunch loudly over the frozen ground.
It's early morning, and the sun has barely risen, only the tops of the trees beginning to thaw, clumps of melting snow falling ominously in the distant woods, trying to distract you. But you turn with Jorah, keeping your sword held high, your eyes following his movements. You're starting to get familiar with him - not that it gives you any kind of an advantage, but at least you can usually predict when you're about to get knocked flat, now, and brace for the impact.
You've been at this for a few hours, and you're starting to feel weary, your arms drooping, your steps not quite as quick as they were earlier. But Jorah is unrelenting. You want to take that practice sword from him and snap it over your knee.
You take a deep breath. Focus.
Jorah lunges, faking you out with a graceful sidestep, sending you sprawling, knocking the wind out of you and bruising your elbows as you try to catch yourself. Your sword clatters across the icy ground, and Jorah just continues to circle you, watching as you drag yourself over and fumble with your sword, struggling to pick it up quickly and regain your footing.
Jorah just kicks you back down, onto your hands and knees, your palms scraping over frozen dirt. You manage to keep hold of your sword this time, at least.
"Come on," Jorah scoffs, twirling his sword again. You think he does it just to annoy you.
[[Continue|CH2 Jorah Dream 02]]You push yourself back to your feet, gritting your teeth and barely managing to dodge another strike from Jorah. The sword is starting to feel particularly heavy, a slight tremor in your arms as you raise it in front of you again and clash against Jorah's sword, the dull metal cracking loudly in the quiet clearing as you sloppily parry and swing at him.
Jorah shoves you again, using your own momentum against you, and you fall sideways, the weight of the sword painfully twisting your body before you hit the ground again.
You don't get back up as quickly this time, slowly pulling your legs under you and forcing yourself onto your hands and knees again, the blade of your sword glinting in the sun and scratching over ice, making you shiver.
Jorah watches you, lowering his sword when it becomes apparent you're not getting up.
"What are you doing?" he says, and you look up at him, but you can't make out his face with the sun burning behind him and casting him in shadow.
You just shake your head, sitting back on your heels, trying to catch your breath, your body aching, sweat making your heavy clothes even heavier, the fur on your collar plastered to your neck.
"Get up, $name."
You can't ignore the command in his voice this time, and you groan as you push yourself up, wincing as you raise your arm to wipe the sweat from your brow.
You look at Jorah expectantly, but he's still just watching you, and you start to sweat for a different reason, glancing over Jorah's shoulder at Rodrick, lingering at the edge of the clearing, observing from afar. His shock of short grey hair makes him look older from this distance, but he's the same age as Jorah, and actually looks far younger than him, smooth black skin and dark eyes that are a lot softer that Jorah's sharp grey.
Jorah takes advantage of your wavering attention, but he doesn't use his sword this time, instead just stepping into your space and shoving you hard. You're so taken aback you drop straight to the ground, blinking up at him, once again squinting against the bright morning sun.
"Get up."
You scowl, irritated now, and you start to stand but again Jorah just pushes you back down.
Irritation turns to anger, and you're suddenly feeling a second wind, quickly jumping back up to your feet this time, lunging at Jorah who easily parries your wild swipe and then slams his shoulder into your chest, knocking the breath out of you for a second time and sending you flat onto your back.
"Sloppy," Jorah tuts, shaking his head as you curl onto your side, wheezing as you press a hand to your now bruised sternum.
You glare up at him as he twirls that stupid fucking sword.
Slowly you straighten back out, still wheezing a few pathetic breaths as you, once again, start to get back up.
And once again, Jorah moves to shove you back. This time, though, you grab at his wrists, baring your teeth at him and trying to push him away from you. He's stronger than you, though - of course - and he easily bats your hand away before throwing you to the ground.
"Stop it!" you finally snap, your face burning, and you quickly wipe at your eyes with the back of your hand, letting out a ragged breath and scrambling a few feet back, the snow painfully cold on your hands and soaking through your trousers as you sit with your sword raised in front of you.
As a way of answering, Jorah just kicks the sword out of your hand.
You're too stunned to even make a sound, just jerking your hand back and cradling it against your chest, while your sword clatters a few feet before embedding itself in the snow.
[[Continue|CH2 Jorah Dream 03]]"Jorah," Rodrick's voice is hard as he suddenly steps up behind your master, putting a chastising hand on his shoulder, disapproval in his eyes. Jorah just shrugs his hand off, ignoring him, still looking at you.
"Get up."
Your hand tightens around your wrist, still clutched against your chest, and you glare up at him before glancing over at Rodrick. He holds your gaze for a moment before turning away, pursing his lips and stepping back again.
"//Get up.//"
Again, you hear the command in Jorah's voice, and you do your best to bite back your frustration, swallowing the bitter taste of tears as you force yourself back onto your feet. You stand in front of him, unarmed now, and he gestures with his sword, pointing to where yours sits lodged in the snow.
"Go on," he says, his grey eyes hard, flicking to your bruised hand, then back to your face.
You cringe at the pathetic sniffle that escapes as you shuffle over to your sword, your hand shaking and weak as you take the hilt again, your fingers stiff from the cold and the pain.
When you look back over at Jorah, he's discarding his practice sword, and you take an involuntary step back as he draws his real sword, metal singing through the cold air as he pulls it from the sheathe at his hip.
"Jorah," Rodrick tries again, but again Jorah ignores him.
He moves slow, giving you time to put more space between you, and you find yourself looking desperately to Rodrick again, who has his hand on his own sword now, anxiously watching Jorah stalk after you.
And then he lunges, and you nearly trip over yourself in your urgency, but you manage a messy dodge, barely bringing your sword up in time to block a follow up swipe - and the force of it nearly sends it flying from your hand. You let out a strangled shout as pain shoots up your arm at the impact, Jorah's sword heavier and his hits more deliberate now.
He keeps coming, undeterred by your cry of pain, swinging again, and this time you do trip, falling flat on your back as the blade whispers by you, close enough that your irritation and frustration have turned to pure fear, scrambling back and rolling away as Jorah brings the sword down with both hands.
You scramble back to your feet, just in time to frantically dive out of the way again, rolling through the snow and pushing yourself back up just as quick, weakly throwing your sword up and attempting a parry. But your arms are too tired now, and Jorah's swing just plows through, a hot bite of pain across your chest as your sword slips from your fingers. Jorah pulls back to swing again, and you try to block with your bracer, something you've seen him do many times - but your bracer isn't strong enough for this.
Pain explodes in your wrist, the hot wetness of blood underneath your bracer immediate as you stagger backwards. Jorah follows it up with a kick to your chest, the pain of it surprising you, the blood staining the front of your shirt surprising you.
You hit the ground hard, the world spinning for a moment, snapping into focus when Jorah's icy blade presses against your throat.
[[Continue|CH2 Jorah Dream 04]]You're panting, gasping for air, pressing a shaking hand to the cut on your chest as Jorah stares down at you. He hasn't even broken a sweat, and the realization that he was holding back makes your face hot with shame - but of course he was holding back.
"You understand why I'm doing this?" he asks then, pushing his blade against your chin and forcing you to look at him.
You don't answer.
Jorah frowns, letting out a long sigh. He lowers his sword then, and you quickly scramble back a few feet, your body trembling with the effort.
"There are going to be far worse things out there than me," Jorah says, shaking his head. "And I'm not always going to be here with you."
He takes a step after you, crouching down in front of you.
"You're slow, with the practice swords," he continues. "You let me hit you too much. You sit on the ground for too long." He stares at you for a long moment, eyeing the blood on your hand, on your shirt.
"You can't just //wait// for me to tell you to get up. You have to do it on your own."
He glances down at his sword, a bit of your blood gathered along the edge of the blade.
"I won't be so forgiving next time," he says, and then he stands and offers you his hand.
"Get up."
You take a few more shaky breaths, eyeing his sword for a few more seconds before pushing yourself up, taking Jorah's hand and letting him help you to your feet. You see Rodrick over his shoulder, his brow furrowed, hovering vigilantly, giving you a little nod as your eyes meet.
Jorah squeezes your forearm, and you finally look at him, his gold and grey eyes softening for a moment.
And then he lifts his sword and plunges it into your stomach.
You crumple forward, but he holds you steady, his hand tightening around your arm, pulling you closer as you blindly grab at the front of his shirt, making a disgusting, wet sound in the back of your throat.
Your blood steams as it drips down into the snow, <<if $sanity lte 75>>black and viscous, clinging to Jorah's blade as he withdraws, your fingers curling into claws as you tear at his shirt before he shoves you to the ground.
On your back, you can't see him anymore, just staring up through the trees, the sky a blindingly bright blue.<<else>>red - so red it's almost unnatural, spilling across the snow as Jorah withdraws. He holds you close for a few more seconds, his eyes searching your face, before he lets you slip from his hands, dropping to the ground with a whimper.
On your back, you can't see him anymore, just staring up through the trees, the sky a blindingly bright blue.<</if>>
<<link[[You watch a single crow circle overhead before you close your eyes.]]>><<set $sanity -=6>><</link>><<if ($l_relationship eq 12) or ($l_relationship eq 9) or ($l_relationship eq 10)>><<include "CH2 Lea Wake Up - Rivalry 01">><<else>><<include "CH2 Lea Wake Up - Friendly 01">><</if>><<notify 3s>>Codex updated!<</notify>>You jolt awake violently, lashing out and slapping at the hands holding you and shaking your shoulders, grabbing wrists and twisting them away with a snarl.
Your dream bleeds into the room around you, trees growing through the wooden tavern walls and the sound of snow beneath boots as Lea recoils in front of you, trying to pull $l_their arms free from your grip.
"$surname, it's me, it's me - it's Lea," $l_they <<say>> over and over, until you let $l_them go, and the room is just a room again, still dark but for the lantern set on the table by the cold fireplace. It still takes you a few moments, blinking away the phantom morning sun still burning behind your eyelids.
Lea hovers over your bed, rubbing $l_their wrists and holding them tucked against $l_their chest, staring down at you with a furrowed brow.
"S-sorry," you stammer, sitting up then and vigorously scrubbing your hands over your face. You're startled by the touch of the bandages, rough and painful as it scratches across the skin beneath your eye.
The previous night comes rushing back to you all at once, and you hunch forward, quickly tucking your arm back under the covers, though by the way Lea is still staring at you, you know it's too late.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Lea snaps, still rubbing at $l_their wrists.
There's more venom behind the question than you think is necessary, and you glare over at $l_them, prickling under $l_their dark stare.
You don't respond, though, just throwing the blankets aside and swinging your legs over the edge of the bed, the cold air immediately making you shiver, and you sit like that for a moment, taking a deep breath and staring down at your feet.
"Why do you have bandages on your arm?" Lea asks then, $l_their glare unwavering. You can feel the tension between the both of you threaten to snap at the question, a dangerous tremor passing through the room as you avoid $l_their gaze.
You hesitate in the silence, blinking down at your hand, at the bandages, sloppy and loose after your restless sleep.
"Noel," you finally blurt, going with the first lie you can think of, "said they're soaked in some kind of poultice. It's supposed to help with the scarring. Make the scars fade, or something," you say gruffly.
Lea doesn't say anything for a long time, still just fucking staring at you. You're starting to sweat, pressing your hand to your arm, glancing up at $l_them before standing abruptly.
"Never thought the scars bothered you," Lea finally says, $l_their eyes flicking from your arm to your face.
You just turn away, moving to snatch up your discarded overclothes from yesterday, throwing them on your bed.
Lea sighs then, shifting on $l_their feet.
"I just came to grab your bag," $l_they start<<s>>, <<if $highfell>>"I'm going to get the horses ready."<<else>>"Merry has Mal getting the horses ready..." $l_they trail<<s>> off, reluctant to admit that there is a very real chance you're going to be chased out of the city today. Or worse.<</if>>
You gesture towards the foot of the bed, where your rucksack sits on the floor. You at least had the mind to pack it last night - if you can really call just shoving everything down until you could forcefully buckle it closed //packing//.
Lea nods, stepping around the bed and hauling your bag up onto the corner table with a grunt. You shuffle after $l_them, grabbing at the rucksack and pulling it towards you.
You tighten the buckles while glancing around the room, but all that’s left are the clothes you just picked up, your hunter's knife on the floor near the bed, and your cloak, draped across the one side of the table.
"Yeah, you can take it," you say, sliding it back over towards Lea.
<<if $blackwater>>[[Continue ->CH2 Blackwater Rivalry Open 01]]<<else>>[[Continue ->CH2 Highfell Rivalry Open 01]]<</if>><<notify 3s>>Codex updated!<</notify>>You jolt awake violently, lashing out and slapping at the hands holding you and shaking your shoulders, grabbing wrists and twisting them away with a snarl.
Your dream bleeds into the room around you, trees growing through the wooden tavern walls and the sound of snow beneath boots as Lea recoils in front of you, trying to pull $l_their arms free from your grip.
"$name, it's me, it's me - it's Lea," $l_they <<say>> over and over, until you let $l_them go, and the room is just a room again, still dark but for the lantern set on the table by the cold fireplace. It still takes you a few moments, blinking away the phantom morning sun still burning behind your eyelids.
Lea hovers over your bed, rubbing $l_their wrists and holding them tucked against $l_their chest, staring down at you with a furrowed brow.
"S-sorry," you stammer, sitting up then and vigorously scrubbing your hands over your face. You're startled by the touch of the bandages, rough and painful as it scratches across the skin beneath your eye.
The previous night comes rushing back to you all at once, and you hunch forward, quickly tucking your arm back under the covers, though by the way Lea is still staring at you, you know it's too late.
<<if $lea_knows_nightmares>>$l_They wince<<s>> as $l_they step<<s>> back from the bed, $l_their eyes wandering from your arm back up to your face.
"Bad dream?" Lea prompt<<s>> gently.
You sigh, nodding as you slip out of the covers and slide your legs over the edge of the bed, the cold air immediately making you shiver, and you just sit like that for a moment, taking a deep breath and staring down at your knees.
Lea clears $l_their throat then, shifting $l_their weight from foot to foot.
"I just came to grab your bag. <<if $highfell>>I'm going to get the horses ready, while you get dressed."<<else>>Merry has Mal getting the horses ready..." $l_they trail<<s>> off, reluctant to admit that there is a very real chance you’re going to be chased out of the city today. Or worse.<</if>>
You nod your head towards the foot of the bed, where your rucksack sits on the floor. You at least had the mind to pack it last night - if you can really call just shoving everything down until you could forcefully buckle it closed //packing//.
"So what's with the bandages?" Lea says as $l_they walk<<s>> over to your rucksack, hefting it up and dropping it onto the corner table with a grunt. $l_Their tone is deliberately casual, but you can feel $l_them watching you, a sudden tension snapping taut between the two of you at the question, hanging dangerously in the cold air as you avoid $l_their gaze.
You just stare down at your hand, at the bandages, sloppy and loose after your restless sleep.
"Noel," you say then, blurting out the first lie that comes to you, "Noel soaked them in some poultice, said it's supposed to help with the scarring. Make it fade, or something," you say. Lea turns and raises an eyebrow at that.
"What?" Lea frowns, but then laughs, shaking $l_their head. You laugh, too.
"Yeah, I don't know. You'll have to ask xem about it. He offered, and I figured it can't hurt, either way. I've already got enough scars," you shrug, standing from the bed then.
Lea drops $l_their gaze then, fidgeting with your bag.
"Never thought the scars bothered you," $l_they say<<s>> quietly, and you blink over at $l_them.
"...Some scars bother me more than others," you say slowly, avoiding the look $l_they give<<s>> you as you join $l_them at the table and grab at your rucksack.<<else>>Lea winces as $l_they step<<s>> back from the bed, $l_their eyes wandering from your arm back up to your face.
"Are you alright? Why do you have bandages on your arm?"
"I'm fine," you say quickly, shaking your head as you sit up and slide your legs over the edge of the bed, the floor shockingly cold against your bare feet, sending a shiver up your spine.
"Just a bad dream," you say quietly, wrapping your arms around yourself, the chill of that snowy morning, years ago, still lingering even in the waking world.
"And the bandages?" Lea presses after a beat. There's a sudden tension that immediately snaps taut between the two of you at the question, hanging dangerously in the cold air as you avoid $l_their gaze.
"The bandages are from Noel," you blurt, coming up with the lie as you go, "Said they're soaked in some kind of poultice. It's supposed to help with the scarring. Make the scars fade, or something," you say.
Lea blinks, making a face at you. "What?"
"I don't know. That's what he told me," you for yourself to shrug. "I figured, why not? I've already got enough scars."
Lea stares at you for a long moment. "Never thought the scars bothered you," $l_they <<say>> slowly.
You don't respond to that, just staring down at your hand, at the bandages, sloppy and loose after your restless sleep.
You let out a long sigh then, standing from the bed, turning to face Lea, giving $l_them a questioning look.
"I just came to grab your bag," $l_they explain<<s>>, glancing at your arm one last time, <<if $highfell>>"I'm going to get the horses ready."<<else>>"Merry has Mal getting the horses ready..." $l_they trail<<s>> off, reluctant to admit that there is a very real chance you’re going to be chased out of the city today. Or worse.<</if>>
You wave your hand towards the foot of the bed, where your rucksack sits on the floor. You at least had the mind to pack it last night - if you can really call just shoving everything down until you could forcefully buckle it closed //packing//.
Lea hums, stepping around the bed and hauling your bag up onto the corner table with a grunt. You shuffle after $l_them, grabbing at the rucksack and pulling it towards you.<</if>>
You tighten the buckles while glancing around the room, but all that’s left are your clothes scattered on the floor, your hunter's knife near the bed, and your cloak, draped across the one side of the table.
"Yeah, you can take it," you say, sliding it back over towards Lea.
<<if $blackwater>>[[Continue ->CH2 Blackwater Friendly Open 01]]<<else>>[[Continue ->CH2 Highfell Friendly Open 01]]<</if>>"Anything you need out of the saddlebags?" Lea asks, hesitating a moment before adding, "I'll grab your sword."
You frown at that.
<<if $mc_archer>>"My bow?" you say. But Lea shakes $l_their head.
"You can't walk around with a bow across your back," $l_they <<say>>.
You purse your lips, but you know $l_they<<re>> right. Walking around with a sword in this city will be bad enough, and you can hide that under your cloak. It makes you uneasy, being armed in this city, especially after yesterday. But you also don't like the idea of being //unarmed//, either.
"Okay," you say. "That's all I need."
Lea nods, grabbing one of the arm straps and moving to haul the rucksack onto $l_their back.<<elseif $mc_axeman>>"My axe?" you say. But Lea shakes $l_their head.
"You can't walk around here with a giant axe strapped across your back," $l_they <<say>>.
You purse your lips, but you know $l_they<<re>> right. Walking around with a sword in this city will be bad enough, and you can hide that under your cloak. It makes you uneasy, being armed in this city, especially after yesterday. But you also don't like the idea of being //unarmed//, either.
"Okay," you say. "That's all I need."
Lea nods, grabbing one of the arm straps and moving to haul the rucksack onto $l_their back.<<else>>You feel a bit uneasy at the idea of walking around visibly armed in this city, especially after yesterday. But you also don't like the idea of being //unarmed//, either.
"That's all I need," you say, and Lea nods, grabbing one of the arm straps and moving to haul the rucksack onto $l_their back.<</if>>
<<if $chest eq "binder">><<include "Blackwater Rivalry Binder">><<else>>You step back from the table and turn back to the bed, staring at your sad little pile of clothes. At least the smell of wood smoke hides the fact you've been wearing these same travel clothes for a few days now.
"I'll be back in a bit," Lea says, adjusting the shoulder straps of your rucksack as $l_they head<<s>> for the door.
"Yeah," you grunt, still staring at your clothes. You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You drop down on the bed, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you.
<<if ($l_relationship is 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You swallow hard, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It burns in your chest, heavy and painful, though you can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You sigh, your hands tightening around your clothes.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal.
You shake your head. You just need to get through this job.<</if>><<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal. You shake your head.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<</if>>"Merry had to go down to the docks, but she'll meet us at the stables. I think Clementine and Noel are already there," Lea says as $l_they adjust<<s>> the straps of your bag, bracing to haul it onto $l_their back.
<<if $chest eq "binder">><<include "Highfell Rivalry Binder">><<else>>You nod, stepping back from the table and gathering your clothes up off the floor, dumping them all together on the bed with a sigh. At least the smell of wood smoke hides the fact you've been wearing these same travel clothes for a few days now.
"I'll see you down at the stables," Lea says, giving you a long look before heading for the door.
"Yeah," you grunt, still staring at your clothes. You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You drop down on the bed then, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you.
<<if ($l_relationship is 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You swallow hard, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It burns in your chest, heavy and painful, though you can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You sigh, your hands tightening around your clothes.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal.
You shake your head. You just need to get through this job.<</if>><<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal. You shake your head.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<</if>><<if $PassedOutInClearing eq true>>"Wait," you startle, grabbing your bag again. Lea raises an eyebrow but lets the bag go as you pull it back towards you. You fight with the buckles for a moment before reaching in and digging around inside, swearing under your breath, shoving your various clothes and gear around before you remember - you lost your bag. This isn't //your// stuff, not really.
"Fuck," the curse comes out far more pathetic than you mean it to as you draw your arm back out and start to refasten the buckles.
"What? What is it?" Lea asks, tilting $l_their head at you.
"My binder," is all you say, gesturing at yourself awkwardly before jerking the straps tight around the rucksack again, avoiding $l_their gaze.
Lea frowns, glancing sideways. "Damn. I'm... sorry, $surname," $l_they hesitate<<s>> a moment, "Did you only bring the one? Do you have another in your saddlebag, maybe?"
You take a second to respond, chewing on the inside of your cheek. You tend not to bind when you travel - it's long, uncomfortable days on horseback, and you knew going into this job you would be riding through the mountains for the majority of it. You only brought two, knowing you'd really only wear them in Highfell - and you're certain they were both in your rucksack. You swallow back the lump in your throat, shaking your head and running a hand over your face. This feels particularly cruel to you - the gods kicking you while you're down.
You had hoped for some relief here, a chance to wear it even if only for a day; a chance at a little bit of comfort.
"Maybe, I don't know," you finally manage, dropping your hands with a sigh. You //do// know, but if you admit it you may not be able to stop the sudden despair from overwhelming you.
"You want me to check for you? I can run it back up here with your sword," Lea offers, and it just makes you feel worse - you almost want to yell at $l_them. But you just shake your head again.
"It's fine," you huff, "I'll just... check later. It's fine."
Lea stares at you for a moment, before nodding. "I'm - I'm sorry, $name," $l_they <<say>> again, crossing $l_their arms and staring down at $l_their feet. At least Lea understands - that acknowledgement from $l_them lessens the sting a little bit, and despite everything, you're grateful for $l_their presence. If you had been alone right now you're not sure you'd be handling it nearly as well - if at all.
You step back from the table then, retreating back to the bed, turning away from Lea and closing your eyes, fidgeting with the bandages around your hand.
"...I'll give you a moment. I'll be back soon," Lea says eventually, and you nod, opening your eyes again as you hear $l_them haul your bag onto $l_their back.
You don't trust yourself to say anything else, just staring down at your hands, though you can hear $l_them hesitate, eyes burning into your back, before $l_they finally head<<s>> to the door.
Then you hear the door open and close, and you're alone.
[[Continue ->Blackwater Rivalry Lost Binder Alone]]<<else>>"Wait," you startle, grabbing your bag again. Lea raises an eyebrow but lets the bag go as you pull it back towards you. You fight with the buckles for a moment before reaching in and digging around inside, swearing under your breath, until your hand brushes against the familiar fabric of your chest binder.
You toss it onto the table and quickly refasten the buckles, tightening them again.
"Okay. Now you can take it," you say, snatching up your binder and turning towards your other clothes piled on the bed.
There's a sense of immediate relief, feeling the familiar weight of it in your hand, running your thumb across the thick fabric, and you say a quick thank you to your past self for packing it at all. You tend not to bind while traveling - it's long, uncomfortable days on horseback, and you almost didn't bring one with you, knowing you'd be spending a lot of the time on this job traveling through the mountains.
But now you can have a little bit of reassurance, a little bit of comfort, even just wearing it for one day - you're still you, despite everything.
You can feel Lea staring at you, but you just turn your back on $l_them as you start to yank off your undershirt.
"Is that a good idea?" Lea asks then, $l_their voice shattering your momentary euphoria.
You glare back over your shoulder at $l_them, your hand tightening reflexively around the binder.
"What?"
"You've got a lot of bruises, $surname," Lea says, eyeing your side.
You scowl, narrowing your eyes at $l_them.
<<if $l_they eq "they">>"Are you wearing yours right now?" you retort.
"I'm not the one that might have cracked ribs," Lea throws right back, clearly anticipating that comment.
You just stare at $l_them, your shirt hanging around your neck, the binder heavy in your hand.<<else>>"The fight with the wraith... Are you sure you don't have any cracked ribs?"
You just stare at $l_them, your shirt hanging around your neck, the binder heavy in your hand.<</if>>
"I'm fine," you finally huff, "Noel healed me." You turn back around and just focus on undoing the clasps along the side of the binder, doing your best to ignore the way your one hand trembles all the while.
It takes you a few moments, the bandages around your fingers making it an even more difficult task than usual, but you manage to get it open and quickly pull it on over your shoulders. The clasps meet along the side, under your arm, and you curse under your breath as you struggle to get your bandaged arm to cooperate.
You can just //feel// Lea watching you.
"$surname."
You close your eyes at the sound of your name, letting out a frustrated breath. You refuse to look at $l_them, opening your eyes and just pulling at the clasps. You really don't want to have to ask for help with this.
//Gods, at least let me be able to do this.//
...You can't.
You've only managed the first two clasps, and your hand is really starting to shake from the effort. Lea is still staring at you.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"I can fucking do it," you hiss, speaking to Lea or yourself, you're not sure.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You close your eyes, doing your best to just ignore Lea, your fingers tightening around the clasps.<<else>>"I can do it," you say quietly, speaking to Lea or yourself, you're not sure.<</if>>
You take a few deep breaths, pulling at the tight fabric again, wincing at the pain in your ribs and arms. The bandages around your fingers are starting to come undone, and you can hear Lea take a hesitant step forward.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>It makes you snap, that single step, and you swear, ripping the binder off and throwing it to the floor. It's immature, but you don't care right now. You think you've earned the luxury of throwing a bit of a tantrum. You drop back down onto the edge of the bed, burying your face in your hands, a dull throb in your arms from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence in the room for a few seconds, until you hear Lea shuffle in front of you, and you sigh, dropping your hands and turning to look up at $l_them as $l_they pick<<s>> up your binder off the floor.
"You don't have to do that," you say weakly, but $l_they stand<<s>> and bring<<s>> it back over to you.
"Put it back on. I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gruffly.
You feel yourself tense as Lea holds out the binder in front of you.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>That single step sends you over the edge, and you just throw your hands up, letting out a bitter laugh before dropping back down on the edge of the bed. You bury your face in your hands, straining against the dull throb in your arms from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence hanging over you for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle across the room, and you sigh, dropping your hands and lifting your head to look up at $l_them as $l_they stand<<s>> in front of you.
"I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gruffly.
You tense, your jaw clenching as $l_they hold<<s>> $l_their hands out for you.<<else>>That single step sends you over the edge, and you let your arms just drop, letting out a long sigh before you hunch forward, burying your face in your hands, your arms trembling from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence hanging over you for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle across the room, and you sigh, dropping your hands and blinking over at $l_them as $l_they stop<<s>> in front of you.
"Sit down. I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gruffly.
You tense, your jaw clenching as $l_they gesture<<s>> towards the bed.<</if>>
<div id="choice">[[I let Lea help. ->I take the binder and let Lea help. BW RIVALRY]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I take the binder and just put it back in my bag. ->I take the binder and just put it back in my bag. BW RIVALRY]]</div><</if>>It takes you a few seconds to compose yourself, allowing a couple more curses to slip out before you calm down, pacing aggressively in the small room.
It is what it is. You'll just have to make it work for now.
You rub a hand over your sternum, frowning down at your chest before sighing again. At least your travel clothes hide you well enough.
Your travel clothes...
You drop down on the bed, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap. Thankfully, the overpowering smell of wood smoke hides the fact that you've been wearing these same overclothes for a few days now.
You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you.
<<if ($l_relationship is 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You swallow hard, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It burns in your chest, heavy and painful, though you can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You sigh, your hands tightening around your clothes.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal.
You shake your head. You just need to get through this job.<</if>><<elseif ($l_relationship eq 12)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You scowl, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It twists in your chest, heavy and painful, and it irritates you - but it makes you feel guilty, too. You can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>><<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You take a deep breath, taking the binder from $l_them, wincing as you pull it back on over your shoulders. Lea carefully sits down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You take a deep breath, staring down at the floor before giving Lea a little nod. $l_They carefully sit<<s>> down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<<else>>You take a deep breath, taking a few steps back and dropping down onto the bed. Lea waits, until you give $l_them a little nod, and $l_they carefully sit<<s>> on the bed beside you, looking at you expectantly as you lean forward and raise your arm, offering $l_them the clasps.<</if>>
You shiver at $l_their touch, $l_their hands icy - you suppose $l_they must have been outside before coming here, with the horses, cold still radiating off of $l_them. You can tell $l_they<<re>> trying not to touch you, glancing over to see $l_their brow furrowed, $l_their focus intent on the clasps. You watch $l_them for a moment, before dropping your gaze, staring down into your lap.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>Lea's hands hover over you, one more gentle touch along your side before $l_they abruptly pull<<s>> back, clearing $l_their throat. The bed groans as $l_they put<<s>> some space between you, fidgeting with $l_their ring around $l_their thumb.
"There," $l_they <<say>> roughly, and you both look at each other, Lea's hand fluttering to your shoulder, barely a touch before $l_they stand<<s>> and clear<<s>> $l_their throat again.
You feel your face flush, watching $l_them walk away, your hand going to your shoulder, and then to the clasps under your arm.
Lea stands with $l_their back to you, shifting your rucksack on the table.
"Don't wear it for too long," Lea says then, glancing back at you.
"I know," you say, dropping your gaze.<<else>>"Okay," Lea says then, and you take a deep breath at $l_their words, "there."
You reach up and run a hand over the clasps, pulling at the fabric, giving Lea a little nod.
But Lea hesitates, tensing on the bed beside you, pursing $l_their lips.
"Don't wear it for too long," $l_they <<say>> finally. Then $l_their face soften<<s>> slightly, and $l_they stand<<s>>, retreating back to your rucksack.<</if>>
You stare down at your hands, closing your eyes and breathing deeply, your chest tight under the binder, your ribs shifting painfully - and yet you feel a rush of contentment, a sudden warmth despite the cold, dark fireplace in the corner.
"...Thanks, Lea," you say, opening your eyes, but not looking at $l_them.
You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, feel $l_them watching you, and there's a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You press a hand to your sternum, then trace the clasps again, glancing over at your clothes beside you. Picking up your tunic, you pull it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you, $l_their cold touch still lingering along your side.
<<if ($l_relationship is 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You swallow hard, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It burns in your chest, heavy and painful, though you can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You sigh, your hands tightening around your clothes.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal.
You shake your head. You just need to get through this job.<</if>><<elseif ($l_relationship eq 12)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You scowl, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It twists in your chest, heavy and painful, and it irritates you - but it makes you feel guilty, too. You can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>><<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]Sitting back on the bed, you pull your heavy tunic on over your head, grimacing at the ache in your arm.
<<if $hairtexture eq "afrotext">><<include "Rodrick Silk Wrap">><<else>>You adjust the collar for a moment, before reaching underneath and pulling your necklace through, holding it in your palm and tracing the design with your bandaged finger.
Alone now, you can still hear Jorah's voice echoing in your head, see Rodrick's dark eyes watching you. The flash of the dark blade in the sun. Your blood. You close your eyes.
That part wasn't real. Just a bad dream.
You open your eyes. Jorah and Rodrick. You miss them.
//Rodrick//... you never even got to say goodbye to Rodrick. A spike of guilt twists in your chest when you think about him - you're always thinking about Jorah. But Rodrick was there, too. A quieter presence than Jorah - but steadier. He was always there.
<<if $chest eq "binder">>You press your hand to your chest, again touching the clasps of your binder, tracing them through your clothes. Rodrick was the one who gifted you your first binder, too. Technically it was a gift from him and Jorah - but you know it was Rodrick. He knew before Jorah, he probably knew even before //you// - he saw himself in you. You had that connection, that shared experience, and you really leaned on Rodrick because of it. You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for him.
You let the necklace slide from your hand, feeling particularly heavy as it thumps back against your chest.<<elseif $chest eq "top surgery">>You press a hand to your chest, a phantom ache as you remember that first conversation with Rodrick - so long ago, now. He already knew, of course - he knew before Jorah, probably before even //you// really knew. He saw himself in you. He gifted you your first binder when you were just a kid, before your surgery, and it was Rodrick who brought you to the reconstruction surgeon when you were finally ready. The same surgeon he had gone to, someone who was familiar and willing to operate on hunters like you.
You had that shared experience, and you really leaned on Rodrick because of it. You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for him.
You let the necklace slide from your hand then, feeling particularly heavy as it thumps back against your chest.<<elseif $chest eq "implants">>You press a hand to your chest, a phantom ache as you remember that first conversation with Rodrick - so long ago, now. He helped you through that time more than anyone else. Jorah, too, of course, but there was always more of a connection with Rodrick - your shared experience. It was his recommendation that led you to the reconstruction surgeon a few years ago, the same surgeon he had gone to - a different procedure, but just the same, it was someone familiar and willing to operate on hunters like you.
You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for Rodrick.
You let the necklace slide from your hand, feeling particularly heavy as it thumps back against your chest.<<else>><<if $hormones eq true>>You glance down at the necklace again. You feel a phantom ache in your chest, a sudden memory coming to the surface - a specific conversation you had with Rodrick, so long ago now. He knew before Jorah - you think he knew before even //you// knew. He saw himself in you. He helped you figure things out, brought you your very first hormone potion, and you always had that connection with Rodrick - your shared experience, and you leaned on him a lot because of it.
You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for Rodrick.
You let the necklace slide from your hand, feeling particularly heavy as it thumps back against your chest.<<else>>You glance down at your necklace again. Even though it was Jorah that gave it to you, you're certain it was Rodrick's idea. He would never admit it, though.
Rodrick did a lot of little things like that - he was always the sentimental one. He did a lot of little things that really meant a lot to you - still mean a lot to you. That was the kind of person he was. //He is.//
You let the necklace slide from your hand then, feeling particularly heavy as it thumps back against your chest.<</if>><</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 02]]<</if>>"Anything you need out of the saddlebags?" Lea asks, hesitating a moment before adding, "I'll grab your sword."
You frown at that, taking a moment to respond as you gather up your clothes off the floor, dumping them on the bed.
<<if $mc_archer>>"My bow?" you say. But Lea shakes $l_their head.
"You can't walk around with a bow across your back," $l_they <<say>> sadly.
You purse your lips, but you know $l_they<<re>> right. Walking around with a sword in this city will be bad enough, and you can hide that under your cloak. It makes you uneasy, being armed in this city, especially after yesterday. But you also don't like the idea of being //unarmed//, either.
"Okay," you say. "That's all I need."
Lea nods, grabbing one of the arm straps and moving to haul the rucksack onto $l_their back.<<elseif $mc_axeman>>"My axe?" you say. But Lea shakes $l_their head.
"You can't walk around here with a giant axe strapped across your back," $l_they <<say>> sadly.
You purse your lips, but you know $l_they<<re>> right. Walking around with a sword in this city will be bad enough, and you can hide that under your cloak. It makes you uneasy, being armed in this city, especially after yesterday. But you also don't like the idea of being //unarmed//, either.
"Okay," you say. "That's all I need."
Lea nods, grabbing one of the arm straps and moving to haul the rucksack onto $l_their back.<<else>>You feel a bit uneasy at the idea of walking around visibly armed in this city, especially after yesterday. But you also don't like the idea of being //unarmed//, either.
"That's all I need," you say, and Lea nods, grabbing one of the arm straps and moving to haul the rucksack onto $l_their back.<</if>>
<<if $chest eq "binder">><<include "Blackwater Friendly Binder">><<else>>You step back from the table and gather your clothes up off the floor, dumping them all together on the bed with a sigh. At least the smell of wood smoke hides the fact you've been wearing these same travel clothes for a few days now.
"I'll be back in a bit," Lea says, adjusting the shoulder straps of your rucksack as $l_they head<<s>> for the door.
"Thanks, Lea," you call after $l_them, turning back to your bed, back to your clothes. You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You drop down on the bed, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, and bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday's grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You crying. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You and Lea, //partners.// You chew on the inside of your cheek, letting out a long sigh, before glancing over at the door again. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric in your hands.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<</if>>"Merry had to go down to the docks, but she'll meet us at the stables. I think Clementine and Noel are already there," Lea says as $l_they adjust<<s>> the straps of your bag, bracing to haul it onto $l_their back.
<<if $chest eq "binder">><<include "Highfell Friendly Binder">><<else>>You nod, stepping back from the table and gathering your clothes up off the floor, dumping them all together on the bed with a sigh. At least the smell of wood smoke hides the fact you've been wearing these same travel clothes for a few days now.
"I'll see you down at the stables," Lea says, shifting your bag with a grunt and heading for the door.
"Yeah. Thanks, Lea," you call after $l_them, turning back to your bed, back to your clothes. You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You drop down on the bed then, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, and bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday's grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You //crying//. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room.<<if $l_tavernfight or $l_marketfight>> That argument, too. //Partners.// You chew on the inside of your cheek, letting out a long sigh, before glancing over at the door again.<</if>> As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric in your hands.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<</if>><<if $PassedOutInClearing>>"Wait," you startle, grabbing your bag again. Lea raises an eyebrow but lets the bag go as you pull it back towards you. You fight with the buckles for a moment before reaching in and digging around inside, swearing under your breath, shoving your various clothes and gear around before you remember - you lost your bag. This isn't //your// stuff, not really.
"Fuck," the curse comes out far more pathetic than you mean it to as you draw your arm back out and start to refasten the buckles.
"What? What is it?" Lea asks, tilting $l_their head at you.
"My chest binder," is all you say, jerking the straps tight around the rucksack, avoiding $l_their gaze.
"Oh," Lea says, glancing sideways. "Shit. I'm sorry, $name. Did you only bring the one? Do you have another one stashed in your saddlebag, maybe?"
You take a second to respond, chewing on the inside of your cheek. You tend not to bind when you travel - it's long, uncomfortable days on horseback, and you knew going into this job you would be riding through the mountains for the majority of it. You only brought two, knowing you'd really only wear them in Highfell - and you're certain they were both in your rucksack. You swallow back the lump in your throat, shaking your head and running a hand over your face. This feels particularly cruel to you - the gods kicking you while you're down.
You had hoped for some relief here, a chance to wear it even if only for a day; a chance at a little bit of comfort.
"Maybe, I don't know," you finally manage, dropping your hands with a sigh. You //do// know, but if you admit it you may not be able to stop the sudden despair from overwhelming you.
"You want me to check for you? I can run it back up here with your sword," Lea offers, and it just makes you feel worse - you almost want to yell at $l_them. But you just shake your head again.
"It's fine," you huff, "I'll just... check later. It's fine."
Lea stares at you for a moment, before nodding. "I'm - I'm sorry, $name," $l_they <<say>> again, running a hand over $l_their hair, staring down at $l_their feet. At least Lea understands - that acknowledgement from $l_them lessens the sting a little bit, and despite everything, you're grateful for $l_their presence. If you had been alone right now you're not sure you'd be handling it nearly as well - if at all.
You just step back from the table then, and start to gather your clothes up off the floor, dumping them all together in a sad pile on the bed, closing your eyes as you just stand there, fidgeting with the bandages around your hand.
"...I'll give you a moment. I'll be back in a few, okay?" Lea says then, and you nod, opening your eyes again as you hear $l_them haul your bag onto $l_their back.
"Thanks, Lea," you say without turning around, though you can hear $l_them pause briefly before walking to the door.
Then you hear the door open and close, and you're alone.
[[Continue ->Blackwater Friendly Lost Binder Alone]]<<else>>"Wait," you startle, grabbing your bag again. Lea raises an eyebrow but lets the bag go as you pull it back towards you. You fight with the buckles for a moment before reaching in and digging around inside, swearing under your breath, until your hand brushes against the familiar fabric of your chest binder.
You toss it onto the table and quickly refasten the buckles, tightening them again.
"Okay. Now you can take it," you say, stepping back from the table and gathering up your clothes, setting them on the bed before picking up the binder again.
There's a sense of immediate relief, feeling the familiar weight of it in your hand, running your thumb across the thick fabric, and you say a quick thank you to your past self for packing it at all. You tend not to bind while traveling - it's long, uncomfortable days on horseback, and you almost didn't bring one with you, knowing you'd be spending a lot of the time on this job traveling through the mountains.
But now you can have a little bit of reassurance, a little bit of comfort, even just wearing it for one day - you're still you, despite everything.
You can feel Lea staring at you, but you just turn your back on $l_them as you start to yank off your undershirt.
"Is that a good idea?" Lea asks then, $l_their voice shattering your momentary euphoria.
You glare back over your shoulder at $l_them, your hand tightening reflexively around the binder.
"What?"
"You've got a lot of bruises," Lea says, eyeing your side.
You scowl, narrowing your eyes at $l_them.
<<if $l_they eq "they">>"Are you wearing yours right now?"
"I'm not the one that might have cracked ribs, $surname," $l_they retort<<s>>, clearly anticipating that comment.
You just stare at $l_them, your shirt hanging around your neck, the binder heavy in your hand.<<else>>"The fight with the wraith... Are you sure you don't have any cracked ribs?"
You just stare at $l_them, your shirt hanging around your neck, the binder heavy in your hand.<</if>>
"I'm fine," you finally huff, "Noel healed me." You turn back around and just focus on undoing the clasps along the side of the binder, doing your best to ignore the way your one hand trembles all the while.
It takes you a few moments, the bandages around your fingers making it an even more difficult task than usual, but you manage to get it open and quickly pull it on over your shoulders. The clasps meet along the side, under your arm, and you curse under your breath as you struggle to get your bandaged arm to cooperate.
"Do you need help?"
You close your eyes at Lea's words, letting out a frustrated breath. Lea has helped you with your binder before, because //fuck// these bastards are difficult to put on, but you really don't want $l_them to have to help you with this right now.
//Gods, at least let me be able to do this.//
You can't.
You've only managed the first two clasps, and your hand is really starting to shake from the effort.
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Yeah."' 'BW Friendly Binder Lea Helps'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No. I can do it."' 'BW Friendly Binder Decline Help'>><</link>></div><</if>><<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>You stand unmoving, instead just reaching up and undoing the few clasps you had managed, peeling the binder off and turning away from Lea, walking back over to the table.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You snatch the binder out of Lea's hand, grimacing as you do, standing and shaking your head. You stalk back over to the table, roughly grabbing at your rucksack.<<else>>You grit your teeth, standing from the bed and turning away from Lea, undoing the few clasps you had managed and peeling the binder off. You walk back over to the table, roughly grabbing at your rucksack.<</if>>
"$surname," Lea's voice is hard, but you just shake your head, jerking open your bag and shoving the binder back inside.
"You're right. It's not a good idea," you say, glancing back at $l_them with a sharp smile.
$l_Their face is unreadable, but $l_they look<<s>> away first, glancing down at the floor.
You turn your glare on the bandages wrapped up your arm, and you want to rip them off, tear at the black infection, carve it out of your skin - but you don't. You pull your rucksack closed again, ignoring Lea as you brush past $l_them back to the bed.
You can feel Lea's eyes on you still though, burning into your back as you grab at your clothes piled on the bed. You hear the sound of $l_them hauling up your bag then, grunting as it smacks against $l_their back.
"...I'll be back in a bit," Lea finally says.
"Yeah," you say gruffly, running a hand over your face.
There's a long, painful moment where Lea just shifts on $l_their feet, watching you, until eventually $l_they open<<s>> the door and slip out of the room, leaving you all alone.
You drop down on the bed then, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You swallow back the bitter taste of frustrated tears, just shaking your head, pressing a hard hand to your sternum. It is what it is. Your clothes will cover you well enough.
You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you. $l_Their outstretched hands offering to help.
<<if ($l_relationship is 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You swallow hard, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It burns in your chest, heavy and painful, though you can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You sigh, your hands tightening around your clothes.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal.
You shake your head. You just need to get through this job.<</if>><<elseif ($l_relationship eq 12)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You scowl, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It twists in your chest, heavy and painful, and it irritates you - but it makes you feel guilty, too. You can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>><<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone Reject Binder]]It takes you a few seconds to compose yourself, allowing a couple more curses before you calm down, pacing aggressively in the small room.
It is what it is. You'll just have to make it work for now.
You rub a hand over your sternum, frowning down at your chest before sighing again. At least your travel clothes hide you well enough.
Your travel clothes...
You drop down on the bed, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap. Thankfully, the overpowering smell of wood smoke hides the fact that you’ve been wearing these same overclothes for a few days now.
You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, you bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday's grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You //crying//. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that’s something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]"....Yeah."
You sigh, staring down at the floor as Lea comes up beside you, keeping your arm raised as $l_they carefully grab<<s>> at the clasps, hesitating a moment before pulling them tight. It //does// hurt, but you bite back the wince, feeling too stubborn right now to admit it.
Lea's hands are cold - $l_they must have been outside, with the horses - and you can tell $l_they<<re>> trying not to touch you, glancing back to see $l_their brow furrowed, $l_their focus intent on the clasps.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>Lea's hands hover for another moment, one more gentle touch along your side before $l_they abruptly pull<<s>> back, clearing $l_their throat.
"There," $l_they <<say>> roughly, and you quickly turn away from $l_them, your face suddenly growing hot, your hand going to the clasps at your side.
The two of you stand in an awkward silence, before Lea clears $l_their throat again.
"If - If it starts to bother you, let me know," $l_they <<say>> finally, and you glance back over at $l_them. You can see the concern in $l_their face, that furrow between $l_their brows, the stark light of the lantern on the table turning $l_them pale, and you quickly look away again.
Lea sighs, and you can hear $l_their steps retreating, back to your rucksack.<<else>>"Okay," Lea says then, and you quickly turn away as $l_they step<<s>> back, "there you go."
You reach up and run a hand over the clasps, pulling at the fabric, giving Lea a little nod.
But Lea hesitates, pursing $l_their lips.
"If it starts to bother you, let me know," $l_they <<say>> finally. You can see the concern clear on $l_their face then, and you drop your gaze, just nodding again. You almost expect $l_them to argue, or lecture you, but Lea just sighs, turning away from you then and retreating back to your rucksack.<</if>>
You watch after $l_them for a moment, before you start to gather your clothes up off the floor, dumping them all together on the bed with a sigh.
"I'll be back in a bit," Lea says then, hauling your bag onto $l_their back and adjusting the shoulder straps as $l_they head<<s>> for the door.
"Thanks, Lea," you call after $l_them, turning back to your bed, back to your clothes. You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You press a hand to your sternum, glancing down at your binder again, before leaning forward on the edge of the bed. You take a deep breath, your ribs shifting painfully, but as you exhale, running your hand across the now flat surface of your chest, you feel a rush of contentment, a brief warmth despite the cold, dark fireplace in front of you.
Picking up your tunic then, you pull it onto your lap, rubbing your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you, $l_their cold touch still lingering along your side.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, you bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday's grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You //crying//. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that’s something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]"No. I can do it," you snap, scowling down at your hands.
Your arms are burning from the effort, and you do your best to ignore Lea's eyes still on you.
But you can't get the fucking clasps to cooperate.
"$surname..."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"I can fucking do it!" you hiss, your hands tightening around the clasps.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You don't respond, just closing your eyes again, your fingers tightening around the clasps.<<else>>"I can do it," you say quietly, not looking at $l_them, your fingers tightening around the clasps.<</if>>
You take a few deep breaths, pulling at the tight fabric again, wincing at the pain in your ribs and arms. The bandages around your fingers are starting to come undone, and you can still feel Lea watching you, can sense $l_them take a hesitant step forward.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>It makes you snap, that single step, and you swear, ripping the binder off and throwing it to the floor. It's immature, but you don't care right now. You think you've earned the luxury of throwing a bit of a tantrum. You drop back down onto the edge of the bed, burying your face in your hands, a dull throb in your arms from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence in the room for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle in front of you, and you sigh, dropping your hands and turning to look up at $l_them as $l_they pick<<s>> up your binder off the floor.
"You don't have to do that," you say weakly, but $l_they stand<<s>> and bring<<s>> it back over to you.
"Put it back on. I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gently.
You feel yourself tense as Lea holds out the binder in front of you.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>That single step sends you over the edge, and you just throw your hands up, letting out a bitter laugh before dropping back down on the edge of the bed. You bury your face in your hands, straining against the dull throb in your arms from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence hanging over you for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle across the room, and you sigh, dropping your hands and lifting your head to look up at $l_them as $l_they stand<<s>> in front of you.
"Let me do the clasps for you," Lea says gently.
You tense, your jaw clenching as $l_they hold<<s>> $l_their hands out for you.<<else>>That single step sends you over the edge, and you let your arms just drop, letting out a long sigh before you hunch forward, burying your face in your hands, your arms trembling from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence hanging over you for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle across the room, and you sigh, dropping your hands and blinking over at $l_them as $l_they stop<<s>> in front of you.
"Let's sit down. I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gently.
You tense, your jaw clenching as $l_they gesture<<s>> towards the bed.<</if>>
<div id="choice">[[I let Lea help. ->I take the binder and let Lea help. BW FRIENDLY]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I take the binder and just put it back in my bag. ->I take the binder and just put it back in my bag. BW FRIENDLY]]</div><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You take a deep breath, taking the binder from $l_them, wincing as you pull it back on over your shoulders. Lea carefully sits down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You take a deep breath, staring down at the floor before giving Lea a little nod. $l_They carefully sit<<s>> down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<<else>>You take a deep breath, taking a few steps back and dropping down onto the bed. Lea waits, until you give $l_them a little nod, and $l_they carefully sit<<s>> on the bed beside you, looking at you expectantly as you lean forward and raise your arm, offering $l_them the clasps.<</if>>
You shiver at $l_their touch, $l_their hands icy - you suppose $l_they must have been outside before coming here, with the horses, cold still radiating off of $l_them. You can tell $l_they<<re>> trying not to touch you, glancing over to see $l_their brow furrowed, $l_their focus intent on the clasps. You watch $l_them for a moment, before dropping your gaze, staring down into your lap.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>Lea's hands hover over you, one more gentle touch along your side before $l_they abruptly pull<<s>> back, clearing $l_their throat. The bed groans as $l_they put<<s>> some space between you, fidgeting with $l_their ring around $l_their thumb.
"There," $l_they <<say>> roughly, and you both look at each other, Lea's hand fluttering to your shoulder, barely a touch before $l_they stand<<s>> and clear<<s>> $l_their throat again.
You feel your face flush, watching $l_them walk away, your hand going to your shoulder, and then to the clasps under your arm.
Lea stands with $l_their back to you, shifting your rucksack on the table.
"If - If it starts to bother you, let me know," Lea says then, glancing back at you.
"Yeah. I will," you say, dropping your gaze.<<else>>"Okay," Lea says then, and you take a deep breath at $l_their words, "there."
You reach up and run a hand over the clasps, pulling at the fabric, giving Lea a little nod.
But Lea hesitates, tensing on the bed beside you, pursing $l_their lips.
"If it starts to bother you, let me know," $l_they <<say>> finally. Then $l_their face soften<<s>> slightly, and $l_they stand<<s>>, retreating back to your rucksack.<</if>>
You stare down at your hands, closing your eyes and breathing deeply, your chest tight under the binder, your ribs shifting painfully - and yet you feel a rush of contentment, a sudden warmth despite the cold, dark fireplace in the corner.
"Thanks, Lea," you say, opening your eyes, but not looking at $l_them.
You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, feel $l_them watching you.
"You're welcome," $l_they <<say>> softly, and there's a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You press a hand to your sternum, glancing down at your binder again, leaning forward on the edge of the bed. Picking up your tunic, you pull it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you, $l_their cold touch still lingering along your side.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, you bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday's grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You //crying//. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that’s something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>You stand unmoving, instead just reaching up and undoing the clasps, peeling the binder off and turning away from Lea, walking back over to the table.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You snatch the binder out of Lea's hand, grimacing as you do, standing and shaking your head. You stalk back over to the table, roughly grabbing at your rucksack.<<else>>You grit your teeth, standing from the bed and turning away from Lea, undoing the few clasps you had managed and peeling the binder off. You walk back over to the table, roughly grabbing at your rucksack.<</if>>
"$name," Lea's voice sounds small behind you.
You jerk open your bag, shoving the binder back inside.
"It's fine. You're right. It's not a good idea," you say.
You glare at the bandages wrapped up your arm, and you want to rip them off, tear at the black infection, carve it out of your skin - but you don't. You pull your rucksack closed again, ignoring Lea as $l_they hover<<s>> over your shoulder, brushing past $l_them back to the bed.
You can feel Lea's eyes burning into your back as you grab at your clothes piled on the bed. You hear the sound of $l_them hauling up your bag, grunting as it smacks against $l_their back.
"...I'll be back in a bit," Lea finally says.
"Yeah," you say gruffly, running a hand over your face.
There's a long, painful moment where Lea just shifts on $l_their feet, watching you, until eventually $l_they open<<s>> the door and slip<<s>> out of the room, leaving you all alone.
You drop down on the bed then, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You swallow back the bitter taste of frustrated tears, just shaking your head, pressing a hard hand to your sternum. It is what it is. Your clothes will cover you well enough.
You glance up towards the door, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you. $l_Their outstretched hands offering to help.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, and bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday’s grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You crying. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that’s something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric in your hands.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone Reject Binder]]<<if $PassedOutInClearing>>"Wait," you startle, grabbing your bag again. Lea raises an eyebrow but lets the bag go as you pull it back towards you. You fight with the buckles for a moment before reaching in and digging around inside, swearing under your breath, shoving your various clothes and gear around before you remember - you lost your bag. This isn't //your// stuff, not really.
"Fuck," the curse comes out far more pathetic than you mean it to as you draw your arm back out and start to refasten the buckles.
"What? What is it?" Lea asks, tilting $l_their head at you.
"My chest binder," is all you say, jerking the straps tight around the rucksack, avoiding $l_their gaze.
"Oh," Lea says, glancing sideways. "Shit. I'm sorry, $name. Do you have another one stashed in your saddlebag, maybe?"
You take a second to respond, chewing on the inside of your cheek. You swallow back the lump in your throat, shaking your head and running a hand over your face. This feels particularly cruel to you - the gods kicking you while you're down.
"Maybe, I don't know," you finally manage, dropping your hands with a sigh.
"You want me to check for you? I can run it back up here," Lea offers, but you just shake your head again.
"It's fine," you huff, "I'll just... check later. I shouldn't be wearing it while we're traveling anyways."
Lea stares at you for a moment, before nodding. "I'm - I'm sorry, $name," $l_they <<say>> again, running a hand over $l_their hair, staring down at $l_their feet.
You just step back from the table and start to gather your clothes up off the floor, dumping them all together in a sad pile on the bed, closing your eyes as you just stand there, fidgeting with the bandages around your hand.
"...I'll see you down at the stables, okay?" Lea says then, and you nod, opening your eyes again as you hear $l_them haul your bag onto $l_their back.
"Thanks, Lea," you say without turning around, though you can hear $l_them pause briefly before walking to the door.
Then you hear the door open and close, and you're alone.
[[Continue ->Highfell Friendly Lost Binder Alone]]<<else>>"Wait," you startle, grabbing your bag again. Lea raises an eyebrow but lets the bag go as you pull it back towards you. You fight with the buckles for a moment before reaching in and digging around inside, swearing under your breath, until your hand brushes against the familiar fabric of your chest binder.
You toss it onto the table and quickly refasten the buckles, tightening them again.
"Okay. Now you can take it," you say, stepping back from the table and gathering up your clothes, setting them on the bed before picking up the binder again.
You can feel Lea staring at you, and you turn your back to $l_them as you start to yank off your undershirt.
"Is that a good idea?" Lea asks then.
You glare back over your shoulder at $l_them. "What?"
"You've got a lot of bruises," Lea says, eyeing your side. "And you know you shouldn't really wear it while we're traveling."
You scowl, narrowing your eyes at $l_them.
<<if $l_they eq "they">>"Are you wearing yours right now?"
"...I'm not the one that might have cracked ribs, $name."
You just stare at $l_them, your shirt hanging around your neck, the binder in your hand.<<else>>"The fight with the wraith... Are you sure you don't have any cracked ribs?"
You just stare at $l_them, your shirt hanging around your neck, the binder in your hand.<</if>>
"I'm fine," you finally huff, "Noel healed me." You turn back around and just focus on undoing the clasps along the side of the binder, doing your best to ignore the way your one hand trembles all the while.
It takes you a few moments, the bandages around your fingers making it an even more difficult task than usual, but you manage to get it open and quickly pull it on over your shoulders. The clasps meet along the side, under your arm, and you curse under your breath as you struggle to get your bandaged arm to cooperate.
"Do you need help?"
You close your eyes at Lea's words, letting out a frustrated breath. Lea has helped you with your binder before, because //fuck// these bastards are difficult to put on, but you really don’t want $l_them to have to help you with this right now.
//Gods, at least let me be able to do this.//
You can't.
You've only managed the first two clasps, and your hand is really starting to shake from the effort.
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Yeah."' 'HF Friendly Binder Lea Helps'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No. I can do it."' 'HF Friendly Binder Decline Help'>><</link>></div><</if>>It takes you a few seconds to compose yourself, allowing a couple more curses before you calm down.
It is what it is. You'll just have to make it work for now.
You rub a hand over your sternum, frowning down at your chest before sighing again. At least your travel clothes hide you well enough.
Your travel clothes...
You drop down on the bed, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap. Thankfully, the overpowering smell of wood smoke hides the fact that you’ve been wearing these same overclothes for a few days now.
You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, you bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday's grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You //crying//. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that’s something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]"No. I can do it," you snap, scowling down at your hands.
Your arms are burning from the effort, and you do your best to ignore Lea's eyes on you.
But you can't get the fucking clasps to cooperate.
"$surname..."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"I can fucking do it!" you hiss, your hands tightening around the clasps.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You don't respond, just closing your eyes again, your fingers tightening around the clasps.<<else>>"I can do it," you say quietly, not looking at $l_them, your fingers tightening around the clasps.<</if>>
You take a few deep breaths, pulling at the tight fabric again, wincing at the pain in your ribs and arms. The bandages around your fingers are starting to come undone, and you can still feel Lea watching you, can sense $l_them take a hesitant step forward.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>It makes you snap, that single step, and you swear, ripping the binder off and throwing it to the floor. It's immature, but you don't care right now. You think you've earned the luxury of throwing a bit of a tantrum. You drop back down onto the edge of the bed, burying your face in your hands, a dull throb in your arms from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence in the room for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle in front of you, and you sigh, dropping your hands and turning to look up at $l_them as $l_they pick<<s>> up your binder off the floor.
"You don't have to do that," you say weakly, but $l_they stand<<s>> and bring<<s>> it back over to you.
"Put it back on. I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gently.
You feel yourself tense as Lea holds out the binder in front of you.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>That single step sends you over the edge, and you just throw your hands up, letting out a bitter laugh before dropping back down on the edge of the bed. You bury your face in your hands, straining against the dull throb in your arms from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence hanging over you for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle across the room, and you sigh, dropping your hands and lifting your head to look up at $l_them as $l_they stand<<s>> in front of you.
"Let me do the clasps for you," Lea says gently.
You tense, your jaw clenching as $l_they hold<<s>> $l_their hands out for you.<<else>>That single step sends you over the edge, and you let your arms just drop, letting out a long sigh before you hunch forward, burying your face in your hands, your arms trembling from the dull ache of the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence hanging over you for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle across the room, and you sigh, dropping your hands and blinking over at $l_them as $l_they stop<<s>> in front of you.
"Let's sit down. I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gently.
You tense, your jaw clenching as $l_they gesture<<s>> towards the bed.<</if>>
<div id="choice">[[I take the binder and let Lea help. ->I take the binder and let Lea help. HF FRIENDLY]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I take the binder and just put it back in my bag. ->I take the binder and just put it back in my bag. HF FRIENDLY]]</div>"....Yeah."
You sigh, staring down at the floor as Lea comes up beside you, keeping your arm raised as $l_they carefully grab<<s>> at the clasps, hesitating a moment before pulling them tight. It //does// hurt, but you bite back the wince, feeling too stubborn right now to admit it.
Lea's hands are cold - $l_they must have been outside - and you can tell $l_they<<re>> trying not to touch you, glancing back to see $l_their brow furrowed, $l_their focus intent on the clasps.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>Lea's hands hover for another moment, one more gentle touch along your side before $l_they abruptly pull<<s>> back, clearing $l_their throat.
"There," $l_they <<say>> roughly, and you quickly turn away from $l_them, your face suddenly growing hot, your hand going to the clasps at your side.
The two of you stand in an awkward silence, before Lea clears $l_their throat again.
"If - If it starts to bother you, let me know," $l_they <<say>> finally, and you glance back over at $l_them. You can see the concern in $l_their face, that furrow between $l_their brows, and you quickly look away again.
Lea sighs, and you can hear $l_their steps retreating, back to your rucksack.<<else>>"Okay," Lea says then, and you quickly turn away as $l_they step<<s>> back, "there you go."
You reach up and run a hand over the clasps' spine, giving Lea a little nod.
But Lea hesitates, pursing $l_their lips.
"If it starts to bother you, let me know," $l_they <<say>> finally. You can tell from the look $l_they give<<s>> you that $l_they<<re>> not impressed with you right now, and you drop your gaze, just nodding again. You almost expect $l_them to argue, but Lea just sighs, turning away from you then and retreating back to your rucksack.<</if>>
You watch after $l_them for a moment, before you start to gather your clothes up off the floor, dumping them all together on the bed with a sigh.
"I'll meet you down at the stables," Lea says then, hauling your bag onto $l_their back and adjusting the shoulder straps as $l_they head<<s>> for the door.
"Okay. Thanks, Lea," you call after $l_them, turning back to your bed, back to your clothes. You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You press a hand to your sternum, glancing down at your binder again, before dropping onto the edge of the bed. Picking up your tunic, you pull it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you, $l_their cold touch still lingering along your side.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, you bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday's grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You //crying//. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that’s something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You take a deep breath, taking the binder from $l_them, wincing as you pull it back on over your shoulders. Lea carefully sits down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You take a deep breath, taking the binder from $l_them, wincing as you pull it back on over your shoulders. Lea carefully sits down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<<else>>You take a deep breath, take a few steps back and dropping down onto the bed. Lea offers you the binder, and you take it, wincing as you pull it back on over your shoulders. Lea carefully sits down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<</if>>
You shiver at $l_their touch, $l_their hands icy - you suppose $l_they must have been outside before coming here, cold still radiating off of $l_them. You can tell $l_they<<re>> trying not to touch you, glancing over to see $l_their brow furrowed, $l_their focus intent on the clasps. You watch $l_them for a moment, before dropping your gaze, staring down into your lap.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>Lea's hands hover over you, one more gentle touch along your side before $l_they abruptly pull<<s>> back, clearing $l_their throat. The bed groans as $l_they put<<s>> some space between you, fidgeting with $l_their ring around $l_their thumb.
"There," $l_they <<say>> roughly, and you both look at each other, Lea's hand fluttering to your shoulder, barely a touch before $l_they stand<<s>> and clear<<s>> $l_their throat again.
You feel your face flush, watching $l_them walk away, your hand going to your shoulder, and then to the clasps under your arm.
Lea stands with $l_their back to you, shifting your rucksack on the table.
"If - If it starts to bother you, let me know," Lea says then, glancing back at you.
"Yeah. I will," you say, dropping your gaze.<<else>>"Okay," Lea says then, and you take a deep breath at $l_their words, "there."
You reach up and run a hand over the clasps' spine, giving Lea a little nod.
But Lea hesitates, tensing on the bed beside you, pursing $l_their lips.
"If it starts to bother you, let me know," $l_they <<say>> finally. Then $l_their face soften<<s>> slightly, and $l_they stand<<s>>, retreating back to your rucksack.<</if>>
You stare down at your hands, closing your eyes and breathing deeply, your chest tight under the binder, your ribs shifting painfully.
"Thanks, Lea," you say, opening your eyes, but not looking at $l_them.
You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, feel $l_them watching you.
"You're welcome," $l_they <<say>> softly. "I'll meet you down at the stables, okay?" and there's a long silence before the sound of the door opening and closing shatters it, and you're left all alone.
You press a hand to your sternum, glancing down at your binder again, before dropping onto the edge of the bed. Picking up your tunic, you pull it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you, $l_their cold touch still lingering along your side.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, you bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday's grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You //crying//. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that’s something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>You stand unmoving, instead just reaching up and undoing the clasps, peeling the binder off and turning away from Lea, walking back over to the table.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You snatch the binder out of Lea's hand, grimacing as you do, standing and shaking your head. You stalk back over to the table, roughly grabbing at your rucksack.<<else>>You grit your teeth, standing from the bed and turning away from Lea, undoing the few clasps you had managed and peeling the binder off. You walk back over to the table, roughly grabbing at your rucksack.<</if>>
"$name," Lea's voice sounds small behind you.
You jerk open your bag, shoving the binder back inside.
"It's fine. You're right. It's not a good idea," you say.
You glare at the bandages wrapped up your arm, and you want to rip them off, tear at the black infection, carve it out of your skin - but you don't. You pull your rucksack closed again, ignoring Lea as $l_they hover<<s>> over your shoulder, brushing past them back to the bed.
You can feel Lea's eyes burning into your back as you grab at your clothes piled on the bed. You hear the sound of $l_them hauling up your bag, grunting as it smacks against $l_their back.
"...I'll meet you down at the stables," Lea finally says.
"Yeah," you say gruffly, running a hand over your face.
There's a long, painful moment where Lea just shifts on $l_their feet, watching you, until eventually $l_they open<<s>> the door and slip out of the room, leaving you all alone.
You drop down on the bed then, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You swallow back the bitter taste of frustrated tears, just shaking your head, pressing a hard hand to your sternum. It is what it is. Your clothes will cover you well enough.
You glance up towards the door, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you. $l_Their outstretched hands offering to help.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You almost kissed. Picking up your tunic, and bury your face in the fabric, though you resist the urge to scream into it. Almost //kissed// - but as always, the new morning seems to rectify your relationship, burying whatever complicated feelings and revelations you might have had deep in yesterday’s grave.
You shake your head then, dropping your tunic back in your lap and forcing Lea from your mind.
You need to get ready.<<elseif $tavern_cry>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You crying. It makes you cringe, your hand tightening around the cloth in your hand. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that’s something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric of your tunic.
You need to get ready.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. As always, the morning comes and wipes the slate clean between you. At least that's something you can always rely on. You shake your head, staring down at the bundled and worn fabric in your hands.
You need to get ready.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone Reject Binder]]<<if $PassedOutInClearing eq true>>"Wait," you startle, grabbing your bag again. Lea raises an eyebrow but lets the bag go as you pull it back towards you. You fight with the buckles for a moment before reaching in and digging around inside, swearing under your breath, shoving your various clothes and gear around before you remember - you lost your bag. This isn't //your// stuff, not really.
"Fuck," the curse comes out far more pathetic than you mean it to as you draw your arm back out and start to refasten the buckles.
"What? What is it?" Lea asks, tilting $l_their head at you.
"My chest binder," is all you say, jerking the straps tight around the rucksack, avoiding $l_their gaze.
Lea frowns, glancing sideways. "I'm... sorry, $name. Do you have another one stashed in your saddlebag, maybe?"
You take a second to respond, chewing on the inside of your cheek. You swallow back the lump in your throat, shaking your head and running a hand over your face. This feels particularly cruel to you - the gods kicking you while you're down.
"Maybe, I don't know," you finally manage, dropping your hands with a sigh.
"You want me to check for you? I can run it back up here," Lea offers, but you just shake your head again.
"It's fine," you huff, "I'll just... check later. It's fine. I shouldn't wear it while we're travelling, anyways."
Lea stares at you for a moment, before nodding. "I'm - I'm sorry, $name," $l_they <<say>> again, running a hand over $l_their hair, staring down at $l_their feet.
You just step back from the table, retreating back to the bed, turning away from Lea and closing your eyes, fidgeting with the bandages around your hand.
"...I'll meet you down at the stables," Lea says then, and you nod, opening your eyes again as you hear $l_them haul your bag onto $l_their back.
You don't trust yourself to say anything, just staring down at your hands, though you can hear $l_them hesitate, eyes burning into your back, before $l_they finally head<<s>> to the door.
Then you hear the door open and close, and you're alone.
[[Continue ->Highfell Rivarly Lost Binder Alone]]<<else>>"Wait," you startle, grabbing your bag again. Lea raises an eyebrow but lets the bag go as you pull it back towards you. You fight with the buckles for a moment before reaching in and digging around inside, swearing under your breath, until your hand brushes against the familiar fabric of your chest binder.
You toss it onto the table and quickly refasten the buckles, tightening them again.
"Okay. Now you can take it," you say, snatching up your binder and turning towards your other clothes piled on the bed.
You can feel Lea staring at you, and you turn your back to $l_them as you start to yank off your undershirt.
"Is that a good idea?" Lea asks then.
You glare back over your shoulder at $l_them. "What?"
"You've got a lot of bruises, $surname," Lea says, eyeing your side. "And you know you shouldn't wear that while we're travelling."
You scowl, narrowing your eyes at $l_them.
<<if $l_they eq "they">>"Are you wearing yours right now?"
"...I'm not the one that might have cracked ribs."
You just stare at $l_them, your shirt hanging around your neck, the binder in your hand.<<else>>"The fight with the wraith... Are you sure you don't have any cracked ribs?"
You just stare at $l_them, your shirt hanging around your neck, the binder in your hand.<</if>>
"I'm fine," you finally huff, "Noel healed me." You turn back around and just focus on undoing the clasps along the side of the binder, doing your best to ignore the way your one hand trembles all the while.
It takes you a few moments, the bandages around your fingers making it an even more difficult task than usual, but you manage to get it open and quickly pull it on over your shoulders. The clasps meet along the side, under your arm, and you curse under your breath as you struggle to get your bandaged arm to cooperate.
You can just //feel// Lea watching you.
"$surname."
You close your eyes at the sound of your name, letting out a frustrated breath. You refuse to look at $l_them, opening your eyes and just pulling at the clasps. You really don't want to have to ask for help with this.
//Gods, at least let me be able to do this.//
You can't.
You've only managed the first two clasps, and your hand is really starting to shake from the effort. Lea is still staring at you.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"I can fucking do it," you hiss, speaking to Lea or yourself, you're not sure.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You close your eyes, doing your best to just ignore Lea, your fingers tightening around the clasps.<<else>>"I can do it," you say quietly, speaking to Lea or yourself, you're not sure.<</if>>
You take a few deep breaths, pulling at the tight fabric again, wincing at the pain in your ribs and arms. The bandages around your fingers are starting to come undone, and you can hear Lea take a hesitant step forward.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>It makes you snap, that single step, and you swear, ripping the binder off and throwing it to the floor. It's immature, but you don't care right now. You think you've earned the luxury of throwing a bit of a tantrum. You drop back down onto the edge of the bed, burying your face in your hands, a dull throb in your arms from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence in the room for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle in front of you, and you sigh, dropping your hands and turning to look up at $l_them as $l_they pick<<s>> up your binder off the floor.
"You don't have to do that," you say weakly, but $l_they stand<<s>> and bring<<s>> it back over to you.
"Put it back on. I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gruffly.
You feel yourself tense as Lea holds out the binder in front of you.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>That single step sends you over the edge, and you just throw your hands up, letting out a bitter laugh before dropping back down on the edge of the bed. You bury your face in your hands, straining against the dull throb in your arms from the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence hanging over you for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle across the room, and you sigh, dropping your hands and lifting your head to look up at $l_them as $l_they stand<<s>> in front of you.
"I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gruffly.
You tense, your jaw clenching as $l_they hold<<s>> $l_their hands out for you.<<else>>That single step sends you over the edge, and you let your arms just drop, letting out a long sigh before you hunch forward, burying your face in your hands, your arms trembling from the dull ache of the wasted effort.
There's a heavy silence hanging over you for a few minutes, until you hear Lea shuffle across the room, and you sigh, dropping your hands and blinking over at $l_them as $l_they stop<<s>> in front of you.
"Sit down. I'll do the clasps for you," Lea says gruffly.
You tense, your jaw clenching as $l_they gesture<<s>> towards the bed.<</if>>
<div id="choice">[[I let Lea help. ->I take the binder and let Lea help. HF RIVALRY]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I take the binder and just put it back in my bag. ->I take the binder and just put it back in my bag. HF RIVALRY]]</div><</if>>It takes you a few seconds to compose yourself, allowing a couple more curses before you calm down.
It is what it is. You'll just have to make it work for now.
You rub a hand over your sternum, frowning down at your chest before sighing again. At least your travel clothes hide you well enough.
Your travel clothes...
You drop down on the bed, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap. Thankfully, the overpowering smell of wood smoke hides the fact that you've been wearing these same overclothes for a few days now.
You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you.
<<if ($l_relationship is 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You swallow hard, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It burns in your chest, heavy and painful, though you can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You sigh, your hands tightening around your clothes.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal.
You shake your head. You just need to get through this job.<</if>><<elseif ($l_relationship eq 12)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You scowl, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It twists in your chest, heavy and painful, and it irritates you - but it makes you feel guilty, too. You can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>><<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You take a deep breath, taking the binder from $l_them, wincing as you pull it back on over your shoulders. Lea carefully sits down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You take a deep breath, taking the binder from $l_them, wincing as you pull it back on over your shoulders. Lea carefully sits down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<<else>>You take a deep breath, take a few steps back and dropping down onto the bed. Lea offers you the binder, and you take it, wincing as you pull it back on over your shoulders. Lea carefully sits down on the bed beside you, waiting until you lean forward and raise your arm for $l_them to reach the clasps.<</if>>
You shiver at $l_their touch, $l_their hands icy - you suppose $l_they must have been outside before coming here, cold still radiating off of $l_them. You can tell $l_they<<re>> trying not to touch you, glancing over to see $l_their brow furrowed, $l_their focus intent on the clasps. You watch $l_them for a moment, before dropping your gaze, staring down into your lap.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>Lea's hands hover over you, one more gentle touch along your side before $l_they abruptly pull<<s>> back, clearing $l_their throat. The bed groans as $l_they put<<s>> some space between you, fidgeting with $l_their ring around $l_their thumb.
"There," $l_they <<say>> roughly, and you both look at each other, Lea's hand fluttering to your shoulder, barely a touch before $l_they stand<<s>> and clear<<s>> $l_their throat again.
You feel your face flush, watching $l_them walk away, your hand going to your shoulder, and then to the clasps under your arm.
Lea stands with $l_their back to you, shifting your rucksack on the table.
"Don't wear it for too long," Lea says then, glancing back at you.
"I know," you say, dropping your gaze.<<else>>"Okay," Lea says then, and you take a deep breath at $l_their words, "there."
You reach up and run a hand over the clasps' spine, giving Lea a little nod.
But Lea hesitates, tensing on the bed beside you, pursing $l_their lips.
"Eight hours. Don't wear it longer than that," $l_they <<say>> finally. Then $l_their face soften<<s>> slightly, and $l_they stand<<s>>, retreating back to your rucksack.<</if>>
You stare down at your hands, closing your eyes and breathing deeply, your chest tight under the binder, your ribs shifting painfully.
"...Thanks, Lea," you say, opening your eyes, but not looking at $l_them.
You hear Lea pause for a brief moment, feel $l_them watching you, and there's a long silence before:
"I'll meet you down at the stables." And then the sound of the door opening and closing, and you're left all alone.
You press a hand to your sternum, tracing the clasps again, glancing over at your clothes beside you. Picking up your tunic, you pull it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you, $l_their cold touch still lingering along your side.
<<if ($l_relationship is 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You swallow hard, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It burns in your chest, heavy and painful, though you can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You sigh, your hands tightening around your clothes.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal.
You shake your head. You just need to get through this job.<</if>><<elseif ($l_relationship eq 12)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You scowl, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It twists in your chest, heavy and painful, and it irritates you - but it makes you feel guilty, too. You can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>><<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 01]]<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>You stand unmoving, instead just reaching up and undoing the clasps, peeling the binder off and turning away from Lea, walking back over to the table.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You snatch the binder out of Lea's hand, grimacing as you do, standing and shaking your head. You stalk back over to the table, roughly grabbing at your rucksack.<<else>>You grit your teeth, standing from the bed and turning away from Lea, undoing the few clasps you had managed and peeling the binder off. You walk back over to the table, roughly grabbing at your rucksack.<</if>>
"$surname," Lea's voice is hard, but you just shake your head, jerking open your bag and shoving the binder back inside.
"You're right. It's not a good idea," you say, glancing back at $l_them with a sharp smile.
$l_Their face is unreadable, but $l_they look<<s>> away first, glancing down at the floor.
You turn your glare on the bandages wrapped up your arm, and you want to rip them off, tear at the black infection, carve it out of your skin - but you don't. You pull your rucksack closed again, ignoring Lea as you brush past them back to the bed.
You can feel Lea's eyes on you again though, burning into your back as you grab at your clothes piled on the bed. You hear the sound of $l_them hauling up your bag then, grunting as it smacks against $l_their back.
"...I'll meet you down at the stables," Lea finally says.
"Yeah," you say gruffly, running a hand over your face.
There's a long, painful moment where Lea just shifts on $l_their feet, watching you, until eventually $l_they open<<s>> the door and slip out of the room, leaving you all alone.
You drop down on the bed then, picking up your tunic and pulling it onto your lap, running your thumb along the warm fur of the collar as you undo some of the buttons. You swallow back the bitter taste of frustrated tears, just shaking your head, pressing a hard hand to your sternum. It is what it is. Your clothes will cover you well enough.
You glance up towards the door then, Lea's phantom presence still lingering in the room with you. $l_Their outstretched hands offering to help.
<<if ($l_relationship is 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You swallow hard, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It burns in your chest, heavy and painful, though you can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You sigh, your hands tightening around your clothes.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the disbelief, the betrayal.
You shake your head. You just need to get through this job.<</if>><<elseif ($l_relationship eq 12)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You scowl, shaking your head, trying to force $l_them from your mind. You can't... you just can't.
You keep seeing $l_their face every time you close your eyes, the way $l_they had looked at you - the betrayal. It twists in your chest, heavy and painful, and it irritates you - but it makes you feel guilty, too. You can't bear to think about //why//.
You just need to get through this job.<<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>><<else>>More bits and pieces of the previous night come back to you then - you and Lea, in this room. You feel yourself scowl after $l_them, as if $l_they could see you, as if $l_they could feel your anger somehow.
You just have to get through this job.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone Reject Binder]]A knock on the door makes you jump from the bed, wiping at your eyes roughly with the back of your bandaged hand. Shuffling over to the door, you hesitate a moment, your hand hovering over the doorknob.
"Yeah?" you prompt.
"It's me," Noel's muffled voice comes through the door.
You take a deep breath before swinging it open, Noel giving you a little smile.
"Good morning," he says, sweeping into the room as you close the door behind him.
Once inside, Noel seems to gather xemself for a moment, and you take the chance to admire xir change of clothes for today. No longer in the green cloak, it's almost jarring to see xem in something rather plain.
He's wearing a dark doublet, golden buttons done all the way up to his throat, and a thick leather chestpiece buckled overtop. He's traded out his long wool skirt for a pair of simple dark trousers, though xe does still have on xir white heeled boots - seeming even whiter now with the darker colors of this outfit. You also notice a subtle green shimmer on his eyelids beneath his hood, and you suspect that there is some illusion magic involved with the way it glitters under his brow.
Without his cloak on, and the large ruffle of feathers around xir shoulders, you also realize just how stocky Noel is - his arms are thick with muscle and fat, a large round stomach and strong legs. You wonder what kind of training they do down at the Flood to get that strong...
<<if $n_flirt gte 2>>Noel catches your eye as xe sets xir bag down on the table then, and you know you're staring, but even then your eyes linger on the tight leather stretched across xir chest, over xir stomach that curves gracefully over the belt cinched at xir hips, until Noel chuckles, and you quickly look away, staring into the fireplace and cursing the fact that you're wearing your same shitty travel clothes in front of xem again.
He mercifully gives you a moment, before clearing his throat. You cringe a bit, but force yourself to look at him.
"I saw Lea head outside," Noel says slowly, clasping xir hands together, "$l_They insisted on waking you up..." xe trails off, giving you a worried look.
"...It's fine," you finally manage to say, recovering fully now, despite the slight burn still present on the back of your neck.<<else>>Noel sets xir bag on the table then, turning to you.
"I saw Lea head outside," Noel says slowly, clasping xir hands together, "$l_They insisted on waking you up..." he trails off, giving you a worried look.
"It's fine," you wave your hand with a shrug.<</if>>
<<if $highfell>>"What did you tell $l_them?"
"That the bandages were your idea. Some bullshit about a poultice, soaking the bandages to fade scarring."
Noel blinks, before wincing a bit.
"Well... Whatever works. It does wound me a bit to have Lea think that I buy into that fake alchemy garbage, though," xe adds with a laugh.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Yeah, sorry," you laugh weakly, staring down at your hands, pulling at a lose string unraveling along the edge of one of the bandages.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"It was the best I could do on the spot," you admit weakly, staring down at your hands, pulling at a lose string unraveling along the edge of one of the bandages.<<else>>"Yeah. Whatever works," you say bitterly, scowling at him for a moment, before sighing. You stare down at your hands, pulling at a lose string unraveling along the edge of one of the bandages.<</if>>
Noel takes a deep breath then, holding out his hand.
"May I?" xe says, nodding towards your arm.<<else>>"Did you tell $l_them?"
"No," you scoff, shaking your head. "I'm not telling $l_them. That's the whole point," you say, raising your bandaged hand for emphasis.
Noel purses xir lips, shifting on xir feet, and you narrow your eyes at xem.
"What?" you say.
"What did you tell $l_them, then?"
"Told $l_them it was your idea, actually. Some bullshit about a poultice, soaking the bandages to fade scarring."
Noel blinks, before wincing a bit.
"Well... I suppose that will work. It does wound me a bit to have Lea think that I buy into that fake alchemy garbage, though," he adds with a tight laugh.
"Yeah," is all you say, staring down at your hands, pulling at a lose string unraveling along the edge of one of the bandages.
Noel sighs then, taking a half-step towards you and holding out xir hand.
"May I?" xe says, nodding at your arm.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t have to do this, Noel."' 'You dont have to do this, Noel.'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Yeah. Thank you."' '...Yeah. Thank you.'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Did you even get any sleep last night?"' 'Did you even get any sleep last night?'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You click your tongue in irritation as your head wrap is knocked sideways in the process - you'd forgotten about it. You reach up and carefully untie it, slowly pulling it free and letting it fall into your lap as you adjust your hair.
You pick up the silk cloth and turn it over in your hands. A rich, royal purple, it was gifted to you by Rodrick when you were younger. Purple was his favorite color. //Is// his favorite color. You frown, running your thumb along the smooth, cool fabric.
You can still hear Jorah's voice echoing in your head, see Rodrick's dark eyes watching you. The flash of the dark blade in the sun. Your blood. You close your eyes.
That part wasn't real. Just a bad dream.
You open your eyes. Jorah and Rodrick. You miss them.
//Rodrick//... Your hand tightens around the silk. A spike of guilt twists in your chest when you think about him - you're always thinking about Jorah. But Rodrick was there, too. A quieter presence than Jorah - but steadier. He was always there.
<<if $chest eq "binder">>You press your hand to your chest, again touching the clasps of your binder, tracing them through your clothes. Rodrick was the one who gifted you your first binder, too. Technically it was a gift from him and Jorah - but you know it was Rodrick. He knew before Jorah, he probably knew before even //you// knew - he saw himself in you. You had that connection, that shared experience, and you really leaned on Rodrick because of it. You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for him.
You drop your hand, grabbing the silk again. You never even got to say goodbye to Rodrick.<<elseif $chest eq "top surgery">>You press a hand to your chest, a phantom ache as you remember that first conversation with Rodrick - so long ago, now. He gifted you your first binder, too, when you were just a kid, before your surgery, and it was Rodrick who brought you to the reconstruction surgeon when you were finally ready. The same surgeon he had gone to - a different procedure, but just the same, it was someone who was familiar and willing to operate on hunters like you.
You had that shared experience, and you really leaned on Rodrick because of it. You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for him.
You drop your hand, grabbing the silk again. You never even got to say goodbye to Rodrick.<<elseif $chest eq "implants">>You press a hand to your chest, a phantom ache as you remember that first conversation with Rodrick - so long ago, now. He helped you through that time more than anyone else. Jorah, too, of course, but there was always more of a connection with Rodrick - your shared experience. It was his recommendation that led you to the reconstruction surgeon a few years ago, the same surgeon he had gone to, someone familiar and willing to operate on hunters like you. Rodrick did a lot of little things that really meant a lot to you - still mean a lot to you.
You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for Rodrick.
You drop your hand, grabbing the silk again. You never even got to say goodbye to Rodrick.<<else>><<if $hormones eq true>>You reflexively reach for your necklace, trapped under your tunic, your fingers brushing along your collar. You feel a phantom ache in your chest, a sudden memory coming to the surface - a specific conversation you had with Rodrick, so long ago now. He knew before Jorah - you think he knew before even //you// knew. He saw himself in you. He helped you figure things out, brought you your very first hormone potion, and you always had that connection with Rodrick - your shared experience, and you leaned on him a lot because of it.
You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for Rodrick.
You drop your hand, grabbing the silk again. You never even got to say goodbye to Rodrick.<<else>>You reflexively reach for your necklace, trapped under your tunic, your fingers brushing along your collar. Even though it was Jorah that gave it to you, you're certain it was Rodrick's idea. He would never admit it, though.
Rodrick did a lot of little things like that - he was always the sentimental one. He did a lot of little things that really meant a lot to you - still mean a lot to you. That was the kind of person he was. //He is.//
You drop your hand, grabbing the silk again. You never even got to say goodbye to Rodrick.<</if>><</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 02]]"You don't have to do this, Noel," you say with a sigh. You press your hand to your arm, feeling the heat of the scratches even through the bandages. You doubt healing it will make any difference, only painfully prolong the inevitable; it's just a waste.
"I don't //have// to do anything, yes, that's true," Noel says, shaking his head. "I want to, though."
You frown.
"Your magic is better used elsewhere," you say.
"My magic is better used however I want to use it," Noel snaps back, giving you a look.
The two of you stare at each other for a moment, before you relent, pushing up your sleeve and holding your arm out to xem.
Noel hums, xir hands warm as xe gently takes your arm.
"Are we going to have this argument every time?" he says then, giving you a small smile.
"Probably," you say, and Noel chuckles. You shift on your feet, trying to ignore the discomfort, the tightness of your skin, the way it twitches under Noel's touch.
<<if ($n_walkout eq true) and ($bw_noel eq false)>><<include "Walkout Apology">><<else>>"Last night...," you start then, watching as Noel carefully begins to undo the bandages, "Where did you get off to? How did you find me?"<</if>>
<<include "CH2 Noel Checkup 01">>"Did you even get any sleep last night?" you say, eyeing xir outstretched hand. You're not sure exhausting Noel before you even reach the isolation district is a good idea, especially when you doubt healing your arm will even make any difference, only painfully prolong the inevitable; it's just a waste.
But Noel just raises an eyebrow.
"Did //you//?"
You make a face, the two of you just staring at each other for a moment. But you relent with a huff, pushing up your sleeve and holding out your arm for xem.
Noel hums, his hands warm as he gently takes your arm.
"How is it feeling?" xe asks then.
"Heavy," you say slowly. It's the only way you can think to describe it - hot and heavy and painful.
Noel just nods.
<<if $n_walkout eq true and $bw_noel eq false>><<include "Walkout Apology">><<else>>"Last night...," you try again, watching as Noel carefully begins to undo the bandages, "Where did you get off to? How did you find me?"<</if>>
<<include "CH2 Noel Checkup 01">>"...Yeah. Thank you," you say, holding your arm out for him.
Noel's face softens, giving you a small smile as he gently takes your wrist and pushes your sleeve back, his hands warm and careful as he slowly turns your arm over.
"How is it feeling?" xe asks.
"Heavy," you say slowly. It's the only way you can think to describe it - heavy and hot and unnatural.
Noel just nods. You shift on your feet, trying to ignore the discomfort, the tightness of your skin, the way it twitches under Noel's touch.
<<if $n_walkout eq true and $bw_noel eq false>><<include "Walkout Apology">><<else>>"Last night...," you start then, watching as Noel carefully begins to undo the bandages, "Where did you get off to? How did you find me?"<</if>>
<<include "CH2 Noel Checkup 01">>Sitting back on the bed, you pull your heavy tunic on over your head, grimacing at the ache in your arm.
<<if $hairtexture eq "afrotext">><<include "Rodrick Silk Wrap Reject Binder">><<else>>You adjust the collar for a moment, before reaching underneath and pulling your necklace through, holding it in your palm and tracing the design with your bandaged finger.
Alone now, you can still hear Jorah's voice echoing in your head, see Rodrick's dark eyes watching you. The flash of the dark blade in the sun. Your blood. You close your eyes.
That part wasn't real. Just a bad dream.
You open your eyes. Jorah and Rodrick. You miss them.
//Rodrick//... you never even got to say goodbye to Rodrick. A spike of guilt twists in your chest when you think about him - you're always thinking about Jorah. But Rodrick was there, too. A quieter presence than Jorah - but steadier. He was always there.
You press your one hand to your chest, your eyes flicking to the door, your bandaged hand curling painfully into a fist around your necklace. Rodrick was the one who gifted you your first binder. Technically it was a gift from him and Jorah - but you know it was Rodrick. He knew before Jorah, he probably knew even before //you// - he saw himself in you. You had that shared experience, and you really leaned on Rodrick because of it. You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for him.
You let the necklace slide from your hand, feeling particularly heavy as it thumps back against your chest.
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 02]]<</if>>You click your tongue in irritation as your head wrap is knocked sideways in the process - you'd forgotten about it. You reach up and carefully untie it, slowly pulling it free and letting it fall into your lap as you adjust your hair.
You pick up the silk cloth and turn it over in your hands. A rich, royal purple, it was gifted to you by Rodrick when you were younger. Purple was his favorite color. //Is// his favorite color. You frown, running your thumb along the smooth, cool fabric.
You can still hear Jorah's voice echoing in your head, see Rodrick's dark eyes watching you. The flash of the dark blade in the sun. Your blood. You close your eyes.
That part wasn't real. Just a bad dream.
You open your eyes. Jorah and Rodrick. You miss them.
//Rodrick//... Your hand tightens around the silk. A spike of guilt twists in your chest when you think about him - you're always thinking about Jorah. But Rodrick was there, too. A quieter presence than Jorah - but steadier. He was always there.
You press your one hand to your chest, your eyes flicking to the door, your bandaged hand curling painfully into a fist around your necklace. Rodrick was the one who gifted you your first binder. Technically it was a gift from him and Jorah - but you know it was Rodrick. He knew way before Jorah, he knew even before //you// - he saw himself in you. You had that shared experience, and you really leaned on Rodrick because of it. You wouldn't be the $mc_person you are today, if not for him.
You drop your hand, grabbing the silk again. You never even got to say goodbye to Rodrick.
[[Continue ->CH2 Alone 02]]Xe doesn't answer right away, carefully lifting your arm and unraveling the first layer. As the bandages come off, you can see dark stains seeping through, pus and blood from the scabs on your arm, and the bottom layer clings to your skin, making you grimace.
"I was making some final house calls," Noel finally says, discarding the bandages on the table and moving to open his bag. Fresh bandages, and another cloth to clean the scratches. You wonder how many cloths Noel has in that bag.
<<if $slept_w_merry>>"When I came back, Merry was already looking for you."
"Final? What do you mean?" you say, not wanting to think about the fact that you don't even remember leaving Merry's bed last night - or if she tried to stop you.<<else>>"When I came back, your door was hanging open... It didn't feel right."
"Final? What do you mean?" you say, not wanting to think about the fact you don't even remember getting up, much less leaving your room, last night.<</if>>
"I don't expect to be coming back to Blackwater after today," Noel says, not looking at you, wiping away the grimy residue smeared down your arm. "I wanted to check in one last time with some people... do what I can for them."
You're not sure what to say to that. But Noel continues without any prompting.
"I came here over a year ago now... I don't really know what I expected, back then. I had been hiding for a while. I debated going to the Black Iron. Or maybe crossing the border and figuring out something in Gael - maybe go to the Wall. But I never did. I just kept hiding. And then... the plague. It tore through the Blackwater. And I didn't want to hide anymore."
He sighs then, wiping down your arm one more time.
[[Continue ->CH2 Noel Checkup 02]]"I offered my services to Redwine - in exchange for protection. But it didn't last long. We only managed to meet twice before things escalated for her in the upper city. She was being pulled in a lot of different directions by a lot of people, and it was too risky for me to be up there - so I went to Merry instead. Even back then Merry had quite a bit of influence, especially down at the docks." Noel pauses for a moment, shaking xir head. "I got really lucky falling in with her. Duncan showed up soon after that..." he trails off, staring down at nothing.
Noel discards the cloth then, and carefully wraps xir hands around your arm. You give xem a nod, and he takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly, xir magic washing over you, that bright blue light igniting beneath xir hands. You close your eyes, gritting your teeth against the sensation, a burning itch beneath the scabs and a tight pain as your skin tries to pull itself together.
The light fades, and Noel drops his hands, frowning.
You stare down at your arm, but it doesn't look much better.
"I'm sorry," Noel says, wiping xir forehead with the back of xir hand.
The black veins seem to pulse beneath your skin, and you almost expect them to start moving, twisting and contorting around your arm. But it all just looks the same, your arm hot and //heavy//.
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s alright. Better than nothing."' 'Its alright. Better than nothing.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t think it will be worth trying to heal this anymore."' 'I dont think it will be worth trying to heal this anymore.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Well... that\'s what the bandages are for, anyways."' 'Well... thats what the bandages are for, anyways.'>><</link>></div>"It's alright. Better than nothing," you say.
Noel doesn't seem to agree, scowling down at his hands.
You take a deep breath, tracing the scabs along your forearm.
"Noel. You can't heal this. You can't heal rot," you say slowly, and his scowl deepens, xir hands curling into fists.
"I know that," xe says, defensive, crossing xir arms over xir chest.
You sigh, rubbing at your eyes for a moment. You don't know what you were expecting. Part of you is still hoping you'll suddenly wake up - this was all just a dream. You're back at the stronghold, with Jorah and Rodrick, with Lea. Before Keld.
"Let's just wrap it up," you say, and thankfully your voice does not betray your dismay.
<<if $highfell>>"Yeah. Okay," Noel says, turning back to retrieve fresh bandages from his bag.
[[Continue ->CH2 Highfell]]<<else>>"...Right," Noel says, turning back to retrieve fresh bandages from his bag.
[[Continue ->CH2 Blackwater]]<</if>>"I don't think it will be worth trying to heal this anymore," you say, touching your hand to the hot, swollen skin, tracing the scabs along your forearm.
Noel takes a deep breath.
"I can at least keep the scratches from getting worse. The scabbing is better than an open wound," xe says.
"Right," you say, half-hearted at best. You just keep staring at the black veins, at the way it's spreading farther up your forearm, at your hand that doesn't look like yours anymore.
You sigh, shaking your head and rubbing at your eyes for a moment. You don't know what you were expecting. Part of you is still hoping you'll suddenly wake up - this was all just a dream. You're back at the stronghold, with Jorah and Rodrick, with Lea. Before Keld.
"Let's just wrap it up," you finally say, and thankfully your voice does not betray your dismay.
<<if $highfell>>"Yeah. Okay," Noel says, turning back to retrieve fresh bandages from $n_their bag.
[[Continue ->CH2 Highfell]]<<else>>"...Okay," Noel says, turning back to retrieve fresh bandages from his bag.
[[Continue ->CH2 Blackwater]]<</if>>"Well... that's what the bandages are for, anyways," you say, trying to keep your tone light, but it's not particularly convincing.
Noel purses xir lips, shaking xir head. He seems angry, and you shift in front of xem, pressing your hand to the hot, swollen skin, tracing the scabs along your forearm.
"I'm sorry," Noel says again.
You just sigh, dropping your hand and rubbing at your eyes for a moment. You don't know what you were expecting. Part of you is still hoping you'll suddenly wake up - this was all just a dream. You're back at the stronghold, with Jorah and Rodrick, with Lea. Before Keld.
"Let's just wrap it up already," you finally say, and thankfully your voice does not betray your dismay.
<<if $highfell>>"Yeah. Okay," Noel says, turning back to retrieve fresh bandages from his bag.
[[Continue ->CH2 Highfell]]<<else>>"...Yeah," Noel says, turning back to retrieve fresh bandages from his bag.
[[Continue ->CH2 Blackwater]]<</if>>Double-click this passage to edit it.With Noel's back to you, you can hear xem digging around in xir bag, but then xe stops. Hesitates. He takes a deep breath, and you tense instinctively as he turns back around to look at you.
But he doesn't say anything, just holding up the bandages, and you let xem wrap your arm, ignoring the sudden uncertainty passing between you. Until he finishes, stepping back, taking another deep breath and-
<<if $bw_noel>><<include "Blackwater BW Noel Discussion 01">><<else>><<include "Blackwater Noel Discussion 01">><</if>><<if $n_flirt gte 2>><<include "Blackwater BW Noel Flirt 01">><<else>>"$name.... Are you going to be okay? Doing this, today?" Noel says. "We reinforced a lot of wards already. Maybe we should just leave."
You frown at that.
<div id="choice"><<link '"We\'re not leaving."' 'We are not leaving, Noel. Platonic'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We have to do this, Noel."' 'We have to do this, Noel. Platonic'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"And what are we going to tell Lea, if we do that?"' 'And what are we going to tell Lea, if we do that? Platonic'>><</link>></div><</if>>"$name.... Are you going to be okay? Doing this, today?" Noel says. "We can still leave. I've been thinking... maybe it would be better to just leave."
You frown at that.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'ll be fine."' 'CH2 Ill be fine. Platonic Noel'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We don\'t have that choice. We have to do this."' 'CH2 Dont have much of a choice. We have to do this. Platonic'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Don\'t worry about me, Noel."' 'CH2 Dont worry about me, Noel. Platonic.'>><</link>></div>"$name.... Are you going to be okay? Doing this, today?" Noel says. "We reinforced a lot of wards already. Maybe we should just leave."
You frown at that.
<div id="choice"><<link '"We\'re not leaving."' 'We are not leaving, Noel. FLIRT'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We have to do this, Noel."' 'We have to do this, Noel. FLIRT'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"And what are we going to tell Lea, if we do that?"' 'And what are we going to tell Lea, if we do that? FLIRT'>><</link>></div>"We're not leaving, Noel," you say with some finality. You don't want to argue this - you've made up your mind. Changing your plans now would do nothing but make Lea ask questions, and you're not stupid. It's clear $l_they<<re>> already suspicious about your arm - $l_they know<<s>> there's something wrong with you.
But you're //fine.// You're not leaving.
Noel purses $n_their lips, watching you for a moment.
"I just don't want you to hurt yourself, and I don't want... what happened yesterday, at the temple..." Noel just trails off, glancing sideways.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I'll be ready for it this time," you say, and now you glance away too, staring down at your hands again.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"That won't happen again," you say, clenching your jaw, and now it's your turn to glance away, staring down at your hands again.<<else>>"I'll be fine," you say, and now you glance away too, staring down at your hands again.<</if>> Noel takes a long time to respond, and you avoid his gaze the entire time, fidgeting with your bandages.
"Okay," xe says finally, reluctantly.
You just nod, forcing yourself to look at xem again.
"I can handle it."
Noel just gives you a tight smile. You can practically hear what he's thinking - //Handle it like you handled it yesterday?// But Noel is too nice to actually say it.
"$name," Noel says slowly, xir smile faltering a bit, and you tense at xir shift in tone, "I want to believe you can handle it. I want to believe you."
You scowl, taking a step back from xem.
"I'm choosing to believe you on this," he clarifies. "But you can't tell me that letting you back into the isolation district isn't a risk. We got lucky, yesterday. But I don't know how long that luck will last. And I should have said something last night - but you were already upset, and I..."
"What are you saying?" you prompt, narrowing your eyes at him.
"You need to tell Lea. I don't - I don't want to have to be the one-"
<<include "Noel Flirt - You Promised">>"We have the opportunity to do more with the others - we have to, Noel."
You're set on staying in Blackwater. The place has been neglected for too long. If you leave, it will only get worse, and this is your job - this is what you do. Yesterday was only the first step in securing the isolation district. You have to do this. You have to.
Noel purses xir lips, searching your face.
"I get it - I do. But..." Noel trails off for a moment, shifting on xir feet. "I'm worried. After last night. And yesterday, what happened at the temple... I don't want you to hurt yourself. Or someone else."
"I'm //not// going to hurt someone," you say, prickling under xir sad stare.
Noel sighs, running a hand over xir face.
"$name," he says, dropping xir hand, and you tense at xir shift in tone, "I want to believe you."
You scowl, taking a step back from him.
"I'm choosing to believe you on this," he clarifies. "But you can't tell me that letting you back into the isolation district isn't a risk. We got lucky, yesterday. But I don't know how long that luck will last. And I should have said something last night - but you were already upset, and I..."
"What are you saying?" you prompt, narrowing your eyes at xem.
"You need to tell Lea. I don't - I don't want to have to be the one-"
<<include "Noel Flirt - You Promised">>"And what are we going to tell Lea, if we do that?" you say, shaking your head.
Noel hesitates.
"The truth."
You take a deep breath, turning away from him.
"$name," Noel says, "just - hear me out."
"What was all of this for, then?" you say, lifting your bandaged arm.
"I - I wanted to help," Noel says slowly, running a hand over xir face. "I just wanted to help you, like you helped me."
You sigh, dropping your hand, staring down as it curls into a fist at your side.
"But this isn't helping, $name."
"So we tell Lea," you say, doing your best to keep your voice steady. "We tell Lea, and then what? $l_They drag<<s>> me back to the stronghold. I'm locked in a room - I'm collared - I get to sit and stare at a wall until I die?"
Your voice breaks at the end, and you have to turn away from $n_them again.
"That's not what I'm asking for," Noel says. "I just... After what happened last night, and yesterday, at the temple... I don't want you to hurt yourself."
Noel takes a step towards you.
"Last night, I should have pushed you more. But when I mentioned the collar... I didn't want to upset you. But last night, you opened the Vel. You didn't even realize it. Something could have come through." He hesitates then. "//Did// something come through?"
You swallow loudly, your mouth going dry, the sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your head, a sharp pain in your arm.
"N-no... I don't know," you shake your head.
Noel's hand on your arm makes you wince, xir palm hot even through your bandages.
"I'm sorry, $name. This was a mistake. I wanted to help," he says, glancing down at your hand before searching your face, xir brow knit with concern.
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re right. This isn\'t helping. //You\'re// not helping."' 'Youre right. This isnt helping. FLIRT'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_hostile to true>><<set $n_bandages to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Shut up. We\'re not telling Lea."' 'Shut up. Were not telling Lea. FLIRT'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I can\'t tell Lea. I can\'t."' 'I cant tell Lea. FLIRT'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t want to die like that, Noel."' 'I dont want to die like that, Noel. FLIRT'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div><<if $n_promise eq true>>"You promised me," you cut xem off, anger flaring in your chest.
Noel doesn't look at you.
"I shouldn't have."
"You... you promised," you say it again, as if it matters.<<else>>"No," you cut xem off.
Noel sighs, his face clearly pained.<</if>>
"It's one thing, what happened yesterday, at the temple - the omen triggered you, and you saw something. You burned that rune into the ground," Noel says, "But last night, you //opened the Vel//. You didn't even realize it - something could have come through." Xe pauses, searching your face. "Did something come through?"
You swallow loudly, your mouth going dry, the sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your head, a sharp pain in your arm.
"So much for not //betraying my trust//," you say instead, leering at xem. Noel doesn't flinch, just giving you a sad look.
"It was a mistake. I shouldn't have said that." His eyes flick to your bandaged hand. "I shouldn't have..."
"But you did," you snap.
"Yeah. I did. I felt... bad for you... I've seen hunters taken by the rot before... And I wanted to help. I wanted..." Noel trails off.
Your face is burning, and you instinctively try to duck your head, but you're not wearing your hood.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just shut up."' 'Just shut up. FLIRT'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"So all of that was just you //feeling bad// for me?"' 'So all of that was just you feeling bad for me? FLIRT'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay, Noel. Okay. I get it."' 'Okay, Noel. Okay. I get it. FLIRT'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing. If that\'s how xe feels - I have nothing else to say.' 'Say nothing. If thats how xe feels - I have nothing else to say.'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>></div>"Just shut up," you growl, and you stomp past xem, roughly pulling on the rest of your clothes, ignoring xem watching you.
"$name, please," Noel says softly, and you drop down on the bed, jerking your boots on.
"Shut up!" you're shouting now, but Noel just sighs.
You hear his footsteps, hear him stop in front of you, and you refuse to look at him, a bad taste in your mouth.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>You almost flinch when xe reaches out, xir palm hot as xe gently cups your jaw, tilting your head up to look at him. You want to smack xir hand away, to jump up and shove xem back - but you don't.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Is this you feeling bad for me?" you say instead, your anger wavering, your voice sounding far away.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Is this you feeling bad for me?" you say instead, your voice cold and bitter, jerking your head away from xir outstretched hand.<<else>>"Is this you feeling bad for me?" you say instead, unmoving on the bed as you glare up at xem.<</if>>
Noel's jaw clenches, and he pulls xir hand back, turning away from you.
You drop your gaze, standing then, snatching up your hunter's knife and strapping it to your thigh. Grabbing your cloak off the table, you make for the door. Noel is still just standing in the center of the room, watching you sadly.
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, opening the door with far more force than necessary.<<else>>"Here," Noel says gently, and you finally glare up at xem, your cloak and knife in xir hands. It makes you angry - you snatch both from xem, standing from the bed.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Is this you feeling bad for me?" you say, curling your lip before you aggressively strap your hunter's knife to your thigh, tightening the straps until it's painful, the leather snapping from the force of it.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Is this you feeling bad for me?" you say, your anger wavering for a moment, your voice sounding far away. You don't look at xem, just strapping your hunter's knife to your thigh, fumbling with the buckles, your hands shaking despite yourself.<<else>>"Is this you feeling bad for me?" you say, your voice hard, and you don't wait for xem to respond, reaching down and aggressively strapping your hunter's knife to your thigh, tightening the straps until it's painful, the leather snapping from the force of it.<</if>>
Noel steps back, as if you had pushed xem, turning away as you pull your cloak on.
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly then, brushing past xem and opening the door with far more force than necessary.<</if>>
Stepping onto the mezzanine, you realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you. You just need to get out of that room, get away from Noel.
There's no protest from xem. You can hear xem quietly closing the door, quiet footsteps as xe trails after you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]"So all of that was just you //feeling bad// for me?" you say, your lip curling.
"No. Gods, no! $name, please," Noel shakes his head, taking a half-step towards you. "That's not what I mean, I..."
You turn away from him, back to the bed, roughly pulling on the rest of your clothes, ignoring xir eyes burning into your back.
"I made a mistake-"
"Yeah," you scoff, dropping down onto the bed and jerking your boots on.
"Hiding the rot isn't going to help you. Pretending like you're not sick isn't helping - you're going to get hurt," xe says it all in a rush, afraid that you'll cut xem off. "I don't want you to get hurt."
You close your eyes, your foot stomping onto the hardwood as you pull on your boot.
"Too late for that," you say, running a hand over your face.
"$name," Noel says softly, and you can hear his footsteps, hear xem stop in front of you.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>You almost flinch when his hand reaches out, his palm hot as he cups your jaw, tilting your head up to look at xem. You want to smack his hand away, to jump up and shove xem back - but you don't.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Careful. Don't want to make another mistake," you say instead, your voice cold and bitter, pulling away from his outstretched hand.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Is this a mistake, too?" you say instead, your voice wavering, before pulling away from his outstretched hand.<<else>>"Careful. Don't want to make another mistake," you say instead, your voice tight, giving Noel a cool look before pulling away from his hand.<</if>>
Noel's jaw clenches at your words, and xe lets his hand drop, turning away from you.
You shake your head, standing then, snatching up your hunter's knife and strapping it to your thigh. Grabbing your cloak off the table, you make for the door. Noel is still just standing in the center of the room, watching you sadly.
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, opening the door with far more force than necessary.<<else>>Noel crouches down then, eye to eye with you on the bed, forcing you to look at xem. He's holding your cloak and hunter's knife, bundled in xir arms, tilting xir head and offering them to you.
"I just want to help you, dear," he says gently, xir dark eyes searching your face.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Yeah? Not worried about making another //mistake//?" you sneer, before snatching your cloak and knife from him, standing abruptly as you do.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"And you aren't worried about making another //mistake//?" you say, your voice wavering, before you reach out and take your cloak and knife from $n_them, standing abruptly as you do.<<else>>"Yeah? Not worried about making another //mistake//?" you say, your voice tight, giving Noel a cool look as you snatch your cloak and knife from him, standing abruptly as you do.<</if>>
Noel stands with you, and steps back, as if you had pushed xem, turning away as you strap your knife to your thigh and pull on your cloak.
"The others are waiting for us," you say then, brushing past xem and opening the door with far more force than necessary.<</if>>
Stepping onto the mezzanine, you realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you. You just need to get out of that room, get away from Noel.
There's no protest from xem. You can hear xem quietly closing the door, quiet footsteps as he trails after you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]You press your face into your hands, taking a long, ragged breath.
"Okay, Noel," you finally manage, "Okay. I get it."
Dropping your hands, Noel is just staring at you with sad eyes, and you sigh, all of the fight draining out of you.
"I'm sorry, $name," he says softly, stepping towards you, and you nod, staring down at your hands, at your bandages.
"I'm not just going to run downstairs and tell Lea right this moment," Noel starts then, shaking xir head, "but if it gets worse..." He hesitates for a long time. "It will get worse. You have to tell $l_them."
Noel frowns, glancing sideways, tugging at xir sleeves. He seems to struggle for a moment, before letting out a long sigh and looking at you again.
"Once we're clear of the city. We can figure it out. Okay? We'll be careful today. And then we'll figure it out."
"Yeah. Okay," is all you say.
Noel steps a little closer, tilting xir head and peering at you. You think he's going to reach out for you, but he stops, uncertainty furrowing xir brow, and a look on xir face that makes your chest ache.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Reach out for $n_them yourself.' 'Reach out for xem yourself.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t want $n_them to touch me right now - but I reach out for $n_them.' 'I dont want xem to touch me right now - but I reach out for xem.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Turn away from $n_them.' 'Turn away from xem.'>><</link>></div>You swallow hard, turning away from xem and retreating to the bed.
"$name," Noel says, shuffling after you, but you just shake your head, snatching up the rest of your clothes and roughly pulling them on, biting the inside of your cheek, ignoring Noel's eyes burning into your back.
He just feels //bad// for you.
You can't help but scoff, dropping down on the bed and jerking your boots on, slamming your foot onto the hardwood. Noel hovers in front of you, wringing xir hands, seemingly waiting for you to say something.
You don't have anything else to say. If all of this was Noel just //feeling bad// for you - what else is there to say? Your face burns as you stand back up again, and you feel exposed, hot and uncomfortable with Noel in the room with you.
Snatching up your hunter's knife, you strap it to your thigh before brushing past Noel and swiping your cloak up off the table. It's a relief to pull it on, to hide in your hood again, and your hand tightens around the clasp at your throat for a moment, pain in your arm at the motion making you grimace.
Noel says your name again, and you hear xem step closer just before he puts xir hand on your shoulder.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You smack xir hand away, turning on xem and just barely resisting the urge to shove xem back. Noel blanches a bit, quickly pulling xir hand back and shrinking into xir hood.
"$name, please-"
"//Don't// touch me," you snap, your anger flaring through your embarrassment. Noel stares down at the floor, and you refuse to say anything else, just forcing your way past him and out the door, throwing it open with far more force than necessary.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>Your jaw clenches, and you shrug xir hand away, giving xem a cold look. Noel's hand drops, and he shrinks back into xir hood, stepping out of your way as you head for the door.
You refuse to say anything else, throwing open the door with far more force than necessary.<<else>>You take a deep breath, finally looking back at xem, but you step out from beneath xir hand, shaking your head again. You can't even hold xir gaze for more than a few seconds - staring down at your bandaged hand as Noel tries to peer into your hood.
You still refuse to say anything else, just forcing your way past him and out the door, throwing it open with far more force than necessary.<</if>>
Noel doesn't object, just quietly following after you, locking the door with $n_their ring of keys.
You stop short at the top of the stairs, your hand hovering over the banister as you stare down into the parlor - but it's mostly empty this early in the morning, still dark outside.
"$name."
Noel's voice is harder now, and you glare back over your shoulder at xem. You're getting tired of hearing xem say your name.
"I'm not going to tell Lea. At least not yet," he says slowly, "but it's going to get worse. You have to tell $l_them."
Your hand tightens around the banister, and you turn away, descending the stairs as Noel sighs behind you.
Cutting across the parlor, you head straight for the golden double doors - though you realize halfway there you aren't really sure if this is where you need to go. Noel doesn't stop you, though, and you can't stand another moment alone with him, so you don't wait, just shouldering your way through the heavy doors.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]"You're right. This isn't helping. //You're// not helping," you hiss, jabbing a finger at xem, ripping your arm out from underneath xir hand.
"$name-"
"We're not telling Lea. //You// are not telling Lea," you take a step towards xem, but Noel just shakes xir head.
"I'm sorry," he says softly, "I'm just worried for you, dear."
"Don't call me that," you snap.
That seems to hurt Noel more than anything else you've said, and he deflates in front of you, taking a step back and turning away.
You turn away, too, retreating back to the bed and roughly pulling on the rest of your clothes, grabbing your boots and stomping your feet against the hardwood as you pull them on.
You can sense Noel moving around the room, see xir feet as he stops in front of you. You refuse to look at xem, aggressively lacing your boots.
"$name," Noel says slowly, and you scowl down at the floor. "I'm still on your side. I'm trying to help, and I'll keep trying. You get that, don't you?"
"I don't want your help," you say, standing from the bed. "I don't want your //pity//."
Noel winces, as if you'd slapped him, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes for a moment.
"Okay. Fine," xe says, though his voice lacks any real conviction - xe just seems sad.
You walk across the room, snatching your hunter's knife up off the floor and quickly strapping it to your thigh. You grab your cloak off the table, too, throwing it over your shoulders, grimacing at the pain as you raise your arm to fix the clasp.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>Noel takes a deep breath then, stepping in front of you as you turn towards the door.
"$name. Please," Noel says softly.
"Get out of my way, Noel."
Xe just steps closer, and you just glare at xem.
You remain unmoving as Noel carefully reaches out, slipping his hand beneath your hood, holding your face, his palm hot against your cheek. You resist the urge to yell at xem, to slap xem away, to shove xem back - and you almost lean into it, despite everything. But you don't do any of that.
Neither of you speak, just looking at each other - and the way he's looking at you makes your chest ache. You have to pull away, Noel's hand slowly dropping as you head for the door, ducking into your hood as your face still burns from xir touch.
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, jerking the door open with far more force than necessary.<<else>>Noel takes a deep breath then, stepping in front of you as you turn towards the door.
"$name. Please," Noel says softly.
"Get out of my way, Noel."
You glare out of your hood at xem, but the way xe's looking back at you makes your chest ache, and you have to turn away, shouldering past xem and barely resisting the urge to completely bolt from the room.
"The others are waiting for us," you say instead, jerking open the door with far more force than necessary.<</if>>
Stepping onto the mezzanine, you realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you. You just need to get out of that room, get away from Noel.
There's no protest from xem. You can hear xem quietly closing the door, quiet footsteps as he trails after you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]"Shut up. We're not telling Lea," you snap, ripping your arm out from beneath xir hand and turning away from xem. You retreat back to the bed, snatching up the rest of your clothes, roughly pulling them on over your head while Noel just hovers behind you.
"$name, please," he says as you drop down onto the bed, grabbing at your boots. You stomp your feet against the hardwood as you jerk them on, pointedly ignoring Noel.
"I-" Noel starts again, but you cut xem off.
"Shut up!" you're shouting now, standing back up and glaring over at xem. "We are //not// telling Lea."
Noel sighs, dropping xir gaze, staring down at xir hands as you stalk past and pick up your hunter's knife, aggressively strapping it to your thigh.
You brush past $n_them and swipe up your cloak, throwing it over your shoulders and fumbling with the clasp, grimacing as you lift your arm to your throat. It's a relief to pull your hood on, and you pause for a moment, closing your eyes, your hand tightening around the clasp.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq true>>Noel slowly steps around you then, closer to you, tilting xir head to peer into your hood. The look he gives you makes your chest ache, and you have to turn away, brushing past xem for the door.<<else>>Noel slowly steps around you then, closer to you, tilting xir head to peer into your hood, and you don't move as he carefully slips xir hand inside your hood, pressing a warm palm to your cheek. The look xe gives you makes your chest ache, and you have to turn away, xir hand dropping as you brush past xem for the door.<</if>>
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, throwing the door open with far more force than necessary.
Stepping onto the mezzanine, you realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you. You just needed to get out of that room, get away from Noel.
There's no protest from xem. You can hear xem quietly closing the door, the jingle of keys as he locks it, and quiet footsteps trailing behind you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, before pressing your face into your hands.
"Noel...," you start, your voice muffled against your palms, "I can't tell Lea. I can't."
You can hear Noel take a deep breath, exhaling through his nose.
"We don't have to run down there and tell $l_them right this moment," Noel says slowly. You drop your hands, blinking over at xem.
"But if it gets worse..." He hesitates for a long time. "It will get worse. You have to tell $l_them, $name."
You sigh, and Noel glances sideways, tugging at xir sleeves. He seems to struggle for a moment, before looking back at you again.
"Once we're clear of the city. We can figure it out. Okay? We'll be careful today. And then we'll figure it out."
You don't respond, just swallowing loudly, and Noel steps a little closer, tilting xir head and peering at you. You think he's going to reach out, but he stops, uncertainty furrowing xir brow, and a look on xir face that makes your chest ache.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Reach out for $n_them yourself.' 'CH2 Reach out for xem yourself. 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t want $n_them to touch me right now - but I reach out for $n_them.' 'CH2 I dont want xem to touch me right now - but I reach out for xem. 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Turn away from $n_them.' 'CH2 Turn away from xem. 1'>><</link>></div>You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, before stepping back and dropping down hard onto the bed, pressing your face into your hands. It all overwhelms you then - the reality of your situation. The reality that you can't really hide this, not for much longer. The reality that you don't even have much time left.
"I don't want to die like that, Noel," you say, your voice small and muffled.
All you can see is that hunter, in the cold, snowy dark back at the Black Iron, all those years ago. Thrashing on the ground, claws scraping over the frosted stone beneath your feet, her teeth bared and bloody. You don't have much time.
You can hear Noel's slow footseps then, can sense xem stop in front of you.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>You almost flinch at xir touch, a soft hand on your shoulder.
<</if>>"I know, dear," he says gently, "I know."
You drop your hands, watching them curl into fists in your lap before blinking up at Noel.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Reach out for $n_them.' 'CH2 Reach out for xem.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Pull away.' 'CH2 Pull away.'>><</link>></div>You stomp down the stairs, ignoring the few people in the parlor and heading straight for the golden doors.
You stop in front of them, hesitating, listening to Noel's footsteps behind you before turning to look at xem.
You don't say anything, but you hope your glare says enough. He looks away, hiding in xir hood, and it annoys you, despite your tendency to do the very same.
You scoff, turning back to the door, reaching for the handle and shouldering your way through the heavy double doors.
<<link [[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Hostile]]>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>>You hesitate a moment, before taking a half-step forward, reaching out and touching $n_their wrist - you almost take xir hand in yours, but something stops you; but the look you give Noel must tell xem enough, xir arms slipping under yours as xe pulls you into a hug. You let xem hold you against xem, taking a deep breath before tucking your face into the crook of his neck.
"I am sorry, dear," Noel says quietly, drawing circles across your back with his open palm. You don't really know how to handle the touch, awkward and rigid in his arms, but you just need someone to hold you together right now.
Embarrassment - or maybe it's shame - makes your face burn, and you close your eyes, still hiding in Noel's hood. You can smell the oil in $n_their hair, tea tree oil and peppermint, making your head heavy as you breathe $n_them in.
//This is just $n_them feeling bad for you.// Your arms tighten around Noel for a moment - but Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now, and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel draws back then, placing his hands on your shoulders, and you struggle to look at him, your face still hot, from the lingering embarrassment, or Noel's lingering touch, you're not sure. But then he steps even closer, and he lets go over your shoulders and instead takes your face in his hands, and you have to close your eyes, unable to look at him even as he gently urges you to do so.
"I'm sorry," Noel says again, xir voice almost too quiet for you to hear, xir hands tightening around your face for a moment - before xe pulls back, xir fingers trailing along your jaw before he lets his hands drop, swinging back at his sides as if they were heavier now, heavier than they had been just moments ago.
He moves across the room then, gathering up your hunter's knife off the floor, and your cloak from the table, bringing them both back over to you.
"Here. You should finish getting dressed," xe says gently, xir dark eyes soft as you blink down at your knife in xir hand.
You quickly pull on the rest of your clothes and your boots before taking the knife and strapping it to your thigh, while Noel helps you draw your cloak over your shoulders. You wince at the pain in your arm as you reach for the clasp around your throat, unable to fight the pain even with Noel right in front of you. You both look at each other for a moment, and you're the one that has to look away first.
"The others are waiting downstairs. Alright?" Noel says then, pressing xir hand to the small of your back, and you let xem herd you towards the door.
"Alright," you say, and Noel gives you a small smile, opening the door for you. You hesitate for a moment before stepping out onto the mezzanine, while Noel locks the door after you with xir ring of keys.
You wring your hands, waiting for xem to head down the stairs. You feel sick suddenly, at the thought of facing the others, sick at your situation, at the corner you've been backed into, sick from the undeserving tenderness of Noel's touch - burning like a fever, hot on your skin.
You stare at the back of Noel's head as you both descend down into the parlor, and you imagine that he can feel your stare, all the way down the stairs and through the tables. The parlor is mostly empty this early, still dark outside, but you still find yourself retreating into your hood, feeling exposed out in the open now.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you, one last look and a little nod before xe pushes them wide open.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]You hesitate for a moment, before reaching out, slipping your hand inside Noel's hood, pressing your palm to xir cheek. The gesture completely takes xem aback, and he almost grabs your wrist, before stopping xemself, xir hand hovering in the little space between you.
Noel drops xir gaze, then just closes his eyes for a brief moment, before looking at you again.
"I am sorry, $name," he says softly, and you can feel xir breath on your wrist, the warmth of xir lips barely brushing your skin.
"I know," you say, and you pull your hand back, turning away from him.
//This is just him feeling bad for you.//
You pull on the rest of your clothes then, still piled on the bed, then grab your hunter's knife off the floor, strapping it to your thigh. Brushing past Noel, you swipe up your cloak off the table. You can feel xem watching you, and despite that you still wince as you pull your cloak over your arm, frowning and quickly ducking into your hood.
You fidget with the bandages, before raising your gaze again, both you and Noel just looking at each other for a few moments. You look away first, embarrassment - or maybe it's shame - over the entire situation making your face burn.
You feel pathetic. At the mercy of Noel. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace. Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
"The others are waiting for us downstairs. Alright?" Noel says then, taking a step towards you, tilting his head to peer into your hood. He's giving you a soft look, and you swallow hard, frustration and.. something else making your chest constrict. Your hand twitches at your side, the feeling of xir breath on your skin still burning your inner wrist.
"Alright," you say, nodding, glancing down at your bandages again.
Noel gives you a small smile, and you let xem herd you towards the door, running your hands over your face before stepping out onto the mezzanine. You wait as Noel locks the door behind you, wringing your hands and glancing down into the parlor.
It's mostly empty, this early in the morning, still dark outside, but you still find yourself retreating into your hood. You follow Noel as he starts down the stairs, and despite his reassurances, you feel sick suddenly, at the thought of facing the others, sick at your situation, at the corner you've been backed into, sick with the thought of chains and collars.
You stare at the back of Noel's head, trailing after xem through the parlor, and you hesitate as xe stops in front of the golden doors. Xe glances back at you, giving you another small smile, a little nod, before xe pushes them wide open.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]You can't look at xem right now, turning away and retreating to the bed, quickly pulling on the rest of your clothes and your boots. You can feel xem watching you, and you fumble as you strap your hunter's knife to your thigh, and you have to stop for a moment, scrubbing your face with your hands.
"$name," Noel says quietly, and you just shake your head, brushing past him and swiping your cloak up off the table.
"I am sorry," Noel says, and you take a deep breath, your hands tightening around your cloak.
"I know, Noel," you say, and you glance back over at xem, and the two of you just look at each other for a long moment. Noel takes a step towards you, and he's giving you a soft look, and you swallow hard, frustration and.. something else making your chest constrict.
You look away first, jerking on your cloak, wincing as you pull it over your arm.
//This is just him feeling bad for you.//
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, heading for the door, ignoring the way Noel continues to stare after you.
"Okay," Noel says quietly, and you step out onto the mezzanine, hesitating at the top of the stairs as Noel locks the door behind you with xir ring of keys.
You wrap your hands around the banister, leaning down over the parlor, taking a deep breath as Noel steps up behind you. You feel sick over the idea of facing the others right now, over this whole situation. Sick at the mercy of Noel.
You scowl, pushing off the banister and stepping past xem, descending the stairs while he trails behind you.
You let xem take the lead as you cross the parlor, hesitating, staring down at your hands as he leads you through the tables.
Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you with a small, sad smile.
You clench your jaw, turning away.
Noel just sighs, and reluctantly opens the doors.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>You reach out for xem, touching xir arm, xir hand tightening over your shoulder as you pull xem closer.<<else>>You reach out for xem, taking xir wrist in your hand and pulling xem closer, Noel wrapping xir arm around you.<</if>>
You tuck your head against xir stomach, Noel's other hand cradling the back of your head, and you feel embarrassed, but you just close your eyes, letting Noel hold you against him - let him hold you together. You stay like that for a long time, just clinging to him, despite the embarrassment, despite the shame.
"We'll figure it out," Noel says then, breaking the long silence between you, pulling back a bit, taking your face in xir hands. You swallow thickly, opening your eyes and looking up at him again.
"Okay? We'll figure it out. We'll be careful today. And then we'll figure it out," Noel says, stroking your cheek with xir thumb.
"Okay," you say weakly, grabbing at xir wrists.
You don't really know if you believe him or not, but right now Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
"Okay," you say again, and Noel steps back, dropping xir hands and fetching your cloak and knife.
"Here," he says gently, and you stand from the bed, quickly pulling on the rest of your clothes and boots, before taking and strapping your knife to your thigh. Noel helps you draw your cloak across your shoulders, giving you a soft look. You wince at the pain in your arm as you reach for the clasp around your throat, unable to fight the pain even with Noel right in front of you. You both look at each other for a moment, and you're the one that has to look away first.
"The others are waiting downstairs," Noel says then, gesturing towards the door. "Alright?"
You just nod, rubbing at your eyes, and nodding again. Your face is burning, from Noel's lingering touch, or from the lingering embarrassment, you're not sure.
Guilt, too, begins to gnaw at you, and you're almost overwhelmed again.
But Noel presses a light hand to the small of your back, peering into your hood and giving you a small smile. Your chest tightens, and you wish you could just stay here with Noel, let xem hold you for a little while longer.
"Yeah. Alright," you finally say, and you let him herd you towards the door. Noel opens it for you, letting you step out on the mezzanine, quietly closing and locking the door behind you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Non-hostile BW Noel]]<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>You turn away from xem, as best you can on the bed, shrugging off his hand and reaching for the rest of your clothes. Noel takes the hint, backing off, letting you pull on your outer layers, watching as you grab your boots and pull those on, too.<<else>>You turn away from xem, as best you can on the bed, just reaching for the rest of your clothes. Noel takes the hint, backing off, letting you pull on your outer layers, watching as you grab at your boots and pull those on, too.<</if>>
"I'm sure the others are waiting," you say gruffly, standing and retrieving your hunter's knife, strapping it to your thigh. You don't want to talk anymore. You need to get out of this room.
"$name-"
"They're waiting for us," you say, snatching up your cloak.
You feel embarrassed, hot and uncomfortable in the room with xem right now. You throw your cloak over your shoulders, fumbling with the clasp, grimacing at the pain in your arm as you hold it at your throat. Even with Noel watching you, you can't hide the pain.
You don't look at xem, ducking into your hood as you brush past xem for the door. You throw it open with far more force than necessary, stepping out onto the mezzanine, barely resisting the urge to bolt down the stairs.
There's no protest from Noel. You can hear him quietly closing the door, quiet footsteps as xe trails down the stairs behind you. You realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering in Merry's room, and that's good enough for you.
Crossing the mezzanine, you peer down into the parlor, wrapping your hands around the banister, taking a deep breath as Noel steps up behind you. You feel sick over the idea of facing the others right now, over this whole situation. Sick at the mercy of Noel.
You scowl, pushing off the banister and stepping past him, descending the stairs while xe trails behind you.
You let xem take the lead as you cross the parlor, glaring at the back of xir head, but you can't help the way your chest constricts, frustration and... something else making your face burn.
Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you with a small, sad smile.
You clench your jaw, turning away.
Noel just sighs, and then reluctantly pushes open the doors.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]You peer down into the parlor, leaning against the banister for a moment, hesitating at the top of the stairs. It's all but empty this early in the morning, still dark outside, and you force yourself to follow after Noel, descending the stairs and making your way through the tables, to the golden double doors.
Noel stops in front of them, glancing back at you with a small, sad smile.
You clench your jaw, turning away.
Noel just sighs, reluctantly pushing open the heavy doors.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]You and Noel slide into the room, and you awkwardly wring your hands, more than aware of how obvious the white bandages are around your fingers. But no one seems to pay it any mind.
Lea stands near Merry's desk, holding a book in $l_their hands which $l_they <<dont>> even look up from as the door closes behind you. Merry is sitting in her ornate chair, also looking over some papers, half-moon glasses resting on the end of her nose.
<<if ($clem_tavernkiss is true) or ($bw_clem is true)>>Clementine is hovering by the woodstove, though they perk up at the sight of you, giving you a shy smile and a nod as you approach the desk.<<else>>Clementine is hovering by the woodstove, though they blink over at you and give you a small nod as you approach the desk.<</if>>
"Well," Merry says, glancing up from her papers, "good morning, hunter."
<<if $slept_w_merry>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you shift on your feet, rubbing the back of your neck as memories from last night resurface briefly, making your face grow hot.<<elseif $ran_out_on_merry>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you shift on your feet, unable to meet her gaze, embarrassment over last night making the back of your neck burn.<<elseif $m_relationship eq 10>><<if $m_threwdrink>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you glare right back, resisting the urge to curl your lip at her.<<else>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you quickly look away, scowling down at your boots.<</if>><<elseif hasVisited("Take off your hood." or "Take off your hood. 1")>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you shift on your feet, unable to stop yourself from ducking back into your hood, facing her again making the back of your neck burn.<<else>>She eyes you for a long moment, looking you up and down, and you shift on your feet, ducking into your hood.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Good morning."' 'BW Good morning.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What are you reading?"' 'BW What are you reading?'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Just grunt in response.' 'BW Just grunt in response.'>><</link>></div>You and Noel slide into the room, and you scowl down at your hands, more than aware of how obvious the white bandages are around your fingers. No one seems to pay it any mind, though, Lea with $l_their back to you, head bowed over a book, Merry sitting in her ornate chair behind her desk with some papers in her hand.
Clementine hovers over by the woodstove, blinking over at you and giving you a little nod as you close the doors.
Merry peers at you over the top of some half-moon glasses, narrowing her eye and glancing between you and Noel. You tense, turning away from her, while Noel clears his throat beside you.
An awkward beat of silence, and Merry leans back in her chair, raising an eyebrow at Noel.
"Good morning, hunter," she finally says, her eye cutting from Noel and back to you.
<<if $slept_w_merry>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you shift on your feet, rubbing the back of your neck as memories from last night resurface briefly, making your face grow hot.<<elseif $ran_out_on_merry>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you shift on your feet, unable to meet her gaze, embarrassment over last night making the back of your neck burn.<<elseif $m_relationship eq 10>><<if $m_threwdrink>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you glare right back, resisting the urge to curl your lip at her.<<else>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you quickly look away, scowling down at your boots.<</if>><<elseif hasVisited("Take off your hood." or "Take off your hood. 1")>>Her stare is sharp, flicking over you for a moment, and you shift on your feet, unable to stop yourself from ducking back into your hood, facing her again making the back of your neck burn.<<else>>She eyes you for a long moment, looking you up and down, and you shift on your feet, ducking into your hood.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Good morning."' 'BW Good morning.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What are you reading?"' 'BW What are you reading?'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Just grunt in response.' 'BW Just grunt in response.'>><</link>></div><<if ($slept_w_merry eq true) or ($ran_out_on_merry eq true) or hasVisited("Take off your hood." or "Take off your hood. 1")>>"...Good morning," you manage, still avoiding looking directly at her, instead sidling up next to Lea and peering down at the book in $l_their hand.<<else>>"Good morning," you say, though your tone is far from enthusiastic. Merry chuckles, watching you over the rim of her glasses.
You ignore her and sidle up next to Lea, peering down at the book in $l_their hand.<</if>>
$l_They glance<<s>> over at you, shifting over so you can read the page. It's a list of names - a registry, you think.
"Merry's crew records," Lea explains. "Names, specializations, and towns recruited from." Lea points out a few entries with a star scribbled in the margins next to them. "The ones that are missing."
You nod, but you give $l_them a questioning look.
"I wanted their names," Lea says, closing the book then and setting it down on the desk.
Merry just hums, lowering her own papers and pulling off her glasses.
<<include "Merry pulls off her glasses">><<if ($slept_w_merry eq true) or ($ran_out_on_merry eq true) or hasVisited("Take off your hood." or "Take off your hood. 1")>>"...What are you reading?" you manage, still avoiding looking directly at her, instead just eyeing the papers in her hands.<<else>>"What are you reading?" you prompt, eyeing the papers in her hands.<</if>>
"Straight to it then, I see..." Merry sighs, sitting up at the desk.
"I'm just looking over Merry's crew records," Lea is the one that answers, glancing over at you and gesturing with the book. "I wanted to note the names of the ones that have gone missing," Lea adds, setting the book down on the desk then.
Merry just hums, lowering her own papers and pulling off her glasses.
<<include "Merry pulls off her glasses">>You just grunt in response. Lea glances over at you briefly, while Merry just raises an eyebrow.
"Get any sleep?" Merry prompts.
You give her an annoyed look, and she just chuckles.
Lea clears $l_their throat then, glancing between you two before gesturing with the book in $l_their hand.
"I've been looking over Merry's crew records," $l_they say<<s>>, "noting down the names of the ones that have gone missing." Lea sets the book down on the desk, and Merry hums, lowering her own papers and pulling off her glasses.
<<include "Merry pulls off her glasses">><<widget "are">><<if $l_plural>>are<<else>>is<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "Are">><<if $l_plural>>Are<<else>>Is<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "dont">><<if $l_plural>>don't<<else>>doesn't<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "were">><<if $l_plural>>were<<else>>was<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "say">><<if $l_plural>>say<<else>>says<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "s">><<if $l_plural>><<else>>s<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "es">><<if $l_plural>><<else>>es<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "have">><<if $l_plural>>have<<else>>has<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "do">><<if $l_plural>>do<<else>>does<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "re">><<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "ve">><<if $l_plural>>'ve<<else>>'s<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "try">><<if $l_plural>>try<<else>>tries<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "go">><<if $l_plural>>go<<else>>goes<</if>><</widget>>Merry eyes you for another moment, though she gives you no explantation for the papers she was reading over - you assume they must have something to do with her affairs here at the tavern, just glimpsing a few numbers scrawled across the page before she leans forward in her chair, a long braid of her hair swinging forward as she presses her arms to the desk.
"Thought maybe there would be a connection... but. Not much," Lea continues, crossing $l_their arms with a sigh. "A few alchemists, a few mages, but plenty who are neither."
Lea pulls out $l_their little journal then, flipping through some pages and reaching across Merry's desk to take her quill, jotting a few things down, scowling all the while.
"I don't know if the names will help. But I figure it's good to know who we're looking for."
You nod, glancing over at Noel as xe steps forward then.
"Now that we're all here, we should start preparing to leave for the isolation district," Noel says slowly, and Merry sighs, rising to stand behind her desk at Noel's words.
[[Continue ->BW What's the plan, Noel?]]<<if $bw_noel>>"What's the plan, Noel?" Merry asks, and she looks over at you for a moment. "I know you reinforced your wards yesterday."
He doesn't respond right away, running a hand over his face. You remain silent.
"We should sweep the district. I think it's the only thing we //can// do, at this point. We did reinforce the wards already, but with all of us together we can hopefully be... a bit more efficient, a bit more precise. And with Branwen diverting some of the usual patrols, we can hopefully cover areas I haven't been able to get to on my own."
Merry nods, still eyeing you.
"I don't know if anything is out there," Noel says then. "The Vel is very weak - it makes it hard to tell. There is a chance... something has come through."
"It was that bad?" Lea looks to you, $l_their brow furrowed.
You just nod, suppressing the chill you feel as you recall how it felt to walk through that abandoned district yesterday, the sickness and death still lingering there, haunting the shadows beneath the stilts. The overwhelming, all-encompassing oppression of the Vel breathing down your neck - if there was something out there, you never would have been able to tell. Too much noise, too much despair, echoing constantly through the cold, forgotten streets.
"I'm confident my wards thus far will have prevented that," Noel assures then, "but I just want to be careful - and I'm only one person. I've done my best, but that place is far from safe, and there's no point in pretending otherwise with you."
Lea takes a deep breath, nodding at xem.
"The new wards $name and I place today, at the very least, will keep the place intact for a while longer."<<else>>"What exactly is the plan, Noel?" Merry asks, and all of you turn to xem expectantly.
Noel sighs, running a hand over his face.
"We need to sweep the district. Yesterday, I was able to reinforce my usual wards, so today I want to focus on places I haven't been able to reach on my own. All of us together, and with Branwen diverting the patrols, we should have an easier time of it."
Merry nods, glancing over all of you in confirmation.
"I don't know if anything is out there," Noel says then. "The Vel is very weak - it makes it hard to tell. There is a chance... something has come through."
"It's //that// bad?" Lea says in disbelief, $l_their brow furrowed.
Noel just nods grimly.
"I'm confident my wards thus far will have prevented that," Noel assures then, "but I just want to be careful - and I'm only one person. I've done my best, but that place is far from safe, and there's no point in pretending otherwise with you."
Lea takes a deep breath, nodding at xem.
"The new wards $name and I place today, at the very least, will keep the place intact for a while longer."<</if>>
"So long as we're quick and careful. //Very// careful," Merry says, pointedly looking at you as she does. You frown, crossing your arms, and an uncomfortable moment passes between all of you, before Merry finally looks away.
You avoid Noel's glance in your direction, staring pointedly at the floor. Lea, too, is looking at you, but you just hide in your hood, your arms tightening over your chest.
"Right," Merry clears her throat then, reveling in the tension she created for another moment before continuing, "One more thing."
Noel scowls at that, and you and Lea both look to her expectantly.
"Duncan has doubled his soldiers overnight."
"Damn him," Noel swears, and Merry chuckles, nodding in agreement.
"Don't worry. My people - Branwen and the others - are handling it. Just taking a little longer than we planned."
"They'll be alright?" Noel says, xir eyes wide with concern.
"Branwen is smart. She'll take care of it."
"Damn him," Noel says again. "Why does he have to make this so difficult?"
"Maybe he's hiding something in there," Merry offers. "Or maybe he's just a real son of a bitch."
[[Continue ->BW What exactly do we know about Duncan?]]"What exactly do we //know// about Duncan?" Lea cuts in then, pouncing on the opportunity to ask, snapping $l_their book closed and glancing between Merry and Noel. "Besides the fact that he's a son of a bitch," $l_they add<<s>>.
"You all have obviously been dealing with him for a while. And you said you had... suspicions, about what happened between him and Redwine," Lea eyes the closed doors behind you for a moment before turning back to Merry.
Merry takes a deep breath, her and Noel exchanging a look.
"I don't know much about his history. Before he showed up here, I mean," Merry says slowly. "But - and I am //loathe// to admit it - he is a smart man, which is what makes it all so frustrating."
"There is a reason he has tolerated me and Merry here for as long as he has. Not because he couldn't deal with us - but because we were helping him," Noel says bitterly. "We took the lower city off his hands. If we hadn't made ourselves useful to him, I have no doubt that he would have hanged the both of us a long time ago."
Merry nods.
"He relied on us to handle the distribution of the vaccine down here when it arrived. He let Noel run the quarantine, he's let me operate the tavern here, and we've done nothing but help him tighten his grip on the city," Merry continues, shaking her head with a sigh.
"And you've seen the city for yourself. It's impressive, the way it's recovered this quickly. Well, so long as you ignore the isolation district."
"And you ignore the excessive force," Noel adds with a sharp smile.
"I'm under no impression that he gives a shit about the people here. He's cozied up with the ones who can line his pockets, but otherwise he leaves the rest to us - and his soldiers," Merry rubs at her eye then.
"He knows what he's doing. He's smart, and he's dangerous. And he's a son of a bitch," Merry finishes.
You all fall quiet then, and Lea nods slowly, absorbing the information with a little scowl.
[[Continue ->BW Office Discussion]]"I agree," Lea says. "I just don't understand his attitude towards us - towards the Order. It makes me nervous. Especially with him guarding the isolation district like he is."
"It's important to understand who we're dealing with, $name," Merry adds curtly.
Lea sighs then, and you wish you could know what $l_they <<were>> thinking right now. You imagine $l_they <<have>> a lot to say, but $l_they keep<<s>> quiet, giving you a long look instead, before turning back to the others.
<<include "Do you really think he's hiding something?">>"I don't know," Clementine says sadly. "It's possible."
"What could he possibly get out of Highfell?" Lea sighs, shaking $l_their head.
"It's close to the border," Merry offers.
"He probably has soldiers there," you say, remembering the soldiers you saw at the inn on the road.
Lea just shakes $l_their head. You imagine $l_they <<have>> a lot to say, but $l_they keep<<s>> quiet, giving you a long look instead, before turning back to the others.
<<include "Do you really think he's hiding something?">>"Well, that's the question, isn't it?" Merry says, giving you a tight smile.
"No one has seen her since Duncan arrived," Noel says. "If I had stayed in the upper city-"
"You would be dead," Merry says bluntly. "Don't entertain it."
You all fall silent for a few moments, Lea just sighing beside you. You imagine $l_they <<have>> a lot to say, but $l_they keep<<s>> quiet, giving you a long look instead, before turning back to the others.
<<include "Do you really think he's hiding something?">>"So... the usual political bullshit, is what I'm getting?" you offer, rather unhelpfully. This isn't your wheelhouse.
"Yes. The usual, //dangerous// political bullshit," Lea scoffs at you, though $l_they<<re>> smiling a little, amused at your input.
"It's clear Duncan has something in motion. The ultimatum he gave you yesterday, more soldiers in the city today - we need to be careful," Noel stresses, fidgeting with xir belt.
You frown, glancing over at Lea, but $l_they just sigh<<s>>, shaking $l_their head. You imagine $l_they <<have>> a lot to say, but $l_they keep<<s>> quiet, giving you a long look instead, before turning back to the others.
<<include "Do you really think he's hiding something?">>"Do you really think he's hiding something over the wall?" Lea asks abruptly then, looking between Noel and Merry.
"They still burn bodies there," Noel says as an answer. <<if $bw_noel>>You shiver at his words, recalling the dark burn marks you saw on the street, the lingering smell of burnt flesh making the back of your throat burn.<<else>>You shiver at his words, dark memories from the last year looming in the back of your mind.<</if>>
A somber silence falls over all of you then.
[[Continue ->Mal will be ready with the horses]]"Mal will be ready with the horses, just outside of the city," Merry says slowly, breaking the uneasy silence. "We've got till noon. We'll just have to adjust accordingly as we make our way through the district."
"Right..." you say, glancing down at your bandaged hand.
A sudden knock on the door startles all of you, and you turn as none other than Mal herself appears, pushing open the heavy doors.
"Time for us to go," she says, addressing you all while nodding at Merry.
Merry sighs, giving her a nod in return.
"Alright," she glances over at you and Lea, "we've got a short window to get through the wall. Branwen and a few others have set up a little distraction for us, to pull the soldiers away from the district, and Noel will lead us through to avoid the usual patrols."
Lea nods, all of you starting to move out into the parlor - which is empty now, you notice. It's still dark outside, and you can see through the windows there are no stars, no moon - just dark clouds and long shadows.
"Once we get over the wall we'll get a better look at what we're dealing with. I don't like that Duncan has more soldiers crawling around this morning..." she trails off for a moment, shaking her head. "If nothing else, we can set the wards, and get out quickly."
Merry turns and gestures Noel and Mal ahead, starting for the front door.
[[Continue ->CH2 Walk to the Iso 1]]set in Jorah Dream 01
$n_hostile - You got hostile towards Noel when discussing if you should tell Lea about the rot.
$dead_soldiers - Merry killed the guards at the wall.
$m_hostile - You got hostile with Merry for killing the guards.You hesitate a moment, before taking a half-step forward, reaching out and touching xir wrist - you almost take xir hand in yours, but something stops you, but the look you give Noel must tell xem enough, xir arms slipping under yours as he pulls you into a hug. You let him hold you against him, taking a deep breath before tucking your face into the crook of xir neck.
"I am sorry, dear," Noel says quietly, drawing circles across your back with xir open palm. You don't really know how to handle the touch, awkward and rigid in xir arms, but you just need someone to hold you together right now.
Embarrassment - or maybe it's shame - makes your face burn, and you close your eyes, still hiding in Noel's hood. You can smell the oil in his hair, tea tree oil and peppermint, making your head heavy as you breathe him in.
"We'll figure it out," xe says again, xir voice a gentle whisper, and your arms tighten around xem for a moment.
"Okay," you say weakly, for some reason, speaking into Noel's hood.
You don't really know if you believe xem or not, but right now Noel is all you have. It feels stupid and childish to think it, after such a short amount of time, after //this//, but it's the truth. He's all that's standing between your and Lea - you and a collar.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
"Okay," you say again, and Noel slowly steps back, xir hands sliding down your back, resting at your waist before xe finally lets go of you. His touch burns even through your clothes, and you have to put some space between you, ducking your head - but you're not wearing your hood, nowhere to hide.
Noel moves around your room then, fetching your cloak and knife.
"Here," xe says gently, and you blink at xem before quickly grabbing the rest of your clothes off the bed and quickly pulling them on while Noel waits patiently for you. Taking your knife, you strap it to your thigh, while Noel helps you draw your cloak over your shoulders. You wince at the pain in your arm as you reach for the clasp around your throat, unable to fight the pain even with Noel right in front of you. You both look at each other for a moment, and you're the one that has to look away first.
"The others are waiting downstairs," Noel says then, gesturing towards the door. "Alright?"
You just nod, rubbing at your eyes, and nodding again. Your face is burning, from Noel's lingering touch, or from the lingering embarrassment, you're not sure.
You've bought yourself one more day with Noel, at least.
Noel puts a hand on your shoulder then, giving it an encouraging squeeze.
"Yeah. Alright," you finally say, and you let xem herd you towards the door. Noel opens it for you, letting you step out on the mezzanine, quietly closing and locking the door behind you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Non-hostile BW Noel]]You hesitate for a moment, before reaching out, slipping your hand inside Noel's hood, pressing your palm to xir cheek. The gesture completely takes him aback, and xe almost grabs your wrist, before stopping himself, his hand hovering in the little space between you.
Noel drops his gaze, then just closes his eyes for a brief moment, before looking at you again.
"I am sorry, $name," xe says softly, and you can feel xir breath on your wrist, the warmth of xir lips barely brushing your skin.
"I know," you say, your throat tightening as xe looks at you. You have to pull your hand back after a moment, unable to look at him anymore, unable to touch him.
You turn back to the bed then, roughly pulling on the rest of your clothes, feeling a strange numbness washing over you. You grab your hunter's knife off the floor, too, strapping it to your thigh, fumbling with the buckle as you do so. Brushing past Noel, you swipe up your cloak off the table, and you can feel xem watching you, but despite that you still wince as you pull your cloak over your arm, frowning and quickly ducking into your hood.
You fidget with the bandages, before raising your gaze again, both you and Noel just looking at each other for a few moments. You look away first, embarrassment - or maybe it's shame - over the entire situation making your face burn.
You feel pathetic. At the mercy of Noel. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace. Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
"The others are waiting for us downstairs. Alright?" Noel says then, taking a step towards you, tilting xir head to peer into your hood. He's giving you a soft look, and you swallow hard, frustration and.. something else making your chest constrict. Your hand twitches at your side, the feeling of xir breath on your skin still burning your inner wrist.
"Alright," you say, nodding, glancing down at your bandages again.
Noel gives you a small smile, and you let xem herd you towards the door, running your hands over your face before stepping out onto the mezzanine. You wait as Noel locks the door behind you, wringing your hands and glancing down into the parlor.
It's mostly empty, this early in the morning, still dark outside, but you still find yourself retreating into your hood. You follow Noel as he starts down the stairs, and despite xir reassurances, you feel sick suddenly, at the thought of facing the others, sick at your situation, at the corner you've been backed into, sick with the thought of chains and collars.
You stare at the back of Noel's head, trailing after xem through the parlor, and you hesitate as xe stops in front of the golden doors. Xe glances back at you, giving you another small smile, a little nod, before xe pushes them wide open.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]You can't look at xem right now, turning away and retreating to the bed, quickly pulling on the rest of your clothes and your boots. You can feel xem watching you, and you fumble as you strap your hunter's knife to your thigh, and you have to stop for a moment, scrubbing your face with your hands.
"$name," Noel says quietly, and you just shake your head, brushing past xem and swiping your cloak up off the table.
"I am sorry," Noel says, and you take a deep breath, your hands tightening around your cloak.
"I know, Noel," you say, and you glance back over at him, and the two of you just look at each other for a few moments. Noel takes a step towards you, and he's giving you a soft look, and you swallow hard, frustration and.. something else making your chest constrict.
You look away first, jerking on your cloak, wincing as you pull it over your arm.
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, heading for the door, ignoring the way Noel continues to stare after you.
"Okay," Noel says quietly, and you step out onto the mezzanine, hesitating at the top of the stairs as Noel locks the door behind you with xir ring of keys.
You wrap your hands around the banister, leaning down over the parlor, taking a deep breath as Noel steps up behind you. You feel sick over the idea of facing the others right now, over this whole situation. Sick at the mercy of Noel.
You scowl, pushing off the banister and stepping past xem, descending the stairs while he trails behind you.
You let xem take the lead as you cross the parlor, hesitating, staring down at your hands as he leads you through the tables.
Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you with a small, sad smile.
You clench your jaw, turning away.
Noel just sighs, and reluctantly opens the doors.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]"We're not leaving, Noel," you say with some finality. You don't want to argue this - you've made up your mind. Changing your plans now would do nothing but make Lea ask questions, and you're not stupid. It's clear $l_they<<re>> already suspicious about your arm - $l_they know<<s>> there's something wrong with you.
But you're //fine.// You're not leaving.
Noel purses xir lips, watching you for a moment.
"I just don't want you to hurt yourself, and I don't want... what happened yesterday, at the temple..." Noel just trails off, glancing sideways.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I'll be ready for it this time," you say, and now you glance away too, staring down at your hands again.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"That won't happen again," you say, clenching your jaw, and now it's your turn to glance away, staring down at your hands again.<<else>>"I'll be fine," you say, and now you glance away too, staring down at your hands again.<</if>> Noel takes a long time to respond, and you avoid xir gaze the entire time, fidgeting with your bandages.
"Okay," he says finally, reluctantly.
You just nod, forcing yourself to look at xem again.
"I can handle it."
Noel just gives you a tight smile. You can practically hear what he's thinking - //Handle it like you handled it yesterday?// But Noel is too nice to actually say it.
"$name," Noel says slowly, his smile faltering a bit, and you tense at his shift in tone, "I want to believe you can handle it. I want to believe you."
You scowl, taking a step back from xem.
"I'm choosing to believe you on this," he clarifies. "But you can't tell me that letting you back into the isolation district isn't a risk. We got lucky, yesterday. But I don't know how long that luck will last. And I should have said something last night - but you were already upset, and I..."
"What are you saying?" you prompt, narrowing your eyes at xem.
"You need to tell Lea. I don't - I don't want to have to be the one-"
<<include "Noel Platonic - You Promised">>"We have the opportunity to do more with the others - we have to, Noel."
You're set on staying in Blackwater. This place has been neglected for too long. If you leave, it will only get worse, and this is your job - this is what you do. Yesterday was only the first step in securing the isolation district. You have to do this. You have to.
Noel purses xir lips, searching your face.
"I get it - I do. But..." Noel trails off for a moment, shifting on xir feet. "I'm worried. After last night. And yesterday, what happened at the temple... I don't want you to hurt yourself. Or someone else."
"I'm //not// going to hurt someone," you say, prickling under his sad stare.
Noel sighs, running a hand over his face.
"$name," xe says, dropping xir hand, and you tense at xir shift in tone, "I want to believe you."
You scowl, taking a step back from xem.
"I'm choosing to believe you on this," xe clarifies. "But you can't tell me that letting you back into the isolation district isn't a risk. We got lucky, yesterday. But I don't know how long that luck will last. And I should have said something last night - but you were already upset, and I..."
"What are you saying?" you prompt, narrowing your eyes at him.
"You need to tell Lea. I don't - I don't want to have to be the one-"
<<include "Noel Platonic - You Promised">>"And what are we going to tell Lea, if we do that?" you say, shaking your head.
Noel hesitates.
"The truth."
You take a deep breath, turning away from xem.
"$name," Noel says, "just - hear me out."
"What was all of this for, then?" you say, lifting your bandaged arm.
"I - I wanted to help," Noel says slowly, running a hand over xir face. "I just wanted to help you, like you helped me."
You sigh, dropping your hand, staring down as it curls into a fist at your side.
"But this isn't helping, $name."
"So we tell Lea," you say, doing your best to keep your voice steady. "We tell Lea, and then what? $l_They drag<<s>> me back to the stronghold. I'm locked in a room - I'm collared - I get to sit and stare at a wall until I die?"
Your voice breaks at the end, and you have to turn away from xem again.
"That's not what I'm asking for," Noel says. "I just... After what happened last night - and yesterday, at the temple... I don't want you to hurt yourself."
Noel takes a step towards you.
"Last night, I should have pushed you more. But when I mentioned the collar... I didn't want to upset you any more. But last night, you opened the Vel. You didn't even realize it. Something could have come through." He hesitates then. "//Did// something come through?"
You swallow loudly, your mouth going dry, the sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your head, a sharp pain in your arm.
"N-no... I don't know," you shake your head.
Noel's hand on your arm makes you wince, xir palm hot even through your bandages.
"I'm sorry, $name. This was a mistake. I wanted to help," xe says, staring down at your hand, before searching your face, his brow knit with concern.
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re right. This isn\'t helping. //You\'re// not helping."' 'Youre right. This isnt helping. Platonic'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Shut up. We\'re not telling Lea."' 'Shut up. Were not telling Lea. Platonic'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_hostile +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I can\'t tell Lea. I can\'t."' 'I cant tell Lea. Platonic'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t want to die like that, Noel."' 'I dont want to die like that, Noel. Platonic'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div><<if ($l_relationship eq 12) or ($l_relationship eq 10)>><<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"Have your mask?" you ask, falling into step beside Lea. $l_They give<<s>> you a look before nodding. $l_They slow<<s>> for a moment then, reaching around to unhook your sword from $l_their belt.
"Here," $l_they <<say>>, pushing it into your hands. $l_They hesitate<<s>>, stepping a little closer, peering into your hood.
"Be careful today, $name," $l_they <<say>>, and you frown, but $l_they shake<<s>> $l_their head. "I mean it. Just... be careful."
Lea's hands are still pressed against yours, and just as you glance down $l_they step<<s>> back, giving you one last look before turning away and quickening $l_their stride, leaving you behind as you fumble with your sword. You pull the strap through your belt harder than necessary, wincing as it pinches your hip, hurrying after the others.
You pull your cloak tight, shifting your sword and hiding it away before stepping out onto the high porch of Jack's, the cold air cutting through you. The wood is wet and heavy under your feet, silencing your footsteps as you descend the stairs into the street.
You stare after Lea, walking ahead beside Merry, both of them trailing after Noel and Mal.
You watch $l_them pull $l_their cloth mask on, adjusting it for a moment before glancing back at you. You quickly look away, frowning down at your hands.<<else>>"Have your mask?" you ask, falling into step beside Lea. $l_They give<<s>> you a look before nodding. $l_They slow<<s>> for a moment then, reaching around to unhook your sword from $l_their belt.
"Here," they shove your sword into your hands, though $l_they hold<<s>> onto it for a moment, staring down at your bandaged hand as you grab the blade. You resist the urge to snatch it back.
"Be careful," is all Lea says, but $l_their voice is a command - for you, $l_their hunter. $l_They release<<s>> the sword then and brush<<es>> past you, leaving you behind to fumble in the parlor.
You swear under your breath, flexing your bandaged hand before yanking your sword sheath's strap far more forceful than necessary through your belt, pinching yourself hard enough to wince. You hurry after the others, shifting your sword and hiding it beneath your cloak before stepping out onto the high porch of Jack's, the cold air cutting through you. The wood is wet and heavy under your feet, silencing your footsteps as you descend the stairs into the street.
You stare after Lea, walking ahead beside Merry, both of them trailing after Noel and Mal.
You watch $l_them pull $l_their cloth mask on, adjusting it for a moment before glancing back at you. You scowl, and $l_they quickly look<<s>> away.<</if>><<elseif $l_relationship eq 9>>"Have your mask?" you ask, falling into step beside Lea. $l_They give<<s>> you a look before nodding. $l_They slow<<s>> for a moment then, reaching around to unhook your sword from $l_their belt.
"Here," $l_they shove<<s>> your sword into your hands, though $l_they hold<<s>> onto it for a moment, staring down at your bandaged hand as you grab the blade. You resist the urge to snatch it back.
"Be careful," is all Lea says, but $l_their voice is a command - for you, $l_their hunter. $l_They release<<s>> the sword then and brush<<es>> past you, leaving you behind to fumble in the parlor.
You swear under your breath, flexing your bandaged hand before yanking your sword sheath's strap far more forceful than necessary through your belt, pinching yourself hard enough to wince. You hurry after the others, shifting your sword and hiding it beneath your cloak before stepping out onto the high porch of Jack's, the cold air cutting through you. The wood is wet and heavy under your feet, silencing your footsteps as you descend the stairs into the street.
You stare after Lea, walking ahead beside Merry, both of them trailing after Noel and Mal.
You watch $l_them pull $l_their mask on, adjusting it for a moment before glancing back at you. You scowl, and $l_they quickly look<<s>> away.<<else>><<if $l_flirt gte 2>><<if $l_touch_averse eq false>>"You have your mask?" you fall into step beside Lea, and $l_they nod<<s>> before putting a hand on your shoulder.
You're taken aback, the touch from $l_them unexpected, both of you stopping while the others pass you by.
"$name...," $l_they glance<<s>> sideways, $l_their hand tightening around your shoulder, and $l_they duck<<s>> $l_their head, leaning in to speak only to you.
"Be careful today. For me," $l_they say<<s>> softly, and you blink over at $l_them, incredibly close for just a moment - before $l_their hand slides away and $l_they reach<<es>> back to unhook your sword from $l_their belt, pressing it into your hands.
Lea doesn't say anything else, turning away and quickening $l_their stride, leaving you behind as you fumble with your sword. You pull the strap through your belt harder than necessary, wincing as it pinches your hip, hurrying across the parlor after $l_them.<<else>>"You have your mask?" you fall into step beside Lea, and $l_they nod<<s>> before stepping in front of you, looking into your hood.
You stop yourself from running into $l_them, the others passing you by.
"$name...," Lea glances sideways, wringing $l_their hands and twisting $l_their thumb ring, leaning close to speak only to you.
"Be careful today. For me," $l_they say<<s>> softly, and you blink over at $l_them, incredibly close for just a moment - before $l_they step<<s>> back and reach<<es>> around to unhook your sword from $l_their belt, pressing it into your hands.
Lea doesn't say anything else, turning away and quickening $l_their stride, leaving you behind as you fumble with your sword. You pull the strap through your belt harder than necessary, wincing as it pinches your hip, hurrying after the others.<</if>>
You pull your cloak tight, shifting your sword and hiding it away before stepping out onto the high porch of Jack's, the cold air cutting through you. The wood is wet and heavy under your feet, silencing your footsteps as you descend the stairs into the street.
You stare after Lea, walking ahead beside Merry, both of them trailing after Noel and Mal.
You watch $l_them pull $l_their cloth mask on, adjusting it for a moment before glancing back at you. You quickly look away, frowning down at your hands.<<else>>"You have your mask?" you fall into step beside Lea, and $l_they nod<<s>>, slowing for a moment as $l_they reach<<es>> around to unhook your sword from $l_their belt.
"Here," $l_they <<say>>, pushing it into your hands, peering into you hood. $l_They seem<<s>> to hesitate a moment, glancing sideways.
"Be careful today," $l_they <<say>>, and you know $l_they mean<<s>> it.
"Yeah. You too," you say, strapping your sword to your own belt and tightening your cloak, pointedly pushing your sword beneath it.
"Always am," $l_they <<say>> with a little smile.
You scoff, and Lea laughs too, both of you slipping out onto the high porch of Jack's. The cold air cuts through you, and Lea shivers beside you, frowning. The wood is wet and heavy under your feet, silencing both of your footsteps as you descend the stairs into the street.
Lea moves ahead, putting on $l_their mask and walking with Merry and Noel, Mal leading the way as you cut under the stilts.<</if>><</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Into the Iso 1]]<<if $n_promise eq true>>"You promised me," you cut him off, anger flaring in your chest.
Noel doesn't look at you.
"I shouldn't have."
"You... you promised," you say it again, as if it matters.<<else>>"No," you cut him off.
Noel sighs, xir face clearly pained.<</if>>
"It's one thing, what happened yesterday, at the temple - the omen triggered you, and you saw something. You burned that rune into the ground," Noel says, "But last night, you //opened the Vel//. You didn't even realize it - something could have come through." He pauses, searching your face. "Did something come through?"
You swallow loudly, your mouth going dry, the sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your head, a sharp pain in your arm.
"So much for not //betraying my trust//," you say instead, leering at xem. Noel doesn't flinch, just giving you a sad look.
"It was a mistake. I shouldn't have said that." His eyes flick to your bandaged hand. "I shouldn't have..."
"But you did," you snap.
"Yeah. I did. I felt... bad for you... I've seen hunters taken by the rot before... And I wanted to help. I wanted..." Noel trails off.
Your face is burning, and you instinctively try to duck your head, but you're not wearing your hood.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just shut up, Noel."' 'Just shut up, Noel. Platonic'>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"<<link '"Oh, so that was just you //feeling bad// for me?"' 'Oh, so that was just you feeling bad for me? Platonic'>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. I get it, Noel."' 'Okay. I get it, Noel. Platonic'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing. If that\'s how xe feels - I have nothing else to say.' 'Say nothing. If thats how xe feels - I have nothing else to say.'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $n_hostile to true>><</link>></div>You press your face into your hands, taking a long, ragged breath.
"Okay," you finally manage, "Okay. I get it, Noel."
Dropping your hands, Noel is just staring at you with sad eyes, and you sigh, all of the fight draining out of you.
"I'm sorry, $name," he says softly, stepping towards you, and you nod, staring down at your hands, at your bandages.
"I'm not just going to run downstairs and tell Lea right this moment," Noel starts then, shaking xir head, "but if it gets worse..." Xe hesitates for a long time. "It will get worse. You have to tell $l_them."
Noel frowns, glancing sideways, tugging at his sleeves. He seems to struggle for a moment, before letting out a long sigh and looking at you again.
"Once we're clear of the city. We can figure it out. Okay? We'll be careful today. And then we'll figure it out."
"Yeah. Okay," is all you say.
Noel steps a little closer, tilting xir head and peering at you. You think xe's going to reach out, but xe stops, uncertainty furrowing xir brow, making xem hesitate.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Let xem hug you.' 'Let xem hug you. Platonic'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Turn away.' 'Turn away. Platonic'>><</link>></div>"Oh, so you were just you //feeling bad// for me?" you say, your lip curling.
"No. No, no, $name," Noel shakes his head, taking a half-step towards you. "That's not what I mean, I..."
You turn away from xem, back to the bed, roughly pulling on the rest of your clothes, ignoring his eyes burning into your back.
"I made a mistake-"
"Yeah," you scoff, dropping down onto the bed and jerking your boots on.
"Hiding the rot isn't going to help you. Pretending like you're not sick isn't helping - you're going to get hurt," xe says it all in a rush, afraid that you'll cut xem off. "I don't want you to get hurt."
You close your eyes, your foot stomping onto the hardwood as you pull on your boot.
"It's too late for that, Noel," you sneer then, holding up your arm. "It's too fucking late. I'm already //dying//. Sorry that it's making you //feel bad//."
Noel swallows loudly, eyes flicking from your arm, to your face, before he just turns away, staring down at his hands.
You shake your head, standing then, snatching up your hunter's knife and strapping it to your thigh. Grabbing your cloak off the table, you make for the door. Noel is just standing in the center of the room, watching you.
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, opening the door with far more force than necessary.
Stepping onto the mezzanine, you realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you. You just need to get out of that room, get away from Noel.
There's no protest from xem. You can hear xem quietly closing the door, quiet footsteps as xe trails after you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]"Just shut up," you growl, and you stomp past xem, roughly pulling on the rest of your clothes, ignoring xem watching you.
"$name," Noel says softly, and you drop down on the bed, jerking your boots on.
"Shut up!" you're shouting now, but Noel just sighs.
You hear his footsteps, and you glare over at him as he crosses the room, reaching down to pick up your hunter's knife, grabbing your cloak, bring them both over to you.
You snatch both out of his hands before xe can say anything, standing from the bed and shoving past xem.
"Don't - don't do this shit," you say through gritted teeth. "I don't need you //feeling bad// for me, okay? You're //released// from that burden."
You don't wait for any kind of response, throwing your cloak over your shoulders and striding for the door, opening it with far more force than necessary.
Stepping onto the mezzanine, you realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you. You just need to get out of that room, get away from Noel.
There's no protest from xem. You can hear xem quietly closing the door, quiet footsteps as xe trails after you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]You search his face for a moment, taking a half-step towards xem, and that seems to tell xem enough - Noel's arms slip beneath your own, wrapping around you, and you let xem hold you against xem, taking a deep breath before tucking your face into the crook of his neck.
"I am sorry, dear," Noel says quietly, drawing circles across your back with xir open palm. You don't really know how to handle the touch, awkward and rigid in xir arms, but you just need someone to hold you together right now.
Embarrassment - or maybe it's shame - makes your face burn, and you close your eyes, still hiding in Noel's hood. You can smell the oil in his hair, tea tree oil and peppermint, making your head heavy as you breathe him in.
//This is just him feeling bad for you.// Your arms tighten around Noel for a moment - but Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now, and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel draws back then, placing xir hands on your shoulders, and you struggle to look at xem, your face still hot, hands curling into fists at your sides as you resist the urge to just completely bolt from the room.
Xe squeezes your shoulders before letting go, crossing the room and gathering up your hunter's knife off the floor, and your cloak from the table, bringing them both over to you.
"Here," he says gently.
You quickly pull on the rest of your clothes and your boots before taking your knife and strapping it to your thigh. You swiftly throw your cloak on, too, wincing at the pain in your arm, unable to hide it even with Noel standing right in front of you.
You both just stare at each other for a moment, but you look away first, unable to stand the pity in Noel's eyes.
"The others are waiting downstairs. Alright?" Noel says then, pressing his hand to the small of your back, and you let him herd you towards the door.
"Alright," you say, and Noel gives you a small smile, opening the door for you. You hesitate for a moment before stepping out onto the mezzanine. Noel steps out after you, locking the door with xir ring of keys.
You wring your hands, waiting for xem to head down the stairs. Despite Noel's reassurances, xir sudden doubt has left you feeling sick - sick to your stomach, sick at the thought of facing the others, your bandages suddenly uncomfortably tight and itchy around your forearm.
You stare at the back of Noel's head, and you imagine xe can feel your stare as you walk through the tables. The parlor is mostly empty this early, still dark outside, but you still find yourself retreating into your hood.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you, one last look and a little nod before xe pushes them wide open.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]You can't look at xem right now, turning away and retreating to the bed, quickly pulling on the rest of your clothes and your boots. You can feel xem watching you, and you fumble as you strap your hunter's knife to your thigh, and you have to stop for a moment, scrubbing your face with your hands.
"$name," Noel says quietly, and you just shake your head, brushing past xem and swiping your cloak up off the table.
"I am sorry," Noel says, and you take a deep breath, your hands tightening around your cloak.
"I know, Noel," you say, and you glance back over at xem, and the two of you just look at each other for a long moment.
You look away first, jerking on your cloak, wincing as you pull it over your arm.
//He just feels bad for you.//
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, heading for the door, ignoring the way Noel continues to stare at you.
"Okay," Noel says quietly, and you step out onto the mezzanine, hesitating at the top of the stairs as Noel locks the door behind you with his ring of keys.
You wrap your hands around the banister, leaning down over the parlor, taking a deep breath as Noel steps up behind you. You feel sick over the idea of facing the others right now, over this whole situation. Sick at the mercy of Noel.
You scowl, pushing off the banister and stepping past xem, descending the stairs while he trails behind you.
You let xem take the lead as you cross the parlor, hesitating, staring down at your hands as he leads you through the tables.
Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you with a small, sad smile.
You clench your jaw, turning away.
Noel just sighs, and reluctantly opens the doors.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]"You're right. This isn't helping. //You're// not helping," you hiss, jabbing a finger at xem, ripping your arm out from underneath xir hand.
"$name-"
"We're not telling Lea. //You// are not telling Lea," you take a step towards him, but Noel just shakes xir head.
"I'm sorry," he says softly, "I'm just worried for you, dear."
"Don't call me that," you snap.
That seems to hurt Noel more than anything else you've said, and xe deflates in front of you, taking a step back and turning away.
You turn away, too, retreating back to the bed and roughly pulling on the rest of your clothes, grabbing your boots and stomping your feet against the hardwood as you pull them on.
You can sense Noel moving around the room as you do, see his feet as he stops in front of you. You refuse to look at xem, aggressively lacing your boots.
"$name," Noel says slowly, and you scowl down at the floor. "I'm still on your side. I'm trying to help, and I'll keep trying. You get that, don't you?"
"I don't want your help," you say, standing from the bed. "I don't want your //pity//."
Noel winces, as if you'd slapped him, taking a deep breath and closing xir eyes for a moment.
"Okay. Fine," xe says, though xir voice lacks any real conviction - xe just seems sad.
You walk across the room, snatching your hunter's knife up off the floor and quickly strapping it to your thigh. You grab your cloak off the table, too, throwing it over your shoulders, grimacing at the pain as you raise your arm to fix the clasp.
Noel steps back, shifting his bag and digging around inside for a moment. Xe pulls out xir roll of bandages, holding it up between you.
"At least take this. Do what you want. I..." Noel trails off, staring down at the bandages, turning them over in his hands. "I'm not going to tell Lea. Not yet."
Xe steps up to you then, and you glare at him from inside your hood.
"Please. At least take this," xe says again, offering you the bandages.
You ignore xem, brushing past xir outstretched hand.
"The others are waiting for us," you say instead, jerking open the door with far more force than necessary.
Stepping onto the mezzanine, you realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you. You just need to get out of that room, get away from Noel.
There's no protest from xem. You can hear xem quietly closing the door, quiet footsteps as he trails after you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]"Shut up. We're not telling Lea," you snap, ripping your arm out from beneath xir hand and turning away from xem. You retreat back to the bed, snatching up the rest of your clothes, roughly pulling them on over your head while Noel just hovers behind you.
"$name, please," he says as you drop down onto the bed, grabbing at your boots. You stomp your feet against the hardwood as you jerk them on, pointedly ignoring Noel.
"I-" Noel starts again, but you cut xem off.
"Shut up!" you're shouting now, standing back up and glaring over at xem. "We are //not// telling $l_them."
Noel sighs, dropping his gaze, staring down at his hands as you stalk past and pick up your hunter's knife, aggressively strapping it to your thigh.
You brush past xem and swipe up your cloak, throwing it over your shoulders and fumbling with the clasp, grimacing as you lift your arm to your throat. It's a relief to pull your hood on, and you pause for a moment, closing your eyes, your hand tightening around the clasp.
Noel starts to speak again-
"Noel," you cut him off. You don't want to hear it. "The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, brushing past him for the door and throwing it open with far more force than necessary.
Stepping onto the mezzanine, you realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you. You just needed to get out of that room, get away from Noel.
There's no protest from xem. You can hear xem quietly closing the door, the jingle of keys as xe locks it, and then quiet footsteps as xe slowly trails behind you.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Hostile BW Noel]]You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, before pressing your face into your hands.
"Noel...," you start, your voice muffled against your palms, "I can't tell Lea. I can't."
You can hear Noel sigh, exhaling through xir nose.
"We don't have to run down there and tell $l_them right this moment," Noel says slowly. You drop your hands, blinking over at xem.
"But if it gets worse..." He hesitates for a long time. "It will get worse. You have to tell $l_them, $name."
You sigh, and Noel glances sideways, tugging at his sleeves. Xe seems to struggle for a moment, before looking back at you again.
"Once we're clear of the city. We can figure it out. Okay? We'll be careful today. And then we'll figure it out."
You don't respond, just swallowing loudly, and Noel steps a little closer, tilting xir head and peering at you. You think xe's going to reach out, but xe stops, uncertainty furrowing his brow, making him hesitate.
<div id="choice">[[Let xem hug you. ->Let xem hug you. Platonic 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Turn away. ->Turn away. Platonic 1]]</div>You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, before stepping back and dropping down hard onto the bed, pressing your face into your hands. It all overwhelms you then - the reality of your situation. The reality that you can't really hide this, not for much longer. The reality that you don't even have much time left.
"I don't want to die like that, Noel," you say, your voice small and muffled.
All you can see is that hunter, in the cold, snowy dark back at the Black Iron, all those years ago. Thrashing on the ground, claws scraping over the frosted stone beneath your feet, her teeth bared and bloody. You don't have much time.
You can hear Noel's slow footseps then, can sense xem stop in front of you.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>You almost flinch at xir touch, a soft hand on your shoulder.
<</if>>"I know, dear," he says gently, "I know."
You drop your hands, watching them curl into fists in your lap before blinking up at Noel.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Reach out for xem.' 'CH2 Reach out for xem. Platonic'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Pull away.' 'CH2 Pull away. Platonic'>><</link>></div>You search his face for a moment, taking a half-step towards xem, and that seems to tell xem enough - Noel's arms slip beneath your own, wrapping around you, and you let xem hold you against xem, taking a deep breath before tucking your face into the crook of his neck.
"I am sorry, dear," Noel says quietly, drawing circles across your back with xir open palm. You don't really know how to handle the touch, awkward and rigid in xir arms, but you just need someone to hold you together right now.
Embarrassment - or maybe it's shame - makes your face burn, and you close your eyes, still hiding in Noel's hood. You can smell the oil in his hair, tea tree oil and peppermint, making your head heavy as you breathe him in.
"We'll figure it out," xe says again, xir voice a gentle whisper, and your arms tighten around him for a moment.
"Okay," you say weakly, for some reason, speaking into Noel's hood.
You don't really know if you believe xem or not, but Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel draws back then, placing xir hands on your shoulders, and you struggle to look at xem, your face still hot, hands curling into fists at your sides as you resist the urge to just completely bolt from the room.
Xe squeezes your shoulders before letting go, crossing the room and gathering up your hunter's knife off the floor, and your cloak from the table, bringing them both over to you.
"Here," he says gently.
You quickly pull on the rest of your clothes and your boots before taking your knife and strapping it to your thigh. You swiftly throw your cloak on, too, wincing at the pain in your arm, unable to hide it even with Noel standing right in front of you.
You both just stare at each other for a moment, but you look away first, unable to stand the pity in Noel's eyes.
"The others are waiting downstairs. Alright?" Noel says then, pressing his hand to the small of your back, and you let him herd you towards the door.
"Alright," you say, and Noel gives you a small smile, opening the door for you. You hesitate for a moment before stepping out onto the mezzanine. Noel steps out after you, locking the door with xir ring of keys.
You wring your hands, waiting for xem to head down the stairs. Despite Noel's reassurances, xir sudden doubt has left you feeling sick - sick to your stomach, sick at the thought of facing the others, your bandages suddenly uncomfortably tight and itchy around your forearm.
You stare at the back of Noel's head, and you imagine xe can feel your stare as you walk through the tables. The parlor is mostly empty this early, still dark outside, but you still find yourself retreating into your hood.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you, one last look and a little nod before xe pushes them wide open.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]You can't look at xem right now, turning away and retreating to the bed, quickly pulling on the rest of your clothes and your boots. You can feel xem watching you, and you fumble as you strap your hunter's knife to your thigh, and you have to stop for a moment, scrubbing your face with your hands.
"$name," Noel says quietly, and you just shake your head, brushing past xem and swiping your cloak up off the table.
"I am sorry," Noel says, and you take a deep breath, your hands tightening around your cloak.
"I know, Noel," you say, and you glance back over at him, and the two of you just look at each other for a few moments.
You look away first, jerking on your cloak, wincing as you pull it over your arm.
"The others are waiting for us," you say gruffly, heading for the door, ignoring the way Noel continues to stare at you.
"Okay," Noel says quietly, and you step out onto the mezzanine, hesitating at the top of the stairs as Noel locks the door behind you with xir ring of keys.
You wrap your hands around the banister, leaning down over the parlor, taking a deep breath as Noel steps up behind you. You feel sick over the idea of facing the others right now, over this whole situation. Sick at the mercy of Noel.
You scowl, pushing off the banister and stepping past Noel, descending the stairs while xe trails behind you.
You let xem take the lead as you cross the parlor, hesitating, staring down at your hands as he leads you through the tables.
Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you with a small, sad smile.
You clench your jaw, turning away.
Noel just sighs, and then pushes open the doors.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>You turn away from xem, as best you can on the bed, shrugging off his hand and reaching for the rest of your clothes. Noel takes the hint, backing off, letting you pull on your outer layers, watching as you grab your boots and pull those on, too.<<else>>You turn away from xem, as best you can on the bed, just reaching for the rest of your clothes. Noel takes the hint, backing off, letting you pull on your outer layers, watching as you grab at your boots and pull those on, too.<</if>>
"I'm sure the others are waiting," you say gruffly, standing and retrieving your hunter's knife, strapping it to your thigh. You don't want to talk anymore. You need to get out of this room.
"$name-"
"They're waiting for us," you say, snatching up your cloak.
You feel embarrassed, hot and uncomfortable in the room with xem right now. You throw your cloak over your shoulders, fumbling with the clasp, grimacing at the pain in your arm as you hold it at your throat. Even with Noel watching you, you can't hide the pain.
You don't look at xem, ducking into your hood as you brush past xem for the door. You throw it open with far more force than necessary, stepping out onto the mezzanine, barely resisting the urge to bolt from down the stairs.
There's no protest from Noel. You can hear him quietly closing the door, quiet footsteps as xe trails down the stairs behind you. You realize you're not really sure where you're going - you assume the others are gathering downstairs, and that's good enough for you.
Crossing the mezzanine, you peer down into the parlor, leaning against the banister and taking a deep breath as Noel steps up behind you. You feel sick over the idea of facing the others right now, over this whole situation. Sick at the mercy of Noel.
You scowl, pushing off the banister and stepping past him, descending the stairs while xe trails behind you.
You let xem take the lead as you cross the parlor, hesitating, staring down at your hands as he leads you through the tables.
Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea right now - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
Noel stops in front of the golden doors, glancing back at you with a small, sad smile.
You clench your jaw, turning away.
Noel just sighs, and then pushes open the doors.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>You reach out for xem, touching xir arm, xir hand tightening over your shoulder as you pull xem closer.<<else>>You reach out for xem, taking his wrist in your hand and pulling xem closer, Noel wrapping his arms around you.<</if>>
You tuck your head against his stomach, Noel's hand sliding to cradle the back of your head, and you feel embarrassed, but you just close your eyes, letting Noel hold you against xem - let xem hold you together. You stay like that for a long time, just clinging to xem, despite the embarrassment, despite the shame.
"We'll figure it out," Noel says then, breaking the long silence between you and pulling back a bit. You swallow thickly, opening your eyes and looking up at xem again.
"Okay? We'll figure it out. We'll be careful today. And then we'll figure it out," Noel says, squeezing your shoulder.
"Okay," you say weakly, dropping your gaze.
You don't really know if you believe him or not, but right now Noel is all that's standing between you and Lea - and you feel like xe's //all// you have, as foolish as it sounds after such a short amount of time... after //this//. At least Noel won't collar you. The thought makes grimace.
You can't tell Lea. You won't.
"Okay," you say again, and Noel steps back, dropping his hands and fetching your cloak and knife.
"Here," he says gently, and you stand from the bed, quickly pulling on the rest of your clothes and boots, before taking and strapping your knife to your thigh. You swiftly throw your cloak on, too, wincing at the pain in your arm, unable to hide it even with Noel standing right in front of you.
You both just stare at each other for a moment, but you look away first, unable to bear the pity in Noel's eyes.
"The others are waiting downstairs," Noel says then, gesturing towards the door. "Alright?"
You just nod, running a hand over your face, and nodding again. Your face is burning, a fresh wave of embarrassment over your little outburst making you want to sink into the floor.
Guilt, too, begins to gnaw at you, and you're almost overwhelmed again.
But Noel presses a light hand to the small of your back, peering into your hood and giving you a small smile.
"Yeah. Alright," you finally say, and you let him herd you towards the door. Noel opens it for you, letting you step out on the mezzanine, quietly closing and locking the door with his ring of keys.
[[Continue ->BW Outside Merry's Office Non-hostile BW Noel]]"I'll be fine," you say brusquely, running a hand over your bandages.
You had a feeling that was coming - but you're not just going to //leave//. You can't leave the isolation district like this. Plus, changing your plans now would do nothing but make Lea ask questions, and you're not stupid. It's clear $l_they<<re>> already suspicious about your arm - $l_they know<<s>> there's something wrong with you.
But you're //fine.// You're not leaving.
Noel purses xir lips, watching you for a moment.
"I'm just worried about you. After last night... I don't want you to hurt yourself," Noel says slowly.
"Noel. I'm fine," you repeat, giving xem a look.
Noel doesn't look particularly convinced, though. But he just sighs, nodding at you.
"Okay, $name. If you're sure."
//Are you sure?// You look away from xem then, touching your bandages again. An uneasy silence hangs in the air between you and Noel, with you pointedly avoiding xir gaze.
"The others - they're waiting for us," you blurt.
You turn back to the bed, and quickly throw on the rest of your clothes, before dropping down to pull on your boots.
You can feel Noel watching you, hear xir footsteps as xe moves around the room while you lace up your boots. Xe stops in front of you, and you have to force yourself to look up at him.
"Here," Noel says, holding out your hunter's knife and cloak.
You blink, standing from the bed and taking your knife from xir hand, fumbling with the buckles as you strap it to your thigh. He hands you your cloak, and you throw it over your shoulders, wincing at the pain in your arm, unable to hide it even with Noel standing right in front of you.
He watches you close the clasp around your throat, staring just long enough to make you squirm.
"Come on," you say gruffly, brushing past xem, all but running for the door. You open it with far more force than necessary, cringing as it shudders against the wall.
<<include "CH2 BW On the mezzanine">>"We don't have that choice. We have to do this, Noel," you say, pressing a hand to your fresh bandages.
You had a feeling this was coming - but you're not just going to //leave//. You can't leave the isolation district like this. Plus, changing your plans now would do nothing but make Lea ask questions, and you're not stupid. It's clear $l_they<<re>> already suspicious about your arm, about //you//.
Noel watches you for a moment, fidgeting with xir hood.
"You're right," xe finally says, "I'm just worried about you. After last night..." xe trails off.
Your brow furrows, and you turn away from him. You quickly pull on the rest of your clothes, before dropping down onto the bed and pulling on your boots.
An uneasy silence hangs in the air between you and Noel, with you pointedly avoiding xir gaze, aggressively lacing your boots.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"$name-"
"Noel."
You cut xem off, glaring up at xem from the bed.
"We're not doing this right now," you say gruffly.
Noel sighs.
You stand then, striding past xem to pick up your hunter's knife, strapping it to your thigh, fumbling with the buckles as Noel watches. You bite back the nasty comment you want to throw at xem, instead just grabbing your cloak from the table and throwing it over your shoulders - wincing as the motion pulls on your arm.
Even with Noel right in front of you, //staring// at you, you can't hide it - the pain, the discomfort, the heat of it burning under the angry scabs along your forearm.
You swear, shaking your head, running a hand over your face as you jerk your hood on. It's a relief to hide again.
"The others are waiting for us," you say, stepping around Noel and opening the door with far more force than necessary.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"$name - if at any point today, it gets to be too much..." Noel trails off again.
You don't say anything, both of you seeming reluctant to actually speak it out loud.
"Yeah. I know, Noel," you sigh, standing from the bed then.
You still don't look at xem, just brushing past xem to pick up your hunter's knife, strapping it to your thigh, fumbling with the buckles as Noel watches. You grab your cloak from the table and throw it over your shoulders - wincing as the motion pulls on your arm.
Even with Noel right in front of you, //staring// at you, you can't hide it - the pain, the discomfort, the heat of it burning under the angry scabs along your forearm.
You quickly pull your hood up, an immediate sense of relief washing over you - a relief to hide again.
"The others will be waiting for us," you say then, stepping around Noel and ducking your head, opening the door with far more force then necessary.<<else>>"$name - if at any point today-"
"I know, Noel. I'll be fine," you cut xem off, glaring up at xem.
Noel sighs, giving you a sad look that you can hardly stand.
You push yourself off the bed then, turning away from xem, reaching over to grab your hunter's knife. You strap it to your thigh, fumbling with the buckles as Noel watches. You grab your cloak from the table, too, throwing it over your shoulders - wincing as the motion pulls on your arm.
Even with Noel right in front of you, //staring// at you, you can't hide it - the pain, the discomfort, the heat of it burning under the angry scabs along your forearm.
You quickly pull your hood up, an immediate sense of relief washing over you - a relief to hide again.
"The others will be waiting for us," you say then, stepping around Noel and ducking your head, opening the door with far more force then necessary.<</if>>
<<include "CH2 BW On the mezzanine">>"Don't worry about me, Noel," you say, unable to hide the exasperation in your voice.
You had a feeling this was coming - but you're not just going to //leave//. You can't leave the isolation district like this. Plus, changing your plans now would do nothing but make Lea ask questions, and you're not stupid. It's clear $l_they<<re>> already suspicious about your arm - suspicious about //you//.
<<if $dont_worry_about_me>>Noel cross xir arms, tilting xir head at at you.
"So you keep saying..." xe muses, smiling softly.
"And yet you keep worrying," you huff.
Noel's smile falters, and he glances down at the floor, his arms tightening across his chest for a moment.<<else>>Noel takes a deep breath, glancing down at the floor, crossing his arms before looking at you again.<</if>>
"It's just... after last night..." xe hesitates. "I don't want you to hurt yourself again, $name."
"I'm not going to hurt myself," you say, prickling at the accusation.
"$name..."
You don't like the way he says it, and you turn away from him then, quickly pulling on the rest of your clothes, before dropping down onto the bed and grabbing your boots, stomping your feet against the hardwood as you jerk them on over your heel.
An uneasy silence hangs in the air between you and Noel, with you pointedly avoiding xir gaze, aggressively lacing your boots.
"I'll try not to worry," Noel says then, clearing xir throat. "Just promise me you'll let me know if... if it gets to be too much, today."
You don't respond right away, staring down at the floor.
"I'll be fine," is all you say.
Noel just sighs, and when you look up at xem then, he's giving you a look that you can hardly stand.
You push yourself off the bed, shaking your head, reaching over to grab your hunter's knife. You strap it to your thigh, fumbling with the buckles as Noel watches. You grab your cloak from the table, too, throwing it over your shoulders - wincing as the motion pulls on your arm.
Even with Noel right in front of you, //staring// at you, you can't hide it - the pain, the discomfort, the heat of it burning under the angry scabs along your forearm.
You quickly pull your hood up, an immediate sense of relief washing over you - a relief to hide again.
"The others will be waiting for us," you say then, stepping around Noel and ducking your head, opening the door with far more force then necessary.
[[Continue ->CH2 BW On the mezzanine]]Noel doesn't say anything else, just trailing after you, closing the door and locking it up with xir ring of keys while you stride across the mezzanine, leaning against the banister at the top of the stairs.
There's not much happening in the parlor this early - still dark outside, an apprehension still hanging in the air from Duncan's appearance last night.
You glance back at Noel as he joins you, looking at you expectantly.
You start down the stairs, your skin prickling as Noel follows. You don't need Noel doubting you right now. You press a hand to your forearm, remembering the way Lea looked at you.
You drop your hand, pulling down your sleeve, flexing your fingers as you move across the parlor. You let Noel take the lead then, guiding you to the familiar golden doors. He hesitates, looking back at you with a small smile, before pushing them wide open.
[[Continue ->BW Inside Merry's Office Non-Hostile]]You make your way through the streets in the thick dark of early morning, fog lingering among the tilted buildings and crawling beneath the stilts. It's slow going at first, with you stopping short every few minutes, Mal checking the streets to ensure it's all clear, before continuing on. What people you do pass by pay absolutely no attention to any of you, absorbed in their own thoughts and anxieties this early in the morning - it's just the soldiers you have to watch out for.
Thankfully, you don't see any. You assume that's Branwen's work. <<if ($bw_merry eq false) and ($bw_clem eq false)>>Branwen is one of Merry's crew - you haven't met her yet, but from what you can tell, she seems to be as familiar with the captain as Mal.<</if>>
Lanterns are still flickering overhead, and you can see your breath fogging in front of you in the dim light, your fingers already growing stiff and painful from the cold. You think you can smell some rain coming, heavy with the salty smell of the sea. You hope it holds.
You all slink along beneath the stilts, passing by the usual familiar places, though the city looks vastly different in the dark, and you're grateful for Mal and Merry leading the way. You refocus on them then, your brow furrowing as you look to the others.
You're trying not to think about your conversation with Noel this morning, but seeing xem walking with Lea makes you anxious. You shake your head, fidgeting with your bandages, and you fall back a bit, putting some space between you.
<<if $deal eq true>><<set $clem_taken to true>>Clementine moves a little slower than the others, shuffling along beside you, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They just twist the scarf in their hands, and you think they look rather sick - pale and uneasy, and very clearly nervous. Eventually they reach up and tie the scarf over their face, giving you a quick glance. You think they might smile a little, too, but it doesn't meet their eyes, so it's hard to tell.<<elseif $clem_bw eq true>><<set $clem_taken to true>>Clementine moves a little slower than the others, shuffling along beside you, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They just twist the scarf in their hands, and you think they look rather sick - pale and uneasy, and very clearly nervous. Eventually they reach up and tie the scarf over their face, giving you a quick glance. You think they might smile a little, too, but it doesn't meet their eyes, so it's hard to tell.<<elseif ($c_relationship eq 9) or ($flipped_table eq true)>>Clementine glances back at you then, the only one to seem to notice your slower pace, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They blink, before turning away again, raising their the scarf and tying it around their face, hurrying after Noel.<<elseif $clem_with>><<if $clem_tavernfight eq true>><<if $tavernfight eq 2>><<set $clem_taken to true>>Clementine moves a little slower than the others, shuffling along beside you, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They just twist the scarf in their hands, and you think they look rather sick - pale and uneasy, and very clearly nervous. Eventually they reach up and tie the scarf over their face, giving you a quick glance. You think they might smile a little, too, but it doesn't meet their eyes, so it's hard to tell.<<elseif $tavernfight eq 4>><<set $clem_taken to true>>Clementine moves a little slower than the others, shuffling along beside you, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They just twist the scarf in their hands, and you think they look rather sick - pale and uneasy, and very clearly nervous. Eventually they reach up and tie the scarf over their face, giving you a quick glance. You think they might smile a little, too, but it doesn't meet their eyes, so it's hard to tell.<<elseif $tavernfight eq 3>><<if ($c_relationship isnot 9) and ($clem_with eq true)>><<set $clem_taken to true>>Clementine moves a little slower than the others, shuffling along beside you, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They just twist the scarf in their hands, and you think they look rather sick - pale and uneasy, and very clearly nervous. Eventually they reach up and tie the scarf over their face, giving you a quick glance. You think they might smile a little, too, but it doesn't meet their eyes, so it's hard to tell.<<else>>Clementine glances back at you then, the only one to seem to notice your slower pace, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They blink, before turning away again, raising their the scarf and tying it around their face, hurrying after Noel.<</if>><</if>><<else>><<set $clem_taken to true>>Clementine moves a little slower than the others, shuffling along beside you, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They just twist the scarf in their hands, and you think they look rather sick - pale and uneasy, and very clearly nervous. Eventually they reach up and tie the scarf over their face, giving you a quick glance. You think they might smile a little, too, but it doesn't meet their eyes, so it's hard to tell.<</if>><<else>>Clementine glances back at you then, the only one to seem to notice your slower pace, clutching their mask in their hand. Well - you're certain it's not really a mask, but some kind of scarf, but it's all the same in the end.
They blink, before turning away again, raising their the scarf and tying it around their face, hurrying after Noel.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Into the Iso 2]]Your walk passes in silence, and the quiet is almost unbearable - you're thankful whenever the lift starts up in the distance, anything to distract you from the ache in your arm and the growing discomfort as the isolation district draws closer. The streets are slowly coming to life, most people heading for the docks or the merchant block, but it's still a jarring difference from yesterday afternoon.
Activity begins to wane again as you get closer and closer to the wall, and your steps are slower, more deliberate, until you all stop short under one of the ramshackle buildings.
"This is where I leave you," Mal says, and she holds her hand out to Merry. The two grasp each other's arms briefly, before Mal gives the rest of you a determined nod.
"Don't keep me waiting too long," she says, before turning on her heel and darting off.
Merry takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly, while Noel turns to you.
"We're almost there. Our timing is perfect, right now - it's a straight shot over the wall. Everyone stay close, and move quickly," he says.
Noel takes the lead, and you all move together, hiding under the crooked, collapsing buildings left to rot with the plague. You don't think anyone will ever live in this part of the city again.
The Vel is getting louder, scratching at the base of your skull, a steady pressure building in your temples. You can see the wall, a dark mass growing larger and larger, looming over you, its shape blurring with the shadows of the upper city. You stop for a brief moment - all of you straining, listening to the quiet, squinting into the dark. And then Noel ushers you forward, out of the stilts and into the open.<<if $bw_noel>>
The difference between the mood with which Noel lead you here yesterday, and the painful tension that xe leads you with now, makes you uneasy - how close were you to really getting caught yesterday? How serious was it that you climbed the wall? If Noel had any anxiety then, he hid it well. Not today, though - not with all of you here now.<</if>>
All of you quickly move across the cobblestones, your steps silent, your movements careful - none of you are wearing heavy armor at least, no sound of clanging metal to draw attention. All of you press against the wall, sinking into the shadows.
Noel quickly hauls xemself up, swinging one leg over, balancing carefully on top of the wall. The sky is growing lighter, making you anxious as Lea begins to climb the wall beside you, Noel helping $l_them over before reaching for Merry.
You urge Clementine in front of you, but they just give you a wide-eyed look.
"I don't think I can climb..." they start, and their face flushes, embarrassed and uncomfortable, wringing their hands.
You glance up as Merry scrambles up the wet wood, the sound of her boots kicking the planks terribly loud against the oppressive silence of the isolation district. But you hear something else, too.
"$name," Clementine hisses your name at the same time, and you turn to see a lone soldier staring right at you from beneath one of the stilted buildings.
"Hey!"
They start to run towards you.
"Fuck me," you grab Clementine, making them yelp, just as Merry clears the wall. Noel is cursing too, hanging off the top of the wall, and for a second you think he's going to leave you and Clementine - but he reaches out xir hand.
You all but throw Clementine over the wall, grunting as you brace them against your shoulder, and Noel has them in xir hands just as the soldier reaches you.
They try to grab you, pull you away from the wall, and instinctively you throw an elbow, hurting you both as you make contact with their silver mask. You hiss as pain explodes up your arm, the mask cracking from the force of your hit, breaking over the soldier's nose.
You stagger back a bit, clutching your elbow, but manage to break free of their grip as they drop to the ground. Flat on their back, they groan, clutching their face, blood spilling out beneath the cracked mask.
You take a step towards the wall, no one up top now to pull you up, but you know you can clear it on your own. You brace yourself against the old wood - and hesitate, glaring back down at the soldier, gone quiet now, still flat on their back.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I can't just leave them laying there.]]>><<set $dead_soldiers to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I need to get over the wall.]]>><<set $dead_soldiers to true>><</link>></div>"Fuck," you huff, shoving yourself off the wall and stomping after them as they struggle to crawl away, still holding their face.
You grab them by the front of their armor, hauling them back from the wall, wrestling them under one of the nearby low buildings, hunching forward as your hood brushes the raised foundation.
They're mumbling incoherently, their voice thick and wet, and you grab at their wrist just as they start to reach for their sword. You rip the sword from their belt, throwing it into the shadows behind you before wrapping your arm around their throat, pinning them against your chest.
They're begging you now, whimpering pleas bubbling up with the blood in their mouth, and you pull off their mask then, throwing that, too, before clamping your hand over their mouth.
"Be quiet," you hiss, your arm tightening as you drag them farther beneath the building.
You can feel their panic, their body twisting desperately against yours, hands clawing at your arm, and you turn your head, scowling down into the shadows, ignoring the hot, wet burn of their blood on your hand.
And then you hear soft voices, the sound of shifting armor, and you snap your head around, stepping back until you run into one of the subterior support pillars, your back pressing against cold stone.
The soldier starts to struggle in earnest, thrashing and pulling at your clothes, at your arm, trying to grab your face and wheezing into your hand.
You grip their face hard enough to hurt, crushing them against you, their chest plate digging into your arm as you strain against their efforts. But it's all quiet down here, in the wet dark beneath the stilts, muting the sounds of struggle, and soon they're growing weak, sagging back into you, pathetic slaps against your arm until finally they grow still. You hold them for a few more moments before carefully setting them down, breathing hard, your arms and legs shaking from the sudden adrenaline.
You slink forward a bit, crouching down and listening for those voices, and you catch a glimpse of three more soldiers, meandering by the wall.
You close your eyes, exhaling slowly.
//Lucky//, you think.
They don't seem to notice anything awry, and soon enough they're moving farther on down the wall, painfully slow as you watch, until they vanish around the curve, the sound of their armor fading, just as it starts to rain.
You glance back at the other soldier, splayed on the ground, eyes half-closed with their face smashed and bloody.
They're still breathing, and you roll them onto their side for good measure. It'll be shit to wake up like this, but at least they'll wake up.
You wait a few more minutes in the shadows, watching the wall and straining for anymore voices - but it's all quiet, just the patter of rain now.
[[Continue ->I can't just leave them lying there. 1]]You need to get over the wall before anyone else sees you - you can lose them inside the district with the others. This soldier clearly isn't getting back up any time soon.
You haul yourself up, scrambling over the wet wood, throwing yourself over the top and landing hard, wincing as the impact jars your ankles. You bolt to the nearest cover, ducking behind an old barricade collapsed in the street.
You take a second to gather yourself, crouched down and still breathing hard as you peek around - but there are no soldiers on this side. At least, not yet.
You wince as you lean back against the barricade, cradling your elbow to your chest. //What a stupid move that was//, you think. It doesn't feel like anything is broken, though. You scowl, flexing your hand and stretching your arm.
You look around again, standing slowly, taking a few tentative steps from the wall. You notice that it's started to rain.
"$surname," you hear Lea's voice in a harsh whisper, and you blink, snapping your head around as $l_they step<<s>> out from the shadows beneath a nearby porch. $l_They gesture<<s>> you over, but you've barely registered $l_them in front of you before you hear shouting from over the wall.
//Fuck.//
Heavy armored boots stomp over cobblestones, and you can't tell how many are coming, but it's definitely more than one. You can hear them calling out - you assume to the soldier you left sprawled on the ground.
You run over to Lea, ducking into the shadows, just as one of them begins to climb the wall.
"Fuck," Lea repeats your earlier thought, $l_their hand gripping $l_their sword.
"They can't see us," you say quickly, grabbing at $l_their cloak, "it's too dark."
Lea glances over at you, and nods, both of you sinking back beneath the porch.
Lea still draws $l_their sword, though.
You don't get to ask where the others are, the first soldier dropping down heavy into the street in front of you, drawing their own sword - but they only make it a few feet before Merry lunges from the bushes along the wall, plunging her sword straight through their back.
The second soldier lands beside them, and Merry doesn't hesitate, dual wielding and slicing upwards with her other sword, knocking the soldier's mask off and slicing through their throat, through their face, and you feel Lea recoil beside you, while you just watch, stunned.
Merry pulls her other sword free, backing up from the wall and peering up at the third soldier as they shout down at her. Lea bolts out from beneath the porch, jerking you forward, your hand still curled around a fistful of $l_their cloak.
[[Continue ->I need to get over the wall. 1]]The soldier on the wall leaps down, aiming for Merry, and she rolls out of the way, the loud impact of the soldier's armor on the cobblestones ringing in your ears. Lea gets to them first, catching them off guard with $l_their sudden appearance, and $l_they slam<<s>> the hilt of $l_their sword into the back of their head, dropping them right there.
All three of you turn towards the wall expectantly, but it's quiet now, no one climbing over, no one running, just the return of the oppressive silence of the isolation district.
You look down at the one soldier Lea hit, slumped face down, but still breathing. The other two... you avoid looking at the one with their mask knocked off, the flash of exposed teeth and the bright smear of red down the front of their armor telling you enough. The third one is looking up at you with wide eyes, breathing harshly through their mask, pressing their hand to their stomach.
Merry takes a step towards them, but Lea stands in the way, gripping $l_their sword.
"What are you doing?" Merry asks, glaring at $l_them. "Get out of the way."
"No," Lea snarls, and you tense, hearing that tone from $l_them - your hand goes to your sword, and Merry's glare flicks to you for a moment before returning to Lea.
You hear cautious footsteps, and turn to see Noel and Clementine approaching slowly, out of an alley on the other side of the street. Clementine stands back behind Noel, their eyes blinking owlishly, transfixed on the soldiers at your feet.
"Get out of my way," Merry says again, punctuating each word, making them sound like a threat.
Lea doesn't move.
But it doesn't matter. You look down at the soldier, their breathing wet and rasping, a hand outstretched towards nothing you can see, and then they go still, their eyes open as they let out one last breath, their blood pooling between the cobblestones beneath your feet.
Merry scoffs, lowering her swords then, wiping the blood from the blades onto her trousers.
"Everyone alright?" Noel asks, glancing between the three of you.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Lea snarls, ignoring Noel and jabbing a finger at Merry.
You're still staring down at the blood under your boots, dazed at the quickness with which it all happened. You blink over at Merry, at the blood smeared on her trousers, and you're seeing her for the first time - not brash and assertive, but violent and dangerous.
You can all but feel Lea's panic, $l_their sword twitching in $l_their hand, $l_their eyes cutting from Merry, to the wall, back to Merry again.
The two of you have been walking a thin line up to this point, with Merry and Noel, with Duncan - Duncan, who has made it clear he isn't afraid to throw his weight around, regardless of the Order or Lea's family history here in Blackwater. A history that will not exactly //favor// you right now.
You've crossed the line. Whatever deniability you had is gone - bleeding out on the cobblestones at your feet.
"What's wrong with //me//? What's wrong with //you//?" Merry is saying, shaking her head, stepping back and resheathing her swords.
"You killed them," Lea says, "You didn't have to kill them."
"Oh, grow up, Chen," Merry rolls her eye, and Noel steps between her and Lea then, putting a hand on Merry's shoulder.
"Fuck you! Don't call me that," Lea takes a step towards her, but Noel keeps the distance, pushing Merry back.
"Keep your voice down," Noel says, giving Lea a look.
<div id="choice"><<link '"You killed them..."' 'I need to get over the wall. 1.a'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What the fuck, Merry?"' 'I need to get over the wall. 1.c'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What\'s done is done. We need to move."' 'I need to get over the wall. 1.d'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"They would have just alerted more soldiers. We have time, now."' 'I need to get over the wall. 1.e'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div><<link [[Lea rivalmance; long scene with Lea, short scene with Noel. ->You watch a single crow circle overhead before you close your eyes.]]>><<set $highfell to false>><<set $blackwater to true>><<set $mc_mage to true>><<set $magic_pref to "fire">><<set $l_relationship to 10>><<set $l_flirt to 3>><<set $chest to "binder">><<set $surname to "Karstark">><<set $name to "Uriah">><<set $l_person to "man">><<set $l_they to "he">><<set $l_They to "He">><<set $l_theyre to "he's">><<set $l_Theyre to "He's">><<set $l_them to "him">><<set $l_Them to "Him">><<set $l_their to "his">><<set $l_Their to "His">><<set $l_theirs to "his">><<set $l_themself to "himself">><<set $l_plural to false>><<set $n_person to "person">><<set $n_they to "xe">><<set $n_They to "Xe">><<set $n_theyre to "xe's">><<set $n_Theyre to "Xe's">><<set $n_them to "xem">><<set $n_their to "xir">><<set $n_Their to "Xir">><<set $n_theirs to "xirs">><<set $n_themself to "xemself">><<set $n_plural to false>><<set _top_trait to $aggressive>><<set $mc_person to "person">><<set $clem_taken to false>><</link>>
<<link [[Merry romance; short scene with Lea, short scene with Noel. ->You watch a single crow circle overhead before you close your eyes.]]>><<set $highfell to false>><<set $blackwater to true>><<set $magic_pref to "water">><<set $l_relationship to 1>><<set $hairtexture to "afrotext">><<set $surname to "Karstark">><<set $name to "Uriah">><<set $l_person to "man">><<set $l_they to "he">><<set $l_They to "He">><<set $l_theyre to "he's">><<set $l_Theyre to "He's">><<set $l_them to "him">><<set $l_Them to "Him">><<set $l_their to "his">><<set $l_Their to "His">><<set $l_theirs to "his">><<set $l_themself to "himself">><<set $l_plural to false>><<set $n_person to "person">><<set $n_they to "xe">><<set $n_They to "Xe">><<set $n_theyre to "xe's">><<set $n_Theyre to "Xe's">><<set $n_them to "xem">><<set $n_their to "xir">><<set $n_Their to "Xir">><<set $n_theirs to "xirs">><<set $n_themself to "xemself">><<set $n_plural to false>><<set _top_trait to $aggressive>><<set $mc_person to "person">><<set $l_touch_averse to false>><<set $slept_w_merry to true>><<set $m_flirt to 3>><<set $chest to "top surgery">><<set $clem_taken to false>><</link>>
<<link [[Noel romance; short scene with Lea, long scene with Noel. ->You watch a single crow circle overhead before you close your eyes.]]>><<set $highfell to false>><<set $blackwater to true>><<set $mc_mage to true>><<set $magic_pref to "water">><<set $l_relationship to 10>><<set $hairtexture to "afrotext">><<set $surname to "Karstark">><<set $name to "Uriah">><<set $l_person to "man">><<set $l_they to "he">><<set $l_They to "He">><<set $l_theyre to "he's">><<set $l_Theyre to "He's">><<set $l_them to "him">><<set $l_Them to "Him">><<set $l_their to "his">><<set $l_Their to "His">><<set $l_theirs to "his">><<set $l_themself to "himself">><<set $l_plural to false>><<set $n_person to "person">><<set $n_they to "xe">><<set $n_They to "Xe">><<set $n_theyre to "xe's">><<set $n_Theyre to "Xe's">><<set $n_them to "xem">><<set $n_their to "xir">><<set $n_Their to "Xir">><<set $n_theirs to "xirs">><<set $n_themself to "xemself">><<set _top_trait to $genuine>><<set $mc_person to "person">><<set $bw_noel to true>><<set $n_flirt to 3>><<set $n_touch_averse to false>><</link>>
<<link [[Noel romance; long scene with Lea, long scene with Noel. ->You watch a single crow circle overhead before you close your eyes.]]>><<set $highfell to false>><<set $blackwater to true>><<set $mc_axeman to true>><<set $l_relationship to 1>><<set $chest to "binder">><<set $hairtexture to "afrotext">><<set $surname to "Karstark">><<set $name to "Uriah">><<set $mc_axeman to true>><<set $l_person to "man">><<set $l_they to "he">><<set $l_They to "He">><<set $l_theyre to "he's">><<set $l_Theyre to "He's">><<set $l_them to "him">><<set $l_Them to "Him">><<set $l_their to "his">><<set $l_Their to "His">><<set $l_theirs to "his">><<set $l_themself to "himself">><<set $l_plural to false>><<set $n_person to "person">><<set $n_they to "xe">><<set $n_They to "Xe">><<set $n_theyre to "xe's">><<set $n_Theyre to "Xe's">><<set $n_them to "xem">><<set $n_their to "xir">><<set $n_Their to "Xir">><<set $n_theirs to "xirs">><<set $n_themself to "xemself">><<set $n_plural to false>><<set _top_trait to $aggressive>><<set $bloodpact to true>><<set $clem_with to true>><<set $deal to true>><<set $mc_person to "person">><<set $bw_noel to true>><<set $n_flirt to 3>><<set $n_touch_averse to false>><</link>>
[[bullshit]]"What's done is done. We need to move," you say, shaking your head. "We don't have the luxury of standing here arguing about it right now."
Lea narrows $l_their eyes at you, searching your face for a moment, and you don't like how $l_they<<re>> looking at you.
"So we're just killing people now? For convenience?" Lea says, and you scowl.
<div id="choice"><<link '"That\'s not what I meant."' 'I need to get over the wall. 1.d.1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You think they wouldn\'t have killed us, given the chance?"' 'I need to get over the wall. 1.d.2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"What the fuck, Merry?"
It's all you can think to say.
Lea crouches down beside you then, checking the other two soldiers. The one $l_they hit is still breathing, and $l_they roll<<s>> them onto their side, pushing up their mask for a moment.
Merry shakes her head at the both of you.
"You're //soft//, Handler Chen," she muses.
Lea glares up at her, and you scowl.
"And you're a hardened fool," Lea hisses, standing back up and taking a step towards her. "What the fuck were you thinking?"
"Foolish was leaving that soldier in the street," Merry says, her eye flicking to you. "What the fuck were //you// thinking?"
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Don't blame this on me! Your people were supposed to deal with the soldiers at the wall!"
"Keep your voice //down//," Merry snarls.
"Don't blame this on me," you repeat, quieter this time.
Lea shifts closer to you then, $l_their sword still drawn, and a tense few seconds pass between the three of you, the rain coming down harder in the silence.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You recoil a bit at her glare, your jaw tensing.
"Do not blame this on me," you say through gritted teeth.
"It was //your// people that were supposed to deal with the soldiers at the wall," Lea says, shifting closer to you.
You can see $l_their hand tighten around $l_their still-drawn sword, and a tense few seconds pass between the three of you, the rain coming down harder in the silence.<<else>>Your brow furrows, and you turn away from her, shaking your head.
"Do //not// blame $mc_them," Lea snaps. "It was your people that were supposed to deal with the soldiers at the wall."
Lea shifts closer to you then, $l_their sword still drawn, and a tense few seconds pass between the three of you, the rain coming down harder in the silence.<</if>>
Noel lets out a long sigh, xir hand still on Merry's shoulder.
"I'm sorry - But we can't do this right now. We need to move," xe says, and Merry scoffs, shrugging xem off before she reaches down and grabs one of the soldiers, grunting as she starts to drag them away from the wall.
"Gods," Lea says, clearly disgusted, and $l_they fully turn<<s>> away now, retreating a few steps up the street.
Merry pauses, glaring after $l_them, before turning to you.
"What exactly //did// you expect?" she asks then. "That this would be //easy//? That we could just walk in here, holding hands, and make nice with Duncan and his soldiers?"
You curl your lip at her, and she just lets out a bitter laugh, readjusting her grip on the soldier before she starts to drag them over the cobblestones again.
Noel remains quiet, giving you a sympathetic look before stepping after Merry.
<div id="choice"><<link '"You need to watch your mouth." I don\'t like how Merry talks to Lea.' 'CH2 You need to watch your mouth'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You didn\'t have to kill them." I want her to know how I really feel.' 'CH2 You didnt have to kill them'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"This isn\'t what we agreed to, Merry." We\'re here to help with the Vel - not //kill// soldiers.' 'CH2 This isnt what we agreed to, Merry'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>"You killed them..." you say, still too stunned to think of anything else.
"Would you rather I let them kill //us//, instead? Or maybe I should have let them run back to Lord Duncan, tell him we're all out here climbing his wall?"
"But you didn't have to kill them," Lea snarls, taking another step towards her.
Merry tilts her head at $l_them, and you're certain she's smirking under her mask.
"Maybe you should consider that I //wanted// to," she says, giving Lea a lazy shrug.
Lea raises $l_their sword, and you instinctively reach for yours, but Noel is still in the way, shoving Lea back a few feet into you. You put a hand on $l_their shoulder, though $l_they <<dont>> look at you, still glaring at Merry.
"Careful, Handler Chen. First you attack some soldiers, now you're going assault a Gaelish refugee? I can't imagine the Black Iron is going to be very happy with that," Merry laughs, leering around Noel.
Your hand tightens around Lea's shoulder, holding $l_them back, because you don't need to make your situation even worse right now - and even through $l_their mask you can tell $l_they<<re>> clenching $l_their jaw, $l_their sword still raised in front of $l_them.
"Shut up, Merry," Noel snaps, turning on her.
"What did you expect?" she says, ignoring Noel, talking over his shoulder. "That this would be //easy//? That we could just walk in here, holding hands, and make nice with Duncan and his soldiers?"
Lea doesn't respond, just glaring down at $l_their sword.
Merry scoffs, and she gives you both one last look before she reaches down and grabs one of the soldiers, grunting as she starts to drag them away from the wall.
"Gods," Lea says, clearly disgusted, and $l_they fully turn<<s>> away now, retreating a few steps up the street.
Merry pauses, staring after $l_them for a moment, while Noel lets out a long sigh, before moving to step after Merry.
"I've got it," she snaps, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.
[[Continue ->CH2 Instinctively move in front of them]]"Lea," you take a step towards $l_them, pulling $l_their attention from Merry, "What else could we have done? They would have just alerted more soldiers. We have more time, now."
Lea searches your face for a long moment, before turning away, shaking $l_their head.
<<if ($l_relationship isnot 1) and ($l_flirt gte 1) and ($m_flirt gte 1)>>"You should listen to your hunter, Handler Chen," Merry says, and you don't miss the suggestion in her voice, her eye flicking up and down as she looks you over, before cutting back to Lea.
You glance at Lea, and you wonder if the faint blush on $l_their face is from anger, or something else.<<elseif ($l_relationship isnot 1) and ($l_flirt gte 1)>>"You should listen to your hunter, Handler Chen," Merry says, and you don't miss the suggestion in her voice, her eye flicking between the two of you.
You glance at Lea, and you wonder if the faint blush on $l_their face is from anger, or something else.<<elseif ($l_relationship eq 1) and ($l_flirt gte 2)>>"You should listen to your hunter, Handler Chen," Merry says, and you don't miss the suggestion in her voice, her eye flicking between the two of you.
You glance at Lea, and you wonder if the faint blush on $l_their face is from anger, or something else.<<else>>"You should listen to your hunter, Handler Chen," Merry says, stepping around Noel and leering at Lea. "And you should listen to //me//," she presses herself again Lea's still raised sword, a dare - or another threat - you're not sure.<</if>>
$l_They look<<s>> to you again, $l_their dark eyes flashing, but whatever $l_they<<re>> going to say, $l_they decide<<s>> against it, and just step<<s>> back, lowering $l_their sword and scowling back at Merry.
"What did you expect?" Merry says then. "That this would be //easy//? That we could just walk in here, holding hands, and make nice with Duncan and his soldiers?"
Lea doesn't respond, just glaring down at $l_their sword.
Merry scoffs, and she gives you both one last look before she reaches down and grabs one of the soldiers, grunting as she starts to drag them away from the wall.
"Gods," Lea says, clearly disgusted, and $l_they fully turn<<s>> away now, retreating a few steps up the street.
Merry pauses, staring after $l_them for a moment, while Noel lets out a long sigh.
<<include "I need to get over the wall Choice Set">><<if hasVisited("CH2 You didnt have to kill them")>>"$name?" Clementine's voice startles you, quiet and muffled by their mask, and you blink over at them, still standing back a few feet from the carnage.<<else>>"$name?" Clementine's voice breaks through your frustration, and you turn around to see them blinking at you, wringing their hands, still standing a few feet back from the carnage.<</if>>
You instinctively shift to stand in front of them, blocking their view, and they just stare at you, their curls plastered to their face as the rain soaks them through.
"Come on," you say gruffly, herding them farther up the street, towards Lea. $l_They<<re>> standing with $l_their back to you, arms crossed, and $l_they <<dont>> move as you join $l_them, glaring down at $l_their feet.
"This was a mistake," $l_they <<say>> after a few painful moments, shaking $l_their head.
You peer over at $l_them, letting out a long breath, reaching up to wipe some of the rain from your face, dripping from your hood.
"We're splitting with them, after this," Lea continues, turning to you. "Once we're out of the city - they're not coming with us."
"We could leave," you offer. "We can just leave, right now, Lea."
Lea doesn't answer you for a moment.
"We have to do this first. If we don't, no one else will. With the way Duncan is acting, I have a feeling you and Noel will be the last hunters this city sees for a long time."
You knew that's what $l_they <<were>> going to say. You know Lea too well, by now. And you are inclined to agree. How long has Duncan been blocking people's efforts to contact the Black Iron before this? It was pure luck the two of you stumbled here to begin with. You wonder how it would have been if it was Duncan, instead of Merry, that got to you first. Maybe luck isn't the right word... maybe //misfortune//.
"We'll deal with Captain Harlowe once we're finished here," Lea says then. "We can dump her on the coast somewhere. Our situation is bad enough without her implicating us."
You don't respond right away, just hearing Merry's voice in your mind again - //What did you expect?// What //did// either of you expect, aligning yourself with someone like Merry?
You don't say that, though.
"Let's just focus on getting out of the city for now," you mutter, glancing back over your shoulder to see Merry and Noel haul the final soldier out of the street.
Lea scoffs, but nods in agreement.
<<if $c_flirt gte 3>><<if ($clem_touchaverse eq 1) or ($cTouchAverse eq false)>>Clementine moves closer to you then, and you think they're going to say something, but instead they just grab at your hand, their fingers cold and wet in your palm. You blink over at them, giving them what you know is a weak smile, and they squeeze your hand, huddling even closer.
You can feel Lea looking at you both, but if $l_they think<<s>> anything of it, $l_they <<dont>> say it, just turning to watch Merry and Noel as they slowly make their way back over to you.
Clementine lets go before they get too close.<<elseif ($clem_touchaverse eq 1) or ($clem_touchaverse eq 2) or ($cTouchAverse eq true)>>Clementine moves closer to you then, and you think they're going to say something, but instead they just duck against you - not touching you, but close enough to feel their body heat through your cloak. You blink over at them, giving them what you know is a weak smile, and you can't tell if they smile back, but they just bow their head and huddle even closer.
You can feel Lea looking at you both, but if $l_they think<<s>> anything of it, $l_they <<dont>> say it, just turning to watch Merry and Noel as they slowly make their way back over to you.
Clementine steps back before they get too closer.<</if>><<elseif $bw_clem eq true>>Clementine moves a little closer to you then, and you think they're going to say something, but they don't, just shifting on their feet and fidgeting with their mask.
"You alright, Clem?" you prompt gently.
They blink at you, nodding quickly and ducking their head.
You and Lea exchange a look, and Lea moves a little closer to them, too, before you both turn to watch Merry and Noel slowly make their way back over to you.<<else>>A tense silence falls over both of you then, and you're aware of Clementine nervously shifting beside you, fidgeting with their mask.
Lea notices, too, giving you a look before shifting a little closer to them, in an attempt at comfort, you think.
You both turn then as Merry and Noel emerge back out from beneath the stilts, slowly making their way back over to you.<</if>>
"Well. We're running the clock, now. We've only got a short amount of time before someone starts missing those soldiers," Merry says as she steps past the both of you.
"Let's go, then," Lea says gruffly.
You hesitate a moment, staring back up the street one last time, the blood already washed away with the rain.
[[Continue ->CH2 To the temple 1]]<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"That's not what I meant, Lea," you snap, but Lea just scoffs.
"That's what you said," $l_they sneer<<s>>, turning away from Merry now, glaring at you.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"That's not what I meant, and you know it," you say, and Lea sighs, a painful sound, glaring down at $l_their sword.<<else>>"Lea... that's not what I meant," you say, and Lea looks guilty, glancing away, staring down at $l_their sword.<</if>>
"What did you expect?" Merry says then. "That this would be //easy//? That we could just walk in here, holding hands, and make nice with Duncan and his soldiers?"
Lea doesn't respond, and even through $l_their mask you can tell $l_they<<re>> clenching $l_their jaw, $l_their hand tightening around $l_their sword.
Merry scoffs at $l_their silence, and she gives you both one last look before she reaches down and grabs one of the soldiers, grunting as she starts to drag them away from the wall.
"Gods," Lea says, clearly disgusted, and $l_they fully turn<<s>> away now, retreating a few steps up the street.
Merry pauses, staring after $l_them for a moment, while Noel lets out a long sigh.
<<include "I need to get over the wall Choice Set">>"You think they wouldn't have killed us, too, given the chance?" you press, and Lea just scoffs.
"We'll never know now, will we?" $l_they <<say>> bitterly.
"What did you expect?" Merry says then. "That this would be //easy//? That we could just walk in here, holding hands, and make nice with Duncan and his soldiers?"
Lea doesn't respond, and even through $l_their mask you can tell $l_they<<re>> clenching $l_their jaw, $l_their hand tightening around $l_their sword.
Merry rolls her eye at $l_their silence, and she gives you both one last look before she reaches down and grabs one of the soldiers, grunting as she starts to drag them out of the street.
"Gods," Lea says, clearly disgusted, and $l_they fully turn<<s>> away now, retreating and putting some space between you. You and Merry both glare after $l_them, while Noel lets out a long sigh.
"Well done, Merry," Noel says, xir tone thick with sarcasm.
You ignore both of them, shoving past Merry, reaching down and roughly grabbing at the still-breathing soldier. You sling them over your shoulder, grunting at the weight, before heading beneath the stilts.
You don't want to be doing this right now. But you need to do something. You need to keep moving. Your hands tighten around fistfuls of the soldier's clothes, grimacing as you shift their weight on your shoulder. You keep moving, get through the district, and then you and Lea can get the hell out of here and argue to your hearts' content. You're over the wall, now. You need to keep moving.
It's cooler under the stilts, a shiver crawling up your spine even with the heavy warmth of the body draped over you. You drop the soldier at the base of one of the subterior pillars, leaning them against the stone, their armor scraping loudly and making you wince. You step out of the way as Noel appears beside you and does the same. It's dark enough under here that Noel's eyes glow as he glances at you, before turning to Merry, dragging the last soldier through the mud.
She lets out a harsh breath as she hauls the soldier over to join the rest, wiping her hands on her trousers and stretching her back for a moment.
You stare down at the pile of bodies - you can't help but look - the wide eyes staring at you through the mask, dull and lifeless, and the grotesque split smile of the other one, bloody teeth and the wet glint of their skull visible even in the dark.
"What about this one?" Noel says then, gesturing to the third soldier, the one you had been carrying - still breathing. That's the one Lea hit.
Merry doesn't respond right away, pursing her lips and glancing back out to the street - towards Lea.
"There was a fourth one," she says suddenly, looking at you. "The one you left on the other side of the wall," she explains. "Gone now, I assume."
You blink.
"Leave it. They'll know we're here soon enough," she says.
Noel sighs, but nods, taking a step back.
"What?" you can't help it, and Merry narrows her eye at you. "So what was all this for, then?"
Merry sidesteps the sad little pile of still-warm bodies and narrows her eye at you, close enough that you think she's going to grab you. She doesn't, though you're certain she's at least contemplating it.
"What's done is done, right?" she says, and you can hear the smile in her voice, even through her mask.
Your jaw clenches, and a tense moment passes between you, both of you glaring at the other.
Merry looks away first, scoffing and shouldering her way past you, heading back up into the street. You turn to Noel, who is giving you a look you can't decipher.
"These soldiers...," Noel trails off for a moment, scowling down at the bodies. "They deserved it."
You're a bit taken aback by xir bluntness, at the hard look in xir eyes as you follow xir gaze, your stomach twisting despite yourself.
"It doesn't matter. What's done is done," you say slowly. Noel blinks at you, and you turn away, following after Merry.
You suppose this is something you should have expected. Maybe you're just as naïve as Lea. You hear Merry's voice in your mind again - //What// did //you expect?// If you wanted to avoid this, you should have left right after Duncan showed up in the tavern last night. But you didn't.
You take a deep breath, pulling your cloak tight around you as you walk back out onto the street, into the rain.
<<include "CH2 Pulling your cloak tight around you as you walk back">>"Well. We're running the clock, now. We've only got a short amount of time before someone starts missing those soldiers," Merry is saying as you rejoin the others.
"Let's go, then," Lea says gruffly.
You glance back one last time, the blood in the street already washed away with the rain.
[[Continue ->CH2 To the temple 1]]<div id="choice"><<link '"You need to watch your mouth." I don\'t like how Merry talks to Lea.' 'CH2 You need to watch your mouth'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You didn\'t have to kill them." I want her to know how I really feel.' 'CH2 You didnt have to kill them'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"This isn\'t what we agreed to, Merry." We\'re here to help with the Vel - not //kill// soldiers.' 'CH2 This isnt what we agreed to, Merry'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Let\'s just get this over with." The quicker we deal with this, the quicker we can get to work.' 'CH2 Lets just get this over with'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"You need to watch your mouth," you snap, leering down at Merry.
She lets the soldier slip from her hands as she stands back up, giving you a long look.
<<if ($l_relationship eq 12) or ($l_relationship eq 8) or ($l_relationship eq 10)>>"Yeah? You're the only one allowed to speak to $l_them like that, is that it?"
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>You blink at her, taken aback, a sudden rush of heat burning your cheeks. You quickly shake your head, clenching your jaw and curling your lip at her.
"Yeah. That's it. So watch your fucking mouth," you repeat, taking a dangerous step towards her, the anger in your chest flaring white hot.
She just narrows her eye, unmoving, and you both glare at each other, holding your breath, your hands twitching at your sides.
"Noel. Help me with this," Merry says then, turning away from you and reaching down to grab at the dead soldier again.<<else>>You instinctively take a step towards her, the anger in your chest flaring white hot, but Merry is unmoving, narrowing her eye at you.
"What did I just say?" you warn, curling your lip over the words, your hands twitching at your sides.
Merry blinks slowly at you, her smirk visible even under her mask.
"Noel. Help me with this," Merry says then, turning away from you and reaching down to grab at the dead soldier again.<</if>>
You take a deep breath, shaking your head and taking a half-step back, flexing your hands as Noel steps past you.
He sighs quietly before reaching down and taking the soldier's legs in his hands, and you watch as the two of them carry them off beneath the stilts, vanishing into the heavy shadows.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 9>>You instinctively take a step towards her, the anger in your chest flaring white hot, but Merry is unmoving, narrowing her eye at you.
"What did I just say?" you warn, curling your lip over the words, your hands twitching at your sides.
Merry blinks slowly at you, her smirk visible even under her mask.
"Noel. Help me with this," Merry says then, turning away from you and reaching down to grab at the dead soldier again.
You take a deep breath, shaking your head and taking a half-step back, flexing your hands as Noel steps past you.
He sighs quietly before reaching down and taking the soldier's legs in his hands, and you watch as the two of them carry them off beneath the stilts, vanishing into the heavy shadows.<<else>>"Yeah? Protective of your little handler, are you?"
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>Your eyes widen, taken aback, a sudden rush of heat burning your cheeks. You quickly shake your head, clenching your jaw and curling your lip at her.
"Yeah. I am. So you need to //watch your fucking mouth//," you sneer, taking a dangerous step towards her, the anger in your chest flaring white hot.
She just narrows her eye, unmoving, and you both glare at each other, holding your breath, your hands twitching at your sides.
"Noel. Help me with this," Merry says then, turning away from you and reaching down to grab at the dead soldier again.<<else>>Your jaw clenches painfully, the anger in your chest flaring white hot, and you can tell Merry is just smirking at you, visible even through her mask.
"What did I just say?" you hiss through gritted teeth, your hands twitching at your sides.
Merry blinks slowly, unmoving, seeming to size you up for few seconds, her eye flicking to your clenched fists.
"Noel. Help me with this," Merry says then, turning away from you and reaching down to grab at the dead soldier again.
You take a deep breath, shaking your head and taking a half-step back, flexing your hands as Noel steps past you.
He sighs quietly before reaching down and grabbing at the soldier's legs, and you watch as the two of them carry them off beneath the stilts, vanishing into the heavy shadows.<</if>><</if>>
You stand alone, taking a few more deep breaths, doing your best to rein yourself in, your nails digging into your palms. You can't help but glance down at the two remaining soldiers, and you feel your stomach clench, your eyes immediately drawn to the toothy, split grin of the maskless one, their eyes staring up into the rain. Their blood runs across the cobblestones, washed away into the gutter, mixing with the mud and dirt.
[[Continue ->CH2 Instinctively move in front of them]]"You didn't have to kill them," you say, and Merry's glare flicks to you.
"But I did kill them," she says flatly.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Why?" is all you can say.
Merry makes a face at you, dropping the soldier and standing back up.
"//Why?//" she repeats, her tone needling under your skin. But she seems to genuinely consider the question, searching your face as she steps closer.
"I thought you of all people would understand," she says then, and you blink, narrowing your eyes at her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
<<if $m_flirt gte 1>>Her face softens slightly then, her head tilting at the question, and if she wasn't wearing a mask you're certain you could feel her breath on your lips - before she turns around, her braid swinging dangerously close to your face.
You watch as she roughly grabs at one of the soldiers again, dragging them across the cobblestones. She doesn't answer your question.
Noel remains quiet, glancing at you before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she snaps, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.
[[Continue ->CH2 Instinctively move in front of them]]<<else>>She just lets out a long sigh, running a hand over her hair.
"It means I feel sorry for you, $name," she says then, and despite it all you think she really means it.
Your mouth goes dry, your jaw clenching as Merry looks you up and down.
She turns away then, clearly finished with the conversation, roughly grabbing at one of the soldiers again and hauling them across the cobblestones.
Noel gives you a look you can't quite decipher, before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she huffs, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.
[[Continue ->CH2 Instinctively move in front of them]]<</if>><<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You can't help but scoff at her, at her posturing, disgust making your lip curl - and Merry doesn't like that very much, letting the soldier drop to the ground as she quickly closes the space between you.
Merry roughly grabs at the front of your jacket, shoving you back a few feet, and you both grapple with each other for a moment, until you rip your jacket free from her grip, pushing her hard enough to nearly throw her to the ground.
You hear the sound of running footsteps behind you, Lea rejoining you, $l_their hand on $l_their sword again - but Noel gets between all of you again, xir hand grasping at a fistful of your cloak and holding you at armslength as you glare over at Merry.
"//That's enough!//" xe hisses, xir other hand around Merry's arm, pulling her back as she regains her footing.
"Walk away," xe says to you, and you turn your glare on xem, but Lea's hand on your shoulder forces you to step back, and you reluctantly do as Noel says, Lea quickly pulling you down the street.
[[Continue ->CH2 You didnt have to kill them Aggressive]]<<else>>You purse your lips, the two of you just glaring at each other.
She sighs then, letting the soldier drop back to the ground as she stands fully again.
"Don't look at me like that," she says, shaking her head at you, stepping closer - making you tense.
"How would you like me to look, then?" you prompt, crossing your arms as she stops in front of you.
<<if $m_flirt gte 1>>Her face softens slightly then, her head tilting at the question, and if she wasn't wearing a mask you're certain you could feel her breath on your lips.
"Don't look //down// at me. Hate me if it makes it easier. But you and I - we're not that different," she says quietly, leaning even closer - before she abruptly turns around, her braid swinging dangerously close to your face.
You just watch as she roughly grabs at one of the soldiers again, dragging them across the cobblestones. Your mouth has gone dry, and your hands have curled into fists, your nails digging into your palms.
Noel remains quiet, glancing at you before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she snaps, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.
[[Continue ->CH2 Instinctively move in front of them]]<<else>>"You look down your nose at me. You think you're //better// than me."
You don't respond, narrowing your eyes at her.
"You're not," she says.
Again, you both just glare at each other, until Merry just shakes her head, turning away and roughly grabbing at one of the soldiers again, hauling the body across the cobblestones.
Noel gives you a look you can't quite decipher, before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she huffs, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You stare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.
[[Continue ->CH2 Instinctively move in front of them]]<</if>><</if>>"This isn't what we agreed to, Merry," you say, glaring down at her crouched beside the soldiers.
She leans back on her heels, eyeing you for a moment.
"No? What exactly did we agree to?"
"We agreed to help you secure this district - to help you with the Vel. //Not// to kill soldiers out of your petty spite for Lord Duncan."
She lets the soldier slide from her hands, stepping over them, brushing past Noel and leering at you.
"You think this is //spite//?" she hisses, and you imagine under her mask she's baring her teeth at you. "This is retribution. This is what he deserves. This is what they deserved," she jabs a finger back at the soldiers.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"You don't even know their fucking names," you scoff, shaking your head.
"Oh? Should I have asked? Do you ask a monster its name before you kill it?"
You curl your lip at her.
"That's not the same. Don't compare what I do to //this//," you say, throwing a hand up at her, at the dead soldiers in the street.
"Sure. Whatever makes you feel better," Merry laughs bitterly. "Whatever helps you look at yourself at the end of the day."
"And what about you? Can you look at yourself at the end of the day?"
<<if $m_flirt gte 1>>She steps even closer to you then, blinking slowly. You resist the urge to step back, half-expecting her to grab you - but she doesn't.
"I know what I am, $name. You clearly can't say the same."
You think there might be the slightest pity in her eye as she searches your face, her features softening for the briefest moment, and if she wasn't wearing a mask you're certain you could feel her breath on your lips - before she turns around, her braid swinging dangerously close to your face.
You watch as she roughly grabs at one of the soldiers again, dragging them across the cobblestones.
Noel remains quiet, glancing at you before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she snaps, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.<<else>>"I know what I am, $name!" she snaps then, and you half-expect her to grab you - but she doesn't. "I know what I am. It's not my problem that you can't say the same."
You think you must have hit a nerve, watching the way she turns away from you, the way she roughly grabs at the the body in the street, hauling it across the cobblestones.
Noel gives you a look you can't quite decipher, before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she hisses at $n_them, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.<</if>><<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"You don't even know their names," you say, shaking your head.
Merry narrows her eye at you.
"If I asked would it have made you feel better?" she scoffs. "What difference would it make? Their armor and the name they //serve// tells me enough."
"Yeah? And what about me? What about the name I serve? Is it just the Order you see, when you look at me?"
<<if $m_flirt gte 1>>Merry doesn't answer right away, stepping closer to you, your lip curling as she searches your face.
"No. I see something else entirely," she says slowly, the slightest bit of pity in her eye as she looks at you.
You don't expect that answer, your brow furrowing, glancing away from her for a moment.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Her face softens slightly then, her head tilting at the question, and if she wasn't wearing a mask you're certain you could feel her breath on your lips - before she turns around, her braid swinging dangerously close to your face.
You watch as she roughly grabs at one of the soldiers again, dragging them across the cobblestones. She doesn't answer your question.
Noel remains quiet, glancing at you before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she snaps, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.<<else>>Merry doesn't answer right away, watching you for a long moment.
"No. No - that's what I see when I look at Lea. When I look at you..." she trails off, tilting her head slightly. "I don't think you'd like to know what I see when I look at you."
You feel your mouth go dry, your jaw clenching as Merry looks you up and down.
She turns away then, clearly finished with the conversation, roughly grabbing at one of the bodies in the street and hauling it across the cobblestones.
Noel gives you a look you can't quite decipher, before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she hisses at him, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.<</if>><<else>>"You don't even know their names," you say, taking a step back, shaking your head at her.
Merry narrows her eye at you, before turning away.
"It would have made no difference. Their armor and the name they //serve// tells me enough," she says, shaking her head.
She puts her hands on her hips, glaring down at her boots, at the bodies, at the dirty cobblestones.
"I didn't expect you to be so naïve," she says, spitting the word as she shakes her head again.
"It's naïve to not want people to die?"
"It's //naïve// to act like I should be the better person, here. It's naïve to act like you can stop a soldier from following orders just by being //nice//. It's naïve to act like it's that simple."
<<if $m_flirt gte 1>>She turns back to you then, stepping closer, and you half-expect her to grab you - but she doesn't. She searches your face for a long moment, a strange sense of pity in her eye.
"I feel sorry for you, $name," she says then.
Her face softens slightly, her head tilting at you, and if she wasn't wearing a mask you're certain you could feel her breath on your lips - before she turns around, her braid swinging dangerously close to your face.
You watch as she roughly grabs at one of the soldiers again, dragging them across the cobblestones. Your mouth has gone dry, and your hands have curled into fists, your nails digging into your palms.
Noel remains quiet, glancing at you before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she snaps, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.<<else>>She lets out a long sigh, running a hand over her hair.
"I feel sorry for you, $name," she says then, studying your for a moment, and despite it all you think she really means it.
Your mouth goes dry, your jaw clenching as Merry looks you up and down.
She turns away then, clearly finished with the conversation, roughly grabbing at one of the bodies in the street and hauling it across the cobblestones.
Noel gives you a look you can't quite decipher, before stepping after Merry.
"I've got it," she huffs, and Noel graciously doesn't respond, instead turning towards the remaining two soldiers, slinging one over each shoulder, which you have to admit is pretty impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
The two of them head beneath the stilts, passing into shadow, leaving you alone in the street.
You glare after them, before glancing down at your feet, at the trail of blood slowly washing away in the rain, pushed into the muddy gutters and seeping into the stone.<</if>><</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 Instinctively move in front of them]]"Let's just get this over with," you grumble, running a hand over your face. What's done is done, whether Lea likes it or not. You can't say you're //happy// with this outcome, but you do think Merry is right. What else could you have done?
"Help me with this one, then," Merry says, crouching down and looking up at you expectantly.
You hesitate, staring down at the dead soldier in her arms.
"Yeah," you finally manage, reaching down and grabbing their legs while Merry lifts their torso.
Their eyes are still open, staring at you through their mask, and you scowl down at the ground, letting Merry lead you beneath some of the nearby stilts.
Noel follows close behind, slinging the remaining two over his shoulders, which you think is rather impressive, despite the grim circumstances.
Clementine just watches you all with wide eyes. You had forgotten about them. They remain standing in the street, turning to watch as you all duck into the stilts.
You and Merry drop the soldier at the base of one of the subterior pillars, and you move out of the way as Noel drops the other two with a grunt. It's dark enough under here that Noel's eyes glow as xe glances at you, before turning to Merry.
"What about this one?" xe says, pressing a hand to the chestplate of one of the soldiers - still breathing. That's the one Lea hit.
Merry doesn't respond right away, pursing her lips and glancing back out to the street - towards Lea.
"There was a fourth one," she says suddenly, looking at you. "The one you left on the other side of the wall," she explains. "Gone now, I assume."
You blink.
"Leave it. They'll know we're here soon enough," she says.
Noel sighs, but nods, pulling his hand back.
"What?" you can't help it, and Merry narrows her eye at you. "What was all this for, then?"
Merry sidesteps the sad little pile of still-warm bodies and scowls at you, close enough that you think she's going to grab you. She doesn't, though her eye flicks over you, and you're certain she's at least contemplating it.
"You and Lea - you just don't get it. This is it. This is it for me. You think Duncan is going to tolerate any of this? Whether I killed those soldiers or not, this is it. We've already given him an excuse, just by climbing his wall. Unlike you, Duncan won't hesitate to see me hanging from a rope before the day is through."
Her eye flashes as she glares into your hood.
"I didn't have to kill them. But I //wanted// to."
She brushes past you then, climbing back up into the street. Noel shakes his head, giving you a look you can't quite decipher.
"We've been dealing with Duncan and his soldiers for a long time. Those soldiers..." Noel's lip curls slightly as xe glares down at them.
"They deserved it."
You're a bit taken aback by xir bluntness, at the hard look in xir eyes as you follow xir gaze, your stomach twisting despite yourself.
"You are putting us in a dangerous position," you press then. "This is beyond just you and Merry - what about Lea? What about the Black Iron? You know we are supposed to be neutral," you hiss the last few words, your frustration finally getting the better of you.
Noel just shakes xir head again.
"No one is neutral, $name."
Noel steps past you then, abruptly concluding your conversation, leaving you standing in the shadows, staring down at the three soldiers. You can't help but look - the wide eyes staring at you through the mask, distant and lifeless, and the grotesque split smile of the other one, bloody teeth and the wet glint of their skull visible even in the dark.
You turn away, swallowing hard, bile burning in the back of your throat.
You hear Merry's voice in your mind again - //What did you expect?// What //did// you expect, aligning yourself with someone like Merry?
You take a deep breath, pulling your cloak tight around you as you walk back out onto the street, into the rain.
<<include "CH2 Pulling your cloak tight around you as you walk back">>You all make the choice to not actually sweep the district - you have to move quickly, and you and Noel prioritize just placing as many wards as you can, while the others make sure there is nothing lurking in the alleys or beneath the stilts.
It's uncomfortable, to say the least, a painful tension between all of you setting your teeth on edge, made even more unbearable by the heavy silence and the cold rain. You can practically feel the anger radiating off of Lea - though you admit it's nice not to have it directed at you for once.
You all work in a strained, anxious silence, with you and Noel exchanging as few words as possible. You're all constantly glancing over your shoulders, creeping slow through the shadows - but you don't run into anymore soldiers.
<<if $bw_noel>>Your plan is similar to what you did yesterday - loop the district, making your way towards the temple, with the temple being your final destination. You feel a sense of déjà vu at first, but it fades as Noel guides you down different streets, into different corners of the district, colder and darker.
Once you finish at the temple, you'll be able to hop the wall on the other side of the district, into the woods near the cliffs. You try not to think about the fact that you probably walked a similar path last night.<<else>>Your plan is to loop the district, ending at the temple. The direction of the temple leads you out of the city, so it will be an easy path, and you can hop the wall on the other side into the woods near the cliffs. You try not to think about the fact that you probably walked a similar path last night.<</if>>
<<if $bw_noel>>The wards you set yesterday call out to you as you make your way through the streets, surging in your presence and eagerly pulling on your magic. It makes it easier, allowing you to link the magic of the new wards with the old, reinforcing your work. The magic builds, thrumming against the Vel, making your body feel electric.<<else>>The wards Noel set yesterday help with the whole process, allowing you to link some of the new wards together with the old, reinforcing your work. The magic builds, thrumming against the Vel, making your body feel electric.<</if>>
The rain continues through the morning, and the city remains dark down here, thick clouds and the platforms of the upper levels casting long shadows. You find respite from the rain underneath the stilts, but you're all thoroughly soaked within the first hour.
You had been concerned about the upper city at first, but Merry and Noel made it clear that it's different up top - there are armed guards keeping people out, the people within still living in their usual luxury as if no plague had ever happened at all. You suppose for them, it didn't.
You feel your face twitch, disgust making your skin crawl, before you just shake your head, returning your attention to the task at hand.
You eye some of the buildings you pass by, locked and boarded up, red X's painted on the doors. The mark of death, all warning you to stay out. There are scorch marks in the street, the sickening smell of burnt flesh and hair permeating everything here, even in the rain, even over the smell of the sea.
[[Continue ->CH2 To the temple 2]]The damage to the Vel here is beyond anything you've ever seen before. You can't help but feel the risk was all for nothing. It will take years to mend this.
The temple is drawing closer, and you're frustrated, a headache blooming behind your eyes, your arm aching with each step.
<<if $bw_noel>>You knew it would be hard work here, even moreso than yesterday, and you knew it wasn't really going to //fix// the problem - just a temporary salve on the wound. You wanted to finish what you started, but at this point you almost wish you could just find some monster to fight, a more tangible threat beyond the looming terror of the Vel.<<else>>You knew it would be hard work here, with just you and Noel, but at this point you almost wish you could just find some monster to fight, a more tangible threat beyond the looming terror of the Vel.<</if>> <<if $dead_soldiers>>Something to justify the dead bodies you left back at the wall.<</if>>
A shiver passes over you as you turn down the next street, staring up at the temple spire. The upper city parts open for it, though the spire is partially obscured by the dark clouds churning overhead, a steady rain still falling, frustrating you further and leaving you completely soaked through. The bandages around your arm are drenched, clinging uncomfortably to your skin, hot and itchy underneath.
Being this close to the temple now makes your headache spike, and you can feel the Vel breathing around you, weak and heavy, pressing down as you all step into the shadow of the spire.
<<if $bw_noel>>Your sigil is still burned into the courtyard, and you slowly walk over it, feeling your magic flicker in response to your presence. You can feel Noel staring at you, but you ignore him, just scraping the ground with the toe of your boot, carefully tracing the runes.
The others brush past you, seeming not to notice.<<else>>You feel your adrenaline spike as you spot a few crows in the nearby graveyard, hopping along the wrought-iron fence and watching as your group crosses the courtyard. Your hand instinctively goes to your hunter's knife, your gaze flicking between the gathered black birds, all of them tilting their heads back and forth, stretching their wings and chittering with each other.
You seem to be the only one that notices.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 At the temple 1]]Merry walks right up to the doors, moving to push them open - but steps back, her brow furrowed.
"It's locked," she whispers, breaking the long silence between all of you.
Noel doesn't say anything for a moment, xir face unreadable.
"It shouldn't be locked," is all xe eventually says, stepping up besides Merry and trying the doors xemself.
You exchange a look with Lea, but $l_they just shrug<<s>>.
"You don't //lock// temple doors," Noel says slowly, straining against the massive doors as xe pushes xir weight into it.
Merry glances back at you and Lea then, Clementine hovering nearby, keeping watch.
"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to help?" she snaps, and again you and Lea exchange a look.
"Do we need to get inside?" Lea asks gruffly.
<<if $bw_noel>>Noel steps back from the doors, glancing over at you.
"We should," he says. "We didn't get to it yesterday."
You quickly look away then, crossing your arms and ducking into your hood.
"The temple - it was used as the quarantine clinic, before they completely closed off the district. As much as I don't want to go back in there..." Noel trails off, and a somber moment passes before xe continues.
"We should get inside to set the final wards. We can link it with the sigil we set in the courtyard. It seems like a small thing, but it will make a significant difference."<<else>>Noel steps back from the doors, letting out a long sigh.
"I've never gone in... to set the wards," xe says slowly. "The temple - it was used as the quarantine clinic, before they completely closed off the district. I haven't been back in there since."
A somber silence passes before Noel continues.
"It seems like a small thing, but getting inside to set the final wards will make a significant difference."<</if>>
You know Noel is right. It's the last thing you have to do here - you should at least do it right. Especially if this is where people were being quarantined - where people were dying.
Lea hesitates a moment, before walking up to the doors, and $l_they and Noel start to push against them together.
<<if $clem_taken eq true>>Clementine steps up beside you then, wringing their hands as you both watch Merry, Noel, and Lea struggling against the heavy, old doors - unsuccessfully. Despite everything, you find it a bit amusing.
"...Surely there's another way in?" Clementine prompts after a few failed attempts.
You glance over at them and nod, and they follow after you as you cross the courtyard and make your way past the cemetery, along the side of the temple.
[[Continue ->CH2 At the temple - Clem With]]<<else>>You watch as Merry, Noel, and Lea struggle against the doors - unsuccessfully. Despite everything, you find it a bit amusing. Merry huffs in irritation after a few attempts, stepping back while Noel and Lea continue to strain against the heavy old wood.
"...Surely there's another way in?" Clementine offers then. You and Merry both glance back at them, before looking at each other.
"Come on," Merry says, and you both make your way past the cemetery, heading around the side of the temple.
[[Continue ->CH2 At the temple - Merry With]]<</if>>You stare up at the tall glass windows, and consider for a moment breaking one - but you're not sure you'd be able to reach them, even with a boost. And shattering the huge pieces of glass will certainly be far louder than the dull thuds of the others trying to force open the door.
The temple is sprawling, and you and Clementine take a while to make your way around. It also seems to be even larger than you remember, though you think that just has to do with the emptiness of the district, and with the oppressive quiet punctuating your every step.
You do find a door. A small door, and it is locked - but it's a fragile, rotting piece of wood, not like the massive doors at the front, and all it takes is a few bashes with your shoulder and it crumbles away, splintering across the floor as the hinges snap free.
You and Clementine blink into the dark, and you shiver, a strange sensation washing over you. Strange and familiar.
A sudden warm feeling in your gut, a tightness in your chest, and the faint smell of rot.
"Should I go tell them we found a way in?" Clementine prompts, jarring you for a moment.
"Do you feel that?" you say, ignoring their question and taking a tentative step through the doorway.
You feel the fading presence of Noel's magic brush against you as you cross the threshold - old wards, straining against the Vel, recoiling at your intrusion. Clementine remains outside, watching you with wide eyes, clearly noticing the sudden change in your demeanor.
It feels colder inside, your breath fogging in front of you in the dark, and your footsteps echo in the empty room, even the drumming of the rain somehow silenced within the stone walls.
"$name?" Clementine calls out after you, but you don't respond.
Phantom hands are urging you forward, whispers swirling in your head, and you know you should get out - //Get out.//
The Vel flickers then, as if in anticipation, Clementine gasping behind you and saying your name again.
But someone else is saying your name, too.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the temple 1]]You're running before you even realize it, moving into the corridor, through the next room, past altars and little statues and tapestries, the massive stained glass reflecting brilliants colors across the stone floor even with the dark clouds outside. Another corridor, and you realize you're in the makeshift clinic, long abandoned and forgotten now.
You pay no attention to any of it. There's something in your head urging you along, chanting your name and guiding each step, pulling on an invisible thread that you can't resist, and you keep running, until you burst into the main chamber.
Old cots line the walls, mattresses rotting into the floor, dark stains making your stomach churn as you slowly walk through the pews. You carefully move towards the center of the chamber, the massive idol of the Wolfmother peering down at you. But it's off-center, pushed to the side, making the entire room feel lopsided.
You blink up at it, before noticing that there is an opening in the floor - the idol pushed aside to reveal it. At your feet, you see a particular sigil, etched into the floor just in front of the opening - what would have been the base of the idol.
There is blood smeared over the runes, soaked into the old wood and stone, and you recognize it as blood alchemy.
The ringing in your ears seems to crescendo then, a frantic chant in your head telling you to step over the sigil and descend the old stairs in front of you, your breath quickening as pain radiates up your arm, at the base of your skull.
You step through the sigil and take the first step, then the next, down into the dark.
It leads you down, down, down, until you step onto solid stone. It's clear that these stairs came after whatever it is that's down here - built into this ancient passageway. The temple location chosen for a reason.
Despite its name, the new temple is as old as the city - the old temple is older. Both are far older than current memory. The city was built around this temple - so what was here before?
You blink into the dark, and you see a door.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the temple 2]]You stare up at the tall glass windows, and consider for a moment breaking one - but you're not sure you'd be able to reach them, even with a boost. And shattering the huge pieces of glass will certainly be far louder than the dull thuds of the others trying to force open the door.
The temple is sprawling, and you and Merry take a while to make your way around. It also seems to be even larger than you remember, though you think that just has to do with the emptiness of the district, and with the oppressive quiet punctuating your every step.<<if $dead_soldiers>>
<<if $slept_w_merry or $ran_out_on_merry>>You find yourself staring at Merry, an uneasiness settling in your chest. Your memory of your day together yesterday now feels cast in shadow, a cold sweat crawling under your clothes when you think of her touching you.<<elseif $bw_merry eq true and $m_flirt gte 1>>You find yourself staring at Merry, an uneasiness settling in your chest. Your memory of your day together yesterday now feels cast in shadow, a cold sweat crawling under your clothes when you think of the way she had been looking at you.<<elseif $bw_merry eq true>>You find yourself staring at Merry, an uneasiness settling in your chest. Your memory of your day together yesterday now feels cast in shadow, a cold sweat crawling under your clothes when you think of the conversation you had - how much you shared with her.<<else>>You find yourself staring at Merry, eyeing her two swords, the blood stained on her trousers.<</if>>
//What did you expect?//
You drop your gaze just as she glances back at you, feeling your stare.<</if>>
After a short while you do find a door. A small door, and it is locked - but it's a fragile, rotting piece of wood, not like the massive doors at the front, and all it takes is a few hard kicks from Merry and it crumbles away, splintering across the floor as the hinges snap free.
You both lean forward, blinking into the dark, and you shiver, a strange sensation washing over you. Strange and familiar.
A sudden warm feeling in your gut, a tightness in your chest, and the faint smell of rot.
"We should be able to get in and unlock the front door from here," Merry says then, jarring you for a moment.
"Do you feel that?" you say, ignoring her and taking a tentative step through the doorway.
You feel the fading presence of Noel's magic brush against you as you cross the threshold - old wards, straining against the Vel, recoiling at your intrusion. Merry steps in after you, giving you a look as she peers into your hood, clearly noticing the sudden change in your demeanor.
It feels colder inside, your breath fogging in front of you in the dark, and your footsteps echo in the empty room, even the drumming of the rain somehow silenced within the stone walls.
"$name?" Merry says, taking a step back towards the door - away from you - but you don't respond.
Phantom hands are urging you forward, whispers swirling in your head, and you know you should get out - //Get out.//
The Vel flickers then, as if in anticipation, and Merry startles, saying your name again.
But someone else is saying your name, too.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the temple 1]]It's dark, heavy wood, built into the stone, and carved in the center is a small wolf head. Your hand automatically goes to your hunter's knife, and you glance down at the seal stamped into the bottom of its hilt. The seal of the Black Iron - a wolf head.
You walk forward, raising your hand and pressing it to the wood, but you snatch your hand back, startled at its warmth. The wolf head stares at you, unblinking, carved deep into the wood, and you feel hot, clammy under your cloak, a bad taste in the back of your throat. There's a heavy metal latch at the center of the door, and you hesitate for a moment.
You reach for the metal latch.
You strain against the weight, breathing hard, and you think it's not going to give - but something //clicks//, and the latch releases, almost making you stumble backwards as it jumps forward, a whirring sound as the wooden door swings open in front of you.
The rot washes over you, a cold, wet air exhaling through the open doorway, nearly making you gag.
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link '"Hunter."' 'CH2 In the crypt 1'>><</link>></span>The voice reverberates from within the stone, from within your skull, ringing in your ears and making you double over for a few seconds.
Taking a deep breath, you straighten up and slowly step through the door, pressing a hand to the cold stone, feeling your way forward. The cave seems to breathe around you, drawing you in, and you're not sure how long you walk, your hand trailing along the wall all the while.
Eventually, you step into a large open chamber.
An enchanted flame flickers on the far wall, casting a deceptively warm glow over the place, making you blink against the sudden light.
Statues line the walls, stony faces watching you as you slowly step further into the chamber. You stare up at the first one, your brow furrowed, the stone eyes staring past you at something you can't see.
You realize this is a crypt.
You walk down the long row of statues, studying the faces as you go - until one stops you in your tracks. A familiar face.
You recognize him from paintings at the Black Iron, though you don't remember his name. Rodrick would scold you for that. One of Lea's ancestors, an old Black Iron commander. You take a step back, quickly glancing down the row of statues again. Your heart is racing, a pounding in your temples that causes black spots to blur at the edge of your vision.
You have to turn around, putting some space between you and the unblinking statues, and instead turn your attention to the center of the chamber.
You blink into the dark, and you notice there, looming in the shadows, is a massive idol, one that is starting to feel more familiar to you than you'd like to admit - familiar, like the stony faces behind you. Chains are bolted to the floor, locking the idol in place, the old metal whispering slightly at your approach.
It's the Firstborn.
<<if $bw_lea>>Similar to the statue you saw at the old temple, but this one is alone - no siblings, no Wolfmother. Just the Firstborn. Its jaws are open wide, lips curled back in a snarl, poised as if it's about to lunge. But the chains hold it in place.<<else>>The first child of the Wolfmother, the goddess of the living realm - almost always it is depicted with its two siblings and mother. But it is alone in front of you, its jaws open wide, lips curled back in a snarl, poised as if it's about to lunge. But the chains hold it in place.<</if>>
The idol towers over you, and the stone is a pale white, different from that of the other statues down here, stark in the darkness of the chamber. <<if $bw_noel>>You blink at it a few times, a familiar sigil burned into the stone, and you feel your blood run cold. It burned through the courtyard - through the ground, burned into the idol. Your sigil.<</if>>
"//Come closer//," the voice says, in your head.
You do as it says.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the crypt 2]]You realize there's an altar at the front of the idol - nothing on it but a few melted candles and a sword. The sword looks unremarkable to you, old and rusty, but you feel an urge to touch it, running your hand along the blade.
Your heart is racing, leaping in your throat, and the pain in your head becomes unbearable just behind your eyes, making your lean forward against the altar, both hands gripping the cold stone as you struggle to catch your breath.
You force yourself to look up at the idol, a shiver crawling up your spine, an icy breeze sweeping through the crypt, making the chains around the wolf's neck shudder in the silence.
Suddenly, you hear a quiet //click// behind you, but before you can turn all the way around, pain explodes in the back of your shoulder, with the force of it sending you staggering forward, slumping into the statue and knocking the sword from its altar, a terrible metal clatter ringing loudly off the crypt walls.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the crypt 3]]You let out a pathetic wheeze as you slide to the floor, the stone painfully cold through your clothes. You're clinging to the statue, and you stare up into the shadows as a person materializes before you, a raised crossbow pointed at your head.
You grab for the sword on the floor, heavy in your hand as you push yourself back up onto your feet.
"You're that Black Iron hunter?" the person asks, eyeing the sword, though the crossbow stays leveled at you.
"Did you just shoot me?" you blurt, because your head is still spinning, and you're struggling to process what the hell is happening right now.
The person steps closer then, and you blink stupidly at them.
"Redwine?" but as you say it you realize you're wrong - at least, it's not Lady Redwine. Rather her daughter, with the same striking birthmark as her mother: her right eye with pale, white eyelashes and a white brow, and a single streak of white in her dark brown hair.
Her eyes flash, and she gestures with the crossbow.
"What are you doing here?" she snaps.
"What are //you// doing here?"
She scowls at you.
"Idiot," she mutters, before finally lowering the crossbow, and you let out a long breath.
You look down at the sword then, the weight of it unfamiliar in your hand, and you can see your blood soaking through your bandages, onto the hilt. //Right.// You have a crossbow bolt sticking out of your back.
"You shouldn't be here," she says then, brushing past where you stand still slumped against the statue. You glance up at the open jaws above your head, seeing your blood smeared against the faded, white stone, splattered across the altar.
You shiver, turning back to the girl.
<div id="choice"><<link '"What are you doing here?"' 'Inside the crypt 3.a'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What is this place?"' 'Inside the crypt 3.b'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You just shot me!"' 'Inside the crypt 3.c'>><</link>></div>"What are you doing here?" you ask again, pushing off the altar and taking a few steps after her.
She glares down at the floor, fidgeting with the crossbow before looking back at you.
"I'm waiting for someone," she says slowly, and you narrow your eyes at her.
"You shouldn't be here!" she repeats it with more urgency then, almost shouting at you, pointing the crossbow at you once again.
"Hey - come on," you huff, but she just glares at you.
"I heard about your arrival yesterday. With Handler Chen," she shakes her head. "You've caused quite the stir. More than you seem to know."
"I'm starting to get an idea," you say gruffly, still eyeing the crossbow in her hand.
A tense silence passes between you, until she finally lowers the crossbow again.
"Is Handler Chen with you? Are you alone?" she asks carefully, glancing around the chamber then as if Lea will suddenly materialize out of the dark.
You don't answer right away, your eyes drawn back to the Firstborn, swaying on your feet as you feel hot blood rushing under your cloak, dripping down your back and soaking your shirt.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the crypt 4]]"You just shot me!" you exclaim, because you're feeling rather indignant about it. "You shot me in the //back//."
She glares down at the floor, fidgeting with the crossbow before looking back at you.
She raises the crossbow again.
"Hey - come on," you huff, and she glances sideways, though she keeps the crossbow level on you.
"I'm sorry," she says then. "I'm waiting for someone. And I saw you..." she trails off for a moment. "You don't look very well," she finally manages.
You both stare at each other for a moment.
"I'm not going to hurt you," you say slowly, the dawning realization far more painful than the crossbow bolt in your back.
She still doesn't lower the crossbow, and you can't help but laugh, pressing a trembling hand to your face.
"I look that bad, huh?" you muse, letting out a long sigh, leaning back against the idol again - and wincing, as it jars your shoulder.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the crypt 4]]"What is this place?" you ask, pushing off the altar and taking a few steps after her.
But she just points her crossbow at you again, and you stop short, frowning at her.
"It's a crypt," she says eventually.
You look past her crossbow then and give her a withering look.
"No shit. Why is it here?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," she says, and after a moment she carefully lowers her crossbow. "You can only reach it through the temple - and an old ruin, outside the city."
She raises her hand then, flashing a large signet ring.
"I have the only key."
Even in the dim light, you recognize the sigil as the same bloody one you saw on the floor in the temple.
"Wardens have been entombed here for a long time."
Your brow furrows, and you turn to look at some of the statues again.
"These people are not wardens," you say.
"No?" she doesn't seem to believe you. "I think the statues are quite old. No one we would recognize."
"But these people are not wardens," you repeat again, and she just frowns.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the crypt 4]]The sudden sound of boots slapping on stone makes you both startle then, the girl swinging her crossbow around while you hold your breath. It's not coming from the corridor where you emerged from, but from deeper within the crypt. You tense, raising the sword, standing beside Redwine, facing the dark together.
You don't recognize the kid that appears before you - they're short, pale with faint freckles, and dark, shoulder-length curly hair, messy and wet from the rain outside.
The crossbow gets shoved in their face, too, which makes you feel a little better.
"Woah, hold on - Talia," they blurt, raising their hands as their eyes widen, looking bewildered as they glance between you and Redwine - Talia.
"Who are you?" Talia spits, jabbing the crossbow at them.
"My name is Harper. You know me - Harper, I'm a friend of Jackal's, remember?" they say quickly, though they're watching you, their brow furrowed.
"Harper?" Talia echoes, recognition in her voice, and she drops the crossbow, glancing at you, still gripping your sword. "He's a friend," she says, giving you a nod and taking a step towards him.
"I know you," the kid says, still watching you over Talia's shoulder. "Hunter Stern."
You narrow your eyes at him. Stern is Shoshana's last name. You don't bother to correct him.
"What are you doing here? Where's Jackal?" Talia takes another step towards him, forcing his attention then.
Harper blinks a few times, shooting you one last look before shaking his head at her.
"Talia..." is all he says though, hesitating, and as if on cue you hear the sound of more footsteps, making him snap his mouth close and shove Talia behind him.
All of you tense, until Merry and Lea emerge from the corridor and come around the statue, and you breath a sigh of relief at the familiar faces. You can't handle another stranger showing up down here, for fuck's sake. They seem startled to see you, and once again Talia lifts her crossbow, and Lea halts, raising $l_their hands, and Merry follows suit - though she doesn't raise her hands, keeping one on the hilt of her sword while she scowls at Talia.
[[Continue ->CH2 Inside the crypt 5]]<<if $clem_taken eq false>>"What the hell, $name? Are you alright?" Merry says, ignoring the crossbow in her face and looking over at you. "Didn't you hear me calling for you?"<<else>>"How the hell did you get down here?" Merry says, ignoring the crossbow in her face and looking over at you. "Didn't you hear us calling for you?"<</if>>
"Talia Redwine?" Lea blurts, slowly lowering $l_their hands. "What - what are you doing here?"
Talia sighs, dropping the crossbow, but Merry is scowling, shaking her head.
"We don't have time for this. We need to go. Now," she says, her eye flashing in the dark.
"No!" Talia blurts, running a hand through her hair. "You've led them here, haven't you? How many soldiers are there?"
Before Merry can retort, Harper cuts in.
"It's not just them," he says quickly. "There are soldiers in the tunnels."
Talia seems taken aback by that.
"What?"
Harper hesitates, glancing over at the rest of you, before grabbing at Talia's shoulders.
"I tried to get here faster, but there are soldiers everywhere. Jackal's not coming. We need to go," Harper says quickly, stumbling over the words as he rushes to get them out. "Jackal's not coming. This is a trap, Talia."
Harper grabs her wrist then, starting to pull Talia deeper into the crypt, but she plants her feet, shaking her head.
"If they're in the tunnels..." she starts, and then she rips her hand free from Harper, and instinctively you move between them, pushing Talia back behind you again and giving Harper a cold look.
"Please, listen to me!" he pleads with you, pleads with Talia. "We need to //go//. Jackal isn't coming."
"Who the hell is Jackal?" you snap, raising your hand and pushing Talia's crossbow down as she tries to point it at Harper again.
"My sister," Talia sniffs, "I was waiting for them. We were supposed to meet here."
It all seems to click then, Lea and Merry both looking at you with a dawning horror. The ultimatum with Duncan yesterday, his display in the tavern, the extra soldiers at the wall...
"Fuck. This //is// a trap," Merry says, while Lea lets out an impressive string of curses.
"A trap for all of us," $l_they shake<<s>> $l_their head, turning on Harper then.
"You. You know another way out of here?"
He doesn't answer right away, still staring at Talia. She's the one that answers instead.
"The tunnels lead out of an old ruin north of the city," she says, her voice wavering slightly.
"Then you need to go," Merry says. "Quickly."
"And what about you?" Talia blinks over at you, then at Merry. "We can all get out together. I know the tunnels better than any of these soldiers, and all of you can fight - and, Captain Harlowe, I can grant you amnesty."
Merry's face is unreadable under her mask.
"I'm not leaving Noel," she finally says.
You look between the both of them, then over at Lea, your head spinning, still struggling to piece it together, still stunned by the sudden appearance of Talia, of this crypt, of apparent //tunnels// running underneath Blackwater.
"Where is Noel?" you finally manage to ask.
"Buying us time," Lea says. "The kid's right. There are soldiers - there are a lot of soldiers," $l_they frown<<s>>, dropping $l_their gaze and shaking $l_their head.
"Duncan has reinforcements to spring his little trap," Merry says bitterly.
"That's General Keres," Harper offers then. "I ran into her, too, on the way here. She has an encampment outside the city."
"Keres?" Merry and Talia both echo, and Harper just nods.
"Are you familiar with the general?" Talia asks, giving Merry a curious look.
"No... But Noel is," she says slowly, frowning as she does, glancing at you and Lea - reluctant to admit Noel's association in front of all of you, it would seem. "I'm definitely not leaving him with //her//," she adds, crossing her arms and curling her lip.
"Merry," Lea says then, and you can tell what $l_they<<re>> about to say isn't ideal, "you should go with them. We'll go back for Noel."
Merry is already shaking her head, and you're frowning, but Lea doesn't back down.
"The Order has a reason to be here. You don't," Lea says. "They'll arrest you... Or kill you. Take the tunnels. Accept the amnesty. We'll meet you outside of the city."
Lea seems to have already made up $l_their mind on behalf of both of you.
Before anyone can respond, though, something shakes the crypt, sending all of you staggering sideways, and you grunt as your shoulder slams into the stone wall, reminding you that there is, in fact, a bolt embedded in your back.
[[Continue ->CH2 Out of the crypt 1]]Dirt and debris cascades down from the ceiling, the floor rumbling beneath your feet, just as water begins to rush in, splashing against your boots.
"Are - are the tunnels flooding?" Talia stammers, and you're startled by the realization at how young she is, clinging to Harper as the ground shudders. He holds her fast, staring down as the water pools beneath his boots.
You're vaguely aware of Merry and Lea speaking, too, but you sink against the wall, cradling your arm, staring at the red seeping through your bandages. The water is painfully cold, soaking through your trousers and leaking into your boots. You stare at the sword you're still holding, your fingers curling reflexively, your nails digging into your palm around the hilt.
The brief clarity that the crossbow bolt gave you is fading now, and you feel the Vel pressing down on you again, that wolf leering at you, your blood seared into the stone of its throat, its gold eyes flashing at you.
"$surname!"
Lea crouches down in front of you, grabbing you by your arms and hauling you onto your feet. The water is rising fast, and the others are already wading ahead of you. Lea drags you after $l_them, and you struggle with your cloak, tight at your throat as the water pulls you down.
But Lea gets you through it, leading you back down the long corridor and back up the stairs, and the two of you clamor up into the temple. You shiver, not from the cold water but from someone's magic prickling against your skin, icy fingers brushing through your clothes. You blink back at the stairs, dark water churning in the corridor, and you realize someone has sealed the crypt with magic, keeping the water contained - for the most part. Some of it still spills out into the temple, rivulets washing over your boots and flowing over the stone floor.
Lea jerks you forward again then, snapping you away from the crypt and pulling you back through the temple. Another tremor sends all of you careening sideways, though, and you slam into one of the pews, groaning as Lea falls on top of you, cold wood digging into your stomach.
"What the fuck //is// that?" Lea hisses as $l_they struggle<<s>> back to $l_their feet.
You push yourself up, wincing, pressing your hand to your stomach and shaking your head. You all stumble towards the temple doors, already hanging open as the water pushes past and out onto the icy street, mixing with the rain and mud.
[[Continue ->CH2 Out of the crypt 2]]You're overwhelmed as soon as you step through the door, soldiers flanking you on either side. Some of them are on foot, some on horseback, and you instinctively move to put the others behind you, despite your sorry state. You still have a sword in your hand, and you raise it then, glaring up at the nearest soldier who jerks the reins of their horse sideways as it nearly bucks them off, alarmed at your presence.
You're still aware of the water rushing at your back, and all of you push out into the courtyard together. For a moment the soldiers surge around you, their swords drawn, faceless masks leering in the rain.
<<if $clem_taken eq false>>"It seems your friends have finally joined us, Hunter Lykaon,"<<else>>"It seems your other friends have finally joined us, Hunter Lykaon,"<</if>> a familiar voice sounds over the scrape of metal and the drum of the rain, and finally the chaos seems to subside a bit, the soldiers backing off and skirting the courtyard, and you blink the rain from your eyes and take stock of your situation.
You're slightly outnumbered, and vastly outclassed - none of you are even wearing proper armor, and what few pieces you are wearing compares little to what the soldiers are equipped with. Some of them are mounted, though it's obvious the horses are agitated; by you, or Noel, or the Vel, you can't tell.
Noel is who you spot first, on the other side of the courtyard, xir hood down and a scowl on xir face you can see even from here.<<if $clem_taken eq false>> Clementine is with him, too, huddling close, all but hiding in xir shadow. The sight of both of them gives you a sense of relief you weren't quite expecting.<</if>> You also find the source of that //familiar// voice.
Duncan sits atop a large grey horse, and even from this distance you can see him smiling down at you, making your lip curl as you briefly lock eyes through the rain.
Beside him is a tall, older woman, her silver-white hair pulled back in a painfully tight braid, and she catches your eye as one of the only soldiers without a mask on. She watches you with clear interest, piercing blue eyes that you can feel burning through you, silver armor clanking together as she takes a few steps across the courtyard, and you squint against the white lightning that coalesces at the end of her sword's blade.
You have to assume that this is the one Harper called General Keres.
<<if $clem_taken>><<include "CH2.2 Clem taken variation">><<else>><<include "CH2.1 Clem Not taken variation">><</if>>Duncan considers you for a long moment, his horse huffing loudly and pawing at the flood waters.
"Are we all present and accounted for?" he says then, glancing back at Noel as if expecting xem to really answer him.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Clem taken variation 1]]"Grab that one," Duncan says then, pointing a finger at Merry.
A handful of soldiers immediately begin to converge around you, and you glance back over your shoulder, catching Merry's eye.
<div id ="choice">[[I'm not just going to let Duncan take her.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[What choice do I have? I stand aside.]]</div>You take a deep breath, turning back to face the soldiers, raising your sword and stepping forward. You're not just going to let them take her.
The soldiers falter before you, a few of them glancing back at Duncan, and even with the masks over their faces you see the uncertainty there.
Duncan tilts his head at you, irritation turning to amusement as he watches you.
"You Black Iron hunters. Can't ever just mind your own fucking business, can you?" He dismounts then, dropping heavily onto the wet cobblestones besides Keres.
"Let's see what you can do then," he smirks, gesturing at the three soldiers nervously shifting in front of you.
You're breathing hard, blinking against the rain, turning slightly as you follow the nearest one creeping towards you.
They take another step closer, and another. Another step, and you don't wait, lunging forward to meet them, knocking their blade away with a closed fist. You throw a warning swipe with your sword, metal against metal as the blade cracks against their armor, and they stagger back from the force of it. You take the chance and slam the hilt of your sword into their mask, snapping their head back and dropping them to the ground.
The other two soldiers quickly rush towards you, and one catches you in the side with their sword before you can move back, making you stumble sideways. You're able to dodge another slash before letting your unsteady momentum carry you forward, slamming into the nearest one, your shoulder denting their chest plate, sending their sword flying from their hand. They hit the ground hard, and you kick their sword even farther from their outstretched hand before turning on the final soldier.
They hesitate, before swinging at you again, and you easily parry them back, your blades clashing so hard that they drop their sword. You rush forward, grabbing at their mask and ripping it off their face before breaking their nose with your fist. They blink at you, stunned for a moment before crumpling to the ground, curling forward and clutching their face in their hands.
You turn back to Duncan, who is watching with a curious expression. Lea has taken your place at the front of the group, $l_their dark eyes following your movements, while Merry has drawn her swords, though the soldiers keep their distance now, most of their attention on you.
You take a few steps back, eyeing the one soldier as they slowly get back onto their feet. They make no move towards you, though, instead retreating to where you kicked their sword, picking it up and slinking back to the edge of the courtyard.
You aren't particularly impressed.
"Well. Very good, hunter. Are you quite finished, now?" Duncan says then, crossing his arms, looking just as unimpressed as you feel.
Your lip curls in disgust, your skin crawling under his //observation//.
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Why don\'t you come over here, and we can //really// finish this."' 'Not just going to let Duncan take her 1.a'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know, how many more soldiers have you got?"' 'Not just going to let Duncan take her 1.b'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing. He\'s not worth my breath.' 'Not just going to let Duncan take her 1.c'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>You turn away from Merry, staring down at the water swirling past your feet, before letting out a long breath. You lower your sword, slowly stepping back, separating yourself and the others from Merry.
"$surname-" Lea starts, but you grab $l_their arm, pulling $l_them close with a shake of your head.
Talia and Harper remain quiet behind you, though you can feel Talia's eyes on you, the disapproval palpable even with your back to her. Merry is watching you too, though her face is unreadable, and she drops her gaze as the soldiers surround her, her hands going to her swords - and there's a painful moment where you aren't sure if she's going to try and fight.
"Get off me," Lea hisses in your ear, but you tighten your hand around $l_their arm, holding fast despite $l_their protests.
You can see Noel across the clearing, shaking xir head, but blocked by Keres from intervening. Clementine watches, too, their eyes wide and unblinking.
You hear the rattle of chains, a familiar sound to you now that sends a shiver up your spine, and then the //click// of shackles as the soldiers apprehend Merry. She looks to you again, her eye flashing over the soldiers' masked faces, before they shove her forward and break her line of sight.
You thought for sure she would fight.
Lea rips $l_their arm from your hand then, swearing under $l_their breath.
"I told you. Noon." Duncan says then, shaking his head. "It's a shame, really." He dismounts his horse, dropping heavy onto the wet cobblestones beside Keres.
"I thought it would be only fair to give you a warning. A shame, that you didn't heed it," he continues, eyeing you and Lea, blinking away the rain. "And now we have such a tragedy on our hands. The temple destroyed, the streets flooded, and Talia Redwine - dead, at such a young age..." he turns on Talia then, though she doesn't blanch under his hateful stare.
"At least we'll be able to hold a trial. Maybe even see some //justice//," he gestures towards Merry, towards the shackles on her wrists.
"I was concerned by your arrival at first," he shakes his head, turning back to you and Lea. "But what timing! It will all work out, now," Duncan smiles. "Who better to blame than a Chen? Your family has a history of interfering where they shouldn't. It was only a matter of time before one of you would go too far."
He tilts his head at you, still smiling, glancing between the two of you.
"What? You think you could just walk around here? Climb my barricade and break my rules? I allowed it."
"Fuck you," Lea snaps, and you can tell $l_they<<re>> done listening to this little monologue.
Duncan just smiles wider.
"This is what you've stooped to, General Keres?" Noel says then, shaking $n_their head. Keres doesn't react, but for her eyes flicking over to Noel for a moment.
"Don't ignore me, Phaedra," Noel snarls, and she frowns, glaring over at $n_them now.
But when she speaks, it's not to Noel.
"That's enough, Duncan. You are wasting my soldiers' time. And you are wasting //mine//."
Duncan gives Keres a cold look, before just shaking his head.
"Fine," he says, drawing his sword, the metal singing over the sound of the rain. "I assume you are going to make this difficult?" he adds, raising an eyebrow at you.
"You have Harlowe - just let us go," you say weakly, though your words fall on deaf ears, Duncan just smirking at you.
You look between Duncan and Keres then, at the encroaching soldiers creeping forward, at the sword you still have in your hand. You're starting to breathe hard, blinking against the rain, turning slightly to keep yourself between the nearest soldier and Lea.
You're not exactly liking your odds right now.
"Plan?" Lea says behind you, and you can't help but scoff.
You take in the courtyard again, Merry shackled and held fast near the temple doors - all for nothing, now - while Keres and Noel seem to be facing off. You just catch Clementine bolting from the courtyard, drawing a few soldiers after them, vanishing around the cemetery, while Duncan is gaining ground, creeping closer and closer, flanked on either side by soldiers.
There's a heavy thrum filling the air, Noel and Keres' magic clashing overhead, churning with the storm, flooding water still pulling at your boots.
You glance back at Lea, at Harper and Talia, all of them looking to you.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m going after Duncan."' 'CH2.1 Going after Duncan 1'>><<set $lea_injured to true>><<set $merry_injured to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Merry - we can\'t let them take Merry. I shouldn\'t have let them take Merry."' 'CH2.1 Get Merry 1'>><<set $merry_injured to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">"We're going to fight our way out of here." [WIP]</div>"Why don't you come over here, and we can //really// finish this," you say, your eyes flashing as you stare him down.
Duncan scowls, but Keres smiles, giving you an appraising look.
You don't know who you're fooling, really, or what it is you're trying to accomplish right now. You know you're not going to be able to keep this up for very long - pressing your hand to your side, you can feel the hot ooze of blood between your fingers, and you still have a fucking crossbow bolt sticking out of your back.
And the Vel. The Vel is making your head throb, making your skin feel too tight under your clothes, making you feel like your teeth are going to break out of your mouth. You shiver, lowering your sword for a moment, doubt needling in the back of your mind.
<<include "CH2.1 Keres Blast 1">>You don't respond, just glaring at him, and even from here you can see the way his jaw twitches, his amused look turning into a scowl.
You're not really sure what it is you're trying to accomplish here, but you have to admit it is a little satisfying to see him so annoyed. But you know you're not going to be able to keep this up for very long - pressing your hand to your side, you can feel the hot ooze of blood between your fingers, and you still have a fucking crossbow bolt sticking out of your back.
And the Vel. The Vel is making your head throb, making your skin feel too tight under your clothes, making you feel like your teeth are going to break out of your mouth. You shiver, lowering your sword for a moment, doubt needling in the back of your mind.
<<include "CH2.1 Keres Blast 1">>"I don't know. How many more soldiers have you got?" you say.
Your quip does little to ease the uncomfortable tension in the courtyard, and you can't help but wonder just what exactly you are trying to accomplish here. You know you're not going to be able to keep this up for very long - pressing your hand to your side, you can feel the hot ooze of blood between your fingers, and you still have a fucking crossbow bolt sticking out of your back.
And the Vel. The Vel is making your head throb, making your skin feel too tight under your clothes, making you feel like your teeth are going to break out of your mouth. You shiver, lowering your sword for a moment, doubt needling in the back of your mind.
<<include "CH2.1 Keres Blast 1">>"Keres," Duncan says then, and your eyes snap to the woman in her gleaming suit of armor, watching as she raises a hand in your direction.
You barely register a shout from Noel before a bright light flashes in front of your eyes and totally consumes you. You throw your hands up reflexively, closing your eyes a moment before impact - hot white lightning exploding against your chest, knocking you to the ground, contorting your body painfully as you writhe in the cold, icy water.
You bite your tongue, blood in the back of your throat making you gag as you force yourself to roll onto your side, curling defensively as if it will help.
The electricity jumps around you, dancing over the pooling water, forcing everyone in the courtyard away from you until it finally begins to fade.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Keres Blast 1.a]]You groan, opening your eyes, wincing against the rain, panting as you struggle to regain control of your limbs.
"I //told// you. Noon!" Duncan's voice comes through the fog in your mind, over the roar of the rain against the cobblestones.
"You should have listened. It's a shame," Duncan continues, "What a tragedy. The temple destroyed, the streets flooded, and Talia Redwine - found dead at such a young age..."
You tense, struggling onto your hands and knees. You realize you are still holding the sword, your fingers locked around the hilt.
"Your arrival had me worried, at first. But what timing! It will all work out, now. Who better to blame than a Chen? Your family has a history of interfering where they shouldn't. It was only a matter of time before one of you would go too far."
You try to sit up, but your chest is tight, your whole body rigid, and you grab your side, suddenly remembering the pain there, your clothes soaked with blood and water.
"What? You think you could just walk around here? Climb my barricade and break my rules? I allowed it."
"Fuck you," Lea snaps, and $l_their voice spurs you to try again, forcing yourself onto your feet, unsteady as you blink over at Keres, standing in front of you, watching you, those blue eyes unnerving as she examines you with a rather clinical detachment.
You sway on your feet, but she doesn't seem hostile, which you suppose you should be thankful for. You're not sure if you could handle another hit from her like that.
"Is this what you've stooped to, General Keres?" Noel says then, and you blink over Keres' shoulder to see Noel stalking across the courtyard, shaking xir head. Keres doesn't react, but for her eyes dropping for a moment, before she refocuses on you.
"Don't ignore me, Phaedra," Noel snarls, and she frowns, turning around and glaring over at xem now.
But when she speaks, it's not to Noel.
"That's enough, Duncan. You are wasting my soldiers' time. And you are wasting //mine//."
Duncan gives Keres a cold look, before just shaking his head.
"Fine," he says, glancing between you and Lea. "I assume you are going to make this difficult?"
Lea scoffs, and you realize $l_they already <<have>> $l_their sword drawn.
The next few seconds happen simultaneously incredibly fast, and incredibly slow. The soldiers begin to surround you again, separated from the others, while Harper and Talia attempt to make a run for it, bolting from Lea and Merry and trying to get around the temple, though they don't even make it out of the courtyard before mounted soldiers converge around them. Duncan has drawn his own sword, heading straight for Lea, while Keres has turned from you and is facing off with Noel, lightning crackling overhead as her's and Noel's magic clash in the space between them.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I take the chance to attack Keres. Not very honorable, but we need any advantage we can get. ->CH2.1 Attack Keres 1]]>><<set $lea_injured to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[We're outnumbered. I need to take out some of these soldiers, before they can surround the others. ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers 1]]>><<set $lea_injured to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[My focus is on Duncan. I need to get to him and Lea. ->CH2.1 Try Duncan 1]]>><<set $merry_injured to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I can't let them take Talia. I need to get to her and Harper. ->CH2.1 Get Talia and Harper 1]]>><<set $lea_injured to true>><</link>></div>You take a deep breath, your hand tightening around the hilt of your sword as you take a step after Keres. The soldiers around you are wary after your earlier display, slow to react and not expecting you to go for the general.
You raise your sword overhead, holding it with both hands, but before you can strike, Noel sees you.
Xir eyes widen, raising xir hand at you - "Phaedra!"
It's too late, or you may have frozen in disbelief; as it is, your sword is already swinging downward, your momentum carrying you, even as you give Noel a look of betrayal.
Keres spins around, blocking your hit with her heavy armored bracer and shoving you back, splashing through the water as you struggle to keep yourself upright.
She raises her hand, and all you can do is throw up your arms as you're engulfed in that blinding white light again. It knocks you to the ground, your sword clattering and splashing over the wet cobblestones and far beyond your reach.
Your body convulses violently, the back of your head slamming against the hard stone, and you can feel hot blood rushing in your mouth as you bite your tongue. It lasts far longer this time, your muscles locking and contracting painfully as you writhe in the icy water, the bare skin of your face and hands burning and blistering in the heat.
When it finally fades, you can't hear anything over the ringing in your ears, staring up and blinking into the rain, the Vel flashing overhead as more magic erupts across the courtyard.
You're struggling to breathe, coughing and gagging as you roll onto your stomach, hot bile and blood dripping from your mouth. You force yourself onto your hands and knees, taking a few desperate, deep breaths before looking around the courtyard. But your vision blurs, the Vel flickering and distorting the soldiers and the temple, the spire wavering in the rain. You recoil at the dark shadows leering over you, and you hear the familiar sound of metal scraping over ice in the distance.
There's something else, too - a dull ache behind your eyes, sharp pain shooting through your skull as soldiers stomp through the shallow water in front of you. You try to scramble back, but your muscles are still stiff and painful, and your clothes drag through the water, slowing you down even more.
You just raise your hands, blocking your face, but they grab at your wrists, four of them swarming around you. Armored boots kick against your ribs, stomping on your legs, while you're hauled forward by your arms, half-way lifted off the ground.
The rattle of chains again, but this time, it's corporeal, right in front of you, and you recoil, pain in your skull sharpening as the shackles being snapped around your wrist come into focus.
The metal bites through your clothes, through your bracers, the sensation of hundreds of needles piercing your skin, slowly crawling up your arms and making you groan.
You sway forward, unsteady, leaning into one of the soldiers, and then - you vomit. The soldier swears, shoving you off of them and into the slowly rising water, your hands locked together now in front of you, a thick, heavy bar connecting the shackles around each wrist.
You blink water and blood from your eyes to stare at the metal, and your blood runs cold.
Blood iron.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Attack Keres 2]]You take a deep breath, wincing as you raise your sword.
There aren't too many soldiers in front of you, but you're still outnumbered, and they're inching closer, staring at you with those faceless masks. You take a few slow steps back, glancing between them, your hand tightening around the hilt of your sword.
You're not sure if it's Noel or Keres that hits first, but the clearing suddenly rumbles as magic surges around you, the clang of metal against metal, white light flashing through the rain, momentarily blinding you, your hair standing on end as the air becomes electric.
You scramble back away from Keres, and the soldiers do as well, turning away from you in their panic, throwing up hands and ducking away from the flashing lights.
You take your chance, and lunge for the nearest soldier.
You slam your fist into the back of their head, dropping the first one immediately, before the others spin around, shouting and pushing back against you.
You dart sideways, dodging one strike and blocking the other one with your bracer, gritting your teeth as the impact jars through you. It makes you stagger a bit, your body aching, muscles still locked from Keres' magic, but you manage to counter, thrusting your arm out and throwing their sword sideways before sending them to the ground with a swift kick to the gut.
The distraction of Keres' magic is fading, and you're nearly overwhelmed before you can replant your feet, a soldier's blade slashing at your arms and hands as you throw them up to block your face.
You swear, almost dropping your sword as blood runs hot under your sleeves, but you manage to scramble back and put some space between you, saved by another sudden eruption of magic through the courtyard, lightning bursting through the water at your feet and forcing you - and the soldiers - to step back. Just as quickly, though, it solidifies, ice swallowing the electric burn as the familiar feeling of Noel's magic rushes past you.
Noel and Keres are a terrifying sight, Noel swinging his glaive while Keres lunges forward to meet xem, a sickening sound as Keres' armor clashes against xem and they both go to the ground.
You glare over at the soldier in front of you, who hesitates now, and you can see the whites of their eyes even through their mask, their fear palpable, and you're starting to feel it, too - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, expanding and retracting in its excitement as the fighting turns feverish. You can feel it reaching out to you, nails scraping over your skin, pulling at your clothes, a heavy weight on your back as it breathes into your ear.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers 1.2]]You take a deep breath, wincing as you raise your sword.
There aren't too many soldiers between you, but you're still outnumbered, and they're inching closer, staring at you with those faceless masks. You worry your hilt in your palm, glancing for an opening - you need to get to Lea. You want to get to Duncan.
You're not sure if it's Noel or Keres that hits first, but the clearing suddenly rumbles as magic surges around you, the clang of metal against metal, white light flashing through the rain and momentarily blinding you, your hair standing on end as the air becomes electric.
You scramble back away from Keres, and the soldiers do as well, turning away from you in their panic, throwing up hands and ducking away from the flashing lights.
You have your opening.
You take your chance, darting past the first few soldiers before they even notice, feeling the burn of magic as it brushes against you, rain biting with electricity as it seeps through your clothes.
Unfortunately, you're still unsteady on your feet, staggering sideways and tripping on the uneven cobblestones, and you nearly collide with one of the soldiers before you can right yourself.
They spin around, startled by your closeness, before taking a frantic swing at you.
You try to duck out of the way, all but diving to the ground to avoid it. It's close, the whisper of the blade rushing past you as you hit the cobblestones again. Your body aches, muscles still locked from Keres' magic, your back and shoulder aching from the crossbow bolt, but you manage to launch yourself back up quickly, swiping up at the soldier with your sword.
You throw your body weight behind it, a messy strike you don't expect to really hit, but rather just hope to force them back away from you.
But it does hit. Your body carries you through the motion, and there's nothing you can do as your blade slices just beneath the soldier's mask, sending it clattering across the cobblestones.
The soldier seems just as surprised as you, staggering back and staring at you with wide eyes, their mouth opening and closing around broken words. Your momentum still carries you a few more steps before you can force yourself to stop, your boots splashing through water and blood.
You both stare at each other, before the soldier's head rolls back, their throat a gaping mouth of red, weeping down the front of their armor before they crumple to the ground.
Their eyes are still open, staring up into the rain, their blood pooling beneath your feet.
You look down at your blade, dark with blood and steaming in the cold air. You hadn't expected that - truth be told, you actually always expected that killing a person would be harder, that it would be different. But it feels exactly the same as killing anything else. The only difference is you don’t need a fancy knife to do it.
A few painful moments, you hand tightening around the hilt of your sword, before you're forced to look away from it as more magic erupts through the courtyard, scrambling back as lightning suddenly bursts through the water at your feet, though just as quickly it solidifies, ice swallowing the fire as the familiar feeling of Noel's magic rushes past you.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Try Duncan 1.a]]You take a deep breath, wincing as you raise your sword.
There aren't too many soldiers between you, but you're still outnumbered, and they're inching closer, staring at you with those faceless masks. You worry your hilt in your palm, glancing for an opening - you need to get across the courtyard.
You're not sure if it's Noel or Keres that hits first, but the clearing suddenly rumbles as magic surges around you, the clang of metal against metal, white light flashing through the rain and momentarily blinding you, your hair standing on end as the air becomes electric.
You scramble back away from Keres, and the soldiers do as well, turning away from you in their panic, throwing up hands and ducking away from the flashing lights.
You have your opening.
You take your chance, darting past the first few soldiers before they even notice, feeling the burn of magic as it brushes against you, rain biting with electricity as it seeps through your clothes.
Unfortunately, you're still unsteady on your feet, staggering sideways and tripping on the uneven cobblestones, and you nearly collide with one of the soldiers before you can right yourself.
They spin around, startled by your closeness, before taking a frantic swing at you.
You try to duck out of the way, all but diving to the ground to avoid it. It's close, the whisper of the blade rushing past you as you hit the cobblestones again. Your body aches, muscles still locked from Keres' magic, your back and shoulder aching from the crossbow bolt, but you manage to launch yourself back up quickly, swiping up at the soldier with your sword.
You throw your body weight behind it, a messy strike you don't expect to really hit, but rather just hope to force them back away from you.
But it does hit. Your body carries you through the motion, and there's nothing you can do as your blade slices just beneath the soldier's mask, sending it clattering across the cobblestones.
The soldier seems just as surprised as you, staggering back and staring at you with wide eyes, their mouth opening and closing around broken words. Your momentum still carries you a few more steps before you can force yourself to stop, your boots splashing through water and blood.
You both stare at each other, before the soldier's head rolls back, their throat a gaping mouth of red, weeping down the front of their armor before they crumple to the ground.
Their eyes are still open, staring up into the rain, their blood pooling beneath your feet.
You look down at your blade, dark with blood and steaming in the cold air. You hadn't expected that - truth be told, you actually always expected that killing a person would be harder, that it would be different. But it feels exactly the same as killing anything else. The only difference is you don’t need a fancy knife to do it.
A few painful moments, you hand tightening around the hilt of your sword, before you're forced to look away from it as more magic erupts through the courtyard, scrambling back as lightning suddenly bursts through the water at your feet, though just as quickly it solidifies, ice swallowing the fire as the familiar feeling of Noel's magic rushes past you.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Get Talia and Harper 2]]Noel and Keres are a terrifying sight, Noel swinging xir glaive while Keres lunges forward to meet xem, a sickening sound as Keres' armor clashes against xem and they both go to the ground.
You notice Merry has managed to reach Harper and Talia - and Clementine is with them now, too - though that's about the only thing that seems to be in your favor. Talia is unsteady on her feet, clinging to Clementine and waving her crossbow around, while you can see Merry is bleeding badly from a wound in her side, holding off two soldiers on her own while Harper fights a third.
You search for Lea, and spot $l_them towards the center of the courtyard. Sword drawn, $l_they face<<s>> off with Duncan, the two of them slowly circling each other.
A lot of the remaining soldiers seem to be panicking, a strange, unnerving excitement gripping the courtyard. Some of them are running after their bolting horses, while others seem to just be focusing on staying out of the way of all the magic churning in the air, watching it all through those masks, the whites of their eyes visible in their fear.
It's starting to get to you, too, the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, expanding and retracting in its excitement as the fighting turns feverish. You can feel it reaching out to you, nails scraping over your skin, pulling at your clothes, a heavy weight on your back as it breathes unintelligible whispers into your ear.
You force yourself forward, pressing a bloody hand to your forehead, your other hand tightening around your sword.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Try Duncan 1.b]]Lea and Duncan clash together, the sound of metal on metal ringing in your ears for a few moments before a roll of thunder drowns it out.
You hover back behind Lea, observing Duncan's movements as Lea pushes him back a few steps with a quick succession of blows. This close, you notice there are flashing runes on Duncan's armor - across his chest, at the joints, over his hands. //Enchanted armor.//
You know Lea is quick on $l_their feet, making up for lack of power with $l_their speed and restraint; trying to overwhelm Duncan and stagger him to safely get a better hit. But Duncan seems unfazed, just as quick as Lea, and what hits Lea manages to land just glance off his armor with a burst of red sparks, the runes flashing even brighter with each impact.
Lea darts back then, giving you a quick glance before returning $l_their focus on Duncan. A few of the nearby soldiers are creeping closer now too, seeming to be spurred into action at your approach, flanking Duncan and leering at you.
"Come to join us, Hunter $surname?" Duncan smirks over at you, his eyes darting between you and Lea.
You just scowl at him.
"It doesn't seem very fair now, though, does it?" he says, shaking his head.
He gestures with his sword, and the soldiers surge forward, trying to force a wedge between you and Lea. Lea resists at first, but suddenly looks to you, before retreating and pulling the soldiers away.
You're left standing with just you and Duncan. He smiles at you, those grey eyes pinning you in place.
"I've been looking forward to this," he says, twirling his sword as he stalks towards you, and the look you give him just makes him smile wider.
Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately darting forward and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your sword singing through empty air as you attempt to counter.
You swear, your muscles straining already, wary from Keres' magic still. You keep your sword high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the pain and the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead.
Your eyes cut to Duncan's blade, gleaming in the white lightning erupting through the courtyard, flashing as he twirls it in front of him again - a move that has always irritated you.
You try to take advantage of it, lunging for him halfway through his display, swinging your sword down with both hands.
He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones, water exploding around you on impact. This close, you can feel the magic radiating from his armor, can see the way it responds to his movements, flashing rapidly as he puts some space between you.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
<<include "CH2 Short Duncan fight Choices">><<if ($mc_swordsman eq true) or ($mc_axeman eq true) or ($mc_archer eq true)>>You launch yourself forward, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your sword clanging loudly against Duncan's armor. The runes flash on impact, locking together and deflecting your hit, and the force of it sends you careening back, all but knocking your sword out of your hand.
Duncan is quick to retaliate, lunging forward and attempting to run his sword through you. You manage to throw your other hand out and slap your bracer against his blade, redirecting it enough so it simply grazes your side.
You take a wild grab at him as he retreats, but he slips through your damp and bloody fingers, darting back, the runes glowing all the while.
You know you need to break through that armor - but you're in no state to shatter the enchantment, and you're not really sure you want to risk the potential of hurting Jorah.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, forcing Duncan back, and you throw your weight behind each hit, the sound of steel on steel ringing in your ears. His damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of strength, your hands aching from the effort.
You shake off the frustration, shifting back and swinging high, meeting Duncan's attack with your own. He grunts in surprise, and you can see his arms shake, wincing as your blades clash together, the runes burning brighter as the armor works to reinforce his stance. You push against him, forcing your blade closer, the hilt only stopping you for a moment - and you slice through his hands, your sword easily biting through his leather gloves. He lets out a strangled sound, his blood seeping down the silver metal of his armor, his face dangerously close to yours as you both glare at each other.
His runes flash, turning white to red to //blinding// as his armor burns hot, a sudden burst of magic forcing you to recoil as it slams into your chest.
You're nearly thrown off your feet by the strength of it, the water still rising and pulling on your boots as you splash backwards, struggling to maintain your balance. Duncan's too close to get in a good swing, instead lunging after you and slamming the heel of his boot into your side, the wound there splitting on impact.
The pain of it shocks you - white spots exploding across your vision, your knees buckling as you drop down into the water, the cold seeping in and making you gasp. The flooding is strong enough that it actually carries you a few feet, until your back slams against the short stone wall that surrounds the courtyard.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Failure Swordsman 1]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, lightning crackling down your blade.
But almost immediately it starts to jump, abandoning you as Keres siphons your magic - she's stronger than you right now, and she's in control, ripping it right out of your hands. You don't even think she realizes she's doing it, her and Noel dancing around each other across the courtyard too fast for you to process, and you're left straining to refocus at the sudden blow to your already diminishing energy.
You roll sideways just in time to dodge a heavy two-handed hit from Duncan, splashing through the icy water and barely scrambling out of the way of the follow-up swipe, hissing as his blade catches you across the arm. You throw your sword up and clash against Duncan's, residual lightning sparking between you, before your blade ignites with hot, white flame.
Duncan lets out a strangled sound before he jumps back, his face blood red from the sudden heat, shaking his head and swearing at you.
The fire hisses against the rain, and it falters quickly, though your metal stays golden-hot, steaming as you struggle to rein in your magic. You can taste blood on your upper lip, and you roughly wipe your face with the back of your hand - your nose is bleeding.
Duncan is giving you some space at least, his face singed, angry blisters on his cheeks as he glares at you, watching you expectantly.
Lightning is popping from your blade, dancing over the flooding waters still slowly rising around your ankles, pulled across the courtyard towards Keres, and overhead into the churning storm. You're breathing hard, your steps dragging in the water, but you dig deep, fire and lightning building along the edge of your sword.
Duncan moves slowly, cautiously, watching you closely as you both carefully move around each other, an agonizingly slow dance between you.
You know you need to break through that armor - but you're in no state to shatter the enchantment, and you're not really sure you want to risk the potential of hurting Jorah. So you do the only thing you can think of.
You take your sword in both hands, the blade a vicious red now, faint flames licking at your arms, and you let the electricity in the air course through you - from the water, from the storm, through your chest and down to the sharpened edge of your sword - and you take a swing at Duncan, hurling a blinding mass of fire and lightning directly at his chest.
He tries to roll out of the way, but it follows his movements, your blade guiding it true, and you admit you're impressed when he stops his frantic dodging and just plants his feet, crossing his arms over his head and taking the hit.
The fire washes over him, while the electricity is erratic, exploding in the air and against his armor, redirecting overhead and hitting some of the nearby buildings along the edge of the courtyard. It ricochets off of him, and you don't have time to react as it comes back at you.
You get a slight satisfaction at the realization that you hit harder than Keres.
It doesn't last, though, as you're thrown back into the flood waters, your head slamming into the cobblestones, water rushing into your mouth as you can't help but make a terrible sound in the back of your throat at the pain as your body convulses again. It's a strange sensation, on fire in icy water, and you feel like your tendons are being ripped from the bone, your muscles spasming as you thrash wildly under the water.
It takes entirely too long for it to pass.
Your face barely breaks the surface of the water, half-floating on your back, blinking up into the rain. The Vel flickers overhead, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is. The rancid taste of metal in your mouth, and your head is heavy, the icy water enveloping you making your blood run cold. You can see the water turning dark out of the corner of your eye, and you wonder if you're bleeding black.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Failure Fire 1]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, with the water churning at your feet as it senses your magic, the air growing even colder around you as frost envelopes your blade.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. The water moves with you, carrying you back out of his reach, and you raise your sword again, running your hand along the icy metal before lunging forward with a sweeping arc, redirecting the pouring rain and hitting him with shards of ice and biting drops of water.
He throws his arms up, swearing as he staggers back a bit from the force of it, little dents pocketing his chestplate. You try to catch him by surprise, but the armor forces him to dodge, the runes flashing rapidly as it jerks him along and carries him out of harm's way. Your sword swings through empty air, slashing some of the flooding water and freezing it in place.
You both move slow, circling each other, Duncan warily eyeing your blade, a few cuts on his face now, and you notice the way he shakes his arms, ice cracking at the joints and breaking away to shatter in the water at his feet.
You know you need to get through that armor - but you're in no state to break the enchantment, and you're not really sure you want to risk the potential of hurting Jorah. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, dropping your arm and reaching down to brush the icy surface of the flood with your blade.
The water clings to the metal, following your movements, and you take a few quick steps before sweeping your sword forward, the rising water rushing past you and overwhelming Duncan, knocking him off his feet before surging upward and cocooning him in ice.
Half of the courtyard freezes for a moment, before you can rein in your magic, dropping to one knee as the ice cracks and shatters around you, the water slipping out of your control. Thankfully, your companions are lucky enough to avoid the freeze, though a couple of soldiers are caught in the water, gone still like statues in the courtyard.
Duncan is held in place, though half of his torso is still free, punching at the ice with his fist. His sword hand is trapped in the ice, and you can sense a real panic now as you stand back up, with him frantically clawing at the ice where it meets the frosted metal of his chestplate.
You press a shaking hand to your forehead, groaning as the pain behind your eyes spikes briefly, your body struggling to recover from the sudden energy drained by your magic. You wipe your face, your hand coming away bloody - your nose is bleeding. The Vel pulsates overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck, whispering in your ear.
You try to shake it off, dragging your feet through the water and standing in front of Duncan. He's lifted slightly, held aloft in the ice, and he glares down at you, finally halting his futile attempts to break himself free.
"What now, $surname?" he spits at you, his grey eyes flashing. "You wouldn't hurt a helpless man, would you?"
You scoff, curling your lip, resisting the overwhelming urge to hit him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Water 1]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, a sudden hum of anticipation in the earth as it senses your magic, building with each step you take, the flood waters parting under your feet.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart back, dipping your sword low through the water and dragging it across the cobblestones, the scrape of metal on stone reverberating up your arm before you lash out, rocks bursting out of the flood waters and smashing against Duncan and his armor.
He throws his arms up, swearing as he staggers back a bit from the force of it, the stones denting his fancy chestplate. You try to catch him by surprise, but the armor forces him to dodge, the runes flashing rapidly as it jerks him along and carries him out of harm's way. Your sword swings through empty air, slashing some of the flooding water and cracking against the cobblestones, a few of them surging out of the ground in response to your magic.
The courtyard shudders under your feet as you stand straight, moving slowly, circling Duncan as he warily eyes your blade, blinking blood from his eyes where the rocks have smashed across his forehead. He seems a bit unsteady, pressing a hand to his head, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
Again you try to catch him before he can fully recover, lunging forward and gripping your sword with both hands as you bear down on him. Your blade clashes against Duncan's armor, the runes flashing and locking together with a burst of red sparks, knocking your sword back and nearly throwing you off your feet from the force of it.
Duncan manages a wild swipe after you, slashing across your chest - but it's weak, all sharp edge and no weight behind it, thankfully sparing you but for a stinging scratch. Both of you splash awkwardly through the flood waters, backing off and circling each other again.
You know you need to break through that armor - but you're in no state to shatter the enchantment, and you're not really sure you want to risk the potential of hurting Jorah.
You and Duncan continue your slow dance, and you carefully slide your feet through the water, feeling the uneven cobblestones and the hard earth compacted underneath.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Failure Earth]]>><<set $broke_courtyard to true>><</link>><<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out. Your magic unfurls in your chest, your body turning electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, with the wind churning and whipping at your clothes, water spraying at your back, and the air growing even colder as it begins to thrum with your magic.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike - but you dodge it easily enough, jumping out of the way and letting the wind carry you back a few feet. You let the momentum carry you as you swing yourself around, darting sideways before lunging forward with a sweeping arc, your sword clashing against Duncan's armor, wind whipping icy rain painfully against your skin.
The armor's runes flash frantically as they attempt to redirect your strike, knocking your sword back and nearly sending you to the ground from the force of it. Duncan tries to retaliate, but your own magic throws him off his feet, sending him splashing into the flood waters, while the temple spire groans overhead, violent winds tearing through the courtyard.
You struggle to regain your footing, bracing against the rising water and the rushing wind, icy rain biting at your skin. You realize too late you're losing control - your magic slipping out of your hands, the storm stealing it away from you. The wind howls, debris flying past you at an alarming speed, the old buildings rattling around the courtyard, water spraying at your back and pushing you until you stagger. You can taste blood on your upper lip, and you roughly wipe your face with the back of your hand - your nose is bleeding.
Duncan has managed to right himself, the runes of his armor flashing frantically as it jerkily moves him through the water, straining against your magic. He raises his arms, ducking his head into his elbows as more debris flies through the courtyard, smashing against his armor and knocking the soldiers near Lea to the ground.
Noel and Keres continue to fight through it, but you can see Lea retreating, grabbing at the wrought-iron fence around the cemetery to keep $l_themself steady.
Duncan is advancing back towards you, leaning heavily into the wind and rain, his sword raised in front of him, and you barely have enough time to register his attack, diving out of the way as he brings his sword down with both hands. But you aren't fast enough to dodge the follow-up, his blade biting across your chest and catching your forearm just above your bracer. The blow is enough to make you lose your balance, and the wind sends you tumbling into the water.
You know Duncan is right behind you, and you focus your last bit of energy to throw yourself back up with a desperate swipe of your sword. Cold air follows the edge of your blade, forming a massive, powerful wind that forces the water around you to surge backwards, exposing the cobblestones for a brief moment and forcing a wave of water to crash through the courtyard and beyond, sweeping soldiers and horses and debris out into the isolation district.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Failure Air 1]]<<else>>You launch yourself forward, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your sword clanging loudly against Duncan's armor. The runes flash on impact, locking together and deflecting your hit, and the force of it sends you careening back, all but knocking your sword out of your hand.
Duncan is quick to retaliate, lunging forward and attempting to run his sword through you. You manage to throw your other hand out and slap your bracer against his blade, redirecting it enough so it simply grazes your side.
You take a wild grab at him as he retreats, but he slips through your damp and bloody fingers, darting back, the runes glowing all the while.
You keep on him, though, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, forcing Duncan back, and you throw your weight behind each hit, the sound of steel on steel ringing in your ears. His damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of strength, your hands aching from the effort.
You have to back off, breathing hard, and Duncan smirks at you, giving you some space and watching you with clear amusement.
It's obvious you're not going to be able to break through that armor like this.
You glance down at the sword in your hand - not //your// sword, but the sword from the altar in the crypt. You debate a few transmutations, but you're not confident about using this sword; and it doesn't quite feel right.
Instead, you raise your free hand, flexing it into a fist, the alchemical runes on your bracer lighting up as the leather and metal start to spark and shift, crawling up your wrist and encasing your hand in a spiked, armored fist.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart forward, just beneath the arc of his sword, and you launch yourself upwards, your heavy fist solidifying in a pop of sparks just as it cracks against his jaw, snapping his head back and staggering him a few feet before you throw all your weight behind your fist and slam it into his chestplate.
The metal dents, but it doesn't break, and the runes ignite in a blinding white light that forces you to close your eyes. You feel a wave of heat, and you realize too late what's happening - the armor absorbs the majority of your hit, and redirects it right back at you.
You and Duncan are both thrown backwards, in opposite directions, and you hit the water hard, hard enough that you slam your head on the cobblestones and roll a few feet before coming to a stop. You can't see anything for a few moments, black spots and rain distorting your vision, and you sink back into the water, the cold seeping in and making you gasp. The flooding is strong enough that it actually carries you a few feet, until your back slams against the short stone wall that surrounds the courtyard.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Failure Alchemy]]<</if>>The two of you begin to circle each other, water sloshing at your feet as you keep yourself on your toes, despite the ache in your muscles, still trembling from Keres' magic.
Duncan raises an eyebrow at you, mirroring your movements, his sword held high in front of him.
"What are you waiting for?" he says, "Lost your nerve?"
It's irritating, but you resist the bait, keeping your eyes focused on his blade, tracking his movements as he slowly creeps closer. You're not usually one to be so //restrained// in a fight, but you know you need to be careful here. You're already moving slow after that hit from Keres, and the sharp ache behind your eyes is only getting worse as the storm seems to crescendo overhead, the Vel clashing with the magic coursing through the courtyard.
You know you won't be able to brute force your way through that armor, either. You're in no state to break an enchantment - and you're not sure you want to risk the potential of injuring Jorah, anyways.
<<if $magic_pref eq "earth">>You take a deep breath, glancing around the courtyard, carefully sliding your feet through the water, feeling the uneven cobblestones and the hard earth compacted underneath. You focus on that, your magic unfurling, a sudden hum of anticipation beneath your feet as the earth responds in kind, magic building with each step you take, the flood waters parting under your feet.
Duncan has lost his patience, however, and he's not waiting for you; he rushes forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart back, dipping your sword low through the water and dragging it across the cobblestones, the scrape of metal on stone reverberating up your arm before you lash out, rocks bursting out of the flood waters and smashing against Duncan and his armor.
He throws his arms up, swearing as he staggers back a bit from the force of it, the stones denting his fancy chestplate. You quickly regain the space between you, watching the way the runes of Duncan's armor flash frantically as he recovers, grimacing as he lowers his arms and glares over at you.
The courtyard shudders under your feet as you move slowly, circling Duncan as he warily eyes your blade, blinking blood from his eyes where the rocks have smashed across his forehead. He seems a bit unsteady, pressing a hand to his head, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Earth 1]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You take a deep breath, glancing around the courtyard, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles. You focus on that, your magic unfurling, a sudden anticipation building in the rain falling all around you, a low hum in the air as the temperature drops and frost coalesces along your blade.
Duncan has lost his patience, however, and he's not waiting for you; he rushes forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, the water rising with you as you raise your arm, ice crackling as it clings to your bracer and solidifies into a rugged shield just as Duncan brings his sword down on you again.
The blade slams against the ice, a few pieces shattering into the flood waters, but it holds, and it catches Duncan off balance, his sword nearly flying out of his hand as it ricochets back off your shield. He staggers sideways, splashing through the water, and you lunge after him, smashing the shield into his face.
The runes on his armor are flashing frantically as it forces him away from you, his limbs jerking unnaturally quick before he manages to regain control, pressing a hand to his bloody face.
The water laps at your legs, eagerly swirling around you and your icy blade as it dips below the surface. Duncan eyes you warily as you circle him, spitting blood from his mouth and scowling at you. He seems a bit unsteady, wiping at his bloody nose, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Water 2]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>You take a deep breath, glancing around the courtyard, your eyes drawn to the white lightning flashing overhead, illuminating the dark water at your feet. You focus on that, your magic unfurling, a sudden hum of anticipation in the air around you, electricity honing in and dancing down your blade.
Duncan has lost his patience, however, and he's not waiting for you; he rushes forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart back, raising your sword and swinging at the air between you, lightning coalescing along the edge of your blade before erupting, following your swing and exploding after Duncan.
You're sent staggering sideways, though, gasping as your magic wavers, your lightning jumping out of your control, abandoning you as Keres siphons your magic. She's stronger than you right now, and she's in control, ripping it right out of your hands. You don't even think she realizes she's doing it, her and Noel dancing around each other on the other side of the courtyard, too fast for you to process, and you're left straining to recover from the sudden blow to your already diminishing energy.
Duncan lowers his sword, blinking at you, a bit of lightning popping along his armor, but he stands unscathed, and clearly confused - but he doesn't bother asking any questions.
He lunges after you, and you trade a few quick blows, but you're slow, struggling to keep up with him, the runes of his armor flashing blindingly bright. You can smell the burn of flesh, feel the heat still emanating from your blade, and you throw your sword up, clashing against Duncan's, residual lightning sparking between you, before your blade ignites with hot, white flame.
Duncan lets out a strangled sound before he jumps back, his face blood red from the sudden heat, shaking his head and swearing at you.
The fire hisses against the rain, and it falters quickly, though your metal stays golden-hot, steaming as you struggle to rein in your magic. You can taste blood on your upper lip, and you roughly wipe your face with the back of your hand - your nose is bleeding.
Duncan is giving you some space at least, his face singed, angry blisters on his cheeks as he glares at you, watching you expectantly.
Lightning is popping from your blade, dancing over the flooding waters still slowly rising around your ankles, pulled across the courtyard towards Keres, and overhead into the churning storm. You're breathing hard, your steps dragging in the water, but you dig deep, fire and lightning building along the edge of your sword.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Failure Fire 2]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You take a deep breath, glancing around the courtyard, your breath fogging in front of you as the storm churns overhead, the flood waters chopping at your ankles in the vicious wind. You focus on that, your magic unfurling, a sudden hum of anticipation in the air around you, the wind whipping at your cloak and swirling around the length of your blade.
Duncan has lost his patience, however, and he's not waiting for you; he rushes forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart back, raising your sword and swinging at the air between you, the icy wind responding to your movements and rushing down your blade, following its arc and storming after Duncan.
The strength of the wind alone throws him off his feet, slamming him down hard on the wet cobblestones, knocking the breath from his lungs with a pathetic wheeze. His armor clangs loudly, the runes flashing frantically as it jerkily forces himself back onto his feet despite his shaky gasping. His face is twisted painfully, his arms snapping upward unnaturally fast in a blocking motion, clearly expecting you to attack - but you keep yourself restrained, darting back and regaining the space between you. He lowers his arms, wheezing as he struggles to catch his breath, glaring at you all the while.
The storm groans overhead as you move slowly, circling Duncan while he warily eyes your blade, his heavy panting fogging in the cold rain. He seems a bit unsteady, shaking his head and pressing a hand to his chest, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Stalemate Air 1]]<<elseif ($mc_swordman eq true) or ($mc_archer eq true) or ($mc_axeman)>>You take a deep breath, glancing around the courtyard, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles. <<if $mc_archer>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the weight of it - missing your bow. You glance down at the old, rusty sword, scowling at it, as if it could sense your distaste. You glance back to Duncan then, carefully turning with him, narrowing your eyes as you study his armor, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<<elseif $mc_axeman>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the weight of it - missing your axe. You glance down at the old, rusty sword, scowling at it, as if it could sense your distaste. You glance back to Duncan then, carefully turning with him, narrowing your eyes as you study his armor, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<<else>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, studying the armor as much as you can, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<</if>>
Duncan is impatient, however, with you refusing his taunt; you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
He's quick to swing again, and again you dodge, jumping back so his sword swings through empty air. He's surprisingly quick - and it catches you off guard as he swings yet //again//, stumbling through the water as his blade bites into your side before you can fully clear his reach.
You curse yourself for underestimating him, falling back as you press a hand to your side. Duncan is smirking, the dark shine of your blood glinting along the edge of his sword, steaming in the air as he stalks after you.
This time you're ready for his quick movements, your blades clashing as you parry his hit before throwing one of your own. Duncan throws up his bracer in an attempt to block it, but you just slam through it, his arm snapping sideways at an awkward and painful angle as he hisses through his teeth, though a burst of sparks from his armor's runes prevents you from striking again, a hot wave of magic shoving you back, splashing through the flood waters.
The runes flash frantically, the armor carrying him away from you, Duncan's limbs jerking unnaturally quick before he manages to regain control, gasping and clutching his arm to his chest.
The rising water churns between you, lapping at your legs, clinging to your trousers, an icy spray on your skin as wind whips through the courtyard, the storm building overhead. Duncan eyes you warily as you circle him, his confidence wavering with his arm tucked against his side, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Sword 2]]<<else>>You take a deep breath, glancing around the courtyard, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles. You flex your hand, feeling the warmth of the runes through your bracer, flickering as you focus on that, alchemical lightning sparking at the tips of your fingers and jumping to your blade, the dark water flashing red at your feet.
Duncan has lost his patience, however, and he's not waiting for you; he rushes forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your arms up as lightning pops loudly around your wrists, your runes igniting white and gold as the metal and leather of your bracer stretches and deforms, solidifying into a gnarly spiked shield just as Duncan swings again.
His blade cracks against the shield, the strike painfully reverberating up your arms as you brace against it, but the shield holds, and it catches Duncan off balance, his sword nearly flying out of his hand as it ricochets back with a burst of sparks. He staggers sideways, splashing through the water, and you lunge after him, throwing your arm out and smashing your shield against his face.
The runes on his armor are flashing frantically as it forces him away from you, his limbs jerking unnaturally quick before he manages to regain control, gasping and pressing a hand to his bloody face.
The water laps at your legs, clinging to your trousers, an icy spray on your skin as your alchemical lightning crackles down your blade and dances across the choppy surface. Duncan eyes you warily as you circle him, spitting blood from his mouth and scowling at you. He seems a bit unsteady, wiping at his bloody nose, a nasty gash in his cheek from one of the spikes, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Alchemy 1]]<</if>>The two of you begin to circle each other, water sloshing at your feet as you keep yourself on your toes, despite the ache in your muscles, still trembling from Keres' magic. You eye Duncan's armor, the faint glow of the runes, and you know you're not going to be able to get through that, no matter how hard you hit. There's no way you for you to break the enchantment, either, not in your state - and you're not sure you want to, not with the risk of injuring Jorah.
Duncan is smirking at you, mirroring your movements, his sword held high in front of him, clearly amused at your defensive posturing.
"What are you waiting for?" he says, "Lost your nerve-"
You don't let him finish, making the decision as soon as he had opened his mouth. This isn't a fair fight, there's no point in pretending otherwise. And if you're being honest, you don't give a shit.
You kick at the flood waters churning at your feet, directing a burst of icy spray right into Duncan's face. He makes a strangled sound, sputtering and staggering back in surprise, swinging his sword blindly in front of him.
You smack the blade aside before slamming your shoulder into his chestplate, grimacing against the bite of metal against your bare shoulder, the runes flashing as Duncan's armor tries to keep him on his feet - but your weight is enough to topple him over, both of you going down into the dark water, the cold of it making you gasp.
Duncan is wheezing, the air knocked from his lungs, turning into a wet cough as the water churns around you. He tries to scramble out from underneath you, kicking at your chest and nearly catching you in the face with his heel - but instead you use it to grab at his ankle and drag him back to you.
Duncan is swearing at you, cursing you, but you ignore him, shifting your weight on top of him and grabbing at his collar, gritting your teeth as you wind back and slam your fist into his face.
Duncan slumps back, nearly slipping underwater in the rising flood. You're breathing hard, and for a moment you just blink down at him, his face half hidden in the dark water, his mouth just breaking the surface and still gasping for air, blood and water in his throat.
You can't help being slightly amused now, glancing over his fancy armor - some of his movements are still jerky, unnatural, the armor still trying to get him away from you - but it seems unable to process exactly what's happening, no sword or magic to defend itself against.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Dirty Duncan Fight 1.a]]Pinned against the wall, you struggle to catch your breath, clutching your side as you force yourself up with one knee on the cobblestones, dark water churning around your waist. You can feel hot blood pooling on your upper lip - your nose is bleeding.
The Vel flickers overhead, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is. The rancid taste of bitter metal in your mouth, and your head is heavy, icy water seeping through your clothes and making your blood run cold.
Duncan stares down at you, scowling, adjusting one of his bracers and flexing his bloody hands as he meanders over to you. You try to stand, but the water just knocks you back down again - how pathetic. That hit from Keres took more out of you than you realized, your entire body trembling, and you feel as if your skull is going to split from the weight of the Vel pressing down on you.
Duncan lets out a long sigh.
"Is that all? Really?" he muses then, stepping in front of you as he lowers his sword, leveling it in front of your face. He slips the blade under your chin, and for a moment your eyes widen, half-expecting him to cut your throat right then.
<<if ($clem_with eq true) and ($clem_taken eq false)>>He leans forward, tilting his head, and you grimace at the bite against your throat, your eyes narrowing as you glare up at him.
You barely register the movement behind Duncan, the flash of silver, before he jerks forward, hissing in pain as he swings around to grab at Clementine as they try to run, a bloody knife in their hand. You double forward, slapping a hand over your throat, a surge of panic at the blood spilling down the front of your shirt, and you blink stupidly up at Duncan again, watching as he grapples with Clementine, bloody water splashing against your chest.
He easily overpowers them, and you try to get back up, swearing when you fail to do so, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision. Duncan hits them a few times, taking their knife out of their hand before throwing them down into the water, and when it's clear they're not going to get back up, Duncan turns his sword back on you.
He presses a hand to his back, grimacing in pain, giving you a dark look.
"You've got dirty friends, $surname," he says, shaking his head. "I was going to make it quick. For you and your handler. But maybe I should make an example out of all of you."
He presses the flat of his blade against the side of your face then, forcing you to look down at his feet.
You close your eyes, pushing your palm against the cut along your throat, your other hand tightening around your sword as the Vel shudders again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.<<else>>But he stops short, leaning forward, tilting his head as you glare up at him. He twists his blade flat then, before pressing it against the side of your face, forcing you to look down at his feet.
"I'll make it quick for you. And your handler, too, if it comes to that," he says softly.
You close your eyes, your hand tightening around your sword, and you can feel the Vel shudder again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.<</if>>
[[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Uninjured 1]]You hear Duncan's steps before you see him, sloughing through the water, little waves washing over you before he leans into view.
The runes on his armor are sparking, flashing erratically, but the enchantment is still intact.
Duncan frowns down at you, letting out a long sigh.
"Is that all? Really?" he muses, tilting his head, his eyes flashing darkly.
<<if ($clem_with eq true) and ($clem_taken eq false)>>He leans over you, tilting his head, and you grimace as he lowers his blade dangerously close to your face, your eyes narrowing as you glare up at him.
You barely register the movement behind Duncan, the flash of silver, before he jerks forward, hissing in pain and kicking you in the side as he swings around to grab at Clementine, a bloody knife in their hand.
You gasp in pain, clutching at your side, spluttering on the icy water as it surges and splashes over you. All you can do is watch as Duncan grapples with Clementine, helplessly on your back, your head spinning as you look up at them.
He easily overpowers them, and you try to get back up, swearing when you fail to do so, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision. Duncan hits them a few times, taking their knife out of their hand before throwing them down into the water, and when it's clear they're not going to get back up, Duncan turns back to you.
He presses a hand to his back, grimacing in pain, giving you a dark look.
"You've got dirty friends, $surname," he says, shaking his head. "I was going to make it quick. For you and your handler. But maybe I should make an example out of all of you."
He stomps back over to you, and without a word he lifts his foot and presses his heavy, armored boot onto your chest, forcing you under water. Duncan's weight crushes you against the cobblestones, and you can hardly even bring yourself to fight it, your body thoroughly exhausted. You slap weakly at his leg, but it's more for show than anything, your lungs already burning, darkness creeping in and clouding your vision.<<else>>"Where... did you get that armor?" is all you can manage, speaking through gritted teeth, blood and water gargling in the back of your throat.
He doesn't answer.
Instead, he lifts his foot and presses his heavy, armored boot into your chest, forcing you under water. Duncan's weight crushes you against the cobblestones, and you can hardly even bring yourself to fight it, your body thoroughly exhausted. You slap weakly at his leg, but it's more for show than anything, your lungs already burning, darkness creeping in and clouding your vision.<</if>>
You stare up at the storm and the looming temple, distorted by the surface of the water, before closing your eyes for a moment, your hands wrapping around Duncan's ankle. Even now, you can feel the Vel, a thrumming in your head, feverish as it reaches out to you beneath the water, dark magic surging through the flooding current.
[[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Uninjured 1]]You're vaguely aware that Noel and Keres are still fighting - but you're struggling to take in anything more than a few feet in front of you, and you can't bear to look around for Lea or Merry for more than a few seconds, having to press a hand against the column of ice in front of you to steady yourself.
"You don't look so well, hunter," Duncan muses, and your face twitches, pushing off the ice to glare up at him.
"Shut the fuck up, Duncan," you growl.
You really look at him then, the nasty gashes on his face from the ice you threw at him earlier, and despite his annoying commentary you can tell he's shivering, his free hand curled into a painfully tight fist at his side, his lips turning a sickly bluish-purple.
The armor is what you really want to look at, though. It's quite obnoxious for your tastes, golden plating with silver details, the familiar swooping hawk emblazoned across his chest. The runes are carved into the flow of the embellishments, you assume to allow them to blend in easily when not in direct combat. As it is, they're flashing rapidly, clearly trying to do //something//, but the ice holds.
"Your armor," you say then, your eyes cutting to Duncan's paling face, "Where did you get it?"
He blinks, clearly not expecting the question. He tilts his head down at you, before smiling slowly.
"You know Master Flint, do you?" he says, and you wince at his name coming from Duncan's mouth.
"Ah....," he tries to laugh, but it's more of a grimace, and he bares his teeth at you. "Master Flint. My little lapdog.... he'd kiss my feet if I'd only ask."
You stare up at him, too stunned to respond for a moment.
"What the fuck did you say?" you snarl, reaching up and grabbing at his collar, the ice cracking slightly as you jerk him forward. You can't resist the urge anymore - your sword forgotten, you punch him in the face once, twice, a third time, splattering the ice with his blood.
Duncan blinks down at you, his eyes still sharp, but when he opens his mouth, whatever he says is drowned out by a sudden explosion across the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and if you hadn't been holding onto Duncan it would have thrown you off your feet.
Your hands tighten around his collar as you duck against the ice, a wave of heat washing over you, black fire falling from the sky.
There's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, and Duncan's collar slips out of your hands as you sink down into the water, gasping as your vision swims, those familiar phantom hands reaching out for you again. Less phantom this time, more corporeal, real fingers digging into your flesh beneath your clothes as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you.
The Vel is open.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Water 1.2]]You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you igniting painfully as reality blurs, the world around you straining to contain what's been unleashed. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You stare down at your hands, at the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
The ice shatters in front of you, dropping Duncan down hard into the flood waters, and you both stare at each other for a moment. Duncan seems fascinated, but you don't miss the flash of fear in his eyes as he stands, taking a few slow steps back away from you.
"//Hunter//."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
You hear the faint rattle of chains, ringing in your ears, somehow even louder than all the commotion in the courtyard, and you know it's trying to find a way in.
<<include "CH2 You don't know that the chains will stop it this time">>The courtyard falls quiet then, a sudden, unnatural silence following your display - until Keres' lightning strikes overhead, a clap of thunder making you grimace along with the clash of metal.
You drop to your knees, clutching your sword and breathing hard, watching as water slowly seeps back into the courtyard, quickly soaking your trousers. You press a hand to your chest, wincing at the hot blood between your fingers.
Duncan, of course, stands in front of you, his armor having anchored him in place. The metal, so hot from the magic and exertion of the runes, actually steams in the cold rain, his greaves hissing as the water begins to rise again.
You try to get back up, but the little rush of water just knocks you right back down - how pathetic. Your magic has drained you, with that hit from Keres taking more out of you than you realized . Your entire body trembles, your vision swims, and you feel as if your skull is going to split from the weight of the Vel pressing down on you.
Duncan scowls, shaking out his armor and slowly meandering over to you. He lets out a long sigh.
"Is that all? Really?" he muses, stepping in front of you as he lowers his sword, leveling it in front of your face. He slips the blade under your chin, and for a moment your eyes widen, half-expecting him to cut your throat right then.
<<if ($clem_with eq true) and ($clem_taken eq false)>>He leans forward, tilting his head, and you grimace at the bite against your throat, your eyes narrowing as you glare up at him.
You barely register the movement behind Duncan, the flash of silver, before he jerks forward, hissing in pain as he swings around to grab at Clementine as they try to run, a bloody knife in their hand. You double forward, slapping a hand over your throat, a surge of panic at the blood spilling down the front of your shirt, and you blink stupidly up at Duncan again, watching as he grapples with Clementine, bloody water splashing against your chest.
He easily overpowers them, and you try to get back up, swearing when you fail to do so, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision. Duncan hits them a few times, taking their knife out of their hand before throwing them down into the water, and when it's clear they're not going to get back up, Duncan turns his sword back on you.
He presses a hand to his back, grimacing in pain, giving you a dark look.
"You've got dirty friends, $surname," he says, shaking his head. "I was going to make it quick. For you and your handler. But maybe I should make an example out of all of you."
He presses the flat of his blade against the side of your face then, forcing you to look down at his feet.
You close your eyes, pushing your palm against the cut along your throat, your other hand tightening around your sword as the Vel shudders again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.<<else>>But he stops short, leaning forward, tilting his head as you glare up at him. He twists his blade flat then, before pressing it against the side of your face, forcing you to look down at his feet.
"I'll make it quick for you. And your handler, too, if it comes to that," he says softly.
You close your eyes, your hand tightening around your sword, and you can feel the Vel shudder again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.<</if>>
[[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Uninjured 1]]Pinned against the wall, you struggle to catch your breath, your elbow pressed to the cold stone as you force yourself up, one knee on the cobblestones, dark water churning around your waist. You can feel hot blood pooling on your upper lip - your nose is bleeding. The Vel flickers overhead, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is. The rancid taste of metal in your mouth, and your head is heavy, icy water seeping through your clothes and making your blood run cold.
Duncan is already back on his feet, adjusting his armor - undented, now - as he slowly makes his way over to you. You try to stand, but the water just knocks you back down again - how pathetic. That hit from Keres took more out of you than you realized, and you feel as if your skull is going to split from the weight of the Vel pressing down on you. Your armored fist hangs uselessly at your side, feeling far too heavy for you to even attempt to lift again.
Duncan stares down at you, letting out a long sigh.
"Is that all? Really?" he muses then, stepping forward as he lowers his sword, leveling it in front of your face. He slips the blade under your chin, and for a moment your eyes widen, half expecting him to cut your throat right then.
<<if ($clem_with eq true) and ($clem_taken eq false)>>He leans forward, tilting his head, and you grimace at the bite against your throat, your eyes narrowing as you glare up at him.
You barely register the movement behind Duncan, the flash of silver, before he jerks forward, hissing in pain as he swings around to grab at Clementine as they try to run, a bloody knife in their hand. You double forward, slapping a hand over your throat, a surge of panic at the blood spilling down the front of your shirt, and you blink stupidly up at Duncan again, watching as he grapples with Clementine, bloody water splashing against your chest.
He easily overpowers them, and you try to get back up, swearing when you fail to do so, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision. Duncan hits them a few times, taking their knife out of their hand before throwing them down into the water, and when it's clear they're not going to get back up, Duncan turns his sword back on you.
He presses a hand to his back, grimacing in pain, giving you a dark look.
"You've got dirty friends, $surname," he says, shaking his head. "I was going to make it quick. For you and your handler. But maybe I should make an example out of all of you."
He presses the flat of his blade against the side of your face then, forcing you to look down at his feet.
You close your eyes, pushing your palm against the cut along your throat, your other hand tightening around your sword as the Vel shudders again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.<<else>>But he stops short, leaning forward, tilting his head as you glare up at him. He twists his blade flat then, before pressing it against the side of your face, forcing you to look down at his feet.
"I'll make it quick for you. And your handler, too, if it comes to that," he says softly.
You close your eyes, your hand tightening around your sword, and you can feel the Vel shudder again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.<</if>>
[[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Uninjured 1]]You're vaguely aware of Noel and Keres fighting nearby, lightning crackling through the courtyard, your hair standing on end. You can feel the Vel, too, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arms trembling slightly as you lift your sword, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan - Duncan, and his fucking armor. You're not going to win like this. You shift your stance then, planting your back foot, carefully turning along with Duncan's movements.
When he lunges for you, you slam your other foot into the ground, stalagmites bursting out of the cobblestones and surging forward to meet him. He's thrown back a few feet, crashing into the flood waters, wheezing as the breath is knocked from his lungs - and you follow close behind, moving to trap him in stone.
But as you raise your foot again, the courtyard shudders, and just like that your magic slips out of your control. You try to rein it in, but you're breathing hard, staggering in front of Duncan, and the courtyard trembles again - just before the earth shatters open in front of you.
The ground collapses, water rushing upwards and bursting through Keres' magic barrier, and you and Duncan both are swept back across the courtyard, slamming into the wrought-iron fence around the cemetery. You barely manage to grab on to the fence as the water recedes, rushing back underground, pulling a few of the soldiers down into the tunnels, into the crypt. Duncan scrambles beside you, grabbing at you, clinging to fistfuls of your cloak, and you strain against his weight, the fence groaning in protest, your cloak tightening around your throat.
You press your face to the cold iron, stark against the hot sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip as your nose begins to bleed. At last, when the water settles, you let go of the fence, sinking down into the dark water, gasping as your cloak loosens again, your entire body trembling from the effort. You try to get back up, but the churning water just knocks you right back down - how pathetic. Your magic has drained you, with that hit from Keres earlier taking more out of you than you realized. Your entire body aches, your vision swims, and you feel as if your skull is going to split from the weight of the Vel pressing down on you.
At least you can see Lea and the others - standing safely on the other side of the collapse - and you can still hear the sounds of Noel and Keres fighting. A small mercy.
Duncan has released your cloak, standing a few feet from you, his hands on his knees as he struggles to catch his breath. When he straightens back up, you can just watch, blinking up into the rain.
He scowls, wiping the blood and water from his face as he glares down at you.
"Is that all?" he says then, his scowl twisting into a smirk. He's still holding his sword - you only just notice the flash of metal as he levels it in front of your face. He slips the blade under your chin, and for a moment your eyes widen, half-expecting him to cut your throat right then.
<<if ($clem_with eq true) and ($clem_taken eq false)>>He leans forward, tilting his head, and you grimace at the bite against your throat, your eyes narrowing as you glare up at him.
You barely register the movement behind Duncan, the flash of silver, before he jerks forward, hissing in pain as he swings around to grab at Clementine as they try to run, a bloody knife in their hand. You double forward, slapping a hand over your throat, a surge of panic at the blood spilling down the front of your shirt, and you blink stupidly up at Duncan again, watching as he grapples with Clementine, bloody water splashing against your chest.
He easily overpowers them, and you try to get back up, swearing when you fail to do so, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision. Duncan hits them a few times, taking their knife out of their hand before throwing them down into the water, and when it's clear they're not going to get back up, Duncan turns his sword back on you.
He presses a hand to his back, grimacing in pain, giving you a dark look.
"You've got dirty friends, $surname," he says, shaking his head. "I was going to make it quick. For you and your handler. But maybe I should make an example out of all of you."
He presses the flat of his blade against the side of your face then, forcing you to look down at his feet.
You close your eyes, pushing your palm against the cut along your throat, your other hand tightening around your sword as the Vel shudders again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.<<else>>But he stops short, leaning forward, tilting his head as you glare up at him. He twists his blade flat then, before pressing it against the side of your face, forcing you to look down at his feet.
"I'll make it quick for you. And your handler, too, if it comes to that," he says softly.
You close your eyes, your hand tightening around your sword, and you can feel the Vel shudder again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.<</if>>
[[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Uninjured 1]]You're vaguely aware that Noel and Keres are still fighting, lightning crackling through the courtyard, your hand standing on end. You can feel the Vel, too, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck.
You try to shake it off, gritting your teeth and focusing on Duncan, your eyes flicking over his armor. It's quite obnoxious for your tastes, golden plating with silver details, the familiar swooping hawk emblazoned across his chest. The runes are carved into the flow of the embellishments, you assume to allow them to blend in easily when not in direct combat. As it is, they're flashing frantically, trying and failing to do //something//.
Duncan seems to recover then, making a desperate grab at you, at your bandaged hand, digging his nails in perhaps thinking there is an injury there. You respond by just dunking his head under the water, your fingers still curled around his collar.
You hold him like that for a long time, clenching your jaw and holding yourself steady against his panicked thrashing.
You have a dark thought in the back of your mind, urging you to hold him there until he stops.
But you pull him up eventually, scowling down at him.
"Where did you get this armor?" you snarl, watching with some satisfaction as he struggles to regain his breath.
He doesn't respond for a few moments, weakly grasping at your wrists.
"...You know Master Flint, do you?" he finally manages, and you wince at his name coming from Duncan's mouth.
"Ah....," he tries to laugh, but it's more of a grimace, and he bares his teeth at you. "Master Flint. My little lapdog.... he'd kiss my feet if I'd only ask."
You stare down at him, too stunned to even say anything.
"What the fuck did you say?" you hiss then, jerking him up out of the water, bringing him closer just to punch him again, and again, and again, blood splattering down the front of his fancy armor and mixing with the icy waters lapping at your waist.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Dirty Duncan Fight 1.b]]There's something scratching at the base of your skull - another dark thought, the urge to keep hitting him, the urge to turn his face into an unrecognizable gore. You wince, curling forward slightly, a sharp pain behind your eyes. You feel the warm sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip - your nose is bleeding. You quickly reach up and wipe it away, ignoring the way Duncan glares up at you, blinking blood from his eyes.
"You don't look so good, hunter," he rasps, giving you a bloody smile.
You don't say anything, just shoving him back under the water, your lip curling in disgust.
You only manage to keep him under for a few seconds, before he grabs at your arm, just above your bracer - and digs his nails in again, ripping at your sleeve and the bandages underneath.
You swear, recoiling as your vision swims, almost blacking out from the sudden pain as Duncan clings to your forearm, pulling on your bracer and clawing frantically with both hands. You barely manage to get free, standing up and staggering back until you trip over something caught in the water, almost up to your knees now.
Duncan is quick, launching himself after you, smashing his armored knee into your chest and plunging you underwater. The pain in your chest prevents you from taking a breath before your go under, icy water rushing into your mouth and up your nose as you slam back against the cobblestones.
Duncan pins you beneath him, his armor crushing your torso as he leans forward to wrap his hands around your throat. You can just stare up at him, distorted through the dark water, your own blood churning all around you.
You thrash for a few futile moments, before closing your eyes, your lungs already burning. Even now, you can feel the Vel, a thrumming in your head, feverish as it reaches out to you beneath the water, dark magic surging through the current.
Duncan's hands tighten around your throat, his knee pressing against your chest, but your body feels weightless.
[[Get up. ->CH2.1 Get Up Dirty Fight]]will have to do specialty flavor text here
he has you pinned underwater, choking you
<<link '"$name!"' 'CH2 Get Up 1 Lea Intervene'>><</link>>They crouch down in front of you, watching you curiously, their eyes consumed in inky black - is that what you look like? Is that how you looked last night, when they found you in the woods?
"I'm sorry," they say, and you close your eyes, a wave of nausea washing over you at your voice coming from their mouth.
"I'm sorry for this. And I'm sorry for last night," they say suddenly. "It was cruel of me, to bring you out there," they tilt their head at you, their dark eyes flashing, a thin ring of gold swirling at the center, almost hypnotic, drawing you in.
"But I had to make sure. You keep slipping through my fingers..." they trail off for a moment, studying //your// hands before moving even closer, the smell of rot making your eyes water.
They grab your arm then, and you try to twist away, but they easily hold you still, their hand just as cold as the water churning around you, long claws curling around your forearm, their other hand slowly coming up to touch your face.
"I'm stronger now - and so are you. Stronger as each day passes. As it gets closer," they say, their hands tightening as you struggle, trying to turn your head away from their touch.
"I'm glad that it's you. We have a lot in common. But I am sorry."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" is all you can manage, still desperately trying to pull yourself free - but they just smile, pulling you closer, their rotted breath on your face, their hand sliding to your throat.
You notice the pain in your arm then, white hot and spiking up to your shoulder, burning through your chest as you curl forward, the world around you vanishing for a moment as the pain overwhelms you.
Their claws - your claws - digging into your arm, black blood spilling down your bracer, and you can just watch as they reach inside, pulling at the muscles and tendons and gore, the terrible scraping sensation against your bone as they touch you with your own hands.
It's getting inside - forcing its way in.
Burrowing under your skin, through your veins, the taste of rot in your mouth, in your throat, in your stomach - inside. Inside you.
<<link '//Get up.//' 'CH2 You still have your knife Lea Intervene'>><</link>>Your hunter's knife is in your hand. Your other arm hangs uselessly at your side, the water dark and red from the raw, open wound left there, the white shine of bone against the black of your blood almost some kind of art - or maybe it's just perverse. You shouldn't look.
You force yourself onto your feet, raise the knife, feeling the weight of it in your palm, the warmth of the magic thrumming through the blade, the metal glowing slightly in anticipation.
The Vel pulses overhead, black smoke burning in the back of your throat, and you stare down at your hands, at the way the black light of the Vel refracts across the surface of the water, finding purchase on your blood and scattering like the sparks of a blacksmith's hammer - dazzling and bright, illuminating the dark water and the black ichor seeping into your arm.
You raise your knife.
//Hunter.//
The voice comes in your mind again, overwhelming, screaming in your ears, scratching just beneath your skin - but you raise your knife.
It trembles in your hand as you push it into your arm, black blood hissing against the blue blade as it glows bright-
"$name!"
Rough hands grab at your shoulders, grab your wrist, wrenching your arm back and grasping at your knife, but you refuse to let go, even as you're hauled out of the water, your arm pinned painfully behind your back.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and instinctively raising your knife in front of you.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing the jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
Your hunter's knife trembles slightly in your bloody hand.
You're still staring at Lea when rougher hands grab you then, wrenching your wrist back and taking your knife before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you spin around, clutching your arm and staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>You dart across the cobblestones, deftly jumping onto the wall and quickly scampering up, throwing yourself over and landing hard, wincing as the impact jars your ankles. You bolt to the nearest cover, ducking behind an old barricade collapsed in the street.
You take a second to gather yourself, crouched down, and still breathing hard as you peek around - but there are no soldiers on this side. At least, not yet.
"$surname," Lea's quiet whisper makes you startle, and you swing around to see $l_them step out from beneath a nearby porch. Merry appears, too, startling you again as she stands from the thick bushes beneath the wall just behind you, her sword in her hand.
"Fuck," you swear, slumping back against the barricade and pressing a hand to your chest as she stands over you.
<<if $m_relationship eq 0 or $m_relationship eq 1 or $m_relationship eq 2 or $m_relationship eq 3 or $m_tavernapology eq true>>"Nice work," she says, smirking as she offers you her hand.
You scoff, grasping her arm and letting her haul you up onto your feet as the others join you.<<elseif $m_relationship eq 11 or $m_relationship eq 10>>"Nice work," she says, smirking as she offers you her hand.
You scoff, ignoring her hand and standing on your own.
Her smirk is mirthless, and she lets her hand drop, before turning to Lea and the others.<<else>>"Got you," she says, lifting her sword dangerously close to your face, clearly amused by your reaction.
You scowl, smacking the blade away and standing slowly, wincing as you suddenly remember the pain in your elbow, holding your arm as the others join you.<</if>>
"You alright?" Lea hovers beside you, $l_their dark eyes hard and $l_their brow furrowed.
"I'm fine," you wave $l_them back, but you can practically feel $l_their anxiety, with the way $l_they<<re>> looking around and running $l_their hands over $l_their hair.
"What the hell was that?" $l_they turn<<s>> on Merry, putting $l_themself between you and taking a step towards her.
She glares at $l_them, narrowing her eye.
"What was //that//? I told you what to expect-"
"There wasn't supposed to be soldiers at the wall like that!"
"Keep your voice down," Merry hisses, and Lea just shakes $l_their head.
$l_They start<<s>> to speak but Merry cuts $l_them off, her voice harsh and quiet.
"Come on. Did you think that this would be //easy//? That we could just walk in here, holding hands, no consequences? Grow up, Chen."
"Your people were supposed to clear the wall," Lea growls.
Merry leers at $l_them, and you think she's going to grab $l_them, before Noel suddenly appears, Clementine on xir heels.
"Shut up, both of you, for fuck's sake," Noel snaps. "We don't have time for this. You two can get a room and fight later," xe huffs.
Lea stammers, stepping back, while Merry just smiles and shakes her head.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Noel\'s right. We can argue later, but right now we need to do what we came here to do."' 'I cant just leave them lying there. 1.a'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No, Lea\'s right. If you couldn\'t clear the soldiers, you should have said so."' 'I cant just leave them lying there. 1.b'>><<set $m_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Merry\'s right. We knew the risks when we chose to stay here, Lea."' 'I cant just leave them lying there. 1.c'>><</link>></div>"Noel's right," you say, raising a placating hand towards Lea. "We can argue later, but right now we need to do what we came here to do."
<<if ($l_relationship eq 1) or ($l_relationship eq 8) or ($l_relationship eq 11)>>Lea is frowning at you - you can tell, even through $l_their mask - $l_their brow furrowed, still running a hand over $l_their hair again and again.
"We can't be fighting soldiers in the street, $surname," $l_they say<<s>>, $l_their voice quiet now.
"They didn't see me," you assure $l_them, shaking your head. "We'll be gone before they even notice."
Lea doesn't seem entirely convinced, but $l_they waver<<s>> at your certainty. You're not sure you're entirely convinced, either, but at this point you've already climbed the wall. You need to keep moving.
You understand Lea's panic - $l_their family has a history here, and Lea is clearly recognizable; there is no doubt the Order will catch wind that there was some kind of confrontation with Lea and Duncan in the city yesterday. And Duncan has made it clear he isn't afraid to throw his weight around - if push comes to shove you know he will use Lea's family as leverage against the both of you, and any mistakes you make here will be tenfold because of that.
You're walking a thin line right now, especially with Merry and Noel, and especially if Duncan is actually involved in all this mess.
You haven't quite crossed that line - yet. You have some deniability. The soldiers didn't see you, and technically you have every right to climb that wall as a part of your duty as a hunter... though you doubt Duncan will agree.
All you can do is keep moving, get through the district, and then you and Lea can get the hell out of here and you can all argue to your hearts' content.
Lea lets out a long breath then, and just nods, at you, then to Noel and Merry.
"Let's go, then," $l_they <<say>> gruffly, and Merry and Noel exchange a look, before Noel gestures you all after xem, turning and leading you away from the wall.<<else>>Lea is frowning at you - you can tell, even through $l_their mask - $l_their brow furrowed, still running a hand over $l_their hair again and again.
"You can't be fighting soldiers in the street, $surname," $l_they <<say>>, $l_their voice hard and very clearly annoyed. <<if $bw_clem>>"You did enough damage at the docks yesterday with the bard," $l_they add<<s>>, and you can see Clementine flinch over $l_their shoulder.<</if>>
"Lea, //relax//," you say, prickling at $l_their tone. "They didn't see me."
"It doesn't matter if they see you! It matters if they see //me//," Lea snaps, and you blink at $l_them, taking a step back and shaking your head.
"...Right," you say, your lip curling, and Lea falters then, letting out a long breath.
"You know what I mean," $l_they <<say>>, pinching the bridge of $l_their nose in exasperation. "They know who I am-"
"Yeah. You're Lea Chen," you say, rolling your eyes. "And I'm just some idiot in a hood."
Now it's Lea that steps back from you, turning away for a moment.
You feel an immediate twinge of guilt - you know you're being an ass right now. But... that argument from yesterday is still a little too fresh, a little too //topical//, and Lea makes it so easy - you can't resist picking at the open wound between you.
You //do// know what Lea is trying to say. $l_Their family has a history here, and Lea is clearly recognizable; there is no doubt the Order will catch wind that there was some kind of confrontation with Lea and Duncan in the city yesterday. And Duncan has made it clear he isn't afraid to throw his weight around - if push comes to shove you know he will use Lea's family as leverage against the both of you, and any mistakes you make here will be tenfold because of that.
You're walking a thin line right now, especially with Merry and Noel, and especially if Duncan is actually involved in all this mess.
You haven't quite crossed that line - yet. You have some deniability. The soldiers didn't see you, and technically you have every right to climb that wall as a part of your duty as a hunter... though you doubt Duncan will agree.
Lea glances back at you, running a hand over $l_their head.
"Let's just go," is all $l_they <<say>>.
$l_They throw<<s>> $l_their hands up then, turning on Noel and Merry, who just exchange a look before turning to lead you farther into the district, an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air between you.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 To the temple Uncomfy 1]]"No - No, Lea's right. If you couldn't handle the soldiers, you should have said so," you ignore Noel and jab a finger at Merry, stepping closer to Lea.
<<if ($l_relationship eq 1) or ($l_relationship eq 8) or ($l_relationship eq 11)>>$l_They give<<s>> you an appreciative glance, while Merry just scoffs.
"You're asking a lot of us," Lea says then. "With Duncan, with the Order, we're risking a lot-"
"So am I!" Merry snaps back, stepping dangerously close then, and you put yourself in front of Lea, curling your lip at her.
She glares at you, just shaking her head, and Noel puts a hand on her shoulder, which she ignores.
"Don't look at me like that," she says abruptly, and you clench your jaw, watching her hand flutter to one of her swords.
"Merry," Noel warns.
"If you want to turn around, then the wall's right there!" Merry points back over her shoulder, her eye flashing, still ignoring Noel even as xe has to hold her back.
"I said that's enough!" Noel hisses, his hand tightening around Merry's shoulder, giving her a pointed look before turning on you and Lea.
"If you want to leave, then leave. All of you can leave, and I'll do the work myself."
Lea takes a deep breath, crossing $l_their arms and glancing over at you.
"We are not leaving," Lea says grimly, and you nod, still glaring at Merry.
"You can't do this alone, Noel," Lea says slowly. "We're not leaving," $l_they repeat<<s>>.
"Then shut up, and let's get moving," Noel says, carefully stepping back and glancing between all three of you before turning on his heel and starting up the street.
Merry doesn't say anything, just shoving past you and Lea and trailing after Noel. Lea just tightens $l_their arms across $l_their chest for a moment, letting out a long sigh and reluctantly falling into step behind Merry.<<else>>$l_They glance<<s>> over at you, $l_their brow furrowed, clearly surprised by your support, but you ignore $l_them, glaring over at Merry as she just scoffs at you.
"You two are ridiculous," she says then, and you blink, taken aback, while Lea huffs at your side.
"Look, if you want to leave, the wall is right there," she continues, pointing over her shoulder and stepping dangerously close - you put yourself in front of Lea, curling your lip at her, but she just glares at you, undeterred, shaking her head even as Noel puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't look at me like that," she says abruptly, and you clench your jaw, watching her hand flutter to one of her swords.
"I said that's enough," Noel warns, his hand tightening around Merry's shoulder, giving her a pointed look before turning on you and Lea.
"If you want to leave, then leave. //All// of you can leave, and I'll do the work myself."
Lea takes a deep breath, crossing $l_their arms and glancing over at you.
"We are not leaving," Lea says grimly, and you nod, still glaring at Merry.
"You can't do this alone, Noel," Lea says slowly. "We're not leaving," $l_they repeat<<s>>.
"Then shut up, and let's get moving," Noel says, carefully stepping back and glancing between all three of you before turning on his heel and starting up the street.
Merry doesn't say anything, just shoving past you and Lea and trailing after Noel. Lea just tightens $l_their arms across $l_their chest for a moment, letting out a long sigh and reluctantly falling into step behind Merry.<</if>>
You watch after them both for a moment, running a hand over your hood. You know Lea's anxiety isn't without reason - $l_their family has a history here, and Lea is clearly recognizable; there is no doubt in your mind that the Order will catch wind that there was some kind of confrontation with Lea and Duncan in the city yesterday. And Duncan has made it clear he isn't afraid to throw his weight around - if push comes to shove you know he will use Lea's family as leverage against the both of you, and any mistakes you make here will be tenfold because of that.
You are definitely walking a thin line right now, especially with Merry and Noel, and especially if Duncan is actually involved in all this mess.
But you don't think you've crossed that line - at least, not yet. You have some deniability. The soldiers didn't see you, and technically you have every right to climb that wall as a part of your duty as a hunter... though you doubt Duncan will agree.
You take a deep breath then, sighing through your nose, glancing over at Clementine, who gives you a rather amusing look, their eyes wide as they just shake their head.
You both step off together, moving quick to catch up with the others, a heavy silence hanging in the air as you all head further into the district.
[[Continue ->CH2 To the temple Uncomfy 1]]"Merry's right," you say, "We knew what we were getting into when we agreed to help - Duncan made that very clear, if you remember, in the tavern last night..." you add dryly.
<<if ($l_relationship eq 1) or ($l_relationship eq 8) or ($l_relationship eq 11)>><<if ($m_flirt gte 1) and ($l_flirt gte 2)>>Lea is frowning at you - you can tell, even through $l_their mask - $l_their brow furrowed, still running a hand over $l_their hair again and again.
"Yeah, of course, you'd agree with her..." Lea says, and you give $l_them a look, while Merry scoffs.
"What is that supposed to mean, Lea?" you say, though you think you definitely know exactly what it means, a sudden heat creeping up the back of your neck.
"Yeah, Chen, what is //that// supposed to mean?" Merry needles, and you can hear the smirk in her voice, even as Noel chastises her to shut up again, even as you give her your own warning glare.
Lea's face flushes beneath $l_their mask, and $l_they quickly look<<s>> away from you, shaking $l_their head before clearing $l_their throat.
"I know - I know the risks here, okay. I'm not stupid," Lea huffs then.
"I'm not calling you stupid-"
"I know! I just...." Lea runs a hand over $l_their face, fidgeting with $l_their mask. "We need to be careful."
"Lea. They didn't see me. We're fine," you say slowly, raising your hands as proof that you are, in fact, fine. "We'll be in and out of here before they even notice. We //will// be careful."
Lea turns $l_their head to the side, pinching the bridge of $l_their nose and squeezing $l_their eyes closed for a few seconds.
"Okay," Lea sighs. "Let's just get moving," $l_they <<say>>, dropping $l_their hand and glancing at you one last time before abruptly turning on $l_their heel and starting up the street.
Merry gives you a long look then, and you imagine if she could she would wink at you right now. As it is, she just tosses her braid over her shoulder and flounces past, Noel trailing after her with a long sigh.<<else>>Lea is frowning at you - you can tell, even through $l_their mask - $l_their brow furrowed, still running a hand over $l_their hair again and again.
"I know, $name," $l_they huff<<s>>, "but she should have told us. We're risking a lot here-"
"So am I!" Merry snaps, stepping dangerously close before Noel forces xemself between them and you raise a placating hand towards Lea.
"If you want to turn around, then the wall's right there!" Merry points back over her shoulder, her eye flashing, still ignoring Noel even as xe has to hold her back.
"I said that's enough!" Noel hisses, glaring pointedly at Merry before turning on Lea.
"If you want to leave, then leave. All of you can leave, and I'll do the work myself."
Lea takes a deep breath, crossing $l_their arms and glancing over at you.
"We are not leaving," you say, glaring right back at $l_them.
"You can't do this alone, Noel," Lea says slowly. "We're not leaving," $l_they agree<<s>>, giving you a small nod before quickly looking away.
"Then shut up, and let's get moving," Noel says, carefully stepping back and glancing between all three of you before turning on his heel and starting up the street.
Merry shoots you a look, tossing her braid over her shoulder and flouncing past as she trails after Noel, and Lea just tightens $l_their arms across $l_their chest for a moment, avoiding your gaze and reluctantly falling into step behind Merry.<</if>>
To be completely fair to Lea, you do understand where $l_they<<re>> coming from - neither of you are used to dealing with southern politicians, and like you said, Duncan has made it clear he isn't afraid to throw his weight around. Lea's family history here in Blackwater is already something he can use to leverage against the both of you - any mistakes you make here will be tenfold because of that.
You are definitely walking a thin line right now, especially with Merry and Noel, and especially if Duncan is actually involved in all this mess.
But you haven't quite crossed that line - yet. You have some deniability. The soldiers didn't see you, and technically you have every right to climb that wall as a part of your duty as a hunter... though you doubt Duncan will agree. Merry should have admitted her people hadn't been able to clear the wall - but you are under no delusion that this was ever going to be easy, and Lea should have made peace with the risks before agreeing to do this.
You take a deep breath then, sighing through your nose, glancing over at Clementine, who gives you a rather amusing look, their eyes wide as they just shake their head.
You both step off together, moving quick to catch up with the others, a heavy silence hanging in the air as you all head further into the district.<<else>><<if ($m_flirt gte 1) and ($l_flirt gte 2)>>"Of course you'd say that. Of course you'd agree with her," Lea snaps back with a surprising viciousness, and Merry actually scoffs before you can even say anything, stunned into silence for a few seconds.
"What is //that// supposed to mean?" you finally manage, jabbing a finger at $l_them, prickling under $l_their glare.
"Yeah, Chen, was is that supposed to mean?" Merry needles, and you can hear the smirk in her voice, even as Noel chastises her to shut up again.
Lea's face flushes beneath $l_their mask then, and you can see $l_their jaw clench painfully, running a hand over $l_their hair again.
"You were supposed to deal with those soldiers," is what $l_they <<say>>, ignoring your question, ignoring you, and glaring back at Merry again.
"If you want to turn around, the wall's right there!" The smirk is gone now, Merry's eye flashing, and Noel moves between the both of them and roughly pushes them apart.
"I said that's enough!" Noel hisses, glaring pointedly at Merry before turning on Lea.
"If you want to leave, then leave. All of you can leave, and I'll do the work myself."
Lea takes a deep breath, crossing $l_their arms and glancing over at you.
"We are not leaving," you say, glaring right back at $l_them.
"You can't do this alone, Noel," Lea says slowly. "We're not leaving," $l_they agree<<s>>, giving you a small nod before quickly looking away.
"Then shut up, and let's get moving," Noel says, carefully stepping back and glancing between all three of you before turning on his heel and starting up the street.
Merry shoots you a look, tossing her braid over her shoulder and flouncing past as she trails after Noel, and Lea just tightens $l_their arms across $l_their chest for a moment, avoiding your gaze and reluctantly falling into step behind Merry.<<else>>"But she should have told us-"
"Would it have really made any difference, Lea?" you cut $l_them off, your patience running short. You do not have the energy for the usual song and dance with $l_them - you are so tired of arguing over every little thing. And you know that none of it matters - you know Lea, you know $l_they wouldn't just leave over a few soldiers - $l_they didn't want to leave yesterday and $l_they wouldn't have wanted to leave this morning, even if Merry had been honest. You know $l_they <<dont>> even want to leave right now - $l_they just want<<s>> to argue for the sake of it. And after yesterday, you just do not have it in you to humor $l_them anymore.
Lea's brow furrows, crossing $l_their arms and glancing sideways.
"You going to let //Lord// Duncan dictate what we can and can't do?" you press $l_them, stepping closer, and you can tell $l_they<<re>> scowling, even through $l_their mask. "You want to just leave and let the district rot because he was a little mean?"
"No-"
"Alright then. Soldiers or not, we came here to do a job. So let's do it, Handler Chen," you say, and at the use of $l_their full title $l_they really give<<s>> you a nasty glare, uncrossing $l_their arms and shouldering past you, heading up the street without another word.
Noel and Merry exchange a look, glancing over at you for an uncomfortably long moment before they turn to slowly follow after Lea. You watch $l_them go, running a hand over your face, rubbing at your eyes, a dull ache already starting just behind them.<</if>>
To be completely fair, you do understand Lea's panic - neither of you are used to dealing with southern politicians, and like you said, Duncan has made it clear he isn't afraid to throw his weight around. Lea's family history here in Blackwater is already something he can use to leverage against the both of you - any mistakes you make here will be tenfold because of that.
You are definitely walking a thin line right now, especially with Merry and Noel, and especially if Duncan is actually involved in all this mess.
But you haven't quite crossed that line - yet. You have some deniability. The soldiers didn't see you, and technically you have every right to climb that wall as a part of your duty as a hunter... though you doubt Duncan will agree. Merry should have admitted her people hadn't been able to clear the wall - but you are under no delusion that this was ever going to be easy, and Lea should have made peace with the risks before agreeing to do this.
You take a deep breath then, sighing through your nose, glancing over at Clementine, who gives you a rather amusing look, their eyes wide as they just shake their head.
You both step off together, moving quick to catch up with the others, a heavy silence hanging in the air as you all head further into the district.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2 To the temple Uncomfy 1]]You all make the choice to not actually sweep the district - after the close call with the soldiers, you know you have to move quickly, and you and Noel prioritize just placing as many wards as you can, while the others make sure there is nothing lurking in the alleys or beneath the stilts.
It's uncomfortable, to say the least, an awkward tension between all of you setting your teeth on edge, made even more unbearable by the heavy silence and the cold rain. If you had just reached the wall a few minutes earlier...
Nonetheless you all get to work, with you and Noel exchanging as few words as possible, letting the awkward and strained silence stretch. All of you are constantly glancing over your shoulders, creeping slow through the shadows - but you don't run into anymore soldiers.
<<if $bw_noel>>Your plan is similar to what you did yesterday - loop the district, making your way towards the temple, with the temple being your final destination. You feel a sense of déjà vu at first, but it fades as Noel guides you down different streets, into different corners of the district, colder and darker.
Once you finish at the temple, you'll be able to hop the wall on the other side of the district, into the woods near the cliffs. You try not to think about the fact that you probably walked a similar path last night.<<else>>Your plan is to loop the district, ending at the temple. The direction of the temple leads you out of the city, so it will be an easy path, and you can hop the wall on the other side into the woods near the cliffs. You try not to think about the fact that you probably walked a similar path last night.<</if>>
<<if $bw_noel>>The wards you set yesterday call out to you as you make your way through the streets, surging in your presence and eagerly pulling on your magic. It makes it easier, allowing you to link the magic of the new wards with the old, reinforcing your work. The magic builds, thrumming against the Vel, making your body feel electric.<<else>>The wards Noel set yesterday help with the whole process, allowing you to link some of the new wards together with the old, reinforcing your work. The magic builds, thrumming against the Vel, making your body feel electric.<</if>>
The rain continues through the morning, and the city remains dark down here, thick clouds and the platforms of the upper city casting long shadows. You find respite from the rain underneath the stilts, but you're all still thoroughly soaked within the first hour.
You had been concerned about the upper city at first, but Merry and Noel made it clear that it's different up top - there are armed guards keeping people out, the people within still living in their usual luxury as if no plague had ever happened at all. You suppose for them, it didn't.
You feel your face twitch, disgust making your skin crawl, before you just shake your head, returning your attention to the task at hand.
You eye some of the buildings you pass by, locked and boarded up, red X's painted on the doors. The mark of death, all warning you to stay out. There are scorch marks in the street, the sickening smell of burnt flesh and hair permeating everything here, even in the rain, even over the smell of the sea.
[[Continue ->CH2 To the temple 2]]<<if $mc_alchemist>>You take a deep breath and open your eyes, quickly raising your hand and slamming your metal fist against Duncan's sword, knocking it away from your face, alchemical lightning bursting red and bright as the blade clashes against your runes.
The Vel thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples as Duncan pulls back and aims his blade at your chest. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, but you're ready for it, gritting your teeth and raising your eyes to glare up at Duncan.
Your stare makes him hesitate, and you launch yourself at him, hurling your heavy fist forward and crushing his face beneath metal knuckles, breaking bone and shattering teeth and splattering hot blood down his fancy armor. He cries out before blindly swinging at you, scrambling back and nearly tripping over himself in his haste.
All you see is red, spilling into the water that rushes up to your waist now, a roaring in your ears, shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
There's a familiar presence standing with you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, and you let it step into your shadow - let it step into //you//. Together, you lunge after Duncan.
He just manages to block you, the runes burning bright as his armor struggles to save his skin, his arms snapping up unnaturally fast, both of you pushing against each other before he shoves you back, icy water splashing between you. You're ready for it this time, the heat from his armor washing over you as you dart back, quickly putting some space between you.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers frantically wading past you and Duncan as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as a wild lightning strike hits the temple spire overhead, black fire igniting against the dark sky and thunder shaking the ground beneath your feet.
But you keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking slowly through the water, baring your teeth against the cold. There's a sudden ringing silence overhead, and you realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
You can tell Duncan is wavering, a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, his nose crushed into a bloody pulp, his teeth shattered and stained red, his breath and blood steaming in the air between you.
He glares at you, his eyes flashing, and he drops his hand and charges, with you stepping up to meet him. You throw your fist up and break his strike, cracking the heavy knuckles against his blade - and it shatters, snapping in half over your hand, the tip flying off and vanishing beneath the flood.
Duncan just gapes at you, weakly raising his broken sword between you - but you just swing your fist again, smashing it out of his hand, getting a satisfying yelp out of him.
For a moment you both just stare at each other, Duncan taking a slow, half-step back, but there's something scratching at the back of your skull, a dark whisper in your ear, and it compels you - when Duncan tries to run, you stop him.
You reach out, lunging after him, claws curling around the thick fabric of his collar, and you throw your weight into him, grunting as you collide against his armor, both of you going down, the water pulling you under.
You keep yourself on top of him, pushing back up as you hold him under, gasping as you break through the dark water. Your hands fumble, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, digging into the black wound in your arm, but you just shove him down deeper, pinning him to the cobblestones.
The runes are flashing frantically, glowing through the dark water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>You open your eyes, your hands tightening around Duncan's leg, the cold metal of his greaves painful as it digs into your palms. You stare up at him, and you swear for a moment, you see a pair of golden eyes staring back at you from the dark clouds overhead.
Your chest constricts, and you dig your clawed hand into Duncan's calf, twisting violently underneath him and lashing out to kick at his other leg, knocking him off balance just as your magic sparks and your hands ignite in flame.
His screams are garbled underwater, and you grit your teeth and sink your claws in even deeper, even as he kicks at you, splashing violently as he tries to tear his leg out of your fiery grasp.
You rise out of the water, gasping as you do, the heat of your fire painful against your face, and you rip your claws free, sending Duncan staggering back, his clothes and armor singed, the smell of burnt flesh making you gag.
You slowly stand, clutching at your side, the Vel wailing overhead as your fire spreads across the surface of the flood. It thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples as Duncan sneers at you, aiming his blade at your chest. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a painful burn in your chest as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, but you're ready for it, gritting your teeth as you glare over at Duncan.
Your stare makes him hesitate, and you launch yourself at him, your sword forgotten, nothing but the flash of claws as you lash out, catching him across the face and splattering hot blood down his fancy armor. He cries out before blindly swinging at you, scrambling back and nearly tripping over himself in his haste.
All you see is red, spilling into the water that rushes almost up to your waist now, a roaring in your ears, shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
There's a familiar presence standing with you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, and you let it step into your shadow - let it step into //you//. Together, you lunge after Duncan.
He just manages to block you, the runes burning bright as his armor struggles to save his skin, his arms snapping up unnaturally fast, both of you pushing against each other before he shoves you back, icy water splashing between you. You're ready for it this time, the heat from his armor washing over you as you dart back, quickly putting some space between you.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers frantically wading past you and Duncan as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as a wild lightning strike hits the temple spire overhead, black fire igniting against the dark sky and thunder shaking the ground beneath your feet.
But you keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking slowly through the water, baring your teeth against the cold. There's a sudden ringing silence overhead, and you realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
You can tell he's wavering, a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air between you.
He glares at you, his eyes flashing, and he drops his hand and charges, with you stepping up to meet him. You easily dart under his angry, frantic swipe, dropping low as your magic sparks, your hands igniting again as you swipe at Duncan's chestplate.
Your fire surges, jumping from your hand, hissing as it burns across the icy metal of Duncan's armor, engulfing him for a moment before he throws himself down into the flood. It doesn't help - it's magic, and it burns as long as you command it, and for a few grim moments you just watch, until Duncan's runes suddenly glow bright, a burst of power blowing the flames off of him, and you watch as they evaporate into the cold air, a few stray embers still burning atop the water, crawling back to you. The fire retreats, burrows itself back into the black wound of your arm, purple and red and painful, making you grimace as you wade over to Duncan.
You kick his sword out of his hand, and you both just glare at each other, Duncan's face red and blistered from your fire. You take a step back - but there's something scratching at the back of your skull, a dark whisper in your ear, and it compels you. You can't walk away.
You drop down on top of him, grabbing at the front of his armor as he tries to scramble away, and you haul him through the water, lifting him up for a moment before you plunge him underwater.
Your hands fumble, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, digging into the black wound in your arm, but you just shove him down deeper, pinning him to the cobblestones.
The runes are flashing frantically, glowing through the dark water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You take a deep breath and open your eyes, quickly raising your hand and slamming your bracer against Duncan's sword, knocking it away from your face.
The Vel thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples as Duncan pulls back and aims his blade at your chest. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, but you're ready for it, gritting your teeth and raising your eyes to glare up at Duncan.
Your stare makes him hesitate, and you launch yourself at him, your sword forgotten, nothing but the flash of claws as you lash out, catching him across the face and splattering hot blood down his fancy armor. He cries out before blindly swinging at you, scrambling back and nearly tripping over himself in his haste.
All you see is red, spilling into the water that rushes up to your waist now, a roaring in your ears, shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
There's a familiar presence standing with you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, and you let it step into your shadow - let it step into //you//. Together, you lunge after Duncan.
He just manages to block you, the runes burning bright as his armor struggles to save his skin, his arms snapping up unnaturally fast, both of you pushing against each other before he shoves you back, icy water splashing between you. You're ready for it this time, the heat from his armor washing over you as you dart back, quickly putting some space between you.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers frantically wading past you and Duncan as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as a wild lightning strike hits the temple spire overhead, black fire igniting against the dark sky and thunder shaking the ground beneath your feet.
But you keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking slowly through the water, baring your teeth against the cold. There's a sudden ringing silence overhead, and you realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
You can tell he's wavering, a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air between you.
He glares at you, his eyes flashing, and he drops his hand and charges, with you stepping up to meet him. You easily dart under his angry, frantic swipe, rolling behind him before leaping in the air, your magic bursting forth and lifting you high overhead - and bringing you down hard to strike Duncan across the chest just as he turns to face you, the force of it actually denting his chestplate despite the best efforts of the runes, flashing frantically now. It knocks him back again, wheezing painfully, but he still manages to stay standing, gritting his teeth and pressing a hand to his chest as he gasps to catch his breath. He keeps moving, dropping his hand and attempting to dart around and flank you - but you don't give him the chance, raising your arm and throwing a burst of wind at him. It sends him flying, crashing into the wrought-iron fence across the courtyard.
You lower your hand, slowly wading your way over to him, kicking his sword out of his hand as he glares up at you. He clutches at his chest, his other arm twisted awkwardly - broken by the impact, perhaps. You grimace, clutching at your side, taking a step back then - but there's something scratching at the back of your skull, a dark whisper in your ear, and it compels you. You can't walk away.
Instead you reach down and grab at the front of his armor, hauling him off the fence and throwing him back down into the flood waters. He tries to scramble away from you, but you drop down on top of him, throwing your weight against his already dented chestplate, making him wheeze just before you plunge him underwater.
Your hands fumble, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, digging into the black wound in your arm, but you just shove him down deeper, pinning him to the cobblestones.
The runes are flashing frantically, glowing through the dark water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You take a deep breath and open your eyes, quickly raising your hand and slamming your bracer against Duncan's sword, knocking it away from your face.
The Vel thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples as Duncan pulls back and aims his blade at your chest. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, but you're ready for it, gritting your teeth and raising your eyes to glare up at Duncan.
Your stare makes him hesitate, and you launch yourself at him, your sword forgotten, nothing but the flash of claws as you lash out, catching him across the face and splattering hot blood down his fancy armor. He cries out before blindly swinging at you, scrambling back and nearly tripping over himself in his haste.
All you see is red, spilling into the water that rushes up to your waist now, a roaring in your ears, shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
There's a familiar presence standing with you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, and you let it step into your shadow - let it step into //you//. Together, you lunge after Duncan.
He just manages to block you, the runes burning bright as his armor struggles to save his skin, his arms snapping up unnaturally fast, both of you pushing against each other before he shoves you back, icy water splashing between you. You're ready for it this time, the heat from his armor washing over you as you dart back, quickly putting some space between you.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers frantically wading past you and Duncan as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as a wild lightning strike hits the temple spire overhead, black fire igniting against the dark sky and thunder shaking the ground beneath your feet. You notice in the sudden silence as the thunder fades that Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
You keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking carefully through the water, bracing against the current, churning violently as more water surges out of the gaping hole in the center of the courtyard, broken cobblestones twisting under your feet.
You can tell Duncan's wavering, a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air between you.
He glares at you, his eyes flashing, and he drops his hand and charges, with you stepping up to meet him. You easily dart under his angry, frantic swipe, rolling behind him and grabbing at the back of his armor, thrusting him forward and slamming him against the wrought-iron fence, and you grab one of the posts, the metal immediately sparking and shifting at your command, breaking free from the frozen earth and wrapping around your forearm.
As Duncan staggers back, you swing the metal bar at him, cracking against his chestplate and throwing him back into the flood. You flex your hand around the cold iron, and you wind back again as Duncan struggles back to his feet - and you hit him again, the post easily smashing through his weak attempt to block and again throwing him back into the water - dangerously close to the crypt.
The current starts to drag him down, and you quickly step after him, intent to haul him back towards the cemetery - but something scratches at the base of you skull, dark whispers in your head, and it compels you as you grab at a handful of his collar.
You don't pull him back - instead, you lift him up for a brief moment, before plunging him back underwater. Your hands fumble, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, digging into the black wound in your arm, but you just shove him down deeper, pinning him to the cobblestones, water rushing at your back, the current roaring in your ears.
The runes are flashing frantically, glowing through the dark water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<else>>You take a deep breath and open your eyes, quickly raising your hand and slamming your bracer against Duncan's sword, knocking it away from your face.
The Vel thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples as Duncan pulls back and aims his blade at your chest. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, but you're ready for it, gritting your teeth and raising your eyes to glare up at Duncan.
Your stare makes him hesitate, and you launch yourself at him, your sword forgotten, nothing but the flash of claws as you lash out, catching him across the face and splattering hot blood down his fancy armor. He cries out before blindly swinging at you, scrambling back and nearly tripping over himself in his haste.
All you see is red, spilling into the water that rushes up to your waist now, a roaring in your ears, shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
There's a familiar presence standing with you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, and you let it step into your shadow - let it step into //you//. Together, you lunge after Duncan.
He just manages to block you, the runes burning bright as his armor struggles to save his skin, his arms snapping up unnaturally fast, both of you pushing against each other before he shoves you back, icy water splashing between you.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers frantically wading past as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as a wild lightning strike hits one of the surrounding buildings, black fire igniting against the dark clouds in the sky.
You keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking slowly through the water, gritting your teeth against the cold. There's a sudden ringing silence overhead, and you realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
You can tell Duncan is wavering, a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood steaming in the air between you.
He glares at you, his nostrils flaring, and he lowers his hand and charges, with you stepping up to meet him. You throw your arm up and catch his blade - pain exploding beneath your bracer, the sword jerking sideways and digging into your forearm. Hot blood sprays down into the churning water between you, Duncan pushing against you, but something compels you - something scratching at the back of your skull, dark whispers in your ear, and you don't back down, even as your blood runs black, running down the silver of Duncan's blade.
You reach out and grab him with your other hand, claws curling around the thick fabric of his collar, and you throw your weight into him, grunting as his sword cuts even deeper, biting at the bone of your arm. Duncan’s eyes widen, and you slam a knee into his gut, both of you going down, the water pulling you under.
You keep yourself on top of him, pushing back up as you hold him under, gasping as you break through the dark water. Your hands fumble, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<</if>>
<<link '"$name!"' 'CH2 Get Up 1 Lea Intervene'>><</link>>You slap Duncan's foot away, before rolling onto your side, taking a deep breath, pressing your palms into the cold water and forcing yourself onto your hands and knees.
The Vel thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples, and you reach out, grabbing your sword and pushing yourself to your feet. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you take a staggering step, pressing a hand to your head for a moment, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You're ready for it, though, the ache of the Vel washing over you, and when you drop your hand Duncan is just staring at you with wide eyes, fascinated, and not at all prepared for you to lunge at him. You slam into him, sending him flat onto his back, and you follow close behind, arcing your sword overhead before bringing it down with both hands.
Duncan barely rolls out of the way, the runes on his armor flashing rapidly as they work to save his skin. Your blade comes down hard in the space he leaves behind, <<if hasVisited("Clear out some soldiers.")>><<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>water exploding on impact, white sparks bursting across the cobblestones as your magic surges in the air around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>ice splintering loudly on impact, bursting through the flood waters as your magic surges in the air around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>water exploding on impact, wind roaring past you as your cloak whips around your shoulders, your magic surging in the air overhead.<<else>>water exploding on impact as stones crack beneath your feet.<</if>><<else>><<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>water exploding on impact, white sparks bursting across the cobblestones as your magic unravels in your chest, unrestrained as your anger burns hot, crackling against your skin and gathering along the edge of your blade.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>ice splintering on impact, bursting through the flood waters as your magic unravels in your chest, unrestrained as your anger burns hot, frost gathering along the edge of your blade.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>water exploding on impact while a sudden wind roars past you, your cloak whipping around your shoulders, your magic unraveling in your chest, unrestrained as your anger burns hot, crackling with the lightning overhead.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>water exploding on impact, cobblestones bursting out of the ground as your magic unravels in your chest, unrestrained as your anger burns hot, prickling against your skin like thorns on the vine.<<else>>water exploding on impact as stones crack beneath your feet.<</if>><</if>>
"I'm going to fucking kill you," your voice cuts through the courtyard - your voice, but not your voice. You look down at your hands, locked around the hilt of your sword, the bandages soaked with Lea's blood now unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of the claws where your nails should be. You tighten your grip.
When you lift your sword again, there's a familiar presence standing with you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, and you let it step into your shadow - let it step into //you//. Together, you lunge after Duncan.
Your sword clangs against his armor, the runes flashing again as they deflect your hit.
"Who's cheating now, Duncan?" you growl, swinging again and again. Duncan finally manages to compose himself, lifting his sword and parrying one of your hits, though you can see him wince, gritting his teeth against the impact. He scrambles back, putting some space between you, his eyes dark as he looks you up and down.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers running past as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as a wild lightning strike hits one of the surrounding buildings, black fire igniting against the dark sky.
You keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking slowly through the water, rising now, above your ankles. There's a sudden ringing silence overhead, and you realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
Duncan rushes you this time, but you block him, shoving him away from you with a snarl, that stupid fucking armor deflecting you again.
Duncan moves quickly - he may not be as strong as you, but he's fast, and it's clear he's seen combat before. This isn't his first fight. While the armor is definitely helping him, he also knows all the right steps, and you can tell he's being cautious, his eyes following your every movement.
He's different from the other soldiers here, but he'll die just the same.
[[Continue ->CH2 Get Up Lea Injured 1.2]]Rough hands grab at your shoulders, hauling you out of the water, pulling at your arms and attempting to pry Duncan free from your clawed hands.
You refuse to let him go - something dark and heavy twisting in your chest, your lip curling as you bare your teeth and try to plunge him under the water again.
It's Keres, suddenly appearing in front of you, that finally manages to free him - the fabric of his collar ripping in your hand, your claws scraping against his armor. She drags him away, shoving you back and splashing through the water while you swear and struggle against the pain in your arm, in your side, trying to break free from the rough hands still holding you in place.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and instinctively reaching for your hunter's knife.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing the jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
You realize you're holding your hunter's knife, the blade trembling slightly in your hand.
You're still staring at Lea when rougher hands grab you then, wrenching your wrist back and taking your knife before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you spin around, clutching your arm and staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>"$name!"
Rough hands grab at your shoulders, hauling you out of the water, pulling at your arms and attempting to pry Duncan free from your clawed hands.
You refuse to let him go - you can't let him go, something dark and heavy twisting in your chest, your lip curling as you bare your teeth and try to plunge him under the water again.
It's Keres, suddenly appearing in front of you, that finally manages to free him - the fabric of his collar ripping in your hand as she hauls him back, your claws scraping against his armor. She drags him away, shoving you back and splashing through the water while you swear and struggle against the pain in your arm, in your side, trying to break free from the rough hands still holding you in place.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and instinctively reaching for your hunter's knife.
"//Stop//, $surname."
That familiar tone almost makes you drop your knife down into the flood waters, and you stagger back a few steps in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>"I'm going after Duncan," you say, setting your jaw as your eyes flick back to the man himself, the sharp smile on his face visible even from this side of the courtyard, even through the fogging rain.
Glancing back at Lea, $l_they<<re>> giving you a long, hard look - and then a nod.
"You deal with that bastard. I'm going to get Merry," $l_they <<say>> then, and you don't have a chance to respond before Lea shoves you aside just in time to block the nearest oncoming soldier.
Their blades clash, the sound of steel on steel ringing loudly in your ears, and in that same moment magic crackles and surges violently with the storm overhead, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few frantic seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, the fight erupting with a burst of sparks and ice.
Lea is quick on $l_their feet, easily disarming the first soldier as you turn to deal with a second one, trading blows back and forth before you shove them to the ground, splashing through the flood waters as they scramble away from you. It's not long before more soldiers push even closer, quick to drive a wedge between you and Lea, forcing you away from $l_them as well as Harper and Talia.
You fall back a bit, swearing after Lea, but $l_they<<re>> already making $l_their way across the courtyard, your protest lost in the rain.
You can hear Merry before you find her in the chaos, shouting and swearing and yanking on her chains as she lashes out and distracts the handful of soldiers still crowded around her - Lea is able to make some decent ground with the others before the soldiers realize what they're doing. You watch for a few more seconds, Lea and Harper fighting side by side, before you turn back to the soldiers in front of you.
They're keeping their distance, though, and you see Duncan - watching you, soldiers flanking him on either side. You start to push your way towards him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Going after Duncan 1.2]]"Merry - we can't let them take Merry. I shouldn't have let them take Merry," you say, dropping your gaze and turning away from the others, searching for her across the courtyard.
She's flanked on either side by a handful of soldiers, shackles around her wrists, the chain held fast by one of the more important looking soldiers, fancy pauldrons setting them apart from the others. Maybe a captain of some sort.
Lea is looking at you, and the other soldiers in front of you are creeping closer, a tension in the clearing that is near snapping - or maybe it's the storm rumbling overhead, rain coming down harder as water still floods around your ankles.
"Okay," Lea says then, raising $l_their sword, "we're going to get Merry." $l_Their dark eyes watch you for another long moment, a nod of encouragement - before you have to shove $l_them out of the way to block a strike from an oncoming soldier.
Your blades clash, the sound of steel on steel ringing loudly in your ears, and in that same moment magic crackles and surges violently with the storm overhead, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few frantic seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, the fight erupting with a burst of sparks and ice.
Lea is quick on their feet, lunging forward and beating back a second soldier while you trade blows with the first, frantic and sloppy as they swing wildly at you. You push them back easily, you and Lea holding your ground as Harper and Talia watch your back.
You can hear Merry, shouting and swearing and yanking on her chains as she lashes out and distracts the handful of soldiers still crowded around her - keeping you and the others from getting immediately surrounded.
You search for Duncan, and find him watching you and Lea from a distance, soldiers standing guard on either side of him. Your lip curls, glaring at him before you turn away and start to push towards Merry.
Lea stays close, and for a moment it all actually feels right - you and Lea fighting side by side, moving together as you push back against the soldiers, Lea dodging quick as you hit back hard. It makes you forget your grim circumstances, the reality that you're fighting //soldiers// and not some angry beast. And it's this familiarity that makes you slip; you lose yourself, just for a second, muscle memory taking control - and you run your sword through one of the soldiers, blinking stupidly as they wheeze through their mask and grab at your shoulders, blood spilling from their carved silver lips and onto your sleeves. It's Lea that pulls them off of you, the soldier’s fingers ripping at your cloak as your blade comes free, Lea shoving them roughly to the ground.
You always thought killing another person would be harder - that maybe it would feel different, that you would hesitate. But it doesn't feel any different at all. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You stare down at your bloody blade, steaming in the cold air, Lea's hand on your shoulder jarring you.
"I didn't mean to-" you blurt, but Lea shakes $l_their head, $l_their dark eyes flashing.
"I know, $surname," $l_they squeeze<<s>> your shoulder then, "I know. It's alright. We're going to get Merry, and then we're going to get the hell out of here."
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Get Merry 1.2]]Double-click this passage to edit it.You're vaguely aware of Noel and Keres fighting nearby, lightning crackling through the courtyard, your hair standing on end. You can feel the Vel, too, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arms trembling slightly as you lift your sword, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan - Duncan, and his fucking armor.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive - you don't want to test the enchantment on that armor. You glance around the courtyard again, taking advantage of the lull between you, and you find yourself turning to the cemetery. Your magic thrums excitedly, the thick rose bushes along the wrought-iron fence pulling at you, the solid stone of the buried tombs reverberating beneath your feet. Even the corpses, emaciated and forgotten, twitching in their caskets - but you wouldn't go that far. Not yet.
You take a few quick steps, moving around Duncan as he darts back reflexively, his back to the cemetery. You adjust your grip on your sword, shifting to hold it in both hands, and Duncan is quick to notice, immediately lunging to try and catch you before you can fully readjust.
You let him come, bracing yourself, dropping low and swiftly rolling underneath his heavy sword, springing back up onto your feet just to slam your shoulder into his chest.
It fucking //hurts// - the painful bite of metal against your shoulder, your head ringing against the steel, but you manage to throw him off his feet, sending him crashing back into the wrought-iron fence, even as you stagger to your knees. As you hit the cobblestones, you slam your sword down in front of you, some of the stones bursting from the ground on impact, your magic rushing from your blade - through the earth, beneath the fence, and the rose bushes tremble, thorny branches immediately responding to your command, reaching through the iron and curling around Duncan, scraping against his armor and hauling him back, pinning him against the cold bars of the fence.
He cuts through a few, nearly getting back up on his feet, but not before a vine can wrap around his throat and pull him back down, the other branches tightening around his torso, the metal of his armor groaning in protest.
He lets out a strangled sound, his sword hand pinned at a painful angle behind him, his other hand clawing at the vine at his neck.
You press a shaking hand to your forehead, groaning as the pain behind your eyes spikes briefly, your body struggling to recover from the sudden energy drained by your magic. You wipe your face, your hand coming away bloody - your nose is bleeding. The Vel pulses again, a heavy weight in your chest, straining for a moment as you force yourself back up onto your feet.
Standing over Duncan, he cuts his eyes over to you, the branches restricting his movements, blood trickling down his face from the little crown of thorns curled through his hair. You can tell he's trying to pull himself free, his face turning red from the effort, the runes of his armor flickering as it desperately tries to help him - but the thorns hold fast.
There's even a few roses blooming, dark and bloody, engorged on your magic.
"What now, $surname?" Duncan hisses then, his grey eyes flashing. "You wouldn't hurt a helpless man, would you?"
You scoff, curling your lip, resisting the urge to kick him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Earth 1.2]]Duncan moves slowly, cautiously, watching you closely as you both carefully move around each other, an agonizingly slow dance between you.
You have a feeling you're not going to win this fight. Not with Keres here, and not in your state. You glance down at your bandaged hand, soaked with rain and blood, tightening around your sword. You figure the least you can do is take Duncan down with you.
You take your sword in both hands, the blade a vicious red now, faint flames licking at your arms, and you let the electricity in the air course through you - from the water, from the storm, through your chest and down to the sharpened edge of your sword - and you take a swing at Duncan, hurling a blinding mass of fire and lightning directly at his chest.
He tries to roll out of the way, but it follows his movements, your blade guiding it true, and you admit you're impressed when he stops his frantic dodging and just plants his feet, crossing his arms over his head and taking the hit.
The fire washes over him, while the electricity is erratic, exploding in the air and against his armor, redirecting overhead and hitting some of the nearby buildings along the edge of the courtyard. It ricochets off of him, and you don't have time to react as it comes back at you.
You get a slight satisfaction at the realization that you hit harder than Keres.
It doesn't last, though, as you're thrown back into the flood waters, your head slamming into the cobblestones, water rushing into your mouth as you can't help but make a terrible sound in the back of your throat at the pain as your body convulses again. It's a strange sensation, on fire in icy water, and you feel like your tendons are being ripped from the bone, your muscles spasming as you thrash wildly under the water.
It takes entirely too long for it to pass.
Your face barely breaks the surface of the water, half-floating on your back, blinking up into the rain. The Vel flickers overhead, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is. The rancid taste of metal in your mouth, and your head is heavy, the icy water enveloping you making your blood run cold. You can see the water turning dark out of the corner of your eye, and you wonder if you're bleeding black.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Failure Fire 1]]You're vaguely aware of Noel and Keres fighting nearby, lightning crackling through the courtyard, your hair standing on end. You can feel the Vel, too, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arms trembling slightly as you lift your sword, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan - Duncan, and his fucking armor.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive - you don't want to test the enchantment on that armor. You glance around the courtyard again, taking advantage of the lull between you, and you find yourself watching the spire swaying overhead, the rain biting as it comes down with the icy wind tearing at your clothes, and your magic thrums as air coalesces around your feet, parting the flood waters and exposing the bare cobblestones underneath. The rain shifts, coming down even harder, the metallic ring of it hitting Duncan's armor sounding through the courtyard.
Icy water sprays all around you, pulled from the flood waters by the vicious wind, the rain scattering in all directions, partially suspended as your magic crackles through the air. When Duncan tries to rush you this time, you're ready for it, the wind at your back easily carrying you over the flood waters, your boots and the tip of your blade just skimming across the surface as you swing around and slam your heel into Duncan's back, sending him sprawling forward with a painful grunt. He manages to stay on his feet, though - more likely his armor keeps him from losing balance, and he swings back around faster than you expect, a wave of heat from the enchantment hitting you just before his blade bites into your side.
You let out an angry hiss, quickly darting back and pressing a hand to your side. //Damn.//
Duncan scowls after you, shaking his head.
"Come on, hunter. Stop fucking with me," he snaps, lifting his sword and lunging after you.
You snarl, your blades clashing loudly as you swing up to meet him, trading a few quick blows as you both stomp through the flood waters. You're breathing hard, your magic still whistling through the courtyard, each gust of wind quickening your movements and strengthening your hits, but Duncan's armor does the same, the runes flashing as he dodges and counters and hits you back just as hard.
Both of you back off after a few minutes, Duncan's arms shaking slightly as he keeps his sword raised defensively in front of him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Stalemate Air 1.2]]You're vaguely aware of Noel and Keres fighting nearby, lightning crackling through the courtyard, your hair standing on end. You can feel the Vel, too, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arms trembling slightly as you tighten your grip around your sword, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan - Duncan, and his fucking armor.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive - you don't want to test the enchantment on that armor, especially after feeling the way it just shoved you like that. You glance around the courtyard again, taking advantage of the lull between you, and you find yourself slowly dragging your feet along the cobblestones, feeling the heavy stone beneath you, watching the choppy water slap at your ankles, the tug of the wind on your clothes - you debate summoning your magic. But the flash of the runes deters you, and instead you just raise your sword and creep even closer.
Your proximity makes Duncan lash out, as you had hoped, and you easily sidestep him, swinging around before bringing your sword down across his back. But again there's a burst of sparks, and the runes interlock against your strike, throwing you back and nearly knocking your sword out of your hand. The force of your hit still manages to actually send Duncan sprawling down onto his hands and knees, and you brace against the runes, holding your ground this time, waiting patiently as Duncan scrambles back to his feet.
You take your sword in both hands, watching Duncan as he glares over at you. You wait for him to come again, and just like before he's impatient, striking after only a few seconds of circling. You dart back, and he tries to follow you with a thrust, but you twist away and strike at his outstretched arm, clanging against his armor and knocking his blade downward. He actually cries out, your strike hitting him across his already injured arm, and he's unable to keep ahold of his sword, the power of your hit with both hands taking him by surprise. He's slow to react, even as the armor tries to force him to move away, and you swing upward until your blade is pressed against his throat.
Duncan's eyes widen - and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you stop short, your blade pricking Duncan's throat, both of you frozen for a second as you just look at each other.
"What now, $surname?" Duncan hisses then, his grey eyes flashing. "You wouldn't hurt an unarmed man, would you?"
You scoff, curling your lip, and you lower your sword then - and kick him in the chest, sending him down into the flood.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Sword 2.1]]You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you igniting painfully as reality blurs, the world around you straining to contain what's been unleashed. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You stare down at your hands, at the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
The fence shudders then, the vines and branches suddenly retracting, freeing Duncan to sink down into the flood waters, and you both stare at each other for a moment. Duncan seems fascinated, but you don't miss the flash of fear in his eyes as he stands, taking a few slow steps back away from you.
"//Hunter//."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
You hear the faint rattle of chains, ringing in your ears, somehow even louder than all the commotion in the courtyard, and you know it's trying to find a way in.
<<include "CH2 You don't know that the chains will stop it this time">>You're starting to feel the drain of your magic, the storm pulling at you, control slipping out of your fingers as you and Duncan come together again. You catch his sword with your bracer, your sword slashing at his legs before you shove him sideways, your magic bursting forward with what energy you have left and throwing him off his feet again, tossing him across the courtyard - and he doesn't get back up quite as quick this time.
You stumble a bit, the flood water pulling at your trousers, and you're hurting, with that hit from Keres earlier taking more out of you than you realized. You press your hand to your side again, blood still spilling between your fingers, oozing down your leg beneath your clothes.
Duncan takes a long time to stand back up, his legs bleeding badly where your blade cracked through his greaves, and his face is bleeding, too, smashed against the cobblestones where you threw him.
Neither of you move, glaring at each other as the storm crescendos overhead.
"Where did you get that armor?" you call over the thunder and the rain.
Duncan blinks, tilting his head at you, clearly caught off guard by the question. He smiles slowly, his teeth bloody, but whatever he says is drowned out by a sudden explosion across the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and you're both thrown off your feet, pain exploding in your side as you fall painfully atop your arm, the icy water leaving you breathless.
Your hand tightens around the hilt of your sword, a wave of heat washing over you, black fire falling from the sky as you force yourself back onto your hands and knees. You can't hear anything but a distant whine, the explosion throwing the courtyard into silence - except for the faint, familiar sound of scraping chains.
There's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, and you curl forward, collapsing back into the water, gasping as your vision swims, those familiar phantom hands reaching out for you again. Less phantom this time, more corporeal, real fingers digging into your flesh beneath your clothes as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you.
The Vel is open.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Stalemate Air 1 Vel Open]]Stepping up beside him, you lean heavy against the fence, breathing hard as you wipe at your bloody nose again. Still you can hear the clash of swords, still see the flash of lightning overhead - but you're struggling to take in anything more than a few feet in front of you, your head spinning, and you can't bear to look around for your companions, having to grab at the wrought-iron fence to steady yourself.
"You don't look so well, hunter," Duncan muses, and your face twitches, pushing off the fence just as quick to glare down at him.
"Shut the fuck up, Duncan," you growl.
You really look at him then, the nasty gashes and dark bruising on his face from the rocks you threw at him earlier, at the thorns piercing his throat, and despite his annoying commentary you can tell he's wavering, his one hand shaking as it grasps desperately at the vines constricting around his neck, his whole body rigid and painful.
The armor is what you really want to look at, though. It's quite obnoxious for your tastes, golden plating with silver details, the familiar swooping hawk emblazoned across his chest. The runes are carved into the flow of the embellishments, you assume to allow them to blend in easily when not in direct combat. As it is, they're flashing rapidly, clearly trying to do //something//, but still the thorns hold.
"Your armor," you say then, your eyes cutting to Duncan's paling face, "Where did you get it?"
He blinks, clearly not expecting the question. He strains to tilt his head up at you, before smiling slowly.
"You know Master Flint, do you?" he says, and you wince at his name coming from Duncan's mouth.
"Ah....," he tries to laugh, but it's more of a grimace, and he bares his teeth at you. "Master Flint. My little lapdog.... he'd kiss my feet if I'd only ask."
You stare at him, too stunned to respond for a moment.
"What the fuck did you say?" you snarl, crouching down and grabbing at his collar, vines tightening slightly as you jerk him forward. You can't resist the urge anymore - your sword forgotten, you punch him in the face once, twice, a third time, splattering the front of his fancy armor with blood.
Duncan grabs at your wrist, but when he opens his mouth, whatever he says is drowned out by a sudden explosion across the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and if you hadn't been holding onto Duncan it would have thrown you off your feet.
Your hands tighten around his collar as you duck against the fence, a wave of heat washing over you, black fire falling from the sky.
There's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, and Duncan's collar slips out of your hands as you collapse back into the water, gasping as your vision swims, those familiar phantom hands reaching out for you again. Less phantom this time, more corporeal, real fingers digging into your flesh beneath your clothes as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you.
The Vel is open.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Vel Open Earth 1]]You're vaguely aware of Noel and Keres fighting nearby, lightning crackling through the courtyard, your hair standing on end. You can feel the Vel, too, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arms trembling slightly as you lift your icy shield, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan - Duncan, and his fucking armor.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive - you don't want to test the enchantment on that armor. You glance around the courtyard again, taking advantage of the lull between you, and you find yourself watching the water again, the way it churns excitedly at your feet, and your magic thrums as you drag your blade along the surface, the rain shifting and coming down even harder, the metallic ring of it hitting Duncan's armor sounding through the courtyard.
The water clings to the metal of your sword, following your movements, and you quickly dart back as Duncan rushes you again, the water curling at your feet - Duncan notices too late, halfway through a strike you block with your shield, throwing your weight against him and sending him staggering. You take a few quick steps after him before sweeping your sword forward, the flooding water rushing past you and overwhelming Duncan, knocking him completely off his feet before surging upward and cocooning him in ice.
Half of the courtyard freezes for a moment, before you can rein in your magic, dropping to one knee as the ice cracks and shatters around you, your shield crumbling into nothing, the water slipping out of your control. Thankfully, your companions are lucky enough to avoid the freeze, though a couple of soldiers are caught in the water, gone still like statues in the courtyard.
Duncan is held in place, though half of his torso is still free, punching at the ice with his fist. His sword hand is trapped in the ice, and you can sense a real panic now as you stand back up, with him frantically clawing at the ice where it meets the frosted metal of his chestplate.
You press a shaking hand to your forehead, groaning as the pain behind your eyes spikes briefly, your body struggling to recover from the sudden energy drained by your magic. You wipe your face, your hand coming away bloody - your nose is bleeding. The Vel pulsates overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck.
You try to shake it off, dragging your feet through the water and standing in front of Duncan. He's lifted slightly, held aloft in the ice, and he glares down at you, finally halting his futile attempts to break himself free.
"What now, $surname?" he spits at you, his grey eyes flashing. "You wouldn't hurt a helpless man, would you?"
You scoff, curling your lip, only just restraining yourself from hitting him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Water 2.1]]Stepping up beside him, you lean heavy against the ice, breathing hard as you wipe at your bloody nose again. Still you can hear the clash of swords, still see the flash of lightning overhead - but you're struggling to take in anything more than a few feet in front of you, your head spinning, and you can't bare to look around for your companions, closing your eyes for a moment as you press your palm to the ice.
"You don't look so well, hunter," Duncan muses, and your face twitches, pushing off the ice to glare up at him.
"Shut the fuck up, Duncan," you growl.
You really look at him then, his smashed and bloody face from your shield, blood dripping from his chin, and despite his annoying commentary you can tell he's shivering, his free hand curled into a painfully tight fist at his side, his lips turning a sickly bluish-purple.
The armor is what you really want to look at, though. It's quite obnoxious for your tastes, golden plating with silver details, the familiar swooping hawk emblazoned across his chest. The runes are carved into the flow of the embellishments, you assume to allow them to blend in easily when not in direct combat. As it is, they're flashing rapidly, clearly trying to do //something//, but the ice holds.
"Your armor," you say then, your eyes cutting to Duncan's paling face, "Where did you get it?"
He blinks, clearly not expecting the question. He tilts his head down at you, before smiling slowly.
"You know Master Flint, do you?" he says, and you wince at his name coming from Duncan's mouth.
"Ah....," he tries to laugh, but it's more of a grimace, and he bares his teeth at you. "Master Flint. My little lapdog.... he'd kiss my feet if I'd only ask."
You stare up at him, too stunned to respond for a moment.
"What the fuck did you say?" you snarl, reaching up and grabbing at his collar, the ice cracking slightly as you jerk him forward. You can't resist the urge anymore - your sword forgotten, you punch him in the face once, twice, a third time, splattering the ice with more of his blood.
Duncan blinks down at you, his eyes still sharp, but when he opens his mouth, whatever he says is drowned out by a sudden explosion across the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and if you hadn't been holding onto Duncan it would have thrown you off your feet.
Your hands tighten around his collar as you duck against the ice, a wave of heat washing over you, black fire falling from the sky.
There's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, and Duncan's collar slips out of your hands as you sink down into the water, gasping as your vision swims, those familiar phantom hands reaching out for you again. Less phantom this time, more corporeal, real fingers digging into your flesh beneath your clothes as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you.
The Vel is open.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Water 1.2]]You're vaguely aware of Noel and Keres fighting nearby, lightning crackling through the courtyard, your hair standing on end. You can feel the Vel, too, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arms trembling slightly as you lift your shield, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan - Duncan, and his fucking armor.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive - you don't want to test the enchantment on that armor. You glance around the courtyard again, taking advantage of the lull between you, and you find yourself slowly dragging your feet along the cobblestones, feeling the heavy stone beneath you, watching the water churn at your feet, your runes glowing bright and illuminating the curve of your blade. Duncan's own runes flash quickly, blue and white and the occasional burst of red, the rain and the flood waters glistening between you.
You flex your hand again, hefting your shield, turning slowly as Duncan starts to creep up on you. He's cautious of your runes, too, eyeing your shield and bracers, blood still oozing down his face.
You stay patient, slowly inching back as he advances, blinking the rain from your eyes as the storm shifts overhead.
"Come on, //Lord// Duncan," you goad, curling your lip as his eyes flash at your words.
He's easy enough to bait, clearly agitated, raising his sword with a snarl as he lunges after you.
You swing your shield up to meet him, grunting at the impact, your arm trembling as pain lances all the way up to your shoulder. Duncan curses at you, your faces dangerously close for a moment before you twist your arm, the spikes of your shield locking Duncan's blade, and he tries desperately to keep it in his hands, both of your straining for a moment, the heat of his blood and breath on your face - until the metal //snaps//, his blade cracking in half, flying off into the flood waters as your shield breaks through and slams Duncan right in the chest.
You can feel his armor dent under the spikes, even as the runes flash blindingly bright, and you quickly dart back as Duncan splashes back into the flood waters, slamming against the cobblestones as a hot wave of magic bursts from his armor. It staggers you a few feet, but you manage to remain standing, lifting your shield again and leaping after him - but you bring your fist down on the ground just in front of him, alchemical lightning crackling down your bracer, cobblestones exploding from the ground and elongating at your command, stone pillars coming together and pinning Duncan in place.
You grimace as your bracer tightens around your wrist, the heat from the runes burning through your sleeve, and you carefully deconstruct the shield, returning the bracer to its original form. Lightning still pops around you, and you struggle to rein it in, pressing a hand to the hot runes as you sway on your feet.
You close your eyes for a moment, your hand tightening around your wrist, groaning as the pain behind your eyes spikes briefly, your body struggling to recover from the sudden energy drained by your transmutations. You wipe your face, your hand coming away bloody - your nose is bleeding.
The Vel pulsates overhead, leering down at you, as if excited by the sight of your blood, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck.
You shake your head, flicking your blood from your hand, ignoring the weight of the Vel and dragging your feet through the water until you're standing over Duncan. He's lifted slightly, held suspended on his back by the stone pillars, and he glares up at you, breathing hard and twitching painfully. You think one of his arms might be broken, the way it's trapped and twisted in the stone.
"What now, $surname?" he spits at you, his grey eyes flashing. "You wouldn't hurt a helpless man, would you?"
You scoff, curling your lip, barely stopping short of kicking him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Alchemy 1.2]]You shake your head, raising your sword just in time to block another strike.
They're sloppy, though, and you use their momentum to knock them sideways and throw them to the ground with a grunt. These soldiers are hardly as intimidating as they look. You wonder how young some of them are, under those masks.
Your main concern is keeping yourself from being surrounded - but as it is now, you think you'll manage.
A lot of the remaining soldiers seem to be panicking, with that strange, unnerving excitement gripping the courtyard. Some of them are running after their bolting horses, while others seem to just be focused on staying out of the way of Noel and Keres, and their wild magic churning in the air, just watching it all through those masks.
You start to slowly move towards the others, glancing over to see Lea and Duncan circling each other, while Merry has fought her way over to Talia and Harper, beating the soldiers back away from the young Redwine. Clementine is with them, too, and it seems they're all fairing well, if the trail of fallen soldiers Merry has left behind is any indication.
Turning back around, the soldier you knocked over is slowly getting back to their feet, and there are even more lurking closer, their masks flashing as the Vel reflects off the water churning around your ankles. You flex your hand around your hilt, cold and wet and bloody, the bandages slowly beginning to unravel.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>Taking a deep breath, you lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and this time you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, lightning crackling down your blade.
But almost immediately it starts to jump, abandoning you as Keres siphons your magic - she's stronger than you right now, and she's in control, ripping it right out of your hands. You don't even think she realizes she's doing it, her and Noel dancing around each other across the courtyard too fast for you to process, and you're left straining to refocus after the sudden blow to your already diminishing energy.
You roll sideways just in time to dodge a heavy two-handed hit, splashing through the slowly-rising water and barely scrambling out of the way of the follow-up swipe, but thankfully none of the soldiers seem particularly bold enough to keep the pressure up - and you recover your footing while they back off, clearly still wary of you. //Lucky you.//
You're breathing hard, a thick, metallic taste in the back of your throat, the wailing of the Vel making you grimace. You slowly back up, flexing your hand again and raising it alongside your sword. You grit your teeth against the whispers swirling in your head, ignoring the desperate call of the Vel as it trembles overhead, anticipation building as it flashes all around you, the courtyard straining against itself, rippling at the edges of your vision.
You summon your magic again.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Fire 1]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>Taking a deep breath, you carefully slide your feet through the water, feeling the uneven cobblestones and the hard earth compacted underneath. You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and this time you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, a sudden hum in the earth as it senses your magic, building with each step you take, water parting under your feet.
The ground shifts, cobblestones shattering as you stomp your foot in front of you, shoving the soldiers back, the entire courtyard trembling as you reach into the earth.
The one soldier drops back to the ground again, struggling to keep their balance, the ground sinking as you leer down at them. Before they can get back up, stalagmites burst from the ground, goring them along with twisted roots grabbing at their legs. A particularly thick, solid shoot breaks through the cobblestones, piercing through their thigh, bloody branches unfurling and trapping them in place. The way they scream makes your hair stand on end, or maybe it's the electricity in the air - either way, it spurs you forward, grabbing their shoulder and holding them steady as you plunge your sword through their chest - as you stop the screaming.
You stare down at them for a moment, at the way the little shoot leans towards you, green leaves sprouting in your shadow, stained red.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Earth 1]]>><<set $broke_courtyard to true>><</link>><<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You lift your sword high then, blinking against the rain, and this time you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, the storm building overhead. The wind shifts, and roars past you, spraying water and whipping rain over the soldiers, forcing them to shield their eyes and shrink back away from you - knocking the other one back down into the flood waters.
Two other soldiers, bracing against the wind, try to rush you together, but with the wind at your back you are far quicker than either of them, dodging past their blades and darting behind them. They spin around, and you leap into the air, wind whipping at your cloak as your magic churns and lifts you high overhead, your body turning as you draw back your blade.
You take a deep breath, suspended in the air for a few unnatural seconds before you urge the wind to shift and you lunge back at the soldiers.
The first one tries to swing up and meet you, but the wind roaring at your back staggers them before you even reach them. You smash through their weak attempt at a block and cut straight through their armor, their chestplate splintering under the force of your hit. You slice through metal and cloth and flesh and bone, your blade running all the way through as you rush past them, your sword ripping free with a spray of blood as the soldier crashes back into the icy water.
The wind carries you easily, your feet skimming over the choppy surface of the water, taking a deep breath as you swing back around, icy water spraying at your back. You don't bother readying your sword this time, turning quick on the remaining soldier and slamming the heel of your boot into the back of their head.
You both go down into the water this time, with you landing roughly on your feet, staggering a bit as you struggle to rein in your magic, the air still whipping violently through the courtyard.
You can't help but stare at the two soldiers in front of you, face down in the dark water, your blade flashing dark with blood as lightning explodes nearby, making you flinch. Your head spins a bit, and you press a palm to your forehead, grimacing against the pressure building behind your eyes, at your magic still sparking wildly around you, at the bloody water churning at your ankles.
You're too stunned to do anything for a moment, stunned at how easy it is - you always expected killing another person would be harder, that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
One of the bodies bumps against your leg, drifting with the choppy water, and you quickly scramble back, wiping the rain from your face and raising your sword again.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Air 1]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You lift your sword high then, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, with the water churning at your feet as it senses your magic, the air growing even colder around you as frost envelopes your blade.
The closest soldier hesitates, and you lunge forward, bringing your sword down to clash against their armor, ice erupting across their chestplate as the impact of your cold blade bursts the metal with a loud //crack//. They collapse in front of you, the surface of the water at your feet stilling for a moment as it all freezes over, before you step back and it surges after you, the water carrying you a few feet back and putting some distance between you and the few remaining soldiers.
You're breathing hard, but you let your momentum carry you, taking a few quick steps before sweeping your sword forward, the flooding water following your blade and rushing past, violently overwhelming the soldiers in front of you and knocking them off their feet before surging upward, cocooning a few of them in ice, while the others are washed away to the very edges of the courtyard.
You stagger a few feet, before dropping down hard on one knee, pressing your palm against your forehead, grimacing at the sharp pain behind your eyes, at the hot, wet sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip as your nose bleeds. You stare down at the cobblestones, shivering as the icy water slowly seeps back into the courtyard and soaks through your trousers.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Water 1]]<<elseif $mc_alchemist eq true>>You glance down at the sword in your hand - not //your// sword, but the sword from the altar in the crypt. You debate a few transmutations, but you're not confident about using this sword, not without your runes; and it doesn't quite feel right.
Glaring over at the nearest soldier, you reach around and draw your other sword, keeping the other one raised high, your hand tightening around your hilt.
The runes on your bracer start to flash, alchemical lightning bursting in the air as the blade of your sword begins to spark and shift. The metal warps, retracting and coiling tight against your hand before releasing with a hiss, unraveling into a long chain whip, the whispering sound of the links reminding you grimly of the statue chained down in the crypt.
The nearest soldier eyes the whip for a moment before lunging, too close for you to wind up - but you easily parry them with your other sword, throwing them back through the flood waters and cracking the whip after them.
The metal sparks red on impact, clashing against the soldier's chestplate and throwing them to the ground, leaving them wheezing in the churning water at your feet.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Alchemist 1]]<<else>>You lift your sword high then, blinking against the rain, gritting your teeth and glaring over at the nearest soldier.
They return your glare, eyes flashing through their mask, giving you a sneering look before lunging at you. You easily parry their strike, throwing them sideways hard enough that they lose their footing in the flood waters, splashing to the ground with a pained grunt.
<<if $mc_swordsman>>Another soldier tries to rush you before you can recover, and you throw your arm up to catch their blade with your bracer, gritting your teeth as you push back, their sword groaning loudly as it scrapes against the metal and bites at your arm. You knock the blade sideways, lunging forward and slamming into their chest, wincing as their chestplate dents beneath your weight.
They gasp, the force of it knocking their sword from their hand as they drop back into the water.
The third soldier is on you faster than the previous, their sword singing dangerously close as you dart back, the whisper of metal ringing in your ears as you splash away from them. They swing at you again with a heavy two-handed hit, lightning flashing against their silver mask, and you roll forward, diving through the water and underneath their sword, springing back up onto your feet behind them with a gasp as the icy water clings to your clothes.
You're far quicker than any soldier, and you spin back around, plunging your sword through their back, running it all the way through before you can think too much about it, the cold water dripping from your hands running hot as their blood pools down your blade. You quickly pull free with a spray of blood and viscera, shoving them down face first with a quiet splash.
Turning back around, the other two soldiers are back on their feet, and you don't wait for them this time.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Swordsman 1]]<<elseif $mc_axeman>>Another soldier tries to rush you before you can recover, and you throw your arm up to catch their blade with your bracer, gritting your teeth as you push back, their sword groaning loudly as it scrapes against the metal and bites at your arm. You knock the blade sideways, lunging forward and slamming into their chest, wincing as their chestplate dents beneath your weight.
They gasp, the force of it knocking their sword from their hand as they drop back into the water.
The third soldier is on you faster than the previous, but you don't back off, instead lunging forward and dodging beneath their blade, throwing your shoulder up into their gut and tossing them overhead, spinning them through the air before they crash down painfully against the cobblestones.
You stagger a few steps, wincing at the pain in your shoulder, your arm aching as you heft the sword in your hand. You lament your axe, left behind with the horses, missing the familiar weight of it in your palm. The sword will have to do.
You turn to face the soldiers again, the other two back on their feet already, your lip curling in warning as they creep closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Axeman 1]]<<else>>Another soldier tries to rush you before you can recover, and you throw your arm up to catch their blade with your bracer, gritting your teeth as you push back, their sword groaning loudly as it scrapes against the metal and bites at your arm. You knock the blade sideways, lunging forward and slamming into their chest, wincing as their chestplate dents beneath your weight.
They gasp, the force of it knocking their sword from their hand as they drop back into the water.
The third soldier is on you faster than the previous, but you're quick, darting back and rolling sideways as you dodge their blade, gasping as the icy water clings to your clothes. Springing back up onto your feet, you raise your sword, blocking another strike and shoving the soldier back, putting some space between you as you slowly circle each other.
You move slow, glaring at the dark eyes flashing beneath the silver mask, your hand tightening around your sword. You lament your bow, left behind with the horses, missing the curve of wood in your palm. The sword will have to do.
The other two soldiers are back on their feet, while the third one is still close, and creeping even closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Archer 1]]<</if>><</if>>Trailing your hand along your blade, fire erupts from your palm, igniting the cold metal, the fire burning exceptionally hot against your icy skin while your eyes water from the sudden bright light and the heat.
Your lip curls as you lunge forward, swinging your sword and sending out a massive arc of flame. You lose control as soon as it extends past your blade, fire surging through the air and roaring over the rain, engulfing three of the nearest soldiers while the others bolt out of the way.
Fire still burns in your hand, along your sword, and you drop to one knee, wincing as the soldiers cry out, screaming and throwing themself desperately into the water - but it doesn't work. It's magic; your fire burns along the surface, and clings to them even as their armor warps and their clothes disintegrate, even as the water rushes over them.
You're stunned at how easy it happens - you always expected killing another person would be harder, that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
They're still screaming, and it reminds you of the wraith - the heat under your cloak, the keening in the back of your mind. You stare down at your hands, at the bloody water churning around your legs, and everything distorts, the Vel trembling as your magic brushes against it.
You close your eyes, roughly wiping at your face with the back of your trembling hand, the feeling of blood pooling on your upper lip, hot and wet; your nose is bleeding.
"$name!"
Merry grabs at your shoulder, and you startle, turning to her with wide eyes. Talia and Harper are there too, watching you from a distance, Clementine huddled behind them, and you take in the courtyard to see the few remaining soldiers backing off as the Vel shudders overhead. Talia and Harper look a bit rough, but they're still standing, and Merry squeezes your shoulder, though you're not sure if she's trying to reassure you, or herself.
"We need to go, before they regroup! Noel-," she falters then, "Noel will keep them back."
"Where's Lea?" you blurt, forcing yourself to your feet, and you don't wait for an answer, shoving past Merry as you spot $l_them still with Duncan, near the temple now.
Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>You blink, withdrawing and watching as they crumple to the ground, bending unnaturally around the shoot and sinking into the earth, rain and blood pooling around them. You're breathing hard, staring down at your bloody hands, the wet gleam of your blade, your bandaged fingers curled around the hilt of your sword, and everything distorts, the Vel trembling as your magic brushes against it.
You expected killing another person would be harder - that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
There are vines slowly sprouting around your blade, thorns glistening red, more shoots and rocks cracking through the cobblestones, another soldier caught in the branches as your magic slips out of your control.
You barely hear Merry shout your name before the courtyard violently shifts, sending you sprawling sideways into the flooding water, the earth shattering open in front of you.
The ground collapses, water rushing upwards and bursting through Keres' magic barrier, and you watch as a few of the soldiers vanish as the water pulls them down into the ground, into the tunnels, into the crypt. You scramble backwards, the ground crumbling beneath you, and it's only Merry grabbing you and hauling you back that keeps you from being dragged under. Her and Harper pull you up onto higher ground, the water just pulling at your trousers as it seeps out beyond the courtyard and into the district.
Noel and Keres manage to avoid the collapse as well, but you can see Duncan and Lea on the other side of the courtyard struggling against the sudden rush of water.
It's painful, just watching as the two of them pull at each other to keep from going underwater.
Lea manages to get a handhold on the iron fence around the cemetery, and Duncan clings to $l_them for a few moments before letting go and just bracing himself against the water, his armor flashing erratically - and somehow they both manage to withstand the initial flood, the water receding slightly after a few moments.
Lea slumps against the fence, $l_their eyes cutting to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan stomps through the water, Lea turning and staggering slightly to face him - but he just smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand, plunging his blade through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>There are still a few more soldiers lurking nearby, watching you through those silver fucking masks - and you glare straight back.
Holding the sword over your head you plant your feet, rocking forward and slowly swinging your blade in a circle, the wind so loud now you can't hear anything else, rain and ice denting armor and piercing skin. The air churns over you, ripping at the nearby buildings surrounding the courtyard, debris flying dangerously as the wind begins to tunnel around the end of your blade.
You grip your sword in both hands, gritting your teeth, but you can feel your magic starting to slip, your exhaustion getting the better of you, your muscles still trembling from Keres' magic. You swing your sword one more time, before slamming it down onto the cobblestones - the tornado of rain and ice exploding around you, throwing soldiers like ragdolls across the courtyard.
It throws you flat on your back, too, and you just stay like that for a minute, blinking up into the rain, groaning as you roll onto your side and onto your hands and knees.
The soldiers, however, won't be getting back up.
You're shaking, wind still tearing at your wet clothes, and the courtyard darkens, the storm churning in response to your magic, the air dropping even colder as rain and ice pour down overhead. You can feel blood pooling on your upper lip, hot and wet - your nose is bleeding - and there's a thick, metallic taste in the back of your throat, the wailing of the Vel making you wince and stagger as you force yourself back onto your feet.
"$name!"
Merry grabs at your shoulders, and you startle, blinking up at her with wide eyes. Talia and Harper are there too, watching you from a distance, Clementine huddled behind them, and you take in the courtyard to see the few remaining soldiers backing off as the Vel shudders overhead. Talia and Harper look a bit rough, but they're still standing, and Merry squeezes your shoulder, though you're not sure if she's trying to reassure you, or herself.
"We need to go, before they regroup! Noel-," she falters then, "Noel will keep them back."
"Where's Lea?" you blurt, forcing yourself to your feet, and you don't wait for an answer, shoving past Merry as you spot $l_them still with Duncan, near the temple now.
Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>You blink up into the rain, and you sense the lightning is going to strike only a few moments before it happens - your skin prickling as the air starts to hum, and you force yourself onto your feet just as lightning erupts beside you, forcing you to jump back as it sparks across the water, making you swear as your skin burns under your wet clothes.
You're blinded for a few moments, a quick succession of white lightning flashing through the courtyard - striking some of the frozen soldiers, the ice exploding in a burst of red and white sparks. You throw up your arms and duck down as chunks of ice fly across the courtyard, static and bloody, the water flashing red against the Vel.
You drop your arms, letting out a shaky breath, your sword heavy in your hand.
The water turns dark at your feet, blood churning with ice as lightning pops across the surface for a few more seconds, the smell of burnt flesh lingering in the back of your throat.
"$name!"
You startle, Merry grabbing at your shoulders, and you blink over at her, white lights still flashing behind your eyelids. Talia and Harper are there too, watching you from a distance, Clementine huddled behind them, and you take in the courtyard to see the few remaining soldiers backing off as the Vel shudders overhead. Talia and Harper look a bit rough, but they're still standing, and Merry squeezes your shoulder, though you're not sure if she's trying to reassure you, or herself.
"We need to go, before they regroup! Noel-," she falters then, "Noel will keep them back."
"Where's Lea?" you blurt, shrugging off her hand, and you don't wait for an answer, shoving past Merry as you spot $l_them still with Duncan, near the temple now.
Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>Red, alchemical lightning hisses against the rain, crackling along the chains of the whip as you wind back again, snapping it a few times across the flood waters, your eyes cutting to the few remaining soldiers still standing in front of you.
They try to rush you, but they're far too slow.
You dart back, swinging the whip forward, catching the first soldier and wrapping the whip around their legs, the metal scraping over their greaves and hooking into the fat of their calf, easily ripping through their trousers - and the strangled sound they make tells you it rips just as easily through their flesh.
You jerk the whip back, tearing the soldier off their feet and sending them face first into the bloody, churning water, and you block a strike from another soldier with your sword, shoving back against them and following it up with a swift kick to their stomach. You jerk the whip again, dragging the dazed soldier a few feet before urging the links to release, the whip trailing through the water before you slash it at the other soldier trying to rush you again.
It cracks against their wrist, knocking their sword from their hand and coiling up their arm enough for you to drag them forward, tripping through the water and pulling them close - close enough to run your sword through them. They sag against you, grabbing at your arms before you shove them back, jerking the whip hard enough to throw them across the courtyard, your blade pulling free with a bright spray of blood, hurling their body into another group of soldiers and sending them all crashing into the flood waters.
The whip sparks against the water, red and white lightning flashing against the Vel, and it hisses as it slowly retracts again, the runes on your bracer illuminating the blood in the water as your whip transmutes back into a sword again.
You're stunned for a moment, at how easy it is - you always expected killing another person would be harder, that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You're breathing hard, swaying on your feet, wiping at your face with the back of your hand, the hot, wet sensation of blood pulling on your upper lip as your nose begins to bleed. You stare down at your hands, at the bloody water churning around your legs, and everything distorts, the Vel trembling as your alchemical lighting sparks against it.
"$name!"
You startle, Merry grabbing at your shoulders, and you blink over at her, white lights still flashing behind your eyelids. Talia and Harper are there too, watching you from a distance, Clementine huddled behind them, and you take in the courtyard to see the few remaining soldiers backing off as the Vel shudders overhead. Talia and Harper look a bit rough, but they're still standing, and Merry squeezes your shoulder, though you're not sure if she's trying to reassure you, or herself.
"We need to go, before they regroup! Noel-," she falters then, "Noel will keep them back."
"Where's Lea?" you blurt, shrugging off her hand, and you don't wait for an answer, shoving past Merry as you spot $l_them still with Duncan, near the temple now.
Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">><div id="choice"><<link 'I can heal $l_them. I can heal $l_them, it will be fine. I can heal $l_them.' 'CH2.1 I can heal them 1'>><<set $heal_lea to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm going to kill Duncan. ->CH2.1 I'm going to kill Duncan 1]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">I can't move, I can't even //breathe// - I can't do anything but watch. [WIP]</div>You break into a run across the courtyard, shoving past Merry, ignoring her as she calls your name.
Duncan holds Lea against him for a few seconds, before ripping his sword free and shoving Lea to the ground, turning to watch your approach, his blade dark with blood.<<if $broke_courtyard>> You struggle past the gaping hole in the courtyard, clawing your way through the current, ignoring the dark, churning water whispering your name.
Duncan lets you push past him,<<else>>
He lets you push past him,<</if>> taking a few steps back to watch as you drop down next to Lea, an amused expression on his face. You're vaguely aware of Keres and Noel still fighting, stray magic cracking across the cobblestones, lightning flashing against the rain and illuminating Lea's blood as it pools beneath your feet.
"Your handler is a strong swordsman," Duncan croons behind you. "Or was, I suppose."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Shut up!" you snap, curling your lip at him as you drop your sword,<<else>>You ignore him, dropping your sword and<</if>> hauling Lea up into your arms. $l_They<<re>> dazed, blinking rain out of $l_their eyes as $l_they peer<<s>> up at you.
"No, no, no - Lea," you say, pressing your hand to $l_their stomach, $l_their blood hot on your cold hands.
Your touch seems to bring $l_them back for a moment, $l_their eyes widening, a wet sound in the back of $l_their throat as $l_their breathing quickens, fingers digging into your arms. You rip $l_their mask off, pulling $l_them closer and lifting $l_their head up, your other hand still trying to stem the flow of $l_their blood.
Lea just clings to you, $l_their wet hair matted to $l_their face, $l_their dark eyes distant, looking through you, up into the dark clouds overhead.
"Lea," you say $l_their name again, your hand tightening around the back of $l_their neck, your fingers tangling in $l_their hair. $l_They close<<s>> $l_their eyes at the sound of your voice, letting out a long breath, one of $l_their hands reaching to curl around the pendant hanging from your neck.
"I'm sorry, Lea," you say, before pushing your palm into $l_their stomach, against $l_their wound, shuddering against the feeling of blood seeping between your fingers. Lea groans, shaking $l_their head and twisting against you, bruises forming even through your thick sleeves as $l_their hand tightens, the cord around your neck pinching your skin as it's pulled taut.
<<if hasVisited ("Clear out some soldiers.")>><<if $mc_mage>>You have to wrangle your magic, closing your eyes as you try to calm yourself down, your skin prickling against the sudden restraint, a sharp pain at the base of your skull.<<else>>It takes you a moment to calm yourself down, to carefully reach in and uncoil your magic with shaking hands, a sharp pain at the base of your skull from the effort of it.<</if>><<else>>It takes you a moment to calm yourself down, to carefully reach in and uncoil your magic with shaking hands, a sharp pain at the base of your skull from the effort of it.<</if>>
Your chest grows hot, and it slowly radiates down to your hands, your mind straining to contain the usual violence of your magic.
You're going to heal $l_them. $l_They'll be fine.
"Hunter, you're cheating," Duncan says, and your face twitches, but you keep your focus on Lea, a faint gold light emanating from your hands. There's a twisting pain in the pit of your stomach, an uncomfortable feeling as Lea's wound gradually begins to pull itself together. You're breathing hard, sinking back on your heels as your magic drains you.
You're not a healer like Noel. You have to stop, shadows blurring at the edge of your vision, but Lea's still bleeding, the wound still open, your pathetic attempt barely holding $l_them together.
A blade suddenly slaps against your shoulder, and you jerk around to glare up at Duncan, who shakes his head at you.
"Enough. Get up," he says, and he smacks you with the flat of the blade again, harder this time, making you flinch. You hunch forward, staring down at Lea, holding $l_them against your chest, taking a deep breath and once again trying to focus your magic.
"I said that's enough," Duncan barks, and this time he slams the heel of his foot against you, throwing you sideways, your sword clattering beneath you. You feel like you're going to vomit, Lea slipping from your arms as you struggle to right yourself. Your magic wavers, and the pain in your stomach twists completely as your connection to Lea abruptly unravels.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 I can heal them 2]]<<if $get_talia>>You break into a run across the courtyard, shoving past Merry and ignoring Harper and Talia as they call out after you, staggering through the rising flood and tripping on uneven cobblestones in your pained and panicked haste.<<elseif $get_clem>>You shove Clementine into Merry's arms, pushing past her and the others, ignoring them as they call your name, breaking into a run across the courtyard.<<else>>You break into a run across the courtyard, shoving past Merry, ignoring her as she calls your name.<</if>>
Duncan holds Lea against him for a few seconds, before ripping his sword free and shoving Lea to the ground, turning to watch your approach, his blade dark with blood. <<if $broke_courtyard>> You struggle past the gaping hole in the courtyard, clawing your way through the current, ignoring the dark, churning water whispering your name - your focus solely on Duncan.<</if>>
<<if hasVisited("Clear out some soldiers.") or ("CH2.2 Deal with the soldiers 1")>><<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your still-flaming sword burning through empty air.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your sword just breaking the surface of the flood and leaving an arc of ice in its wake.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, wind whipping past you and spraying icy water after him as your blade swings through empty air.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your sword singing through empty air, red alchemical lighting building along the blade and popping loudly as the runes on your bracer glow bright.<<else>>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your sword swinging through empty air and slashing at the flood waters.<</if>><<else>><<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, even as your magic bursts forward, your blade engulfed in flame as it swings through empty air.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, even as your magic bursts forward, your sword skimming the surface of the water and leaving an arc of ice in its wake.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, even as your magic bursts forward, cold air whipping at your cloak and sending an icy spray of water after your blade.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, even as your magic bursts forward, a rumble deep in the earth beneath your feet as you step heavy through the flood waters.<<else>>You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your blade just swinging through empty air as you lunge after him.<</if>><</if>>
You swear loudly, breathing hard, your head spinning as you quickly turn to follow Duncan. You keep your sword high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the pain and the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead.
Your eyes cut to Duncan's blade, gleaming in the white lightning erupting through the courtyard, steaming in the cold air with Lea's blood. You resist the urge to look away - to look back for $l_them, bleeding on the cobblestones.
"I'm going to fucking kill you."
Duncan smiles, his eyes flashing as he watches you stalk after him.
"I've been looking forward to this. Your handler was a little disappointing," he says, and you answer him with a snarl, lunging after him, swinging your sword down with both hands. <<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones instead, water and fire exploding around you on impact.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones instead, water and ice exploding around you on impact. <<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones instead, stones bursting from the ground and shattering on impact.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones instead, water exploding on impact as wind roars past you, whipping your cloak around your shoulders and cresting the flood waters.<<else>>He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones instead, water exploding around you on impact.<</if>>
This close, you feel a sudden wave of magic radiating from his armor, and you notice for the first time the faint glow of the runes etched into the metal. Enchanted. The magic responds to his movements, the runes glowing brighter as he darts a few steps back.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 I'm going to kill Duncan 1.2]]Double-click this passage to edit it.You glare at the encroaching soldiers, lifting your sword in front of you as a warning, their silver masks flashing in the rain.
Duncan lets you all squirm for a few moments, before letting out a long sigh, shifting atop his horse.
"I told you. Noon. It's a shame," he sighs again, before dismounting, dropping heavy onto the wet cobblestones beside Keres.
"Maybe we can still salvage this," he says then, a sudden cheery tone in his voice. "You have something I want. Maybe we can trade?"
You scowl over at him, incapable of thinking of anything Duncan could possibly offer that would interest you. Your scowl turns into a sneer as he suddenly points over your shoulder at Merry.
"Hand her over. In exchange..." he trails off, lazily waving a hand at some of the nearby soldiers, and they part for him as Duncan slowly meanders over, and you feel your blood run cold as he grabs at the collar of a familiar bard.
You can hear Lea swear behind you, and you shake your head, almost turning around in disbelief - Clementine had been with you. They were right behind you.
You take an involuntary step towards them, but stop short as Keres moves between you, her icy stare making you shudder.
Clementine looks terrible, their face visibly bruised even from where you're standing, blood down the front of their tunic, matted in their hair. Duncan hauls them into the courtyard before throwing them to the ground, and you hold your breath until they move, curling in on themself, covering their head with their hands.
Duncan waves his hand again, and some of the soldiers shift, and you can just watch as they move to surround Noel - alone in the courtyard, separated from the rest of you. Noel doesn't say anything, his lips pressed in a thin line, but he draws his glaive in front of him, the blade scraping across the wet cobblestones as he takes a few steps back.
"Let me take the captain. And the little Lady Redwine - it's good to see you again," he turns his attention to Talia then, and to her credit she doesn't flinch at his glare, instead just glaring right back.
"The captain and Redwine. In exchange you can take your little bard and I'll turn a blind eye to Lykaon."
You hear Keres make a disapproving sound, turning back to give Duncan some kind of look, but he ignores her.
"What do you say, hunter?" Duncan prompts, tilting his head at you.
You scowl over at him, before glancing back to Clementine, still crumpled on the wet ground, and then to Noel - who immediately shakes xir head at you.
"Let's start with the captain first," Duncan points at Merry again.
"Fuck you," Merry spits, and you can hear the sound of her drawing her swords, though it gets no reaction from the soldiers, already armed and standing too close for comfort.
"Don't listen to him," Merry says to you then. "He's just trying to separate us. He's not going to let you walk out of here."
Duncan doesn't respond, still watching you expectantly.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm not playing this game with him.]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[What choice do I really have? At least this way, me and Lea have a chance. I make the trade.]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I refuse. I\'d rather fight every soldier here than make a deal with that man - and I\'m not just going to //hand her over//. I refuse.' 'I refuse. I\'d rather fight every soldier here than make a deal with that man - and I\'m not just going to //hand her over.// I refuse.'>><</link>></div><<if $bloodpact>><<include "CH2 I refuse Blood Pact 1">><<else>>You shake your head, not even attempting to hide your disgust as you glare back at Lord Duncan.
"I'm not playing this game," you say, shaking your head again, but Duncan just laughs.
"You //are// already playing," Duncan says, giving you a pitying look. He steps forward then, reaching down and grabbing Clementine by their hair and hauling them up onto their feet - he's taller then them, pulling their head back and dragging them back onto their tiptoes.
"You know," he says slowly, "I was worried at first, when you arrived yesterday. I know your family's reputation," he gestures at Lea then, "and I'm more familiar than I'd like with you Black Iron hunters." He curls his lip as he says it.
"But then I thought: what timing! Who better to blame then a Chen? Always interfering, sticking their noses where they don't belong - it was only a matter of time until one of you went to far."
His smile turns dark, glancing between you and Lea.
"Did you think I didn't know you were here? Climbing my wall, breaking my rules? I allowed it."
He roughly jerks Clementine around, reaching back and pulling a knife from his belt - the same knife he had flashed in the tavern last night. He raises it in front of him, eyeing the blade for a moment before pressing it against Clementine's throat.
Lea tenses beside you, drawing $l_their sword, which only startles the soldiers in front of you, forcing you back a step as they fidget nervously, watching you through their silver masks.
"Duncan's bluffing," Merry says then. "That bard is worth too much for you to kill them."
Duncan scoffs at that, his annoyance breaking his composure a bit.
"And what about you, Captain Harlowe? How much are you worth? A liar, thief, murderer like you - can't be much," he gives you a pointed look, slowly twisting the knife in his hand, making Clementine flinch as the edge twitches against their throat.
"She's already lied to you, she's probably still lying to you now. She's playing the game, too, dirtier than any of us."
Merry doesn't respond to that, instead just spitting at his feet.
He ignores her, though, his hand tightening in Clementine's hair, his eyes steely as he focuses on you again.
"I ask again: What do you say, hunter?"
<div id="choice">[[I'm not just going to hand Merry over to him like this. I'm sorry, Clementine, but I refuse. ->CH2.2 Refuse Trade 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Fine. He's forcing my hand, here... but I'm not sure what else to do. I make the trade. ->CH2.2 Accept Trade 1]]</div><</if>>You take a deep breath, just staring down at the water swirling past your feet, at the armored boots of the soldiers still crowded in front of you, the flash of blades reflected in the flood. You exhale, lowering your sword, slowly stepping back, separating yourself from the group.
"$surname-" Lea starts, taking a half-step after you, but you just grab $l_their arm, pulling $l_them close with a shake of your head. You know $l_they want<<s>> to argue - $l_they always want<<s>> to fucking argue - but you'll drag Lea out of here if you have to.
Talia and Harper remain quiet, caught in the middle, Harper blinking at you before glancing back at Merry, while Talia just glares solely at you, the disapproval palpable even as you avoid her stare. You don't //like// doing this - you don't even //want// to do this. But your priority right now is just getting you and Lea out of this city unscathed. Whatever this is between Talia and Duncan - it's none of your business.
Merry scoffs at you, shaking her head, stepping forward to take your place in front of Harper and Talia.
Lea pulls at $l_their arm, but you just tighten your hold on $l_them, setting your jaw and taking another step back.
Duncan reaches down then and grabs Clementine, hauling them to their feet, and with a nod the soldiers surge towards Merry. The fight is painfully quick - too many, too quick, all at once, and Harper and Talia bolt, leaving Merry to stand all alone. They don't make it far before mounted soldiers overtake them, Harper thrown to the ground while Talia is cornered at edge of the courtyard. Merry tries to fight, and she does manage to cut down one of the soldiers before she's grappled down into the water, her swords ripped out of her hands. You and Lea just watch.
Duncan walks Clementine over to you, shoving them down at your feet. Lea drops down beside them, while you and Duncan glare at each other.
The rattle of chains forces you to look away, a sound too familiar to you now, Merry being dragged onto her feet - the //click// of shackles snapping around her wrists. You watch as the soldiers haul her across the courtyard, one particular soldier holding the chains. A captain, maybe, given the fancy pauldrons they wear that set them apart from the others.
And there's Talia, screaming and shouting and kicking and swearing as the soldiers try to grab her. She's waving that crossbow around, earning herself a little bit of space, but more likely you think the soldiers are just waiting for Duncan to give the order.
You wonder how old she is. She can't be more than twenty. Maybe the same age as your $sibling. The thought startles you, and you press your hands over your face, listening to the sound of Duncan's heavy armor as he turns away from you.
"Keres," you hear Noel's voice suddenly, urgent and angry. You lower your hands, blinking over at the general, still standing between you, her face unreadable.
"Stop this," Noel continues, even as Keres refuses to look at him, even as the soldiers flash their blades dangerously at Noel.
"Phaedra! Don't ignore me!" Noel snaps, just as one of the other soldiers finally manages to grab Talia, and Keres spins around, and Talia is still screaming, and you feel the sudden rush of heat, the thrum of magic even before Noel raises xir glaive and brings it down hard against the cobblestones.
The blast of magic throws all of you off your feet, and you instinctively try to shield Lea and Clementine, all of you tumbling down together into the icy flood water, and almost immediately you hear the clash of metal, more magic exploding overhead - fire, lightning, and ice, as Keres and Noel face off, soldiers diving out of the way as their magic suddenly burns through the courtyard.
Duncan is nearby, staggering back onto his feet and flanked by his soldiers, and you can see his anger even from here, can hear him shouting orders over the rain. You quickly scramble to your feet, and Lea does the same, and you realize $l_they<<ve>> already drawn $l_their sword, turning to raise it threateningly at some nearby soldiers - though they ignore you and Lea at the moment, more worried about calming their panicking horses and regrouping with each other than the two of you.
The soldiers across the courtyard are the ones that got the worst of it, face down in the flood, with Talia standing free alongside Harper once more, his daggers drawn while Talia raises her crossbow again, threatening what soldiers are still standing.
"Where's Clementine?" Lea says then, and you blink back at $l_them, both of you spinning around, but the bard is gone. You hope they ran.
You hear the scrape of chains again, and you turn to see Merry, trying to break free in the confusion - but the captain holds fast, snapping at the chains and throwing her to the ground.
"What are we doing, $surname?" Lea asks then, $l_their voice sharp even over the chaos unfolding in front of you.
<<include "CH2.2 What are we doing Choices">><<if $bloodpact>><<include "CH2 I refuse Blood Pact 1">><<else>>You take a deep breath, just staring down at the water swirling past your feet, at the armored boots of the soldiers still crowded in front of you, the flash of blades reflecting in the flood. You exhale, raising your sword and shaking your head.
"No."
The soldiers shift in front of you, glancing at each other before looking back at Duncan.
Duncan scowls, before letting out a long sigh.
"You know," he says slowly, "I was worried at first, when you arrived yesterday. I know your family's reputation," he gestures at Lea then, "and I'm more familiar than I'd like with you Black Iron hunters." He curls his lip as he says it.
"But then I thought: what timing! Who better to blame then a Chen? Always interfering, sticking their noses where they don't belong - it was only a matter of time until one of you went to far."
He tilts his head at you, glancing between you and Lea.
"Did you think I didn't know you were here? Climbing my wall, breaking my rules? I allowed it."
He looks down at Clementine then, reaching down and grabbing them by a handful of their curls, forcing them back onto their feet. He's taller than them, dragging them up onto their tiptoes, holding them against his chest.
Lea tenses beside you, drawing $l_their sword, which only startles the soldiers in front of you, forcing you back a step as they fidget nervously, watching you through their silver masks.
"I gave you a chance. I gave you a warning. Even now, I offered you a fair trade. And you refused it all. That northern pride," he scoffs then, reaching around and drawing his knife from his belt - the same one he flashed in the tavern last night.
"This is what you've stooped to these days, General Keres?" Noel says suddenly, earning an annoyed look from Duncan. Keres, however, doesn't react, but for her eyes flicking over to Noel for a moment.
"Don't ignore me, Phaedra," Noel snarls, and she frowns, glaring over at xem now.
But when she speaks, it's not to Noel.
"That's enough of this, Duncan. You've made your point. You are wasting my soldiers' time. And you are wasting //mine//."
Duncan frowns at Keres for a moment, before just shaking his head.
"Fine," he says, roughly jerking Clementine back before pointing at you with his knife.
"General Keres," he says, and your eyes snap to the woman in her gleaming suit of armor, watching as she raises a hand in your direction.
You barely register a shout from Noel before a bright light flashes in front of your eyes and totally consumes you. You throw your hands up reflexively, closing your eyes a moment before impact - hot white lightning exploding against your chest, knocking you to the ground, contorting your body painfully as you writhe in the cold, icy water.
You bite your tongue, blood in the back of your throat making you gag as you force yourself to roll onto your side, curling defensively as if it will help.
The electricity jumps around you, dancing over the pooling water, forcing everyone in the courtyard away from you until it finally begins to fade.
You groan, opening your eyes, wincing against the rain, panting as you struggle to regain control of your limbs.
Merry is shouting something, but you can't hear it over the ringing in your ears, and you have to force yourself to look, shakily raising your head just in time to see Duncan raise his knife - and plunge it into Clementine's stomach, just as quick drawing it back, a spray of blood steaming against the cold air, splattering down into the flood.
The fighting erupts immediately, a burst of magic throwing soldiers across the courtyard as Noel swings xir glaive around and clashes with Keres, the storm surging violently overhead, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few frantic seconds and making you recoil, the burn of electricity still lingering in your chest. You blink the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, fire and ice bursting through the flood, and you turn away before it can blind you again.
Lea and Merry struggle back onto their feet nearby, and Talia and Harper are making a run for it, bolting from the others and trying to get around the temple, though they don't even make it out of the courtyard before mounted soldiers converge around them. You turn back to Duncan just as he discards Clementine, throwing them down onto the cobblestone before exchanging his knife for his sword.
You tense, struggling onto your hands and knees. You realize you're still holding the sword, your fingers locked around the hilt. You try to stand, but your chest is tight, your whole body rigid and your muscles twitching painfully.
You watch Clementine, through the splashing feet of rushing soldiers, unmoving in the icy water, and it spurs you to try again, forcing yourself onto your feet, unsteady as the water churns beneath your boots and the rain whips against your hood.
Lea and Merry are already fighting their way towards Talia and Harper, clashing with the soldiers, while Noel and Keres face off, her back to you as her sword crackles and burns with electricity. All the while, Duncan is circling, soldiers flanking him on either side, seemingly observing, waiting to decide what to do - waiting to see what //you// do.
And there's Clementine, still unmoving in the center of the courtyard.
<<include "CH2 I refuse Choices">><</if>>The effects seem to trigger upon your realization, and you make a pathetic sound that at any other point would have made you incredibly ashamed; as it is, you can hardly process the courtyard in front of you anymore, a strange haze seeming to blanket your vision, pain in the base of your skull so intense that you vomit a second time.
One of the soldiers takes that as an invitation to kick you again, shoving you down into the flood waters, your elbows cracking against the cobblestones as you try to catch yourself.
You curl forward, tucking your face into your elbow, icy water clinging to your clothes as the flood waters surge around you.
"What's wrong with them?" you hear one of the soldiers say, but when you lift your head again, there are no soldiers - the courtyard is empty, the courtyard is //different//.
You blink a few times, and the soldiers flicker in and out of existence, the violence and chaos of the courtyard overwhelming you in sudden flashes, nearly making you vomit once again.
The rain slows, the churning water calms around you, and you stare up at the temple - it's still there, though it's the only thing still there. Again the courtyard flickers, and you're surrounded by towering pines, though even that is dwarfed by the temple spire, still there, stark against the calm, cloudy sky. It flickers again, and you're back in the courtyard, still empty - younger, stronger, the city not yet encroaching upon this place.
Memories, trapped in the Vel.
Then you hear the familiar sound of rattling chains, gold eyes leering down at you, the feeling of a cold hand on the back of your neck. Another hand wrapping around your forearm, nails digging through the bandages, jagged claws scraping bone.
The image wavers in front of you, pain radiating from the base of your skull, just the flash of gold and black as something crawls its way in, your arm hot and heavy and agonizing. You want to scratch at it, but the shackles hold you in place, the iron bar whining as you twist your wrists painfully.
You groan, curling forward again - breathing hard, your throat scratching against the cold air, and you gasp as the courtyard suddenly reverts unceremoniously - everything snaps back in place, the forgotten buildings, the cemetery, the soldiers glaring down at you. The storm returns, too, the rain unforgiving against your hot, sensitive skin, the icy water lapping at your thighs making you recoil.
And then, a familiar voice whispers in your ear.
//Break it.//
Your eyes flick to the shackles, to your hands twitching involuntarily, your bandages unraveling and exposing your black, rotted fingers. You feel something shift under your skin, scratching at your skull, a hand curling around your diaphragm.
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 3'>><</link>></span><<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Attack Keres 4'>><</link>>You raise your hands over your head, and slam the shackles down against the cobblestones. Water explodes around you on impact, startling the soldiers as they jump back away from you.
They don't try to stop you - amused at first, you think. But their amusement turns to confusion, and then disgust as you slam your hands against the stones again and again.
Something breaks - your fingers, your hands, your wrists - you're not sure. But you don't stop.
//Break it.//
The hands around you tighten, hot breath on the back of your neck quickening in anticipation.
//Break it.//
You can't. Your arms shake, blood staining the dark water as it slowly rises higher and higher, shoving you off balance and forcing you to lower your hands, grimacing at the icy water biting at your now swollen and bloody fingers.
//Break it.//
"I can't," you say out loud to no one.
You bow your head, a sudden lucidity making you embarrassed, the soldiers' eyes still glaring at you, swords drawn as they watch you warily. You can feel the disappointment, constricting in your chest, before the hands gripping you slowly let go, receding with a quiet sigh, and you slump forward, holding your busted hands against your chest.
The blood iron makes you feel heavy - or maybe it's whatever it is that just burrowed itself in the back of your skull. Either way, it's an incredible effort for you to lift your head and shift back onto your heels, groaning painfully as the ache in your hands becomes more and more apparent, hot blood spilling down your arms and soaking your sleeves.
You blink some rain from your eyes, before peering around the courtyard, and it takes you a few seconds to find any familiar faces, having lost track of everyone in your momentary frenzy. Noel and Keres are still fighting - you can hear it, feel the magic in the air, see the lightning flashing rapidly in the far corner of the courtyard.
A few of the soldiers in front of you suddenly peel away, a few indiscernible shouts, and you're surprised to see Merry almost right in front of you, Harper and Talia close behind.
And Lea, farther back, trading blows with Lord Duncan.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Attack Keres 5]]Rough hands on your arms jar you, forcing you to look away and dragging you back through the flood waters, trying to grapple you onto your feet. The shackles bruise your wrists, crushing your bracers painfully and biting at the bloody skin beneath your sleeves.
"Get off of me," you growl, your voice hardly your own, bucking back against the soldiers grabbing at you, all three of you staggering sideways as you thrash violently, kicking and throwing elbows and dragging them all down into the rising flood waters.
One of the soldiers lets go of your arm to catch themself, splashing to the ground behind you, and you take the chance to rip your other arm free, before spinning around and smashing the shackles over the second soldier's head. They drop without a sound, your hands throbbing painfully as you retreat and tuck them against your stomach.
The first soldier is already back on their feet, but they make no move to try and restrain you again - and when Merry steps up beside you, they turn and bolt, running off to join the remaining soldiers around the edges of the courtyard.
You notice then that a lot of the soldiers are fleeing, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
"$name," Merry's voice startles you, and you turn to look at her, at Harper and Talia hovering just behind her.
"We need to get these off of you," she says, reaching for the shackles, but her hands have barely brushed the bar of blood iron before you recoil, the slightest touch painful enough to make you nauseous. You just shake your head at her, and she pulls back, her brow furrowed in concern as she glances over your bloody, broken hands.
"Where's Lea?" you say gruffly, ignoring her comment and shoving past her as you spot $l_them still with Duncan, near the temple now.
Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name as if it will change the course of fate.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I can heal $l_them. I can heal $l_them, it will be fine. I can heal $l_them.' 'CH2.1 I can heal them Shackled'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I\'m going to kill Duncan.' 'CH2.1 Kill Duncan Shackled'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">Merry is pulling on my arm, but I can't move, I can't look away. [WIP]</div>You break into a run across the courtyard, hefting your shackles against your chest, staggering through the rising flood and tripping on uneven cobblestones in your panicked haste.
Duncan holds Lea against him for a few seconds, before ripping his sword free and shoving Lea to the ground, turning to watch your approach, his blade dark with blood.
He lets you push past him, taking a few steps back to watch as you drop down next to Lea, an amused expression on his face. You're vaguely aware of Keres and Noel still fighting, stray magic cracking across the courtyard, lightning flashing against the rain and illuminating Lea's blood as it pools beneath your feet.
"Your handler is a strong swordsman," Duncan croons behind you. "Or was, I suppose."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Shut up!" you snap,<<else>>You ignore him,<</if>> fumbling with your shackles before you manage to haul Lea into your lap. $l_They<<re>> dazed, blinking rain out of $l_their eyes as $l_they peer<<s>> up at you.
"No, no, no - Lea," you say, pressing your hand to $l_their stomach, $l_their blood hot on your cold hands.
Your touch seems to bring $l_them back for a moment, $l_their eyes widening, a wet sound in the back of $l_their throat as $l_their breathing quickens, fingers digging into your arms. You want to rip $l_their mask off, to pull $l_them closer, but the shackles hold you in place - and all you can do is try to stem the flow of blood, your hand tightening over $l_their stomach.
Lea just clings to you, $l_their wet hair matted to $l_their face, $l_their dark eyes distant, looking through you, up into the dark clouds overhead.
"Lea," you say $l_their name again, bowing your head, leaning in as close as you can, ignoring the ache in your muscles as you brace against the cobblestones. Lea closes $l_their eyes at the sound of your voice, letting out a long breath, one of $l_their hands reaching to curl around the pendant hanging from your neck.
"I'm sorry, Lea," you say, before pushing your palm into $l_their stomach, against $l_their wound, shuddering against the feeling of blood seeping between your fingers. Lea groans, shaking $l_their head and twisting against you, bruises forming even through your thick sleeves as $l_their hand tightens, the cord around your neck pinching your skin as it's pulled taut.
It takes you a moment to calm down, to carefully reach in and uncoil your magic, feeling it burn hot against your skin - until the sharp bite of the blood iron spikes up your arms, splitting through your skull, making you gasp before it swallows your magic, violently ripping it away from you before you can even properly summon it.
You groan, hunching over Lea, a thorn of ice prickling in your chest, piercing through the gaping wound where your magic should be, cold and painful. It takes you a moment to catch your breath, just holding Lea against you, both of you looking desperately at the other.
You swear, cursing the shackles around your wrist, barely resisting the urge to slam them against the cobblestones again in desperation, your hands shaking from the effort of it.
"Take these fucking shackles off of me," you snarl as Duncan takes a few slow steps behind you.
Duncan doesn't respond, halting briefly before walking around to stand in front of you. He watches you with what you can only describe as a //sour// expression, his eyes flicking between you and Lea, gasping in your lap.
"Take these //off//," you say again, and again he doesn't respond.
You shake your head at him, before looking around the courtyard, desperate for something - for anything - to fix this. You look back at Lea, glancing over $l_their belt, hesitating a moment before reaching into $l_their pockets - or at least trying to, the shackles preventing you from really doing much of anything.
"Lea, have you got anything on you? A potion? A powder?" you ask $l_them, but you don't even think $l_they can hear you, still just clutching at your necklace. You know $l_their potion belt is with the horses, and you should have argued with $l_them about that, you should have stopped at the wall, you shouldn't have let yourself get separated from $l_them - you should have, you should have, you should have.
You try to open one of the leather pouches on $l_their belt then, fumbling painfully with your bloody hands, until-
"Enough. Get up, $surname," Duncan says, stepping closer, his blade flashing as he swings is dangerously close to your face. You hunch forward, staring down at Lea, holding $l_them against your chest, taking a deep breath and once again trying to focus your magic, as if you could beat the blood iron through sheer force of will.
"I said that's enough," Duncan barks, and this time he lunges forward and grabs at the heavy metal bar between your wrists, hauling you forward painfully, throwing Lea to the ground and all but dragging you overtop of $l_them, jerking you close before throwing you back down onto your knees.
Duncan stands between you and Lea, crumpled on the ground behind him, and he twirls his sword again, looking at you expectantly.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 I can heal them Shackled 1]]You break into a run across the courtyard, hefting your shackles against your chest, ignoring the shouts of your name from both Merry and Harper, nothing but the sound of the rain ringing in your ears.
Duncan holds Lea against him for a few seconds, before ripping his sword free and shoving Lea to the ground, turning to watch your approach, his blade dark with blood.
You close the distance between you with a few quick strides, though Duncan doesn't hesitate, immediately moving back and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, raising your shackles and slamming the heavy metal bar against his blade, throwing Duncan sideways, but he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, even as you lunge after him, swinging the shackles like a club.
You swear loudly, breathing hard, your head spinning as you quickly turn to follow Duncan. You keep your arms raised high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the pain and the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead.
Your eyes cut to Duncan's blade, gleaming in the white lightning erupting through the courtyard, steaming in the cold air with Lea's blood. You resist the urge to look away - to look back for $l_them, bleeding on the cobblestones.
"I'm going to fucking kill you."
Duncan smiles, his eyes flashing as he watches you stalk after him.
"I've been looking forward to this. Your handler was a little disappointing," he says, and you answer him with a snarl, lunging after him, swinging your shackles over your head and bringing them down after him.
He just manages to scramble away, your shackles cracking against the cobblestones instead, water and sparks exploding around you on impact.
This close, you feel a sudden wave of magic radiating from his armor, and you notice for the first time the faint glow of the runes etched into the metal. Enchanted. The magic responds to his movements, the runes glowing brighter as he darts a few steps back.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Kill Duncan Shackled 1]]Double-click this passage to edit it.The Vel flickers above you, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is - breathing down your neck, watching you. You can taste blood in your mouth, and your head is heavy, the blood iron making your entire body ache, and you lean forward on your hands and knees, your busted knuckles staining the dark water red.
Duncan crouches down beside you, watching you curiously.
He starts to speak, but you don't hear him, suddenly overwhelmed by the magic radiating from his armor. You can see runes flickering faintly, etched into the metal, and the magic responds to his movements, the runes glowing brighter as he shifts in front of you. //Enchanted.//
But that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan is scowling, shaking his head.
"I expected more from you," he sighs, standing and prodding you with his foot.
The Vel shudders again, and you watch it for a moment, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard.
<<link '//Get up.//' 'CH2.1 Get Up Shackled v1.0'>><</link>>You slap Duncan's foot away, the blood iron cracking against his armored boot, before scrambling out of his reach, taking a deep breath as you force yourself back onto your feet.
The Vel thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples, a painful heat in your wrists as the blood iron seems to constrict. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you take a staggering step, pressing a hand to your head for a moment, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
The shackles grow even hotter, your arms blistering as dark magic envelops you, pulsing against the blood iron, the metal glowing faintly as it hisses back against the Vel. Your arms are heavy, unnaturally and painfully so, and your vision blurs just like before - memories rippling through the courtyard again, flickering in front of you as the blood iron strains your connection, constricting tighter and tighter around your wrists, strangling your tether to the Vel.
The Vel aches just as you, out of reach on the other side, phantom hands trying to pull you through, but the shackles push them back, even as you try to hold them close - they slip through your fingers, the shackles searing your skin.
Duncan is just staring at you with wide eyes, fascinated, watching the Vel tremble overhead as more black smoke rains down from the sky - and he isn't at all prepared for you when you heft your shackles and lunge after him. You slam into him, sending him flat onto his back, and you follow close behind, arcing your hands overhead before bringing the shackles down with a shout.
Duncan barely rolls out of the way, the runes on his armor flashing rapidly as they work to save his skin. The shackles come down hard in the space he leaves behind, cracking against the cobblestones, water exploding around you on impact as you curse after him.
"I'm going to fucking kill you," your voice cuts through the courtyard - your voice, but not your voice. You look down at your hands, bruised and broken, and the bandages soaked with Lea's blood now unraveling, exposing your rotting fingers to the rain - exposing the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
You flex your hands, and when you raise the shackles again, there's a familiar presence standing behind you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, a shadow whispering at your back, and when you lift your head to the rain you swear you can see a pair of golden eyes watching you from above, watching you closely - compelling you.
Under that golden stare, you lunge after Duncan.
The shackles clang against his armor, the runes flashing bright as they deflect your hit, both of you staggering sideways from the force of it, but you keep swinging again and again, your hands throbbing in their constrains as you beat them against Duncan's chestplate.
After a few frenzied seconds, Duncan finally manages to compose himself, lifting his sword and parrying one of your hits, slashing at the metal bar between your wrists, though you can see him wince, gritting his teeth against the impact. He scrambles back, putting some space between you, his eyes dark as he looks you up and down.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers running past as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as another wild lightning strike hits one of the surrounding buildings, black fire igniting against the dark sky.
You keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking slowly through the water, rising now, above your ankles. There's a sudden ringing silence overhead, and you realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
Duncan rushes you this time, but you block him with the metal bar, shoving him away from you with a sneer, your nails scraping against his armor as you swipe after him.
Duncan moves quickly - he may not be as strong as you, but he's fast, and it's clear he's seen combat before. This isn't his first fight. While the armor is definitely helping him, he also knows all the right steps, and you can tell he's being cautious, his eyes following your every movement.
He's different from the other soldiers here, but he'll die just the same.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Get Up Shackled v1.1]]Your hands shake in front of you, black and swollen, the whisper of the blood iron ringing in your ears as the shackles tremble, stained dark with blood, and you briefly lock eyes with Duncan before lunging after him with a snarl.
Your magic aches just beneath your skin, pulsing painfully hot, but the blood iron suppresses it, leaving you with nothing but the shackles and your newly clawed hand. It will have to do.
You leap through the rising water, striking Duncan across the chest again, sparks bursting from the runes as well as the clashing metal, hissing against the rising water as you both stagger through the flood. He attempts to dart around and flank you, but you easily spin around with him, swinging your shackles and throwing his sword back with another burst of sparks.
You launch yourself forward, barreling into him, wincing at the bite of his armor against your shoulder, both of you going down hard into the flood. Duncan's sword cuts at your arms as he tries to shift under you, and you barely roll off of him in time to avoid his blade plunging into your stomach.
You both struggle in the strengthening current, Duncan striking at you despite barely regaining his footing, and you grunt as his sword slams against your shackles, pain spiking up your arms as you push back against him. You're locked like that for a few seconds, your faces uncomfortably close, until Duncan shoves you back - until //his armor// shoves you back. You stagger through the water, leaping back just in time to dodge another swipe from Duncan, and when he tries to follow up with a thrust you quickly sidestep out of the way, bringing your shackles down against his arm, getting a burst of sparks from his armored bracer and nearly knocking his sword out of his hand.
You swing upwards then, slamming the shackles against Duncan's face, snapping his head back, the sound of breaking bones and crunching cartilage making you grimace. You hit him again, bringing the shackles over your head and slamming them across his temple, sending him flat on his back into the icy flood. You slap his sword away as he weakly tries to raise it in front of him, and then kick it from his hand just for good measure, before dropping down on top of him.
You're breathing hard, shaking violently, from the icy water, from the pain, from the blood iron - but you keep yourself together, hitting Duncan once, twice, three times, the runes of his armor flickering frantically beneath the water.
You get a grim sense of satisfaction at the way he cowers beneath you, trembling as he weakly tries to shield his face from your wrath. You shove his hands away, leering down at him, hitting him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock then, before you press the bar of your shackles against his throat and shove him beneath the flood waters.
You press your weight down on top of him, your hands curled into painful fists on either side of his head as you plunge him down, flush against the cobblestones. He thrashes wildly underneath you, his hands fumbling and digging into your arm, black blood oozing through your sleeve, but you ignore him, just pressing the metal bar harder against his throat.
The runes of his armor glow bright, flickering slowly now, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.
<<link '"$name!"' 'CH2.1 Jorah Intervenes Shackled'>><</link>>"$name!"
Rough hands grab at your shoulders, hauling you out of the water, pulling at your arms and attempting to pry Duncan free from your clawed hands.
You refuse to let him go - you can't let him go, something dark and heavy twisting in your chest, your lip curling as you bare your teeth and try to plunge him under the water again.
It's Keres, suddenly appearing in front of you, that finally manages to free him - the fabric of his collar ripping in your hand as she hauls him back, your claws scraping against his armor. She drags him away, shoving you back and splashing through the water while you swear and struggle against the pain in your arm, in your side, trying to break free from the rough hands still holding you in place.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and instinctively reaching for your hunter's knife.
"//Stop//, $surname."
That familiar tone almost makes you drop your knife down into the flood waters, and you stagger back a few steps in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>You launch yourself forward as a way of answering, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your shackles clashing loudly against Duncan's armor, a burst of sparks hissing against the icy water as his runes flash and shove you back, sending you staggering sideways.
Duncan is quick to retaliate, lunging forward and attempting to run his sword through you. You manage to throw your hands out and slap the shackles against his blade, redirecting it enough so it simply grazes your side.
You take a wild grab at him as he retreats, but he slips through your damp and bloody fingers, darting back, the runes glowing all the while.
You keep on him, though, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, forcing Duncan back, and you throw your weight behind each hit, the sound of steel on steel ringing in your ears, your shackles clashing painfully against his chestplate, against his sword. His damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of strength, your arms aching from the effort.
You shake off the frustration, shifting back and swinging your hands high, breaking Duncan's strike with your shackles. He grunts in surprise, and you can see his arms shake, wincing as the metal bar of the shackles slams against his blade, the runes burning brighter as the armor works to reinforce his stance. The metal groans, both of you pushing against each other, the bar trembling between you, and a sudden burst of magic from Duncan's armor burns hot against your face, surging forward and shoving you back with a cry of surprise.
You're nearly knocked off balance by the strength of it, the water still rising and pulling on your boots as you splash backwards, struggling to maintain your balance. Duncan's too close to get in a good swing, instead lunging after you and slamming the heel of his boot into your side, the wound there splitting under his foot.
The pain of it shocks you - white spots exploding across your vision, your knees buckling as you drop down into the water, the cold seeping in and making you gasp. The flooding is strong enough that it actually carries you a few feet, until your back slams against the short stone wall that surrounds the courtyard.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Kill Duncan Shackled 2]]Pinned against the wall, you struggle to catch your breath, your hands heavy in your lap, the shackles biting at your wrists as you try to force yourself up, your knees painful on the cobblestones, with dark water churning around your waist. The Vel flickers overhead, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is.
You groan, your head heavy, too hot and too cold under your clothes, the icy water clinging to you and making your blood run cold as it beats you back against the stone wall.
Duncan stares down at you, scowling, adjusting one of his bracers as he meanders over to you. You try to stand, but the water just knocks you back down again, and you find yourself searching for Lea, desperate to see $l_them standing in the courtyard, readying a potion for you.
You realize, too late, that the water has probably carried $l_them away.
Duncan lets out a long sigh then.
"I expected... //more//... from you," he muses, stepping in front of you as he lowers his sword, leveling it in front of your face.
"Though I can't say I'm not a little impressed," he nods at the shackles around your wrist. "I'd like to see how you fight with a sword," he punctuates his words by slapping at the metal bar with his own sword, scowling at the blood iron for a moment, before he abruptly slips the blade under your chin, and your eyes widen, half-expecting him to cut your throat right then.
But he stops short, leaning forward, tilting his head as you glare up at him. He slowly twists his blade flat, before pressing it against the side of your face, forcing you to look down at his feet.
"I'll make it quick for you. Just like your handler," he says softly.
You close your eyes, your hands trembling, and you can feel the Vel shudder again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.
<<link '//Get up.//' 'CH2.1 Get Up Shackled v2.0'>><</link>>You take a deep breath and open your eyes, quickly raising your hands and slamming the shackles against Duncan's sword, knocking it away from your face.
The Vel thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples, a painful heat in your wrists as the blood iron seems to constrict. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you groan, pressing a hand to your head for a moment, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
The shackles grow even hotter, your arms blistering as dark magic envelops you, pulsing against the blood iron, the metal glowing faintly as it hisses back against the Vel. Your arms are heavy, unnaturally and painfully so, and your vision blurs just like before - memories rippling through the courtyard again, flickering in front of you as the blood iron strains your connection, constricting tighter and tighter around your wrists, strangling your tether to the Vel.
The Vel aches just as you, out of reach on the other side, phantom hands trying to pull you through, but the shackles push them back, even as you try to hold them close - they slip through your fingers, the shackles searing your skin.
Duncan stares at you, drawing his sword back, aiming for your chest - but your stare makes him hesitate, and you launch yourself at him, swinging the shackles in front of you as you lash out, the flash of black claws as you catch him across the face, splattering hot blood down his fancy armor. He cries out before blindly swinging at you, scrambling back and nearly tripping over himself in his haste.
All you see is red, spilling into the water that rushes almost up to your waist now, a roaring in your ears, shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I'm going to fucking kill you," your voice cuts through the courtyard - your voice, but not your voice. You look down at your hands, bruised and broken, and the bandages soaked with blood now unraveling, exposing your rotting fingers to the rain - exposing the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
You flex your hands, and when you raise the shackles again, there's a familiar presence standing behind you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, a shadow whispering at your back, and when you lift your head to the rain you swear you can see a pair of golden eyes watching you from above, watching you closely - compelling you.
Under that golden stare, you lunge after Duncan.
He just manages to block you, the runes burning bright as his armor struggles to save his skin, his arms snapping up unnaturally fast, both of you pushing against each other before he shoves you back, icy water splashing at your feet. You're ready for it this time, the heat from his armor washing over you as you dart back, quickly putting some space between you.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers frantically wading past as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as a wild lightning strike hits one of the surrounding buildings, black fire igniting against the dark clouds in the sky.
You keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking slowly through the water, gritting your teeth against the cold. There's a sudden ringing silence overhead, and you realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
Duncan rushes you this time, but you block him with the metal bar, shoving him away from you with a sneer, your nails scraping against his armor as you swipe after him.
Duncan moves quickly - he may not be as strong as you, but he's fast, and it's clear he's seen combat before. This isn't his first fight. While the armor is definitely helping him, he also knows all the right steps, and you can tell he's being cautious, his eyes following your every movement.
He's different from the other soldiers here, but he'll die just the same.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Get Up Shackled v1.1]]You dart forward, parrying the frantic swipe they throw at you before returning a far more measured one of your own, slicing the soldier down the arm before lunging again and piercing through their frail armor, your blade tearing through metal and leather and flesh and muscle. You withdraw with another arc of red, the water turning dark as it churns at your feet.
The final soldier tries, with their dented chestplate, but you just dodge beneath their blade, rolling forward before launching yourself upwards, once again slamming into their chest as your sword plunges through their armpit. Your momentum rips them from your blade and throws them a few feet across the cobblestones, but this time they won't be getting back up.
You stagger a few steps before regaining your composure, breathing hard as you stare down at the dark red shine of your blade. You blink rain from your eyes, roughly wiping at your face, the hot, wet sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip as your nose begins to bleed. You can't help but watch the way the floating bodies bump into each other, face down in the water churning at your ankles.
You expected killing another person would be harder - that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You press a bloody hand to your forehead, taking a few unsteady steps backwards, stumbling through the water as everything distorts, the Vel trembling as it presses down on you, your sword twitching in your hand. Blood slowly gathers along the edge of the blade, glistening in the flashing lights of the storm, red and black and blue as the Vel flickers overhead.
<<include "CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Sword Reconvene">>You block the first strike with a snarl, the sound of clashing metal ringing in your ears. You slide back through the icy water, dodging the follow up as your heel scrapes over the cobblestones, shifting your weight and winding back as the soldier struggles to keep up with you as the water drags at their ankles. Taking your sword in both hands, you spring forward off your back foot and lunge for them, swinging the blade as if it were your axe.
You cleave straight through their armor, your strength cracking through the steel and burying your sword deep in their side with the crunch of meat and bone, and the painful grind of metal. Ripping your sword free splatters the dark flood waters with blood and gore, and the soldier collapses without a sound.
The other soldier hesitates, but you don't wait for them this time, swinging with both hands again - though they react quickly, just barely bringing their sword up in time to block your hit. Your swords clang together hard enough to make you grunt, pain spiking up your arms, and the soldier yelps as their own sword is ripped out of their hand. You swing again, slicing through the soldier's arms as they try and fail to block you, your blade once again finding the space between armor and mask - cutting their throat with a sickeningly wet shout before they crumple to their knees and join the other face down in the water.
You withdraw, breathing hard, but you don't get a chance to really catch your breath before someone slams into you, knocking you sideways and down into the icy water. The cold makes you gasp, and you lash out, grappling with another soldier as they try to pierce your chest with their sword. You instinctively grab at the blade, cursing yourself as it cuts at your palm, before you kick out, water splashing around you and making you splutter. You manage to get them off of you, though, clearly stronger than them, kicking them a few more times as you scramble backwards and up onto your feet.
They struggle to regain their own footing - but you don't let them, stepping forward and kicking them in the face, their mask flying off and vanishing beneath the dark flood waters. You hesitate, before kicking them again, and again, knocking them onto their back, before you raise your foot high and stomp their face with your heel. They sink against the cobblestones, and you don't look, staggering back through the water and raising your sword again.
But there's no one around you, except for the bodies floating face down in the flood. You watch as they quietly bob up and down, the bloody water turning black in the flashing light of the courtyard. You wipe at your face, the hot, wet sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip making your shudder as your nose begins to bleed.
You expected killing another person would be harder - that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You press a bloody hand to your forehead, taking a few unsteady steps backwards, stumbling through the water as everything distorts, the Vel trembling as it presses down on you, your sword twitching in your hand. Blood slowly gathers along the edge of the blade, glistening in the flashing lights of the storm before quietly dripping down into the icy flood waters.
<<include "CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Sword Reconvene">>You let them come to you, luring them to the edge of the courtyard, though they seem too wary to try and rush you again, lingering back and attempting to surround you. You don't wait for that to happen - you lunge forward, clashing together with the loud ring of steel on steel, your blade singing as you trade blows with the nearest soldier, carefully dancing back through the water and keeping your distance from the other two.
You push back against a particularly vicious strike, pain spiking up your elbow from the impact, but you use the momentum to stagger the soldier, shoving them back and then swinging low, your blade biting at their shins. Your swing is strong, your blade easily cracking through their greaves and splitting the metal, the clothes, the flesh and bone. The soldier collapses forward, nearly on top of you, and you manage to roughly grab their shoulders and throw them back, sending them stumbling into the other two soldiers as they try to close in.
It buys you some time, again darting back and putting some space between you as the remaining soldiers splutter indignantly, shoving their bleeding companion into the flood waters.
You raise your sword, your eyes flicking between the two, catching your breath before lunging forward again. You easily dodge the first one's blade, dropping low before slipping behind them, both of the soldiers spinning around to follow after you. One of them stays right on top of you, attempting to run their sword through you - a mistake, as you step into the thrust, the sword grazing your underarm as you grab at their wrist and pull them onto your own sword instead. You hold them there, turning quickly with them in front of you, catching the final soldier's blade with their body, their blood running hot over your hands.
The soldier swears, withdrawing as you shove the other off your sword, stepping over them as you face off with the last one standing. It's over quickly - even with your muscles starting to strain, you're faster and smarter, and even with a sloppy parry you still get the upper hand, knocking them sideways before swinging your blade at their throat. It cuts through with an arc of red, their mask flying off as they collapse down into the water. They sink against the cobblestones, and you turn away, staggering back through the water and raising your sword again.
But there's no one around you, except for the bodies floating face down in the flood. You watch as they quietly bob up and down, the bloody water turning black in the flashing light of the courtyard. You wipe at your face, the hot, wet sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip making your shudder as your nose begins to bleed.
You expected killing another person would be harder - that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You press a bloody hand to your forehead, taking a few unsteady steps backwards, stumbling through the water as everything distorts, the Vel trembling as it presses down on you, your sword twitching in your hand. Blood slowly gathers along the edge of the blade, glistening in the flashing lights of the storm, red and black and blue as the Vel flickers overhead.
<<include "CH2.1 Clear out some soldiers Sword Reconvene">>"$name!"
You startle, Merry grabbing at your shoulders, and you blink over at her, white lights still flashing behind your eyelids. Talia and Harper are there too, watching you from a distance, Clementine huddled behind them, and you take in the courtyard to see the few remaining soldiers backing off as the Vel shudders overhead. Talia and Harper look a bit rough, but they're still standing, and Merry squeezes your shoulder, though you're not sure if she's trying to reassure you, or herself.
"We need to go, before they regroup! Noel-," she falters then, "Noel will keep them back."
"Where's Lea?" you blurt, shrugging off her hand, and you don't wait for an answer, shoving past Merry as you spot $l_them still with Duncan, near the temple now.
Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>You don't know if the chains will stop it this time.
Instinctively, you reach for your hunter's knife, pulling it from it's sheath as you open your eyes and force yourself to your feet. Duncan is still standing in front of you - or is it Duncan?
You shake your head, your vision doubling, tripling, Duncan morphing into something else - someone else.
It's you, standing in front of you again. The courtyard blurs, and you're back in the forest, in the dark, the sound of metal scraping over ice, and you peer up into the storm, golden eyes staring down at you, a massive shadow casting you in darkness.
"Hunter. Don't be afraid," the voice says, though it sounds far more like a //threat// this time, than any kind of comfort.
You try to move back, but something holds you in place, icy hands constricting around your diaphragm, your legs trembling as you collapse forward onto your hands and knees, gasping at the rush of cold water pulling at your clothes.
Slow steps slosh through the water in front of you, and you force yourself to look, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end as you stare up into your own face.
//Not quite// - not quite your face.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Vel Open 1]]You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You stare down at your hands, at the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, with the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
Dragging footsteps in the water snaps your attention to Duncan, standing in front of you, and you both stare at each other for a moment. Duncan seems fascinated, but you don't miss the flash of fear in his eyes before he starts to back away, slow and careful, as if any sudden movements will trigger you.
"//Hunter//."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
You hear the faint rattle of chains, ringing in your ears, somehow even louder than all the commotion in the courtyard, and you know it's trying to find a way in.
<<include "CH2 You don't know that the chains will stop it this time">>You take a moment to try and look for the others then, the sounds of clashing metal still ringing overhead, but you can't bear to look around the courtyard for more than a few seconds, having to lean forward and press your hands to your knees to steady yourself, your head spinning dangerously.
"You don't look so well, $surname," Duncan muses, and your face twitches, quickly straightening yourself to glare down at him.
"Shut the fuck up, Duncan," you growl.
You really look at him then, the way his arm bends awkwardly where he cradles it against his stomach, blood soaking the sleeve beneath his armor, and despite his annoying commentary you can tell he's shivering, trembling in the icy flood waters that churn and lap at his chest, his lips turning a sickly bluish-purple.
The armor is what you really want to look at, though. It's quite obnoxious for your tastes, golden plating with silver details, the familiar swooping hawk emblazoned across his chest. The runes are carved into the flow of the embellishments, you assume to allow them to blend in easily when not in direct combat. As it is, they're flashing rapidly, clearly trying to do //something//, but with no weapon and an injured sword arm, Duncan just remains unmoving at your feet.
"Your armor," you say then, your eyes cutting to Duncan's paling face, "Where did you get it?"
He blinks, clearly not expecting the question. He tilts his head at you, before smiling slowly.
"You know Master Flint, do you?" he says, and you wince at his name coming from Duncan's mouth.
"Ah....," he tries to laugh, but it's more of a grimace, and he bares his teeth at you. "Master Flint. My little lapdog.... he'd kiss my feet if I'd only ask."
You stare down at him, too stunned to respond for a moment.
"What the fuck did you say?" you snarl, dropping down on top of him, forcing a cry of pain as your knee jars his arm. You can't resist the urge anymore - your sword forgotten, you punch him in the face once, twice, a third time, until your knuckles cut on his teeth.
Duncan blinks up at you, his eyes still sharp, but when he opens his mouth, whatever he says is drowned out by a sudden explosion across the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and the force of it knocks you off of him, crashing down into the flood waters with a gasp as a powerful wave of heat washes over you, black fire falling from the sky.
There's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, struggling on your hands and knees in the water as your vision swims, those familiar phantom hands reaching out for you again. Less phantom this time, more corporeal, real fingers digging into your flesh beneath your clothes as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you.
The Vel is open.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Sword 2 Vel Open]]You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You stare down at your hands, at the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
Duncan stares at you for a few seconds, clutching his twisted arm to his chest as he slowly rises out of the water, and he seems fascinated, but you don't miss the flash of fear in his eyes as he stands, taking a few slow steps back away from you.
"//Hunter//."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
You hear the faint rattle of chains, ringing in your ears, somehow even louder than all the commotion in the courtyard, and you know it's trying to find a way in.
<<include "CH2 You don't know that the chains will stop it this time">>You take a moment to try and look for the others then, the sounds of clashing metal still ringing overhead, but you can't bear to look around the courtyard for more than a few seconds, having to lean forward and press your hands to your knees to steady yourself, your head spinning dangerously.
"You don't look so well, $surname," Duncan muses, and your face twitches, quickly straightening yourself to glare down at him.
"Shut the fuck up, Duncan," you growl.
You really look at him then, the nasty gashes on his face from the your spiky shield, his broken nose, and despite his annoying commentary you can tell he's shivering, trembling in the painful grip of the stone as the flood waters churn and lap at his chest, his lips turning a sickly bluish-purple.
The armor is what you really want to look at, though. It's quite obnoxious for your tastes, golden plating with silver details, the familiar swooping hawk emblazoned across his chest. The runes are carved into the flow of the embellishments, you assume to allow them to blend in easily when not in direct combat. As it is, they're flashing rapidly, clearly trying to do //something//, but the stone holds.
"Your armor," you say then, your eyes cutting to Duncan's paling face, "Where did you get it?"
He blinks, clearly not expecting the question. He tilts his head down at you, before smiling slowly.
"You know Master Flint, do you?" he says, and you wince at his name coming from Duncan's mouth.
"Ah....," he tries to laugh, but it's more of a grimace, and he bares his teeth at you. "Master Flint. My little lapdog.... he'd kiss my feet if I'd only ask."
You down at him, too stunned to respond for a moment.
"What the fuck did you say?" you snarl, dropping down on top of him, the stone groaning beneath your weight. You can't resist the urge anymore - your sword forgotten, you punch him in the face once, twice, a third time, until your knuckles cut on his teeth.
Duncan blinks up at you, his eyes still sharp, but when he opens his mouth, whatever he says is drowned out by a sudden explosion across the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and the force of it knocks you off of him, crashing down into the flood waters with a gasp as a powerful wave of heat washes over you, black fire falling from the sky.
There's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, struggling on your hands and knees in the water as your vision swims, those familiar phantom hands reaching out for you again. Less phantom this time, more corporeal, real fingers digging into your flesh beneath your clothes as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you.
The Vel is open.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 MC Injured Success Alchemy 1 Vel Open]]You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You stare down at your hands, at the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
The stone shudders in front of you, before collapsing, dropping Duncan down hard in front of you, and you both stare at each other for a moment, Duncan clutching his twisted arm to his chest. He seems fascinated, but you don't miss the flash of fear in his eyes as he stands, taking a few slow steps back away from you.
"//Hunter//."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
You hear the faint rattle of chains, ringing in your ears, somehow even louder than all the commotion in the courtyard, and you know it's trying to find a way in.
<<include "CH2 You don't know that the chains will stop it this time">>The soldiers seem wary, moving back as you push forward, and for a moment you think they're not even going to try and stop you - but eventually one seems to gather their nerves and lunges.
You block them easily, staggering them before you kick them all the way to the ground. A second soldier tries to get at you before you regain your footing, swinging their blade over their head, but you catch it with your bracer, throwing your arm out and knocking their blade sideways. You trade a few quick blows with them, doing your best to restrain yourself as Duncan watches.
Eventually your blades come together hard enough the soldier actually drops their sword, making a pathetic sound as it slips right out of their trembling fingers. Your own hands ache, pain spiking through your elbows as the strike reverberates up your arms, your blade swinging unexpectedly as the soldier's sword splashes down into the flood waters. You don't mean to do it, but there's nothing stopping your momentum, your blade slashing easily through the soldier's armor and splattering hot, red blood down into the dark water.
They blink slowly at you through their silver mask, stark blue eyes wide as they press a hand to their chest, blood weeping across their armor, staggering a few steps before dropping back onto the watery cobblestones.
You stare down at them, at the blood pooling beneath your feet, turning the flood waters dark, and at your blade, steaming hot from the gore in the cold air. The soldier gasps for a few more moments, choking on water and blood, before going still, their limbs still shifting as the churning water pulls at them, breaking over their chest and washing blood over your boots.
You always expected killing another person would be harder - that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You force yourself to look away, to glance back at Duncan - watching you, his lips pressed in a thin line. A few of the soldiers have shifted in front of him, their swords raised, but he steps past them with a wave of his hand, a smile on his face now as he stalks towards you. As he creeps closer, you notice for the first time that there are flashing runes on his armor - across his chest, at the joints, over his hands. //Enchanted armor//.
You move away from the body on the cobblestones, backing away from Duncan as you try to quell your rising panic at the situation - beating up a few soldiers and shoving Lord Duncan around is one thing, but you weren't planning on leaving here with blood on your hands like this. But you are starting to realize now - you and Lea were never going to walk away from this. You curse yourself for handing over Merry like you did - a foolish choice, maybe a cowardly choice, too.
"Hunter $surname," Duncan says then, tilting his head at you. "What have you done?"
His tone makes your skin crawl, and you curl your lip at him, but he doesn't hesitate in the slightest as he raises his sword, darting forward and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your counterstrike swinging through empty air.
You swear, turning quickly after him, taken aback at his swiftness. You keep your sword high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead.
Your eyes cut to Duncan's blade, gleaming in the white lightning erupting through the courtyard, flashing as he twirls it in front of him again - a move that has always irritated you.
You try to take advantage of it, lunging for him halfway through his display, swinging your sword down with both hands.
He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones, water exploding around you on impact. This close, you can feel the magic radiating from his armor, can see the way it responds to his movements, flashing rapidly as he puts some space between you.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
<<include "CH2 Going after Duncan Choices">><<if ($mc_sword eq true) or ($mc_archer eq true) or ($mc_axeman eq true)>>You launch yourself forward, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your sword clanging loudly against Duncan's armor. The runes flash on impact, locking together and deflecting your hit, and the force of it sends you careening back, all but knocking your sword out of your hand.
Duncan is quick to retaliate, lunging forward and attempting to run his sword through you. You manage to throw your other hand out and slap your bracer against his blade, redirecting it enough so it simply grazes your side.
You take a wild grab at him as he retreats, but he twists free of your wet, bandaged hand, darting back with the runes glowing all the while.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, forcing Duncan back, and you throw your weight behind each hit, the sound of steel on steel ringing in your ears. His damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of strength, your hands aching from the effort.
You shake off the frustration, shifting back and swinging high, meeting Duncan's attack with your own. He grunts in surprise, and you can see his arms shake, wincing as your blades clash together, the runes burning brighter as the armor works to reinforce his stance. You push against him, sliding your blade dangerously close to his hands, the hilt only stopping you for a moment - and you slice down, your sword easily biting through his leather gloves. He lets out a strangled sound, his blood seeping down the silver metal of his armor, his face dangerously close to yours as you both glare at each other.
His runes flash, turning white to red to //blinding// as his armor burns hot, a sudden burst of magic forcing you to recoil as it slams into your chest.
You're nearly thrown off your feet by the strength of it, the water still rising and pulling on your boots as you splash backwards, struggling to maintain your balance. Duncan's too close to get in a good swing, instead lunging after you and slamming the heel of his boot into your side, the wound there splitting on impact.
The pain of it shocks you - it makes you gasp, white spots exploding across your vision as you stagger away, pressing a hand to your side and barely raising your sword in time to block another strike, snarling as you shove Duncan back with one hand before you retreat.
Duncan looks pleased with himself, flashing his blade at you, the edge stained dark with your blood. You can also see him cradle his other hand against his side, flexing his fingers, his glove already soaked a deep red. His smirk turns into a sneer, slipping his hand out of sight, quickly advancing after you.
You take a deep breath, composing yourself just as you come together once again, and you focus your attention on his right side, his bloody hand weak around the hilt of his sword as you swing your blade against his again and again. A long few minutes pass with the two of you locked in combat, evenly matched - the runes on Duncan's armor mocking you all the while.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Sword Pause]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, lightning crackling down your blade.
But almost immediately it starts to jump, abandoning you as Keres siphons your magic - she's stronger than you right now, and she's in control, ripping it right out of your hands. You don't even think she realizes she's doing it, her and Noel dancing around each other too fast for you to process, and you're left straining to refocus at the sudden blow to your energy.
You roll sideways just in time to dodge a heavy two-handed hit from Duncan, splashing through the icy water and barely scrambling out of the way of the follow-up thrust, hissing as his blade bites at your side. You throw your sword up and clash against Duncan's, residual lightning sparking between you, before your blade suddenly ignites with hot, white flame.
Duncan lets out a strangled sound before he jumps back, his face blood red from the sudden heat, shaking his head and swearing at you.
The fire hisses against the rain, and it falters quickly, though your metal stays red hot, steaming as you struggle to rein in your magic. You can taste blood on your upper lip, and you roughly wipe your face with the back of your hand - your nose is bleeding.
Duncan is giving you some space at least, his face singed, angry blisters on his cheeks as he glares at you, watching you expectantly.
Lightning is popping from your blade, dancing over the flooding waters still slowly rising around your ankles, pulled across the courtyard towards Keres, and overhead into the churning storm. You're breathing hard, your steps dragging in the water, but you dig deep, pushing back against her as fire and lightning build along the edge of your sword.
Duncan moves step by step, cautiously, watching you closely as you both carefully move around each other, an agonizingly slow dance between you.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, your blade a vicious red with flames licking at your arms, the heat of it forcing Duncan back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, electricity thrumming in the air as the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.
Eventually the two of you break apart, both moving slow, wary and out of breath.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Fire Pause]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, with the water excitedly churning at your feet, the air growing even colder around you as frost envelopes your blade.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. The water moves with you, carrying you back out of his reach, and you raise your sword again, running your hand along the icy metal before lunging forward with a sweeping arc, redirecting the pouring rain and hitting him with shards of ice and biting drops of water.
He throws his arms up, swearing as he staggers back a bit from the force of it, little dents pocketing his chestplate. You try to catch him by surprise, but the armor forces him to dodge, the runes flashing rapidly as it jerks him along and carries him out of harm's way. Your sword swings through empty air, slashing some of the flooding water and freezing it in place.
You both move slow, circling each other, Duncan warily eyeing your blade, a few cuts on his face now, and you notice the way he shakes his arms, ice cracking at the joints and breaking away to shatter in the water at his feet.
Again you try to catch him before he can fully recover, lunging forward and gripping your sword with both hands as you bear down on him. Your blade clashes against Duncan's armor, ice splintering across his chestplate before the runes flash and lock together with a burst of red sparks, knocking your sword back and nearly throwing you off your feet from the force of it.
Duncan manages a wild thrust after you, and you hiss painfully as his blade bites into your side before you can slap it away with your bracer. Both of you splash awkwardly through the flood waters, backing off and circling each other again.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the water at your feet churning with splintered ice, the cold seeping in as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, shattering ice and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.
Eventually the two of you break apart, both moving slow, wary and out of breath.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Water Pause]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, a sudden hum of anticipation in the earth as it senses your magic, building with each step you take, the flood waters parting under your feet.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart back, dipping your sword low through the water and dragging it across the cobblestones, the scrape of metal on stone reverberating up your arm before you lash out, rocks bursting out of the flood waters and smashing against Duncan and his armor.
He throws his arms up, swearing as he staggers back a bit from the force of it, the stones denting his fancy chestplate. You try to catch him by surprise, but the armor forces him to dodge, the runes flashing rapidly as it jerks him along and carries him out of harm's way. Your sword swings through empty air, slashing some of the flooding water and cracking against the cobblestones, a few of them surging out of the ground in response to your magic.
The courtyard shudders under your feet as you stand straight, moving slowly, circling Duncan as he warily eyes your blade, blinking blood from his eyes where the rocks have smashed across his forehead. He seems a bit unsteady, pressing a hand to his head, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
Again you try to catch him before he can fully recover, lunging forward and gripping your sword with both hands as you bear down on him. Your blade clashes against Duncan's armor, the runes flashing and locking together with a burst of red sparks, knocking your sword back and nearly throwing you off your feet from the force of it.
Duncan manages a wild thrust after you, and you hiss painfully as his blade bites into your side before you can slap it away with your bracer. Both of you splash awkwardly through the flood waters, backing off and circling each other again.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the earth trembling under your feet with each strike, staggering Duncan and forcing him back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, shifting stone and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.
Eventually the two of you break apart, both moving slow, wary and out of breath.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Pause]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out. Your magic unfurls in your chest, your body turning electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, with the wind churning and whipping at your clothes, water spraying at your back, and the air growing even colder as it begins to thrum with your magic.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike - but you dodge it easily enough, jumping out of the way and letting the wind carry you back a few feet. You let the momentum continue to carry you as you swing yourself around, darting sideways before lunging forward with a sweeping arc, your sword clashing against Duncan's armor, wind whipping icy rain painfully against your skin.
The armor's runes flash frantically as they attempt to redirect your strike, knocking your sword back and nearly sending you to the ground from the force of it. Duncan tries to retaliate, but your own magic throws him off his feet, sending him splashing into the flood waters, while the temple spire groans overhead, swaying precariously as violent winds tear through the courtyard.
You struggle to regain your footing, bracing against the rising water and the rushing wind, raising an arm to block the rain from your face. You're starting to lose control - but you fight to rein in your magic, pushing back against the storm as it tries to steal it from you. The wind howls, debris flying past you at an alarming speed, the old buildings rattling around the courtyard, more water spraying at your back and pushing you until you stagger. You can feel the hot trickle of blood on your upper lip, your nose bleeding as your magic strains against your hold.
Duncan has managed to right himself, the runes of his armor flashing frantically as it jerkily moves him through the water, fighting against your magic. He raises his arms, ducking his head into his elbows as more debris flies through the courtyard, smashing against his armor and knocking one of the nearby soldiers to the ground.
You exhale slowly, shaking your head and raising your sword, and the winds calm for a moment, swirling at your feet, just in time as Duncan lunges after you. You manage to block his strike, but it does stagger you, unsteady from the sudden drain of energy, and when he follows it up with a thrust you're too slow to get out of the way. His sword almost runs you through, redirected just enough by the slap of your bracer that it only cuts into your side, and you quickly dart away, a surge of wind pushing you and Duncan apart.
He can tell you're struggling, and he immediately starts to advance again - but you focus your magic once more, guiding the wind to shift, pulling it towards you, pushing at Duncan's back - his eyes widen as he tumbles forward, nearly running right into your blade, but you sidestep him, instead bringing your sword down across his back, sparking against his armor as he continues to fly forward and slam into the courtyard wall.
He sinks down into the water for a moment, before struggling to his feet, his face smashed and bloody, looking wild as he spins around to face you. You admit that was a pretty undignified move - but amusing.
Duncan is far from amused, though, incensed and quickly coming at you again, the runes of his armor flashing rapidly.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you just step up to meet him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the wind surging around you with each strike, staggering Duncan and forcing him back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, howling wind and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.
Eventually the two of you break apart, both moving slow, wary and out of breath.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Air Pause]]<<else>>You launch yourself forward, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your sword clanging loudly against Duncan's armor. The runes flash on impact, locking together and deflecting your hit, and the force of it sends you careening back, all but knocking your sword out of your hand.
Duncan is quick to retaliate, lunging forward and attempting to run his sword through you. You manage to throw your other hand out and slap your bracer against his blade, redirecting it enough so it simply grazes your side.
You take a wild grab at him as he retreats, but he twists free of your wet, bandaged hand, darting back with the runes glowing all the while.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, forcing Duncan back, and you throw your weight behind each hit, the sound of steel on steel ringing in your ears. His damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of strength, your hands aching from the effort.
You have to back off, breathing hard, and Duncan smirks at you, giving you some space and watching you with clear amusement.
You scowl at him, before glancing down at the sword in your hand - not //your// sword, but the sword from the altar in the crypt. You debate a few transmutations, but you're not confident about using this sword; and it doesn't quite feel right.
Instead, you raise your free hand, flexing it into a fist, the alchemical runes on your bracer lighting up as the leather and metal start to spark and mutate, hot and painful as it tightly constricts your forearm for a few seconds before crawling up your wrist and encasing your hand in a spiked, armored gauntlet.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart forward, just beneath the arc of his sword, and you launch yourself upwards, your heavy fist solidifying in a pop of sparks just as it cracks against his jaw, snapping his head back and staggering him a few feet before you throw all your weight behind your fist and slam it into his chestplate.
The metal dents, but it doesn't break, and the runes ignite in a blinding white light that forces you to close your eyes. You feel a wave of heat, and you realize too late what's happening - the armor absorbs the majority of your hit, and redirects it right back at you.
You're nearly thrown off your feet by the strength of it, the water still rising and pulling on your boots as you splash backwards, struggling to maintain your balance. Duncan's too close to get in a good swing, instead lunging after you and slamming the heel of his boot into your side, the wound there splitting on impact.
The pain of it shocks you - it makes you gasp, white spots exploding across your vision as you stagger away, pressing a hand to your side and barely raising your sword in time to block another strike, snarling as you shove Duncan back with one hand before you retreat.
Duncan's eyes are wide, his face twisted in pain, and as soon as you're a safe distance from him he immediately reaches up to touch his chest and cradle his jaw, hot blood from a nasty gash oozing between his fingers. His eyes flick to you, and he sneers, dropping his hand and quickly advancing after you.
You take a deep breath, composing yourself just as you come together once again, and you're careful to keep him away from your injured side, using your armored fist almost as a shield as you swing your blade against his again and again. A long few minutes pass with the two of you locked in combat, evenly matched - the runes on Duncan's armor mocking you all the while.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Alchemist Pause]]<</if>>Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.Eventually the two of you break apart, breathing hard and moving slow through the flood waters.
//That fucking armor...//
Duncan shakes his hand out, watching you with narrowed eyes. His glove and sleeve are stained black, with little rivulets of red running down the arms of his silver armor, glowing bright against the runes and mixing with the rain.
You can feel your own blood, hot and sticky under your clothes, oozing down your thigh and pooling at the bottom of your boot, though you resist the urge to press your hand to your side again, keeping both hands on your sword as you and Duncan slowly move together.
<<include "CH2.1 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor - and get to Lea without wasting any time.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Sword Aggressive 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'If he wants to do this, I\'ll let him. I can be patient - I\'ll play defensive now until he slips up. I know Lea can hold $l_their own for a little while longer, until I can break through Duncan\'s armor.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Sword Defensive 1'>><</link>></div>//That fucking armor...//
Duncan wipes at his face, watching you with narrowed eyes. His face is still an angry red, ugly blisters burned along his cheekbone and jaw, oozing pus and blood that soaks at his collar.
You flex your hands around the hilt of your sword, the blade still hot, still steaming against the rain as you hold it high in front of you, starting to creep closer to Duncan again as he glares at you.
<<include "CH2.1 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor - and get to Lea without wasting any time.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Fire Aggressive 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'If he wants to do this, I\'ll let him. I can be patient - I\'ll play defensive now until he slips up. I know Lea can hold $l_their own for a little while longer, until I can break through Duncan\'s armor.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Fire Defensive 1'>><</link>></div>//That fucking armor...//
Duncan wipes at his face, watching you with narrowed eyes. Blood soaks his collar, dripping into his eyes, nasty scratches pocketing his face bleeding heavily in the rain.
You flex your hands around the hilt of your sword, holding it high in front of you, carefully sliding your feet through the water, feeling it curl around your ankles, the cold clinging to your trousers and curling thick in the air around your frosted blade.
<<include "CH2.1 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor - and get to Lea without wasting any time.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Water Aggressive 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'If he wants to do this, I\'ll let him. I can be patient - I\'ll play defensive now until he slips up. I know Lea can hold $l_their own for a little while longer, until I can break through Duncan\'s armor.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Water Defensive 1'>><</link>></div>//That fucking armor...//
Duncan wipes at his face, watching you with narrowed eyes. Blood soaks his collar, dripping into his eyes, a gash on his brow and a split lip making his teeth gory and red.
You flex your hands around the hilt of your sword, holding it high in front of you, carefully sliding your feet through the water, feeling the uneven cobblestones and the hard earth compacted underneath.
<<include "CH2.1 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor - and get to Lea without wasting any time.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Aggressive 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'If he wants to do this, I\'ll let him. I can be patient - I\'ll play defensive now until he slips up. I know Lea can hold $l_their own for a little while longer, until I can break through Duncan\'s armor.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Defensive 1'>><</link>></div>//That fucking armor...//
Duncan wipes at his face, watching you with narrowed eyes. Blood soaks his collar, dripping into his eyes, a broken nose and a split lip making his teeth gory and red.
You flex your hands around the hilt of your sword, holding it high in front of you, carefully sliding your feet through the water, feeling the cold wind at your back, whistling down your blade as you start to creep closer again.
<<include "CH2.1 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor - and get to Lea without wasting any time.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Air Aggressive 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'If he wants to do this, I\'ll let him. I can be patient - I\'ll play defensive now until he slips up. I know Lea can hold $l_their own for a little while longer, until I can break through Duncan\'s armor.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Air Defensive 1'>><</link>></div>Eventually the two of you break apart, glaring at each other and moving slow through the flood waters.
//That fucking armor...//
Duncan is breathing hard, watching you with narrowed eyes. The collar beneath his armor is soaked with blood, the gash along his jaw splitting wider and giving him a ghoulish look - you can see the flash of white bone as the rain mixes with his blood and streaks down the front of his armor.
You can feel your own blood, hot and sticky under your clothes, oozing down your thigh and pooling at the bottom of your boot, but you raise your heavy fist, flexing your hand and the spiked knuckles as you start to inch closer to Duncan again.
<<include "CH2.1 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor - and get to Lea without wasting any time.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Alchemist Aggressive 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'If he wants to do this, I\'ll let him. I can be patient - I\'ll play defensive now until he slips up. I know Lea can hold $l_their own for a little while longer, until I can break through Duncan\'s armor.' 'CH2.1 Aggressive Alchemist Defensive 1'>><</link>></div>Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, your eyes flicking to Lea one last time before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through his defenses - and reach Lea. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly, growing weaker from your unrelenting attention.
This time he snarls at you, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, letting your momentum carry you and launching yourself after Duncan.
But he's quick.
He turns fast enough to face you before you can catch him by surprise, and he raises his sword almost as quick. You can feel it, slicing into your side again, but you don't stop, slamming your weight into his chest hard enough to dent the metal, grimacing at the pain in your shoulder - but you successfully throw him off his feet, sending him crashing down into the flood waters. You stagger after him, raising your sword over your head before bringing it down against his chestplate.
You hear a terrible sound upon impact - a shattering that you feel in your hands, your wrists, spiking up your arms and knocking the wind out of you as Duncan's armor cracks. And then the runes start to flash, hot magic thrumming in the air as you desperately try to scramble back, throwing up an arm to shield your face as the enchantment lashes out at you, completely knocking you back hard enough that you actually roll a few feet before completely submerging under the shallow water, involuntarily taking in mouthfuls of water before you can resurface.
It takes you a few seconds to blink the water from your eyes, coughing and spluttering as you quickly force yourself back onto your feet.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Sword Aggressive 1.2]]You take a deep breath, looking over his shoulder at Lea one last time, before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. <<if $mc_archer>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the weight of it - missing your bow. You glance down at the old, rusty sword, scowling at it, as if it could sense your distaste. You glance back to Duncan then, carefully turning with him, narrowing your eyes as you study his armor, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<<elseif $mc_axeman>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the weight of it - missing your axe. You glance down at the old, rusty sword, scowling at it, as if it could sense your distaste. You glance back to Duncan then, carefully turning with him, narrowing your eyes as you study his armor, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<<else>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, studying the armor as much as you can, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<</if>>
Duncan doesn't last long like this, and you sense his annoyance at your sudden hesitation - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both dance around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly, growing weaker where he grips his sword, his sleeve and glove soaked dark with blood.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike - and you swing up to meet him just the same, cutting his strike and slapping the end of your blade against his face. He quickly recoils, staggering back and grabbing at his face, his eyes wide in disbelief at the rather indignant hit, a nasty gash along his cheekbone dripping blood down the front of his fancy armor.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Sword Defensive 1.2]]Before either of you can re-engage, though, shouting across the courtyard draws your attention, you and Duncan both turning at the sound. Merry's voice, though you can't tell what she's saying - but it doesn't matter. You feel an immediate spike of panic, seeing just her, her arm slung around Harper's shoulders, Talia close behind as they make a break out of the courtyard. You don't see Lea. You tense, scanning the soldiers, your heart pounding in your ears when you still can't find $l_them - until you do, alone and surrounded in front of the temple.
"Uh-oh...." Duncan says, your eyes snapping back to glare at him. He makes a pouty face that makes your blood boil, your lip curling as you take a few steps towards him, intent on shoving past him.
He jumps back, but he doesn't step aside, tilting his head at you and twirling his sword.
"No, no, no. We aren't finished here, $surname," he says, "We are not finished."
You stare at him with a mix of disbelief and disgust, glancing back over his shoulder at Lea again as $l_they trade<<s>> blows with one of the soldiers.
"What are their orders?" you say then.
Duncan blinks slowly at you, his mouth twitching into a smile.
"I think you know what their orders are," he muses. He pauses for a moment, glancing down at his sword. "I believe my words were '//by any means necessary//.'"
You wince at the sound of clashing swords, your eyes flicking to Lea again - $l_they<<ve>> managed to down one soldier so far. But there are a lot more still standing.
"Get the fuck out of my way, Duncan," you hiss.
"No. I said we're not finished, $surname."
Duncan doesn't move, his grey eyes flashing resolutely as he raises his sword again.Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, your eyes flicking to Lea one last time before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through his defenses - and reach Lea. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. The heat from your blade is making you sweat, and you can see it on Duncan's face, too, a gory shine along his brow.
You resist the urge to look away from him, to look for Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
As the two of you circle each other, your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand wipes at his face, raw and painful and bloody.
Duncan seems hesitant now, eyeing your sword, and the electricity still popping in the air around you, the burns on his face clearly giving him pause. You take this chance to refocus your magic, taking your sword in both hands and breathing deeply.
Keres is still pulling at you, and you grit your teeth, reaching out at the storm overhead. Lightning strikes nearby, water exploding around your feet, and the flames along your sword reignite, violent and red and //hot//.
The fire burns beyond your blade, leaping into the air, and you swing yourself forward, lunging after Duncan and bringing the wave of flame down like a whip, the heat steaming against the icy rain and hissing as it cracks against the flood water.
Duncan barely manages to get out of the way, rolling sideways and letting his armor carry him to safety.
You curse after him, though you doubt he can hear you over the sound of the fire, dancing across the surface of the water as you draw your sword back again. Your head spins, and you swallow back the vomit in your mouth as you stagger forward and lash out again. Your movement is sloppy and erratic - which actually works to your advantage, the sudden unpredictability seeming to confuse Duncan - and you're too close for him to try and dodge this time.
Instead he throws his sword up, stopping a direct hit, breaking the flames with his blade, but still they wash over him, curling around him, constricting him in an agonizing heat even as you collapse from the effort.
Duncan screams for a terrible few seconds before dropping into the water. It doesn't help - it's magic. It keeps burning, until the runes suddenly glow bright, a burst of power blowing the flames off of him, and you watch as they evaporate into the cold air, a few stray embers still burning atop the water.
You groan, on your knees, your hands still locked around the hilt of your sword - you pry one of them free and reach up to press your palm to your side. The wound there larger, a nasty gash bleeding hot, soaking your shirt, oozing beneath your trousers. The cost of magic is high.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Fire Aggressive 2.1]]You take a deep breath, looking over his shoulder at Lea one last time, before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, eyeing his armor as you do, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard. Electricity still crackles along your blade, down your arms, turning the air between you hot and thick, but you restrain yourself, holding onto what energy you still have, aware of Keres still pulling at you across the courtyard. You'll have to be patient.
Duncan doesn't last long like this, and you sense his annoyance at your sudden hesitation - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy overhead strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both dance around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his blistered face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. The heat from your blade is making you sweat, and you can see it on Duncan's face, too, a gory shine along his brow.
You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand wipes at his face, raw and painful and bloody.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike - and you dart back, throwing your hand out with a burst of angry flame, halting him short and forcing him to recoil. Duncan staggers back, grabbing at his face before slapping at the fire burning at his sleeves, gasping and desperately dunking them in the flood waters.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Fire Defensive 1.2]]You tighten your grip around your sword, raising your transmuted hand, your eyes flicking to Lea one last time before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through his defenses - and reach Lea. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at his bloody face, the gash across his jaw still bleeding heavily.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, and you use your momentum to carry you around and throw yourself after Duncan.
But he's ready for your counter this time, and he turns fast enough to face you, raising his sword just as quick. You can feel it, slicing into your side again, but you don't stop, slamming your weight into his chest hard enough to knock the wind out of him, grimacing at the pain in your shoulder - but you successfully throw him off his feet, sending him crashing down into the flood waters. You stagger after him, raising your armored fist over your head, a burst of alchemical lightning bathing you both in red before you bring it down against his chestplate.
This time, you hear a terrible sound upon impact - a painful shattering that you feel in your hand, spiking up your arm and twisting in your side as Duncan's armor cracks. And then the runes start to flash, hot magic thrumming in the air, and you try to get out of the way before it surges, shielding yourself with your bracer as the enchantment lashes out at you. But it hits you even harder than before, and you're easily thrown off your feet, landing hard on your side, pain paralyzing your for a few seconds, and you involuntarily take in a few mouthfuls of water as you gasp in the flood.
It takes you a moment to blink the water from your eyes, coughing and spluttering as you quickly force yourself back onto your feet.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Alchemist Aggressive 1.2]]You take a deep breath, looking over his shoulder at Lea one last time, before glaring back at him. You lower your hand, flexing it at your side, raising your sword instead, and you start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows.
You take the chance to focus on the warmth of your runes, alchemical lightning crackling from your finger tips, and the runes glow white and gold as your bracer starts to shift again, the armored fist receding up your arm, hot metal steaming in the cold air, and the leather tightens around your forearm again, painful for a few seconds until it breathes, and you lift your newly formed, spiked shield in front of you.
You can sense Duncan's immediate annoyance at this change in tactics, his lip curling at your little alchemical display - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, swinging at your still crackling shield. You block it, of course, and his strike does nothing but cause a little burst of sparks upon impact, and you quickly dart back as he swings again, giving yourself a moment to readjust to the shifted weight of the shield, while Duncan just glowers after you.
You raise your sword, your shield tucked close against you, covering your wounded side from any kind of direct attack, and you and Duncan start up the slow dance again, wading through the flood waters and circling each other, moving closer and closer, until Duncan loses his patience and breaks the little stalemate.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both splash around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way, or slapping at his sword with your shield - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. Despite the advantage his armor gives him, it's still clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
You tuck your shield tighter against your side then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at the bloody gash along his jaw, still bleeding heavily.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike. You quickly throw up your shield to meet him, grimacing at the pain lancing through your arm as his blade cracks loudly against the metal. The shield holds, and you push back against him, catching Duncan off balance, his sword nearly flying out of his hand as it ricochets back with a burst of sparks. He staggers sideways, splashing through the water, and you lunge after him, throwing your arm out and smashing your shield against his face.
The runes on his armor are flashing frantically as it forces him away from you, his limbs jerking unnaturally quick before he manages to regain control, gasping and pressing a hand to his bloody face.
The water laps at your legs, clinging to your trousers, an icy spray on your skin as your alchemical lightning crackles down your blade and dances across the choppy surface. Duncan eyes you warily as you circle him, spitting blood from his mouth and scowling at you. He seems a bit unsteady, wiping at his bloody nose, a nasty gash in his cheek from one of the spikes, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Alchemist Defensive 1.2]]Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, your eyes flicking to Lea one last time before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through his defenses - and reach Lea. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at his bloody face, a gash across his brow bleeding heavily, mixing with the rain and dripping down the front of his armor.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, swinging your sword in front of you and urging the air to follow, rushing down the edge of your blade as it clashes against Duncan's.
Wind roars past you in a burst of magic, and without a direct hit, Duncan's armor isn't ready for it - he's thrown off his feet again, down into the icy water, the runes flickering in confusion. You can hear him wheezing loudly, even over the sound of the storm overhead, clutching at his chest as he flounders in the churning flood waters.
You keep up the pressure this time, letting your sword guide your magic, swinging upward - and the wind follows, lifting Duncan out of the water and into the air overhead, before you swing your sword down, and bring him crashing against the cobblestones, his armor ringing loudly on impact before the flood waters rush back in.
You take your sword in both hands then, your arms trembling as you brace yourself, wind under your feet lifting you high as you jump up - and bring yourself down on top of Duncan.
You hear a terrible sound upon impact - a shattering that you feel in your hands, your wrists, spiking up your arms and lancing through your side as Duncan's armor cracks. And then the runes start to flash, hot magic thrumming in the air as you desperately try to scramble back, throwing up an arm to shield your face as the enchantment lashes out at you, completely knocking you off your feet, hard enough that you actually roll a few times before completely submerging under the flood, involuntarily taking in mouthfuls of water before you can resurface.
It takes you a few seconds before your vision clears, coughing and spluttering as you quickly force yourself back onto your feet. As you stand, though, it's apparent that Duncan isn't getting back up this time, splashing weakly in the water, gasping for the air you've stolen out of his lungs, and you slowly move to stand over him, pressing your sword against his throat.
You're both panting, Duncan glaring up at you, blinking water and blood from his eyes as his hand flutters over his face, touching his broken nose before pressing against the open wound along his jaw. The runes glow softly now, casting a ghastly light across his face, his grey eyes flashing red as he sneers down at your blade.
"I'd say we're finished, now," you say with a bitter laugh, though you keep your sword against his throat, lifting your gaze and quickly searching the courtyard.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Air Aggressive 1.2]]You take a deep breath, looking over his shoulder at Lea one last time, before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, eyeing his armor as you do, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard. Your magic still thrums heavy in the air, cold wind cutting through your wet clothes, parting the flood waters and swirling around your feet, intensifying the storm overhead as the clouds grow darker and darker. You ground yourself, pulling back and keeping your focus on Duncan. You'll have to be patient.
Duncan scowls at you, clearly annoyed at your sudden hesitation - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy overhead strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both dance around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his bloody face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand wipes at his face, bruised and bloody.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike - and you dart back, your boots skimming the surface of the flood as the wind lifts you up out of his reach. He staggers past you in surprise, and you take the opportunity to strike him across the back just like before, a rush of wind following the impact and throwing him down hard into the water.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Air Defensive 1.2]]Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, your eyes flicking to Lea one last time before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through his defenses - and reach Lea. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at his bloody face, the gash across his brow bleeding heavily, mixing with the rain and dripping down the front of his armor.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, kicking your heel against the cobblestones and lashing out with your magic. You raise a hand as rocks burst from the ground again, an explosion of water and mud and ice as you pelt Duncan with a barrage of broken earth.
The ground shudders beneath you, and you raise your foot again, intent on trapping him in stone - but when you stomp through the water, no stone rises up to meet you. Instead, the courtyard groans, and you and Duncan both stare at each other for the briefest moment before the earth shatters beneath your feet.
The ground collapses, water rushing upwards and bursting through Keres' magic barrier, and Duncan slams into you as you're both swept back across the courtyard, before the water almost immediately starts to recede, rushing back underground, a dark vortex of foam and debris overtaking both of you.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Aggressive 2]]You take a deep breath, looking over his shoulder at Lea one last time, before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, eyeing his armor as you do, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard. Your magic still thrums heavy in the air, curling in the earth beneath your feet, twisting through the old, worn stone and brushing against the cold tombs in the cemetery, brushing against the corpses, emaciated and forgotten, twitching in their caskets - but you wouldn't go that far. Not yet. You ground yourself, pulling back and keeping your focus on Duncan. You'll have to be patient.
Duncan scowls at you, clearly annoyed at your sudden hesitation - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy overhead strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both dance around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his bloody face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand wipes at his face, bruised and bloody.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike - and you dart back, slamming your foot down through the flood waters and urging out a burst of slanted stalagmites, slamming into Duncan's side and throwing him off balance. He nearly goes all the way to the ground, splashing through the water and clutching his side, wheezing as he struggles to regain the breath the stone knocked out of him.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Defensive 1.2]]Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, your eyes flicking to Lea one last time before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through his defenses - and reach Lea. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the cold air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at his bloody face, a particular gash across his brow bleeding heavily, mixing with the rain and streaking down the front of his armor.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, swinging wide with your sword, the frost coalescing at the end of your blade and lashing out as a honed whip of icy water, cracking across the front of Duncan's chest and knocking him sideways before he can overtake you.
He crashes down into the water, but the runes glow brightly as the armor jerks him quickly back up onto his feet and carries him out of your reach.
You curse after him, though you doubt he can hear you over the sound of the water, churning frantically and pushing and pulling to follow after your blade, still skimming the surface as you stalk after Duncan. Your head spins, your magic surging, and you swallow back the vomit in your mouth as you lunge forward and lash out again.
Spikes of ice burst out of the water, chasing after Duncan as he darts back - and they rise and rise, casting you in a cold shadow as you briefly lose control. The flooding water rushes past you, following the arc of your blade, and there's no way for Duncan to dodge this time as it knocks him off his feet before surging upward and cocooning him in ice. Half of the courtyard freezes before you can rein yourself in, dropping to one knee as the ice cracks and shatters around you, the water slipping out of your control again. Thankfully, your companions are lucky enough to avoid the freeze, though a couple of soldiers are caught in the water, gone still like statues in the courtyard.
Duncan is held in place, though half of his torso is still free, punching at the ice with his fist. His sword hand is trapped at his side, and you can sense a real panic now as you stand back up, with him frantically clawing at the ice where it meets the frosted metal of his chestplate.
You groan, swaying on your feet, your hands still locked around the hilt of your sword - you pry one of them free and reach up to press your palm to your side. The wound there larger, a nasty gash bleeding hot, soaking your shirt, oozing beneath your trousers. The cost of magic is high.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Water Aggressive 1.2]]You take a deep breath, looking over his shoulder at Lea one last time, before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, eyeing his armor as you do, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.
Duncan doesn't last long like this - he's impatient - and you sense his annoyance at your sudden hesitation. You lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy overhead strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, the water rising with you as you raise your arm, ice crackling as it clings to your bracer and solidifies into a rugged shield just as Duncan brings his sword down on you again.
The blade slams against the ice, a few pieces shattering into the flood waters, but it holds, and it catches Duncan off balance, his sword nearly flying out of his hand as it ricochets back off your shield. He staggers sideways, splashing through the water, and you quickly dart back, giving yourself a moment to readjust to the shifted weight of the shield, while Duncan just glowers after you.
You raise your sword, your shield tucked close against you, covering your wounded side from any kind of direct attack, and you and Duncan start up the slow dance again, wading through the flood waters and circling each other, moving closer and closer, until Duncan loses his patience again and breaks the little stalemate.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both splash around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way, or slapping at his sword with your shield - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to Lea; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You just have to trust that $l_they can handle $l_themself. //For now.//
You tuck your shield tighter against your side then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at the blood in his eyes, the cuts on his face still bleeding heavily.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike. You quickly throw up your shield to meet him, grimacing at the pain lancing through your arm as his blade cracks loudly against the ice. You don't back off this time, though, instead pushing forward, blocking another swing with your sword as you lunge at him, throwing your arm out and smashing your shield against his face.
The runes on his armor are flashing frantically as it forces him away from you, his limbs jerking unnaturally quick before he manages to regain control, gasping and pressing a hand to his bloody face.
The water laps at your legs, eagerly swirling around you and your icy blade as it dips below the surface. Duncan glares at you as you circle him, spitting blood from his mouth and scowling at you. He seems a bit unsteady, wiping at his bloody nose, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Water Defensive 1.2]]You can feel the Vel, excited by the sudden burst of magic, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arms trembling slightly as you tighten your grip around your sword, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan as he rises in front of you.
The runes are flickering, going dark for a few seconds before flashing bright - the enchantment wavers, but is still intact.
Duncan is wheezing, a hand pressed against his chest and blood pooling at the corner of his mouth, and you clutch at your side, hot blood burning against your cold, trembling hand. You wince as you slowly start to move through the water again, glancing over Duncan's shoulder to look for Lea - but you don't manage to find $l_them before Duncan is lunging at you once again.
He's slower now, and sloppy, and you dart back, knocking his sword away with your bracer. He's using only one hand, too, his other one curled in a fist and tucked against his stomach - and you're the same, your hand pressing against your side, trying and failing to slow the blood loss that's starting to make your head spin.
Or maybe that's the Vel, still pushing down on you, making you feel //heavy//.
You block Duncan again, pushing him back as you stagger through the water, the rain coming down harder now, the courtyard growing darker and darker as the clouds churn overhead. You wipe at your face, blinking water from your eyes, and this time when Duncan comes at you, you stand your ground, taking your sword in both bloody hands and swinging as hard as you can.
Your blades come together hard, ringing loudly through the courtyard, and this time Duncan's sword flies out of his hand, yelping as his arm jerks back, recoiling and nearly tumbling to the ground.
You raise your blade to his throat, stopping him short just before he can dive after his sword, sinking in the flood waters at your feet.
You're both panting, Duncan glaring up at you, both of his hands cradled against his stomach. The runes glow softly now, casting a ghastly light across his face, his grey eyes flashing red as he sneers down at your blade.
"I'd say we're finished, now," you say, though you keep your sword against his throat, lifting your gaze and quickly searching the courtyard.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Sword Aggressive 1.3]]It takes you a moment, squinting through the rain, before you find Lea. $l_They<<re>> still standing - but barely. There aren't that many soldiers left - you realize a lot of them seem to be fleeing the courtyard, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning as Keres and Noel continue to fight near the cemetery.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do.
You shake your head, gritting your teeth against the sensation, tightening your hand around your sword. You force yourself to turn back to Duncan, who's looking around the courtyard, too, a scowl on his face. You notice he's gone pale, his lips turning blue as the icy flood waters lap at his chest, pinned in place by your blade.
"We're finished," you repeat, lowering your sword then, stepping past him and starting to wade your way towards Lea. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, gasping at the cold, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get to Lea. But all you can do is watch as two of the remaining soldiers grapple Lea to the ground, ripping $l_their sword from $l_their hand before shoving $l_them down into the water.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turned dark with blood. You hear someone splashing through the water behind you, and you turn to glare up at Duncan.
He's still clutching both hands against his stomach, and he's unsteady, staggering a bit as the water pushes and pulls against him, following your gaze to watch the soldiers across the courtyard.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain twists in your side.
You can still hear Lea shouting, the splashing sounds of struggle, and the Vel, whispering in the back of your mind.
//[[Get up. ->CH2.1 Get Up Fight your way to Lea 1]]//You can feel it before it happens - the wave of heat, the pulse of the Vel overhead, the way the courtyard trembles as black lightning suddenly flashes across the sky.
You take a deep breath, forcing yourself onto your feet, ignoring the rush of blood against your palm, still clutching at your side, your stained bandages unraveling as they soak red.
The Vel thrums around you, throbbing in your temples, an icy pain twisting in your chest. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, but you're ready for it, gritting your teeth and raising your sword.
Duncan, still standing nearby, quickly backs away, but you pay him no mind. There's a familiar presence with you now, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, and you let it step into your shadow - let it step into //you//. Together, you break into a run across the courtyard.
The soldiers are shouting, staring up at the dark clouds, at the Vel tearing open right in front of them, and they realize far too late that you're coming for them.
<<if ($mc_swordsman eq true) or ($mc_archer eq true)>>You go straight for the one still pinning Lea to the ground, roughly grabbing at the back of their collar, hauling them up and pulling them back onto your sword, shoving the blade through their back and out through their stomach. You give your sword a good twist before withdrawing, throwing the soldier at the other two as they spin around to face you, a hot spray of blood hissing against the flood.
One of them tries to rush you, jumping over their fallen companion and loudly cursing at you, but you just break their strike with your bracer, the blade clashing painfully against your arm, throwing the soldier sideways as the hit reverberates up their blade, and you lunge after them with a side swipe - slashing them across the throat and sending their mask flying into the flood at your feet. They stagger a few steps, and you swing again, the wound gaping wider and their head rolling back as flesh and muscle tear under the sudden uneven weight, blood gurgling in their open throat before they finally collapse and vanish beneath the churning red foam. You turn on the final soldier then, just as they start to back away, but you don't let them get far, even as they raise their hands in surrender.
When they try to turn and run, you launch yourself after them, slamming into their back and sending you both down into the flood. There's something in your head, scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice compelling you, the distant sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your mind.
You grapple in the flood for a few seconds, before pinning the soldier beneath you, ducking them underwater before jerking them back up, slapping their mask off and hitting them once, twice, three times, your sword forgotten at your side. You can feel their teeth break against your knuckles, your skin splitting painfully as you hit them again and again. There's a sharp pain lancing up your arm, dark ichor oozing from your wound and soaking your sleeve and the few bandages that are still desperately clinging to your hand, and you can see the dark flash of claws where your nails should be as you pull your fist back again.
The soldier wheezes beneath you, choking on water and blood, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you just shove them under water again for a few seconds, roughly pulling them back up to hit them again, and again, and again.
<<elseif $mc_axeman>>You go straight for the one still pinning Lea to the ground, bracing your sword in front of you before slamming into them, knocking them off Lea and running your blade straight through their side. You both go down into the icy water together, and you just plunge your sword even deeper before ripping it free, rising out of the water with a hot spray of blood and gore.
The other two soldiers have barely registered your presence, blinking stupidly at you, and you lunge at the nearest one, slamming the side of your fist against their mask, hearing the satisfying crunch of bone and cartilage as their face breaks beneath the metal. They stagger back, nearly tripping in the water, and you take your sword in both hands and swing it overhead as if it were your axe, bringing it down on the soft curve between their neck and shoulder, splitting through flesh and bone before violently wrenching your blade back. The soldier crumples into the flood, gagging beneath their mask, blood dripping from between the sculpted, metal lips. You kick them all the way down, before bringing your heel down on their head, a burst of red viscera churning in the dark water. You turn on the final soldier then, just as they start to back away, but you don't let them get far, even as they raise their hands in surrender.
When they try to turn and run, you launch yourself after them, slamming into their back and sending you both down into the flood. There's something in your head, scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice compelling you, the distant sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your mind.
You grapple in the flood for a few seconds, before pinning the soldier beneath you, ducking them underwater before jerking them back up, slapping their mask off and hitting them once, twice, three times, your sword forgotten at your side. You can feel their teeth break against your knuckles, your skin splitting painfully as you hit them again and again. There's a sharp pain lancing up your arm, dark ichor oozing from your wound and soaking your sleeve and the few bandages that are still desperately clinging to your hand, and you can see the dark flash of claws where your nails should be as you pull your fist back again.
The soldier wheezes beneath you, choking on water and blood, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you just shove them under water again for a few seconds, roughly pulling them back up to hit them again, and again, and again.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>You go straight for the one still pinning Lea to the ground, roughly grabbing at the back of their collar, hauling them up and pulling them back onto your sword, shoving the blade through their back and out through their stomach. You give your sword a good twist before withdrawing, throwing the soldier at the other two as they spin around to face you, a hot spray of blood hissing against the flood.
Darting back, you lift your fist with a burst of alchemical lightning, red and gold flashing bright against the flood as your runes ignite and your bracer crawls up your arm, extending past your hand into a long, heavy blade. Your twirl your sword in your other hand, raising both blades as you face off with the remaining two soldiers.
One of them tries to rush you, jumping over their fallen companion and loudly cursing at you, but you just break their strike with your new blade, clashing painfully and reverberating up your arm, but you push back and throw the soldier sideways, metal singing as your blades scrape together. They stagger a few feet, and you lunge after them, thrusting forward with your arm blade and swinging your actual sword over their head, crossing the blades in front of their throat for a split second before violently pulling them apart - both blades slicing through the soldier's neck, their mask flying off into the flood while their head rolls off their shoulders. Blood gurgles in the red gore left behind, before the soldier's body collapses back into the icy water, vanishing beneath the churning, bloody foam at your feet. You turn on the final soldier then, just as they start to back away, but you don't let them get far, even as they raise their hands in surrender.
When they try to turn and run, you launch yourself after them, slamming into their back and sending you both down into the flood. There's something in your head, scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice compelling you, the distant sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your mind.
You grapple in the flood for a few seconds, struggling with your arm blade before you retract it, red lightning flashing hot in your face and across the water beneath you. Your hand free again, you easily pin the soldier against the cobblestones, ducking them underwater before jerking them back up, slapping their mask off and hitting them once, twice, three times, your actual sword forgotten at your side. You can feel their teeth break against your knuckles, your skin splitting painfully as you hit them again and again. There's a sharp pain lancing up your arm, dark ichor oozing from your wound and soaking your sleeve and the few bandages that are still desperately clinging to your hand, and you can see the dark flash of claws where your nails should be as you pull your fist back again.
The soldier wheezes beneath you, choking on water and blood, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you just shove them under water again for a few seconds, roughly pulling them back up to hit them again, and again, and again.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>You go straight for the one still pinning Lea to the ground, roughly grabbing at the back of their collar, hauling them up and pulling them back onto your sword, shoving the blade through their back and out through their stomach. You give your sword a good twist before your magic sparks, the blade bursting into flame as you withdraw, the soldier burning even as they collapse down into the flood.
Darting back, your raise your sword, fire burning along the edge as you wind back and strike at one of the other soldiers trying to rush you, a wall of flame exploding between you and bursting against their chestplate, the fire leaping high as it quickly spreads and completely consumes them. They scream, their arms flailing as they try to put the fire out, melted armor and burning clothes and sheets of bloody flesh falling away into the flood beneath them, until they abruptly fall quiet and crumple down against the cobblestones, into the icy water. You turn on the final soldier then, just as they start to back away, but you don't let them get far, even as they raise their hands in surrender.
When they try to turn and run, you launch yourself after them, slamming into their back and sending you both down into the flood, your own fire burning your face as you viciously grapple with each other, magic flame leaping from your sword and burning across the surface of the dark water. There's something in your head, scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice compelling you, the distant sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your mind.
Eventually you pin the soldier beneath you, ducking them underwater before jerking them back up, pulling their steaming mask off, burning your hand and exposing their bloody face underneath, skin peeling off with the mask as metal and flesh melt together. Your lip curls in disgust, but still you hit them once, twice, three times, your sword forgotten at your side, the flame flickering and hissing in the water. You can feel the soldier's teeth break against your knuckles, your skin splitting painfully as you hit them again and again. There's a sharp pain lancing up your arm, dark ichor oozing from your wound and soaking your sleeve and the few bandages that are still desperately clinging to your hand, and you can see the dark flash of claws where your nails should be as you pull your fist back again.
The soldier wheezes beneath you, choking on water and blood, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you just shove them under water again for a few seconds, roughly pulling them back up to hit them again, and again, and again.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You go straight for the one still pinning Lea to the ground, roughly grabbing at the back of their collar, hauling them up and pulling them back onto your sword, shoving the blade through their back and out through their stomach. You give your sword a good twist before your magic sparks, ice bursting from your blade as you withdraw, encasing the soldier for a brief second before you raise your sword over your head and bring it back down with both hands, the ice shattering on impact in a spray of blood and viscera.
The other two soldiers stagger back in shock, blinking down at the blood splattered across the front of their armor, before one of them tries to rush you, jumping over the pieces of their fallen companion and loudly cursing at you. You easily break their strike with your bracer, the blade clashing painfully against your arm, throwing the soldier sideways as the hit reverberates up their blade, and you lunge after them with a side swipe - slashing them across the throat and sending their mask flying into the flood at your feet. They stagger a few steps, and you swing again, the wound gaping wider and their head rolling back as flesh and muscle tear under the sudden uneven weight, blood gurgling in their open throat before they finally collapse back into the icy water, vanishing beneath the shattered red ice and foam. You turn on the final soldier then, just as they start to back away, but you don't let them get far, even as they raise their hands in surrender.
When they try to turn and run, you launch yourself after them, water surging at your feet, slamming into their back and sending you both down into the flood, the water churning viciously as your grapple with each other. There's something in your head, scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice compelling you, the distant sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your mind.
Eventually you pin the soldier beneath you, ducking them underwater before jerking them back up, ice clinging to your sleeves and frosting over your hands where they curl around fistfuls of the soldier's collar as your magic spikes feverish. You rip one hand free, slapping their mask off and hitting them once, twice, three times, your sword forgotten, lost in the water at your side. You can feel their teeth break against your knuckles, your skin splitting painfully as you hit them again and again. There's a sharp pain lancing up your arm, dark ichor oozing from your wound and soaking your sleeve and the few bandages that are still desperately clinging to your hand, and you can see the dark flash of claws where your nails should be as you pull your fist back again.
The soldier wheezes beneath you, choking on water and blood, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you just shove them under water again for a few seconds, roughly pulling them back up to hit them again, and again, and again.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You go straight for the one still pinning Lea to the ground, roughly grabbing at the back of their collar, hauling them up and pulling them back onto your sword, shoving the blade through their back and out through their stomach. You give your sword a good twist before your magic sparks - and you cry out, pain lancing up your arm as thorns burst through your skin, vines quickly wrapping down your forearm, around your blade, burrowing through the gaping wound in soldier's back, and when you withdraw your sword their chest //pops//, the thorned vines groaning as they shift and wrap themselves soldier's torso, armor and bones breaking while blood and gore splatter down into the flood.
The other two soldiers stagger back in shock, blinking down at the blood splattered across the front of their armor, at your mangled arm of thorns and black, twisted roots, disgust clear in their eyes even through their masks. One of them manages to recover from the surprise and tries to rush you, jumping over their fallen companion and loudly cursing at you, but you easily break their strike with your arm, the blade clashing painfully against the thick vines, throwing the soldier sideways as the hit reverberates up their blade, and you lunge after them with a side swipe - slashing them across the throat and sending their mask flying into the flood at your feet. They stagger a few steps, and you swing again, the wound gaping wider and their head rolling back as flesh and muscle tear under the sudden uneven weight, blood gurgling in their open throat before they finally collapse back into the icy water, pulled down by the vines still twitching in the water, the two dead soldiers pulled together in a gnarled tangle of briar. You turn on the final soldier then, just as they start to back away, but you don't let them get far, even as they raise their hands in surrender.
When they try to turn and run, you launch yourself after them, the vines around your blade surging forward and snapping at their feet, tripping them up and sending them crashing down into the flood. You throw yourself down on top of them, the water churning viciously as you grapple with each other, your magic thrumming as the vines slither over the both of you, warm and heavy and bloody. There's something in your head, scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice compelling you, the distant sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your mind.
Eventually you pin the soldier beneath you, ducking them underwater before jerking them back up, vines wrapping around their throat, wrapping around your hands and up your arms, constricting painfully as the thorns burrow beneath your skin. You rip one hand free, clawing at the vines, slapping the soldier's mask off and hitting them once, twice, three times, your sword forgotten, lost in the water at your side. You can feel their teeth break against your knuckles, your skin splitting painfully as you hit them again and again. There's a sharp pain lancing up your arm, dark ichor oozing from your wound and soaking your sleeve and the few bandages that are still desperately clinging to your hand, and you can see the dark flash of claws where your nails should be as you pull your fist back again.
The soldier wheezes beneath you, choking on water and blood, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you just shove them under water again for a few seconds, roughly pulling them back up to hit them again, and again, and again.<<else>>You go straight for the one still pinning Lea to the ground, roughly grabbing at the back of their collar, hauling them up and pulling them back onto your sword, shoving the blade through their back and out through their stomach. You give your sword a good twist before withdrawing, your magic spiking with a roar of wind as you throw the soldier at the other two, the dead weight and force of the wind staggering them through the flood.
One of them manages to recover quickly and tries to rush you, jumping over their fallen companion and loudly cursing at you, but you just break their strike with your bracer, the blade clashing painfully against your arm, throwing the soldier sideways as the hit reverberates up their blade, and you lunge after them with a side swipe - slashing them across the throat and sending their mask flying into the flood at your feet. They stumble a few steps, and you swing again, the wound gaping wider and their head rolling back as flesh and muscle tear under the sudden uneven weight, blood gurgling in their open throat before they finally collapse back into the icy water, vanishing beneath the churning red foam. You turn on the final soldier then, just as they start to back away, but you don't let them get far, even as they raise their hands in surrender.
When they try to turn and run, you raise your hand and let your magic surge, wind rushing past you, whipping at your clothes and sending rain and water spraying across the surface of the flood. The soldier is launched off their feet, sent flying forward a couple yards before crashing back down against the cobblestones, splashing in the water, gasping as you knock the air out of their lungs. You let the wind shift, and you launch yourself after them, swiftly sailing through the air before bringing yourself down hard on top of them, once again knocking the wind out of them and ducking them under the water, a dark pleasure at their weak thrashing. There's something in your head, scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice compelling you, the distant sound of metal scraping over ice echoing in your mind.
You grapple in the flood for a few seconds, before fully pinning the soldier beneath you, ducking them underwater again before jerking them back up, slapping their mask off and hitting them once, twice, three times, your sword forgotten at your side. You can feel their teeth break against your knuckles, your skin splitting painfully as you hit them again and again. There's a sharp pain lancing up your arm, dark ichor oozing from your wound and soaking your sleeve and the few bandages that are still desperately clinging to your hand, and you can see the dark flash of claws where your nails should be as you pull your fist back again.
The soldier wheezes beneath you, choking on water and blood, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you just shove them under water again for a few seconds, roughly pulling them back up to hit them again, and again, and again.<</if>>
<<link '"$name!"' 'CH2.1 Get Up Fight your way to Lea 2'>><</link>>Gritting your teeth, you take one slow step at a time, and you can tell Lea notices you coming, though $l_they <<dont>> give you away, instead just carefully shifting the fight, turning the soldiers so they can't see you creeping closer.
<<if $mc_mage>>You don't try to summon your magic again - you're not sure you'd be able to keep control anymore, even if you wanted to. Instead, you just carefully pick your way through the water, your sword heavy in your hand.<<else>>You glance down at your blade, turning it in your palm, carefully picking your way through the water, the sword growing heavier with each step.<</if>>
You stay quiet as you reach up and roughly grab the nearest soldier by the back of their collar, pulling them back onto your sword, running your blade straight through their back and out of their stomach. You grimace as you hold them against you, staggering under their weight, and the other two soldiers spin on you as the one in your arms groans and thrashes.
Lea immediately lunges after one of the others, slamming into them and knocking them down into the flood, while the last one comes after you. You quickly turn and use the first soldier as a shield, still holding them against you, getting a rather nasty curse out of the other one as their sword slices at their companion. You shove them off of your blade then, their dead weight crashing down in front of you and forcing the other one back a few feet - just enough time and space for Lea to step in and pierce them in the side.
The soldier claws at Lea's blade, swiping at $l_them weakly with $l_their sword, but Lea just bats it away with their bracer before driving their own blade deeper, until the soldier stops squirming. $l_They withdraw<<s>> with a dark rush of blood, swirling down into the water churning at your feet, the soldier collapsing back with a quiet splash.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 2]]Duncan backs off this time, wiping blood from his face and shaking out his injured hand. You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You take your sword in both hands, watching Duncan as he starts to creep closer again. You wait for him to come to you, and just like before he's impatient, striking after only a few seconds of circling. You dart back, and he tries to follow you with a thrust, but you twist away and strike at his outstretched arm, clanging against his gauntlet and knocking his arm downwards. He manages to keep ahold of his sword, but the power of your hit with both hands seems to take him by surprise - he's slow to react, even as the armor tries to force him to move away, and you swing upward until your blade is pressed against his throat.
His eyes widen for a moment - and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you stop short, your blade pricking Duncan's throat, both of you frozen for a second as you just look at each other.
Then you step forward and rip his sword from his hand, throwing it into the flood waters behind you, before you grab him by the front of his armor and shove him down onto his knees. He grunts in surprise, grabbing at your wrist, put your pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Sword Defensive 2.3]]>><<set $enchantment to false>><</link>>Duncan is just staring down at his hands, at his armor, seeming in disbelief at the whole thing. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard for Lea - still standing, still fighting. You let out a sigh of relief, before giving Duncan one last look.
"I'd say we're finished," you growl, and he doesn't respond, pressing his hands to his chest and just giving you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards Lea. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
Noel and Keres are still fighting, and the storm intensifies overhead, the rain coming down harder, and you notice that a lot of the soldiers still remaining are starting to flee, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
You just focus on getting to Lea.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 1]]It takes you a moment, blinking rain from your eyes, before you find Lea. $l_They<<re>> still standing - but barely. There aren't that many soldiers left - you realize a lot of them seem to be fleeing the courtyard, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning as Keres and Noel continue to fight near the cemetery.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do next.
You shake your head, rocking forward and trying to force yourself back onto your feet.
Duncan sits up a few feet in front of you, clutching his face in his hands. The runes on his armor fade in and out, flickering weakly - but you can feel it still. The enchantment wavers, but remains intact.
When he lowers his hands, you can see the extent of the burns now - particularly nasty around his throat, and his face is even redder than before, blood in his eyes and smeared across his forehead, but it's obvious the armor protected him for the most part. He doesn't move, though, staring down at his hands, and after a few seconds his eyes snap over to glare at you.
"I'd say we're finished now," you breathe, a faint laugh in the back of your throat. You grimace, tightening your hand around your side, and you look to Lea again - still fighting.
"We're finished," you repeat, forcing yourself to stand, stepping past Duncan and starting to wade your way towards Lea. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, gasping at the cold, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get to Lea. But all you can do is watch as two of the remaining soldiers grapple Lea to the ground, ripping $l_their sword from $l_their hand before shoving $l_them down into the water.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turned dark with blood. You hear someone splashing through the water behind you, and you turn to glare up at Duncan.
His grey eyes are stark against the harsh redness of his face, glaring down at you, and you realize he still has his sword in his hand. He staggers a bit, the water pushing and pulling against him, but he keeps his footing, following your gaze to watch the soldiers across the courtyard.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain twists in your side.
You can still hear Lea shouting, the splashing sounds of struggle, and the Vel, whispering in the back of your mind.
//[[Get up. ->CH2.1 Get Up Fight your way to Lea 1]]//Duncan backs off this time, his burned hands trembling around the hilt of his sword. You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You take your sword in both hands, refocusing your magic as Duncan starts to creep closer again. You wait for him to come to you, and again he's impatient, striking after only a few seconds of circling.
You dodge the first blow, willing yourself to concentrate, gritting your teeth and feeling for the storm churning overhead - your magic extending dangerously beyond your reach. Lightning strikes nearby, water exploding around your feet, and your blade crackles, purple lightning bursting from your hands and dancing across the flood waters as you lunge after Duncan.
You don't bother trying to strike him, instead swinging hard at his sword as he raises it to block you. When the steel comes together, the sound is deafening, thunder roaring in your ears as lightning explodes between you, a burst of purple and gold sparks hissing as they fly off into the dark, churning water. Electricity engulfs Duncan's sword, crawling up his blade before leaping after him, up his arms, across his chest - his screams make your stomach twist as you retreat, staggering a bit as your magic fluctuates before you can regain control.
Duncan is thrown back into the water, and it's a few more seconds before a sudden burst of power from the armor dispels your electricity. It still dances across the water, coalescing around your blade, and the storm seems to intensify overhead, wind whipping through the courtyard and chilling you to the bone.
You quickly close the distance between you and Duncan, flat on his back and gasping as the flood waters push and pull him in every direction. You think he tries to scramble away, but his limbs don't respond, his eyes wide as he stares up at you, his arms weakly wrapping around his chest.
Your head spins as you crouch down in front of him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, pushing down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you reach forward and grab at the front of Duncan's armor, hauling him up onto his knees.
He grunts in surprise, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you easily pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Fire Defensive 1.3]]>><<set $enchantment to false>><</link>>Duncan is just staring down at his hands, at his armor, seeming in disbelief at the whole thing. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard for Lea - still standing, still fighting. You let out a sigh of relief, before giving Duncan one last look.
"I'd say we're finished," you growl, and he doesn't respond, pressing his hands to his chest and just giving you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards Lea. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
Noel and Keres are still fighting, and the storm intensifies overhead, the rain coming down harder, and you notice that a lot of the soldiers still remaining are starting to flee, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
You just focus on getting to Lea.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 1]]It takes you a moment, blinking rain from your eyes, before you find Lea. $l_They<<re>> still standing - but barely. There aren't that many soldiers left - you realize a lot of them seem to be fleeing the courtyard, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning as Keres and Noel continue to fight near the cemetery.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do next.
You try to shake it off, dragging your feet through the water and standing in front of Duncan. He's lifted slightly, held aloft in the ice, and he glares down at you, finally halting his futile attempts to break himself free.
His armor flickers faintly, wavering - but you can feel the enchantment. Still intact.
You take one last look at him, at the nasty gashes on his face from earlier, at the way he shivers in the ice, his free hand curled into a painfully tight fist at his side, with his lips turning a sickly bluish-purple.
"I'd say we're finished now," you breathe, a faint laugh in the back of your throat. You grimace, tightening your hand around your side, leaning against the pillar of ice, and you look to Lea again - still fighting.
"We're finished," you repeat, pushing yourself forward, stepping past Duncan and starting to wade your way towards Lea. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, gasping at the cold, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get to Lea. But all you can do is watch as two of the remaining soldiers grapple Lea to the ground, ripping $l_their sword from $l_their hand before shoving $l_them down into the water.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turned dark with blood. You can hear Duncan say something behind you, but you can't make it out over the ringing in your ears.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain twists in your side.
You can still hear Lea shouting, the splashing sounds of struggle, and the Vel, whispering in the back of your mind.
//[[Get up. ->CH2.1 Get Up Fight your way to Lea 1]]//The water pulls at your legs, and it's //cold//, your hand shaking around the hilt of your sword, and you grit your teeth as you struggle for a moment to keep control of your magic, ice forming and breaking apart and reforming in quick succession - but you manage to rein it in, taking a few steps back from Duncan, though he keeps his distance, reluctant to rush you again.
You take a deep breath, hefting your shield at your side, and you resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get a good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You exhale slowly, refocusing your magic, watching the water break around you, the way it churns excitedly at your feet, and your magic thrums as you drag your blade along the surface, the rain shifting and coming down even harder, soaking your hood and biting through your clothes.
The water clings to the metal of your sword, following your movements, and you quickly dart back as Duncan's patience runs out once again. He lunges forward, careful of your shield, slamming a few quick hits against the ice as if he could break it. You grimace at the pain in your side, but you hold fast, feeling the rhythm of each strike, the water surging and receding as you brace and then retreat, brace and then retreat. Duncan throws down one more overhead strike, and you dodge sideways, letting the water carry you out of his reach.
"Come on, $surname," he snarls, breathing hard as he spins around to face you.
When he swings at you again, you take your chance, diving forward underneath his blade before launching yourself up at him, slamming your shield against his chest. The ice gives away around your forearm, releasing you and latching on to Duncan instead, cold water wrapping around him before solidifying once more, locking his torso in place as he crashes back into the flood.
When he hits the water, the ice expands - from his chest, across the surface, it cocoons him at your feet. He tries to resist, to get back up, one arm breaking through the ice, but it's quickly reclaimed, frozen as he reaches out to you, his hand curling painfully as it frosts over.
Your head spins as you crouch down in front of him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement at the sudden burst of magic, pushing down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, to let the ice take him, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you reach forward and grab at the front of Duncan's armor, cold and painful where it just protrudes from the ice.
You haul him forward, and he cries out as some of the ice breaks around him, trying to grab at your wrist clumsily with his frozen hand. You just smack it away, and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of black frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Water Defensive 1.3]]>><<set $enchantment to false>><</link>>Duncan is breathing hard, still partially trapped in the ice, glaring up at you with unrestrained hate. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, a rush of blood burning against your palm, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard for Lea - still standing, still fighting. You let out a sigh of relief, before giving Duncan one last look.
"I'd say we're finished," you growl, and he doesn't respond, his eyes flashing as you stand.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards Lea. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
Noel and Keres are still fighting, and the storm intensifies overhead, the rain coming down harder, and you notice that a lot of the soldiers still remaining are starting to flee, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
You just focus on getting to Lea.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 1]]The courtyard shudders dangerously under your feet as the stone slowly recedes back into the earth, and you grit your teeth as you struggle for a moment to keep control of your magic - but you manage to rein it in, taking a few steps back from Duncan, though he keeps his distance, reluctant to rush you again.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You take a deep breath, refocusing your magic, maneuvering to keep the space between you as Duncan attempts to creep closer. He watches you warily, his lip curling in annoyance as he realizes what you're doing.
"Come on, $surname," he snarls impatiently, stomping through the water after you.
The water shifts beneath you, swirling around your ankles, and you dip your sword low again, breaking the surface of the flood, your feet sliding across the cobblestones. Icy mud and silt churn in the dark water, stirred by your movements as well as the call of your magic, trailing after your blade as you slowly raise it once again.
The water between you and Duncan grows darker and darker, the angry splashes turning into a muddy sloshing as it thickens - Duncan moves slow, still struggling after you, but he's unable to close the distance, swearing as the mud pulls at his boots.
You let him struggle for a few more seconds, before finally lunging forward to meet him.
You don't bother trying to strike his armor with your sword - instead you just slam your foot into his chest, knocking him flat on his back with a painful wheeze, and the mud quickly swells up to meet him. It encases the joints of his armor first, locking him in place, before it starts to pull him down, his legs completely enveloped before you pull back, your fingers twitching as your magic trembles reluctantly under your command. You step high, crude dirt steps lifting you above the water, above the mud, and you stare down at Duncan, the runes of his armor flashing frantically as it tries to break him free - but the more he struggles, the more he sinks, the more it clings and pulls and traps him at your feet.
Your head spins as you crouch down in front of him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, pushing down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, to let the mud swallow him completely, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you reach forward and grab at the front of Duncan's armor, roughly hauling him up out of the mud.
He grunts in surprise, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you easily pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Defensive 1.3]]>><<set $enchantment to false>><</link>>Duncan is just staring down at his hands, at his armor, seeming in disbelief at the whole thing. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, a rush of blood burning against your palm, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard for Lea - still standing, still fighting. You let out a sigh of relief, before giving Duncan one last look.
"I'd say we're finished," you growl, and he doesn't respond, cradling the front of his chestplate and just giving you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards Lea. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
Noel and Keres are still fighting, and the storm intensifies overhead, the rain coming down harder, and you notice that a lot of the soldiers still remaining are starting to flee, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
You just focus on getting to Lea.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 1]]It takes you a moment, rain and the Vel blurring your vision, before you find Lea. $l_They<<re>> still standing - but barely. There aren't that many soldiers left - you realize a lot of them seem to be fleeing the courtyard, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning as Keres and Noel continue to fight near the cemetery.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do.
You shake your head, gritting your teeth against the sensation, tightening your hand around your sword. You force yourself to turn back to Duncan, who's looking around the courtyard, too, a scowl on his face. You notice he's gone pale, his lips turning blue as the icy flood waters lap at his chest, pinned in place by your blade.
"We're finished," you repeat, lowering your sword then, and you grimace as your magic recedes, your hand clutching at your side - the wound there larger, a nasty gash bleeding hot, soaking your shirt, oozing beneath your trousers. The cost of magic is high.
Duncan watches silently, and you give him one last look before stepping past him and starting to wade your way towards Lea. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, tripping over uneven cobblestones, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get to Lea. But all you can do is watch as two of the remaining soldiers grapple Lea to the ground, ripping $l_their sword from $l_their hand before shoving $l_them down into the water.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turning dark with blood. You hear someone splashing through the water behind you, and you turn to glare up at Duncan.
His grey eyes are stark against his bloody face, glaring down at you, but he doesn't do anything, his sword lowered at his side. He staggers a bit, the water pushing and pulling against him, but he keeps his footing, following your gaze to watch the soldiers across the courtyard.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain lances through your side.
You can still hear Lea shouting, the splashing sounds of struggle, and the Vel, whispering in the back of your mind.
//[[Get up. ->CH2.1 Get Up Fight your way to Lea 1]]//The entire courtyard groans as the wind shifts around you, the rain coming down hard enough to hurt, and you press your palm to your side for a moment, glaring down at Duncan as he scrambles back to his feet.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get a good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You take a deep breath, refocusing your magic, maneuvering to keep the space between you as Duncan attempts to creep closer.
"Come on, $surname," he snarls impatiently, stomping through the water after you.
The wind shifts again, and the temperature drops, rain turning to ice as it whips across the flood waters, and you reach out, feeling for the storm churning overhead - your magic extending dangerously beyond your reach. The wind howls, and lightning strikes nearby, a spray of icy water coating you and Duncan just as he tries to lunge after you.
The wind easily carries you back, and when you raise your sword that wind follows, a freezing vortex emerging around you and Duncan, frozen droplets of rain pelting his armor as the wind roars down from the clouds. Another strike of lightning nearby, and the wind churns the water at your feet as it lifts you into the air. You watch as the water grows more and more violent, your cloak tightening around your throat as the wind thrashes at your clothes, and Duncan vanishes beneath the foaming surface, him and the water lifted together as your magic raises you up.
You stay suspended in the air for a few seconds, the ball of water containing Duncan swirling like the ocean in a bottle, before you let it all drop.
The water crashes down on the cobblestones, the wind rushing after it and pushing a wave out across the courtyard, and you come down hard on top of Duncan, slamming him into the ground before the water rushes back in and nearly drags you under.
You manage to keep your footing, groaning as you grab the front of Duncan's armor and keep him from being swept away - though you do hold him underwater for a grim moment before hauling him up onto his knees, your sword pressed against his throat.
He immediately vomits water over your blade, down the front of his armor, and you curl your lip in disgust as you watch him wheeze and struggle, blood pooling in his mouth as he clings to your arm, thrashing in the water before coughing violently and slumping against you.
Your head spins as you glare down at him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, at the sudden burst of magic, flickering in your peripheral as it pushes down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, to push him back beneath the surface just for a little while longer, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you readjust your grip on the front of Duncan's armor, shoving him off of you and giving him a rough shake.
He lets out a wheezing rasp, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you easily pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Air Defensive 2.3]]>><<set $enchantment to false>><</link>>Duncan is just staring down at his hands, at his armor, seeming in disbelief at the whole thing. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, a rush of blood burning against your palm, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard for Lea - still standing, still fighting. You let out a sigh of relief, before giving Duncan one last look.
"I'd say we're finished," you growl, and he doesn't respond, cradling the front of his chestplate and just giving you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards Lea. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
Noel and Keres are still fighting, and the storm intensifies overhead, the rain coming down harder, and you notice that a lot of the soldiers still remaining are starting to flee, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
You just focus on getting to Lea.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 1]]You can feel the Vel, excited by the sudden burst of magic and alchemy, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arm trembling slightly against the heavy weight of your metal fist, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan as he rises in front of you.
The runes are flickering, going dark for a few seconds before flashing bright - the enchantment wavers, but is still intact.
Duncan is wheezing, a hand pressed against his chest and blood pooling at the corner of his mouth, and you clutch at your side, the transmuted metal of your bracer painful and cold. You wince as you slowly start to move through the water again, glancing over Duncan's shoulder to look for Lea - but you don't manage to find $l_them before Duncan is lunging at you once again.
He's slower now, and sloppy and angry, and you've just about had enough of this.
His sword sings dangerously close as you sidestep his wild swipe - and you lash out with your armored hand, though you don't aim for //him// this time, instead roughly grabbing the blade and jerking it forward. Duncan staggers towards you, clearly surprised, clinging to the hilt even as you swing your elbow up to slam against his face, the crunch of bone and cartilage making you grimace.
He still doesn't let go of the sword, and you grapple for a moment, before tightening your grip and wrenching sideways - and the blade snaps in your armored hand, the tip falling to the ground and vanishing in the flood waters at your feet.
Duncan blinks at you, and you both just stare at each other for a moment, Duncan's broken sword held up weakly between you.
You slap it out of his hand and grab the front of his chestplate, hauling him off his feet before throwing him down into the water, raising your sword and pressing it to his throat.
You're both panting, Duncan glaring up at you, blinking water and blood from his eyes as his hand flutters over his face, touching his broken nose before pressing against the open wound along his jaw. The runes glow softly now, casting a ghastly light across his face, his grey eyes flashing red as he sneers down at your blade.
"I'd say we're finished, now," you say with a bitter laugh, though you keep your sword against his throat, lifting your gaze and quickly searching the courtyard.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Alchemist Aggressive 1.3]]It takes you a moment, rain and the Vel blurring your vision, before you find Lea. $l_They<<re>> still standing - but barely. There aren't that many soldiers left - you realize a lot of them seem to be fleeing the courtyard, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning as Keres and Noel continue to fight near the cemetery.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do.
You shake your head, gritting your teeth against the sensation, tightening your hand around your sword. You force yourself to turn back to Duncan, who's looking around the courtyard, too, a scowl on his face. You notice he's gone pale, his lips turning blue as the icy flood waters lap at his chest, pinned in place by your blade.
"We're finished," you repeat, lowering your sword then, and you grimace as your bracer tightens around your wrist, the heat from the runes burning through your sleeve, and you carefully deconstruct your metal fist, returning the bracer to its original form. Lightning still pops around you, and you struggle to rein it in, pressing a hand to the hot runes as you sway on your feet. Duncan watches silently, and you give him one last look before stepping past him and starting to wade your way towards Lea. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, tripping over uneven cobblestones, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get to Lea. But all you can do is watch as two of the remaining soldiers grapple Lea to the ground, ripping $l_their sword from $l_their hand before shoving $l_them down into the water.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turning dark with blood. You hear someone splashing through the water behind you, and you turn to glare up at Duncan.
His grey eyes are stark against his bloody face, glaring down at you, but he has no weapon, his hands just curled into fists at his sides. He staggers a bit, the water pushing and pulling against him, but he keeps his footing, following your gaze to watch the soldiers across the courtyard.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain lances through your side.
You can still hear Lea shouting, the splashing sounds of struggle, and the Vel, whispering in the back of your mind.
//[[Get up. ->CH2.1 Get Up Fight your way to Lea 1]]//You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get a good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You glance around the courtyard again, taking advantage of the lull between you, and you find yourself slowly dragging your feet along the cobblestones, feeling the heavy stone beneath you, watching the water churn at your feet, the runes in your shield glowing bright and illuminating the curve of your blade. Duncan's own runes flash quickly, blue and white and the occasional burst of red, the rain and the flood waters glistening between you.
You flex your hand again, hefting your shield, turning slowly as Duncan starts to creep up on you. He scowls, eyeing your shield, blood still oozing down his face.
You stay patient, slowly inching back as he advances, blinking the rain from your eyes as the storm shifts overhead.
"Come on, //Lord// Duncan," you goad, curling your lip as his eyes flash at your words.
He's easy enough to bait, clearly agitated, raising his sword with a snarl as he lunges after you.
This time you swing your shield up to meet him as if you were clashing blades, your arm trembling as pain spikes all the way up to your shoulder, piercing your side. Duncan curses at you, ready for the impact this time, holding his ground with your faces dangerously close as you push against each other. You give a little, stepping back and twisting your arm, the spikes of your shield locking around Duncan's blade, and he tries desperately to keep it in his hands, both of your straining for a moment, the heat of his blood and breath on your face - until the metal //snaps//, his blade cracking in half, flying off into the flood waters as your shield breaks through and slams Duncan right in the chest.
You can feel his armor groan under the spikes, even as the runes flash blindingly bright, and you quickly dart back as Duncan splashes down into the flood waters, slamming against the cobblestones as a hot wave of magic bursts from his armor. It staggers you a few feet, but you manage to remain standing, lifting your shield again and leaping after him - but you bring your fist down on the ground just in front of him, alchemical lightning crackling down your bracer, cobblestones exploding from the ground and elongating at your command, stone pillars coming together and pinning Duncan in place.
You grimace as your bracer tightens around your wrist, the heat from the runes burning through your sleeve, and you carefully deconstruct the shield, returning the bracer to its original form. Lightning still pops around you, and you struggle to rein it in, pressing a hand to the hot runes as you sway on your feet.
Your head spins as you crouch down in front of him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, pushing down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, to urge the stone to come together just a little more, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you reach forward and grab at the front of Duncan's armor, the heavy stones raising him up as you pull him forward.
He grunts in surprise, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you easily pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Alchemist Defensive 1.3]]>><<set $enchantment to false>><</link>>Duncan is just glaring up at you, twisting and thrashing in his little stone prison, water churning between the cobblestones. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, a rush of blood burning against your palm, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard for Lea - still standing, still fighting. You let out a sigh of relief, before giving Duncan one last look.
"I'd say we're finished," you growl, and he doesn't respond, pausing in his struggle just to give you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards Lea. Your legs tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
Noel and Keres are still fighting, and the storm intensifies overhead, the rain coming down harder, and you notice that a lot of the soldiers still remaining are starting to flee, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
You just focus on getting to Lea.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 1]]Lea gives your shoulder one more reassuring squeeze, and you wish that this moment would be the end of it - that when $l_they turn<<s>> away from you, you'd realize you weren't in Blackwater at all, but in your tent, awakened from a bad dream, like so many nights before. But this isn't a dream, and Lea isn't going to wake you up this time. Instead, $l_they turn<<s>> away from you and everything stays exactly the same.
Lea steps ahead and takes the lead, pushing forward while you take a moment to compose yourself.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>Harper and Talia are close behind you, having remained silent through your entire little scene, but Harper backs off a bit, holding an arm out defensively around Talia, while you and Lea move to re-engage with the soldiers.
Taking a deep breath, you shake your head and wipe the rain from your face, flexing your hand around the hilt of your sword, your body turning electric as you focus your magic - focus on anything else. You open yourself up to it, a burst of sparks hissing across the flood waters as lightning crackles down your blade. //No reason to hold back now,// you think grimly.
But the lightning immediately starts to jump, startling some of the nearby soldiers as they scramble out of the way, a sudden succession of lightning strikes as your magic abandons you and is siphoned up by Keres - she's stronger than you right now, still fighting with Noel across the courtyard, and she rips it right out of your hands. You don't even think she realizes she's doing it, her and Noel dancing around each other in a magical frenzy, and you're left straining against the sudden blow to your energy, Lea glancing back at you with a furrowed brow.
But the soldiers are quick to take advantage of the clear confusion between you and Lea, and you barely manage to lift your sword in time to block the first strike.
You quickly dart back, dodging another swipe, and it's Lea that lunges forward and catches them in the side with $l_their blade, staggering them and ducking out of the way for you to deal a quick finishing blow. The soldier drops face down into the water, the churning foam turning red at your feet.
Just as quick two more soldiers take their place, and you and Lea go on the offensive. You try to keep the soldiers' attention on you, lunging at one with a downward swing, lightning sparking between you as your sword glances off their armor, before rushing the other with an upward strike, your blade slicing just beneath their upper arm, soft and unprotected as they raise their sword to block Lea's feint.
The first soldier tries to retaliate, thrusting after you as you withdraw, but Lea just slaps their sword down with their own, stopping them short before kicking them in the side, sending them down into the flood waters.
They both quickly back off then, the one frantically scrambling and splashing back onto their feet, and you take advantage of the brief lull between you to look for Merry. It's hard to miss her - shouting and cursing while pulling on her chains, lashing out and hitting a few soldiers with them before they can regain control.
You realize the captain isn't with her anymore - there's only two still restraining her, and you turn back just in time to see the captain and one of the other soldiers stepping up to join the other two in front of you. You can feel Lea glance at you out of the corner of your eye, and you just nod, raising your sword again, a few pops of stray lightning still sparking along the edge of your blade.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Get Merry Fire 1]]<<else>><<if $magic_pref eq "water">>Taking a deep breath, you shake your head and wipe the rain from your face, flexing your hand around the hilt of your sword, your body turning electric as you focus your magic - focus on anything else. You open yourself up to it, with the water churning at your feet as it senses the sudden magical thrum in the air, the temperature suddenly dropping in the courtyard as frost envelopes your blade. //No reason to hold back now,// you think grimly.
You raise your sword and step after Lea. Harper and Talia are at your heels, having remained quiet through your little scene, and you avoid looking at them, only glancing back to ensure that they're still with you as you advance through the flood waters.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>Taking a deep breath, you shake your head and wipe the rain from your face, flexing your hand around the hilt of your sword, your body turning electric as you focus your magic - focus on anything else. You open yourself up to it, with the wind churning and whipping at your clothes, water spraying at your back, and the air growing even colder as it begins to thrum with your magic. //No reason to hold back now,// you think grimly.
You raise your sword and step after Lea. Harper and Talia are at your heels, having remained quiet through your little scene, and you avoid looking at them, only glancing back to ensure that they're still with you as you advance across the courtyard.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>Taking a deep breath, you shake your head and wipe the rain from your face, flexing your hand around the hilt of your sword, your body turning electric as you focus your magic - focus on anything else. You open yourself up to it, a sudden hum of anticipation in the earth below as it senses your magic, building just beneath your feet, the flood waters parting to expose the heavy cobblestones as you step after Lea. //No reason to hold back now,// you think grimly.
You raise your sword and step after Lea. Harper and Talia are at your heels, having remained quiet through your little scene, and you avoid looking at them, only glancing back to ensure that they're still with you as you advance across the courtyard.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>Taking a deep breath, you shake your head and wipe the rain from your face, flexing your hand around the hilt of your sword, comforted by the weight of it in your palm. You also note the familiar warmth of the runes glowing faintly along your bracers, and they flicker at your sudden focus, alchemical lightning popping down your blade as you quickly step after Lea. //No reason to hold back now,// you think grimly.
You raise your sword and step after Lea. Harper and Talia are at your heels, having remained quiet through your little scene, and you avoid looking at them, only glancing back to ensure that they're still with you as you advance across the courtyard.<<elseif $mc_swordsman>>Taking a deep breath, you shake your head and wipe the rain from your face, flexing your hand around the hilt of your sword - not //your// sword. The one from the crypt. But still, you're comforted by the weight of it in your hand, fitting the curve of your palm as if it was made for it.
You raise the sword and step after Lea. Harper and Talia are at your heels, having remained quiet through your little scene, and you avoid looking at them, only glancing back to ensure that they're still with you as you advance across the courtyard.<<elseif $mc_archer>>Taking a deep breath, you shake your head and wipe the rain from your face, flexing your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the weight of it - missing your bow. You glance down at the old, rusty sword, scowling at it, as if it could sense your distaste; but you do find yourself slightly comforted by the weight of it, solid and heavy in your hand, fitting the curve of your palm as if it was made for it.
You raise the sword and step after Lea. Harper and Talia are at your heels, having remained quiet through your little scene, and you avoid looking at them, only glancing back to ensure that they're still with you as you advance across the courtyard.<<else>>Taking a deep breath, you shake your head and wipe the rain from your face, flexing your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the weight of it - missing your axe. You glance down at the old, rusty sword, scowling at it, as if it could sense your distaste; but you do find yourself slightly comforted by the weight of it, while not as heavy as your axe, still balanced and solid in your hand, fitting the curve of your palm as if it was made for it.
You raise the sword and step after Lea. Harper and Talia are at your heels, having remained quiet through your little scene, and you avoid looking at them, only glancing back to ensure that they're still with you as you advance across the courtyard.<</if>>
The soldiers are wary now, eyeing you cautiously through their masks, giving you some space before closing in again.
One of them breaks from the group to try and rush you, and you block the first strike, your hands aching as your blades clash, straining as you push back against them hard enough to stagger, but a second soldier steps in before you can take advantage of it, jumping at you with a shout.
You dart back this time, dodging their bold swipe, and it's Lea that lunges forward and catches them in the side with $l_their blade, clearly surprising them as they recoil and clutch at the wound. Lea ducks back out of the way then, and you deal a quick finishing blow, your sword slipping through their armor as they gasp one last time. You withdraw, and the soldier drops face down into the water, the churning foam turning red at your feet.
<<if $magic_pref eq "water">>But just as quick two more soldiers take their place, and you and Lea go on the offensive. You try to keep the soldiers' attention on you, lunging at one with a downward swing, ice crackling in the flood between you as your blade glances off their armor hard enough to stagger them, before you turn and rush at the other with an upward strike, your blade slicing just beneath their upper arm, soft and unprotected as they raise their sword to block Lea's feint.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>But just as quick two more soldiers take their place, and you and Lea go on the offensive. You try to keep the soldiers' attention on you, lunging at one with a downward swing, wind roaring in the little space between you as your blade glances off their armor, throwing them back before you turn and rush at the other with an upward strike, your blade slicing just beneath their upper arm, soft and unprotected as they raise their sword to block Lea's feint.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>But just as quick two more soldiers take their place, and you and Lea go on the offensive. You try to keep the soldiers' attention on you, lunging at one with a downward swing, cobblestones shifting beneath your feet as your blade glances off their armor, sending them stagger back before you turn and rush at the other with an upward strike, your blade slicing just beneath their upper arm, soft and unprotected as they raise their sword to block Lea's feint.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>But just as quick two more soldiers take their place, and you and Lea go on the offensive. You try to keep the soldiers' attention on you, lunging at one with a downward swing, a burst of red sparks hissing against the rain as your blade glances off their armor, before you turn and rush at the other with an upward strike, your blade slicing just beneath their upper arm, soft and unprotected as they raise their sword to block Lea's feint.<<else>>But just as quick two more soldiers take their place, and you and Lea go on the offensive. You try to keep the soldiers' attention on you, lunging at one with a downward swing, your blade glancing off their armor hard enough to stagger them, before you turn and rush at the other with an upward strike, your blade slicing just beneath their upper arm, soft and unprotected as they raise their sword to block Lea's feint.<</if>>
The first soldier tries to retaliate, thrusting after you as you pull back, but Lea just slaps their sword down with their own, stopping them short before kicking them in the side, sending them down into the flood waters.
They both quickly back off then, the one frantically scrambling and splashing back onto their feet, and you take advantage of the brief lull between you to look for Merry. It's hard to miss her - shouting and cursing while pulling on her chains, lashing out and hitting a few soldiers with them before they can regain control.
You realize the captain isn't with her anymore - there's only two still restraining her, and you turn back just in time to see the captain and one of the other soldiers stepping up to join the other two in front of you. <<if $magic_pref eq "water">>You can feel Lea glance at you out of the corner of your eye, and you just nod, raising your sword again, your magic thrumming in the air as the water swirls excitedly at your feet.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You can feel Lea glance at you out of the corner of your eye, and you just nod, raising your sword again, your magic thrumming in the air as wind whips through the courtyard, the spire groaning dangerously as it sways overhead.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You can feel Lea glance at you out of the corner of your eye, and you just nod, raising your sword again, your magic thrumming through the air, thrumming through the earth beneath your feet.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>You can feel Lea glance at you out of the corner of your eye, and you just nod, raising your sword again, the runes along your blade flashing red.<<else>>You can feel Lea glance at you out of the corner of your eye, and you just nod, raising your sword again as $l_they do<<es>> the same at your side.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Get Merry 1.3]]<</if>>You glare over at the nearest soldier, tensing, holding your breath - and you can see the whites of their eyes even through their mask, their fear palpable - and it's not just them. You can feel it, the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, expanding and retracting in its excitement as the fighting turns feverish. You can feel it reaching out to you, nails scraping over your skin, pulling at your clothes, a heavy weight on your back as it breathes into your ear.
You shake your head, forcing yourself to focus on the soldier in front of you, the tense moment shattering as they swing at you with a shout. You step up to meet them, slamming your blade against theirs hard enough to disarm them, the clash of steel ringing in your ears. They let out a shrill yelp, clutching at their hands as their sword spirals down into the flood, vanishing beneath the icy waters at your feet. You hesitate a moment as they start to retreat - but a dark thought seizes you, a bitterness twisting in your chest, emboldened by the death already on your hands - and you lunge after them, slashing your blade through their arms as they attempt to block you and cracking against their armor, knocking their chestplate sideways and staggering them before plunging your sword between their ribs.
Your electric blade scorches their clothes, burns through their flesh and leaves a foul taste in your mouth, forcing you to quickly withdraw as their body convulses, twisting backwards as they fall to the ground in front of you.
You shake your head again, your sword twitching in your hand.
You turn towards Lea then, just as Talia shouts your name, a crossbow bolt singing past you and unceremoniously glancing off the armor of the captain as they clash with Lea.
The other two remaining soldiers are aggressive, and a long few minutes pass with you fending them off, Lea focusing on the captain, while Harper and Talia try to assist from a distance. You feel like you're at an impasse, and you notice Duncan still lurking nearby, circling you like a vulture.
The impasse breaks, however, when you hear a shout from Lea, a sudden splash of icy water as $l_they go<<es>> down nearby, the captain leering over $l_them.
Your immediate alarm is apparent, your magic spiking hot in the air around you, a sudden rush of fire bursting from your chest, crawling up your arms and enveloping your blade as you raise it high in front of you.
The two soldiers near you immediately try to withdraw in the sudden heat, and you shove your way past them just as your fire surges, swinging your sword at the captain and unleashing a wave of flame, dancing across the surface of the flood waters and leaping up into the rain as it quickly consumes all three soldiers in a barely controlled blaze.
You ignore the screaming, the burning of flesh and the frantic splashing of the soldiers as you quickly rush over to Lea, hauling $l_them onto $l_their feet and pushing $l_them away from the fire without a word.
$l_They grab<<s>> at your arm, making you flinch as $l_their hand unknowingly brushes against the black wound beneath your sleeve, but thankfully $l_they <<dont>> notice, instead reassuring you with a quick nod before shrugging you off.
The fire ebbs slightly, and you can just see the captain staggering away through the flames, though the other two soldiers have vanished - taken by the fire, and swallowed by the flood, rising through the courtyard as the Vel swells overhead, shuddering against the sudden burst of magic, pressing down on you, phantom hands pulling at your clothes and dark voices whispering in your ear.
You notice something else, too - Duncan, creeping closer, watching you through the flames.
Lea has already started to make $l_their way towards Merry again, but $l_they stop<<s>> short as Duncan steps out of the fire and into your path, scowling at him before glancing over at Merry, still restrained by the two lone soldiers.
<<include "CH2.1 Get Merry Choices">><<if $magic_pref eq "water">>You shake your head, forcing yourself to focus on the soldier in front of you, the tense moment shattering as they swing at you with a shout. You step up to meet them, slamming your blade against theirs hard enough to disarm them, the clash of steel ringing in your ears. They let out a shrill yelp, clutching at their hands as their sword spirals down into the flood, vanishing beneath the icy waters at your feet. You hesitate a moment as they start to retreat - but a dark thought seizes you, a bitterness twisting in your chest, emboldened by the death already on your hands - and you lunge after them, slashing your blade through their arms as they attempt to block you and cracking against their armor, knocking their chestplate sideways and staggering them before plunging your sword between their ribs.
Your icy blade hisses as hot blood pools across the metal, and more ice sprouts from the wound, red and black as it solidifies over their clothes, across their armor, freezing their mask and enveloping them completely. You have to rip your sword free, ice cracking loudly, bloody chunks shattering down into the flood as the soldier topples over in front of you, forcing you to take a few steps back as the water turns red.
You shake your head again, your sword twitching in your hand.
You turn towards Lea then, just as Talia shouts your name, a crossbow bolt singing past you and unceremoniously glancing off the armor of the captain as they clash with Lea.
The other two remaining soldiers are aggressive, and a long few minutes pass with you fending them off, Lea focusing on the captain, while Harper and Talia try to assist from a distance. You feel like you're at an impasse, and you notice Duncan still lurking nearby, circling you like a vulture.
The impasse breaks, however, when you hear a shout from Lea, a sudden splash of icy water as $l_they go<<es>> down nearby, the captain leering over $l_them.
Your immediate alarm is apparent, your magic spiking in the air around you, a sudden rush of painful cold bursting from your chest, the water suddenly shifting and swirling dangerously at your feet.
The two soldiers near you immediately try to withdraw, the water pulling at them and nearly dragging them under as you shove your way past them, swinging your sword over your head and bringing it down with both hands, breaking through the surface of the flood and freezing it just as quickly, ice bursting forward and rushing straight for the captain.
All three soldiers are captured in the ice, gored as it rises out of the water, or just frozen in place as they try to run, their masks making them look like statues in the courtyard.
You ignore their frozen stares and the loud sound of shifting ice, cracking and shattering as the flood surges, the sudden screams as the ice falls away - you ignore it and quickly rush over to Lea, hauling $l_them onto $l_their feet and pushing $l_them away from the ice without a word.
$l_They grab<<s>> at your arm, making you flinch as $l_their hand unknowingly brushes against the black wound beneath your sleeve, but thankfully $l_they <<dont>> notice, instead reassuring you with a quick nod before shrugging you off.
The flood recedes slightly, and you glance over in time to see the captain stagger free from the ice, limping away as it shatters and reforms and shatters over and over again - though the other two soldiers don't have as much luck, chunks of flesh and bone shattering into the water with the ice as it splinters and cracks, silent under their masks until they collapse and are taken by the flood. Water pulses through the courtyard as the Vel swells overhead, shuddering against the sudden burst of magic, pressing down on you, phantom hands pulling at your clothes and dark voices whispering in your ear.
You notice something else, too - Duncan, creeping closer, watching you through the ice and rain.
Lea has already started to make $l_their way forward again, but $l_they stop<<s>> short as Duncan steps past the icy corpses of his soldiers and into your path, Lea scowling at him before glancing over at Merry, still restrained by the two lone soldiers.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You shake your head, forcing yourself to focus on the soldier in front of you, the tense moment shattering as they swing at you with a shout. You step up to meet them, slamming your blade against theirs hard enough to disarm them, the clash of steel ringing in your ears. They let out a shrill yelp, clutching at their hands as their sword spirals down into the flood, vanishing beneath the icy waters at your feet. You hesitate a moment as they start to retreat - but a dark thought seizes you, a bitterness twisting in your chest, emboldened by the death already on your hands - and your magic surges, a violent rush of wind staggering the soldier right back into you, and you lunge forward, using their momentum against them to slip your blade effortlessly through their armor, plunging it deep between their ribs.
Wind whips at your clothes, rain biting painfully against your skin as you pull your sword free and shove them down into the water, forced to take a few steps back as they weakly grab at your legs, the dark water turning red at your feet.
You exhale slowly, shaking your head again, your sword twitching in your hand.
You turn towards Lea then, just as Talia shouts your name, a crossbow bolt singing past you and unceremoniously glancing off the armor of the captain as they clash with Lea.
The other two remaining soldiers are aggressive, and a long few minutes pass with you fending them off, with Lea focusing on the captain, while Harper and Talia try to assist from a distance. You feel like you're at an impasse, and you notice Duncan still lurking nearby, circling you like a vulture.
The impasse breaks, however, when you hear a shout from Lea, a sudden splash of icy water as $l_they go<<es>> down nearby, the captain leering over $l_them.
Your immediate alarm is apparent, your magic spiking in the air around you, a sudden rush of painful cold bursting from your chest, the storm shuddering overhead as the wind shifts through the courtyard.
The two soldiers near you immediately try to withdraw, staggering from the force of the vicious wind and dodging sudden flying debris swirling through the air. You shove your way past them, swinging your sword forward and urging a rush of wind to knock the captain back away from Lea, before you take your sword in both hands and raise it high over your head, the storm picking up as the wind and the rain are pulled down, tunneling around the tip of your blade.
The wind roars, the flood waters churning violently and the spire groaning dangerously as it sways over the courtyard, and you bring your sword down, slicing through the water and slamming against the cobblestones.
The tornado of rain and ice explodes around you, throwing all three soldiers back across the courtyard like ragdolls. It almost throws you flat on your back, too, but you manage to stay standing, staggering through the flood waters, the wind calming for a moment as it fans out across the courtyard, washing over the the other soldiers and your companions before breaking around the temple and yielding to the storm.
You blink the rain from your eyes, taking a few steps back, before making your way towards Lea. You ignore the still body of one of the soldiers, floating face down as you wade past, and you ignore the second, gored through the wrought-iron fence around the cemetery, their blood dripping down the cold metal, mixing with the mud and the snow at the graves' edge.
You ignore it, and quickly rush over to Lea, hauling $l_them out of the water and onto $l_their feet without a word.
$l_They grab<<s>> at your arm, making you flinch as $l_their hand unknowingly brushes against the black wound beneath your sleeve, but thankfully $l_they <<dont>> notice, instead reassuring you with a quick nod before shrugging you off.
The flood recedes slightly then, and you glance over just in time to see the captain rising out of the water, struggling to their feet and staring at you through their faceless mask. You have to look away, water pulsing through the courtyard as the Vel swells overhead, shuddering against the sudden burst of magic, pressing down on you, phantom hands pulling at your clothes and dark voices whispering in your ear.
You try to shake it off, closing your eyes for a moment, and when you open them again it's not the captain, but Duncan that's watching you, his eyes flashing dark through the ice and the rain.
Lea has already started to make $l_their way forward again, but $l_they stop<<s>> short as Duncan steps past the bloody corpses of his soldiers and into your path, Lea scowling at him before glancing over at Merry, still restrained by the two lone soldiers.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You shake your head, forcing yourself to focus on the soldier in front of you, the tense moment shattering as they swing at you with a shout. You step up to meet them, slamming your blade against theirs hard enough to disarm them, the clash of steel ringing in your ears. They let out a shrill yelp, clutching at their hands as their sword spirals down into the flood, vanishing beneath the icy waters at your feet. You hesitate a moment as they start to retreat - but a dark thought seizes you, a bitterness twisting in your chest, emboldened by the death already on your hands - and you lunge after them, slashing your blade through their arms as they attempt to block you and cracking against their armor, knocking their chestplate sideways and staggering them before plunging your sword between their ribs.
They grab at you, just like the first soldier, their fingers digging into your arms as they stare at you through their silver mask, and you have to shove them off of you as you rip your sword free, the soldier toppling over in front of you and forcing you to take a few steps back as the water turns red.
You exhale slowly, shaking your head again, your sword twitching in your hand.
You turn towards Lea then, just as Talia shouts your name, a crossbow bolt singing past you and unceremoniously glancing off the armor of the captain as they clash with Lea.
The other two remaining soldiers are aggressive, and a long few minutes pass with you fending them off, Lea focusing on the captain, while Harper and Talia try to assist from a distance. You feel like you're at an impasse, and you notice Duncan still lurking nearby, circling you like a vulture.
The impasse breaks, however, when you hear a shout from Lea, a sudden splash of icy water as $l_they go<<es>> down nearby, the captain leering over $l_them.
Your immediate alarm is apparent, your magic spiking in the air around you, a sudden rumble through the courtyard, a rush of heat twisting in your chest as the cobblestones shift dangerously beneath your feet.
The two soldiers near you immediately try to withdraw, tripping and tumbling over each other as the ground shifts, the water churning and pulling at them and nearly dragging them under as you shove your wave past them, dipping your sword low through the water and dragging it across the cobblestones, the scrape of metal on stone reverberating up your arm before you lash out, rocks bursting out of the flood waters and smashing against the captain and staggering them back away from Lea.
You take another step, slamming your heel down through the water, and you can feel the roots beneath the cemetery, warped around forgotten caskets and rotting corpses before they surge at your command, twisting under the courtyard and bursting through the cobblestones and grabbing at all three soldiers, wrapping painfully around their legs, cutting through their armor and dragging them down into the water.
You ignore their desperate slashing at the roots, the shouts and screams - the way they abruptly stop as the roots constrict and the soldier vanish beneath the flood.
You ignore it and quickly rush over to Lea, hauling $l_them onto $l_their feet and pushing $l_them away from the twisted roots without a word.
$l_They grab<<s>> at your arm, making you flinch as $l_their hand unknowingly brushes against the black wound beneath your sleeve, but thankfully $l_they <<dont>> notice, instead reassuring you with a quick nod before shrugging you off.
The flood recedes slightly, and you glance over in time to see the captain still fighting their way out of the roots, ripping their arms free and hacking at the thick shoots still trying to grab at their legs, barely staggering out of reach - though the other two soldiers aren't as lucky, and you can only tell where they had been by the gnarled bunch of thorny roots just breaking the surface of the churning water. The other roots eventually retreat, retracting back beneath the earth, the ground shuddering as the cobblestones shift back into place, and water pulses through the courtyard as the Vel swells overhead, trembling against the sudden burst of magic, pressing down on you, phantom hands pulling at your clothes and dark voices whispering in your ear.
You notice something else, too - Duncan, creeping closer, watching you through the rain.
Lea has already started to make $l_their way forward again, but $l_they stop<<s>> short as Duncan steps past the bloody flood waters and gnarled brambles and into your path, Lea scowling at him before glancing over at Merry, still restrained by the two lone soldiers.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>You shake your head, forcing yourself to focus on the soldier in front of you, the tense moment shattering as they swing at you with a shout. You step up to meet them, slamming your blade against theirs hard enough to disarm them, the clash of steel ringing in your ears. They let out a shrill yelp, clutching at their hands as their sword spirals down into the flood, vanishing beneath the icy waters at your feet. You hesitate a moment as they start to retreat - but a dark thought seizes you, a bitterness twisting in your chest, emboldened by the death already on your hands - and you lunge after them, slashing your blade through their arms as they attempt to block you and cracking against their armor, knocking their chestplate sideways and staggering them before plunging your sword between their ribs.
They grab at you, just like the first soldier, their fingers digging into your arms as they stare at you through their silver mask, and you have to shove them off of you as you rip your sword free, the soldier toppling over in front of you and forcing you to take a few steps back as the water turns red.
You exhale slowly, shaking your head again, your sword twitching in your hand.
You turn towards Lea then, just as Talia shouts your name, a crossbow bolt singing past you and unceremoniously glancing off the armor of the captain as they clash with Lea.
The other two remaining soldiers are aggressive, and a long few minutes pass with you fending them off, Lea focusing on the captain, while Harper and Talia try to assist from a distance. You feel like you're at an impasse, and you notice Duncan still lurking nearby, circling you like a vulture.
The impasse breaks, however, when you hear a shout from Lea, a sudden splash of icy water as $l_they go<<es>> down nearby, the captain leering over $l_them.
Your immediate alarm is apparent, a spike of alchemical energy bursting from your runes and coalescing down your blade, red lightning jumping across the flood at your feet as a sudden rush of heat twists in your chest.
The two soldiers near you immediately try to withdraw, their eyes wide behind their masks as they watch the runes around your bracers spark and shift. You lunge forward, clapping your hands together, concentrating on the water and the cold air in the courtyard - and your hands spark, lightning jumping across the water before combusting right in front of the captain. They're thrown back into the flood, their sword flying out of their hand, a wave of heat washing over you as the gas you transmuted dissipates when you pull your hands apart.
Your bracer is still shifting, constricting painfully tight and hot around your forearm, the metal and leather morphing until three long blades protrude from the side of your bracer. You throw your arm out, the blade easily sliding free - three knives, guided by your alchemical lightning, spinning through the air, embedding themselves into the two remaining soldiers with a wet //thud//. The third knife, unable to find the captain, spirals through a wide arc before swinging back around, pulled back by the call of your runes, and it slots back into your bracer with enough force to make you stagger. The other two do the same - once they manage to pull themselves free of the flesh and bone, gore splattering through the air and staining the flood waters red.
You grimace at the pain in your arm, gasping at your bracer as it slowly deconstructs the blades back into armored metal, and you quickly wade past the sinking bodies, ignoring the churning red water and the blood on your bracer as you quickly rush over to Lea, hauling $l_them onto $l_their feet and pushing $l_them away from the carnage without a word.
$l_They grab<<s>> at your arm, making you flinch as $l_their hand unknowingly brushes against the black wound beneath your sleeve, but thankfully $l_they <<dont>> notice, instead reassuring you with a quick nod before shrugging you off.
The flood recedes slightly then, and you glance over just in time to see the captain rising out of the water, struggling to their feet and staring at you through their faceless mask. You have to look away, water pulsing through the courtyard as the Vel swells overhead, shuddering against the sudden display of violence, pressing down on you, phantom hands pulling at your clothes and dark voices whispering in your ear.
You try to shake it off, closing your eyes for a moment, and when you open them again it's not the captain, but Duncan that's watching you, his eyes flashing dark through the ice and the rain.
Lea has already started to make $l_their forward again, but $l_they stop<<s>> short as Duncan steps past the bloody corpses of his soldiers and into your path, Lea scowling at him before glancing over at Merry, still restrained by the two lone soldiers.<<else>>You shake your head, forcing yourself to focus on the soldier in front of you, the tense moment shattering as they swing at you with a shout. You step up to meet them, slamming your blade against theirs hard enough to disarm them, the clash of steel ringing in your ears. They let out a shrill yelp, clutching at their hands as their sword spirals down into the flood, vanishing beneath the icy waters at your feet. You hesitate a moment as they start to retreat - but a dark thought seizes you, a bitterness twisting in your chest, emboldened by the death already on your hands - and you lunge after them, slashing your blade through their arms as they attempt to block you and cracking against their armor, knocking their chestplate sideways and staggering them before plunging your sword between their ribs.
They grab at you, just like the first soldier, their fingers digging into your arms as they stare at you through their silver mask, and you have to shove them off of you as you rip your sword free, the soldier toppling over in front of you and forcing you to take a few steps back as the water turns red.
You exhale slowly, shaking your head again, your sword twitching in your hand.
You turn towards Lea then, just as Talia shouts your name, a crossbow bolt singing past you and unceremoniously glancing off the armor of the captain as they clash with Lea.
The other two remaining soldiers are aggressive, and a long few minutes pass with you fending them off, Lea focusing on the captain, while Harper and Talia try to assist from a distance. You feel like you're at an impasse, and you notice Duncan still lurking nearby, circling you like a vulture.
The impasse breaks, however, when you hear a shout from Lea, a sudden splash of icy water as $l_they go<<es>> down nearby, the captain leering over $l_them.
Your immediate alarm is apparent, magic suddenly spiking hot in your chest, lightning popping down your blade as you raise it high in front of you.
The two soldiers near you immediately try to withdraw in the sudden bright heat, their eyes wide behind their masks as you shove past them. You lunge forward, thrusting your blade in front of you, and white lightning coalesces along the edge of your blade before bursting in a loud hiss of sparks, the flood waters flashing at your feet as your lightning ignites across the courtyard and explodes against the captain, futilely throwing up their arms in an attempt to break the impact - but they're knocked clean off their feet, and away from Lea, crashing down into the flood and convulsing violently as your magic consumes them.
You spin back around just in time to dodge a backstab from one of the other soldiers, and you slap their blade away with the back of your hand, pain cracking through your knuckles and up your arm - but you ignore it, leaping after them and slamming against their chest, wincing as their chestplate bites at your shoulder.
They stagger back, swinging their sword wildly at you, and this time you slap it away with your own sword, sparks bursting between you as the metal clashes, and you quickly draw back before burying your blade in their stomach. You wrench your sword back before the soldier can even react, spinning around to slash at the final soldier, coming at you with their sword raised high - too high, expecting to get the jump on you, and your blade cuts right through their exposed throat, knocking their mask off and stopping them dead in their tracks.
They blink at you, a young face exposed beneath the mask, their mouth opening and closing around broken words, until their head rolls back, their throat a gaping mouth of red, weeping down the front of their armor before they crumple to the ground.
You ignore the way their still open eyes seem to follow you as you wade past, and you ignore the other soldier, floating face down in the the churning red water, your bloody blade steaming in the cold air - you ignore it as you quickly rush over to Lea, hauling $l_them onto $l_their feet and pushing $l_them away from the carnage without a word.
$l_They grab<<s>> at your arm, making you flinch as $l_their hand unknowingly brushes against the black wound beneath your sleeve, but thankfully $l_they <<dont>> notice, instead reassuring you with a quick nod before shrugging you off.
The flood recedes slightly then, and you glance over just in time to see the captain rising out of the water, struggling to their feet and staring at you through their faceless mask. You have to look away, water pulsing through the courtyard as the Vel swells overhead, shuddering against the sudden display of violence, pressing down on you, phantom hands pulling at your clothes and dark voices whispering in your ear.
You try to shake it off, closing your eyes for a moment, and when you open them again it's not the captain, but Duncan that's watching you, his eyes flashing dark through the ice and the rain.
Lea has already started to make $l_their way forward again, but $l_they stop<<s>> short as Duncan steps past the bloody corpses of his soldiers and into your path, Lea scowling at him before glancing over at Merry, still restrained by the two lone soldiers.<</if>>
<<include "CH2.1 Get Merry Choices">><div id="choice">[[Tell Lea to keep going - I'll hold him off. ->CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - I'll hold him off.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[If Lea can hold him off, I can break Merry's chains. I keep going. ->CH2.1 If Lea can hold him off, I can break Merry's chains. I keep going.]]</div>You step in front of Lea, glaring at Duncan as he raises his sword.
"Keep going," you tell Lea, and you can feel $l_them hesitate, feel $l_their eyes on you - and then the quiet splashing of water, the sudden cold air at your back as $l_they make<<s>> a break for Merry. Talia follows after $l_them, and Harper gives you one last look before doing the same.
You quickly dart sideways, keeping yourself in front of them, turning with Duncan as he watches over your shoulder. But he lets them go, their footsteps fading behind you, Duncan's grey eyes flashing as you start to circle each other.
Standing in front of him, you suddenly notice for the first time that there are flickering runes on his armor - across his chest, at the joints, over his hands. //Enchanted armor//.
You take a few steps back then, away from the twisted bodies floating nearby, away from Duncan, as you try to reconcile your current situation - it wasn't supposed to be like this. Getting involved here was always going to be messy, but you were never planning on this kind of escalation - with blood on your hands like this. But you are starting to realize now - you and Lea were never going to walk away from this. You curse yourself for handing over Merry like you did - a foolish choice, maybe a cowardly choice, too.
Duncan follows after you, twirling his sword in his hand, glancing down at the bloody water churning at your feet.
"Hunter $surname," Duncan says then, tilting his head at you. "What have you done?"
His tone makes your skin crawl, and you curl your lip at him, but he doesn't hesitate in the slightest as he raises his sword, darting forward and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your counterstrike swinging through empty air.
You swear, turning quickly after him, taken aback at his swiftness. You keep your sword high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead.
Your eyes cut to Duncan's blade, gleaming in the white lightning erupting through the courtyard, flashing as he twirls it in front of him again - a move that has always irritated you.
You try to take advantage of it, lunging for him halfway through his display, swinging your sword down with both hands.
He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones, water exploding around you on impact. This close, you can feel the magic radiating from his armor, can see the way it responds to his movements, flashing rapidly as he puts some space between you.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
You open your mouth to respond, but any words you were going to say just twist into a sudden pained scream as something pierces through the back of your knee. A rough hand grabs your shoulder, pulling you back, plunging the blade deeper until it twists through the front of your leg, protruding from your kneecap, the steel black with blood.
Duncan's eyes widen in shock, taking a startled step back as the sword suddenly withdraws and you're shoved to the ground, crying out again as your gored knee hits the cobblestones, the icy flood water making you gasp. Your vision blurs for a few seconds, hunching forward and clutching at your leg, blood blooming dark in the water churning around your waist.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - I'll hold him off. 1]]You blink up into the rain, up at Duncan, still holding your sword in one hand, but his shock has turned to anger, glaring over at the captain as they come around to stand in front of you, their bloody sword steaming in the cold air.
They say something to Duncan, but you can't make it out, not over the ringing in your ears, the loud drumming of the rain on the water, the flood slowly rising and pulling at your clothes. You know you're not going to be able to stand up, if you're even able to move at all - you don't want to look at it, you don't want to assess the damage, and you're partially thankful for the dark water as it obscures the worst of it from you.
There's a strange moment of silence as Lord Duncan just stares at the captain, and you startle when he suddenly steps forward and runs his sword through them without a word.
You turn away as the body collapses in front of you, icy water splashing and biting at the bare skin of your face, making you recoil, grabbing at your knee again as the movement causes pain to spike through your leg and make your head spin.
Duncan paces back and forth a few times, before stopping and crouching down in front of you, his sword flashing as he sits his elbows on his knees, turning the hilt over in his palm.
He looks angry, and disappointed, shaking his head as he lets out a long sigh.
"I'm sorry, $surname," he says, and you think he genuinely means it.
He glances around the courtyard then, over your shoulder, and you grimace as you turn to follow his gaze - and you see Lea and Merry, along with Harper and Talia, making their way towards the edge of the courtyard, Merry's chains dragging through the flood behind them.
"They're leaving you," Duncan says, sighing again as he stands back up, slowly sheathing his bloody sword.
You're vaguely aware of Keres and Noel still fighting near the temple, stray magic cracking across the surface of the flood, lightning flashing against the rain and illuminating the dark clouds overhead. The Vel, too, flickers above you, pulsing against the storm, almost tangible now with how close it is. You can taste blood in your mouth, and your head is heavy, your body trembling from the pain and the cold.
Duncan considers you for a long time, his hand going to his sword again, before he turns to a few of his soldiers still hovering nearby.
"Restrain it," he says to them, and you once again hear the familiar whisper of chains as the soldiers leer down at you.
All you can do is raise your arms, covering your face, but they grab at your wrists, three of them swarming around you, ripping your sword out of your hand. Armored boots kick against your ribs, hands pull at your cloak, and you're hauled forward by your arms, halfway lifted off the ground, screaming as they jar your leg and twist you violently to your feet.
Duncan watches it all with a mild frown.
The rattle of chains again, right in front of you, and you recoil, pain in your skull sharpening as the shackles being snapped around your wrist come into focus.
The metal bites through your clothes, through your bracers, the sensation of hundreds of needles piercing your skin, slowly crawling up your arms and making you groan.
You sway forward, unsteady, leaning into one of the soldiers, and then - you vomit. The soldier swears, shoving you off of them and back down into the freezing water, your hands locked together now in front of you, a thick, heavy bar connecting the shackles around each wrist.
You blink water and blood from your eyes to stare at the metal, and your blood runs cold.
Blood iron.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - I'll hold him off. 2]]The effects seem to trigger upon your realization, and you make a pathetic sound that at any other point would have made you incredibly ashamed; as it is, you can hardly process the courtyard in front of you anymore, a strange haze seeming to blanket your vision, pain in the base of your skull so intense that you vomit a second time.
One of the soldiers takes that as an invitation to kick you again, shoving you down into the flood waters, your elbows cracking against the cobblestones as you try to catch yourself.
You curl forward, tucking your face into your elbow, icy water clinging to your clothes as the flood waters surge around you.
"What's wrong with them?" you hear one of the soldiers say, but when you lift your head again, there are no soldiers - the courtyard is empty, the courtyard is //different//.
You blink a few times, and the soldiers flicker in and out of existence, the violence and chaos of the courtyard overwhelming you in sudden flashes, nearly making you vomit once again.
The rain slows, the churning water calms around you, and you stare up at the temple - it's still there, though it's the only thing still there. Again the courtyard flickers, and you're surrounded by towering pines, though even that is dwarfed by the temple spire, still there, stark against the calm, cloudy sky. It flickers again, and you're back in the courtyard, still empty - younger, stronger, the city not yet encroaching upon this place.
Memories, trapped in the Vel.
Then you hear the familiar sound of rattling chains, gold eyes leering down at you, the feeling of a cold hand on the back of your neck. Another hand wrapping around your forearm, nails digging through the bandages, jagged claws scraping bone.
The image wavers in front of you, pain radiating from the base of your skull, just the flash of gold and black as something crawls its way in, your arm hot and heavy and agonizing. You want to scratch at it, but the shackles hold you in place, the iron bar whining as you twist your wrists painfully.
You groan, curling forward again - breathing hard, your throat scratching against the cold air, and you gasp as the courtyard suddenly reverts unceremoniously - everything snaps back in place, the forgotten buildings, the cemetery, the soldiers glaring down at you. The storm returns, too, the rain unforgiving against your hot, sensitive skin, the icy water lapping at your thighs making you recoil.
And then, a familiar voice whispers in your ear.
//Break it.//
Your eyes flick to the shackles, to your hands twitching involuntarily, your bandages unraveling and exposing your black, rotted fingers. You feel something shift under your skin, scratching at your skull, a hand curling around your diaphragm.
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 3'>><</link>></span><<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>
<<link '"//Break it.//"' 'CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - Ill hold him off. 4'>><</link>>You lift your hands over your head and slam the shackles down against the cobblestones. Water explodes around you on impact, startling the soldiers and Duncan, all of them jumping back away from you. As you lift your arms again, a sudden explosion blasts through the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and if you hadn't already been on your knees, it would have sent you to the ground.
Duncan and his soldiers all are thrown off their feet in front of you, and you duck forward, shielding yourself with the shackles, a wave of heat washing over you, black fire falling from the sky.
There's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, and you sink down into the water, trembling as your knee buckles under you, spots blurring your vision as phantom hands reach out of the water, pulling at your clothes, cold fingers brushing your cheek, grasping your arms hard enough to hurt as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you, pulsing against the blood iron.
The Vel is open.
You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
Your shackles turn hot, burning through your clothes, burning your wrists, the metal shimmering and growing heavy as your hands sink beneath the flood. You can just see them through the dark water, the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
"//Hunter//."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
[[Break it. ->CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - I'll hold him off. 5]]It compels you, and you raise your hands once more. You bring them down against the cobblestones again and again, ignoring the chaos in the courtyard, the soldiers wading past you, the shouting and the screaming and the rising flood - and Duncan, drawing his sword again as he watches you.
He doesn't try to stop you at first, nor do the two soldiers still remaining at his side - you think they're amused, but soon their amusement turns to confusion, and then disgust as you slam your hands against the stones again and again.
Something breaks - your fingers, your hands, your wrists - you're not sure. But you don't stop.
//Break it.//
The hands around you tighten, hot breath on the back of your neck quickening in anticipation.
//Break it.//
You can't. Your arms shake, blood staining the dark water as it slowly rises higher and higher, shoving you off balance and forcing you to lower your hands, grimacing at the icy water biting at your now swollen and bloody fingers.
//Break it.//
"I can't," you say out loud to no one.
There's a clear disappointment, not entirely yours, that constricts in your chest, before the hands gripping you slowly let go, receding with a quiet sigh, and you slump forward, holding your busted hands against your chest.
Your voice seems to jar Duncan and the soldiers then, and Duncan quickly orders them to restrain you - rough hands shoving you forward, pulling at your arms and dragging you back through the flood waters, trying to grapple you onto your feet. The shackles cut at your wrists, crushing your bracers painfully and biting at the bloody skin beneath your sleeves.
"Get off of me," you growl, your own voice surprising you, bucking back against the soldiers and sending all three of you staggering sideways as you thrash violently, kicking and throwing elbows and dragging them all down into the flood.
The sudden violence seems to stir that familiar presence again, disappointment shifting into excitement, the Vel flickering suddenly, another plume of black fire raining down overhead. You're breathing hard, struggling still, even as the pain in your leg threatens to drown you before the flood can get the chance - you can't let them take you. You'd rather Duncan just kill you here and now than keep you for some toy in his game.
One of the soldiers lets go of your arm to steady themself against the pull of the flood, splashing to the ground behind you, and you take the chance to rip your other arm free, before spinning around and smashing the shackles over the second soldier's head. They drop without a sound, your hands throbbing painfully as you retreat and tuck them against your stomach.
The first soldier is already back on their feet, and when they try to grab you again you just throw yourself against them, both of you going down into the water once more, and you want to just run - but you can't, and that hand is tightening around you again, dark whispers scratching at the back of your skull, something breathing your name as it burrows its way inside, the black wound on your arm suddenly splitting open, black blood swirling through the water and pooling across the iron shackles.
You raise your hands and bring the shackles down against the soldier's face, the metal clashing against their silver mask, blood spurting from the mouth and eyes as you hit them again and again.
And again, you raise your hands - but Duncan grabs you from behind, grabbing at the bar between your wrists and wrenching you back off of his soldier, making you cry out as your leg twists painfully when you instinctively try to brace yourself.
He hauls you through the flood, dragging you back before shoving you around in front of him and lifting your arms over your head, kicking at the back of your legs and forcing you back down onto your knees. You collapse forward, only held in place by his hand still wrapped around the thick bar of blood iron, and the weight on your knee is almost unbearable, the threat of unconsciousness creeping at the edge of your vision, panting hard as you struggle to push back against it.
Duncan pins your hands behind your back, your arms straining on either side of your head, holding you still for a moment before he jerks you back even farther, forcing your head back and pressing his blade to your throat.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Tell Lea to keep going - I'll hold him off. 6]]"That's enough, $surname," Duncan hisses, twisting the bar behind your head and drawing a pathetic sound out of you.
The Vel flickers again, pulsing around you, breathing deep, the blood iron around your wrists hissing and burning painfully - and the courtyard trembles, one of the rises leading to the upper levels collapsing nearby, sending a wave of flood water washing over both of you, debris crashing across the cobblestones and black smoke billowing overhead, singeing the back of your throat.
The storm seems to crescendo then - and looking up into the dark clouds, you swear you can see a pair of golden eyes watching you, hear the distant ring of chains alongside the rolling thunder as lightning strikes the spire again.
Duncan is still clinging onto you, but he's unsteady on his feet in the churning waters, and you reach back, grasping at him with your bound hands - your claws scraping against his chestplate before you manage to grab a handful of his collar. His blade draws back, nicking at your throat, but your haul him forward before he can do any real damage, his sword flailing uselessly as you heave him over your shoulders and slam him down into the water in front of you.
You realize you're yelling as the bellow of thunder fades, and you think it's the pain in your leg, or maybe it's the Vel, or the shackles - or maybe it's the gold eyes watching you, the excitement stirring in your chest, the anticipation building in the air as the Vel dances across the flood waters, clashing against the blood iron with a hot spray of white sparks.
You drop down on top of Duncan, smacking his sword away with the shackles, and you swipe at his face, the black curve of your claws flashing like steel, like the black iron around your wrists. The strike stuns him, blinking up at you through the blood and the rain with wide eyes as you raise your hands over your head yet again. He tries to squirm away from you, kicking at your injured leg, but you ignore him, ignore the pain, and bring the metal bar down across his bloody face.
Those gold eyes watch you. They compel you. You raise your hands again.
You hit him once, twice, three times, and he splutters against the flood, thrashing weakly underneath you, wheezing through his bloody mouth and broken nose, raising his hands as if that could stop you.
Before you can hit him for a fourth time, though, rough hands grab you from behind again, tugging on your cloak, making you gag as it tightens around your throat and you're yanked off of Duncan, dragged back through the icy water as you struggle to regain your footing with your injured knee.
You're startled when Keres suddenly appears in front of you, stomping through the water and grabbing Duncan by the front of his armor, hauling him up onto his feet and pulling him out of your reach, even as you swing the shackles in front of you with a snarl.
<<link '"$name!"' 'CH2.1 Lea Intervene Shackles'>><</link>>"$name!"
You're jerked backwards again, dropping down hard into the flood as your knee buckles, an angry whine in the back of your throat as you blindly swing the shackles around, struggling against the pain in your leg, in your arm, trying to break free from the rough hands holding you in place.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and scrambling a few steps back, raising your shackles threateningly.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing the jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
You blink at your bloody hands, your black claws stained red, the blood iron suddenly far too heavy around your wrists.
Rougher hands grab you then, wrenching you back away from Lea before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment, holding you steady - before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you struggle to your feet, spinning around before staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>"Lea," you say, and $l_they<<re>> already nodding.
"I'll deal with him," $l_they <<say>>, glancing back over $l_their shoulder at you.
You hesitate, holding Lea's gaze for a brief moment before $l_they turn<<s>> back around-
"Go, $surname! And be quick. I know you don't want to miss out on this," $l_they laugh<<s>> then, raising $l_their sword, and you turn away, your steps quietly splashing through the flood as you leave Lea behind.
You sense Talia at your heels, and Harper too, his daggers drawn, watching your back as you finally reach the other side of the courtyard.
There are only two soldiers remaining with Merry, and they brace for your approach, one of them dragging Merry back while the other steps up to meet you.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>You slow your steps, raising your sword in front of you, exhaling slowly as you refocus your magic, your blade glowing hot once more, hissing loudly against the cold rain.
The nearest soldier takes a swing at you, which you easily dodge, side stepping them and slicing at their sword arm, forcing them to recoil as the heat from your blade brushes against them. They stagger back, barely recovering in time to block your follow up strike, grunting as your swords spark together before they duck back and retreat even farther.
You stalk after them, hefting your sword, trailing your hand along your blade, fire erupting from your palm, igniting the already warm metal, hot steam tickling your face.
You swing your sword in front of you, before lunging after the soldier, bringing your sword down with both hands. Your initial strike glances off their armor, but the fire still gets a scream out of them, and the flame flickers, drawing in and then popping bright, white electricity as you slam your sword across their chestplate again. Lightning surges, exploding over them, throwing the soldier back a few feet, convulsing before they collapse down into the flood, the smell of burnt flesh and singed hair overwhelming you again as you draw back with a gag.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You slow your steps, raising your sword in front of you, exhaling slowly as you refocus your magic, frost coalescing along your blade once more, the air around you turning sharp and frigid.
The nearest soldier takes a swing at you, which you easily dodge, side stepping them and slicing at their sword arm, ice bursting up their bracer and and freezing armor to clothes to flesh, even as they desperately claw at it with their other hand. They stagger back, barely recovering in time to block your follow up strike, grunting as the ice around their arm cracks painfully, the force of your blades clashing making them cry out even as they retreat.
You stalk after them, dipping your sword low, dragging your blade through the flood - the water clings to the metal, twisting as it crawls up towards the hilt, and when you raise your sword the follows after it.
You lunge forward, swinging after the soldier - out of reach of your sword, but as you swing through the empty air the water around your blade surges, coalescing at the end of your blade and lashing out as a honed whip of icy water, cracking across the soldier's chest and throwing them off their feet.
They go down hard into the flood, and the churning water and ice immediately overtakes them, vanishing beneath the dark water without a sound.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You slow your steps, raising your sword in front of you, exhaling slowly as you refocus your magic, the earth humming beneath your feet, and you can feel the solid stone of the crypt, the tombs of the cemetery just beyond the edge of the courtyard, even the corpses, emaciated and forgotten, twitching in their caskets - but you wouldn't go that far. Not yet.
The nearest soldier takes a swing at you, which you easily dodge, side stepping them and slicing at their sword arm, your blade embedding just beneath the crook of their elbow. They recoil, staggering back and clutching at their arm, and you lunge after them, kicking them hard in the side and sending them tumbling through the flood.
You bring your foot down with a splash, slamming against the cobblestones, and the ground rises at your command, the stones bursting through the water at the soldier's feet. They let out a scream that makes your hair stand on end, the stones trapping their leg and snapping bone as they trip over themself, a rush of bright red blood spilling across the churning water.
You let the stones recede, drawing them back into the earth, the soldier collapsing down onto one knee before you step forward and finish them off, a quick vertical slice across their throat. They stare at you for a moment, dark eyes flashing in their mask, before collapsing backwards and vanishing beneath the dark water without a sound.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You slow your steps, raising your sword in front of you, exhaling slowly as you refocus your magic, the wind howling in response, the flood churning at your feet.
The nearest soldier takes a swing at you, which you easily dodge, side stepping them and slicing at their sword arm, your blade embedding just beneath the crook of their elbow. The storm wails overhead as you rip your blade free, a spray of blood splattering in the wind while the soldier staggers back, barely recovering in time to block your follow up strike, grunting as your swords clash together before they duck back and retreat even farther.
You stalk after them, hefting your sword, twirling it in your hand before lunging after them. You bring it down with both hands, slicing through the flood and cracking against the cobblestones, a burst of air rushing past the end of your blade and slamming into the soldier - and it throws them off their feet, through the air, across the courtyard, until they come crashing down against the wrought-iron fence around the cemetery. The wind whips at your clothes, swirling around the length of your blade, the rain and cold chilling you to the bone.
The soldier doesn't get back up - they don't even move, slumped against the iron, blood pooling in the muddy snow beneath them.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>You slow your steps, raising your sword in front of you, exhaling slowly as the nearest soldier closes in on you.
They rush in with a quick swing, which you easily dodge, side stepping them and slicing at their sword arm, your blade embedding just beneath the crook of their elbow. You rip it free with a snarl, a spray of blood spattering across the surface of the flood, and they stagger back, barely recovering in time to block your follow up strike, grunting as your swords clash together. You roughly shove against them, steel on steel scraping loudly in your ears, and they yelp as they splash back through the churning water.
You lunge after them, your blades coming together once more, and there's a spark of alchemical lightning, the runes on your bracer flashing bright as your other hand curls into a fist - and the metal shifts, constricting around your wrist for a painful moment as your bracer transmutes into a single blade, extending past your clenched fist just as you slam it against the soldier's chest.
You crack through their chestplate, pain spiking up your arm as the blade embeds itself in their sternum, splitting flesh and breaking bone as you both crash down into the flood. The soldier slaps at your arm, wheezing painfully, and you quickly withdraw, a spray of dark blood bursting through their chestplate as you pull your blade back.
The soldier gapes up at you, their eyes rolling back as they slowly sink beneath the dark water at your feet.
You grab at your wrist, flexing your hand as your blade recedes back into your bracer, the runes glowing hot enough to burn your through your sleeve, hissing against the cold air.<<else>>You slow your steps, raising your sword in front of you, exhaling slowly as the nearest soldier closes in on you.
They rush in with a quick swing, which you easily dodge, side stepping them and slicing at their sword arm, your blade embedding just beneath the crook of their elbow. You rip it free with a snarl, a spray of blood spattering across the surface of the flood, and they stagger back, barely recovering in time to block your follow up strike, grunting as your swords clash together. You roughly shove against them, steel on steel scraping loudly in your ears, and they yelp as they splash back through the churning water.
You stalk after them, hefting your sword, and they try to retaliate, coming at you with a wild swipe, but you just dodge beneath their blade, rolling forward before launching yourself upwards, slamming into their chest as your sword plunges through their armpit. Your momentum rips them from your blade and throws them a few feet across the flood, landing with a heavy splash before the dark water immediately overtakes them.
Hot blood and viscera congeal atop the flood in front of you, and you can just see the soldier's silver mask staring up at you beneath the surface, the white lightning flashing overhead reflected in the carved, blank expression leering out of the dark.
You're breathing hard, your breath fogging in the cold air in front of you, and you take a few steps back, a shiver crawling up your spine as you glance at the mask one last time.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2.1 If Lea can hold him off, I can break Merry's chains. I keep going. 1]]You and Lea stomp up the street, joining Clementine where they stand in the rain, watching you all with wide eyes. Lea's hand is still on $l_their sword.
"This was a mistake," $l_they finally <<say>> after a few painful moments, shaking $l_their head.
"I think that might be an understatement," you say, though Lea is hardly in the mood for it, just giving you an agitated look.
You peer over at $l_them, letting out a long breath then, reaching up to wipe some of the rain from your face, dripping from your hood.
"We're splitting with them, after this," Lea continues, turning to you. "Once we're out of the city - they're not coming with us."
"We should just leave. Right now, Lea."
Lea doesn't answer you for a moment.
"We have to do this first. If we don't, no one else will. With the way Duncan is acting, I have a feeling you and Noel will be the last hunters this city sees for a long time."
You had a feeling that's what $l_they <<were>> going to say. You know Lea too well, by now. And despite everything - you are inclined to agree. How long has Duncan been blocking people's efforts to contact the Black Iron before this? It was pure luck the two of you stumbled here to begin with. Or maybe misfortune.
"We'll deal with Captain Harlowe once we're finished here," Lea says then. "We can dump her on the coast somewhere. Our situation is bad enough without her implicating us."
You don't respond, scowling down at your boots, your face still hot from anger and adrenaline.
"Can you handle doing this?" Lea asks then, turning to stand in front of you, peering into your hood.
"If you're asking if I can play nice, //yes//. I can play nice," you say gruffly, crossing your arms and ducking into your hood.
Lea sighs.
"I don't like it either," $l_they grumble<<s>>, adjusting $l_their sword as $l_they glance<<s>> back over $l_their shoulder, watching Merry and Noel haul the final soldier out of the street.
<<if $c_flirt gte 3>><<if ($clem_touchaverse eq 1) or ($cTouchAverse eq false)>>Clementine shifts beside you then - you had forgotten they were even there. You think they're going to say something, but instead they just grab at your hand, their fingers cold and wet in your palm. You blink over at them, giving them what you know is a weak smile, and they squeeze your hand, huddling even closer.
You can feel Lea looking at you both, but if $l_they think<<s>> anything of it, $l_they <<dont>> say it, just turning to watch Merry and Noel as they slowly make their way back over to you.
Clementine lets go before they get too close.<<elseif ($clem_touchaverse eq 1) or ($clem_touchaverse eq 2) or ($cTouchAverse eq true)>>Clementine shifts beside you then - you had forgotten they were even there. You think they're going to say something, but instead they just duck against you - not touching you, but close enough to feel their body heat through your cloak. You blink over at them, giving them what you know is a weak smile, and you can't tell if they smile back, but they just bow their head and huddle even closer.
You can feel Lea looking at you both, but if $l_they think<<s>> anything of it, $l_they <<dont>> say it, just turning to watch Merry and Noel as they slowly make their way back over to you.
Clementine steps back before they get too closer.<</if>><<elseif $bw_clem eq true>>Clementine shifts beside you then, moving closer - you had forgotten they were even there. You think they're going to say something, but they don't, just shifting on their feet and fidgeting with their mask.
"You alright, Clem?" you prompt gently.
They blink at you, nodding quickly and ducking their head.
You and Lea exchange a look, and Lea moves a little closer to them, too, before you both turn to watch Merry and Noel slowly make their way back over to you.<<else>>A tense silence falls over both of you again, and you almost startle as Clementine nervously shifts beside you - you had forgotten they were even there. They glance between you and Lea, fidgeting with their mask, anxiously pulling on their wet curls.
Lea notices, too, giving you a look before shifting a little closer to them, in an attempt at comfort, you think.
You watch them for a moment, before turning back as Merry and Noel emerge out from beneath the stilts, slowly making their way back over to you.<</if>>
Merry doesn't say anything to either of you, just brushing past you and continuing up the street.
"We'll need to be quick," Noel says, watching her for a moment before turning to you and Lea. "They'll notice they're missing people sooner rather than later."
"Let's go, then," Lea says gruffly, nodding at Noel and falling into step beside xem.
You hesitate after them, staring back up the street one last time, the blood already washed away with the rain.
[[Continue ->CH2 To the temple 1]]The Vel flickers above you, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is. You can taste blood in your mouth, and your head is heavy, icy water burning against your cheek pressed to the cobblestones.
Duncan crouches down beside you, watching you curiously.
He starts to speak, but you don't hear him, suddenly overwhelmed by the magic radiating from his armor - enchanted - and this close you can see the runes glowing faintly, etched in the metal.
But it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan is scowling, shaking his head.
"I expected more from you," he sighs, standing and prodding you with his foot.
The Vel shudders again, and you watch it for a moment, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard.
<<link [[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Injured 1]]>><</link>>Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, stained dark with blood, and you briefly lock eyes with Duncan before lunging after him with a snarl.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>You can hardly contain your magic, flames erupting along your blade again, lightning coalescing along your forearms with fire leaping high and burning hot across the surface of the choppy flood waters, a sudden impossible blaze swirling all around you.
You leap through the rising water, striking Duncan across the chest, sparks bursting from the runes as the fire washes over him. It still knocks him back again, grunting painfully, but he manages to stay standing, his face flushed red and blistered from the heat. He attempts to dart around and flank you - but your sword swings after him, another wave of fire roaring from the edge of your blade, Duncan vanishing within the blinding light as the flames envelop him completely, the smell of burnt flesh and singed hair making you gag.
Duncan screams for a terrible few seconds before dropping into the water. It doesn't help - it's magic. It keeps burning, until the runes suddenly glow bright, a burst of power blowing the flames off of him, and you watch as they evaporate into the cold air, a few stray embers still burning atop the water.
Your sword still burns, hissing against the rain, and lightning pops around the black wound of your arm, purple and red and painful, illuminating the dark water as you wade over to Duncan.
He tries to get back up, struggling in the flood, but you just kick him back down, waving your sword dangerously close to his face, forcing him to turn away from the flame and shield his raw, bloody face. You get a sense of grim satisfaction at his cowering, trembling in the icy water at your feet.
You crouch down in front of him, grabbing the front of his armor when he tries to scramble away, and you hit him once, twice, three times, dark blood spilling down his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth, his head snapping back unnaturally as he pathetically grabs at your arms, digging his nails into the black wound beneath your bandages - but you ignore the pain, the black blood oozing through your sleeve, instead just hitting him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You can hardly contain your magic, frost forming over your clothes, clinging to your sleeves and crawling down your blade, while ice forms and breaks in the water at your feet.
You leap through the rising water, striking Duncan across the chest, ice splintering over his chestplate as the runes spark on impact. It knocks him back again, grunting painfully, but he manages to stay standing, gritting his teeth and shaking his arms as the ice creeps across his armor. He keeps moving, attempting to dart around and flank you - but the icy water slows him down, grabbing at his boots while it swirls around you, and you easily turn with him, raising your sword to strike him again.
Another burst of ice spikes across his armor from your blade as he stumbles through the flood, and you follow it up with a kick in his side, knocking him roughly down into the water, foaming and frantic now with anticipation from your magic.
You raise your foot and slam your heel down into the water in front of Duncan as he struggles to get back on his feet, and ice explodes from the flood, spears of black ice rising at your command, trapping Duncan as they pierce through one of his arms and his legs, his sword flying off into the flood as he's lifted a few feet in the air, his blood steaming against the ice.
Your sword arm is heavy, the black wound on your forearm covered in a layer of bloody ice with your hand frozen to your hilt, cold and painful, the blade still thick with frost. You grimace as you pry your fingers free, raising your sword as you glare up at Duncan.
You circle him once, before flicking your wrist and dismissing the icy spikes, retracting them slowly at first, Duncan crying out in pain, before letting them evaporate and drop him down hard into the water. Crouching down in front of him, you grab at the front of his armor before he can scramble away, hauling him up onto his knees and hitting him once, twice, three times, dark blood spilling down the front of his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth, his head snapping back unnaturally as he pathetically grabs at your arms, digging his nails into the black wound beneath your bandages - but you ignore the pain, the black blood oozing through your sleeve, instead just hitting him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You can hardly contain your magic, air swirling all around you, the surface of the flood waters growing tempestuous and choppy, slowly rising higher and higher, angry white foam clinging to your clothes.
You leap through the rising water, the air carrying you high and bringing you down hard to strike Duncan across the chest, the force of it actually denting his chestplate despite the best efforts of the runes, flashing frantically now. It knocks him back again, wheezing painfully, but he still manages to stay standing, gritting his teeth and pressing a hand to his chest as he gasps to catch his breath. He keeps moving, dropping his hand and attempting to dart around and flank you - but you don't give him the chance, raising your arm and throwing a burst of wind at him. It sends him flying, crashing through the wrought-iron fence of the cemetery and into one of the old, crumbling statues standing guard over the forgotten graves.
You quickly follow after him, light on your feet, your boots skimming the flood waters before you easily clear the fence and land carefully in the muddy snow.
Duncan scrambles back onto his feet, staggering and clutching at his side as he raises his sword, curling his lip at you as you cross over the few graves between you.
You're patient, though, and keeping your own sword low, watching Duncan closely as he pushes himself off the statue and attempts to rush you. You easily sidestep him, striking him across the back with your sword, sending him tumbling forward into the broken wrought-iron fence, and then you sweep your sword upward, wind roaring past you and throwing Duncan up into the air - and you leap after him.
You grab him in the air, ignoring his sword in your side as you both drop back down into the courtyard, the wind at your back and your weight on Duncan as you crash through the flood and slam against the cobblestones.
Duncan weakly grabs at your wrists as you haul him up, blood trickling from the corner of his lips as he gasps for air. Your arm aches, black blood soaking through your sleeve and swirling in the air around you, but you ignore it, even as Duncan desperately grabs at it, digging his fingers into the rotted wound as you hold him fast.
You just scowl at him.
"I expected more from you," you mock, shadows flickering around you with anticipation, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You can hardly contain your magic as it burns across your skin, //bursts// through your skin, thorns sprouting from the black wound in your forearm, piercing through your bandages as vines wrap around your wrist and completely envelop your hand before extending down your blade.
You leap through the rising water, striking Duncan across the chest, thorns bursting from your vines and embedding themselves in his chestplate, a magical whine in the air as the runes flash frantically against the pierced metal. It knocks Duncan back again, grunting painfully, but he manages to stay standing, gritting his teeth and ripping at the thorns and vines curling around his armor. He swears angrily but keeps moving, attempting to dart around and flank you - but you easily roll out of the way, putting some space between you before you jump back up out of the flood, raising your sword to strike back at him.
Not your sword - it's the vine that snaps through the air after Duncan, cracking against his torso and easily wrapping around his waist, his chest, pinning his arms to his side as the thorns embed into his armor - and into his skin. You pull your sword back, jerking him forward, closing the space between you before slamming your elbow into his face, the crunch of bone and cartilage making you grimace.
Duncan drops back into the water, thrashing against the vines as they constrict around him, and you leer down at him, shoving your sword in his face as he tries to sit up. You rip your sword free from the vines, staggering back a few feet, and new vines quickly grow back in their place. Your arm looks monstrous, thorns and roots sprouting from the black blood beneath your bandages, heavy and painful as you wade back over to Duncan.
He's spluttering in the water, the choppy flood roughly pushing him back and forth as he struggles to get up without his arms, still trapped beneath the vines. You glare down at him, and you get a sense of grim satisfaction at his cowering, trembling in the icy water at your feet.
You crouch down in front of him then, grabbing the front of his armor when he tries to scramble away, and you hit him once, twice, three times, dark blood spilling down his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth as you hit him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his legs thrashing wildly beneath you, thorns cutting your hands as you push him deeper and deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>You leap through the rising water, striking Duncan across the chest, red sparks bursting on impact as your own alchemical runes flash along your blade, clashing against the enchantment, red lightning popping in the air between you. It knocks him back again, but he manages to stay standing, attempting to dart around and flank you - but the water is slowing you both down. You can't turn fast enough to parry him properly, his blade biting through your arm, but his strike is weak, stumbling through the icy water to keep himself upright.
You both back off for a moment, blood dripping from your fingers, hot blood seeping through the sleeve of your bracer. You scowl at him, keeping your sword high, both of you slowly moving through the flood.
You're not going to be able to break through that armor.
Duncan is glaring right back at you, his nostrils flaring, and he charges, with you stepping up to meet him, your blades clashing loudly, Duncan grunting in pain as you both push against each other. You successfully shove him back, and when he tries to swing at you again you dive under his blade, rolling through the icy water and putting yourself behind him.
You spring back up onto your feet, the runes on your bracer burning hot as the metal starts to shift, and you throw your arm out, red lightning coalescing along your arm as three little knives take shape and fly off your bracer. The lightning guides them true and they slip between the joints of Duncan's armor, one in the back of his knee, one in his shoulder, and the last one burying itself deep in his back. He cries out in surprise, spinning around to face you before staggering sideways and collapsing into the water on his knees.
You flex your hand, your runes flashing again as the knives rip themselves free and come flying back to you, slotting back into your bracer as they easily deconstruct. Alchemical lightning still pops around the black wound of your arm, purple and red and painful, illuminating the dark water as you wade over to Duncan.
Duncan hunches forward in the water, clutching at his knee, and you get a sense of grim satisfaction at his cowering, trembling in the icy water at your feet.
You crouch down in front of him, grabbing the front of his armor when he tries to scramble away, and you hit him once, twice, three times, dark blood spilling down his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth, his head snapping back unnaturally as he pathetically grabs at your arms, digging his nails into the black wound beneath your bandages - but you ignore the pain, the black blood oozing through your sleeve, instead just hitting him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<else>>You leap through the rising water, striking Duncan across the chest, sparks bursting on impact as your magic stirs just beneath your skin. It knocks him back again, but he manages to stay standing, attempting to dart around and flank you - but the water is slowing you both down. You can't turn fast enough to parry him properly, his blade biting through your arm, but his strike is weak as he stumbles through the icy water to keep himself upright.
You both take a few steps back again, blood dripping from your fingers, hot blood seeping through your sleeve beneath your bracer.
You're breathing hard, glaring at his armor, and Duncan is glaring right back, his nostrils flaring, and he charges, with you stepping up to meet him, your blades clashing loudly. You trade a few heavy blows, but you don't bother trying to strike his armor again, just swinging your blade against his, your hands aching with each impact. You can tell he's hurting, too, his face twisting in a grimace, his blade trembling against yours as you shove him back.
He swings again, and again your blades clash together, and you throw your weight behind it, pressing into him before thrusting your sword down, metal singing against metal before you break through his hilt and slice at his hands.
Duncan makes a rather satisfying sound as he drops his sword - and a few fingers - before trying to scramble back away from you, tumbling desperately backwards through the icy water. He doesn't get far before you lunge after him, grabbing at his collar and dragging him back in front of you, shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
You hit him once, twice, three times - again and again and again, dark blood spilling down his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth, his head snapping back unnaturally as he pathetically grabs at your arms, digging his nails into the black wound beneath your bandages - but you ignore the pain, the black blood oozing through your sleeve, instead just hitting him again.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before ducking him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<</if>>
<<link '"$name!"' 'CH2 Get Up 2 Jorah Intervene'>><</link>><<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>You launch yourself forward as a way of answering, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your sword clashing against Duncan’s armor, flames washing over him as his runes flash and deflect your hit, sending you staggering back through the flood.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You launch yourself forward as a way of answering, the wind at your back as you cut the air with a sideways slash, your sword clashing against Duncan's armor. A surge of wind follows, but it just washed over him, his runes flashing as they deflect your hit, sending you staggering back through the flood.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You launch yourself forward as a way of answering, the earth shifting under your feet and boosting you high into the air as you cut down at Duncan with a sideways slash, your sword clashing loudly against his armor. But he holds his ground, his runes flashing as they deflect your hit, sending you staggering back through the flood.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You launch yourself forward as a way of answering, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your word clashing against Duncan's armor, ice splintering across his chestplate - but he holds his ground, his runes flashing rapidly as they deflect your hit and send you staggering back through the flood.<<else>>You launch yourself forward as a way of answering, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your sword clashing against Duncan’s armor, the runes igniting as they deflect your hit and send you staggering back through the flood.<</if>> He's quick to retaliate - lunging forward and attempting to run his sword through you. You manage to throw your other hand out and slap your bracer against his blade, redirecting it enough so it simply grazes your side.
You take a wild grab at him as he retreats, but he slips through your damp and bloody fingers, darting back, the runes glowing all the while.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">> You keep on him, though, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, your blade a vicious red with flames licking at your arms, the heat of it forcing Duncan back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, electricity thrumming in the air as the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You keep on him, though, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the water at your feet churning with splintered ice, the cold seeping in as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, shattering ice and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the earth trembling under your feet with each strike, staggering Duncan and forcing him back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, shifting stone and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You keep on him, though, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the wind surging around you with each strike, staggering Duncan and forcing him back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, howling wind and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.<<else>>You keep on him, though, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, forcing Duncan back, and you throw your weight behind each hit, the sound of steel on steel ringing in your ears. His damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of strength, your hands aching from the effort.<</if>>
You shake off the frustration, shifting back and swinging high, meeting Duncan's attack with your own. He grunts in surprise, and you can see his arms shake, wincing as your blades clash together, the runes burning brighter as the armor works to reinforce his stance. The metal groans, and the magic is hot on your face as it surges forward with Duncan and pushes back against you.
You're nearly knocked off balance by the strength of it, the water still rising and pulling on your boots as you splash backwards, struggling to maintain your balance. Duncan's too close to get in a good swing, instead lunging after you and slamming the heel of his boot into your side, the wound there splitting under his foot.
The pain of it shocks you - white spots exploding across your vision, your knees buckling as you drop down into the water, the cold seeping in and making you gasp. The flooding is strong enough that it actually carries you a few feet, until your back slams against the short stone wall that surrounds the courtyard.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 I'm going to kill Duncan 1.3]]Pinned against the wall, you struggle to catch your breath, your palm pressed to the cold stone as you force yourself up, one knee on the cobblestones, dark water churning around your waist. The Vel flickers overhead, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>Your fire has completely extinguished, your blade hissing in the cold water, and you can taste blood in your mouth, your head heavy, the icy water burning through your clothes and making your blood run cold.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>The wind still tugs at your clothes, but you struggle to rein it in, the storm ripping your magic right out of your hands. You can taste blood in your mouth, your head heavy, the icy water clinging to you and making your blood run cold.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>Ice splinters around you, though you're losing control, the churning flood waters beating ruthlessly against you, the ice making you shiver now. You can taste blood in your mouth, your head heavy, the icy water clinging to you and making your blood run cold.<<elseif $magic_perf eq "earth">>You're losing control, your magic slipping out of your fingers, cobblestones shifting precariously beneath your feet. You can taste blood in your mouth, your head heavy, the icy water clinging to you and making your blood run cold.<<else>>You groan, your head heavy, too hot and too cold under your clothes, the icy water clinging to you and making your blood run cold as it beats you back against the stone wall.<</if>>
Duncan stares down at you, scowling, adjusting one of his bracers as he meanders over to you. You try to stand, but the water just knocks you back down again, and you find yourself searching for Lea, desperate to see $l_them standing in the courtyard, readying a potion for you.
You realize, too late, that the water has probably carried $l_them away.
Duncan lets out a long sigh then.
"I expected... //more//... from you," he muses, stepping in front of you as he lowers his sword, leveling it in front of your face. He slips the blade under your chin, and for a moment your eyes widen, half-expecting him to cut your throat right then.
But he stops short, leaning forward, tilting his head as you glare up at him. He twists his blade flat then, before pressing it against the side of your face, forcing you to look down at his feet.
"I'll make it quick for you. Just like your handler," he says softly.
You close your eyes, your hand tightening around your sword, and you can feel the Vel shudder again, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard and washing over you.
//[[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Injured Claws 1]]//You take a deep breath and open your eyes, quickly raising your hand and slamming your bracer against Duncan's sword, knocking it away from your face.
The Vel thrums around you, a throbbing in your temples as Duncan pulls back and aims his blade at your chest. You exhale.
The Vel is open.
Shadows fall over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, but you're ready for it, gritting your teeth and raising your eyes to glare up at Duncan.
Your stare makes him hesitate, and you launch yourself at him, your sword forgotten, nothing but the flash of claws as you lash out, catching him across the face and splattering hot blood down his fancy armor. He cries out before blindly swinging at you, scrambling back and nearly tripping over himself in his haste.
All you see is red, spilling into the water that rushes almost up to your waist now, a roaring in your ears, shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I'm going to fucking kill you," your voice cuts through the courtyard - your voice, but not your voice. You look down at your hands, the bandages soaked with Duncan's blood now unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of the claws where your nails should be. You flex your fingers, ripping the remaining bandages from your arm with a snarl.
When you turn back to Duncan again, there's a familiar presence standing with you, the faint rattle of chains ringing in your ears, and you let it step into your shadow - let it step into //you//. Together, you lunge after Duncan.
He just manages to block you, the runes burning bright as his armor struggles to save his skin, his arms snapping up unnaturally fast, both of you pushing against each other before he shoves you back, icy water splashing at your feet. You're ready for it this time, the heat from his armor washing over you as you dart back, quickly putting some space between you.
There's screaming in the courtyard, soldiers frantically wading past as the Vel swells, an explosion behind you as a wild lightning strike hits one of the surrounding buildings, black fire igniting against the dark clouds in the sky.
You keep your eyes on Duncan, the two of you stalking slowly through the water, gritting your teeth against the cold. There's a sudden ringing silence overhead, and you realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn. You hope Noel is still standing.
Duncan rushes you this time, his bloody face twisted in an angry grimace, but you block him, shoving him away from you with a snarl, that stupid fucking armor deflecting you again, red sparks singeing your hands.
[[Continue ->CH2 Get Up Lea Injured Claws 1.2]]Duncan moves quickly, putting some space between you again, and you can tell he's being cautious, his eyes following your every movement - and the gore your claws left behind is clearly making him hesitate, blood soaking his collar, his sword raised defensively between you.
You flex your hands again, stained dark with blood, and you briefly lock eyes with Duncan before lunging after him with a snarl.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>Your magic burns hot under your skin, flames erupting from your hands while lightning coalesces along your forearms, fire leaping high and dancing across the surface of the choppy flood waters, a sudden impossible blaze swirling all around you.
You leap through the rising water, slashing at Duncan with flaming claws, sparks exploding between you before you slam into him, both of you tumbling down into the fiery water. He quickly scrambles back to his feet, cursing and raising his sword as you dart after him.
He tries to hit you with a two-handed strike, and you just manage to block it with your bracer, pain exploding up your arm as you stagger backwards, jumping out of the way as he swings again, and you quickly retreat with a hot burst of flame. Duncan throws his hands up, shielding his face from the heat and backing off as you circle around him, clutching your arm against your chest.
You exhale slowly, shaking out your hand, lightning popping in the air around you, your flames receding across the water and gathering as your feet as you refocus your magic, illuminating the dark water churning between you and Duncan. You can tell Duncan is wavering, staggering a bit in the flood waters, a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air.
He glares at you, his nostrils flaring, and he lowers his hand and charges, and you take a deep breath, holding your ground as he rushes at you. Fire ignites in your chest, burning in your throat, and you open your mouth to release a wall of flame, crackling hot and bright across the surface of the water, and Duncan doesn't even have time to stop, futilely throwing up his sword as if it could protect him, but the fire just consumes him, Duncan vanishing within the bright, fiery heat.
Duncan screams for a terrible few seconds, the smell of burnt flesh and singed hair making you gag, still running towards you before he stumbles and collapses in the water a few feet in front of you. It doesn't help - it's magic. It keeps burning, until the runes suddenly glow bright, a burst of power blowing the flames off of him, and you watch as they evaporate into the cold air, a few stray embers still burning atop the water, crawling back to you. The fire retreats, burrows itself back into the black wound of your arm, purple and red and painful, making you grimace as you wade over to Duncan.
Despite his burns, he tries to get back up, struggling in the flood, but you just kick him back down, pressing your boot against him and holding him in place. You get a sense of grim satisfaction at his cowering, trembling in the icy water at your feet.
You crouch down in front of him then, grabbing the front of his armor when he tries to scramble away, and you hit him once, twice, three times, dark blood spilling down his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth, his head snapping back unnaturally as he pathetically grabs at your arms, digging his nails into the gash on your forearm - but you ignore the pain, the black blood oozing through your sleeve, instead just hitting him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>Your magic burns hot under your skin, bursting through as your arms are enveloped in frost, the crackle of ice splintering through the choppy flood waters as your feet while the rain starts coming down hard enough to hurt.
You leap through the rising water, slashing at Duncan with icy claws, frost cracking across his chestplate on impact as you both go tumbling down into the water. He quickly scrambles back to his feet, cursing and raising his sword as you dart after him.
You stay quick and low, reaching freezing hands down into the flood before throwing your arms up and sending waves of ice shards at Duncan, forcing him to dive out of the way, his runes flashing frantically all the while. You let the water surge around you, quickly moving across the courtyard after him, watching as he cracks his sword against rising ice in an attempt to keep it from consuming him. You can tell he's wavering, each strike frantic and desperate, with a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air.
You reach into the water again, your claws dragging along the surface before you hurl another blade of ice at him, cracking against his armor and sending him staggering sideways. The water crests at your feet, and you ride the wave until you're right on top of him, letting the icy flood crash down around you as you slam into his chest, shoving him under the water before it surges upward and freezes him in place beneath your feet.
Only half of his torso remains free, and he desperately beats at the ice with his fist, spluttering and gasping on a mouthful of water as you glare down at him. You're held aloft in a column of ice, with you crouched over him, and you watch him struggle for a moment, a grim satisfaction at his desperation as he claws at the ice.
You leer down at him, and you hit him once, twice, three times, dark blood spilling down his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth, his head snapping back unnaturally as he pathetically grabs at your arm, digging his nails into the gash on your forearm - but you ignore the pain, the black blood oozing through your sleeve, instead just hitting him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before letting the ice shatter underneath you.
You drop back down onto the cobblestones, your weight slamming down on top of Duncan, and your hands fumble for a moment as the flood waters rush back in, grabbing the front of his armor, his throat, shoving him down beneath the surface while his hands thrash wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper under the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>Your magic burns hot under your skin, //bursts// through your skin, thorns sprouting from the black wound in your forearm, piercing through your bandages as vines wrap around your wrist and completely envelop your hand, thorns hooking into the flesh of your palm and protruding between your fingers like a twisted pair of metal knuckles.
You leap through the rising water, bringing your fist down against Duncan's chestplate, vines leaping from your arm to curl around his torso while his runes spark and flash, both of you tumbling down into the flood waters together. Duncan quickly scrambles away from you, waving his sword and slashing at the vines pulling him closer, ripping at them with his hands, thorns shredding through his gloves and staining his sleeves with blood. You can tell he's panicking, staggering a bit in the flood waters, a shaking hand pulling at the vines and wiping the blood from his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air.
As he frees his sword arm he wastes no time in returning your attack, lunging after you with a two-handed strike. You just manage to block it with your bracer, pain exploding up your arm and lancing through your shoulder, but the twisted roots around your wrist absorb most of it, and you shove back against him, knocking his sword sideways before slamming your fist into his chest again.
Vines snap forward once again, jumping from your hand to constrict around Duncan's torso, successfully pinning his arms this time before he can try and cut them away with his sword. You jerk back, pulling him towards you, slamming your foot into his stomach and sending him down into the flood waters. Vines wrap around his throat, creeping down his arms, tangling his legs together as he thrashes at your feet. You can hear the groan of metal as it constricts around his armor, and you yank on the vines again to force him up onto his knees.
You leer down at him, and you hit him once, twice, three times, dark blood spilling down his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth, his head snapping back unnaturally as he pathetically grabs at your arm, pulling at the roots and digging his nails into the gash on your forearm - but you ignore the pain, the black blood oozing through your sleeve, instead just hitting him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his legs thrashing wildly beneath you, thorns cutting your hands as you push him deeper and deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>Your magic burns hot under your skin, air swirling all around you, the surface of the flood waters growing tempestuous and choppy, the spire overhead groaning in the vicious wind.
You leap through the rising water, the air carrying you high and bringing you down hard to strike Duncan across the chest, the force of it actually denting his chestplate despite the best efforts of the runes, flashing frantically now. It knocks him back again, wheezing painfully, but he still manages to stay standing, gritting his teeth and pressing a hand to his chest as he gasps to catch his breath. He keeps moving, dropping his hand and attempting to dart around and flank you - but you don't give him the chance, raising your arm and throwing a burst of wind at him. It sends him flying, crashing down into the icy water across the courtyard.
You quickly follow after him, light on your feet, your boots skimming the flood waters before you stop short, watching with mild amusement as Duncan scrambles back onto his feet, staggering and clutching at his side. You can tell he's panicking, tripping over himself in the flood waters, a shaking hand flitting from his side to futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air.
You focus your magic then, raising a bloody hand as the courtyard groans, some of the buildings around the temple shuddering precariously, loose debris swirling through the air - and you send it flying right at Duncan. He crosses his arms in front of him, bracing himself, and the first piece breaks against his armor, splintering around him, but the second hit staggers him, and the third, and then you let the wind shift, and it's you that comes flying at him, slamming against his arms and sending you both flying back towards the cemetery, crashing through the wrought-iron fence and tumbling across the muddy graves.
You groan as you slowly push yourself back up onto your hands and knees, Duncan laying a few feet from you on his back, wheezing loudly, and you don't give him time to catch his breath, leaning over and roughly grabbing him by the front of his armor, and hauling him back through the fence and back into the surging flood.
Duncan weakly grabs at your wrists, twisting in your grasp, blood trickling from the corner of his lips as he gasps for air. Your arm aches, black blood soaking through your sleeve and swirling in the air around you, but you ignore it, even as Duncan desperately grabs at it, digging his fingers into the rotted wound as you hold him fast.
You just scowl at him.
"I expected more from you," you mock, shadows flickering around you with anticipation, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>The runes embedded in your bracer flash and spark, a sudden thrumming in the air as the leather and metal shift, tightening painfully around your wrist for a moment before crawling up your hand, three long metal claws growing out from your knuckles, solidifying in a flash of red lighting.
You leap through the rising water, slashing at Duncan with a closed fist, your metal claws clashing against his chestplate with an explosion of white sparks, and you slam into him, both of you tumbling down into the icy water. He quickly scrambles back to his feet, cursing and raising his sword as you dart after him.
He tries to hit you with a two-handed strike, and you swing up to meet it with your three claws, catching his blade and throwing it away from you. You swipe at him with your other hand - your //other// claws - and you catch him in the face again, getting a satisfying yelp out of him as he staggers backwards and swings blindly in your direction.
You roll out of the way, gasping through the freezing water, springing back onto your feet and turning with Duncan as he puts some space between you. You can tell Duncan is wavering, staggering a bit in the flood waters, a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air.
He glares at you, his nostrils flaring, and he lowers his hand and charges, and you patiently wait for him to come. You drop low, darting beneath his vertical strike and swiping at his legs, your metal claws hooking around his calf and wrenching him off his feet. He slams back into the flood, and you rip your claws free with a hot spray of blood before throwing yourself on top of him. The claws retract in a burst of red sparks, slotting back into your bracer as you roughly grab at the front of Duncan's chestplate.
You leer down at him, and you hit him once, twice, three times, dark blood spilling down his fancy armor, your own knuckles splitting against his teeth, his head snapping back unnaturally as he pathetically grabs at your arm, digging his nails into the gash on your forearm - but you ignore the pain, the black blood oozing through your sleeve, instead just hitting him again, and again, and again, dark shadows flickering around you in anticipation.
"I expected more from you," you mock, before shoving him beneath the flood waters.
Your hands fumble for a moment, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, still digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes of his armor are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<<else>>You leap through the rising water, slashing at Duncan with bloody claws, sparks bursting on impact as your magic stirs just beneath your skin. You let your momentum carry you and you slam into him, claws scraping down his chestplate as you both go tumbling down into the icy water. Duncan quickly scrambles back to his feet, cursing and raising his sword as you dart after him.
He takes a wild swing at you, and you block him with your bracer, shoving him sideways before slashing at his face again, getting a rather satisfying yelp out of him. He swings again, and you jump out of the way, splashing through the flood and turning with Duncan as he moves to put some space between you.
You can tell he's wavering, a shaking hand wiping at his eyes, futilely attempting to hold the mangled flesh of his face together, his blood and panting breath steaming in the air between you.
He glares at you, his nostrils flaring, and he lowers his hand and charges, with you stepping up to meet him. You throw your arm up to catch his blade again - but Duncan is expecting it, angling his blade just enough to glance your bracer and dig into your forearm. Hot blood sprays down into the churning water between you, Duncan pushing against you, but you don't back down, even as your blood runs black.
It doesn't matter now. You just need to get close.
You reach out and grab him with your other hand, claws curling around the thick fabric of his collar, and you throw your weight into him, grunting as his sword cuts even deeper, biting at the bone of your arm. Duncan's eyes widen, and you slam a knee into his gut, both of you going down, the water pulling you under.
You keep yourself on top of him, pushing back up as you hold him under, gasping as you break through the dark water. Your hands fumble, pressing against his face, his throat, his own hands thrashing wildly, digging into the cut in your arm, but you just shove him deeper into the water.
The runes are flashing frantically, glowing beneath the water, illuminating the ghastly look on Duncan's face, his blood catching the light and casting long, red shadows all around you.<</if>>
<<link '"$name!"' 'CH2 Get Up 2 Jorah Intervene'>><</link>>You take a deep breath, just staring down at the water swirling past your feet, at the armored boots of the soldiers still crowded in front of you, the flash of blades reflecting in the flood. You exhale, raising your sword and shaking your head.
"I..." you frown, a sudden tightness in your chest, a wave of nausea making you sway uneasily, faltering as Duncan watches you.
"Okay," you say, barely a whisper, hot pain in your palm radiating up your arm, and you press a hand over your bandages, shaking your head again.
"What's that, $surname? I can't hear you," Duncan muses, and you glare at him.
//No.//
"Okay. Yes. Trade," you blurt, your voice but not your words.
"$surname," Lea hisses at your side, but you can hardly look at $l_them, your head spinning, taking a few staggering steps that startle the soldiers still standing in front of you.
Lea grabs your arm and roughly pulls you back out of reach of their blades, but all you can think about is Clementine, crumpled in the flood, and you shove Lea back, forcing the both of you to stand aside, even as Talia and Merry stare at you with disbelief.
The soldiers shift nervously, watching you through their masks, and Lea's hand tightens painfully around your arm.
"What's wrong with you?" $l_they hiss<<es>>, and you can't answer, swallowing loudly as you turn expectantly to Duncan.
Lord Duncan reaches down then and grabs Clementine, hauling them to their feet, and with a nod from him the soldiers surge towards Merry. The fight is painfully quick - too many, too quick, all at once, and Harper and Talia bolt, leaving Merry to stand all alone. They don't make it far before mounted soldiers overtake them, Harper thrown to the ground while Talia is cornered at the edge of the courtyard. Merry tries to fight, and she does manage to cut down one of the soldiers before she's grappled to the ground, her swords ripped out of her hands. You and Lea just watch.
Duncan starts to walk Clementine over to you, and you pull yourself free of Lea's hold and step up to meet him, roughly grabbing at Clementine and ripping them out of his hands. Some of the soldiers shift uncomfortably close, waving their blades threateningly as you sneer over at Duncan, holding Clementine against you as you retreat.
They're mumbling your name, over and over again, clinging to you and turning to bury their bloody face in your cloak. With them in your arms you feel a sudden rush of relief, so overwhelming it's almost painful, gritting your teeth as your hand clenches into a fist, a bad taste burning in the back of your throat.
Duncan raises an eyebrow at you, holding his hands up in distaste.
"Soft spot for the bard?" he smirks. "Who would have guessed that..."
The rattle of chains makes you start, a sound too familiar to you now, and you snap your head around just as Merry is dragged back onto her feet - the //click// of shackles snapping around her wrists. You watch as the soldiers haul her across the courtyard, one particular soldier holding the chains. A captain, maybe, given the fancy pauldrons they wear that set them apart from the others.
And there's Talia, screaming and shouting and kicking and swearing as the soldiers try to grab her. She's waving that crossbow around, earning herself a little bit of space, but more likely you think the soldiers are just waiting for Duncan to give the order.
Lea has grabbed you again, pulling both you and Clementine back away from Duncan and his soldiers. You blink stupidly over at $l_them, your arms tightening around Clementine.
"I... That's not what I wanted," you say slowly, glancing down at Clementine, shaking your head.
//That's not what I wanted.//
Lea just gives you a strange look, and there's a moment where you're detached, standing outside of yourself, tethered by nothing but a sharp pain in your hand.
"$name," Clementine's voice is soft, a hand on your arm, and it snaps you back into place, back into yourself.
[[Continue ->CH2 I refuse Blood Pact 2]]You take in the courtyard again, wincing at the sound of clashing metal as Keres and Noel trade vicious blows, the storm churning overhead as their magic builds, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few painful seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, the fight erupting with a burst of sparks and ice.
You spot Duncan again then - watching you, his face twisted in a sneer, soldiers flanking him on either side as he starts to make his way towards you.
"We have to fight," you say, raising your voice over the wind and the rain, glancing over at Lea.
$l_They<<re>> watching Duncan, too, nodding as you speak, $l_their sword twitching in $l_their hand.
"Okay. We fight," $l_they nod<<s>> again, clapping a hand on your shoulder for a brief moment.
You barely take your eyes off of Duncan, creeping closer now, scowling as he looks between you and Lea. The soldiers nearby are starting to regain their composure as well, a few of them getting a little too close for comfort, watching you and Lea through their silver masks.
"$surname," Lea leans in then, $l_their voice low, "deal with him. I'm going to get Merry, and then we're all going to fight our way out of here together."
"Lea-" but $l_they<<re>> already moving away from you, one last reassuring shoulder squeeze, your protest lost in the rain.
You swear after $l_them, shouting $l_their name, but $l_they<<re>> already gone, leaving you to face Duncan alone.
Lea's sudden dash across the courtyard draws most of the crowding soldiers after $l_them, and you watch for a few frantic seconds as $l_they clash<<es>> with them - but Lea is quick and capable. $l_They easily manage<<s>> to cut a few soldiers down, and gain a good amount of distance before $l_they<<re>> truly stopped and forced to fight - and Harper and Talia are close, spurred into action by Lea's attempt to reach Merry, and you feel a bit of relief at the three of them coming together - maybe your odds aren't quite so hopeless after all.
You're forced to turn away as Duncan closes in on you, his two soldiers stepping forward as you raise your sword.
The soldiers seem wary, moving as you shift on your feet, and for a moment you think maybe they're waiting for an order - but eventually one seems to gather their nerves and lunges.
You block them easily, staggering them before you kick them all the way to the ground. The second soldier tries to get at you before you regain your footing, swinging their blade over their head, but you catch it with your bracer, throwing your arm out and knocking their blade sideways. You trade a few quick blows with them, doing your best to restrain yourself as Duncan watches.
Eventually your blades come together hard enough the soldier actually drops their sword, making a pathetic sound as it slips right out of their trembling fingers. Your own hands ache, pain spiking through your elbows as the strike reverberates up your arms, your blade swinging unexpectedly as the soldier's sword splashes down into the flood waters. You don't mean to do it, but there's nothing stopping your momentum, your blade slashing easily through the soldier's armor and splattering hot, red blood down into the dark water.
They blink slowly at you through their silver mask, stark blue eyes wide as they press a hand to their chest, blood weeping across their armor, staggering a few steps before dropping back onto the watery cobblestones.
You stare down at them, at the blood pooling beneath your feet, turning the flood waters dark, and at your blade, steaming hot from the gore in the cold air. The soldier gasps for a few more moments, choking on water and blood, before going still, their limbs still shifting as the churning water pulls at them, breaking over their chest and washing blood over your boots.
You've never killed someone before. A //human//. You always thought it would feel different. But it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy.
You force yourself to look away, to glance back at Duncan - watching you, his lips pressed in a thin line. The remaining soldier stands in front of him, their sword raised, but he steps past them with a wave of his hand, a smile on his face now as he stalks towards you. As he creeps closer, you notice for the first time that there are flashing runes on his armor - across his chest, at the joints, over his hands. //Enchanted armor//.
You move away from the body on the cobblestones, backing away from Duncan as you try to quell your rising panic. You tried to end this civilly. Or, as close to civilized as you could manage when dealing with someone like Duncan. It's obvious now, though, that Duncan was never going to let you and Lea walk out of here - Merry was right. Separating her and Noel from the rest of you was a smart move on Duncan's part. You curse yourself for handing over Merry like you did - a foolish choice, maybe a cowardly choice, too.
"Hunter $surname," Duncan says then, tilting his head at you. "What a mess your friends have made of things."
He shakes his head, glancing down at the blood churning in the flood.
"If only they were more like you and I," he says, his grey eyes flashing.
His tone makes your skin crawl, and you curl your lip at him, but he doesn't hesitate in the slightest as he raises his sword, darting forward and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your counterstrike swinging through empty air.
You swear, turning quickly after him, taken aback at his swiftness. You keep your sword high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead.
Your eyes cut to Duncan's blade, gleaming in the white lightning erupting through the courtyard, flashing as he twirls it in front of him - a move that has always irritated you.
You try to take advantage of it, lunging for him halfway through his display, swinging your sword down with both hands.
He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones, water exploding around you on impact. This close, you can feel the magic radiating from his armor, can see the way it responds to his movements, flashing rapidly as he puts some space between you.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
<<include "CH2 Going after Duncan Choices">><div id="choice"><<link [[I'm going to be aggressive. He may be fast, but even with that armor I know I can wear him down. ->CH2.1 Going after Duncan Aggressive 1]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">I need to restrain myself. I'm not sure what that armor does - I need to be smart and defensive. [WIP]</div>
<div id="choice">"I'm just surprised you know how to hold a sword, //Lord// Duncan." He seems like the type to fall for easy bait. [WIP]</div>You take a deep breath, just staring down at the water swirling past your feet, at the armored boots of the soldiers still crowded in front of you, the flash of blades reflecting in the flood. You exhale, raising your sword and shaking your head.
"No."
The soldiers shift in front of you, glancing at each other before looking back at Duncan.
He gives you a long look, his lips pressing in a thin line, Clementine still squirming in his grasp.
"That northern pride," he sighs, shaking his head. "General Keres," he says then, pointing his knife at you, and your eyes snap to the woman in her gleaming suit of armor, watching as she raises a hand in your direction.
"Phaedra, don't-" Noel starts to intervene, but the soldiers around him shove him back, and there's only the briefest hesitation from Keres before a bright light flashes in front of your eyes and totally consumes you. You throw your hands up reflexively, closing your eyes a moment before impact - hot white lightning exploding against your chest, knocking you to the ground, contorting your body painfully as you writhe in the cold, icy water.
You bite your tongue, blood in the back of your throat making you gag as you force yourself to roll onto your side, curling defensively as if it will help.
The electricity jumps around you, dancing over the pooling water, forcing everyone in the courtyard away from you until it finally begins to fade.
You groan, opening your eyes, wincing against the rain, panting as you struggle to regain control of your limbs.
Merry is shouting something, but you can't hear it over the ringing in your ears, and you have to force yourself to look, shakily raising your head just in time to see Duncan raise his knife - and plunge it into Clementine's stomach, just as quick drawing it back, a spray of blood steaming against the cold air, splattering down across the cobblestones.
The fighting erupts immediately, a burst of magic throwing soldiers across the courtyard as Noel swings xir glaive around and clashes with Keres, the storm surging violently overhead, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few frantic seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, fire and ice bursting across the flood.
Lea and Merry struggle back onto their feet nearby, and Talia and Harper are making a run for it, bolting from the others and trying to get around the temple, though they don't even make it out of the courtyard before mounted soldiers converge around them. You turn back to Duncan just as he discards Clementine, throwing them down onto the cobblestone before exchanging his knife for his sword.
You tense, struggling onto your hands and knees. You realize you're still holding the sword, your fingers locked around the hilt. You try to stand, but your chest is tight, your whole body rigid and your muscles twitching painfully.
You watch Clementine, through the splashing feet of rushing soldiers, unmoving in the icy water, and it spurs you to try again, forcing yourself onto your feet, unsteady as the water churns beneath your boots and the rain whips against your hood.
Lea and Merry are already fighting their way towards Talia and Harper, clashing with the soldiers, while Noel and Keres face off, her back to you as her sword crackles and burns with electricity. All the while, Duncan is circling, soldiers flanking him on either side, seemingly trying to decide what to do.
And there's Clementine, still unmoving in the center of the courtyard.
<<include "CH2 I refuse Choices">>You take a deep breath, just staring down at the water swirling past your feet, at the armored boots of the soldiers still crowded in front of you, the flash of blades reflecting in the flood. You exhale, lowering your sword, slowly stepping back, separating yourself from the group.
"Fine," you spit bitterly, and Lea is shaking $l_their head at you, but you just grab $l_their arm, pulling $l_them close without a word. You know $l_they want<<s>> to argue - $l_they always want<<s>> to fucking argue - but you'll drag Lea out of here if you have to.
Merry just scoffs, glaring daggers at you as she raises her swords, stepping forward to take your place in front of Harper and Talia.
Lea pulls at $l_their arm, but you just tighten your hold on $l_them, setting your jaw and taking another step back.
Duncan loosens his grip on Clementine then, and with a single nod the soldiers surge towards Merry. The fight is painfully quick - too many, too quick, all at once, and Harper and Talia bolt, leaving Merry to stand all alone. They don't make it far before mounted soldiers overtake them, Harper thrown to the ground while Talia is cornered at the edge of the temple. Merry tries to fight, and she does manage to cut down one of the soldiers before she's grappled to the ground, her swords ripped out of her hands. You and Lea just watch.
Duncan walks Clementine over to you, shoving them down at your feet. Lea drops down beside them, while you and Duncan glare at each other.
"Good choice, hunter. You may learn to play the game yet," he says quietly.
You don't respond, shaking your head, and the rattle of chains forces you to look away, a sound too familiar to you now, Merry being dragged onto her feet - the //click// of shackles snapping around her wrists. You watch as the soldiers haul her across the courtyard, one particular soldier holding the chains. A captain, maybe, given the fancy pauldrons they wear that set them apart from the others.
And there's Talia, screaming and shouting and kicking and swearing as the soldiers try to grab her. She's waving that crossbow around, earning herself a little bit of space, but more likely you think the soldiers are just waiting for Duncan to give the order.
You wonder how old she is. She can't be more than twenty. Maybe the same age as your $sibling. The thought startles you, and you press your hands over your face, listening to the sound of Duncan's heavy armor as he turns away from you.
"Keres," you hear Noel's voice suddenly, urgent and angry. You lower your hands, blinking over at the general, still standing by Duncan's horse, her face unreadable.
"Stop this," Noel continues, even as Keres refuses to look at him, even as the soldiers flash their blades dangerously at Noel.
"Phaedra! Don't ignore me!" Noel snaps, just as one of the other soldiers finally manages to grab Talia, and Keres spins around, and Talia is still screaming, and you feel the sudden rush of heat, the thrum of magic even before Noel raises xir glaive and brings it down hard against the cobblestones.
The blast of magic throws all of you off your feet, and you instinctively try to shield Lea and Clementine, all of you tumbling down together into the icy flood water, and almost immediately you hear the clash of metal, more magic exploding overhead - fire, lightning, and ice, as Keres and Noel face off, soldiers diving out of the way as their magic suddenly burns through the courtyard.
Duncan is nearby, staggering back onto his feet and flanked by his soldiers, and you can see his anger even from here, can hear him shouting orders over the rain. You quickly scramble to your feet, and Lea does the same, and you realize $l_they<<ve>> already drawn $l_their sword, turning to raise it threateningly at some nearby soldiers - though they ignore you and Lea at the moment, more worried about calming their panicking horses and regrouping with each other than the two of you.
The group of the soldiers across the courtyard are the ones that got the worst of it, face down in the flood, with Talia standing free alongside Harper once more, his daggers drawn while Talia raises her crossbow again, threatening what soldiers are still standing.
"Where's Clementine?" Lea says then, and you blink back at $l_them, both of you spinning around, but the bard is gone. You hope they ran.
You hear the scrape of chains again, and you turn to see Merry, trying to break free in the confusion - but the captain holds fast, snapping at the chains and throwing her to the ground.
"What are we doing, $surname?" Lea asks then, $l_their voice sharp even over the chaos unfolding in front of you.
<<include "CH2.2 What are we doing Choices">>"We should run. While we can," you say, taking a step back, looking past the temple, as if you could see the cliffs from here, and the horses waiting for you.
"What?" Lea all but shouts the word, giving you a look that makes you squirm. "What about Merry and Noel? Talia?" $l_they <<say>>, shaking $l_their head at you.
"What about //us//?" you snap back, bristling at $l_their accusatory tone.
Lea just shakes $l_their head again, turning away from you, and you swear after $l_them, grabbing $l_their arm before $l_they can slip out of your reach.
Lea spins around, $l_their eyes flashing.
"We are //not// running away!" $l_they growl<<s>>, pulling on $l_their arm and jerking you after $l_them. "We made our choice. It's too late!"
$l_Their voice wavers then, and $l_they glance<<s>> away, and you know $l_they<<re>> afraid, and you know $l_they want<<s>> to run just as much as you. You suppose you're just the bigger coward between the two of you.
You let go of $l_their arm then, stepping back, raising your sword as you notice the soldiers regrouping, a few of them starting to get a little too close for comfort, watching you and Lea through their silver masks. Duncan, too, is circling you, holding back, probably waiting and hoping for the two of you to turn on each other.
Lea glances over at him, before reaching out and grabbing a handful of your shirt, pulling you close again.
"What are we //doing//, $surname?" $l_they <<say>> softly.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Okay. Okay, I'll get Merry - I'm the one that handed her over, I should be the one that gets her back. ->CH2.2 I'll get Merry Reluctant 1.1]]>><<set $get_merry to true>><<set $get_talia to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Talia... and Harper. They're just kids. We can't let Duncan have them. ->CH2.2 I'll get Talia Reluctant 1.1]]>><<set $lea_injured to true>><<set $get_talia to true>><<set $get_merry to false>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'Fine. If this is what we\'re doing - I\'m fighting //him//. I\'m not going to give Duncan the satisfaction of walking out of here that easily.' 'CH2.2 Fight Duncan Reluctant 1'>><</link>></div>"We need to get Merry back," you say, dropping your gaze and turning away from Lea, searching for her across the courtyard.
She's flanked on either side by a handful of soldiers, shackles around her wrists, the chain held fast by the one soldier with the fancy pauldrons.
Lea is looking at you, and the other soldiers in front of you are creeping closer, a tension in the clearing that is near snapping - or maybe it's the storm rumbling overhead, rain coming down harder as water still floods around your ankles.
"Okay," Lea says then. "Okay. You get Merry. I'm going to get Talia. And then we're going to fight our way out of here."
But $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their sword poised in front of $l_them, shifting on $l_their feet as you both glare at the wary soldiers.
"Lea. I'll see you on the other side," you say, giving $l_them what you know is a weak smile, bumping your shoulder with $l_theirs.
"Okay," Lea says again, and even with $l_their mask you can still see $l_their jaw tense. "See you on the other side."
$l_Their dark eyes watch you for another long moment, a nod of encouragement - before you have to shove $l_them out of the way to block a strike from an oncoming soldier.
Your blades clash, steel on steel ringing loudly in your ears, and in that same moment magic crackles and surges violently with the storm overhead, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few frantic seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, fire and ice bursting across the flood.
<<include "CH2.2 I'll get Merry 1.2">>"Talia - Talia, and Harper," you say slowly, "they're just kids. I shouldn't have..." you trail off, dropping your gaze for a moment before searching the courtyard.
A handful of soldiers have them cornerned in front of the temple, and while they're not restrained like Merry, it's clear the soldiers are waiting for some kind of order, holding them captive just the same.
Lea is looking at you, and the other soldiers in front of you are creeping closer, a tension in the clearing that is near snapping - or maybe it's the storm rumbling overhead, rain coming down harder as water still floods around your ankles.
"Okay," Lea says then. "Okay. You get the two of them. I'm going to get Merry. And then we're going to fight our way out of here together."
But $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their sword poised in front of $l_them, shifting on $l_their feet as you both glare at the wary soldiers.
"Lea. I'll see you on the other side," you say, giving $l_them what you know is a weak smile, bumping your shoulder with $l_theirs.
"Okay," Lea says again, and even with $l_their mask you can still see $l_their jaw tense. "See you on the other side."
$l_Their dark eyes watch you for another long moment, a nod of encouragement - before you have to shove $l_them out of the way to block a strike from an oncoming soldier.
Your blades clash, steel on steel ringing loudly in your ears, and in that same moment magic crackles and surges violently with the storm overhead, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few frantic seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, fire and ice bursting across the flood.
<<include "CH2.2 I'll get Talia 1.2">>"We're in this mess now, aren't we," you say with a bitter laugh - not really a question, but a statement of fact. Lea doesn't respond, $l_their brow furrowed as $l_they search<<es>> your face.
You grimace at the sound of clashing metal, Keres and Noel trading vicious blows across the courtyard - and Harper, too, fighting back against the group of soldiers surrounding him and Talia, his daggers raised threateningly in front of him, standing his ground despite being vastly outnumbered. Even Merry is fighting still, pulling at the shackles around her wrist, digging in her heels and making the soldiers' jobs as difficult as possible as they try to drag her out of the courtyard.
"$name?" Lea prompts, and you turn back to $l_them, taking a deep breath.
"Merry, Talia and Harper - we have to help them," you say, barely resisting the urge to curse yourself for handing them over in the first place.
Lea stares at you for a long moment, something unreadable in $l_their dark eyes, before nodding.
You can see Harper is starting to struggle, him and Talia retreating, their backs against the wall - and Merry, too, staggering through the flood waters, the captain holding her chains roughly shoving her to the ground.
"We need to split up," Lea says what you're thinking.
You notice the soldiers nearby are starting to regain their composure, a few of them getting a little too close for comfort, watching you and Lea through their silver masks.
"Decide. Quickly," Lea urges, raising $l_their sword in front of $l_them.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'll get Harper and Talia. Somehow I doubt Merry will be very receptive of my help right now. ->CH2.2 I'll get Talia 1.1]]>><<set $get_talia to true>><<set $get_merry to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'll get Merry. I'm the one that put her there - I should be the one to get her back. ->CH2.2 I'll get Merry 1.1]]>><<set $get_merry to true>><<set $get_talia to false>><</link>></div>"I'll get Merry."
"Okay," Lea hesitates, though, $l_their sword still poised in front of $l_them, shifting on $l_their feet as you both glare at the wary soldiers.
You can feel Lea look at you, frowning as $l_they <<do>>, but you just shake your head.
"Don't. I'll see you on the other side," you say, giving $l_them what you know is a weak smile, bumping your shoulder with $l_theirs.
"Okay," Lea says again, and even with $l_their mask you can still see $l_their jaw tense. "See you on the other side."
It's the last thing either of you say before the fighting erupts.
You shove past Lea to block a strike from an oncoming soldier, blades clashing as the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears. In that same moment magic crackles and surges violently with the storm overhead, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few frantic seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, fire and ice bursting across the flood.
<<include "CH2.2 I'll get Merry 1.2">>"I'll get Talia, and Harper - you should get Merry."
"Okay," Lea hesitates, though, $l_their sword still poised in front of $l_them, shifting on $l_their feet as you both glare at the wary soldiers.
You can feel Lea look at you, frowning as $l_they <<do>>, but you just shake your head.
"Don't. I'll see you on the other side," you say, giving $l_them what you know is a weak smile, bumping your shoulder with $l_theirs.
"Okay," Lea says again, and even with $l_their mask you can still see $l_their jaw tense. "See you on the other side."
It's the last thing either of you say before the fighting erupts.
You shove past Lea to block a strike from an oncoming soldier, blades clashing as the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears. In that same moment magic crackles and surges violently with the storm overhead, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few frantic seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, fire and ice bursting across the flood.
<<include "CH2.2 I'll get Talia 1.2">><div id="choice"><<link '"We fight." If this is how it\'s going to be - I\'m not just going to let Duncan walk out of here, either.' 'CH2.2 Going after Duncan 1'>><<set $merry_injured to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We should make a run for it - now." We need to get out of here while we can.' 'CH2.2 Run for it 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We\'re already in it, now. We should help the others." It\'s clear we\'re not getting out of here peacefully - if it ever was really an option at all.' 'CH2.2 Help the others 1'>><</link>></div>You turn back to Merry then, still held fast by the final soldier - but as you turn your gaze on them, they drop the chains and run. You blink after them, stunned, before shaking your head and quickening over to Merry.
She has a nasty gash on her temple, a bruise blooming dark along her brow and cheekbone, but she's still standing, and is steady enough to give you quite the sour look.
"You alright?" you offer, grimacing at how ridiculous it feels to ask that question.
"Fuck you, $surname," Merry says, though there's only a //little// bit of venom behind it.
"Yeah. I know," you say sheepishly, reaching out to gently take one of Merry's hands in yours. You examine the shackles, and the heavy chains that connect them together.
You can tell Merry's wrists are bleeding, her sleeves and gloves stained red, the shackles too tight, and you grab at the connecting chain, wrapping your hand around it and feeling the metal - nothing special, just standard iron.
Taking a deep breath, you focus on the chain, one of the runes on your bracer glowing faintly, a bit of alchemical lightning sparking at your fingertips as your hand tightens, until-
"$surname!"
You startle, Talia calling your name just as Merry suddenly jerks you forward and breaks your focus; you stagger into her, the chains ringing loudly as you turn just in time to see the captain soldier leering behind you.
A crossbow bolt ricochets harmless off their armor, and Harper is rushing over to help as you raise your sword again - but Merry shoves you aside, swinging her arms up and cracking the loose chains over the soldier's head.
Their silver mask goes flying off, and they tumble sideways, barely managing to stay on their feet - until Merry hits them with the chains again, slamming the heavy metal against their temple, sending them down face first, floating for only a moment before their armor pulls them under the rising flood.
Merry groans, clutching her hands to her chest, and you can see her fingers trembling, fresh red stains blooming against her sleeves. Harper hurries the rest of the way over, towing Talia behind him, giving you a sheepish nod as he turns to watch your back. Talia's eyes widen as she notices Merry's hands, but she doesn't say anything, just turning to you expectantly.
"Get these things off of me already," Merry snaps then, and you grab the chain again, your rune glowing brighter as you refocus, the metal turning uncomfortably hot under your hand - until it disintegrates, turning to dust between your fingers. The chains go first, and then the shackles, Merry wincing as they release her wrists, clutching her hands to her chest and giving you a grateful look.
"Fuck you, $surname," she says again, less venom, maybe even a little appreciation.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 If Lea can hold him off, I can break Merry's chains. I keep going. 2]]Merry limps past you then, wading over to where the captain vanished, and she reaches down into the water, fishing around until she hauls the soldier back up, getting looks from you, Talia, and Harper.
"Bastard has my swords," she explains, reaching down and roughly pulling her swords free from the captain's belt. She stands back up, kicking the soldier back under the water, and then turns to you.
"Where's Lea?" she asks, glancing between the three of you.
Taking in the courtyard, you spot Noel and Keres first - hard to miss with their magical display overhead, the storm surging with ice and lightning, strange lights as the Vel flashes along with it. You also notice that a lot of the remaining soldiers are fleeing, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
"$name," Merry's voice is urgent, and immediately you have a bad feeling, following her gaze to find Lea - with Duncan, circling each other near the temple.
Lea's eyes cut to you then, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>You look over Lea's shoulder, taking in the courtyard again, wincing at the sound of clashing metal as Keres and Noel trade vicious blows, the storm churning overhead as their magic builds, white lightning exploding through the dark clouds and across the cobblestones, blinding you for a few painful seconds. The sudden thrum of electricity in the air sets your teeth on edge, blinking the bright light from your eyes just as Noel's and Keres' magic fully collide on the other side of the courtyard, the fight erupting with a burst of sparks and ice.
You spot Duncan again then - watching you, his face twisted in a sneer, soldiers flanking him on either side as he starts to make his way towards you.
"We have to fight," you say, raising your voice over the wind and the rain, turning back to Lea.
$l_They<<re>> watching Duncan, too, nodding as you speak, $l_their sword twitching in $l_their hand.
"Okay. We fight," $l_they nod<<s>> again, $l_their other hand reluctantly releasing your shirt.
You barely take your eyes off of Duncan, creeping closer now, scowling as he looks between you and Lea. The soldiers, too, are getting antsy, watching you expectantly.
"$surname," Lea leans in then, $l_their voice low, "deal with him. I'm going to get Merry, and then we're all going to fight our way out of here together."
"Lea-" but $l_they<<re>> already moving away from you, your protest lost in the rain.
You swear after $l_them, shouting $l_their name, but $l_they<<re>> already gone, leaving you to face Duncan alone.
Lea's sudden dash across the courtyard draws most of the crowding soldiers after $l_them, and you watch for a few frantic seconds as Lea clash<<es>> with them - but Lea is quick and capable. $l_They easily manage<<s>> to cut a few soldiers down, and gain a good amount of distance before $l_they<<re>> truly stopped and forced to fight - and Harper and Talia are close, spurred into action by Lea's attempt to reach Merry, and you feel a bit of relief at the three of them coming together - maybe your odds aren't quite so hopeless after all.
You're forced to turn away as Duncan closes in on you, his two soldiers stepping forward as you raise your sword.
The soldiers seem wary, moving as you shift on your feet, and for a moment you think maybe they're waiting for an order - but eventually one seems to gather their nerves and lunges.
You block them easily, staggering them before you kick them all the way to the ground. The second soldier tries to get at you before you regain your footing, swinging their blade over their head, but you catch it with your bracer, throwing your arm out and knocking their blade sideways. You trade a few quick blows with them, doing your best to restrain yourself as Duncan watches.
Eventually your blades come together hard enough the soldier actually drops their sword, making a pathetic sound as it slips right out of their trembling fingers. Your own hands ache, pain spiking through your elbows as the strike reverberates up your arms, your blade swinging unexpectedly as the soldier's sword splashes down into the flood waters. You don't mean to do it, but there's nothing stopping your momentum, your blade slashing easily through the soldier's armor and splattering hot, red blood down into the dark water.
They blink slowly at you through their silver mask, stark blue eyes wide as they press a hand to their chest, blood weeping across their armor, staggering a few steps before dropping back onto the watery cobblestones.
You stare down at them, at the blood pooling beneath your feet, turning the flood waters dark, and at your blade, steaming hot from the gore in the cold air. The soldier gasps for a few more moments, choking on water and blood, before going still, their limbs still shifting as the churning water pulls at them, breaking over their chest and washing blood over your boots.
You've never killed someone before. A //human//. You always thought it would feel different. But it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy.
You force yourself to look away, to glance back at Duncan - watching you, his lips pressed in a thin line. The remaining soldier stands in front of him, their sword raised, but he steps past them with a wave of his hand, a smile on his face now as he stalks towards you. As he creeps closer, you notice for the first time that there are flashing runes on his armor - across his chest, at the joints, over his hands. //Enchanted armor//.
You move away from the body on the cobblestones, backing away from Duncan as you try to quell your rising panic. You tried to end this civilly. Or, as close to civilized as you could manage when dealing with someone like Duncan. It's obvious now, though, that Duncan was never going to let you and Lea walk out of here - Merry was right. Separating her and Noel from the rest of you was a smart move on Duncan's part. You curse yourself for handing over Merry like you did - a foolish choice, maybe a cowardly choice, too.
"Hunter $surname," Duncan says then, tilting his head at you. "What a mess your friends have made of things."
He shakes his head, glancing down at the blood churning in the flood.
"If only they were more like you and I," he says, his grey eyes flashing.
His tone makes your skin crawl, and you curl your lip at him, but he doesn't hesitate in the slightest as he raises his sword, darting forward and taking a swing at you. You easily block it, throwing him sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, your counterstrike swinging through empty air.
You swear, turning quickly after him, taken aback at his swiftness. You keep your sword high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead.
Your eyes cut to Duncan's blade, gleaming in the white lightning erupting through the courtyard, flashing as he twirls it in front of him - a move that has always irritated you.
You try to take advantage of it, lunging for him halfway through his display, swinging your sword down with both hands.
He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones, water exploding around you on impact. This close, you can feel the magic radiating from his armor, can see the way it responds to his movements, flashing rapidly as he puts some space between you.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
<<include "CH2 Going after Duncan Choices">><<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>The first soldier is back on their feet, and they try to come at you again, but you step up to meet them, your blades clashing together with a hiss of sparks as your magic spikes hot, a sudden rush of fire bursting from your chest, crawling up your arms and enveloping your blade. The soldier recoils from the heat, but you keep on them, bringing your sword down against their chestplate, another burst of sparks and then the fire surges, leaping from your sword and rushing across the dark water at your feet.
The soldier vanishes within the bright, white flame, as does another one who was unlucky enough to be just a little too close. They don't even scream - it's too fast, too hot - and the smell of burnt hair and flesh singes the back of your throat.
The remaining soldiers quickly back off, raising their hands and shielding their masked faces against the heat as your fire burns against the rain.
Your sword trembles in your hand, still hot, steaming in the cold air, and you stare down at the burning bodies in front of you - both still burning, even as the weight of their armor pins them in the water, churning at your ankles now.
You've never killed someone before. A //human//. You always thought it would feel different. But it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy.
You look to Lea then, staring over at you, $l_their dark flashing.
<<if $get_merry>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening your fire burned through the soldiers and making a run for Talia and Harper.
You do the same, turning on your heel and facing the few soldiers still standing between you and Merry.<<else>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening your fire burned through the soldiers and making a run for Merry.
You do the same, turning on your heel and crossing the courtyard after Talia and Harper.<</if>><<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>The first soldier is back on their feet, and they try to come at you again, but you step up to meet them, your blades clashing with a burst of ice as your magic spikes hot. Frost chills the heavy metal of your blade, with ice splintering down your sword and leaping onto the soldier's as you push against each other, their hand trapped around their hilt as ice bursts up their bracer, freezing armor to clothes to flesh, even as they desperately claw at it with their other hand.
You rip your blade free, ice shattering between you as the soldier tries to retreat, and you let them go, taking a deep breath and taking your sword in both hands before raising it over your head.
You bring your blade down hard, splashing through the water and cracking against the cobblestones, your magic surging on impact. Ice splinters through the flood, freezing the churning water in front of you and rushing after the soldier, easily overtaking them - and a few unlucky others that happened to be standing a little too close.
Screams are cut short as the ice consumes them, and their masks make them look like statues, frozen still in the rain. The ice shifts, breaking against the rush of the flood, but the soldiers remain unmoving, even as a few pieces of ice shatter down into the dark water, chunks of blood and viscera forcing you to look away.
Your hands ache, and your sword trembles slightly, drops of ice gathering along the edge of the blade, and you quickly shake it off, slapping at the frost that's formed along your arms, your magic flickering, the water still swirling excitedly at your feet.
You've never killed someone before. A //human//. You always thought it would feel different. But it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy.
You look to Lea then, staring over at you, $l_their dark eyes flashing.
<<if $get_merry>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening your ice carved through the soldiers and making a run for Talia and Harper.
You do the same, turning on your heel and facing the few soldiers still standing between you and Merry.<<else>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening your ice carved through the soldiers and making a run for Merry.
You do the same, turning on your heel and crossing the courtyard after Talia and Harper.<</if>><<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>The first soldier is back on their feet, and they try to come at you again, but you step up to meet them, your blades clashing together, the earth rumbling beneath your feet as your magic spikes, cobblestones trembling and tripping the soldier as you shove them back, splashing through the water and nearly losing their balance - but you let them go, taking a deep breath and taking your sword in both hands before raising it over your head.
You bring your blade down hard, splashing through the water and cracking against the cobblestones, your magic surging on impact. The earth bursts through the flood, stalagmites and gnarled roots rising at your command, trapping and goring the soldier in front of you - as well as a few unlucky others that happened to be standing a little too close.
You straighten back up, the ground shuddering beneath you, and you quickly retract the stone and the roots, planting your feet as you focus on stabilizing the courtyard - and the crypt hiding underneath.
The soldiers drop back down into the flood, a few of them even sinking down into the earth, sucked into the mud and tangled in the roots, and you have to look away as the water darkens, churning red at your feet.
Your hands ache, and your sword trembles slightly, the strike against the cobblestones still reverberating in your arms, your magic twisting in your chest.
You've never killed someone before. A //human//. You always thought it would feel different. But it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy.
You look to Lea then, staring over at you, $l_their dark eyes flashing.
<<if $get_merry>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening your magic pierced through the soldiers and making a run for Talia and Harper.
You do the same, turning on your heel and facing the few soldiers still standing between you and Merry.<<else>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening your magic pierced through the soldiers and making a run for Merry.
You do the same, turning on your heel and crossing the courtyard after Talia and Harper.<</if>><<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>The first soldier is back on their feet, and they try to come at you again, but you step up to meet them, your blades clashing together, wind rushing past you and down your blade as your magic suddenly spikes, nearly throwing the soldier off their feet from the force of it, splashing through the water in desperation - but you let them go, taking a deep breath and taking your sword in both hands before raising it over your head.
Again the wind howls, shifting and swirling out from your blade, the flood at your feet pushed back to expose the wet cobblestones underneath, ice and rain whipping in the wind as it climbs dangerously close to the storm clouds above the courtyard, your blade pointing skyward - before you bring it down hard, cracking against the bare earth, your magic surging on impact. The wind rushes outward, a wave of water crashing through the courtyard along with it, throwing soldiers off their feet and dragging them down into the flood.
The temperature drops, your breath fogging in front of you, and then the water rushes back in, and most of the soldiers unfortunate enough to be just a little too close to you remain face down in the flood., even as the wind and the water settle.
You straighten back up, breathing hard, the wind still lightly pulling at your clothes, and you can't help but stare at the water as it darkens at your feet, blood and silt churning as the bodies float even closer, forcing you to step back.
Your hands ache, and your sword trembles slightly, the strike against the cobblestones still reverberating in your arms, your magic twisting in your chest.
You've never killed someone before. A //human//. You always thought it would feel different. But it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy.
You look to Lea then, staring over at you, $l_their dark eyes flashing.
<<if $get_merry eq true>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening you tore through the soldiers and making a run for Talia and Harper.
You do the same, turning on your heel and facing the few soldiers still standing between you and Merry.<<else>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening you tore through the soldiers and making a run for Merry.
You do the same, turning on your heel and crossing the courtyard after Talia and Harper.<</if>><<elseif $mc_alchemist>>The first soldier is back on their feet, and they try to come at you again, but you step up to meet them, your blades clashing together, a burst of red alchemical lightning flashing from your bracer and startling the soldier as you shove them back, splashing through the water and nearly losing their balance - but you let them go, taking a deep breath and shaking out your arms, flexing your hand around your sword as the runes on your bracer begin to glow bright, gold and red reflecting off the rain and the flood.
You brace your feet against the cobblestones, raising your hand in front of you and concentrating on the water and the cold air in the courtyard - and both of your hands spark, more red lightning bursting forward and crackling around your bracer, expanding across the water before combusting between you and the soldier, the heat and electricity quickly enveloping them - and a few unlucky others that happened to be standing too close.
The force of it throws you off your feet, knocking you down into the icy water, making you gasp as the cold seeps through your clothes, and you can hear the screaming of the soldiers, the smell of burnt flesh and singed hair lingering in the back of your throat and making your eyes water.
You struggle back onto your feet, the air hissing around you as you clench your trembling hand, your runes fading as you disperse the gas you conjured, the fire receding atop the flood. You avoid looking at the gnarled, burned bodies floating in the water, your stomach twisting painfully as you take a few steps back from the churning red foam at your feet.
You've never killed someone before. A //human//. You always thought it would feel different. But it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy.
You look to Lea then, staring over at you, $l_their dark eyes flashing.
<<if $get_merry>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening you blew through the soldiers and making a run for Talia and Harper.
You do the same, turning on your heel and facing the few soldiers still standing between you and Merry.<<else>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening you blew through the soldiers and making a run for Merry.
You do the same, turning on your heel and crossing the courtyard after Talia and Harper.<</if>><<else>>The first soldier is back on their feet, and they try to come at you again, but you step up to meet them, your blades clashing together as you lunge forward and shove them back a few feet, winding back and striking them across their chestplate hard enough to knock the wind out of them. You can hear them wheezing through their mask, staggering through the flood, but you're forced to turn away from them as another soldier takes a swing at you.
You dodge quick, grabbing at their arm as they follow after you with a thrust, feeling bones snap as you twist it in your grip and pin it behind your back, forcing them down onto their knees in front of you. Your hand tightens around your sword, but you don't use it, instead raising your fist and punching them in the throat - once, twice, three times, blood spraying out from beneath their mask.
You throw them down into the flood then, and the first soldier is back once again, still wheezing slightly as they rush at you with their sword raised over their head. You dart forward under their blade, slamming your shoulder into their gut and tossing them up into the air, wincing as they come down hard face first against the cobblestones, their back bending unnaturally before they slump down into the icy water churning at your feet.
One more soldier tries to catch you off guard, but the sound of their heavy boots splashing through the water easily gives them away, and you spin around with your sword raised, plunging your blade through their stomach, their own sword slipping out of their hands and vanishing beneath the flood. You grimace at the hot blood pooling down your blade, steaming in the cold air, wet and sticky on your hands as you withdraw with an arc of red, spraying across the dark water as the soldier collapses without a word.
You blink at the three bodies in front of you, your stomach twisting in disgust, the water growing darker at your feet, red clinging to your boots and staining the hem of your trousers as you quickly stumble back through the flood.
You've never really killed someone before. A //human//. You always thought it would feel different. But it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy.
You look to Lea then to find $l_them watching you, $l_their dark eyes flashing.
<<if $get_merry eq true>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening you carved through the soldiers and making a run for Talia and Harper.
You do the same, turning on your heel and facing the few soldiers still standing between you and Merry.<<else>>"Go!" you urge $l_them, and $l_they <<do>>, taking the opening you carved through the soldiers and making a run for Merry.
You do the same, turning on your heel and crossing the courtyard after Talia and Harper.<</if>><</if>>
<<if $get_merry eq true>>[[Continue ->CH2.2 I'll get Merry 1.3]]<<else>>[[Continue ->CH2.2 I'll get Talia 1.3]]<</if>><<if ($mc_swordsman eq true) or ($mc_archer eq true) or ($mc_axeman eq true)>>You launch yourself forward, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your sword clanging loudly against Duncan's armor. The runes flash on impact, locking together and deflecting your hit, and the force of it sends you careening back, all but knocking your sword out of your hand.
Duncan is quick to retaliate, lunging forward and attempting to run his sword through you. You manage to throw your other hand out and slap your bracer against his blade, redirecting it enough so it simply grazes your side.
You take a wild grab at him as he retreats, but he twists free of your wet, bandaged hand, darting back with the runes glowing all the while.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, forcing Duncan back, and you throw your weight behind each hit, the sound of steel on steel ringing in your ears. His damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of strength, your hands aching from the effort.
You shake off the frustration, shifting back and swinging high, meeting Duncan's attack with your own. He grunts in surprise, and you can see his arms shake, wincing as your blades clash together, the runes burning brighter as the armor works to reinforce his stance. You push against him, sliding your blade dangerously close to his hands, the hilt only stopping you for a moment - and you slice down, your sword easily biting through his leather gloves. He lets out a strangled sound, his blood seeping down the silver metal of his armor, his face dangerously close to yours as you both glare at each other.
His runes flash, turning white to red to //blinding// as his armor burns hot, a sudden burst of magic forcing you to recoil as it slams into your chest.
You're nearly thrown off your feet by the strength of it, the water still rising and pulling on your boots as you splash backwards, struggling to maintain your balance. Duncan's too close to get in a good swing, instead lunging after you and slamming the heel of his boot into your side, the wound there splitting on impact.
The pain of it shocks you - it makes you gasp, white spots exploding across your vision as you stagger away, pressing a hand to your side and barely raising your sword in time to block another strike, snarling as you shove Duncan back with one hand before you retreat.
Duncan looks pleased with himself, flashing his blade at you, the edge stained dark with your blood. You can also see him cradle his other hand against his side, flexing his fingers, his glove already soaked a deep red. His smirk turns into a sneer, slipping his hand out of sight, quickly advancing after you.
You take a deep breath, composing yourself just as you come together once again, and you focus your attention on his right side, his bloody hand weak around the hilt of his sword as you swing your blade against his again and again. A long few minutes pass with the two of you locked in combat, evenly matched - the runes on Duncan's armor mocking you all the while.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Sword Pause]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out, summoning your magic again, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you concentrate and fully open yourself up to it, lightning crackling down your blade.
But it immediately starts to jump, abandoning you and flashing across the courtyard towards Keres, siphoning your magic - she's stronger than you right now, and she's in control, ripping it right out of your hands along with the lightning she draws from the storm. You don't even think she realizes she's doing it, her and Noel still dancing around each other too fast for you to process, and you're left straining to refocus at the sudden blow to your energy.
You roll sideways just in time to dodge a heavy two-handed hit from Duncan, splashing through the icy water and barely scrambling out of the way of the follow-up thrust, hissing as his blade bites at your side. You throw your sword up and clash against Duncan's, residual lightning sparking between you, before your blade suddenly ignites with hot, white flame.
Duncan lets out a strangled sound before he jumps back, his face blood red from the sudden heat, shaking his head and swearing at you.
The fire hisses against the rain, and it falters quickly, though your metal stays red hot, steaming once more as you struggle to rein in your magic. You can taste blood on your upper lip, and you roughly wipe your face with the back of your hand - your nose is bleeding.
Duncan is giving you some space at least, his face singed, angry blisters on his cheeks as he glares at you, watching you expectantly.
Lightning is popping from your blade, dancing over the flooding waters still slowly rising around your ankles, and still it favors Keres, pulled across the courtyard and converging around her. You're breathing hard, your steps dragging in the water, but you dig deep, pushing back against her as fire and lightning build along the edge of your sword.
Duncan moves step by step, cautiously, watching you closely as you both carefully move around each other, an agonizingly slow dance between you.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, your blade a vicious red with flames licking at your arms, the heat of it forcing Duncan back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, electricity thrumming in the air as the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.
Eventually the two of you break apart, both moving slow, wary and out of breath.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Fire Pause]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath you reach out, summoning your magic once more, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you fully open yourself up to it, with the water churning excitedly at your feet, the air growing even colder around you as frost envelopes your blade once more.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. The water moves with you, carrying you back out of his reach, and you raise your sword again, running your hand along the icy metal before lunging forward with a sweeping arc, redirecting the pouring rain and hitting him with shards of ice and biting drops of water.
He throws his arms up, swearing as he staggers back a bit from the force of it, little dents pocketing his chestplate. You try to catch him by surprise, but the armor forces him to dodge, the runes flashing rapidly as it jerks him along and carries him out of harm's way. Your sword swings through empty air, slashing some of the flooding water and freezing it in place.
You both move slow, circling each other, Duncan warily eyeing your blade, a few cuts on his face now, and you notice the way he shakes his arms, ice cracking at the joints and breaking away to shatter in the water at his feet.
Again you try to catch him before he can fully recover, lunging forward and gripping your sword with both hands as you bear down on him. Your blade clashes against Duncan's armor, ice splintering across his chestplate before the runes flash and lock together with a burst of red sparks, knocking your sword back and nearly throwing you off your feet from the force of it.
Duncan manages a wild thrust after you, and you hiss painfully as his blade bites into your side before you can slap it away with your bracer. Both of you splash awkwardly through the flood waters, backing off and circling each other again.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the water at your feet churning with splintered ice, the cold seeping in as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, shattering ice and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.
Eventually the two of you break apart, both moving slow, wary and out of breath.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Water Pause]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out, summoning your magic once more, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you fully open yourself up to it, a sudden hum of anticipation in the earth as it responds, building with each step you take, the flood waters parting under your feet.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart back, dipping your sword low through the water and dragging it across the cobblestones, the scrape of metal on stone reverberating up your arm before you lash out, rocks bursting out of the flood waters and smashing against Duncan and his armor.
He throws his arms up, swearing as he staggers back a bit from the force of it, the stones denting his fancy chestplate. You try to catch him by surprise, but the armor forces him to dodge, the runes flashing rapidly as it jerks him along and carries him out of harm's way. Your sword swings through empty air, slashing some of the flooding water and cracking against the cobblestones, a few of them surging out of the ground in response to your magic.
The courtyard shudders under your feet as you stand straight, moving slowly, circling Duncan as he warily eyes your blade, blinking blood from his eyes where the rocks have smashed across his forehead. He seems a bit unsteady, pressing a hand to his head, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
Again you try to catch him before he can fully recover, lunging forward and gripping your sword with both hands as you bear down on him. Your blade clashes against Duncan's armor, the runes flashing and locking together with a burst of red sparks, knocking your sword back and nearly throwing you off your feet from the force of it.
Duncan manages a wild thrust after you, and you hiss painfully as his blade bites into your side before you can slap it away with your bracer. Both of you splash awkwardly through the flood waters, backing off and circling each other again.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the earth trembling under your feet with each strike, staggering Duncan and forcing him back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, shifting stone and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.
Eventually the two of you break apart, both moving slow, wary and out of breath.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Earth Pause]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath, you reach out, summoning your magic once again. Your body turns electric as the air in the courtyard as you fully open yourself up to it, with the wind churning and whipping at your clothes, water spraying at your back, and the air growing even colder as it begins to thrum with your magic.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike - but you dodge it easily enough, jumping out of the way and letting the wind carry you back a few feet. You let the momentum continue to carry you as you swing yourself around, darting sideways before lunging forward with a sweeping arc, your sword clashing against Duncan's armor, wind whipping icy rain painfully against your skin.
The armor's runes flash frantically as they attempt to redirect your strike, knocking your sword back and nearly sending you to the ground from the force of it. Duncan tries to retaliate, but your own magic throws him off his feet, sending him splashing into the flood waters, while the temple spire groans overhead, swaying precariously as violent winds tear through the courtyard.
You struggle to regain your footing, bracing against the rising water and the rushing wind, raising an arm to block the rain from your face. You're starting to lose control - but you fight to rein in your magic, pushing back against the storm as it tries to steal it from you. The wind howls, debris flying past you at an alarming speed, the old buildings rattling around the courtyard, more water spraying at your back and pushing you until you stagger. You can feel the hot trickle of blood on your upper lip, your nose bleeding as your magic strains against your hold.
Duncan has managed to right himself, the runes of his armor flashing frantically as it jerkily moves him through the water, fighting against your magic. He raises his arms, ducking his head into his elbows as more debris flies through the courtyard, smashing against his armor and knocking one of the nearby soldiers to the ground.
You exhale slowly, shaking your head and raising your sword, and the winds calm for a moment, swirling at your feet, just in time as Duncan lunges after you. You manage to block his strike, but it does stagger you, unsteady from the sudden drain of energy, and when he follows it up with a thrust you're too slow to get out of the way. His sword almost runs you through, redirected just enough by the slap of your bracer that it only cuts into your side, and you quickly dart away, a surge of wind pushing you and Duncan apart.
He can tell you're struggling, and he immediately starts to advance again - but you focus your magic once more, guiding the wind to shift, pulling it towards you, pushing at Duncan's back - his eyes widen as he tumbles forward, nearly running right into your blade, but you sidestep him, instead bringing your sword down across his back, sparking against his armor as he continues to fly forward and slam into the courtyard wall.
He sinks down into the water for a moment, before struggling to his feet, his face smashed and bloody, looking wild as he spins around to face you. You admit that was a pretty undignified move - but amusing.
Duncan is far from amused, though, incensed and quickly coming at you again, the runes of his armor flashing rapidly.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you just step up to meet him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, the wind surging around you with each strike, staggering Duncan and forcing him back as you clash against his armor again and again. Red and white sparks, howling wind and the sound of steel on steel rings loudly in your ears, but even with your strength, even with your magic, his damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of effort, your hands aching and arms trembling despite yourself.
Eventually the two of you break apart, both moving slow, wary and out of breath.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Air Pause]]<<else>>You launch yourself forward, cutting the air with a sideways slash, your sword clanging loudly against Duncan's armor. The runes flash on impact, locking together and deflecting your hit, and the force of it sends you careening back, all but knocking your sword out of your hand.
Duncan is quick to retaliate, lunging forward and attempting to run his sword through you. You manage to throw your other hand out and slap your bracer against his blade, redirecting it enough so it simply grazes your side.
You take a wild grab at him as he retreats, but he twists free of your wet, bandaged hand, darting back with the runes glowing all the while.
You're going to need to break through that armor - but breaking an enchantment is hardly an easy feat, nevermind doing it while in combat; and there's a risk you may hurt Jorah in the process.
So you keep on him, ignoring the pain in your side, trading a few blows as you both stomp through the rising water, at your ankles now and terribly cold. Your attacks grow more frenzied, forcing Duncan back, and you throw your weight behind each hit, the sound of steel on steel ringing in your ears. His damn armor beats you back every time, each blow a waste of strength, your hands aching from the effort.
You have to back off, breathing hard, and Duncan smirks at you, giving you some space and watching you with clear amusement.
You scowl at him, before glancing down at the sword in your hand - not //your// sword, but the sword from the altar in the crypt. You debate a few transmutations, but you're not confident about using this sword; and it doesn't quite feel right.
Instead, you raise your free hand, flexing it into a fist, the alchemical runes on your bracer lighting up as the leather and metal start to spark and mutate, hot and painful as it tightly constricts your forearm for a few seconds before crawling up your wrist and encasing your hand in a spiked, armored gauntlet.
Duncan isn't waiting for you, though, rushing forward in an attempt to break your focus, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you barely manage to dodge. You dart forward, just beneath the arc of his sword, and you launch yourself upwards, your heavy fist solidifying in a pop of sparks just as it cracks against his jaw, snapping his head back and staggering him a few feet before you throw all your weight behind your fist and slam it into his chestplate.
The metal dents, but it doesn't break, and the runes ignite in a blinding white light that forces you to close your eyes. You feel a wave of heat, and you realize too late what's happening - the armor absorbs the majority of your hit, and redirects it right back at you.
You're nearly thrown off your feet by the strength of it, the water still rising and pulling on your boots as you splash backwards, struggling to maintain your balance. Duncan's too close to get in a good swing, instead lunging after you and slamming the heel of his boot into your side, the wound there splitting on impact.
The pain of it shocks you - it makes you gasp, white spots exploding across your vision as you stagger away, pressing a hand to your side and barely raising your sword in time to block another strike, snarling as you shove Duncan back with one hand before you retreat.
Duncan's eyes are wide, his face twisted in pain, and as soon as you're a safe distance from him he immediately reaches up to touch his chest - undented now - and cradle his jaw, hot blood from a nasty gash oozing between his fingers. His eyes flick to you, and he sneers, dropping his hand and quickly advancing after you.
You take a deep breath, composing yourself just as you come together once again, and you're careful to keep him away from your injured side, using your armored fist almost as a shield as you swing your blade against his again and again. A long few minutes pass with the two of you locked in combat, evenly matched - the runes on Duncan's armor mocking you all the while.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Alchemist Pause]]<</if>>Eventually the two of you break apart, breathing hard and moving slow through the flood waters.
//That fucking armor...//
Duncan shakes his hand out, watching you with narrowed eyes. His glove and sleeve are stained black, with little rivulets of red running down the arms of his silver armor, glowing bright against the runes and mixing with the rain.
You can feel your own blood, hot and sticky under your clothes, oozing down your thigh and pooling at the bottom of your boot, though you resist the urge to press your hand to your side again, keeping both hands on your sword as you and Duncan slowly move together.
<<include "CH2.2 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. I have no interest in prolonging this fight. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor.' 'CH2.2 Aggressive Sword Aggressive'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[He's trying to provoke me - I need to slow down and be patient. I'll play defensive for now until he slips up, and then I can break through that armor. ->CH2.2 Aggressive Sword Defensive]]>><</link>></div>//That fucking armor...//
Duncan wipes at his face, watching you with narrowed eyes. His face is still an angry red, ugly blisters burned along his cheekbone and jaw, oozing pus and blood that soaks at his collar.
You flex your hands around the hilt of your sword, the blade still hot, still steaming against the rain as you hold it high in front of you, starting to creep closer to Duncan again as he glares at you.
<<include "CH2.2 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. I have no interest in prolonging this fight. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor.' 'CH2.2 Aggressive Fire Aggressive'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[He's trying to provoke me - I need to slow down and be patient. I'll play defensive for now until he slips up, and then I can break through that armor. ->CH2.2 Aggressive Fire Defensive]]>><</link>></div>//That fucking armor...//
Duncan wipes at his face, watching you with narrowed eyes. Blood soaks his collar, dripping into his eyes, nasty scratches pocketing his face bleeding heavily in the rain.
You flex your hands around the hilt of your sword, holding it high in front of you, carefully sliding your feet through the water, feeling it curl around your ankles, the cold clinging to your trousers and curling thick in the air around your frosted blade.
<<include "CH2.2 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. I have no interest in prolonging this fight. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor.' 'CH2.2 Aggressive Water Aggressive'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[He's trying to provoke me - I need to slow down and be patient. I'll play defensive for now until he slips up, and then I can break through that armor. ->CH2.2 Aggressive Water Defensive]]>><</link>></div>//That fucking armor...//
Duncan wipes at his face, watching you with narrowed eyes. Blood soaks his collar, dripping into his eyes, a gash on his brow and a split lip making his teeth gory and red.
You flex your hands around the hilt of your sword, holding it high in front of you, carefully sliding your feet through the water, feeling the uneven cobblestones and the hard earth compacted underneath.
<<include "CH2.2 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. I have no interest in prolonging this fight. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor.' 'CH2.2 Aggressive Earth Aggressive'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[He's trying to provoke me - I need to slow down and be patient. I'll play defensive for now until he slips up, and then I can break through that armor. ->CH2.2 Aggressive Earth Defensive]]>><</link>></div>//That fucking armor...//
Duncan wipes at his face, watching you with narrowed eyes. Blood soaks his collar, dripping into his eyes, a broken nose and a split lip making his teeth gory and red.
You flex your hands around the hilt of your sword, holding it high in front of you, carefully sliding your feet through the water, feeling the cold wind at your back, whistling down your blade as you start to creep closer again.
<<include "CH2.2 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. I have no interest in prolonging this fight. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor.' 'CH2.2 Aggressive Air Aggressive'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[He's trying to provoke me - I need to slow down and be patient. I'll play defensive for now until he slips up, and then I can break through that armor. ->CH2.2 Aggressive Air Defensive]]>><</link>></div>Eventually the two of you break apart, glaring at each other and moving slow through the flood waters.
//That fucking armor...//
Duncan is breathing hard, watching you with narrowed eyes. The collar beneath his armor is soaked with blood, the gash along his jaw splitting wider and giving him a ghoulish look - you can see the flash of white bone as the rain mixes with his blood and streaks down the front of his armor.
You can feel your own blood, hot and sticky under your clothes, oozing down your thigh and pooling at the bottom of your boot, but you raise your heavy fist, flexing your hand and the spiked knuckles as you start to inch closer to Duncan again.
<<include "CH2.2 Before either of you can reengage">>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Fine. //I\'ll// finish this. I have no interest in prolonging this fight. If I keep up the aggression, I know I can wear him down quick, even with that fancy armor.' 'CH2.2 Aggressive Alchemist Aggressive'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[He's trying to provoke me - I need to slow down and be patient. I'll play defensive for now until he slips up, and then I can break through that armor. ->CH2.2 Aggressive Alchemist Defensive]]>><</link>></div>Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, and you glance back just in time to see Lea and the others vanish around the side of the temple - and then you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through the enchantment. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break a part, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. The heat from your blade is making you sweat, and you can see it on Duncan's face, too, a gory shine along his brow.
You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
As the two of you circle each other, your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand wipes at his face, raw and painful and bloody.
Duncan seems hesitant now, eyeing your sword, and the electricity still popping in the air around you, the burns on his face clearly giving him pause. You take this chance to refocus your magic, taking your sword in both hands and breathing deeply.
Keres is still pulling at you, and you grit your teeth, reaching out at the storm overhead. Lightning strikes nearby, water exploding around your feet, and the flames along your sword reignite, violent and red and //hot//.
The fire burns beyond your blade, leaping into the air, and you swing yourself forward, lunging after Duncan and bringing the wave of flame down like a whip, the heat steaming against the icy rain and hissing as it cracks against the flood water.
Duncan barely manages to get out of the way, rolling sideways and letting his armor carry him to safety.
You curse after him, though you doubt he can hear you over the sound of the fire, dancing across the surface of the water as you draw your sword back again. Your head spins, and you swallow back the vomit in your mouth as you stagger forward and lash out again. Your movement is sloppy and erratic - which actually works to your advantage, the sudden unpredictability seeming to confuse Duncan - and you're too close for him to try and dodge this time.
Instead he throws his sword up, stopping a direct hit, breaking the flames with his blade, but still they wash over him, curling around him, constricting him in an agonizing heat even as you collapse from the effort.
Duncan screams for a terrible few seconds before dropping into the water. It doesn't help - it's magic. It keeps burning, until the runes suddenly glow bright, a burst of power blowing the flames off of him, and you watch as they evaporate into the cold air, a few stray embers still burning atop the water.
You groan, on your knees, your hands still locked around the hilt of your sword - you pry one of them free and reach up to press your palm to your side. The wound there larger, a nasty gash bleeding hot, soaking your shirt, oozing beneath your trousers. The cost of magic is high.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Fire Aggressive 1]]You take a deep breath, glancing back one last time, watching Lea and the others vanish around the far side of the temple before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, eyeing his armor as you do, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard. Electricity still crackles along your blade, down your arms, turning the air between you hot and thick, but you restrain yourself, holding onto what energy you still have, aware of Keres still pulling at you across the courtyard. You'll have to be patient.
Duncan doesn't last long like this, and you sense his annoyance at your sudden hesitation - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy overhead strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both dance around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his blistered face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. The heat from your blade is making you sweat, and you can see it on Duncan's face, too, a gory shine along his brow.
You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand wipes at his face, raw and painful and bloody.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike - and you dart back, throwing your hand out with a burst of angry flame, halting him short and forcing him to recoil. Duncan staggers back, grabbing at his face before slapping at the fire burning at his sleeves, gasping and desperately dunking them in the flood waters.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Fire Defensive 1]]Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, and you glance back just in time to see Lea and the others vanish around the side of the temple - and then you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through the enchantment. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly, growing weaker from your unrelenting attention.
This time he snarls at you, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, letting your momentum carry you and launching yourself after Duncan.
But he's quick.
He turns fast enough to face you before you can catch him by surprise, and he raises his sword almost as quick. You can feel it, slicing into your side again, but you don't stop, slamming your weight into his chest hard enough to dent the metal, grimacing at the pain in your shoulder - but you successfully throw him off his feet, sending him crashing down into the flood waters. You stagger after him, not allowing him the opportunity to get back on his feet this time, raising your sword over your head before bringing it down against his chestplate.
You hear a terrible sound upon impact - a shattering that you feel in your hands, your wrists, spiking up your arms and knocking the wind out of you as Duncan's armor cracks. And then the runes start to flash, hot magic thrumming in the air as you desperately try to scramble back, throwing up an arm to shield your face as the enchantment lashes out at you, completely knocking you back hard enough that you actually roll a few feet before completely submerging under the shallow water, involuntarily taking in mouthfuls of water before you can resurface.
It takes you a few seconds to blink the water from your eyes, coughing and spluttering as you quickly force yourself back onto your feet.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Sword Aggressive 1]]You take a deep breath, glancing back one last time, watching Lea and the others vanish around the far side of the temple before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. <<if $mc_archer>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the weight of it - missing your bow. You glance down at the old, rusty sword, scowling at it, as if it could sense your distaste. You glance back to Duncan then, carefully turning with him, narrowing your eyes as you study his armor, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<<elseif $mc_axeman>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the weight of it - missing your axe. You glance down at the old, rusty sword, scowling at it, as if it could sense your distaste. You glance back to Duncan then, carefully turning with him, narrowing your eyes as you study his armor, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<<else>>You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, studying the armor as much as you can, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.<</if>>
Duncan doesn't last long like this, and you sense his annoyance at your sudden hesitation - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy, two-handed strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both dance around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, and even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly, growing weaker where he grips his sword, his sleeve and glove soaked dark with blood.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike - and you swing up to meet him just the same, cutting his strike and slapping the end of your blade against his face. He quickly recoils, staggering back and grabbing at his face, his eyes wide in disbelief at the rather indignant hit, a nasty gash along his cheekbone dripping blood down the front of his fancy armor.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Sword Defensive 1]]Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, and you glance back just in time to see Lea and the others vanish around the side of the temple - and then you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through the enchantment. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break a part, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the cold air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at his bloody face, a particular gash across his brow bleeding heavily, mixing with the rain and streaking down the front of his armor.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, swinging wide with your sword, the frost coalescing at the end of your blade and lashing out as a honed whip of icy water, cracking across the front of Duncan's chest and knocking him sideways before he can overtake you.
He crashes down into the water, but the runes glow brightly as the armor jerks him quickly back up onto his feet and carries him out of your reach.
You curse after him, though you doubt he can hear you over the sound of the water, churning frantically and pushing and pulling to follow after your blade, still skimming the surface as you stalk after Duncan. Your head spins, your magic surging, and you swallow back the vomit in your mouth as you lunge forward and lash out again.
Spikes of ice burst out of the water, chasing after Duncan as he darts back - and they rise and rise, casting you in a cold shadow as you briefly lose control. The flooding water rushes past you, following the arc of your blade, and there's no way for Duncan to dodge this time as it knocks him off his feet before surging upward and cocooning him in ice. Half of the courtyard freezes before you can rein yourself in, dropping to one knee as the ice cracks and shatters around you, the water slipping out of your control again. Thankfully, Noel and Keres avoid the freeze, though a couple of soldiers are caught in the water, gone still like statues in the courtyard.
Duncan is held in place, though half of his torso is still free, punching at the ice with his fist. His sword hand is trapped at his side, and you can sense a real panic now as you stand back up, with him frantically clawing at the ice where it meets the frosted metal of his chestplate.
You groan, swaying on your feet, your hands still locked around the hilt of your sword - you pry one of them free and reach up to press your palm to your side. The wound there larger, a nasty gash bleeding hot, soaking your shirt, oozing beneath your trousers. The cost of magic is high.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Water Aggressive 1]]You take a deep breath, glancing back one last time, watching Lea and the others vanish around the far side of the temple before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, eyeing the armor as you do, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard.
Duncan doesn't last long like this - he's impatient - and you sense his annoyance at your sudden hesitation. You lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy overhead strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, the water rising with you as you raise your arm, ice crackling as it clings to your bracer and solidifies into a rugged shield just as Duncan brings his sword down on you again.
The blade slams against the ice, a few pieces shattering into the flood waters, but it holds, and it catches Duncan off balance, his sword nearly flying out of his hand as it ricochets back off your shield. He staggers sideways, splashing through the water, and you quickly dart back, giving yourself a moment to readjust to the shifted weight of the shield, while Duncan just glowers after you.
You raise your sword, your shield tucked close against you, covering your wounded side from any kind of direct attack, and you and Duncan start up the slow dance again, wading through the flood waters and circling each other, moving closer and closer, until Duncan loses his patience again and breaks the little stalemate.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both splash around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way, or slapping at his sword with your shield - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
You tuck your shield tighter against your side then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at the blood in his eyes, the cuts on his face still bleeding heavily.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike. You quickly throw up your shield to meet him, grimacing at the pain lancing through your arm as his blade cracks loudly against the ice. You don't back off this time, though, instead pushing forward, blocking another swing with your sword as you lunge at him, throwing your arm out and smashing your shield against his face.
The runes on his armor are flashing frantically as it forces him away from you, his limbs jerking unnaturally quick before he manages to regain control, gasping and pressing a hand to his bloody face.
The water laps at your legs, eagerly swirling around you and your icy blade as it dips below the surface. Duncan glares at you as you circle him, spitting blood from his mouth and scowling at you. He seems a bit unsteady, wiping at his bloody nose, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Water Defensive 1]]Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, and you glance back just in time to see Lea and the others vanish around the side of the temple - before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through the enchantment. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break a part, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at his bloody face, the gash across his brow bleeding heavily, mixing with the rain and dripping down the front of his armor.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, kicking your heel against the cobblestones and lashing out with your magic. You raise a hand as rocks burst from the ground again, an explosion of water and mud and ice as you pelt Duncan with a barrage of broken earth.
The ground shudders beneath you, and you raise your foot again, intent on trapping him in stone - but when you stomp through the water, no stone rises up to meet you. Instead, the courtyard groans, and you and Duncan both stare at each other for the briefest moment before the earth shatters beneath your feet.
The ground collapses, water rushing upwards and bursting through Keres' magic barrier, and Duncan slams into you as you're both swept back across the courtyard, before the water almost immediately starts to recede, rushing back underground, a dark vortex of foam and debris overtaking both of you.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Earth Aggressive 1]]>><<set $broke_courtyard to true>><</link>>You take a deep breath, glancing back one last time, watching Lea and the others vanish around the far side of the temple before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, eyeing his armor as you do, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard. Your magic still thrums heavy in the air, curling in the earth beneath your feet, twisting through the old, worn stone and brushing against the cold tombs in the cemetery, brushing against the corpses, emaciated and forgotten, twitching in their caskets - but you wouldn't go that far. Not yet. You ground yourself, pulling back and keeping your focus on Duncan. You'll have to be patient.
Duncan scowls at you, clearly annoyed at your sudden hesitation - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy overhead strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both dance around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his bloody face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand wipes at his face, bruised and bloody.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike - and you dart back, slamming your foot down through the flood waters and urging out a burst of slanted stalagmites, slamming into Duncan's side and throwing him off balance. He nearly goes all the way to the ground, splashing through the water and clutching his side, wheezing as he struggles to regain the breath the stone knocked out of him.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Earth Defensive 1]]Your hands flex around the hilt of your sword, and you glance back just in time to see Lea and the others vanish around the side of the temple - before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through the enchantment. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at his bloody face, a gash across his brow bleeding heavily, mixing with the rain and dripping down the front of his armor.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, swinging your sword in front of you and urging the air to follow, rushing down the edge of your blade as it clashes against Duncan's.
Wind roars past you in a burst of magic, and without a direct hit, Duncan's armor isn't ready for it - he's thrown off his feet again, down into the icy water, the runes flickering in confusion. You can hear him wheezing loudly, even over the sound of the storm overhead, clutching at his chest as he flounders in the churning flood waters.
You keep up the pressure this time, letting your sword guide your magic, swinging upward - and the wind follows, lifting Duncan out of the water and into the air overhead, before you swing your sword down, and bring him crashing against the cobblestones, his armor ringing loudly on impact before the flood waters rush back in.
You take your sword in both hands then, your arms trembling as you brace yourself, wind under your feet lifting you high as you jump up - and bring yourself down on top of Duncan.
You hear a terrible sound upon impact - a shattering that you feel in your hands, your wrists, spiking up your arms and lancing through your side as Duncan's armor cracks. And then the runes start to flash, hot magic thrumming in the air as you desperately try to scramble back, throwing up an arm to shield your face as the enchantment lashes out at you, completely knocking you off your feet, hard enough that you actually roll a few times before completely submerging under the flood, involuntarily taking in mouthfuls of water before you can resurface.
It takes you a few seconds before your vision clears, coughing and spluttering as you quickly force yourself back onto your feet. As you stand, though, it's apparent that Duncan isn't getting back up this time, splashing weakly in the water, gasping for the air you've stolen out of his lungs, and you slowly move to stand over him, pressing your sword against his throat.
You're both panting, Duncan glaring up at you, blinking water and blood from his eyes as his hand flutters over his face, touching his broken nose before pressing against the open wound along his jaw. The runes glow softly now, casting a ghastly light across his face, his grey eyes flashing red as he sneers down at your blade.
"I'd say we're finished, now," you say with a bitter laugh, though you keep your sword against his throat, a grim sense of satisfaction at his squirming.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Air Aggressive 1]]You take a deep breath, glancing back one last time, watching Lea and the others vanish around the far side of the temple before glaring back at him. You start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows. You flex your hand around the hilt of your sword, feeling the comforting weight of it as you carefully turn with Duncan, eyeing the armor as you do, the sound of rain hitting the heavy metal ringing through the courtyard. Your magic still thrums heavy in the air, cold wind cutting through your wet clothes, parting the flood waters and swirling around your feet, intensifying the storm overhead as the clouds grow darker and darker. You ground yourself, pulling back and keeping your focus on Duncan. You'll have to be patient.
Duncan scowls at you, clearly annoyed at your sudden hesitation - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, throwing a heavy overhead strike that you quickly dodge. You roll out of the way, gasping as you plunge through the freezing water and back up onto your feet, throwing your blade up and smacking away another incoming strike, both you and Duncan staggering sideways from the momentum.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both dance around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his bloody face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand wipes at his face, bruised and bloody.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike - and you dart back, your boots skimming the surface of the flood as the wind lifts you up out of his reach. He staggers past you in surprise, and you take the opportunity to strike him across the back just like before, a rush of wind following the impact and throwing him down hard into the water.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Air Defensive 1]]You tighten your grip around your sword, raising your transmuted hand, and you glance back just in time to see Lea and the others vanish around the side of the temple - before you lunge after Duncan with a snarl.
He blocks you easily enough - you expected that, he was ready for you, but you keep up the pressure. The two of you splash about through the water for a quick few seconds, a vicious flurry as you try to break through the enchantment. Duncan is fast, though, and his armor just makes him even faster, carrying him through the motions. It's clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, and the armor is doing some serious heavy lifting against you, too.
Again you both break apart, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
Your one hand flutters to your side involuntarily then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at his bloody face, the gash across his jaw still bleeding heavily.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing forward with a two-handed swing. You dodge out of the way, rolling through the icy water, gasping at the cold as you spring back up onto your feet, and you use your momentum to carry you around and throw yourself after Duncan.
But he's ready for your counter this time, and he turns fast enough to face you, raising his sword just as quick. You can feel it, slicing into your side again, but you don't stop, slamming your weight into his chest hard enough to knock the wind out of him, grimacing at the pain in your shoulder - but you successfully throw him off his feet, sending him crashing down into the flood waters. You stagger after him, raising your armored fist over your head, a burst of alchemical lightning bathing you both in red before you bring it down against his chestplate.
This time, you hear a terrible sound upon impact - a painful shattering that you feel in your hand, spiking up your arm and twisting in your side as Duncan's armor cracks. And then the runes start to flash, hot magic thrumming in the air, and you try to get out of the way before it surges, shielding yourself with your bracer as the enchantment lashes out at you. But it hits you even harder than before, and you're easily thrown off your feet, landing hard on your side, pain paralyzing your for a few seconds, and you involuntarily take in a few mouthfuls of water as you gasp in the flood.
It takes you a moment to blink the water from your eyes, coughing and spluttering as you quickly force yourself back onto your feet.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Alchemist Aggressive 1]]You take a deep breath, glancing back one last time, watching Lea and the others vanish around the far side of the temple before glaring back at him. You lower your hand, flexing it at your side, raising your sword instead, and you start to move slowly, carefully sliding your feet over the cobblestones, the icy water churning at your ankles - and Duncan follows.
You take the chance to focus on the warmth of your runes, alchemical lightning crackling from your finger tips, and the runes glow white and gold as your bracer starts to shift again, the armored fist receding up your arm, hot metal steaming in the cold air, and the leather tightens around your forearm again, painful for a few seconds until it breathes, and you lift your newly formed, spiked shield in front of you.
You can sense Duncan's immediate annoyance at this change in tactics, his lip curling at your little alchemical display - you lock eyes for a brief moment before he rushes forward, swinging at your still crackling shield. You block it, of course, and his strike does nothing but cause a little burst of sparks upon impact, and you quickly dart back as he swings again, giving yourself a moment to readjust to the shifted weight of the shield, while Duncan just glowers after you.
You raise your sword, your shield tucked close against you, covering your wounded side from any kind of direct attack, and you and Duncan start up the slow dance again, wading through the flood waters and circling each other, moving closer and closer, until Duncan loses his patience and breaks the little stalemate.
You trade a few quick blows, your blades clashing loudly as you both splash around each other. Duncan is a little predictable in his movements, and you're able to avoid most of his strikes just by dodging out of the way, or slapping at his sword with your shield - the armor may make him quick on his feet, but it's up to him to make the right moves for it to work. You can tell he's getting frustrated, his face a twisted grimace as you dart sideways and block his follow up once again.
He's good at covering your counters, though - he knows you're playing defensive. Despite the advantage his armor gives him, it's still clear Duncan is a skilled swordsman, even with his predictability, even without the armor - though it's definitely helping him against you right now. Any counter you do manage to land just glances off the armor in a burst of red sparks, nothing more than an inconvenience for Duncan.
You're going to have to shatter the enchantment.
Eventually you both break apart again, stalking through the rising water, your heavy breaths fogging the air between you. You resist the urge to look to the temple again, to look for your friends; you can't give Duncan that kind of opportunity. You need to fight as if you're all alone - because right now, you are.
You tuck your shield tighter against your side then, and Duncan notices, his grey eyes flashing as he watches you. Meanwhile his own hand trembles slightly as he wipes at the bloody gash along his jaw, still bleeding heavily.
He sneers at your stare, before rushing you again, coming in hard with a vertical strike. You quickly throw up your shield to meet him, grimacing at the pain lancing through your arm as his blade cracks loudly against the metal. The shield holds, and you push back against him, catching Duncan off balance, his sword nearly flying out of his hand as it ricochets back with a burst of sparks. He staggers sideways, splashing through the water, and you lunge after him, throwing your arm out and smashing your shield against his face.
The runes on his armor are flashing frantically as it forces him away from you, his limbs jerking unnaturally quick before he manages to regain control, gasping and pressing a hand to his bloody face.
The water laps at your legs, clinging to your trousers, an icy spray on your skin as your alchemical lightning crackles down your blade and dances across the choppy surface. Duncan eyes you warily as you circle him, spitting blood from his mouth and scowling at you. He seems a bit unsteady, wiping at his bloody nose, a nasty gash in his cheek from one of the spikes, but his grey eyes are sharp, following you carefully as you stalk closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Alchemist Defensive 1]]<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm going to be aggressive. He may be fast, but even with that armor I know I can wear him down. ->CH2.2 Fight Duncan Aggressive]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">I need to restrain myself. I'm not sure what that armor does - I need to be smart and defensive. [WIP]</div>
<div id="choice">"I'm just surprised you know how to hold a sword, //Lord// Duncan." He seems like the type to fall for easy bait. [WIP]</div>You grab at anything you can, the claws of your bandaged hand scraping desperately over the cobblestones, but with Duncan and his armor weighing you down you're unable to get a proper hold, pulled down over the edge into open water, and the surface seems to vanish into nothing, inky blackness swallowing you whole as the current forces you down into the tunnels - into the crypt.
Your lungs burn, a few mouthfuls of gritty salt water making you splutter and gag, all while Duncan grabs desperately at you, pulling you down as he tries to push himself up. His armor digs into your side, metal biting at your open wound, the dark water turning red around you as you both pull and kick at each other.
The runes of Duncan's armor illuminate the dark cavern that's engulfed you, faceless statues watching your desperate struggle.
An armored elbow catches you in the jaw, then an armored boot against your sternum, and you gasp despite yourself, more water forcing its way into your lungs, dark spots blurring at the edge of your vision with Duncan slipping out of your grasp as you convulse violently. He starts to slowly swim up, struggling against the weight of his armor, and you start to sink, the light of his runes dimming as he turns away from you.
You don't let him get far, though, clawing and grabbing at his ankle and pulling him back down. If you're going to drown here, then so is he.
Your claws curl around his greaves, nails digging into the flesh of his thigh as you cling to him, both of you twisting and thrashing until suddenly your back hits something solid. The bottom of the crypt.
Duncan is getting weaker, and so are you, the light from the runes almost overwhelming you, too bright to look at down here in the cold dark. Too many statues leering down, dark shadows flickering through the water, the strangely distorted sound of chains ringing somewhere deeper underground.
Duncan is desperate, and so are you - but you're the one pinned against the ground, and you're the one that gets kicked in the face, your head snapping back and cracking against stone, and you can't see anything for a few seconds, can't feel anything but the cold pressure of black water all around you.
When your vision returns, blurred and fading, you can just see the light of Duncan's runes flickering as he leaves you behind in the dark.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Aggressive 3]]You stare out into nothing, sinking back against the stone floor, your lungs burning painfully as your chest constricts. Your mind begs you to swim, but your muscles don't respond, your hands barely twitching at your side.
With Duncan gone, you can't see anything in front of you, the statues hidden in the shadows, the walls of the crypt indistinguishable from the inky black all around you - but suddenly you can //feel// something in the dark with you, even as you slip in and out of consciousness, convulsing as your body longs for air.
Still, you don't see anything but the cold dark, and the current is still and quiet, and you wonder maybe if the Traveler has come to deliver you to death themself.
You've gone numb, suspended in the icy crypt, making it particularly jarring when pain sudden spikes through your arm. You convulse again, painfully, before reaching out and grabbing at your forearm, feeling your bandages unraveling, floating in the water in front of you, the black wound hot under your palm.
Again, you feel something move behind you, and a sudden clarity makes you jerk forward, your eyes widening as you see another pair of golden eyes staring at you from the dark.
"You're not going to die down here, are you, hunter?" a familiar voice rings in your head, clearing the fog from your mind, your vision sharpening as you push off the cracked stone floor. You hear the whisper of chains, impossible down in the water, but you hear it nonetheless, the scrape of metal on ice, and a gaping maw in front of you, white fangs and golden eyes flashing as something watches you from deep within the crypt.
A different familiar voice in your head now, one that makes your chest constrict even more painfully than drowning.
<<link "//Get up.//" "CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Aggressive 4">><</link>>You feebly kick your legs, reach out with your arms, swimming blind - but swimming up.
You feel a sudden warmth in the water, and a sudden flicker of gold, and then pain in your arm again, in your head, making you stop for a moment, curling forward as you grit your teeth against the Vel. It pulses in the water around you, sighing a current at your back as it slowly tears open, dark magic washing over you.
The gold flickers faster, brighter, and you blink through the water to see faces of ancient commanders leering out of the dark, stone arms reaching out, brushing against your cloak as you thrash in the water.
You quickly swim up, new strength in your legs, and you don't look back at the statues, don't look to see if it was real - don't look back at the golden eyes watching you from the dark. You just keep going, until the grey surface comes into view, the dark sky barely bleeding into the inky black of the crypt.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Aggressive Earth Aggressive 5 Lea Intervene]]You burst out of the icy water, gasping as you cling to the broken edge of the courtyard, reaching for a handhold to drag yourself out.
You haul yourself over the edge, pushing yourself onto your hands and knees, glaring up at the sky, at the Vel, ripped open and raw over the courtyard, dark shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, everything warping and straining painfully for a few frantic seconds as you struggle to catch your breath.
You claw your way through the flood, on your hands and knees, and once you're a safe distance away and out of reach of the current, you hunch over, your body shaking violently as you vomit water and blood.
You feel phantom hands grabbing at you, even as you try to force yourself to stand, and instinctively you reach for your hunter's knife, the hilt hot against your cold, wet hand. Your hand - rotting, and exposed now, your bandages lost in the water, black blood soaking through your sleeve, with heavy black claws curling where your nails should be.
You have to crouch back down, leaning on your knees, staring at your reflection in the churning water, your eyes glowing softly as they stare back at you.
Not your eyes.
Your reflection shifts, and you see the massive maw again, white fangs dangerously sharp as it rises out of the water in front of you, hot breath on your face as you stagger back-
Rough hands grab at your arms, and you spin around, lashing out with your claws, breaking free and scrambling a few steps back, pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing the jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
You blink down at your hunter's knife, the blade trembling slightly in your hand.
"Lea-" you take a step towards $l_them, but rougher hands grab you then, wrenching your wrist back and taking your knife before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under again, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you spin around, clutching your arm and staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>"Are you alright?" Lea blurts before you can ask $l_them the same question.
$l_They grab<<s>> at your shoulders, roughly checking over you, much to your chagrin.
"I'm fine," you say gruffly, shrugging off $l_their hands and earning yourself a scowl - you would recognize that look, even with $l_their mask still on. $l_They actually pull<<s>> it off then, as if hearing your thoughts and wanting to subject you to the full force of $l_their disapproval - but actually the cloth is just soaked, and $l_they<<re>> breathing hard, $l_their one hand tightening where it still grasps at your shoulder.
"Are //you// alright?" you take a step towards $l_them, but $l_they shake<<s>> $l_their head, waving you away. Now it's your turn to scowl, and Lea laughs, which eases some of your worry.
But whatever Lea is going to say next is drowned out by a sudden explosion across the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and you're both thrown off your feet, a wave of heat burning through the air, black fire falling from the sky.
You crash down into the icy water, ducking your head as hot wind whips past, spraying water and ice hard enough to hurt. You try to get back up, but there's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, and you curl forward on your knees in the water, gasping as your vision swims, phantom hands reaching out of the flood and grabbing at you - phantoms turning corporeal, real fingers digging into your flesh beneath your clothes as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you.
<<link "The Vel is open." "CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 3">><</link>>You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a painful fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You stare down at your hands, at the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
"Lea?"
You roughly wipe the rain from your eyes, blinking around the courtyard, grimacing as it blurs at the edges, making your head spin.
"Hunter."
A familiar voice. But not Lea's.
You hear the faint rattle of chains, ringing in your ears, somehow even louder than all the commotion in the courtyard, and you know it's back, and you know it's trying to find a way in.
You don't know if the chains will stop it this time.
Instinctively, you reach for your hunter's knife, pulling it from it's sheath as you try to force yourself to stand again.
And then Lea materializes in front of you, just for a moment, before $l_they distort<<s>>, morphing into something else - someone else.
It's you, standing in front of you again. The courtyard flickers, and you're back in the forest, in the dark, the sound of metal scraping over ice, and you peer up into the storm, golden eyes staring down at you, a massive shadow casting you in darkness.
"Hunter. Don't be afraid," the voice says, though it sounds far more like a //threat// this time, than any kind of comfort.
Again, you try to stand, but something holds you in place, icy hands constricting around your diaphragm, your legs trembling as you collapse forward onto your hands and knees, gasping at the rush of cold water pulling at your clothes.
Slow steps slosh through the water in front of you, and you force yourself to look, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end as you stare up into your own face.
//Not quite// - not quite your face.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 4]]They crouch down in front of you, watching you curiously, their eyes consumed in inky black - is that what you look like? Is that how you looked last night, when they found you in the woods?
"I'm sorry," they say, and you close your eyes, a wave of nausea washing over you at your voice coming from their mouth.
"I'm sorry for this. And I'm sorry for last night," they say suddenly. "It was cruel of me, to bring you out there," they tilt their head at you, their dark eyes flashing, a thin ring of gold swirling at the center, almost hypnotic, drawing you into them.
"But I had to make sure. You keep slipping through my fingers..." they trail off for a moment, studying //your// hands before moving even closer, the smell of rot making your eyes water.
They grab your arm then, and you try to twist away, but they easily hold you still, their hand just as cold as the water churning around you, long claws curling around your forearm, their other hand slowly coming up to touch your face.
"I'm stronger now - and so are you. Stronger as each day passes. As it gets closer," they say, their hands tightening as you struggle, trying to turn your head away from their touch.
"I'm glad that it's you. We have a lot in common. But I am sorry."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" is all you can manage, still desperately trying to pull yourself free - but they just smile, pulling you closer, their rotted breath on your face, their hand sliding to your throat.
You notice the pain in your arm then, white hot and spiking up to your shoulder, burning through your chest as you curl forward, the world around you vanishing for a moment as the pain overwhelms you.
Their claws - your claws - digging into your arm, black blood spilling down your bracer, and you can just watch as they reach inside, pulling at the muscle and tendons and gore, the terrible scraping of their claws against your bone as they touch you with your own hands.
It's getting inside - forcing its way in.
Burrowing under your skin, through your veins, the taste of rot in your mouth, in your throat, in your stomach - inside. Inside you.
<<link "//Inside.//" "CH2.1 Just focus on getting to Lea 5 Lea Intervene">><</link>>Your hunter's knife is in your hand. Your other arm hangs uselessly at your side, the water dark and red from the raw, open wound left there, the white shine of bone against the black of your blood almost some kind of art - or maybe it's just perverse. You shouldn't look.
You raise the knife, feeling the weight of it in your palm, the warmth of the magic thrumming through the blade, the metal glowing slightly in anticipation.
The Vel pulses overhead, black smoke burning in the back of your throat, and you stare down at your hands, at the way the black light of the Vel refracts across the surface of the water, finding purchase on your blood and scattering like the sparks of a blacksmith's hammer - dazzling and bright, illuminating the dark water and the black ichor seeping into your arm.
You raise your knife.
//Hunter.//
The voice comes in your mind again, overwhelming, screaming in your ears, scratching just beneath your skin - but you raise your knife.
"$name!"
Rough hands grab at your shoulders, grab your wrist, wrenching your arm back and grasping at your knife, but you refuse to let go, even as you're hauled out of the water, your arm pinned painfully behind your back.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and instinctively raising your knife in front of you.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing old, jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
Your hunter's knife trembles slightly in your hand.
You're still staring at Lea when rougher hands grab you then, wrenching your wrist back and taking your knife before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you spin around, clutching your arm and staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>Talia is still fighting, putting up a valiant effort, while Harper is struggling back onto his feet, clutching at his side. You feel a deep, nauseating disgust as you watch the soldiers surround Talia, taunting her as she threatens them with her crossbow.
You wonder how old she is. She can't be more than twenty. Maybe the same age as your $sibling. The thought startles you, and you press your hands over your face, listening to the sound of Duncan's heavy armor as he slowly starts to make his way over to her.
"Keres," Noel says suddenly, urgent and angry, loud enough to be heard over the shouting and the rain. You drop your hands then, blinking over at the general, still standing by Duncan's horse, her face unreadable.
"Stop this," Noel continues, even as Keres refuses to look at him, even as the soldiers flash their blades dangerously at Noel.
"Phaedra! Don't ignore me!" Noel snaps, just as one of the other soldiers finally manages to grab Talia, and Keres spins around, and Talia is still screaming, and you feel the sudden rush of heat, the thrum of magic even before Noel raises xir glaive and brings it down hard against the cobblestones.
The blast of magic throws all of you off your feet, and you instinctively try to shield Lea and Clementine, all of you tumbling down together into the icy flood water, and almost immediately you hear the clash of metal, more magic exploding overhead - fire, lightning, and ice, as Keres and Noel face off, soldiers diving out of the way as their magic suddenly burns through the courtyard.
Duncan is nearby, staggering back onto his feet and flanked by his soldiers, and you can see his anger even from here, can hear him shouting orders over the rain. You quickly scramble to your feet, and Lea does the same, and you realize $l_they<<ve>> already drawn $l_their sword, turning to raise it threateningly at some nearby soldiers - though they ignore you and Lea at the moment, more worried about calming their panicking horses and regrouping with each other than the two of you.
The group of soldiers across the courtyard are the ones that got the worst of it, face down in the flood, with Talia standing free alongside Harper once more, his daggers drawn while Talia raises her crossbow again, threatening what soldiers are still standing.
"Where's Clementine?" Lea says then, and you blink back at $l_them, both of you spinning around, but the bard is gone. You hope they ran.
You hear the scrape of chains again, and you turn to see Merry, trying to break free in the confusion - but the captain holds fast, snapping at the chains and throwing her to the ground.
"What are we doing, $surname?" Lea asks then, $l_their voice sharp even over the chaos unfolding in front of you.
<<include "CH2.2 What are we doing Choices">><div id="choice"><<link [[Clementine - I need to get to Clementine. ->CH2.2 Get to Clementine 1]]>><<set $ch2_healedclem to true>><<set $lea_injured to true>><<set $get_clem to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[We're outnumbered. I have to deal with some of these soldiers, first, before we're surrounded. ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 1]]>><<set $get_clem to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[My focus is on Duncan. I need to stop him before he hurts someone else. ->CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 1]]</div>Clementine remains unmoving, curled on their side a few yards in front of you. The soldiers, at least, don't pay any mind to you or them, just running past to reach Lea and Merry instead - or maybe they're just running out of lack of anything else to do. They don't seem particularly organized; you suppose most of their experience comes from shoving civilians around in the city, rather than any actual combat. The ones that //are// fighting are probably the soldiers that came with Keres.
Gritting your teeth, you force yourself to take an unsteady step, wincing as your muscles still strain and twitch involuntarily, and you splash through the icy water, keeping yourself low and small as you carefully try to maneuver around the chaos in the courtyard.
Your luck runs out, though - two of the nearby soldiers turn on you as you get too close, their faceless masks flashing as another wave of magic rumbles overhead, Noel and Keres clashing with a loud clang of steel on steel, more lightning flashing erratically overhead and striking a distant building somewhere farther in the isolation district.
You take advantage of the distraction, lunging forward and slamming your fist across the nearest soldier's mask, the crunch of broken bone and cartilage making you grimace as pain lances up your arm. The soldier stumbles back, and you send them all the way to the ground with a swift kick to their stomach, regaining your footing just in time to block a strike from the second soldier.
You grunt, your arms trembling as your blades clash, <<if $mc_axeman>>and you long for your axe - but the sword will have to do. You shove back against them, throwing your weight behind your blade, and they stagger back and nearly trip over their fallen companion as they try to get away from you. But you raise your sword over your head, cleaving it down with both hands, burying the blade in the soft spot between the soldier's neck and shoulder, blood steaming in the cold air as it spills across their chestplate and down into the flood.
You rip your sword free then, a spray of blood and viscera splattering across the dark water before the soldier crumples in front of you, wet groans coming from beneath their mask as they sink back against the cobblestones.
You stare down at your sword, the blade still steaming and stained dark with blood.
You're not sure what you expected - but you've never killed someone before. A //human//. You thought maybe it would be harder, that it would feel different - but it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy. You don't even need a fancy knife to do it.
You turn away from the blood swirling in the water at your feet, and instead turn back to Clementine - still curled on the ground, though they're blinking up at you, their eyes wide with admiration or fear, you can't really tell.<<elseif ($mc_swordsman eq true) or ($mc_archer eq true)>>digging your heels in as you shove back against them, throwing your weight behind your blade and forcing them to stagger back a few feet, nearly tripping over their fallen companion as they try to get way from you. You don't let them retreat, though, lunging after them with a vertical strike, their mask flying off their face as your blade slices across their throat, an arc of red splattering down into the flood in front of you. Your momentum carries you a few more steps before you force yourself to stop, with the soldier just staring at you with wide eyes, blood weeping down the front of their armor, the gaping wound in their neck wet and wheezing as their head rolls back and they collapse down onto their knees, slowly sinking back against the cobblestones.
You stare down at your sword, the blade steaming and stained dark with blood.
You're not sure what you expected - but you've never killed someone before. A //human//. You thought maybe it would be harder, that it would feel different - but it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy. You don't even need a fancy knife to do it.
You turn away from the blood swirling in the water at your feet, and instead turn back to Clementine - still curled on the ground, though they're watching you now, their eyes wide with admiration or fear, you can't really tell.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>and you make a wild reach for your magic, your sword sparking for a split second before it suddenly bursts into flame, hot and blinding in the small space between you. The soldier cries out, their mask hissing hot as they stumble back through the icy water, nearly tripping over their fallen companion as they try to get away from you and your flaming sword. You don't let them retreat, though, lunging after them, swinging your sword as the fire leaps beyond your blade and the soldier vanishes in a burst of sparks and flame.
You stagger a few feet, your sword flickering and steaming against the rain, the soldier flailing helplessly before dropping back into the flood, the smell of burning flesh singeing the back of your throat. Your fire recedes, pain spiking behind your eyes at the effort, and you try not to look at the charred body smoking in the water, stepping back and pressing a shaking hand to your forehead.
You're not sure what you expected - but you've never killed someone before. A //human//. You thought maybe it would be harder, that it would feel different - but it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy. You don't even need a fancy knife to do it.
You turn away from the embers still burning atop the flood, and instead turn back to Clementine - still curled on the ground, though they're watching you now, their eyes wide with admiration or fear, you can't really tell.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>and you make a wild reach for your magic, your sword sparking for a split second before frost rushes from your hands and envelopes your blade, the water churning excitedly at your feet as you shove your weight against the soldier and force them to stagger back, nearly tripping over their fallen companion as they try to get away from you. You don't let them retreat, though, lunging after them, swinging your sword and bringing your blade down hard across their chestplate. Ice splinters across their armor on impact, spreading over the metal, clinging to the soldier's clothes and prickling across their skin, the flood solidifying around their ankles until they finally freeze in place, their sword raised over their head as they tried and failed to strike back at you.
You take a few steps back, pain spiking behind your eyes from the effort as you try to rein in your magic, the ice cracking dangerously in front of you - before it shatters in a burst of blood and viscera. You watch as the soldier collapses down into the flood, their raised arm breaking from the fall, their icy sword clattering through the water and across the cobblestones.
You're not sure what you expected - but it still shocks you, stunned as stare at the blood darkening the water at your feet. You've never killed someone before. A //human//. You thought maybe it would be harder, that it would feel different - but it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy. You don't even need a fancy knife to do it.
You force yourself to turn away from the bloody chunks of ice churning in the dark water, and instead turn back to Clementine - still curled on the ground, though they're watching you now, their eyes wide with admiration or fear, you can't really tell.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>and you make a wild reach for your magic, your sword sparking for a split second before a howl of wind rushes from your hands, swirling down your blade before bursting outwards, throwing the soldier back, nearly making them trip over their fallen companion as they stagger through the water. You launch yourself after them, the wind howling as you leap into the air before swinging your blade down hard across their chestplate. Again, it staggers them, and you can hear them wheezing through their mask, and you follow it up with a vertical strike, their mask flying off their face then as your blade slices across their throat, an arc of red splattering down into the flood in front of you. Your momentum carries you a few more steps before you force yourself to stop, with the soldier just staring at you with wide eyes, blood weeping down the front of their armor, the gaping wound in their neck gurgling and wheezing painfully - still trying to catch their breath, even as their head rolls back and they collapse down onto their knees, slowly sinking back against the cobblestones.
You take a few steps back, pain spiking behind your eyes from the effort as you try to rein in your magic, the bloody water spraying across the flood as the wind whips past you and swirls dangerously with the storm overhead. After a few frantic seconds it calms, dissolved into the dark clouds, a ringing in your ears in the sudden silence as you stare down at your blade, steaming and stained dark with blood.
You're not sure what you expected - but you've never killed someone before. A //human//. You thought maybe it would be harder, that it would feel different - but it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy. You don't even need a fancy knife to do it.
You turn away from the blood swirling in the water at your feet, and instead turn back to Clementine - still curled on the ground, though they're watching you now, their eyes wide with admiration or fear, you can't really tell.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>and you make a wild reach for your magic, the earth shuddering under your feet, cobblestones trembling and tripping the soldier as you shove your weight against them and and force them to stagger back, nearly tripping over their fallen companion as they try to get away from you. You don't let them retreat, though, lunging after them with a vertical strike, their mask flying off their face as your blade slices across their throat, an arc of red splattering down into the flood in front of you. Your momentum carries you a few more steps before you force yourself to stop, with the soldier just staring at you with wide eyes, blood weeping down the front of their armor, the gaping wound in their neck wet and wheezing as their head rolls back and they collapse down onto their knees, slowly sinking back against the cobblestones.
You take a few steps back, pain spiking behind your eyes from the effort as you try to rein in your magic, the courtyard shaking for a few frantic seconds until you manage to regain control, breathing hard and bracing against the cobblestones. You feel dizzy, swaying in the sudden stillness as you stare down at your blade, steaming and stained dark with blood.
You're not sure what you expected - but you've never killed someone before. A //human//. You thought maybe it would be harder, that it would feel different - but it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy. You don't even need a fancy knife to do it.
You turn away from the blood swirling in the water at your feet, and instead turn back to Clementine - still curled on the ground, though they're watching you now, their eyes wide with admiration or fear, you can't really tell.<<else>>digging your heels in as you shove back against them, the runes on your bracer glowing bright as a burst of alchemical lightning explodes from your hands and bursts against their chestplate, forcing them to stagger back a few feet, nearly tripping over their fallen companion as they try to get way from you. You don't let them retreat, though, lunging after them with a vertical strike, their mask flying off their face as your blade slices across their throat, an arc of red splattering down into the flood in front of you. Your momentum carries you a few more steps before you force yourself to stop, with the soldier just staring at you with wide eyes, blood weeping down the front of their armor, the gaping wound in their neck wet and wheezing as their head rolls back and they collapse down onto their knees, slowly sinking back against the cobblestones.
You flex your hands, the runes around your bracer burning through your sleeve, red alchemical lightning still popping across the flood even as the cool and fade. You take a deep breath, staring down at your sword, the blade steaming and stained dark with blood.
You're not sure what you expected - but you've never killed someone before. A //human//. You thought maybe it would be harder, that it would feel different - but it feels just the same as killing anything else - too easy. You don't even need a fancy knife to do it.
You turn away from the blood swirling in the water at your feet, and instead turn back to Clementine - still curled on the ground, though they're watching you now, their eyes wide with admiration or fear, you can't really tell.<</if>>
You try not to think too hard about it, just rushing over to them, dropping down in the water beside them.
"Clementine," you blurt as they reach out and grab at your sleeves, muttering your name. You quickly glance over them, gently nudging their arm out of the way to get a better look at the dark wound staining their tunic. It's still bleeding, but it's not as bad as you expected it to be.
"I'm alright," Clementine says then, their hands tightening around fistfuls of your jacket. "Don't think he was trying to kill me..." they trail off then, and you realize how cold they are, radiating from their hands and through your sleeves, their face pale and lips turning purple.
"I'm going to get you out of this water, okay?" you say, and Clementine just nods, grabbing at the front of your cloak as you lift them up out of the flood, staggering as your head spins for a few seconds, your arms tightening around them.
Clementine winces, tucking their head against you, curling forward and pressing a hand to their stomach.
You make your way to the edge of the courtyard, tripping through the dark water until you reach the cemetery, stepping up onto the hard, frozen ground and shouldering your way through the little gate. It screeches on its hinges as it swings back, both you and Clementine grimacing at the sound, though it's just another commotion among the chaos in the courtyard behind you.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Get to Clementine 2]]You take a deep breath, wincing as you raise your sword.
Ignoring General Keres, there aren't too many soldiers in front of you - most of them are swarming around Lea and Merry - but you're still outnumbered, and now that the initial shockwave has worn off, they're inching closer, staring at you with those faceless masks, standing between you and Clementine, you and Lea and Merry. You can't do anything until you deal with them.
You take a few slow steps back, glancing between them all, your hand tightening around the hilt of your sword.
Magic surges through the clearing again, the clang of metal against metal, Keres' white light flashing overhead, your hair standing on end as the air becomes electric.
You scramble back away from the striking lightning, bursting against the flood waters, and the soldiers near you do as well, turning from you in their panic, throwing up their hands and ducking away from the blinding lights.
You take your chance, and lunge for the nearest soldier.
You slam your fist into the back of their head, dropping the first one immediately, before the others spin around, shouting and pushing back against you.
You dart sideways, dodging one strike and blocking the other one with your bracer, gritting your teeth as the impact jars through you. It makes you stagger a bit, your body aching, muscles still locked from Keres' magic, but you manage to counter, thrusting your arm out and throwing their sword sideways before sending them to the ground with a swift kick to the gut.
The distraction of Keres' magic is fading, and you're nearly overwhelmed before you can replant your feet, a soldier's blade slashing at your arms and hands as you throw them up to block your face.
You swear, almost dropping your sword as blood runs hot under your sleeves, but you manage to scramble back and put some space between you, saved by another sudden eruption of magic through the courtyard, lightning bursting through the water at your feet and forcing you - and the soldiers - to step back. Just as quickly, though, it solidifies, ice swallowing the electric burn as the familiar feeling of Noel's magic rushes past you.
Noel and Keres are a terrifying sight, Noel swinging his glaive while Keres lunges forward to meet xem, a sickening sound as Keres' armor clashes against xem and they both go to the ground.
You glare over at the soldier in front of you, who hesitates now, and you can see the whites of their eyes even through their mask, their fear palpable, and you're starting to feel it, too - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, expanding and retracting in its excitement as the fighting turns feverish. You can feel it reaching out to you, nails scraping over your skin, pulling at your clothes, a heavy weight on your back as it breathes into your ear.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 2]]Hot anger burns in your chest, and you grit your teeth as you raise your sword, your eyes never leaving Duncan, watching as he twirls his own sword in front of him, returning your glare across the courtyard.
There aren't too many soldiers between you, but you're still outnumbered, and they're inching closer, staring at you with those faceless masks. You worry your hilt in your palm, glancing for an opening - you don't care about these soldiers. You just want Duncan.
Magic surges through the clearing again, the clang of metal against metal, white light flashing overhead, your hair standing on end as the air becomes electric.
You scramble back away from the striking lightning, bursting against the flood waters, and the soldiers near you do as well, turning from you in their panic, throwing up their hands and ducking away from the blinding lights.
You have your opening.
You take your chance, darting past the first few soldiers before they even notice, feeling the burn of magic as it brushes against you, rain biting with electricity as it seeps through your clothes.
Unfortunately, you're still unsteady on your feet, staggering sideways and tripping on the uneven cobblestones, and you nearly collide with one of the soldiers before you can right yourself.
They spin around, startled by your closeness, before taking a frantic swing at you.
You try to duck out of the way, all but diving to the ground to avoid it. It's close, the whisper of the blade rushing past you as you hit the cobblestones again. Your body aches, muscles still locked from Keres' magic, your back and shoulder aching from the crossbow bolt, but you manage to launch yourself back up quickly, swiping up at the soldier with your sword.
You throw your body weight behind it, a messy strike you don't expect to really hit, but rather just hope to force them back away from you.
But it does hit. Your body carries you through the motion, and there's nothing you can do as your blade slices just beneath the soldier's mask, sending it splashing into the nearby flood waters.
The soldier seems just as surprised as you, staggering back and staring at you with wide eyes, their mouth opening and closing around broken words. Your momentum still carries you a few more steps before you can force yourself to stop, your boots splashing through water and blood.
You both stare at each other, before the soldier's head rolls back, their throat a gaping mouth of red, weeping down the front of their armor before they crumple to the ground.
Their eyes are still open, staring up into the rain, their blood pooling beneath your feet.
You look down at your blade, dark with blood and steaming in the cold air. You hadn't expected that - truth be told, you actually always expected that killing a person would be harder, that it would be different. But it feels exactly the same as killing anything else. The only difference is you don’t need a fancy knife to do it.
A few painful moments, your hand tightening around the hilt of your sword, before you're forced to look away from it as more magic erupts through the courtyard, scrambling back as lightning suddenly bursts through the water at your feet, though just as quickly it solidifies, ice swallowing the fire as the familiar feeling of Noel's magic rushes past you.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 2]]<<if $ch2_healedclem eq true>><div id="choice"><<link 'I can heal $l_them. I can heal $l_them, just like Clem. It will be fine. I can heal $l_them.' 'CH2.2 I can heal them w Clem 1'>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link 'I can heal $l_them. I can heal $l_them, it will be fine. I can heal $l_them.' 'CH2.2 I can heal them w Clem 1'>><<set $heal_lea to true>><</link>></div><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm going to kill Duncan. ->CH2.1 I'm going to kill Duncan 1]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">I can't move, I can't even //breathe// - I can't do anything but watch. [WIP]</div>Noel and Keres are a terrifying sight, Noel swinging $n_their glaive while Keres lunges forward to meet $n_them, a sickening sound as Keres armor clashes against $n_them and they both go down to the ground.
Glancing around the courtyard, you can see Merry has actually reached Clementine, having split with Lea, and you're relieved at the sight, at Clementine sitting up and clearly talking with her, clinging to her arm as they exchange words. Lea, meanwhile, is now with Harper and Talia, fighting side by side with them. They all seem to be fairing well, though Talia appears unsteady on her feet, waving her crossbow around, and you can see Merry has a gash on her forehead, blood clear on her face as she crouches over Clementine.
And there's Duncan, standing near the cemetery, waiting for you, still flanked by a few of his soldiers.
But a lot of the other remaining soldiers seem to be panicking, a strange, unnerving excitement gripping the courtyard. Some of them are running after their bolting horses, while others seem to just be focusing on staying out of the way of all the magic churning in the air, watching it all through those masks, the whites of their eyes visible in their fear.
It’s starting to get to you, too, the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel as it flashes overhead, expanding and retracting in its excitement as the fighting turns feverish. You can feel it reaching out to you, nails scraping over your skin, pulling at your clothes, a heavy weight on your back as it breathes into your ear.
You force yourself forward, pressing a bloody hand to your forehead, your other hand tightening around your sword.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 3]]You're surprised by Duncan's nonchalance, at his patience, watching you wade your way through the flood, still lazily twirling his sword. He seems rather calm for a man who is losing control, his soldiers bolting - or dying. He clearly has some kind of //plan//, and his confidence makes you uneasy.
You hover back for a moment, eyeing the soldiers standing around him, and this close you notice for the first time that there are flashing runes on Duncan's armor, across his chest, at the joints, over his hands. //Enchanted armor//. Of course Lord Duncan would have fucking //enchanted armor.//
"This is not what I wanted, $surname," he says, waving his sword as he does, and the soldiers at his side exchange a glance, before backing off, Duncan closing the few remaining steps between you.
"You know that bard is worth a rather handsome sum of money? And the captain, too, but I figured that's obvious," he says then, and your hand reflexively tightens around your sword. "It's a waste for both of us, that it ended up this way. We could have worked together. This is not what I wanted."
<div id="choice"><<link '"Shut up."' 'CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 3.a'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I should kill you for this."' 'CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 3.b'>><<set $aggresive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re pathetic, Duncan."' 'CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 3.c'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div><div id="choice">[[I'm going to be aggressive. He may be fast, but even with that armor I know I can wear him down. ->CH2.1 MC Injured Aggressive Duncan Fight 1]]</div>
<div id ="choice">[[I need to restrain myself. I'm not sure what that armor does - I'm going on the defensive. ->CH2.1 MC Injured Defensive Duncan Fight 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">I'm not above kicking some water in his face. He's got that armor - it's a good enough excuse. [WIP]</div>"I should kill you for this," you sneer, raising your sword threateningly. "You better hope that bard is still breathing, or I //will// kill you."
Duncan just scoffs.
"Careful, hunter. That sounds an awful lot like a threat to a royal officer - I don't think the Order would be very pleased with you right now."
Now it's your turn to scoff.
"Think they'd be pleased if I accepted your bribe instead? But it doesn't matter now. What time is it, Duncan?" you say then.
He blinks at you, clearly caught off guard by the question.
"After noon, isn't it? And remind me again, what time did you tell me, yesterday?"
Duncan doesn't respond, shaking his head, his confusion turning to annoyance.
"Noon," you prompt, giving him an icy smile. "And yet here I am. I disobeyed your order - but that's not too unusual, I'm not supposed to take orders or show favoritism to any one political power. But I also climbed your wall. Whether you allowed it or not, I broke your rules. I killed your men. You think I give a shit what the Order has to say at this point?"
Duncan sneers, and he doesn't seem interested in talking anymore, raising his sword and taking a swing at you.
<<include "CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 4">>"Shut up," you say, already prickling at his tone. You have no interest in listening to anything he has to say right now. Your sword twitches at your side, and Duncan narrows his eyes at you.
"Very eloquent. You Black Iron hunters are all such brutes," he spits at your feet then, before darting forward and taking a swing at you.
<<include "CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 4">>"You're pathetic, Duncan," you spit his name at him, your lip curling in disgust.
But he just rolls his eyes.
"Save your breath. I've heard it all before, $surname."
"You deserve to hear it, every morning, when you look in the mirror. //You're pathetic//," you say again, and Duncan narrows his eyes at you.
"You Black Iron hunters really //are// all the same, aren't you?" he says then, shaking his head with a sigh, before raising his sword, quickly darting forward and taking a swing at you.
<<include "CH2.2 Focus is on Duncan 4">>You easily block it, knocking Duncan sideways and lunging after him with a snarl, slamming against his chestplate and throwing him to the ground. He's quick, though, swiftly rolling back onto his feet, and you shake your head, taking a moment to compose yourself, your sword trembling in your hands.
You keep your blade high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead, studying Duncan's enchanted armor as you both stalk each other around the courtyard.
You resist the urge to look back at Clementine, at the blood splattered across the cobblestones - you know Merry is with them, you trust Lea and the others to take care of them. You still can't help but notice the blood on Duncan's hands, though, soaking his gloves, the bloody knife tucked into his belt. You sneer at him, your eyes cutting to his blade then, gleaming in the white lightning erupting overhead, flashing as he twirls it in front of him - a move that has always irritated you.
You try to take advantage of it, lunging for him halfway through his display, swinging your sword down with both hands.
He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones, water exploding around you on impact. This close, you can feel the magic radiating from his armor, can see the way it responds to his movements, flashing rapidly as he puts some space between you.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
<<include "CH2 Short Duncan fight Choices">>Before either of you can re-engage, though, shouting over your shoulder draws your attention, you and Duncan both turning at the sound. Merry's voice, though you can't tell what she's saying over the chaos in the courtyard - but you feel some sense of relief when you see Lea with her, $l_their arm around her waist as $l_they help<<s>> her to her feet, Harper and Talia nearby with their weapons raised.
"Looks like your friends are leaving you behind," Duncan muses, but when you turn back to glare at him, he's scowling, glancing around the courtyard - looking for something, you think.
"Then why are you so nervous, //Lord// Duncan?" you prompt, unable to hide the amusement in your voice at the sudden and obvious cracks in his confidence, an unexpected swell of pride in your chest as you hear your companions safely retreating behind you.
He sneers at you, scoffing at your tone.
"Don't get cocky, $surname. We're not finished yet," Duncan says, raising his sword, his grey eyes flashing. "We are not finished yet."Merry is still putting up an admirable fight, shouting and swearing and yanking on her chains as she lashes out - and conveniently distracts the handful of soldiers still crowded around her: three of them, including the captain with the fancy pauldrons. If you can just get close, you can catch them off guard.
You dart through the flood, wincing as the water sloshes at your boots, but the rain and the thunder and the magic and the clashing steel keeps the attention off of you, even as you get right up behind one of the three soldiers.
You're certain Merry notices you, but she's good at pretending otherwise, shouting louder and jerking her shackled arms hard enough to stagger the captain still holding her chains, and you hesitate, your bloody sword heavy in your hand - only for a moment, though, before you run your blade through the back of the oblivious soldier in front of you.
They scream, startling the others, and you twist your blade before ripping it free, shoving the soldier down and bringing your sword up to block a heavy strike from the captain. You stagger back, grunting in surprise at their strength, the other soldier taking Merry's chains while the captain leers down at you.
You quickly move back, putting a bit of breathing room between you, glaring at your own reflection in their silver mask. You circle each other for a few seconds, but the captain is aggressive, and they lunge after you with an angry shout.
You dodge back out of the way, swinging your sword after you and clashing against their chestplate. They hold their ground, your blade glancing off their armor, and they lunge again, slamming their armored shoulder against you and throwing you to the ground.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>You roll through the flood, the captain's sword whispering dangerously close as you spring back up, raising your own blade with a burst of flame. It washes over their armor, staggering them as they smack at the burning feathers on their pauldrons, and you raise your sword again - but again they slam into you, your own fire singeing your face as you crash back down into the icy water again.
"Gods, you big motherfucker," you gasp, clutching at your chest, your cracked ribs shifting painfully as you push yourself back up onto your feet - though they're too busy still trying to put the fire out to hear you, or press any other kind of attack. You take the chance to catch your breath, watching as the captain eventually just rips the feathers off, along with their cloak, throwing it down at their feet.
You both start to circle each other then, embers still burning atop the water, the flame around your sword low but still bright and hot. You eye the captain, taller than Lea, and you can only imagine their strength beneath their armor; you need to make sure they don't get ahold of you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You roll through the flood, the captain's sword whispering dangerously close as you spring back up, raising your own blade with a burst of wind, attempting to throw them back away from you - but they merely stagger a few steps, planting their feet before lunging after you again, slamming against your chest and sending you crashing back down into the icy water once more.
"Gods, you big motherfucker," you gasp, clutching at your chest, your cracked ribs shifting painfully as you push yourself back up onto your feet. Thankfully, your wind is whipping across the dark water, pelting rain and ice at the captain, and they have to raise their arm to shield their eyes, unable to press any other kind of attack until you rein in your magic.
You take the chance to catch your breath, backpedaling a bit, shaking off the pain in your chest and putting the wind at your back as you both start to circle each other.
You eye the captain then, taller than Lea, and you can only imagine their strength beneath their armor; you need to make sure they don't get ahold of you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>You roll through the flood, the captain's sword whispering dangerously close as you spring back up, stomping your foot through the water and urging a wall of stone out of the ground, knocking the captain back a few steps - but they keep coming, darting around the wall surprisingly quick and slamming into you again, sending you crashing back down into the icy water once more.
"Gods, you big motherfucker," you gasp, clutching at your chest, your cracked ribs shifting painfully as you hastily push yourself back up onto your feet. They try to strike you before you can regain your composure, and you tumble back out of reach, dipping your sword beneath the flood and lashing out with your magic, mud and grit flying off the end of your blade and splattering across the captain's mask, stopping them in their tracks.
You take the chance to catch your breath, watching as the captain roughly wipes at their eyes, adjusting their mask, an anger and indignation radiating off of them you can feel even without seeing the sneer they are no doubt giving you under that mask.
You both start to circle each other then, mud still swirling at your feet, your short wall of stone still standing between you. You eye the captain, taller than Lea, and you can only imagine their strength beneath their armor; you need to make sure they don't get ahold of you.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You roll through the flood, the captain's sword whispering dangerously close as you spring back up, water trailing after your blade as you retaliate, a whip of ice cracking over the captain and staggering them a few feet, the ice clinging and splintering across their armor, and you raise your sword again - but again they slam into you, sending you crashing back down into the dark water again.
"Gods, you big motherfucker," you gasp, clutching at your chest, your cracked ribs shifting painfully as you push yourself back up onto your feet - they don't hear you, though, which is probably a good thing - they're too busy clawing at the ice spreading over their armor, peeling it off in sheets and letting it shatter down into the flood. You take the chance to catch your breath, watching as the last of the ice falls away, shaking their arms out and slapping their chest a few times with their heavy armored fist.
You both start to circle each other then, ice still churning in the water, the frost around your blade fogging the air between you. You eye the captain, taller than Lea, and you can only imagine their strength beneath their armor; you need to make sure they don't get ahold of you.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>You roll through the flood, the captain's sword whispering dangerously close as you spring back up, swinging your own sword in retaliation, a burst of alchemical lightning rushing from your bracers and down your blade, bursting against their armor - but they merely plow through the heat and the lightning, lunging after you again and slamming against your chest, sending you crashing back down into the icy water once more.
"Gods, you big motherfucker," you gasp, clutching at your chest, your cracked ribs shifting painfully as you push yourself back up onto your feet - they don't hear you though, which is probably a good thing. They're giving you some distance, their arms jerking painfully, red lightning still crackling in the air around them, with the feathers along their pauldrons singed black and smoking. You take the chance to catch your breath, but the rain is quick to snuff out any potential flame, and it only takes a few seconds of them shaking out their limbs before they're coming at you again.
You both start to circle each other then, the runes on your bracer still glowing faintly, alchemical lightning popping in the air between you. You eye the captain, taller than Lea, and you can only imagine their strength beneath their armor; you need to make sure they don't get ahold of you.<<else>>You roll through the flood, the captain's sword whispering dangerously close as you spring back up, swinging your own sword in retaliation, cracking against their armor with a burst of sparks, but it doesn't even stagger them, and you swing again in desperation - aiming for their face, your blade slamming against their mask even as they plow through your strike and barrel into you, throwing you back into the icy water once more.
"Gods, you big motherfucker," you gasp, clutching at your chest, your cracked ribs shifting painfully as you push yourself back up onto your feet - they don't hear you though, which is probably a good thing, instead just hunched in front of you and clutching at their face.
You take the chance to catch your breath, watching as the captain roughly adjusts their mask, blood dripping from their sculpted metal chin as they drop their hand and glare at you.
You both start to circle each other then, your chest still aching as you take a few more deep breaths. You eye the captain, taller than Lea, and you can only imagine their strength beneath their armor; you need to make sure they don't get ahold of you.<</if>>
You take a deep breath, raising your sword, bracing yourself as they creep closer, until-
Heavy metal chains crack across their face, sending their mask flying, and they duck their head into their hands, staggering back as Merry raises her arms and swings the chains again, slamming the heavy links over the back of their head, against their temple, again and again until the captain crumbles into the rising flood.
She doesn't stop, kicking them down and hitting them again and again, and you're too stunned to do anything at first, eventually forcing yourself over and grabbing at Merry, pulling her back, trying to grab at the chains - but then she turns on you, catching you across the jaw with the cold, heavy metal.
"Get off of me," Merry hisses, though she doesn't hit you again, backing off and clutching at her side, blood oozing through her clothes and staining her hands.
"I'm trying to help you!" you can't help but yell, pressing a hand to your jaw, staring after her in disbelief.
"Fuck you, $surname," she says, though her voice wavers, and she starts to pitch forward, but you quickly grab her arm, ignoring the throbbing pain in your face - for now, at least.
She clings to you for a moment, shaking her head, before she suddenly says your name again, her tone stronger and far more serious. You blink at her, but she's staring over your shoulder, and you turn to follow her gaze.
Duncan is picking his way through the flood, already far too close for your liking, and you immediately start to herd Merry back, grabbing at the chains so she doesn't trip over them as she staggers in the churning water.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 I'll get Merry 1.4]]Merry swears then, and you do too, as two of Duncan's soldiers step in your path, forcing you back towards him.
"You're not just going to walk out of here with //my// prisoner, $surname," he says, and you curl your lip at him, pushing Merry behind you, raising your sword as he creeps closer.
He seems to assess you then, looking you up and down, and your skin crawls under his stare, your hand tightening around your sword as you glare at him, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of looking away.
"I'll make sure you hang with her, if it's that important to you," he says, before quickly darting forward and taking a swing at you.
You block it easily enough, shoving Duncan sideways, though he manages to keep his footing and jump out of your way, with your counterstrike swinging through empty air.
You curse loudly, turning quickly after him, keeping yourself between him and Merry. You keep your sword high, dragging your feet through the water and mud, ignoring the dull ache behind your eyes that sharpens as the Vel shudders overhead.
Squaring off with Duncan, you notice for the first time that there are flashing runes on his armor - across his chest, at the joints, over his hands. //Enchanted armor//. Of course Lord Duncan would have fucking //enchanted// armor.
Your eyes cut to his blade then, gleaming in the white lightning erupting through the courtyard, flashing as he twirls it in front of him - a move that has always irritated you.
You try to take advantage of it, lunging for him halfway through his display, swinging your sword down with both hands.
He barely manages to scramble away, your sword cracking against the cobblestones, water exploding around you on impact. This close, you can feel the magic radiating from his armor, can see the way it responds to his movements, flashing rapidly as he puts some space between you.
But there's something about that magic - it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan watches you curiously, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What is it, hunter?" he says, that smile growing wider as you glare over at him.
<<include "CH2.2 Longer Duncan fight v2 Choices">>You can feel the Vel, excited by the sudden burst of magic, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arms trembling slightly as you tighten your grip around your sword, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan as he rises in front of you.
The runes are flickering, going dark for a few seconds before flashing bright - the enchantment wavers, but is still intact.
Duncan is wheezing, a hand pressed against his chest and blood pooling at the corner of his mouth, and you clutch at your side, hot blood burning against your cold, trembling hand. You wince as you slowly start to move through the water again, glancing over Duncan's shoulder to look for others, Lea or Merry - but you don't manage to find them before Duncan is lunging at you once again.
He's slower now, and sloppy, and you dart back, knocking his sword away with your bracer. He's using only one hand, too, his other one curled in a fist and tucked against his stomach - and you're the same, your hand pressing against your side, trying and failing to slow the blood loss that's starting to make your head spin.
Or maybe that's the Vel, still pushing down on you, making you feel //heavy//.
You block Duncan again, pushing him back as you stagger through the water, the rain coming down harder now, the courtyard growing darker and darker as the clouds churn overhead. You wipe at your face, blinking water from your eyes, and this time when Duncan comes at you, you stand your ground, taking your sword in both bloody hands and swinging as hard as you can.
Your blades come together hard, ringing loudly through the courtyard, and this time Duncan's sword flies out of his hand, yelping as his arm jerks back, recoiling and nearly tumbling to the ground.
You raise your blade to his throat, stopping him short just before he can dive after his sword, sinking in the flood waters at your feet.
You're both panting, Duncan glaring up at you, both of his hands cradled against his stomach. The runes glow softly now, casting a ghastly light across his face, his grey eyes flashing red as he sneers down at your blade.
"I'd say we're finished, now," you say, pressing your sword against his throat, barely resisting the dark thought urging you to finish it.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Sword Aggressive 2]]You glance around the courtyard then, but there aren't that many soldiers left - the ones that aren't dead in the water seem to be fleeing away from the temple, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning from the storm overhead. You realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do.
You shake your head, gritting your teeth against the sensation, tightening your hand around your sword. You force yourself to turn back to Duncan, who's looking around the courtyard, too, a scowl on his face. You notice he's gone pale, his lips turning blue as the icy flood waters lap at his chest, pinned in place by your blade.
You crouch down in front of him then, your blade nicking his throat as you press it dangerously along his jaw.
"We're finished," you repeat, a grim sense of satisfaction at the way he trembles in the water.
You lower your sword then, before grabbing the front of his armor and punching him in the face. Once, twice, three... four times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He slumps back into the flood, blinking blood from his eyes, and you let him go, standing back up and stepping past him, starting to wade your way towards the cemetery, around the temple, to your way out of here.
You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, gasping at the cold, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get out of here, you need to reach the others. They're waiting for you. You know it.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turned dark with blood.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain twists in your side.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Collapsed Possession 1]]You can feel it then, just before it happens, collapsed in the water as the storm suddenly surges violently overhead. There's an explosion that shakes the courtyard, wild lightning striking the temple spire, black fire exploding and falling from the sky as a wave of heat rushes past you. If you had still been standing, the force of it would have thrown you off your feet.
You take a deep breath, a low whine in the back of your throat as pain splits through your skull, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds as the Vel tears open, black lightning flashing through the courtyard, a sudden pulse of dark magic enveloping you.
You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You stare down at your hands, at the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
"Hunter."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
You hear the faint rattle of chains, ringing in your ears, somehow even louder than all the commotion in the courtyard, and you know it's back, and you know it's trying to find a way in.
You don't know if the chains will stop it this time.
Instinctively, you reach for your hunter's knife, pulling it from it's sheath as you open your eyes and force yourself to stand. For a moment you think it's Lea in front of you - maybe Merry. A rush of relief that shifts into confusion - it's Lea, it's Merry, then Noel, Keres, Duncan, Clementine. You shake your head, your vision doubling, tripling, the figure morphing into something else - someone else.
It's you, all alone. It's you, standing in front of you again. The courtyard blurs, and you're back in the forest, in the dark, the sound of metal scraping over ice, and you peer up into the storm, golden eyes staring down at you, a massive shadow casting you in darkness.
"Hunter. Don't be afraid," the voice says, though it sounds far more like a //threat// this time, than any kind of comfort.
You try to stand, but something holds you in place, icy hands constricting around your diaphragm, your legs trembling as you collapse forward onto your hands and knees, gasping at the rush of cold water pulling at your clothes.
Slow steps slosh through the water in front of you, and you force yourself to look, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end as you stare up into your own face.
//Not quite// - not quite your face.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Collapsed Possession 2]]Duncan backs off this time, wiping blood from his face and shaking out his injured hand. You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You take your sword in both hands, watching Duncan as he starts to creep closer again. You wait for him to come to you, and just like before he's impatient, striking after only a few seconds of circling. You dart back, and he tries to follow you with a thrust, but you twist away and strike at his outstretched arm, clanging against his bracer and knocking his arm downwards. He manages to keep ahold of his sword, but the power of your hit with both hands seems to take him by surprise - he's slow to react, even as the armor tries to force him to move away, and you swing upward until your blade is pressed against his throat.
His eyes widen for a moment - and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you stop short, your blade pricking Duncan's throat, both of you frozen for a second as you just look at each other.
Then you step forward and rip his sword from his hand, throwing it into the flood waters behind you, before you grab him by the front of his armor and shove him down onto his knees. He grunts in surprise, grabbing at your wrist, put your pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Sword Defensive 2]]Duncan is just staring down at his hands, at his armor, seeming in disbelief at the whole thing. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard - but what soldiers aren't already dead in the water pay no mind to you. No loyalty amongst dogs, you suppose.
"We're finished, now," you spit, turning back to Duncan, and he doesn't respond, pressing his hands to his chest and just giving you an icy glare.
You crouch down in front of him, turning your sword over in your hand, giving him your own icy glare.
"We're finished."
You grab the front of his armor again and hit him one more time, just for good measure, before shoving him down into the flood. You push past him then, wading through the rising water towards the cemetery, towards your way out of here. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
You realize then that Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull.
You just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Keres Intercept 1]]Staggering through the flood, you reach the cemetery, clinging to the wrought-iron fence as you drag yourself forward, the pain in your head almost unbearable.
A few more feet and you'll be out of the courtyard - but someone stands in your way.
General Keres glowers over at you, lightning still flashing along her blade, popping across the surface of the flood as she wades closer.
You both stop short, Keres' stare unnerving as she looks you over, eyeing your sword still in your hand. Keres is a severe looking woman, and there's something about her eyes - a bright, clear blue - that make you feel exposed and uneasy.
"You kill him?" she prompts then, glancing over your shoulder.
It takes you a second to realize that she's asking about Duncan. You shake your head.
"No."
Her frown deepens, still staring over your shoulder, and you take the chance to get a better look at her. Her slick braid is starting to unravel, loose hairs plastered to her face and neck from sweat and rain, and she has a few scratches across her brow and a busted lip - from her fight with Noel, you assume. She's steady on her feet, though, despite the scrapes and bruises, and her magic is still thrumming heavy in the air, making your head ache even more, the electricity setting your teeth on edge.
Her armor, at least, is not enchanted.
Her gaze refocuses on you then, and she lets out a long sigh.
"You should have killed him," she says, and you blink at her, bewildered.
"I would have let you walk away."
She raises her sword then, and you take a deep breath, bracing yourself and doing the same, your sword feeling particularly heavy in your hands.
But suddenly the sky seems to tilt overhead, and there's an explosion across the courtyard, wild lightning striking the temple spire, and both you and Keres are thrown off your feet, a wave of heat burning through the air, black fire falling from the sky.
You crash down into the icy water, ducking your head as hot wind whips past, spraying water and ice hard enough to hurt. You try to get back up, but there's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, and you curl forward on your knees in the water, gasping as your vision swims, phantom hands reaching out of the flood and grabbing at you - phantoms turning corporeal, real fingers digging into your flesh beneath your clothes as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you.
<<link 'The Vel is open.' 'CH2.2 Keres Intercept 2'>><</link>>You glance around the courtyard then, but there aren't that many soldiers left - the ones that aren't dead in the water seem to be fleeing away from the temple, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning from the storm overhead. You realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do.
You shake your head, rocking forward and trying to force yourself back onto your feet.
Duncan sits up a few feet in front of you, clutching his face in his hands. The runes on his armor fade in and out, flickering weakly - but you can feel it still. The enchantment wavers, but remains intact.
When he lowers his hands, you can see the extent of the burns now - particularly nasty around his throat, and his face is even redder than before, blood in his eyes and smeared across his forehead, but it's obvious the armor protected him for the most part. He doesn't move, though, staring down at his hands, and after a few seconds his eyes snap over to glare at you.
"I'd say we're finished now," you breathe, a faint laugh in the back of your throat. You grimace, tightening your hand around your side, and you look across the courtyard again, shaking your head.
"We're finished," you repeat, forcing yourself to stand, stepping past Duncan and starting to wade your way towards the cemetery, around the temple, to your way out. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, gasping at the cold, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get out of here, you need to reach the others. They're waiting for you. You know it.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turned dark with blood.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain twists in your side.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Collapsed Possession 1]]Duncan backs off this time, his burned hands trembling around the hilt of his sword. You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You take your sword in both hands, refocusing your magic as Duncan starts to creep closer again. You wait for him to come to you, and again he's impatient, striking after only a few seconds of circling.
You dodge the first blow, willing yourself to concentrate, gritting your teeth and feeling for the storm churning overhead - your magic extending dangerously beyond your reach. Lightning strikes nearby, water exploding around your feet, and your blade crackles, purple lightning bursting from your hands and dancing across the flood waters as you lunge after Duncan.
You don't bother trying to strike him, instead swinging hard at his sword as he raises it to block you. When the steel comes together, the sound is deafening, thunder roaring in your ears as lightning explodes between you, a burst of purple and gold sparks hissing as they fly off into the dark, churning water. Electricity engulfs Duncan's sword, crawling up his blade before leaping after him, up his arms, across his chest - his screams make your stomach twist as you retreat, staggering a bit as your magic fluctuates before you can regain control.
Duncan is thrown back into the water, and it's a few more seconds before a sudden burst of power from the armor dispels your electricity. It still dances across the water, coalescing around your blade, and the storm seems to intensify overhead, wind whipping through the courtyard and chilling you to the bone.
You quickly close the distance between you and Duncan, flat on his back and gasping as the flood waters push and pull him in every direction. You think he tries to scramble away, but his limbs don't respond, his eyes wide as he stares up at you, his arms weakly wrapping around his chest.
Your head spins as you crouch down in front of him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, pushing down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you reach forward and grab at the front of Duncan's armor, hauling him up onto his knees.
He grunts in surprise, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you easily pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Fire Defensive 2]]Duncan is just staring down at his hands, at his armor, seeming in disbelief at the whole thing. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard - but what soldiers aren't already dead in the water pay no mind to you. No loyalty amongst dogs, you suppose.
"I'd say we're finished," you growl, and he doesn't respond, pressing his hands to his chest and just giving you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards the cemetery, towards your way out. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
You realize then that Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull.
You just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Keres Intercept 1]]You glance around the courtyard then, but there aren't that many soldiers left - the ones that aren't dead in the water seem to be fleeing away from the temple, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning from the storm overhead. You realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do.
You try to shake it off, dragging your feet through the water and standing in front of Duncan. He's lifted slightly, held aloft in the ice, and he glares down at you, finally halting his futile attempts to break himself free.
His armor flickers faintly, wavering - but you can feel the enchantment. Still intact.
You take one last look at him, at the nasty gashes on his face from earlier, at the way he shivers in the ice, his free hand curled into a painfully tight fist at his side, with his lips turning a sickly bluish-purple.
"I'd say we're finished now," you breathe, a faint laugh in the back of your throat. You grimace, tightening your hand around your side, leaning against the pillar of ice, and you glance around the courtyard again.
"We're finished," you repeat, pushing yourself forward, stepping past Duncan and starting to wade your way towards the cemetery, around the temple, to your way out. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, gasping at the cold, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get out of here, you need to reach the others. They're waiting for you. You know it.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turned dark with blood. You can hear Duncan say something behind you, but you can't make it out over the ringing in your ears.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain twists in your side.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Collapsed Possession 1]]The water pulls at your legs, and it's //cold//, your hand shaking around the hilt of your sword, and you grit your teeth as you struggle for a moment to keep control of your magic, ice forming and breaking apart and reforming in quick succession - but you manage to rein it in, taking a few steps back from Duncan, though he keeps his distance, reluctant to rush you again.
You take a deep breath, hefting your shield at your side, and you resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You exhale slowly, refocusing your magic, watching the water break around you, the way it churns excitedly at your feet, and your magic thrums as you drag your blade along the surface, the rain shifting and coming down even harder, soaking your hood and biting through your clothes.
The water clings to the metal of your sword, following your movements, and you quickly dart back as Duncan's patience runs out once again. He lunges forward, careful of your shield, slamming a few quick hits against the ice as if he could break it. You grimace at the pain in your side, but you hold fast, feeling the rhythm of each strike, the water surging and receding as you brace and then retreat, brace and then retreat. Duncan throws down one more overhead strike, and you dodge sideways, letting the water carry you out of his reach.
"Come on, $surname," he snarls, breathing hard as he spins around to face you.
When he swings at you again, you take your chance, diving forward underneath his blade before launching yourself up at him, slamming your shield against his chest. The ice gives away around your forearm, releasing you and latching on to Duncan instead, cold water wrapping around him before solidifying once more, locking his torso in place as he crashes back into the flood.
When he hits the water, the ice expands - from his chest, across the surface, it cocoons him at your feet. He tries to resist, to get back up, one arm breaking through the ice, but it's quickly reclaimed, frozen as he reaches out to you, his hand curling painfully as it frosts over.
Your head spins as you crouch down in front of him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement at the sudden burst of magic, pushing down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, to let the ice take him, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you reach forward and grab at the front of Duncan's armor, cold and painful where it just protrudes from the ice.
You haul him forward, and he cries out as some of the ice breaks around him, trying to grab at your wrist clumsily with his frozen hand. You just smack it away, and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of black frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Water Defensive 2]]Duncan is breathing hard, still partially trapped in the ice, glaring up at you with unrestrained hate. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, a rush of blood burning against your palm, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard - but what soldiers aren't already dead in the water pay no mind to you. No loyalty amongst dogs, you suppose.
"I'd say we're finished," you say then, and Duncan doesn't respond, his eyes flashing as you stand.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards the cemetery, towards your way out of here. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
You realize then that Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull.
You just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Keres Intercept 1]]You grab at anything you can, the claws of your bandaged hand scraping desperately over the cobblestones, but with Duncan and his armor weighing you down you're unable to get a proper hold, pulled down over the edge into open water, and the surface seems to vanish into nothing, inky blackness swallowing you whole as the current forces you down into the tunnels - into the crypt.
Your lungs burn, a few mouthfuls of gritty salt water making you splutter and gag, all while Duncan grabs desperately at you, pulling you down as he tries to push himself up. His armor digs into your side, metal biting at your open wound, the dark water turning red around you as you both pull and kick at each other.
The runes of Duncan's armor illuminate the dark cavern that's engulfed you, faceless statues watching your desperate struggle.
An armored elbow catches you in the jaw, then an armored boot against your sternum, and you gasp despite yourself, more water forcing its way into your lungs, dark spots blurring at the edge of your vision with Duncan slipping out of your grasp as you convulse violently. He starts to slowly swim up, struggling against the weight of his armor, and you start to sink, the light of his runes dimming as he turns away from you.
You don't let him get far, though, clawing and grabbing at his ankle and pulling him back down. If you're going to drown here, then so is he.
Your claws curl around his greaves, nails digging into the flesh of his thigh as you cling to him, both of you twisting and thrashing until suddenly your back hits something solid. The bottom of the crypt.
Duncan is getting weaker, and so are you, the light from the runes almost overwhelming you, too bright to look at down here in the cold dark. Too many statues leering down, dark shadows flickering through the water, the strangely distorted sound of chains ringing somewhere deeper underground.
Duncan is desperate, and so are you - but you're the one pinned against the ground, and you're the one that gets kicked in the face, your head snapping back and cracking against stone, and you can't see anything for a few seconds, can't feel anything but the cold pressure of black water all around you.
When your vision returns, blurred and fading, you can just see the light of Duncan's runes flickering as he leaves you behind in the dark.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Earth Aggressive 2]]You stare out into nothing, sinking back against the stone floor, your lungs burning painfully as your chest constricts. Your mind begs you to swim, but your muscles don't respond, your hands barely twitching at your side.
With Duncan gone, you can't see anything in front of you, the statues hidden in the shadows, the walls of the crypt indistinguishable from the inky black all around you - but suddenly you can //feel// something in the dark with you, even as you slip in and out of consciousness, convulsing as your body longs for air.
Still, you don't see anything but the cold dark, and the current is still and quiet, and you wonder maybe if the Traveler has come to deliver you to death themself.
You've gone numb, suspended in the icy crypt, making it particularly jarring when pain sudden spikes through your arm. You convulse again, painfully, before reaching out and grabbing at your forearm, feeling your bandages unraveling, floating in the water in front of you, the black wound hot under your palm.
Again, you feel something move behind you, and a sudden clarity makes you jerk forward, your eyes widening as you see another pair of golden eyes staring at you from the dark.
"You're not going to die down here, are you, hunter?" a familiar voice rings in your head, clearing the fog from your mind, your vision sharpening as you push off the cracked stone floor. You hear the whisper of chains, impossible down in the water, but you hear it nonetheless, the scrape of metal on ice, and a gaping maw in front of you, white fangs and golden eyes flashing as something watches you from deep within the crypt.
A different familiar voice in your head now, one that makes your chest constrict even more painfully than drowning.
//Get up.//
You feebly kick your legs, reach out with your arms, swimming blind - but swimming up.
You feel a sudden warmth in the water, and a sudden flicker of gold, and then pain in your arm again, in your head, making you stop for a moment, curling forward as you grit your teeth against the Vel. It pulses in the water around you, sighing a current at your back as it slowly tears open, dark magic washing over you.
The gold flickers faster, brighter, and you blink through the water to see faces of ancient commanders leering out of the dark, stone arms reaching out, brushing against your cloak as you thrash in the water.
You quickly swim up, new strength in your legs, and you don't look back at the statues, don't look to see if it was real - don't look back at the golden eyes watching you from the dark. You just keep going, until the grey surface comes into view, the dark sky barely bleeding into the inky black of the crypt.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Earth Aggressive 3]]You burst out of the icy water, gasping as you cling to the broken edge of the courtyard, reaching for a handhold to drag yourself out.
You haul yourself over the edge, pushing yourself onto your hands and knees, glaring up at the sky, at the Vel, ripped open and raw over the courtyard, dark shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, everything warping and straining painfully for a few frantic seconds as you struggle to catch your breath.
You claw your way through the flood, on your hands and knees, and once you're a safe distance away and out of reach of the current, you hunch over, your body shaking violently as you vomit water and blood.
You feel phantom hands grabbing at you, even as you try to force yourself to stand, and instinctively you reach for your hunter's knife, the hilt hot against your cold, wet hand. Your hand - rotting, and exposed now, your bandages lost in the water, black blood soaking through your sleeve, with heavy black claws curling where your nails should be.
You have to crouch back down, leaning on your knees, staring at your reflection in the churning water, your eyes glowing softly as they stare back at you.
Not your eyes.
Your reflection shifts, and you see the massive maw again, white fangs dangerously sharp as it rises out of the water in front of you, hot breath on your face as you stagger back-
Rough hands grab at your arms, and you spin around, lashing out with your claws, breaking free and scrambling a few steps back, pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing the jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
You blink down at your hunter's knife, the blade trembling slightly in your hand.
"Lea-" you take a step towards $l_them, but rougher hands grab you then, wrenching your wrist back and taking your knife before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under again, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you spin around, clutching your arm and staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>The courtyard shudders dangerously under your feet as the stone slowly recedes back into the earth, and you grit your teeth as you struggle for a moment to keep control of your magic - but you manage to rein it in, taking a few steps back from Duncan, though he keeps his distance, reluctant to rush you again.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You take a deep breath, refocusing your magic, maneuvering to keep the space between you as Duncan attempts to creep closer. He watches you warily, his lip curling in annoyance as he realizes what you're doing.
"Come on, $surname," he snarls impatiently, stomping through the water after you.
The water shifts beneath you, swirling around your ankles, and you dip your sword low again, breaking the surface of the flood, your feet sliding across the cobblestones. Icy mud and silt churn in the dark water, stirred by your movements as well as the call of your magic, trailing after your blade as you slowly raise it once again.
The water between you and Duncan grows darker and darker, the angry splashes turning into a muddy sloshing as it thickens - Duncan moves slow, still struggling after you, but he's unable to close the distance, swearing as the mud pulls at his boots.
You let him struggle for a few more seconds, before finally lunging forward to meet him.
You don't bother trying to strike his armor with your sword - instead you just slam your foot into his chest, knocking him flat on his back with a painful wheeze, and the mud quickly swells up to meet him. It encases the joints of his armor first, locking him in place, before it starts to pull him down, his legs completely enveloped before you pull back, your fingers twitching as your magic trembles reluctantly under your command. You step high, crude dirt steps lifting you above the water, above the mud, and you stare down at Duncan, the runes of his armor flashing frantically as it tries to break him free - but the more he struggles, the more he sinks, the more it clings and pulls and traps him at your feet.
Your head spins as you crouch down in front of him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, pushing down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, to let the mud swallow him completely, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you reach forward and grab at the front of Duncan's armor, roughly hauling him up out of the mud.
He grunts in surprise, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you easily pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Earth Defensive 2]]Duncan is just staring down at his hands, at his armor, seeming in disbelief at the whole thing. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard - but what soldiers aren't already dead in the water pay no mind to you. No loyalty amongst dogs, you suppose.
"I'd say we're finished," you say then, and Duncan doesn't respond, cradling the front of his chestplate and just giving you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards the cemetery, towards you way out of here. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
You realize then that Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull.
You just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Keres Intercept 1]]You glance around the courtyard then, but there aren't that many soldiers left - the ones that aren't dead in the water seem to be fleeing away from the temple, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning from the storm overhead. You realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do.
You shake your head, gritting your teeth against the sensation, tightening your hand around your sword. You force yourself to turn back to Duncan, who's looking around the courtyard, too, a scowl on his face. You notice he's gone pale, his lips turning blue as the icy flood waters lap at his chest, pinned in place by your blade.
"We're finished," you repeat, lowering your sword then, and you grimace as your magic recedes, your hand clutching at your side - the wound there larger, a nasty gash bleeding hot, soaking your shirt, oozing beneath your trousers. The cost of magic is high.
Duncan watches silently, and you give him one last look before stepping past him and starting to wade your way towards the cemetery, towards your way out. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, gasping at the cold, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get out of here, you need to reach the others. They're waiting for you. You know it.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turning dark with blood. You hear Duncan say something behind you, but you can't make it out over the ringing in your ears.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain lances through your side.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Collapsed Possession 1]]The entire courtyard groans as the wind shifts around you, the rain coming down hard enough to hurt, and you press your palm to your side for a moment, glaring down at Duncan as he scrambles back to his feet.
You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You take a deep breath, refocusing your magic, maneuvering to keep the space between you as Duncan attempts to creep closer.
"Come on, $surname," he snarls impatiently, stomping through the water after you.
The wind shifts again, and the temperature drops, rain turning to ice as it whips across the flood waters, and you reach out, feeling for the storm churning overhead - your magic extending dangerously beyond your reach. The wind howls, and lightning strikes nearby, a spray of icy water coating you and Duncan just as he tries to lunge after you.
The wind easily carries you back, and when you raise your sword that wind follows, a freezing vortex emerging around you and Duncan, frozen droplets of rain pelting his armor as the wind roars down from the clouds. Another strike of lightning nearby, and the wind churns the water at your feet as it lifts you into the air. You watch as the water grows more and more violent, your cloak tightening around your throat as the wind thrashes at your clothes, and Duncan vanishes beneath the foaming surface, him and the water lifted together as your magic raises you up.
You stay suspended in the air for a few seconds, the ball of water containing Duncan swirling like the ocean in a bottle, before you let it all drop.
The water crashes down on the cobblestones, the wind rushing after it and pushing a wave out across the courtyard, and you come down hard on top of Duncan, slamming him into the ground before the water rushes back in and nearly drags you under.
You manage to keep your footing, groaning as you grab the front of Duncan's armor and keep him from being swept away - though you do hold him underwater for a grim moment before hauling him up onto his knees, your sword pressed against his throat.
He immediately vomits water over your blade, down the front of his armor, and you curl your lip in disgust as you watch him wheeze and struggle, blood pooling in his mouth as he clings to your arm, thrashing in the water before coughing violently and slumping against you.
Your head spins as you glare down at him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, at the sudden burst of magic, flickering in your peripheral as it pushes down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, to push him back beneath the surface just for a little while longer, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you readjust your grip on the front of Duncan's armor, shoving him off of you and giving him a rough shake.
He lets out a wheezing rasp, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you easily pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Air Defensive 2]]Duncan is just staring down at his hands, at his armor, seeming in disbelief at the whole thing. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard - but what soldiers aren't already dead in the water pay no mind to you. No loyalty amongst dogs, you suppose.
"I'd say we're finished," you say then, and Duncan doesn't respond, cradling the front of his chestplate and just giving you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards the cemetery, towards your way out of here. Your legs still tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
You realize then that Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull.
You just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Keres Intercept 1]]You can feel the Vel, excited by the sudden burst of alchemy and magic, pulsating overhead, leering down at you, with cold, phantom hands brushing against the back of your neck. Your head aches, your arm trembling slightly against the heavy weight of your metal fist, a pressure building at the base of your skull.
You grit your teeth, trying to brush it off, refocusing on Duncan as he rises in front of you.
The runes are flickering, going dark for a few seconds before flashing bright - the enchantment wavers, but is still intact.
Duncan is wheezing, a hand pressed against his chest and blood pooling at the corner of his mouth, and you clutch at your side, the transmuted metal of your bracer painful and cold. You wince as you slowly start to move through the water again, glancing over Duncan's shoulder to look for the others, for Lea or Merry - but you don't manage to find them before Duncan is lunging at you once again.
He's slower now, and sloppy and angry, and you've just about had enough of this.
His sword sings dangerously close as you sidestep his wild swipe - and you lash out with your armored hand, though you don't aim for //him// this time, instead roughly grabbing the blade and jerking it forward. Duncan staggers towards you, clearly surprised, clinging to the hilt even as you swing your elbow up to slam against his face, the crunch of bone and cartilage making you grimace.
He still doesn't let go of the sword, and you grapple for a moment, before tightening your grip and wrenching sideways - and the blade snaps in your armored hand, the tip falling to the ground and vanishing in the flood waters at your feet.
Duncan blinks at you, and you both just stare at each other for a moment, Duncan's broken sword held up weakly between you.
You slap it out of his hand and grab the front of his chestplate, hauling him off his feet before throwing him down into the water, raising your sword and pressing it to his throat.
You're both panting, Duncan glaring up at you, blinking water and blood from his eyes as his hand flutters over his face, touching his broken nose before pressing against the open wound along his jaw. The runes glow softly now, casting a ghastly light across his face, his grey eyes flashing red as he sneers down at your blade.
"I'd say we're finished, now," you say with a bitter laugh, though you keep your sword against his throat, feeling a dark sense of satisfaction at the way he squirms at your feet.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Alchemist Aggressive 2]]You glance around the courtyard then, but there aren't that many soldiers left - the ones that aren't dead in the water seem to be fleeing away from the temple, a strange fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, running after bolting horses and dodging wild lightning from the storm overhead. You realize Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull, as if the Vel itself is holding its breath, waiting... waiting to see what you'll do.
You shake your head, gritting your teeth against the sensation, tightening your hand around your sword. You force yourself to turn back to Duncan, who's looking around the courtyard, too, a scowl on his face. You notice he's gone pale, his lips turning blue as the icy flood waters lap at his chest, pinned in place by your blade.
"We're finished," you repeat, lowering your sword then, and you grimace as your bracer tightens around your wrist, the heat from the runes burning through your sleeve, and you carefully deconstruct your metal fist, returning the bracer to its original form. Lightning still pops around you, and you struggle to rein it in, pressing a hand to the hot runes as you sway on your feet. Duncan watches silently, and you give him one last look before stepping past him and starting to wade your way towards the cemetery, towards your way out of here. You swear, only making it a few feet before you have to stop, the pain in your side almost unbearable, your leg weakening until your knee buckles.
You collapse into the water, gasping at the cold, cursing as you try to force yourself back up onto your feet - you need to get out of here, you need to reach the others. They're waiting for you. You know it.
You try again to get up, but the courtyard spins, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision, the water around you turning dark with blood. You hear Duncan say something behind you, but you can't make it out over the ringing in your ears.
The Vel shudders overhead, shadows flickering in your peripheral, and you have to close your eyes for a moment, curling forward as a sharp pain lances through your side.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Collapsed Possession 1]]You resist the overwhelming desire to turn aggressive again - you know that armor is just going to stop you. So you take the chance to get an actual good look at it - at the runes etched into the flow of embellishments, the way they glow and flicker with his movements. You can't even begin to guess why or how Duncan has armor that's been enchanted by Jorah - right now you can't think about it. You need to break it.
You don't see a core - which means the enchantment is most likely still bound to Jorah, rather than filtered through a secondary source. You don't like that - but you can't think about it.
You have to break it.
You glance around the courtyard again, taking advantage of the lull between you, and you find yourself slowly dragging your feet along the cobblestones, feeling the heavy stone beneath you, watching the water churn at your feet, the runes in your shield glowing bright and illuminating the curve of your blade. Duncan's own runes flash quickly, blue and white and the occasional burst of red, the rain and the flood waters glistening between you.
You flex your hand again, hefting your shield, turning slowly as Duncan starts to creep up on you. He scowls, eyeing your shield, blood still oozing down his face.
You stay patient, slowly inching back as he advances, blinking the rain from your eyes as the storm shifts overhead.
"Come on, //Lord// Duncan," you goad, curling your lip as his eyes flash at your words.
He's easy enough to bait, clearly agitated, raising his sword with a snarl as he lunges after you.
This time you swing your shield up to meet him as if you were clashing blades, your arm trembling as pain spikes all the way up to your shoulder, piercing your side. Duncan curses at you, ready for the impact this time, holding his ground with your faces dangerously close as you push against each other. You give a little, stepping back and twisting your arm, the spikes of your shield locking around Duncan's blade, and he tries desperately to keep it in his hands, both of your straining for a moment, the heat of his blood and breath on your face - until the metal //snaps//, his blade cracking in half, flying off into the flood waters as your shield breaks through and slams Duncan right in the chest.
You can feel his armor groan under the spikes, even as the runes flash blindingly bright, and you quickly dart back as Duncan splashes down into the flood waters, slamming against the cobblestones as a hot wave of magic bursts from his armor. It staggers you a few feet, but you manage to remain standing, lifting your shield again and leaping after him - but you bring your fist down on the ground just in front of him, alchemical lightning crackling down your bracer, cobblestones exploding from the ground and elongating at your command, stone pillars coming together and pinning Duncan in place.
You grimace as your bracer tightens around your wrist, the heat from the runes burning through your sleeve, and you carefully deconstruct the shield, returning the bracer to its original form. Lightning still pops around you, and you struggle to rein it in, pressing a hand to the hot runes as you sway on your feet.
Your head spins as you crouch down in front of him, and the Vel seems to suddenly swell in excitement, pushing down on you, as if it had been watching this whole time, holding its breath now to see what happens next... to see what you'll do.
You have a dark thought scratching at the back of your skull, a familiar voice urging you to finish it, to urge the stone to come together just a little more, the distant sound of chains ringing in your ears. But you ignore it, lowering your sword as you reach forward and grab at the front of Duncan's armor, the heavy stones raising him up as you pull him forward.
He grunts in surprise, weakly grabbing at your wrist, but you easily pull free and hit him - once, twice, three, four... five times. The armor can't stop you from doing that. He blinks up at you, dazed and bloody, as you grab his armor again, your hand curling around the edge of his chest plate, your palm pressed against the glowing rune carved into the metal just below his throat.
You're familiar with Jorah's magic - you've broken his enchantments before, in training. Of course, that was training - and Jorah always went easy on you. Your face twitches as you glare down at Duncan, feeling your master's magic radiating from him, disgust twisting in your stomach - Duncan is unworthy of wearing this.
Your hand tightens, and your magic unfurls in your chest, a gold light beginning to emanate from your palm, and a sudden chill wraps its hands around you, your breath quickening as Jorah's magic attempts to resist you.
Duncan grabs at your wrist again, mumbling through his bloody lips, but you just ignore him. Your hand tightens again, a spiderweb of frost bursting across Duncan's chestplate from the rune beneath your palm, purple lightning dancing down your arm, the gold light glowing brighter - you grit your teeth, a sharp pain piercing through your hand, all the way up your arm, a cold blade twisting in your chest - until the enchantment shatters.
The chestplate cracks beneath your hand, a single line nearly splitting all the way down the metal, and the runes go dark, Jorah's magic vanishing like a candle being snuffed out.
You gasp, ripping your hand free and staggering back, that cold blade still lingering in your chest, your legs unsteady for a few seconds until your magic recedes and the knife slowly withdraws, the feeling evaporating into a dull ache.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Aggressive Alchemist Defensive 2]]Duncan is just glaring up at you, twisting and thrashing in his little stone prison, water churning between the cobblestones. You take another second to catch your breath, pressing a hand to your side, a rush of blood burning against your palm, grimacing at the pain as you quickly scan the courtyard - but what soldiers aren't already dead in the water pay no mind to you. No loyalty amongst dogs, you suppose.
"I'd say we're finished," you say then, and Duncan doesn't respond, pausing in his struggle just to give you an icy glare.
You shove your way past him, wading through the rising flood waters towards the cemetery, towards your way out of here. Your legs tremble slightly, and you're //tired//, your body slow and heavy - and the Vel is still pressing down on you, shadows flickering at the edge of your vision, a terrible pain behind your eyes.
You realize then that Noel and Keres must have withdrawn, a strange ringing in your ears now in the sudden silence, which makes the tension all the more precarious.
It's painful, in the quiet - the panic, the fear, the building pressure of the Vel, a sudden anticipation buzzing at the base of your skull.
You just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Keres Intercept 1]]Rough hands grab at your wrist then, pulling your arm back, hauling you out of the water and trying to free the soldier out from underneath you.
It makes you angry - not really your own, but still dark and heavy and twisting in your chest, your lip curling as you bare your teeth and thrash against the hands trying to restrain you, struggling against the pain your arm, in your side, in your head.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and instinctively reaching for your hunter's knife.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing the jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
"Lea-" you take a step towards $l_them, but rougher hands grab you then, wrenching your wrist back and taking your knife before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under again, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you spin around, clutching your arm and staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>><div id="choice"><<link 'I can heal $l_them. I can heal $l_them, it will be fine. I can heal $l_them.' 'CH2.2 I can heal them Trampled 1'>><<set $heal_lea to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm going to kill Duncan. ->CH2.1 I'm going to kill Duncan 1]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">I can't move, I can't even //breathe// - I can't do anything but watch. [WIP]</div>You break into a run across the courtyard, shoving past Merry and ignoring Harper and Talia as they call out after you, staggering through the rising flood and tripping on uneven cobblestones in your pained and panicked haste.
Duncan holds Lea against him for a few seconds, before ripping his sword free and shoving Lea to the ground, turning to watch your approach, his blade dark with blood.
He lets you stumble past him, taking a few steps back to watch as you drop down next to Lea, an amused expression on his face. You're vaguely aware of Keres and Noel still fighting, stray magic cracking across the cobblestones, lightning flashing against the rain and illuminating Lea's blood as it pools beneath your feet.
"Your handler is a strong swordsman," Duncan croons behind you. "Or was, I suppose."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Shut up!" you snap, curling your lip at him as you drop your sword,<<else>>You ignore him, dropping your sword and<</if>> hauling Lea up into your lap, gritting your teeth against the sharp ache in your side as you struggle to hold $l_them in your arms, your breath quickening as your ribs shift painfully. $l_They<<re>> dazed, just blinking rain out of $l_their eyes as $l_they peer<<s>> up at you.
"No, no, no - Lea," you say, pressing your hand to $l_their stomach, $l_their blood hot on your cold hands.
Your touch seems to bring $l_them back for a moment, $l_their eyes widening, a wet sound in the back of $l_their throat as $l_their breath hitches, fingers digging into your arms. You rip $l_their mask off then, pulling $l_them closer and lifting $l_their head up, your other hand still trying to stem the flow of $l_their blood.
Lea just clings to you, $l_their wet hair matted to $l_their face, $l_their dark eyes distant, looking through you, up into the dark clouds overhead.
"Lea," you say $l_their name again, your hand tightening around the back of $l_their neck, your fingers tangling in $l_their hair. $l_They close<<s>> $l_their eyes at the sound of your voice, letting out a long breath, one of $l_their hands reaching to curl around the pendant hanging from your neck.
"I'm sorry, Lea," you say, before pushing your palm into $l_their stomach, against $l_their wound, shuddering against the feeling of blood seeping between your fingers. Lea groans, shaking $l_their head and twisting against you, bruises forming even through your thick sleeves as $l_their hand tightens, the cord around your neck pinching your skin as it's pulled taut.
<<if $mc_mage>>You have to wrangle your magic, closing your eyes as you try to calm yourself down, your skin prickling against the sudden restraint, a sharp pain at the base of your skull.<<else>>It takes you a moment to calm yourself down, to carefully reach in and uncoil your magic with shaking hands, a sharp pain at the base of your skull from the effort of it.<</if>>
Your chest grows hot, and it slowly radiates down to your hands, your mind straining to contain the usual violence of your magic.
You're going to heal $l_them. $l_They'll be fine.
"Hunter, you're cheating," Duncan says, and your face twitches, but you keep your focus on Lea, a faint gold light emanating from your hands - but it's faint, flickering as your magic wavers, a painful sound in the back of your throat as the feeble connection you manage to make with Lea almost immediately unravels, their wound remaining unchanged beneath your palm.
There's a sharp pain in your stomach, twisting through your ribs, and you're too weak right now to heal $l_them, your hands shaking violently as shadows blur at the edge of your vision, breathing hard and sinking back on your heels, desperation making your hand tighten hard enough to make Lea grimace.
A blade suddenly slaps against your shoulder, and you jerk around to glare up at Duncan, who shakes his head at you.
You sneer at him, before looking around the courtyard, desperate for something - for anything - to fix this. You look back at Lea, glancing over $l_their belt, hesitating a moment before reaching into $l_their pockets, your hands shaking as you empty them out.
"Lea, have you got anything on you? A potion? A powder?" you ask $l_them, but you don't even think $l_they can hear you, still just clutching at your necklace. You know $l_their potion belt is with the horses, and you should have argued with $l_them about that, you should have stopped at the wall, you shouldn't have let yourself get separated from $l_them - you should have, you should have, you should have.
You try to open one of the leather pouches on $l_their belt then, fumbling with your trembling hands, until-
Again, Duncan slaps his blade against your shoulder, harder this time, the edge of his sword cutting at your clothes.
"Enough. Get up, $surname," Duncan says, stepping closer, his blade flashing as he swings is dangerously close to your face. You hunch forward, staring down at Lea, holding $l_them against your chest, taking a deep breath and once again trying to focus your magic, despite the pain burrowing in your head, as if you can push through the exhaustion with sheer force of will.
"I said that's enough," Duncan barks, and this time he slams the heel of his foot against you, throwing you sideways, your sword clattering beneath you. You feel like you're going to vomit, Lea slipping from your arms as you struggle to right yourself, your head spinning as you crumple to the ground from the throbbing pain in your temples, what magic you managed to conjure quickly slipping from your grasp and leaving nothing but Lea's blood on your hands.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 I can heal them Trampled 2]]The Vel flickers above you, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is. You can taste blood in your mouth, and your head is heavy, icy water burning against your cheek pressed to the cobblestones.
Duncan crouches down beside you, watching you curiously.
He starts to speak, but you don't hear him, suddenly overwhelmed by the magic radiating from his armor - enchanted - and this close you can see the runes glowing faintly, etched in the metal.
But it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan is scowling, shaking his head.
"I expected more from you," he sighs, standing and prodding you with his foot.
The Vel shudders again, and you watch it for a moment, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard.
[[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Injured 1]]You shove Clementine into Merry's arms, pushing past her and the others, ignoring them as they call out your name, breaking into a run across the courtyard.
Duncan holds Lea against him for a few seconds, before ripping his sword free and shoving Lea to the ground, turning to watch your approach, his blade dark with blood.
He lets you push past him, taking a few steps back to watch as you drop down next to Lea, an amused expression on his face. You're vaguely aware of Keres and Noel still fighting, stray magic cracking across the cobblestones, lightning flashing against the rain and illuminating Lea's blood as it pools beneath your feet.
"Your handler is a strong swordsman," Duncan croons behind you. "Or was, I suppose."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Shut up!" you snap, curling your lip at him as you drop your sword,<<else>>You ignore him, dropping your sword and<</if>> hauling Lea up into your arms. $l_They<<re>> dazed, blinking rain out of $l_their eyes as $l_they peer<<s>> up at you.
"No, no, no - Lea," you say, pressing your hand to $l_their stomach, $l_their blood hot on your cold hands.
Your touch seems to bring $l_them back for a moment, $l_their eyes widening, a wet sound in the back of $l_their throat as $l_their breathing quickens, fingers digging into your arms. You rip $l_their mask off, pulling $l_them closer and lifting $l_their head up, your other hand still trying to stem the flow of $l_their blood.
Lea just clings to you, $l_their wet hair matted to $l_their face, $l_their dark eyes distant, looking through you, up into the dark clouds overhead.
"Lea," you say $l_their name again, your hand tightening around the back of $l_their neck, your fingers tangling in $l_their hair. $l_They close<<s>> $l_their eyes at the sound of your voice, letting out a long breath, one of $l_their hands reaching to curl around the pendant hanging from your neck.
<<if $ch2_healedclem eq true>>"I'm sorry, Lea," you say, before pushing your palm into $l_their stomach, against $l_their wound - just like you did with Clem. Unlike Clem, though, Lea bleeds hot, $l_their blood gushing between your fingers and making you shudder. And unlike Clementine, it bleeds all the way through, the wound in their back burning blood against your thigh.
Lea groans under your hand, shaking $l_their head and twisting against you, bruises forming even through your thick sleeves as $l_their hand tightens, the cord around your neck pinching your skin as it's pulled taut.
You're breathing hard, and it takes you a moment to calm yourself down, your chest aching as you try to summon your magic again.
That familiar gold glow returns, emanating from your hand, but it's faint, flickering as your magic wavers, a painful sound in the back of your throat as the feeble connection you manage to make with Lea almost immediately unravels, their wound remaining unchanged beneath your palm.
"Hunter, you're cheating," Duncan says over your shoulder, and your face twitches, but you keep your focus on Lea, both of you just staring uselessly at each other. You're breathing hard, sinking back on your heels, desperation making your hand tighten hard enough to make Lea grimace.
A blade suddenly slaps against your shoulder, and you jerk around to glare up at Duncan, who shakes his head at you.
You sneer at him, before looking around the courtyard, desperate for something - for anything - to fix this. You look back at Lea, glancing over $l_their belt, hesitating a moment before reaching into $l_their pockets, your hands shaking as you empty them out.
"Lea, have you got anything on you? A potion? A powder?" you ask $l_them, but you don't even think $l_they can hear you, still just clutching at your necklace. You know $l_their potion belt is with the horses, and you should have argued with $l_them about that, you should have stopped at the wall, you shouldn't have let yourself get separated from $l_them - you should have, you should have, you should have.
You try to open one of the leather pouches on $l_their belt then, fumbling with your trembling hands, until-
Again, Duncan slaps his blade against your shoulder, harder this time, the edge of his sword cutting at your clothes.
"Enough. Get up, $surname," Duncan says, stepping closer, his blade flashing as he swings is dangerously close to your face. You hunch forward, staring down at Lea, holding $l_them against your chest, taking a deep breath and once again trying to focus your magic, despite the pain burrowing in your head, as if you can push through the exhaustion with sheer force of will.
"I said that's enough," Duncan barks, and this time he slams the heel of his foot against you, throwing you sideways, your sword clattering beneath you. You feel like you're going to vomit, Lea slipping from your arms as you struggle to right yourself, your head spinning as you crumple to the ground from the throbbing pain in your temples, what magic you managed to conjure quickly slipping from your grasp and leaving nothing but Lea's blood on your hands.<<else>>"I'm sorry, Lea," you say, before pushing your palm into $l_their stomach, against $l_their wound, shuddering against the feeling of hot blood seeping between your fingers. Unlike Clementine, Duncan's intent here was clear - you can see it in the blood seeping through your trousers, darkening the water as it swirls over the cobblestones, the smell of death already permeating the cold air in warning. Lea groans in your arms, shaking $l_their head and twisting against you, bruises forming even through your thick sleeves as $l_their hand tightens, the cord around your neck pinching your skin as it's pulled taut.
<<if $mc_mage>>You have to wrangle your magic, closing your eyes as you try to calm yourself down, your skin prickling against the sudden restraint, a sharp pain at the base of your skull.<<else>>It takes you a moment to calm yourself down, to carefully reach in and uncoil your magic with shaking hands, a sharp pain at the base of your skull from the effort of it.<</if>>
Your chest grows hot, and it slowly radiates down to your hands, your mind straining to contain the usual violence of your magic.
You're going to heal $l_them. $l_They'll be fine.
"Hunter, you're cheating," Duncan says, and your face twitches, but you keep your focus on Lea, a faint gold light emanating from your hands. There's a twisting pain in the pit of your stomach, an uncomfortable feeling as Lea's wound gradually begins to pull itself together. You're breathing hard, sinking back on your heels as your magic drains you.
You're not a healer like Noel. You have to stop, shadows blurring at the edge of your vision, but Lea's still bleeding, the wound still open, your pathetic attempt barely holding $l_them together.
A blade suddenly slaps against your shoulder, and you jerk around to glare up at Duncan, who shakes his head at you.
"Enough. Get up," he says, and he smacks you with the flat of the blade again, harder this time, making you flinch. You hunch forward, staring down at Lea, holding $l_them against your chest, taking a deep breath and once again trying to focus your magic.
"I said that's enough," Duncan barks, and this time he slams the heel of his foot against you, throwing you sideways, your sword clattering beneath you. You feel like you're going to vomit, Lea slipping from your arms as you struggle to right yourself. Your magic wavers, and the pain in your stomach twists completely as your connection to Lea abruptly unravels.<</if>>
[[Continue ->CH2.2 I can heal them w Clem 2]]The Vel flickers above you, pulsing against the dark clouds, almost tangible now with how close it is. You can taste blood in your mouth, and your head is heavy, icy water burning against your cheek pressed to the cobblestones.
Duncan crouches down beside you, watching you curiously.
He starts to speak, but you don't hear him, suddenly overwhelmed by the magic radiating from his armor - enchanted - and this close you can see the runes glowing faintly, etched in the metal.
But it's familiar.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
Duncan is scowling, shaking his head.
"I expected more from you," he sighs, standing and prodding you with his foot.
The Vel shudders again, and you watch it for a moment, a ripple of dark magic passing through the courtyard.
[[Get up. ->CH2 Get Up Lea Injured 1]]Lea is quick on $l_their feet, lunging forward and beating back a second soldier while you trade blows with the first, frantic and sloppy as they swing wildly at you, white light still burning in your eyes. You push them back easily, you and Lea holding your ground, back to back as you start to press forward into the courtyard.
You launch yourself after one of the backpedaling soldiers, slapping at their blade with your bracer before slamming into them, sending them crashing down into the flood. Another one attempts to rush you, but it's Lea that stops them, coming in from the side and catching them off guard, swinging a warning with $l_their blade before kicking them in their legs and forcing them to retreat.
<<include "CH2.2 Help the others Fight 1">>As you draw closer to Talia and Harper, you can see that Harper is really struggling - he's limping, and he seems more like just a body in the way than any real kind of threat to these soldiers. But he's stubborn, refusing to back down, even as the older soldiers mock him, prodding him with their swords, Talia still shielded behind him and seemingly out of crossbow bolts. There doesn't seem to be much of any kind of fighting going on - just taunting.
These soldiers have to be Duncan's soldiers. They've spent the last year harassing civilians in the city - pathetic, every last one of them. A bitterness twists in your chest, and you suddenly don't feel quite as guilty anymore about the blood on your hands. A good thing, since you're about to spill even more.
You pick your way through the water, and Harper notices you then - and is far too obvious, his eyes widening as he stares past the soldiers right at you. There are three of them, and a fourth one still mounted on their horse, and they all glance back and see you, the rider immediately spurring their horse into a run in your direction.
You swear, quickly backpedaling before diving out of the way as the horse thunders past, a sword swinging dangerously close as the rider swipes after you, the flood water surging and making you stagger as you scramble back onto your feet. The horse tosses its head and huffs as it turns back around, splashing through the water as the rider comes at you again.
You can see out of the corner of your eye that the other soldiers have grabbed Talia now, spurred by your approach, and you don't even see Harper - and you don't have time to properly look before you have to dive out of the way of the horse again.
<div id="choice">[[I'm going to have to kill this fucking horse. ->CH2.2 Kill the horse 1]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I\'m not going to kill the horse. I can handle it.' 'CH2.2 Do not kill the horse 1'>><<set $talia_horse to true>><</link>></div>Lea is quick on $l_their feet, lunging forward and beating back a second soldier while you trade blows with the first, frantic and sloppy as they swing wildly at you, white light still burning in your eyes. You push them back easily, you and Lea holding your ground, back to back as you start to press forward into the courtyard.
You lunge after one of the backpedaling soldiers, slapping at their blade with your bracer before slamming into them, knocking the wind out of them and throwing them down into the flood. Another one attempts to rush you, but it's Lea that stops them, coming in from the side and catching them off guard, swinging a warning with $l_their blade before kicking them in their legs and forcing them to retreat.
<<include "CH2.2 Help the others Fight 1">>You grit your teeth as you force yourself back onto your feet, the icy water of the flood clinging to your clothes and making you shiver. The soldiers are dragging Talia out of the courtyard, and Harper is barely standing as he struggles after them, clutching his arm and leaving a trail of blood in the dark water behind him. You turn back to the rider once more, the sound of the horse splashing and huffing drawing close again, and you start to quickly backpedal, before fully turning and running towards the soldiers.
One of them notices you coming, alarm visible even through their silver mask, but you ignore them, raising your sword as the thundering hooves sound closer and closer, and you stop short just as the other soldiers turn to face you, and you pivot hard, digging your heel against the cobblestones as you take your sword in both hands and brace yourself - and the rider is too slow, the horse is too slow, running directly onto your blade as you sidestep them by a few inches.
The horse goes down in a spray of blood and icy water, crashing into the soldiers, and you lunge forward and barely reach Talia to tackle her clear out of the way, grunting as you manage to catch a kick in the back of your thigh as the horse thrashes violently in the flood.
You say a quick apology, more guilty about the horse at the moment than any of the men you've killed, any of the men drowning under the weight of the dying beast, and then you just scoop Talia up and carry her a few feet until you're clear of the carnage.
"Thank you," she says it over and over, her eyes wide, her fingers digging into your forearm as you carefully set her down back onto her own two feet. She turns wildly then, looking for Harper, and you both quickly make your way over to him, hunched over in front of the temple.
You let out a few swears as you grasp at your leg, your thigh already swelling hot and painful from the horse's kick, but you ignore it, limping over to Harper, Talia clinging to your arm and following close behind.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Kill the horse 2]]You grit your teeth as you force yourself back onto your feet, the icy water of the flood clinging to your clothes and making you shiver. The soldiers are dragging Talia out of the courtyard, and Harper is barely standing as he struggles after them, clutching his arm and leaving a trail of blood in the dark water behind him. You ignore the rider, raising your sword as you break into a run, not slowing down even as the soldiers turn to face you - instead just plowing through them, knocking two straight to the ground before swinging at the third. Your blade catches them across the chest, ripping through their leather armor and sending them down to join their companions in a spray of blood. You put yourself in front of Talia, and the soldiers are slow to get back on their feet - but the rider is nearly on top of you before you even realize it.
The horse slams into you, throwing you off your feet and down into the flood. Talia, at least, makes a run for it, rushing over to Harper, and the soldiers are too occupied with you now to care, leering down at you as you struggle back onto your feet.
The horse is coming back around, and you swear loudly as the soldiers step back and give it room to charge, with you barely scrambling out of the way, too slow to dodge the strike from the rider, their sword slicing across your back and sending you back down into the water once again. You don't manage to regain your footing before the horse turns around, and it doesn't even hesitate as it runs into you again, trampling you as you roll across the cobblestones, gasping and choking in the flood.
You struggle to sit up, clutching at your ribs, wheezing painfully as blood drips from your mouth, and the horse is coming back again, the splash of hooves growing louder and louder - and then they abruptly stop, a louder splash as the rider falls from their saddle, a crossbow bolt protruding from their throat just beneath their mask.
Talia stands at the top of the temple steps, reloading her crossbow, and aiming at another soldier nearest to you - and they go down without a sound, the bolt burying itself in an eye socket, the feathers protruding from the soldier's mask as they drop down into the flood.
The two remaining soldiers panic for a moment, not realizing what's happening, and you swipe at their legs, slicing one in the back of their heel, while Talia finishes off the final one with another well placed crossbow bolt.
Only one of them is still breathing, crawling away from you as their ankle bleeds, darkening the water around you, but you lunge after them, burying your sword through their back before withdrawing and dropping back down onto your knees, your head spinning as Harper and Talia both rush over to you.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Do not kill the horse 2]]Harper blinks up at your approach, and you're relieved that he seems very lucid, his dark eyes sharp as he looks at you, at your outstretched hand that you offer him. He takes it, grimacing painfully as you pull him up, taking a moment before letting you go and standing on his own.
"I'm alright," he says, before you or Talia can even ask.
"You shouldn't have ran," you say bluntly, and you're not sure why you say it - you feel like you need to scold them for some reason.
Talia frowns at you, and Harper just glances away sheepishly.
"Can you walk?" you ask then, and Harper quickly nods, but Talia's frown just deepens, and she loops an arm around his shoulders.
"I owe you one," Harper says then, and you just give him a nod, moving to put your own arm around his waist.
You turn and quickly scan the courtyard then, and you spot Noel and Keres first - hard to miss with their magical display overhead, the storm surging with ice and lightning, strange lights as the Vel flashes along with it. You also notice that a lot of the remaining soldiers are fleeing, a hungry fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
"$name!"
It's Merry's voice, startling all three of you as you turn to see her struggling in the flood, dragging her chains behind her, and immediately you have a bad feeling, seeing her alone - without Lea.
You step away from Harper and Talia then, rushing over to steady Merry even as she gives you an icy glare.
"Where's Lea?" you blurt, and she turns back around, and you follow her gaze and see $l_them, alone, clashing with Duncan near the cemetery. As if sensing your stare, Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>"I'm fine," you say gruffly, before either of them can even ask, and you know you're lying - Harper and Talia know you're lying, just by looking at you.
"Can you even stand?" Harper says skeptically, and you give him a look as he offers you his hand.
You take it, and groan painfully as he tries to pull you to your feet, struggling under your weight, his own injuries making him just as unsteady as you. Talia quickly comes around and puts an arm around your waist in an attempt to help, but you can't help but flinch, your ribs undoubtedly broken.
"We can take the horse," Harper offers then, which actually makes you laugh, which then makes you double over in pain.
Talia does actually move to fetch the horse, and you take the chance to scan the courtyard then, and you spot Noel and Keres first - hard to miss with their magical display overhead, the storm surging with ice and lightning, strange lights as the Vel flashes along with it. You also notice that a lot of the remaining soldiers are fleeing, a hungry fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
"$name!"
It's Merry's voice, startling all three of you as you turn to see her struggling in the flood, dragging her chains behind her, and immediately you have a bad feeling, seeing her alone - without Lea.
You push off of Harper, staggering forward and gritting your teeth against the pain in your side, ignoring both Harper and Talia's protests.
"Where's Lea?" you blurt at her, and she turns back around, and you follow her gaze and see $l_them, alone, clashing with Duncan near the cemetery. As if sensing your stare, Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.2 Injured Lea Reacts Trampled by horse 1">>You set Clem down carefully, leaning them back against one of the old tombstones. They're breathing hard, and they're reluctant to let go of you, clinging for a few moments until you gently remove their hands.
You take a deep breath, looking down at them, their eyes glassy as they blink up at you.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m so sorry."' 'CH2.2 Get to Clementine 2.a'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I didn\'t think - I didn\'t think he would do it."' 'CH2.2 Get to Clementine 2.b'>><</link>></div><<if $deal eq true>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m not doing a very good job keeping my half of the deal, huh?"' 'CH2.2 Get to Clementine 2.c'>><</link>></div><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We should have listened to you."' 'CH2.2 Get to Clementine 2.d'>><</link>></div>"I didn't think - I didn't think he would do it," you say, staring down at your hands, unable to hold their gaze any longer.
<<if $clem_tavernkiss>>Clementine doesn't say anything for a moment, just reaching out to grab at your sleeve again, pulling on it as if they could pull you closer.
"Well... I'm still breathing. So he didn't do it, not really," they say then, and you scoff at that, and Clementine laughs, too - or at least tries to, wincing and grabbing at their stomach, their other hand tightening around your sleeve.
You hesitate just for a moment - before you reach out, brushing your knuckles along their cheek, their skin icy under your hand. You push their wet hair out of their face, tucking a few curls behind their ear, and Clementine smiles softly, closing their eyes before turning their face into your palm.
"He only wanted to hurt me. And hurt you," they say, opening their eyes, and your jaw clenches painfully as you shake your head.
"It's okay, $name," they say softly, and you slowly stroke their cheek with your thumb, before you suddenly realize what you're doing - and you pull back, guilt twisting in your chest.<<elseif $c_flirt gte 3>>Clementine doesn't say anything for a moment, just watching you with a soft expression - which makes you feel worse.
"Well... I'm still breathing. So he didn't do it, not really," they say then, and you scoff at that, and Clementine laughs, too - or at least tries to, wincing and grabbing at their stomach, and you quickly shift closer, just barely putting your hand over theirs, their knuckles icy against your palm, stark against the heat of blood oozing between their fingers.
"He just wanted to hurt me," they say quietly, "And hurt you."
Your jaw clenches painfully, watching as they stare down at your hand over theirs, and you're compelled then, reaching out to push some of their wet hair out of their face, gently tucking some of their curls behind their ear before you quickly pull back, uncertainty and guilt twisting in your chest.<<else>>Clementine doesn't say anything for a moment, and the silence just makes you feel worse, bowing your head and anxiously running a hand over your face.
"He didn't do a very good job, though, did he," they say suddenly, and you blink at them, before letting out an abrupt laugh. "I'm still breathing," Clementine adds with a smile, and you think they try to laugh, too, but it just makes them grimace, clutching at their stomach again.<</if>>
"How - how did he..." you prompt then, frowning as you glance back over your shoulder at the fighting in the courtyard. "We were together," is what you finally manage to say.
<<include "CH2.2 Get to Clementine 3">>"I'm not doing a very good job keeping my part of the deal, huh?" you say, frowning down at your hands, unable to hold their gaze any longer.
<<if $clem_tavernkiss>>Clementine reaches out then, grabbing at your sleeve again, pulling on it as if they could pull you closer. You do shift a little closer, though you doubt your cold hands and soaking cloak really offer any kind of warmth or comfort.
"You'll just have to make it up to me later," Clementine says quietly, their hand tightening around your sleeve, and your eyes widen in surprise, a sudden rush of heat creeping up the back of your neck.
And then Clementine laughs - or at least, you think they try to, but instead they just grimace, closing their eyes and clinging to your arm.
You hesitate just for a moment - before you reach out, brushing your knuckles along their cheek, their skin icy under your hand. You push their wet hair out of their face, tucking a few curls behind their ear, and Clementine smiles softly, turning their face into your palm, their breath hot on your inner wrist.
"I think I can do that," you say, and Clementine opens their eyes, a soft look on their face that makes your breath catch. You slowly stroke their cheek with your thumb, before you suddenly realize what you're doing - and you pull back, guilt twisting in your chest.<<elseif $c_flirt gte 3>>Clementine reaches out then, grabbing at your sleeve again, pulling on it as if they could pull you closer. You do shift a little closer, though you doubt your cold hands and soaking cloak really offer any kind of warmth or comfort.
"I should tell you... it's not a very fair deal," they say quietly, and you blink at them, your brow furrowing. They don't say anything else, just giving you a sad look that makes your chest ache.
"Clementine..." you're compelled by that look, reaching out to push some of their wet hair out of their face, gently tucking some of their curls behind their ear before you quickly pull back, uncertainty and guilt twisting in your chest.<<else>>Clementine shakes their head, taking a deep, shaky breath, wincing and clutching at their stomach.
"Well, it's not really a very fair deal," they say quietly, and you blink at them, your brow furrowing. They swallow loudly then, painfully, just staring down at their bloody hands.
"Clementine?" you say, but they just shake their head again, giving you a sad look.
"It's alright, $name," they assure you, and you decide to let it go for now.<</if>>
"How - how did he..." you prompt then, frowning as you glance back over your shoulder at the fighting in the courtyard. "We were together," is what you finally manage to say.
<<include "CH2.2 Get to Clementine 3">>"We should have listened to you. We should have left," you say, unable to keep the despair from your voice as you look at them, at their bloody hands clutching at their stomach.
<<if $clem_tavernkiss>>Clementine reaches out then, grabbing at your sleeve again, pulling on it as if they could pull you closer. You do shift a little closer, though you doubt your cold hands and soaking cloak really offer any kind of warmth or comfort.
"$name," they say quietly, their hand tightening around your sleeve, "I want to go home."
Your chest aches at their words, at the sad, teary look they give you, and you only hesitate for a moment before you reach out, brushing your knuckles along their cheek, their skin icy under your hand. You push their wet hair out of their face, tucking a few curls behind their ear, and Clementine closes their eyes, turning their face into your palm, their breath hot on your inner wrist.
"I want to go home," they say again, the words barely whispering against your skin.
You don't know what to say, so you just hold their face in your hands, letting them cling to your arm, until they open their eyes again and turn away, swallowing loudly and avoiding your gaze.
"Alright?" you say gently, and you know they're not, but they nod anyways, sniffling and blinking the tears from their eyes. You slowly stroke their cheek with your thumb, before you suddenly realize what you're doing - and you pull back, guilt twisting in your chest.
"Clementine," you say then, clearing your throat, "I'm sorry, but can you tell me how - how did he..." you trail off, frowning as you glance back over your shoulder at the fighting in the courtyard. "We were together," is what you finally manage to say.<<elseif $c_flirt gte 3>>Clementine reaches out then, grabbing at your sleeve again, pulling on it as if they could pull you closer. You do shift a little closer, though you doubt your cold hands and soaking cloak really offer any kind of warmth or comfort.
"Maybe," they say suddenly. "Maybe we should have left. Maybe it wouldn't have made any difference at all," they frown, their hand tightening around your sleeve.
"$name..." they seem like they want to say more, their eyes teary as they blink over at you, but instead they just shake their head, sniffling and roughly wiping at their face with the back of their hand.
You're compelled then, reaching out to push some of their wet hair out of their face, gently tucking some of their curls behind their ear before you quickly pull back, uncertainty and guilt twisting in your chest.
Clementine stares after your hand, a longing in their face that you don't entirely think is for you - but again they shake their head, leaning back against the tombstone with a quiet sigh.
"Clementine," you say then, clearing your throat, "I'm sorry, but can you tell me how - how did he..." you trail off, frowning as you glance back over your shoulder at the fighting in the courtyard. "We were together," is what you finally manage to say.<<else>>"Maybe," Clementine says softly, staring down at their bloody hands. "Maybe we should have left. Maybe it wouldn't have made any difference at all."
They don't say anything else, but you can see tears welling up in their eyes, even as they try to turn away from you, their lip quivering as they roughly wipe at their face with the back of their hand.
"Clementine," you say, but they just shake their head, and your jaw clenches painfully, guilt twisting heavy in your chest.
"Clementine," you say again, clearing your throat, "I'm sorry, but can you tell me how - how did he..." you trail off, frowning as you glance back over your shoulder at the fighting in the courtyard. "We were together," is what you finally manage to say.<</if>>
<<include "CH2.2 Get to Clementine 3">><<if $clem_tavernkiss>>"I'm so sorry, Clementine," you say, hesitating just for a moment - before you reach out, brushing your knuckles along their cheek, their skin icy under your hand. You push their wet hair out of their face, tucking a few curls behind their ear, and Clementine smiles softly, closing their eyes and gently grabbing your wrist before turning their face into your palm.
"It's alright," they say, their breath hot along your inner wrist. "I'm alright," they repeat, squeezing your wrist. "It just hurts."
Your jaw clenches painfully, and you nod as they open their eyes again, both hands clutching at your sleeve.
"And I'm really cold," they add with a what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You shift even closer, as if your cold hands and soaking cloak could do anything to warm them.
You slowly stroke their cheek with your thumb, before you suddenly realize what you're doing - and you pull back, guilt twisting in your chest.<<elseif $c_flirt gte 3>>"I'm so sorry, Clementine," you say, your chest tightening painfully as they weakly grab at your wrist. They close their eyes for a moment, shaking their head, icy water dripping from their curls.
"It's alright," they say, "I'm alright," they repeat, squeezing your wrist. "It just hurts. And I'm really cold," they add with a what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You shift even closer, as if your cold hands and soaking cloak could do anything to warm them.
Your jaw clenches painfully, and you nod as they open their eyes again, blinking water from their eyelashes. You're compelled then, reaching out to push their wet hair out of their face, gently tucking some of their curls behind their ear before you quickly pull back, uncertainty and guilt twisting in your chest.<<else>>"I'm so sorry, Clementine," you say, guilt twisting in your chest as their bloody hands clutch at their stomach.
"It's alright," they say. "I'm alright," they repeat, glancing down and roughly pushing their wet hair back out of their face. "It just hurts."
Your jaw clenches painfully, and you just nod as they look back over at you again.
"And I'm really cold," they add with what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You shift even closer, as if your cold hands and soaking cloak could do anything to warm them.<</if>>
"How - how did he..." you prompt then, frowning as you glance back over your shoulder at the fighting in the courtyard. "We were together," is what you finally manage to say.
<<include "CH2.2 Get to Clementine 3">>Clementine doesn't answer right away, dropping their gaze.
"You ran off into the temple. I wasn't sure... I was afraid to follow," they say carefully. "Your eyes had changed. You looked different."
You feel your face suddenly burn hot from shame, glaring back at the temple, the whisper of your name still echoing in your mind. You had left them behind without a second thought.
"$name," Clementine says softly, and you just shake your head.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.2 Get to Clementine 4]]>><<set $ch2_healedclem>><</link>>"Just - just hang tight. I'm going to heal this," you say then, cursing yourself for not doing that first, and they just nod, sniffling as they reluctantly shift against the tombstone, eyeing your hand as you hover over them.
You're not a healer - not like Noel. Usually you patch up minor injuries on yourself, and sometimes even Lea, but you're a far cry from //healer//. But you have to try.
"Ready?" you say then, and they just nod again, swallowing loudly and grabbing at a handful of your cloak.
You flex your other hand, gently pressing your palm to their stomach, and you take a deep breath, <<if $mc_mage>>taking a moment to wrangle your magic, your skin prickling against the sudden restraint, a sharp pain at the base of your skull.<<else>>taking a moment to summon your magic, a sharp pain at the base of your skull as it slowly uncoils and burns beneath your skin.<</if>>
Your chest grows hot, and it slowly radiates down to your hands, your mind straining to contain the usual violence of your magic.
Clementine whimpers, tensing under your hand, clinging to your arm as their breath quickens painfully. There's an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach, twisting as Clementine's wound slowly begins to stitch itself back together, a faint gold glow emanating from your hand.
It takes a long, painful few seconds, your hand shaking as your magic quickly drains you - but eventually the gold light begins to fade, and Clementine gradually relaxes, their grip around your arm loosening as they sit up straighter and breathe deeply.
You pull back, pressing both hands to the cobblestones, a wave of nauseous forcing you to close your eyes, and your magic flickers, lingering over Clementine for another moment before dissipating beneath your hands.
<<if $c_flirt gte 3>>Clementine reaches out, slipping their hand under your hood, and you blink over at them, exhaling slowly.<<else>>Clementine sighs, gently touching your arm, and you blink over at them, exhaling slowly.<</if>>
"Can you stand?" you say gruffly, and they look unsure, grabbing at their stomach again.
"Okay. I'm going to pick you up again," you say, grabbing your sword before reaching over and slipping an arm around their shoulders.
Clementine just nods, curling against you and hiding beneath their curls as you carefully scoop them up - and you turn back to the courtyard then, holding your breath as you search for the others.
You spot Noel and Keres first - hard to miss with their magical display overhead, the storm surging with ice and lightning, strange lights as the Vel flashes along with it. You also notice that a lot of the remaining soldiers are fleeing, a hungry fervor in the air as they struggle through the flood, wading after bolting horses or just desperately trying to avoid the wild magic bursting through the courtyard.
You can feel it, too, the panic, the fear, the Vel - a building pressure, about to crack.
You shake it off, finding the others fighting all together, cutting a path through the soldiers and working their way out of the courtyard, in the general direction where you know the horses are waiting. You shove your way back through the cemetery gate, bracing yourself as you step back into the flood, back into the chaos, wading after your companions, Clementine held tightly in your arms.
But you don't make it very far.
<<if $clem_with>>You have an incredible sense of déjà vu, carrying Clem as you are, and when the sword runs through you, your first thought is of the wraith, its claws ripping at your back - but it's not the wraith, and you're not in the woods, and when you fall this time you're unable to catch yourself, landing painfully on top of Clementine as the sword withdraws from your back, the flood nearly overtaking you both as you struggle to right yourself.<<else>>Pain explodes in the small of your back, Clementine shrieking as you collapse forward, unable to catch yourself and landing painfully on top of them as the sword in your back withdraws, the flood nearly overtaking you both as you struggle to right yourself.<</if>>
You turn to face none other than Duncan - though you admit you're surprised. Maybe that's giving the man too much credit, but you didn't take Duncan for the kind to stab you in the back. At least, not //literally//. You clutch at your stomach, scrambling back in the flood, the wound running all the way through you and darkening the water as it churns at your waist, blood burning hot against your palm.
You turn to Clementine just as they stagger to their feet, reluctantly backing away, hesitating-
"Run! Go!" you all but snarl at them, and they do, turning on their heel and splashing off through the courtyard.
You glare back up at Duncan, curling your lip at him as he inches closer. You can tell he had to have been fighting with the others - there's a gash on his forehead, and he looks a little disheveled, but otherwise his hands are steady as he raises his sword and presses it against your throat.
"I'm sorry, $surname," he says then, and you're taken aback, narrowing your eyes as you glare up at him. You can taste blood in your mouth, and your head is heavy, your body trembling from the pain and the cold, and you can feel the blade nick at your throat, even with Duncan's steady hands.
"This is not what I wanted," he says, crouching down in front of you.
He glances around the courtyard then, over your shoulder, and you grimace as you turn to follow his gaze - and you see Lea and Merry, along with Harper and Talia, vanishing deeper into the district - heading for the wall, for the cliffs, for your horses.
"They're leaving you," Duncan says, sighing again as he stands back up, slowly sheathing his bloody sword.
This close, you realize suddenly that his armor is enchanted - you can see the runes flashing, carved in along the embellishments, glowing brighter with his movements. But more than that, you can feel it, feel the magic radiating from the runic wards - and there's something about it. It's //familiar//.
The sensation of a warm fire, the smell of fresh cut wood, sweet pine needles and strong coffee. A cold bite underneath all of it, dawn in the winter, the way snow reflects the light of the moon, illuminating the trees like stark white bones, your breath fogging in front of you - so cold it makes your hands ache.
That's Jorah's magic.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Get to Clementine 5]]Duncan is watching you closely, but when you don't say anything, he just turns and gestures at a few nearby soldiers.
"Restrain it," he says bluntly, and you immediately try to stand back up, panic and adrenaline spiking at the familiar whisper of chains as the soldiers leer down at you.
All you can do is raise your arms, covering your face, but they grab at your wrists, three of them swarming around you, ripping your sword from you and pulling off your hood. Armored boots kick against your ribs, hands pull at your cloak, and you're hauled forward by your arms, halfway lifted off the ground, unable to suppress a scream as pain lances through your torso, the gash in your stomach gaping as they roughly pull at you.
Duncan watches it all with a mild frown.
The rattle of chains again, right in front of you, and you recoil, pain in your skull sharpening as the shackles being snapped around your wrist come into focus.
The metal bites through your clothes, through your bracers, the sensation of hundreds of needles piercing your skin, slowly crawling up your arms and making you groan.
You sway forward, unsteady, leaning into one of the soldiers, and then - you vomit. The soldier swears, shoving you off of them and back down into the freezing water, your hands locked together now in front of you, a thick, heavy bar connecting the shackles around each wrist.
You blink water and blood from your eyes to stare at the metal, and your blood runs cold.
Blood iron.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Get to Clementine 6]]The effects seem to trigger upon your realization, and you make a pathetic sound that at any other point would have made you incredibly ashamed; as it is, you can hardly process the courtyard in front of you anymore, a strange haze seeming to blanket your vision, pain in the base of your skull so intense that you vomit a second time.
One of the soldiers takes that as an invitation to kick you again, shoving you down into the flood waters, your elbows cracking against the cobblestones as you try to catch yourself.
You curl forward, tucking your face into your elbow, icy water clinging to your clothes as the flood waters surge around you.
"What's wrong with them?" you hear one of the soldiers say, but when you lift your head again, there are no soldiers - the courtyard is empty, the courtyard is //different//.
You blink a few times, and the soldiers flicker in and out of existence, the violence and chaos of the courtyard overwhelming you in sudden flashes, nearly making you vomit once again.
The rain slows, the churning water calms around you, and you stare up at the temple - it's still there, though it's the only thing still there. Again the courtyard flickers, and you're surrounded by towering pines, though even that is dwarfed by the temple spire, still there, stark against the calm, cloudy sky. It flickers again, and you're back in the courtyard, still empty - younger, stronger, the city not yet encroaching upon this place.
Memories, trapped in the Vel.
Then you hear the familiar sound of rattling chains, gold eyes leering down at you, the feeling of a cold hand on the back of your neck. Another hand wrapping around your forearm, nails digging through the bandages, jagged claws scraping bone.
The image wavers in front of you, pain radiating from the base of your skull, just the flash of gold and black as something crawls its way in, your arm hot and heavy and agonizing. You want to scratch at it, but the shackles hold you in place, the iron bar whining as you twist your wrists painfully.
You groan, curling forward again - breathing hard, your throat scratching against the cold air, and you gasp as the courtyard suddenly reverts unceremoniously - everything snaps back in place, the forgotten buildings, the cemetery, the soldiers glaring down at you. The storm returns, too, the rain unforgiving against your hot, sensitive skin, the icy water lapping at your thighs making you recoil.
And then, a familiar voice whispers in your ear.
//Break it.//
Your eyes flick to the shackles, to your hands twitching involuntarily, your bandages unraveling and exposing your black, rotted fingers. You feel something shift under your skin, scratching at your skull, a hand curling around your diaphragm.
<<link '//Break it.//' 'CH2.2 Get to Clementine 7'>><</link>><<link '//Break it.//' 'CH2.2 Get to Clementine 8'>><</link>>
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<<link '//Break it.//' 'CH2.2 Get to Clementine 8'>><</link>>You lift your hands over your head and slam the shackles down against the cobblestones. Water explodes around you on impact, startling the soldiers and Duncan, all of them jumping back away from you. As you lift your arms again, a sudden explosion blasts through the courtyard, stray lightning striking the temple spire, and if you hadn't already been on your knees, it would have sent you to the ground.
Duncan and his soldiers all are thrown off their feet in front of you, and you duck forward, shielding yourself with the shackles, a wave of heat washing over you, black fire falling from the sky.
There's a sudden, terrible pain in your chest, and you sink down into the water, trembling as your knee buckles under you, spots blurring your vision as phantom hands reach out of the water, pulling at your clothes, cold fingers brushing your cheek, grasping your arms hard enough to hurt as a sudden rush of dark magic envelopes you, pulsing against the blood iron.
The Vel is open.
You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
Your shackles turn hot, burning through your clothes, burning your wrists, the metal shimmering and growing heavy as your hands sink beneath the flood. You can just see them through the dark water, the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
"//Hunter//."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
[[Break it. ->CH2.2 Get to Clementine 9]]It compels you, and you raise your hands once more. You bring them down against the cobblestones again and again, ignoring the chaos in the courtyard, the soldiers wading past you, the shouting and the screaming and the rising flood - and Duncan, drawing his sword again as he watches you.
He doesn't try to stop you at first, nor do the two soldiers still remaining at his side - you think they're amused, but soon their amusement turns to confusion, and then disgust as you slam your hands against the stones again and again.
Something breaks - your fingers, your hands, your wrists - you're not sure. But you don't stop.
//Break it.//
The hands around you tighten, hot breath on the back of your neck quickening in anticipation.
//Break it.//
You can't. Your arms shake, blood staining the dark water as it slowly rises higher and higher, shoving you off balance and forcing you to lower your hands, grimacing at the icy water biting at your now swollen and bloody fingers.
//Break it.//
"I can't," you say out loud to no one.
There's a clear disappointment, not entirely yours, that constricts in your chest, before the hands gripping you slowly let go, receding with a quiet sigh, and you slump forward, holding your busted hands against your chest.
Your voice seems to jar Duncan and the soldiers then, and Duncan quickly orders them to restrain you - rough hands shoving you forward, pulling at your arms and dragging you back through the flood waters, trying to grapple you onto your feet. The shackles cut at your wrists, crushing your bracers painfully and biting at the bloody skin beneath your sleeves.
"Get off of me," you growl, your own voice surprising you, bucking back against the soldiers and sending all three of you staggering sideways as you thrash violently, kicking and throwing elbows and dragging them all down into the flood.
The sudden violence seems to stir that familiar presence again, disappointment shifting into excitement, the Vel flickering suddenly, another plume of black fire raining down overhead. You're breathing hard, struggling still, even as the pain in your leg threatens to drown you before the flood can get the chance - you can't let them take you. You'd rather Duncan just kill you here and now than keep you for some toy in his game.
One of the soldiers lets go of your arm to steady themself against the pull of the flood, splashing to the ground behind you, and you take the chance to rip your other arm free, before spinning around and smashing the shackles over the second soldier's head. They drop without a sound, your hands throbbing painfully as you retreat and tuck them against your stomach.
The first soldier is already back on their feet, and when they try to grab you again you just throw yourself against them, both of you going down into the water once more, and you want to just run - but you can't, and that hand is tightening around you again, dark whispers scratching at the back of your skull, something breathing your name as it burrows its way inside, the black wound on your arm suddenly splitting open, black blood swirling through the water and pooling across the iron shackles.
You raise your hands and bring the shackles down against the soldier's face, the metal clashing against their silver mask, blood spurting from the mouth and eyes as you hit them again and again.
And again, you raise your hands - but Duncan grabs you from behind, grabbing at the bar between your wrists and wrenching you back off of his soldier, making you cry out, pain twisting through your torso when you instinctively try to brace yourself.
He hauls you through the flood, dragging you back before shoving you around in front of him and lifting your arms over your head, kicking at the back of your legs and forcing you back down onto your knees. You collapse forward, only held in place by his hand still wrapped around the thick bar of blood iron, and the pain in your back in almost unbearable, the threat of unconsciousness creeping at the edge of your vision, panting hard as you struggle to push back against it.
Duncan pins your hands behind your back, your arms straining on either side of your head, holding you still for a moment before he jerks you back even farther, forcing your head back and pressing his blade to your throat once more.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Get to Clementine 10]]"That's enough, $surname," he hisses, twisting the bar behind your head and drawing a pathetic sound out of you.
The Vel flickers again, pulsing around you, breathing deep, the blood iron around your wrists hissing and burning you through your clothes - and the courtyard trembles, one of the rises leading to the upper levels collapsing nearby, sending a wave of flood water washing over both of you, debris crashing across the cobblestones and black smoke billowing overhead, singeing the back of your throat.
The storm seems to crescendo then - and looking up into the dark clouds, you swear you can see a pair of golden eyes watching you, hear the distant ring of chains alongside the rolling thunder as lightning strikes the spire again.
Duncan is still clinging onto you, but he's unsteady on his feet in the churning waters, and you reach back, grasping at him with your bound hands - your claws scraping against his chestplate before you manage to grab a handful of his collar. His blade draws back, slicing at your throat, but your haul him forward before he can do any real damage, his sword flailing uselessly as you heave him over your shoulders and slam him down into the water in front of you.
You realize you're yelling as the bellow of thunder fades, and you think it's the pain, or maybe it's the Vel, or the shackles - or maybe it's the gold eyes watching you, the excitement stirring in your chest, the anticipation building in the air as the Vel dances across the flood waters, clashing against the blood iron with a hot spray of white sparks.
You drop down on top of Duncan, smacking his sword away with the shackles, and you swipe at his face, the black curve of your claws flashing like steel, like the black iron around your wrists. The strike stuns him, blinking up at you through the blood and the rain with wide eyes as you raise your hands over your head yet again. He tries to squirm away from you, kicking at your bleeding stomach, but you ignore him, ignore the pain, and bring the metal bar down across his bloody face.
Those gold eyes watch you. They compel you. You raise your hands again.
You hit him once, twice, three times, and he splutters against the flood, thrashing weakly underneath you, wheezing through his bloody mouth and broken nose, raising his hands as if that could stop you.
Before you can hit him for a fourth time, though, rough hands grab you from behind again, tugging on your cloak, making you gag as it tightens around your throat and you're yanked off of Duncan, dragged back through the icy water as you struggle to regain your footing.
You're startled when Keres suddenly appears in front of you, stomping through the water and grabbing Duncan by the front of his armor, hauling him up onto his feet and pulling him out of your reach, even as you swing the shackles in front of you with a snarl.
<<link '"$name!"' 'CH2.2 Get to Clementine 11'>><</link>>"$name!"
You're jerked backwards again, dropping down hard into the flood as your knee buckles, an angry whine in the back of your throat as you blindly swing the shackles around, struggling against the pain in your leg, in your arm, trying to break free from the rough hands holding you in place.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and scrambling a few steps back, raising your shackles threateningly.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing old, jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
You blink at your bloody hands, your black claws stained red, the blood iron suddenly far too heavy around your wrists.
Rougher hands grab you then, wrenching you back away from Lea before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment, holding you steady - before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you struggle to your feet, spinning around before staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>You shake your head, raising your sword just in time to block another strike.
They're sloppy, though, and you use their momentum to knock them sideways and throw them to the ground with a grunt. These soldiers are hardly as intimidating as they look. You wonder how young some of them are, under those masks.
Your main concern is keeping yourself from being surrounded - but as it is now, you think you'll manage.
A lot of the soldiers seem to be panicking, with that unnerving excitement gripping the courtyard. Some of them are running after their bolting horses, while others seem to just be focused on staying out of the way of Noel and Keres, and their wild magic churning in the air, just watching it all through those masks.
You start to slowly move towards the others, glancing over to see Lea and Merry almost reunited with Talia and Harper, both of them beating the soldiers back away from the young Redwine. It seems they're fairing well, if the trail of bodies behind them is anything to go off of. You notice Duncan, too, still hovering, and you actually think he's trying to give orders, but the remaining soldiers seem to have little interest in listening to him - they're inexperienced and afraid, more familiar with shoving unarmed civilians around than actually fighting any real threat.
Turning back around, the soldier you knocked over is slowly getting back to their feet, and there are even more lurking closer, their masks flashing as the Vel reflects off the water churning at your ankles. You flex your hand, cold and wet and bloody, the bandages slowly beginning to unravel.
<<if $magic_pref eq "fire">>Taking a deep breath, you lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and this time you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, lightning crackling down your blade.
But almost immediately it starts to jump, abandoning you as Keres siphons your magic - she's stronger than you right now, and she's in control, ripping it right out of your hands. You don't even think she realizes she's doing it, her and Noel dancing around each other across the courtyard too fast for you to process, and you're left straining to refocus after the sudden blow to your already diminishing energy.
You roll sideways just in time to dodge a heavy two-handed hit, splashing through the slowly-rising water and barely scrambling out of the way of the follow-up swipe, but thankfully none of the soldiers seem particularly bold enough to keep the pressure up - and you recover your footing while they back off, clearly still wary of you. //Lucky you.//
You're breathing hard, a thick, metallic taste in the back of your throat, the wailing of the Vel making you grimace. You slowly back up, flexing your hand again and raising it alongside your sword. You grit your teeth against the whispers swirling in your head, ignoring the desperate call as it trembles overhead, anticipation building as it flashes all around you, the courtyard straining against itself, rippling at the edges of your vision.
You summon your magic again.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers Fire]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>Taking a deep breath, you carefully slide your feet through the water, feeling the uneven cobblestones and the hard earth compacted underneath. You lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, and this time you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, a sudden hum in the earth as it senses your magic, building with each step you take, water parting under your feet.
The ground shifts, cobblestones shattering as you stomp your foot in front of you, shoving the soldiers back, throwing them into the flood waters as rocks lurch from the ground and smash and break against them, the entire courtyard trembling as you reach into the earth.
The one soldier drops back to the ground again, struggling to keep their balance, the ground sinking as you leer down at them. Before they can get back up, stalagmites burst from the ground, goring them along with twisted roots grabbing at their legs. A particularly thick, solid shoot breaks through the cobblestones, piercing through their thigh, blood branches unfurling and trapping them in place. The way they scream makes your hair stand on end, or maybe it's the electricity in the air - either way, it spurs you forward, grabbing their shoulder and holding them steady as you plunge your sword through their chest - as you stop the screaming.
You stare down at them for a moment, at the way the little shoot leans towards you, green leaves sprouting in your shadow, stained red.
<<link [[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers Earth 1]]>><<set $broke_courtyard to true>><</link>><<elseif $magic_pref eq "air">>You lift your sword high then, blinking against the rain, and this time you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, the storm building overhead. The wind shifts, and roars past you, spraying water and whipping rain over the soldiers, forcing them to shield their eyes and shrink back away from you - knocking the other one back down into the flood waters.
Two other soldiers, bracing against the wind, try to rush you together, but with the wind at your back you are far quicker than either of them, dodging past their blades and darting behind them. They spin around, and you leap into the air, wind whipping at your cloak as your magic churns and lifts you high overhead, your body turning as you draw back your blade.
You take a deep breath, suspended in the air for a few unnatural seconds before you urge the wind to shift and you lunge back at the soldiers.
The first one tries to swing up and meet you, but the wind roaring at your back staggers them before you even reach them. You smash through their weak attempt at a block and cut straight through their armor, their chestplate splintering under the force of your hit. You slice through metal and cloth and flesh and bone, your blade running all the way through as you rush past them, your sword ripping free with a spray of blood as the soldier crashes back into the icy water.
The wind carries you easily, your feet skimming over the choppy surface of the water, taking a deep breath as you swing back around, icy water spraying at your back. You don't bother readying your sword this time, turning quick on the remaining soldier and slamming the heel of your boot into the back of their head.
You both go down into the water this time, with you landing roughly on your feet, staggering a bit as you struggle to rein in your magic, the air still whipping violently through the courtyard.
You can't help but stare at the two soldiers in front of you, face down in the dark water, your blade flashing dark with blood as lightning explodes nearby, making you flinch. Your head spins a bit, and you press a palm to your forehead, grimacing against the pressure building behind your eyes, at your magic still sparking wildly around you, at the bloody water churning at your ankles.
You're too stunned to do anything for a moment, stunned at how easy it is - you always expected killing another person would be harder, that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
One of the bodies bumps against your leg, drifting with the choppy water, and you quickly scramble back, wiping the rain from your face and raising your sword again.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers Air]]<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>You lift your sword high then, blinking against the rain, and taking a deep breath you reach out, your magic unfurling in your chest, your body as electric as the air in the courtyard as you open yourself up to it, with the water churning at your feet as it senses your magic, the air growing even colder around you as frost envelopes your blade.
The closest soldier hesitates, and you lunge forward, bringing your sword down to clash against their armor, ice erupting across their chestplate as the impact of your cold blade bursts the metal with a loud //crack//. They collapse in front of you, the surface of the water at your feet stilling for a moment as it all freezes over, before you step back and it surges after you, the water carrying you a few feet back and putting some distance between you and the few remaining soldiers.
You're breathing hard, but you let your momentum carry you, taking a few quick steps before sweeping your sword forward, the flooding water following your blade and rushing past, violently overwhelming the soldiers in front of you and knocking them off their feet before surging upward, cocooning a few of them in ice, while the others are washed away to the very edges of the courtyard.
You stagger a few feet, before dropping down hard on one knee, pressing your palm against your forehead, grimacing at the sharp pain behind your eyes, at the hot, wet sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip as your nose bleeds. You stare down at the cobblestones, shivering as the icy water slowly seeps back into the courtyard and soaks through your trousers.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers Water]]<<elseif $mc_alchemist eq true>>You glance down at the sword in your hand - not //your// sword, but the sword from the altar in the crypt. You debate a few transmutations, but you're not confident about using this sword, not without your runes; and it doesn't quite feel right.
Glaring over at the nearest soldier, you reach around and draw your other sword, keeping the other one raised high, your hand tightening around your hilt.
The runes on your bracer start to flash, alchemical lightning bursting in the air as the blade of your sword begins to spark and shift. The metal warps, retracting and coiling tight against your hand before releasing with a hiss, unraveling into a long chain whip, the whispering sound of the links reminding you grimly of the statue chained down in the crypt.
The nearest soldier eyes the whip for a moment before lunging, too close for you to wind up - but you easily parry them with your other sword, throwing them back through the flood waters and cracking the whip after them.
The metal sparks red on impact, clashing against the soldier's chestplate and throwing them to the ground, leaving them wheezing in the churning water at your feet.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers Alchemist]]<<else>>Taking a deep breath, you lift your sword high, blinking against the rain, gritting your teeth and glaring over at the nearest soldier.
They return your glare, eyes flashing through their mask, giving you a sneering look before lunging at you. You easily parry their strike, throwing them sideways hard enough that they lose their footing in the flood waters, splashing to the ground with a pained grunt.
<<if $mc_swordsman>>Another soldier tries to rush you before you can recover, and you throw your arm up to catch their blade with your bracer, gritting your teeth as you push back, their sword groaning loudly as it scrapes against the metal and bites at your arm. You knock the blade sideways, lunging forward and slamming into their chest, wincing as their chestplate dents beneath your weight.
They gasp, the force of it knocking their sword from their hand as they drop back into the water.
The third soldier is on you faster than the previous, their sword singing dangerously close as you dart back, the whisper of metal ringing in your ears as you splash away from them. They swing at you again with a heavy two-handed hit, lightning flashing against their silver mask, and you roll forward, diving through the water and underneath their sword, springing back up onto your feet behind them with a gasp as the icy water clings to your clothes.
You're far quicker than any soldier, and you spin back around, plunging your sword through their back, running it all the way through before you can think too much about it, the cold water dripping from your hands running hot as their blood pools down your blade. You quickly pull free with a spray of blood and viscera, shoving them down face first with a quiet splash.
Turning back around, the other two soldiers are back on their feet, and you don't wait for them this time.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers Sword]]<<elseif $mc_axeman>>Another soldier tries to rush you before you can recover, and you throw your arm up to catch their blade with your bracer, gritting your teeth as you push back, their sword groaning loudly as it scrapes against the metal and bites at your arm. You knock the blade sideways, lunging forward and slamming into their chest, wincing as their chestplate dents beneath your weight.
They gasp, the force of it knocking their sword from their hand as they drop back into the water.
The third soldier is on you faster than the previous, but you don't back off, instead lunging forward and dodging beneath their blade, throwing your shoulder up into their gut and tossing them overhead, spinning them through the air before they crash down painfully against the cobblestones.
You stagger a few steps, wincing at the pain in your shoulder, your arm aching as you heft the sword in your hand. You lament your axe, left behind with the horses, missing the familiar weight of it in your palm. The sword will have to do.
You turn to face the soldiers again, the other two back on their feet already, your lip curling in warning as they creep closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers Axe]]<<else>>Another soldier tries to rush you before you can recover, and you throw your arm up to catch their blade with your bracer, gritting your teeth as you push back, their sword groaning loudly as it scrapes against the metal and bites at your arm. You knock the blade sideways, lunging forward and slamming into their chest, wincing as their chestplate dents beneath your weight.
They gasp, the force of it knocking their sword from their hand as they drop back into the water.
The third soldier is on you faster than the previous, but you're quick, darting back and rolling sideways as you dodge their blade, gasping as the icy water clings to your clothes. Springing back up onto your feet, you raise your sword, blocking another strike and shoving the soldier back, putting some space between you as you slowly circle each other.
You move slow, glaring at the dark eyes flashing beneath the silver mask, your hand tightening around your sword. You lament your bow, left behind with the horses, missing the curve of wood in your palm. The sword will have to do.
The other two soldiers are back on their feet, while the third one is still close, and creeping even closer.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers Archer]]<</if>><</if>>Trailing your hand along your blade, fire erupts from your palm, igniting the cold metal, the fire burning exceptionally hot against your icy skin while your eyes water from the sudden bright light and the heat.
Your lip curls as you lunge forward, swinging your sword and sending out a massive arc of flame. You lose control as soon as it extends past your blade, fire surging through the air and roaring over the rain, engulfing three of the nearest soldiers while the others bolt out of the way.
Fire still burns in your hand, along your sword, and you drop to one knee, wincing as the soldiers cry out, screaming and throwing themself desperately into the water - but it doesn't work. It's magic; your fire burns along the surface, and clings to them even as their armor warps and their clothes disintegrate, even as the water rushes over them.
You're stunned at how easy it happens - you always expected killing another person would be harder, that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
They're still screaming, and it reminds you of the wraith - the heat under your cloak, the keening in the back of your mind. You stare down at your hands, at the bloody water churning around your legs, and everything distorts, the Vel trembling as your magic brushes against it.
You close your eyes, roughly wiping at your face with the back of your trembling hand, the feeling of blood pooling on your upper lip, hot and wet; your nose is bleeding.
A roll of thunder startles you, and you blink the rain from your eyes, turning back to where Clementine had been - and you find them a few feet away, their back pressed against the low wall at the edge of the courtyard.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3">>You blink, withdrawing and watching as they crumple to the ground, bending unnaturally around the shoot and sinking into the earth, rain and blood pooling around them. You're breathing hard, staring down at your bloody hands, the wet gleam of your blade, your bandaged fingers curled around the hilt of your sword, and everything distorts, the Vel trembling as your magic brushes against it.
You expected killing another person would be harder - that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
There are vines slowly sprouting around your blade, thorns glistening red, more shoots and rocks cracking through the cobblestones, another soldier caught in the branches as your magic slips out of your control.
You barely hear Merry shout your name before the courtyard violently shifts, sending you sprawling sideways into the flooding water, the earth shattering open in front of you.
The ground collapses, water rushing upwards and bursting through Keres' magic barrier, and you watch as a few of the soldiers vanish as the water pulls them down into the ground, into the tunnels, into the crypt. You scramble backwards, the ground crumbling beneath you, frantically turning to look for Clementine - and you have to dive after them, grabbing at their tunic and hauling them back out of the churning water. You barely manage to keep yourself from going under, clutching Clementine against your chest as you stagger through the flood, until strong hands drag you back, Merry and Harper pulling you onto higher ground, the water just pulling at your trousers as it seeps out beyond the courtyard and into the district.
"You got them?" Merry says, still holding you steady, and you nod, your arms tightening around Clementine as you blink stupidly around the courtyard.
"Where's Lea?" you blurt, though you don't wait for an answer, searching the drowning soldiers - you see Noel and Keres, both managing to avoid the collapse as well, and then you see Lea. Lea and Duncan, together on the other side of the courtyard, struggling against the sudden rush of water.
It's painful, just watching as the two of them pull at each other to keep from going underwater.
Lea manages to get a handhold on the iron fence around the cemetery, and Duncan clings to $l_them for a few moments before letting go and just bracing himself against the water, runes on his armor flashing erratically - and somehow they both manage to withstand the initial flood, the water receding slightly after a few moments.
Lea slumps against the fence, $l_their eyes cutting to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name as if it will change the course of fate.
Duncan stomps through the water, Lea turning and staggering slightly to face him - but he just smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand, plunging his blade through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>"Clementine," you blurt their name, shaking your head, quickly making your way through the flood, dropping your sword and crouching down in front of them.
They're still conscious, and they mutter your name, reaching out and weakly grabbing at your sleeve.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry, Clementine."' 'CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3.a'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re alright. I\'m going to get you out of here."' 'CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3.b'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I have to heal them.' 'CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3.c'>><<set $ch2_healedclem to true>><</link>></div>There are still a few more soldiers lurking nearby, watching you through those silver fucking masks - and you glare straight back.
Holding the sword over your head you plant your feet, rocking forward and slowly swinging your blade in a circle, the wind so loud now you can't hear anything else, rain and ice denting armor and piercing skin. The air churns over you, ripping at the nearby buildings surrounding the courtyard, debris flying dangerously as the wind begins to tunnel around the end of your blade.
You grip your sword in both hands, gritting your teeth, but you can feel your magic starting to slip, your exhaustion getting the better of you, your muscles still trembling from Keres' magic. You swing your sword one more time, before slamming it down onto the cobblestones - the tornado of rain and ice exploding around you, throwing soldiers like ragdolls across the courtyard.
It throws you flat on your back, too, and you just stay like that for a minute, blinking up into the rain, groaning as you roll onto your side and onto your hands and knees.
The soldiers, however, won't be getting back up.
You're shaking, wind still tearing at your wet clothes, and the courtyard darkens, the storm churning in response to your magic, the air dropping even colder as rain and ice pour down overhead. You can feel blood pooling on your upper lip, hot and wet - your nose is bleeding - and there's a thick, metallic taste in the back of your throat, the wailing of the Vel making you wince and stagger as you force yourself back onto your feet.
A roll of thunder startles you, and you blink the rain from your eyes, turning back to where Clementine had been - and you find them a few feet away, their back pressed against the low wall at the edge of the courtyard.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3">>You blink up into the rain, and you sense the lightning is going to strike only a few moments before it happens - your skin prickling as the air starts to hum, and you force yourself onto your feet just as lightning erupts beside you, forcing you to jump back as it sparks across the water, making you swear as your skin burns under your wet clothes.
You're blinded for a few moments, a quick succession of white lightning flashing through the courtyard - striking some of the frozen soldiers, the ice exploding in a burst of red and white sparks. You throw up your arms and duck down as chunks of ice fly across the courtyard, static and bloody, the water flashing red against the Vel.
You drop your arms, letting out a shaky breath, your sword heavy in your hand.
The water turns dark at your feet, blood churning with ice as lightning pops across the surface for a few more seconds, the smell of burnt flesh lingering in the back of your throat.
A roll of thunder startles you, and you blink the rain from your eyes, turning back to where Clementine had been - and you find them a few feet away, their back pressed against the low wall at the edge of the courtyard.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3">>Red, alchemical lightning hisses against the rain, crackling along the chains of the whip as you wind back again, snapping it a few times across the flood waters, your eyes cutting to the few remaining soldiers still standing in front of you.
They try to rush you, but they're far too slow.
You dart back, swinging the whip forward, catching the first soldier and wrapping the whip around their legs, the metal scraping over their greaves and hooking into the fat of their calf, easily ripping through their trousers - and the strangled sound they make tells you it rips just as easily through their flesh.
You jerk the whip back, tearing the soldier off their feet and sending them face first into the bloody, churning water, and you block a strike from another soldier with your sword, shoving back against them and following it up with a swift kick to their stomach. You jerk the whip again, dragging the dazed soldier a few feet before urging the links to release, the whip trailing through the water before you slash it at the other soldier trying to rush you again.
It cracks against their wrist, knocking their sword from their hand and coiling up their arm enough for you to drag them forward, tripping through the water and pulling them close - close enough to run your sword through them. They sag against you, grabbing at your arms before you shove them back, jerking the whip hard enough to throw them across the courtyard, your blade pulling free with a bright spray of blood, hurling their body into another group of soldiers and sending them all crashing into the flood waters.
The whip sparks against the water, red and white lightning flashing against the Vel, and it hisses as it slowly retracts again, the runes on your bracer illuminating the blood in the water as your whip transmutes back into a sword again.
You're too stunned to do anything for a moment, stunned at how easy it is - you always expected killing another person would be harder, that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
A roll of thunder startles you, and you blink the rain from your eyes, turning back to where Clementine had been - and you find them a few feet away, their back pressed against the low wall at the edge of the courtyard.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3">>You dart forward, parrying the frantic swipe they throw at you before returning a far more measured one of your own, slicing the soldier down the arm before lunging again and piercing through their frail armor, your blade tearing through metal and leather and flesh and muscle. You withdraw with another arc of red, the water turning dark as it churns at your feet.
The final soldier tries, with their dented chestplate, but you just dodge beneath their blade, rolling forward before launching yourself upwards, once again slamming into their chest as your sword plunges through their armpit. Your momentum rips them from your blade and throws them a few feet across the cobblestones, but this time they won't be getting back up.
You stagger a few steps before regaining your composure, breathing hard as you stare down at the dark red shine of your blade. You blink rain from your eyes, roughly wiping at your face, the hot, wet sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip as your nose begins to bleed. You can't help but watch the way the floating bodies bump into each other, face down in the water churning at your ankles.
You expected killing another person would be harder - that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You press a bloody hand to your forehead, taking a few unsteady steps backwards, stumbling through the water as everything distorts, the Vel trembling as it presses down on you, your sword twitching in your hand. Blood slowly gathers along the edge of the blade, glistening in the flashing lights of the storm, red and black and blue as the Vel flickers overhead.
A roll of thunder startles you, and you blink the rain from your eyes, turning back to where Clementine had been - and you find them a few feet away, their back pressed against the low wall at the edge of the courtyard.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3">>You block the first strike with a snarl, the sound of clashing metal ringing in your ears. You slide back through the icy water, dodging the follow up as your heel scrapes over the cobblestones, shifting your weight and winding back as the soldier struggles to keep up with you as the water drags at their ankles. Taking your sword in both hands, you spring forward off your back foot and lunge for them, swinging the blade as if it were your axe.
You cleave straight through their armor, your strength cracking through the steel and burying your sword deep in their side with the crunch of meat and bone, and the painful grind of metal. Ripping your sword free splatters the dark flood waters with blood and gore, and the soldier collapses without a sound.
The other soldier hesitates, but you don't wait for them this time, swinging with both hands again - though they react quickly, just barely bringing their sword up in time to block your hit. Your swords clang together hard enough to make you grunt, pain spiking up your arms, and the soldier yelps as their own sword is ripped out of their hand. You swing again, slicing through the soldier's arms as they try and fail to block you, your blade once again finding the space between armor and mask - cutting their throat with a sickeningly wet shout before they crumple to their knees and join the other face down in the water.
You withdraw, breathing hard, but you don't get a chance to really catch your breath before someone slams into you, knocking you sideways and down into the icy water. The cold makes you gasp, and you lash out, grappling with another soldier as they try to pierce your chest with their sword. You instinctively grab at the blade, cursing yourself as it cuts at your palm, before you kick out, water splashing around you and making you splutter. You manage to get them off of you, though, clearly stronger than them, kicking them a few more times as you scramble backwards and up onto your feet.
They struggle to regain their own footing - but you don't let them, stepping forward and kicking them in the face, their mask flying off and vanishing beneath the dark flood waters. You hesitate, before kicking them again, and again, knocking them onto their back, before you raise your foot high and stomp their face with your heel. They sink against the cobblestones, and you don't look, staggering back through the water and raising your sword again.
But there's no one around you, except for the bodies floating face down in the flood. You watch as they quietly bob up and down, the bloody water turning black in the flashing light of the courtyard. You wipe at your face, the hot, wet sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip making your shudder as your nose begins to bleed.
You're too stunned to do anything for a moment, stunned at how easy it is - you always expected killing another person would be harder, that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You press a bloody hand to your forehead, taking a few unsteady steps backwards, stumbling through the water as everything distorts, the Vel trembling as it presses down on you, your sword twitching in your hand. Blood slowly gathers along the edge of the blade, glistening in the flashing lights of the storm before quietly dripping down into the icy flood waters.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3">>You let them come to you, luring them to the edge of the courtyard, though they seem too wary to try and rush you again, lingering back and attempting to surround you. You don't wait for that to happen - you lunge forward, clashing together with the loud ring of steel on steel, your blade singing as you trade blows with the nearest soldier, carefully dancing back through the water and keeping your distance from the other two.
You push back against a particularly vicious strike, pain spiking up your elbow from the impact, but you use the momentum to stagger the soldier, shoving them back and then swinging low, your blade biting at their shins. Your swing is strong, your blade easily cracking through their greaves and splitting the metal, the clothes, the flesh and bone. The soldier collapses forward, nearly on top of you, and you manage to roughly grab their shoulders and throw them back, sending them stumbling into the other two soldiers as they try to close in.
It buys you some time, again darting back and putting some space between you as the remaining soldiers splutter indignantly, shoving their bleeding companion into the flood waters.
You raise your sword, your eyes flicking between the two, catching your breath before lunging forward again. You easily dodge the first one's blade, dropping low before slipping behind them, both of the soldiers spinning around to follow after you. One of them stays right on top of you, attempting to run their sword through you - a mistake, as you step into the thrust, the sword grazing your underarm as you grab at their wrist and pull them onto your own sword instead. You hold them there, turning quickly with them in front of you, catching the final soldier's blade with their body, their blood running hot over your hands.
The soldier swears, withdrawing as you shove the other off your sword, stepping over them as you face off with the last one standing. It's over quickly - even with your muscles starting to strain, you're faster and smarter, and even with a sloppy parry you still get the upper hand, knocking them sideways before swinging your blade at their throat. It cuts through with an arc of red, their mask flying off as they collapse down into the water. They sink against the cobblestones, and you turn away, staggering back through the water and raising your sword again.
But there's no one around you, except for the bodies floating face down in the flood. You watch as they quietly bob up and down, the bloody water turning black in the flashing light of the courtyard. You wipe at your face, the hot, wet sensation of blood pooling on your upper lip making your shudder as your nose begins to bleed.
You're too stunned to do anything for a moment, stunned at how easy it is - you always expected killing another person would be harder, that maybe it would feel different. But it doesn't. It's just the same as killing anything else - except you don't need a fancy knife to do it.
You press a bloody hand to your forehead, taking a few unsteady steps backwards, stumbling through the water as everything distorts, the Vel trembling as it presses down on you, your sword twitching in your hand. Blood slowly gathers along the edge of the blade, glistening in the flashing lights of the storm, red and black and blue as the Vel flickers overhead.
A roll of thunder startles you, and you blink the rain from your eyes, turning back to where Clementine had been - and you find them a few feet away, their back pressed against the low wall at the edge of the courtyard.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 3">><<if $c_flirt gte 3>>"I'm sorry, Clementine," you say, kneeling over them, grabbing their shoulders - and you hesitate, before reaching out and cupping their face in your hand.
They're cold, their lips pale and turning blue from sitting in the icy water, though you're certain your hand isn't any warmer. Still, they clutch at your wrist, turning their face into your palm.
"I'm sorry," you say again, but they shake their head, giving you a weak smile.
"It's okay, $name. I'm okay. Don't think he was trying to kill me," they say softly, their breath hot on your wrist. "But it hurts."
Your jaw clenches painfully, and you nod, stroking their cheek with your thumb.
"And I'm really cold," they add with a what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You pull your hand back with a frown, Clementine's hands reluctantly letting your wrist go.
"Okay. I'm going to pick you up, okay?" you say then, grabbing your sword before slipping an arm around their shoulders.<<elseif $c_flirt eq 2>>"I'm sorry, Clementine," you say, kneeling over them, grabbing their shoulders - and you start to reach for their face, but you hesitate, before pulling your hand back, instead just tucking some of the wet curls behind their ear and squeezing their shoulder in a weak attempt at comfort.
They're cold, their lips pale and turning blue from sitting in the icy water, and you can feel it where they cling onto your sleeve, radiating from their hand as it brushes against your wrist.
"I'm sorry," you say again, but they shake their head, giving you a weak smile.
"It's okay, $name. I'm okay. Don't think he was trying to kill me," they say softly, their hand tightening around your sleeve. "But it hurts."
Your jaw clenches painfully, and you nod, glancing down at the dark wound staining their tunic.
"And I'm really cold," they add with a what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You give their shoulder another squeeze, before letting your hand drop, Clementine reluctantly letting go of your sleeve.
"Okay. I'm going to pick you up now, okay?" you say then, grabbing your sword before slipping an arm around their shoulders.<<else>>"I'm sorry, Clementine," you say, kneeling over them, letting them pull on your sleeve and clutch at your hand.
"I'm sorry," you say again, but they shake their head, giving you a weak smile.
"It's okay, $name. I'm okay. Don't think he was trying to kill me," they say softly, their hand tightening around your sleeve. "But it hurts."
You frown, glancing down at the dark wound staining their tunic.
"And I'm really cold," they add with a what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You carefully put your hand over theirs, their fingers cold as they brush against your inner wrist, and you give it a light squeeze before pulling your sleeve free.
"Okay. I'm going to pick you up now, okay?" you say then, grabbing your sword before slipping an arm around their shoulders.<</if>>
Clementine just nods, grabbing at the front of your cloak as you lift them up out of the flood, staggering as your head spins for a few seconds, your arms tightening around them.
Clementine winces, tucking their head against you, curling forward and pressing a hand to their stomach.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 4">><<if $c_flirt gte 3>>You quickly look over them, your eyes immediately going to the dark wound staining their tunic, and you shift closer - hesitating for just a moment, before taking their face in your hands.
They close their eyes at your touch, grabbing at your wrists, and you can tell they're cold, nevermind their blue lips, but their skin is like ice beneath your palms - though you're sure you're hands aren't any better.
"Hey," you say, and they open their eyes again, sniffling as they blink up at you.
You're not a healer - not like Noel. Usually you patch up minor injuries on yourself, and sometimes even Lea, but you're a far cry from //healer//. But you have to try.
"I'm going to heal this," you say, pulling a hand back and slipping out of their grasp, carefully pushing their cloak aside to fully reveal the gash in their stomach. The squirm a bit, their hand tightening around your wrist, but they nod.
"It's not too bad," they say then, smiling weakly when you frown at them. "Don't think he was trying to kill me. But it hurts."
Your frown just deepens, and you shake your head, stroking their cheek with your thumb.
You flex your other hand, gently pressing your palm to their stomach, and you take a deep breath, <<if $mc_mage>>taking a moment to wrangle your magic, your skin prickling against the sudden restraint, a sharp pain at the base of your skull.<<else>>taking a moment to summon your magic, a sharp pain at the base of your skull as it slowly uncoils and burns beneath your skin.<</if>><<elseif $c_flirt eq 2>>You quickly look over them, your eyes immediately going to the dark wound staining their tunic, and you shift closer - hesitating for just a moment, brushing your knuckles across their cheek.
They close their eyes at your touch, grabbing at your wrist, and you can tell they're cold, nevermind their blue lips, but their skin is like ice again your hand - though you're sure you're hand isn't any better.
"Hey," you say, and they open their eyes again, sniffling as they blink up at you.
You're not a healer - not like Noel. Usually you patch up minor injuries on yourself, and sometimes even Lea, but you're a far cry from //healer//. But you have to try.
"I'm going to heal this," you say, pulling your hand back and slipping out of their grasp, carefully pushing their cloak aside to fully reveal the gash in their stomach. The squirm a bit, their hand tightening around your wrist, but they nod.
"It's not too bad," they say then, smiling weakly when you frown at them. "Don't think he was trying to kill me. But it hurts."
Your frown just deepens.
"Ready?" you say then, and they just nod, their hand tightening around your wrist.
You flex your other hand, gently pressing your palm to their stomach, and you take a deep breath, <<if $mc_mage>>taking a moment to wrangle your magic, your skin prickling against the sudden restraint, a sharp pain at the base of your skull.<<else>>taking a moment to summon your magic, a sharp pain at the base of your skull as it slowly uncoils and burns beneath your skin.<</if>><<else>>You quickly look over them, your eyes immediately going to the dark wound staining their tunic, and you shift closer, grabbing at their shoulders and saying their name again.
They close their eyes at your touch, grabbing at your wrists, and you can tell they're cold, nevermind their blue lips, but their skin is like ice, nearly making you recoil - though you're sure you're not any better, radiating cold from your hands and your soaking cloak.
"Hey," you say, and they open their eyes again, sniffling as they blink up at you.
You're not a healer - not like Noel. Usually you patch up minor injuries on yourself, and sometimes even Lea, but you're a far cry from //healer//. But you have to try.
"I'm going to heal this," you say, giving their shoulders what you hope is a comforting squeeze before slipping out of their grasp, carefully pushing their cloak aside to fully reveal the gash in their stomach. They squirm a bit, staring down at your hand, but they nod.
"It's not too bad," they say then, smiling weakly when you frown at them. "Don't think he was trying to kill me. But it hurts."
Your frown just deepens.
"Ready?" you say then, and they just nod again, swallowing loudly and grabbing at a handful of your cloak.
You flex your other hand, gently pressing your palm to their stomach, and you take a deep breath, <<if $mc_mage>>taking a moment to wrangle your magic, your skin prickling against the sudden restraint, a sharp pain at the base of your skull.<<else>>taking a moment to summon your magic, a sharp pain at the base of your skull as it slowly uncoils and burns beneath your skin.<</if>><</if>>
Your chest grows hot, and it slowly radiates down to your hands, your mind straining to contain the usual violence of your magic.
Clementine whimpers, tensing under your hand, clinging to your arm as their breath quickens painfully. There's an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach, twisting as Clementine's wound slowly begins to stitch itself back together, a faint gold glow emanating from your hand.
It takes a long, painful few seconds, your hand shaking as your magic quickly drains you - but eventually the gold light begins to fade, and Clementine gradually relaxes, their grip around your arm loosening as they sit up straighter and breathe deeply.
You pull back, pressing both hands to the cobblestones, a wave of nauseous forcing you to close your eyes, and your magic flickers, lingering over Clementine for another moment before dissipating beneath your hands.
Clementine reaches out, slipping their hand under your hood, and you blink over at them, exhaling slowly.
"Can you stand?" you say gruffly, and they look unsure, grabbing at their stomach again.
"Okay. I'm going to pick you up," you say, grabbing your sword before reaching over and slipping an arm around their shoulders.
Clementine just nods, grasping at the front of your cloak as you lift them up out of the flood, staggering as your head spins for a few seconds, your arms tightening around them.
Clementine winces, tucking their head against you, curling forward and hiding beneath their curls.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 4">><<if $c_flirt gte 3>>"You're alright, Clem," you say, kneeling over them, frowning down at the dark wound staining their tunic. "You're alright. I'm going to get you out of here."
They pull at your sleeve, giving you a weak smile as they lift your hand to their lips, their breath hot on your icy knuckles, your own breath catching in your throat.
"I'm alright," they say softly. "It just hurts." They squeeze your wrist, closing their eyes for a moment.
Your jaw clenches painfully, and you nod as they open their eyes again, both hands clutching at your sleeve.
"And I'm really cold," they add with a what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You shift even closer, as if your cold hands and soaking cloak could do anything to help them.
"Okay. I'm going to pick you up now, okay?" you say then, reluctantly pulling your hand free from theirs, grabbing your sword before slipping your arm around their shoulders.<<elseif $c_flirt eq 2>>"You're alright, Clem," you say, kneeling over them, frowning down at the dark wound staining their tunic. "You're alright. I'm going to get you out of here."
They pull at your sleeve, giving you a weak smile as they take your hand in theirs.
They're cold - their lips pale and turning blue from sitting in the icy water, and you can feel it radiating from their hand against your own, though you're certain yours isn't any warmer.
"I'm alright," they say softly. "It just hurts." They squeeze your hand, painfully tight, sniffling and closing their eyes for a moment.
Your jaw clenches painfully, and you nod as they open their eyes again, both hands clutching at your own.
"And I'm really cold," they add with a what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You shift even closer, as if your cold hands and soaking cloak could do anything to help them.
"Okay. I'm going to pick you up now, okay?" you say then, reluctantly pulling your hand free from theirs, grabbing your sword before slipping your arm around their shoulders.<<else>>"You're alright, Clem," you say, kneeling over them, frowning down at the dark wound staining their tunic. "You're alright. I'm going to get you out of here."
They pull at your sleeve, giving you a weak smile as they blink up at you.
They're cold - their lips pale and turning blue from sitting in the icy water, and you can feel it radiating from their hand as they clutch at your sleeve, their knuckles brushing against your wrist.
"I'm alright," they say softly. "It just hurts." Their hand tightens, and they sniffle quietly, closing their eyes for a moment.
You glance down at the blood on their hands, frowning as they open their eyes again.
"And I'm really cold," they add with a what you think is meant to be a little laugh, but it just makes them grimace. You shift even closer, as if your cold hands and soaking cloak could do anything to help them.
"Okay. I'm going to pick you up now, okay?" you say then, reluctantly pulling your sleeve free and grabbing your sword before slipping your arm around their shoulders.<</if>>
Clementine just nods, grasping at the front of your cloak as you lift them up out of the flood, staggering as your head spins for a few seconds, your arms tightening around them.
Clementine winces, tucking their head against you, curling forward and pressing a hand to their stomach.
<<include "CH2.2 Deal with some soldiers 4">>"$name!"
You turn as Merry splashes over to you, Talia and Harper at her heels. She quickly glances over Clementine, her brow furrowed, before blinking back at you.
"They alright?"
"They're breathing," you say, shifting Clementine in your arms. You look to the others, shaking your head. "Where's Lea?"
Merry turns back towards the temple, and you follow her gaze to see Lea - and Duncan. They're circling each other, but Lea seems to sense your attention, $l_their eyes cutting to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.2 Injured Lea Reactions w Clem">>They crouch down in front of you, watching you curiously, their eyes consumed in inky black - is that what you look like? Is that how you looked last night, when they found you in the woods?
"I'm sorry," they say, and you close your eyes, a wave of nausea washing over you at your voice coming from their mouth.
"I'm sorry for this. And I'm sorry for last night," they say suddenly. "It was cruel of me, to bring you out there," they tilt their head at you, their dark eyes flashing, a thin ring of gold swirling at the center, almost hypnotic, drawing you into them.
"But I had to make sure. You keep slipping through my fingers..." they trail off for a moment, studying //your// hands before moving even closer, the smell of rot making your eyes water.
They grab your arm then, and you try to twist away, but they easily hold you still, their hand just as cold as the water churning around you, long claws curling around your forearm, their other hand slowly coming up to touch your face.
"I'm stronger now - and so are you. Stronger as each day passes. As it gets closer," they say, their hands tightening as you struggle, trying to turn your head away from their touch.
"I'm glad that it's you. We have a lot in common. But I am sorry. I'm sorry for this, for all that's about to happen. And I'm sorry they left you behind." They pause for a moment, tilting their head at you. "It won't be the last time, you know."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" is all you manage to say.
"It's just you and me, $name," they say, and you recoil at the sound of your name.
They raise your rotted hand in front of you then, forcing you to look at it.
"What will Lea say? How long now until $l_they put<<s>> you in shackles now? Lea and Noel - they'll collar you, you and I both know it. Or maybe Merry will kill you, first. A mercy kill, in her mind. And that little bard - terrified of you. But who wouldn't be?"
You shake your head, still desperately trying to pull yourself free - but they just smile, pulling you closer, their rotted breath on your face, their hand sliding to your throat.
"You have to be careful. You can't trust them. But don't worry. I won't let Lea hurt you. I won't let any of them lock you away."
You notice the pain in your arm then, white hot and spiking up to your shoulder, burning through your chest as you curl forward, the world around you vanishing for a moment as the pain overwhelms you.
Their claws - your claws - digging into your arm, black blood spilling down your bracer, and you can just watch as they reach inside, pulling at the muscle and tendons and gore, the terrible scraping of their claws against your bone as they touch you with your own hands.
It's getting inside - forcing its way in.
Burrowing under your skin, through your veins, the taste of rot in your mouth, in your throat, in your stomach - inside. Inside you.
<<link '//Get up.//' 'CH2.2 Collapsed Possession 3'>><</link>>Your hunter's knife is in your hand. Your other arm hangs uselessly at your side, the water dark and red from the raw, open wound left there, the white shine of bone against the black of your blood almost some kind of art - or maybe it's just perverse. You shouldn't look.
You force yourself onto your feet, raise the knife, feeling the weight of it in your palm, the warmth of the magic thrumming through the blade, the metal glowing slightly in anticipation.
The Vel pulses overhead, black smoke burning in the back of your throat, and you stare down at your hands, at the way the black light of the Vel refracts across the surface of the water, finding purchase on your blood and scattering like the sparks of a blacksmith's hammer - dazzling and bright, illuminating the dark water and the black ichor seeping into your arm.
You raise your knife.
//Hunter.//
The voice comes in your mind again, overwhelming, screaming in your ears, scratching just beneath your skin - but you raise your knife. You won't let Lea collar you, you won't let Merry kill you - and you won't let whatever this thing is have you, either.
The knife trembles in your hand as you push it into your arm, black blood hissing against the blue blade as it glows bright-
"$name!"
Rough hands grab at your shoulders then, grab your wrist, wrenching your arm back and grasping at your knife, but you refuse to let go, even as you're hauled out of the water, your arm pinned painfully behind your back.
"Stop it, $name-"
The sound of your name again makes you snap, twisting violently and lashing out with your claws, breaking free and instinctively raising your knife in front of you.
Lea stares at you with wide eyes, a hand pressed to $l_their face, blood seeping through $l_their fingers and dripping down the front of $l_their shirt. You caught them right across the cheek, along $l_their jaw, your claws perfectly tracing the jagged scars that were already there, reopening that old wound fresh and raw. Lea tries to duck away, but you can see the flash of $l_their teeth through the blood and gore before $l_they can cover it with $l_their hand again.
Your hunter's knife trembles slightly in your hand.
You're still staring at Lea when rougher hands grab you then, wrenching your wrist back and taking your knife before shoving you down into the water. On your knees, the icy water is up to your chest, and you're panting, from the cold and the pain - bracing to be pushed under, a hand on the back of your neck.
But it doesn't come.
"Take it easy, kid," a familiar voice murmurs, hands tightening for a moment before carefully letting you go.
You don't move for a few seconds - and then you spin around, clutching your arm and staggering a few steps back in disbelief.
<<link '"Jorah?"' 'DEMO'>><</link>>"Noel," you say suddenly, glancing sideways as xe blinks at you, "...about yesterday."
You squirm a bit under his stare, but you already resolved to say this earlier, after he helped you last night - after he found you out there in the snow.
"About yesterday. I-"
"Was a bit of a dick?" Noel cuts you off with a smirk.
You snap your mouth closed, narrowing your eyes at xem with a scowl.
"Not what I was going to say," you mutter.
Noel just chuckles, giving you a small smile.
"It's alright, dear. If we're being honest... I should have been more patient with you." He pauses for a moment, focusing on your bandages.
"I knew you were sick. When Merry came to me, and as soon as I set foot in the parlor yesterday, I could feel it. I should have expected you'd be-"
"A bit of a dick?"
Noel laughs, shaking xir head.
"Yeah."
Noel slowly begins to undo your bandages then.
"I just... appreciate it. Last night, I mean," you manage, and Noel just smiles again. "How did you even find me? Where did you go, earlier?" you press then, desperate to shift the conversation off of your //sickness//."I can tell you what I know," Clementine speaks up for the first time then, everyone turning to look at them in the corner, still huddled in front of the woodstove.
"Oh? That's right. You're //familiar with his repuation//. Do share, little bard," Merry says, eyeing them for a moment. Clementine glances between her and Noel, wringing their hands, until Noel gives them a little nod of encouragement.
"I know about him because he held a title down south. Nothing particularly fancy - he was a viscount within the capital. And there are countless viscounts in the capital. But he was competent, which is more than can be said for the others."
Clementine pulls on one of their curls, glancing over to you and Lea then.
"I've been told he's actually quite charming... at least among the nobility."
You and Lea both gag at that.
"We were never in the same circles, but like I said, I knew about him. He was supposedly an underdog - a real man of the people," Clementine scoffs. "At least for as long as they were useful to him. He knows how to play the game, and he's been playing it for a long time, now. He's managed to weasel his way into the king's inner circle, despite his low rank, and his temper - and now he's been promoted, it would seem."
"Explains why they sent him here, then," Merry mutters.
"Right. Someone that the king trusts and has under his thumb," Clementine nods. "Redwine... she's always been particularly disliked. She's loud, and she challenged a lot of the king's mandates and his attempts at controlling the ports and lumber trade out here. She's a thorn in a lot of people's sides. And with the plague... she got more aggressive. She was excluded from the king's summit this past year, and it caused a lot of controversy."
"I didn't know that," Lea says, glancing over at you. You just shake your head - if Lea didn't know, you //definitely// didn't know.
"I always knew Redwine was //polarizing//," Lea continues. "But most Blackwater wardens are. It's the nature of the position out here. And Redwine was always good to us."
"I think the plague really put the pressure on everyone, and Redwine was pushing even harder than before. The king was threatened, by her, and by Gael. Excluding her was the first step. Now he's removed her completely," Clementine says sadly.
"Sending Duncan out here to oust Redwine and reinforce the border with his little toy soldiers... two birds, one stone," Merry shakes her head, narrowing her eye at Clementine then.
"You are well informed. Remind me again... what exactly did you do in the capital?"
Noel sighs loudly, giving Merry a look, but Clementine just purses their lips, before smiling politely.
"I was a dancer."
"Right. A dancer."
<div id="choice"><<link '"So... this is just the usual political bullshit?"' 'So what does this prove beyond the usual southern politics bullshit?'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"But what actually happened to Redwine?"' 'But what actually happened to Redwine?'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"And what about Highfell? Is his reach that long?"' 'And what about Highfell? Is his reach that long?'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"This is all very fascinating, but our focus needs to be on the isolation district."' 'This is all very fascinating, but our focus needs to be on the isolation district.'>><</link>></div>Noel and Keres are a terrifying sight, Noel swinging $n_their glaive while Keres lunges forward to meet $n_them, a sickening sound as Keres armor clashes against $n_them and they both go to the ground.
Lea and Duncan are nearby, circling each other, and you swear under your breath - but you reluctantly turn away, pressing forward through the flood.
You notice Merry is fighting her way towards Harper and Talia, too, but she's having a hard time making any ground, and even from where you are, you can see Talia staggering through the flood, waving her crossbow around while Harper struggles to fight off a handful of soldiers on his own.
As you draw closer, it's apparent that Harper is badly injured - he's limping, and he seems more like just a body in the way than any real kind of threat to these soldiers. But he's stubborn, refusing to back down, even as the older soldiers mock him, prodding him with their swords, Talia still shielded behind him and seemingly out of crossbow bolts. You realize that there doesn't seem to be much of any kind of fighting going on - just taunting.
These soldiers have to be Duncan's soldiers. They've spent the last year harassing civilians in the city - pathetic, every last one of them. A bitterness twists in your chest, and you suddenly don't feel quite as guilty anymore about the blood on your hands. A good thing, since you're about to spill even more.
You carefully pick your way through the water, wiping the rain from your face, your other hand tightening around your sword.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Get Talia and Harper 3]]Pressing past Merry, she gives you a nod as she continues to clash with a few soldiers, cutting one of them down and doing her best to keep the attention of the other, drawing them away from you as you make your way towards Harper.
You splash through the current then, quickening your stride as the chaos suddenly seems to crescendo, Harper thrown onto his back, the soldiers jeering - and you barely manage to dodge a bolting horse, staggering back as it charges through the water in front of you.
It's Talia that stops it, if only for a moment, a crossbow bolt embedding itself just beneath one of the soldier's masks, sending them crumpling down into the flood without a sound and stunning the others - just as you close the rest of the space between you.
Harper's still on his back, arms raised, barely breaking the surface of the water as he tries to scramble away, and you lunge forward, slamming into the nearest soldier before they can bring their blade down over him, both of you crashing into the water together.
You roll back quickly, jumping back up onto your feet despite the icy water clinging to your clothes, putting yourself between Harper and the remaining soldiers, lunging after the one still flailing about in the water at your feet - and running your sword through their side, blood hot on your hands as you quickly withdraw, an arc of red splattering across the flood.
One of the other soldiers tries to rush you then, but you're ready for it, easily parrying their strike and throwing them back a few feet, following up with a quick kick to their gut that sends them splashing down against the cobblestones. You start to turn back towards Harper, but the look on his face has you spinning around, barely fast enough to block a two-handed hit with your bracer.
Pain explodes up your arm, making you stagger, another hit slicing through your shoulder as the soldier swings again, and again - but you recover enough to dodge the sloppy third swipe, darting underneath the blade and launching yourself upward, burying your own sword in the soldier's armpit. They collapse down on top of you, and you can hear their sword splash down into the water before you shove them off and send them down to join it.
You're breathing hard, shaking your head a moment before pressing a hand to your shoulder. Turning back to Harper, he's still on the ground, his eyes wide as he looks up at you. Talia rushes over, blinking through the rain, her crossbow still half-raised in her hand.
You take a step towards them, and offer Harper your bloody hand.
[[Continue ->CH2.1 Get Talia and Harper 4]]He hesitates briefly, before meeting your gaze and taking your hand.
You pull him to his feet, looking over him quickly - he grimaces, curling forward slightly, but it seems like he'll live.
"Thanks," he says breathlessly, stepping a little closer to you, squeezing your hand for a moment. "I owe you one."
He lets go then, stepping back, and you just give him a nod.
"Alright, mate?" Merry's voice is loud behind you, and you all turn at her approach, a sudden calm in the courtyard as the storm picks up overhead.
Merry looks at you with a concerned, furrowed brow, her eye flicking to the blood seeping through your sleeve.
"We need to go. Before they regroup. Noel-," she falters then, glancing sideways, "Noel will keep them off our back."
As if on cue, magic erupts at the edge of the courtyard, Noel and Keres resuming their fight, the rain coming down harder and the flood waters rising past your ankles. What soldiers that are still standing keep their distance, lurking, watching all of you warily, and you know Merry is right.
"Where's Lea?" you ask, and you don't wait for an answer, shoving past Merry and Harper as you spot $l_them still with Duncan, near the temple now.
Lea's eyes cut to you, and you don't miss the relief on $l_their face, even through $l_their mask, but you want to swear at them, shouting $l_their name, though you know it's too late.
Duncan uses the distraction and smacks Lea's sword from $l_their hand before plunging his own sword through $l_their stomach.
<<include "CH2.1 Injured Lea Reactions">>You blink up into the rain, squinting against the sudden bright light rippling out from the top of the spire, and you have to look away, tucking your face into the crook of your elbow. The Vel parts fully then, shadows falling over the courtyard, rushing past you, rushing //through// you, a painful fire in you reignited as reality blurs, the world around you straining and warping for a few frantic seconds. Pain splits through your skull, and you struggle to breathe, swallowing hot bile in the back of your throat.
You stare down at your hands, at the soaked bandages unraveling, your rotting fingers exposed to the rain, the long curl of claws where your nails should be.
You roughly wipe the rain from your eyes then, blinking around the courtyard, grimacing as it blurs at the edges, making your head spin.
"Hunter."
You close your eyes, the words coming out of your mouth, in a voice that's not your own.
You hear the faint rattle of chains, ringing in your ears, somehow even louder than all the commotion in the courtyard, and you know it's back, and you know it's trying to find a way in.
You don't know if the chains will stop it this time.
Instinctively, you reach for your hunter's knife, pulling it from it's sheath as you open your eyes and force yourself to stand. For a moment you think it's Keres in front of you - maybe Merry. A rush of relief that shifts into confusion - it's Lea, it's Merry, then Noel, Keres, Duncan, Clementine. You shake your head, your vision doubling, tripling, the figure morphing into something else - someone else.
It's you, all alone. It's you, standing in front of you again. The courtyard blurs, and you're back in the forest, in the dark, the sound of metal scraping over ice, and you peer up into the storm, golden eyes staring down at you, a massive shadow casting you in darkness.
"Hunter. Don't be afraid," the voice says, though it sounds far more like a //threat// this time, than any kind of comfort.
You try to stand, but something holds you in place, icy hands constricting around your diaphragm, your legs trembling as you collapse forward onto your hands and knees, gasping at the rush of cold water pulling at your clothes.
Slow steps slosh through the water in front of you, and you force yourself to look, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end as you stare up into your own face.
//Not quite// - not quite your face.
[[Continue ->CH2.2 Collapsed Possession 2]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Lea Chen</span>
Lea is your handler, and the two of you have been paired together for almost five years now. You don't have much a relationship, both of you being rather stand-offish (and having a tendency to argue about every little thing).
Lea is the legacy child of a famous hunter family, and a powerful alchemist that trained at the Black Iron stronghold under the [[Master Alchemist Asha Eodwolf|Asha Codex]]. $l_They <<are>> a master at the craft in $l_their own right, though $l_their skill seems to be a bit wasted in your partnership.
Lea's family has operated out of the Black Iron stronghold for generations, and has a large presence there even today, with Lea's cousin [[Hadrien|Hadrien Codex]] serving as the Order's northern commander in Adrania. $l_Their parents are also both still active, two of the few remaining hunters serving the Black Iron.
Despite Lea's designation as your handler and Order //diplomat//, Lea isn't always the most diplomatic. While $l_they <<are>> good at $l_their job, $l_they <<have>> a tendency to be aggressive and competitive, giving away to a short temper that $l_they <<try>> and fail<<s>> to repress.
Lea views $l_themself as the calm and collected half of your dynamic, but this is far from the truth - Lea cares entirely too much about a lot of things to ever truly be //calm and collected.//<<if $IDcodex eq true>>
//Questions about Lea's identity? [[Click here.|Lea Identity]]//<</if>>
[[Return|Codex]]<<if $l_they eq "he">>Lea is a <<linkappend "trans man.">> Trans/transgender is an adjective used to describe someone who does not feel that their gender identity aligns with the gender they were assigned at birth.<</linkappend>> He has a masculine <<linkappend "gender presentation">> (this is how a person chooses to express their gender identity - it usually includes fashion as well as pronouns and various other external characteristics)<</linkappend>> and he takes testosterone as part of his hormone replacement therapy. Lea began his transition at a young age, encouraged to explore his identity by his parents, as is the societal norm within the world of The Northern Passage.
After some self-reflection, Lea knew he was a man, and began his transition shortly afterwards.
<<linkappend "Transitioning is something that looks different for everyone.">> Transitioning is when a person moves from one gender presentation to another, typically changing the way they look as well as how people refer to them, to align with their gender identity. It can be an ongoing process, and people can transition socially and/or medically - though neither of these are actually required for a person to be trans. Transitioning is a very personal experience, and will not be the same person to person - there are no "rules" when it comes to how people experience their transness.
<</linkappend>> For Lea, the transitioning process has included: changing his pronouns, dressing in more traditionally masculine clothing, hormone replacement therapy, and top surgery.
While the world of The Northern Passage has some similarities with the real world when it comes to gender, the society is fundamentally different from the one we live in. Nonbinary and trans identities are accepted universally, and self-reflection and exploration of the self and one's gender is encouraged and a huge part of coming of age in this fantasy world.
//Real People of Note: Lou Sullivan, Chris Mosier, Chella Man, Elliot Page, Leo Sheng, Patricio Manuel, Brian Michael Smith//<<elseif $l_they eq "she">>Lea is <<linkappend "gender nonconforming.">> Gender nonconforming is a label that can be both a descriptor, or a trans identity all on its own - though it's important to note that not every gender nonconforming person is trans, and not every trans person is gender nonconforming. Gender nonconformity means exactly what it says - to refuse to conform to the gender roles expected of you within society.<</linkappend>> Some may also consider Lea <<linkappend "butch.">> Butch is an identity born out of the working-class lesbian community, and it is a complex label with a lot of history. Just like gender nonconforming, it can be used as a descriptor, as well as an identity entirely on its own with relation to the trans community.<</linkappend>>
Since Lea is bisexual, she prefers to just call herself gender nonconforming.
Lea has a masculine <<linkappend "gender presentation">> (this is how a person chooses to express their gender identity - it usually includes fashion as well as pronouns and various other external characteristics)<</linkappend>> and takes testosterone as part of her hormone replacement therapy, to better align her body and appearance to her <<linkappend "gender identity.">> Gender identity is a person's own internal sense of self - what they know their gender is; someone is a man, or a woman, or a person, or various other terms and identities that exist outside the binary - like butch, or gender nonconforming.<</linkappend>> Lea has always presented masculine, encouraged to explore her identity by her parents since she was a child, as is the societal norm within the world of The Northern Passage - though only recently has she started to take testosterone as well.
While the world of The Northern Passage has some similarities with the real world when it comes to gender, the society is fundamentally different from the one we live in. Nonbinary and trans identities are accepted universally, and self-reflection and exploration of the self and one's gender is encouraged and a huge part of coming of age in this fantasy world.
A few years into her twenties, and after some introspection, Lea knew she wanted to incorporate hormones into her gender expression.
<<linkappend "Transitioning is something that looks different for everyone.">> Transitioning is when a person moves from one gender presentation to another, typically changing the way they look as well as how people refer to them, to align with their gender identity. It can be an ongoing process, and people can transition socially and/or medically - though neither of these are actually required for a person to be trans. Transitioning is a very personal experience, and will not be the same person to person - there are no "rules" when it comes to how people experience their transness.
<</linkappend>> Lea was already dressing in traditionally masculine attire for many years, and it is a significant part of her gender identity and presentation; testosterone is now a part of that, too. But hormone replacement therapy is not something that is required for someone to transition, and Lea has always been gender nonconforming, even before she started taking hormones.
//Real People of Note: Stormé DeLarverie, Leslie Feinberg, Ivan E. Coyote, Judith Butler, k.d. lang, Roberta Colindrez, Kitty Tsui, Lea DeLaria, Jenny Shimizu//<<else>>Lea is <<linkappend "nonbinary.">> Nonbinary is a term for people whose gender identity does not fall within the traditional, western societal gender binary of man or woman.<</linkappend>> While Lea does not feel connected to either manhood or womanhood, they prefer a masculine <<linkappend "gender presentation.">> Gender presentation is how a person chooses to express their gender identity - it usually includes fashion as well as pronouns and various other external characteristics.<</linkappend>> Lea uses they/them pronouns, and uses gender-neutral language when referring to themself. Lea also takes testosterone as part of their hormone replacement therapy, to better align their appearance with their gender identity - Lea enjoys being androgynous and having a gender nonconforming body.
Lea began their transition at a young age, encouraged to explore their identity by their parents, as is the societal norm within the world of The Northern Passage.
After some self-reflection, Lea knew they were nonbinary, and began their transition shortly after.
<<linkappend "Transitioning is something that looks different for everyone.">> Transitioning is when a person moves from one gender presentation to another, typically changing the way they look as well as how people refer to them, to align with their gender identity. It can be an ongoing process, and people can transition socially and/or medically - though neither of these are actually required for a person to be trans. Transitioning is a very personal experience, and will not be the same person to person - there are no "rules" when it comes to how people experience their transness.
<</linkappend>> For Lea, the transitioning process has included: changing their pronouns, dressing in more traditionally masculine clothing, hormone replacement therapy, and occasionally binding their chest with a chest binder.
While the world of The Northern Passage has some similarities with the real world when it comes to gender, the society is fundamentally different from the one we live in. Nonbinary and trans identities are accepted universally, and self-reflection and exploration of the self and one's gender is encouraged and a huge part of coming of age in this fantasy world.
//Real People of Note: Jonathan Van Ness, Alok Vaid-Menon, Misha Osherovich, HoSo Terra Toma, Indya Moore, Janelle Monáe, Ivan E. Coyote, Pidgeon Pagonis, Ty Defoe//<</if>>
[[Return|Lea Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Merry Harlowe</span>
<<if $ch1Complete eq false>>Merry Harlowe is a Gaelish refugee, trapped in the city of Blackwater since the start of the plague over a year ago. She seems to be running one of the dodgier taverns in the city, called Jack's, as well as working her crew down on the docks.
She comes across rather aggressive and brash, having forcibly escorted you and Lea into Blackwater with little to no explanation, and keeping you behind a locked door until you agreed to hear her out.
Keep reading to learn more about the captain.<<else>>Keep reading to learn more about the captain.<</if>><<if $IDcodex eq true>>
//Questions about Merry's identity? [[Click here.|Merry Identity]]//<</if>>
[[Return|Codex]]Merry is a <<linkappend "trans woman.">> Trans/transgender is an adjective used to describe someone who does not feel that their gender identity aligns with the gender they were assigned at birth.<</linkappend>>
Merry is not particularly interested in clothing or makeup, and she does not rely on either when it comes to her <<linkappend "gender presentation.">> Gender presentation is how a person chooses to express their gender identity - it usually includes fashion as well as pronouns and various other external characteristics.<</linkappend>> Instead, Merry's long hair and her tattoos are her way of expressing herself and her <<linkappend "gender identity">> (this is a person's own internal sense of self - what they know their gender is; someone is a man, or a woman, or a person, or various other terms and identities that exist outside the binary)<</linkappend>>, as well as taking estrogen as part of her hormone replacement therapy.
Merry began her transition when she was a teenager, after the thrill of her first few years at sea - and her first handful of tattoos. She was encouraged by the other members of her crew, as well as her family, to explore her identity, as is the societal norm within the world of the Northern Passage.
After some self-reflection (and a few more tattoos), Merry knew she was a woman, and began her transition shortly after.
<<linkappend "Transitioning is something that looks different for everyone.">> Transitioning is when a person moves from one gender presentation to another, typically changing the way they look as well as how people refer to them, to align with their gender identity. It can be an ongoing process, and people can transition socially and/or medically - though neither of these are actually required for a person to be trans. Transitioning is a very personal experience, and will not be the same person to person - there are no "rules" when it comes to how people experience their transness.
<</linkappend>> For Merry, the transitioning process has included: changing her pronouns and hormone replacement therapy. Growing her hair out as well as body modification has also been significant to her during this process.
While the world of The Northern Passage has some similarities with the real world when it comes to gender, the society is fundamentally different from the one we live in. Nonbinary and trans identities are accepted universally, and self-reflection and exploration of the self and one's gender is encouraged and a huge part of coming of age in this fantasy world.
//Real People of Note: Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Laverne Cox, Laura Jane Grace, Hunter Schafer, Janet Mock, CeCe McDonald, Apayauq Reitan, Sir Lady Java, Sophie Xeon//
[[Return|Merry Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Noel Lykaon</span>
<<if $ch1Complete eq false>>Noel Lykaon is another hunter, like you, though it's clear from his accent and style of dress that he is from somewhere down south. Still, it's strange that you've never met before - even stranger that he's all alone.
Noel is also a powerful healer, having healed you up after your fight with the wraith outside of Blackwater. Xe's friendly enough, if not a little coy - xe doesn't seem particularly fond of answering questions.
Keep reading to learn more about the hunter.<<else>>Keep reading to learn more about the hunter.<</if>>
[[Return|Codex]]Noel is <<linkappend "nonbinary.">> Nonbinary is a term for people whose gender identity does not fall within the traditional, western societal gender binary of man or woman.<</linkappend>> Xe uses two sets of pronouns: he/him and <<linkappend "xe/xem.">> Xe/xem is a set of neopronouns - literally "new" pronouns - though these types of pronouns have existed for over a hundred years and are not actually new. They are a form of self-expression and do not always align traditionally with a person's gender identity.<</linkappend>> Noel has no preference between the two pronouns, and alternates at random. Xe has a traditionally feminine <<linkappend "gender presentation">> (this is how a person chooses to express their gender identity - it usually includes fashion as well as pronouns and various other external characteristics)<</linkappend>>, though xe prefers traditionally masculine gendered terms, like sir, mister, husband, etc. This is how Noel chooses to express his unique <<linkappend "gender identity.">> Gender identity is a person's own internal sense of self - what they know their gender is; someone is a man, or a woman, or a person, or various other terms and identities that exist outside the binary.<</linkappend>>
While the world of The Northern Passage has some similarities with the real world when it comes to gender, the society is fundamentally different from the one we live in. Nonbinary and trans identities are accepted universally, and self-reflection and exploration of the self and one's gender is encouraged and a huge part of coming of age in this fantasy world.
Noel knew he was nonbinary from a young age, and transitioned shortly after.
<<linkappend "Transitioning is something that looks different for everyone.">> Transitioning is when a person moves from one gender presentation to another, typically changing the way they look as well as how people refer to them, to align with their gender identity. It can be an ongoing process, and people can transition socially and/or medically - though neither of these are actually required for a person to be trans. Transitioning is a very personal experience, and will not be the same person to person - there are no "rules" when it comes to how people experience their transness.
<</linkappend>> For Noel, the transitioning process has included: using two sets of pronouns and choosing to dress in more traditionally feminine clothing. Noel also uses a lot of makeup and jewelry to express xemself.
//Real People of Note: Jonathan Van Ness, Alok Vaid-Menon, Misha Osherovich, HoSo Terra Toma, Indya Moore, Janelle Monáe, Ivan E. Coyote, Pidgeon Pagonis, Ty Defoe//
[[Return|Noel Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Clementine</span>
<<if $ch1Complete eq false>>Clementine is a southern bard you ran into on the road outside of Blackwater. If it wasn't obvious enough with their obnoxious and colorful clothes, they also have the distinct lilting accent only found down in southern Adrania, around the capital.
They have a fondness for baked goods and string instruments, carrying a pandura on their back even as they trekked outside in the snow. Clementine has a rather quiet personality, you could even say meek at times, but it's clear they have something up their sleeve, to have made it this far all alone. From what you can gather, they've been traveling for a while, and are rather desperate to make it to the northern border...
Keep reading to learn more about the bard.<<else>>Keep reading to learn more about the bard.<</if>><<if $IDcodex eq true>>
//Questions about Clem's identity? [[Click here.|Clem Identity]]//<</if>>
[[Return|Codex]]Clementine is <<linkappend "nonbinary.">> Nonbinary is a term for people whose gender identity does not fall within the traditional, western societal gender binary of man or woman.<</linkappend>> Clementine uses they/them pronouns and uses gender-neutral language when referring to themself. They like to wear traditionally feminine clothing, and in general Clementine has a unique sense of style and enjoys crafting their own clothes and jewelry to match their eclectic tastes.
Their clothes are significant to them when it comes to their <<linkappend "gender presentation.">> Gender presentation is how a person chooses to express their gender identity - it usually includes fashion as well as pronouns and various other external characteristics.<</linkappend>>
While the world of The Northern Passage has some similarities with the real world when it comes to gender, the society is fundamentally different from the one we live in. Nonbinary and trans identities are accepted universally, and self-reflection and exploration of the self and one's gender is encouraged and a huge part of coming of age in this fantasy world.
Clementine knew they were nonbinary from a young age, and transitioned shortly after.
<<linkappend "Transitioning is something that looks different for everyone.">> Transitioning is when a person moves from one gender presentation to another, typically changing the way they look as well as how people refer to them, to align with their gender identity. It can be an ongoing process, and people can transition socially and/or medically - though neither of these are actually required for a person to be trans. Transitioning is a very personal experience, and will not be the same person to person - there are no "rules" when it comes to how people experience their transness.
<</linkappend>> For Clementine, the transitioning process has included: changing their pronouns. Clementine also used their clothing as a way to explore and express their gender, with their style slowly changing over time to become what it is now.
If you were to ask Clementine how to best describe their <<linkappend "gender identity">> (this is a person's own internal sense of self - what they know their gender is; someone is a man, or a woman, or a person, or various other terms and identities that exist outside the binary)<</linkappend>>, they would simply say, "I am me."
//Real People of Note: Jonathan Van Ness, Alok Vaid-Menon, Misha Osherovich, HoSo Terra Toma, Indya Moore, Janelle Monáe, Ivan E. Coyote, Pidgeon Pagonis, Ty Defoe//
[[Return|Clem Codex]]Keep reading to unlock this entry.
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[[Return|Codex]]<<fadein 10s 200ms>>It takes you a moment to understand what you’re looking at, the world seeming to ripple around you, black waves receding slowly until your vision clears. You try to focus, but everything blurs again, as if you are just on the edge of existence, not quite here but not quite there, either. You take a ragged breath, closing your eyes, digging your fingernails into your palms, trying just to feel.<</fadein>>
<<fadein 15s 200ms>>The air is so cold your hands ache, an unforgiving wind cutting straight through your clothes. Licking your lips, you can taste the sea salt sticking to your skin, and you’re aware of the distinct feeling of sand stuck in your shoes and in your clothes, the gritty feeling of it in your mouth and between your teeth. You listen to the sound of the waves roaring in your ears, the sharp call of a seagull circling overhead.<</fadein>>
<<fadein 20s 200ms>>Slowly you open your eyes, taking a tentative step forward, the world clear to you now.<</fadein>>
<<fadein 25s 200ms>>The sand is black, and it stretches out all around you, an endless dark void, stark against the grey sky and the churning white foam of the sea. As you walk, you can feel your feet sinking slightly, the ground wet and soft beneath you.<</fadein>>
<<fadein 30s 200ms>>In front of you is a ship. A monster of a galleon, washed ashore, cracked and broken, by the waves or by cannons you can’t tell.<</fadein>>
<<fadein 35s>>The beach is littered with debris, shattered wood and torn cloth, frayed ropes and twisted metal.]<</fadein>>You feel like you're walking through a graveyard.
Carefully, you make your way into the bowels of the ship. It seems... uncomfortably empty. No signs of life inside, just the shattered remains of the ship itself, and the constant motion of the water seeping in.
You move farther inward, broken wood creaking beneath you. You descend into the shadows, the grey sky vanishing overhead as you duck down into the belly of the ship, reaching out for anything to guide your way. Your fingers brush along the wall, and you lean into it, trailing your hand along as you walk.
You can feel something here. Something... //powerful//.
It pulls at you, calling you deeper into the ship. You step forward, your foot splashing into water as you head down, down, down. The whole ship groans around you, as if warning you away, or... perhaps encouraging you to go further.
The water rises, shockingly cold, making you gasp, and soon you're wading through it, slow steps as it pulls at your clothes and fills your boots.
Your teeth begin to chatter as you continue on. But you ignore it. Something is calling out to you, and you have to answer it. It compels you forward, into darkness, into water deeper still, until it's sloshing against your chest and you're struggling to walk.
[[Then you see it.->prlg dream 3]]Against the back wall, there is a mirror. Oval in shape, the bottom half of the mirror plunges down into the water, far below and beyond what you can see.
You approach it carefully at first, but your breathing grows rapid, your heart racing, and invisible hands eagerly grab at you, ushering you forward. Thrashing in the water, you move violently, inhaling mouthfuls of gritty saltwater.
And now you are in front of the mirror.
//[[What do you see?->prlg dream 4]]//Water smacks against the glass, pushing and pulling as it churns from your movement.
No reflection. Just a shadow, just dark water.
Reaching forward, you brush your fingers against the mirror. There is no surface. The mirror itself moves beneath your touch like the water all around you, and your hand passes through. You pull it back, feeling your skin now slick with something viscous. //Not water.//
You run your thumb over your fingers in fascination.
When you look back up at the mirror, you see not yourself, but the interior of the ship reflected back at you.
[[A sudden dread burrows itself deep in your chest.->prlg dream 5]]You spin around, no longer inside the ship.
Behind you there is nothing but an endless expanse of water. You turn back to the mirror, which glitters with dark water droplets, and you watch, mesmerized, as they run back down into the sea. You reach out again, and this time, you touch the mirror.
It cracks beneath your hand, shattering in an explosion of glass and freezing water, cutting your hand, your arm, your face, glass catching in your hair. The mirror, now just a worn wooden frame, collapses in front of you, sinking into the water with a groan.
You scramble backwards, and suddenly your feet find no purchase, sending you plunging into the black sea.
It envelops you immediately, dragging you down-
down, down, //down//.
It's cold, so cold-- your head aches, your ears pop, water chokes your throat and nose, and all you can do is watch as the sky gets farther and farther away from you. Clawed hands grab at your ankles, your legs, your arms, pulling you down, tearing at your clothes and piercing your skin.
You convulse violently, your body struggling to expel the water from your lungs as more floods in.
Staring up into the fading light, you feel your body grow weak, giving in, sinking now, your blood churning all around you in the water. A hand grabs at your throat, caressing a thumb over your pulse, pulling you down as [[black blood swirls in your wake... ->wake up]]You wake with a start, sprawled on the floor with your hands raised over your head. You quickly throw off your mess of tangled blankets, frantic for a moment before you manage to free yourself. You're too hot, your clothes damp and your brow slick with sweat.
It takes you another panicked moment to remember where you are. But the sound of Lea's gentle snoring brings you back, and you feel yourself relax a bit, hanging onto that familiar thread as you focus on slowing your breathing and grounding yourself here, back on land.
//Another dream//, you sigh, closing your eyes, leaning your elbows on your knees and massaging your temples. You reach for your throat, still feeling the cold touch even in the waking world. This is the third time you've seen the ship in your dreams. Already you can feel the memory of it slipping away, like water through your fingers, just a vague feeling of icy hands prickling against your skin.
Your own hands still tremble despite yourself, and you clench them into fists, digging your nails into your palms just as you did on that black dream-shore. Then you sigh again, rubbing at your face and your still closed eyes, and when you finally open them, you find your fingers red with blood. Your blood. Entranced by it, you hold your hands before you, watching as more blood drips into your palm and runs down your arm.
Memories flash through your mind, quick and frantic, in beat with your jackrabbit heart.
Too fast to make any sense of-- to know if they're even your own. All you see is red.
You hunch forward, clawing your hands over your face, swallowing loudly in the silence. //Fuck.//
A nosebleed. That's a first, for you. It spills over your lips, the taste of iron bitter on your tongue, staining your shirt. //Just a nosebleed,// you tell yourself. You shiver on the floor, your makeshift bed still in disarray all around you.
It's not a bed. You're on the floor, your bedroll so worn there may as well be nothing between you and the hard, unforgiving wood. Right now, you're on the floor, inside a pantry. You're in a pantry. If you repeat it maybe your brain will get the message. //I'm in a fucking pantry.// The ridiculousness of it calms you. It brings you back, and you remember now. The red in your mind begins to fade.
[[Continue ->previous night]]You and Lea had arrived late the previous night, and despite the inn having no vacancies, Lea managed to talk the two of you into the place. At least for tonight.
You had waited outside in the snow with the horses, keeping an eye on the road for other travelers. It's been over a year since the plague worsened, and only recently have the roads finally reopened-- with new restrictions, of course.
When Lea finally brought you inside, you both gave the royal soldiers within a large berth. They were doing as all soldiers do: taking what they pleased without any regard for anyone else. Fortunate, for once, since they ignored you and Lea's arrival, unimpressed by two road-weary nobodies.
With so many travelers back out on the road, these soldiers were no doubt sent north to monitor all the new tolls-- and intimidate the Gaelish border. Which, unfortunately, means they're probably heading in the same direction as you. //Just our luck//. With your hood up, you retreated after Lea into the inn where you were shown your unfortunate accommodations. Another reason the soldiers ignored you: they probably assumed you were inn workers, walking back behind the kitchen to the little pantry. You suppose it's still better than freezing your ass off outside. Small mercies.
You and Lea had considered just pushing through the night and forging ahead, but the cold was really getting to the both of you, and there was no point in pushing yourselves before you've even reached the mountains. One night wouldn't cost you much-- you'll be back on the road soon enough, another day closer to your destination.
At the current moment, you have no idea what time it is or how long you've been sleeping. There are no windows to give you any kind of hint, and Lea sleeps like the dead no matter what. You wipe your nose on your arm, because //oh yeah//, your nose is still bleeding. You avoid looking at the fresh blood on your sleeve.
Standing slowly, you're careful not to hit any of the empty shelves with your head or shoulders. //I'm in a damn pantry//. You shuffle towards the door, opening it just a crack to peek outside. You see no activity around the kitchen, and only hear quiet voices coming from the front room. Grabbing your cloak, you pull it around your shoulders and hide beneath your hood before ducking out and heading for the washroom.
[[Continue ->gender]]You quickly finish buttoning your shirt, pulling your cloak tight around your shoulders before glancing back at your reflection once again.
It's the eyes. Your eyes always give you away. Around both pupils is a thin ring of gold, the mark of the Vel, the mark carried by those that have abused its power. The gold contrasts against your natural eye color--<<cycle "$eye_color">>
<<option "black ↻" "black">>
<<option "brown ↻" "brown">>
<<option "hazel ↻" "hazel">>
<<option "grey ↻" "grey">>
<<option "blue ↻" "blue">>
<<option "green ↻" "green">>
<</cycle>>. It gives you an otherworldly appearance-- severe and intimidating. That's why you wear the hood. You always wear the hood. It hides your face, your eyes and your <<cycle "$hair_color">>
<<option "black ↻" "black">>
<<option "brown ↻" "brown">>
<<option "red ↻" "red">>
<<option "blonde ↻" "blonde">>
<<option "white ↻" "white">>
<<option "grey ↻" "grey">>
<</cycle>> hair.
Underneath your hood, it's...
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is quite short..." "texture">><<set $hairlength to "short">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is about midlength..." "texture">><<set $hairlength to "midlength">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is pretty long..." "texture">><<set $hairlength to "long">><</link>></div>//by Kit H.J.//Lea is your handler. Unlike you, $l_they bear<<s>> no mark of the Vel, untarnished, allowing $l_them to talk more freely and assuage the anxieties of the general public while in your presence. Together, you work to secure the Vel and all its corrupted progeny, protecting the thankless population from its dark influence as well as the cruelty and ambition of their fellow man.
You and Lea have been paired together for some time, and tolerate each other. Despite your close age, $l_they <<have>> a few years of experience on you, having been paired with another hunter previously. For you, it's always just been Lea. You got paired together straight out of your initiation-- with Lea's practiced diplomacy and incredible alchemical mastery, and your raw strength and ruthless efficiency, there was no doubting it would be a good match. There was no one else, regardless, no real choice in the end. You took the assignment the same as you took everything else.
And to be fair, you //were// good. Despite the walls between you-- built high on both sides-- the two of you were exactly as efficient as they said you would be. It was easy at first, the way the two of you fell into your respective roles-- Lea, the charming diplomat, and you, the stoic enforcer.
But the years haven't been kind. You're older now, and you're worn down. Old stones at the bottom of the river. And despite the performance the two of you gave, more often than not, you and Lea were clashing beneath the water, butting heads over the most minor of inconveniences, spending long days in loud anger or simmering silence. The only thing keeping you crawling back to each other most nights is the tired desperation to just finish the fucking job and go home.
Now, the walls between you and Lea are higher than ever, and you can feel the foundations beginning to crack. You fear which way the stones will fall.
Getting into this pantry is the first good thing that's happened to you in a while.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I blame Lea. ->blamelea]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[We're both shit— at least I can admit it. ->bothshit]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[We're just getting old. And tired. ->tired]]>><</link>></div>What are your pronouns?
<div id="choice"><<link [[I use she/her. ->scars]]>><<set $mc_they to "she">><<set $mc_They to "She">><<set $mc_their to "her">><<set $mc_them to "her">><<set $mc_theirs to "hers">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I use he/him. ->scars]]>><<set $mc_they to "he">><<set $mc_They to "He">><<set $mc_their to "his">><<set $mc_them to "him">><<set $mc_theirs to "his">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I use they/them. ->scars]]>><<set $mc_they to "they">><<set $mc_their to "their">><<set $mc_them to "them">><<set $mc_theirs to "theirs">><<set $mc_plural to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I use zie/hir. ->scars]]>><<set $mc_they to "zie">><<set $mc_their to "hir">><<set $mc_them to "hir">><<set $mc_theirs to "hirs">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'd like to input my own. ->pronouninput]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Actually, I only go by my name. ->nameonly]]>><</link>></div>You make it down the hallway without incident, and pause outside the door to the washroom. It is a communal space, and you really don't want to see any soldiers. Holding your breath, you press your ear to the door and listen-- and hear nothing. You exhale, relieved, before slipping inside and making a beeline for one of the washbasins along the far wall. You snatch up a fresh water pitcher from a nearby shelf and quickly pour it into the basin, scooping handfuls of water out and splashing it over your face and scrubbing at your hands, the water turning red.
You pull your hood back, managing to avoid getting it wet, and putting a hand on either side of the basin you lean forward, sighing heavily. Set into the wall behind the basin and above the shelf is an incredibly dirty mirror, and you can just make out your hunched figure in the reflection.
You're not much one for looking at yourself, especially some days, but you lean forward and wipe at the grime with a sleeve, blinking as your face appears before you.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I am a woman. ->pronouns]]>><<set $mc_gender to "woman">><<set $mc_person to "woman">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I am a man. ->pronouns]]>><<set $mc_gender to "man">><<set $mc_person to "man">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I exist outside the binary. ->pronouns]]>><<set $mc_gender to "non-binary">><<set $mc_person to "person">><</link>></div>Staring at the mirror, your hand flits from your cloak to the thin leather cord hanging from your neck, the metal eye pendant thudding against your chest, watching you through your reflection.
It's supposed to protect you, or so you were told.
You frown, splashing some of the water on yourself, scrubbing at the bloodstains on your ill-fitting shirt. It's unbuttoned almost the the navel, a sheen of sweat still clinging to your skin, blood smeared across your collarbone. You try to clean yourself off as much as you're able, though you mostly just succeed in getting water all over the floor.
You stare at the mirror as you refasten your shirt, your eyes wandering from the buttons to the various scars on your chest, accumulated from a lifetime of hunts.
<div id="choice"><<link[[My chest is flat and bare, but for those scars. ->hrt]]>><<set $chest to "none">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[More scars peek out from beneath my linen bra. ->hrt]]>><<set $chest to "bra">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'These scars are hard to look at-- they\'re usually hidden beneath my binding. //[This indicates the hunter wears a chest binder.]//' 'hrt'>><<set $chest to "binder">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Some scars I wanted. Two long lines on either side, along with a small, carved sigil from surgery. //[This indicates the hunter has received removal-type top surgery.]//' 'hrt'>><<set $chest to "top surgery">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Some scars I wanted. I can\'t see them, but I know they\'re there-- two little scars, one beneath each breast, and a carved sigil from surgery. //[This indicates the hunter has received augmentation-type top surgery.]//' 'hrt'>><<set $chest to "implants">><</link>></div>What do you use in place of she/he/they?
<<textbox "$mc_they" "">>
What do you use in place of her/him/them?
<<textbox "$mc_them" "">>
What do you use in place of her/his/their?
<<textbox "$mc_their" "">>
What do you use in place of hers/his/theirs?
<<textbox "$mc_theirs" "">>
Finally - are these pronouns plural? (ie. they <i>are</i> is plural / she <i>is</i> is singular)
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->procheck]]>><<set $mc_plural to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No. ->procheck]]>><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>></div>A fantasy horror epicYou blame Lea. You blame Lea-- though it's always //you// shouldering the blame in the end.
You catch the claws and teeth, you break bones, you're the one left bleeding in the fucking mud at the end of the night. Lea can fight, but it's one thing to fight a human, and another entirely to fight the things //you// do. But it doesn't matter-- you learned early on that $l_they<<re>> not here to help you, $l_they<<re>> here to keep you in line. //Diplomat, my ass.// Can't have a hunter without a handler to hold the short fucking leash. But if the leash gets any shorter, there will be no space left for Lea to avoid your bite.
<<include "prologue morning">>Lea likes to pretend that you're just having a bad day, a bad week, a bad month... No, you know it's worse than that. Whatever it was that you and Lea had in those early days has long since soured. Lea at least has $l_their alchemy to fall back on. You have nothing. No matter how many bad months in a row, you have no choice but to just keep doing this until your luck runs out. And at this rate, that may be sooner rather than later.
<<include "prologue morning">>You're tired. And frustrated-- at your situation, at your own exhaustion. It's hard not to constantly compare yourself with the version of you from those early days. Even when standing in front of your own reflection, you recoil, longing for the version of you without the gold in your eyes, the version of you that shouldered your burdens with so much more ease. You tell yourself that it's still you, but there are doubts, just like this morning. You wonder if your handler feels the same.
<<include "prologue morning">>Lea shifts suddenly, bringing you out of your reverie. $l_They roll<<s>> onto $l_their side, muttering something before promptly resuming $l_their snoring.
"Lea," you whisper $l_their name, hoping $l_they might be semi-conscious after shifting around, but $l_their snoring continues undisturbed.
<div id="choice"><<link "Give $l_them a little kick. We need to get moving." "kickup">><<set $rude_wake_up +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=3>><<set $l_rivalry +=2>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Pull off $l_their blankets, give $l_them a shake. $l_They<<re>> not much of a morning person." "pullup">><<set $l_friendship -=1>><<set $l_rivarly +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Lea," I say $l_their name again, tapping on $l_their shoulder and giving $l_them a nudge.' 'politeup'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>"Time for us to go," you say, reaching for your bedroll. "There are soldiers up in the halls and I want to get the //vel// out of here."
Lea sighs but nods, removing $l_their long legs from the mess of blankets and gathering them into $l_their lap to fold. Most of them belong to the innkeeper, given to you with many apologies as you ducked into the pantry last night.
"Is that blood?" Lea says suddenly, and you glance over at $l_them staring at your shirt.
"Oh, uh, yeah," you say. "Nosebleed," you shrug, aggressively tying the straps around your bedroll.
Lea just gives you a look, but doesn't say anything else.
//It's nothing.//
You buckle your bedroll to your rucksack, and snatch up your overclothes from where you had tossed them on the floor the previous night. The northern weather calls for many thick layers, and you quickly pull them on, struggling a bit in the small space of the pantry. The bloodstains blessedly vanish beneath your thick tunic as you tug it on over your head. Then your jerkin, then your cloak, pulling it tight around your shoulders again and fastening it properly. You look back at Lea, watching as $l_they pull<<s>> $l_their hair back into $l_their signature bun.
"What, no whining this morning?" you tease, smirking as you throw the remaining blankets at $l_them. Lea clicks $l_their tongue in annoyance as $l_they reflexively catch<<es>> them, $l_their hair falling from the halfway finished bun.
"I don't fancy a run in with the soldiers any more than you do," Lea says, rolling $l_their dark eyes as $l_they fix<<es>> $l_their hair again. "We've been lucky here," $l_they start<<s>>, but you hold up a hand to stop $l_them.
"Let's get out of here first, then we can talk about how lucky we are."
$l_They scoff<<s>>, but <<dont>> say anything else as the two of you pack up the rest of your meager belongings.
"Here," Lea says then, digging something from $l_their bag. $l_They hand<<s>> you a small vial, and you can't help but grimace. The hunter's draught. Lea sees your face and rolls $l_their eyes. "//Here//," $l_they repeat<<s>>, shoving the vial under your nose.
"Yeah, yeah," you mutter, swiping it from $l_their hands. The hunter's draught is an unfortunate requirement for you. As your handler, it's Lea's job to provide it, and ensure that you take it.
The draught is a potent alchemical concoction that is meant to counteract negative effects of the Vel-- it's what sets you apart from all the other monsters it spits out. Or so they say. Regardless of your doubts, you've been drinking this swill for years, along with various other potions Lea has designed and perfected just for you.
[[Continue ->magicnalchemy]]Magic and alchemy, potions and draughts-- whatever name you favor-- it's all an integral part of your life as a hunter.
While the physical training is important-- the swordsmanship, the magic, alchemy, both brewing and transmuting-- you could master all of that, be the best of the best, but you still wouldn't be a hunter. You also have to make it through the Ladder.
It all begins easily enough. A physical exam, then a potion here and there, monitoring their effects, a few alchemists and surgeons poking and prodding at you. When you were young, it happened every few months, give or take.
The more you trained, the older you got, the more frequent and intense the Ladder became. Soon it wasn't just potions, it was alchemical compounds injected directly into your arms, poured into open wounds, and extreme tests of endurance and strength lasting for days, then weeks. During a particularly rough segment of the Ladder, you completely lost your appetite and had insomnia so bad you began to hallucinate, a dark shadow always looming in your peripheral. There were other times, too, where you had visions so intense that your master would have to hold you down, so the Order could run all their little tests on you. It makes you sick thinking back on it.
But you endured. And you passed through the Ladder and out the other side.
To give the Order some credit, they never lied. Never tried to keep it a secret. Once you were recruited, they told you up front what you would have to do to get to your initiation, what they were asking of you. But they were asking it of a child.
Getting through the Ladder leaves one with more than just physical scars. You've talked with other hunters, some that still have insomnia or loss of appetite like you did, others who still suffer from the occassional dark vision. For you, it's always been the nightmares that linger.
[[Continue ->ladder]]Beyond the physicality of the Ladder, beyond the mental fortitude, the immunity and tolerance, the most important thing the Ladder does is make you sensitive to the Vel-- and all the creatures it corrupts. It's what allows you to track the monsters down, connects you to them in ways no human ever should be. And it gives you so much power.
The Vel separates your realm from all the others. But it is not impenetrable. It never was-- not even in the beginning, when the gods first forged it. And you have been taught to manipulate it, to bend the power of the other realms and the Vel itself to your will, just like those same gods once did. The gold in your eyes betrays your connection to it-- the remnants of another realm's magic swirling in your veins, seeping through your stare.
It makes you inhuman-- something to fear. The same as all the other monsters that force their way through the Vel and into your world.
But the hunter's draught keeps you grounded here, in this realm. It retains your humanity, whereas others would lose it to the darkness on the other side.
You heard all kinds of horror stories about hunters who didn't take their draught, back when you were an apprentice. Insomnia, intrusive thoughts and visions, loss of appetite, to name a few. Which, funnily enough, sound a lot like the problems you had with the Ladder. But allegedly, there are darker side effects, consequences of the Vel's corruption, like growing claws, horns, or fangs, lingering phantoms after a hunt, dark whispers in your head...
You scowl, tucking the draught away to deal with later. Your focus at the moment is to get moving.
[[Continue ->horsies]]"I'm going to return these, and grab us some food for the road," Lea says then, gathering up all of the pillows and folded blankets into $l_their arms.
"Okay," you say, squeezing back against the wall of the pantry as $l_they <<try>> to shuffle past you. $l_They all but burst<<s>> through the door, cursing under $l_their breath as $l_they adjust<<s>> $l_their grip.
"I'll get the horses and meet you on the road?" you ask, raising an eyebrow as $l_they struggle<<s>>. $l_They just nod<<s>>, turning and heading off down the hall towards the innkeeper's quarters.
Cloaked and hooded, you head down the hallway and past the kitchen to a back door that leads outside, quickly bounding down the short steps and into the snow. It doesn't seem like any fell last night-- it's all compacted and slick, solid ice in some places. You pick your way carefully across the yard, passing the meat shed and heading for the stables.
It's pretty early in the morning, long shadows still hanging about and stars still peeking through the cloudy sky. You don't know if someone is supposed to come out and greet you, but after waiting an impatient moment at the stable door you decide to get the horses yourself.
Opening the doors you see it is indeed unmanned, just the shuffle of hooves to greet you. It's pleasantly warm inside the stable, though not as crowded as you expected-- you thought the soldiers would have more horses.
You spot your horse easily enough, stashed in a front stall, probably because of your sudden and late arrival. Lea's horse is in the stall next to yours.
"Hey girl," you hum, reaching out to touch her nose as she lifts her head over the stall door. Your saddle and other horse tack are all set inside the stall with her, so you swing open the door to get her ready.
What's your horse's name?
<ul>
<li><<link "Captain">><<set $horse_name to "Captain">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Bonney">><<set $horse_name to "Bonney">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Karma">><<set $horse_name to "Karma">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Andromache">><<set $horse_name to "Andromache">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Beau">><<set $horse_name to "Beau">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Ranger">><<set $horse_name to "Ranger">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Furiosa">><<set $horse_name to "Furiosa">><<update>><</link>></li></ul>
<<liveblock>><<textbox "$horse_name" $horse_name "onward">><</liveblock>>
[[Continue ->onward]]You make quick work of outfitting her, then move on and do the same to Lea's horse, Gambit-- a dark, dappled bay. He's big and mean, but you think you've managed to grow on him. At the very least, the beast lets you get him ready for Lea.
You lead the horses out of the stable, sure to close the door securely behind you. Your breath fogs thick in the air, reminding you just how fucking cold it is. As if you could forget. You pull at your gloves, tightening the straps around your wrists to keep out the creeping chill. Maybe you should have waited for Lea //inside//.
You busy yourself readjusting other things in an attempt to ignore the cold-- your saddlebags, your rucksack, your cloak, and you run a hand across your sword, sheathed and strapped to $horse_name's saddle.
The sword is a standard weapon, issued to both hunters and handlers. It was essential in your training, just as magic and alchemy was, so you are quite capable with it.
<<include "combat_pref">><<if $journalReady>><<link '<div id="codex">☽ Journal</div>'>><<run Dialog.setup("Journal","notesPassage journal");Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Journal").processText());Dialog.open();>><</link>><</if>>
<<if $NameReveal>><<link '<div id="character">☾ Characters</div>'>><<run Dialog.setup(State.variables.name + " " + State.variables.surname, "characters");Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Characters").processText());Dialog.open();>><</link>><</if>>
<<if $codexReady>><<link [[☽ Hunter Codex|Codex]]>><</link>><</if>>
Keep reading to unlock entries in the codex.
need highfell, the vel, and the seige here<<set $cw to false>>
<<set $ccCompleted to false>>
<<set $introsComplete to false>>
<<set $lordIntroComplete to false>>
<<set $prologueComplete to false>>
<<set $IDcodex to false>>
<<set $ch1Complete to false>>
<<set $ch2Complete to false>>
<<set $TheSiege to false>>
<<set $BlackIron to false>>
<<set $TheOrder to false>>
<<set $meet_clementine to false>>
<<set $meet_merry to false>>
<<set $meet_noel to false>>
<<set $name to "Name">>
<<set $hairlength to " ">>
<<set $eye_color to " ">>
<<set $hairtexture to " ">>
<<set $hair_color to " ">>
<<set $chest to " ">>
<<set $family to " ">>
<<set $sent_money to false>>
<<set $mc_plural to false>>
<<set $nopr to false>>
<<set $aggressive to 0>>
<<set $stoic to 0>>
<<set $genuine to 0>>
<<set $bold to 0>>
<<set $shy to 0>>
<<set $ace to 0>>
<<set $experience to 0>>
<<set $thought_about to " ">>
<<set $rom to false>>
<<set $mc_mage to false>>
<<set $magic_spec to " ">>
<<set $mc_alchemist to false>>
<<set $mc_swordsman to false>>
<<set $mc_axeman to false>>
<<set $mc_archer to false>>
<<set $weapon to "sword">>
<<set $vice to " ">>
<<set $gods to " ">>
<<set $hormones to false>>
<<set $hormoneChoice to false>>
<<set $ch1backtocamp to false>>
<<set $ch1rideahead to false>>
<<set $ch1blackwater to false>>
<<set $horse_name to "Name">>
<<set $injury to 0>>
<<set $touch_averse to 0>>
<<set $Qs to 0>>
<<set $sanity to 95>>
<<set $blackwater to false>>
<<set $highfell to false>>
<<set $bw_clem to false>>
<<set $bw_lea to false>>
<<set $bw_noel to false>>
<<set $bw_merry to false>>
<<set $l_friendship to 50>>
<<set $l_relationship to 0>>
<<set $l_flirt to 0>>
<<set $l_touch_knows to false>>
<<set $l_hostile to false>>
<<set $l_campfight to false>>
<<set $l_ch1apology to false>>
<<set $l_campflirt to false>>
<<set $l_marketfight to false>>
<<set $l_temple_flirt to false>>
<<set $l_templeflirt_reject to false>>
<<set $l_tavernflirt to false>>
<<set $lea_knows_nightmares to false>>
<<set $buy_bread to false>>
<<set $lea_gift to false>>
<<set $left_tobacco to false>>
<<set $left_pipe to false>>
<<set $l_pipeflirt to false>>
<<set $l_drinkflirt to false>>
<<set $changed_mind_about_lea to false>>
<<set $c_friendship to 50>>
<<set $c_relationship to 0>>
<<set $c_rivalry to 10>>
<<set $c_hostile to false>>
<<set $c_flirt to 0>>
<<set $c_touch_knows to false>>
<<set $clem_touch to 0>>
<<set $played_pandura to false>>
<<set $clem_promise to false>>
<<set $clem_tavernfight to false>>
<<set $flipped_table to false>>
<<set $tavernfight to 0>>
<<set $bell to false>>
<<set $knuckle_kiss to false>>
<<set $violent_fight to false>>
<<set $reluctant_fight to false>>
<<set $deal to false>>
<<set $for_a_song to false>>
<<set $for_money to false>>
<<set $for_free to false>>
<<set $bloodpact to false>>
<<set $tell_lea to false>>
<<set $hobby to " ">>
<<set $reason to 0>>
<<set $hand_on_shoulder to false>>
<<set $clem_card to false>>
<<set $clem_tavernkiss to false>>
<<set $n_friendship to 0>>
<<set $n_relationship to 0>>
<<set $n_flirt to 0>>
<<set $n_hostile to false>>
<<set $n_touch_knows to false>>
<<set $n_walkout to false>>
<<set $noel_knows to false>>
<<set $dont_worry_about_me to false>>
<<set $n_on_bed to false>>
<<set $n_promise to false>>
<<set $m_relationship to 0>>
<<set $m_flirt to 0>>
<<set $merry_touch to 0>>
<<set $m_touch_knows to false>>
<<set $read_poem to false>>
<<set $m_tavernapology to false>>
<<set $bw_visitmerry to false>>
<<set $slept_w_merry to false>>
<<set $merry_hookup to false>>
<<set $ran_out_on_merry to false>>
<<set $owe_merry_drink to false>>
<<set $such_an_asshole to false>>
<<set $m_mistake to false>>
<<set $m_tavernkiss to false>>
<<set $m_pullaway to false>>
<<set $m_threwdrink to false>>
<<set $merry_offer to false>>
<<set $hood_off to false>>
<<set $bow to false>>
<<set $duncan_face_grab to false>>A swift kick to $l_their calf and $l_they jolt<<s>> awake, throwing off $l_their blankets and nearly jumping to $l_their feet until $l_they see<<s>> you standing over $l_them.
"Asshole," $l_they growl<<s>>, relaxing back against the wall of the pantry. "What time is it?" $l_they ask<<s>> as $l_they rub<<s>> at $l_their eyes.
<<include "gmlea">>You reach down and rip the blankets off of $l_them, repeating $l_their name and nudging $l_them with your foot. $l_They slap<<s>> $l_their hands around for a moment, grabbing for the blankets, but sensing them gone $l_they roll<<s>> onto $l_their back and glare<<s>> up at you. "What time is it?" $l_they growl<<s>>, sitting up and rubbing $l_their eyes.
<<include "gmlea">>You crouch down next to $l_them, tapping $l_their shoulder and repeating $l_their name softly. $l_They <<dont>> respond immediately, so you grab $l_their shoulder and give it a little shake. $l_They respond to that, slapping your hand away and frowning before sighing audibly, sitting up and rubbing $l_their eyes. $l_They give<<s>> you a weary look. "What time is it?"
<<include "gmlea">>Your preferred weapon is...
<div id="choice"><<link [[The sword. ->sword_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[A bow, actually. ->bow_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[A battleaxe. ->axe_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Actually, I prefer something else. ->combat_pref]]>><</link>></div>Though you know the essentials when it comes to swordsmanship and alchemy, magic is where you find your advantage on the field. You can swing a sword, and perform basic transmutations, but nothing can come close to you and your magic. It just feels right. It enhances your swordsmanship and gives you the option of ranged combat, as well as illusions and enchantments. Wielding a specially crafted sword etched with runes to allow you to channel your magic with your blade, you are a force to reckon with on the battlefield.
And though you can manipulate all elements with your magic, it's no secret you have a favorite.
<<include "magic_pref">>Alchemy-- a powerful mix of magic and science, and you have mastered the alchemical art of transmutation. Though you know the essentials of swordsmanship and magic, alchemy is where you excel. Swinging a sword, casting a spell, that's nothing compared to what you can do with a little bit of quick thinking and a whole lot of skill. While different from magic-- in that you have to have physical materials to transmute-- if you're creative (which you are) you'll always have something up your sleeve. You can transmute barriers, walls, doors, weapons, even fire and lightning as well as water and stone.
//[Your alchemical mastery allows you a combination of aggressive and defensive fighting styles, both close-quarter and ranged.]//
Your sword has been crafted with runes carefully carved along the blade, and you even wear specially made bracers with inlaid transmutation sigils, allowing you to perform transmutations swiftly in combat.
Are you an alchemist?
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->tattoo choice]]>><<set $mc_alchemist to true>><<set $weapon to "sword">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, that's not right. ->combat_pref]]>><</link>></div>Though you know the essentials when it comes to magic and alchemy, there is nothing finer than a well-crafted weapon in your hands. You can bend lightning, and perform basic transmutations, but nothing can come close to your sword. It just feels right.
//[You favor a more aggressive, close-quarter style of fighting, relying on a combination of strength and quick, explosive movements.]//
You pat your sword, tried and true and has never failed you. You remove it from your saddle and hook the sheath to your belt, feeling more comfortable with its presence at your side.
Is this the weapon you want?
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->mug]]>><<set $mc_swordsman to true>><<set $weapon to "sword">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, that's not right. ->combat_pref]]>><</link>></div>Though you know the essentials when it comes to magic and alchemy, there is nothing finer than a well-crafted weapon in your hand. You can bend lightning, and perform basic transmutations, but nothing can come close to your bow. It just feels right.
//[You favor patience and agility in a fight, keeping your distance and maintaining control on the battlefield.]//
You remove your bow and quiver from your saddle, hooking your quiver to your belt at your waist and fitting the bow across your back. You also grab your sword and hook it to the other side of your belt, more comfortable now with your gear equipped.
Is this the weapon you want?
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->mug]]>><<set $mc_archer to true>><<set $weapon to "sword">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, that's not right. ->combat_pref]]>><</link>></div>Though you know the essentials when it comes to magic and alchemy, there is nothing finer than a well-crafted weapon in your hands. You can bend lightning, and perform basic transmutations, but nothing can come close to your battleaxe. It just feels right.
//[You favor a more aggressive, close-quarter style of fighting, relying on a combination of strength and quick, explosive movements.]//
You hoist the axe from your saddle, running your hand across the double blade. Sharp and heavy, you never miss a blow with this beast on your side. You have a special loop on your rucksack to hold it in place as you travel, and a custom bandolier to strap it across your back when you work. You also grab your sword and hook it to your belt, more comfortable now with your gear equipped.
Is this the weapon you want?
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->mug]]>><<set $mc_fighter to true>><<set $weapon to "axe">><<set $mc_axeman to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, that's not right. ->combat_pref]]>><</link>></div>You prefer...
<div id="choice"><<link [[My strength is purely in fighting— with my fists, and with every weapon I could get my hands on during my apprenticeship. I mastered them all. I am an impressive fighter and favor that in combat. ->fighting_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I am a powerful battlemage. I can bend the elements to my will and rely heavily on magic in combat. ->mage_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Alchemy is my strong suit. Lea and I have a competitive streak over a mile long, but where $l_they excel<<s>> in potioncraft, I focus on transmutation, and prefer it in combat." "alchemy_pref">><</link>></div>Your favored element is...
<div id="choice"><<link [[Fire. The power of destruction, anger, passion and life – burning, hot and electric. ->fire_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Water. A versatile and beautiful element of healing and creation – or death. ->water_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Earth. Powerful and unmoving, good for both defense and offense, you can shape the world at your will. ->earth_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Air. A cunning element, due to the fact that it exists unseen, and can move even the strongest of foes. ->air_pref]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Actually, I favor something else. ->combat_pref]]>><</link>></div>Lightning is the most favored form of magic there is, a constant source of energy coursing through the physical world, but most people don't bother to hone their craft. You have studied fire and its variations for years, able to materialize it from nothing and maintain complete control. Lightning can be unpredictable and dangerous for beginners, but the element is all but a part of you, flames from your fingertips all the way down to the edge of your blade.
//[Your magic allows you a combination of aggressive and defensive fighting styles, both close-quarter and ranged. Be aware of your surroundings and your element's weaknesses.]//
Does this sound like your magic?
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->mug]]>><<set $mc_mage to true>><<set $magic_pref to "fire">><<set $weapon to "sword">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, that's not right. ->magic_pref]]>><</link>></div><<set $WeaponSelect to true>>Of course, you also have your hunter's knife, always on you, strapped to your thigh. That's what really gets the job done. Bestowed upon you once you had completed your apprenticeship, it is the staple of every hunter's armory. You cannot fight the things you do without it. Though they may appear uniform in nature-- a blade of dark blue, watered metal and a stark white handle-- each hunter's knife is crafted specially for each hunter. Another's knife simply would not work for you, or your knife for them. It is bound only to you, and its power responds only to you.
You reach down and brush your fingers over the handle, feeling the thrum of magic at your fingertips.
Sighing, you clench your fist, hovering over your knife, your glove tight over your knuckles. You try not to think about the dreams, but the dull ache you still feel in your head won't let you forget, the image of the ship still haunting your mind. They're getting more frequent. The nightmares-- they're just something you've learned to live with. This is how it is: A short, brutal life plagued by nightmares and visions and monsters, and then a shallow grave waiting for you at the end. Your headache flares at the thought, and you squeeze your eyes shut for a moment, gritting your teeth against the way your skin crawls-- as if it's trying to crawl right off of you.
Reaching out, you put a hand on $horse_name's side, feeling her warmth through your glove, letting it ground you. Opening your eyes, you realize your other hand has an iron grip on your knife. Blinking, you release it, staring at your hand as if it were not your own.
$horse_name snorts beside you, and you shudder, not because of the cold, but because... because?
[[Because you don't know why. ->outofinn]]You are a master at manipulating water, sometimes foolishly considered nothing more than a healer's element. You know better. Rain, snow, ice, blood-- it all answers to your call. You always keep a small pouch of water hooked to your belt, though even without it you know how to draw water from the living world around you, pulling down the sky, or ripping it from the earth. Focusing it through your blade, you hit hard with a painfully cold edge.
//[Your magic allows you a combination of aggressive and defensive fighting styles, both close-quarter and ranged. Be aware of your surroundings and your element's weaknesses.]//
Does this sound like your magic?
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->mug]]>><<set $mc_mage to true>><<set $magic_pref to "water">><<set $weapon to "sword">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, that's not right. ->magic_pref]]>><</link>></div><<set _top_trait = $aggressive>>
<<if $genuine > _top_trait>>
<<set _top_trait = $genuine>>
<<elseif $stoic > _top_trait>>
<<set _top_trait = $stoic>>
<</if>>
<<set _top_flirt = $l_flirt>>
<<if $m_flirt > _top_flirt>>
<<set _top_flirt = $m_flirt>>
<<elseif $n_flirt > _top_flirt>>
<<set _top_flirt = $n_flirt>>
<<elseif $c_flirt > _top_flirt>>
<<set _top_flirt = $c_flirt>>
<</if>>A door slams, snapping your attention to the front of the inn, where Lea appears, bounding across the snow towards you. You drop your hand from your knife, blinking a few times.
"Sorry, innkeeper was the talkative sort," $l_they <<say>> quickly, glancing over Gambit's saddle to make sure everything is in its place. $l_They <<have>> what you can assume are some rations tucked beneath $l_their arm as well as $l_their travel mug in $l_their hand, which is steaming in the cold air. Lea doesn't seem to notice your unease.
"You have your mug somewhere?" $l_they ask<<s>>, glancing at your empty hands.
"It's in my bag," you shrug.
"Hold this," $l_they <<say>>, shoving $l_their own mug as well as the stash of rations into your hands, and you feel $l_them go behind you and dig into your bag.
"Front little pocket," you say, and $l_they grunt<<s>> an affirmative. With a few more pulls on your bag $l_they reappear<<s>>, victorious, your cup in $l_their hand. $l_They take<<s>> $l_their own mug back then and you watch as $l_they pour<<s>> half of its contents into yours. "There," $l_they mutter<<s>> with a nod.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Thank you," I say, genuinely surprised and grateful for it.' 'peaceoffering'>><<set $l_friendship +=2>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I give $l_them a nod and take the mug, unsure what to think of this sudden gesture." "peaceoffering">><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I take the mug but give $l_them a wary look. Awfully generous... and suspicious." "peaceoffering">><<set $l_rivalry +=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"Consider it a peace offering," Lea says, as if reading your thoughts. "After that last job..." $l_they shake<<s>> $l_their head with a brittle smile.
You eye $l_them curiously, searching $l_their face, taking a sip of the blessedly warm drink. Coffee. Dark and bitter, but you don't care. A real treat out here, so far from any port-- you hope $l_they didn't pay too much for it. You cradle the cup against your chest, feeling its heat and letting it warm your hands.
Your last job had been out east, in a sleepy little mountain town called Keld. There had been sightings of a large black dog, as well as reports of missing and slaughtered pets and livestock. It should have been easy-- evidence all pointing to an omen.
Usually taking the shape of a large black dog or a murder of crows, omens arrive and are exactly what they sound like-- an omen, a warning. A sign that the Vel is weakening, and that something far worse is soon to come. Despite its tendency to kill, omens are a favorable job. Their sudden manifestation gives you the opportunity to ward off whatever impending tragedy they are foretelling, and if you're really lucky, you can intervene before the omen does any real damage to the livestock population. Casting a few protective wards to reinforce the Vel, monitoring the town for a week or two-- it's easy work, and the omens always pass due to your presence subverting its prediction.
Only this time, it wasn't an omen. You aren't sure where along the lines the misinformation started, and there is a cynical part of you that is certain it was intentional. But you know it's possible the people just had no idea what they were looking at. Either way, it definitely wasn't an omen.
It was a lycan, and you were not prepared for it. There had been no sign of the supposed omen since you and Lea had arrived in Keld, posted up at the local tavern and patrolling the streets at night. You had set your wards, reinforced the ones already there, and were confident the omen had already dispelled. In short: you were lazy. And one night, during your usual patrol along the sleepy forest that borders the little town, it caught you off guard.
It tore into you both. It was pure luck that you didn't get infected. But those claws... you cringe. It was nasty business. And Lea was just as unprepared as you, unable to help with $l_their potions and other alchemy supplies left behind in the tavern. While $l_they had $l_their sword, and $l_they tried to assist you, $l_they only got in your way-- and nearly got bit for $l_their efforts.
<<if $mc_archer>>Luckily, you had your bow and a handful of arrows, and eventually managed to recover enough to fight it off.<<elseif $mc_swordsman>>Luckily, you had your sword, and eventually managed to recover enough to fight it off.<<elseif $mc_axeman>>Luckily, you had your axe, and eventually managed to recover enough to fight it off.<<elseif $mc_mage>>Luckily, you were able to recover enough to summon your magic and beat the beast back.<<elseif $mc_alchemist>>Luckily, you were able to recover your wits enough to drive it back with some quick transmutations, sending it scrambling.<</if>> You scowl at the memory. It was a terrible fight-- no doubt one of your worst, if not //the// worst. You're not proud of it. And without proper preparation and no potions, there was no chance of subduing the creature.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I killed it. It would have killed me, and Lea, and then gone into the town to do who knows what kind of damage. ->hot_water]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I was reluctant to kill it. I tried to force it back into the woods, but it was no use. ->hot_water]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I didn't want to kill it. But in the end, it came down to me, or the lycan. I wish it could have been different. ->hot_water]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>You made the decision, and after a grueling match you finished it with your hunter's knife. As the mutated, wolfish form dissolved beneath your blade, the human inside was revealed to you-- the son of a respected town elder. The people of Keld didn't understand; all they saw was a dead man, and not the monster he had been.
Or maybe they knew, and were trying to protect him, their evasive behavior towards Lea's questions suspicious in hindsight. Lycanthropy isn't necessarily a death sentence-- you could have offered him wolfsbane, helped him regain control, if only you had been prepared for it. But it was too late, and the town was quick to turn on you, kicking you out of the tavern and cursing your name.
<div id="choice"><<link [[It's maddening. The beast was slaughtering livestock for weeks, it was violent and unpredictable. Of course things could have gone better, things always could be better, but we didn't deserve that. ->agglycan]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[This is just how it is. We could have captured him, but then they'd just be angry that we let him live, instead. There is no winning here. ->stoiclycan]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[It was deserved. Me and Lea should have been better prepared, we should have been more thorough in our investigation. We cost a man his life. We should have done better. ->genuinelycan]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $humanity +=1>><</link>></div>You try to help, you always try to help-- and they punish you for it. The longer you're in this game the more spiteful you become. More often you find yourself wondering why you even try at all.
<<include "keldarg">>This is just how it always is. You do good or bad and they'll hate you for it just the same. They'll always find a reason, and you've been in this game long enough to know that and expect it. All you can do is finish the job and move on to the next.
<<include "keldarg">>You could have done better. You //know// you could have done better. But you got too comfortable. You didn't ask the right questions, you didn't put in the work, and the people you were supposed to help paid for it. You're ashamed it came to that, and angry at yourself for letting it happen.
<<include "keldarg">>In the end, you received only half of your promised payment, and were all but physically chased from the town. And the ride back to the Black Iron was brutal, with you and Lea going at it before the blood had even dried.
"You shouldn't have killed it," $l_they kept saying.
"What else was I supposed to do, Lea?"
$l_They glared straight ahead, $l_their anger tangible in the air, in every harsh breath that fogged out between you. "//Anything else//," $l_they seethed.
"Enlightening suggestion," you scoffed back.
"You keep doing this shit. You---you don't //think//. And then I have to clean up after you, again and again and again!" Lea was shouting now, and maybe you were, too.
"Were //you// thinking when you left your fucking potions behind? I can see the wolfsbane on your belt right now, but where was it when we needed it, Lea? What choices have you been making? The blood is on your hands just as much as mine."
"I could have gone back for it," $l_they whispered after a beat. "I could have gone back for it, if you hadn't been throwing me around."
"//Throwing you around//," you repeated in disbelief. "Saving your ass, you mean." Your hands clenched tight around your horse's reins until your knuckles ached. You can feel it now, a phantom pain lancing up through your wrists.
"Fuck off," Lea huffed. "I didn't need your help."
"And I didn't need yours. Next time, Lea, stay the fuck out of my way."
It was a long ride back to the northern stronghold.
The two of you didn't speak for days after that. You spent all your time training with the other hunters passing through, taking out your frustration on the poor training dummies in the Black Iron courtyard.
Things were bad before Keld. But now they've only gotten worse.
And then... there was the ship. Nightmares are your usual, as is insomnia-- both unfortunate consequences of the life you've lived up to this point. But a part of you knows that this isn't a nightmare. It's too real. Even now, just thinking about it makes your skin crawl, the taste of saltwater suddenly rising in the back of your throat. Lea doesn't know. You prefer to keep it that way. You had considered it, after that first night-- when the ship first came to you.
But you decided against it. Too proud to admit it, even now, even to yourself.
Eventually, you had to see $l_them again to receive your new assignment. It was a bit awkward, but for the most part the two of you have just carried on like nothing happened. Maybe that's all you can do for now.
<<link [[Continue ->hardtackprlg]]>><<set $ccCompleted to true>><</link>>You take a deep breath, tasting the scent of the coffee still cradled in your hands, watching as Lea takes the cloth-wrapped rations and shoves them down into $l_their saddlebag. It takes $l_them a minute, but eventually $l_they look<<s>> to you and nod<<s>>, and $l_they grab<<s>> Gambit's saddle and haul<<s>> $l_themself up, masterfully handling $l_their coffee and keeping it from spilling.
"Here," $l_they toss<<es>> something at you from atop $l_their horse, which you just manage to grab with your free hand.
It's hardtack, unfortunately. You grimace, thinking that you could go your whole life never having to eat hardtack again and it would still not be long enough. You hold it in your mouth as you move to mount your own horse.
You frown, looking at your mug, hesitating before following Lea's example and hauling yourself up. You can't help but hiss in annoyance as some of the hot liquid sloshes out and burns through your glove. Lea chuckles, amused, watching you as you take a moment to adjust in your seat.
"Bad news from the innkeeper," Lea says then, before you can urge $horse_name onto the road. You glance back at $l_them, raising an eyebrow, the hardtack still held between your teeth.
"There's a new toll, not too far ahead," $l_they <<say>>. "We'll have to pass through."
You grunt, shaking your head. You bite a piece from the hardtack and hold it in your hand, chewing slowly. "We'll be alright. They have no choice but to let us through."
Lea sighs. "So long as you behave yourself," $l_they mutter<<s>>.
You ignore the comment, spurring $horse_name forward, and the two of you start off down the road, the horizon glowing softly with the impending sunrise, a rosy pink light filtering through the trees and illuminating the well-traveled path ahead.
You scarf down the remaining hardtack, wanting to get the ordeal over with as soon as possible, but the coffee you savor. You go slow and steady with $horse_name, doing your best to prevent it from sloshing around, but the cold air begins to sap its warmth, and you drain the rest before it can cross the line into tepid and undrinkable. You hold the mug for a little while longer, the heat lingering in the crude wood, carved years ago when you were still just an apprentice. You can feel the letters of your name, harsh and jagged from a young, unsteady hand.
<<include "nameselect">>Your name is...
<ul>
<li><<link "Dana">><<set $name to "Dana">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Mercy">><<set $name to "Mercy">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Asher">><<set $name to "Asher">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Uriah">><<set $name to "Uriah">><<update>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Jay">><<set $name to "Jay">><<update>><</link>></li></ul>
<<liveblock>><<textbox "$name" $name "surname">><</liveblock>>
[[Continue ->surname]]And your last name?
<<textbox "$surname" "Karstark">> [[Confirm ->confirmname]]Your name is $name $surname?
<div id="choice">[[Yes. ->roadprlg]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[No, wait... ->nameselect]]</div><<set $NameReveal to true>><<notify 3s>>Character page unlocked!<</notify>>Sighing, you palm the mug a few more times before stashing it away in one of your saddlebags. You'll sort it later.
"Tell me about this job," you say, nudging your horse closer to Lea's as you meander on down the road. Your headache is fading now, perhaps because of the coffee or fresh air, you can't be sure. But you need something to focus on... and you could do with a refresher.
Lea clicks $l_their tongue, giving you an annoyed look.
"It's in a small town-- Highfell. Real close to the border with Gael," $l_they start<<s>>, seeming to decide against starting an argument. Plus, you know $l_they enjoy<<s>> talking at you-- and the sound of $l_their own voice. "Our contact is some guy named Jaymes-- a butcher, or cook, or something," $l_they <<say>>, frowning a bit when $l_they can't recall.
"Not much to go on. A few missing people, including the butcher's son." Lea sighs, glancing off into the trees. "He says the town was hit hard by the Red Death. There aren't many left."
"Damn," you mutter. You've heard the same story a few times now, since you've been on the road. The plague was merciless out here in the north.
"We should expect them to be uncooperative," Lea says then. "They're going to be skittish, even more so with how close they are to Gael. Jaymes warned as much in his letter. With the plague, and now this, and the rumored clashes at the border-- it sounds like tensions are running high."
Lea hesitates. You can feel $l_their eyes on you. "This is a delicate case. We'll need to be.... careful."
You raise an eyebrow at that.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm always careful, despite what Lea thinks. ->cmmdhadrienprlg]]>><<set $cunning +=1>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I admit, I //can// be a little rash sometimes. I would never admit that to Lea, though.' 'cmmdhadrienprlg'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'll do what needs to be done. ->cmmdhadrienprlg]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>Lea presses on before you can make any kind of smart comment.
"Commander Hadrien suggested we poke around in the mountains a bit before we get to Highfell. Take stock of the situation out here, with the roads reopening, and the new warden."
"Right..." you say, tapping your finger to your lips again.
"We'll be spending a lot of time sleeping on the road for the next few weeks," Lea adds.
You sigh. You had figured as much, but hate hearing it said out loud.
"I know. I don't like it either," Lea says, sighing as well. "I'm well tired of the cold by now." $l_They pause<<s>> for a moment. "Maybe if the snow holds, we can ride through tonight. Keep us moving."
[[Continue ->detailsprlg]]You mull over the details of the job as the two of you continue on. Not a lot of information, but that's pretty typical. There's likely more that common people haven't noticed, or just don't see. That's //your// specialty.
Highfell is a pretty remote town, high in the mountains, surrounded by dark pine forests and battered with constant snowfall year round. You're not that familiar with it, but you can already envision the kind of people living there. Growing up in the north has at least familiarized you with the culture-- honorable, loyal, and suspicious to a fault. Northerners at least tend to have some respect for hunters, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be //nice//.
So close to the border, too... If only it was open. Gaelish hunters could almost certainly get their faster than you.
Supposedly, before your time, it was common for Gaelish hunters to assist the Black Iron in covering the mountain region, working together to aid the isolated towns and villages that called the peaks their home. But that was before the Siege of Blackwater, and the fallout that came after. Things improved for a while, it's true-- you were able to cross the border as a child-- but with borders closed and tensions flaring again due to the plague, you imagine Gael won't be too happy to have Black Iron hunters in the area.
[[Continue ->compsilenceprlg]]For a while, you and Lea ride in companionable silence, going single file and keeping to the edge of the road as the morning passes you by, avoiding the few travelers and soldiers as they come and go. Your thoughts drift, and you find yourself thinking about the ship again. The black shore and its violent water, the sound of waves crashing on the rocks, the groan of a broken mast swaying in the wind.
You glance over at Lea, riding up ahead, clenching your jaw and forcing the sea from your mind. You don't want $l_them to notice. The nosebleed earlier was bad enough. You can't let $l_them see you unraveling.
"Didn't realize it was getting this bad at the border," Lea says suddenly, jarring you, and you quickly look away, turning to watch as another group of travelers moves past you down the road.
"Seems like it's getting pretty messy," you say slowly, avoiding looking back over at your handler, though you share $l_their unease. Soldiers are never good news, but what you've seen so far... it's more than worrying.
"Think our missing people could be involved in that?" Lea asks, glancing back at you.
"I fucking hope not," you say, your blood running cold at the mere suggestion of it.
[[Continue ->adraniaprlg]]Adrania is struggling. Anyone with eyes can see that. The Red Death was vicious, and many towns, especially here in the north, are still recovering. There are many people who are unhappy with the way the king and his council handled the outbreak, and unhappier still with the way they are being treated in the aftermath. And then you have Gael, your home country, bordering here in the north, a constant knife in Adrania's back.
Adrania and Gael have had a nasty feud ever since the first border was drawn, both blaming each's misfortune on the other. The threat of war has been a constant since you were born, though recent events have been the closest that threat has ever come to a reality.
The plague was indiscriminate, hitting both countries without mercy and spreading heedless of any manmade border. For a brief moment, it looked as if Gael and Adrania would unite-- as if their armies combined could fight a plague. But it was a fleeting fancy. No one wanted to fight it-- most people didn't even want to acknlowedge it at all. It wasn't long before restrictions were being lifted in the south, people trying to force a normalcy that was no longer there. Plague cares not for the whims of man, it turns out.
As it got worse here, so did it get worse in Gael-- people were fleeing in the dozens over the border, trying desperately to outrun the plague, to find aid where Adrania offered none. Gael ultimately sealed the gates, clashing with civilians and fighting to keep the Adranians-- and their plague-- out. The borders have remained closed ever since.
The king and his ilk down south tried to shift the blame on Gael, painting them as the aggressor, fabricating some story about Gaelish soldiers, driven mad by the Red Death, that attacked Adranian civilians unprovoked-- and insisted that it was //he// that ultimately chose to close the borders.
It would be amusing if only so many people didn't believe it. Though you //have// heard some mutterings about clashes down south, between the royal guard and a few rebellious dissenters, right outside the King's Harbor. You suppose the truth will find its way home soon enough.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Part of me longs for it. May the king and his council never know peace again.->admission]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $plague to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Times like these, I'm grateful to be an outsider. Though I'm not so dense as to think I'll be unaffected by however this plays out. I just hope Lea and I can make it through unscathed. ->admission]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $plague to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Politics, kings and queens, royal councils, plague and war— it's all a load of shit. I'm a bit more worried about my next meal, and where exactly I'll be sleeping tonight. ->admission]]>><<set $plague to 3>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You pull your power from the earth and stone, able to form walls, doors, steps, even rock armor, anything you could need for an advantage in the field. You can also crack mountains, throw boulders, split metal, and connect completely with the living world, all through the earth beneath your feet.
//[Your magic allows you a combination of aggressive and defensive fighting styles, both close-quarter and ranged. Be aware of your surroundings and your element's weaknesses.]//
Does this sound like your magic?
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->mug]]>><<set $mc_mage to true>><<set $magic_pref to "earth">><<set $weapon to "sword">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, that's not right. ->magic_pref]]>><</link>></div>Air-- a difficult element to master, and master it you have. You can send a light breeze to scatter a few fallen leaves, or summon a raging maelstrom to level towns. It's also useful to enhance your movements, making you move faster and jump higher and farther than anyone else.
//[Your magic allows you a combination of aggressive and defensive fighting styles, both close-quarter and ranged. Be aware of your surroundings and your element's weaknesses.]//
Does this sound like your magic?
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->mug]]>><<set $mc_mage to true>><<set $magic_pref to "air">><<set $weapon to "sword">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, that's not right. ->magic_pref]]>><</link>></div>That whole mess is beyond you. You have other things to worry about beyond petty politics between two shithole countries. Food, water, shelter. That's your priority. It's not that you don't care, not exactly, but what can //you// do?
And sometimes it is hard to give a shit about a world that hates you so ruthlessly. Maybe that means you should feel for the rebels. Most of the time, though, you find it hard to feel for anything at all.
<<include "admission">>It's an interesting place to be-- looking in from the outside. Almost nice for once, having people's anger directed at someone besides you.
Though you still can't keep out the needling worry of what it all means, especially when you overhear heated discussions in dark corners, the kind that fall silent when the lights come on.
<<include "admission">>Frustration and anger – that is what you feel when you think of the king, when you look back at all that has happened, that could have been prevented. You're not naïve, you know the world is designed to work this way - and that just makes you angrier.
Adrania is straining underneath the greed of a handful of rich bastards, and sooner or later something is going to break.
<<include "admission">><<set $codexReady to true>><<notify 3s>>Codex page unlocked!<</notify>>You admit you don't know the full situation-- such is life as a hunter. You and Lea are moving constantly, but you imagine what you do see and hear has to be some of the worst. Hunters don't get called to well off places. The things you fight are drawn to misery and suffering, weakness in the Vel, the darkest and hardest of times. And right now, here in Adrania, are the hard times.
Things were tense even before the plague, and now you can feel this country is on the precipice of something. If there is to be a war, you cannot even begin to imagine what will happen to the people here. The people like you and Lea.
<<link '"Hey!"' 'clemstartle'>><</link>>You're startled out of your thoughts by a shout coming up the road. Both you and Lea turn in your saddles to see a rather colorfully dressed fellow running after you, waving their hands over their head. You glance over at Lea, who just shrugs.
<div id="choice"><<link "Let Lea deal with this. It's $l_their job, anyways." "leadeal">><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Call back to them. I'm curious. ->callout]]>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Ignore them. In fact, I'm going to spur my horse to go faster. ->gofaster]]>><<set $refuse_clem to true>><<set $c_rivalry +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><</link>></div><<run UIBar.stow(true);>>
<div style="text-align:center;"><h1><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif;">The Northern Passage</span></h1>
<<if Save.autosave.ok() and Save.autosave.has()>><p><<link "Resume Game">><<script>>Save.autosave.load()<</script>><</link>></p><</if>>
<p>[[Start|prologue0.1]]</p>
<p><<link "Load Game">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</link>></p>
<p><<link "Settings">><<script>>UI.settings()<</script>><</link>></p></div>Your pronouns are $mc_they/$mc_them/$mc_their/$mc_theirs?
Make sure if you do not use pronouns that [their] and [theirs] prints as [(hunter's name)'s], ie Lea's.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. ->scars]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No. ->pronouninput]]>><</link>></div>Now that the stranger is closer you can get a good look at their flamboyant clothing. The blouse they're wearing is an inoffensive cream color, but it has a high collar with obnoxious ruffles that tuck messily into the front of their long duster jacket. The jacket itself is various shades of blue and purple and gold, different prints and textures all haphazardly stitched together by hand, and when they move, you hear a light tinkling sound, and realize that there are bells sewn into random places, glittering between folds of fabric and hanging from their coat sleeves. You also see they have some kind of string instrument strapped to their back along with a small bag of gear. A damn bard.
"There's a toll just up ahead," they finally manage to say, still slightly out of breath.
"We've heard. How much are they charging?" Lea asks.
The stranger hesitates. "I don't know," they admit. "I haven't tried to cross."
"Why not?" Lea narrows $l_their eyes at them. You watch them closely from within your hood.
"There are a lot of soldiers..." they trail off, wringing their hands. They reach up and pull anxiously at one of their short brown curls, twisting it around their finger over and over again.
"You don't have your papers," you say coolly.
The stranger deflates, dropping their gaze to the muddy ground at their feet. "I lost them," they say weakly.
"How did you get this far without them?" Lea asks, amused. The bard is clearly a southerner-- if their clothes weren't obvious enough, they have the soft, lilting accent that makes it undeniable.
"Luck," they say. "And the generosity of strangers..."
Lea laughs, leaning back in $l_their saddle, and you give $l_them a sharp look.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Lea better not offer them anything. ->youpromise]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[The bard is rather amusing... but the toll could be more trouble than it's worth. ->youpromise]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>You give Lea a nod and you both slow to let them approach. They stumble to a stop beside your horse, out of breath with their hands on their knees.
"You alright, friend?" Lea asks, leaning forward in $l_their saddle to peer down at them.
<<include "clemdesc">>"Alright, then?" you ask, pulling back on $horse_name's reins and turning to greet the stranger. Lea grunts behind you, pulling $l_their horse around as well.
But they slow at the sound of your voice. "Are you Gaelish?" they ask, sounding more disbelieving than anything.
Lea clears $l_their throat, nudging Gambit forward so they're slightly between you and this stranger. "Is there something we can do for you, friend?" Lea asks, leaning forward in $l_their saddle.
At the sound of Lea's voice, they seem to relax a bit and continue striding towards you.
<<include "clemdesc">>You spur $horse_name forward, completely ignoring the stranger and hoping Lea follows your lead. But you hear $l_them scoff, and turn to see Lea waiting for them.
"Come on," you grumble, rolling your eyes. Now is not the time for this. You can't even imagine what Lea thinks you can get from this fool. There are other things to be concerned with right now. Reluctantly, you turn your horse back around and rejoin Lea's side, shooting $l_them a glare.
<<include "clemdesc">><script>document.getElementById("1").click()</script>
<div class="journal">
<div class="notebook">
<div class="nbPage" id="entries"><<include "entryhtml">></div>
<div class="nbPage" id="codex"><<include "codexhtml">></div>
<div class="nbPage" id="characters"><<include "charactershtml">> </div>
<div class="nbPage" id="hunter"><<include "hunterhtml">></div>
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<div class="nbPage" id="ladder"><<include "ladderhtml">></div>
<div class="noteBtns">
<button id="1" onclick="openPage('entries')">Entries</button>
<button id="2" onclick="openPage('codex')">Codex</button>
<button id="3" onclick="openPage('hunter')">Hunter Codex</button>
</div>
</div><span style="font-family:'IM Fell DW Pica', serif;">Keep reading to unlock more entries in the hunter codex.</span>
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link "The Black Iron">><<script>>openEntry('entry-1')<</script>><</link>>
<<link "The Ladder">><<script>>openEntry('entry-2')<</script>><</link>>
<<link "The Vel">><<script>>openEntry('entry-3')<</script>><</link>></span>You turn your stare from Lea back to the bard. They clearly sense your scrutiny, taking a step in your direction, clasping their hands and shaking them pleadingly at you.
"Please, let me join you. I can pay the toll. I can pay //you//, I promise," they say, looking desperately between you and Lea.
You both exchange a quick look at that.
"You promise?" you ask. You and Lea really took a blow after the job in Keld. You could sorely use any extra money you can get.
They start wringing their hands again, glancing between you two. "Well..."
You lean back in your saddle with a scoff.
"Wait!" They jump in front of your horses, raising their hands over their head again. "If you get me all the way to the Blackwater, I'll pay you. But we have to get to Blackwater."
You take a deep breath, exhaling through your nose. Technically, Blackwater is on the way to Highfell, but it's definitely a detour, since you'd have to ride out to the coast and then cut back inland to the border. It would add on quite a bit of time you don't really have to spare.
You eye the bard, and can't help but wonder how they ended up all the way out here. They seem terribly out of place, and you can just imagine all kinds of ill things befalling them in Blackwater.
"How much?" Lea asks bluntly.
"It will be worth your time, I swear," they exclaim.
"You can't give us a number?" Lea presses.
The bard sighs. "Please," is all they offer.
"Come on," you huff, crossing your arms.
A tense silence falls between the three of you. You and Lea look expectantly down at the bard.
"At least get me through the toll?" they plead.
"You can't just go around?" you snap, annoyed, gesturing off into the trees.
The bard turns towards you with a withering stare. "Look at me," they say, throwing their arms up, their little bells jingling loudly. You can't help but smirk.
"Fair enough," you say.
Lea shifts in $l_their saddle, drawing your attention, $l_their dark eyes flicking to your hood. You consider $l_them for a moment, and then nod. You pull off your hood, and turn to the bard, who has the exact reaction you were expecting. They gasp, clapping their hands over their mouth and jumping back away from you.
"You are a hunter!" they blurt. Slowly, they lower their hands, eyeing you warily... and with a little curiosity.
"We can get you through the toll," Lea says then. "If you pay for it."
The stranger doesn't take their eyes off of you, chewing thoughtfully on their bottom lip. "Okay," they say. They dig into their jacket, slightly turning away from the both of you, before producing a few gold coins from their pocket.
You lean back in your saddle, whistling softly. You watch Lea as $l_they dismount<<s>> from Gambit and come<<s>> around to face the bard. "Give me your jacket," $l_they <<say>>. The bard frowns, glancing over at you, but ultimately obeys. Lea quickly folds it up and tucks it into one of your saddlebags. Then $l_they shrug<<s>> out of $l_their own jacket, drawing it across the bard's shoulders. It's far too big-- Lea is nearly a foot taller than them-- but it does the job, concealing their clothes and giving them a more subtle, northern look.
"Alright," Lea mutters to $l_themself. "You'll ride behind me. Don't say a word."
They just nod. You lean down and hold out your hand for the coins. They blink slowly up at you, hesitating, before pressing the gold into your palm.
Lea climbs back up into $l_their saddle, and then offers $l_their hand to the stranger, hauling them up behind $l_them. "Alright," Lea repeats, and the two of you exchange another look before urging the horses back onto the road.
"My name is Clementine, by the way," the bard says, grinning now.<<set $meet_clementine to true>> A beat passes, and their smile fades.
"Lea," your handler finally says.
<<if $nopr eq true>>"$name. Only call me $name,"<<else>>"$name,"<</if>> you say, eyeing Clementine, rubbing the gold coins between your fingers.
"Quiet, now," Lea says gruffly, the first glimpses of the toll materializing up ahead between the trees.
[[Continue ->the toll]]It was... complicated.
Your mother had begged you. You can still hear the desperation in her voice, see it in her eyes, even all these years later, even through the fog thick in your mind. You remember her eyes.
"This is your one chance," she had said. And you, a child, had thought-- maybe she was right. In the years since, that //maybe// has chewed you up inside.
All you can do now is hope your sister made it out, that the money you sent helped in some way. You haven't heard from them-- not once-- in all the years you've been in Adrania. Not even when you passed through the Ladder.
You wish things could have been different for all of you. But this is your life now, for better or worse. //Or worse//. Would they be proud of you? The thought feels like a knife twisted in your chest.
<<include "moneychoice1">>You wish it could have been different, but at the time, leaving with the hunters seemed like the best thing you could do for your family-- and you wanted to do it for them, for your sister. Everything you did was for her.
Your mother had begged you, too. You can still hear the desperation in her voice, see it in her eyes, even all these years later, even through the fog thick in your mind. You remember her eyes.
"This is your one chance," she had said. And you knew she was right.
When you think back on the time you spent with them, you remember feeling happy. Despite everything, you wanted to have a good relationship, even after leaving for Adrania. But you never heard from them. Not once. Not even when you finally made it through the Ladder.
It always hurts to think about it. But you hope-- you hope, wherever they are, they're happy. And it's better this way. There's no reason for them to see you now. See what you've become. It would only hurt more.
<<include "moneychoice1">>One of the few memories you have of your family, and even now it curdles your stomach with a bitterness that you've never been able to swallow. You were just a kid, you didn't understand-- the decision was made for you, by your mother, by the hunters, by the world that didn't give a shit about you.
It's true life was hard in Gael, but nothing you've done since has been any easier. And no letters, no thank you-- nothing, not even when you completed the Ladder. Not a word since that day, when your mother had to pry your fingers free from your sister's shirt, when she had to carry her away from you, crying in her arms.
Your mother had begged you. You can still hear the desperation in her voice, see it in her eyes, even all these years later, even through the fog in your mind. You remember her eyes.
"This is your one chance," she had said. But you wanted to stay. You wanted to stay.
And you were so small, she was on her knees in front of you, her hands on your shoulders while you cried. Then she let you go, grabbed your sister, and walked away.
Your //one chance//. This isn't what you wanted, this was never what you wanted. But it's what you got.
<<include "moneychoice1">>After all this time, you...
<div id="choice"><<link "Even now, I still make sure to send money when I can from the Black Iron." "sendmoney1">><<set $sent_money to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I stopped sending money a long time ago." "nomoney1">><<set $sent_money to false>><</link>></div><<if $family eq "bad">>Despite everything, you still send them a share when you can. You don't know if it's some twisted sense of duty, or maybe you just want them to feel guilty. If they even feel anything about you at all.
If nothing else, you send it out of spite. Don't let them forget you. What's a better reminder than your blood money? You hope it haunts them.
[[Continue ->oldfriends]]<<elseif $family eq "complicated">>You struggled with what happened, but have tried to make peace with it. Even with the lack of communication, you continue to send money whenever you can. Maybe out of some twisted sense of duty you still feel towards them; you don't know, not really.
It's just what you do. You send the money every month, like a good kid. Maybe one day you'll get the letter you're waiting for.
Maybe one day it won't all be so complicated anymore.
[[Continue ->oldfriends]]<<else>>Even without any communication, you have continued to send money whenever you can. You hope the money has made some kind of a difference, at least, and that when they receive it they think fondly of you. You want them to remember you like you were. Not like you are now.
And sending the money... it's the least you can do.
[[Continue ->oldfriends]]<</if>><<if $family eq "bad">>You sent the money for a few years. Even after you started the Ladder, and controlled that money yourself, you sent a share of it a few times. But then you stopped. You don't even really know why you did it for as long as you did-- maybe because you wanted them to be reminded of you, in some way. A ghost showing up every few months.
But not anymore. Maybe it's better you all just forget.
[[Continue ->oldfriends]]<<elseif $family eq "complicated">>You sent the money for a few years. You felt like it was what you had to do. But the lack of response... the lack of... //anything//.
It was already hard to begin with. They just made it harder. Once you were in the Ladder and gained control of that money, you continued for a little while longer. But it was painful. And so you stopped. You hope... you hope what you gave them was enough.
[[Continue ->oldfriends]]<<else>>You sent the money diligently in the beginning. After starting the Ladder, when you were finally given full control of that money, you continued to send it every month, even without any communication from them. And so it went for a long time. A painful amount of time. No response.
The courier assured you that it was being delivered properly. And you wanted to provide what you could. But eventually, you stopped.
Did they forget about you? Did they see the name on the packages and think you a stranger?
[[Continue ->oldfriends]]<</if>>"What's waiting for you in Blackwater?" Lea's voice startles you, pulling you back into the present, and saving you from spiraling any further. No need to be thinking about those old memories right now.
Instead, you turn your attention to Clementine.
"Just a few old friends," they say, staring off into the trees. Lea raises an eyebrow at that, stealing a glance at you.
Friends in Blackwater? //This one?// Clementine doesn't even look like they've ever spent a day in the Blackwater in their life. It's a mean port city, and suspicious of outsiders. Just like Highfell-- most of the northern country is like that. Isolated, and often forgotten by those in the south, it's a different kind of life up here so close to Gael, one that you doubt a southerner like Clementine has ever truly experienced.
Despite your doubt, a part of you admits that it could be worth it to take the bard to Blackwater. Make some money-- more than the two coins now clinking in your pocket-- maybe ask around about your job, the rumors, and the border before you and Lea go stomping around up there.
But you would also attract a lot of attention in Blackwater. Everything is always a big spectacle in that damned city. And there's a new warden you don't know much about-- Lord Duncan, you think. It would be easier to ask around in the smaller towns and villages in the mountains than sidetrack to Blackwater, nevermind the added day or two of travel it would cost. If you're lucky, and rode hard for the rest of the day and through the night, you could probably get to Blackwater early tomorrow morning. But that's only if it doesn't snow. And you would still have to navigate through the mountains to Highfell, and there's no telling how many days that could take.
"$surname," Lea says, pulling you out of your thoughts again.
You give $l_them a long look, trying to convey all your worries without words. Lea just sighs, shaking $l_their head. Clementine pretends to be oblivious of your little exchange, waiting for the moment to pass before speaking.
"What about you two? What are you doing out here?" they ask, looking between you and Lea. "Seems everyone is running in the other direction these days."
You're sure Clementine knows you have to be out here for work, but either they're too polite to ask directly, or they're too smart to ask directly. You aren't sure which just yet.
"Isn't it a coincidence. We're meeting up with a few old friends, too," Lea says, glancing back at Clementine with a smirk.
They purse their lips, searching Lea's face for a moment, but ultimately seem to decide your suspicion is harmless. "A coincidence," they agree.
"Road's gotten awfully empty," you say then, wanting to redirect the conversation, though your unease is genuine, the woods quiet now but for the wind whispering through the trees, dead branches scratching overhead. You've hardly seen any travelers or soldiers since the toll, and the snowfall has picked up as well, dusting your hood and settling heavy on your shoulders. You feel tense, a knot in the pit of your stomach twisting painfully. You worry $horse_name's reins, rolling the leather against your palms to ease your anxiety.
Lea hums, finally turning away from Clementine and back to the road ahead. "Perhaps that was the last of them," $l_they <<say>> with a shrug.
[[Continue ->hunterexpo1]]Once more your group falls into silence, all lost in your own thoughts as the afternoon lazily passes you by. It's been a while since you've been this far north, and even longer since you've been to Blackwater, with the city having been under tight restrictions during the majority of the plague.
Blackwater is one of the rare populous cities that you don't mind spending time in-- they have a strong respect for hunters and the Order, and while you'll still get the usual fearful look and pointed whisper, it's a far cry from most other places, where you have no choice but to hide in your hood and pray no one takes issue with your presence.
The people's favor was hard earned out here. The Siege of Blackwater-- over a century ago, now, but still fresh in the long, unforgiving memory of the northern people. The Black Iron hunters broke their vow of neutrality, coming to the city's aid, repelling a sudden Gaelish attack in response to a sharp hike in tariffs. The attack was uncoordinated and messy, but the sheer number of Gaelish involved along with the element of surprise left the ports overwhelmed. The attack was condemned on both sides, and the Adranian king at the time took the Order's involvement as a chance to offload the blame. In hindsight, he almost certainly avoided all out war by burdening the Black Iron rather than pointing the finger back at Gael-- and it allowed him and his warden to avoid any responsibility for the unreasonable tariffs, too-- but it was a hard blow that the Black Iron hardly managed to withstand. It took years of damage control to rebuild their reputation in the south as well as mend their relationships with the other Order strongholds, all who looked down at the Black Iron for their choice to get involved at all.
The Order of the Hunt was swift with its disciplinary action. It's all handled internally-- it operates beyond the grasp of any town guard or royal soldier, beyond the reach of any king or council. Hence the supposed political neutrality.
[[Continue ->hunterexpo1.2]]<<set $BlackIron to true>><<set $TheOrder to true>><<set $TheSiege to true>>You and Lea both trained in northern Adrania, at the infamous Black Iron stronghold in the mountains. You had come from Gael, but it was the Black Iron that needed hunters, so you were summarily deposited by your recruiters here before they went back home across the border. And you apprenticed in the north, training for years until your initiation.
You and Lea didn't know each other too well before being paired together. $l_They <<were>> older, and hunters and handlers mostly train separately, though you had seen $l_them around, and even sparred a few times. There weren't many other apprentices, and there are even fewer now-- only one active apprentice training as a handler currently at the Black Iron. The Order isn't what it used to be, long past its glory days, nothing but old cynical warriors and the rare new recruit.
Monsters are just as rare now, too, or so they tell you-- in your experience, you and Lea are never really short on jobs around here. But back when the Order was founded, the threat was constant and overwhelming, a dark age of vicious corruption and black death. But now times are different, civilization is different, and the Vel and its magic have been studied and dissected by academics for centuries, most of its secrets long since exposed. Knowledge and understanding have expanded across the realm, from Adrania to Gael and beyond, with humanity now well acquainted with how to harness the dark and natural forces of the world around them. There are laws in place, with magic heavily regulated, and dark power like blood magic now a crime punishable by death. The creatures that once stalked the land now lurk in the shadows, quietly fading back into the Vel-- or killed by hunters like you. The Order has cut back immensely in the last two centuries, with entire strongholds being abandoned, the previous manpower no longer a necessity like it once was.
Most new recruits have the same story, including you-- poor, desperate fools looking for an easy ride to free meals and a warm bed. Even criminals, outlaws looking for refuge, come stumbling through the gates. Though from what you understand, this has always been a pretty regular occurrence.
No one is turned away from the Order. If you can commit and complete the training and pass your initiation, you are conscripted and welcomed into the brotherhood, your past forgiven-- or erased. You think it's admirable, but not everyone shares that mindset. Certainly not the wealthy families here in Adrania, who glare down their noses at you, and you're sure it's the same for hunters in other countries as well. The Order has fallen a long way since its inception, from a noble institution to a barely tolerated inconvenience. You are certain if the hunters weren't essential to maintaining the Vel, the Order would have been culled a long time ago, in Adrania and beyond.
[[Continue ->hunterexpo1.3]]<<notify 3s>>Codex updated!<</notify>>That's not to say that //everyone// hates you. Northerners remember the Black Iron's efforts during the siege, even if the south holds you in contempt for it. There are quite a few people who are grateful to you and what you do, and more than once you and Lea have been offered a bed or a free meal as thanks.
But lately... it's been nothing but slammed doors and angry whispers, sleeping with one eye open, a knife under your pillow-- if you even sleep at all.
There are more and more people like the soldiers at the toll-- imperious and itching to start a fight. The south was like that, the few times you traveled there.
One particular instance stands out more than the rest, when you were young, still an apprentice. It was your first time down south, shadowing another hunter and their handler with your master, Jorah Flint. The lot of you had been at the local tavern, resting and getting your fill of food and drink before continuing on. When you went to leave, you were ambushed at the stables by a group of belligerent locals.
It was easy work for Jorah and the others-- you didn't even have time to pull out your sword before it was over. You all got on your horses and left quickly, riding hard late into the evening, leaving the town far behind. Later, after you had set up camp and were sitting by a warm fire with Jorah, you had asked him about it. Why it had happened. You were a kid. You didn't understand-- not yet.
You remember Jorah took a long time to respond.
"They're afraid of us," he had finally said, shrugging as he did-- a simple fact. You remember not liking that answer. Jorah had laughed at your sour expression, smiling softly at you. Looking back on it, you realize he was sad, too.
"Sorry, kid, but it's true. I'm not going to lie to you. We are like the omen-- but worse. Undeniable. A bird could just be a bird. A dog could just be a dog. But a hunter-- well. There's only one thing we can be."
He had tapped his cheek, just below his eye, with the flat of his knife. The gold around his iris was vibrant in the evening light, glowing like the fire beside you.
"So they are afraid. People don't like to be reminded there are wolves out there, lurking in the dark. Big bad wolves," he smirked at you then, flashing his teeth. But the smile fell quickly as he glanced down at the wood in his hand. Carefully, he picked at it with his knife, carving away a few small pieces in the silence.
"You can hate them too, if you want," he said then. "Hate them like they hate us. I wouldn't blame you for it." He paused again. "But you have to promise me-- that you'll always stop the wolves when they come. Out of the dark, scratching at the door. You can't let them in," Jorah was always a very dramatic speaker, gesturing with his knife as he spoke, "And it will be tempting, sometimes. I know it. We've all had the temptation-- to just let nature take its course. Let the wolves feed."
Jorah shook his head then, looking back over at you. “We have to be better." You wonder if he was talking to you-- or trying to convince himself.
"So you promise me." Jorah pointed his knife at you, raising an eyebrow. "Promise me that you'll be better. Better than the wolves. Better than those people."
You were so young then. Far from your initiation.
"Promise me."
You had promised.
<div id="choice"><<link "I was a stupid child then. Jorah knew that was a promise I would never be able to keep." "stupidchild1">><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It\'s an honorable idea. But some days... some days are harder than others." "honorableidea1">><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I made that promise, and I meant it." "meantit1">><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div><div class="container">
<b>Humanity</b> <<= '<div class="fill" style="width: ' + $sanity + '%;"><i>($sanity%)</i></div>' >>
</div><br>
<br>
Hunter Status: Active<br>
Handler: Lea Chen<br>
<br>
<<if $nopr eq false>>The Hunter is a $mc_person that is skilled in magic, alchemy, and swordsmanship, <<if $mc_mage eq true>>though $mc_they <<switch $mc_plural>><<case true>>favor<<case false>>favors<</switch>> magic.<</if>><<if $mc_swordsman eq true>> though $mc_they <<switch $mc_plural>><<case true>>favor<<case false>>favors<</switch>> the sword.<</if>><<if $mc_archer eq true>> though $mc_they <<switch $mc_plural>><<case true>>favor<<case false>>favors<</switch>> a bow.<</if>><<if $mc_axeman eq true>> though $mc_they <<switch $mc_plural>><<case true>>favor<<case false>>favors<</switch>> an axe.<</if>><<if $mc_alchemist eq true>> though $mc_they <<switch $mc_plural>><<case true>>favor<<case false>>favors<</switch>> transmutational alchemy.<</if>>
<<if $prologueComplete>><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>Approach the Hunter with caution - $surname displays extreme aggression, and is considered dangerous.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>Approach the Hunter carefully - $surname is guarded, and tends to be harder to read than most.<<else>>Be aware - when approaching the Hunter, do not be fooled by $mc_their personable attitude.<</if>><</if>><<else>>The Hunter is a $mc_person that is skilled in magic, alchemy, and swordsmanship, <<if $mc_mage eq true>>though $surname favors magic.<</if>><<if $mc_swordsman eq true>> though $surname favors the sword.<</if>><<if $mc_archer eq true>> though $surname favors a bow.<</if>><<if $mc_axeman eq true>> though $surname favors an axe.<</if>><<if $mc_alchemist eq true>> though $surname favors transmutational alchemy.<</if>>
<<if $prologueComplete>><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>Approach the Hunter with caution - $surname displays extreme aggression, and is considered dangerous.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>Approach the Hunter carefully - $surname is guarded, and tends to be harder to read than most.<<else>>Be aware - when approaching Hunter $surname, do not be fooled by $surname's personable attitude.<</if>><</if>><</if>>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family:'IM Fell DW Pica', serif;font-size:150%;">Companions</span><br>
<br>
__Your handler, Lea Chen.__<br>
<<if $bw_lea eq false>>
<<if $l_relationship eq 0>>The two of you are not on the best of terms right now, following the events of Keld.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 1>>You and Lea have come to a fragile agreement. You want to be partners.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 7>>After ditching Lea in Blackwater, your relationship has reached a breaking point. You're not sure where the two of you can go from here.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 12>>You want a reassignment. Lea didn't take it well.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 9>>You think Lea probably hates you right now. You realize you don't care.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 10>>You want a reassignment. Lea didn't take it well.<br>
<<else>>You told Lea that you're willing to talk, after this job. Maybe it will be easier then.<br><</if>>
<<else>>
<<if $l_relationship eq 0>>The two of you are not on the best of terms right now, following the events of Keld.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 1>>You and Lea have come to a fragile agreement. You want to be partners.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 12>>You want a reassignment. Lea didn't take it well.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 9>>You think Lea probably hates you right now. You realize you don't care.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 10>>You want a reassignment. Lea didn't take it well.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 8>>You told Lea that you're willing to talk, after this job. Maybe it will be easier then.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 2>>You're frustrated and angry at Lea, but you still want to try and mend things with $l_them. You bought $l_them a peace offering at the market.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 3>>You're frustrated and angry. You don't really know how to fix this, but maybe you can just ignore it. You bought Lea a peace offering at the market.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 4>>You're frustrated and angry. You don't really know how to fix this, but maybe you can just ignore it. That's what you always do.<br>
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 6>>Fuck Lea.<br>
<<else>>You told Lea that you're willing to talk, after this job. Maybe it will be easier then.<br><</if>><</if>><br>
<<if ($meet_clementine is true) and ($clem_with is true)>>__The curious bard, Clementine.__<br>
<<if $c_relationship eq 0>>You chose to allow the bard to come along with you... maybe you'll find out more about them.<br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 1>>Clementine offered you an interesting deal, and you agreed to it. <<if $bloodpact>>You made the deal in blood.<<else>>You shook on it.<</if>><br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 2>><<if $clem_tavernfight eq false>>Clementine offered you a deal, but you turned them down. You have a bad feeling about the whole affair.<<else>>Clementine offered you a deal, and things got a little heated between you two. You turned them down, and snapped at them, before they ran off.<</if>><br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 5>>After your argument in the tavern, Clementine attempted to apologise. You did not accept their apology.<br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 6>>Things between you and the bard are particularly tense, at the moment.<br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 7>>After your argument in the tavern, you and Clementine both apologized to each other. Things are a little awkward, but they are better.<br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 8>>Clementine offered you a deal, and you're interested - but you need to talk to Lea first.<br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 9>>You don't trust the bard, and you told them so. You're not looking to make nice with them anymore.<br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 10>>Clementine invited you to their room, and you accepted their invitation. You're grateful for their company, and you find yourself thinking about them more and more...<br>
<<elseif $c_relationship eq 11>>Clementine invited you to their room, but you turned them down. It's not a good idea... for you, or them, you're not sure.<br><</if>><br><</if>>
<<if $meet_merry>>__The Gaelish captain, Merry Harlowe.__<br>
<<if $bw_merry eq false>>
<<if $m_relationship eq 0 and $bw_merryvisit eq false>>You're not sure what to think about Captain Harlowe yet.<br>
<<elseif $m_relationship eq 0 and $bw_merryvisit eq true>>After visiting the captain alone in the tavern, you're still having a hard time getting a read on her.<br>
<<else>>You're not sure what to think about Captain Harlowe yet.<br><</if>>
<<else>>
<<if $m_relationship eq 0>>Even after spending the day with the captain, you're still having a hard time getting a read on her.<br>
<<elseif $m_relationship eq 1>>After spending the day with the captain, you find yourself thinking about her more and more...<br>
<<elseif $m_relationship eq 2>>Despite your best efforts, you find yourself thinking about the captain more often than you'd like.<br>
<<elseif $m_relationship eq 3>>After spending the day with the captain, you find yourself... interested in her.<br>
<<elseif $m_relationship eq 4>>You read the poem. You idiot.<br>
<<elseif $m_relationship eq 5>>You read Merry's poem. Your joke didn't land very well.<br>
<<elseif $m_relationship eq 11>>You're not sure what just happened. You shouldn't have gone to see her.<br><</if>><</if>><br><</if>>
<<if $meet_noel>>__The healer, Noel Lykaon.__<br>
<<if $bw_noel eq false>>Another hunter, like you. It's strange that you've never met before.<br>
<<else>>
<<if $n_relationship eq 0>>You find yourself drawn towards Noel. It's nice to have another hunter around.<br>
<<elseif $n_relationship eq 1>>You like Noel. And not just because he's a hunter...<br>
<<elseif $n_relationship eq 2>>Despite yourself, you can't stop thinking about Noel.<br>
<<elseif $n_relationship eq 3>>Noel knows something is wrong with you.<br>
<<elseif $n_relationship eq 4>>Despite yourself, you can't stop thinking about Noel.<br>
<<elseif $n_relationship eq 5>>Even after the two of you clashed in the isolation district, you have forgiven Noel... and you can't stop thining about xem.<br>
<<elseif $n_relationship eq 6>>Even after the tense moment in the isolation district, you feel a little fond towards Noel. You're grateful for another hunter.<br><</if>><</if>><br><</if>><span class="smaller">
[img[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/791455473122803714/884475858415394866/writing1.png]]
</span>
<span class="smaller">
[img[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/791455473122803714/884475389672554516/fuck_copy.png]]
</span><div class="left"><<include "entries-left">></div>
<div class="right"><<include "entries-right">></div><div class="left"><<include "codex-left">></div>
<div class="right"><<include "codex-right">></div><div class="left"><<include "characters-left">></div>
<div class="right"><<include "characters-right">></div><div class="left"><<include "hunter-left">></div>
<div class="right"><<include "hunter-right">></div><span class="smaller">
[img[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/791455473122803714/884480133023555604/cofee.png?width=523&height=610]]
</span><br>
<div class="journal-entry" id="entry-1">Brief history of the Black Iron.</div>
<div class="journal-entry" id="entry-2">Brief description of the Ladder.</div>
<div class="journal-entry" id="entry-3">Brief description of the Vel.</div>talk about the ladder<div class="left"><<include "hunter-left">></div>
<div class="right"><<include "ladderentry">></div>It was an honorable idea Jorah tried to impress in you. But... being honorable doesn't help you in your line of work, does it?
Sure, you can fight the wolves. It's what happens after that's the tricky part. When you close your eyes at night but sleep never comes, when you have to stitch yourself back together alone with shaking hands, when you see shadows lurking around every corner. It's hard to be //better//, then.
<<include "doesntmatter1">>You were naïve. You wish Jorah would have spent more time preparing you for the reality of this life, rather than filling your head with stupid stories and some false reality where people are //good//. Fuck the wolves, what about everything else? The nightmares, the insomnia, the injuries that never really heal, the people that throw stones and curse your name.
That was a disservice. If you could see him again, you would tell him so. //Wherever you are, old man.//
<<include "doesntmatter1">>It's not easy. But this is what you're here to do.
Making that promise was important to you. You wish you could tell Jorah now what it meant back then. What it still means to you now. You don't want to let Jorah down. You won't. You'll be better.
<<include "doesntmatter1">>You reach up and grab at your necklace, running a gloved finger over the eye. A gift from him, when you passed your initiation.
"$surname," Lea's voice calls back to you, along with a sudden cold wind that cuts you to the bone. You curse yourself under your breath-- //reminiscing again//. Trapped in your own head today.
"We need to get off the road," Lea is saying, gesturing with a nod towards the trees. The snow is coming down hard now, and you can barely see more than a few yards ahead of you.
You follow Lea as $l_they cut<<s>> over into the woods, picking $l_their way carefully through the snowy foliage. Clementine is completely hunched over, clinging to Lea's back as they try to shield themself from the snow. Their jacket has no hood, their curly hair damp and wilting atop their head despite their best efforts.
Luckily, beneath the trees the harsh weather eases considerably, barely coming through the thick pines, even with their branches bowing under the weight of fresh snow. Lea guides you to a small clearing, open enough to breathe but still well shielded by the swathe of trees surrounding it.
"This looks good," you call, giving $l_them a nod. You dismount quickly, pulling off your rucksack to begin unloading your camp gear before the snow can get any worse. You glance up briefly and watch Lea help Clementine down off Gambit. You can tell they must be cold, the way they huddle next to the horses, shaking their wet hair and pulling their jacket tight around their shoulders.
<div id="choice"><<link "They will be fine. We're sheltered under the trees now." "ignorethem">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Tell them I'll get the fire going as soon as possible." "saysomething">><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Give them my cloak. I need to take it off to set up the camp, anyways." "offercloak">><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>You narrow your eyes at them, at their ill-equipped clothing and lack of furs. The poor bastard will freeze to death if you don't hurry. You drop your gaze with a shake of your head, unfastening your damp cloak, turning your back to the bard as you drape it over your saddle to dry.
From there, you move quickly, fire being your first priority. Already the shadows are growing darker, and you can feel the deepening chill of night fast encroaching.
<<include "camp1">>"I'll get the fire going as soon as I can," you say, standing and giving Clementine a nod.
They huff, embarrassed at you acknowledging their obvious misery. "Not my finest moment right now," they say, shuffling in the snow.
You give them your best sympathetic look, before Lea claps a hand on their shoulder, startling them.
"Let's move it, $surname," Lea cuts in, nodding at you. You purse your lips and return the nod, quickly unfastening your cloak and draping it over your saddle to dry-- its wet weight was starting to make your shoulders itch.
You move quickly, fire being your first priority. Already the shadows are growing darker, and you can feel the deepening chill of night fast encroaching.
<<include "camp1">>You stand and unfasten your cloak, feeling its damp weight lift off your shoulders. It's not much, but it's the best you can do before you can get the fire going to dry you all out. "Here," you offer, thrusting the cloak out for them, but they startle, jumping back as if you were lunging for them.
You scowl, and their eyes widen before they quickly turn to avoid your gaze.
"I... I can't take that from you," they say weakly.
"Just take it," you huff, "I have to take it off anyways. It will just get in my way. Take it."
Reluctantly, Clementine does indeed take it, their face flushed, the tips of their ears red from more than just the cold. "Thank you," they say quietly, draping it over their shoulders and pulling up the hood. They gently touch the fur around the collar, rubbing it between their thumb and forefinger.
"The cold will kill you faster out here than anything else," you say, in an attempt to smooth things over, and Clementine nods gravely, staring down at their feet.
"All sorted?" Lea cuts in then, looking between the two of you.
"Yeah. It's fine," you say reflexively, gesturing Lea ahead, and you're relieved to follow after $l_them into the clearing, putting some space between yourself and the bard.
You move quickly, fire being your first priority. Already the shadows are growing darker, and you can feel the deepening chill of night fast encroaching.
<<include "camp1">>Lea stands tall in the center of the clearing, knocking loose snow from the lower branches overhead, ensuring the safety of your soon-to-be fire. You mirror $l_them on the ground, kicking at the snow before dropping down on your knees to better clear it from the forest floor. Digging in with your gloved hands, you easily swipe away the top layer, but have to make an effort to break away the compacted ice underneath, frozen mud and foliage all smashed together in a dark, slimy crust.
"What can I do to help?" Clementine's voice suddenly sounds from over your shoulder, and you glance over as they step up beside you, wringing their hands nervously.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Gather some wood for the fire."' 'wood'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Go see what Lea needs help with."' 'helping'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just stay out of the way."' 'standing'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=5>><<set $c_rivalry +=5>><</link>></div>"Start gathering some wood," you say, glancing up at them, "the drier the better."
Clementine gives you a determined nod, and quickly begins to search around the clearing.
<<include "camp1.2">>"Go ask Lea what $l_they need<<s>>," you say, glancing up at them as you claw at the frozen ground.
Clementine nods, turning to go consult Lea where $l_they stand<<s>> by your bags. You focus back on the task at hand.
<<include "camp1.2">>"Just stay out of the way," you say, aggressively clawing at the frozen ground to break up the ice.
"I-- I think I can manage that," Clementine stammers, shuffling off to stand at the outskirts of the clearing, watching you and Lea work.
<<include "camp1.2">>As you clear away the snow, Lea joins you with $l_their little stash of tinder, safely wrapped in a thick leather pouch. You both keep tinder squirreled away deep in your rucksacks, precisely for times like this. Crouching at your side, you see $l_they also <<have>> a few small pieces of wood tucked under $l_their arm and $l_their knife in $l_their hand. $l_They carefully set<<s>> the tinder pouch down next to you, and then hold<<s>> out a few pieces of wood, giving you an expectant look.
You take it with a nod, having finished clearing enough of the snow for a good-sized fire. Sitting back on your heels you take out your hunter's knife and begin to strip the outer layer of wood away from each piece, exposing the drier wood at the core.
You can feel Jorah cringing somewhere over you using your hunter's knife for such a mundane task.
<<if hasVisited("wood")>>Clementine reappears then, their face flushed and arms full of wood.
"Here," you point towards the edge of the little space you cleared. "Just keep it off the snow."
Clementine grunts and sets down the wood, staggering a bit, but careful not to topple it over.
Lea, content with you and Clementine finishing the process, leaves you $l_their stripped wood and moves off to start setting up your tent. Once you finish stripping your own wood, you gather it all together along with some of the tinder you take from Lea's pouch, carefully building the foundation of your fire.
You lean forward, putting your hands out over either side of the kindling, and taking a deep breath, you summon a flash of lightning between your hands, striking and igniting the tinder. You keep your hands up, coaxing the fire forward, watching it slowly grow and crawl along the kindling.
With one hand over the infant flame you reach for one of the logs, which Clementine scrambles to hand to you. You take it and gently lay it across your little construct, holding out your hand to Clementine for more. Slowly you build the logs on top of each other, with Clementine handing you more as needed, all while keeping one hand out to pull at the fire. You stack them high, the kindling burning bright at the center, fire quickly spreading up through the logs. It takes a bit of effort with the fire due to the wetness of the wood, but eventually the logs are burning hot without the assistance of your magic.<<elseif hasVisited("helping")>>Lea, content with you finishing the process, leaves you $l_their stripped wood, setting out to raise your tent.
Clementine has already started assembling it, you assume at Lea's request, with the oilskin tarp spread haphazardly atop the snow. Once you finish stripping the wood, you set it aside with the tinder Lea left you and move to gather wood from around the clearing. You make quick work of it, walking a few large armfuls over to the spot you cleared, careful to keep the pile from toppling into the snow.
Using as little tinder as possible, you begin to prepare the fire, the stripped wood the best you can do for kindling. With your hands raised in front of you, you lean forward, taking a deep breath, and effortlessly summon a flash of lightning that bursts between your hands, striking and igniting the tinder. Keeping your hands up, you coax the fire forward, watching it grow as it slowly crawls along and catches more of the kindling.
With one hand remaining over the infant flame you reach over for one of the logs, careful not to break your focus on the fire. You gently lay the wood across the kindling, slowly reaching over for more. Carefully, you build the logs on top of each other, mastering the blind reach and grab for wood, all while keeping one hand out to pull at the fire. You stack them high, the kindling burning bright at the center, fire quickly spreading up through the logs. It takes a bit of effort with the fire due to the wetness of the wood, but eventually the logs are burning hot without the assistance of your magic.<<else>>Lea, content with you finishing the process, leaves you $l_their stripped wood, setting out to raise your tent.
Once you finish stripping the wood, you set it aside with the tinder pouch and move to gather even more wood from around the clearing. You make quick work of it, walking a few large armfuls over to the spot you cleared, careful to keep the pile from toppling into the snow.
You glance up at Lea's loud cursing, watching as $l_they wrestle<<s>> with your thick, oilskin tarp, kicking it open and tossing it haphazardly across the snow. Shaking your head, you crouch back down and take some tinder from its pouch, bundling it together with the stripped wood, beginning the foundations of your fire. The stripped wood is the best you'll get for kindling out here, and you make do with what you've got. You lean forward, putting your hands out over either side of the kindling, and with a slow, deep breath, you summon a flash of lightning that bursts between your hands, striking and igniting the tinder. You keep your hands up, coaxing the fire forward, watching it grow and catch the kindling.
With one hand steady over the infant flame you reach over for your stack of logs, careful not to break your focus on the fire. You gently lay the wood across the kindling before slowly reaching over for more. Carefully, you build the logs on top of each other, mastering the blind reach and grab, all while keeping one hand out to pull at the fire. You stack them high, the kindling burning bright at the center, fire quickly spreading up through the logs. It takes a bit of effort with the fire due to the wetness of the wood, but eventually the logs are burning hot without the assistance of your magic.<</if>>
[[Continue ->camp1.3]]You sit back and grin, already feeling the heat, your face flushed and eyes watering slightly from the smoke.
"Nice work," Clementine says,<<if hasVisited("helping")>> suddenly appearing beside you,<</if>><<if hasVisited("standing")>> suddenly appearing beside you,<</if>> mirroring your grin with their own. They crouch down next to the fire, rubbing their hands together.
Looking up, you see Lea has finished setting up the tent, and the horses have been moved closer to the fire. Lea reappears from around Gambit, the rations given to $l_them this morning by the innkeeper in $l_their hands.
"You really shouldn't use your magic for that," Lea sighs, shaking $l_their head at you. "You know we have a flint you could have used."
"It's one fire, Lea. It's fine," you say, rolling your eyes.
Magic comes directly from the living world around you, connected to you and the Vel through powerful ley lines that stretch all across the world, allowing you to manipulate energy, the elements, and nature to do your will. But the energy also comes from inside you-- your own life force being what connects you to those ley lines and gives you the power to channel your intent. Using magic too much can exhaust you quickly, if you aren't careful. While it's very rare to meet someone who can't use magic, it takes a lot of training to reliably control it. Connecting to it when you're inexperienced can lead to it overwhelming you-- and even killing you. Even experienced magic users can get overwhelmed-- the elements are unpredictable and dangerous. Simple tasks like starting a fire may not seem like much, but there's always a chance it can cost you more than you bargained for.
The Vel works the same way for hunters, as well, and there's always a chance that old magic can latch onto you-- and consume you.
//If// you don't know what you're doing. But you trained for years to do this. Something Lea seems to forget more often than not. You glare over at $l_them as $l_they approach<<es>> the fire, but $l_they <<dont>> say anything else. Instead, $l_they just offer<<s>> up the rations bundled in $l_their hands.
"I've got jerky... and more jerky," $l_they <<say>>, throwing you a few pieces wrapped in cloth along with a scrap of oilskin for you to sit on. $l_They hand<<s>> a few pieces of jerky to Clementine as well, before snapping open $l_their old camp chair with one hand and taking a seat beside you.
<div id="choice"><<link "I lean a little closer to Lea without even thinking about it." "closertolea1">><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I find myself drawn close to the strange little bard." "closertoclem">><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I stretch out my legs and move back a bit, making space for myself between the two." "myspace1">><</link>></div>You shift from where you've been crouching over the fire, stretching out your legs and sitting with your shoulder nearly touching Lea's chair. The two of you have long since perfected this routine, and it's familiarity is a comfort to you, ending each day side by side in front of the fire. You think Lea finds some comfort in it, too.
$l_They glance<<s>> down at you, raising an eyebrow, but $l_they give<<s>> you a small smile, just visible in the dark.
[[Continue ->muffins.1]]You sit back in front of the fire, resting your arms over your knees, glancing over as Clementine does the same where they're crouched beside you, moving to cross their legs. They catch your look, blinking slowly, their little bells ringing softly with every movement until finally falling silent as they settle atop the oilskin, hunched cross-legged and leaning towards the heat.
When it's clear you're not going to move away, they smile with a little bob of their head, hugging their knees and rocking towards you slightly.
Your face heats up unexpectedly, warm from more than just the fire. You look away quickly, though, staring down at your hands, scowling and fidgeting with the buckles on your boots, annoyed at yourself.
Lea watches the two of you from atop $l_their perch, and you avoid the amused little smirk $l_they shoot<<s>> in your direction, resisting the urge to shoot a rude gesture of your own right back. The moment passes, though, and Lea leans back, staring up the glimpses of sky between the pines, while you keep picking at your boots.
[[Continue ->muffins.1]]You shift out of your low crouch over the fire, wincing as you stretch your legs out, sitting down hard on the scrap of oilskin between Lea and Clementine.
The bard takes a moment to settle, their little bells ringing softly with every movement until finally falling silent as they hunch cross-legged on the very edge of the oilskin, hugging their knees and bowing their head towards the heat. Lea watches them, $l_their eyes narrowed, chewing quietly on $l_their jerky, before leaning back and staring up at the glimpses of sky between the pines.
[[Continue ->muffins.1]]As night falls around you, the three of you are enveloped in a warm silence, watching the fire as you eat. The trees sway a gentle rhythm overhead, punctuated by the loud pop of burning wood, the sparks a dizzying glow as they vanish upwards in the curling smoke. Here one moment, gone the next.
Sitting together like this, it's almost... nice. It's almost normal. This is what it would be like, in a different life, maybe. You get like this sometimes, when you travel with other people. There's safety in numbers, especially on the road like this, and you've shared camps before, usually with some brand of hired sword-- someone who has lived a life similar to yours. There's always a moment of calm, where all of you sit together around the fire, eat together, maybe share stories and drinks, and it never fails to make you ache.
"Oh!" Clementine says suddenly, clapping their hands together, startling you, bringing you blinking back into the clearing. "I have something we can share," they say, setting down their jerky and standing back up, moving to where they had dropped their pack earlier.
"If you're about to offer hardtack, we don't want it," you say, only half joking.
"Ew... no," Clementine says, glancing back at you from where they're digging through their bag, scrunching up their nose in disgust. "Here!" they say triumphantly, pulling a small cloth bag from inside their pack. They move back to their spot at the fire, pulling open the bag as they sit cross-legged next to you.
"Well, they're a little smashed from being in there," they say sadly, "but it will still taste the same." From the bag Clementine produces a handful of muffins.
"No way," Lea grins, leaning around you to get a good look at them. "I'm so glad we brought you with us," $l_they <<say>> with a laugh.
Clementine smiles bashfully, handing both of you each a muffin. "It's honey bread!" they say proudly.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I take it. "Thank you."' 'thanks4muff'>><<set $c_friendship +=2>><<set $muffin to true>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm not one to turn down sweets, even if I'm not really sure about Clementine yet. I take it with a nod. ->nod4muff]]>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><<set $muffin to true>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t take food from people I don\'t know. "No, thanks."' 'bluntnothanks4muff'>><<set $muffin to false>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I definitely don\'t take food from people I don\'t know. "No."' 'rudenothanks4muff'>><<set $muffin to false>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><<set $c_rivalry +=1>><</link>></div>"No, thanks," you say, shaking your head at them. Clementine deflates slightly, but gives you a small smile nonetheless, returning to their seat in front of the fire.
<<if $nopr eq true>>"I'll take $name's,"<<else>>"I'll take $mc_theirs,"<</if>> Lea says around a mouthful of muffin. You can see $l_they<<ve>> already inhaled half of $l_their own.
Clementine laughs, grinning over at your handler. "Okay," they say, reaching around and handing the second muffin over.
You watch Lea as $l_they eat<<s>>, simultaneously amused and annoyed by $l_their enthusiasm. You roll your eyes at $l_them, turning away and looking expectantly at Clementine. "Did you make those yourself?" you ask.
They nod, staring into the fire thoughtfully. "I like baking, and cooking. And it's fun to share with people."
<<include "toosweet">>"Thank you," you say, the sweet smell of honey now permeating the camp and making your mouth water. "You made these yourself?" you ask, glancing over at Lea as $l_they eagerly take<<s>> $l_their first bite.
Clementine nods, staring into the fire thoughtfully. "I like baking, and cooking. And it's fun to share with people."
<<include "toosweet">>You take the offered muffin with a quick nod, the sweet smell of honey now permeating the camp and making your mouth water. "You made these yourself?" you ask, glancing over at Lea as $l_they eagerly take<<s>> $l_their first bite.
Clementine nods, staring into the fire thoughtfully. "I like baking, and cooking. And it's fun to share with people."
<<include "toosweet">>"No," you say gruffly, turning your nose from the offered muffin, though the sweet smell of honey has already overwhelmed the camp, making your mouth water despite yourself.
"Oh-- okay," Clementine stammers, quickly deflating and avoiding your pointed stare.
<<if $nopr eq true>>"I'll take $name's,"<<else>>"I'll take $mc_theirs,"<</if>> Lea says around a mouthful of muffin. You can see $l_they<<ve>> already inhaled half of $l_their own.
Clementine laughs, perking back up and smiling over at your handler. "Okay," they say, happily handing over the second muffin.
"Did you make those yourself?" you ask warily, watching Lea as $l_they eat<<s>>.
Clementine nods, staring into the fire thoughtfully. "I like baking, and cooking. And it's fun to share with people."
<<include "toosweet">>"Aren't you sweet," Lea laughs. "Too sweet for Blackwater," $l_they add<<s>>, eyeing them curiously.
Clementine shrugs, blushing slightly, though their eyes are hard as they keep their gaze locked on the flames. For a brief moment, you see something more, flickering across their face along with the dancing shadows, but it's gone just as quick, their face softening as they laugh lightly at Lea's comment.
Lea doesn't seem to notice, finishing <<if $muffin>>$l_their muffin<<else>>both muffins<</if>> before leaning back in $l_their chair, the old wood creaking dangerously as $l_they dig<<s>> $l_their heels into the snow and balance<<s>> on its back legs, $l_their hands resting lightly on $l_their stomach.
<<if $muffin>>You eat your muffin slowly, savoring the sweet taste and wishing for more as soon as you take your last bite. You sigh, brushing crumbs from your jerkin before peering around the clearing, shivering at the sound of the distant wind whispering through the trees-- but your camp is quiet and insulated within the fire's warm glow.<<else>>You sigh, turning way from $l_them, peering around the clearing, shivering at the sound of the distant wind whispering through the trees-- but your camp is quiet and insulated within the fire's warm glow.<</if>>
"Clementine, do you have a tent?" you ask suddenly, realizing yours is the only one standing.
"Ah..." Clementine begins sheepishly, "No, I don't. Just a bedroll. I had to pack quickly for the road, and maybe... forgot some things."
Lea waves $l_their hand, the movement making $l_their chair groan. "We can share," $l_they <<say>>. "It's a two-person tent."
"But there's three of us..." Clementine barely squeaks out.
"We take turns keeping watch out here," you tell them.
"I can sleep by the fire," they try, but Lea brings the chair down onto all fours, as if to emphasize $l_their point.
"You'll freeze," $l_they <<say>> bluntly.
You can't help but agree.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Doesn't mean I like it, though. ->dontlikeit]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't mind it. It's not the first time I've shared close quarters with strangers, and it definitely won't be the last. ->dontmind]]>><<set $bold +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Me and Lea have shared more beds than I care to remember. And a pantry, now. But I don't know Clementine like I know Lea... ->domind]]>><<set $shy +=1>><</link>></div>You frown at the you in the mirror, who frowns right back. Seeing your reflection always makes you uneasy. The dream-mirror rises out of the water then, into the back of your mind, and you imagine it behind you, your reflection repeated into infinity. A cold chill skitters down your spine as you stare at yourself. You feel disconnected, someone different from this person in the mirror-- you remember yourself before the Vel, before the scars. At least you got all the blood off your face. You banish the illusion of the dream-mirror, shaking your head and leaning over the basin. Reaching a hand up, you pull at your lower lid, opening your eye wide and peering at the steady swirl of gold. You look exhausted. More than usual. You drop your hand and hang your head, your grip tightening around the porcelain edge.
The ache starts just behind your eyes, blooming fast, creeping down the back of your neck. Lifting your head, you glare at your reflection, and strain against the urge to break the mirror with your fist. //Don't look at me like that//, you think. You push off the basin, turning away from your reflection with a sneer.
You flick the remaining water from your hands and pull your hood back up before sweeping out into the hallway. A few soldiers step into the hall from the front room at the same time, and you duck your head to hide in the shadows of your hood. But they pay you no mind, grumbling to each other, shuffling past you and shoving each other through the door and into the washroom. You quickly return to the pantry, quietly closing the door and letting out a sigh of relief.
Inside, Lea is still asleep, snoring soundly, completely sprawled out now that your body wasn't there to stop them.
<div id="choice"><<link "They look right fucking cozy, their long legs nearly taking up the whole damn pantry. //[they/them pronouns]//" "blame">><<set $l_person to "person">><<set $l_they to "they">><<set $l_They to "They">><<set $l_theyre to "they're">><<set $l_Theyre to "They're">><<set $l_them to "them">><<set $l_their to "their">><<set $l_Their to "Their">><<set $l_theirs to "theirs">><<set $l_themself to "themself">><<set $l_plural to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Turned to the right, I can see the two beauty marks just below his left eye, as well as the two long scars along the hollow of his cheek. //[he/him pronouns]//" "blame">><<set $l_person to "man">><<set $l_they to "he">><<set $l_They to "He">><<set $l_theyre to "he's">><<set $l_Theyre to "He's">><<set $l_them to "him">><<set $l_Them to "Him">><<set $l_their to "his">><<set $l_Their to "His">><<set $l_theirs to "his">><<set $l_themself to "himself">><<set $l_plural to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "When she's awake, she's a mean fighter but an even better alchemist-- one of //the// best. //[she/her pronouns]//" "blame">><<set $l_person to "woman">><<set $l_they to "she">><<set $l_They to "She">><<set $l_theyre to "she's">><<set $l_Theyre to "She's">><<set $l_them to "her">><<set $l_their to "her">><<set $l_Their to "Her">><<set $l_theirs to "hers">><<set $l_themself to "herself">><<set $l_plural to false>><</link>></div><div id="choice"><<link "...and straight." "straightstyle">><<set $hairtexture to "straight">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "...and wavy." "wavystyle">><<set $hairtexture to "wavy">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "...and curly." "curlystyle">><<set $hairtexture to "curly">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "...and I have Afro-textured hair." "afrostyle">><<set $hairtexture to "afrotext">><</link>></div>You tend to keep it...
<<if $hairlength eq "short">>
<div id="choice"><<link "Shaved. It's easy to maintain and pleasing to run a hand over." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "shaved">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Short and out of the way. Though I do tend to wake up with it all over the place." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "short">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's chin-length, easy to pull back out of my face but with other styling options as well. As if I ever style my hair." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "chinlength">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it quite short in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div><<elseif $hairlength eq "midlength">><div id="choice"><<link "I keep it pulled back and out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "pulledback">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's been in the same braid for a few days now..." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braid">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is quite messy... too many cuts with an old knife. I manage to keep most of it pulled back out of my face." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "choppy">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it shorter in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link "I keep it pulled back and out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "pulledback">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's been in the same braid for a few days now..." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braid">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is quite messy... too many cuts with an old knife. I manage to keep most of it pulled back out of my face." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "choppy">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it shorter in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div>
<</if>>You tend to keep it...
<<if $hairlength eq "short">>
<div id="choice"><<link "Shaved. It's easy to maintain and pleasing to run a hand over." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "shaved">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Short and out of the way. Though I do tend to wake up with it all over the place." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "short">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's chin-length, easy to pull back out of my face but with other styling options as well. As if I ever style my hair." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "chinlength">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it quite short in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div><<elseif $hairlength eq "midlength">><div id="choice"><<link "I keep it pulled back and out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "pulledback">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's been in the same braid for a few days now..." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braid">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is quite messy... too many cuts with an old knife. I manage to keep most of it pulled back out of my face." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "choppy">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it shorter in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link "I keep it pulled back and out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "pulledback">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's been in the same braid for a few days now..." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braid">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is quite messy... too many cuts with an old knife. I manage to keep most of it pulled back out of my face." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "choppy">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it shorter in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div>
<</if>>You tend to keep it...
<<if $hairlength eq "short">><div id="choice"><<link "Shaved. It's easy to maintain and pleasing to run a hand over." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "shaved">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Short and out of the way. Though I do tend to wake up with it all over the place, especially with my curls." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "short">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's chin-length, easy to pull back out of my face but with other styling options as well. As if I ever style my hair." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "chinlength">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it quite short in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div><<elseif $hairlength eq "midlength">><div id="choice"><<link "I keep it pulled back out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "pulledback">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's been in the same braid for a few days now... despite the best efforts of my curls to break free." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braid">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is quite messy... too many cuts with an old knife. I manage to keep most of it pulled back out of my face, though there are definitely a few stray curls here and there." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "choppy">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it short in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link "I keep it pulled back out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "pulledback">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's been in the same braid for a few days now... despite the best efforts of my curls to break free." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braid">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is quite messy... too many cuts with an old knife. I manage to keep most of it pulled back out of my face, though there are definitely a few stray curls here and there." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "choppy">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I tend to keep it short in the front, out of my eyes, and slightly longer in the back." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "mullet">><</link>></div>
<</if>>You tend to keep it...
<<if $hairlength eq "short">><div id="choice"><<link "Shaved, with a fade." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "fade">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "Short, and I maintain a line-up." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "lineup">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is in short locs." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "locs">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I have it in tight braids, to keep it out of my face." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braids">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "In short twists. When I'm feeling particularly daring I even have some jewelry I like to wear." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "twists">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I have it natural, in a short afro, and I have perfected the art of tucking it neatly into my hood." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "afro">><</link>></div><<elseif $hairlength eq "midlength">><div id="choice"><<link "It's braided back out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braids">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's in box braids, kept tied back out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "boxbraids">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is in locs." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "locs">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "In short twists. When I'm feeling particularly daring I even have some jewelry I like to wear." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "twists">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I have it natural, in an afro, and I have perfected the art of tucking it neatly into my hood." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "afro">><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link "It's braided back out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "braids">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It's in box braids, kept tied back out of my way." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "boxbraids">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "My hair is in locked, gathered and tied back out of my face." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "locs">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "In twists. When I'm feeling particularly daring I even have some jewelry I like to wear." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "twists">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I have it natural, in an afro, and I have perfected the art of tucking it neatly into my hood." "leagender">><<set $hairstyle to "afro">><</link>></div>
<</if>>You bristle in front of the fire, hunching forward and propping your elbows atop your knees. Clementine shifts awkwardly beside you, their bells ringing softly as they fidget with their curls.
"I... I mean, if you're sure," Clementine stammers, when it's clear you're not going to say anything.
You scowl, blinking against the smoke, but you remember the gold coins in your pocket and soften slightly, bowing your head with a sigh.
<<include "whatno">>You've spent many uncomfortable nights in hostels and inns with shared accommodations and crowded floors-- you're used to it. Clementine, though... They squirm beside you, their bells ringing softly as they fidget with their curls.
"I... I mean, if you're sure," Clementine stammers.
"We're not going to make you sleep outside, Clementine," you say with a sigh.
Clementine just nods, twisting a strand of hair around their finger.
<<include "whatno">>It's one thing to share the tent with Lea, but... Clementine is a stranger. You've spent many uncomfortable nights in caravans and inns with shared accommodations and crowded floors-- and you tolerate it. But sharing a tent? You frown.
Clementine shifts awkwardly beside you, their bells ringing softly as they fidget with their curls. "I... I mean, if you're sure," they stammer, when it's clear you're not going to say anything.
You imagine yourself in the tent with them, and you feel your face flush with apprehension-- but you remember the gold coins in your pocket and soften slightly, letting out a long sigh.
<<include "whatno">>Lea watches you from $l_their chair, and then nods with finality when you don't object.
"Have you just been sleeping out here? By yourself?" you prompt after a beat. "No tent, no horse, no papers..."
"Yes... but... only recently," they explain slowly. "A lot of people have been kind to me," they mutter, almost under their breath. You recall their comment earlier-- //the generosity of strangers.// "For a long time, I was riding with a farmer along the main road. She had a wagon, and supplies that she shared. She had been selling down south, during the Homecoming celebrations." Clementine pauses for a moment, and then sighs wistfully. "We had to go our separate ways."
The three of you lapse into a thoughtful silence. You consider Clementine for another moment, unsure what to make of them. //Far from home//, you think.
[[Continue ->decompress]]<<run UIBar.show();>><center><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:200%;">The Northern Passage</span></center>
You are a hunter, a beast slayer of the ancient Order of The Hunt from the Black Iron stronghold. You have been sent up north to investigate a series of missing people along the kingdom's border-- a grim job following a vicious year of plague and death.
Working with your handler, Lea, you will travel north and discover that things are far worse than you ever could have imagined, and that there is something powerful lurking out in the deep, dark sea...
//The Northern Passage// is an 18+ interactive horror novel that leans heavily into themes of loss, trust, and faith, and how people choose to cope and move forward even in the darkest of times.
<span style="font-family:'IM Fell DW Pica', serif; font-size:150%;">Features</span>
<ul><li>Heavily character driven. This story relies on character interactions!</li>
<li>Impactful choices that alter your story.</li>
<li>Character customization: name, appearance, gender, pronouns, weapon preference, and your horse's name. Choose your relationship with your handler, your mentor, and your family.</li>
<li>Romance any of the four main cast: the alchemist, the bard, the captain, or the healer.</li></ul>
This game is a work in progress and currently only contains the first chapter.
[[Content warnings ->content warnings]]<span style="font-family:'IM Fell DW Pica', serif;">Keep reading to unlock more entries in the codex.</span><<if $introsComplete>>
<span style="font-family:'IM Fell DW Pica', serif; font-size:150%;">People</span>
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">[[Lea Chen ->Lea Codex]]
[[Merry Harlowe ->Merry Codex]]
[[Noel Lykaon ->Noel Codex]]
[[Clementine ->Clem Codex]]<<if $ch2Complete>>
[[Talia Redwine ->Talia Codex]]
[[Jackal ->Jackal Codex]]
[[Harper Falken ->Harper Codex]]
[[Rafe Seagraves ->Rafe Codex]]<</if>><<if $ch1Complete>>
[[Master Jorah Flint ->Jorah Codex]]
[[Handler Rodrick Winterhall ->Rodrick Codex]]
[[Lady Commander Hadrien Chen ->Hadrien Codex]]
[[Master Alchemist Asha Eodwolf ->Asha Codex]]
[[Lady Alessandria Redwine ->Redwine Codex]]
[[Lord Robin Duncan ->Duncan Codex]]<</if>></span><</if>>
<span style="font-family:'IM Fell DW Pica', serif; font-size:150%;">The World</span>
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link [[Magic|magic codex]]>><</link>>
<<if $TheOrder>><<link [[The Order of the Hunt|the order codex]]>><</link>>
<</if>><<if $BlackIron>><<link [[The Black Iron|black iron codex]]>><</link>>
<</if>><<link [[The Vel|the vel codex]]>><</link>>
<<link [[The Ladder|the ladder codex]]>><</link>>
<<if $TheSiege>><<link [[Siege of Blackwater|the siege codex]]>><</link>>
<</if>><<if $prologueComplete>><<link [[The Hunter's Knife|hunter knife codex]]>><</link>>
<span style="font-family:'IM Fell DW Pica', serif;">Creatures</span>
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif;"><<link [[Omens|omen codex]]>><</link>>
<<link [[Lycans|lycan codex]]>><</link>>
<<link [[Wraiths|wraith codex]]>><</link>></span><</if>></span>
[[Return to game|$return]]It takes you a moment to understand what you're looking at. The world is moving-- rippling, contorting, cast in shadow and ice. Black waves recede slowly before you, the sound of the water rushing back out to sea clarifying briefly as you try to focus. But your head is heavy, a dull ache at your temples, and the horizon blurs again, stretching up into the sky. You are caught in the middle, on the edge of existence, not quite here but not quite there, either. You take a ragged breath, closing your eyes, digging your fingernails into your palms, trying just to //feel//.
The air is so cold your hands ache, an unforgiving wind cutting straight through your clothes. Licking your lips, you can taste the sea salt sticking to your skin, and you're aware of the distinct feeling of sand stuck in your shoes and in your clothes, the gritty feeling of it in your mouth and between your teeth. You listen again for the sound of the waves crashing over the shore, the sharp call of a seagull circling overhead.
Slowly, you open your eyes and take a tentative step forward.
The sand is black, and it stretches out all around you, an endless dark void, stark against the grey sky and the churning white foam of the sea. As you walk, you can feel your feet sinking slightly, your footsteps whispering against the wet sand.
In front of you is a ship. A monster of a galleon, washed ashore, cracked and broken-- by the waves or by cannons, you can't tell.
[[The beach is littered with all manner of debris: shattered wood and torn cloth, frayed ropes and twisted metal.->prlg dream 2]]"What?" you snap.
Clementine's eyes widen, a blush creeping across their face as they look anywhere but at you. "I'm sorry," they say quickly, ducking their face in their hands. "It's just... Your eyes..."
"Scary, aren't they?" Lea smirks, plopping back down into $l_their chair.
"Shut up," you growl, shooting $l_them a glare as you stand. You stomp back over to the horses, returning your gear in a huff, ignoring them both.
"$surname is nothing to be afraid of. Well, maybe <<if $nopr>>$name's<<else>>$mc_their<</if>> snoring," Lea muses from behind you.
You turn back around, your hands on your hips. "//You're// the one who snores, Lea," you say. $l_They just grin<<s>> over at you, and you sigh, relaxing slightly, trudging back over to your spot on the oilskin.
<<include "snoring">>You stare back at them, watching the light from the fire dance across their face. They blush, still looking anywhere but at you, until eventually they can't take it anymore and hide behind their hands.
"I'm sorry," they say softly. "It's just... Your eyes..."
"Scary, aren't they?" Lea smirks, plopping back down into $l_their chair.
You don't say anything, standing abruptly, retreating back over to the horses and returning your gear, dutifully ignoring them both.
"$surname is nothing to be afraid of. Well, maybe <<if $nopr>>$name's<<else>>$mc_their<</if>> snoring," Lea muses from behind you.
You turn back around despite yourself, your hands on your hips. "//You're// the one who snores, Lea," you huff indignantly. $l_They just grin<<s>> over at you, and you sigh, relaxing slightly, trudging back over to your spot on the oilskin.
<<include "snoring">>You glance across the fire at them, narrowing your eyes for a moment, but ultimately decide to let it go, standing slowly and retreating to the horses. You put your gear away as Lea plops back down in $l_their chair, rubbing $l_their hands together and holding them out over the fire.
"Are you a light sleeper, Clementine?" Lea asks abruptly.
"Um... as much as the next person, I suppose," Clementine says, shrugging.
"Better prepare yourself for this one's snoring, then," $l_they <<say>> with a smirk.
You snap close your saddlebag and turn around, your hands on your hips. "//You're// the one who snores, Lea," you huff indignantly. $l_They just grin<<s>> over at you, and you sigh, suddenly realizing just how tense you were from Clementine's staring. You feel yourself relax at Lea's familiar goading, shaking your head and returning to your spot on the oilskin.
<<include "snoring">>Clementine smiles at the two of you as you sit back down. "You seem to know each other well," they say.
"Unfortunately," Lea laughs, crossing $l_their legs beneath $l_them, completely perched atop the chair, which groans again in protest.
"Are you from this area?" Clementine asks, looking up at Lea now.
"What? Blackwater? No. But I've been there plenty of times," $l_they <<say>>. "I've lived all over the northern territories," $l_they add<<s>>.
"I've heard the port cities are a lot like Gael," Clementine muses.
"Maybe," Lea shrugs. "Never been on that side of the border, myself."
"Oh," Clementine says, drawing circles in the snow.
"Why are you so interested in Gael?" you ask, watching their finger carve looping patterns around the oilskin.
[[Continue ->camp performance]]"No reason, really," they say, looking over at you. "Just curious. About all of it. I've never been so far north before. And you only ever hear... //interesting// stories down south."
"Long way from home, then," Lea says, voicing your earlier thought.
"Yes," Clementine sighs, their face falling slightly, a sudden melancholy passing over them. But then they sit up, shaking the snow from their hands. "I know some northern songs, though. And Gaelish ones, too," they say, pulling off their gloves as they stand and head over to their pack. They loosen the straps holding the little instrument in place and bring it back over to the fire.
You watch as they sit down on their knees, their feet tucked beneath them, holding the instrument horizontal in their lap. You realize it's a pandura.
Clementine strums a few times, glancing up at you and giving you a nervous smile. "I don't know the words," they say, "if there even are any. But I know the chords." They shift a bit, and then, taking a deep breath, begin to play. It starts slow, quiet, Clementine gently plucking the chords and swaying slightly. You think you can hear them humming. The music slowly rises above the sound of the fire, dancing across the snow and resounding through the trees, the strings whispering as Clementine's hand deftly slides up and then back down.
Then they lean forward, both hands moving faster, the music growing louder, more fervent, and Clementine picks the strings harder, the sound swelling up into the pines.
<<if $muffin>>You find yourself swaying along, intently watching Clementine's hands, the tilt of their head as they play. You close your eyes after a moment, the warmth of the fire lulling you along with the music and the honey bread still sweet on your tongue-- you let it all wash over you as the bard plays their song. It feels familiar, though you know you've never heard it before. You realize, quite suddenly, that it reminds you of home. <<else>>You find yourself swaying along, intently watching Clementine's hands, the tilt of their head as they play. You close your eyes after a moment, the warmth of the fire lulling you along with the music and the smell of honey bread still lingering-- you let it all wash over you as the bard plays their song. It feels familiar, though you know you've never heard it before. You realize, quite suddenly, that it reminds you of home.<</if>>
Gradually the song slows down, the notes growing softer, fading off into the night. Haunting, is the only way you could describe it. You open your eyes as the song ends with a deep ache in your chest.
Clementine sighs. "Northern songs are always so sad," they say, running their hand gently across the strings.
You and Lea both sit in stunned silence.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Wow." It\'s all I can think to say.' 'wow'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Where did you learn that?"' 'learn that'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I wouldn\'t say so out loud... but that //was// impressive.' 'impressive'>><</link>></div>You can't help but admire Clementine, at least for their music. You can't deny that talent. And the ache still twisting in your chest.
"You played that down south?" Lea asks, leaning forward on $l_their perch.
"Sometimes," Clementine says. "They're very romantic down south, you know. They enjoy a sad song every now and then, especially something //exotic// from the north," they roll their eyes. "I played on the lyre mostly, though."
"I'm impressed," Lea says, nodding.
Clementine smiles at $l_them. "I'm glad you liked it," they say, lazily strumming a few times. "It's refreshing to play again." They smile sadly. "It's been a while."
<<include "wrow">>"Wow," you say, gazing at Clementine across the fire. They give you a warm smile.
"You played that down south?" Lea asks, also clearly just as impressed.
"Sometimes," Clementine says. "They're very romantic down south, you know. They enjoy a sad song every now and then, especially something //exotic// from the north," they roll their eyes. "I played on the lyre mostly, though."
"Wow," you say again. You can't say anything else, even if you wanted to. It still hurts, in your chest.
Clementine doesn't notice, giggling at your attention. "I'm glad you liked it," they say, lazily strumming a few times. "It's refreshing to play again." They smile sadly. "It's been a while."
<<include "wrow">>"Where did you learn that?"
"The song?" Clementine asks, smiling at you across the fire.
"Yes, and to play like that," you say. You swallow hard. It still hurts, in your chest.
Clementine doesn't notice, giggling at your attention. "I learned the pandura pretty recently, actually. They're very romantic down south, you know, so I typically play the lyre there." They strum a few times absentmindedly. "I heard the song once a long time ago, out on the road," they continue. "I was... traveling with a bunch of different musicians," they add, picking at the strings. "It really stuck with me, though. So a few days later I asked them to teach it to me." They shrug. "As for learning how to actually play... it just kind of happened.
"I got my hands on an instrument and the rest is history," Clementine laughs. "I practiced a lot, and spent a lot of time learning from other musicians, copying them and asking them lots of questions. Then I got lucky, and the right person just so happened to hear me play." They pause for a moment, still strumming quietly. "It was nice to play again," they say, smiling sadly. "It's been a while."
<<include "wrow">>"I was wrong," Lea says, suddenly clapping $l_their hands together. "They're going to love you in Blackwater. Just play a song and give the lot a few muffins, they'll be wrapped around your finger," $l_they <<say>>.
Clementine laughs again. "We'll see, I suppose," they say, setting the pandura aside. They yawn then, stretching their arms above their head.
"You should get some sleep," Lea says, nodding towards the tent.
Clementine hums, standing slowly. They walk over to their pack again, digging inside and gathering their bedroll and what looks to be a very worn blanket. They come back towards the fire, reaching down and picking up their instrument, but hesitate before turning back.
"Thank you both," they say, "for everything. I will compensate you for it all, I promise." Then they walk off, vanishing into the tent.
[[Continue ->camp talk]]"Curious, that one," Lea says quietly, shifting atop $l_their chair and stretching $l_their legs back out towards the fire.
You tap a finger to your chin, staring over at the closed tent flap. The song still feels present in the clearing with you, and you're colder now, despite the fire.
"They're a proper bard," Lea says then, dropping $l_their voice even lower, leaning sideways in $l_their chair. "What are they doing all the way out here? They've got money, talent... and they're stomping around out //here//?"
You shake your head, glancing over at the tent again. "Your guess is as good as mine," you mutter.
"Should we take them all the way to Blackwater?" Lea asks then.
You sigh, running a hand over your face. You knew that was coming.
"I think we should. You saw those coins they flashed at the toll," $l_they whisper<<s>>. "If we start early and ride hard, we could make it by late morning tomorrow," $l_they muse<<s>>. "Too bad it started snowing like it did, or we could've ridden through the night."
"Nothing we can do about it now," you say.
"We should go," Lea repeats with a nod.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I\'m annoyed. "We have a job to do, Lea."' 'are u kidding'>><<set $l_friendship -=2>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_campfight to true>><<set $ch1blackwater to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'We still have a long way to go before we reach Highfell. "No, we don\'t have the time to go to Blackwater."' 'focus on job'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'It could be worth it. "Maybe... It\'s the last stop to get decent supplies, at any rate."' 'maybe rumors'>><</link>></div>"We have a job to do, Lea," you say with a scowl.
Lea frowns at you, crossing $l_their arms with a huff. "Right. And Blackwater will help us //do// that job," $l_they <<say>>.
"We can stop //anywhere// else, Lea," you snap. "Anywhere else that doesn't require us to ride all the way out to the coast. Anywhere else that's not as out of the way and obnoxious as Blackwater."
"Blackwater is not that bad," Lea rolls $l_their eyes at you. "And it's where the bard needs to go. Or should we leave them out here to freeze to death?"
"Since when do you care about southern fools like that? It was risk enough to take them through the toll. Just be frank. //You// want to go to Blackwater," you jab a finger at $l_them.
"Yes, I want to go to Blackwater, and I want their money," Lea hisses back, dropping $l_their voice again. "What we got from Keld isn't enough."
"Fucking Keld," you stand with a huff, glaring down at $l_them in $l_their little chair. "Of course you'd bring that up," you shake your head at $l_them, pacing in front of the fire. "Who cares about Keld. We were at the Black Iron for weeks after. What, your parents didn't give you any allowance this time?"
Lea narrows $l_their eyes at you, $l_their lips pressing into a thin line. "Watch it, $surname," $l_they <<say>> slowly, standing from $l_their chair.
You halt your pacing, both of you glaring at each other across the fire.
"Here," you say then, reaching into your pocket. You throw the two gold coins at Lea, and they give a satisfying //thud// as they hit $l_their chest before falling into $l_their open hands. "Toll didn't take any payment," you explain. Lea blinks down at the coins, sliding them between $l_their fingers, before staring back over at you.
You think $l_they<<re>> going to object, but $l_they just shake<<s>> $l_their head before slipping the coins into $l_their purse, clinking softly as they land amongst your collective meager coins.
"I still want to resupply," $l_they <<say>> after a beat.
"Why did you even ask me, Lea?" you shout without meaning to, throwing your hands up over your head. "We're going to do whatever the fuck it is you want to do, either way. That's how it always is."
Lea opens $l_their mouth to argue, but $l_their brow furrows, and $l_they seem<<s>> to struggle to find any words to rebuke you. "I... that's...." $l_they stammer<<s>>, and you just shake your head, curling your lip as $l_they fumble<<s>> in front of the fire.
"Fine!" $l_they blurt<<s>> abruptly. "We won't go. We'll just dump the bard on the side of the road and head straight into the mountains with--" $l_they stomp<<s>> around the camp, ripping open $l_their rucksack and pulling out a bundle of rations, "--nothing but hardtack and jerky. Maybe we can eat some horse forage, too, for //variety//," $l_they sneer<<s>>, reaching into $l_their saddlebag and flicking a handful of hay in your direction.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck you."' 'oh fuckyou'>><<set $l_friendship -=5>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"//Fine//."' 'fine good'>><</link>></div>"No, Lea, we don't have the time to go all the way to Blackwater," you say, shaking your head. "Getting through the mountains is going to be enough of an ordeal without wasting a few days on the coast."
Lea frowns, leaning back in $l_their chair and crossing $l_their arms. "Yes, the mountains //are// going to be an ordeal. All the more reason to refresh our supplies before we keep going."
"And we have to go to Blackwater to do that...?" you trail off, giving $l_them a pointed look.
Lea's eyes cut over to the tent. "If we want to make some extra money."
You scowl into the fire.
<div id="choice"><<link [[No. I don't want to go to Blackwater. ->other villages 1]]>><<set $ch1blackwater to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I\'m talking to a wall, here. I\'ll just humor $l_them.' 'humor them 1'>><<set $l_relationship +=1>><<set $ch1blackwater to true>><</link>></div>"Maybe," you sigh. "It's the last stop to get decent supplies, at any rate."
"We can top off our rations, get a feel for the area and the new warden... Restrictions have kept us isolated for a while. There's no telling what state the city is in, or how the people out here are recovering," Lea says it all quickly, throwing all $l_their cards on the table.
"I think we have some idea," you say bitterly, giving $l_them a look. "Those soldiers at the toll..."
"We're likely to encounter more."
You scowl into the fire.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Alright, fine. Let's go to Blackwater. ->humor them 2]]>><<set $ch1blackwater to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No. I don't want to go to Blackwater. ->other villages 2]]>><<set $ch1blackwater to false>><</link>></div>Some of the forage slaps loudly against your shins before landing in the snow at your feet. You sneer down at it, before cutting your gaze back to Lea, your face hot with anger. "Yeah. //Fine//," you hiss through your teeth.
Lea takes a step in your direction, $l_their eyes flashing, and you straighten up to your full height, clenching your jaw so hard your teeth start to ache. The two of you just glare at each other. "Fine," Lea is the one that finally says it again, the word repeated until it turns sour. $l_They hold<<s>> your glare for a few more seconds, before abruptly turning away. $l_They return<<s>> to the fire, staring down at the flames with $l_their back to you. Then $l_they sit<<s>> in $l_their chair, exhaling loudly through $l_their nose.
You do about the same, letting out a long breath, raising a hand to rub agitatedly at your brow.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Look, Lea..." ♡' 'prlg join them'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Sorry. I shouldn\'t have said that about your parents."' 'prlg sorry abt parents'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $l_ch1apology to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'If $l_they want<<s>> to sit and sulk, let $l_them.' 'prlg let them sulk'>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div><<notify 3s>>Lea will remember this.<</notify>>Some of the forage slaps loudly against your shins before landing in the snow at your feet. You glare down at it, before cutting your gaze back to Lea, your face hot with anger. "//Fuck you//," you hiss, and you kick the clump of hay right back at $l_them, along with some muddy snow from the toe of your boot.
Lea makes an indignant sound, wiping the snow from $l_their front, taking a few steps back before trying to shove $l_their way past you-- but you shove $l_them back, startling both $l_them and the horses.
Lea recovers quickly and straightens up to $l_their full height, $l_their dark eyes flashing as $l_they glare<<s>> down $l_their nose at you.
<div id="choice"><<link '$l_They <<are>> //way// too fucking close... ♡' 'prlg way too close'>><<set $l_friendship =-1>><<set $l_hostile to true>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Get the fuck out of my face, Lea."' 'prlg gtfo my face'>><<set $l_friendship -=2>><<set $l_hostile to true>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to walk away.' 'prlg walk away'>><<set $l_hostile to true>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div><div id="choice"><<link [[What? Oh, no, definitely not. I have absolutely no musical inclination whatsoever. And what if I break it? ->what if i break it]]>><<set $c_friendship +=3>><<set $played_pandura to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Actually... I do want to try it. ->i do want to try it]]>><<set $c_friendship +=3>><<set $played_pandura to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No... No, I can't.]]>><</link>></div>
<<if $l_campfight>><div id="choice"><<link [[No. No point in pretending like we're friends right now.]]>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><<set $c_hostile to true>><</link>></div><</if>>You laugh nervously. "I think it would be best for everybody if I avoid trying to make any kind of music. I have no talent for that," you say.
Clementine pushes their blanket aside, picking up the pandura and laying it across their lap. "I'll help you," they say, smiling and, to your surprise, scooting closer.
"I... uh... okay," you stammer as they shove the pandura into you hands.
"Just try strumming it first. Get a feel for it," they say, nodding as you pull the instrument into your lap. You think this might be your first time holding an instrument. You never had time for that kind of thing during your training, and, truth be told, you've never really given it much thought. Sure, you've enjoyed a good song every once in a while in a tavern or two, but it's never something you imagined yourself doing. Of really even being capable of doing.
You gently run your fingers across the strings, trying to be as quiet as you can, aware of Lea sitting just a few yards away outside. You can't help but smile as the pandura sings beneath your fingers, and after strumming it a few times, you stop, looking back over at Clementine expectantly.
"I can teach you the beginning of that song I played earlier, if you like," they say.
"Please," you say, and it comes out as a whisper, as if you're doing something you shouldn't be-- it makes you cringe. But Clementine just smiles warmly, moving to mirror your position, holding their hands up as if they had another pandura in their lap.
"You have to hold your fingers like this," they say, their own voice dropping into a whisper to match your own as they wiggle their fingers and demonstrate for you. "And you want them here along the fret, to hold down this string," they explain, pointing you to the proper placement.
"That's the first note," they nod to you to strum, and you let the single note ring out quietly in the tent. "Now you have to move your fingers along the fret, to here, and hold down this string," they point along the pandura with one hand, and nudge yours with the other, guiding you down the fretboard, the string biting beneath your fingertips.
<<include "prlg playing pandura">>"...I would, if you don't mind," you say sheepishly.
Clementine pushes their blanket aside, picking up the pandura and laying it across their lap.
"I'll show you how," they say, smiling, and to your surprise, scooting closer.
You carefully take the pandura from them, turning it over in your hands, getting a closer look at the wood and the pearl inlay. "This is beautiful," you say, and Clementine nods in agreement.
"It was a gift," is all they say. "Now try strumming it first, to get a feel for it."
You mimic the way you saw Clementine holding the instrument previously, setting it upright in your lap. You think this might be your first time holding an instrument. You never had time for that kind of thing during your training, and, truth be told, you've never really given it much thought. Sure, you've enjoyed a good song every once in a while in a tavern or two, but it's never something you imagined yourself doing. Of really even being capable of doing.
You gently run your fingers across the strings, trying to be as quiet as you can, aware of Lea sitting just a few yards away outside. You can't help but smile as the pandura sings beneath your fingers, and after strumming it a few times, you stop, looking back over at Clementine expectantly.
"I can teach you the beginning of that song, if you like," they say.
"Yeah, okay," you say, your own eagerness surprising you. Clementine just smiles warmly, moving to mirror your position, holding their hands up as if they had another pandura in their lap.
"You have to hold your fingers like this," they say, wiggling their own fingers and demonstrating for you. "And you want them here along the fret, to hold down this string," they explain, pointing you to the proper placement.
<<include "prlg playing pandura">><div id="choice"><<link [[Hidden in the dark, I'm compelled to let my hand linger. ♡ ->our hands brush]]>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[The touch catches me off guard, and I quickly pull my hand back— though it's not entirely unwelcome... ♡ ->startled by the contact]]>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $shy +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I ignore their touch, narrowing my eyes at the bard. "Goodnight, Clementine."' 'pass them back the pandura'>><</link>></div>You tilt your head curiously, emboldened by the dark, letting your hand linger against the bard's. They seem surprised at your reciprocation, their eyes widening as they lift their finger and brush it over your own.
Then they take the pandura, laughing lightly as their face flushes. There's a glint of mischief in their eyes as they set the instrument aside and stifle their laugh with a hand, peering coyly at you through their lashes. Your own face flushes hot, your gaze drawn to the wet shine of their lips, the tent seeming to shrink as you lean towards each other-- and then you cough, turning away and running a hand over your head.
"Goodnight, Clementine," you say abruptly, laying back on your bedroll and curling onto your side. You curse yourself, covering your face with your hands, the air in the tent turning tepid and awkward.
"Goodnight, $name," Clementine whispers after a beat, before letting out a quiet sigh behind you and burrowing back into their corner. After a few minutes you carefully roll onto your back, peeking over at them, though all you can see are their curls sticking out from beneath their blanket.
//What the fuck was that about?//
You stare up at the ceiling, listening to the fire outside and watching the tent sway slightly overhead with the wind and the snow.
[[Conflicted, you close your eyes and try your best to sleep. ->wake for watch]]You startle at the unexpected touch, pulling your hand back, your brow furrowing as you stare across at the bard fumbling with the pandura.
They quickly drop their gaze, clutching the instrument in their lap, holding it against their chest like a shield. "I didn't mean..." they start weakly, but you shake your head, your face flushing as they blink up at you through their lashes.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm not used to this. I'm just flusterd. ->just flustered]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I know they didn\'t mean it, but I don\'t like being touched like that. //[The hunter is touch averse.]//' 'struggled with contact'>><<set $c_touch_knows to true>><<set $touch_averse +=1>><</link>></div>You hand off the pandura, narrowing your eyes at the bard. "Goodnight, Clementine," you say, and they nod, lowering their gaze, setting the instrument aside with a sigh.
"Goodnight, $name," they reply, and you watch as they burrow back into their little corner, wrapping the blanket around themselves until all you can see are a few stray curls sticking out.
You glance down at your hands in your lap, and you wonder if you had just imagined the touch-- how long has it been since anyone other than Lea was even this close to you? The thought curdles and leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
You lay on your back, crossing your arms over your chest with a sigh. You listen to the fire outside and watch the tent sway slightly overhead with the wind and the snow.
[[Eventually, you try to sleep. ->wake for watch]]"Just caught me off guard," you manage.
Clementine carefully sets the pandura aside, laughing without malice, a mischievous glint in their eye as they lean forward, your gaze immediately drawn to the wet shine of their lips. They tentatively reach back across the little space between you, grazing the back of your hand with a light touch-- and then you cough, turning away and running your hand over your head.
"Goodnight, Clementine," you say abruptly, laying back on your bedroll and curling onto your side. You curse yourself, covering your face with your hands, the air in the tent turning tepid and awkward. Clementine lets out a quiet sigh behind you before burrowing back into their corner, and after a few minutes you carefully roll onto your back, peeking over at them, though all you can see are their curls sticking out from beneath their blanket.
//What the fuck was that about?//
You stare up at the ceiling, listening to the fire outside and watching the tent sway slightly overhead with the wind and the snow.
[[Conflicted, you close your eyes and try your best to sleep. ->wake for watch]]"I know," you say. "I just don't like being touched."
"Oh," Clementine says softly. "I'm sorry for assuming."
They carefully set the pandura aside then, resting their hands in their lap, a coy smile on their lips as they peer over at you in the dark. "What do you like?" they whisper.
That //really// catches you off guard, and you blink stupidly at them while your heart skips a few beats. "We should get some sleep," you say instead of answering, steeling yourself against Clementine's boldness. "Goodnight," you say, laying back on your bedroll and curling onto your side. You curse yourself, covering your face with your hands, the air in the tent turning tepid and awkward. Clementine lets out a quiet sigh behind you before burrowing back into their corner, and after a few minutes you carefully roll onto your back, peeking over at them, though all you can see are their curls sticking out from beneath their blanket.
//What the fuck was that about?//
You stare up at the ceiling, listening to the fire outside and watching the tent sway slightly overhead with the wind and the snow.
[[Conflicted, you close your eyes and try your best to sleep. ->wake for watch]]You perch atop Lea's camp chair, drawing circles in the snow with a stick. It's hard to tell the time out here, only marked by the dwindling of the fire, compelling you to throw more logs in as your watch stretches on. Returning to your seat, you resume drawing your circles for a moment, before leaning back in the chair with a sigh, watching as your fogged breath dissipates between the trees.
Your mind turns to Highfell. //Missing people, dead animals...// Not very helpful, to be honest. It could be just about anything with that vague description. The state of the animals might give you a hint-- the possibility of claws and teeth, perhaps. Highfell is up high in the mountains, could be harpies... but a part of you is certain it can't be something so simple as that.
You sigh once more, tapping your stick on the ground, slashing through your earlier circles. Your thoughts meander from Highfell, to Blackwater, the image of the city's iconic ports summoning the faint memory of your dream from the previous night. It evades your full grasp, nothing but cold water and spilled red swirling past-- and the ship. Your head feels foggy, and you feel a twisting in the pit of your stomach, a wave of uneasiness and nausea washing over you as the clearing seems to darken beyond the flames.
You rock forward in the chair, clutching tightly at the stick in your hand and swallowing hard against the thickening saliva in the back of your throat. Goosebumps prickle your arms, and a cold shiver crawls up your spine, making you shudder in your seat.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. ->close my eyes]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I stand and pace. ->stand and pace]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I focus on the fire, on the smoke and the heat. ->focus on the fire]]>><</link>></div>The horses loudly voice their displeasure, startling you as they huff and paw at the ground, their eyes wide and ears pinned as they toss their heads and pull fruitlessly at their hitches.
Your eyes sweep along the treeline, but there's nothing there-- no movement, no eyes staring back at you. But you can feel it. The Vel overhead seems to press down on you, invisible hands reaching out from the shadows.
[[The fire goes out without a sound.]]You tilt your head back, away from the heat and the smoke, closing your eyes and breathing in the crisp night air. You inhale slowly, letting your chest expand until it aches, and then exhale loudly, as if it could expel the uneasiness knotting in your throat. It takes a few more deep breaths, but the nausea finally passes, and you open your eyes with a shake of your head, trying to clear the last of the fog from your mind.
But before you can fully recover, you hear the snap of a twig somewhere in the dark.
You stand slowly, turning in place, careful to keep your steps silent as you survey the swathe of trees along the edge of your campsite. No other sound reaches you but the crackle of the fire-- and then the night seems to exhale, a sudden wind rushing through the trees, the whispering of the frozen pines causing the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end.
<<include "agitated horses">>You stand, your head spinning and nearly forcing you back down into the camp chair, but you grit your teeth and begin to pace, willing the sickness away. You twist the stick in your hand until it snaps, and then you toss it into the fire, walking brusquely back and forth, cutting a dark path through the snow. Eventually, the nausea passes, and you halt your pacing with a shake of your head, trying to clear the last of the fog from your mind.
But before you can fully recover, you hear the snap of a twig somewhere in the dark.
You turn slowly, careful to keep your steps silent as you survey the swathe of trees along the edge of your campsite. No other sound reaches you but the crackle of the fire-- and then the night seems to exhale, a sudden wind rushing through the trees, the whispering of the frozen pines causing the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end.
<<include "agitated horses">>You grit your teeth and stare into the fire, your face flushing in the heat and your eyes watering from the smoke curling lazily in your direction. You twist the stick in your hand until it snaps, and then you toss it onto the smoldering logs, watching as the flames eagerly jump to consume it. Tears begin to blur your vision, and you blink until they fall, rubbing at your eyes and slouching back in your chair once the nausea finally passes. Then you tilt your head back, peering up into the cool night air, watching your breath mist alongside the smoke overhead.
But before you can fully recover, you hear the snap of a twig somewhere in the dark.
You sit up and stand slowly, turning in place, careful to keep your steps silent as you survey the swathe of trees along the edge of your campsite. No other sound reaches you but the crackle of the fire-- and then the night seems to exhale, a sudden wind rushing through the trees, the whispering of the frozen pines causing the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end.
<<include "agitated horses">>You take a deep breath and focus, imagining reaching out yourself and running a hand across the trees, a snake uncoiling in your chest, stretching out, reaching, reaching, reaching.
<<link '//Reaching.//' 'reaching reaching'>><</link>>The Vel breathes and shudders all around you. Your fingers pass through snow and brush the icy waters of the Blackwater, mud and sand beneath your fingernails. You can see the peeling bark on the trees, hear the snow crunching beneath your feet, the smell of pine in the air. Cold wind coming down from the mountains cools your face, the breeze from the sea that tastes like salt on your lips. All around you trees sigh, breaking beneath the weight of the freshly fallen snow, a sound that echoes, quiet and lonely through the night. Above, the dark sky yawns, no stars or moon to guide your way, just an endless expanse of darkness.
And through it all you can feel the rot. The whole forest recoils away from it, a void calling you home.
[[It's calling your name.]]You push forward in your mind and cross a shallow creek, the water soaking through your boots and biting at your toes. Feet turning black, your skin blistering and splitting, and you collapse, unable to walk any farther as dark blood sloshes in your boots.
Suddenly, the creek rises, flooding all around you, pulling you out to sea, the water black and colder than anything you have ever felt before. Frantically, you thrash in the water, feet kicking up clouds of sand until you stagger onto the shore, knees buckling and hitting the wet earth. You sink your hands into it, feeling the bite of the icy water and the muddy sand oozing between your fingers.
[[The rot is getting closer.]]Lurking in the shadows in the dark, dark wood. There are stories about places like that, stories where hard lessons are learned in those shadows, cast by fear and creatures that go bump in the night. But you're familiar with those stories, aren't you? You're a part of those stories. But are you the lost little kid, or the hero that saves the day? No. Couldn't be you. Maybe they should cast you as the monster, instead.
[[Cold hands are pulling at you.]]Heavy breathing, a frantic heartbeat, a low keening in the back of your mind. The world around you distorts, nothing but you and the breathing. It is hungry. You're hungry, too. Why are you hungry? There's something inside you, something festering. There are maggots in your stomach pushing and pulling and it hurts. It hurts. And they're hungry too.
A sudden emptiness that expands inside you, pressing against your skull, crawling up your throat and making you gag. Smoke pouring from your mouth, your nose, your eyes watering. Why is it so hot? Clawing at the sand, you're desperate, you need to move, to get up. Just get up.
[[It sees you.]]You're not on the beach any more. You're in the woods and it's dark and it's there with you. And there's a heat licking your heels, caressing your skin, somehow gentle and violent and hot all at once. It wants you. It's drooling, moaning, long claws whispering across your skin, hot breath on the back of your neck. There's a hatred inside you, and the rot coaxes it out. Exposed to the world, it //burns//.
The fire burns and it hurts but it's yours, it belongs to you. Spilling from your mouth, flames licking across your chest. The claws across your throat. It's almost here, and the fire will take you, and everything else with it. It's here, it's here-
//<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link 'It\'s here...' 'leas voice cuts thru'>><</link>></span>//"$surname!"
Lea's voice. You jolt back into the clearing all at once.
The horses are agitated, crying out and stomping their hooves, the fire reignited and burning way too hot and way too close. Lea tries to calm them while kicking snow onto the leaping flames, the heat singeing your face as you stagger back with a groan. The edges of the clearing distort, the world spinning and the horses tripling in front of you as you struggle back into reality. You reach up and touch your chest, a cold ache spreading through your limbs and weighing heavy at the base of your skull. You stare down at your hands, almost expecting frayed thread to still be twined between your fingers.
"$name."
You look up at Lea, standing in front of you, hands hovering above your shoulders as if $l_they <<were>> about to grab you.
"There's something out there," you say, shaking your head. Lea looks bewildered, $l_their long hair loose from its bun, clearly awoken from sleep.
"I know, I heard it," Lea says, giving you a strange look.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" you snap, stepping away from $l_their outstretched hands and wiping the sweat from your brow.
"Were you sleeping?" $l_they ask<<s>>.
"What? No. I was..." you trail off. What were you doing? Your throat tightens, and you shiver. Lea narrows $l_their eyes at you, but you find nothing else to say.
"Clementine is gone," $l_they tell<<s>> you then.
"They left?" you blurt, eager to shift $l_their attention away from you.
"Not willingly," Lea mutters, giving you one last look before moving back over to the horses. You watch as $l_they grab<<s>> $l_their potion belt from Gambit's saddle, slinging it over $l_their shoulder before reaching up to tie $l_their hair back.
You turn to look out into the shadows. Did Clementine hear their name, too?
"Well?" Lea snaps $l_their fingers at you impatiently. "Let's go find the little bastard."
You nod weakly, rushing to $horse_name's side, quickly snatching up <<if $mc_archer>>your sword and reaching for your bow, clumsily strapping your quiver to waist as you step after Lea.<<else>>your $weapon and stepping after Lea.<</if>> "Give me a moment," you say, hesitating. You shift from foot to foot, biting the inside of your cheek, a cold sweat trickling between your shoulder blades. Lea's face is unreadable as $l_they watch<<es>>. You avoid $l_their stare<<s>>, exhaling slowly, closing your eyes and reaching once more for your thread. You reach once more for the Vel.
//There//. The taste of rot creeps into your mouth, your lip curling with a snarl as your line is jerked forward again-- but you grit your teeth and pull back.
[[Continue ->ive got it]]"I've got it," you say. It's close. You step past Lea and take the lead, both of you moving quickly through the trees, a quiet urgency as the darkness beyond your smothered fire envelops you completely.
It's not long before you pick up the physical trail. You observe snapped branches, clumsy footsteps in the snow, and a slick, black liquid trailing between them, burning holes all the way down to the frozen ground beneath your feet. You're heading in the right direction.
You signal for Lea to slow as you approach another clearing. There's a strange heat that moves between the trees as you draw close, like currents in water-- and the smell. Lea nearly gags, ducking $l_their face into the crook of $l_their arm and crouching low as you press on. The clearing here is larger than the one where you set up camp, and up above you can glimpse slivers of the night sky between the pines and a wash of moonlight peeking out from behind the clouds.
It illuminates the small, lone figure hunched in the snow. //Clementine.//
<div id="choice"><<link [[I need to make sure they're still breathing. ->rush in for clem]]>><<set $backScratch to true>><<set $injury +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[They might be dead already. I need to be careful. ->scout it out]]>><</link>></div>You move swiftly into the clearing, darting through the cold moonlight, dropping to your knees beside the bard. Reaching out, you grab a fistful of their jacket and roll them onto their back, quickly giving them a once over. Their shallow breaths are just visible in the dark, and you haul them up into your arms with a relieved sigh.
"Clementine," you say, holding them across your chest and lightly tapping their cheek. "You alright?"
They mumble something inaudible, their head rolling clumsily as they lean into you, hiding their face in your shirt. You stand carefully, your arms tight around the bard as you turn and begin your retreat back to the treeline.
But the wind shifts, and you feel a sudden icy pressure licking at your heels, as if you were trying to outrun water-- you stagger forward, a shadow passing quickly just behind you, riding the phantom waves. Then: nothing but pain as claws rip across your back, easily tearing through your clothes and into your flesh.
Your knees buckle and you drop, letting Clementine's feet hit the ground so you can catch yourself with one arm, shielding the bard beneath you. You let out a hiss as you land in the snow, the sticky warmth of blood already spreading across your back.
You lay Clementine gently on the ground, turning to stand between them and whatever creature lurks behind you.
[[Continue ->wraith desc]]You glance back at Lea, still crouched among the bushes, clutching $l_their head. You frown, but continue to scout around the clearing without $l_them,<<if $mc_archer>>reaching back and readying your bow, pulling an arrow from the quiver thumping against your thigh. You hold the string between your fingers as you creep along the treeline, scanning the clearing and the dark shadows beneath the pines.<<elseif $mc_axeman>>reaching back and pulling your axe from its bandolier, holding it at the ready as you creep along the treeline, scanning the clearing and the dark shadows beneath the pines.<<else>>drawing your sword slowly, holding the blade in front of you as you creep along the treeline, scanning the clearing, and the dark shadows beneath the pines.<</if>> Clementine is unmoving, face down-- but there's no blood, the snow around them white and undisturbed. You pause for a moment, crouched among the trees, relieved when you notice the gentle rise and fall of their breathing.
There's a sudden shift in the air just behind you, the hair on the back of your neck rising, a violent shiver as shadows pass over you followed by an icy breeze that pierces straight through your clothes. You clench your hands into fists, gritting your teeth as the cold sharpens painfully, though you see nothing but the snow-heavy pines and the empty, faceless gloom.
You pivot quickly, watching as the shadows begin to distort, and you backpedal just as something creeps out from the dark. You lift your <<if $archer>>bow,<<elseif $axeman>>axe,<<else>>sword,<</if>> parroting its steps, both of you circling each other as you slip out from between the trees and into the clearing.
[[Continue ->wraith desc]]<<if $backScratch>>It towers over you,<<else>>Even from where you're standing, you can tell that it towers over you,<</if>> humanoid in shape, but wrong-- //all wrong//. Legs and arms too long, unnatural and inhumanly thin, its face stretched and drooping as if the Messenger itself was trying to drag it back to the grave. It wears nothing but tattered rags, exposing jutting bones and discolored, rotting flesh, all wet beneath a sheen of sweat and blood. What flesh remains untainted is limited only to one side of its body, purple and white and bloated, as if it had just risen from the shores of a festering lake. <<if $backScratch>>It leers at you<<else>>It leers in your direction<</if>>, opening its too big mouth with too big teeth, black and bloody gums slick with saliva, its eyes flashing in the dark.
The world around you blurs, the beast straining against the confines of the clearing, corrupted by the Vel. <<if $backScratch>>It speaks nothing you can understand, blood and spittle hissing between its teeth, and it reaches for you with a freakishly long, clawed hand, now stained with your blood.<<else>>It speaks nothing you can understand, blood and spittle hissing between its teeth, and it just grins as it reaches for you with a freakishly long, clawed hand.<</if>>
<<if $backScratch>>This close, you have no choice but to go on the offensive. You need to get it away from the bard, and keep yourself out of reach of those claws-- you can't get hit like that again.
[[Continue ->injured aggressive 1]]<<else>>You only have a few moments to decide how you want to do this.
<<if $mc_swordman>><div id="choice">[[It has no armor, no weapon but its claws— I can overwhelm it easily. ->adv sword 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Wait for it to attack, then deflect and counter once it's vulnerable. ->adv sword 2]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Keep out of reach of those claws, darting in and out while swiping at its legs. ->adv sword 3]]</div><<elseif $mc_axeman>><div id="choice">[[It has no armor, no weapon but its claws— I can overwhelm it easily. ->adv axe 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Wait for it to attack, deflect with the axe's bit and counter once it's vulnerable. ->adv axe 2]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Dodge its claws and end this quickly with a heavy, two-handed strike. ->adv axe 3]]</div><<elseif $mc_archer>><div id="choice">[[It has no armor, no weapon but its claws— a few quick arrows will bring it down before it even gets close. ->adv archer 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Use a bit of magic to prime my bow and hit it with a charged attack. I can rush it and finish it with my sword. ->adv archer 2]]</div><<elseif $mc_mage>><div id="choice">[[It has no armor, no weapon but its claws— I can overwhelm it easily with my magic. ->adv mage 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Keep out of reach of those claws, and focus my magic on the beast. ->adv mage 2]]</div><<else>><div id="choice">[[It has no armor, no weapon but its claws— I can overwhelm it easily. ->adv alchemy 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Distract it with a transmutation and rush it with my sword. ->adv alchemy 2]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Evade its attack and get behind it, striking at its back and legs. ->adv alchemy 3]]</div><</if>><</if>><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">The Order of the Hunt</span>
The Order of the Hunt is an ancient organization established to help maintain control of both the realm and the Vel that surrounds it.
The details of the founding of the Order are lost to time, the first names never recorded, but what is known is that they made an incredible sacrifice to both the gods and the Vel to earn the knowledge required to develop the process of the Ladder.
In the beginning, the realm was plagued with blood alchemy and blood magic, a dangerous process that damaged the Vel due to the inherent qualities of both. They require injury, suffering, and blood, all things that weaken the Vel, even more so when enhanced with dark magic.
It was the Order that began to establish regulation on these practices, and it was hunters that came in after and cleaned up the mess. Anyone that had been corrupted, or any creatures that had forced their way through the Vel were promptly dealt with.
The Order has its own hierarchy and does not belong to any one country or kingdom. They operate completely on their own, and as such are sworn to political neutrality. There are multiple commanders in the Order, all of which oversee specific regions and their strongholds throughout Adrania and Gael. Commander Hadrien Chen is the current commander of the northern territories' strongholds, the [[Black Iron|black iron codex]] and Whaler's Watch.
[[Return|Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">The Black Iron</span>
The Black Iron is the northern Adranian stronghold of the Order, located at the foot of the mountains that make up the majority of the northern territories as well as the border with Gael. It is one of the oldest strongholds in the kingdom, with the Wall in Gael being only a few years older.
Infamous for their role in the Siege of Blackwater, as well as the home of the Chen family legacy, Black Iron hunters are regarded with disdain in the south, but with admiration in the north. The stronghold has been active for many centuries, training hunters and handlers in the art of alchemy, magic, and combat. While there aren't very many new recruits these days, there is one apprentice at the stronghold training under the alchemist master, Asha Eodwolf.
Currently, the Black Iron as well as the other northern stronghold, Whaler's Watch, is under the command of Lady Commander Hadrien Chen.
[[Return|Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">The Vel</span>
The Vel is ancient, dark magic, a boundary formed by the gods to prevent passage between the many realms scatter across time. It is invisible to the human eye, except for when it is being influenced or manipulated - then it will pulse, and flash, and appear as a dark film against the sky.
The Vel can be weakened, by dark magic or blood alchemy, as well as by horrific, tragic events. This is what leads to creatures forcing their way through and into our realm. The Vel can also be corrupting when disturbed, its dark influence affecting animals and humans alike - attempting to interact with or, gods forbid, pass through the Vel, will result in sickness and death.
Hunters are trained by the Order in how to safely interact with the Vel, pulling power from it as a common mage would pull power from the elements. It is the reason why their eyes turn gold - the mark of the Vel, the remnants of a forgotten dark magic, and the other realms burning through them.
[[Return|Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">The Ladder</span>
The Ladder is the multi-year long process that hunters of the Order are subjected to that allows them to use and manipulate [[the Vel|the vel codex]]. It involves rigid physical and mental conditioning as well as altering the hunter's connection to both the realm and the Vel itself.
Hunters are required to consume alchemical compounds as well as being subject to magic trials that boost the hunter's health, stamina, and strength, as well as their tolerance to any kind of poisons and venom and general immunity to earthly illnesses.
The Ladder is a gradual and painful process, spread out over the course of many years to ensure the health of the hunter does not become compromised during the conditioning and testing, and that the hunter does not become overwhelmed by the Vel. There is some secrecy when it comes to the Ladder, and the Order does not make the details of the process known but to those that are deeply involved in the Order hierarchy.
Upon completion of the Ladder, the hunter is close to their full initiation into the Order and has fully mastered the ability to draw power from, and influence, the Vel.
[[Return|Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">The Siege of Blackwater</span>
The Siege of Blackwater was a two month long conflict that occurred in Blackwater, during the height of winter many years ago. Gaelish forces blockaded the ports and eventually assaulted the city itself in an attempt to draw a reaction from the crown.
But it was not the king and his soldiers that came to the city's aid, but rather the [[Black Iron|black iron codex]] hunters under the command of Commander Lanfear Chen.
This violates the most basic law that governs the Order - political neutrality. The Order exists to hunt monsters, not to involve themselves in politics and cold wars, and this decision made by Commander Chen was viewed as an act of hostility towards both Gael //and// Adrania, though in the end the hunters were able to repel the Gaelish attack and secure Blackwater weeks before they king's soldiers finally arrived.
The blame was placed at Commander Chen's feet, with the story being rewritten - it was the Black Iron that had provoked Gael, it was the Black Iron who crossed the line and broke the tentative truce between Adrania and Gael, and the loss of life was blamed on the hunters.
[[Return|Codex]]Your focus is singular, intent on following the trail of blood at your feet. The thing is limping, it's weak, you can finish it. You feel your knife's power in your hand, coaxing you forward, eager to taste monstrous blood.
You tighten your grip, letting your knife ground you as you close in, bracing against the cold and the rot. //There//-- collapsed on the ground, silent but for its body scraping through the snow as it tries to drag itself away.
You approach slowly, cautious now for any tricks, but you can tell this is it-- it's just you and the beast this time. You push forward, ignoring the pain and the shadows clawing at your feet as the creature surmounts one last effort to get away, baring its teeth in a silent snarl. But its presence is weak, already dimming, the shadows retreating as you draw closer. You reach down and roughly force it onto its back-- force it to look at you.
<<link '//Finish it//.' 'finish it2'>><</link>>You raise your knife and its power swells, magic surging from the blade as you drive it down into the creature's heart.
It slaps and kicks at you in vain, with a final, desperate wail splitting through the night. You push down on the hilt, forcing it deeper and deeper, until the wailing eventually stops, the sudden silence ringing in your ears. The blade ignites with a deep blue light as you pull it free, and you watch as a black fog leaks out after it, pooling around your feet before dissipating into the snow with a hiss. Then the blue light fades, and you're left alone in the dark.
[[Continue ->It's over.]]You rise slowly, pushing yourself off the creature and sagging against a nearby tree. You look over at the twisted body in the snow, its mouth left open in that silent wail as its black blood slowly seeps out and licks at your boots.
You think it's a wraith. But you've never seen one so... //corporeal//. It looks more like a draugr, but draugar don't fight like that-- they don't have the emotion, the hatred, like a wraith. And its eyes-- that change, you've never seen that before. That was something else.
You shiver, glancing down at your arm, your sleeve stained dark, blood still dripping from your fingers. Your hand clenches reflexively, and you slowly ease off the tree and stand up straight, yours legs trembling and your shoulder lancing with pain as you start the walk back towards the clearing.
Emerging from the trees, you search for the others, spotting the horses first-- Clementine is hunched forward in your saddle atop $horse_name, with Gambit fidgeting beside her. You glance around, searching for Lea, but you find nothing but mud and shadows.
You reach for your knife again, strapped back on your thigh, fingers brushing over the handle. You feel your flesh prickle, your back twitching as you barely suppress another shiver. You spin around, pulling the knife from its sheath, throwing up your hands to block an attack you're certain is coming.
There's nothing there. You look at your knife in your hand, fingers trembling. And then you smell the rot. Your chest tightens, and you drop to your knees, a low groan escaping the back of your throat before you suddenly vomit saltwater. Just like before, the sea stretches out before you, your thread pulled taut, your body dragged through wet sand. But the water is already inside, filling your lungs, spilling from your mouth like blood as your heart hammers in your chest.
[[You're going to drown.]]"We need to sling your arm."
<div id="choice"><<link [[I can do it myself.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Let $l_them help.' 'Let them help.'>><</link>></div>"I can do it myself," you say, snatching the fabric from $l_them without meaning to. Lea just frowns at you.
"Stubborn," $l_they remark<<s>> as you drape the cloth over your shoulder, holding one end between your teeth as you slip it around your injured arm and tie it in a clumsy knot. You grimace as you pull it tight, your arm curling against your chest, exhaling loudly through your nose as if you could expel the pain.
"You'll need to see a healer," Lea says, eyeing the blood already seeping through the sling before giving you a proper once-over. "Your face...." $l_they trail<<s>> off, glancing sideways as you reach up and finger the gashes left behind by the wraith's claws.
<<include "need a healer">>You eye $l_them warily, but nod, allowing $l_them to move closer. Lea carefully takes your arm and wraps the cloth underneath it, surprisingly gentle, and holding either end, pulls it up until your arm is cradled against your chest. Then $l_they lean<<s>> forward, $l_their loose hair tickling your face as $l_they tilt<<s>> $l_their head and tie<<s>> a quick knot around the back of your neck.
Lea glances at you, concern knitting $l_their brow. "Good?" $l_they ask<<s>>, <<if $l_flirt eq 1>>and your heart stutters, the whisper of $l_their breath on your lips making you jerk back with a quick nod, clenching and unclenching your hand, relieved as the pain clears your mind of anything else.
"Easy," Lea warns, shaking $l_their head at you, glancing down at your arm.<<else>>and you quickly nod, stepping back and clenching your hand inside the sling.
"Easy with that," Lea warns, shaking $l_their head at you.<</if>> "You'll need to see a healer," $l_they add<<s>>, eyeing the blood already seeping through the sling before giving you a proper once-over. "Your face...." $l_they trail<<s>> off, glancing sideways as you reach up and finger the gashes left behind by the wraith's claws.
<<include "need a healer">>"Shit," you mutter.
"Here," $l_they reach<<es>> up then and pull<<s>> $l_their potion belt around, still slung over $l_their shoulder. $l_They slide<<s>> $l_their finger along the little vials, stopping at one filled with a clear, thick liquid that clings to the glass. $l_They pull<<s>> it from its pouch and twist<<s>> off the stopper before pushing it into your hand. "Drink that. It'll slow the bleeding for now."
You grunt, your nose wrinkling at the medicinal smell that wafts from the vial.
"Just drink it," Lea sighs.
You throw it back quickly, shivering at the sensation of the viscous liquid in your mouth, crawling down your throat-- you gag, shaking your head, just managing to keep it down.
"Gods, it gets worse every time," you whine, handing the vial back to Lea.
"I know," $l_they <<say>>, frowning as $l_they tuck<<s>> the glass back into its pouch. $l_Their agreement catches you by surprise-- you must really look like shit for that.
Lea brushes past you then, checking on the horses. You glance up at Clementine, still hunched in your saddle-- and you also notice your <<if $mc_swordsman>>sword<<elseif $mc_axeman>>axe<<elseif $mc_archer>>bow<<else>>sword<</if>>, returned to its place amongst your bags. You glance over at Lea, busy adjusting something with $l_their own saddle.
"Where were you?" you ask, and Lea peers back over $l_their shoulder at you.
"I couldn't get into the clearing," $l_they <<say>> slowly. "It was in my head."
You frown, biting back the part of you that wants to argue. You press a hand to your chest, a phantom pain from your thread constricting. "The wraith?" you prompt.
Lea turns all the way around to look at you. "What else?"
You quickly shake your head, your mouth clamping shut as Lea narrows $l_their eyes at you.
"You try to wake them yet?" you nod over at Clementine, averting your gaze. Lea considers you for another moment, before returning $l_their attention to $l_their saddle.
"No," $l_they <<say>>.
You peer up into Clementine's face, their eyes open and their hands clutching at the saddlehorn-- but they look right through you, unresponsive, just blinking slowly and mumbling gibberish under their breath. "Entranced," you say grimly. You've seen this before-- many times. It's common among Vel-born creatures, dark magic to lure oblivious victims and keep them from fighting back. Entrancements are easy enough to break-- unfortunately, you are unwilling to attempt any kind of magic at the moment, after...
[[Continue ->prlg the ride]]"You should go, ride ahead with the bard," Lea is saying. You step back from Clementine and blink over at Lea, already in $l_their saddle. Gambit huffs, his ears pinned back, a large cloud of his breath dissipating in the air overhead.
<<if $l_campfight>>"And where am I riding to?" you ask, as if you don't already know the answer.
Lea narrows $l_their eyes at you, $l_their hands visibly tightening around Gambit's reins. "Blackwater," $l_they <<say>>. "You //need// a healer, $surname. Sooner rather than later."
<div id="choice"><<link '"//Of course//. To Blackwater, just like you wanted."' 'Of course. w clem'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=2>><<set $l_hostile to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Fine. Let\'s go."' 'Fine then. w clem'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"If that\'s where we\'re going, it\'s a bad idea for me to go alone."' 'i dont need to ride ahead angry'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div><<else>>"What?" you say, once you register what Lea has said, giving $l_them a look.
"You should ride ahead to Blackwater," Lea repeats. "You //need// a healer, $surname. Sooner rather than later."
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t need to ride ahead."' 'i dont need to ride ahead'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Is that really a good idea?"' 'is that a good idea'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't have the energy to argue about this right now. ->I don't have the energy. w clem]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>
<<if $cw>><center><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:200%;">CHAPTER TWO
//[[THE BLACKWATER ->ch2 content warning]]</span></center><<elseif $backScratch eq true>><center><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:200%;">CHAPTER TWO
//[[THE BLACKWATER ->dawn passed out]]//</span></center><<else>><center><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:200%;">CHAPTER TWO
//[[THE BLACKWATER ->dawn awake]]</span></center><</if>>You stare up at Lea for a moment, and then just nod. "Yeah, okay," you say, turning back to $horse_name. You take a deep breath before hauling yourself up into the saddle behind Clementine-- you nearly shove them off as you make room for yourself, the saddle not exactly designed for two. You struggle for a moment, the world spinning briefly through a haze of pain as the bard slumps back and jars your injured arm, but eventually you get them settled in front of you, breathing hard and grabbing at $horse_name's reins.
Lea watches you, $l_their brow furrowed and dark eyes unreadable. Then $l_they urge<<s>> Gambit over alongside $horse_name, offering you your hunter's knife.
A sudden wave of relief washes over you as you're reunited, your fingers flexing around the familiar hilt before you return it to its sheath.
"I'll see you in Blackwater," Lea says, and you watch as $l_they pull<<s>> Gambit around and thunder<<s>> off through the trees, back towards camp.
[[Continue ->ride ahead]]"...Fine. Let's go," you say after a beat, clenching your jaw as you turn back to $horse_name. You pat her flank before taking a deep breath and hauling yourself up into the saddle behind Clementine-- you nearly shove them off as you make room for yourself, the saddle not exactly designed for two. You struggle for a moment, the world spinning briefly through a haze of pain as the bard slumps back and jars your injured arm, but eventually you get them settled in front of you, breathing hard and grabbing at $horse_name's reins.
Lea watches you, $l_their brow furrowed and dark eyes unreadable. Then $l_they urge<<s>> Gambit over alongside $horse_name, offering you your hunter's knife.
A sudden wave of relief washes over you as you're reunited, your fingers flexing around the familiar hilt before you return it to its sheath.
"I'll grab our gear and see you in Blackwater," Lea says, and you watch as $l_they pull<<s>> Gambit around and thunder<<s>> off through the trees, back towards camp.
[[Continue ->ride ahead]]"//Of course//. To Blackwater, then. Just like you wanted," you muse bitterly.
"Yes. Just like I wanted," Lea snaps back. "You will listen to me, $surname. I'm telling you, we are going to Blackwater, and you will see a healer. And when you are all patched up and no longer bleeding all over my boots, you will thank me properly for it."
You scoff, glaring up at $l_them, opening your mouth to say the first hateful thing you can think of-- but Lea spurs Gambit forward, startling you, and you quickly stumble back, half-expecting $l_them to take a swing at you. You think $l_they want<<s>> to.
"Here, take your fucking knife," Lea sneers instead, hurling said knife down into the mud at your feet. Then $l_they pull<<s>> Gambit around and thunder<<s>> off through the trees, back towards camp.
You stare after $l_them for a moment before reaching down and swiping up your hunter's knife. You turn it over in your hand, wiping the blade with your thumb, pressing the fat pad of your finger against the sharpened edge. When a drop of blood suddenly swells beneath the blade, you curse-- loudly, throwing the words out into the dark after Lea.
$horse_name shifts beside you then, stirred by the sound of your voice, nudging you with her nose and letting out a little huff as her ears twitch forward. You fall quiet, nothing but your angry breathing to fill the silence, and you abruptly turn towards your saddle, reaching to haul yourself up behind Clementine-- you nearly shove them off as you make room for yourself, the saddle not exactly designed for two. You struggle for a moment, the world spinning briefly through a haze of pain as the bard slumps back and jars your injured arm, but eventually you get them settled in front of you, breathing even harder than before as you grab roughly for $horse_name's reins.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Follow Lea back to camp. ->back to camp angry]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Get a head start with the bard. ->ride ahead angry]]>><</link>></div><center><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:200%;">End of Demo</span></center>
You've reached the end of the demo!
This game is a work in progress, and is currently undergoing edits. Only chapter one (what was previously the prologue) is available. If you ran into any errors or typos, feel free to contact me and send feedback to the [[dev blog|https://northern-passage.tumblr.com/]].
Thank you for reading, and a special thank you to my beta testers: Tyler, Freya, Aileani, Isidore, Suldrun, Dominik, and Dheb! I couldn't have done it without you.<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:100%;">//Blackwater. The Northern Territories.//</span><<set $prologueComplete to true>>
<<notify 3s>>Codex updated!<</notify>>You've been in this room for what feels like hours. Lea arrived some time ago, and has all but walked a rut into the floor with $l_their pacing.<<set $blackwater to false>><<set $highfell to false>>
You're sitting at a table, right next to the hearth, staying warm by the fire. Light from the morning sun has started to spill into the room, the sky a bright blue through the window on the far wall. The sound of ocean waves is constant behind everything. The voices on the street outside, the music coming through the walls all around you, at the heart of it all is always the ocean.
A headache pounds against your temples, and you have to keep shifting in your chair, fighting your tired body out of sleep. You let out a long sigh, slouching back, wincing as the movement disturbs your injured arm.
"This is ridiculous," Lea says, stopping $l_their pacing and crossing $l_their arms.
You chew on your lip, staring down at your arm, still in the makeshift sling made from Lea's shirt.
After your standoff with Captain Harlowe, you were escorted into Blackwater and whisked away to this shoddy tavern, with some of Harlowe's people riding out to intercept Lea. You've been staring at these four walls for some time, waiting for a healer. They won't let you leave, with an armed guard standing outside your door.
<<if $clem_with>>"Maybe they're treating Clementine first," you say with a shrug.<<else>>You look up at Lea and just shrug.<</if>>
You could care less at the moment, to be honest. You're having trouble focusing on anything other than the throbbing pain in your arm, and truth be told, you're just glad to be out of the cold for a while. Silver lining.
Lea purses $l_their lips, eyeing you for a moment before resuming $l_their aggressive pacing. You glance over at your jacket, bundled on the floor in front of the fire where you dropped it earlier, hoping to dry out the blood and snow. You lean forward, reaching with your good arm and pulling it into your lap.
If you have to sit in here like this, might as well relax. You dig down into your pockets, reaching for...
<div id="choice"><<link [[A pipe. ->A pipe. 1]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[A flask. ->A flask. 1]]>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'A pipe //and// a flask.' 'A pipe //and// a flask. 1'>><</link>></div>The heat.<<set $prologueComplete to true>><<set $blackwater to false>><<set $highfell to false>>
It's making you claustrophobic.
Your breath coming in strangled gasps. Sweat drips slowly down your back, burning as it mingles with your blood.
You lean forward, on your hands and knees. Cold snow bites your fingers as you curl your hands into fists. The fire is coming. The stars have vanished overhead, no light in the clearing, just you and the shadows.
Your body convulses violently, and you gag, your eyes watering. You retch a thin stream of vomit, throat burning. It's getting hotter. But you suddenly feel so cold. Shivering, teeth chattering, hands aching.
"<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:200%;">HUNTER...</span>"
The voice booms all around you, through the clearing, right in your ear, burning in your mind. But it's a cold burn, painful, splitting your skull, making you retch. You vomit again. Water. Salt water, gritty and dark, passing from your lips and splashing over your hands and melting the snow.
You struggle to breath, heaving, vomiting more water. You're crying, now, too. Sweat slicks the back of your neck, your clothes sticking to you, suffocating you. Chest aching, you heave. You can't breathe. More water, trickling from your mouth, your nose, your eyes. There's blood now, too. It's red. Dark, and red, and cold.
Get up. Get up. //Get the fuck up.//
[[Get up!]]Forcing yourself to your feet. Vomiting again, hands on your knees. Your legs tremble.
"H̷̢͍͈̑̅̈́̿͊̉̽͝U̴̠̠̥͑͠Ṇ̵̟̿T̶̯̝̯̞͔͎̓̅̊̉̄̉̀̿͑͜Ḛ̵̛̙̞͔̟̙͖͎͕̋͋̓͌͂͛͝Ř̴͈̘͈͔̳͇̝̮͂ͅ."
It's closer. You need to move. Fucking move.
Your arm hangs uselessly at your side, blood dripping from your fingertips. You force your legs to cooperate, moving towards the trees, passing into darkness. Your heartbeat is frantic. You're a caged animal, released just to be hunted for sport.
Sprinting now. Slipping on ice. You catch yourself against a tree, clinging to it like a lifeline. You vomit. Blood and water staining the bark, burning through the snow at your feet. Your nose burns, and you need to breathe. Breathe. But your lungs are full of water. You're drowning on land, clawing at the tree as you slide to your knees, heaving again.
You stick your finger down your throat, forcing it, get it out, get it out, //get it out.//
But it's red, it's all red, and it clings to your throat, viscous, it won't let go. You're panting, gasping, frantic, afraid. You're afraid.
"I'll see you soon, Hunter."<<set $sanity -=10>>
[[It's all red.]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif;">//Blackwater. The Northern Territories.//</span><<set $prologueComplete to true>>
<<notify 3s>>Codex updated!<</notify>>You open your eyes. Slowly, slowly, you sit up, reaching your hands to your throat. You're breathing. And you can move your arm. Flexing your hand, you pull up your sleeve, examining the fresh scars there now.
You can hear distant voices, as well as the sound of music and laughter. The room you're in is dark, shutters closed and curtains drawn, and the fire in the hearth across from your bed is nothing but glowing embers.
<<if $backScratch>>Reaching behind you, you lift up your shirt and run your hand across your back, feeling the raised skin of fresh scars under your fingers. You twist around, stretching your back and wincing a bit at the tightness of the skin there, but overall no real pain – just a general soreness from the fight.
<</if>>You take a deep breath. Your hands are shaking. Rubbing your eyes, you startle, your fingers wet. Tears. You were crying. Quickly, you wipe your sleeve over your face, blinking a few times.
Just a dream. Just a dream.
Forcing your legs over the edge of the bed, you stand slowly. //Just a dream.//
[[Right?]]A few ragged breaths. You rub at your eyes again, and bite the inside of your cheek, trying to ground yourself.
You slap your cheeks a few times. Another deep breath.
It was just a dream.
You focus on the here and now. Looking around the room, it looks like a pretty standard, shoddy tavern room. A small table next to the hearth, a dresser beneath the window, and a bed. You see an empty chair next to the dresser, but it's apparent someone was... sleeping there. Pillows and blankets are thrown haphazardly on the floor around it, as if whoever was in the chair left in a hurry. Lea, you think, though you can't guess as to where $l_they went.
You turn back to the table, eyeing the scattered bloody rags there; your hand instinctively goes to the fresh scars on your arm. You also see your jacket laid out there, drying in the heat of the fire. Walking over to it, you swipe it up into your arms, plopping down onto one of the chairs.
You need to relax. That's all. You dig down into your pockets, reaching for...
<div id="choice"><<link [[A pipe.]]>><<set $vice to "smoker">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[A flask.]]>><<set $vice to "drinker">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'A pipe //and// a flask.' 'A pipe //and// a flask.'>><<set $vice to "both">><</link>></div>You pull out a pouch of tobacco and your pipe, a little worn and battered, but you think it gives it some character. Leaning back in your chair, you pack your pipe and hold it in your mouth. Raising your hand you quickly snap your fingers and produce a tiny flame just at the end of your pointer finger, applying it to the tobacco and taking a few deep breaths. You shake your hand to extinguish the flame, sighing as you exhale.
It's a habit you picked up from other hunters at the Black Iron, and you still turn to it every now and then to calm your nerves and relax. Jorah smoked occasionally, though he always did favor a drink instead. And it doesn't help that Lea smokes too, though you're sure $l_they <<dont>> know that you know, since $l_they go<<es>> out of $l_their way to hide it.
<<include "seriously 1">>You pull out your flask, a little dented and battered, but you think it gives it some character. Leaning back in your chair, you unscrew the cap and take a long drink, closing your eyes for a moment. You set the flask down on the table, not bothering to put the cap back on.
It's a bad habit you picked up from the other hunters at the Black Iron. You think just about every hunter you've ever met drinks, and most of them smoke, too. Jorah was one of the worst, when you think back. He always had a drink in his hand. Even Lea - though $l_they prefer<<s>> a pipe. Every now and then you find yourself turning to it, to calm your nerves and relax.
<<include "seriously 1">>You grab your flask and pipe, as well as your pouch of tobacco. You lay it all out on the table, the flask a bit dented and your pipe scratched and faded, but you think it gives it all some character. Unscrewing the cap to your flask, you lean back in your chair and take a long drink. You set it back on the table, with a sigh, and don't even bother putting the lid back on. Grabbing your pipe, you put it between your lips and carefully pack in the tobacco. Raising your hand you quickly snap your fingers and produce a tiny flame just at the end of your pointer finger, applying it to the tobacco and taking a few deep breaths. You shake your hand to extinguish the flame, sighing again as you exhale.
Both are bad habits you picked up from other hunters at the Black Iron. You think just about every hunter you've met drinks, and most of them smoke, too. Jorah was one of the worst, always having a drink in his hand. And even Lea smokes, though you're sure $l_they <<dont>> know that you know, since $l_they go<<es>> out of $l_their way to hide it.
<<include "seriously 1">>The older you get the more you understand it. There's no other way to deal with it - none that work half as well, at least. And talking about it just makes you feel worse, if anyone even bothers to listen at all. You feel your face twitch at the thought.
You're more like the wolves after all, you think. Scratching at the door. But no one will let you in.
[[Continue|suddenly the door opens]]The door suddenly opens before you, and standing there is none other than Lea. $l_They startle<<s>> at the sight of you sitting at the table.
"Thought you were still sleeping," $l_they <<say>>, hooking $l_their foot around the door and kicking it closed behind $l_them. $l_Their arms are full with firewood, holding the logs against $l_their chest.
Lea quickly walks by you and deposits the wood beside the hearth, straightening up and turning back around to face you. $l_Their eyes go straight to the <<if $vice is "smoker">>pipe in your hand,<<elseif $vice is "both">>pipe and flask,<<elseif $vice is "drinker">>flask on the table,<</if>> and Lea frowns, crossing $l_their arms.
"Seriously?" $l_they <<say>>.
"What?"
"Is now really the time?"
"I just woke up, Lea. What exactly should I be doing right now?"
Lea glares at you, shaking $l_their head. You know that look. A lecture is coming.
<div id="choice"><<link '$l_They need<<s>> to unclench.' 'unclench 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Do not lecture me right now." Why is everything I do such a problem for $l_them?' 'do not lecture me 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I think I deserved a moment to myself. I\'m just... tired. I don\'t have the energy to do this with $l_them right now.' 'im just tired 1'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>"You need to unclench, for real," you say, taking another <<if $vice is "smoker" or $vice is "both">>inhale from your pipe.<<else>>long drink from your flask.<</if>>
"Oh, I'm sorry for being a little //stressed// right now," Lea says, throwing $l_their hands up.
"What do you even care? //You're// fine," you say, scoffing, flexing your arm as you say it.
"You are so fucking dense. You..." $l_they shake<<s>> $l_their head. "Of course I'm stressed! Of course I care that you got hurt. Why wouldn't I?"
You blink, thrown a bit at the claim, especially from Lea. It's not that you think Lea doesn't care about you - not necessarily - but the //why// of it eludes you.
You drop your gaze, squirming a bit in your seat, unsure how to respond - you can't quite wrap your head around it. The question affects you more than it should. <<if $vice is "smoker" or $vice is "both">>You run your thumb over the lip of your pipe, staring down at the burning tobacco inside.<<else>>You turn the cap of your flask over and over in your hands, staring down and watching the light glint off the metal.<</if>>
The sound of a chair scraping over the floor makes you look back up, just as Lea sits down at the table across from you. $l_they<<re>> not looking at you, though, fidgeting with a ring $l_they wear<<s>> on $l_their thumb, the flash of silver metal and the familiar black ink of the runes tattooed on $l_their hands. After a beat, $l_they lean<<s>> forward with $l_their elbows on the table, burying $l_their face in $l_their hands.
<<include "are you good lea 1">>"Please don't do this right now," you say, and it comes out far more strained than you would like. You lean back, your grip tightening around your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask.<<else>>pipe.<</if>>
You sit like that for a moment, just glaring down at your hands. "I just needed a moment."
The sound of a chair scraping over the floor makes you lift your eyes again, just as Lea sits down at the table across from you.
"Okay," $l_they <<say>>, though $l_they<<re>> not looking at you, instead staring down at $l_their hands on the table, fidgeting with a ring $l_they wear<<s>> on $l_their thumb, the flash of silver metal and the familiar black ink of the runes tattooed on $l_their hands. After a beat, $l_they sigh<<s>>, leaning forward and burying $l_their face in $l_their hands.
<<include "are you good lea 1">>"Do not lecture me right now," you growl, glaring up at $l_them.
"I do not //lecture// you," Lea says, making exaggerated air quotes with $l_their hands as $l_they <<say>> it.
"Okay, well, whatever you call it. Fuck off," you say, taking another <<if $vice is "smoker" or $vice is "both">>inhale from your pipe.<<else>>long drink from your flask.<</if>>
Lea rolls $l_their eyes at you, moving around the table and jerking the other chair out, sitting down hard and crossing $l_their arms over $l_their chest. $l_They only hold<<s>> like that for a moment, before shifting to fidget with a ring $l_they wear<<s>> on $l_their thumb, the quick flash of silver metal and the familiar black ink of the runes tattooed on $l_their hands. But then $l_they sigh<<s>>, leaning forward, putting $l_their elbows on the table and burying $l_their face in $l_their hands.
<<include "are you good lea 1">><div id="choice"><<link '"Are you okay?" I\'ve never really seen Lea... like this.' 'are you okay like this 1'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine+=1>><</link>></div>
<<if $vice is "smoker">><div id="choice"><<link '"Here. You need a smoke, too." We can wallow together.' 'wallow together 1'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div><<elseif $vice is "drinker">><div id="choice"><<link '"Here. You need a drink, too." We can wallow together.' 'wallow together 1'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div><<elseif $vice is "both">><div id="choice"><<link '"Here. You need a drink, too. Or a smoke. Whichever." We can wallow together.' 'wallow together 1'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"//Gods.// Stop being so dramatic." $l_They <<are>> starting to annoy me, now.' 'stop being so dramatic 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I leave $l_them be. Nothing I can say will help, anyways.' 'leave them be 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>"Are you okay?" you ask, <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>setting your flask back down on the table.<<else>>lowering your pipe to the table.<</if>>
Lea lifts $l_their head, but still doesn't look at you, instead messing with $l_their ring again.
"I'm fine," $l_they <<say>> at last.
"You don't look fine," you say, giving $l_them a look.
"You're one to talk. You look like shit," Lea says, finally glancing up and giving you a sharp smile.
You roll your eyes. "Lea," you start, but Lea shakes $l_their head, frowning at you.
"I'm fine, $surname. Seriously," $l_they <<say>>.
You have your doubts. You start to open your mouth to say just as much, but Lea suddenly slaps $l_their hand on the table, cutting you off.
"I'm fine! For fuck's sake," $l_they huff<<s>> crossing $l_their arms and slumping back into $l_their chair. $l_They avoid<<s>> looking at you again, staring into the fire now instead.
You purse your lips, letting out a long sigh when Lea refuses to acknowledge you. //Clearly// something is wrong - but Lea's never been one to talk to you, or anyone, for that matter.
<<include "something is wrong 1">><<if $vice is "smoker">>"Here. You need a smoke, too," you say, offering your pipe to $l_them. $l_They lift<<s>> $l_their head, glaring over at you, and you almost expect $l_them to smack the pipe out of your hand, but to your surprise, Lea takes it.
You can't help but grin over at $l_them, raising an eyebrow as $l_they take a long pull off the pipe, but Lea just rolls $l_their eyes.
"Shut up," $l_they <<say>>, though $l_they<<re>> smiling faintly, now.
$l_They hand<<s>> you back your pipe, sinking into $l_their chair, crossing $l_their long legs in front of $l_them.
While $l_they look<<s>> slightly more relaxed now, it's clear something is still bothering $l_them, that slight crease still present between $l_their brows.<<elseif $vice is "drinker">>"Here. You need a drink, too," you say, offering your flask to $l_them. $l_They lift<<s>> $l_their head, glaring at you, and you almost expect $l_them to smack the flask out of your hand, but to your surprise, Lea takes it.
You watch as $l_they lean<<s>> back, taking a long drink.
Lea winces, setting the flask back down on the table, and you can see $l_their eyes watering. $l_They cough<<s>> a few times, shaking $l_their head and wiping $l_their mouth.
"That is awful," Lea says, sliding the flask back over to you. "How do you drink that shit?"
Chuckling, you take the flask back and take another drink yourself. "I learned from the best," you say with a shrug. "Whatever Jorah drank, I drank."
"That man scares me," Lea says, still grimacing. $l_They lean<<s>> back in $l_their chair then, crossing $l_their long legs in front of $l_them and rubbing $l_their eyes. Though $l_they look<<s>> slightly more relaxed now, it's clear that something is still bothering $l_them, that slight crease still present just between $l_their brows.<<elseif $vice is "both">>"Here. You need a drink, too. Or a smoke. Whichever," you say, holding both of your hands up, flashing the flask and pipe and twisting them between your fingers. $l_They lift<<s>> $l_their head, glaring at you, and you almost expect $l_them to smack both out of your hands, but instead Lea actually considers both options, before plucking the pipe from your hand.
You can't help but grin over at $l_them, raising an eyebrow as $l_they take a long pull off the pipe, but Lea just rolls $l_their eyes.
"Shut up," $l_they <<say>>, though $l_they<<re>> smiling faintly, now.
$l_They hand<<s>> you back your pipe, sinking into $l_their chair, crossing $l_their long legs in front of $l_them.
While $l_they look<<s>> slightly more relaxed now, it's clear something is still bothering $l_them, that slight crease still present between $l_their brows.<<endif>>
<<include "something is wrong 1">>"//Gods.// Stop being so dramatic," you say, rolling your eyes at $l_them. Lea sits back up, giving you an annoyed, but hurt, look.
"I'm not being dramatic," $l_they <<say>> with a huff, slumping back into $l_their chair. "I just..." But Lea stops, shaking $l_their head. "You know what. It doesn't matter." Lea crosses $l_their arms and gives you one last dirty look before turning to stare into the fire.
//Clearly// something is bothering $l_them, and $l_their attitude indicates that it does actually matter very much. You sigh, running a hand over your face.
<<include "something is wrong 1">>Taking another <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>drink from your flask,<<else>>slow inhale from your pipe,<</if>> you just stay quiet, turning to stare down into the fireplace, feeling the heat on your face. There's nothing you can say to Lea that will make $l_them feel better at the moment.
You've never been good at offering comfort, especially with Lea, and honestly, you could only guess at the myriad of things that might be bothering $l_them right now.
<<include "something is wrong 1">><<if $l_campfight>>Obviously, this whole situation is shit. Of course $l_theyre stressed. So are you. Hell, you're not even sure where you are right now - waking up in a strange room isn't exactly //fun//. And there was the fight you had at camp, too. You wince a bit at the memory, at the things you said. Shitty last words, if your luck had been just a little worse.<<else>>Obviously, this whole situation is shit. Of course $l_theyre stressed - so are you. You know Lea wanted to come to Blackwater, but you doubt this is what $l_they had in mind. Though to be fair, you almost dying just seemed destined to happen either way. That's just your luck.<</if>>
[[Continue|how long have i been out]]"So," you say eventually, shifting in your chair, "how long have I been out?"
"Only a few hours, actually. It's around noon, I think," Lea says. You glance at the window on the far wall, the curtains still closed, but you can see a sliver of light still peeking through.
"Clearly we found a healer," you say, stretching your arm out in front of you.
"Yes," Lea says, pursing $l_their lips. "It's been... interesting," $l_they add<<s>>.
"Oh?" you say, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't even know where to start," Lea sighs, running a hand over $l_their face. <<if $PassedOutInClearing>>$l_They hesitate<<s>> for a few moments, though, dropping $l_their hand as $l_they consider<<s>> $l_their words.
"I'm sorry, $name," $l_they <<say>> slowly, "I had to leave our gear behind. I had to leave it all behind," Lea sighs again, glancing away from you. "When you... fainted... I wasn't sure, you know? My priority was just to get you out of there." $l_They fidget<<s>> with $l_their ring again.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Are you kidding me?"' 'are you kidding me'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_frienship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Damn." I don\'t really know what else to say.' 'damn bro'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"...It\'s alright. Thanks, Lea."' 'thanks lea'>><<set $l_friendship +=2>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'It is what it is. I wait for $l_them to continue.' 'wait for them to continue'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div><<elseif $PassedOutOnRoad>>"I found you passed out on the road. Managed to get you back on your horse - which wasn't easy, by the way." $l_They pause<<s>> for a moment. "Thought you were dead when I saw you," Lea mutters, glancing back down at $l_their hands. $l_They<<re>> fidgeting again, twisting $l_their ring around $l_their thumb.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Nah. You can\'t get rid of me that easy."' 'cant get rid of me'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No. Not dead yet."' 'not dead yet'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"There was a moment in that clearing when I thought I was."' 'thought i was'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>"Anyways... On the way in, some group of Gaelish sailors showed up. Captain Harlowe?" Lea offers, but you just shake your head. Lea frowns, but continues. "Knew our names. This //captain// insisted on escorting us," Lea scowls. "She brought us into the city unopposed. People just watched," $l_they pause<<s>> for a moment. "I don't know who any of them are, don't recognize them. Not the healer, either. And there's been no word from Lord Duncan."
Blinking, you take a moment to process all of this. You knew it had to be bad, with all the soldiers you saw at the inn and on the road, but you didn't expect... whatever this is. Gaels running Blackwater? At least it's sailors and not soldiers.
"Have you contacted Commander Hadrien?" you ask.
"Not yet. They've kept me locked in this room with you. We got someone standing outside the door," Lea says, jerking $l_their chin over $l_their shoulder.
[[Continue|oh great]]"Are you kidding me?" you say, scoffing in disbelief.
Lea scowls, shaking $l_their head at you.
"What, would you rather I let you bleed out over a few bags and a tent? Come on," Lea says, throwing $l_their hands up.
"Well do you have the money to replace it? Last time I checked, we don't have shit!" You smack your hand on the table, closing your eyes for a moment. The realization that you've just lost all of your belongings threatens to overwhelm you, before you manage to force it down, letting your anger burn it up instead.
When you open your eyes, Lea is glaring at you, glancing away and taking a deep breath. "We'll figure it out," $l_they finally <<say>>.
"//You// will figure it out. You're the one that left it behind," you snap, because if you don't take it out on Lea, you're not sure where else it will go.
"I left it behind because of //you!//" Lea jabs $l_their finger at you.
This argument, at least, is familiar. Comfortable, almost.
"Of course. As always, because of me," you sneer, rolling your eyes.
Lea toughly rubs at $l_their face, groaning. "I'll fucking deal with it, okay? Gods."
You both glare at each other until Lea finally just sighs, clearing $l_their throat before continuing.
<<include "lea continues">>"Damn," you sigh, closing your eyes for a moment, unable to really say anything else. The realization that you've just lost all your belongings almost overwhelms you in the moment, before you swallow it back down, taking a deep breath and opening your eyes again.
Lea is watching you, concern furrowing $l_their brow.
"I am really sorry, $name," $l_they <<say>> quietly.
"Yeah," you say, staring down at your hands.
"We'll need new gear before we can cross through the mountains. I think I can get everything here, at the market, at least."
"Yeah," you repeat, before glancing back up at $l_them and clearing your throat. "Yeah. We'll figure it out. We always do," you say, shrugging. At least you still have your saddlebags. Small mercies.
Lea nods, giving you an appreciative look before continuing.
<<include "lea continues">>"...It's alright, Lea." you say slowly, staring down at your hands. The realization that you've just lost all of your belongings threatens to overwhelm you for a brief moment, closing your eyes before letting out a long sigh. When you open them again, Lea is watching you, concern furrowing $l_their brow.
"Thanks. I mean, I appreciate it, I suppose," you clarify, giving $l_them a weak smile. Losing your gear is rough, but at least you're still breathing.
"You're welcome, I suppose," Lea says, a barely visible smile flickering over $l_their features. "I am really sorry, $name," $l_they add<<s>>.
"Not much else you could have done," you shrug. "We'll figure it out. We always do."
Lea nods, giving you an appreciative look before continuing.
<<include "lea continues">>You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment, the realization that you've just lost all your belongings threatening to overwhelm you. But you just sigh, shaking your head - it is what it is.
When you open your eyes again, Lea is watching you, concern furrowing $l_their brow.
When it's clear you're not going to say anything, $l_they glance<<s>> away, fidgeting with $l_their ring again before continuing.
<<include "lea continues">>"Nah, you can't get rid of me that easy," you say, shrugging, suppressing the memories of claws and teeth, forcing a grin instead.
Lea gives you a weak smile in return. "It looked bad, $surname. Glad you're still with me."
"You going soft on me, Lea?" you say, smiling even wider now.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get used to it," Lea says with a laugh, seeming to relax at your nonchalance. "These are extenuating circumstances."
"Of course. Right."
Lea sighs in exasperation, but a small smile still tugs at $l_their lips. After a moment, $l_they continue<<s>>.
<<include "lea continues">>"No. Not dead yet," you say. "It will take more than that to kill me."
"Good," Lea says, staring down at $l_their hands. "I knew you were better than that."
Your mouth twitches into a grin. "Is that right?"
Lea scoffs, rolling $l_their eyes, but a faint smile still tugs at $l_their lips. After a moment, $l_they continue<<s>> $l_their story.
<<include "lea continues">>"There was a moment in that clearing where I thought I was," you say, shaking your head and leaning back in your chair.
"I wouldn't have let that happen," Lea says, $l_their voice hard.
You take a moment to respond. "You did save my ass back there. Just so you know."
Lea's mouth twitches, but $l_they <<dont>> //quite// smile. "...Thanks for saying that," $l_they finally <<say>>.
After another moment, $l_they continue<<s>> $l_their story.
<<include "lea continues">>You lean back in your chair, rubbing your hands over your face. //What the hell is going on?//
Dropping your hands into your lap, you actually take a moment to look yourself over. You're still in the clothes you had been wearing last night, though obviously your thicker outer layers have been removed. Your arm feels good, sore but nothing like the pain you had felt previously. Reaching down, you push up your sleeve and run your fingers over the new scars on your forearm, feeling the raised skin there, tight and fresh but fully healed.
<<if $faceScratch>><<set $faceScar to true>>Your hand also wanders up to your face, where you feel even more fresh scars, where the three gashes across your cheek had been.
<</if>>"How does it feel?" Lea asks then, watching you. "I don't know if I trust that healer."
That's not surprising. Lea never trusts healers. $l_They prefer<<s>> surgeons. Healing magic is pretty tricky stuff, so you understand the hesitation, even though Lea takes it to an extreme sometimes. Healing magic, just like all other magic, requires channeling your own energy. When you heal someone, it requires //a lot// of energy, and the potential to injure yourself and the other person is unfortunately very high. Healing magic is undoubtedly the most dangerous magic, and the hardest to learn, and even harder to master. Though from what you can feel, whoever healed you definitely seems to know what they're doing.
"Better," you say, rotating your shoulder to show $l_them. "Way better."
"Good," Lea says, pursing $l_their lips, still watching you closely. <<if $faceScratch>>"And don't worry, your face is still nice and pretty,” $l_they add<<s>>, smirking at you.
"Oh? You think I'm pretty?" <<if $l_flirt is 0>>you say, batting your lashes at $l_them.
Lea rolls $l_their eyes, raising $l_their hand and giving you a rude gesture.
"That wraith was a beast," you say then, shaking your head and pulling your sleeve back down.<<else>>you say, though your sarcasm wavers slightly, an embarrassing burn in your face making you glance away.
Lea doesn't notice, just rolling $l_their eyes and raising $l_their hand to give you a rude gesture.
"That wraith was a beast," you say then, clearing your throat and shaking your head as you pull your sleeve back down.<</if>><<else>>
"That wraith was a beast," you say then, shaking your head and pulling your sleeve back down.<</if>> "I've never seen one fully formed like that."
"Yeah," Lea says slowly. "We need to talk about that, by the way. About what happened."
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t want to talk about that. Not right now."' 'dont want to talk about that 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just leave it, Lea."' 'just leave it lea 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"//What happened?// What, me getting my ass kicked?"' 'getting my ass kicked 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. Let\'s talk about it, then."' 'talk about it then 1'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>"I don't want to talk about that, not right now," you say, crossing your arms. You stare down at the table, your brow furrowed. You don't know what happened in that clearing. Or what would have happened if Lea hadn't stopped you.
"We can't just pretend like it didn't happen," Lea says, leaning towards you.
"Why not? We're pretty good at that," you say, annoyed. "We can talk about it later. Just... not right now." Glancing away, you close your eyes for a moment, the memory of the hunter's knife over your chest making you flex your hands under your arms.
Lea huffs. "If I hadn't been there..."
You clench your jaw, leveling an icy glare at $l_them. "I said I don't want to talk about it right now. I fucking mean it, Lea."
Lea takes a deep breath, $l_their hands curling into fists where they still sit on top of the table.
"$surname..."
<<include "lea interrupted">>"Just leave it, Lea," you say, crossing your arms. You stare down at the table, your brow furrowed. You don't know what happened in that clearing. Or what would have happened if Lea hadn't stopped you.
"We can't just pretend like it didn't happen," Lea says, leaning towards you.
"Why not? We're pretty good at that," you say, annoyed. Glancing away, you close your eyes for a moment, the memory of the hunter's knife over your chest making you flex your fists under your arms.
Lea huffs. "If I hadn't been there..."
You clench your jaw, leveling an icy glare at $l_them. "I said just leave it, Lea. Don't push me."
Lea takes a deep breath, $l_their hands curling into fists where they still sit on top of the table.
"$surname..."
<<include "lea interrupted">>"//What happened?// What, me getting my ass kicked?" you say, smirking at $l_them.
"I'm being serious," Lea says, exasperated.
Your mouth twitches. "What do you want me to say?"
"If I hadn't been there..." Lea trails off, frowning down into $l_their lap.
"Yeah," is all you say. You don't really know what happened in the clearing. Or what would have happened, if Lea hadn't stopped you. The image of the hunter's knife raised above your chest sends a shiver over you, and you clench your fists under the table.
"$surname..."
<<include "lea interrupted">>"Okay. Let's talk about it, then," you say.
Lea seems taken aback for a moment at your willingness, but recovers quickly.
"Tell me what happened."
You purse your lips, fidgeting with your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask.<<elseif $vice is "smoker">>pipe.<</if>> Hesitant. Talking... is difficult for you. "It felt like it was still there. In the Vel."
"What was still there? The wraith?"
You nod, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. It's hard to think about. The image of the hunter's knife over your chest sends a shiver through you, and your grip tightens around your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask.<<elseif $vice is "smoker">>pipe.<</if>>
"$surname... You have to talk to me. Let me help," Lea says, leaning towards you across the table.
<<include "lea interrupted">><<if $clem_with>>But before Lea can continue, you hear a click, the door unlocking, a stranger in the doorway, followed by a fully conscious Clementine, the bells on their jacket ringing softly as they walk.<<else>>But before Lea can continue, you hear a click, the door unlocking, a stranger in the doorway, followed by an all too familiar face.
"You?" Lea beats you to the punch, sitting up fully in $l_their seat as the bard from the road walks into the room, the bells on their jacket ringing softly.<</if>>
Someone else comes in behind them, and your focus is drawn to that stranger immediately, an instinctual pull between you, so strong you actually stand from your chair before you realize.
A hunter - like you.
He smiles at you, a faint shimmer of days-old makeup making xir eyes flash, a dark blue smudged against xir black skin. Of course, the familiar ring of gold around xir pupils draws your attention as well, and you take a long look at xem.
Xir hood is off, and you can see he has short, locked hair, swept to one side, adorned with gold wire jewelry and little cowrie shells. He's also wearing... //colorful clothes// - blues and greens, a distinctly southern look similar to the bard, though he seems more adapted to the cold weather here, also wearing a deep emerald cloak with a thick, black feathered hood. Carrying a long glaive, the heavy blade thuds against the floor as xe sweeps into the room, with the top of said glaive bearing an intricate wood design that entraps a large turquoise stone.
[[Continue ->sorry for the wait 1]]"Me and Noel are so glad to see you awake, hunter," the other stranger says, "We have so much to talk about."<<set $meet_noel to true>>
Noel waves at you, giving a dramatic bow.
"I am Noel," xe says, as if there was anyone else it could be.
The first stranger clears their throat then, and you turn back to them - //her//. This has to be the one Lea called Captain Harlowe. Wearing a long, tattered duster, and a thick orange gambeson, she stands with her hands on her hips, the tails of her jacket thrown out behind her, an intimidating presence in the small room.<<set $meet_merry to true>><<set $clem_intro to true>>
She's tall, too, though not quite as tall as Lea, with long, dark auburn hair falling past her broad shoulders in gentle, messy waves.
She has a bandana tied around her head, partially tucked beneath her thick hair, with her right eye covered by a perfect triangle fold of fabric. Her left eye is a warm brown, watching you with obvious interest, a small smile exposing the gap between her two front teeth. Her skin is freckled and tanned, the faint pink of old sunburn on the tip of her nose, with sunspots and scars scattered across her face and hands, you assume from a hard life at sea.
[[Continue|what are you doing here]]You look between Harlowe and Noel as he quietly closes the door behind him.
<<if $clem_with is false>>"What are you doing here?" Lea asks, pointing to the bard.
"You know our friend Clementine?" Captain Harlowe says, grinning, and slapping the bard across the back. A bit forcefully, you notice.
"We saw them on the road," Lea says. Lea seems to think for a moment, blinking, "How did you get here? I figured you got caught in all that snow."
"We already had this conversation," Harlowe says loudly. "There was no snow last night."
Lea scowls over at the captain. "It //did// snow last night."
<div id="choice"><<link '"What are you talking about? It snowed."' 'what are you talking about no clem 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Is this a joke?"' 'is this a joke no clem 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Did it not snow where you were?" I turn to Clementine.' 'snow where you were no clem 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I knew something felt... off."' 'something felt off no clem 1'>><</link>></div><<elseif $clem_with is true>>"Lea told me you were waiting for us," you say, eyeing Harlowe.
"Indeed I was. I got pretty impatient, to be honest. I expected you two to ride through the night."
"The snow forced us to stop," Lea says then, cutting in.
"We've had this conversation already. There was no snow last night," Captain Harlowe says, emphasizing every word, turning on Lea.
Lea scowls. "It //did// snow last night."
<div id="choice"><<link '"What are you talking about? It snowed."' 'what are you talking about w clem 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Is this a joke?"' 'is this a joke w clem 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It snowed." I turn to Clementine to back me up.' 'it def snowed w clem 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I knew something felt... off."' 'something felt off w clem 1'>><</link>></div><</if>>"What are you talking about? It snowed," you say, looking between Lea and Harlowe.
"No, it did not. I would know, since I was out there looking for you fools," Harlowe says, rolling her eye.
"What?" you turn to Lea now, who just shrugs, throwing $l_their hands up in annoyance.
"But it snowed..." you repeat, because how do you argue this point? It happened, you saw it, felt it. It drove you off the road.
"I came in with a merchant last night," Clementine says then, stepping forward a bit. "It was cold, but it was clear. No snow," they say, giving you a sympathetic look.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting. Waiting... for what?
<<include "snow sesh 1">>"Is this a fucking joke?" you say, looking between Lea and Harlowe.
You don't really think Lea would be trying to pull a joke on you right now, and the annoyed face $l_they pull<<s>> when you look at $l_them confirms that.
"That's exactly what I said," Lea scoffs, throwing $l_their hands up.
"I don't tell //jokes//, hunter," Merry says, narrowing her eye at you.
"But it snowed," you say, your voice hard.
"I – uh – I came in with a merchant last night. It was pretty cold, but it was clear. No snow," Clementine says then, stepping forward a bit.
You and Lea both shoot them a dirty look, and they immediately step back.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting. Waiting... for what?
<<include "snow sesh 1">>"Did it not snow where you were?" you ask, turning to Clementine.
"Um, no. I rode in with a merchant, and it was pretty cold, but it was clear. No snow," they say, wringing their hands.
You consider them for a long moment, long enough that they start to squirm.
"It was heavy snow," you say finally, turning away from them. "Maybe it was just localized?" you suggest.
"No. I would have seen it. It was clear all night while I was out there looking for you fools," Captain Harlowe says, pointing a finger at you and Lea.
"I think you're full of shit," Lea says, shaking $l_their head.
Merry clicks her tongue. "Think whatever the hell you'd like. I'm just telling you the truth," she says, and the two of them exchange annoyed looks before Lea just scoffs and turns away.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting. Waiting... for what?
<<include "snow sesh 1">>"I knew something felt... off," you say, frowning. That feeling you had on the road, and last night... it's still there, isn't it? Crouched like a predator in the pit of your stomach. Waiting.
"What?" Lea says, holding $l_their hands up, baffled by your admission. "You didn't say anything?" It's more of a question than a statement.
"Well..," you start, shifting a bit. You don't want to have this conversation. And you really don't want to have this conversation in front of all these people.
But Captain Harlowe saves you from having to make an explanation.
<<include "snow sesh 1">>"What are you talking about? It snowed," you say, looking between Lea and Harlowe.
"No, it did not. I would know, since I was out there looking for you fools," Harlowe says, rolling her eye.
"What?" you turn to Lea now, who just shrugs, throwing $l_their hands up in annoyance.
"But it snowed..." you repeat, because how do you argue this point? It happened, you saw it, felt it. It drove you off the road.
"It //did// snow - at least where we were," Clementine offers then. But the captain just gives them an icy look, and they quickly glance down to the floor, shrinking into themself.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting. Waiting... for what?
<<include "snow sesh 1">>"Is this a fucking joke?" you say, looking between Lea and Harlowe.
You don't really think Lea would be trying to pull a joke on you right now, and the annoyed face $l_they pull<<s>> when you look at $l_them confirms that.
"That's exactly what I said," Lea scoffs, throwing $l_their hands up.
"I don't tell //jokes//, hunter," Merry says, narrowing her eye at you.
"But it snowed," you say, your voice hard.
"At least where we were," Clementine offers then, stepping forward a bit.
Captain Harlowe just gives them an icy look, and Clementine quickly glances away, shrinking into themself.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting, Waiting... for what?
<<include "snow sesh 1">>"I knew something felt... off," you say, frowning. That feeling you had on the road, and last night... it's still there, isn't it? Crouched like a predator in the pit of your stomach. Waiting.
"What?" Lea says, holding $l_their hands up, baffled by your admission. "You didn't say anything?" It's more of a question than a statement.
"Well..," you start, shifting a bit. You don't want to have this conversation. And you definitely don't want to have this conversation in front of all these people.
But Captain Harlowe saves you from having to make an explanation.
<<include "snow sesh 1">>"It definitely snowed," you say, glancing between Lea and Clementine.
"It was heavy snow, too. It forced us off the road," Clementine offers, nodding to you.
Harlowe just gives them an icy look, and Clementine steps back a bit, deflating under her gaze.
"It did not snow. I would know, since I was out there looking for you fools," Harlowe says, rolling her eye.
You, Lea, and Clementine all just look at each other.
"You're full of shit," Lea says then.
The captain sighs dramatically, rolling her head back.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting. Waiting... for what?
<<include "snow sesh 1">>"Yes, yes. There are more important things we need to talk about besides the fucking snow," Harlowe says then, clapping her hands together and effectively ending the discussion.
[[Continue ->check up]]A tense, painful silence falls over all of you then, and you take the moment to really evaluate your current... //situation.//
The hunter is what really interests you.
You take a moment to get a better look at $n_them. Xir emerald cloak is rather extravagant for your taste, especially with the black feathers, but it is a beautiful color. He's also wearing a basic blue jerkin, clasped down the front with some brown leather detailing, and a heavy wool skirt that flows with the green cloak. Xe has an intricate belt layered over a few sashes that are all gathered and draped to one side, varying in length and color. You notice xir heeled boots, shiny and white - //incredibly// white.
You don't know what to make of xem – you don't recognize $n_them, which is unusual. If he's been out north for a while, you should have seen $n_them at the stronghold - or at least heard about $n_them passing through. A noticeable southern accent, if you had to guess you'd say he has to be from the Flood, the southern stronghold down on the east coast.
Clearly, xe's comfortable with Captain Harlowe. And the bard... is their friend?
Noel suddenly clears $n_their throat, taking a half-step towards you. "Well, how about a checkup? Now that you're awake," he says, nodding $n_their head at you.
A hunter //and// a healer?
"Quickly. We don't have all day," the captain cuts in then.
"Yes, Merry. I know," Noel sighs, rolling $n_their eyes. Harlowe - or Merry - huffs at $n_their tone, giving $n_them a dirty look.
Lea stands up then, crossing $l_their arms. "You didn't say anything about a checkup earlier," $l_they <<say>>.
"I just want to make sure our friend is feeling alright," Noel says, nodding towards you and raising $n_their hands in a pacifying gesture. "That's all."
Lea glances between you and Noel. "Fine," $l_they <<say>>, stepping back.
"Have a little faith, Chen," Merry says then. The mood shifts immediately at her comment, with Lea snapping around to give her a look that could kill.
"Don't call me that," Lea growls.
Both Noel and Clementine look uneasily at Lea, but Merry just grins.
"You know, I've heard a lot about you. A lot about your family," Merry continues, clearly enjoying this, "and I've got to say. You blew all my expectations out of the water."
Lea tenses as Merry walks up to $l_them, staring right up into $l_their face.
"To be fair, though, my expectations were pretty low. Is it true your first hunter requested reassignment? I heard -" but Merry is cut off as Lea lunges at her, grabbing the front of her jacket and slamming her back against the door.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I jump to my feet, grabbing Lea and pulling $l_them off Merry.' 'jump up 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I try to get between them, but I\'m a bit panicked - what the hell is going on?' 'panicked 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I\'m too stunned to do anything. I\'ve never seen Lea act like this.' 'too stunned 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Merry was asking for this to happen. I admit that I didn\'t expect Lea to grab her like that, though.' 'asking for it 1'>><</link>></div>"Lea!" You hiss $l_their name as you jump out of your chair, immediately running over and grabbing $l_their arms, ripping $l_their hands from Merry's jacket and pushing $l_them back.
Lea completely ignores you, trying to shove past you, but you wrap your arms around $l_them and hold $l_them back, trapping $l_their arms beneath yours. Noel rushes over and steps between Lea and Merry, holding xir hands up and keeping Merry pressed back against the door.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Lea is shouting, still struggling against you, but $l_theyre breathing hard now.
Merry seems unharmed, still grinning, just the front of her jacket and shirt ruffled from Lea's grip.
"Merry, get out," Noel says, and without waiting for a response, xe all but shoves Merry out the door.
Lea finally stops struggling, sagging back against you as the door closes, glaring at Noel. Clementine steps up then, putting a hand on Noel's arm. "Let's all just take a break, okay? We can all talk more later, once we've calmed down," Clementine says.
"I don't need to calm down!" Lea snaps, managing to pull one of $l_their arms loose and jab a finger at Clementine.
"Okay, well, me and Noel are going to go calm down, then," Clementine says, giving you a sympathetic look before the two of them step out the door.
Once the door closes, you let go of Lea, who shoves you back and then stomps over to stand in front of the fire, $l_their back to you.
<<include "what the hell lea 1">>"Lea, are you okay?" <<if hasVisited("asking for it 1")>>Your guilt sits heavy in your chest, and you don't know what else to say.<</if>>
Lea doesn't respond, doesn't even glance back at you, just staring into the fire.
"Lea," you say, taking a step towards $l_them. You struggle to find the words, but you want to say //something//. But $l_they suddenly spin<<s>> around, shouldering past you without a word, throwing the door open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You stand, staring at the door, the sound of it slamming shut echoing in the resounding silence. Reaching for the doorknob, you hesitate, dropping your hand back to your side and instead retreating back to your chair, sitting down hard with a sigh. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<<set $genuine +=1>><<set $l_friendship +=2>>
<<include "alone after outburst 1">>Too stunned to do anything, you remain sitting in your chair, just staring dumbly after Lea.
Clementine jumps back, startled, watching as Lea slams Merry against the door again and again. Noel rushes up and tries to get between them, pulling at Lea's iron grip and struggling to shove $l_them back.
You manage to stand then, your chair clattering to the floor behind you, and Noel finally rips Lea's hands from Merry's jacket, dragging $l_them back and throwing $l_them to the floor right at your feet.
Lea breathes hard, glaring up at Merry and Noel, leaning back with $l_their hands pressed to the floor.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Lea hisses as $l_they stand<<s>> again, leering back towards Merry. Merry seems unharmed, still grinning, just the front of her jacket and shirt ruffled from Lea's grip.
"Merry, get out," Noel says, and without waiting for a response, xe all but shoves Merry out the door.
Lea turns around and shoulders past you, stomping over to the fire, $l_their back to all of you. Clementine steps up, putting a hand on Noel's arm. "Let's all just take a break, okay? We can all talk more later, once we've calmed down," Clementine says.
"I don't need to calm down!" Lea snaps, turning back to glare at Clementine.
"Okay, well, me and Noel are going to go calm down, then," Clementine says, giving you a sympathetic look before the two of them step out the door.
Once the door closes, you look back over at Lea where $l_they stand<<s>>, rigid and unmoving.
<<include "what the hell lea 1">>"Lea!?" You shout $l_their name as you jump out of your seat, knocking your chair back as you scramble across the room.
Trying to get between them, you pull at Lea's arms, but $l_their grip is like iron, unbreaking. Lea pulls Merry back a bit and slams her back into the door, causing the wood to rattle against its hinges.
"That's enough!" Noel says, grabbing Lea's shoulders and wrenching $l_them back, throwing $l_them to the floor.
Lea breathes hard, glaring up at all of you, leaning back with $l_their hands pressed to the floor.
You position yourself in front of Lea, holding your hands up. Merry seems unharmed, still grinning, just the front of her jacket and shirt ruffled from Lea's grip.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Lea hisses as $l_they stand<<s>>, your hand nearly brushing $l_their chest as $l_they step<<s>> towards Merry again.
"Merry, get out," Noel says, and without waiting for a response, xe all but shoves Merry out the door.
Lea slaps your hand away then, turning around and stomping over to the fire, $l_their back to all of you. Clementine steps up, putting a hand on Noel's arm. "Let's all just take a break, okay? We can all talk more later, once we've calmed down," Clementine says.
"I don't need to calm down!" Lea snaps, turning back to glare at Clementine.
"Okay, well, me and Noel are going to go calm down, then," Clementine says, giving you a sympathetic look before the two of them step out the door.
Once the door closes, you look back over at Lea where $l_they stand<<s>>, rigid and unmoving.
<<include "what the hell lea 1">>You just watch as Clementine jumps back, startled, Lea slamming Merry against the door again and again. Noel rushes up and tries to get between them, pulling at Lea's iron grip and struggling to shove $l_them back.
You stand from the chair, but don't move to intervene. You've never seen Lea act like this before - but it's not like Merry wasn't baiting $l_them into it. There is some grim satisfaction, too, at watching Lea snap like that. You blink, feeling guilty for thinking it.
Noel finally manages to rip Lea's hands from Merry's jacket, dragging $l_them back and throwing $l_them to the floor right at your feet.
Lea breathes hard, glaring up at Merry and Noel, leaning back with $l_their hands pressed to the floor.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Lea hisses as $l_they stand<<s>> again, leering back towards Merry. You watch $l_them closely, ready to grab the back of $l_their shirt if $l_they <<try>> anything again. This had already gone far enough.
Merry seems unharmed, still grinning, just the front of her jacket and shirt ruffled from Lea's grip. It's comical almost, like a scene from some cheap drama novel.
"Merry, get out," Noel says, and without waiting for a response, xe all but shoves Merry out the door.
Lea turns around and shoulders past you, stomping over to the fire, $l_their back to all of you. Clementine steps up then, putting a hand on Noel's arm. "Let's all just take a break, okay? We can all talk more later, once we've calmed down," Clementine says.
"I don't need to calm down!" Lea snaps, turning back to glare at Clementine.
"Okay, well, me and Noel are going to go calm down, then," Clementine says, giving you a look before the two of them step out the door.
Once the door closes, you look back over at Lea where $l_they stand<<s>>, rigid and unmoving.<<set $n_friendship -=2>>
<<include "what the hell lea 1">><div id="choice"><<link '"Well... that happened."' 'well that happened 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What the hell was that?"' 'what the hell was that 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Lea, are you okay?"' 'lea are you okay 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t say anything, wanting to give Lea a... moment.' 'give them a moment 1'>><</link>></div><<if hasVisited("asking for it 1")>>"...Well. That happened," you say, because you don't really know what else to say.
Lea doesn't respond, doesn't even glance back at you, just staring into the fire.
"What was Merry talking about?" you prompt, your hands on your hips.
Lea turns around and just shakes $l_their head at you. "I'm not doing this right now."
"Lea," you say, your voice hard, but $l_they just hold<<s>> up $l_their hand, and then stride<<s>> past you to the door, throwing it open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You sigh, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<<set $stoic +=1>><<else>>"...Well. That happened," you say, because you don't really know what else to say.
Lea doesn't respond, doesn't even glance back at you, just staring into the fire.
You shift from foot to foot, the air growing heavy between you.
"What... What was Merry talking about, Lea?" you ask.
Lea turns around and just shakes $l_their head at you. "I'm not doing this right now."
"Lea...," you say, but $l_they just hold<<s>> up $l_their hand, and then stride<<s>> past you to the door, throwing it open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You sigh, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<<set $stoic +=1>><</if>>
<<include "alone after outburst 1">><<if hasVisited("asking for it 1")>>"What the hell was that, Lea?" you say, your hands on your hips. Your guilt has twisted into anger, now. "Are you kidding me right now?"
Lea turns and gives you a dark look. "Don't fucking start with me, $surname."
"What was she even talking about?"
"I said, //don't//." Lea holds up a hand, shaking $l_their head.
Before you can say anything else, Lea just strides across the room, shouldering past you without a word, throwing the door open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You sigh loudly, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<<set $aggressive +=1>><<else>>"What the hell was that, Lea?" you say, throwing your hands up, despite Lea having $l_their back to you. Your shock has turned to anger, embarrassment - anxiety over the two of you making a scene so publicly. "Are you kidding me right now?"
Lea turns and gives you a dark look. "Don't fucking start with me, $surname."
"What was she even talking about?"
"I said, //don't//." Lea holds up a hand, shaking $l_their head.
Before you can say anything else, Lea just strides across the room, shouldering past you without a word, throwing the door open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
"What the hell?" you sigh, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<<set $aggressive +=1>><</if>>
<<include "alone after outburst 1">>You take a deep breath, your hands on your hips, closing your eyes and ignoring the pounding ache in your head.
"Don't even fucking start," Lea says, and you drop your hands, opening your eyes and blinking over at $l_them.
<<if $aggressive gte $genuine>>"I wasn't going to fucking say anything," you snap, crossing your arms with a huff.<<else>>"I wasn't going to say anything, Lea," you say, sighing.<</if>>
"She doesn't know what she's talking about," Lea mutters, before suddenly turning on $l_their heel and marching past you to the door.
"Lea -" you start, but $l_they just ignore<<s>> you, throwing open the door and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You sigh, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<<set $stoic +=1>>
<<include "alone after outburst 1">>You debate going after $l_them, but ultimately decide against it. You bury your face in your hands for a long moment, before rubbing your eyes and reaching for your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask. You take a long drink, slumping back in your chair as you slam the flask back down on the table.<<elseif $vice is "smoker">>pipe. You frown, peering down in the bowl - the tobacco has gone out. You hastily relight it, a bit more desperate for it than you care to admit.<</if>>
[[Continue|shoshana thoughts 1]]Merry had mentioned Lea's previous hunter. You knew her, a bit; at least you could point her out in a crowd. If you really concentrate, you think there are vague memories of you training with her - memories the Ladder all but erased. Her name was Shoshana. You were young, a few years younger than Shoshana and still training, close to your initiation – you paid attention to little else than that, all of your focus on preparation for your hunter's vigil. Thinking back, you remember that she had been relocated, because they needed more hunters at another stronghold in the south – the Whaler's Watch, you believe. While you don't think any Black Iron hunters have ever been relocated to the Flood, you do know a few who have left for Whaler's Watch, as well as others who have come to the Black Iron from there.
You were about to be initiated - the Black Iron could spare one, with you being there to take their place. You didn't even think much of it at the time. However... you admit it is strange that Lea didn't go with her. Handlers and hunters are typically paired for life. Particularly in the north, it's frowned upon to split them up like that.
You should have been the one that went, not Shoshana. You always assumed it was because of Lea's family, and their attachment to the Black Iron; the Chens are all but inseparable from the stronghold. It would make sense for $l_them to choose to stay, even without Shoshana.
You remember when she left - riding out with a small group of older members, travelling together since she wouldn't have a handler until she got to Whaler's Watch. It had been strange, some of the quietest weeks in the stronghold with so many gone.
And Jorah had left shortly after that as well. Your initiation, and then his absence - that was a hard couple of months. Your hand wanders up to your necklace, and you sit there, holding the pendant in your palm. After your initiation, he barely spoke to you. He had congratulated you, and given you this gift - this pendant - that's supposed to protect you. A watchful eye. And then he left.
You haven't seen him in a long, long time.
[[Continue|wasnt real]]A headache begins to build behind your eyes, and you lean forward, your elbows on your knees. It's just one thing after another. Again you feel yourself drifting. For a long time, you sit, unmoving, staring down at your hands. You want to sleep. But you can't. Even now, you can still hear the voice in your mind.
"//I'll see you soon, Hunter.//"
Maybe you should be more concerned. Instead, you're just tired. Really fucking tired. Your hand wanders to your arm, where you place your palm over the new scars there. You still remember the heat. The rip of flesh, your blood. Red and black. And the water in your throat. But that was a dream. That wasn't real. That part wasn't real. The taste of salt water, the grit of it in your teeth. The burn in your throat. //That part wasn't real.//
[[Was it real?]]A sudden knock at the door startles you, and you sit up in your chair as the door opens.
<<if $clem_with>>Clementine steps into the room, quietly closing the door behind them.<<else>>The bard steps into the room, quietly closing the door behind them.<</if>>
<<if $clem_with>><<include "clem w convo">><<else>><<include "clem wo convo">><</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"Hey," I say, unable to keep the exhaustion from my voice.' 'hey clem exhausted 2'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Hey, uh, you," I say, because I forget their name already.' 'forgot their name 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t say anything, just giving them a nod.' 'just a nod 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I glare over at them. "What?"' 'i glare over at them 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Sure, come on in," I say with quite a bit of sarcasm.' 'sure come on in 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div><div id="choice"><<link '"Hey, Clementine," I say, unable to keep the exhaustion from my voice.' 'hey clem exhausted 1'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Hey, uh, Clementine," I say, surprised to see them.' 'surprised to see them 1'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t say anything, just giving them a nod.' 'just a nod 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I glare over at them. "What?"' 'i glare over at them 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Sure, come on in," I say with quite a bit of sarcasm.' 'sure come on in 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"Hey, Clementine," you say, your voice straining even over just those two words, your head heavy with exhaustion.
"Hey, $name. I know you must be tired," they say, "but I wanted to check in."
Clementine shuffles into the room, and you give them a quick look over. They seem no worse for wear, all things considered. Entrancements aren't terribly hard to break, though things can get tricky when the caster is, well, dead. And there was clearly something... wrong with that wraith. You flex your hand without thinking, remembering the hunter's knife in your hand, and in the wraith's chest.
<<include "how are you feeling 1">>"Sure, come on in," you say, waving your hands dramatically at them.
"Oh... sorry," Clementine says, shuffling away from the door. "I wasn't thinking."
You wave your hand again, dismissive this time, shifting in your chair. Looking them over, they appear no worse for wear. Entrancements aren't terribly hard to break, though things can get tricky when the caster is, well, dead. And there was clearly something... wrong with that wraith. You flex your hand without thinking, remembering the hunter's knife in your hand, and in the wraith's chest.
<<include "how are you feeling 1">>"Hey, uh, Clementine," you say, a bit surprised to see them.
"Hey, $name," they say, their voice warm. "Weren't expecting me?"
"No, not really," you say, giving them a weak smile.
"I wanted to check in," they say, shuffling into the room, and you give them a quick look over. They seem no worse for wear, all things considered. Entrancements aren't terribly hard to break, though things can get tricky when the caster is, well, dead. And there was clearly something... wrong with that wraith. You flex your hand without thinking, remembering the hunter's knife in your hand, and in the wraith's chest.
<<include "how are you feeling 1">>"Hey, $name," they say.
You don't respond as Clementine shuffles into the room, just giving them a nod as they watch you. Raising your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask,<<elseif $vice is "smoker">>pipe,<</if>> you give them a good look over, and they seem no worse for wear. Entrancements aren't terribly hard to break, though things can get tricky when the caster is, well, dead. And there was clearly something... wrong with that wraith. You flex your hand without thinking, remembering the hunter's knife in your hand, and in the wraith's chest.
You take a long <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>drink.<<else>>pull from your pipe.<</if>>
<<include "how are you feeling 1">>"What?" you say, glaring at Clementine as they shuffle into the room. You're not exactly feeling social, at the moment.
Clementine blanches a bit at your tone, but they don't retreat.
"I know this isn't an ideal time," they say, "but I wanted to talk."
You scowl, lifting your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask.<<else>>pipe.<</if>>
Looking the bard over, they seem no worse for wear. Entrancements aren't terribly hard to break, though things can get tricky when the caster is, well, dead. And there was clearly something... wrong with that wraith. You flex your hand without thinking, remembering the hunter's knife in your hand, and in the wraith's chest.
You take a long <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>drink.<<else>>pull from your pipe.<</if>>
<<include "how are you feeling 1">>"How are you feeling?" Clementine asks then, moving farther into the room.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Honestly? I have no idea. My arm feels better, at least."' 'arm feels better 1'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Does it matter?"' 'does it matter 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Could be better, could be worse. Nothing I can\'t handle."' 'nothing i cant handle 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>"Could be better, could be worse," you say with a shrug. "Nothing I can't handle." You've fallen harder than this before, and you always get back up. You have to.
Clementine hums, giving you a warm smile. "Your arm looks much better, too."
You push your sleeve up to your elbow, running your hand over the new scars.
<<include "clem magic thots">>"I'm not sure, to be honest. Arm feels better, though," you say with a shrug, lifting your arm and flexing your hand.
"It's been a strange morning, hasn't it?" Clementine says, nodding at you. "It's good to see your arm is better, though."
You tug at your sleeve, letting your arm drop back into your lap.
<<include "clem magic thots">>"Does it matter?" you say, narrowing your eyes at them. Why do they even care?
"Of course it matters. It matters to me," they say, smiling softly.
You scoff, rolling your eyes. You're feeling particularly annoyed at the question, prickling in your chair. "You don't even know me."
Clementine sighs, wringing their hands in front of them. "No, I suppose not." They hesitate for a moment, peering over at you. <<if $c_flirt is 1>>"But I would like to," they say softly, and you glance up at them, a little caught off guard by the admission in the face of your hostility.<</if>>
"Your arm. It looks a lot better," Clementine continues, taking a small step towards you.
<<include "clem magic thots">>"Magic is so fascinating. It's amazing, the things it can do," Clementine says, eyeing your arm curiously now. They blink after a moment, looking back up at your face. "That's not what I came in here to talk about, though."
<<include "clem talk">><div id="choice"><<link '"Wait. How are you feeling, Clementine?"' 'wait how are you feeling clem 1'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Oh? And what did you come here to talk about?"' 'oh? and what did you come here to talk about 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You want to talk? After all of that? I\'m surprised you\'re even still here, to be honest."' 'you want to talk? 1'>><</link>></div><<if hasVisited("does it matter 1")>>"Does it matter?" Clementine says, a sad smile on their lips. You blink, clenching your jaw.
"I suppose I deserved that," you say, giving them an apologetic look.
"I'm alright," Clementine says then, nodding at you. "Thank you for asking. Noel took good care of me. I don't really remember any of it, to be honest."
"That's pretty typical with entrancements," you say, wanting to keep the conversation friendly now. "Glad you're up walking around already. Noel is good."
"I wanted to say thank you," Clementine says suddenly.
"Thank you?"
"For coming after me. You didn't have to, but you did."<<else>>"Hold on. How are you feeling, Clementine? You didn't exactly have an easy go of it, either," you say, leaning forward in your chair.
"I'm alright. Noel took good care of me," they say. "I don't really remember any of it, to be honest."
"That's pretty typical with entrancements," you say, tapping a finger to your chin. "Glad you're up walking around already. Noel is good."
"I wanted to say thank you," Clementine says suddenly.
"Thank you?"
"For coming after me. You didn't have to, but you did."<</if>>
<<include "its my job">>"You want to talk? I'm surprised you want to after... all of that," you gesture vaguely around the room. "Surprised that you're even still here,” you add, watching them closely. "Aren't your friends waiting for you?"
Clementine looks down at their hands, pursing their lips. "First, I just want to say thank you."
"Thank you?"
"For coming after me. You didn't have to, but you did."
<<include "its my job">>"Hm? And what did you come here to talk about, then?" you ask, eyeing them curiously.
Clementine glances around the room for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"First, I just want to say thank you," they say.
"Thank you?"
"For coming after me. You didn't have to, but you did."
<<include "its my job">><div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s just my job."' 'its just my job'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I wasn\'t going to leave you out there with that thing."' 'i wasnt going to leave you out there'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I was on watch. It was my fault."' 'it was my fault'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>"It was my fault," you say, frowning, glancing down at your hands. "I was on watch." A vision like that, it shouldn't have overwhelmed you like it did. It was inexcusable.
"Well, for what it's worth, I don't blame you," they say, smiling softly. "If anything, I'd say I owe you. Which is what makes this next part so difficult."
You look up, narrowing your eyes at Clementine, waiting for them to continue.
<<include "i saw lea go outside 1">>"I wasn't going to leave you out there with that thing," you say. "I wouldn't leave anyone out there like that. No one deserves that."
"You're a good person," they say, and you give them a look, but they keep going, "I really appreciate everything you've done. Helping me, and getting me here. I owe you." Clementine takes a deep breath. "That's what makes this next part so difficult."
You narrow your eyes at Clementine, waiting for them to continue.
<<include "i saw lea go outside 1">>"It's just my job," you say with a shrug, staring down at your hands. The truth. Someone has to do it.
"Still. I appreciate what you did. For helping me, and for getting me here. I owe you," they say. Clementine pauses, taking a deep breath. "That's what makes this next part so difficult."
You lean forward, narrowing your eyes at Clementine, waiting for them to continue.
<<include "i saw lea go outside 1">>"I saw Lea go outside," Clementine says then, wringing their hands. "I think $l_theyre pacing in the alley."
"Sounds like Lea," you say, fidgeting and rotating your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask<<else>>pipe<</if>> in your hand.
Clementine shifts on their feet, the bells on their jacket ringing softly with the movement. "I wanted to talk to both of you, but... maybe it's better, just you," they say, glancing back to the door.
You raise an eyebrow at that. Clementine finally moves all the way into the room, taking the seat across from you. <<if hasVisited ("ch1 awake")>>Bloody rags and the bowl of dirty, red water still sit scattered across the table.<</if>>
They lean forward, taking a deep breath, pressing their palms to the tabletop.
"I have an offer for you," they say.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Maybe you should pay what you already owe, before making any more offers."' 'pay what you owe'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m not interested in whatever mess you\'re involved in, Clementine."' 'not interested 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m listening."' 'im listening 1'>><</link>></div>"Maybe you should pay what you already owe, before making more offers," you say, crossing your arms as you eye them across the table.
Clementine purses their lips, leaning back. "That's fair," they say, but they make no move to give you anything.
<<include "clem lays it all out">>You lean forward in your seat, tapping your fingers against the table a few times.
"I'm listening," you say finally, leaning your elbow on the table and resting your chin in your palm.
Clementine lets out a relieved breath, sagging back in their chair.
<<include "clem lays it all out">>"Look – I'm not interested in getting involved with your mess. With //any// of this. Once Merry says her piece, me and Lea have our own shit we need to deal with."
Clementine closes their eyes for a moment as you speak. "I know, I know. You have already done more than I could have asked for," they say, opening their eyes again and looking at you pleadingly. "Just... just hear me out, at least, please."
You strum your fingers on the table for a moment. "Fine," you reluctantly agree.
<<include "clem lays it all out">>"I never intended to pay you," Clementine says then. "I might as well lay it all out. I want to tell you myself, before Merry gets her claws in you."
"What //did// you intend, then?"
"Well. I was going to give you the slip, once we got here. Blackwater is a big city, you know."
<div id="choice"><<link '"Was everything a lie?" I\'m not really mad, just... tired? Disappointed.' 'was everything a lie'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"So you just lied about everything then?" They\'re pissing me off.' 'so you just lied then'>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I //knew// you were full of shit." They\'ve been dodgy since we first saw them on the road. I bet everything was just a fucking act.' 'just an act'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"...So what now, then?" It annoys me, but it\'s not exactly surprising to learn Clementine was lying.' 'so what now'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>"Was everything a lie?" you ask, unable to keep the hurt from your voice. You can't even look at them.
You're not stupid, you knew something was up with Clementine the moment you saw them on the road yesterday morning. But you still feel the sting of betrayal - which //does// surprise you. You thought you were too old for this kind of attachment; too old, too bitter.
"No. Not all of it," Clementine says quietly. "I just... I needed to get to Blackwater. I knew I could never make it on my own. I did what I had to."
A long silence stretches between you.
"$name, I am sorry. But I would do it again," Clementine admits.
"Why don't you just leave, now? You're here. You made it," you say, finally looking back over at them.
"I don't have any friends here. There's no people waiting for me," Clementine says, their voice wavering. "If I could leave, I would. But now I've got Merry hovering over my shoulder, watching me."
"Why does Merry care about some bard?"
Clementine hesitates then. "I'm not just some bard," they finally say. They rub at their face, and you notice for the first time just how exhausted they look.
<<include "just a bard 1">>"I knew you were full of shit," you say, leaning forward across the table. "Was it all just an act?" You jab your finger at them as you speak, your anger flaring.
"It wasn't an act," Clementine says quietly. "But I'm not going to lie to you, not anymore. I needed to get to Blackwater. I did what I had to," they say.
"And now? You're here now, why don't you just fuck off?"
"I don't have any friends here. There's no people waiting for me," Clementine says, a bite in their voice now, though their face is sorrowful. "If I could leave, I would. But now I've got Merry hovering over my shoulder, watching me."
"Why does Merry even care about some bard?"
Clementine hesitates then. "I'm not just some bard," they finally say. They rub at their face, and you notice for the first time just how exhausted they look.
<<include "just a bard 1">>"So what now, then?" you prompt. You're annoyed that they lied, but you suspected it from the start. There was no real investment between you, if you're being honest with yourself. They were always going to just be some stranger you picked up on the road.
"I don't have any friends here. There's no people waiting for me," Clementine says, their voice wavering. "If I could just leave, I would. But now I've got Merry hovering over my shoulder, watching me."
"Why does Merry care about some bard?"
Clementine hesitates then. "I'm not just some bard," they finally say. They rub at their face, and you notice for the first time just how exhausted they look.
<<include "just a bard 1">>"So, what? You just lied to us then?" you snap, leaning forward in your chair, slapping your hands on the table.
"Not all of it was a lie," Clementine says quietly. "I needed to get to Blackwater. I did what I had to," they say.
"Yeah, and look what happened!" you jab a finger at your arm. "Fucking unbelievable. Southern ass," you growl, leaning back and crossing your arms. "You have no business being out here."
"You're right. I don't want to be here, either," Clementine snaps then, their tone hard, though their face is sorrowful. "I don't have anyone waiting for me here, no friends. If I could leave, I would. You don't know how badly I want to go home."
You both glare at each other across the table.
"Listen. Merry has her eye on me now," Clementine says, rubbing at their face. You notice for the first time how exhausted they look.
"Why does Merry even care about some bard?"
Clementine hesitates then. "It's not that simple. I'm not just some bard." They press their hands back onto the table, looking right at you.
<<include "just a bard 1">>"I need you to help me cross the border," Clementine says. "Keep Merry away from me, and get me across the border."
You blink a few times.
When you don't answer right away, Clementine shifts, reaching into their jacket, and producing a stupidly large pouch, dropping it onto the table with the alluring sound of gold coins clinking inside.
"I'll pay you. All of this. Just you. Not you and Lea - just you."
Taking a deep breath, they continue, speaking low and quick, "Just get me to Highfell. That's close to the border, right? And you're already going there," they say, emphasizing that last part, leaning towards you across the table. "I can tag along, I – I'll stay out of your way. I can cross the border from there as long as you keep Merry off my back. We can come up with something to tell Lea."
You lean forward, putting your elbows on the table, and rubbing your hands across your face. You don't think you've ever seen - or rather //heard// - that much money in your whole life, or even had anything close to it. Not even if you combined everything you've ever made.
There's a lot you can do with that money. Stronger weapons, better gear, good food - //great// food - decent accommodations for the rest of your life. You'd never want for anything again.
<<if $sent_money>>//You, nor your family.//
<<if $family is "good">>The thought nearly makes your breath catch. Enough money to travel, you could deliver it yourself. You could see them again. If you wanted.<<elseif $family is "complicated">>The thought makes you pause. That's enough money that you could travel there and deliver it yourself. The thought of seeing them again... it almost overwhelms you. Anger, sorrow, hope. You shake your head slightly, rubbing your eyes with a strained sigh.<<elseif $family is "bad">>Your whole body tenses at the thought. That's enough money that you could travel there and deliver it yourself. They'd have to remember you then. Standing in the doorway, no longer just a ghost, but a monster at the door. Your face twitches, and you rub at your eyes, taking a long, strained breath.<</if>>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t even need to think about it. "Deal."' 'deal 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I need more information than that, Clementine." I can\'t just blindly agree to something like this.' 'i need more info 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What are you running from?" I have to ask.' 'what are you running from 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t need the money." I don\'t do things for money. Not like this. That\'s not the kind of person I am.' 'i dont need the money 1'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t //want// your money." I\'m insulted they think they can just buy me.' 'i dont want your money 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=10>><<set $clem_tavernfight to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No deal. I won\'t get involved." I don\'t even want to hear any more.' 'no deal 1'>><</link>></div>You don't hesitate. "Deal."
<<include "deal 1.2">>"I need more information than that, Clementine," you say, shaking your head.
Clementine sighs. "This is going to sound cliché. But I'm trying to protect you," they say, staring at you sadly.
"I'm hardly the kind of person that needs protecting," you say, raising an eyebrow at them. Clementine shakes their head, and you realize, in their eyes, they are afraid.
"It's not the kind of thing you can fight. The less I tell you, the safer you will be. You're still a hunter. I know the rules, there's things you can't be involved in. Even if you weren't a hunter...," they trail off for a moment. "Right now, you have plausible deniability."
"And the money? What about that?"
"It's //mine//. It's clean. Trust me," they say.
You purse your lips, considering it all. Clearly they are involved in something beyond your scope - and they're right, hunters shouldn't be involved in these things. You are supposed to be neutral, after all. Though it sounds like even if you weren't a hunter, this would still be a risky venture. But... that money.
<<include "deals 1">>"You can't just bribe me. I'm insulted you even think you could ever buy me at all."
Clementine laughs. "Gods, don't talk down to me from your moral high horse. You have no idea what I've been through to get here!"
"It's not about morality," you snap. "I don't //want// your money."
"Oh, sure. Whatever. Every person has a price, don't act like you're above it all. Money just isn't your ticket," they say, glaring at you. "How much money do you swindle from the poor folks you're supposed to be helping? No, money wouldn't matter to you. You have a bed, you have a home waiting for you at your little stronghold."
You stand then, so quickly your chair clatters to the floor behind you.
"You are walking on some mighty thin ice, bard," you growl.
Clementine seems to remember whom they're talking to then, and they eye you warily, standing and stepping back from the table.
"Listen -" they start, but you don't let them finish.
"No, you listen to me. You don't know me. You //don't//. And you don't know one thing about what it means to be a hunter. You want to bring up what you've been through? What about what I've been through? You're not the only sad, suffering bastard in the world, you know? And you can't fucking pay me to care about you, when not one person in this world has ever given a shit about me!” You're shouting now, an angry finger pointed over top the table at Clementine.
Clementine stares at you, their eyes wide and fearful.
<<include "anger burn 1">>"What are you running from?" you ask softly.
Clementine purses their lips. A long silence stretches out between you.
"Just know I've been running for a long time. I'm so close now. Tell me if we have a deal. Yes or no," Clementine finally says, crossing their arms.
You sigh, leaning back heavily in your chair. You can't lie, the money is enticing. But are you willing to get involved in this?
<<include "deals 1">>"I don't need that money," you say, shaking your head.
Clementine snatches the pouch back, shoving it in their jacket, clearly frustrated.
"What do you want, then? You going to do it out of the kindness of your heart? Or just no deal?" Clementine asks.
<<if $clem_promise>><div id="choice"><<link '"Teach me the rest of that song. You did promise, after all. ♡"' 'teach me the rest of that song'>><<set $deal to true>><<set $for_a_song to true>><<set $c_friendship +=10>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if $played_pandura is true and $clem_promise is false>><div id="choice"><<link '"Show me how to play the rest of that song."' 'show me that song'>><<set $c_friendship +=5>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><<set $for_a_song to true>><<set $deal to true>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if $played_pandura is false>><div id="choice"><<link '"Teach me that song you played at camp."' 'teach me that song'>><<set $deal to true>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><<set $for_a_song to true>><<set $c_friendship +=5>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"I\'ll do it. You can just ask."' 'you can just ask 1'>><<set $c_friendship +=10>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><<set $for_free to true>><<set $deal to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No deal, Clementine."' 'no deal clem 1'>><</link>></div>"No deal. I won't get involved. I //can't//."
Clementine frowns. You watch as they snatch the pouch off the table and shove it back into their jacket, clearly frustrated.
<<include "think about it 1">><<set $deal to true>>Clementine's face twitches, and they give you a strained smile. They reach over and pluck the pouch back off the table, tucking it away into their jacket.
"Thank you. I promise you. I swear on my life. You get me to Highfell and it's yours," they say, gesturing to where they just hid the pouch.
"You promised last time, too," you say, "what's different this time?"
You watch as Clementine reaches back into their jacket again, but this time, they pull out a small, though very sharp, knife. You tense.
"We can shake on it," they say. They offer you the knife, hilt first.
<<include "hilt first">><div id="choice"><<link [[I make the deal in blood.]]>><<set $bloodpact to true>><<set $for_money to true>><<set $c_friendship +=2>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't need to do this. I take them at their word.]]>><<set $for_money to true>><<set $c_friendship +=2>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>You eye the knife for a moment, before shaking your head. "We don't need to do that. Let's just... Shake on it."
Clementine holds the knife out for a few more seconds, before slowly putting it away back in their jacket. "If that's what you want."
They offer you their hand, and you take it, giving a single firm shake.
Just as you both step back, there's a knock on the door, and you turn to see Noel appear in the doorway, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says. They turn back to you, and bow deeply, then sweep out of the room without another word.
<<include "noel interrupts">>You stand, taking the knife in your hand. Clementine rises with you.
"You're sure you want to do this?" you ask.
"Yes." Clementine says without hesitation.
You glance around the room, but obviously it's just the two of you, the crackle of the fireplace, and the sound of voices coming from beyond the door, deeper in the tavern. You cut your own palm first, slashing the blade quickly over your skin. Clementine holds out their own hand for you, and you pause, giving them a long look, before taking their wrist in your bloody hand.
Holding them steady, you slash their palm, just like yours. Clementine winces, but doesn't pull away.
Releasing their wrist, you clasp their hand, both of you holding tight as your blood mingles in your palms. After a long moment, you let go, both of you dropping your arms to your sides.
You reach over and grab one of the clean rags from earlier, and hand one to Clementine, who wraps it around their bloody hand. Picking up another one, you do the same.
The air around you feels electric, thrumming with magic, powerful and intense. You sway on your feet for a moment, your head spinning, a burn in the back of your throat. And then it passes.
"Thank you," Clementine says. Eyeing them, you just nod, tightening the rag around your hand. Clementine opens their mouth to say something else, but a knock on the door startles you both, and you quickly move your hand behind your back, clenching it into a fist around the rag.
You both turn towards the door, where Noel appears, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says. They turn back to you, and bow deeply, then sweep out of the room without another word.
<<include "noel interrupts">>Noel raises $n_their eyebrows, giving you a look. Apparently, xe decides not to ask, instead just leaning $n_their staff against the wall next to the door, and shrugging off $n_their cloak, stepping farther in and draping it across the back of the chair Clementine had just been sitting in.
<<if hasVisited("ch1 awake")>><<include "dawn awake patient">><<else>><<include "dawn passed out patient">><</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"Deal."' 'deal 1.1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No deal."' 'no deal 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I want to cut Lea in on the deal."' 'include lea 1'>><</link>></div>"Okay. Deal," you say finally.
<<include "deal 1.2">>"I want to cut Lea in on this," you say.
Clementine hesitates. "$l_They'll agree to it?" they ask.
You purse your lips. Lea is pretty by the book... most of the time. Neither of you are perfect people. You've done your fair share of questionable deals and bets, but this feels... different. This isn't a hustle in some run down tavern bar. More at stake. It's a gamble, and you're not sure //exactly// what Lea will think.<<set $tell_lea to true>>
<div id="choice"><<link 'But I can\'t lie to $l_them. It feels wrong.' 'But I cant lie to them. It feels wrong.'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $tell_lea to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Something tells me I\'ll need $l_them to have my back on this.' 'Something tells me Ill need them to have my back on this.'>><<set $tell_lea to true>><</link>></div>"I don't know," you admit. "But I can't lie to $l_them."
Clementine takes a moment to digest that. Finally, they nod slowly. "Okay. I get it," they say. "And I don't want to lie any more, either."
An awkward silence passes between you.
"So. Do we have a deal, then?" Clementine finally asks.
<<include "discuss later 1">>Call it intuition. But you want Lea in on this. Someone to have your back.
"$l_They'll agree to it," you say. It was Lea's idea to come to Blackwater to begin with. And you're already going to the border. $l_They'll agree, you're sure of it. Maybe.
Clementine purses their lips for a moment, but finally nods. "Okay. I don't want to lie to $l_them any more, either," they add. "So, do we have a deal?"
<<include "discuss later 1">><div id="choice"><<link '"Let me talk to $l_them."' 'Let me talk to them. 1'>><<set $c_relationship to 8>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Deal."' 'lea deal 1'>><<set $c_relationship +=1>><<set $for_money to true>><<set $deal to true>><</link>></div>"Let me talk to $l_them."
Clementine looks disappointed at your words. "I can't wait forever, $name."
"Tonight. Just let me talk to Lea first," you say.
Clementine takes a deep breath, letting out a long sigh through their nose. "Okay. Until tonight." They take the pouch and tuck it back away into their jacket. Standing slowly, they lean heavily against the table for a moment. You rise with them, not quite sure how to close this not-quite-deal.
You think they might say something else, but a sharp knock on the door draws your attention away from them. The door swings open and Noel stands there, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says. They turn back to you, giving you a long, searching look before bowing deeply, then they just sweep out of the room without another word.
<<include "noel interrupts">>Clementine's face twitches, and they give you a strained smile. They reach over and pluck the pouch back off the table, tucking it away into their jacket.
"Thank you. I promise you. I swear on my life. You get me across the border and it's yours," they say, gesturing to where they just hid the pouch.
"You promised last time, too," you say, "what's different this time?" You want to be sure. For you, and for Lea. That money could change everything.
You watch as Clementine reaches back into their jacket again, but this time, they pull out a small, though very sharp, knife. You tense.
"We can shake on it," they say. They offer you the knife, hilt first.
<<include "hilt first">>"Teach me the rest of that song, and I'll do it. You did promise me, after all."
Clementine looks at you, blinking, clearly stunned. "W-what?" they finally manage.
"You promised you would teach me the rest of that song. Keep your promise, and I'll do it," you say, giving them a warm smile.
"That's it?" they ask in disbelief.
"That's it," you say, spreading your hands in front of you.
It takes them a few more seconds to process it. Then they grin at you, their cheeks flushing pink. "I can do that."
"Then we have a deal," you say, standing to shake their hand. Clementine stands too, a little quickly, knocking their chair back a bit. They laugh, covering their face with their hands for a moment, before finally calming down and holding out their hand to you.
You take it, putting your other hand overtop both of yours.
You hold your hands together longer than necessary, the two of you both just smiling at each other.
"Okay," Clementine says, giving your hand a squeeze before slowly pulling theirs away. "I should... I should let you rest."
"Wait," you say before they can turn to the door.
<<include "lea decision 1">>Clementine looks at you, blinking, clearly stunned. "W-what?" they finally manage.
"In exchange for helping you, teach me the rest of that song," you say.
"That's it?" they ask in disbelief.
"That's it," you say, spreading your hands in front of you.
It takes them a few more seconds to process it. Then they grin at you, their cheeks flushing pink. "I can do that."
"Then we have a deal," you say, standing to shake their hand. Clementine stands too, a little quickly, knocking their chair back a bit. They laugh, covering their face with their hands for a moment, before finally calming down and holding out their hand to you.
<<if $c_flirt is 1>>You take it, putting your other hand overtop both of yours.
You hold your hands together longer than necessary, the two of you both just smiling at each other.
"Okay," Clementine says, giving your hand a squeeze before slowly pulling theirs away. "I should... I should let you rest."
"Wait," you say before they can turn to the door.<<else>>You take it, giving a single firm shake. Clementine doesn't stop smiling, and you think they might start jumping up and down any minute.
Letting go of your hand, Clementine gives you a determined nod, stepping back from the table.
"Wait," you say before they can turn to the door.<</if>>
<<include "lea decision 1">>"That song you played at camp. Teach it to me," you say.
Clementine blinks, clearly stunned. "W-what?" they finally manage.
"The song you played for me and Lea. Teach me how to play it, and I'll do it."
"That's it?" they ask in disbelief.
"That's it," you say, spreading your hands out in front of you.
It takes them a few more seconds to process it. Then they grin at you, their cheeks flushing pink. "I can do that."
"Then we have a deal," you say, standing to shake their hand. Clementine stands too, a little quickly, knocking their chair back a bit. They laugh, covering their face with their hands for a moment, before finally calming down and holding out their hand to you.
You take it, giving a single firm shake. Clementine doesn't stop smiling, and you think they might start jumping up and down any minute.
Letting go of your hand, Clementine gives you a determined nod, stepping back from the table.
"Wait," you say before they can turn to the door.
<<include "lea decision 1">>"I'll do it. You can just ask."
Clementine narrows their eyes at you for a moment, truly considering your words.
"You're serious?" they finally ask.
"Yes," you say. "I'll help you."
Clementine blinks a few times. "Oh, you are serious. Okay," they say in disbelief.
"Really?" Clementine asks, still skeptical.
"Yes, really," you say. "Highfell is close to the border. Just come with us, and you should be able to get across. And I'll keep Merry off your back."
Clementine seems to relax for the first time since they came into the room.
"Wow. Okay. Thank you. Thank you!" They stand then, and you rise with them. Clementine comes around the table and takes your hand in both of theirs.
"I don't... I don't even know what to say. Thank you!" they repeat, grinning at you.
"Let's get there first, and then you can thank me," you say, their smile infectious.
Clementine lets go of your hand, still smiling. "Okay," they say with a determined nod, stepping back from the table.
"Wait," you say before they can turn to the door.
<<include "lea decision 1">>Your face twitches at their words, but you just shake your head. You can't do this.
"No deal, Clementine," you say. "I can't."
Clementine scowls, their hands balled into fists at their sides. They seem to struggle for words for a moment, before letting out a long sigh.
<<include "think about it 1">><div id="choice"><<link '"I\'ll do this for you. But I can\'t lie to Lea."' 'i cant lie to lea 1'>><<set $tell_lea to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Let\'s keep this between us."' 'keep this between us 1'>><</link>></div>"I want to do this for you. But I can't lie to Lea," you say.
Clementine glances down at the floor for a moment, clasping their hands together in front of them. When they look back up at you, they give you a small smile and a nod.
"I - I understand," they say. Clementine hesitates for a moment, and starts to speak again when a sudden knock on the door cuts them off.
Both of you turn to see Noel framed in the doorway, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says. They give you a warm glance before bowing deeply, then sweeping out of the room without another word.
<<include "noel interrupts">>"Let's keep this between us," you say. You have no idea how Lea would react to this, and truthfully, you don't want to find out.
Clementine nods. "Okay. Just us," they say. "That's probably... best."
They hesitate a moment, looking a bit uncertain. They start to speak again but a sharp knock on the door cuts them off.
Both of you turn to see Noel framed in the doorway, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says. They give you a warm glance before bowing deeply, then sweeping out of the room without another word.
<<include "noel interrupts">>"You should think about it," Clementine says. "And you //can//. Don't use that excuse with me. You can always make a choice. Don't hide behind your hunter status."<<set $c_friendship -=5>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck you. You don\'t even know me."' 'dont even know me 1'>><<set $clem_tavernfight to true>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=10>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"If anyone is hiding, it\'s you."' 'hiding 1'>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><<set $c_relationship to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry. Find someone else to help you."' 'find someone else 1'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><<set $c_relationship to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t have anything else to say. This is just how it is.' 'just how it is 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><<set $c_relationship to 2>><</link>></div><div id="choice"><<link [[I let my anger burn. I flip the table.]]>><<set $c_friendship -=10>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $tavernfight to 1>><<set $flipped_table to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[My hands are shaking. Gods. I need to sit down.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $tavernfight to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I've said my piece. They can leave.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $tavernfight to 3>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't know where that came from. I don't like them looking at me like that.]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $tavernfight to 4>><</link>></div>"Take your money and fuck off!" you snarl, grabbing the edges of the table and heaving it sideways, crashing loudly to the floor.<<if hasVisited("ch1 awake")>>The bowl of bloody water splatters across the room, water hissing as it hits the fire place.<</if>>
Clementine scrambles backwards, blindly grabbing at the door. Just as they reach the doorknob, the door opens on its own, and in the doorway is Noel.
"Clementine?" xe asks, but it goes ignored as they barrel past Noel and vanish out into the tavern. Noel turns to you, blinking, taking in the flipped table.
"Well. Do I want to know?" xe jokes, letting out a strained laugh.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Shut up."' 'shut up 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_friendship -=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t respond, I just need a moment.' 'i need a moment 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I just glare at $n_them.' 'glare at xem 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What do you want?"' 'what do you want 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>Looking down at your hands, you watch them tremble for a few seconds, before you step back and sit heavily down in your chair. You clench your fists, digging your nails into your palms, trying to stop the shaking.
A heavy silence hangs over the room.
Clementine takes a nervous step towards you. You don't look at them, instead just putting your face in your hands.
"$name," Clementine says quietly.
You sigh loudly, dropping your hands. "You should leave," you say.
Clementine doesn't move, standing in front of you and fidgeting with their jacket for a moment. "I shouldn't have said those things," they say at last. "You're right, I don't know you, or anything about being a hunter. I'm just... desperate."
They step back then, turning toward the door. "Keep my offer in mind. Think about it, okay?" they say.
You don't respond, still just staring down at your hands.
A knock on the door makes both of you jump.
You look over just as Noel steps inside, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check in on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says, giving you one last look before sweeping out of the room.
<<include "noel interrupts">>"Get out," you say, pointing them to the door.
Clementine raises their hands, taking a step back. "You're right," they say, and they clearly want to say more, but you cut them off again.
"I know I'm right. Now get out," you snap.
Before Clementine can do anything, though, there's a sharp knock at the door.
You both look over as Noel steps inside, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check in on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says quickly, ducking out the door without another look at you.
<<include "noel interrupts">>Looking down at your hands, you watch them tremble for a few seconds. You blink, reaching up and roughly rubbing your face.
"I – I'm not sure where that came from," you say, dropping your hands and taking a step towards Clementine. They step back away from you.
It hurts more than you expect. You clench your jaw, swallowing thickly.
"You should probably go," you say.
They fidget for a moment, seeming unsure of what to do. But before they can decide anything, there's a sharp knock at the door.
You both look over as Noel steps inside, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check in on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says quickly, ducking out the door without another look at you.
<<include "noel interrupts">>"Shut up," you snap, crossing your arms. Anger still burns in your chest, and you take a deep breath, clenching your hands, trying to press it back down where it belongs.
Noel raises $n_their hands, giving you a look. "I can just leave, if you'd prefer," $n_xe says, $n_their tone sharp. "Give me a reason not to waste my time here."
You glare over at him, exhaling through your nose.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Wait. I didn\'t mean it. I\'m just... being difficult." I cringe as I say it, but it\'s true.' 'being difficult 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I shake my head, staring down at the floor. "I\'m sorry. You didn\'t deserve that."' 'you didnt deserve that 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You //are// wasting your time."' 'wasting your time 1'>><<set $n_walkout to true>><<set $sanity -=5>><<set $n_friendship -=10>><</link>></div>You don't respond, instead sighing loudly and rubbing your face with your hands. After a moment you drop your hands to see Noel staring at you. Reluctantly, you give him a nod, and he finally steps fully into the room, closing the door behind him, and leaning his staff against the wall.
Removing xir cloak, he drapes it over the chair Clementine had been in a few minutes ago.
A couple moments pass, and the tension slowly eases out of the room. Your rapid, angry heartbeat finally slows, and you take a deep breath, pushing the outburst from your mind.
"So," Noel says then, watching you closely, "how is the arm? Everything feeling good?"
<<if hasVisited("ch1 awake")>><<include "dawn awake you nod checkup">><<else>><<include "dawn passed out you nod checkup">><</if>>You glare over at Noel, crossing your arms.
"I'll take that as a no," Noel says, closing the door behind him and moving into the room. Xe leans $n_their staff against the wall, removing $n_their cloak and draping it over the back of the chair Clementine had just been sitting in.
He gives you a look, waiting a few minutes before speaking as the tension gradually dissolves out of the room. Your rapid, angry heartbeat finally slows, and you take a deep breath, pushing the outburst from your mind.
"So," Noel says then, watching you closely, "how is the arm? Everything feeling good?"
<<if hasVisited ("ch1 awake")>><<include "dawn awake you nod checkup">><<else>><<include "dawn passed out you nod checkup">><</if>>"What do you want?" you snap, your patience wearing rather thin at the moment.
Noel raises $n_their eyebrows at you. "How about some gratitude, first?"
You scowl at him, crossing your arms. "For what? Doing your job?"
Noel sighs, and something about the look xe gives you makes you even angrier.
"Look. I know what you're doing. I'm quite familiar with this hunter's song and dance," xe says, shaking xir head at you. "All of you always trying so hard to be big and bad."
He runs a hand over his face, smearing some of that dark blue makeup over his eyes.
"If you don't want my help, just say so. I'd rather you not waste my time."
<<if hasVisited ("ch1 awake")>><<include "dawn awake apologize">><<else>><<include "dawn passed out apologize">><</if>><<set $apology +=1>>"Wait... I didn't mean it. I'm just... being difficult."
Noel looks you up and down for a moment before responding.
"At least you're self aware," he says, lowering $n_their hands. Noel sighs then, looking down at your arm. "How is it feeling?" he asks with a nod.
"It's alright," you say, rotating your shoulder to show $n_them, grateful for $n_their decision to ignore your rudeness. Noel hasn't done anything to deserve it. You're just... well. You're just //you//. And that argument with Clementine got under your skin. //Clearly//, you think, eyeing the upturned table. You push it from your mind, for now. What's done is done.
<<if hasVisited ("ch1 awake")>><<include "dawn awake checkup">><<else>>"Let me just do a quick checkup before Merry comes and kicks the door down," Noel says, xir eyes flicking from your arm to your face as he gives you a small smile.
<<include "dawn passed out checkup">><</if>><<set $apology +=1>>"I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that," you say sheepishly. You're just... a little on edge, at the moment. That argument got under your skin. //Clearly//, you think, eyeing the upturned table. But you push it from your mind, for now. What's done is done.
Noel purses $n_their lips for a moment, before giving you a nod. "It's alright. I know you've had a rough night."
"Thanks," you say, shifting awkwardly where you stand, though you are grateful for Noel's understanding.
"How is your arm feeling?" Noel asks then, gesturing to your forearm.
"It's alright," you say with a nod, rotating your shoulder to show $n_them.
<<if hasVisited("ch1 awake")>><<include "dawn awake checkup">><<else>>"Let me just do a quick checkup before Merry comes and kicks the door down," Noel says, xir eyes flicking from your arm to your face as he gives you a small smile.
<<include "dawn passed out checkup">><</if>>"You //are// wasting your time. I didn't ask you to be here," you snap. "I never asked for your help."
Noel just sighs again. "Fine. Stubborn northern ass," $n_xe mutters, shaking xir head at you. Xe stills hesitates, though, giving you one last look before turning away.
Noel sweeps out of the room without another word.
<<if hasVisited("ch1 awake")>>[[Continue|dawn awake no noel]]<<else>>[[Continue|dawn passed out no noel]]<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"You two seem to know each other well."' 'You two seem to know each other well. 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Lea didn\'t tell me the healer was a hunter. What are you doing out here?"' 'Lea didnt tell me. 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Can I ask where your handler is?"' 'Can I ask where your handler is? 1'>><</link>></div><<if $faceScratch>>"I can finish up, let you rest," Noel says, moving around the table and studying your movements. "You haven't slept yet?"<<else>>"I just want to make sure everything is connected and functioning correctly," Noel says, moving around the table and studying your movements. "You haven't slept yet?" he asks then.<</if>>
"No," you say, rubbing your eyes.
"I didn't think so," Noel frowns, looking displeased. "Merry is too eager. You need to rest," he adds.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t need to sleep."' 'i dont need to sleep'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"That bed has been calling my name since I got here."' 'that bed has been calling my name'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We need to get this mess sorted first."' 'get this mess sorted'>><</link>></div>The door clicks closed behind $n_them, leaving you standing all alone in the small room.
Letting out a long sigh, you drop down heavy back into your chair, rubbing a hand across your face. <<if $flipped_table>>You blink over at the flipped table, your <<if $vice eq "smoker">>pipe and tobacco scattered across the floor.<<elseif $vice eq "drinker">>flask laying on the floor, the drink spilled and soaking into the wood.<<else>>your pipe and tobacco scattered across the floor, and your flask on its side, the drink spilled and soaking into the wood.<</if>>
Leaning forward, you manage to just reach your <<if $vice eq "smoker">>pipe. A bit of tobacco, by some miracle, stayed packed inside, and you lazily relight it, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath, willing away the tension in your body.
Smoke drifts slowly around you, thick in the bright light filtering in through the window.<<else>>flask. It spins around on the floor a bit until you manage to get your fingers around it, and you pick it up carefully, not wanting to spill any more. Holding it up you shake it gently, and lucky for you some of the drink still sloshes around inside. You throw your head back and gulp down the rest of it, slouching back against the chair with a sigh.
You fiddle with the flask, your hands in your lap, watching the light from the window glint against the metal.<</if>><<else>>You look over the table, your <<if $vice eq "smoker">>pipe laying on its side, forgotten, some of the tobacco having spilled out. Reaching for it, you put it between your lips and lazily relight it, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath, willing the tension in your body away.<<elseif $vice eq "drinker">>flask sitting tall, its cap still off. Swiping it up, you take a long drink, closing your eyes for a moment. You slam the flask back down on the table, a bit dramatic, but it's been that kind of day. You keep your hand around it, fidgeting and twisting it in your fingers across the tabletop.<<else>>pipe on its side, forgotten, and your flask untouched, the cap still off. Grabbing the flask, you take one long drink before slamming it back down on the table. A bit dramatic, but it's been that kind of day. You put the pipe between your lips and lazily relight the tobacco, taking a deep breath, willing away the tension in your body.
Smoke drifts slowly around you, thick in the bright light filtering in through the window.<</if>><</if>>
Noise from the tavern still slips through the walls around you, music and loud voices. You debate going outside, maybe finding Lea. Though $l_they probably still need<<s>> more time to cool down.
[[Continue ->You sit like that for a moment]]The door clicks closed behind $n_them, leaving you standing all alone in the small room.
Letting out a long sigh, you slump down heavy back into your chair, rubbing a hand across your face.
<<if $flipped_table>>You blink over at the flipped table, your <<if $vice eq "smoker">>pipe and tobacco scattered across the floor.<<elseif $vice eq "drinker">>flask laying on the floor, the drink spilled and soaking into the wood.<<else>>pipe and tobacco scattered across the floor, and your flask upturned, the drink spilled and soaking into the wood.<</if>>
Leaning forward, you manage to just reach your <<if $vice eq "smoker">>pipe. A bit of tobacco, by some miracle, stayed packed inside, and you lazily relight it, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath, willing the tension in your body away.
Smoke drifts slowly around you, thick in the bright light filtering in through the window.<<else>>flask. It spins around on the floor a bit until you manage to get your fingers around it, and you pick it up carefully, not wanting to spill any more. Holding it up you shake it gently, and lucky for you some of the drink still sloshes around inside. You throw your head back and gulp down the rest of it, slouching back against the chair with a sigh.
You fiddle with the flask, your hands in your lap, watching the light from the window glint against the metal.<</if>><<else>>You look over the table, your <<if $vice eq "smoker">>pipe laying on its side, forgotten, some of the tobacco having spilled out. Reaching for it, you put it between your lips and lazily relight it, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath, willing away the tension in your body.<<elseif $vice eq "drinker">>flask sitting tall, its cap still off. Swiping it up, you take a long drink, closing your eyes for a moment. You slam the flask back down on the table, a bit dramatic, but it's been that kind of day. You keep your hand around it, fidgeting and twisting it in your fingers across the tabletop.<<else>>pipe on its side, forgotten, and your flask untouched, the cap still off. Grabbing the flask, you take one long drink before slamming it back down on the table. A bit dramatic, but it's been that kind of day. Plucking up your pipe, you put it between your lips and lazily relight the tobacco, taking a deep breath, willing the tension in your body away.
Smoke drifts slowly around you, thick in the bright light filtering in through the window.<</if>><</if>>
Noise from the tavern still slips through the walls around you, music and loud voices. You debate going outside, maybe finding Lea. Though $l_they probably still need<<s>> more time to cool down.
[[Continue ->Your hand wanders 1]]You nod, pulling up your sleeve and rotating your shoulder to show $n_them.
"Let me just check it one more time, before Merry shows up and kicks the door down," Noel says with a knowing smile.
<<include "dawn passed out checkup">>You nod, slowly rotating your shoulder and flexing your arm to show $n_them.
<<include "dawn awake checkup">><div id="choice"><<link '"I... I didn\'t mean anything by it. I\'m just... being difficult." $n_Their words are harsh, but I know it\'s true.' 'didnt mean anything 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck you." I don\'t have the patience to put up with this right now.' 'fuck you noel 1'>><<set $n_walkout to true>><<set $n_friendship -=7>><<set $sanity -=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I //don\'t// want your help. I never even asked for it to begin with." I just want these people to leave me alone.' 'i dont need your help 1'>><<set $n_walkout to true>><<set $sanity -=5>><<set $n_friendship -=5>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I let out a long sigh. "I\'m sorry. You didn\'t deserve that."' 'didnt deserve that 1'>><</link>></div><div id="choice"><<link '"I... I didn\'t mean anything by it. I\'m just... being difficult." $n_Their words are harsh, but I know it\'s true.' 'didnt mean anything 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck you." I don\'t have the patience to put up with this right now.' 'fuck you noel 2'>><<set $n_walkout to true>><<set $sanity -=5>><<set $n_friendship -=7>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I //don\'t// want your help. I never even asked for it to begin with." I just want these people to leave me alone.' 'i dont need your help 2'>><<set $n_walkout to true>><<set $sanity -=5>><<set $n_friendship -=5>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I let out a long sigh. "I\'m sorry. You didn\'t deserve that."' 'didnt deserve that 2'>><</link>></div>"If anyone is hiding, it's you," you snap. "You lied to me and Lea, and now you're trying to //bribe// me? Come on."
Clementine wavers a bit. They stand from the table then, running a nervous hand over their curly hair. They struggle to say something for a moment, pulling at the front of their jacket, but before they can finally find their words a sharp knock on the door interrupts them.
You both look over as Noel steps inside, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check in on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says, giving you one last pleading look before ducking out the door.
<<include "noel interrupts">>"I'm sorry. Find someone else to help you." It's regrettable, but you have a job to do, and you can't risk dragging Clementine around, too. This whole mess has already gone on long enough. And look where it got you.
Clementine sags back in their chair. They seem dazed for a moment, before sitting back up and standing slowly.
"I... Okay. This was a mistake," Clementine says then, glancing around the room for a frantic moment, not looking at you. Anywhere but at you.
They start to say something else, but a knock on the door cuts them off.
You both look over as Noel steps into the room, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check in on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says, giving you one last quick look before turning away and ducking out of the room.
<<include "noel interrupts">>Glaring across the table, you don't say anything else. Clementine sighs in frustration, standing quickly, their chair scraping loudly in the quiet of the room.
Clementine isn't the only person in the world with problems. This is just how it is.
Clementine takes a stuttering step towards the door, but stops for a moment. They start to speak, but a knock on the door cuts them off.
You both look over as Noel steps inside, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. “I just wanted to check in on our new friend," he says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says, giving you one last pleading look before turning away and ducking out of the room.
<<include "noel interrupts">>"Fuck you, Clementine. You don't even know me," you say, glaring at them across the table.
"I know enough. I know about hunters. And what you do. What you //are//."
You stand slowly then, the chair scraping loudly across the floor. Leaning forward, you press your hands to the table, leering down at Clementine.
"And what am I?" you growl.
Clementine seems to remember whom they're talking to then, and they eye you warily, standing and stepping back from the table.
"Listen -" they start, but you don't let them finish.
"No, you listen to me. You don't know me. You //don't//. And you don't know one thing about what it means to be a hunter. You want to bring up what I am? What I've done? If it bothers you so much, go throw your fucking money at someone else. You couldn't pay me enough to give a shit about you, when not one person in this world has ever given a shit about me!" You're shouting now, an angry finger pointed over top the table at Clementine.
<<include "anger burn 1">><div id="choice"><<link '"Does no one know how knocking works here? You\'re supposed to wait to be called in."' 'knocking 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"A checkup isn\'t necessary, I feel fine."' 'check isnt necessary 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<<if $clem_tavernfight>><div id="choice"><<link 'I just sigh, pushing the argument with Clementine from my mind, for now.' 'argue w clem 2'>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link 'I just sigh, pushing the conversation with Clementine from my mind, for now.' 'argue w clem 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You have incredible timing, Doc."' 'good timing doc 2'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What do you want?"' 'what do you want noel 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div><div id="choice"><<link '"Does no one know how knocking works here? You\'re supposed to wait to be called in."' 'knocking 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"A checkup isn\'t necessary, I feel fine."' 'check isnt necessary 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<<if $clem_tavernfight>><div id="choice"><<link 'I just sigh, pushing the argument with Clementine from my mind, for now.' 'argue w clem 1'>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link 'I just sigh, pushing the conversation with Clementine from my mind, for now.' 'argue w clem 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You have incredible timing, Doc."' 'good timing doc 1'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What do you want?"' 'what do you want noel 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>"Hey," you say, blinking over at them, your voice straining even over that single word, your head heavy with exhaustion.
"Hi. I know you must be tired," they say, "but I wanted to talk."
They shuffle into the room, standing awkwardly and wringing their hands.<<set $genuine +=1>>
<<include "proper clem intro">>"Hello," they say, glancing around the room before blinking owlishly at you.
You don't respond as the bard shuffles into the room, just giving them a nod as they look over at you. Raising your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask, you take a long drink, your throat burning as you swallow.<<else>>pipe, you hold it between your teeth and close your eyes for a moment, tasting the tobacco on your lips.<</if>>
The bard stands awkwardly in front of the door, wringing their hands, glancing sideways and clearing their throat.
<<include "proper clem intro">>"Hey, uh, you," you say, struggling to remember their name, grimacing as you fumble.
"Hi," they give you a small smile, mercifully choosing to ignore your clear blunder. "I hope you don't mind. I wanted to talk," they say, shuffling into the room. They stand awkwardly in front of the door, wringing their hands.
<<include "proper clem intro">>"What?" you say, glaring at the bard as they shuffle into the room. You're not exactly feeling social, at the moment.
They blanch a bit at your tone, but they don't retreat.
"I know this isn't an ideal time," they say, "but I wanted to talk."
You don't respond, just giving them a look, <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>fidgeting with your flask.<<else>>fidgeting with your pipe, turning it over in your hands.<</if>>
The bard stands awkwardly in front of the door, wringing their hands, glancing sideways and clearing their throat.
<<include "proper clem intro">>"Sure, come on in," you say, waving your hands dramatically at them.
"Oh... sorry," they say, shuffling away from the door. "I wasn't thinking."
You wave your hand again, dismissive this time, shifting in your chair. You fidget with your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask,<<else>>pipe,<</if>> watching them stand in front of the door, wringing their hands.
<<include "proper clem intro">>"We haven't really had a proper introduction. I just learned your name from Merry," they say, shifting on their feet, the bells on their jacket ringing softly with the movement.
"My name is Clementine. It's nice to really meet you."
You nod, giving them a quick look over. They have the soft, lilting accent of the southern territories, more distinct than Noel's, making their voice even more soft-spoken than it already is. You're still not sure what to make of them, though you are curious as to why exactly they're still hanging around. And what a coincidence to run into them again here.<<if $hunter_known is false>>
"I didn't even realize... that you were a hunter," they say. "I understand why you turned me away." <<if hasVisited("rudeass")>>You purse your lips, narrowing your eyes at them.<<elseif hasVisited("saddecline")>>You give them an apologetic look, leaning forward in your chair.<</if>><</if>>
Clementine continues to stand back a bit, seeming unsure of themself. "Well... how are you feeling? They explained to me... about the wraith," they say, gesturing to your arm.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Honestly? I have no idea. My arm feels better, at least."' 'arm feels better 2'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Why do you care?"' 'why do you care 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Could be better, could be worse. Nothing I can\'t handle."' 'nothing i cant handle 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>You search their face for a moment before answering - they seem genuine enough. "I'm not sure, to be honest. Arm feels better, though," you say with a shrug, lifting your arm and flexing your hand.
"It's been a strange morning, hasn't it?" Clementine says, nodding at you. "It's good to see your arm is better, though."
You tug at your sleeve, letting your arm drop back into your lap.
<<include "clem magic comment">>You search their face for a moment before answering - they seem genuine enough. "Could be better, could be worse," you finally say with a shrug.
Clementine hums, giving you a warm smile. "Your arm must be feeling better, too."
You push your sleeve up to your elbow, running your hand over the new scars, flexing your hand.
<<include "clem magic comment">>"Why do you care?" you ask, your voice hard. "I don't even know you."
Clementine deflates a bit, but nods. "Yeah. You're right. Just pleasantries, I guess," they say with a shrug. "It is good to see your arm looking better, though."
You grab at your arm, covering the new scars with your hand, glaring over at them.
Clementine glances away quickly. They clear their throat before continuing, "Magic is really fascinating. It's amazing what it can do." They steal one more look at your arm, before shaking their head and looking up at you. "That's not what I came in here to talk about, though."
<<include "clem talk comment">>"Magic is so fascinating. It's amazing, the things it can do," Clementine says, eyeing your arm curiously now. They blink after a moment, looking back up at your face. "That's not what I came in here to talk about, though."
<<include "clem talk comment">>"I saw your handler - Lea? - go outside," Clementine says then, glancing towards the window on the far wall. "I think $l_theyre pacing in the alley."
"Sounds like Lea," you say, twisting your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask<<else>>pipe<</if>> in your hands.
Clementine shifts on their feet, turning back to you. "I wanted to talk to both of you, but... maybe it's better, just you," they say.
You raise an eyebrow at that. Clementine finally moves all the way into the room, taking the seat across from you. <<if hasVisited ("ch1 awake")>>Bloody rags and the bowl of dirty, red water still sit scattered across the table.<</if>>
They lean forward, taking a deep breath, pressing their palms to the tabletop.
"I have an offer for you," they say.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Another offer? We already turned you down once."' 'another offer'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Listen, I didn\'t want to get involved then, and I definitely don\'t want to get involved now."' 'dont want involved'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You want to make an offer? Even after that little outburst?"' 'even after'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m listening."' 'im listening 2'>><</link>></div>"Look – I'm not interested in getting involved with your mess. I wasn't interested before, and I'm definitely not interested now. Once Merry says her piece, me and Lea have our own shit we need to deal with."
Clementine closes their eyes for a moment as you speak. "I know, I know, and I get that," they say, opening their eyes again and looking at you pleadingly. "Just... just hear me out, at least, please."
You strum your fingers on the table for a moment. "Fine," you reluctantly agree.
<<include "clem has money">>"Another offer? We already turned you down once."
Clementine frowns, glancing down at the table. "I don't exactly have a lot of options right now," they say slowly. "And I know you're heading to Highfell, near the border."
You narrow your eyes, watching them closely now.
<<include "clem has money">>"You want to make an offer? Even after... that little outburst?" you say with a scoff, gesturing towards the door, where Lea had Merry pinned earlier.
Clementine just gives you a weak smile. "I don't have very many options... I can't really afford to be particularly picky right now," they say slowly. "And I know you're heading for Highfell, near the border."
You narrow your eyes, watching them closely now.
<<include "clem has money">>You lean forward in your seat, tapping your fingers against the table a few times.
"I'm listening," you say finally, leaning your elbow on the table and resting your chin in your palm.
Clementine lets out a breath of relief, sinking back in their chair a bit.
<<include "clem has money">>"I don't have any friends here," they explain then, "But I do have money."
You consider them, watching the way they twist their hands atop the table. They brought up money earlier, too, when you saw them on the road. How much have they got, if they keep throwing it around like that? You resist the urge to ask.
"...Merry's not your friend?" you say instead.
Clementine laughs coldly. "Definitely not. But Captain Harlowe does have her eye on me now," they say, frowning.
"Why does she even care about some bard?"
Clementine hesitates then. "It's not that simple. I'm not just some bard."
[[Continue|get me across the border]]"I need you to help me cross the border," Clementine says. "Keep Merry away from me, and get me across the border."
You blink a few times.
When you don't answer right away, Clementine shifts, reaching into their jacket, and producing a stupidly large pouch, dropping it onto the table with the alluring sound of gold coins clinking inside.
Okay, so they //do// have money.
"I'll pay you. All of this. Just you. Not you and Lea - just you."
Taking a deep breath, they continue, speaking low and quick, "Just get me to Highfell. That's close to the border, right? You're already going there," they say, emphasizing that last part, leaning towards you across the table. "I can tag along, I – I'll stay out of your way. I can cross the border from there as long as you keep Merry off my back. We can come up with something to tell Lea."
You lean forward, putting your elbows on the table, and rubbing your hands across your face. You don't think you've ever seen - or rather //heard// - that much money in your whole life, or even had anything close to it. Not even if you combined everything you've ever made.
There's a lot you can do with that money. Stronger weapons, better gear, good food - //great// food - decent accommodations for the rest of your life. You'd never want for anything again.
<<if $sent_money>>//You, nor your family.//
<<if $family is "good">>The thought nearly makes your breath catch. Enough money to travel, you could deliver it yourself. You could see them again. If you wanted.<<elseif $family is "complicated">>The thought makes you pause. That's enough money that you could travel there and deliver it yourself. The thought of seeing them again... it almost overwhelms you. Anger, sorrow, hope. You shake your head slightly, rubbing your eyes with a strained sigh.<<elseif $family is "bad">>Your whole body tenses at the thought. That's enough money that you could travel there and deliver it yourself. They'd have to remember you then. Standing in the doorway, no longer just a ghost, but a monster at the door. Your face twitches, and you rub at your eyes, taking a long, strained breath.<</if>>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t even need to think about it. "Deal."' 'deal 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I need more information than that, Clementine." I can\'t just blindly agree to something like this.' 'i need more info 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What are you running from?" I have to ask.' 'what are you running from 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t need the money." I don\'t do things for money. Not like this. That\'s not the kind of person I am.' 'i dont need the money 2'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t //want// your money." I\'m insulted they think they can just buy me.' 'i dont want your money 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=10>><<set $clem_tavernfight to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No deal. I won\'t get involved." I don\'t even want to hear any more.' 'no deal 2'>><</link>></div>You don't hesitate. "Deal."
<<include "deal 2.2">>"I need more information than that, Clementine," you say, shaking your head.
Clementine sighs. "This is going to sound cliché. But I'm trying to protect you," they say, staring at you sadly.
"I'm hardly the kind of person that needs protecting," you say, raising an eyebrow at them. Clementine shakes their head, and you realize, in their eyes, they are afraid.
"It's not the kind of thing you can fight. The less I tell you, the safer you will be. You're still a hunter. I know the rules, there's things you can't be involved in. Even if you weren't a hunter...," they trail off for a moment. "Right now, you have plausible deniability."
"And the money? What about that?"
"It's //mine//. It's clean. Trust me," they say.
You purse your lips, considering it all. Clearly they are involved in something beyond your scope - and they're right, hunters shouldn't be involved in these things. You are supposed to be neutral, after all. Though it sounds like even if you weren't a hunter, this would still be a risky venture. But... that money.
<<include "deals 2">>"What are you running from?" you ask softly.
Clementine purses their lips. A long silence stretches out between you.
"Just know I've been running for a long time. I'm so close now. Tell me if we have a deal. Yes or no," Clementine finally says, crossing their arms.
You sigh, leaning back heavily in your chair. You can't lie, the money is enticing. But are you willing to get involved in this?
<<include "deals 2">>"I don't need that money," you say, shaking your head.
Clementine snatches the pouch back, shoving it in their jacket, clearly frustrated.
"What do you want, then? You going to do it out of the kindness of your heart? Or just no deal?" Clementine asks.
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re a bard. Teach me a song."' 'teach me a song'>><<set $deal to true>><<set $for_a_song to true>><<set $c_friendship +=5>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'ll do it. You can just ask."' 'you can just ask 2'>><<set $c_friendship +=10>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><<set $for_free to true>><<set $deal to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No deal, Clementine."' 'no deal clem 2'>><</link>></div>"You can't just bribe me. I'm insulted you even think you could ever buy me at all."
Clementine laughs. "Gods, don't talk down to me from your moral high horse. You have no idea what I've been through to get here!"
"It's not about morality," you snap. "I don't //want// your money."
"Oh, sure. Whatever. Every person has a price, don't act like you're above it all. Money just isn't your ticket," they say, glaring at you. "How much money do you swindle from the poor folks you're supposed to be helping? No, money wouldn't matter to you. You have a bed, you have a home waiting for you at your little stronghold."
You stand then, so quickly your chair clatters to the floor behind you.
"You are walking on some mighty thin ice, bard," you growl.
Clementine seems to remember whom they're talking to then, and they eye you warily, standing and stepping back from the table.
"Listen -" they start, but you don't let them finish.
"No, you listen to me. You don't know me. You //don't//. And you don't know one thing about what it means to be a hunter. You want to bring up what you've been through? What about what I've been through? You're not the only sad, suffering bastard in the world, you know? And you can't fucking pay me to care about you, when not one person in this world has ever given a shit about me!” You're shouting now, an angry finger pointed over top the table at Clementine.
Clementine stares at you, their eyes wide and fearful.
<<include "anger burn 1">>"No deal. I won't get involved. I //can't//."
Clementine frowns. You watch as they snatch the pouch off the table and shove it back into their jacket, clearly frustrated.
<<include "think about it 2">><<set $deal to true>>Clementine's face twitches, and they give you a strained smile. They reach over and pluck the pouch back off the table, tucking it away into their jacket.
"Thank you. I promise you. I swear on my life. You get me to Highfell and it's yours," they say, gesturing to where they just hid the pouch.
"And I can trust your word? Or should we have a contract?" you prompt.
You watch as Clementine reaches back into their jacket again, but this time, they pull out a small, though very sharp, knife. You tense.
"We can shake on it," they say. They offer you the knife, hilt first.
<<include "hilt first">>"Okay. Deal," you say finally.
<<include "deal 2.2">><div id="choice"><<link '"Deal."' 'deal 2.1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No deal."' 'no deal 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I want to cut Lea in on the deal."' 'include lea 2'>><</link>></div>"I want to cut Lea in on this," you say.
Clementine hesitates. "$l_They'll agree to it?" they ask.
You purse your lips. Lea is pretty by the book... most of the time. Neither of you are perfect people. You've done your fair share of questionable deals and bets, but this feels... different. This isn't a hustle in some run down tavern bar. More at stake. It's a gamble, and you're not sure //exactly// what Lea will think.<<set $tell_lea to true>>
<div id="choice"><<link 'But I can\'t lie to $l_them. It feels wrong.' 'cant lie to them 2'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $tell_lea to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Something tells me I\'ll need $l_them to have my back on this.' 'i need them 2'>><<set $tell_lea to true>><</link>></div>Clementine's face twitches, and they give you a strained smile. They reach over and pluck the pouch back off the table, tucking it away into their jacket.
"Thank you. I promise you. I swear on my life. You get me across the border and it's yours," they say, gesturing to where they just hid the pouch.
"And your word is good?" you prompt, giving them a wary look. You want to be sure. For you, and for Lea. That money could change everything.
You watch as Clementine reaches back into their jacket again, but this time, they pull out a small, though very sharp, knife. You tense.
"We can shake on it," they say. They offer you the knife, hilt first.
<<include "hilt first">>"Let me talk to $l_them."
Clementine looks disappointed at your words. "I can't wait forever, $name."
"Tonight. Just let me talk to Lea first," you say.
Clementine takes a deep breath, letting out a long sigh through their nose. "Okay. Until tonight." They take the pouch and tuck it back away into their jacket. Standing slowly, they lean heavily against the table for a moment. You rise with them, not quite sure how to close this not-quite-deal.
You think they might say something else, but a sharp knock on the door draws your attention away from them. The door swings open and Noel stands there, staff in hand.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Noel asks, smiling at you and Clementine. "I just wanted to check on our new friend," $n_xe says, gesturing to you.
"I was just leaving," Clementine says. They turn back to you, giving you a long, searching look before bowing deeply, then they just sweep out of the room without another word.
<<include "noel interrupts">>"I don't know," you admit. "But I can't lie to $l_them."
Clementine takes a moment to digest that. Finally, they nod slowly. "Okay. I get it," they say. "And I don't want to lie to $l_them, either."
An awkward silence passes between you.
"So. Do we have a deal, then?" Clementine finally asks.
<<include "discuss later 2">>Call it intuition. But you want Lea in on this. Someone to have your back.
"$l_They'll agree to it," you say. It was Lea's idea to come to Blackwater to begin with. And you're already going to the border. $l_They'll agree, you're sure of it. Maybe.
Clementine purses their lips for a moment, but finally nods. "Okay. I don't want to lie to $l_them, either," they add. "So, do we have a deal?"
<<include "discuss later 2">><div id="choice"><<link '"Let me talk to $l_them."' 'let me talk to them 2'>><<set $c_relationship to 8>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Deal."' 'lea deal 2'>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><<set $for_money to true>><<set $deal to true>><</link>></div>"You're a bard. How about you just teach me a song?"
Clementine blinks, clearly confused. "W-what?" they finally manage.
"Teach me a good drinking song. Teach me a song, and I'll do it."
"That's it?" they ask in disbelief.
"That's it," you say, spreading your hands out in front of you.
It takes them a few more seconds to process it. Then they grin at you, their cheeks flushing pink. "I can do that."
"Then we have a deal," you say, standing to shake their hand. Clementine stands too, a little quickly, knocking their chair back a bit. They laugh, covering their face with their hands for a moment, before finally calming down and holding out their hand to you.
You take it, giving a single firm shake. Clementine doesn't stop smiling, and you think they might start jumping up and down any minute.
Letting go of your hand, Clementine gives you a determined nod, stepping back from the table.
"Wait," you say before they can turn to the door.
<<include "lea decision 1">>"I'll do it. You can just ask."
Clementine narrows their eyes at you for a moment, truly considering your words.
"You're serious?" they finally ask.
"Yes," you say. "I'll help you."
Clementine blinks a few times. "Oh, you are serious. Okay," they say in disbelief.
"Really?" Clementine asks, still skeptical.
"Yes, really," you say. "Highfell is close to the border. Just come with us, and you should be able to get across. And I'll keep Merry off your back."
Clementine seems to relax for the first time since they came into the room.
"Wow. Okay. Thank you. Thank you!" They stand then, and you rise with them. Clementine comes around the table and takes your hand in both of theirs.
"I don't... I don't even know what to say. Thank you!" they repeat, grinning at you.
"Let's get there first, and then you can thank me," you say, their smile infectious.
Clementine lets go of your hand, still smiling. "Okay," they say with a determined nod, stepping back from the table.
"Wait," you say before they can turn to the door.
<<include "lea decision 1">>Your face twitches at their words, but you just shake your head. You can't do this.
"No deal, Clementine," you say. "I can't."
Clementine scowls, their hands balled into fists at their sides. They seem to struggle for words for a moment, before letting out a long sigh.
<<include "think about it 2">>"You should think about it," Clementine says. "And you //can//. Don't use that excuse with me. You can always make a choice. Don't hide behind your hunter status."<<set $c_friendship -=5>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck you. You don\'t even know me."' 'dont even know me 1'>><<set $clem_tavernfight to true>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=10>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry. Find someone else to help you."' 'find someone else 1'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><<set $c_relationship to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t have anything else to say. This is just how it is.' 'just how it is 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><<set $c_relationship to 2>><</link>></div><<set $apology +=1>>"I... I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just... being difficult." Saying it makes you cringe, but you have to say it. Noel is right. You're embarrassed - Noel doesn't deserve your ire. You don't even know him, but he's the one that healed you. And he's a hunter. Like you.
Noel looks you up and down for a moment before responding.
"At least you're self aware," $n_xe says, uncrossing $n_their arms. Noel sighs then, looking down at your arm. "How is it feeling?" $n_xe asks with a nod.
"It's alright," you say, rotating your shoulder to show him, grateful for his decision to ignore your rudeness. <<if $clem_tavernfight>>You're just lashing out - and that argument with Clementine got under your skin. You push it from your mind, for now. What's done is done.<<if $flipped_table>>
Noel leans $n_their staff against the wall by the door, and comes all the way into the room, removing $n_their cloak and draping it over the back of the chair Clementine had just been sitting in.<</if>><</if>>
"Let me just do a quick check up before Merry comes and kicks the door down," Noel says, xir eyes flicking from your arm to your face as he gives you a small smile.
<<include "dawn passed out checkup">>"Fuck you," you growl, clenching your fists and glaring at $n_them. You don't want to deal with this shit right now - you've been locked you in a room, ambushed as soon as you woke, and you've been told you nothing about what's going on. You barely even know these people's fucking names.
Noel just clicks $n_their tongue at you, sighing.
"You northern hunters. All the same, I swear," he says, sounding genuinely disappointed. Disappointed in you. "Stubborn ass," he mutters.
Noel lets his staff thud loudly against the floor as $n_xe throws open the door and sweeps out of the room without another word.
[[Continue|dawn passed out no noel]]"I //don't// want your help. I never even asked for it to begin with," you snap, bristling at his tone. You don't want to deal with this shit right now - you've been locked you in a room, ambushed as soon as you woke, and you've been told you nothing about what's going on. You barely even know these people's fucking names.
Noel just sighs again.
"You northern hunters. All the same, I swear," he says, sounding genuinely disappointed. Disappointed in you. "Stubborn ass," he mutters.
Noel lets his staff thud loudly against the floor as $n_xe throws open the door and sweeps out of the room without another word.
[[Continue|dawn passed out no noel]]"I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that," you say sheepishly. You're just... a little on edge, at the moment. Embarrassed, you rub the back of your neck, looking to Noel apologetically. You don't know Noel, but he is the one that healed you. And he's a hunter. Like you.
Noel purses $n_their lips for a moment, before giving you a nod. "It's alright. I know you've had a rough night."
"Thanks," you say, grateful for Noel's understanding. You let your hand drop from your neck and let out a long breath, shaking your head. <<if $clem_tavernfight>>You feel your face twitch, closing your eyes for a moment, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.<<else>>Your glance to the door for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.<</if>>
"How is your arm feeling?" Noel is saying, eyeing your forearm.
"It's alright," you say with a nod, rotating your shoulder to show $n_them.<<set $apology +=1>>
"Let me just do a quick check up before Merry comes and kicks the door down," Noel says, xir eyes flicking from your arm to your face as he gives you a small smile.
<<include "dawn passed out checkup">>"I have to ask - What are you doing here? In Blackwater? Lea didn't mention that you were a hunter," you say. "We didn't hear about any others in the area." You watch Noel closely, hoping this moment will give you the answers that have evaded you all morning.
Noel gives you a long look before shaking $n_their head.
"No, you wouldn't have heard about me," $n_xe says simply.
"That doesn't really answer my question," you say, eyeing $n_them.
Noel smiles. "No, it doesn't."
<<include "let me look at your arm">>"Can I ask where your handler is?" you blurt, unable to resist the question any longer. While it is possible $n_their handler could just be elsewhere in the tavern, you have to ask. And there's something about Noel, when $n_xe walked into the room, that energy. Bound to none.
Noel considers you for a long moment. "Not here," is all $n_xe says.
You narrow your eyes at $n_them, and $n_xe just stares right back, a small smile on $n_their face.
You've never met a hunter without a handler.
<<include "let me look at your arm">>"You two seem to know each other well," you prompt, taking the moment to question Noel. You can't imagine what connection a Gaelish captain and a southern hunter possibly have, and why they both seem interested in you.
"Oh, me and Merry? I suppose so," Noel says, nodding. "The plague brought us together. You know that saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?" he smiles at you.
"Enemy? You and Merry in the business of making enemies?” you say, raising an eyebrow at $n_them.
Noel shrugs.
"Depends who you ask," $n_xe says.
<<include "let me look at your arm">>"Does no one know how knocking works here? You're supposed to wait to be called in," you say, exasperated.
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>You run a hand over your face, closing your eyes for a moment, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.<<else>>Your gaze flicks past Noel, to the door, just for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.<</if>>
"Not in this house," Noel is saying, laughing lightly and shaking his head. Still standing behind the chair, $n_xe glances down at your arm.
"How is the shoulder? Good?" $n_xe asks.
<<include "dawn passed out you nod checkup">>You're already shaking your head, running a hand over your face. "A checkup isn't necessary," you say, "I feel fine."
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>You feel your face twitch, and you drop your hand, closing your eyes for a moment and letting out a long sigh, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.<<else>>You drop your hand with a sigh, your gaze flicking to the door for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.<</if>>
"I figured you'd say that," Noel is saying. "You're a very tough hunter," he says, in a mocking tone, making a face at you.
You scowl.
"So serious! Don't worry, it will only take a few minutes," Noel says, grinning. "How does your arm feel? Good?"
<<include "dawn passed out you nod checkup">>"Long morning for you?" Noel asks, peering over at you.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"A long day, a long night, and a long morning," you sigh.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You cross your arms, just shaking your head. Long morning is an understatement.<<else>>"That's one fucking way to put it," you say with a scoff.<</if>>
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>You feel your face twitch, closing your eyes for a moment, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.<<else>>Your gaze flicks to the door for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.<</if>>
Noel purses $n_their lips for a moment. "How is the arm? Is that good, at least?"
<<include "dawn passed out you nod checkup">>"You have incredible timing, Doc," you say. //Literally.//
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>You try to force nonchalance, but your face twitches, and you close your eyes for a moment, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.
Noel doesn't seem to notice though, just chuckling and shaking his head. "I'm hardly a doctor," $n_xe says.<<else>>Your nonchalance isn't very successful, and you sigh, your gaze flicking to the door for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.
Noel doesn't seem to notice though, just chuckling and shaking $n_their head. "I'm hardly a doctor," $n_xe says.<</if>>
"Well... healer isn't quite as catchy," you say with a shrug.
Noel just laughs again, still standing behind the chair across from you. "How is your arm feeling? Good?" he asks then.
<<include "dawn passed out you nod checkup">>"What do you want?" you snap, your patience wearing rather thin at the moment. <<if $deal>>You're tired, and feeling a bit overwhelmed with what happened between Merry and Lea, and with whatever it is you just agreed to with Clementine - you want nothing more than to be left alone, just for a little while.<<else>>You're exhausted, and feeling a bit overwhelmed after whatever just happened between you and Clementine - you want nothing more than to be left alone, just for a little while.<</if>>
Noel raises $n_their eyebrows at you. "How about some gratitude, first?"
You scowl at $n_them, crossing your arms. "For what? Doing your job?"
Noel sighs, and something about the look xe gives you makes you even angrier.
"Look. I know what you're doing. I'm quite familiar with this hunter's song and dance," xe says, shaking xir head at you. "All of you always trying so hard to be big and bad. It's not as impressive as you think."
He runs a hand over his face, smearing some of that dark blue makeup over his eyes.
"If you don't want my help, just say so. I'd rather you not waste my time."
<<include "dawn passed out apologize">><<set $vice to "smoker">>You pull out a pouch of tobacco and your pipe, a little worn and battered, but you think it gives it some character. Leaning back in your chair, you pack your pipe and hold it in your mouth. Raising your hand you quickly snap your fingers and produce a tiny flame just at the end of your pointer finger, applying it to the tobacco and taking a few deep breaths. You shake your hand to extinguish the flame, sighing as you exhale.
It's a habit you picked up from other hunters at the Black Iron, and you still turn to it every now and then to calm your nerves and relax. Jorah smoked occasionally, though he always did favor a drink instead. And it doesn't help that Lea smokes too, though you're sure $l_they <<dont>> know that you know, since $l_they go<<es>> out of $l_their way to hide it.
<<include "seriously 2">><<set $vice to "drinker">>You pull out your flask, a little dented and battered, but you think it gives it some character. Leaning back in your chair, you unscrew the cap and take a long drink, closing your eyes for a moment. You set the flask down on the table, not bothering to put the lid back on.
It's a bad habit you picked up from the other hunters at the Black Iron. You think just about every hunter you've ever met drinks, and most of them smoke, too. Jorah was one of the worst, when you think back. He always had a drink in his hand. Every now and then you find yourself turning to it, to calm your nerves and relax.
<<include "seriously 2">><<set $vice to "both">>You grab your flask and pipe, as well as your pouch of tobacco. You lay it all out on the table, the flask a bit dented and your pipe scratched and faded, but you think it gives it all some character. Unscrewing the cap to your flask, you lean back in your chair and take a long drink. You set it back on the table, with a sigh, and don't even bother putting the lid back on. Grabbing your pipe, you put it between your lips and carefully pack in the tobacco. Raising your hand you quickly snap your fingers and produce a tiny flame just at the end of your pointer finger, applying it to the tobacco and taking a few deep breaths. You shake your hand to extinguish the flame, sighing again as you exhale.
Both are bad habits you picked up from other hunters at the Black Iron. You think just about every hunter you've met drinks, and most of them smoke, too. Jorah was one of the worst, always having a drink in his hand. And even Lea smokes, though you're sure $l_they <<dont>> know that you know, since $l_they go<<es>> out of $l_their way to hide it.
<<include "seriously 2">>The older you get the more you understand it. There's no other way to deal with it. Talking about it doesn't help. It's not like anyone would listen, anyways. You feel your face twitch at the thought.
You're more like the wolves after all, you think. Scratching at the door. But no one will let you in.
"Seriously?" Lea says then, and you look over at $l_them, standing with $l_their hands on $l_their hips.
"What?"
"Is now really the time?"
"What exactly should I be doing instead?"
Lea glares at you, shaking $l_their head. You know that look. A lecture is coming.
<div id="choice"><<link '$l_They need<<s>> to unclench.' 'unclench 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $l_rivalry -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Do not lecture me right now." Why is everything I do such a problem for $l_them?' 'do not lecture me 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I think I deserved a moment to myself. I\'m just... tired. I don\'t have the energy to do this with $l_them right now.' 'im just tired 2'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>"Please don't do this right now," you say, and it comes out far more strained than you expect. You lean back, your grip tightening around your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask.<<else>>pipe.<</if>>
You sit like that for a moment, just glaring down at your hands. "I just need a moment."
The sound of a chair scraping over the floor makes you lift your eyes again, just as Lea sits down at the table across from you.
"Okay," $l_they <<say>>, though $l_they<<re>> not looking at you, instead staring down at the table, fidgeting with a ring $l_they wear<<s>> on $l_their thumb, the quick flash over silver metal and the familiar black ink of the runes tattooed on $l_their hands. After a beat, $l_they sigh<<s>>, leaning forward and burying $l_their face in $l_their hands.
<<include "are you good lea 2">>"Do not lecture me right now," you growl, glaring up at $l_them.
"I do not //lecture// you," Lea says, making exaggerated air quotes with $l_their hands as $l_they <<say>> it.
"Okay, well, whatever you call it. Fuck off," you say, taking another <<if $vice is "smoker" or $vice is "both">>inhale from your pipe.<<else>>long drink from your flask.<</if>>
Lea rolls $l_their eyes at you, moving around the table and jerking the other chair out, sitting down hard and crossing $l_their arms over $l_their chest. $l_They only hold<<s>> like that for a moment, before shifting to fidget with a ring $l_they wear<<s>> on $l_their thumb, the quick flash of silver metal and the familiar black ink of the runes tattooed on $l_their hands. But then $l_they sigh<<s>>, leaning forward, putting $l_their elbows on the table and burying $l_their face in $l_their hands.
<<include "are you good lea 2">>"You need to unclench, for real," you say, taking another <<if $vice is "smoker" or $vice is "both">>inhale from your pipe.<<else>>long drink from your flask.<</if>>
"Oh, I'm sorry for being a little //stressed// right now," Lea says, throwing $l_their hands up.
"What do you even care? //You're// fine," you say, scoffing, cradling your arm against your chest. If anyone should be having a meltdown right now, it should be you.
"You are so fucking dense. You..." $l_they shake<<s>> $l_their head. "Look at your arm," $l_they swear<<s>> under $l_their breath. "I should be able to heal you."
You don't say anything, turning away, resisting the urge to snap back at $l_them. You're not particularly fond of Lea talking about you like you're an //obstacle// that $l_they should be able to handle.
"I'm sorry," Lea says then.
You blink, glancing back over at $l_them, before dropping your gaze, squirming a bit in your seat, unsure how to respond. You can feel $l_them watching you, but $l_they <<dont>> say anything else. <<if $vice is "smoker" or $vice is "both">>You just run your thumb over the lip of your pipe, staring down at the burning tobacco inside.<<else>>You just turn the cap of your flask over and over in your hands, staring down and watching the light glint off the metal.<</if>>
The sound of a chair scraping over the floor makes you look back up, just as Lea sits down at the table across from you. $l_They<<re>> not looking at you, though, fidgeting with a ring $l_they wear<<s>> on $l_their thumb, the flash of silver metal and the familiar black ink of the runes tattooed on $l_their hands. After a beat, $l_they lean<<s>> forward with $l_their elbows on the table, burying $l_their face in $l_their hands.
<<include "are you good lea 2">><div id="choice"><<link '"Are you okay?" I\'ve never really seen Lea... like this.' 'are you okay like this 2'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine+=1>><</link>></div>
<<if $vice is "smoker">><div id="choice"><<link '"Here. You need a smoke, too." We can wallow together.' 'wallow together 2'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div><<elseif $vice is "drinker">><div id="choice"><<link '"Here. You need a drink, too." We can wallow together.' 'wallow together 2'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div><<elseif $vice is "both">><div id="choice"><<link '"Here. You need a drink, too. Or a smoke. Whichever." We can wallow together.' 'wallow together 2'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"//Gods.// Stop being so dramatic." $l_They <<are>> starting to annoy me, now.' 'stop being so dramatic 2'>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I leave $l_them be. Nothing I can say will help, anyways.' 'leave them be 2'>><<set $stoic +1>><</link>></div>"Are you okay?" you ask, <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>setting your flask back down on the table.<<else>>lowering your pipe to the table.<</if>>
Lea lifts $l_their head, but still doesn't look at you, instead messing with $l_their ring again.
"I'm fine," $l_they <<say>> at last.
"You don't look fine," you say, giving $l_them a look.
"You're one to talk. You look like shit," Lea says, finally glancing up and giving you a sharp smile.
You roll your eyes. "Lea," you start, but Lea shakes $l_their head, frowning at you.
"I'm fine, $surname. Seriously," $l_they <<say>>.
You have your doubts. You start to open your mouth to say just as much, but Lea suddenly slaps $l_their hand on the table, cutting you off.
"I'm fine! For fuck's sake," $l_they huff<<s>>, crossing $l_their arms and slumping back into $l_their chair. $l_They avoid<<s>> looking at you again, staring into the fire now instead.
You purse your lips, letting out a long sigh when Lea refuses to acknowledge you. //Clearly// something is wrong - but Lea's never been one to talk to you, or anyone, for that matter.
<<include "something is wrong 2">><<if $vice is "smoker">>"Here. You need a smoke, too," you say, offering your pipe to $l_them. $l_They lift<<s>> $l_their head, glaring over at you, and you almost expect $l_them to smack the pipe out of your hand, but to your surprise, Lea takes it.
You can't help but grin over at $l_them, raising an eyebrow as $l_they take a long pull off the pipe, but Lea just rolls $l_their eyes.
"Shut up," $l_they <<say>>, though $l_they<<re>> smiling faintly, now.
$l_They hand<<s>> you back your pipe, sinking into $l_their chair, crossing $l_their long legs in front of $l_them.
While $l_they look<<s>> slightly more relaxed now, it's clear something is still bothering $l_them, that slight crease still present between $l_their brows.<<elseif $vice is "drinker">>"Here. You need a drink, too," you say, offering your flask to $l_them. $l_They lift<<s>> $l_their head, glaring at you, and you almost expect $l_them to smack the flask out of your hand, but to your surprise, Lea takes it.
You watch as $l_they lean<<s>> back, taking a long drink.
Lea winces, setting the flask back down on the table, and you can see $l_their eyes watering. $l_They cough<<s>> a few times, shaking $l_their head and wiping $l_their mouth.
"That is awful," Lea says, sliding the flask back over to you. "How do you drink that shit?"
Chuckling, you take the flask back and take another drink yourself. "I learned from the best," you say with a shrug. "Whatever Jorah drank, I drank."
"That man scares me," Lea says, still grimacing. $l_They lean<<s>> back in $l_their chair then, crossing $l_their long legs in front of $l_them and rubbing $l_their eyes. Though $l_they look<<s>> slightly more relaxed now, it's clear that something is still bothering $l_them, that slight crease still present just between $l_their brows.<<elseif $vice is "both">>"Here. You need a drink, too. Or a smoke. Whichever," you say, holding both of your hands up, flashing the flask and pipe and twisting them between your fingers. $l_They lift<<s>> $l_their head, glaring at you, and you almost expect $l_them to smack both out of your hands, but instead Lea actually considers both options, before plucking the pipe from your hand.
You can't help but grin over at $l_them, raising an eyebrow as $l_they take a long pull off the pipe, but Lea just rolls $l_their eyes.
"Shut up," $l_they <<say>>, though $l_they<<re>> smiling faintly, now.
$l_They hand<<s>> you back your pipe, sinking into $l_their chair, crossing $l_their long legs in front of $l_them.
While $l_they look<<s>> slightly more relaxed now, it's clear something is still bothering $l_them, that slight crease still present between $l_their brows.<<endif>>
<<include "something is wrong 2">>"//Gods.// Stop being so dramatic," you say, rolling your eyes at $l_them. $l_Theyre starting to annoy you - and it's putting you on edge. Lea sits back up, giving you an annoyed, but hurt, look.
"I'm not being dramatic," $l_they <<say>> with a huff, slumping back into $l_their chair. "I just..." But Lea stops, shaking $l_their head. "You know what. It doesn't matter." Lea crosses $l_their arms and gives you one last dirty look before turning to stare into the fire.
//Clearly// something is bothering $l_them, and $l_their attitude indicates that it does actually matter very much. You sigh, running a hand over your face.
<<include "something is wrong 2">>Taking another <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>drink from your flask,<<else>>slow inhale from your pipe,<</if>> you just stay quiet, turning to stare down into the fireplace, feeling the heat on your face. There's nothing you can say to Lea that will make $l_them feel better at the moment.
You've never been good at offering comfort, especially with Lea, and honestly, you could only guess at the myriad of things that might be bothering $l_them right now.
<<include "something is wrong 2">><<if $l_campfight>>Obviously, this whole situation is shit. Of course $l_theyre stressed. So are you. Hell, you're not even sure where you are right now - waking up in a strange room isn't exactly //fun//. And there was the fight you had at camp, too. You wince a bit at the memory, at the things you said. Shitty last words, if your luck had been just a little worse.<<else>>Obviously, this whole situation is shit. Of course $l_theyre stressed - so are you. You know Lea wanted to come to Blackwater, but you doubt this is what $l_they had in mind. Though to be fair, you almost dying just seemed destined to happen either way. That's just your luck.<</if>>
"What exactly did the captain say?" Lea asks suddenly, sitting forward in $l_their seat.
"I already told you what she said," you add, exasperated.
"Just... tell me again."
[[Continue|what she said on the road]]<<if $clem_with>>"They blocked the road. I tried to bluff past her with Clementine, said they had friends waiting for them. She said, 'Do //you// have any friends?'" you say, mocking the captain's accent.
"Damn. That was pretty good," Lea says.
"Thanks."
"And you didn't recognize them? Didn't mention our names?"
"I told you, I didn't say anything. Didn't recognize any of them - why would I?"
"I'm just asking," Lea says, scoffing.<<else>>"They blocked the road. I tried to bluff past her, said something about Lord Duncan expecting me. She said, 'He can wait,'" you say, mocking the captain's accent.
"Damn. That was pretty good,” Lea says.
"Thanks."
"And you didn't recognize them? Didn't mention our names?"
"I told you, I didn't say anything. Didn't recognize any of them - why would I?"
"I'm just asking," Lea says, scoffing.<</if>>
$l_They sigh<<s>> then, leaning back in $l_their seat. "They knew our names, somehow," $l_they <<say>>.
"Well, to be fair, you are recognizable. It's not far fetched she recognized you, and just knew my name in association," you suggest.
"Hmm. Maybe," Lea agrees. "I wonder where the hell Lord Duncan is."
"Your guess is as good as mine."
"I knew it was bad here, with the plague and everything, but I didn't expect whatever the hell this is. We'll need to send a report to Commander Hadrien. That wraith... now we've got Gaels running Blackwater, too."
You blink over at $l_them, processing that last bit for a moment. "Her accent," you say then, sitting up in your seat. "I knew there was something familiar about her."
Lea gives you a questioning look. "What? You said you didn't recognize any of them."
"No, it was just her accent. I didn't even realize they were Gaelish at first. I must be really out of it...,” you trail off, glancing back down at your arm, the sling fully soaked with your blood.
"You literally just did an imitation of it," Lea says, giving you a concerned look.
You ignore $l_them. It's just the blood loss. "Thick accent. Far, //far// north. The highlands. I haven't heard one like it in a long time."
Lea starts to speak, but hesitates a moment. "Is that where you're from?" $l_they finally say<<s>>.
"No," you glance away from $l_them, caught off guard by the question. "No, I'm from the south."
Lea hums, staring at you for another moment before turning to stare off at nothing in particular, falling deep in thought.
Trying to connect the dots, maybe. You feel like it's less dots and more like a random spill of paint someone is trying to pass off as some kind of intricate portrait. No matter which way you look at it, you don't see the picture. What reason could these people possibly have to lock you away like this? //Who// would have a reason to lock you away like this? How did they even know you were coming?
"Speaking of the wraith," Lea says, backtracking and picking up the conversation again, "we need to talk about that. About what happened," $l_they say<<s>>, giving you a hard look.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t want to talk about that. Not right now."' 'dont want to talk about that 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just leave it, Lea."' 'just leave it lea 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"//What happened?// What, me getting my ass kicked?"' 'getting my ass kicked 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. Let\'s talk about it, then."' 'talk about it then 2'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>"I don't want to talk about that, not right now," you say, crossing your arms. You stare down at the table, your brow furrowed. You don't know what happened in that clearing. Or what would have happened if Lea hadn't stopped you.
"We can't just pretend like it didn't happen," Lea says, leaning towards you.
"Why not? We're pretty good at that," you say, annoyed. "We can talk about it later. Just... not right now." Glancing away, you close your eyes for a moment, the memory of the hunter's knife over your chest making you flex your hands under your arms.
Lea huffs. "If I hadn't been there..."
You clench your jaw, leveling an icy glare at $l_them. "I said I don't want to talk about it right now. I fucking mean it, Lea."
Lea takes a deep breath, $l_their hands curling into fists where they still sit on top of the table.
"$surname..."
<<include "lea interrupted 2">>"Okay. Let's talk about it, then," you say.
Lea seems taken aback for a moment at your willingness, but recovers quickly.
"Tell me what happened."
You purse your lips, fidgeting with your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask.<<elseif $vice is "smoker">>pipe.<</if>> Hesitant. Talking... is difficult for you. "It felt like it was still there. In the Vel."
"What was still there? The wraith?"
You nod, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. It's hard to think about. The image of the hunter's knife over your chest sends a shiver through you, and your grip tightens around your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask.<<elseif $vice is "smoker">>pipe.<</if>>
"$surname... You have to talk to me. Let me help," Lea says, leaning towards you across the table.
<<include "lea interrupted 2">>"Just leave it, Lea," you say, crossing your arms. You stare down at the table, your brow furrowed. You don't know what happened in that clearing. Or what would have happened if Lea hadn't stopped you.
"We can't just pretend like it didn't happen," Lea says, leaning towards you.
"Why not? We're pretty good at that," you say, annoyed. Glancing away, you close your eyes for a moment, the memory of the hunter's knife over your chest making you flex your fists under your arms.
Lea huffs. "If I hadn't been there..."
You clench your jaw, leveling an icy glare at $l_them. "I said just leave it, Lea. Don't push me."
Lea takes a deep breath, $l_their hands curling into fists where they still sit on top of the table.
"$surname..."
<<include "lea interrupted 2">>"//What happened?// What, me getting my ass kicked?" you say, smirking at $l_them.
"I'm being serious," Lea says, exasperated.
Your mouth twitches. "What do you want me to say?"
"If I hadn't been there..." Lea trails off, frowning down into $l_their lap.
"Yeah," is all you say. You don't really know what happened in the clearing. Or what would have happened, if Lea hadn't stopped you. The image of the hunter's knife raised above your chest sends a shiver over you, and you clench your fists under the table.
"$surname..."
<<include "lea interrupted 2">><<if $clem_with>>But before Lea can continue, you hear a click, the door unlocking, and in comes Captain Harlowe, followed by a fully conscious Clementine, the bells on their jacket ringing softly as they walk.<<else>>But before Lea can continue, you hear a click, the door unlocking, and in comes Captain Harlowe, followed by an all too familiar face.
"You?" Lea beats you to the punch, sitting up fully in $l_their seat as the bard from the road walks into the room, the bells on their jacket ringing softly.<</if>>
Someone else comes in behind them, and your focus is drawn to the stranger immediately, an instinctual pull between you, so strong you actually stand from your chair before you realize.
A hunter - like you.
They smile at you, a faint shimmer of days-old makeup making their eyes flash, a dark blue smudged against their black skin. Of course, the familiar ring of gold around their pupils draws your attention as well, and you take a long look at xem.
Their hood is off, and you can see they have short, locked hair, swept to one side, adorned with gold wire jewelry and little cowrie shells. They're also wearing... //colorful clothes// - blues and greens, a distinctly southern look similar to the bard, though they seem more adapted to the cold weather here, also wearing a deep emerald cloak with a thick, black feathered hood. Carrying a long glaive, the heavy blade thuds against the floor as they sweep into the room, with the top of said glaive bearing an intricate wood design that entraps a large turquoise stone.
[[Continue ->sorry for the wait 2]]"Sorry for the wait," Captain Harlowe says, "My friend here is a hard man to track down."<<set $meet_noel to true>><<set $clem_intro to true>>
"My name is Noel," he tells you cheerfully.
You turn to Captain Harlowe then, and you get your first real look at her since your meeting on the road. Wearing a long, tattered duster, and a thick orange gambeson, she stands with her hands on her hips, the tails of her jacket thrown out behind her, an intimidating presence in the small room.<<set $meet_merry to true>>
She's tall, too, though not quite as tall as Lea, with long, dark auburn hair falling past her broad shoulders in gentle, messy waves.
She still has the bandana tied around her head, partially tucked beneath her thick hair, with her right eye covered by that perfect triangle fold of fabric. Her left eye is a warm brown, watching you with obvious interest, a small smile exposing the gap between her two front teeth. Her skin is freckled and tanned, the faint pink of old sunburn on the tip of her nose, with sunspots and scars scattered across her face and hands, you assume from a hard life at sea.
You look between Harlowe and Noel as xe closes the door behind xem.
"It's about damn time," Lea snaps, standing from $l_their chair now, too. Lea looks between the three of them, eyeing the other hunter as he begins to move towards you.
"Well, let's have a look, shall we?" Noel says, ignoring Lea and leaning xir staff against the table. He raises xir hands, holding them in front of you expectantly. "May I?"
<div id="choice"><<link '"Who the hell are you?"' 'who the hell are you'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Noel?" I don\'t know any hunters named Noel...' 'noel?'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Yeah." I let $n_them take off the sling.' 'noel takes off the sling'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I can take the sling off myself.' 'i can take it off myself'>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"Who the hell are you?" you growl, taking a step back from $n_their outstretched hands.
"I'm Noel," $n_xe says, flashing you a cheeky grin as $n_xe closes the step you just put between the two of you. "I'm just a healer."
"Just a healer?" you scoff. "Maybe you should get your eyes checked."
Noel laugh lightly. "Pretty, aren't they?" he says with a wink. "Look, are you going to let me heal your arm, or not?" Xir arms remain outstretched, hands hovering, ready to go for the knot behind your neck.
Pursing your lips, you glance over to Lea, who seems just as skeptical as you. But there's no getting around the fact that your arm is in bad shape, and it's only getting worse. Even now, just standing here is a monumental effort, and you can feel yourself sway slightly, your head spinning just from glancing too quickly around the room. If you tried to walk out the door right now, you probably wouldn't even make it.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fine." I let $n_them take off the sling.' 'reluctantly noel takes sling'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I can take it off myself.' 'stubborn i take it off myself'>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>"Noel?" you prompt, glancing over at Lea who gives you the slightest, nearly imperceptible shake of $l_their head. $l_They <<dont>> know either, then.
"Yes, Noel. That's me," the hunter says, flashing you a cheeky grin. You narrow your eyes at $n_them and $n_their still outstretched hands. Unfazed, $n_xe wiggles $n_their fingers in front of you, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you going to let me heal you, or not?" Noel prompts.
You purse your lips, glancing over at Lea again, who looks even more skeptical than you. But there's no getting around the fact that your arm is in bad shape, and only getting worse. Even now, just standing here is a monumental effort, and you can feel yourself swaying, your head spinning just from glancing too quickly around the room. If you tried to walk out the door right now, you probably wouldn't even make it.
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Okay." I let $n_them take off the sling.' 'okay take off sling'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I can take the sling off myself.' 'stubborn i take it off myself 2'>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>"I can do it myself," you say, giving Noel a hard look. You don't know who this hunter is, but there's no denying your arm is in bad shape, and only getting worse. Just standing here is a monumental effort for you, and you can feel yourself sway slightly, your head spinning just from glancing too quickly around the room. Heal first, the rest you can figure out later.
Reaching back, you start to pull at the knot around the back of your neck. You ignore the way your hand shakes, the way your arm twitches as you pull on the sling. You manage to blindly untie it with your good hand, and you pull the sling free. Too quickly, though, and you wince as your dried blood peels away with the cloth, pulling at the tender, raw skin of your forearm.
<<include "easy">>"...Yeah," you say with a nod, and Noel reaches behind you, untying the fabric and slowly pulling it away, and you wince, your dried blood peeling off with it and pulling at the raw, tender skin of your forearm.
<<include "wince sorry">>"Fine," you snap, gritting your teeth as $n_xe reaches behind you, untying the fabric and slowly freeing your arm. You wince at the motion, your dried blood peeling off with the cloth and pulling at the tender, raw skin of your forearm.
<<include "wince sorry">>You don't respond, instead reaching up and pulling at the knot around the back of your neck. You ignore the way your hand shakes, the way your arm twitches as you pull on the sling. You manage to blindly untie it with your good hand, and you pull the sling free. Too quickly, though, and you wince as your dried blood peels away with the cloth, pulling at the tender, raw skin of your forearm.
<<include "easy">>"Sorry," Noel says, giving you a sympathetic look. "Maybe you should sit down," he says, gesturing to your chair.
<<include "heal sit down">>"...Okay," you say, giving $n_them a nod, your scrutinizing stare unwavering as $n_xe steps closer to you and reaches around to untie the sling. Slowly, he pulls the fabric away, and you wince, your dried blood peeling off with it and pulling at the raw, tender skin of your forearm.
<<include "wince sorry">>You don't respond, instead reaching up and pulling at the knot around the back of your neck. You ignore the way your hand shakes, the way your arm twitches as you pull on the sling. You manage to blindly untie it with your good hand, and you pull the sling free. Too quickly, though, and you wince as your dried blood peels away with the cloth, pulling at the tender, raw skin of your forearm.
<<include "easy">>"Easy," Noel says, giving you a concerned look. You toss the dirty rag onto the table, clenching your hand against the pain in your arm.
"You should probably sit down for this," Noel says then, gesturing to your chair.
<<include "heal sit down">>You do as $n_xe says, easing yourself back into the chair, carefully holding your arm against your chest.
"Merry, dear, can you fetch me some water and cloth? It needs to be cleaned first," Noel says as $n_xe crouches down in front of you, examining your arm.
Captain Harlowe, or Merry, nods, turning and sweeping out the door.
<<if $faceScratch>>Noel also glances up at your face, frowning. "That will be a nasty scar, I'm afraid," he says, leaning to the side as he gets a better look.<<else>>Noel glances over you quickly, before returning $n_their focus to your arm, leaning over you and studying the gashes there.<</if>>
You sit for an uncomfortable moment under the intense scrutiny of the other hunter, but take the time to get look at him, too.
Xir emerald cloak is rather extravagant for your taste, especially with the black feathers, but it is a beautiful color. He's also wearing a basic blue jerkin, clasped down the front with some brown leather detailing, and a heavy wool skirt that flows with the green cloak. Xe has an intricate belt layered over a few sashes that are all gathered and drape to one side, varying in length and color. You notice xir heeled boots, shiny and white - //incredibly// white.
Any hunter working this far north would have passed through the Black Iron - you'd be hard pressed to see a hunter out here that you didn't, at the very least, vaguely recognize. But not this one. Noel is clearly southern, if the clothes not being obvious enough, $n_xe also has that soft, lilting accent, though not as distinct as <<if $clem_with>>Clementine's.<<elseif $clem_with is false>>the bard's.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Where\'s your handler?"' 'wheres your handler'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"How do you know Captain Harlowe?"' 'how do you know captain harlowe'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What are you doing here?"' 'what are you doing out here'>><</link>></div>You can sense Lea's interest in your question, who watches Noel with an obvious intensity. While it is possible $n_their handler could just be elsewhere in the tavern, you have to ask. And there's something about Noel, when $n_xe walked into the room - the way xe carries xemself. You don't see //hunters// like that.
Noel leans back after a long moment, finally looking away from the scratches on your <<if $faceScratch>>face,<<else>>arm,<</if>> and instead actually looking at you. "Not here," is all he says.
You narrow your eyes at $n_them, and $n_xe just stares right back, a small smile on $n_their face.
You've never met a hunter without a handler.
<<include "noel interrogation">>"How do you know Captain Harlowe?" you ask, glancing towards the door where Merry just vanished. You can't imagine what connection a Gaelish captain and a southern hunter possibly have, and why they both seem interested in you.
Noel leans back after a moment, finally looking away from the scratches on your <<if $faceScratch>>face,<<else>>arm,<</if>> and instead actually looking at you.
"The plague brought us together," Noel says with a shrug. "You know that saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?" $n_xe smiles up at you.
You and Lea exchange a look over Noel's head.
"You and Merry in the business of making enemies?" you say, raising an eyebrow at him.
"That depends who you ask," Noel says, $n_their smile growing wider.
<<include "noel interrogation">>"What are you doing here? In Blackwater?" you ask. "We didn't hear about any other hunters in the area." You watch Noel closely, aware that Lea is doing the same, obvious interest on $l_their face as $l_they stare<<s>> at the back of Noel's head.
Noel leans back after a moment, finally looking away from the scratches on your <<if $faceScratch>>face,<<else>>arm,<</if>> and instead actually looking at you.
"No, you wouldn't have heard about me," Noel says simply.
"That doesn't really answer my question," you say, eyeing him.
Noel smiles. "No, it doesn't."
<<include "noel interrogation">>"Are you from the Flood?" Lea cuts in then, stepping forward and hovering just behind Noel.
"I am indeed from the Flood," Noel confirms. The Flood is the southern stronghold, on the southwest coast, pretty close to the capital. Named as such because of the, well, flooding. You don't see many Flood hunters out here, considering the incredible distance they would have to travel to even just get to the Black Iron.
"What could have possibly brought you all the way out here? And without notifying the Black Iron?" Lea steps closer, towering over $n_them. Noel, however, seems unfazed.
"Don't worry, we'll have time to talk about all that later," he says, though he looks at you, not Lea, as he says it.
Before Lea can continue $l_their interrogation, the door opens again, Merry reappearing now with a bowl and a few clean rags.
She offers them to Noel without a word, who takes the bowl and rags, setting them on the table. Xe crouches back down in front of you again, holding out $n_their hand.
[[Continue|heal time]]You stare down at $n_their hand for a long moment. Whatever suspicions you may have, you feel no malicious intent from Noel. At least not yet. Glancing up, you catch $n_their gaze, $n_their golden eyes like yours, an undeniable familiarity between the two of you.
<<if $touch_averse gt 1>>You flex your hand, taking a deep breath and reluctantly offering it to Noel. The contact makes your skin burn, and you can't help tensing up.
Noel notices, looking up at you. "I'll try to be quick," he says. <<set $n_touch_knows to true>><<else>>You flex your hand, taking a deep breath and offering it to Noel, who takes it gently between calloused fingers.<</if>>
"Alright. Ready?" he asks.
You just nod, biting back a hiss as $n_xe slowly stretches your arm out in front of you. Lea is right behind Noel, hovering again, watching everything $n_xe does like a hawk.
You look away from both of them, gripping the arm of the chair with straining knuckles, wincing as Noel begins to carefully wipe away the blood and grime. Sweat condenses across your brow and along the back of your neck, the pain nearly making you physically ill.
Merry and <<if $clem_with>>Clementine<<else>>the bard<</if>> stand back a bit, Merry seemingly bored with the whole affair, while <<if $clem_with>>Clementine<<else>>the bard<</if>> watches with interest.
<<if $clem_with>>"I'm surprised the two of you didn't ride through the night," Merry says suddenly, seeming to snap out of her boredom and focus on you.
You blink, glancing over at Lea, who just gives you a small shake of $l_their head.
"You knew we were coming?" you ask, <<if hasVisited("who the hell are you")>>unable to keep the bite from your voice. Who the hell is this woman?<<elseif hasVisited("noel?")>>a slight edge in your voice, uneasy at the idea of someone waiting for you.<<else>>looking between Merry and Noel curiously. They were waiting for you?<</if>>
"We heard a hunter was heading up to Highfell. I had my suspicions you would stop here first, and had people looking for you."
You look at Lea again, who has now tensed up, studying Merry closely.
"The snow forced us to stop," Lea says then, cutting off the conversation, giving you a //we'll talk later// look.
Merry ignores your shared look, instead raising an eyebrow at Lea's comment. Even Noel stops, lifting the rag from your arm and turning all the way around to look up at Lea.
"What?" Lea snaps at the sudden attention.
"There was no snow last night," Merry says, her hands on her hips.
"...Yes, there was," Lea says with a scoff, crossing $l_their arms. But Noel shakes his head at you, his face serious.
There's an awkward beat of silence, Lea scowling at Merry while you glance between them.
"I-It did snow," Clementine speaks up, nodding at Lea. "It forced us off the road."
"There was no snow," Merry repeats again, emphasizing each word. You, Lea, and Clementine all look at each other, while Noel and Merry stare at you.<<else>>"Hey," you say, wincing again, "who are you?" You stare over at the bard with narrowed eyes, curiosity getting the better of you. "Didn't think we'd see you again."
That comment seems to make Merry perk up, then.
"My name is Clementine," the bard says, shifting a bit under your gaze.
"You know our friend Clementine?" Merry asks, slapping a hand across Clementine's back. A bit forcefully, you notice.<<set $meet_clementine to true>>
"We saw them on the road," Lea says then, finally turning away from Noel and letting $n_them work. Lea seems to think for a moment, blinking, "How did you get here? I figured you got caught in all that snow."
That makes everyone in the room turn and look at Lea. Even Noel stops, lifting the rag from your arm and turning all the way around to look up at $l_them.
"What?" Lea snaps at the sudden attention.
"There was no snow last night," Clementine says, glancing between you and Lea.
"...Yes, there was," Lea scoffs, crossing $l_their arms. But Merry shakes her head, her face serious. Lea looks over at you then, clearly expecting some back up.<</if>>
<<include "snow sesh 2">><div id="choice"><<link '"What are you talking about? It snowed."' 'what are you talking about 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Is this a joke?"' 'is this a joke 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I knew something felt... off."' 'something felt off 2'>><</link>></div><<if $clem_with>>"What are you talking about? It snowed," you say, looking between Lea and Merry.
"No, it did not. I would know, since I was out there looking for you fools," Harlowe says, rolling her eye.
"What?" you turn back to Lea now, who just shrugs, throwing $l_their hands up in annoyance.
"But it snowed..." you repeat, because how do you argue this point? It happened, you saw it, felt it. It drove you off the road.
"It //did// snow - at least where we were," Clementine offers then. But the captain just gives them an icy look, and they quickly glance down to the floor, shrinking into themself.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting. Waiting... for what?<<else>>"What are you talking about? It snowed," you say, eyeing Clementine for a moment before looking between Merry and Lea.
"No, it did not. I would know, since I was out there looking for you fools," Harlowe says, rolling her eye.
"What?" you turn back to Lea now, who just shrugs, throwing $l_their hands up in annoyance.
"But it snowed..." you repeat, because how do you argue this point? It happened, you saw it, felt it. It drove you off the road.
"I came in with a merchant last night," Clementine says then, stepping forward a bit. "It was cold, but it was clear. No snow," they say, giving you a sympathetic look.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting. Waiting... for what?<</if>>
Noel clears $n_their throat then, dropping $n_their gaze and resuming cleaning the cuts on your arm, the room falling silent, with just the sound of the fire and the distant ocean waves breaking outside.
[[Continue|arm cleaning]]"I knew something felt... off," you say, frowning. That feeling you had on the road, and last night... it's still there, isn't it? Crouched like a predator in the pit of your stomach. Waiting.
"What?" Lea says, holding $l_their hands up, baffled by your admission. "You didn't say anything?" It's more of a question than a statement.
"Well..," you start, shifting a bit in your seat.
"How about we deal with the hunter bleeding out on my floor first, before we have this conversation?" Merry cuts in, giving Lea a hard look.
Lea scowls, turning away from you, but $l_they <<dont>> say anything else.
Noel clears $n_their throat then, dropping $n_their gaze and resuming cleaning the cuts on your arm, the room falling silent, with just the sound of the fire and the distant ocean waves breaking outside.
[[Continue|arm cleaning]]<<if $clem_with>>"Is this a fucking joke?" you say, looking between Lea and Merry.
"I don't tell //jokes//, hunter," Merry says, narrowing her eye at you.
"But it snowed," you say, your voice hard.
"At least where we were," Clementine offers then, stepping forward a bit.
Captain Harlowe just gives them an icy look, and Clementine quickly glances away, shrinking into themself.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting, Waiting... for what?<<else>>"Is this a fucking joke?" you say, eyeing Clementine before glaring over at Merry.
"I don't tell //jokes//, hunter," Merry says, narrowing her eye at you.
"But it snowed," you say, your voice hard.
"I – uh – I came in with a merchant last night. It was pretty cold, but it was clear. No snow," Clementine says then, stepping forward a bit.
You and Lea both shoot them a dirty look, and they immediately step back.
But something creeps in the back of your mind. That feeling on the road. It meant something, didn't it? That heavy dread. It sits with you even now, crouched in the pit of your stomach, like a predator. Hunting. Waiting. Waiting... for what?<</if>>
Noel clears $n_their throat then, dropping $n_their gaze and resuming cleaning the cuts on your arm, the room falling silent, with just the sound of the fire and the distant ocean waves breaking outside.
[[Continue|arm cleaning]]"Okay," Noel says finally, setting the now bloody rag down in the bowl. "I'm going to heal your shoulder first, and then close up those scratches," he says, standing. You grimace, nodding, watching as $n_xe moves around you to stand next to your injured shoulder.
Lea steps up on your other side, putting a hand on the back of your chair. $l_They give<<s>> you a nod, then turn<<s>> to watch Noel closely.
Noel puts both hands on your shoulder, and you tense, gripping the arm of your chair with strained knuckles.
"Ready?" Noel asks.
You nod.
A blue glow erupts from Noel's hands, encasing your shoulder, and you close your eyes, clenching your jaw as you feel the painful sensation of your muscles and tendons stitching back together. After an agonizing few moments, the light fades, and Noel releases your shoulder, which now just has a residual dull soreness.
You let out a long breath, opening your eyes and glancing over at him.
"Almost done," $n_xe says, reaching for your arm now.
You let him take it, twitching a bit at the sudden movement as he lifts your arm up and puts a hand on either side of the gashes. The blue glow is warm but painful, and you watch as your muscles and skin reconnect over your bone, coming together and closing around the open wounds. The pain of it makes your eyes water, and you slump in your seat a bit, but Noel holds you steady.
Then it fades, and $n_xe lets go of your arm, and you immediately move to flex your hand, rotating your shoulder and moving your arm up and down. No more sharp pain, and you can easily move your arm with no issues. Where the scratches were on your forearm there are just large raised scars, a little pink but otherwise fully healed.<<set $injury to 0>>
You groan, leaning forward and massaging your shoulder.
"All good?" Noel asks, giving you a concerned look.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yeah. Thanks."' 'yeah. thanks.'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"That hurt like hell."' 'that hurt like hell'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I just give $n_them a nod.' 'i just give xem a nod'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>Furrowing your brow, you look down at your new scars, slowly running your hand over the raised skin.
Glancing back up at Noel, you give $n_them a nod.
Noel nods in return, a small smile on $n_their lips.
<<include "more injuries to heal">>You wince a bit, running a hand over the new scars. "That hurt like hell."
Noel grins down at you, wiggling his fingers. "You're welcome," $n_xe says with a laugh.
<<include "more injuries to heal">>"Yeah. Thanks," you say, running your hand over the new scars. "You're good," you add, glancing up at Noel.
"Thank you," Noel says, pleased at the compliment.
<<include "more injuries to heal">><<if $faceScratch>>"Just give me a few minutes, and I'll heal your face," $n_xe says then. Your hand instinctively goes up to touch the scratches there, the dried blood hard under your fingers.
"Hold on. That's too much. You need to take a break," Lea says then.
"I am. Just give me a few minutes," Noel responds, giving Lea a look.
"More than that. You're going to hurt yourself, or <<if $nopr>>$name<<else>>$mc_them<</if>>." Lea glances to you, shaking $l_their head.
Healing magic, just like all other magic, requires channeling your own energy. When you heal someone, it requires //a lot// of energy, and the potential to injure yourself and the other person is unfortunately very high. Healing magic is undoubtedly the most dangerous magic, and the hardest to learn, and even harder to master. Noel clearly knows what he's doing - you can //feel// it - but either way, the fact remains that he's draining $n_themself to do this.<<else>>"I've never seen someone heal that fast before," Lea says, stepping around the chair and looking you up and down. "It feels okay?" $l_they ask<<s>>, nodding to your shoulder.
You don't think you've ever seen someone heal that fast, either - especially such severe injuries. Healing magic, just like all other magic, requires channeling your own energy. When you heal someone, it requires //a lot// of energy, and the potential to injure yourself and the other person is unfortunately very high. Healing magic is undoubtedly the most dangerous magic, and the hardest to learn, and even harder to master. Noel clearly knows what $n_xe's doing - you can //feel// it - but you understand Lea's doubts.<</if>>
"Come on. Have some faith, Chen," Merry says then. The mood shifts immediately at her comment, with Lea snapping around to give her a look that could kill.
"Don't call me that," Lea growls.
Both Noel and Clementine look uneasily at Lea, but Merry just grins.
"I've heard a lot about you, //Chen//. A lot about your family," she continues, clearly enjoying this, "and I have got to say. You blew all my expectations out of the water."
Lea tenses as Merry walks up to $l_them, staring right up into $l_their face.
"To be fair, though, my expectations were pretty shallow. Is it true your first hunter requested reassignment? I heard -" but Merry is cut off as Lea lunges at her, grabbing the front of her jacket and slamming her back against the door.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I jump to my feet, grabbing Lea and pulling $l_them off Merry.' 'jump up 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I try to get between them, but I\'m a bit panicked - what the hell is going on?' 'panicked 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I\'m too stunned to do anything. I\'ve never seen Lea act like this.' 'too stunned 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Merry was asking for this to happen. I admit that I didn\'t expect Lea to grab her like that, though.' 'asking for it 2'>><<set $n_friendship -=2>><</link>></div>Too stunned to do anything, you remain sitting in your chair, just staring dumbly after Lea.
Clementine jumps back, startled, watching as Lea slams Merry against the door again and again. Noel rushes up and tries to get between them, pulling at Lea's iron grip and struggling to shove $l_them back.
You manage to stand then, your chair clattering to the floor behind you, and Noel finally rips Lea's hands from Merry's jacket, dragging $l_them back and throwing $l_them to the floor right at your feet.
Lea breathes hard, glaring up at Merry and Noel, leaning back with $l_their hands pressed to the floor.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Lea hisses as $l_they stand<<s>> again, leering back towards Merry. Merry seems unharmed, still grinning, just the front of her jacket and shirt ruffled from Lea's grip.
"Merry, get out," Noel says, and without waiting for a response, $n_xe all but shoves Merry out the door.
Lea turns around and shoulders past you, stomping over to the fire, $l_their back to all of you. Clementine steps up, putting a hand on Noel's arm. "Let's all just take a break, okay? We can all talk more later, once we've calmed down," Clementine says.
"I don't need to calm down!" Lea snaps, turning back to glare at Clementine.
"Okay, well, me and Noel are going to go calm down, then," Clementine says, giving you a sympathetic look before the two of them step out the door.
Once the door closes, you look back over at Lea where $l_they stand<<s>>, rigid and unmoving.
<<include "what the hell lea 2">>"Lea!" You hiss $l_their name as you jump out of your chair, immediately running over and grabbing $l_their arms, ripping $l_their hands from Merry's jacket and pushing $l_them back.
Lea completely ignores you, trying to shove past you, but you wrap your arms around $l_them and hold them back, trapping $l_their arms beneath yours. Noel rushes over and steps between Lea and Merry, holding $n_their hands up and keeping Merry pressed back against the door.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Lea is shouting, still struggling against you, but $l_theyre breathing hard now.
Merry seems unharmed, still grinning, just the front of her jacket and shirt ruffled from Lea's grip.
"Merry, get out," Noel says, and without waiting for a response, $n_xe all but shoves Merry out the door.
Lea finally stops struggling, sagging back against you as the door closes, glaring at Noel. Clementine steps up then, putting a hand on Noel's arm. "Let's all just take a break, okay? We can all talk more later, once we've calmed down," Clementine says.
"I don't need to calm down!" Lea snaps, managing to pull one of $l_their arms loose and jab a finger at Clementine.
"Okay, well, me and Noel are going to go calm down, then," Clementine says, giving you a sympathetic look before the two of them step out the door.
Once the door closes, you let go of Lea, who shoves you back and then stomps over to stand in front of the fire, $l_their back to you.
<<include "what the hell lea 2">>"Lea!?" You shout $l_their name as you jump out of your seat, knocking your chair back as you scramble across the room.
Trying to get between them, you pull at Lea's arms, but $l_their grip is like iron, unbreaking. Lea pulls Merry back a bit and slams her back into the door, causing the wood to rattle against its hinges.
"That's enough!" Noel says, grabbing Lea's shoulders and wrenching $l_them back, throwing $l_them to the floor.
Lea breathes hard, glaring up at all of you, leaning back with $l_their hands pressed to the floor.
You position yourself in front of Lea, holding your hands up. Merry seems unharmed, still grinning, just the front of her jacket and shirt ruffled from Lea's grip.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Lea hisses as $l_they stand<<s>>, your hand nearly brushing $l_their chest as $l_they step<<s>> towards Merry again.
"Merry, get out," Noel says, and without waiting for a response, $n_xe all but shoves Merry out the door.
Lea slaps your hand away then, turning around and stomping over to the fire, $l_their back to all of you. Clementine steps up, putting a hand on Noel's arm. "Let's all just take a break, okay? We can all talk more later, once we've calmed down," Clementine says.
"I don't need to calm down!" Lea snaps, turning back to glare at Clementine.
"Okay, well, me and Noel are going to go calm down, then," Clementine says, giving you a sympathetic look before the two of them step out the door.
Once the door closes, you look back over at Lea where $l_they stand<<s>>, rigid and unmoving.
<<include "what the hell lea 2">>You just watch as Clementine jumps back, startled, Lea slamming Merry against the door again and again. Noel rushes up and tries to get between them, pulling at Lea's iron grip and struggling to shove $l_them back.
You stand from the chair, but don't move to intervene. You've never seen Lea act like this before - but it's not like Merry wasn't baiting $l_them into it. There is some grim satisfaction, too, at watching Lea snap like that. You blink, feeling guilty for thinking it.
Noel finally manages to rip Lea's hands from Merry's jacket, dragging $l_them back and throwing $l_them to the floor right at your feet.
Lea breathes hard, glaring up at Merry and Noel, leaning back with $l_their hands pressed to the floor.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Lea hisses as $l_they stand<<s>> again, leering back towards Merry. You watch $l_them closely, ready to grab the back of $l_their shirt if $l_they <<try>> anything again. This had already gone far enough.
Merry seems unharmed, still grinning, just the front of her jacket and shirt ruffled from Lea's grip. It's comical almost, like a scene from some cheap drama novel.
"Merry, get out," Noel says, and without waiting for a response, $n_xe all but shoves Merry out the door.
Lea turns around and shoulders past you, stomping over to the fire, $l_their back to all of you. Clementine steps up then, putting a hand on Noel's arm. "Let's all just take a break, okay? We can all talk more later, once we've calmed down," Clementine says.
"I don't need to calm down!" Lea snaps, turning back to glare at Clementine.
"Okay, well, me and Noel are going to go calm down, then," Clementine says, giving you a look before the two of them step out the door.
Once the door closes, you look back over at Lea where $l_they stand<<s>>, rigid and unmoving.
<<include "what the hell lea 2">><div id="choice"><<link '"Well... that happened."' 'well that happened 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What the hell was that?"' 'what the hell was that 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Lea, are you okay?"' 'lea are you okay 2'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $l_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t say anything, wanting to give Lea a... moment.' 'give them a moment 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>"Lea, are you okay?" <<if hasVisited("asking for it 2")>>Your guilt sits heavy in your chest, and you don't know what else to say.<</if>>
Lea doesn't respond, doesn't even glance back at you, just staring into the fire.
"Lea," you say, taking a step towards $l_them. You struggle to find the words, but you want to say //something//. But $l_they suddenly spin<<s>> around, shouldering past you without a word, throwing the door open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You stand, staring at the door, the sound of it slamming shut echoing in the resounding silence. Reaching for the doorknob, you hesitate, dropping your hand back to your side and instead retreating back to your chair, sitting down hard with a sigh. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.
<<include "alone after outburst 2">>You take a deep breath, your hands on your hips, closing your eyes and ignoring the pounding ache in your head.
"Don't even fucking start," Lea says, and you drop your hands, opening your eyes and blinking over at $l_them.
<<if $aggressive gte $genuine>>"I wasn't going to fucking say anything," you snap, crossing your arms with a huff.<<else>>"I wasn't going to say anything, Lea," you say, sighing.<</if>>
"She doesn't know what she's talking about," Lea mutters, before suddenly turning on $l_their heel and marching past you to the door.
"Lea -" you start, but $l_they just ignore<<s>> you, throwing open the door and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You sigh, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.
<<include "alone after outburst 2">><<if hasVisited("asking for it 2")>>"What the hell was that, Lea?" you say, your hands on your hips. Your guilt has twisted into anger, now. "Are you kidding me right now?"
Lea turns and gives you a dark look. "Don't fucking start with me, $surname."
"What was she even talking about?"
"I said, //don't//." Lea holds up a hand, shaking $l_their head.
Before you can say anything else, Lea just strides across the room, shouldering past you without a word, throwing the door open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You sigh loudly, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<<else>>"What the hell was that, Lea?" you say, throwing your hands up, despite Lea having $l_their back to you. Your shock has turned to anger, embarrassment - anxiety over the two of you making a scene so publicly. "Are you kidding me right now?"
Lea turns and gives you a dark look. "Don't fucking start with me, $surname."
"What was she even talking about?"
"I said, //don't//." Lea holds up a hand, shaking $l_their head.
Before you can say anything else, Lea just strides across the room, shouldering past you without a word, throwing the door open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
"What the hell?" you sigh, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<</if>>
<<include "alone after outburst 2">><<if hasVisited("asking for it 2")>>"...Well. That happened," you say, because you don't really know what else to say.
Lea doesn't respond, doesn't even glance back at you, just staring into the fire.
"What was Merry talking about?" you prompt, your hands on your hips.
Lea turns around and just shakes $l_their head at you. "I'm not doing this right now."
"Lea," you say, your voice hard, but $l_they just hold<<s>> up $l_their hand, and then stride<<s>> past you to the door, throwing it open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You sigh, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<<else>>"...Well. That happened," you say, because you don't really know what else to say.
Lea doesn't respond, doesn't even glance back at you, just staring into the fire.
You shift from foot to foot, the air growing heavy between you.
"What... What was Merry talking about, Lea?" you ask.
Lea turns around and just shakes $l_their head at you. "I'm not doing this right now."
"Lea...," you say, but $l_they just hold<<s>> up $l_their hand, and then stride<<s>> past you to the door, throwing it open and slamming it closed behind $l_them.
You sigh, running a hand across your face, taking a heavy seat back in your chair. The room feels overwhelmingly empty now, with just you here.<</if>>
<<include "alone after outburst 2">>You debate going after $l_them, but ultimately decide against it. You bury your face in your hands for a long moment, before rubbing at your arm and reaching for your <<if $vice is "drinker" or $vice is "both">>flask. You take a long drink, slumping back in your chair as you slam the flask back down on the table.<<elseif $vice is "smoker">>pipe. You frown, peering down in the bowl - the tobacco has gone out. You hastily relight it, a bit more desperate for it than you care to admit.<</if>>
[[Continue|shoshana thoughts 2]]Merry had mentioned Lea's previous hunter. You knew her, a bit; at least you could point her out in a crowd. If you really concentrate, you think there are vague memories of you training with her - memories the Ladder all but erased. Her name was Shoshana. You were young, a few years younger than Shoshana and still training, close to your initiation – you paid attention to little else than that, all of your focus on preparation for your hunter's vigil. Thinking back, you remember that she had been relocated, because they needed more hunters at another stronghold in the south – the Whaler's Watch, you believe. While you don't think any Black Iron hunters have ever been relocated to the Flood, you do know a few who have left for Whaler's Watch, as well as others who have come to the Black Iron from there.
You were about to be initiated - the Black Iron could spare one, with you being there to take their place. You didn't even think much of it at the time. However... you admit it is strange that Lea didn't go with her. Handlers and hunters are typically paired for life. Particularly in the north, it's frowned upon to split them up like that.
You should have been the one that went, not Shoshana. You always assumed it was because of Lea's family, and their attachment to the Black Iron; the Chens are all but inseparable from the stronghold. It would make sense for $l_them to choose to stay, even without Shoshana.
You remember when she left - riding out with a small group of older members, travelling together since she wouldn't have a handler until she got to Whaler's Watch. It had been strange, some of the quietest weeks in the stronghold with so many gone.
And Jorah had left shortly after that as well. Your initiation, and then his absence - that was a hard couple of months. Your hand wanders up to your necklace, and you sit there, holding the pendant in your palm. After your initiation, he barely spoke to you. He had congratulated you, and given you this gift - this pendant - that's supposed to protect you. A watchful eye. And then he left.
You haven't seen him in a long, long time.
[[Continue|seeing red]]You lean forward, your elbows on your knees. The pounding in your head seems to grow louder now, intense in the silence. Closing your eyes, you take a deep breath, trying to will it away.
Instead, you just see red.
Your eyes fly open, and you slap your hand over your arm, almost expecting the wounds to reopen, blood spilling over your fingers. But there's nothing there. The cuts are healed.
You blink a few times, your heart frantic. Your hand tightens around your arm until it hurts. The ship rises in the back of your mind. It's haunting you. The waves crashing outside suddenly sound like a threat, looming nearby, waiting for the moment it can take you and drag you down. Dark and red.
A sudden knock at the door startles you, and you sit up in your chair as the door opens.
<<if $clem_with>>Clementine steps into the room, quietly closing the door behind them.<<else>>The bard steps into the room, quietly closing the door behind them.<</if>>
<<if $clem_with>><<include "clem w convo">><<else>><<include "clem wo convo">><</if>>"Does no one know how knocking works here? You're supposed to wait to be called in," you say, exasperated.
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>You run a hand over your face, closing your eyes for a moment, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.<<else>>Your gaze flicks past Noel, to the door, just for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.<</if>>
"Not in this house," Noel is saying, laughing lightly and shaking his head. Still standing behind the chair, $n_xe glances down at your arm.
"How is the shoulder? Good?" $n_xe asks.
<<include "dawn awake you nod checkup">>You're already shaking your head, running a hand over your arm. "A checkup isn't necessary," you say, "I feel fine, now."
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>You feel your face twitch, and you drop your hand, closing your eyes for a moment and letting out a long sigh, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.<<else>>You drop your hand with a sigh, your gaze flicking to the door for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.<</if>>
"I figured you'd say that," Noel is saying. "You're a very tough hunter," he says, in a mocking tone, making a face at you.
You scowl.
"So serious! Don't worry, it will only take a few minutes," Noel says, <<if $faceScratch>>"Plus, don't you want me to heal your face?"
You blink, once again reflexively touching your face. You had already forgotten the scratches were even there.
"How about your arm first?" $n_xe says slowly. "How does it feel, still good?"
<<include "dawn awake you nod checkup">><<else>>grinning wide. "How does your arm feel? Still good?"
<<include "dawn awake you nod checkup">><</if>>"Long morning for you?" Noel asks, peering over at you.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"A long day, a long night, and a long morning," you sigh.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You cross your arms, just shaking your head. Long morning is an understatement.<<else>>"That's one fucking way to put it," you say with a scoff.<</if>>
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>You feel your face twitch, and you sigh, closing your eyes for a moment, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.<<else>>You sigh, your gaze flicking to the door for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.<</if>>
Noel purses his lips, giving you a long look. "How is the arm? Is that good, at least?"
<<include "dawn awake you nod checkup">>"You have incredible timing, Doc," you say. //Literally.//
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>You try to force nonchalance, but your face twitches, and you close your eyes for a moment, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.
Noel doesn't seem to notice though, just chuckling and shaking his head. "I'm hardly a doctor," $n_xe says.<<else>>Your nonchalance isn't very successful, and you sigh, your gaze flicking to the door for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.
Noel doesn't seem to notice though, just chuckling and shaking $n_their head. "I'm hardly a doctor," $n_xe says.<</if>>
"Well... healer isn't quite as catchy," you say with a shrug.
Noel just laughs again, still standing behind the chair across from you. "How is your arm feeling? Good?" he asks then.
<<include "dawn awake you nod checkup">>"What do you want?" you snap, your patience wearing rather thin at the moment. <<if $deal>>You're tired, and feeling a bit overwhelmed with what happened between Merry and Lea, and with whatever it is you just agreed to with Clementine - you want nothing more than to be left alone, just for a little while.<<else>>You're exhausted, and feeling a bit overwhelmed after whatever just happened between you and Clementine - you want nothing more than to be left alone, just for a little while.<</if>>
Noel raises $n_their eyebrows at you. "How about some gratitude, first?"
You scowl at $n_them, crossing your arms. "For what? Doing your job?"
Noel sighs, and something about the look xe gives you makes you even angrier.
"Look. I know what you're doing. I'm quite familiar with this hunter's song and dance," xe says, shaking xir head at you. "All of you always trying so hard to be big and bad. It's not as impressive as you think."
He runs a hand over his face, smearing some of that dark blue makeup over his eyes.
"If you don't want my help, just say so. I'd rather you not waste my time."
<<include "dawn awake apologize">>"Fuck you," you growl, clenching your fists and glaring at $n_them. You don't want to deal with this shit right now - you've been locked you in a room, ambushed as soon as you woke, and you've been told you nothing about what's going on. You barely even know these people's fucking names.
Noel just clicks $n_their tongue at you, sighing.
"You northern hunters. All the same, I swear," $n_xe says, sounding genuinely disappointed. Disappointed in you. "Stubborn ass," he mutters.
Noel lets $n_their staff thud loudly against the floor as $n_xe throws open the door and sweeps out of the room without another word.
[[Continue|dawn awake no noel]]"I... I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just... being difficult." Saying it makes you cringe, but you have to say it. Noel is right. You're embarrassed - Noel doesn't deserve your ire. You don't even know him, but he's the one that healed you. And he's a hunter. Like you.
Noel looks you up and down for a moment before responding.
"At least you're self aware," $n_xe says, uncrossing $n_their arms. Noel sighs then, looking down at your arm. "How is it feeling?" $n_xe asks with a nod.
"It's alright," you say, rotating your shoulder to show $n_them, grateful for $n_their decision to ignore your rudeness. <<if $clem_tavernfight>>You're just lashing out - and that argument with Clementine got under your skin. You push it from your mind, for now. What's done is done.<<if $flipped_table>>
Noel leans $n_their staff against the wall by the door, and comes all the way into the room, removing $n_their cloak and draping it over the back of the chair Clementine had just been sitting in.<</if>><</if>><<set $apology +=1>>
<<include "dawn awake checkup">>"I //don't// want your help. I never even asked for it to begin with," you snap, bristling at his tone. You don't want to deal with this shit right now - you've been locked you in a room, ambushed as soon as you woke, and you've been told you nothing about what's going on. You barely even know these people's fucking names.
Noel just sighs again.
"You northern hunters. All the same, I swear," $n_xe says, sounding genuinely disappointed. Disappointed in you. "Stubborn ass," he mutters.
Noel lets his staff thud loudly against the floor as $n_xe throws open the door and sweeps out of the room without another word.
[[Continue|dawn awake no noel]]"I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that," you say sheepishly. You're just... a little on edge, at the moment. Embarrassed, you rub the back of your neck, looking to Noel apologetically. You don't know Noel, but he is the one that healed you. And he's a hunter. Like you.
Noel purses $n_their lips for a moment, before giving you a nod. "It's alright. I know you've had a rough night."
"Thanks," you say, grateful for Noel's understanding. You let your hand drop from your neck and let out a long breath, shaking your head. <<if $clem_tavernfight>>You feel your face twitch, closing your eyes for a moment, pushing whatever just happened between you and Clementine from your mind for now. What's done is done.<<else>>Your gaze flicks to the door for the briefest moment, the sound of Clementine's bells still ringing in your ears.<</if>>
"How is your arm feeling? Still good?" Noel is saying, eyeing your forearm.
"It's alright," you say with a nod, rotating your shoulder to show $n_them.<<set $apology +=1>>
<<include "dawn awake checkup">>"I don't need to sleep," you say, frowning as Noel looks over you. And maybe you shouldn't. You don't want to dream anymore.
"I am more than aware of your hunter abilities," Noel says, giving you a look.
"I should hope so," you quip.
Noel crosses $n_their arms, looking down at you. "Sleep is your best medicine, here. Don't be so stubborn - you don't need to act tough," he says.
"You sound like Lea," you say, rolling your eyes.
"Maybe you should listen to $l_them."
<div id="choice"><<link '"//Gods//. Did you talk to $l_them? Did $l_they tell you to say that?"' 'gods did you talk to them'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Maybe."' 'maybe.'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'ve never been a very good listener."' 'ive never been a very good listener'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>"Honestly, that bed back there has been calling my name since I got here," you say, gesturing over your shoulder.
Noel grins. "Whispering sweet nothings?"
"The sweetest," you say with a sigh.
"Sleep is your best medicine here. I'll make sure you get it," Noel says with a nod.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I appreciate that."' 'i appreciate that'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Doctor\'s orders, huh?"' 'doctors orders'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Well... if you insist. But you can\'t blame me if I sleep for the next three days."' 'cant blame me'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>"We need to get this mess sorted first," you say, waving your hand around to indicate //this mess// is, in fact, everything.
Noel smiles softly at you. "None of us are going anywhere. Blackwater will be here when you wake up," he says.
"Me and Lea have already wasted enough time..." you sigh, chewing the inside of your cheek. "We have a job to do."
"Sleep is never a waste of time," Noel says. "I know you want to do your job. You can do it best, after you've had time to sleep and recover."
<div id="choice"><<link '"Stop trying to convince me... it\'s kind of working."' 'its kinda working'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"It\'s a waste of time. I don\'t need it."' 'a waste of time'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know how much longer this job can wait."' 'this job cant wait'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>You and Noel exchange a long look in the following silence, and it's Noel that breaks it, dropping $n_their gaze to your arm again.
"Alright," he says slowly, "let's take a look at your arm."
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Okay." I let $n_them check my arm.''i let xem check my arm'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'ve seen it." That\'s good enough.' 'youve seen it'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I hesitate. I don\'t really know Noel, and $n_xe\'s not exactly being very forthcoming.' 'xe is not answering my questions'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I want you to answer my question." My arm is fine. I want $n_them to stop being coy.' 'stop being coy'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"I want you to answer my question," you say, crossing your arms, your voice hard.
Noel sighs, putting his hands on his hips and hanging his head. "In due time," $n_xe says, lifting $n_their head then to look at you.
You roll your eyes. "The longer it takes, the less... cooperative I'm feeling," you say, glaring at $n_them.
Noel just sighs again, louder this time, more dramatic. "Between you and Merry, I'm going to start growing grey hairs, I swear," $n_xe says, pinching the bridge of $n_their nose in annoyance. "Look, do you want me to check your arm or not?" $n_xe says then, dropping $n_their hand and glaring at you.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fine." I let $n_them check my arm.' 'fine i let xem check'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"No." I refuse.' 'no i refuse'>><</link>></div>You hesitate, glancing from your arm back to Noel.
Noel raises an eyebrow, holding his hands out expectantly.
"My arm feels fine," you say, narrowing your eyes at $n_them.
Noel smiles softly. "I get it. But I'm with you. I just want to help," $n_xe says, nodding encouragingly at you.
"You and your captain have a funny way of showing it," you scoff.
Noel laughs at that. "Merry is //not// my captain." he pauses, shaking his head. "I promise you. My intentions are genuine."
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Alright." I let $n_them take my arm.' 'alright let xem take it'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I shake my head, crossing my arms. "It\'s fine."' 'its fine noel'>><</link>></div>"...Okay," you say, offering your arm to Noel. You have doubts, but Noel is clearly a skilled healer, and, at least for now... $n_xe seems to be on your side.
<<include "let noel have arm">>"You've seen it," you say, crossing your arms. Noel arches an eyebrow at you.
"Sure," $n_xe says, raising $n_their hands. "It feels okay?" he asks still, eyeing your arm.
"It's fine," you say curtly. Noel did a decent job healing - you're sure $n_xe knows that. And while you're grateful, you don't know these people, and you definitely don't know Noel - which is concerning. Not knowing another hunter... that really gives you some pause.
Keeping your distance at the moment might be for the best. At least it //does// seem that Noel is on your side. For now.
<<include "noel doesnt take arm">>Noel carefully takes your arm, turning it in $n_their hands and running a finger over the new scars. It's a bit uncomfortable, the feeling of someone else's magic touching you. Healers are always incredibly unpleasant, with some people completely unable to stand the sensations of healing magic, and relying solely on surgeons instead. You don't have that luxury in your line of work, of course, though you have had your fair count of stitches - a good amount of which you've done yourself.
"Okay. Your arm, while I'm sure it's still sore, will make a full recovery. And your back is healing, though you should be a bit careful not to strain it." Noel seems to hesitate a moment. "You'll be good as new in just a few days," he concludes then, releasing your arm.
<<if $faceScratch>>"And your face is fine, too. The tightness in your jaw should fade quickly," Noel adds with a nod. You touch your cheek again, having forgotten the new scars were even there. Your skin is still warm from Noel's magic, but you can't help the shiver that passes over you as you remember the wraith's claws reaching for your throat.<<set $faceScar to true>><<else>>You touch the skin around the scars, still warm from Noel's magic. Flexing your hand, you remember the touch of the wraith's claws, the blistering fire, the way it held you down. Your blood in the snow. You shiver.<</if>>
"You know, most people find scars to be very attractive," Noel says suddenly, and you drop your hand from your <<if $faceScratch>>face.<<else>>arm.<</if>>
<<include "noel scars choices">>You both just stare at each other for a beat, before Noel glances down at his feet, running a hand over his locs.
"Okay. Just... let me know, if it's still sore in a few days, yeah?" Noel finally says.
You purse your lips, considering $n_them, and then nod. In a few days, you'll most likely be long gone from here, anyways.
Noel smiles, seeming appeased. "We have to look out for each other. I intend to, whether you like it or not," $n_xe adds with a chuckle. Despite yourself, you do feel a sense of familiarity with Noel, that instinctual pull between hunters - unable to ignore it, even if you truly wanted to.
Noel still eyes your arm, and you lay your hand over the new scars there, feeling the thick, raised skin even through your sleeve. You feel your arm tense as your other hand curls into a fist, remembering the touch of the wraith's claws, the blistering fire, the way it held you down. Your blood in the snow. You shiver.
"You know, most people find scars to be very attractive," Noel says then, and you drop your hand from your arm.
<<include "noel scars choices">>"...Alright," you say finally, offering your arm to Noel. You have doubts, but Noel is clearly a skilled healer, and, at least for now... $n_xe seems to be on your side.
<<include "let noel have arm">>"Fine," you huff, uncrossing your arms and offering the one to Noel. You bristle at $n_their evasiveness, but... you figure you might as well take advantage of healing like this while you can.
At least in that regard, it seems like Noel is genuine.
<<include "let noel have arm">>"It's fine," you reiterate, crossing your arms. Noel sighs, but lets $n_their hands drop to $n_their sides.
You are grateful for what Noel has done, but that doesn't do anything to allay your suspicions about him or Captain Harlowe.
Keeping your distance here might be for the best. At least it does seem that Noel is on your side. For now.
<<include "noel doesnt take arm">>"No," you snap, tightening your arms across your chest. It's childish, but you're just not feeling particularly mature right now. You think you've earned it.
Noel clicks $n_their tongue at you, but just looks sad. "Fine," he says, raising $n_their hands in defeat.
It's not that you're ungrateful - but you don't know these people. And that's not unusual, necessarily, but not knowing another hunter... that gives you some pause. Especially with one that seems to be all alone.
<<include "noel doesnt take arm">><div id="choice"><<link '"Do you?" I ask, giving $n_them a crooked smile. ♡' 'do you?'>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'The implication behind his words is clear, and I glance away quickly, flustered. ♡' 'glance away flustered'>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Is that right? I suppose I should show them off more."' 'show them off more'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Right." I don\'t really know what else to say. I try not to think too much about what other people think when they look at me...' 'right.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I just roll my eyes. I know $n_xe\'s trying to make me feel better, but //come on//.' 'i roll my eyes'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>"Do you?" you ask, giving $n_them a crooked smile. You don't usually entertain banter like this - but something about this moment makes you indulge.
Noel doesn't even miss a beat. "I do," he says, $n_their eyes lighting up. Noel stands up a bit straighter then, and your face grows hot as $n_xe slowly looks you up and down.
His attention actually surprises you – and makes your smile grow even wider.
Noel takes a step towards you, but stops, clearing $n_their throat then, and glancing away. He composes $n_themself, shaking $n_their head and stepping back.
A faint smile still teases $n_their lips as $n_xe glances back over at you, bashful, but the moment is shattered when the door suddenly swings open behind $n_them, banging against the wall as Merry strolls in.
<<include "healing done">>You feel your eyes widen a bit at $n_their words, and you glance away quickly, letting out a nervous laugh. Is he really flirting with you...?
"I'm a fan of scars myself. If you were wondering," Noel says then.
Okay. Definitely flirting with you, then.
Glancing back over at $n_them, Noel laughs softly, $n_their eyes warm as $n_xe watches you, $n_their attention making your face burn.
But the moment is shattered when the door suddenly swings open behind him, banging against the wall as Merry strolls in.
<<include "healing done">>You roll your eyes. "//Come on//," you say.
Noel chuckles. "That's fair. I figured I'd try."
"Do you use that line on every sad hunter you heal?"
Noel bursts out laughing then. "Oh, I like you, $name," he says, grinning.
You huff, crossing your arms and glaring over at $n_them.
"Okay, okay," $n_xe says, still chuckling a bit. "I get it." Noel shakes his head as $n_xe begins to move back around the table.
After a beat, $n_xe clears $n_their throat, "Now-" but almost immediately $n_xe's cut off by the door swinging open behind $n_them, banging against the wall as Merry strolls in.
<<include "healing done">>"Is that right? I suppose I should show them off more," you say, laughing off your anxiety and flexing both of your arms in a dramatic gesture.
Noel grins at you. "I wouldn't mind that," he says with a wink.
Your face burns at the unexpected compliment, and you drop your arms back down to your sides, glancing away from the sudden attention. Is $n_xe... flirting with you?
Noel laughs softly, making your cheeks burn even more, $n_their eyes warm as $n_xe looks over at you.
But the moment is shattered when the door suddenly swings open behind him, banging against the door as Merry strolls in.
<<include "healing done">>"Finished?" Merry asks, looking at Noel.
Noel sighs audibly, rolling $n_their eyes. "Yes, yes. I'm done."
"Good," Merry says, looking at you. "Let's talk, then. Noel, can you fetch Handler Chen, please?"
Noel makes a face at Merry as she turns back to the door, then shoots you a mischievous smile as he swipes up his cloak and throws it over his shoulders.
Merry stands in the hallway, looking back through the doorway at you expectantly.
"Come on, we haven't got all day," she says.
"Patience is a virtue, Merry," Noel says, plucking $n_their staff up on the way out the door, brushing past her.
"Shut up," Merry says, shoving his shoulder as he goes. Noel just laughs as $n_xe walks off, leaving you standing alone with the captain, still watching you with a narrowed eye.
You take a deep breath, running a hand over your face before stepping out after Merry and onto the large mezzanine.
[[Continue|down the flight of stairs 1]]"Right," you say, glancing back down at your arm. You don't make it a habit to think too hard about what other people think when they look at you - it never ends well. You have a hard enough time looking at yourself in a mirror as it is.
"$name," Noel prompts, and you blink back over at him.
"Are you alright?" $n_xe asks, taking a step towards you, and you don't like the way $n_xe's looking at you, the weight behind that question feeling heavier than it should.
But the door swings open before you can respond, banging against the wall as Merry strolls in.
<<include "healing done">><div id="choice"><<link '"Do you?" I ask, giving $n_them a crooked smile. ♡' 'do you? 2'>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'The implication behind $n_their words is clear, and I glance away quickly, flustered. ♡' 'glance away flustered 2'>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Is that right? I suppose I should show them off more."' 'show them off more 2'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Right." I don\'t really know what else to say. I try not to think too much about what other people think when they look at me...' 'right. 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I just roll my eyes. I know $n_xe\'s trying to make me feel better, but //come on//.' 'i roll my eyes 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>Heading down a flight of stairs and across a large, raucous parlor, you dodge your way around a few shambling drunks, all lost at the bottom of a bottle.
The energy is infectious down here. The air is thick with smoke, loud voices laughing and shouting, the smell of alcohol and tobacco, someone playing a lute and singing terribly off-key. The time of day seems to have no effect on this place, a drunken sanctuary. It batters your senses as you make your way to a large set of double doors.
The doors are wood, but painted an ostentatious gold, though you can see the paint chipping and peeling considerably. There's someone standing off to the side, eyeing you warily, but nodding nonetheless. Allowing you to pass.
Merry pushes the doors open and you pass into a bright, spacious room, with towering windows against the back wall, open to the port and the sea beyond, the blue sky yawning overhead. You can smell the salt of the sea and the foul smell of fish. There is an ornate desk in the middle of the room, which Merry heads straight for, moving around to stand behind the chair.
Merry shrugs off her jacket, tossing it across the desk in front of her. With the jacket gone, you can see along her neck the dark black ink of a tattoo. It takes you a moment to figure it out, the thick-furred neck of her gambeson blocking some of it, but with the high collar of her jacket gone and her hair pushed back behind her shoulder, you can see the script on her neck. A name. //Ronan//.
The door suddenly opens again behind you, and Noel and Lea walk through, with the woman standing guard following behind them and quietly closing the doors.
[[Continue|time to talk]]"How about some proper introductions? I think we've all been a bit rude up to this point," Merry says, smirking at Lea, who just tenses beside you.
"As you know, I am Merry Harlowe," she starts, "and this is my friend, Noel Lykaon." She gestures to Noel, who steps away from you and Lea now and moves around to join Merry on the other side of the desk.
Merry looks at you expectantly.
<div id="choice"><<link '"$name $surname."' 'name surname'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"This is a bit ridiculous, isn\'t it?"' 'a bit ridiculous'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You already know our names, don\'t you, Captain Harlowe?"' 'already know our names'>><</link>></div>"Maybe," you say, crossing your arms.
Noel smirks over at you. "I'm assuming that's a //no//," he says.
"Maybe," you say again.
Noel chuckles. "Listen. Just take it from me. Sometimes, you should just listen to your handler," $n_xe says slowly, $n_their tone more serious now.
"That's easy to say when you're standing there without one hovering over your shoulder," you say, giving $n_them a look.
Noel smiles softly. "I suppose it does look that way to you, doesn't it?"
He sighs, tugging at one of his locs, a sudden heaviness hanging in the air between you.
"...I'm sensing a story there," you say carefully, eyeing $n_them.
Noel hesitates, shrugging. "Maybe I'll tell it to you one day."
<<if hasVisited("who the hell are you" or "noel?")>>You should have expected that kind of answer. Narrowing your eyes, you and Noel just stare at each other for a long moment.<<else>>You raise an eyebrow at that. Noel clearly likes playing coy... and it just makes you even more curious. For a moment you both just stare at each other, Noel with a small smile on his face.<</if>>
<<include "heal arm">>"I've never been a very good listener," you say, crossing your arms.
Noel grins at you. "Me neither," $n_xe whispers, giving you a wink. He laughs then, shaking his head.
"Sometimes, though, you should just listen to your handler," $n_xe says slowly, $n_their tone more serious now.
"That's easy to say when you're standing there without one hovering over your shoulder," you say, giving $n_them a look.
Noel smiles softly. "I suppose it does look that way to you, doesn't it?"
He sighs, tugging at one of his locs, a sudden heaviness hanging in the air between you.
"...I'm sensing a story there," you say carefully, eyeing $n_them.
Noel hesitates, shrugging. "Maybe I'll tell it to you one day."
<<if hasVisited("who the hell are you" or "noel?")>>You should have expected that kind of answer. Narrowing your eyes, you and Noel just stare at each other for a long moment.<<else>>You raise an eyebrow at that. Noel clearly likes playing coy... and it just makes you even more curious. For a moment you both just stare at each other, Noel with a small smile on $n_their face.<</if>>
<<include "heal arm">>"Gods. Did you talk to $l_them? Did $l_they tell you to say that?"
Noel chuckles. "No, $l_they did not." Xe pauses for a moment, $n_their smile falling a bit. "Just take it from me. Sometimes, you should just listen to your handler."
"That's easy to say when you're standing there without one hovering over your shoulder," you say, giving $n_them a look.
Noel smiles softly. "I suppose it does look that way to you, doesn't it?"
He sighs, tugging at one of his locs, a sudden heaviness hanging in the air between you.
"...I'm sensing a story there," you say carefully, eyeing $n_them.
Noel hesitates, shrugging. "Maybe I'll tell it to you one day."
<<if hasVisited("who the hell are you" or "noel?")>>You should have expected that kind of answer. Narrowing your eyes, you and Noel just stare at each other for a long moment.<<else>>You raise an eyebrow at that. Noel clearly likes playing coy... and it just makes you even more curious. For a moment you both just stare at each other, Noel with a small smile on $n_their face.<</if>>
<<include "heal arm">>"...Alright," Noel says finally. "Let me take another look at your arm."
You hold out your arm for $n_them to examine, and $n_xe takes it carefully, turning it in $n_their hands and running a finger over the new scars. It's a bit uncomfortable, the feeling of someone else's magic touching you. Healers are always incredibly unpleasant, some people completely unable to stand the sensations of healing magic, and relying solely on surgeons instead. Lea prefers surgeons for $l_themself, though neither of you have that luxury most of the time. Of course, you have had your fair count of stitches - a good amount of which you've done yourself.
"Okay. Your arm, while I'm sure it's still sore, will make a full recovery. You'll be good as new in just a few days," Noel concludes, releasing your arm.
<<if $faceScratch>>He remains standing in front of you, and you can't help but squirm a bit under $n_their gaze. Noel seems to notice your discomfort, blinking and stepping back a bit.
"I'll heal those scratches on your face, and then we'll be done," $n_xe says. "If you've got any other bumps or aches, they'll have to wait. This is all I can offer right now," Noel adds, and you can hear a bit of frustration in his voice.
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'ve done more than enough already."' 'more than enough'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Is there any way I can pay you for this?"' 'pay for this 2'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Thanks, Noel."' 'thanks noel 2'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I just give $n_them a nod.' 'just give xem a nod'>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link '"Is there any way I can pay you for this?"' 'pay for this'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"We\'ll see."' 'well see'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Thanks, Noel."' 'thanks noel'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>"I appreciate that," you say, giving Noel a small smile. While you have your doubts about the healer and Captain Harlowe, you can't deny the familiarity you feel with Noel, as a fellow hunter. And it seems like $n_xe is on your side. For now.
"I think you've more than deserved it after the night you've had," he says. "I can distract Merry at least for a few hours."
"At this point I'd be fine with just a few minutes," you say then, rubbing at your eyes.
"Don't let Merry hear you say that," $n_xe chuckles.
"I really do appreciate everything you've done," you say then, a bit more serious now. Noel gives you a big smile.
"Of course. And between you and me," $n_xe drops $n_their voice to a comical whisper, "it's nice having another hunter around." He winks at you, and for a moment you both just smile at each other.
<<include "heal arm">>"Doctor's orders, huh?" you joke, shaking your head. Sleep does sound appealing. But you're not sure it will help. The tired you feel... it's not the kind that sleep will fix.
"Doctor's orders," Noel says with a nod. "I can at least give you a few hours. You deserve it, after the night you've had," $n_xe adds.
<<if $stoic gte $genuine>>You blink over at him, giving him an appreciative nod.<<else>>"Thanks, Noel," you say, blinking over at $n_them and giving $n_them a small smile.<</if>>
Whatever doubts you have, it at least seems like Noel is on your side. For now.
<<include "heal arm">>"Well... if you insist. But you can't blame me if I sleep through the next three days." you say, rubbing at your eyes.
Noel shakes $n_their head with a laugh. "Don't worry, Merry won't let you. The best I can do is at least a few hours."
"I'll take it," you say with a shrug. A few hours is still more than you got last night, and you'll be in a real bed. And you //are// tired. But... you don't think it's the kind of tired sleep can fix.
"I'd say you've more than earned it," Noel says with a nod. "Merry can be... brash. But she'll listen to me."
"You two seem close."
"I suppose," Noel shrugs. "But us hunters have to stick together."
You eye Noel curiously, and you can't deny the familiarity you feel with him, that instinctual pull. You give him a grateful nod.
Whatever doubts you have, it at least seems like Noel is on your side. For now.
<<include "heal arm">>"Stop trying to convince me... it's kind of working."
Noel grins at you. "What can I say. I'm very charming," $n_xe smirks.
You roll your eyes at that.
"Give it some time. I'll win you over," $n_xe says with a sly smile. "Really, though. You should get at least a few hours of sleep."
You sigh. You are tired. Really tired. But not the kind of tired sleep is going to fix.
<<include "heal arm">>"It's a waste of time. I don't need it."
Noel rolls $n_their eyes at you. "Alright, alright. I get it, I get it," he says. "How about Lea, though? Not a hunter - not like you and me. Give $l_them a break."
You frown, glancing down at your feet.
"I know you're tired," $n_xe says, $n_their voice a little softer now.
You are tired. So tired. But it's not the kind of tired sleep is going to fix. You close your eyes for a moment, clenching your jaw.
<<include "heal arm">>"I just don't know how much longer this job can wait," you say, crossing your arms.
Noel sighs. "I understand your concern." He hesitates a moment. "We're all worried about it, you know."
A somber silence fills the room, hanging heavy over both of you.
<<include "heal arm">>"Is there any way I can pay you for this?" you ask.
Noel shakes $n_their head. "You couldn't afford me," $n_xe smirks. "Don't worry about any of that. I'm not interested in money. And I wouldn't charge you anyway. Hunters look out for their own," Noel says with a nod.
"Thanks," you say, giving him an appreciative look.
You glance back down at your arm then, the new scars still alien to you.
<<include "hand flex">>"Thanks, Noel," you say, and you mean it.
Xe smiles over at you, giving you a quick nod. "We look out for each other, yeah?" he says, tapping $n_their temple with a finger, indicating $n_their eyes.
"Not like anyone else will," you say with a bitter smile. Noel sighs, but gives you an understanding look in return.
<<include "hand flex">>"We'll see," you say, stretching your arm in front of you.
Noel just laughs. "Do you share the same aversion to healers as your handler?"
You don't answer, just studying your arm, feeling the muscles pull and ache as you stretch.
<<include "hand flex">>You touch the skin around the scars, still warm from Noel's magic. Flexing your hand, you remember the touch of the wraith's claws, the blistering fire, the way it held you down. Your blood in the snow. You shiver.
"Most people find scars very attractive, you know," Noel says then, and you look up at him, dropping your hand from your forearm.
<<include "noel scars choices 2">>"You've already done more than enough, Noel."
Noel just waves $n_their hand dismissively, glancing sideways with a huff.
"I mean it," you say, and Noel smiles, a small smile, but still a smile.
<<include "face heal">>"Is there any way I can pay you for this?" you ask.
Noel shakes $n_their head. "You couldn't afford me," he smirks. "Don't worry about any of that. I'm not interested in money. And I wouldn't charge you anyway. Hunters look out for their own," Noel says with a nod.
"Thanks," you say, giving him an appreciative look.
<<include "face heal">>"Thanks, Noel," you say, and you mean it.
Xe smiles over at you, giving you a quick nod. "We look out for each other, yeah?" $n_xe says, tapping $n_their temple with a finger, indicating $n_their eyes.
"Not like anyone else will," you say with a bitter smile. Noel sighs, but gives you an understanding look in return.
<<include "face heal">>You reach up and touch the hot gashes across your face, blinking over at Noel and just giving $n_them a nod.
He gives you a reassuring smile.
<<include "face heal">><<if $flipped_table>>"...Okay. Are you ready?" Noel says then, <<if hasVisited("just give xem a nod")>>and you nod again,<<else>>and you nod,<</if>> but he hesitates when he turns back to the flipped table.
You look to the scattered rags and the bowl, still on the floor, and then glance away, pursing your lips together. //Shit.//
"Don't worry, I've got it," Noel says, and you watch as $n_xe easily rights the table, plucking up the rags and the bowl. By some miracle, some water managed to remain in the bowl, and Noel uses it to soak yet another fresh cloth.<<else>>"...Okay. Are you ready?" Noel says then, <<if hasVisited("just give xem a nod")>>and you nod again<<else>>and you nod<</if>> as $n_xe grabs one of the few remaining clean cloths off the table, letting it soak in the bowl of water for a moment.<</if>>
"I'll let you do the honors," Noel says, handing you the damp cloth. Taking it, you quickly run it over your cheek and jaw, scrubbing away the blood and dirt, wincing as you pull at the scratches.
"Easy. You're going to make it bleed again," Noel says, shaking his head.
"That's what you're here for. Just heal it," you say.
Noel scoffs, but doesn't say anything else, waiting for you to finish. Running your hand over the scratches again, you don't feel any more dried gunk on your face, though some fresh blood does come away on your fingers.
"I told you," Noel says with a //tsk//. You clutch the dirty cloth in your hand, looking up at Noel expectantly.
"I'll have to touch your face," $n_xe warns.
You tense a bit, but nod. You knew that was coming.
Gently, Noel presses his warm hand to your face, and you close your eyes, gripping the arms of your seat. The blue light glows through your closed eyelids, and you can feel your skin reconnecting as the wound closes under Noel's hand.
And then it's done.
Noel's hand moves away, and you open your eyes, relaxing back into your chair. You let out a long breath, and after a moment you reach up, feeling the raised skin of the three deep slashes on your cheek. The wraith lingers in your mind, the touch of its claws, the blistering fire, the way it held you down. Your blood in the snow. You shiver.
"Most people find scars very attractive, you know," Noel says then, and you look up at $n_them, dropping your hand from your face.
<<include "noel scars choices 2">>"Do you?" you ask, giving $n_them a crooked smile. You don't usually entertain banter like this - but something about this moment makes you indulge.
Noel doesn't even miss a beat. "I do," he says, $n_their eyes lighting up. Noel stands up a bit straighter then, and your face grows hot as $n_xe slowly looks you up and down.
His attention actually surprises you – and makes your smile grow even wider.
Noel takes a step towards you, but stops, clearing $n_their throat then, and glancing away. He composes himself, shaking his head and stepping back.
A faint smile still teases $n_their lips as $n_xe glances back over at you, bashful, but the moment is shattered when the door suddenly swings open behind $n_them, banging against the wall as Merry strolls in.
<<include "need to rest now">>You roll your eyes. "//Come on//," you say.
Noel chuckles. "That's fair. I figured I'd try."
"Do you use that line on every sad hunter you heal?"
Noel bursts out laughing then. "Oh, I knew I would like you, $name," $n_xe says, grinning.
You huff, crossing your arms and glaring over at $n_them.
"Okay, okay," he says, still chuckling a bit. "I get it." Noel shakes $n_their head as $n_xe begins to move back around the table.
After a beat, $n_xe clears $n_their throat, "Now-" but almost immediately he's cut off by the door swinging open behind him, banging against the wall as Merry strolls in.
<<include "need to rest now">>"Right," you say, glancing back down at your arm. You don't make it a habit to think too hard about what other people think when they look at you - it never ends well. You have a hard enough time looking at yourself in a mirror as it is.
"$name," Noel prompts, and you blink back over at $n_them.
"Are you alright?" $n_xe asks, taking a step towards you, and you don't like the way $n_xe's looking at you, the weight behind that question feeling heavier than it should.
But the door swings open before you can respond, banging against the wall as Merry strolls in.
<<include "need to rest now">>"Is that right? I suppose I should show them off more," you say, laughing off your anxiety and flexing both of your arms in a dramatic gesture.
Noel grins at you. "I wouldn't mind that," he says with a wink.
Your face burns at the unexpected compliment, and you drop your arms back down to your sides, glancing away from the sudden attention. Is $n_xe... flirting with you?
Noel laughs softly, making your cheeks burn even more, $n_their eyes warm as $n_xe looks over at you.
But the moment is shattered when the door suddenly swings open being $n_them, banging against the door as Merry strolls in.
<<include "need to rest now">>You feel your eyes widen a bit at $n_their words, and you glance away quickly, letting out a nervous laugh. Is $n_xe really flirting with you...?
"I'm a fan of scars myself. If you were wondering," Noel says then.
Okay. Definitely flirting with you, then.
Glancing back over at $n_them, Noel laughs softly, $n_their eyes warm as $n_xe watches you, $n_their attention making your face burn.
But the moment is shattered when the door suddenly swings open behind him, banging against the wall as Merry strolls in.
<<include "need to rest now">>"Finished?" Merry asks, looking at Noel.
"<<if $nopr>>$name<<else>><<print $mc_they.toUpperFirst()>><</if>> <<switch $mc_plural>><<case true>>need<<case false>>needs<</switch>> to rest," $n_xe says, crossing $n_their arms.
"Unfortunately, this can't wait," Merry says, motioning for both of you to follow her back out the door.
"Merry," is all Noel says, unmoving.
Merry purses her lips, glancing back and forth between you and Noel.
For a moment, the two standoff in front of you. You're feeling a bit overwhelmed, all of a sudden, your body growing heavy. You rub the back of your neck, trying to massage out the soreness and exhaustion.
"Fine," Merry says finally. She gives you a hard look before sweeping out of the room. Noel sighs audibly, glancing back at you.
"Rest, now. And don't worry about Lea. I'll speak to $l_them," he says, giving you a quick bow before he steps out of the room.
The door closes with a soft click, and you let out a long breath.
[[Continue|what the hell is going on]]//What the hell...// You rub your eyes, pacing a moment in front of the door. Despite the healing, your body //hurts//, your headache pounding behind your eyes.
Perhaps trying to sleep will be for the best. You walk across the room, jerking the curtains closed in front of the window, throwing the room into shadow, just the warm glow of the fire now.
Not even bothering to take of your shoes, you throw yourself down onto the bed with a groan. For a while you toss and turn, your mind full of new names and new faces, as well as the memory of claws and teeth and blood. Shivering, you pull the blankets up over your head, one of your hands grasping for your necklace. You clutch at it like a lifeline, trying to calm your thoughts and focus on sleeping.
[[A few hours later...]]Loud knocking on your door brings you back. Shifting under the blankets, you groan, burying your face into your pillow. A pause in the knocking, and you realize that someone else is snoring in the room with you. You peek out from under the sheets, looking around, and you see Lea curled up on one of the chairs right in front of the fire.
The knocking starts again, and you sigh heavily, throwing the blankets off of you and sitting up. "Yeah, yeah," you say, shuffling out of the bed. You adjust your clothing a bit, running a hand over your head, and then you open the door, a bit more aggressively than necessary.
You squint against the light in the hallway, seeing Noel standing there.
<<if hasVisited("knocking 2")>>"I waited for you to answer that time," Noel says with a smirk.<<else>>"Good afternoon, hunter," Noel says with a smirk.<</if>>
You give him a cold look, stepping back into the room, still rubbing at your eyes.
Noel steps halfway inside, clasping his hands in front of him. Before $n_xe says anything, $n_xe notices Lea, hunched uncomfortably in the chair.
"<<switch $l_plural>><<case true>>Are<<case false>>Is<</switch>> $l_they sleeping like that?" Noel asks in disbelief.
You glance over at Lea. "Yeah. Talent of $l_theirs."
Trudging over, you raise your voice a bit. "Lea," you say, standing over $l_them.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I put my hand on $l_their shoulder and give $l_them a little shake.' 'a little shake'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I poke at $l_their shoulder while repeating $l_their name.' 'i poke at their shoulder'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I kick the chair. Hard.' 'i kick the chair'>><<set $l_friendship -=2>><</link>></div>Standing behind the chair, you gently put your hand on Lea's shoulder and give it a squeeze before you shake $l_them lightly. "Lea."
$l_They stir<<s>> a bit, but $l_their snoring continues.
Giving $l_them another little shake, Lea starts to grumble, sitting up and shrugging your hand away. It takes $l_them a few more seconds, but eventually $l_they shift<<s>>, stretching $l_their legs out and opening $l_their eyes, blinking over at you and Noel.
"What?" Lea growls, $l_their voice thick with sleep.
"I gave you as much time as I could, but Merry is about ready to kick your door down," Noel says.
Lea lets out a long, dramatic sigh, slowly standing from the chair, stretching $l_their arms overhead. "Fine. Let's get this over with," Lea says, letting $l_their arms drop, "so we can all get the hell on with our lives."
<<include "let's goo">>You wind back your foot and slam it into one of the legs of the chair, jarring Lea and nearly sending $l_them to the floor.
$l_They swear<<s>> loudly, slapping $l_their hands on the table to catch $l_themself, $l_their eyes wide as $l_they frantically glance<<s>> around the room before realization sets in.
Lea gives you a death glare, setting $l_their feet down on the floor and standing slowly. "I hate you," $l_they <<say>>, stretching $l_their arms over $l_their head.
"What a touching moment," Noel says, raising a hand to $n_their chest.
Lea scoffs, lowering $l_their arms and turning $l_their glare on Noel.
"I gave you as much time as I could, but Merry is about ready to kick your door down," Noel says then.
Lea's scowl deepens, glancing back at you before turning to the door.
"Fine. Let's get this over with," Lea says, "so we can get the hell on with our lives."
<<include "let's goo">>$l_They brush<<es>> past both of you without waiting for a response, heading right out the door and onto the mezzanine, leaving you and Noel to follow after $l_them.
[[Continue|on the mezzanine]]Heading down a flight of stairs and across a large, raucous parlor, you dodge your way around a few shambling drunks, all lost at the bottom of a bottle.
The energy is infectious down here. The air is thick with smoke, loud voices laughing and shouting, the smell of alcohol and tobacco, someone playing a lute and singing terribly off-key. The time of day seems to have no effect on this place, a drunken sanctuary. It batters your senses as you make your way to a large set of double doors.
The doors are wood, but painted an ostentatious gold, though you can see the paint chipping and peeling considerably. A woman stands off to the side, eyeing you warily, but nodding nonetheless. Allowing you to pass.
<<if hasVisited("let's goo")>>Noel pushes the doors open and you pass into a large, open room, with towering windows against the back wall, open to the port and the sea beyond, the grey sky yawning overhead. You can smell the salt of the sea and the foul smell of fish. There is an ornate desk in the middle of the room, and you see Merry standing behind it, both hands pressed against the desk, head bowed as you walk in.
The woman at the door has followed you inside, closing the doors behind you and Lea.
Merry pushes herself off the desk, standing and looking over at you.
She's removed her jacket, and you can see along her neck and chest the dark black ink of a tattoo. You can't quite make out the piece on her chest, her shirt still covering most of it, but without the high collar of her jacket, and her hair pushed back behind her shoulder, you can clearly see the script on her neck. A name. //Ronan//.<<else>>Merry pushes the doors open and you pass into a bright, spacious room, with towering windows against the back wall, open to the port and the sea beyond, the blue sky yawning overhead. You can smell the salt of the sea and the foul smell of fish. There is an ornate desk in the middle of the room, which Merry heads straight for, moving around to stand behind the chair.
Merry shrugs off her jacket, tossing it across the desk in front of her. With the jacket gone, you can see along her neck the dark black ink of a tattoo. It takes you a moment to figure it out, the thick-furred neck of her gambeson blocking some of it, but with the high collar of her jacket gone and her hair pushed back behind her shoulder, you can see the script on her neck. A name. //Ronan//.
The door suddenly opens again behind you, and Noel and Lea walk through, with the woman standing guard following behind them and quietly closing the doors.<</if>>
[[Continue|time to talk]]<<if $nopr>>"$name $surname. I only go by $name."<<else>>"$name $surname. I use $mc_they/$mc_them."<</if>>
"A pleasure to meet you, Hunter $surname," Merry says, giving you a little nod. She turns to Lea then, that little smirk returning to her lips.
"Fuck you," Lea says.
Merry just laughs. "Yes. We all know who you are, Lea Chen," she says. Lea just glares at her.
Merry looks between the two of you for a long moment. "How about drinks?"
<<include "how about drinks?">>"You already know our names, don't you, Captain Harlowe? No reason to play pretend here."
Merry smiles at you. "I suppose you're right." She pauses for a moment. "How about drinks?"
<<include "how about drinks?">>"This is a bit ridiculous, isn't it?" you say, crossing your arms.
Merry lets out a long sigh. "I'm trying to be proper," she says, rolling her eye at the word proper. She looks between you and Lea for a long moment, but when neither of you make any kind of introduction, she just clicks her tongue.
"Fine. How about drinks, then?"
<<include "how about drinks?">>Merry reaches below the desk and produces a fine looking bottle and five glasses. She lines them up and uncorks the bottle, pouring the drinks generously.
"One for you, my friend," Merry says, handing one to Noel, who takes it with a nod.
"And one for you," she says, looking over your shoulder. Merry gestures with the glass, and you turn to watch the woman at the doors come forward and lean against the right side of the desk next to Merry.
"This is my first mate, Mal," Merry says, handing her the glass. Mal just glares over at both you and Lea as she takes a long drink, her dark eyes peering over the rim of the glass. She has short, choppy brown hair, and wears a thick, high collared tunic lined with red fur.
Merry holds out the final two glasses.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Take it. I need a drink for this.]]>><<set $m_friendship +=1>><<set $l_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Decline. I don't want to drink during this conversation.]]</div>Lea scoffs as you take the drink, but you ignore $l_them and take a generous sip. It's sweeter than you expect, smooth and with a bit of spice, a soft burn in your throat. Merry flashes you a quick smile, then turns to Lea.
Lea doesn't even acknowledge her, clearly annoyed by this whole thing.
Merry shrugs, and you watch as she pours Lea's would-be drink into her own, nearly overflowing it and spilling some of the drink on the desk.
[[Continue|Merry takes a long sip]]You shake your head, giving Merry a hard look. Merry sighs, clearly disappointed, setting your glass down on the desk and turning to Lea, who doesn't even acknowledge her, clearly annoyed by this whole thing.
Merry clicks her tongue, lining up the two declined drinks along the desk.
"I guess it's just us, my friends," she says, clinking her glass with Mal's and Noel's in a mock toast.
[[Continue|Merry takes a long sip]]Merry takes a long sip, eyeing the two of you over her glass.
"So. I'm sure you have questions," Merry says, swirling her drink around slowly.
"Where is Lord Duncan?" Lea asks.
"We not good enough for you?" Mal snaps, leering across the desk.
"Be grateful it's me and not him," Merry says, raising a hand at Mal. The other woman leans back, still glaring over at Lea, who glares right back. "Duncan has nothing on my hospitality," she adds, chuckling into her glass.
"//Your// hospitality was just you threatening me and shoving us behind a locked door," Lea says, turning $l_their glare from Mal to Merry.
Merry takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly, sitting down heavily and propping her feet up on the desk. She leans the chair back precariously, clutching her drink to her chest.
"What do you know about what's going on here?" Merry asks, sipping at her drink. "My guess is very little," she adds with a little shake of her head.
"If you have something to say -" Lea starts, but Merry holds up a hand again, stopping $l_them.
"Save your breath, Handler Chen," she says, setting her now almost empty glass down on the desk.
Lea bristles, but Merry just smiles at $l_them.
<<include "merry highfell questions">><<if not hasVisited("Let's start with Highfell, and the missing people. That's why we're here.")>><div id="choice"><<link [[Let's start with Highfell, and the missing people. That's why we're here.]]>><<set $Qs +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if not hasVisited("We need to ask about the tensions with Gael, and the skirmishes at the border. How bad is it, really?")>><div id="choice"><<link [[We need to ask about the tensions with Gael, and the skirmishes at the border. How bad is it, really?]]>><<set $Qs +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if not hasVisited("What is Merry and her crew even doing here to begin with?")>><div id="choice"><<link [[What is Merry and her crew even doing here to begin with?]]>><<set $Qs +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if not hasVisited("Are there any rumors in the area? That wraith was already unexpected; we don't need any more surprises.")>><div id="choice"><<link [[Are there any rumors in the area? That wraith was already unexpected; we don't need any more surprises.]]>><<set $Qs +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if $Qs is 4>><div id="choice">[[I've heard enough.]]</div><</if>>"We're on our way to Highfell," you say then, "This was just a detour. We have a job out there - reports of missing people."
Merry hums. "Right," she says slowly, "I've heard about it. You know there are people missing here, in Blackwater, too?"
No, you didn't know that. You glance over at Lea, who's giving Merry a hard look.
"Connected?" Lea asks, seemingly unable to help $l_themself, despite $l_their earlier annoyance.
"Perhaps. There's not much to go on. But we have a few theories," Merry says, gesturing between herself and Noel. "We've been trying to contact the Black Iron for a few months now."
That surprises you.
"What?" you ask, blinking. "We never received anything from Blackwater."
"I am well aware," Merry sighs. "Why do you think I was out looking for you? <<if not hasVisited("Are there any rumors in the area? That wraith was already unexpected; we don't need any more surprises.")>>I've got an ear to the ground. I knew you would be passing by. I didn't want you to slip through my fingers."<<else>>I've got an ear to the ground. I didn't want you to slip through my fingers. Especially with the isolation district... it's only getting worse."<</if>>
You and Lea exchange another look. Blackwater hasn't reported any issues in some time, actually. Obviously, the plague was occupying most people's minds up until recently, and to be fair, mail did slow down considerably during the worst of it. Lack of couriers, restricted travel, shuttered districts - it was chaotic, and letters and packages had a tendency to simply never show up at all.
"I know what you're thinking," Merry cuts in then, exasperated, "and no, it's not the couriers. It's not the plague. It's that little shit Lord Duncan," Merry sneers his name.
It takes you and Lea a moment to respond to that.
"Lord Duncan is stopping your mail?" Lea is the one to say it, clearly skeptical.
Merry slowly lowers her legs from the desk, leaning forward onto her elbows.
"What do you know about Lord Duncan?" she asks.
<div id="choice">[[He's new.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[He's from the south.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[He sounds pretty harmless...]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[You know what? I don't know that much at all.]]</div>"We've heard about some problems at the border. The skirmishes with Gael, all of the soldiers, everything that's happened there – how bad is it, really?"
Merry drums her fingers on the desk. "If you were to judge based on the soldiers //here//, I would guess pretty fucking bad," she says. "And there's Lord Duncan. Southern prick. My guess is he's been assigned here for a reason."
"Shit," Lea swears next to you.
"Not exactly a good time for a trip to Highfell, it sounds like," you say.
"No, especially not for you," Merry says, looking between you and Lea. "Black Iron hunters aren't a favorite, I'm sure you're aware," Merry says the last part while staring at Lea.
"But you haven't been to the border yourself?" you prompt.
"I captain a ship," she says bluntly. "Even before the plague, I've never payed much attention to any border."
<<include "merry highfell questions">>"Merry, I have to ask – what are you even doing here?"
"I //was// here selling my honest-earned goods," she starts, "and then something kinda shit happened, you may have heard of it. The plague? And I got fucking stuck here."
"Gael wouldn't let you come back?" Lea asks.
"I didn't want to go back," Merry says. "It wasn't a risk I was willing to take."
"And now?" you ask. "What's keeping you here? What authority do you have?"
Merry gives you a tight smile. "We'll get to that," she says with a wave of her hand.
<<include "merry highfell questions">><<if hasVisited("Let's start with Highfell, and the missing people. That's why we're here.")>>"What about anything else? Any other rumors, anything strange that would be relevant - like the wraith?"
"Well, aside from the missing," Merry starts, tapping a finger to her chin, "there's the isolation district. That's why we were trying to contact the Black Iron to begin with. That's why we were looking for you." She glances to Noel then, but $n_xe's staring down into $n_their drink.
"It's bad," Merry says simply. "If it's not Duncan, then it's something to do with that district. The plague has damaged the Vel there. Even I can feel it, and I don't hardly believe in that shit," she adds with a scoff.
"Otherwise, people have been complaining about harpies. Something has riled them up, and they've been coming down from the mountains, scaring people on the water and near the woods outside of town."
"I've done what I can," Noel cuts in then. "I've kept them from the city with what wards I can manage. But the isolation district is where I've been focusing most of my energy." $n_xe glances at you then, "Help with that would be appreciated," $n_xe says with a small smile.
"I fucking hate harpies," Lea growls, running a hand over $l_their hair.<<else>>"We ran into that wraith pretty close to the city. Is there anything more? Is that why you've brought us here?"
"Oh, there definitely is //more//," Merry says, gesturing with her glass. "The isolation district is what comes to mind. It's why we were out there looking for you."
She glances to Noel then, but $n_xe just stares down into $n_their drink.
"It's bad. The plague has really damaged the Vel there. Even I can feel it, and I don't hardly believe in that shit," she explains with a scoff.
"Otherwise, people have been complaining about harpies. Something has riled them up, and they've been coming down from the mountains, scaring people on the water and near the woods outside of town."
"I've done what I can," Noel cuts in then. "I've kept them from the city with what wards I can manage. But the isolation district is where I've been focusing most of my energy." $n_xe glances at you then, "Help with that would be appreciated," $n_xe says with a small smile.
"I fucking hate harpies," Lea groans, running a hand over $l_their hair.<</if>>
"The isolation district... no one has been out to treat it?" you ask, though you already know the answer. No one from the Black Iron has been out here.
Noel and Merry both just shake their heads.
You were aware that part of the city had to be quarantined previously - and you expected that some of it would still be closed off. But if it's as bad as Merry claims it to be... Lord Duncan should have contacted the Order.
"Anything else?" you say then. You need to know.
"Honestly? Not really. Most of the talk here is about the plague, and Lord Duncan," Merry says, shaking her head. "And we've mostly been occupied by //other// things," she adds, gesturing to herself, Mal, and Noel.
<<include "merry highfell questions">>Tapping a finger to your lips, you consider it all.
You don't know Lord Duncan. Never heard of him before he took his place as warden. Merry's accusations are treasonous, if the wrong person were to hear it. For that reason, you're certain that at least Merry believes them to be true. Asking around for other opinions wouldn't hurt, though. And then there's the situation at the border. It's... concerning. It seems like no one really knows exactly //what's// happening at the border, but clearly something is brewing. You might just have to cross that bridge when you get there.
The isolation district is what really worries you, though.
"The isolation district," Lea says, as if $l_they had been reading your thoughts. "You think it has something to do with the missing people? Along with Duncan?"
"As I said, we've been trying to contact the Black Iron for some time," Merry sighs. "We started losing people last winter, when Duncan arrived. And when they closed off the isolation district, it all seemed to get even worse."
"I tried to look around myself, in the beginning," Noel says then. "But...," $n_xe trails off for a moment, eyeing you. "There's been a few omens," $n_xe says finally. "They keep coming back." Noel shakes $n_their head, frowning down at the floor.
"I figured our best bet here was to intercept you on your way to Highfell. Two hunters have to be better than one. Even if that one is the great Noel Lykaon," Merry adds with a grin.
Noel scoffs, lifting $n_their head to roll $n_their eyes at Merry. "Nice save."
"And I'm still here because some of my people are gone now, too." Merry stands from the chair then, her long hair sweeping over her shoulders as she leans forward against the desk. "I want you to help us. Help Noel secure the isolation district. Help me find my people. Help me bring them home," Merry says, her eye burning through you.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Okay. I want to help with the isolation district - and I'm interested in whatever is going on here, with Duncan and Redwine.]]>><<set $blackwater to true>><<set $m_friendship +=10>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">Our job is in Highfell, and that's where we need to go. Commander Hadrien can send reinforcements here. [WIP]</div>
<div id ="choice"><<link [[I don't know about this. There's a thin line we have to walk here with Duncan... Me and Lea should talk about this first.]]>><<set $highfell to false>><<set $blackwater to false>><<set $m_friendship -=2>><</link>></div>"He's new," you offer, shrugging.
"Oh, very good. Did you hurt yourself coming up with that one?" Merry rolls her eye.
<<include "the previous warden">>"I know he's from the south," you say.
"Yes. A genuine southern bastard," Merry says, shaking her head.
<<include "the previous warden">>"From what I've heard, he sounds pretty harmless," you say with a shrug.
Merry purses her lips, shaking her head. "I don't trust him as far as I can throw him."
<<include "the previous warden">>"Not much, to be honest," you say, shifting on your feet.
Merry shakes her head. "I expected as much," she says, glancing at Noel and tapping her fingers against the desk in irritation.
You think she's going to elaborate, but instead she just takes another drink, emptying the glass.
<<include "the previous warden">>"You worked with the previous warden?" Mal is the one that asks, perched on the edge of the desk and still nursing her drink.
"Before the plague. It was a while ago," Lea says with a shrug. "But we're familiar. Lady Redwine, a good woman."
"Do you know what happened to Lady Redwine?" Merry prompts.
Lea glances over to you, but you just shake your head.
Merry's face twitches. "I have my suspicions," she says. "What we know, is that Lord Duncan showed up... and then she was gone. No warning, no public resignation. It was overnight. Just like that," she snaps her fingers for emphasis.
"What are you insinuating?" Lea asks, narrowing $l_their eyes at Merry.
"Don't make me say it out loud," Merry says. "Not here."
That response makes you tense. You glance around, half expecting soldiers to suddenly barge through the doors and arrest you all. The gravity of your situation suddenly hits you then. This conversation alone can get you into enough of trouble. But add in a Gaelish refugee, a rogue hunter, whatever the hell is going on with Clementine, and... well. //Shit//.
"What you're... implying. That's a serious accusation," Lea says.
"Go walk in the street and count the soldiers. I think that speaks for itself," Merry snaps, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. "People are afraid to speak freely, they're afraid to even leave their homes - afraid even //inside// their homes."
"Is Blackwater occupied?" Lea asks in disbelief.
"Yes and no," Merry says after a moment. "Adranian soldiers are here. But, //occupation// is a strong word, perhaps."
"What would you call it?" you ask.
Merry considers, leaning back. "Infiltration," she says at last.
"While this is all very... concerning, what does it have to do with our missing people?" Lea cuts in then, clearly wanting to redirect this conversation.
"That's what I want to find out," Merry says.
<<include "merry highfell questions">>"Okay. I want to help," you say, glancing to Lea, who nods in agreement. "People missing in Highfell, people missing here... I don't think that's a coincidence. Things like this... there is no //coincidence// when things like this happen."
Merry takes a deep breath, pushing herself off the desk. "Good. Good. Thank you," she says, stepping back and giving you a quick bow.
You're not sure about Duncan... but it feels wrong to leave here, knowing about the isolation district, and you meant what you said - it can't be a coincidence.
"We can start with whatever information you have regarding the missing people. Probably start with //your// missing people, since you actually know them. If there's a connection, we'll find it," Lea starts, pacing in front of Merry's desk. "And I'm curious about this Lord Duncan, and what he's done with the isolation district."
"Hold on, hold on," Noel says then, raising $n_their hands. "Let's slow down. How about we give you some time to get settled before we get started? I'm sure there are things we all need to do today. And that will give us time to collect the information we have. We can reconvene in the evening."
Lea stops pacing, looking back over at Noel and Merry as if $l_they had forgotten they were even there. "Right, of course," Lea says, blinking.
Merry seems to squirm a bit, and you think she must be just as eager as Lea to get started right now. But Noel is right – you and Lea need to restock. <<if $PassedOutInClearing>>And, unfortunately, find new gear.<</if>>
"Now," Noel says, smiling, "I'm sure the two of you are hungry?"
[[Continue|bw lunch]]"We need to go to Highfell. We'll contact our commander to send more people here to help with the isolation district. As for Duncan - that's none of our business."
Merry takes a deep breath.
"Did you not listen to what I just said? You think I haven't tried that? We've had no response from your stronghold, or your fucking commander, for months! We cannot contact the Black Iron!" Merry slams her hands down on the desk. For a moment, it looks like she might vault over the desk and throttle you.
"Hold on," Lea cuts in then. "We should talk about this," $l_they <<say>>, giving you a look.
Noel clears $n_their throat, and you look over as $n_xe places a hand on Merry's shoulder. "How about we give you some time to think it over? And I'm sure we all have things we need to do. We can talk again in the evening," $n_xe says, nodding at you and Lea.
"It's all fucking connected, can't you see that? If you leave for Highfell tomorrow, I am coming with you," Merry says abruptly, ignoring Noel.
"I said, let's talk later," Noel repeats $n_themself, and you swear you can see $n_their hand tighten on Merry's shoulder.
Merry shrugs Noel's hand away, pushing off from the desk and walking over to the window.
For a moment all you hear is the distant sound of the docks outside.
"Okay. How about you sleep on it," Merry says at last, still staring out the window. "We'll have this discussion again in the morning." Merry turns back to you, her face neutral.
"Good!" Noel says, smiling. "Now. I'm sure you're hungry?" $n_xe asks, looking between you and Lea.
[[Continue|bw lunch]]"We should discuss this first, before we agree to anything," you say, glancing over at Lea.
Lea nods, crossing $l_their arms. "We should discuss it //alone//," Lea adds, for emphasis.
Merry takes a deep breath, and you can see her hands clench into fists atop the desk. "This is your fucking job," she growls.
"...You're asking a lot of us, getting involved with Duncan," Lea says slowly, scowling over at the captain. "You dragged us here. The least you can do is give us a chance to talk about it."
Noel steps in, then, clearing $n_their throat before Merry can respond. "How about you take some time to think about it? I'm sure we all have things to do today anyways, so we can meet again later this evening."
Merry exhales slowly, her head dropping for a moment, before she pushes herself off the desk, her hands relaxing at her sides. "I feel we are running out of time, here," she says, giving Noel a wary look. "I know it's connected. All of it. If you leave for Highfell tomorrow, I am going with you," Merry says then.
"Let's talk about it later," Noel cuts in, putting a hand on Merry's shoulder.
"Yes, yes," Merry says, shrugging away Noel's hand in annoyance. Noel just smiles, turning to you and Lea.
"Now. I'm sure the two of you are hungry?" Noel asks.
[[Continue|bw lunch]]<<set $introsComplete to true>><<notify 3s>>Codex updated!<</notify>><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:100%;">//One awkward meal later...//</span>
You're standing just outside the tavern now, the sun trying and failing to warm the city around you. Merry and Clementine stand nearby, all of you bundled against the northern cold.
Merry has played it cool since you all spoke, feigning disinterest at the moment, giving you and Lea space, for now. You didn't miss the fact that she skipped lunch, and had a little rendezvous with Mal, who she promptly sent off to do... something. And Clementine had rejoined your group when you sat down to eat, though has stayed pretty quiet, keeping their head down.
You tap your foot impatiently against the frozen ground, your breath fogging in front of you. You have your cloak on, and your hood up, but the cold air still bites.
Merry picks lazily at her teeth with a toothpick, her eye sweeping along the road as people come and go.
"Alright," she says suddenly, flicking her toothpick away, "I'm not waiting out here in the fucking cold any longer. Clementine, you're with me," she says, glancing over at them. Before she starts off, though, she turns to you, looking you up and down.
<<if $m_friendship gt 55>>"You want to come? I'm going to the docks."<<else>>"You coming or not?"<</if>>
You blink, a bit surprised at the invitation. In general, the captain surprises you - her attitude isn't what you're used to. Merry seems so... flippant. There's no fear when she looks at you. It could be Noel's influence - or something else.
As for going with her... well. Technically, you're supposed to be waiting for Lea so you can head to the market... but you're sure $l_they can manage without you. You're //not// sure if you trust the captain, but it's a chance to learn more about her, and to get out beyond the market and see more of the city, without Lea hovering over your shoulder. And of course, there's Clementine. The curious little bard.
There's not a lot of daylight left - the sun sets incredibly early here in the north, even more so now this close to winter. Whatever you choose to do, there are only a few hours before the night comes.
<div id ="choice">[[I'll go to the docks with Merry and Clementine.]]</div>
<div id ="choice">[[I need to wait for Lea.]]</div>"I'll come with you," you say with a nod.
Merry gives you a crooked smile. "Guess your leash isn't as short as I thought," she quips as the three of you start off down the road.
Well... Lea won't be particularly happy, but $l_they never really <<are>>. But this is an opportunity to see more of the city, beyond the market, and get out of Lea's shadow.
You glance back at the tavern – named Jack's – craning your neck to see up to the front doors. It's a hastily constructed wooden monstrosity towering above you on thick stilts, leaning terribly off center. To get inside, you have to walk up a very long flight of switchback stairs, then walk across a terrace and into the tavern proper. All of the buildings in this area are built this way; you're on the ground level, which means you're, well, on the actual ground.
Blackwater is a bit of a shithole. A city stacked on top of itself, built into the cliff side with ramps and bridges and dizzying staircases, an architectural nightmare just begging to collapse at any moment. At the bottom of the cliffs are the docks, as well as the Flotilla – an entirely separate part of the city that floats out on the water. Massive ships coming and going, connecting to each other with bridges and ropes, precarious rafts bobbing in the waves.
It's a chaotic community, with new people passing through all the time due to the large port, and Gaels and Adranians both clashing and coexisting.
Here you are on solid ground, packed hard from all of the travelers that have come before you. The ground level is particularly chaotic, and you're not sure how close to the cliffs you are from here. You turn back to Merry and Clem, and move quick to close the gap between you. Maybe you should pay attention before you get lost.
Clementine remains quiet, barely even looking at you as you fall back into step beside them. Merry's presence seems to send them shrinking into themself, wringing hands and frantic glances, and there's the city itself, all but swallowing the three of you, an easy place to lose yourself. Maybe moreso than Clementine expected.
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>Or maybe it's just you. There's no denying the uncertainty there, the strain that tightens with each stolen glance. The fear. What happened between you this morning... you turn your focus back to the captain, still marching ahead.
<</if>>[[Continue ->merry & clem]]"I need to wait for Lea."
Merry just shrugs. "Suit yourself," she says, turning on her heel and walking off, Clementine glancing at you and giving a quick bow before trailing after her. An interesting pair...
You stand in the cold, alone, your breath fogging in front of you, and you rub at your arms to stay warm. You take a few steps and pace a bit along the street, lifting your gaze and taking in the city. It's been a while since you've been to Blackwater, and you actually don't think you've ever been this far into the city itself, off the main road.
Behind you is the tavern – named Jack's – which is built up on stilts. To get inside, you have to walk up a very long flight of switchback stairs, then walk across a terrace and into the tavern proper. All of the buildings in this area are built this way; you're on the ground level, which means you're, well, on the actual ground.
Blackwater is a bit of a shithole. A city stacked on top of itself, built into the cliff side with ramps and bridges and dizzying staircases, an architectural nightmare just begging to collapse at any moment. At the bottom of the cliffs are the docks, as well as the Flotilla – an entirely separate part of the city that floats out on the water. Massive ships coming and going, connecting to each other with bridges and ropes, precarious rafts bobbing in the waves.
It's a massive, chaotic community, with new people passing through all the time due to the large port, and Gaels and Adranians both clashing and coexisting.
Here you are on solid ground, packed hard from all of the travelers that have come before you. The ground level is particularly hectic, and you're not sure how close to the cliffs you are from here. You glance over to where Merry and Clementine had walked off, though they are long gone now, vanished beneath the stilts. You slow your pacing and shuffle in place, rubbing your arms again, eyeing a few passers-by.
You let out a long sigh, watching your breath slowly curl in the air around you. You would have waited inside if you knew Lea was going to take so damn long...
[[Continue|noel appears]]<<if $n_walkout>>"$surname!"
You turn at the sound of Lea's voice, as if summoned by your thoughts, craning your neck to spot $l_them descending the long flight of stairs behind you. You can see $l_they <<have>> a few empty bags strapped across $l_their shoulders, for the market.
$l_They give<<s>> you a nod as $l_they hop<<s>> off the final step in front of you.
"We should head straight for the market. It's already a bit late, but we should still be able to get what we need," Lea says, adjusting the bags slung over $l_their shoulder. You nod an affirmative.
"You ready?" Lea asks.
"Been ready," you mumble, giving $l_them a look.
"Alright, alright," Lea says with a scoff. "Come on." And with that, the two of you set off.
<<include "walk w lea">><<else>>"$name!"
Startled from your thoughts, you turn around to see Noel bounding down the stairs at a rather alarming rate. You half expect $n_them to trip, or slip on the ice, but he beats the odds and jumps off the final step, landing right in front of you.
"Miss me?" Noel asks with a grin, a little bit breathless.
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s been agonizing without you," I say, excitement flickering through me at seeing $n_them again. ♡' 'its been agonizing without you'>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Uh, yeah," I stutter, suddenly nervous in $n_their warm presence. ♡' 'uh yeah'>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $shy +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I //guess//," I say, rolling my eyes playfully.' 'i guess'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yeah, sure," I snap a bit, rolling my eyes in annoyance. $n_Their high energy is a bit much for me right now.' 'yeah sure i snap'>><<set $n_friendship -=2>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"As a matter of fact, I did," I say, smiling.' 'as a matter of fact i did'>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>It's a bit of a walk, and while you're not that confident in your abilities to navigate Blackwater, once Lea guides you to the main street you get a sudden sense of familiarity. You've walked down this road dozens of times before, passing through for various other jobs, though the sheer size of the city surprises you every time. With the towering buildings, the bridges and platforms crisscrossing above, and just the amount of people – you feel a bit overwhelmed as the main street opens up around you.
<<if $n_walkout>>Focusing on Lea, you stick close to $l_them, not wanting to get separated in the crowds.<<else>>Focusing on Noel and Lea, you stick close to them, not wanting to get separated in the crowds.<</if>>
<div id="choice">[[I do actually like it here, despite the chaos. It's so different from the Black Iron, and anywhere else I've ever been.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I always have a hard time adjusting when I come here - the city is so... different.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[This place is way too chaotic for me. I hate it.]]</div>"It's been agonizing without you," you sigh dramatically, draping a hand over your head, though you're not strong enough to keep in-character, and can't help but smile.
"Then I am glad I am here to ease your pain, my dear," Noel says, pressing a hand to $n_their chest and giving you an equally dramatic bow before standing straight and laughing lightly, $n_their eyes flashing as $n_xe takes a step towards you.
You both just grin at each other for a moment, close enough now that you can see the gold of his eyes, and he no doubt can see yours.
Noel is the one that looks away first, still smiling softly, taking a small step back.
<<include "merry left already">>"Uh, yeah," you say, and you cringe inwardly at the waver in your voice.
Noel just smiles wider, clearly delighted by your reaction, and takes another step closer to you. You clear your throat and take a half-hearted step back, your face burning now, and you glance down at your boots, ducking your head away from $n_them.
Noel gives you your space, but you can still feel his eyes on you, warm and curious.
<<include "merry left already">>"Yeah, sure," you snap, insincere, your nerves spiking a bit at Noel's high energy.
"Oh, moody, aren't we," Noel sing-songs, and you give him a dark look as $n_xe just laughs. "Just relax," he adds, raising an eyebrow at you.
You scoff and shake your head, rolling your eyes, too, for extra emphasis. Noel sighs, pursing $n_their lips and leaning back against the railing behind $n_them.
<<include "merry left already">>"As a matter of fact, I did," you say, smiling warmly at $n_them.
Noel laughs lightly, glancing away from you, ducking his head slightly as he leans back against the railing behind him. "You're sweet," Noel says with another laugh.
That makes you laugh, now, too. "I've been called many things, and that's definitely not one of them," you say, raising an eyebrow at $n_them.
Noel just smiles, crossing $n_their arms over $n_their chest and scuffing the ground with $n_their heel.
<<include "merry left already">>"Merry left already?" Noel asks then,<<if hasVisited("uh yeah")>> straightening up and<</if>> glancing around.
"Yeah. Went to the docks, and took Clementine with her," <<if hasVisited("uh yeah")>>you say, blinking a few times and clearing your throat again.<<else>>you say with a shrug.<</if>>
Noel clicks $n_their tongue, shaking $n_their head. "She is so impatient!" he waves $n_their hand dismissively then, sighing: "Think Lea will tolerate me?"
"You want to come with us?" you raise an eyebrow. "Good luck. $l_They barely tolerate<<s>> me."
Noel grins. "I think I'll be fine. I'm far more charming than you."
You scoff as Noel brushes past you with a laugh.
"I won't stay long. But we're all going in the same direction. And since Merry //ditched// me, why not enjoy a nice walk with my new friends instead?" Noel twirls back around to face you, holding his hands up in a casual gesture.
"Going to your clinic?" you guess, curious about this other hunter.
"Hm. Not quite. I don't actually have a clinic. I //am// the clinic," Noel explains, throwing $n_their cloak out around $n_them in a flourish.
"House calls?"
"Yes. But not today." Noel steps closer to you then, dropping $n_their voice to a dramatic whisper. "No healer business. Hunter business."
That really gets your attention, then. //The isolation district?// But Noel ignores your questioning look, instead stepping back and just giving you a knowing smile.
<<link '"$surname!"' 'lea appears'>><</link>>Lea calls, and you and Noel both turn to see $l_them descending the long stairs. $l_They <<have>> a few empty bags strapped across $l_their shoulders, for the market.
Lea scowls at the two of you as $l_they approach<<es>>, eyeing Noel in particular.
"You're coming?" Lea says, not hiding the disapproval in $l_their voice.
"If you'll have me," Noel says graciously.
Lea purses $l_their lips, and then sighs. "Sure," $l_they concede<<s>>.
Noel smiles, looking between you and Lea. "Where to?" xe asks, despite clearly knowing exactly where you all plan to go.
"We need food, rations. I figured we can go straight to the market, before it gets too late," Lea says, glancing at you with a nod. <<if $PassedOutInClearing>>You'll need to buy new gear too, unfortunately. A tent and bedrolls for the both of you, something to get you through this job until you can resupply back at the stronghold.<</if>>
[[Continue|lead the way]]"Lead the way," Noel says, and with that the three of you set off.
<<include "walk w lea">>You can't help but be charmed by the place. This city is the third largest port in Adrania, and the main port of the north. So different from the stuffy stronghold, and there's so many //people//. Everywhere you look, there's something new and interesting to see. You always enjoyed when you and Lea would travel through in the past - the people, the food, the entertainment, all of it a much needed relief from boring times at the Black Iron. Unfortunately, though, you know a lot has changed within the last year, despite appearances.
The upper levels now are all but off-limits to most people - you have to have the wealth to climb the ladder. It wasn't always like this; but when the plague came through, it revealed the true nature of your fellow man, how quick some are to turn their backs on others, to simply not care. They gated their communities and kept the //undesirables// out, leaving you all down below to struggle through the hard times.
You feel a twinge of sadness, sympathy for the people here on the ground. The plague hurt a lot of people - but it was definitely worse in places like this.
[[Continue|after some time]]You don't hate it, per se, but you definitely struggle through an adjustment period every time you come here - the noises, the crowds, the curious looks - it's always an effort not to get completely lost in it all. It was never really your favorite when you came through with Lea in the past, but now, with a lot of the changes within the past year, you can't help but be even more on edge than usual.
This city is the third largest port in Adrania, and the main port of the north. It was hit hard by the plague, and now the ground level is insanely overcrowded, due to the upper levels of the city now being all but off-limits to most people - you have to have the wealth to climb the ladder. It wasn't always like this; but when the plague came through, it revealed the true nature of your fellow man, how quick some are to turn their backs on others, to simply not care. They gated their communities and kept the //undesirables// out, leaving you all down below to struggle through the hard times.
The fact that some people care so little... you don't consider yourself a paragon by any means, but those people - those people disgust you.
[[Continue|after some time]]This city is the third largest port in all of Adrania, and the main port of the north - and you hate it. There's too many people, too many sounds and smells, way too much all at once, constantly overwhelming you, all but consuming you. You much prefer the quiet of the stronghold, the small towns you pass through on the road, anything but this mess. It was always a bad time when you and Lea had to come here in the past, but now, with the way things have changed in the last year, you hate it even more - something you didn't think was possible.
The ground level is insanely overcrowded, due to the upper levels of the city now being all but off-limits to most people - you have to have the wealth to climb the ladder. It wasn't always like this; but when the plague came through, it revealed the true nature of your fellow man, how quick some are to turn their backs on others, to simply not care. They gated their communities and kept the //undesirables// out, leaving you all down below to struggle through the hard times.
It infuriates you. You're no saint yourself, you are more than aware of that, but those people - those people disgust you. You would spit on them, given the chance.
[[Continue|after some time]]"I //guess//," you say, rolling your eyes with a smile.
Noel laughs, throwing his head back in over-exaggerated agony. "So cruel, my dear," $n_xe says, sighing dramatically, pressing $n_their hand to $n_their chest and hanging $n_their head.
Noel chuckles after a moment, dropping the act and leaning back against the railing behind him.
<<include "merry left already">>After some time, you blink out of your thoughts, and you can tell you're getting close to the cliffs, with the buildings beginning to thin out, the breeze growing stronger, and the thunderous noise of the lift crank reverberating through you. You spot the mechanism as you approach the cliff edge, a giant elevator to take people down to the docks below. There are stairs as well, and you can just see the top of them from where you are, stone steps carved into the cliff side as well as wide wooden staircases built out haphazardly. Perilous rope railings are anchored in the stone, guiding down, down, down. You peer over the edge, a dizzying distance down to the upper docks, where you can see it bustling with workers, sailors, and merchants alike.
The crank silences suddenly, your ears ringing, and you turn to see a group of people burst out of the lift, laughing and shoving each other, walking into the city. For some reason, the sight makes you pause, an eerie feeling in the pit of your stomach, exacerbated by the roaring quiet without the sound of the lift. If you didn't know any better, you would think there had never been any plague at all.
"$surname!"
<<if $n_walkout>>You startle, turning to see Lea quite some distance ahead of you. You scramble after $l_them, giving $l_them a wry smile as you approach.<<else>>You startle, turning to see Noel and Lea quite some distance ahead of you. You scramble after them, giving Lea a wry smile as you approach.<</if>>
Rolling $l_their eyes, the <<if $n_walkout>>two<<else>>three<</if>> of you continue on along the cliff edge, and up ahead you can see the market street, the last row of buildings right before the cliff drops away down to the sea below. Beneath the raised foundations of some of the shops, a few stalls are set up, the space rented out to travelers looking to sell as they pass through the city.
The smell of fish is overwhelming here, mixing with the salty air coming off the water. And it's //loud//. The sound of the crank elevator starts up again, making the whole place almost vibrate, coupled with the excited voices of all the people meandering down the street. Already you can feel the pounding in your head, a deep ache blooming behind your eyes, your senses strained to the extreme.
[[Continue|stepping onto the cobblestoned street]]Stepping onto the cobblestoned street, Lea halts, and you <<if $n_walkout>>do the same.<<else>>and Noel do the same.<</if>>
"Give me a moment to grab a few things here," Lea says, and you blink up at the shop beside you, craning your neck to see the front door. The sign above is carved with old northern runes, and it takes you a moment to decipher it. An alchemist shop.
Lea turns and darts up the stairs, vanishing across the terrace, leaving you <<if $n_walkout>>standing alone in the street.<<else>>and Noel in the street.<</if>>
"Alright, then," you mumble, rubbing the back of your neck, and closing your eyes tight for a moment, trying to will your headache away.
<<if $n_walkout>>After a few painful moments you open your eyes with a sigh, dropping your hand and pulling your cloak tighter around you. Your breath fogs in front of you, the day painfully cold despite the warm sun bathing the street. You debate following Lea inside the shop, but just before you turn around to head up the stairs, you feel that familiar instinctual pull, and a flash of green catches your eye.
Noel.
He's across the street, ducking through the crowd, hood up. You know $n_xe has to feel you here, too. Without realizing it, you find yourself taking a few steps in $n_their direction.
//What are you up to...//
You watch him continue on down the street, and you glance back up to the alchemist shop behind you.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I want to follow Noel.]]>><<set $bw_noel to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No, I'm not going to leave Lea.]]>><<set $bw_lea to true>><</link>></div><<else>>You sigh then, reluctantly opening your eyes and pulling your cloak tighter around your shoulders. Your breath fogs in front of you, the day unforgivingly cold despite the warm sun overhead, and you and Noel shift awkwardly in the street, with you closing your eyes again and retreating into your hood.
"Well," Noel starts after a few painful minutes, and you glance over at $n_them, "I'll need to be going, unfortunately. You'll have to give Lea my farewell." Noel pauses for a moment, then. He seems to consider his words carefully, searching your face. "Actually...," Noel hesitates, "Actually, would you like to come with me?"
You blink a few times, glancing between Noel and back up the stairs to the shop door where Lea vanished. You probably shouldn't ditch Lea... But are you interested in this //hunter business//?
<div id="choice"><<link [[I want to go with Noel.]]>><<set $bw_noel to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm not going to leave Lea.]]>><<set $bw_lea to true>><</link>></div><</if>>You turn away from the alchemy shop and cut across the street, ducking through the throngs of meandering shoppers, keeping your distance despite the fact you know Noel has to feel you close.
But $n_xe doesn't turn around, doesn't acknowledge you - just walks on, $n_their green hood bobbing up and down. Eventually he peels off the market street, slipping beneath some stilted buildings, passing into a more residential area. You pick up the pace, nearly breaking into a run to make sure you don't lose sight of $n_them.
You stay amongst the stilts, following diagonally behind, watching from the cool, dark shadows.
Still Noel takes no notice of you, just moving quickly, $n_their face hidden in $n_their hood.
Is this what it's like? For Lea? For everyone, when they look at you? It makes you feel uneasy, not seeing his face.
You purse your lips, turning your attention ahead, and you can see the temple in the distance, a stone spire standing solitary along the cliffs, silhouetted against the sea.
It's quite eerie here, wherever Noel has led you, colder, quiet, the lift crank fading - the wind groans through the ramshackle buildings, cutting through your cloak, your breath thick in front of your face. Gulls call out overhead, circling high above the city, the suspended bridges swaying in the breeze.
No one else joins Noel in the street - it's just you, lurking in the shadows.
The closer you get to the temple, the more oppressive the silence seems to get, heavy and dark in the long shadows beneath the towering, stilted buildings, the usually busy streets growing empty. This is odd - besides the docks, the temple is typically the liveliest part of the city. You narrow your eyes at Noel, though $n_xe seems unphased, $n_their steps remaining sure and steady.
[[Continue|following noel]]You stare after Noel for a few more minutes, unable to completely suppress your curiosity, before turning back to the shop. You're tired of waiting - and it's fucking cold - so you hurry up the stairs and head into the alchemist shop, relaxing a bit as you pass through the door and the warmth inside envelops you.
<<include "inside the shop 2">>"Yeah," you nod, "I'll come with you."
Noel's face lights up, and he clasps his hands together. "We'll come up with a good excuse for Lea later," Noel says, giving you a mischievous smile.
"Yeah. You better," you say, glancing back up to the shop again.
Noel just laughs, and then steps closer to you, offering you $n_their arm.
"Shall we?"
<div id="choice"><<link 'Take $n_their arm.' 'take xir arm'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Don\'t take $n_their arm.' 'do not take xir arm'>><<set $touch_averse +=1>><</link>></div>"Noel... I can't just leave Lea," you say.
Noel looks a bit disappointed, but smiles at you nonetheless. "Of course. Until later, then," $n_xe says, giving you a bow before stepping off into the main flow of the market. You watch him for a moment, unable to completely suppress your curiosity, before turning back to the shop.
<<include "inside the shop 1">>You stay standing outside for a few more long minutes, but you quickly begin to feel a bit exposed out here all alone in the cold. Pulling your cloak tighter around you, you head up the steps into the alchemist shop, relaxing a bit as you pass through the door and the warmth inside envelops you.
<<include "inside the shop 2">>It's much quieter inside, the ringing in your ears fading, though nothing can completely block out the sound of the lift. Glancing around, the shelves are overflowing with books, bottles, ingredients, anything you can think of that //might// relate to alchemy in some way. It's apparent this is a shop that focuses on alchemical solutions and potions, and not transmutation, though you do see a few books on the matter - marked with transmutation sigils - scattered here and there.
You wander down the first aisle, filled with vials and bottles, scanning the labels as you go. You recognize a few things - hormone potions, wolfsbane, //veritas//, crow's kiss, healing and magic restoration potions. Your knowledge is very basic, never being your primary focus, but you've picked up a few things traveling with Lea over the years, and making use of $l_their work.
You turn down the next aisle, filled with jars and bowls of questionable ingredients. Wrinkling your nose, you turn to head deeper into the shop, and nearly trip over a small form in the middle of the floor. A little orange cat lifts its head to stare up at you with big green eyes.
"'Scuse me," you mutter, carefully stepping over it and continuing on.
Soon you find yourself utterly surrounded by books, a lot of it far beyond you, based on alchemical theory and speculation with flowery, academic language making it all but inaccessible except to those who spend their lives - and a lot of money - studying alchemy.
That's also where you spot Lea – amongst the books, holding one open in $l_their hands, brow furrowed as $l_their eyes quickly race over the text. $l_They glance<<s>> up at your approach, snapping the book closed.
"Sorry," $l_they <<say>> quickly, blinking over at you, "got distracted."
You just shrug, eyeing the book Lea holds, though the cover is indecipherable to you, and the binding is tucked against Lea's palm.
<<if $n_walkout>>Lea clears $l_their throat, shifting on $l_their feet, and you finally lift your gaze from the book to look at $l_them.
"Sorry," $l_they <<say>> again. "I'll be quick. I know this isn't exciting for you, being stuck here with me."<<else>>"Where's Noel?" Lea asks, clearing $l_their throat.
"He left," you say, finally meeting Lea's gaze.
"Oh," $l_they blink<<s>>. "Guess you're stuck with just me, then. Sorry," $l_they add<<s>>, though $l_their tone is far from apologetic.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Nah. You\'re stuck with me, actually." I find myself smirking at $l_them. ♡' 'nah youre stuck with me'>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t mind being with you." I feel my face flush nearly as soon as the words leave my mouth. Oh, no. ♡' 'i dont mind being with you'>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Aren\'t I always stuck with you?" I say, giving Lea a playful shove. ♡' 'arent i always stuck with you'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s alright," I just shrug. I don\'t really mind it.' 'i dont really mind it'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I sigh dramatically, teasing $l_them, dragging my feet and making a show of it.' 'i sigh dramatically'>><<set $l_friendship +1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s not like I have much of a choice." I don\'t mean for it to sound as mean as it does.' 'its not like i have a choice'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t have to babysit me," I snap, a bit of an edge to my voice.' 'you dont have to babysit me'>><<set $l_friendship -=3>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You notice you're going away from the main road and in the opposite direction of Merry's tavern - however, after some time you spot the city's temple in the distance, a stone spire standing solitary along the cliffs, silhouetted against the sea. So you //are// still following the main road; just a few streets removed, out of the chaos.
It's actually eerie here, colder, quiet, the lift crank fading - the wind groans through the ramshackle buildings, cutting through your cloak, your breath thick in front of your face. Gulls call out overhead, circling high above the city, the suspended bridges swaying in the breeze.
<<if hasVisited("take xir arm")>>You're grateful for Noel beside you, but you're also far too aware of $n_their body against yours, heat radiating off of $n_them, and you stare down at your feet, hiding in your hood. You're not used to casual touching like this - it's foreign to you.
"Are you alright?" Noel asks suddenly.
"W-what?" you say, blinking over at him, cursing your stammer.
Noel lays his hand over your arm that's looped through his, giving you a small smile. "You're squeezing my arm," $n_xe says gently.
<<if $genuine gt $stoic>>"Oh - I - sorry," you say quickly, jerking back away from $n_them, freeing your arm and pinning it to your side. "Sorry, Noel," you repeat, ducking back into your hood again, your face burning.<<else>>"Oh," you don't know what to say, instead just carefully extracting your arm from $n_theirs and turning away, ducking back into your hood again, your face burning.<</if>>
Noel gives you a moment, still giving you that sweet smile. "It's alright, $name," $n_xe says, waving $n_their hand, and promptly letting the subject drop between you.
You fidget with your cloak, pulling it tighter around you, silently cursing yourself and avoiding Noel's gaze, turning your focus onto the city again.<<else>>You're grateful for Noel beside you, xir warm presence rather calming - the familiarity of another hunter. You glance over at him, but just like you, $n_xe hides in $n_their hood, and for the first time you realize how it must be for Lea - for everyone - when they look at you.
"What is it?" Noel asks suddenly, and you blink dumbly over at $n_them.
"Nothing," you say quickly, turning away, embarrassed at getting caught staring.
Noel hums, but doesn't press you, and you lapse back into silence. You force your attention away from Noel, instead focusing on the city again.<</if>>
The closer you get to the temple, the more oppressive the silence seems to get, heavy and dark in the long shadows beneath the towering, stilted buildings, the usually busy streets growing empty. This is odd - besides the docks, the temple is typically the liveliest part of the city. You glance over at Noel, though $n_xe seems unphased, $n_their steps remaining sure and steady.
[[Continue|walk w noel 1]]"We'll have to be quick," Noel says then. "I have the patrols memorized. I've been able to work around the soldiers, for the most part."
You watch the wards illuminate before Noel as he speaks, runes seared into the wood and stone, the markings of a cage.
//To keep something in...?//
Energy shifts around you, unfurling and reaching out, caressing your face like a warm summer breeze as Noel lifts $n_their hands. You take a deep breath, setting aside your unease and focusing your intent, and you copy Noel, shaking your hands out, letting the power uncoil in your chest, snaking down your arms, pressure building behind your eyes.
The wards respond to you, light rippling across the surface, revealing the dome of magic flickering around the isolation district, anchored by the runes along the wall. You feel Noel's magic brush against yours, again the feeling of a summer breeze, the enchanting smell of flowers and grass and damp earth, the humidity of sunlight filtering through dark clouds after a storm, and the taste of sweet wine, roses, and chocolate.
You wonder what your magic feels like to $n_them.
A soft glow comes spilling out from between cracks in the wall, falling over you and Noel, pleasant and cool, but it grows brighter as you lean into it, strengthening it, sending waves of light forward as if you had thrown a rock into a lake - and it's cool and then hot, unbearably so, making you sweat beneath your cloak. You grit your teeth and bring your hands together in front of you, and the wards flash a brilliant blue, locking together again, your and Noel's magic intertwining.
The light fades and you and Noel both drop your hands simultaneously.
[[Continue|your magic is strong]]You notice that some of the buildings you're passing are clearly uninhabited - doors hanging open, windows shattered, some of them even beginning to collapse and lean into each other. Staring through one of the windows, you can't help but flinch when the curtain suddenly snaps closed.
A sense of dread seeps into your bones as you continue on, and you can also sense something else - the presence of magic, weak, but there, warm yet despondent, crumbling in the face of the hopelessness and fear hanging in the air.
That's when you finally see it, up ahead; a crudely built wall of wood and stone, blocking the way forward, separating you from the rest of the city - from the temple. You finally step out onto the street, trailing behind Noel, a shiver crawling up your spine.
"Nice to see you again, hunter," Noel says without turning around, $n_their voice startling you.
You take a deep breath, a few quick steps to catch up with him, staring up at the wall, and you can feel Noel's eyes on you.
"The isolation district?" you ask, despite already knowing the answer.
"The isolation district," Noel confirms.
You tense, even just at the mention of it, a bad taste in your mouth, echoes of the last year you've long since tried to forget threatening to rear back up into your mind.
[[Continue|following noel 1]]"You want to make yourself useful and help me?" Noel asks then.
You swallow hard, running a hand over your face, as if you can physically scrub away those memories. Noel takes a step towards you, tilting his head, $n_their brow furrowed.
"$name?" $n_xe prompts, and you drop your hands, nodding.
<<if $blackwater>>"Yeah. I'll help. I already said I would help," you say, more to get his attention away from you than anything else.
"Right," Noel says, still watching you closely.
"I thought we would do this together," you say then, returning $n_their look.
Noel glances sideways, pursing $n_their lips. It seems like he wants to say something, but instead shakes his head, just turning away and walking towards the wall. At $n_their approach, you can feel the magic surge, growing stronger, warmer, shimmering in front of you, making itself known to its creator.<<else>>"...Yeah. I'll help," you say, more to get $n_their attention away from you than anything else.
Noel eyes you for another moment, before finally turning away and walking up to the wall. At $n_their approach, you can feel the magic surge, growing stronger, warmer, shimmering in front of you, making itself known to its creator.<</if>>
<<include "noel eyes you">>Shaking your head, you loop your arm through $n_theirs, and the two of you set off through the market, Noel masterfully guiding you along and avoiding meandering shoppers before ducking the two of you through some stilts, into a more residential area.
<<include "walk w noel">>You raise an eyebrow at him, shaking your head.
Noel pouts, letting $n_their arm drop dramatically, before laughing again and setting off through the market. You quickly follow after him as $n_xe guides you masterfully along, avoiding meandering shoppers before ducking through some stilts, into a more residential area.
<<include "walk w noel">>You notice that some of the buildings you're passing are clearly uninhabited - doors hanging open, windows shattered, some of them even beginning to collapse and lean into each other. Staring through one of the windows, you can't help but flinch when the curtain suddenly snaps closed.
A sense of dread seeps into your bones as you move farther down the street, and you can also sense something else - the presence of magic - weak, but there, warm yet despondent, crumbling in the face of the hopelessness and fear hanging in the air.
That's when you finally see it, up ahead; a crudely built wall of wood and stone, blocking the way forward, separating you from the rest of the city - from the temple. Your steps slow, and you shiver involuntarily, crossing your arms over your chest and hugging yourself. Noel matches your steps, and you can feel $n_their eyes on you.
"The isolation district?" you ask, despite already knowing the answer.
"The isolation district," Noel confirms.
You tense, even just at the mention of it, a bad taste in your mouth, dark memories of the last year you've long since tried to forget threatening to rear back up into your mind.
"Will you help me?" Noel asks, and you swallow hard, running a hand over your face, as if you can physically scrub away those haunted memories. Noel takes a step towards you, tilting his head at you, his brow furrowed.
"$name?" $n_xe prompts, and you drop your hands, nodding.
<<if $blackwater>>"Yeah. I'll help. I already said I would help," you say, more to get $n_their attention away from you than anything else.
"Right," Noel says, still watching you closely.
"I thought we would do this together - later," you say then, returning $n_their look.
Noel glances sideways, pursing his lips. It seems like $n_xe wants to say something, but instead shakes $n_their head, just turning away and walking towards the wall. At $n_their approach, you can feel the magic surge, growing stronger, warmer, shimmering in front of you, making itself known to its creator.<<else>>"...Yeah. I'll help," you say, more to get $n_their attention away from you than anything else.
Noel eyes you for another moment, before finally turning away and walking up to the wall. At his approach, you can feel the magic surge, growing stronger, warmer, shimmering in front of you, making itself known to its creator.<</if>>
<<include "noel eyes you">>"Your magic is strong," Noel says, stepping towards the wall, running a hand over the still fading runes. "This will keep the wards set for a while, now. I was really struggling - on my own."
"Why wouldn't Lord Duncan contact the Black Iron..." it's not a really a question, but you purse your lips, looking back and forth along the length of the barricade. Leaving this part of the city like this... you don't get it. While it could never be fully cleansed, a group of hunters easily could have come and placed better, stronger wards and swept through the area to place more meticulous protections and reinforce the Vel.
Instead they've just left the center of the city to //rot//.
"I can't figure it out either," Noel says then. You turn back to where he stands before the wall. You expect $n_them to continue, but $n_xe just glances back at you, before reaching out and grasping at the wall, no hesitation before hauling himself up, $n_their cloak billowing out as $n_xe climbs.
You take a hurried step towards him, whipping your head around, half expecting someone to appear and point fingers at you. Noel reaches the top with ease, hiking up his skirt and swinging his one leg over to straddle the wall, looking down at you expectantly.
<<if $n_walkout>>"Well? You followed me this far," Noel says, smirking at you, offering you a hand.<<else>>"Come with me," Noel says, leaning forward and offering you a hand.<</if>>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Noel... I don\'t know about this."' 'noel i dont know about this'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Have you lost your mind?"' 'have you lost your mind'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay," I nod and take $n_their hand.' 'okay i take xir hand'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'With a sigh, I reluctantly take $n_their hand and climb the wall.' 'with a sigh i take xir hand'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I mumble a few swears and climb the wall on my own.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You shake your head, muttering a few colorful words as you reach out and grasp the wall, ignoring Noel's outstretched hand.
"Careful, now," Noel says, though you can hear the sarcasm in his voice without having to look up at the smirk you are sure is accompanying it.
You grunt as you push yourself up over the wall, scrambling for a foothold for a moment before you manage to throw one of your legs over the other side, mirroring Noel, cursing as you knock your knees with $n_theirs as you find your balance. You catch your breath, glancing over at Noel, then back down to where your hands grip the top of the wall.
<<include "climbing the wall">>"Have you lost your mind?"
Noel laughs, rocking back dangerously atop the wall. "I don't think so," he says, grinning down at you. "Come on! Trust me," he says, reaching $n_their hand out again.
You can't help but groan, running a hand over your face.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Fine," you say with a huff, cursing under your breath as you swing your arm up and grasp Noel's.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>You look up at $n_them for a moment, those gold eyes peering at you from beneath $n_their hood, before letting out a defeated sigh. "Alright," you say, reaching up and grasping Noel's arm.<<else>>You stare at Noel for a long moment, before letting out a defeated sigh, giving $n_them a nod and reaching up - reluctantly - to grasp $n_their arm.<</if>>
Noel chuckles, $n_their hand tightening around your forearm. "Thank you for the vote of confidence," he jokes as he pulls you up with ease.
<<include "take hand">>"Noel... I don't know about this," you say, eyeing $n_their outstretched hand.
You still feel a bit of panic, glancing over your shoulder, waiting for the sound of clanking armor and the shouts of soldiers.
Noel seems to deflate a bit at your reluctance, his hand dropping slightly.
"Please, $name," $n_xe says, and you look up at $n_them, searching $n_their face, $n_their eyes pleading.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You let out a long sigh. "Fine," you say with a huff, reaching up and grasping $n_their arm.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I... Okay," you say, giving $n_them a weak smile before reaching up and grasping $n_their arm.<<else>>You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath and exhaling through your nose. Then you reach up and grasp $n_their arm with a nod.<</if>>
Noel's face splits into a grin, his hand tightening around your forearm. "Thank you," he says as he pulls you up with ease.
<<include "take hand">>"Okay," you say, nodding and reaching up to grasp $n_their arm.
Noel doesn't hide $n_their surprise. "Really?"
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Just pull me up before I change my mind," you say, rolling your eyes. Noel grins, $n_their hand tightening around your forearm before he pulls you up with ease.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Yes, really," you say, smiling at Noel's reaction. Noel just grins, $n_their hand tightening around your forearm before he pulls you up with ease.<<else>>You give Noel a look. "Just pull me up," you say, shaking your head. Noel grins, $n_their hand tightening around your forearm before he pulls you up with ease.<</if>>
<<include "take hand">>You let out a long sigh, shaking your head as you reach up and take Noel's arm.
"Do try to contain your excitement, dear," Noel says, $n_their voice thick with sarcasm.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Just pull me up before I change my mind," you say, rolling your eyes. Noel grins, $n_their hand tightening around your forearm before he pulls you up with ease.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Oh, I am just ecstatic," you say, smiling up at $n_them. Noel grins, $n_their hand tightening around your forearm before he pulls you up with ease.<<else>>You give Noel a look. "Just pull me up," you say with another sigh. Noel grins, $n_their hand tightening around your forearm before he pulls you up with ease.<</if>>
<<include "take hand">>You can't help but feel a little giddy, doing something you're not supposed to be doing, sitting atop the wall like this. You let out a breathy laugh, shaking your head as you look back down at the alley below. When you glance back over, Noel is smiling at you.
<<if $n_flirt gte 1>>You duck back into your hood, feeling self-conscious with Noel staring at you like that, all $n_their attention on you, your face growing hot.
"$name?" Noel says, a whisper, leaning forward slightly.
You glance out from beneath your hood, finding yourself leaning forward too, despite your heart racing at the way he says your name. "Yeah?" you ask softly, embarrassingly breathless.
The feathers on Noel's cloak ruffle in the cold ocean breeze, the sun glinting off the gold jewelry in $n_their hair, a small smile lighting up $n_their face beneath $n_their hood as $n_xe moves even closer, one of $n_their hands pressed against the top of the wall between your knees.
"Let's go," he says, winking at you before throwing himself over the other side of the wall.
You stare after $n_them for a moment, your face flushed, swallowing hard and blinking away the image of $n_their smile still lingering in your mind, how close $n_their hand was to your thigh. You clear your throat and swing your leg over before letting yourself drop, landing the long fall with a grunt.<<else>><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"What?" you snap, feeling a little self-conscious now with him staring at you like that.
Noel glances away, chuckling and shaking $n_their head. "Let's go," $n_xe says, and without waiting for a response, $n_xe turns and jumps off the wall to the other side.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"What?" you ask, still laughing lightly, though you duck into your hood, feeling a little self-conscious now with him staring at you like that.
Noel glances away, $n_their smile softening as $n_xe shakes $n_their head. "Let's go," $n_xe says, and without waiting for a response, $n_xe turns and jumps off the wall to the other side.<<else>>You duck into your hood, pursing your lips, feeling self-conscious now with him staring at you like that.
Noel clears $n_their throat, giving you another small smile before dropping $n_their gaze. "Let's go," $n_xe says, and without waiting for a response, $n_xe turn and jumps off the wall to the other side.<</if>>
You stare after xem for a moment, your hand tightening around the top of the wall, before taking a deep breath and swinging your other leg over, tensing and pushing yourself off after Noel, landing the long fall with a grunt.<</if>>
[[Continue|other side of the wall]]You fumble a bit, Noel's strength surprising you, all but throwing you over the wall. You dig your fingers into his arm as you steady yourself, mirroring $n_them, your knees knocking together with his as you scramble your heels for a foothold.
"Easy," Noel says, squeezing your arm, only dropping $n_their hand once he's sure you're balanced.
<<include "climbing the wall">>You stand up slowly, your knees groaning a bit from the impact, and you take a tentative step forward, though there is a pull in your gut - the wards behind you, your own magic, trying to warn you away, to force you back. You press a hand to your chest, your fingers curling around your necklace, glancing back at the wall behind you, an uneasiness creeping in now, the wards protesting your trespass.
You tighten your hand around your pendant, your breath fogging in front of you, the cobblestones beneath your feet slick with ice. It's strange, being here, a place once so vibrant and full of life abandoned, snow weighing heavy on the roofs and platforms above you, and just like on the other side of the wall, the homes here are deteriorating, stilts rotting and collapsed, a bridge broken and creaking as it swings in the ocean air high overhead.
The temple is towers in the distance, looming over you, open sky behind it as the cliffs fall away to the sea. You stare up at the spire, brushing the clouds, opulent and gold, glittering in the afternoon sun. Closer inspection, though, and you can see the way the whole structure sags, broken stone and cracked foundations, a corpse in a nice coat of paint.
<<if $highfell>>"There are a few wards through here I want to reinforce," Noel says then, "Especially since you're - you'll be leaving."<<elseif $blackwater>>"There are a few wards through here I want to reinforce," Noel says then, "wards that can't wait until this evening."<<else>>"There are a few wards through here I want to reinforce," Noel says then. "Whatever you and Lea decide - this has to be done."<</if>>
You startle a bit at the sound of $n_their voice, turning to stare at him with wide eyes. You feel sweaty under your cloak, the hair on the back of your neck standing straight, your nails digging into your palm as you clutch your necklace.
"This is bad, Noel," you say, glancing at the boarded windows and doors, the large red X's painted over the barricades and along the cobblestones, warning you away from certain the contaminated streets, warning you to turn back. Turn back.
Noel hesitates, staring down at his boots before reaching up and lowering his hood. There's fear in $n_their eyes, uncertainty, the lighter mood from before gone now.
The Vel is weak, one bad night away from tearing completely. You can feel it all - the memories here, the death, the pain and sorrow. Noel can, too. The way time blurs and it all leaks into the air around you, the city itself sick and tired, ghosts of the plague haunting the streets here, crying through the Vel. And Noel has been alone with this.
"I don't know what else to do. All I //can// do is maintain these wards. This is why... I wanted your help. Merry was telling the truth, about trying to contact the Black Iron. I was the one that advised her to do it. I told her about you and Lea, too. Told her to find you," $n_xe adds, nervously fidgeting with the front of $n_their cloak. "I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this." Noel pulls at $n_their sleeve, $n_their brow furrowed, avoiding your gaze. You can see now, the hood down, in the natural light of the cold sun, how tired he looks, strained and uneasy. You can't imagine the effort it's taken to maintain this district all alone for this long.
"The plague was... horrific. I spent a lot of time here. Saw the worst of it here. And now... it's just over. So many people act like nothing ever even happened at all." Noel sighs. "I suppose it's easier to do when you can't //feel// it."
Xe glances back over to you.
At the height of the plague, you were lucky. At the stronghold, you were shielded from the worst of it. But you still saw enough. More than enough.
"I haven't felt right leaving this place. Not like this. I can't leave it like this."
Noel trails off then, rubbing his hands over his face. Xe suddenly laughs, though, dropping $n_their hands and shaking $n_their head. But when he glances back over at you, he stops just as suddenly, swallowing hard and wringing his hands in front of him, his laugh turning into a frown, his brow furrowed as he quickly drops his gaze to look down at his hands.
"$name... I'm sorry..." Noel says slowly, rubbing his face again before turning away from you, staring off down the street, at the closed doors and boarded windows. The scorched ground of the earth, where the bodies burned.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Noel..." Before I can think too much about it, I hug $n_them.' 'i hug xem'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I... I don\'t know what to say. But... I\'m here." I\'m not good with words, but I want to offer something. Anything.' 'i am here'>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Do you... want to talk about it?" I don\'t know if I can really help. But I can try.' 'do you want to talk about it'>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t say anything. I just reach out and rest my hand on $n_their shoulder.' 'put my hand on xir shoulder'>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Noel, you\'ve done so much already. You don\'t have to stay here forever," I try to joke, lighten the mood, but my smile is strained.' 'the world wont burn'>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t - I don\'t want to talk about this. I can\'t." I\'m already on edge, being here - there are already enough buried memories trying to crawl to the surface right now.' 'i dont want to talk about this'>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"Noel..."
You're not sure what comes over you - you don't think about it, just moving to close the space between you, reaching out and wrapping your arms around Noel's shoulders, pulling $n_them into you. Noel is frozen for a moment, $n_their arms pinned at $n_their sides, before suddenly melting into you, $n_their hands grasping at the back of your cloak, $n_their knuckles straining, burying $n_their face in your neck as $n_xe takes a ragged breath.
You swallow hard, a slight tremor in your hands as you reach up and gently press your palm to the back of his head, holding $n_them as if $n_xe was made of glass, fragile and already cracked. Noel leans into you, and you can feel the way xir breath catches in xir throat, xir arms tightening around you.
You don't remember the last time you hugged someone. The sudden thought almost overwhelms you, your jaw clenching painfully as your heart races, and you think you're going to cry. Your one hand tightens around Noel's shoulder, and you bite your tongue hard enough to taste blood.
The two of you just stay like that for a while, just standing together, holding each other in the empty street, but when your tears finally spill over, you have to pull away.
You have to pull away.
You stagger back, your boots slipping on the frozen ground beneath you, your cloak ripped from Noel's hands. You manage to catch yourself, a few feet between you and Noel now, and you roughly wipe the tears from your face, cursing at your shaking hands.
The cold seeps back in, Noel's arms no longer wrapped around you, and it's Noel that steps towards you, this time. But you shake your head, raising your arms slightly, ready to push $n_them away again - //Push xem away just like everyone else//.
[[Continue|i'm sorry noel says]]"I... I don't know what to say," you stammer, "I'm not good at talking about this kind of thing. But - I am here." You scuff the toe of your boot into the ground, uncertainty gnawing at you - you are not the kind of person that people come to for conversations like this.
Noel takes a deep breath, seeming to have to force himself to look at you.
"Thank you. I appreciate that, more than you know," $n_xe says softly, taking a step towards you. Noel lets out another shaky laugh. "It's been a long time since I've been around someone - that would understand." Xe stares down at $n_their hands, taking another deep breath. "I do want to say - coming here with me, helping me with the wards - it means a lot."
You blink over at $n_them, still unsure what to say, the sincerity in xir voice making it hard for you to look at xem.
"This place -" Noel waves his hands all around him, "it has been weighing on me. Whether you stay or go tomorrow, just know you have taken some of the burden from me, just by being here."
"I'll do what I can, Noel," you say, your voice strained, and you just can't look $n_them in the eyes, $n_their faith in you feeling utterly misplaced. What can you really do, in your state?
Noel seems to sense your discomfort, as $n_xe suddenly steps back, raising $n_their hands in front of $n_them. "I - sorry. Gods. I shouldn't - I don't mean to guilt you, or - or anything... I just shouldn't have said that." Noel shakes his head, and you can hear him mutter to himself, rubbing his hands vigorously over his face.
"We should just - keep moving. Once we set the other wards, we can head back to Jack's."
Noel turns on his heel, quickly walking ahead, and you follow, running a hand over your hood, a burning behind your eyes, and without Noel looking at you, a shaky breath escapes, your shoulders sagging. You blink a few times, clearing your throat before trailing after $n_them. You realize you and Noel are a lot alike. Carrying too much, nowhere to put it down - just one foot in front of the other, no matter how heavy it gets.
You think Noel realizes it, too.
[[Continue|warding]]"Do you... want to talk about it?" you offer, scuffing the ground with the toe of your boot, uncertainty gnawing at you. You're not very good at //talking// - especially not like this.
Noel takes a deep breath, seeming having to force $n_themself to look at you.
"I... I don't know if I can," he says, taking a step towards you. The look on his face makes your chest ache - mournful, is the only way you can describe it. "Thank you," Noel says quietly, "I do... appreciate it. More than you know. Maybe... maybe one day," $n_xe trails off, giving you a sad smile.
You nod, wringing your hands in front of you, not sure what else to say now, your throat tightening at his words.
Noel suddenly lets out another laugh, bitter this time, shaking $n_their head. "I - I really shouldn't be unburdening myself onto you. You have your own problems." Noel drops $n_their gaze, $n_their face twisted into a scowl. "I'm sorry. We should just - keep moving. Once we set the other wards, we can head back to Jack's."
Noel turns on his heel, quickly walking ahead, and you follow, running a hand over your hood, a burning behind your eyes, and without Noel looking at you, a shaky breath escapes, your shoulders sagging. You realize you and Noel are a lot alike. Carrying too much, nowhere to put it down - just one foot in front of the other, no matter how heavy it gets.
You think Noel realizes it, too.
[[Continue|warding]]"Noel, you've already done so much. No one expects you to stay here forever," you say, laughing weakly.
Noel takes a deep breath, before lifting his gaze and giving you a small smile. "You're right. I know. But..." Noel trails off, staring down at $n_their boots again, rubbing the back of $n_their neck. "I don't know what else to do."
He drops his hand, scowling now, scuffing the ground with the toe of his boot. "Sorry. I - I shouldn't be unburdening myself on you like this."
You struggle to find something else to say, but $n_xe just shakes $n_their head.
"We should just - keep moving. Once we set the other wards, we can head back to Jack's."
Noel turns on his heel, quickly walking ahead, and you follow, running a hand over your hood, a sudden burning behind your eyes, and without Noel looking at you, a shaky breath escapes, your shoulders sagging. You realize you and Noel are a lot alike. Carrying too much, nowhere to put it down - just one foot in front of the other, no matter how heavy it gets.
You think Noel realizes it, too.
[[Continue|warding]]You don't say anything - you doubt there is anything you //could// say that would really matter. So you just take a step towards $n_them, reaching out, hesitating, before resting your hand on $n_their shoulder.
Noel looks up at you, clearly surprised, before smiling softly - not a full smile, but still genuine. He reaches up and places his hand over yours, squeezing gently, before carefully removing it, letting your hand slide from his.
"Thank you," Noel says, before clearing $n_their throat. Xe steps back away from you then, crossing $n_their arms, scuffing the ground with the toe of $n_their boot. "Sorry. I - I shouldn't be unburdening myself on you like that. You have your own problems right now." Noel's face twists into a scowl, and $n_xe clears $n_their throat again.
"We should just - keep moving. Once we set the other wards, we can head back to Jack's."
Noel turns on his heel, quickly walking ahead, and you follow, running a hand over your hood, a sudden burning behind your eyes, and without Noel looking at you, a shaky breath escapes, your shoulders sagging. You realize you and Noel are a lot alike. Carrying too much, nowhere to put it down - just one foot in front of the other, no matter how heavy it gets.
You think Noel realizes it, too.
[[Continue|warding]]"I don't - I don't want to talk about this. I can't," your voice is strained, and you reach up and press your palms to your temples, squeezing your eyes closed for a moment.
Noel takes a step towards you, and you exhale loudly, dropping your hands and giving him a look. "I don't want to talk about it," you snap again, crossing your arms.
"Okay," Noel says quietly, clearing $n_their throat. "I get it. I shouldn't - I shouldn't be unburdening myself onto you like this, anyways," he says, scuffing his boot on the ground, scowling now. "I'm sorry. You... you have your own problems."
A heavy, awkward silence passes between you.
"We should just - keep moving. Once we set the other wards, we can head back to Jack's."
Noel turns on his heel, quickly walking ahead, and you follow, running a hand over your hood, a sudden burning behind your eyes, and without Noel looking at you, a shaky breath escapes, your shoulders sagging. You can't help but think you and Noel are a lot alike. Carrying too much, nowhere to put it down - just one foot in front of the other, no matter how heavy it gets. That's just how it is. No use in complaining about it, in talking about it. Just one foot in front of the other.
Just set the wards, and go back to Jack's.
[[Continue|warding]]"I'm - I'm sorry," Noel stammers, $n_their face in $n_their hands. <<if $blackwater>>"You're already helping me - you and Lea are going to help. I shouldn't... //burden// you,"<<else>>"I shouldn't - I shouldn't have said all that,"<</if>> Noel drops $n_their hands, looking at you with frustration, and pity - too much pity.
"We should just - keep moving. Once we set the other wards, we can head back to Jack's."
Noel turns on his heel, quickly walking ahead, and again you wipe your hands over your face, biting back the scream bubbling up in your throat.
//What is wrong with you?//
[[Continue|warding]]The two of you move quickly through the isolation district, dodging soldiers and stopping here and there to set wards. Noel doesn't explain $n_their rationale behind locations, and you don't ask - it's better not to talk about it anymore. You do notice, however, that you're going in a large circle, with the temple being your final destination. It takes some time to get to it, the two of you having to take a convoluted path to avoid patrols as well as pausing every now and then to can catch your breath and recover from casting, your energy draining fast. Noel could run laps around you, if he wanted - his mastery over magic is admirable, and you can only imagine the blood, sweat, and tears he must have poured into it over the years.
One thing, though, you can't help but notice - that this feels rather... futile. There's not a lot of time for you to really get a sense of it all, with how quickly the two of you are having to move through the place, but there's a terrible feeling in the pit of your stomach, movement out of the corner of your eye, the constant feeling of someone watching you.
You know that you're not exactly performing at your best, but even if you were, two hunters is not enough to secure this district. <<if $blackwater>>While the others might be able to help a bit when you come back later, they're not hunters - they're not like you.<<else>>How many hunters from the Black Iron would it take? You're not sure there is enough.<</if>> You suppose it's better than nothing, at least, and so you keep going - it's all you can do.
The sun is low in the sky when you finally make it to the temple. You're surprised to see it's not boarded up like most of the other buildings in the area, though the doors are firmly shut. Though you don't need to go inside to feel the energy radiating from it - your skin crawls, a shudder passing over you as you stand in the shadow of the spire.
"Last one," Noel says behind you. You glance back at $n_them, the first words $n_xe's spoken in quite some time. You feel a wave of relief at $n_their confirmation - the last one. You're exhausted, your limbs heavy and slow, a pressure behind your eyes and an ache at the base of your skull. Granted, you are still recovering from a fight, but the fact Noel has been doing this on $n_their own all this time... you're impressed. And concerned.
You find yourself watching $n_them, the stitch between $n_their brow, the hard set of $n_their jaw as $n_xe stares up at the temple, $n_their hand clenching at $n_their side. Noel doesn't notice, and you drop your gaze when $n_xe finally turns to you.
"This one's going to be rough," Noel says. "We'll need someone at the doors here, and someone around back."
You nod, eyeing the doors before turning back to Noel. "I can go around back," you offer.
But Noel isn't paying attention to you, instead staring off to the side of the temple, his lip curled, anger you wouldn't have expected from him flashing in his eyes. You turn and follow $n_their gaze - and you see a group of crows, perched atop the headstones of the temple graveyard.
Your adrenaline spikes immediately, your hand drifting to your hunter's knife, but Noel raises $n_their hand. "Don't bother," $n_xe scoffs, still glaring at the birds.
You take a moment, glancing between the birds - it's not an omen. Well, not exactly.
"Look at that one," Noel says, pointing towards the crow perched atop the iron-wrought fence. You step up next to him, narrowing your eyes before you realize - it has three eyes.
"The Messenger," you say. The bird tilts its head at the name, letting out a loud call, the other birds ruffling their feathers and shifting atop their perches. Not the god itself - but one of its many eyes. The Messenger is a god of death, a seer, bearer of prophecies and omens. And it's staring right at you.
"Watching us. It's always here, watching. You think a god would have better things to do. Bastard," Noel adds with a sneer. Xe crouches down and scoops up a handful of dirty snow, hurling it at the bird, though it misses - intentionally, you think - snow and ice exploding against one of the iron posts right next to it, instead. Some of the other crows in the cemetery cry out and take off, fluttering away, but the one atop the fence just stares.
"What? What do you want? Why are you always fucking staring at me?" Noel is shouting now, reaching down again to grab more snow, again striking iron. Noel throws snow again, and again - all while the crow watches you. One more time, the whole gate rattling, and the crow turns and flies off. Noel is breathing hard, still holding another handful of ice.
[[Continue|the omen]]There's a ringing in your ears, a bad taste in your mouth - those three eyes on you.
"Noel..." you say, your voice too loud now in the sudden quiet. He blinks back at you, startled, as if he had forgotten you were even here.
The chunk of ice slips from $n_their hand, thudding on the cobblestones.
The both of you just stand in silence, Noel taking a halting step towards you, $n_their face pained.
"I'm sorry. This place brings out the worst in me," Noel sighs. He glances back towards the fence then, still scowling. "I hate that fucking bird. It's always here - they always just watch," Noel says.
"Who?" You know. You know who //they// are.
"The gods."
You take a few steps towards the cemetery, eyeing a few black feathers left behind, stark against the white snow. The whole place suddenly seems to strain for a moment, the aftershock of a god closing its eyes, everything blurring at the edges, the Vel wavering and flickering violently before settling into place, the world seeming to gasp around you. You rub your forehead, gritting your teeth, both you and Noel tensed, breathing hard. But it passes.
You can't say you like whatever the hell message that just was.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I hate the way the gods treat us - this coy bullshit, with omens and visions - it's ridiculous. It's all just a game to them. They don't give a shit about us.]]>><<set $gods to "angry">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't talk to the gods much, aside from a few frantic prayers here and there. A few curses, too, if I'm being honest. This kind of thing - whatever it is - is beyond me.]]>><<set $gods to "indifferent">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[The gods are powerful, with intention behind everything they do - I respect them. Seeing that crow here... it makes me uneasy.]]>><<set $gods to "respect">><</link>></div>How many tragedies in the world could have been avoided if the gods had just spoken up? Too many to count. You have no respect for a god who hides behind riddles and tricks, smoke and mirrors. And every god does.
It's likely that it's here because of the damage to the Vel from the plague - the dark memories burned into the street, drawn with red paint on the doors, the smell of death still lingering in the air.
You scowl over at the cemetery, resisting the urge to shout profanities after the long-gone bird.
<<include "the hunter's omen">>You know the stories and the names, you know a few prayers - but the gods have never done anything for you. They tend to have their favorites, and you're certain you're not one of them.
It's likely that it's here due to the damage to the Vel - the dark memories burned into the street, drawn with red paint on the doors, the smell of death still lingering in the air.
<<include "the hunter's omen">>Even with the crow gone, you can still feel its presence, a choking void in the air around the temple, making the world feel heavy, cold wind cutting through your cloak. An ominous display of strength and power. You respect that power, and while you're not the kind to have an altar, or to go to temple, you still find meaning in their stories.
While it wasn't an omen in the usual sense, you're certain it was here for the same reasons. The Vel is damaged, that was clear even before you crossed the wall - the dark memories burned into the street, drawn with red paint on the doors, the smell of death still lingering in the air.
You bow your head for a moment, your hand wandering to your pendant again.
<<include "the hunter's omen">>Some of the feathers get picked up in the breeze then, twisting through the air and vanishing beyond the temple. You feel a wave of nausea come with that breeze, your stomach twisting, and you double over for a moment, a pounding in your head, sharp pain behind your eyes, your whole body aching. Those three fucking eyes. You force yourself to turn away from the graves, turning back to Noel, standing with $n_their back to you, $n_their arms crossed.
You take a ragged breath, shaking your head, trying to focus on Noel, the muscles in his shoulders tensed, his back rigid and straight.
You take a step towards $n_them, but the pain behind your eyes intensifies, drilling through your skull, and you drop hard onto your knees, closing your eyes - but you're disoriented, your eyes closed but open, seeing nothing but pale, yawning sky, a crow circling high above, the sea washing over you - cold, painfully cold, stealing the breath from your lungs. You sense Noel rushing over to you, and you can hear $n_their voice, but the words don't process over the storm in your head, cutting in and out as everything wavers around you, the sound of grinding stones, clashing metal - and screaming. You feel as if you're being dragged down, chains clamping around your wrists, your throat, the taste of gritty seawater in your mouth as you dry heave, your chest aching.
You force your eyes open, and you can see the Vel contorting, reality warping for the briefest moment, and a loud keening crescendos, before the Vel snaps back in place, Noel curling over you protectively where you tremble on your hands and knees.
You bury your face in $n_their cloak, clinging to $n_them like a child, struggling to regain your breath, the sudden silence ringing in your ears. You realize after a moment that you're mumbling.
"It was staring at me, it was staring at me -" you slap a hand over your mouth, the words dying in your throat, the voice not even sounding like your own. Noel rubs steady circles over your back with his open hand, the other one holding you tight, and you feel that familiar summer breeze for a moment as his magic crackles through the air, pushing back against the Vel.
[[Continue|noel comforts you]]After a few minutes, Noel slowly pulls back, <<if $n_flirt gte 1>>$n_their hands fumbling to cradle your face, tilting your head up to look at $n_them. The touch helps bring you back, the ache in your head still there but fading, and you reach up and grab at $n_their wrists, still leaning into $n_them, the cold of the cobblestones seeping through your trousers, painful against your knees.
"Come back," Noel says softly, and his voice almost makes you crumble back to the ground. "You're alright. Come back."
Your breathing is still a little harsh, your hands tightening around Noel's wrists, still holding you up, staring into your eyes, looking - looking for something, you're not sure.
"What did you see?" $n_xe finally asks, delicate, on $n_their knees now with you.
You can't answer at first, the question jarring you, becoming far more aware of $n_their hands now, burning against your skin, your hood pulled off, and you jerk back, still holding $n_their wrists, shuddering against the sudden cold against your now exposed face.
"I - I don't know," you rasp, again your hands squeezing around Noel's wrists.
Noel looks angry - $n_their breathing hard, too, searching your face, frantic.
"I'm sorry, $name."
You blink at him, the pity in his eyes making your stomach twist again.
You quickly let go of him then, rocking back onto your haunches, scrambling back a bit, putting space between you despite the way you long for more, the dark warmth of $n_their cloak, $n_their soothing voice, and the contact, $n_their warm hands - you turn away, jerking your hood back up.<<else>>Xir hands fumbling to grab your shoulders, holding you up to look at $n_them. The touch helps bring you back, the ache in your head still there but fading, and you reach up and grab at $n_their wrists, still leaning into $n_them, the cold of the cobblestones seeping through your trousers, painful against your knees.
Your breathing is still a little harsh, but Noel stares into your eyes, looking - looking for something, you're not sure.
"What did you see?" he finally asks, his voice gentle, his hands squeezing your shoulders.
You can't answer at first, the question jarring you, becoming far more aware of $n_their hands on you now, burning through your clothes, and you jerk back, still holding $n_their wrists, shuddering against the sudden cold creeping through your cloak without Noel's hands to stop it.
"I - I don't know," you rasp, your hands tightening around Noel's wrists.
Noel looks angry - $n_their breathing hard, too, searching your face, frantic.
"I'm sorry, $name."
You blink at him, the pity in his eyes making your stomach twist again.
You let go of $n_them then, rocking back on your haunches, scrambling back a bit, putting space between you, rubbing your face vigorously.<</if>>
"It was staring at me," you say again, ignoring his apology. Your hands are shaking, and you clench them for a moment, before forcing yourself up, staggering to your feet, Noel leaping up with $n_their hands out, ready to catch you.
"Take it easy," Noel says softly, stepping closer to you.
"I want to leave," you blurt, blinking at your own words.
"What did you see?" Noel asks again.
You don't answer this time. What did you see? Nothing. You heard... the screaming. You grab at your hood, pulling at it, closing your eyes for a moment, taking a deep, shaky breath.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I saw the crow."' 'i saw the crow'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I felt the sea."' 'i felt the sea'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I heard... screaming."' 'i heard screaming'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Chains... there were chains."' 'there were chains'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I - I didn\'t see anything."' 'i didnt see anything'>><</link>></div>"I saw... I saw the crow," you say, your voice a painful whisper, and you shake your head, still pulling at your hood, afraid to look up at the sky, afraid that you will see it circling above you.
<<include "pathetic...">>"Chains... there were chains. I was chained," you say, your voice a painful whisper, you reach up, grabbing at your throat, half-expecting to feel the cold bite of metal there.
<<include "pathetic...">>"I heard... screaming," you say, your voice a painful whisper, and you shake your head, rubbing your face, trying to force the sounds from your mind.
<<include "pathetic...">>"I felt the sea... I felt it," you say, your voice a painful whisper, and you reach up and rub your arms, trying to force out the chill of the icy water.
<<include "pathetic...">>"I - I didn't see anything," you say, your voice a painful whisper, and extremely unconvincing. But you don't want to say it out loud.
<<include "pathetic...">>Noel doesn't respond, just looks at you for a long time, and you can only imagine how pathetic you look, cowering in your hood. This place... it feels rotten, the air thick and sour. Cursed. Coming here alone like this, setting the wards - this was all a bad idea, so soon after your fight last night and... and because of whatever the hell else is wrong with you.
<<if $n_walkout>>"I'm so sorry, $name," Noel says at last, dropping $n_their gaze to the ground. "I shouldn't have let you come here with me like this." You flinch at $n_their words. Of course - Noel can tell something is wrong with you. It's obvious, now - the constant hesitation, and all that pity every time xe looked at you. He looks torn, taking a moment to compose himself. "I've seen the crow a few times. I didn't think... I just didn't think...," but $n_xe doesn't finish $n_their sentence.<<else>>"I'm so sorry, $name," Noel says at last, dropping $n_their gaze to the ground. "I shouldn't have brought you here like this." You flinch at $n_their words. Of course - Noel can tell something is wrong with you. It's obvious, now - the constant hesitation, and all that pity every time xe looked at you. He looks torn, taking a moment to compose himself. "I've seen the crow a few times. I didn't think... I just didn't think...," but $n_xe doesn't finish $n_their sentence.<</if>>
You glance back to the cemetery, your skin crawling, long shadows seeming to waver beneath the graves.
"I - I was being selfish. The wards are important," $n_xe pauses to laugh bitterly, "but I'm not fooling anyone. Especially not you. This is - this isn't doing anything. The wards are a waste of fucking time." Noel throws $n_their hands out, defeated, before letting them drop back down to $n_their sides, both of you standing in silence for a moment.
Noel swallows hard, taking a step towards you, searching your face. "I shouldn't have brought you here," he says again. "I just... didn't want to be alone with it anymore."
<div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t have to be alone." The words are out before I even realize it. ♡' 'you dont have to be alone'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re not selfish, Noel. You\'re not." ♡' 'youre not selfish'>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I - I wanted to come with you." It doesn\'t matter - I was always going to come with $n_them. ♡' 'i wanted to come with you'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re not selfish for this, Noel." I want $n_them to understand that.' 'youre not selfish for wanting help'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Well, we have to look out for each other, yeah? That\'s what hunters do."' 'we have to look out for each other'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=3>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"The wards //are// important. This needed to be done." Whatever my feelings are, we had to do this.' 'the wards are important'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re right. You shouldn\'t have brought me here." I\'m tired, and angry, and this was a mistake.' 'youre right you shouldnt have brought me here'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set n_relationship to 3>><<set $n_friendship -=5>><</link>></div>"You don't have to be alone," you say, barely even thinking the words before you say them. Your voice is still harsh, a pathetic rasp, but it's just you and Noel, and you know $n_xe hears you, the way $n_their eyes close for the briefest moment, before looking back at you.
But Noel just gives you a guilty look, shaking his head. "Let's just - let's just go."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Noel," your voice is hard, and you step towards $n_them, reaching out but - but faltering, your hand hanging in the air. Noel doesn't say anything, though you can see him flinch, glancing between you and your open hand.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Noel," you speak softly, stepping towards $n_them, reaching out but - but faltering, your hand hanging in the air. Noel doesn't say anything, that guilty look still on $n_their face, glancing between you and your open hand.<<else>>You step towards $n_them, forcing $n_them to look at you, reaching out but - but faltering, your hand hanging in the air. Noel doesn't say anything, that guilty look still on his face, glancing between you and your open hand.<</if>>
"I know... I know how you feel," you say slowly, struggling to articulate yourself. "But you don't - you //don't// have to be alone." You're not sure if you're talking to Noel, or yourself, frustrated at the way your voice cracks, the tears burning in your eyes before you frantically rub them away.
You've been trying not to think about it all this time, but it bubbles to the surface in this moment - the new heavy feeling in your chest, the pull between you, that you just want so bad to blame on the two of you being hunters.<<if $n_flirt gte 1>> You try not to think about the phantom warmth you can still feel on your back, where Noel drew $n_their circles. How you felt in $n_their arms, the way $n_xe cradled your face in $n_their hands.<</if>> You feel foolish, and maybe it's just the fact that you also feel a sense of relief, the realization that Noel knows - that you're not alone with it anymore, either.
Noel still doesn't speak, but you do see $n_their face soften, $n_their shoulders relaxing slightly, and then $n_xe grabs your outstretched hand, rough and shaky, giving it a light squeeze, $n_their thumb running over your knuckles before $n_xe lets go.
"Thank you," he says.
You let out a long breath, staring at your hand for a moment, before pulling it back to your side, giving Noel a tight smile, <<if $touch_averse eq 0>>already missing the feeling of $n_their hand in yours.<<else>>already missing the feeling of $n_their hand in yours, despite the touch burning your skin.<</if>>
[[Continue|temple ward]]"You're not selfish, Noel. You're not," you say, your voice still harsh, a pathetic rasp, but it's just you and Noel, and you know he hears you, the way his eyes close for the briefest moment, before looking back at you.
Noel sighs, giving you a guilty look. "This is cruel of me to do to you," $n_xe says.
You take a step towards $n_them, tilting your head questioningly.
"Overfamiliar. Unburdening myself onto you," Noel says, exasperated. "All morning - I've let Merry throw you around, and now this, too, when you're..." Noel stops himself, and you glance away for a moment.
"You're a hunter," you say then, ignoring that last comment - and Noel starts to roll $n_their eyes before you're even finished, "we're already familiar." You take another step towards him, fidgeting with your sleeve, glancing from his face, down to your hands, back again. "But... I don't mind getting even more familiar with you," you say softly, your face heating up at the sudden confession.
You've been trying not to think about it, all this time - that new heavy feeling in your chest, the pull between you, that you just want so bad to blame on the two of you being hunters. <<if $n_flirt gte 1>>You don't want to think about the phantom warmth you can still feel on your back, where Noel drew $n_their circles. How you felt in $n_their arms, the way $n_xe cradled your face in $n_their hands. You feel foolish, and maybe it's just the fact that you also feel a sense of relief, the realization that Noel knows - that you're not alone with it anymore, either.
Noel doesn't say anything, just looks at you, uncertain, and you swallow hard, forcing yourself to speak again.<<else>>You feel foolish, and maybe it's just the fact that you also feel a sense of relief, the realization that Noel knows - that you're not alone with it anymore, either.
Surprise flashes across Noel's face for the briefest moment, before $n_their brow furrows, uncertain, and you swallow hard, forcing yourself to speak again.<</if>>
"You're not selfish. Look at what you've done here," you say again, gesturing around the courtyard, indicating the wards, all of Noel's magic pressing back against the Vel, and even the temple - the quarantine clinic.
"Someone had to do it," Noel says, looking away from you.
You sigh, closing your eyes for a moment, opening them again and watching Noel cross $n_their arms, still avoiding your gaze. You know this conversation will just go in circles - it's what you would do, after all - but at least you said it out loud. At least Noel heard someone say it.
"We should go," Noel says then, his tone neutral, waving a hand around dismissively.
"Okay," you say with a nod. You don't want to push $n_them. Noel starts to walk back towards the street, but pauses beside you, close to you.
"Thank you," $n_xe says, bowing $n_their head slightly. You stare at him, searching his face, his dark, golden eyes flicking over your own, peering into your hood, at your lips - before he continues on past you and into the street.
[[Continue|temple ward]]"I - I wanted to come with you," you say, your voice still harsh, a pathetic rasp, but it's just you and Noel, <<if $n_flirt eq 0>>and you know he hears you, the way his eyes widen in surprise, the quick glance away from you as he processes your words.<<else>>and you know $n_xe hears you, the way his eyes close for the briefest moment, before looking back at you.<</if>>
"Don't apologize. I wanted to come," you repeat, your voice a little stronger now.
<<if $n_walkout>>You followed Noel here for a reason, beyond just your curiosity, beyond just wanting the familiarity of another hunter - you wanted to be with $n_them. Get to know $n_them. Make up for the way you treated $n_them earlier.<<else>>You chose to come with Noel for a reason, beyond just your curiosity about //hunter business//, beyond just wanting the familiarity of another hunter - you wanted to be with $n_them. Get to know $n_them.<</if>>
Noel is quiet for a long time, staring down at his hands, his brow furrowed. But then $n_xe shakes $n_their head, giving you a guilty look, pursing $n_their lips.
"Let's just - let's just go," he says.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Noel," your voice is hard, and you step towards him, reaching out but - but faltering, your hand hanging in the air - what are you doing? Noel doesn't say anything, though you can see him flinch, glancing between you and your open hand.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Noel," you speak softly, stepping towards him, reaching out but - but faltering, your hand hanging in the air - what are you doing? Noel doesn't say anything, that guilty look still on his face, glancing between you and your open hand.<<else>>You step towards him, forcing him to look at you, reaching out but - but faltering, your hand hanging in the air - what are you doing? Noel doesn't say anything, that guilty look still on his face, glancing between you and your open hand.<</if>>
"I promise. It's okay," you say.
Noel still doesn't speak, but you do see $n_their face soften, $n_their shoulders relaxing slightly, and then $n_xe grabs your outstretched hand, rough and shaky, giving it a light squeeze, $n_their thumb running over your knuckles before $n_xe lets go.
"Thank you," he says.
You let out a long breath, staring at your hand for a moment, before pulling it back to your side, giving Noel a tight smile, <<if $touch_averse eq 0>>already missing the feeling of $n_their hand in yours.<<else>>already missing the feeling of $n_their hand in yours, despite the touch burning your skin.<</if>>
[[Continue|temple ward]]"You're not selfish for this, Noel," you say, your voice still rough, but your tone is hard, and Noel flinches at your words, closing $n_their eyes for a moment, turning away.
"I didn't need to bring you here. That was risky. That was selfish," Noel says quietly.
You sigh.
"I am capable of making my own decisions, here," you say pointedly.
Noel gives you a sheepish look then.
"I just mean... You're..." Noel doesn't say it, though. Xe just trails off, and you both just stare at each other for a tense moment.
"I decided to climb that wall," you reiterate, clenching your jaw, ignoring the way xe looks at you.
"Okay," Noel says then, and you give him a nod. Xe steps towards you, $n_their face softening a bit, before bowing $n_their head. "Thank you."
"Yeah." You don't know what else to say.
An awkward beat passes, before Noel smiles at you. "We should get going," $n_xe says.
You clear your throat, glancing down at your boots. "Yeah," you say again. Noel eyes you for another moment, before brushing past you and back into the street.
[[Continue|temple ward]]"Well, we have to look out for each other, yeah?" you say, pausing to clear your throat, your voice still hoarse and raspy, "That's what hunters do."
Noel drops $n_their gaze, closing $n_their eyes for a moment.
"Exactly. And you... I shouldn't have let you come, when you're..." Xe trails off, avoiding your gaze.
You don't respond for a moment, clenching your jaw.
"Yeah. But I wanted to come. I wanted to do this," you finally say, taking a step towards $n_them.
Noel takes a deep breath, opening his eyes and forcing himself to look at you. He still hesitates, glancing away, and then back again, slowly exhaling and nodding.
"Okay," $n_xe says, smiling weakly.
<<if $n_walkout>>"I literally stalked you here. You really think you could have kept me from climbing that wall?" you joke, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere.
Noel does actually laugh, genuine, clapping a hand over $n_their chest.
"I guess that's true. I'll have to lead you on a real proper chase, next time," Noel says, his eyes flashing.
"Next time - I'd hoped you'd just invite me, next time."
"Where is the fun in that?" Noel smirks, brushing past you then.<<else>>"I did ditch my handler to hang out with you. And you've met my handler," you joke, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere.
Noel does actually laugh, genuine, clapping a hand over $n_their chest.
"That's true. You must really like me, to risk the wrath of Lea Chen," he says, shooting you a wink.
You roll your eyes, still smiling though, and Noel brushes past you, taking a deep breath then.<</if>> Xe takes a few long strides back in the general direction of the wall, before pausing, $n_their back to you. Turning around, $n_xe gives you a soft look, pulling at $n_their cloak.
"Thank you, $name," $n_xe says, wringing $n_their hands, but $n_xe's smiling, $n_their eyes warm.
[[Continue|temple ward]]"The wards //are// important. This needed to be done," you say, your voice still rough but clear.
Noel hesitates, wringing $n_their hands.
"What we've done is better than nothing; better than leaving this place to rot into the Vel," you say, rubbing a hand over your face.<<if $blackwater>> "We can do more with the others later."<</if>> You're agitated, and tired, but it doesn't matter - what you think, or Noel thinks, it doesn't matter. What matters is just doing your job. This is what you //do//, and what good are you if you can't even set a few fucking wards?
You sigh, dropping your hands.
Noel doesn't say anything, searching your face, uncertain, before finally just nodding.
"Okay," $n_xe says then, glancing away.
"I'll talk with Lea, we'll send a report back to the Black Iron," you say, and you almost expect Noel to argue, remind you about the missing correspondence, but he just nods again, pursing his lips and staring down at his hands.
You almost //want// him to argue with you. You don't know why. You rub your arms, chewing on the inside of your cheek, glancing back at the temple towering above you, the cemetery watching you from the spire's shadow.
An awkward beat passes, before Noel takes a step towards you, $n_their brow furrowed. "We should get going," $n_xe says, tilting $n_their head to look into your hood, a hesitant hand reaching for you.
You clear your throat, looking down at your boots for a moment. "Yeah, okay."
[[Continue|temple ward]]"You're right. You shouldn't have brought me here," you say, a rough snarl, and Noel flinches at your words, dropping $n_their gaze and staring down at $n_their hands.
All of this - <<if $n_walkout>>following Noel,<<else>>coming with Noel,<</if>> climbing the wall, setting these stupid, useless wards - <<if $blackwater>>it was a mistake, especially since you already agreed to help with all this later.<<else>>it was a mistake.<</if>> "These wards aren't even worth the effort of climbing that fucking wall!" You throw your hands up, your throat aching as you raise your voice, your eyes watering from the pain.
"$name..." Noel tries to speak, but words seem to fail him, and he won't look at you anyways, which just makes you angrier.
"We need to contact the Black Iron," you say. You start to pace, wringing your hands in an attempt to stop them from shaking. "Gods."
"I'm sorry," Noel says.
"You already said that," you snap.
"I don't know what else to say," Noel sounds desperate, looking at you with wide eyes.
"Then shut up!"
Noel doesn't flinch this time, but you can see $n_their jaw clench, the way $n_their eyes harden as $n_xe watches you pace. It's a moment before $n_xe speaks, your angry words hanging in the air between you.
"We're done here," Noel says, quiet, stepping back away from you. "Let's just go back to Jack's. Sit on our hands until your Black Iron commander shows up - Oh! That's right. They won't. Did you forget that already?" Noel's voice has a bite to it, and $n_xe's glaring at you now - a mix of anger and hurt.
"I shouldn't have brought you here." This time, he says it harsher, not an apology - a fact. A statement. "Something is wrong with you."
You halt your pacing, your head snapping around to look at him.
"What did you say?"
Noel's bravado seems to deflate a bit then, some emotion you can't decipher flashing across $n_their face before $n_xe just shakes $n_their head and turns away from you.
"Let's just go," $n_xe says, $n_their back to you, $n_their voice quiet again.
[[Continue|noel fight]]"Come on. Let's get the fuck out of here," Noel says, clearing $n_their throat and suddenly projecting $n_their usual, casual confidence, as if what just happened didn't actually happen at all.
<<if hasVisited("youre not selfish")>>"W-what about the temple?" you barely manage, the heat of Noel's body being so close still lingering around you. Clearing your throat, you turn around to follow him, though you pause and glance back at the temple, despite the fact that you very much doubt you could do any magic without killing yourself right now.<<else>>"What about the temple?" you ask, even though you very much doubt you could do any magic without killing yourself right now.<</if>>
Noel doesn't speak, but instead points down at your feet. You stare down at the cobblestones, taking a few startled steps back, seeing a large rune burned into the ground.
"That will do it."
You blink back over at $n_them. "You did that?"
"//You// did that," Noel says, and he turns away from you, rubbing a hand along the back of jis head. You think $n_xe wants to say more, but after an awkward beat, $n_xe just drops $n_their hand and sighs.
"Let's go," Noel says, starting off with one last glance at you.
You hesitate, still staring down at the rune. You don't even recognize it. But you can feel it now. Cold, <<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>sharp around the edges, a crack in the ice dropping away into dark, churning water, frigid and endless in its depths.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>rigid, spreading like the roots of a tree, breaking through stone and ice and the dark, damp earth, twisting and gnarled.<<else>>delicate, snow falling from dark clouds, melting into the earth, returning to a home that's long been abandoned and forgotten.<</if>>
You scrape your boot over the scorched stone, before shaking your head and hurrying after Noel.
[[Continue|straight to the wall]]Your blood has run cold, your hands clenched into fists, nails digging into your palms. You feel sick, swallowing hard and quickly walking past Noel without a word, heading in the general direction of the wall.
You can hear Noel's footsteps behind you, hesitant, an awkward shuffle.
"$name..." Noel starts.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Shut up. Don't fucking talk to me," you snarl without looking back at $n_them.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You don't respond, not even looking back at $n_them, just quickening your pace, an urgency in your steps - to get away from here, to get away from $n_them.<<else>>You just shake your head, glancing back at $n_them as you do, and Noel looks wounded - you imagine you both do. Pathetic and wounded, both of you just limping along in a strained silence.<</if>>
[[Continue|bad temple ward]]The walk back is incredibly painful. It somehow feels longer than the path you took this morning, despite being blatantly untrue, and it's cold now, the shadows growing longer as the sun sets below the cliffs.
You're chewing on the inside of your cheek, clenching and unclenching your fists, still fighting the slight tremor in your hands, and you can taste the metallic bite of blood in your mouth.
//Something is wrong with you.//
Well, you knew that already, didn't you? And of course Noel would be able to tell - $n_xe probably knew the moment you met, could feel it. You rub your hands over your face, shaking your head, resisting the urge to just... scream.
You just want to get back into the city right now - anything to distract you from this, to get you away - anything to forget the images still flashing in the back of your mind, that desperation you had felt - water in your lungs, that fucking bird watching you, the chains - you reflexively rub your wrists, reaching up to your throat.
Nothing is there, of course.
Finally, you reach the wall. It's well and truly dark now, no lanterns in the isolation district, just the faint glow of the city on the other side. Noel slows a few feet behind you, and you both stand still, quiet for a few minutes, listening. Your little magical display with the Vel earlier almost definitely attracted some attention, but there's nothing but silence on the other side.
You don't wait for Noel, reaching up and hauling yourself up the wall, scrambling and rolling over the top with a grunt.
<<include "hostile escape">>You hit the ground hard, wincing as your knees protest, pain spiking through the soles of your feet. Noel is close behind, climbing and vaulting over with a practiced grace you doubt you could ever achieve.
You stand slowly, rubbing your legs, letting out a wary sigh. But the sound of clanking armor makes you stand straight, you and Noel both turning to each other, frozen, holding your breath.
It's getting closer.
"Hope you're quick," Noel whispers, smirking, before turning on his heel and bolting.
You blink, staring after $n_them for a stunned moment before forcing your legs to move. You break into a flat sprint, managing to catch up with Noel after a few panicked minutes where you lost sight of $n_them. Noel glances back, nodding at you, now hot on $n_their heels. A quick look behind you and you just spot the flash of metal - the harsh sound of raised voices. You turn back around with a swear, matching Noel's speed so you're side by side, and you look over at him, his hood still off, and you're surprised to see a slight smile on his lips.
You realize you're smiling too, laughing maybe, giddy all over again - you think it's nerves, hysteria at the end of this awful fucking day, the dam finally crumbling in your mind over the absurdity of it all - and the fact that you're breaking rules and running away like some silly little kid.
Unfortunately, the elation passes, your adrenaline burning through your veins, your heart hammering wildly. You can hear the sounds of pursuit, distant but still close. Glancing over at Noel again, $n_xe seems unbothered, gesturing for you to just follow.
Noel leads you down a dizzying path, cutting through alleys and slipping behind stalls and under buildings, dancing through bowed stilts and ducking under fallen platforms, until you reach the cliffs. You hug the ledge, the docks a long way down, the crank elevator rumbling through you, no chance of hearing anything so close to it, the sound of the ocean and the city completely drowned out.
Once you've passed over the docks, Noel starts to lead you back into the city, his steps slowing, until you eventually come to a stop, tucked into the shadows among the stilts of a dark building. In the late hour now lanterns glow warm, illuminating the street in front of you, the shining lights reflecting off the polished cobblestones, and even though you can't see the night sky above, you can imagine the stars flickering to life, the moon illuminating the rooftops.
[[Continue ->hostile escape 1]]The two of you take a different route back through the district, straight to the wall this time, and you shiver as the shadows grow longer around you, the sun setting now beyond the cliffs.
There's a tense, awkward silence between you and Noel, neither of you looking at each other, and you don't want to speak out of fear that it will all come back to you. Back to what you saw, what you did.
You are content with ignoring it. It's what you've been doing since Keld, after all. But you're not so sure about Noel.
You just want to get back into the city right now - anything to distract you from the images still flashing in the back of your mind, that desperation you had felt - water in your lungs, that fucking bird watching you, the chains - you reflexively rub your wrists, reaching up to your throat.
Nothing is there, of course.
Eventually you reach the wall. It's well and truly dark now, no lanterns in the isolation district, just the faint glow of the city on the other side. You and Noel stand, quiet for a few minutes, listening.
"Sounds clear," Noel says quietly. Your little magical display with the Vel earlier almost definitely attracted some attention, but there's nothing but silence on the other side.
The two of you climb up simultaneously this time, though Noel reaches the top before you, throwing $n_themself over with practiced grace. You scramble up, grunting, clumsily rolling over the top.
<<if $n_flirt gte 2>>But Noel is there, arms out, all but catching you, your feet gently coming to the ground.
"Noel -" you start, your face burning, his hands on your hips, but the sound of clanking armor silences you. You both stand close, Noel's hands tightening around you, both holding your breath. Waiting.<<else>>Noel spots you, helping steady you as you hit the ground hard. Hands on your shoulders, strong and sure, only dropping once you're standing straight. Your knees ache, and for a moment you lean forward, stretching your legs and gritting your teeth. But the sound of clanking armor makes you snap back up, you and Noel frozen, staring at each other and holding your breath.<</if>>
It's getting closer.
Noel grabs your hand without a word, turning and breaking into a run. You're jerked forward, but recover quickly, hot on $n_their heels, glancing behind you, your cloak sweeping over the street. You just spot the flash of metal - the soft sound of voices. You turn back around, matching Noel's speed so you're side by side, and you look over at $n_them, $n_their hood still off, a slight smile on $n_their lips.
You think you're smiling too, laughing maybe, giddy all over again - you think it's nerves, hysteria at the end of this awful fucking day, at the absurdity of it all - and the fact that you're breaking rules and running away like some silly little kid.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡]]>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Squeeze $n_their hand before letting go. ♡' 'squeeze xir hand'>><<set $n_touch_knows to true>><<set $touch_averse +=1>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Keep ahold of Noel\'s hand, letting $n_them guide you.' 'keep ahold of xir hand'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Let go and just keep running.]]>><<set $touch_averse +=1>><</link>></div>You twist your hand in Noel's, who loosens his grip, you think expecting you to pull your hand away. Instead you entwine your fingers with his, squeezing his hand as the two of you duck through the stilts.
Noel turns back to look at you, $n_their eyes wide for a moment, before $n_their face splits into a grin, pulling you closer, laughing as you go.
<<include "flirt escape">>You twist your hand in Noel's, who loosens his grip, letting you pull your hand free, and you glance back over your shoulder, keeping your eyes peeled for drawn swords and pointed fingers.
Noel shoots you a grin and starts laughing, presumably at whatever expression you must be wearing, gesturing for you to keep close as the two of you continue on into the city.
<<include "escape">>You twist your hand in Noel's, who loosens his grip, and you give his hand a squeeze before letting go.
Noel turns back to look at you, $n_their face splitting into a grin, laughing as the two of you continue on side by side.
<<include "flirt escape">>You keep your hand in Noel's letting $n_them pull you along, glancing back over your shoulder and keeping your eyes peeled for drawn swords and pointed fingers.
Noel smiles at you, letting out a laugh, presumably at whatever expression you must be wearing, keeping you close as the two of you continue on into the city.
<<include "escape">>You have no idea where you're going, letting Noel lead you down a dizzying path, cutting through alleys and slipping behind stalls and under buildings, at one point even skirting along the cliffs, with no chance of hearing anything but the loud crank elevator as you pass over the docks.
People jump out of your way as you dart across the streets, your laughter ringing out as your boots slap the cobblestones, you and Noel both slipping on ice here and there, grabbing at each other and keeping each other steady, every time breaking into a new fit of laughter, running far longer than you need to, the soldiers left far behind.
Despite the night sky enveloping the city, the lanterns glow warm, illuminating your way as the two of you finally begin to slow, breathing hard, walking along the cliff edge, the docks behind you now, nothing but dark sea below, distant ships looming shadows on the water.
The horizon still glows a light blue, with stars appearing and growing brighter and brighter as the sky darkens. The moon hangs above you, a sliver of white, its reflection dancing over the surface of the water, casting the cliff face in a strange, silvery blue, with the hard, frozen snow beneath your feet intensifying the light.
<<if hasVisited("keep ahold of xir hand")>>Noel finally releases your hand, the two of you slowing, walking carefully along the cliff edge.<<else>>The two of you slow, walking carefully along the cliff edge.<</if>>
"A clean getaway," Noel says then, grinning over at you before climbing up onto some of the cliff rocks, balancing carefully.
You shake your head, still smiling and slightly breathless. You watch Noel hop along the rocks, $n_their cloak catching in the ocean breeze.
"Where are we?" you ask, glancing back towards the distant stilts of the city.
"Jack's is just a few blocks over," Noel says, stopping and crouching down above you. "It's usually pretty empty this close to the cliffs here, so far from the docks, and it's supposed to be fenced off," Noel explains, waving his hand dismissively. "No one maintains it, though."
You can hear sounds of civilization in the distance, a gentle hum over the crashing waves down below, here just a few degrees separated from the chaos.
[[Continue|escape 1]]You have no idea where you're going, letting Noel lead you down a dizzying path, cutting through alleys and slipping behind stalls and under buildings, at one point even skirting along the cliffs, with no chance of hearing anything but the loud crank elevator as you pass over the docks.
<<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>Noel keeps you close, your hand tight in $n_theirs, constantly glancing over to check on you, as if you will somehow vanish into thin air.<<else>>Noel makes sure you stay close, constantly glancing back over to check on you, as if he expects you will just vanish into thin air.<</if>>
People jump out of your way as you dart across the streets, your laughter ringing out as your boots slap the cobblestones, you and Noel both slipping on ice here and there, grabbing at each other and keeping each other steady, every time breaking into a new fit of laughter, running far longer than you need to, the soldiers left far behind.
Despite the night sky enveloping the city, the lanterns glow warm, illuminating your way as the two of you finally begin to slow, breathing hard, walking along the cliff edge, the docks behind you now, nothing but dark sea below, distant ships looming shadows on the water.
The horizon still glows a light blue, with stars appearing and growing brighter and brighter as the sky darkens. The moon hangs above you, a sliver of white, its reflection dancing over the surface of the water, casting the cliff face in a strange, silvery blue, with the hard, frozen snow beneath your feet intensifying the light.
<<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>You and Noel walk carefully, your hands still tangled together, and you turn to look at him, his hood still down, his eyes glowing in the failing light. Noel tilts $n_their head at you, catching your eye, and gives you a breathless smile. Outside of the oppressive atmosphere of the isolation district, Noel seems to return to $n_themself, $n_their eyes bright and warm.
"I bet they didn't even see us," he says, squeezing your hand before lazily swinging your arms between you.
"No. I definitely don't think the crazy lights and distorting Vel gave us away at all," you joke, and Noel chuckles, bumping you lightly with $n_their shoulder.
You can feel the energy waning though, Noel's smile fading, and you're tired, your body growing heavy now with each step, with the only thing keeping you present is the way your hands fit together like this, the way Noel makes it feel like it's the most natural thing in the world - and maybe it is.
"Where are we?" you ask, trying to salvage it - digging your nails in to hold on.
"Jack's is just a few blocks over," Noel says, no longer swinging $n_their arm. "It's usually pretty empty this close to the cliffs here, so far from the docks, and it's supposed to be fenced off," Noel explains, waving his hand dismissively. "No one maintains it, though."
You can hear sounds of civilization in the distance, a gentle hum over the crashing waves down below, here just a few degrees separated from the chaos.<<else>>You and Noel walk carefully, side by side, and you turn to look at him, his hood still down, $n_their eyes glowing in the failing light. Noel tilts $n_their head at you, catching your eye, and gives you a breathless smile. Outside of the oppressive atmosphere of the isolation district, Noel seems to return to $n_themself, $n_their eyes bright and warm.
"I bet they didn't even see us," he says, grinning, raising $n_their hands and lacing them around the back of $n_their head, leaning back and stretching a bit.
"No. I definitely don't think the crazy lights and distorting Vel gave us away at all," you joke, and Noel chuckles, shaking $n_their head.
You can feel the energy waning though, Noel's smile fading, and you're tired, your body growing heavy now with each step, with the only thing keeping you present is Noel beside you, the way $n_xe easily matches your pace, the way $n_xe keeps glancing at you when $n_xe thinks you're not looking.
"Where are we?" you ask, trying to salvage it - digging your nails in to hold on.
"Jack's is just a few blocks over," Noel says, dropping his hands back to his sides. "It's usually pretty empty this close to the cliffs here, so far from the docks, and it's supposed to be fenced off," Noel explains, waving his hand dismissively. "No one maintains it, though."
You can hear sounds of civilization in the distance, a gentle hum over the crashing waves down below, here just a few degrees separated from the chaos.<</if>>
[[Continue|flirt escape 1]]"I like coming here - to clear my head. Especially after spending time in the isolation district."
Noel sighs, halting then, rubbing a hand over $n_their face. It takes $n_them a long time before $n_xe speaks again.
"$name, are you alright?"
<<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>Noel pulls you close, raising your clasped hands between you and staring at them for a moment, before covering yours with his free hand. You find yourself staring too, feeling like your hand is not your own - disconnected, disbelieving that Noel has held on for this long. That $n_xe still doesn't let go.<<else>>Noel steps close to you, looking into your hood despite your best efforts to hide. You look down at your hands, fidgeting for a moment, trying to ignore the way your heart jumps at $n_their attention, at $n_their closeness. You wonder if $n_xe has any idea, about $n_their affect on you.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Definitely not," I say, trying my best to joke it off, reaching up and jerking Noel\'s hood back on. ♡' 'definitely not'>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $n_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Noel - I - yeah. I\'m alright." He\'s so close... ♡' 'noel i yeah'>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $n_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I hesitate. Noel makes me want to talk, to tell $n_them everything. "I don\'t know." ♡' 'noel makes me want to talk'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $n_relationship to 1>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><<set $noel_knows to true>><</link>></div>
<<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>><div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t have to worry about me." I let go of $n_their hand.' 'you dont have to worry about me'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $n_relationship to 2>><<set $dont_worry_about_me to true>><</link>></div><<else>><div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t have to worry about me." I step away from $n_them.' 'you dont have to worry about me'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $n_relationship to 2>><<set $dont_worry_about_me to true>><</link>></div><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I have to pull away from $n_them, ducking into my hood - I can\'t look at $n_them this close. I can\'t... do this.' 'i cant do this'>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $n_relationship to 4>><<set $dont_worry_about_me to true>><</link>></div>"Definitely not," you say, giving Noel a crooked smile as your reach over and jerk $n_their hood back on. Your hand lingers a moment longer than necessary, before you pull it back quickly, shaking your head. //What am I doing?//
<<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>Noel finally lets go of your hand then, reaching up and readjusting his hood, pushing it back a bit and searching your face.<<else>>Noel reaches up and readjusts his hood, pushing it back a bit and searching your face.<</if>>
"I mean it, $name," Noel says, $n_their eyes soft as $n_xe looks at you.
You know Noel already knows the answer. You sigh, glancing away from $n_them. For a fraction of a second, you debate really telling $n_them. He's a hunter. If anyone would get it, it would be $n_them. You wonder if Noel can //feel// it. But you don't want to talk about it.
The dreams, the dreadful feeling heavy in your chest, the ship rising in the back of your mind...
"I'm fine, Noel," you say, but you still don't look at $n_them. "I'm just tired."
A blatant lie between you, after today. You //know// Noel knows. But you still can't say it.
Noel is quiet for a moment. "Okay," $n_xe finally says. You're surprised - that $n_xe let it go so easily, and you glance back over, those dark, gold eyes still on you. Noel steps even closer to you, his hand reaching out, carefully brushing the edge of your hood, revealing your face, ghosting over your cheek, and you feel your breath catch in your throat.
Noel smiles softly, pinching the edge of your hood and rolling the fabric through $n_their fingers before dropping $n_their hand again. "Okay. We should probably head back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," he says.
You drop your gaze, shaking your head and swallowing hard. Noel steps back, away from you, away from the cliff, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]"Noel - I - yeah. I'm alright," you cringe at the way you stammer, unable to look at $n_them, too aware of how close $n_their face is to yours.
<<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>You feel his hand slip away then, and you pull yours back, fidgeting with your sleeve, a sudden ache in your chest.
<</if>>You know Noel's looking at you, searching your face. "Are you sure?" $n_xe says softly. It's a delicate question, and it irritates you, even though you knew this was coming. //Noel knows//. You sigh, and for a fraction of a second, you debate actually telling $n_them. He's a hunter. If anyone would get it, it would be him. Noel knows - he can probably fucking //feel// it. But you don't want to talk about it.
The dreams, the dreadful feeling heavy in your chest, the ship rising in the back of your mind... You shiver.
Noel is quiet, waiting for you to say something, but you don't - and then Noel steps even closer to you, and you glance over, your heart jumping in your chest, those dark, gold eyes on you as he reaches out, his hand carefully brushing the edge of your hood, revealing your face, ghosting over your cheek.
You don't move, just holding your breath, staring over at $n_them, $n_their eyes softening as $n_xe looks at you.
"You're alright," Noel says, dropping $n_their hand then, smiling softly. "Okay." He takes a deep breath before finally turning away. "We should head back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," $n_xe adds with a little laugh.
You drop your gaze, shaking your head and swallowing hard. Noel steps back, away from you, away from the cliff, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]You hesitate, swallowing hard, closing your eyes as you struggle to say something. <<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>Noel gently squeezes your hand, and the gesture is almost too much in the moment, and when you open your eyes again you quickly blink away the hot burn of tears.
"I don't know," you manage to choke out, shaking your head and pulling your hand out of Noel's, quickly scrubbing your face with the heels of your palms.<<else>>Noel steps closer to you, and you open your eyes at the sound of the movement to see him holding out a hand, hovering in the air between you, and even though $n_xe stops short, the gesture is almost too much in the moment, and your face grows hot, the sudden burn of tears in your eyes, and you quickly step back, shaking your head and scrubbing your face with the heels of your palms.
"I don't know," you manage to choke out.<</if>>
When you drop your hands, you can't look at Noel, instead turning away and staring off into the shadows around you.
"I don't know," you repeat it, your voice quiet, and you feel sick, dancing around it. But it's festered for so long now. Noel doesn't say anything for a few moments, and you can't help but wonder if $n_xe thinks you'll say more. Or if $n_xe doubts you. It's a blatant lie - Noel knows. //You// know.
"Lea... Does Lea know?" is what he ends up saying, though, gentle, like he's worried the question will scare you.
You drop your gaze to your feet, staring down as you shake your head. "No." You shift on your feet, kicking at the frozen dirt, before finally looking back over at Noel.
$n_Their gold eyes are on you, $n_their brow furrowed with concern, and you can see that $n_xe's fidgeting, wringing $n_their hands.
"Can you feel it?" you wonder.
"Yes," Noel says simply.
After a beat, $n_xe closes the space between you again, tilting $n_their head and peering up into your hood. Your heart jumps in your chest, those dark, gold eyes on you as $n_xe reaches out, $n_their hand carefully brushing the edge of your hood, revealing your face, ghosting over your cheek.
You don't move, just holding your breath, staring over at him, his eyes softening as he looks at you.
"We should get you back to Jack's," Noel says, dropping his hand then, his eyes flicking over your face. "You need rest. We can talk later. If you want - you can talk to me. I'm - I'm here for you."
Noel steps back away from you, away from the cliff, and you let out a long breath, rubbing your hand over your face again, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following after the other hunter.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]<<if not hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>"You don't have to worry about me," you say, stepping back away from Noel.<<else>>"You don't have to worry about me," you say, letting go of Noel's hand and pulling back.<</if>>
You know Noel already knows - why else would xe ask? You sigh, glancing away from $n_them. For a fraction of a second, you debate actually telling $n_them. He's a hunter. If anyone would get it, it would be him. You wonder if Noel can //feel// it. But you don't want to talk about it.
The dreams, the dreadful feeling heavy in your chest, the ship rising in the back of your mind...
"$name," Noel repeats your name, tilting $n_their head, trying to look into your hood. "I'm here for you, too, you know?"
You bite your lip, still trying to avoid $n_their gaze, taking a ragged breath. "Don't worry about me, Noel," you say it harder this time, shaking your head.
Noel is quiet, stepping even closer to you, and you glance over, your heart jumping in your chest, those dark, gold eyes on you as he reaches out, his hand carefully brushing the edge of your hood, revealing your face, ghosting over your cheek.
You don't move, just holding your breath, staring over at him, his eyes softening as he looks at you.
"Okay. I won't worry," Noel says, dropping $n_their hand then, smiling softly. "But... just remember what I said." $n_xe takes a deep breath, giving you one last look before finally turning away. "We should head back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," $n_xe adds with a little laugh.
You drop your gaze, shaking your head and swallowing hard. Noel steps back, away from you, away from the cliff, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]You turn away, swallowing hard, <<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>sliding your hand free from Noel's, curling it into a fist at your side.<<else>>taking a stuttering step back, putting some space between you and Noel.<</if>>
You stare down at the dark gravel beneath your feet, your brow furrowed, a sharp ache in your chest.
"I - I can't...," is all you manage to say, shaking your head and retreating farther back into your hood, avoiding Noel's dark, gold eyes.
"$name," Noel repeats your name, tilting $n_their head, trying to look into your hood. "I'm here for you, too, you know?"
"Don't... Don't worry about me, Noel," you say, too fast, stammer out the words while you wring your hands, but you mean it.
It's clear to anyone with eyes that something is wrong with you - even without your little display in front of the temple earlier. Noel knows - hell, Noel can probably fucking //feel// it. But you don't want to talk about it - you don't want to say it out loud.
The dreams, the dreadful feeling heavy in your chest, the ship rising in the back of your mind... You shiver. You'll deal with it.
Noel is quiet, stepping even closer to you, and you glance over, your heart jumping in your chest, those dark, gold eyes on you as he reaches out, his hand carefully brushing the edge of your hood, revealing your face, ghosting over your cheek.
You don't move, just holding your breath, staring over at him, his eyes softening as he looks at you.
"Okay. I won't worry," Noel says, dropping $n_their hand then, smiling softly. "But... just remember what I said." Xe takes a deep breath, giving you one last look before finally turning away. "We should head back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," $n_xe adds with a little laugh.
You drop your gaze, shaking your head and swallowing hard. Noel steps back, away from you, away from the cliff, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]It's not a long walk back to Jack's. <<if hasVisited("flirt escape")>>Only a few blocks from the cliffs. You had no idea this morning you were so close to the water.<<else>>Up an alley, over a few residential streets, and you're back on the main road, only a few blocks from the tavern.<</if>>
You walk slightly behind Noel, doing your best not to stare at $n_them, hidden in $n_their hood again, just like you.
<<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>Your hand is clenched at your side, somehow feeling heavier now without Noel's hand holding it.<</if>> You feel your face twitch, and you look away, struggling to make sense of what happened today - in the isolation district, with the Vel, and with Noel.
//It's getting worse.//
You rub at your wrists again, remembering the weight of chains, the sound of metal scraping over stone, the cold water in your mouth.<<if $n_relationship eq 3 or $n_relationship eq 5 or $n_relationship eq 6>> //Something is wrong with you.//<</if>> You grab your necklace, holding the eye in your palm. You wish you could speak with Jorah.
<<if $n_relationship eq 1>>You find yourself staring at Noel again. A sudden tightness in your chest - is it guilt? Or something else? It all feels easier, with $n_them. And that makes you feel worse. Someone like Noel shouldn't have to deal with someone like you.
But you really like the way Noel looks at you.
Your lip curls at the thought, and you bite back a bitter laugh. It's been //a day//. <<if $c_flirt gte 1>>But you did the same with Clementine, too. So desperate, clinging to anyone that shows you the slightest attention.<<else>>So desperate, as always, clinging to someone just for showing you the slightest bit of attention. Elaborate fantasies in your head.<</if>> <<if $n_walkout eq true>>And it doesn't get any more pathetic than literally following someone. Noel should have told you off for that.<</if>>
You drop your necklace, rubbing your hands over your face, pressing hard against your eyelids, swallowing the disgust that snakes in your chest, through your ribs, prickling across your skin.<<elseif $n_relationship eq 2>>You find yourself staring at Noel again. A sudden tightness in your chest - guilt, and shame, and something else you don't want to name. It all feels easier, with him. The fact that Noel looks at you and sees you - //really// sees you, and doesn't look away - you want to cling to that.
But look at what happens when you play pretend. The two of you are incredibly lucky you didn't get caught climbing that damn wall. Lucky that there was nothing waiting for you on the other side, having slipped through the Vel, something with claws and too-big teeth. Lucky that you didn't do something more than burn that rune into the ground.
You force yourself to look away, staring down at your feet instead, tightening your hand around your necklace.<<elseif $n_relationship eq 3>>You glare at the back of Noel's head, the feathers around his hood inky black in the evening dark.
//Something is wrong with you.//
Well, you already knew that, didn't you? But there's something different about it being said out loud. Noel has made it more real by saying the words. Or maybe you're just desperate to blame anyone but yourself.
You're the idiot for pretending like everything is fine. You can't - you can't keep doing this. It's only a matter of time before you hurt yourself - or someone else.
You drop your necklace, rubbing your hands over your face, pressing hard against your eyelids, swallowing the disgust that snakes in your chest, through your ribs, prickling across your skin.<<elseif $n_relationship eq 4>>You find yourself staring at Noel again. A sudden tightness in your chest - guilt overwhelms you, and shame, and something else you don't want to name.
You can only imagine what Noel really thinks when he looks at you. He looks at you, and you know he can see it - the rot, the anger, the dark water churning in your chest.
You drop your necklace, rubbing your hands over your face, pressing hard against your eyelids, swallowing the guilt that snakes in your chest, through your ribs, prickling across your skin.<<elseif $n_relationship eq 0>>You find yourself staring at Noel again. That soft voice, the gentle way $n_xe speaks to you - //I'm here for you// - and you frown, quickly looking away and wringing your hands.
You're grateful to spend time with another hunter again... but you can only imagine what Noel thinks when $n_xe looks at you. He looks at you, and you know he can see it - the rot, the anger, the dark water churning in your chest.
You drop your necklace, rubbing your hands over your face, pressing hard against your eyelids, swallowing the guilt that snakes in your chest, through your ribs, prickling across your skin.<<elseif $n_relationship eq 5>>You frown, shaking your head. Noel isn't the problem here - //stop trying to blame someone else//. You let out a quiet sigh, watching Noel walking ahead of you, and you feel a sudden tightness in your chest - guilt, and shame, and something else you are too afraid to call by name.
First you blame $n_them, now you're... well, what are you doing, exactly? So desperate, as always, clinging to someone just for showing you the slightest bit of attention. Elaborate fantasies in your head - Noel doesn't deserve to be burdened by you. <<if $n_flirt gte 2>>//No. No - he said date. He said it.// You chew the inside of your cheek, your brow furrowed - a date? A date with //you//?<</if>>
You drop your necklace, rubbing your hands over your face, pressing hard against your eyelids, swallowing the guilt that snakes in your chest, through your ribs, prickling across your skin.<<elseif $n_relationship eq 6>>You frown, shaking your head. Noel isn't the problem here - //stop trying to blame someone else//. You let out a quiet sigh, watching Noel walking ahead of you, and you feel guilty, heavy on your chest. Noel shouldn't have to deal with you - like walking on fucking eggshells.
You drop your necklace, rubbing your hands over your face, pressing hard against your eyelids, swallowing the guilt that snakes in your chest, through your ribs, prickling across your skin.<</if>>
[[Continue ->back to jack's with noel 1]]"I like coming here - to clear my head. Especially after spending time in the isolation district."
Noel sighs, dropping down back in front of you, rubbing a hand over his face, hesitating a moment.
"$name, are you alright?"
You blink, caught off guard a bit by the sudden question - though, if you're being honest, you knew this was coming. It was fun playing pretend for a little while, at least. You sigh, glancing away from Noel, crossing your arms, kicking the ground with your toe.
"$name?" Noel prompts again, and you inhale sharply, surprised at the twist in your chest, the sincerity in Noel's voice.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m fine, Noel."' 'im fine noel'>><<set $n_relationship to 0>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I hesitate. "I don\'t know."' 'i dont know noel'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><<set $n_friendship to 0>><<set $noel_knows to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t have to worry about me."' 'you dont have to worry about me 1'>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><<set $n_relationship to 0>><<set $dont_worry_about_me to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Let\'s just get back to Jack\'s."' 'lets just get back to jacks'>><<set $n_friendship -=1>><<set $n_relationship to 0>><</link>></div>You take a deep breath, glancing away, down at your hands, struggling to find words. "I'm fine, Noel," you say. You know you're not fooling $n_them - a blatant lie, after today - Noel knows. Noel can probably fucking //feel// it. But you don't want to talk about it.
The dreams, the dreadful feeling heavy in your chest, the ship rising in the back of your mind... You shiver. You'll deal with it.
Noel is quiet for a long time, both of you just listening to the ocean waves crashing against the rocks far below you.
"Okay, $name," Noel speaks first, and you look over at him, watching you with his dark, golden eyes. "But... I just want you to know, you can talk to me. I'm here for you, too," $n_xe says, tilting $n_their head to peer into your hood.
You only manage to hold $n_their gaze for a few seconds, before you have to turn away.
"Yeah," is all you say, your throat tight, with emotion and exhaustion straining your voice, suddenly weighing heavy on your shoulders - it all seems to hit you at once, your arm aching at your side, your whole body feeling sore and slow from a long day of casting wards, a dull throb still in the back of your skull - the ocean waves seeming to grow louder, crashing against you, drowning your thoughts.
"We should head back to Jack's," Noel says then, and you blink back over at $n_them, "before Lea sends out a search party," $n_xe jokes. You wince, and Noel laughs at your expression - you aren't looking forward to the lecture Lea is most definitely preparing for you.
"Come on," Noel says gently, giving you an encouraging nod, and he steps back, away from you, away from the cliff, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]You hesitate, swallowing hard, closing your eyes as you struggle to say something.
Noel takes a step towards you, tilting his head to peer into your hood, his eyes warm. You're afraid to say it out loud. That will make it real.
"I don't know," is what you finally manage to choke out, vigorously rubbing your face with your hands, pressing against your eyelids. When you drop your hands, you can't look at Noel, instead turning away and staring off at the distant ships on the water.
"I don't know," you repeat it, your voice quiet, and you feel sick, dancing around it. But it's festered for so long now. Noel doesn't say anything for a few moments, and you can't help but wonder if $n_xe thinks you'll say more. Or if $n_xe doubts you. It's a blatant lie - Noel knows. //You// know.
"Lea... Does Lea know?" is what he ends up saying, though, gentle, like he's worried the question will scare you.
You drop your gaze to your feet, staring down as you shake your head. "No." You shift on your feet, kicking at the frozen dirt, before finally looking back over at Noel.
Xe's gold eyes are on you, $n_their brow furrowed with concern, and you can see that $n_xe's fidgeting, wringing $n_their hands.
"Can you feel it?" you wonder.
"Yes," Noel says simply.
You sigh, lifting your head back and staring up at the night sky above you.
Noel steps towards you again, and you think he might reach out for you, but he hesitates, glancing down at the dark water before taking a deep breath.
"We should head back to Jack's. You should get some rest - and we can talk more, later. If you want," Noel adds quickly, and you feel your throat tighten at the gentle tone, the softness of Noel's face, the way $n_xe smiles at you - genuine.
"Come on," Noel says gently, giving you an encouraging nod, and $n_xe steps back, away from you, away from the cliff, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]You turn away, swallowing hard, your face twitching. "You don't have to worry about me."
Noel clicks $n_their tongue, giving you a look. "No, I suppose I don't. But I do," Noel says, taking a step towards you.
You know Noel already knows - why else would xe ask? You sigh, glancing away from $n_them. For a fraction of a second, you debate actually telling $n_them. He's a hunter. If anyone would get it, it would be him. You wonder if Noel can //feel// it. But you don't want to talk about it.
The dreams, the dreadful feeling heavy in your chest, the ship rising in the back of your mind... You shiver. You'll deal with it.
Noel is quiet for a long time, both of you just listening to the ocean waves crashing against the rocks far below you.
"Okay, $name," Noel speaks first, and you look over at him, watching you with his dark, golden eyes. "I won't worry. But... I just want you to know, you can talk to me. I'm here for you, too," $n_xe says, tilting $n_their head to peer into your hood.
You only manage to hold $n_their gaze for a few seconds, before you have to turn away.
"Yeah," is all you say, your throat tight, with emotion and exhaustion straining your voice, suddenly weighing heavy on your shoulders - it all seems to hit you at once, your arm aching at your side, your whole body feeling sore and slow from a long day of casting wards, a dull throb still in the back of your skull - the ocean waves seeming to grow louder, crashing against you, drowning your thoughts.
"We should head back to Jack's," Noel says then, and you blink back over at $n_them, "before Lea sends out a search party," $n_xe jokes. You wince, and Noel laughs at your expression - you aren't looking forward to the lecture Lea is most definitely preparing for you.
"Come on," Noel says gently, giving you an encouraging nod, and $n_xe steps back, away from you, away from the cliff, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]You turn away from Noel, chewing on the inside of your cheek. "Let's just get back to Jack's," you say, already moving away from the cliff and back towards the city.
"$name," Noel says, stepping after you, and the strain in $n_their voice makes you halt. "I just - just know that I'm here for you, too, you know? You can talk to me."
You glance back at Noel, but you can't hold his gaze, turning back around to stare down at your hands.
"Yeah. Okay, Noel," you say, cringing at the way the words waver, breaking over the other hunter's name, your throat tightening.
Noel steps up beside you, smiling softly, but again you have to look away, staring down at your boots. "Okay. Let's go," Noel says gently, giving you an encouraging nod, and $n_xe steps back, away from you, away from the cliff, and you hesitate, just for a moment, glancing back out at the dark sea, before following.
[[Continue|back to jack's with noel]]You and Noel hunker down for a moment, both breathing hard, straining to listen over the sound of the emerging night life. But you hear no sound of clanking armor, no shouts or heavy footsteps. Catching your breath, the two of you idle in the shadows, watching people come and go up and down the street, oblivious of you hiding in the dark.
There's a tense atmosphere between you and Noel, and after some time you glance over at him, pointedly not looking at you, but you can still see his profile, his eyes glowing in the dim light.
Noel takes a deep breath then, letting out a long sigh, finally pulling on $n_their hood and leaning against one of the support pillars. You tense, your hands still shaking slightly, from the adrenaline or from earlier you're not sure, but you stare at Noel from inside your hood, waiting for $n_them to speak.
"Listen, $name. I just want to say, I am really sorry... about this," Noel gestures all around, shaking $n_their head, "about everything, today. A real shit day." Xe stands awkwardly, staring down at the ground, scuffing the stones with the toe of $n_their boot.
You swallow hard, still regaining your breath, clenching your jaw until it's painful.
"What I said..." Noel winces. "You have every right to be angry with me. But I still want you to know that if you want to talk - I mean, you can talk to me."
A beat.
"And I am sorry."
You blink, your brow furrowed. You don't really know what you expected Noel to say - but you realize $n_xe's waiting for you to say something, too.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I know. I don\'t - I don\'t blame you. Not really. I liked... spending time with you." ♡' 'i dont blame you'>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=3>><<set $n_relationship to 5>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I know. Maybe... maybe we can try again, some other time." I doubt there will be another time. But maybe. In a perfect world. ♡' 'maybe we can try again'>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=3>><<set $n_relationship to 5>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I let out a long sigh. "I know, Noel."' 'i let out a long sigh'>><<set $n_relationship to 6>><<set $n_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Stop apologizing. I forgive you. I\'m just tired." I want nothing more than to put it behind us.' 'stop apologizing'>><<set $n_relationship to 6>><<set $n_friendship +=3>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Let's just go." I don't know what to say - if I have anything to say at all. I just want the day to be over.' 'lets just go noel'>><<set $n_relationship to 3>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Say nothing at all.]]>><<set $n_relationship to 3>><<set $n_friendship -=3>><</link>></div>You scowl down at your hands, pulling at your sleeves, Noel's voice echoing in your head. You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath through your nose, opening your eyes as you slowly exhale.
You don't say anything, ignoring Noel's eyes on you, turning away and glaring out through the shadows and into the street.
Noel shifts on his feet in front of you, and after a long beat, he sighs. "Let's go, then. We should get back to Jack's."
Noel steps away from you, out of the shadows and into the street, glancing over $n_their shoulder at you as $n_xe goes. You step through the stilts after $n_them, pulling at your hood, keeping your eyes down, glaring at your feet.
[[Continue ->back to jack's with noel]]<<if $n_flirt eq 0>>"I know," you sigh, wringing your hands, glancing down at your feet before looking back up at Noel. "I don't - I don't blame you. Not really." You hesitate a moment, clenching your hands. "I liked... spending time with you." You close your eyes, shaking your head, your voice nearly breaking over the words.
You're just tired. And angry. But not at Noel. He was just the closest target. Going into the isolation district today was a mistake - but what happened wasn't Noel's fault. It was your choice. You're the one forcing yourself to pretend like everything is fine. Noel is just the first one that can see through your miserable façade. Or at least the first one to call you out on it.
When Noel doesn't respond, you open your eyes again and turn to $n_them. But $n_xe's smiling, and you catch the briefest glimpse of surprise before Noel clears $n_their throat.
"Next time we should just get lunch together or something," Noel jokes, reaching into his hood and rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah. Agreed," you say, laughing lightly, nervously. You're smiling now, too. Up to this point, you've been trying to ignore the sudden new heaviness in your chest, the way your heart jumps when Noel looks at you - bury it down with everything else. Blame it on the fact that you're both hunters, that it's just that instinctual connection - maybe it is. Maybe you're just desperate.
But you also kind of like Noel, and how xe looks at you.
An awkward moment passes then, both of you lost in your own thoughts, but it's not uncomfortable, just... uncertain.
"Well. We should probably head back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," Noel says then, bringing you back to reality, and the fact that Lea is going to chew you out so bad for this.<<else>>"I know," you sigh, wringing your hands, glancing down at your feet before looking back up at Noel. "I don't - I don't blame you. Not really." You hesitate a moment, clenching your hands. "I liked... spending time with you." You close your eyes, shaking your head, your voice nearly breaking over the words.
You're just tired. And angry. But not at Noel. $n_xe was just the closest target. Going into the isolation district today was a mistake - but what happened wasn't Noel's fault. It was your choice. You're the one forcing yourself to pretend like everything is fine. Noel is just the first one that can see through your miserable façade. Or at least the first one to call you out on it.
When Noel doesn't respond, you open your eyes again and turn to $n_them. But he's smiling softly, and when your eyes meet, he turns away, bashful.
"I liked spending time with you, too," Noel says. "Next time we should just get lunch together or something."
You can't help but laugh, your face growing warm, a sudden flutter in your chest. You think you really like the way Noel looks at you.
"Well. We should probably head back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," Noel says then, wringing his hands.<</if>>
You clear your throat, glancing down and nodding. "Yeah," you say, exhaustion straining your voice, weighing heavy on your shoulders - it all seems to hit you at once, your arm aching at your side, your whole body feeling sore and slow from a long day of casting wards, a dull throb still in the back of your skull.
"Just remember what I said, okay?" Noel prompts, taking a step towards you, staring into your hood. "If you want to talk..." Noel trails off, nodding encouragingly, before moving back, away from you, out of the shadows and into the street.
You stare down at your hands, hesitating for a moment, glancing into the dark around you, before taking a deep breath and following after Noel.
[[Continue ->back to jack's with noel]]<<if $n_flirt eq 0>>"I know," you say, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. "Maybe... maybe we can try again, some other time," you say, wringing your hands, glancing down at your feet as you say it, then back up to Noel.
You don't miss the surprise on $n_their face, but it quickly vanishes as $n_xe smiles at you.
You're tired. And angry. But not at Noel. $n_xe was just the closest target. Going into the isolation district today was a mistake - but what happened wasn't Noel's fault. It was your choice. You're the one forcing yourself to pretend like everything is fine. Noel is just the first one that can see through your miserable façade. Or at least the first one to call you out on it.
"Okay. I look forward to it, then. Next time, I mean," Noel clarifies, clearing $n_their throat.
You feel your face burn, and you smile now, too, ducking into your hood. Up to this point, you've been trying to ignore the sudden new heaviness in your chest, the way your heart jumps when Noel looks at you - bury it down with everything else. Blame it on the fact that you're both hunters, that it's just that instinctual connection - maybe it is. Maybe you're just desperate.
But you really like the way Noel looks at you.
An awkward moment passes then, both of you lost in your own thoughts, but it's not uncomfortable, just... uncertain.
"Well. We should probably head back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," Noel says then, bringing you back to reality and the fact that Lea is going to chew you out so bad for this.<<else>>"I know," you say, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. "Maybe... maybe we can try again, some other time," you say, wringing your hands, glancing down at your feet as you say it, then back up to Noel.
Noel's face softens, and $n_xe gives you a warm smile, fidgeting with $n_their sleeves.
You're tired. And angry. But not at Noel. $n_xe was just the closest target. Going into the isolation district today was a mistake - but what happened wasn't Noel's fault. It was your choice. You're the one forcing yourself to pretend like everything is fine. Noel is just the first one that can see through your miserable façade. Or at least the first one to call you out on it.
"Okay. Next time. It's a date," Noel says, and you feel your heart jump at the words, your face hot, and you stare over at $n_them with what must be a very hopeless expression.
Noel laughs lightly, tilting $n_their head at you. You think, in that moment, you really like the way Noel looks at you.
"We should probably head back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," Noel says then, disappointment clear in his voice, and it also throws you back to reality, and the fact that Lea is going to chew you out so bad for this.<</if>>
You clear your throat, glancing down and nodding. "Yeah," you say, exhaustion straining your voice, weighing heavy on your shoulders - it all seems to hit you at once, your arm aching at your side, your whole body feeling sore and slow from a long day of casting wards, a dull throb still in the back of your skull.
"Just remember what I said, okay?" Noel prompts, taking a step towards you, staring into your hood. "If you want to talk..." Noel trails off, nodding encouragingly, before moving back, away from you, out of the shadows and into the street.
You stare down at your hands, hesitating for a moment, glancing into the dark around you, before taking a deep breath and following after Noel.
[[Continue ->back to jack's with noel]]You let out a long sigh. "I know, Noel." You pause then, not sure what else to say, rubbing your hands over your face.
You're just tired. And angry. But not at Noel. He was just the closest target. Going into the isolation district today was a mistake - but what happened wasn't Noel's fault. It was your choice. You're the one forcing yourself to pretend like everything is fine. Noel is just the first one that can see through your miserable façade. Or at least the first one to call you out on it.
"It's alright," you finally say, dropping your hands and clearing your throat. "We should probably head back to Jack's," you add, wanting to get out of here - run away again, like you had run away from the soldiers.
"Right," Noel agrees, nodding at you, an uncertain smile on $n_their lips. "We don't want Lea sending out a search party," $n_xe jokes.
You give him a weak smile, but curse yourself internally - you hadn't even thought about having to see Lea after all this.
"$name," Noel says then, and you both stare at each other for a moment. "Remember what I said, okay? If you want to talk," $n_xe nods again.
You clench your jaw, your head aching. "Yeah," is all you say, exhaustion straining your voice, weighing heavy on your shoulders - it all seems to hit you at once, at the sound of Noel speaking your name; your arm aching at your side, your whole body feeling sore and slow from a long day of casting wards, a dull throb still in the back of your skull.
Noel moves back, away from you, out of the shadows and into the street, glancing over his shoulder at you as he goes.
You stare down at your hands, hesitating for a moment, hurriedly looking into the dark around you, before taking a deep breath and following after Noel.
[[Continue ->back to jack's with noel]]"Stop apologizing," you sigh, rubbing your hands over your face. "I forgive you. I'm just... tired," you say, shaking your head and dropping your hands.
You //are// tired. And angry. But not at Noel. He was just the closest target. Going into the isolation district today was a mistake - but what happened wasn't Noel's fault. It was your choice. You're the one forcing yourself to pretend like everything is fine. Noel is just the first one that can see through your miserable façade. Or at least the first one to call you out on it.
Noel eyes you for a moment, tilting $n_their head, and you have to turn away, uncomfortable under $n_their scrutiny.
"Okay," Noel says. "But I am sorry."
You give $n_them a sharp look, and $n_xe laughs, clapping $n_their hand over $n_their chest.
"That was the last one! I promise," Noel smiles softly at you, some of the tension beginning to unwind between you. "Just remember what I said, though, okay, $name?" he adds then, taking a step towards you. "If you want to talk..."
You clench your jaw, your head aching. "Yeah," is all you say, exhaustion straining your voice, weighing heavy on your shoulders - it all seems to hit you at once, at the sound of Noel speaking your name; your arm aching at your side, your whole body feeling sore and slow from a long day of casting wards, a dull throb still in the back of your skull.
"We should get back to Jack's. Before Lea sends out a search party," Noel jokes after a moment. You just nod, already dreading the lecture you will no doubt receive from your lovely handler.
Noel moves back, away from you, out of the shadows and into the street, glancing over $n_their shoulder at you as $n_xe goes.
You stare down at your hands, hesitating briefly, hurriedly looking into the dark around you, before taking a deep breath and following after Noel.
[[Continue ->back to jack's with noel]]"Let's just go," you sigh, rubbing a hand over your face. You don't know what to say to Noel right now - if you even have anything to say at all. More than anything, you want to get back to the tavern and crawl in bed, and forget all this shit happened at all.
Noel shifts on his feet, fidgeting with his sleeves for a moment.
After a long beat, $n_xe sighs, nodding. "Okay," $n_xe says.
You step through the shadows and back out onto the street, pulling at your hood, Noel quietly stepping ahead and guiding you in the right direction.
[[Continue ->back to jack's with noel]]You hear Jack's before you see it. Around the corner, the loud sounds of drunken merriment spill out into the night, laughter and music and shouting voices.
You walk with your arms wrapped around you, hiding in your hood, sticking close to Noel as you dodge the rowdy crowds out on the street. It seems that Jack's is near the center of the entertainment district, rows of pubs and taverns lit up against the long shadows of the city night.
Up ahead, you spot the long staircase up to the terrace, the familiar sign swaying in the ocean air. You imagine Lea waiting inside, probably poised at the front door, reciting $l_their lecture in preparation for your arrival.
"Noel," you say suddenly, and he stops, both of you standing in the cold, at the bottom of the stairs, Noel illuminated by the light spilling from the windows up above.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Don\'t tell Lea about this."' 'dont tell lea about this'>><<set $n_promise to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"... Nevermind."' '...nevermind'>><</link>></div>"Don't tell Lea about this," you say, glancing up the stairs.
<<if $n_relationship eq 3>>Noel steps towards you, the light shifting and momentarily silhouetting $n_them before you.
"I don't want to go behind your back, $name," Noel says slowly. "You should tell Lea yourself."
You clench your jaw, your skin prickling at the xir tone, but you just nod. He turns back around then, leading you up the stairs, and you squint, raising your arm against the bright lights, feeling as if the tavern itself will swallow you whole.<<else>>Noel steps towards you, the light shifting and momentarily silhouetting $n_them before you.
"I wouldn't - I wouldn't do that, $name," Noel says softly, and you blink over at him, searching his face, struggling to see $n_them in $n_their hood. "Lea... Lea should hear it from you," $n_xe says.
You frown, and Noel sighs.
"I promise, $name," he says.
You hesitate then, shuffling in place, rubbing your arms. "Thank you."
Noel nods again, and you just catch the flash of white teeth - a smile in the dark. He turns back around then, leading you up the stairs, and you squint, raising your arm against the bright lights, feeling as if the tavern itself will swallow you whole.<</if>>
[[Continue ->back inside jack's without lea]]"... Nevermind," you say, ducking your head, rubbing your arms.
<<if $n_relationship eq 3>>Noel searches your face, before turning back around and starting up the stairs. You follow close behind, chewing the inside of your cheek, squinting and raising your arm against the bright lights, feeling as if the tavern itself will swallow you whole.<<else>>Noel blinks at you, before nodding and giving you a small smile. He turns back around, leading you up the stairs, and you squint, raising your arm against the bright lights, feeling as if the tavern itself will swallow you whole.<</if>>
[[Continue ->back inside jack's without lea]]The door has barely closed behind you, your eyes still adjusting to the harsh oil lamps, when you spot Lea, striding across the parlor, all but shoving $l_their way around the tables, a dark look on $l_their face.
<<if $bw_merry>>"Oh, boy. Here $l_they come<<s>>," Merry smirks, stepping up beside you, raising a hand and waving her fingers at Lea. Mal makes a face and quickly bows away, making a beeline for the bar, while Clementine just glances between you, Merry, and the clearly angry Lea, wringing their hands. You take a deep breath, bracing yourself.<<elseif $bw_noel>>Merry and Clementine are close behind $l_them, Merry making some stupid face over Lea's shoulder, while Clem just stares at you with wide eyes, wringing their hands nervously.
"Quick, what's our cover story?" Noel jokes, but you can hear the strain in $n_their voice, a nervous glance between you and Lea. You just take a deep breath, bracing yourself.<<elseif $bw_clem>>Clementine stays close to you, their eyes wide as they spot your handler, giving you a sympathetic look, wringing their hands nervously.
"Oh, boy. Here $l_they come<<s>>," Merry smirks, and you feel your face twitch as she steps up beside you and raises a hand, waving her fingers at Lea. You just take a deep breath, bracing yourself.<</if>>
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Lea hisses as $l_they stop<<s>> in front of you, jabbing a finger at your chest. "Have you lost your mind?"
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Don't yell at me," you snarl, slapping Lea's hand away.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Lea, please," you say, dropping your voice and shaking your head.<<else>>You feel your face twitch, narrowing your eyes at Lea and shaking your head.<</if>>
<<if $bw_merry>><<if $read_poem eq false>>"Take it easy, Chen," Merry cuts in, giving Lea a nasty look, and you see Clementine take a step towards you, too, but Lea completely ignores both of them, $l_their focus entirely on you.<<else>>Merry glares over at Lea, and Clementine takes a step towards you, but a single dark look from Lea sends them shrinking back, before Lea turns that dark look onto you.<</if>><<elseif $bw_noel>>"Lea, it was my idea," Noel cuts in, raising $n_their hands, but Lea just gives $n_them a dark look. Merry, stepping up beside you, clicks her tongue at Lea, shaking her head.
"Take it easy, Chen," Merry says, and even Clementine takes a tentative step towards you, watching all of you with wide eyes, but Lea ignores both of them, $l_their focus entirely on you now.<<elseif $bw_clem>>"Lea -" Clementine starts, but Lea just shoots them a dark look, and Clementine deflates, shrinking back behind you.
"Fighting in the streets? Are you a fucking child?"
"Take it easy, Chen," Merry says, raising her hands, but Lea ignores her, $l_their focus entirely on you now.<</if>>
"What were you thinking?" Lea takes a deep breath, rubbing $l_their hands over $l_their face.
"Lea–" you start, but $l_they drop<<s>> $l_their hands, and you're taken aback at how... sad $l_they look<<s>>.
"You ditched me!" Lea has lowered $l_their voice, a harsh whisper, though it's too late now, most of the eyes in the parlor already on you. "We're partners! You're not supposed – you're not supposed to do that," Lea says, $l_their brow furrowed.
The word //partners// throws you, and if Lea says anything else after that it's lost to you. Partners? You and Lea are partners? But the shock fades, turning hot, turning into anger, annoyance – //partners//, really?
"Since when?" you say.
Lea falters, blinking at you. "Since when what?"
"Since when have we ever been partners?" you say, your lip curling at the word.
"What – what else would we be?" Lea seems genuinely confused now, $l_their dark eyes flicking over you.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Don't act stupid," you snap. Now it's your turn to raise your voice. "Hunter. Handler."
Lea takes a step back, $l_their mouth open in surprise.
"I don't – that's not how this is. Is that what you think?" Lea sounds genuinely hurt, all the anger suddenly gone now, a surprising weight on your chest at $l_their wavering voice, and Lea leans forward to look into your hood, trying to see your face.
"It doesn't matter what I think, it doesn't matter what //you// think, it's what it is," you huff, shaking your head. You're not even really sure if you're actually mad at Lea right now, or if you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. And why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. You don't even remember your own $sibling's name. People //know// Lea in Blackwater, $l_their whole family. But you spend one day away from $l_them, without your fucking leash – and this is the reaction you get. And then to act like you're on some equal footing – fucking partners! You wish.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"You're my handler," you say, looking over at $l_them with a sigh.
Lea takes a step back, blinking at you.
"I don't – that's not how this is. Is that what you think?" Lea sounds genuinely hurt, all the anger suddenly gone now, a surprising weight on your chest at $l_their wavering voice, and Lea leans forward to look into your hood, trying to see your face.
"Yeah. But what I think, or what you think, that doesn't matter. It's just what it is," you say, running a hand over your face. You're not mad at Lea, you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. You can't even remember your own $sibling's name. Can't even step out of Lea's shadow for a few hours without a lecture. To act like you're on some equal footing – //partners.// You wish.<<else>>"I am your //hunter//," you say, the words barely coming through your clenched jaw.
"I don't – that's not how this is. Is that what you think?" Lea sounds genuinely hurt, all the anger suddenly gone now, a surprising weight on your chest at $l_their wavering voice, and Lea leans forward to look into your hood, trying to see your face.
"It doesn't matter what //I// think, or what //you// think - it's what it is," you say, shaking your head. You're not even really sure if you're actually mad at Lea, or if you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. You can't even remember your own $sibling's name. Can't even step out of Lea's shadow for a few hours without a lecture. To act like you're on some equal footing – //partners.// You wish.<</if>>
You wish.
Lea tilts $l_their head, trying to force you to look at $l_them, $l_their brow furrowed. "$name, listen to me. I'm telling you what it is. We //are// partners. We are. Please."
<div id="choice"><<link '"I... I - okay. Okay. Partners."' 'okay. partners 1'>><<set $l_friendship +=10>><<set $sanity +=3>><<set $l_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No. No, we\'re not."' 'no we are not'>><<set $l_relationship to 7>><<set $l_tavernfight to true>><</link>></div>"Nah. You're the one stuck with me, actually," you say, a teasing note to your voice.
Lea raises an eyebrow at you. "Is that right?"
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"Yeah, that's right," you say, taking a step towards $l_them, and Lea leans back, surprising you, letting you pin $l_them against the bookshelf.
"$surname..." Lea says, narrowing $l_their eyes at you. You're smirking now, though, emboldened by $l_their half-hearted warning.
"What?" you say innocently, tapping a finger to your lips, and taking yet another step closer, ignoring your heart skipping in your chest, the heat on the back of your neck. You don't miss the way Lea's eyes watch your finger, your lips, before flicking to the very little space between you.
"You - You're making fun of me," Lea says, pressing back against the shelves, $l_their brow furrowed, looking anywhere but at you. You blink, dropping your hand, shaking your head.
"No, no - I'm not," you say, and you're surprised at the hurt in your voice. You tilt your head, forcing Lea to meet your gaze. "I'm not making fun of you," you repeat, your voice quiet. Lea blinks a few times, and $l_their face softens looking at you, for the briefest moment.
Then you can see the walls come back up, and Lea suddenly raises the book up against $l_their chest, as if it were a shield, slapping its hard cover, a cloud of dust rising from the motion, forcing you to step back. "I - I still need to buy this."
Lea clears $l_their throat and quickly slides along the shelves away from you, not even sparing a glance before walking off towards the front counter and – rather frantically – slapping the bell repeatedly for service.
You watch $l_them for a moment before glancing down at your feet, your brow furrowing, the sound of the bell hammering inside your skull.
<<if $l_campflirt>>You close your eyes, taking a deep breath, remembering last night at camp, the way Lea had looked in the firelight; warm, dark eyes and dark hair - //stop it.// Whatever that moment was... you're just clinging to it, aren't you? Anything to keep yourself afloat, nevermind the consequences.
//This is a bad idea.// That's what you want to tell yourself, but you can't. It was only for a moment - but the way $l_they looked at you. You resist the urge to start pacing right there in the shop, instead biting the inside of your lip and shaking your head.<<else>>//This is a bad idea.// Acting like this with Lea... the person you spend all your time with, that you live with. That you argue and fight with. //$l_They thought you were making fun of $l_them.//
But the way $l_they looked at you - even for just a moment. It makes your heart race. You resist the urge to start pacing right there in the shop, instead biting your lip and shaking your head.<</if>><<else>>"Yeah, that's right," you say, taking a step towards $l_them, and Lea leans back, giving you a look.
"Stop it," $l_they <<say>> with a scoff, shouldering past you. You stagger back, turning and blinking after $l_them, stunned a bit by that reaction. Lea seems to sense your confusion, turning back around to frown at you. "You're making fun of me," $l_they <<say>>.
"No. No, I'm not," you say, a sudden waver in your voice that annoys you. Lea stares at you for another moment, $l_their dark eyes searching your face. You can see $l_their jaw tense, $l_their hand tightening around the book $l_they<<re>> still holding at $l_their side.
Lea clears $l_their throat then, raising and gesturing the book, blinking and glancing away from you. "I - Okay. I need to pay for this," $l_they <<say>>, turning sharply and walking off towards the front counter and – rather frantically – slapping the bell repeatedly for service.
You watch $l_them for a moment before dropping your gaze to the floor, your brow furrowing, the sound of the bell hammering inside your skull. //This is a bad idea//.
You're not really sure where that came from. Acting like this with Lea... the person you spend all your time with, that you live with. That you argue and fight with. //$l_They thought you were making fun of $l_them.// You resist the urge to start pacing right there in the shop, instead biting your lip and shaking your head.<</if>>
You run a hand over your face, letting out a long sigh and forcing yourself after Lea, joining $l_them at the counter, Lea pointedly not looking at you. $l_They at least stop<<s>> ringing the fucking bell.
[[Continue ->lingering behind them]]"I don't mind being with you," you say, heat immediately rushing to your face as the words leave your mouth. //Oh, no.// You chew on the inside of your cheek, a sudden heavy silence passing between you.
Lea doesn't look at you, instead focusing on the heavy tome in $l_their hands.
"Yeah. Thanks," Lea eventually says, still not looking at you, but you can see $l_their grip tighten, the book's binding groaning from the pressure.
You start to take a half-step towards $l_them, not really sure what it is you're trying to do, but Lea steps back, reflexively, you think, glancing around the shop, avoiding your face.
//Please. Look at me.// The thought is sudden, and desperate.
"Well," $l_they <<say>> then, clearing $l_their throat and slapping the hard cover of the book, sending a cloud of dust up between you, "let me just. Buy this."
Lea quickly steps around you and walks up to the front counter, ringing the bell for service.
You don't follow, instead watching $l_them for a moment, before glancing down at your feet, your brow furrowing, the ring of the bell echoing inside your skull.
<<if $l_campflirt>>You close your eyes, taking a deep breath, remembering last night at camp, the way Lea had looked in the firelight, soft, dark eyes and dark hair - //stop it.// You open your eyes, curling your lip and shaking your head. This is a bad idea. //This is a bad idea.//<<else>>You shake your head, resisting the urge to start pacing right here in the shop. //This is a bad idea//. With Lea... you can't act this way. You work together, live together... shit, you've had more arguments than actual conversations. You swallow the lump in your throat, lifting your gaze to stare at Lea's back.
//I just want $l_them to look at me.//
You close your eyes, biting back the bitter laugh threatening to bubble up in your chest.<</if>>
You run a hand over your face, letting out a long sigh and forcing yourself after Lea, joining $l_them at the counter, neither of you looking at each other.
[[Continue ->lingering behind them]]"Aren't I always stuck with you?" you say, stepping close and nudging Lea with your shoulder. $l_They let<<s>> your push carry $l_them back a few steps, staring down at the book in $l_their hands.
"Yeah," Lea says, finally looking up at you and giving you a weak smile. "Yeah, I guess you are."
You feel your own smile fade a bit, and you take a step towards $l_them, not really sure what it is you're trying to do, but Lea steps back, reflexively, you think, glancing around the shop, avoiding your face.
"Lea?" you prompt, tilting your head, trying to get $l_them to look at you. //Please. Look at me.// The thought is sudden, and desperate.
"Just - I just need to buy this," $l_they <<say>>, clearing $l_their throat and slapping the hard cover of the book, sending a cloud of dust up between you. $l_They quickly step<<s>> around you, cutting through the aisle and back towards the front counter, slapping the bell for service.
You don't follow, instead watching $l_them for a moment, before glancing down at your feet, your brow furrowing, the ring of the bell echoing inside your skull.
<<if $l_campflirt>>You close your eyes, taking a deep breath, remembering last night at camp, the way Lea had looked in the firelight, soft, dark eyes and dark hair - //stop it.// You open your eyes, curling your lip and shaking your head. This is a bad idea. //This is a bad idea.//<<else>>You shake your head, resisting the urge to start pacing right here in the shop. //This is a bad idea//. With Lea... you can't act this way. You work together, live together... shit, you've had more arguments than actual conversations. You swallow the lump in your throat, lifting your gaze to stare at Lea's back.
//I just want $l_them to look at me.//
You close your eyes, biting back the bitter laugh threatening to bubble up in your chest.<</if>>
You run a hand over your face, letting out a long sigh and forcing yourself after Lea, joining $l_them at the counter, neither of you looking at each other.
[[Continue ->lingering behind them]]"It's alright," you say, shrugging. You could have gone with Noel if you wanted to - but you don't mind being with Lea. It's always you and Lea.
"Just alright?" Lea scoffs, raising an eyebrow.
"Just alright," you shrug again, giving $l_them a crooked smile.
"I'll take it," Lea says then with a light laugh, stepping towards you and tucking the book under $l_their arm. "Did you need anything in here?" $l_they ask<<s>> then, tilting $l_their head at you.
"Nah. Just whatever you're getting," you say, waving your hand around at all the junk in the shop. <<if $mc_alchemist>>You didn't use any of your equipment in the fight last night - and you doubt this shop would have what you want, anyways. This is clearly more for Lea's crowd of alchemists, not yours.<<else>>If you're being honest, most of this stuff here is far beyond your skill level - you're no alchemist, and wouldn't even know where to begin.<</if>>
Lea nods, patting the book and turning to head towards the front of the store, though there are no signs of a shopkeep at the counter - just a little bell, which Lea rings for service. You trail behind a bit, feeling your smile fade, and you run a hand over your face, the pain in your head creeping back in.
<<if $l_campfight>>Always with the back and forth and the banter between you two - these little moments where someone looking in from the outside would guess you were friends. But it's so delicate. All it takes is one fumble for the illusion to shatter - like last night, like Keld. You wonder how long it will last.<<elseif hasVisited("fight again")>>Sometimes you have this back and forth, this banter with Lea - little moments, similar to last night at camp, where you could almost be mistaken for friends. But you know it's fragile - delicate. One little fumble away from shattering - like Keld. You know better than to get too comfortable.<<else>>You want to hold on to this little moment - this banter, this friendly back and forth. After last night, your exchange at camp, you want to dig your nails in, refuse to let go. But you can't - it's fragile, and you can't force it, or it will shatter, you know it. Like after Keld. You'll ruin it.<</if>>
Lea rings the bell again, and you flinch slightly, the sound piercing through your skull.
[[Continue ->lingering behind them]]You let your head roll back, letting out a long sigh, your arms hanging at your sides.
Lea shakes $l_their head, but smiles, brushing past and smacking you lightly with the book.
You spin around after $l_them, Lea turning as well, walking backwards away from you as you drag your feet and slowly follow $l_them down the aisle.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it," Lea says, waving the book around, "I'm very boring."
"No! Standing around and watching you read is very exciting, actually," you say, giving Lea an over-enthusiastic nod.
Lea clicks $l_their tongue, turning $l_their back to you and walking towards the front of the shop. "You ass. Come on. I need to pay for this," $l_they <<say>>, flashing the book over $l_their shoulder at you. You trail behind a bit, feeling your smile fade, rubbing a hand over your face as the pain in your head creeps back in.
<<if $l_campfight>>Always with the back and forth and the banter between you two - these little moments where someone looking in from the outside would guess you were friends. But it's so delicate. All it takes is one fumble for the illusion to shatter - like last night, like Keld. You wish you could make it last.<<elseif hasVisited("fight again")>>Sometimes you have this back and forth, this banter with Lea - little moments, similar to last night at camp, where you could almost be mistaken for friends. But you know it's fragile - delicate. One little fumble away from shattering - like Keld. You know better than to get too comfortable.<<else>>You want to hold on to this little moment - this banter, this friendly back and forth. After last night, your exchange at camp, you want to dig your nails in, refuse to let go. But you can't - it's fragile, and you can't force it, or it will shatter, you know it. Like after Keld. You'll ruin it.<</if>>
Lea rings the bell at the front counter for service, and you flinch slightly, the sound piercing through your skull.
[[Continue ->lingering behind them]]"It's not like I have much of a choice," you say, but it comes out harsher than you mean, and you sigh, shifting on your feet.
"Yeah. That's fair, I suppose," Lea says after a moment, giving you a sad smile. You both stand awkwardly, avoiding looking at each other, until Lea clears $l_their throat. "I still need to buy this," $l_they <<say>>, waving the book in front of $l_them before patting the cover.
"Yeah," you say, stepping aside so Lea can pass you by, heading for the front of the shop.
You watch $l_them walk off, chewing on the inside of your cheek, before dropping your gaze and trailing after $l_them. You sigh again, running a hand over your face, flinching when Lea rings the little bell on the counter for service.<<set $l_friendship -=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>>
[[Continue ->lingering behind them]]"You don't have to babysit me," you snap, annoyed at $l_their comment.
Lea frowns at you. "I'm not //babysitting// you," $l_they scoff<<s>>.
"Oh? What would you call it?"
"How about //our job//? Working?"
Now it's your turn to scoff. Lea holds up $l_their hand, though, giving you a dark look. "I'll buy this and then we can just get this day over with," $l_they <<say>>, brushing past you towards the front of the shop.
<<if $l_campfight>>You swallow back any more bitter words - you're still agitated from the argument last night, from the wraith, the dull pain in your arm an unpleasant reminder of your failure.
You just don't have the patience for this right now. And your headache isn't helping.
Lea rings the bell at the front counter for service, and you flinch slightly, the sound piercing through your skull.<<else>>Whatever little moment you and Lea had last night - it didn't just magically fix everything. It will take a lot more than //that// to fix whatever is broken between you two. You run a hand over your face, sighing, forcing yourself after Lea.
Stepping up to the counter, $l_they ring<<s>> the bell for service, and you flinch slightly, the sound piercing through your skull.<</if>>
[[Continue ->lingering behind them]]You linger back a bit, watching as the shop owner appears behind the counter, eyeing you and Lea curiously. But then recognition flickers across his face, and he grins wide at Lea.
"Lea Chen!" he booms, leaning across the counter and slapping Lea on the back, and for a moment you think he might pick $l_them up and pull $l_them over the counter for a hug. He grips $l_their shoulder, giving $l_them a single, hard shake.
"Long time no see! Glad you're here," he says, finally letting $l_them go with another rough shake. "Managed to avoid all that nasty business with the plague," he says, not really a question, nodding at $l_them. "I was just wondering about you the other day. My favorite customer," he adds, and you think he genuinely means it.
"Hey, Alphonse," Lea says, giving him a warm smile. "The same to you, too. Glad you're well."
"Is that your partner?" Alphonse says then, pointing a large finger at you.
"Uh, yeah, this is $name," Lea says, looking back at you. You blink, taken aback a bit, at the term partner - definitely the first time you've been called //that// - and at the sudden casual usage of your first name.
"Well, don't be shy!" Alphonse says, holding out his hand for you. Again, you blink stupidly, but eventually shake your head and step forward, taking his hand, which he shakes furiously, your entire arm moving up and down. You know who Alphonse is, though you've never really met - your fault, considering the few times you've been here before you're usually waiting outside or lurking among the shelves, avoiding conversation.
"Heard a lot about you, mate," he says, "but Lea's been hiding you from me, I swear!"
"Alphonse," Lea says with a nervous chuckle.
You're a bit too dazed to even respond, instead just watching as Alphonse releases your hand and moves back over to Lea. You stare down at your hand, aware that the other two are still exchanging pleasantries, but you barely hear them - just that one word. Partner. Is that Lea's word, or Alphonse's? //Why does it matter?//
You're not sure, really. You let your hand drop, and you blink back into the shop, forcing yourself to listen to the conversation happening in front of you.
"What have you got there?" Alphonse is asking, raising a thick, bushy eyebrow at the book tucked under Lea's arm.
"A book," Lea says and Alphonse clicks his tongue in response, giving $l_them a look.
"No shit," Alphonse says, holding his hand out for it.
Lea sighs and hands it over, shaking $l_their head. "Just the book, and the usual stuff. And some bottled tar," Lea adds.
He sets the book on the counter, glancing over the cover before narrowing his eyes at Lea. "Careful with this one," he says, jamming a finger pointedly against the counter. Lea purses $l_their lips, very clearly annoyed at the remark, crossing $l_their arms and shaking $l_their head.
"I know what I'm doing," $l_they <<say>>.
Alphonse just hums, patting the cover before reaching under the counter and digging around. He pops back up with a handful of empty bottles as well as some small vials filled with an ominously dark liquid. He sets it all down and then busies himself pulling ingredients off the shelves behind him, and preparing them for Lea.
You slide up to the counter, peering down at the book. Lea grabs it and tucks it away into $l_their bag, though, giving you a hard look. You raise an eyebrow, but Lea is as stubborn as they come, completely ignoring you now and watching Alphonse.
"Your usual," he says after a few minutes of scrounging, laying out some small wrapped bundles and cinched cloth bags, each a different color, which you assume means something to Lea. $l_They take<<s>> it all, dropping them into $l_their bag with the book, while Alphonse begins to carefully wrap the glass bottles and vials in a thick parchment he unrolls from somewhere beneath the counter.
[[Continue ->thanks alphonse]]"Thanks, Alphonse," Lea says as he hands $l_them the neatly wrapped bottles which quietly clink together as Lea makes room for them in $l_their bag. Sliding them in place, $l_they shift<<s>> the bag back across $l_their back and then digs down into $l_their pocket, slapping $l_their hand on the counter and sliding a few coins over to Alphonse.
"Always happy to see you, Lea," Alphonse says, covering the coins with his absurdly large hand as he swipes them off the counter, "and your money helps too," he adds with a hearty laugh. Lea just shakes $l_their head.
"Don't wait so long to come see me again!" Alphonse shouts as the two of you head for the door. "And, $name – keep an eye on $l_them for me."
Lea scowls at that, brushing past you and throwing open the door.
You follow $l_them out, the cold cutting straight through you, and the noise overwhelming you once again. You head single file down the stairs back onto the street, and for a while you both walk in silence, Lea walking a bit ahead, and you watch $l_them, staring at the back of $l_their head until finally forcing yourself to look elsewhere.
It sounds stupid, but whenever something like this happens, it always surprises you. It's easy to forget Lea has a life outside of just the two of you, especially after being at the stronghold for a while, or after traveling together.
But Lea's family //is// well known, and Lea had a hunter before you, and has been around. Merry clearly recognized $l_them, enough to even know about Shoshana. You, for the most part, have been chained to the Black Iron, and Lea $l_themself. You don't have friends like Alphonse, someone to caution you about a strange book, or talk to about your //partner//; there are no people that recognize you, that are happy to see you. Always just you and Lea. Before that, it was you and Jorah. Before that... well.
"What are you thinking about?" Lea asks, and you blink, realizing $l_they <<are>> walking beside you now.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just - I don\'t know. You talk about me to your alchemist supplier?"' 'you talk about me to your alchemist supplier'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Can I... ask you about what Merry said this morning?"' 'can i ask you about what merry said'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Thinking about Jorah, actually."' 'thinking about jorah'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Watching you with Alphonse... I don\'t - I don\'t have people like that."' 'watching you with alphonse'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Nothing."' 'nothing'>><</link>></div>"Just - I don't know. You talk about me to your alchemy supplier?" you say, your brow furrowing as you speak.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"Well – I mean. Not, uh, not like that, and I don't... just talk about you," Lea stumbles through $l_their words, rubbing the back of $l_their neck. "He's nosey," Lea says with a weak laugh.<<else>>"I don't //just// talk about you," Lea says, a bit defensively. "I mean. Alphonse is just... nosey," $l_they <<say>>, waving $l_their hand back towards the shop.<</if>>
"And he called me your partner," you press, the word sounding foreign on your tongue. That gets you a look from Lea.
"What else would he call you?" Lea prompts, and the genuine confusion in $l_their voice annoys you. You're getting agitated, and the noise of the street isn't helping, a pressure building behind your eyes.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Don't act stupid," you snap, narrowing your eyes at $l_them. "Your //hunter//."
Lea purses $l_their lips for a moment, before sighing. "Come on. You know I don't think of it like that," $l_they <<say>>.
"It doesn't matter what you //think//, it's what it is," you huff, shaking your head. You're not even really sure if you're actually mad at Lea, or if you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. And then to act like you're on some equal footing - when you can't even remember your own $sibling's name.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"Your //hunter//," you say simply, the words barely coming through your clenched jaw.
Lea searches your face for a moment. "You know I don't think of it like that," $l_they <<say>>.
"It doesn't matter what you //think//, it's what it is," you say, shaking your head. You're not even really sure if you're actually mad at Lea, or if you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. And then to act like you're on some equal footing - when you can't even remember your own $sibling's name.<<else>>"You're my handler," you say, looking over at $l_them with a sigh.
Lea makes a face at that. "You know I don't think of it like that," $l_they <<say>>.
"Yeah. But what you think doesn't matter. It's what it is," you say, running a hand over your face. You're not mad at Lea, you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. And then to act like you're on some equal footing, when you can't even remember your own $sibling's name.<</if>>
Lea takes a few long strides ahead of you then, stepping in front of you and cutting you off, forcing you to stop, the two of you just standing in the street, now.
"I'm //telling// you what it is. What everyone else thinks - fuck what everyone else thinks," Lea says, slashing $l_their hand through the air to emphasize $l_their point.
"That's easy for you to say," you scoff, unable to keep the sting from your voice.
"$name, we //are// partners," $l_they <<say>> then, $l_their voice softening, $l_their dark eyes locked on yours.
<<include "partners">>"Can I... ask you about what Merry said this morning?" you say carefully.
Lea goes rigid next to you, $l_their face twitching. "No."
"Lea," you start, giving $l_them a look.
"No," Lea repeats it, harsher this time, $l_their lip curling in a sneer. You let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose. You're getting agitated - from the weird interactions in the shop, from the loud noises of the street around you, a hot pressure building behind your eyes.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Yeah. That's what I thought. So much for fucking //partners//," you scoff, dropping your hand from your face.
"What?" Lea snaps, taking a few quick steps to pass you and look into your hood.
"Is that what you tell people? Does that make you feel better about this?" you snarl. You're not even sure why you're bringing it up - something about the way Alphonse said it so easy, it got under your skin. And you're just frustrated at... well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? And keep it all from you, and pretend like you're the same.
"What the fuck are you talking about?"<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You scoff, shaking your head. "And here I thought we were //partners//," you say, wielding that word as if it were a weapon now.
"What?" Lea snaps, taking a few quick steps to pass you and look into your hood.
"Partners," you repeat the word. "Something Alphonse said. Did you tell him that?" You're not even sure why you're bringing it up - something about the way Alphonse said it so easy, it got under your skin. And you're just frustrated at... well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? And keep it all from you, and pretend like you're the same.
"What are you talking about?" Lea says, throwing $l_their arms out.<<else>>You sigh, staring at Lea's profile as $l_they refuse<<s>> to look at you.
"Come on. I just..." you trail off, finally looking away from $l_them, clenching your hands at your sides. "You want us to be partners? Let's start with this."
Lea's head snaps around to look at you, searching your face. "What?"
"Alphonse called us partners. You didn't... disagree," you say slowly. "Did you tell him that? When you talk to him, is that what you call me?" Something about the way Alphonse had said it - so easy, like it was natural, as if it was the right word, it got under your skin. You know you're frustrated at everything else, too, the way Lea gets to have friends, a family, another life away from you, and then to still consider you - what? On equal footing? When you can't even remember your own $sibling's name.
"What are you talking about?" Lea asks, gesturing $l_their hands for you to explain, trying to understand.<</if>>
"I'm talking about us being partners! It -" you cut yourself off, exasperated now, your voice strained, and saying it out loud you feel so fucking stupid. "I don't know. It bothered me. That word."
"I -" Lea blinks, slowing $l_their walk until the two of you are just standing in the middle of the street. "You //are// my partner, $name," $l_they <<say>> softly, $l_their dark eyes locked on yours.
<<include "partners">>"Thinking about Jorah, actually."
"Oh?" Lea says, clearly not expecting that answer.
"Not just him. But... I don't know," you shrug, because you don't really know how to explain it, or if you really want to. You're feeling agitated, and the noise of the street isn't helping, a pressure building behind your eyes.
"What is it?" Lea prompts, watching you now.
You take a deep breath, shaking your head. "You and Jorah...," you struggle to find the words. "Jorah was my master. You're my handler. That's all it's ever been." You pause again, and Lea searches your face, $l_their brow furrowed, waiting for you to continue. "But Alphonse called me your partner."
Lea blinks, waiting a few more seconds before speaking, maybe expecting you to say more. "What else would he call you?" Lea asks, and the sincerity in $l_their question just annoys you.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Don't act stupid," you snap, narrowing your eyes at $l_them. "Your //hunter//."
Lea purses $l_their lips for a moment, before sighing. "Come on. You know I don't think of it like that," $l_they <<say>>.
"It doesn't matter what you //think//, it's what it is," you huff, shaking your head. You're not even really sure if you're actually mad at Lea, or if you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. And then to act like you're on some equal footing - when you can't even remember your own $sibling's name.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"Your //hunter//," you say simply, the words barely coming through your clenched jaw.
Lea searches your face for a moment. "You know I don't think of it like that," $l_they <<say>>.
"It doesn't matter what you //think//, it's what it is," you say, shaking your head. You're not even really sure if you're actually mad at Lea, or if you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. And then to act like you're on some equal footing - when you can't even remember your own $sibling's name.<<else>>"You're my handler," you say, looking over at $l_them with a sigh.
Lea makes a face at that. "You know I don't think of it like that," $l_they <<say>>.
"Yeah. But what you think doesn't matter. It's what it is," you say, running a hand over your face. You're not mad at Lea, you're just frustrated at - well, at everything. Why does Lea get to have friends, a family, another life? But not you. And then to act like you're on some equal footing, when you can't even remember your own $sibling's name.<</if>>
Lea takes a few long strides ahead of you then, stepping in front of you and cutting you off, forcing you to stop, the two of you just standing in the street, now.
"I'm //telling// you what it is. What everyone else thinks - fuck what everyone else thinks," Lea says, slashing $l_their hand through the air to emphasize $l_their point.
"That's easy for you to say," you scoff, unable to keep the sting from your voice.
"$name, we //are// partners," $l_they <<say>> then, $l_their voice softening, $l_their dark eyes locked on yours.
<<include "partners">>"Watching you with Alphonse... I don't - I don't have people like that."
Lea slows beside you, and you do the same, shooting $l_them a look. You don't really expect a response, but Lea's brow is furrowed, searching your face, trying to find something to say.
"You have me," Lea finally says, glancing away from you, and you think $l_they will say more, but instead you lapse into silence.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I think it's different," you eventually say, scuffing the ground with your boot.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"It's... different," you say slowly, scuffing the ground with your boot.<<else>>"It's different, Lea," you snap, shaking your head.<</if>>
"It... doesn't have to be." Lea takes a deep breath. "I know we have problems. I mean... Keld happened," $l_they laugh<<s>> without any humor. "But...," Lea trails off then, sighing. You wait for a moment, watching $l_them, but it's clear $l_they<<re>> struggling.
"Alphonse called us partners," you fill in for $l_them. Lea's head snaps up, a questioning look in $l_their eyes.
"We are." Lea hesitates, wavering in $l_their conviction while facing you directly. But $l_they set<<s>> $l_their jaw, nodding to you. "We //are// partners, $name."
<<include "partners">>"Nothing," you say, shrugging.
Lea sighs, turning away from you and shaking $l_their head. "I'm trying, here," $l_they <<say>> then, giving you a look.
<<if $l_campfight>>You can't help but sigh too, your face twitching at the comment. "Yeah," you say, crossing your arms as you walk, resisting the urge to snap back about how hard Lea was trying last night. How hard $l_they tried after Keld.
You can still feel Lea's eyes on you, waiting.
"It was something Alphonse said," you say, closing your eyes for a moment, before turning to Lea. "Called us partners."<<else>><<if hasVisited("fight again")>>You roll your eyes at that. "Yeah. Hard for you, isn't it?" you say, scoffing.
You can see Lea's jaw tense, biting back another comment, you're sure.
"If you must know, it was something Alphonse said," you say then, crossing your arms as you walk, your face twitching as you speak. "Called us partners."<<else>>That comment needles you a bit - but then you sigh, too. "I know," you say, staring down at your boots as you walk. You still hesitate, chewing on the inside of your cheek, glancing over at Lea before looking back down at your feet. "It was something Alphonse said."
Lea waits for you to continue.
"He called us partners."<</if>><</if>>
Lea searches your face for a moment, peering through the shadows of your hood, and before you realize it you've both stopped in the street, staring at each other.
"$name," Lea says slowly, "we //are// partners."<<set $stoic +=1>>
<<include "partners">><div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. Partners."' 'okay. partners'>><<set $l_friendship +=10>><<set $sanity +=3>><<set $l_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We\'re //not// partners, Lea."' 'we are not partners'>><<set $l_marketfight to true>><<set $sanity -=3>><<set $l_friendship -=5>><</link>></div>You take a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Okay. Partners," you say, holding Lea's gaze. You want to be partners. You want to try. Partners... maybe friends. <<if $l_flirt gte 2>>//Maybe more.//<</if>>
"I'm... sorry, that there was ever any doubt," Lea says softly, $l_their dark eyes sad as $l_they look<<s>> at you. You fidget with your sleeves, kicking your toe into the hard earth beneath you.
"We haven't had an easy go of it," you say, because it's easier than trying to explain all that //doubt//. It actually makes Lea laugh, and you relax slightly at the sound.
"That's one way to put it." Lea hesitates then. <<if $l_campfight>>"I am sorry, though. Really. For last night - at camp, and, and with the wraith. And for Keld." A pause. "And for every time before that," $l_they frown<<s>>, glancing away from you.<<else>>"I am sorry, though. For Keld. If that wasn't clear before." A pause. "And last night...with the wraith...," $l_they frown<<s>>, glancing away from you.<</if>>
"I know," you say, because you do know. The sincerity in Lea's voice makes your throat tighten, and you glance away too. This might be the most you two have spoken - openly and honestly - and you're standing in the middle of the fucking street.
<<if $l_campfight>>"I'm sorry, too. For what I said," you say then.
<<else>><<if hasVisited("fight again")>>"I shouldn't have said that. Last night. About us just fighting again," you say then.<<else>>"Last night... I do want to be better. I liked being better, with you," you say then, thinking back to the ease with which you two spoke together at the fire; awkward, but comfortable, like you //were// friends.<</if>><</if>>
Lea lifts $l_their gaze back to you, and you don't miss the surprise there, which you have to admit stings a bit. But you press forward, and surprising even yourself, you hold your hand out to Lea.
Lea smiles softly, and you grasp each other's forearms, holding each other close despite the crowds jostling around you. <<if $l_flirt gte 2>>You feel Lea's hand squeeze your arm before $l_they release<<s>> you, and slowly $l_their hand slides through yours, before dropping to $l_their side, your skin burning under your clothes from $l_their touch.
You don't miss the way $l_their fingers flex, curling into a fist.<<elseif $l_flirt eq 1>>Lea's touch burns through your clothes, and you can't help but watch $l_their hand holding you, your own grip tight around $l_their arm. Lea lets go first, and, a little reluctantly, you admit, you slide your own hand away, letting it drop to your side.<<else>>Lea releases your arm with a nod, $l_their smile growing a little wider, warmer, $l_their dark eyes softening as $l_they look<<s>> at you.<</if>>
Lea takes a deep breath then,<<if $l_flirt gte 1>> your eyes snapping back up to $l_their face, $l_them<</if>> holding your gaze as $l_they speak<<s>>.
"I'll tell you about Shoshana," $l_they <<say>>, and you blink, caught off guard, not sure what to say. "Once we're finished here. I want to talk about it." Lea pauses, suddenly looking nervous. "I want to tell you."
"Okay," you finally say, nodding. "Okay, Lea. We'll talk."
Lea exhales slowly, and for a moment you both just stand awkwardly, not sure what to do now with this sudden revelation between you. Lea shifts the bags on $l_their shoulder, and you clear you throat, both of you turning simultaneously and resuming your walk down the street.
[[Continue|partners 1]]"We're //not// partners, Lea," you say, your lip curling slightly.
Lea seems genuinely stunned, taking a moment to process your words. "Do I make you feel that way?" $l_they ask<<s>> then, taking a step towards you.
"Your title is literally //my handler//. Tell me what you're not understanding," you snap, pressing your hands to your head. In what world could you ever be partners? Lea holds your leash, the key to your cage. That's all this is.
Lea clenches $l_their jaw, staring down at $l_their feet.
"You know being a handler is for show. It's a title that means nothing," Lea finally says.
"It's a title that means everything!"
A few people are staring now, you and Lea still standing in the middle of the street, but you don't care, not right now. You're thinking about Keld now, and the wraith, and your aching arm, every bruise and broken bone and nightmare that's kept you up at night. Your nameless $sibling, your faceless mother.
"Don't pretend like you would ever trade places with me. We are not the same," you say, your voice quieter now, but still harsh.
Lea doesn't answer for a moment, looking away from you, and when $l_they look<<s>> back $l_their face is twisted, an anger like you've never seen in $l_their eyes.
<<if $l_campfight>>"You really think you just know fucking everything, don't you?" Lea sneers.
"I know enough," you say.
"Yeah. I know about you, too, because you never stop going on and on about it. I get it, okay? You fucking hate me, you hate all of this, your life is so hard. But don't blame me! I didn't force you to be here!" Lea shouts, jabbing $l_their finger at you. You slap it away, your hand curling into a fist.
<<if $family eq "bad">>"You think I fucking chose this?" Oh, you're //really// shouting now. "Fuck you, Lea."
You have nothing else to say. You turn on your heel and walk off, ignoring the open stares from all the people on the street, shouldering your way past curious spectators, your hands clenched so hard your arms shake.<<elseif $family eq "complicated">>You stare at Lea for a long moment, disbelief making you lose your words for a moment.
"You think I wanted this?" your voice cracks, despite yourself. "Fuck you, Lea."
You have nothing else to say. You turn on your heel and walk off, ignoring the open stares from all the people on the street, shouldering your way past curious spectators, your hands clenched so hard your arms shake.<<elseif $family eq "good">>$l_Their words cut straight through you, and you take a step back, just staring at $l_them.
"I chose this because it was the //only// choice I had," you hiss, though your voice wavers, despite yourself. "Fuck you, Lea."
You have nothing else to say. You turn on your heel and walk off, ignoring the open stares from all the people on the street, shouldering your way past curious spectators, your hands clenched so hard your arms are trembling.<</if>><<elseif $l_campfight eq false>>"No - no. You don't... there are things you don't know," Lea says then, $l_their voice tight, almost a snarl.
"Then fucking tell me!" you throw your hands up, taking a step towards them. "If we're //partners//, then fucking tell me!"
Lea stares down at $l_their feet, $l_their hands on $l_their hips. $l_They take<<s>> a deep breath, and for a fraction of a second you have hope. But then $l_they just shake<<s>> $l_their head.
"No."
You feel the metaphorical rug ripped out from under you - it's all you can do to stay standing. So you just turn on your heel and walk off, your hands clenched so hard your arms are trembling.<<endif>>
[[Continue ->not partners]]"Thank you," Lea says after a while, so quiet you almost don't catch it. You peer over at $l_them, though $l_they<<re>> staring straight ahead.
You watch $l_them for a moment, searching $l_their profile, and just as you start to say something - Lea suddenly grabs your arm and lurches you sideways, your voice dying in your throat. You just stare at $l_them, bewildered, but $l_they still <<dont>> look at you, instead $l_their eyes focused down the street.
You follow $l_their gaze and see it, too: a group of soldiers, heading through the market, towards you.
<<include "charge you for this">>"$name!"
You feel your face twitch at the sound of your name, but you keep walking. You don't really know where you're going. Just away.
"Don't just walk away from me," Lea says, and you can hear $l_them walking quickly behind you.
<<if $aggressive gt $stoic>>"Fuck off, Lea," you snap, glaring back at $l_them from under your hood as you continue down the street.<<elseif $stoic gt $aggressive>>You don't respond, just pulling your cloak tighter around you as you continue to move forward down the street.<<elseif $stoic eq $aggressive>>"Fuck off," you mumble under your breath, pulling your cloak tight around you as you continue to move forward down the street.<</if>>
But you don't get very far, hands suddenly around your arm and pulling you sideways. You swear, ripping your arm free, but it's grabbed again, Lea holding you tight.
"Shut up," $l_they snap<<s>>, and you turn to look at $l_them, bewildered. But Lea's not looking at you, instead past you, and you turn around and see it. A group of soldiers, heading through the market, towards you.
<<include "charge you for this">>Lea quickly drags you away, and you both duck into a stall, crouching down behind an unfortunately short counter. Long legs poke into your back, and Lea's hand grips your upper arm like a vise, but you ignore it, instead watching the soldiers meander down the street, stopping people every few feet. Checking under hoods.
"Shit," you and Lea both say it at the same time.
"I should charge you for this," a voice says then, and you both startle, turning to look at a short, stout woman standing in the doorway of the shop behind you.
Lea looks frantic for a moment, but then the woman just raises a single finger to her lips, and gives you a wink, her brown eyes flashing mischievously. She walks up to the counter, just tall enough to peer over it, watching the soldiers as they approach. You hold your breath as the sound of clanking armor grows louder. And louder.
[[And then it begins to fade.]]Letting out a long sigh, you wait a few more minutes until the stranger signals you to stand. Awkwardly, on the wrong side of the counter, you realize this is a bakery, in fact, with an open front. You can see the huge stone ovens through the doorway, the heat radiating out onto the street.
The stranger looks up at you both, hands on her hips. Warm brown skin and long, black hair pulled back into intricate braids, you identify her as the baker – due to the apron she wears, which is covered in handprints of flour.
"You're Noel's friends, aren't you?" she asks.
<<if $l_marketfight>>You suddenly realize Lea is still holding onto your arm. With a huff you pull it free, and Lea's hand hangs in the air for a moment, before it drops to $l_their side.<<else>>You suddenly realize Lea is still holding onto your arm. Lea seems to realize it as well, quickly letting go of you and letting $l_their hand drop to $l_their side.<</if>>
The baker looks between you both with a raised eyebrow before suddenly clapping her hands together, sending out a little puff of flour.
"You're Lea Chen!" She gives you and Lea a quick little bow. "It's nice to finally meet you."
<<if $l_marketfight>>Lea clears $l_their throat, glancing from you to the baker. "Yeah, I am."<<else>>Lea gives the baker a weak smile. "Yeah, I am."<</if>>
"I just met your mother not too long ago, passing through here. A sweetheart, really," she says, still smiling at you both.
"Right. Coming back from Skala," Lea says with a curt nod.
<<if $l_marketfight>>It takes incredible effort for you to refrain from snapping at Lea, irritation at the stranger's recognition making your fresh anger burn even hotter; you settle on a glare, though $l_they dutifully ignore<<s>> you, no doubt delighted at the baker's interference now, an opportunity to ignore not just you but everything else, too. As always.
A bitter taste in the back of your throat, you swallow hard, your words and the acid and the anger, rubbing the fresh bruises on your arm from Lea's hands.
<</if>>"Yes! Skala, a nasty business, that was." She pauses for a moment then, glancing past you and out onto the street. "Why don't you two come inside? They typically like to make a few rounds, before moving on," she says, twirling her finger to indicate the soldiers circling back. She doesn't wait for an answer, instead herding you both through the door, and immediately you're overwhelmed by the heat from the open ovens, a respite from the cold ocean air outside.
"My name is Hawkell, by the way," she says, shooing you and Lea farther into the bakery. A kid who could only be related to Hawkell eyes the two of you, and exchanges a look with her before stepping around you and heading outside to man the stall. Or to keep watch.
"Thank you, Hawkell," Lea says then, turning so $l_they can watch the street through the front bay windows behind you.
"Of course. Any friend of Noel's is a friend of mine," Hawkell says, beaming up at Lea. You can't help but note how ridiculously small the baker looks next to Lea, her head tilted back, her braids falling across her shoulders.
[[Continue ->the soldiers...]]<<set $Qs to 0>>"The soldiers...," Lea says then, glancing around the bakery despite it very clearly just being the three of you, "is that - this is usual for them? Checking people like that?"
"Rolling out the welcome wagon for us, more likely," you scoff, crossing your arms. Blackwater always did love to gossip - no doubt people know you're here, now.
Hawkell hums, but shakes her head at you. "You may have heard some rumors about a rogue hunter," she says, winking at you as she does. "A load of rubbish, if you ask me, but they're determined to find $n_them."
<<if $l_marketfight>>Despite yourself, you can't help but exchange a look with Lea.<<else>>You and Lea exchange a look.<</if>>
Hawkell frowns then, seeming to grow more serious. She starts to speak, but then stops herself and sighs, staring up at you and Lea for a painfully long moment, seeming to debate her words, glancing outside nervously.
You watch as she steps past you suddenly, picking up a pair of fire gloves hanging on the wall and roughly pulling the oversized things on, all but shoving Lea out of her way as she reaches in to rotate some of the baking bread.
"With the plague finally passing... well. People are tolerating certain things - and certain people - less and less." Hawkell sighs again, stepping back away from the oven and slapping her hands against the apron before sliding the gloves off. She turns back to you and Lea, looking between the two of you.
"Hawkell... Can we ask you some questions?" Lea prompts gently, clearly seeing an opportunity here with the baker.
Hawkell purses her lips, searching Lea's face, then glancing over to you and staring up into your hood.
"Okay," she says with a nod. "You've got a few minutes, until this batch is done." She hesitates a moment. "I'll answer... the best I can."
<<include "hawkell questions">><<if $Qs eq 0>><div id="choice"><<link 'I just let Lea handle this. $l_They clearly already <<have>> some questions in mind.' 'let lea handle this'>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if not hasVisited("what can you tell us about lord duncan")>><div id="choice"><<link '"Lord Duncan. What can you tell us about him?" I want to know what the general attitude towards the new warden is.' 'what can you tell us about lord duncan'>><<set $Qs +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if not hasVisited("captain harlowes role")>><div id="choice"><<link '"Captain Harlowe - what exactly is her role here?" She seems to have made quite the name for herself in Blackwater.' 'captain harlowes role'>><<set $Qs +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if not hasVisited("you mentioned noel")>><div id="choice"><<link '"You mentioned Noel... $n_xe is well known?" How many people know about the rogue hunter?' 'you mentioned noel'>><<set $Qs +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if not hasVisited("missing people")>><div id="choice"><<link '"We\'ve heard talk about missing people here..." Might as well stay focused on the job.' 'missing people'>><<set $Qs +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>You glance over at Lea, who clears $l_their throat then.
"Lord Duncan... It had to be hard for him, coming in during the plague," Lea says carefully, eyeing Hawkell as $l_they speak<<s>>. Hawkell shifts on her feet, already seeming nervous over this line of questioning.
"I'm curious - how that transition went," Lea continues, slow, deliberate in $l_their word choice. Hawkell seems to struggle for a long time, looking between you and Lea, before finally taking a deep breath, and shuffling closer to the two of you.
"It was very sudden," she finally says, her voice quiet, frowning. "He.. Lord Duncan - stays up top. I've never even seen the man myself," she says, gesturing towards the ceiling. "And the soldiers - they all arrived with him." She hesitates, her eyes darting towards the windows behind you. "They're here to protect us," she adds, giving you a mirthless smile.
"I see," Lea says, raising an eyebrow.
"Protect you against what? They going to swordfight the plague?" you say, scoffing. Lea gives you a sharp look, and you shake your head, biting your togue.
Hawkell sighs, glancing between you and Lea, ignoring your comment, determined to say her piece. "It seems to go in waves," she stares past you now, her eyes a bit unfocused. "Sometimes things are //almost// normal. You almost forget. And then - and then the next day, soldiers waving their swords in the streets, in those damned masks. Faceless."
You and Lea are both silent, waiting for Hawkell to continue. But Hawkell refocuses then, taking a step back and clearing her throat, looking around sheepishly, glancing a few times towards the door.
"And Lady Redwine?" Lea prompts after a few painful moments, and Hawkell's eyes snap back to $l_them, her hands grabbing at her apron and twisting the fabric.
"She got sick." Hawkell says simply, her voice sad. "That's what we were told, anyways," she says softly, still twisting her apron. "We haven't seen her - or her family - since Lord Duncan showed up."
Hawkell shakes her head then, looking up at Lea with wide eyes, and you can see real fear there, the way she keeps checking the windows behind you, shifting in place, the apron straining in her hands. "Let's talk about something else."
"Okay," Lea nods, holding $l_their hands up. "That's all about that, then. Just trying to catch up. We don't get a lot of word out at the stronghold," $l_they <<say>>, nodding again, encouragingly, speaking loud, emphasizing $l_their ignorance. You can tell Lea's wearing $l_their mask - obnoxious to you, but it works, making Hawkell relax a bit, and she smiles again, finally releasing her now wrinkled apron.
Hawkell's anxiety and Lea's little show is making you nervous now, too, and you can't help but glance over your shoulder, half expecting to see someone eavesdropping outside.
You wonder what Lea is thinking - asking about Duncan and Redwine. This isn't your business.
[[Continue ->let lea handle this 1]]"Lord Duncan. What can you tell us about him?" you say, crossing your arms.
Hawkell blinks a few times, wringing her hands and glancing out the window behind you.
"Very forward, aren't you," Hawkell laughs nervously.
Lea shifts beside you, nodding at her, "We're just curious about the new warden, is all. We don't get a lot of news out at the stronghold, you know," $l_they <<say>>, trying to smooth over the sudden tension in the room. You're a bit surprised that $l_they didn't try to shift the subject completely, to be honest - asking about politicians isn't exactly your business. But you're curious. You eye $l_them as $l_they give<<s>> Hawkell another encouraging nod.
Hawkell still hesitates before answering, though she does give Lea an appreciative look.
"To be honest, not much is known about him. He stays up top, you know," Hawkell gestures to the ceiling, "but he brought a lot soldiers when he arrived. To keep us safe," she adds quickly, glancing out the window again.
"Is that right?" Lea raises an eyebrow.
"For someone that is supposed to keep you safe, you seem awful scared to talk about him," you say, studying the woman as she just wrings her hands in front of you.
"Well...," Hawkell just trails off, her eyes wide.
"It's alright," Lea waves $l_their hand. This line of questioning is clearly not going to go anywhere - though Hawkell's reaction is telling on its own. It seems Merry isn't the only one feeling suspicious of the warden.
Lea takes a step forward then, inclining $l_their head towards Hawkell, dropping $l_their voice. "I am curious, though - was Redwine involved in the transition? With the soldiers?"
Hawkell purses her lips. "No, no. She got sick." The baker seems like she wants to say more, but she just shakes her head, giving Lea a desperate look.
"I see," Lea says, stepping back then and glancing over at you.
<<if $Qs lte 1>><<include "hawkell questions">><<else>>[[Continue|after hawkell questions]]<</if>>"Captain Harlowe," you say, and you see the recognition in Hawkell's eyes, "what is her role here, exactly?"
Hawkell takes a moment, considering her words. "It's hard... to define Captain Harlowe," Hawkell says, laughing weakly.
<<if $aggressive gte $genuine>>"Try," you say, crossing your arms.
"She's been here since the plague started?" Lea cuts in then, giving you an annoyed glance.<<else>>"Just - any general information?" you prompt.
"She's been here since the plague started, right?" Lea asks, giving Hawkell a nod.<</if>>
"Yes. She kept her head down, for most of it," the baker says, "though a lot of people here were already friendly with her - she's been selling in Blackwater for many years."
"Are you friendly with her?" you ask.
"We owe her. When Redwine - when Redwine stepped down, during that... confusion, she filled that role. Lord Duncan...," Hawkell hesitates now. "Merry is the one that took care of us. She still does. Her and Noel - they made sure the cure reached those that needed it. They fought for it."
Hawkell steps closer, lowering her voice. "And she keeps the soldiers from overstepping. Duncan doesn't care what they do to us down here."
"So definitely //not// friendly with the warden, then?" Lea says. You imagine $l_they would be taking notes, if $l_they had $l_their journal with $l_them.
Hawkell gives you both a tight smile. "No. Not friendly."
Lea hums, $l_their brow furrowed.
<<if $Qs lte 1>><<include "hawkell questions">><<else>>[[Continue|after hawkell questions]]<</if>>"Noel - I'm curious, is $n_xe well known?" you ask. Hawkell clearly knows $n_xe's a hunter, based on what she said earlier. She probably sees a lot of the northern hunters when they pass through Blackwater - she recognized Lea and met $l_their mother before.
The baker isn't familiar to you, though - and you know the sad reality is she probably inherited this bakery from someone else, lost to the plague, maybe in the beginning, or maybe only a few months ago. A lot of missing familiar faces you're trying not to think about.
"It depends who you ask," Hawkell says then, bringing you out of your spiral. "Noel knows a lot of people. A lot of people know $n_them. Or at least a version of $n_them." Hawkell pauses, pursing her lips. "I think it would be best you just ask Noel."
"It's clear what the warden thinks about $n_them..." Lea mutters, shaking $l_their head.
Hawkell suddenly looks like she's going to cry, grabbing at the front of her apron, twisting the fabric in her hands. "I worry about $n_them. I am afraid for $n_them."
"Because of what $n_xe is?" you say, narrowing your eyes at her.
"Because of Captain Harlowe," Hawkell says quietly. She immediately claps her hands over her mouth then, her eyes wide, and she shakes her head. "You should just talk to Noel," she says, her voice hard now, and she takes a deep breath, glancing over at the ovens.
<<if $Qs lte 1>><<include "hawkell questions">><<else>>[[Continue|after hawkell questions]]<</if>>"We've heard talk about people going missing here, in Blackwater," you say slowly.
Hawkell sighs, visibly sagging in front of you. "Yes. I was hoping... with the plague having passed, I was hoping it would stop." She sighs again. "It hasn't."
"You thought it was related to the plague?" Lea asks, tilting $l_their head towards her.
"I did. Well... I mean, you both know how those things are," she gestures vaguely around the shop. "With the Vel," she clarifies, looking directly at you.
"You thought something came through," you say.
Hawkell stares down at her hands, shaking her head. "It was terrible, here. For a long time," her voice breaks slightly, and she somehow seems to shrink even smaller right in front of you, the weight of the last year weighing her down.
"I understand," Lea says softly, stepping forward and putting a hand on Hawkell's shoulder. She blinks up at your handler, smiling softly, putting her hand over Lea's.
"I don't know much, truthfully. It's always a friend of a friend, you know? It's a big city," Hawkell continues then, "but I know Captain Harlowe - and Noel - well, they would know more." She pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath, glancing over at the door before dropping her voice. "The plague, and the Vel, all of that seems like the obvious answer. The easy answer. But... I can tell you... I can tell you that a lot of those people - they were no friends of Duncan."
She shrugs off Lea's hand then.
"Take that as you will," she adds with some finality.
<<if $Qs lte 1>><<include "hawkell questions">><<else>>[[Continue|after hawkell questions]]<</if>>Before you can ask anything else, Hawkell throws her hands up, shaking her head and eyeing the ovens along the wall.
"That's all the time you've got, my friends," she says, and you think she is trying to be casual, but you can hear the strain in her voice, now.
Lea purses $l_their lips, clearly annoyed, but $l_they nod<<s>> and step<<s>> out of Hawkell's way to avoid being shoved aside again. Hawkell bustles about, putting her fire gloves back on and waving out the window behind you - the kid returning now, giving Hawkell a nod. For a moment you and Lea stand awkwardly in the sudden silence as the two begin to prepare to pull the batch of bread from the ovens.
"Uh, Hawkell -" Lea starts, and the woman turns around to look at the two of you again, raising an eyebrow.
"You should be good to head out," she says, and she gives you and Lea a bow, holding her gloved hands to her chest. It's clear that she's done talking.
"Actually," Lea inclines $l_their head slightly, "I was hoping we could buy some bread."
Hawkell seems surprised for a moment, and then breaks into a smile. "Of course," she says, her voice softer now. "Give me just a moment."
[[Continue ->buy some bread]]"We've heard a bit about missing people, here in Blackwater," Lea says then, and Hawkell's eyes widen, a sudden sadness washing over her, and she visibly sags in front of you, sighing.
"Yes. I had hoped - with the plague passing... I had hoped it would stop. But it hasn't," Hawkell says sadly.
"You thought it was related to the plague?" Lea asks, tilting $l_their head towards her.
"I did. Well... I mean, you both know how those things are," she gestures vaguely around the shop. "With the Vel," she clarifies, looking directly at you.
"You thought something came through," you say.
Hawkell stares down at her hands, shaking her head. "It was terrible, here. For a long time," her voice breaks slightly, and she somehow seems to shrink even smaller right in front of you, the weight of the last year weighing her down.
"I understand," Lea says softly, stepping forward and putting a hand on Hawkell's shoulder. She blinks up at your handler, smiling softly, putting her hand over Lea's.
"I don't know much, truthfully. It's always a friend of a friend, you know? It's a big city," Hawkell continues then, "but I know Captain Harlowe - and Noel - well, they would know more." She pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath, glancing over at the door before dropping her voice. "The plague, and the Vel, all of that seems like the obvious answer. The easy answer. But... I can tell you... I can tell you that a lot of those people - they were no friends of Duncan."
She shrugs off Lea's hand then.
"Take that as you will," she adds with some finality.
[[Continue ->after hawkell questions]]You and Lea both step back, letting the other two work. You can sense Lea is going to speak before $l_they <<do>>.
<<if $l_marketfight>>"Get the bread. I'm going to check the street," $l_they <<say>>, shoving a bag into your hands and stepping towards the door, "since we did put on a show earlier." Lea flashes $l_their teeth at you over $l_their shoulder - a weak attempt at a smile - before vanishing out the door. Something tells you it's less about checking the street, and more about getting away from you.
You watch $l_them walk off through the window, your head feeling heavy, the fire from earlier turned to ash now, thick in your throat, burning behind your eyes. Running a hand over your face, you just let out a long sigh, tearing your gaze from the street.
Turning back to the ovens, you watch as Hawkell guides the kid through pulling the bread. Wielding what looks to be a large, flat paddle, they slide it into the oven, carefully pulling the bread out and setting it on a nearby table, where Hawkell gently nudges the loaves from the paddle. They do this a few times, in tandem, and you just watch, almost hypnotized.
The batch is set after a few minutes, and Hawkell removes her gloves and gestures you over to the table. The smell is intoxicating in the small shop - it has to be sweet bread that they just pulled. You can see the official seal of Blackwater stamped on the fresh loaves: an anchor, with its chain held in the talons of a hawk. Good to know this place is legitimate.
"Okay!" Hawkell exclaims, tossing her gloves onto the table. "Tell me what you'd like - this was the last batch for today, but it's early, and we've still got a bit of everything left over."
"Right," you say, blinking at her. You recite the usual order - a lot of hardtack, unfortunately - as well as some loaves of rye and a few handfuls of biscuits.
"Is that all?"
You can't help but eye the sweet bread on the table. That's Lea's favorite. You can't forget that even if you wanted to.
How much longer are you two going to keep going like this? You glance down at your hands, fidgeting, anger still burning hot in your chest. But you still have to get through this job together. //Fuck//.<<if $l_campfight>> Keld should have been it. You just keep ending up with your teeth at each other's throats. One of these days you're going to bite too hard - and you won't be able to take it back.<</if>> You recall yesterday morning then, the feeling of that warm cup of coffee in your hands. What did Lea call it? A peace offering.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Can I get a roll of that sweet bread?" I\'m frustrated with Lea. I\'m angry. But... I still want to try. I want - I want to talk to $l_them.' 'can i get a roll of that sweet bread'>><<set $l_relationship to 2>><<set $buy_bread to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Actually, a roll of that sweet bread, too." I\'ll give this to $l_them, and we\'ll be even. I don\'t owe $l_them an explanation, and we can just pretend like it never happened, just like always.' 'actually a roll of sweet bread'>><<set $l_relationship to 3>><<set $buy_bread to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"That\'s all, thanks." Bread isn\'t going to solve whatever the hell it is that\'s going on between us. I\'ll just do what we always do - ignore it.' 'thats all thanks'>><<set $l_relationship to 4>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"That\'s it, thanks." Fuck Lea. And fuck $l_their sweet bread.' 'thats it'>><<set $l_relationship to 6>><</link>></div><<else>>"Not sure what to think about all that," $l_they <<say>> softly, leaning towards you, not wanting to be heard by the others.
You hum, tapping a finger to your chin. Lea seems to be focused in on Duncan - you assume because of what Merry said this morning. If he's really cutting off contact with the stronghold... you sigh, not even wanting to consider it.
"Talk about it later?" Lea prompts, glancing out the window behind you.
"Yeah," is all you say. You're already pushing it as it is. While it's clear Hawkell has a high opinion of Noel, there was still some hesitation in talking with you, and it seems as if you are walking on thin ice - with her, with Merry, with this whole city, you think.
The two of you lapse into silence, both just watching as Hawkell guides the kid through pulling the bread. Wielding what looks to be a large, flat paddle, they slide it into the oven, carefully pulling the bread out and setting it on a nearby table, where Hawkell gently nudges the loaves from the paddle. They do this a few times, in tandem, and you just watch, almost hypnotized.
The batch is set after a few minutes, and Hawkell removes her gloves and gestures you over to the table. The smell is intoxicating in the small shop - it has to be sweet bread that they just pulled, and you can see the Blackwater seal on the loaves, an anchor with its chain held in the talons of a hawk. Good to know this bakery is legitimate.
"Okay!" Hawkell exclaims, tossing her gloves onto the table. "Tell me what you'd like - this is the last batch for today, but we've still got a bit of everything, I think," she says, glancing over to the kid who nods an affirmative.
Lea recites your usual order - mainly consisting of hardtack, unfortunately, which Hawkell happily assures you that she has plenty of - as well as a few rolls of rye and a handful of biscuits. Lea seems to hesitate for a moment, then. "And a roll of the sweet bread."
You give $l_them a look, but $l_they just grin<<s>> - you know that's $l_their favorite.
"You're paying for it," you say.
"Yeah, yeah," Lea says, nodding to Hawkell as $l_they hand<<s>> off the bag to her. "You'll thank me later." Lea winks at you.
"Oh? You're actually going to share?"
"Maybe," Lea says with a shrug. "If you're nice."
You roll your eyes, but smile, stepping back towards the door as Hawkell bustles about, wrapping loaves in cheesecloth and muttering under her breath.
[[Continue|split the price]]<</if>>You and Lea split the price, as always - though to $l_their credit $l_they <<do>> pay for the sweet bread $l_themself - before thanking Hawkell profusely, as she gave you a rather generous discount, bowing out the door with promises of well wishes for Noel.
Hawkell's bakery is right at the start of the fresh market - all of the food shops and stalls lined up next to each other - so you don't have far to go for the rest of your needs. The street seems busier now, perhaps with the soldiers having passed through, people relaxing without that threat looming, at least for a few hours. You wonder if they have the routine memorized, what roads to avoid, what times to clear the streets.
There is an awkward silence between you and Lea as you meander through the market, not necessarily uncomfortable... but //new//. Different. Something has shifted between the two of you. Lea walks slightly ahead of you, and you find yourself staring, drifting along, ignoring everything else. //Partners.//
You didn't expect this. Not after Keld. And you can't help the needling thought in the back of your mind - how long will it last? How long until you ruin it? A sharp pain shoots through your skull, and you press a hand to your forehead, letting out a strained sigh.
You shake your head, running your hand over your face and taking a few quick steps to catch up to Lea. You still don't speak, but Lea glances over at you, giving you a small smile as you continue through the market.
[[Continue ->market street]]"Can I get a roll of that sweet bread?" you ask, nodding towards the table, fidgeting with the bag in your hands. It's expensive - you already feel a void in your coin purse because of it - but it should be worth it. You hope.
Hawkell is nodding enthusiastically as your request. "Hard to resist fresh out of the oven, isn't it?" she says, her face lighting up as she spins around to start preparing your order.
"Yeah," you mutter, turning back to stare out the window again.
[[Continue ->sweet bread]]"Actually, a roll of that sweet bread, too," you say, nodding towards the table, twisting the bag in your hands. It's expensive, and you can already feel a painful void in your coin purse because of it - but it's an easy out, for you and for Lea.
Hawkell is nodding enthusiastically at your request. "Hard to resist fresh out of the oven, isn't it?" she says, her face lighting up as she spins around to start preparing your order.
"Yeah," you mutter, crossing your arms and glancing back out the window again.
[[Continue ->sweet bread]]"That's all, thanks," you say, crossing your arms and turning away from the sweet bread.
Hawkell nods. "Okay, I'll have it ready in just a minute!" she exclaims, spinning around and beginning to prepare your order, fluttering back and forth.
You sigh and glance back out the window, before lowering your gaze to the floor.
[[Continue ->sweet bread]]"That's it, thanks," you say, setting your jaw and turning away from the sweet bread.
Hawkell clasps her hands together, giving you a determined look. "Okay, I'll have it ready in just a minute!" she exclaims, spinning around and beginning to prepare your order, fluttering back and forth.
You glance back out the window, frowning, before lowering your gaze to the floor.
[[Continue ->sweet bread]]Hawkell is quick, wrapping loaves and biscuits in cheesecloth, taking your bag from you and carefully organizing it all out on the table before packing it away.
You count out the coins for payment, though Hawkell generously offers you a considerable discount - as a friend of Noel - and you're grateful for it. You know Lea will be good for paying you back, as the two of you always split the price of supplies, but it still hurts to see your sad, deflated coin purse right now.
As if summoned by your thoughts, Lea returns then, just as Hawkell turns around and offers the now full bag. Lea is the one that takes it, and you exchange final pleasantries, bowing out of the door with promises of well wishes for Noel.
Hawkell's bakery is right at the start of the fresh market - all of the food shops and stalls lined up next to each other - so you don't have far to go for the rest of your needs. The street seems busier now, perhaps with the soldiers having passed through, people relaxing without that threat looming, at least for a few hours. You wonder if they have the routine memorized, what roads to avoid, what times to clear the streets.
There is a painful silence between you and Lea as you meander through the market. There are times where Lea looks as if $l_they <<are>> going to say something, but $l_they always stop<<s>> $l_themself, mumbling under $l_their breath instead, turning away from you. As for you, your focus is on just getting through the damn day. Back out on the street now, your head aches, your eyes watering from the strain, and the sun reflecting off the water, too bright, overwhelming.
A sharp pain shoots through your skull, and you press a hand to your forehead, inhaling sharply.
Lea glances back over $l_their shoulder, eyeing you as you continue on through the market.
[[Continue ->market street]]<<if $l_marketfight>>You just follow Lea, ignoring $l_their quick glances, not doing much, letting $l_them handle the talking and the questions and the shopping. Your headache is only getting worse, jostled by other shoppers around you, the loud noise of cross-talk and the ever present crank of the distant lift vibrating through you. The longer you're here, the worse it gets, your breathing growing quicker, your steps halting. You close your eyes for a moment, trying to block out Lea's voice as $l_they haggle<<s>> with yet another fisherman.<<else>>You don't do much, letting Lea handle the talking and the questions and the shopping, mainly because $l_they<<re>> good at it, but also because your headache is only getting worse, jostled by the other shoppers around you, the loud noise of cross-talk and the ever present crank of the distant lift vibrating through you. The longer you're here, the worse it gets, your breathing growing quicker, your steps halting. You close your eyes for a moment, trying to block out Lea's voice as $l_they haggle<<s>> with yet another fisherman.<</if>>
It's necessary, unfortunately - the two of you don't have a lot of money. But there's only so much of this you can take.
You can feel Lea staring at you then. $l_They seem<<s>> to sense your agitation, cutting $l_themself off and just paying the price for whatever the hell it is $l_they <<were>> arguing over.
<<if $l_marketfight>>Walking back over towards you, Lea hesitates, staying back a few feet - giving you a wide berth. You feel yourself tense before $l_they speak<<s>>.
"Come on," is all $l_they <<say>>, though, and you comply, trailing after $l_them again, clenching your jaw, walking blindly with your eyes closed, trying everything to will away the sharp pain behind your eyes.
Finally, the sound of the market begins to fade, as well as the cranking of the elevator. Opening your eyes, you just focus on Lea's back, putting one foot in front of the other. You realize you're going //away// from Jack's, but at this point you could not care less - you just need quiet. You need the pounding in your head to stop.<<else>>Walking back over towards you, Lea holds out a tentative hand. "I know this is hard for you," $l_they <<say>> softly, and you just nod, closing your eyes for a moment.
"Come on. We've got enough," Lea says then, and again you just nod, opening your eyes in time to see Lea's hand drop away, though $l_they stay<<s>> close to you, guiding you along until finally the sounds of the market begin to fade, as well as the cranking of the elevator.
You realize you're going //away// from Jack's, but at this point you could not care less - you just need quiet. You need the pounding in your head to stop.<</if>>
<<if $l_marketfight>>[[Continue ->hostile market]]<<else>>[[Continue ->friendly market]]<</if>>You've all but lost sense of where you are, nothing but Lea in front of you keeping you grounded, the familiar shape of $l_them, but you're struggling, your boots catching on the cobblestones, your head so heavy it feels as though your neck will snap under the weight of it.
Lea glances back at you for a moment, and takes a few more steps before spinning around fully. You can see real alarm in $l_their face, and $l_they quickly double<<s>> back for you, rough hands on your arm, keeping you upright.
"Almost there," $l_they <<say>> gruffly. You stagger forward, letting Lea pull you along, your ears ringing as $l_they throw<<s>> open a door so hard it clangs against the wall, and $l_they haul<<s>> you by your shoulders onto a bench.
You immediately curl forward, burying your face in your hands.
"You're alright. Deep breaths," Lea says quietly, and you can hear $l_them get up and close the door, a sudden silence consuming you, your palms pressed hard against your closed eyes until white spots flash in front of you.
You feel like a child. You can't even remember the last time you had a fit like this.
Lea's footsteps echo through the quiet, and after a moment you drop your hands, letting out a ragged breath. You clench and unclench your hands a few times, leaning your elbows on your knees and hanging your head.
<<if $l_flirt lte 1>>With your gaze on the floor, you can see Lea walking back and forth, $l_their boots scuffing the hard ground under your feet.<<elseif $l_flirt gte 2>>Lea sits down beside you, the bench creaking under your combined weight, shifting under you as $l_they lean<<s>> back. $l_Their arm brushes yours, and you can't help but flinch, and Lea quickly stands back up, the bench jostling you, and you watch as $l_they start<<s>> to pace in front of you instead, boots scuffing the hard ground under your feet, the way $l_they turn<<s>> on $l_their heel, running $l_their hands through $l_their hair.<</if>>
<<if $l_relationship isnot 6>><div id="choice"><<link '"Just sit down. Please." I need the familiarity. ♡' 'just sit down please'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_temple_flirt to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Lea. Thank you." I want to say it out loud, properly. I want $l_them to know. ♡' 'lea thank you'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_temple_flirt to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I impulsively try to grab $l_their arm as $l_they pass<<es>> me. ♡' 'i impulsively try to grab their arm'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $l_templeflirt_reject to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You can sit down." The pacing stresses me out a bit... and if I\'m being honest, I want $l_them closer - I want the familiarity.' 'you can sit down'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if $l_relationship eq 6>><div id="choice"><<link '"You can sit down." The pacing is stressing me out.' 'you can sit down'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"Thanks." My voice is rough, and I can\'t look at $l_them, but I mean it.' 'my voice is rough'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m - I\'m sorry." I\'m wasting our time, making Lea bring me here like this - it\'s ridiculous, and embarrassing.' 'wasting our time'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Stop fucking pacing!" It\'s driving me insane.' 'stop fucking pacing'>><<set $sanity -=3>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I\'m //fine//. I don\'t say anything, and just let $l_them pace.' 'just let them pace'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>You've all but lost sense of where you are, nothing but Lea beside you keeping you grounded, the familiar presence of $l_them, but you're struggling, your boots catching on the cobblestones, your head so heavy it feels as though your neck will snap under the weight of it.
Lea slows at your side, and you do the same, blinking at $l_them as $l_they turn<<s>> to fully look at you. You just register the alarm on Lea's face before you feel $l_their hands on your shoulders, pulling you close, one arm looping around your waist, keeping you upright as you feel your legs grow weak beneath you.
"Almost there, $surname," $l_they mutter<<s>> to you, $l_their arm tightening around you. You just stagger forward, letting Lea pull you along, your ears ringing as $l_they throw<<s>> open a door so hard it clangs against the wall, and carefully $l_they guide<<s>> you to a small bench, lowering you gently, $l_their arm sliding away, $l_their hands on your shoulders to steady you.
You immediately curl forward, burying your face in your hands.
"You're alright. Deep breaths," Lea says quietly, and $l_they squeeze<<s>> your shoulders before letting go, and you can hear $l_them stand back up and close the door, a sudden silence consuming you, your palms pressed hard against your closed eyes until white spots flash in front of you.
You feel like a child. You can't even remember the last time you had a fit like this.
Lea's footsteps echo through the quiet, and after a moment you drop your hands, letting out a ragged breath. You clench and unclench your hands a few times, leaning your elbows on your knees and hanging your head. Lea paces in front of you, hovering, before stopping and taking the seat next to you, dropping hard onto the bench, $l_their knee bumping yours, and you can't help but flinch. Lea recoils away from you, pressing $l_themself against the far side of the bench, mumbling an apology, running an anxious hand over $l_their hair. $l_They tense<<s>>, as if to stand up again.
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Lea. It\'s okay. Just stay with me, please." I need the familiarity. As long as $l_they <<are>> here. ♡' 'just stay with me please'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_temple_flirt to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Lea..." I don\'t know what to say. But I want to be closer to $l_them, and I find myself leaning towards $l_them, our knees bumping again. ♡' 'i want to be closer to them'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $l_temple_flirt to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I can\'t speak, but I turn to Lea, watching $l_their hair fall around $l_their face. Impulsively, I reach out to tuck it behind $l_their ear. ♡' 'impulsively i reach out'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $l_templeflirt_reject to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m fine, Lea." $l_They shouldn\'t have to worry about me. I\'m //fine//. I have to be.' 'im fine i have to be'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Thank you." I want $l_them to know I appreciate $l_them bringing me here.' 'i appreciate them bringing me here'>><<set $l_friendship +=2>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m - I\'m sorry." I\'m wasting our time, making Lea bring me here like this - it\'s ridiculous, and embarrassing.' 'its embarrassing'>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I don\'t say anything, just trying to focus on my breathing.' 'just focus on my breathing'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>"Just sit down." Then: "Please."
Lea halts $l_their pacing, and you can feel $l_their eyes on you for a long moment.
$l_They <<if $l_plural>>don't<<else>>doesn't<</if>> say anything, and you look up at $l_them, but $l_they turn<<s>> away, avoiding your gaze. You can see the way $l_their jaw tenses, $l_their hands on $l_their hips.
"Please," you say again, without meaning to.
Even though $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> turned away, you can see $l_their eyes close at your words, the way $l_they seem<<s>> to flinch at the sound, before $l_they step<<s>> towards you and carefully sits down beside you. You can tell<<if $l_flirt gte 2>> this time<</if>> $l_they <<are>> cautious not to touch you, and you steal a glance over; $l_their hands gripping $l_their knees, long strand of dark hair falling from $l_their bun as $l_they rock<<s>> forward on the bench, $l_their eyes on the floor, brow furrowed.
You take a deep breath, staring down at your hands, listening to Lea's breathing beside you, $l_their presence always the tether that keeps you from sinking too deep.
"Thank you," you say softly, closing your eyes.
Lea doesn't respond, though $l_they shift<<s>> next to you, leaning towards you, watching you. You wonder what $l_they see<<s>> when $l_they look<<s>> at you.
[[Continue ->old temple]]"Lea," you say $l_their name, your voice rough, and Lea pauses in $l_their pacing, closing $l_their eyes momentarily at the sound of $l_their name - the way you say it. "Thank you," you finally manage, and you can see the slightest flinch, a sudden tension between Lea's shoulders.
A long silence stretches, before Lea speaks. "Yeah," is all $l_they <<say>>.
"Lea...," you try again, but you don't know what to say, or maybe you just don't know //how// to say it. You stare down at your hands, before forcing yourself to look up at $l_them. $l_They<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> watching you, brow furrowed, and if you didn't know better you would think that was //concern// in $l_their eyes. But it can't be. Pity, more likely.
When you don't say anything, Lea turns away and starts $l_their pacing again.
You let the silence consume you, once again dropping your face into your hands, digging your finger nails into your scalp - maybe if you dig hard enough, the pain inside your head will spill out, onto your hands, onto the floor.
Another ragged breath and you lean back, dropping your hands into your lap and staring at nothing at all. Lea's eyes on you. You wonder what $l_they see<<s>> when $l_they look<<s>> at you.
[[Continue ->old temple]]You follow Lea back and forth, watch the way $l_their jaw tightens, hands clenching at $l_their sides, $l_their gaze intent on the floor.
Something compels you, and you don't think, instead reaching out and grabbing $l_their wrist, trying to stop $l_them. Trying to pull $l_them to you.
Lea freezes mid-step, tensing under your hand, $l_their skin warm against your palm. You run your thumb over $l_their inner wrist, gently tugging $l_them closer, a few stuttering steps.
But then Lea rips $l_their arm from your hand and staggers backwards, $l_their dark eyes wide.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"What - what are you doing?" Lea stutters, holding $l_their hand to $l_their chest.
"I - I..." you trail off, not really sure what the fuck it is you are trying to do yourself. You let your hand drop into your lap, and your face is hot, and you can't look at $l_them.
"Don't. Just - don't," Lea's voice is sharp, and it twists in your chest, and you just shake your head, staring down at the floor, wishing it would open up and swallow you, bury you six feet under. Sharp pain shoots through the back of your skull, and you take another ragged breath, gripping your knees with strained knuckles.
Lea stands in front of you, still clutching $l_their hand, unmoving, the silence thick as blood.<<else>>"Don't," Lea's voice is hard, $l_their words lancing through you. "Don't."
You don't say anything, just letting your hand drop into your lap, your face hot. You want to sink through the floor, six feet under, and you can't even look at $l_them, dark eyes full of pity. You take another ragged breath, leaning forward, gripping your knees with strained knuckles as sharp pain shoots through the back of your skull.
You hear Lea sigh, but no words are said, the silence thick as blood.<</if>>
[[Continue ->old temple]]"You can sit down," you say, glaring down at your boots.
"I'm fine," Lea says curtly, turning on $l_their heel and continuing $l_their rapid back and forth.
<<if $l_relationship eq 6>>"You're making it fucking worse," you say, your voice rough.<<else>>"Lea," your voice is rough, and you clear your throat before continuing, "you're making it worse. Please."<</if>>
That slows Lea down. Finally, a sigh, and then carefully, Lea sits down next to you, leaving plenty of space between the two of you, as if you were contagious. Maybe you are. But $l_their presence beside you helps, Lea always the tether keeping you from drifting too far. From sinking.
<<if $l_relationship eq 6>> Not even your anger can make that fact any less true.<</if>>
"Are you going to be okay?" Lea asks quietly. It's not //concern//, really, you think. It has to be pity. Almost certainly pity. <<if $l_relationship eq 6>>It irritates you, your teeth grinding together, but the fire in you is fading, the pain in your head like the cold, dark water of the sea outside, suffucating you - drowning you.
"Yeah," you say. Automatic. It doesn't really matter, one way or the other. Lea sighs at your response, but doesn't ask it again. Instead you feel the bench shift slightly beneath you, and you glance over to see Lea leaning forward, resting $l_their face in $l_their hands. Rubbing $l_their eyes, after a moment $l_they raise<<s>> $l_their head and clasps $l_their hands in front of $l_them, staring off at nothing, before looking directly at you.<<else>>"Yeah," you respond automatically, no thought behind the question. Your voice almost certainly betrays you again, though. But does it really matter, either way? Lea sighs at your response, but doesn't ask it again. Instead you feel the bench shift slightly beneath you, and you glance over to see Lea leaning forward, resting $l_their face in $l_their hands. Rubbing $l_their eyes, after a moment $l_they raise<<s>> $l_their head and clasps $l_their hands in front of $l_them, staring off at nothing, before looking directly at you.<</if>>
You glance away quickly, staring back down at your feet, your breathing still a little harsh. It betrays you, quickening again, the tremble in your hands still obvious despite the way you've curled them into fists.
<<if $l_relationship eq 6>>You feel Lea move on the bench next to you, sliding a little closer, and you tense, pushing yourself away, your lip curling.
"Stop," you hiss, turning away from $l_them - you don't need $l_their comfort.
Lea leans back away from you, but you can still feel $l_them watching you. You wonder what $l_they see<<s>>, when $l_they look<<s>> at you. You have to bite back a bitter laugh at the thought.<<else>>You feel Lea move on the bench next to you, sliding a little closer, but saying nothing - a silent reminder. //Still here//. You can feel $l_them staring at you. You wonder what $l_they see<<s>>, when $l_they look<<s>> at you.<</if>>
[[Continue ->old temple]]"Thanks," you say, your voice rough, staring down at your hands. You can't look at $l_them - even when the pacing stops, the long pause after your words are spoken, the heavy silence between you - you resist it all, closing your eyes, listening to your harsh breathing.
"Yeah," is all Lea finally says before $l_they resume<<s>> $l_their pacing.
//Yeah//. That's all you deserve, you suppose.
It takes incredible effort for you to steady your breathing - focusing on Lea's footsteps, because despite everything, Lea is still your tether keeping you from drifting too far; keeping you from sinking too deep. Your anger will never make that any less true.
"Are you going to be okay?" Lea says suddenly, and you finally open your eyes, taking a deep breath, your hands still trembling slightly. If you didn't know better, you would think it was concern in $l_their voice. But it's almost certainly pity. <<if $l_relationship eq 6>>It irritates you, your teeth grinding together, but the fire in you is fading, the pain in your head like the cold, dark water of the sea outside, suffucating and drowning you.
"Yeah," you say. Automatic. It doesn't really matter, one way or the other. Lea sighs at your response, but doesn't ask it again. Instead $l_they just start<<s>> pacing once again, intent on wearing a path through the stone floor, you suppose.<<else>>"Yeah," you say, no real thought behind the question. Because it doesn't really matter one way or the other, does it? Lea sighs at your response, but doesn't ask it again. Instead $l_they just keep<<s>> pacing, intent on wearing a path through the stone floor, it seems.<</if>>
You vigorously rub your hands over your face, taking a few more deep breaths, before finally willing your hands steady and dropping them into your lap, slumping back against the bench and staring ahead at nothing but the rotting wood wall.
You know Lea is watching you, despite $l_their attempts to hide it as $l_they walk<<s>> back and forth. You wonder what $l_they see<<s>>, when $l_they look<<s>> at you.
[[Continue ->old temple]]"I'm - I'm sorry," you say, swallowing the anxiety crawling up your throat, squeezing your eyes closed, just listening to the sound of Lea's footsteps. "This - I shouldn't get like this anymore. I'm sorry."
Lea's steps slow, and you open your eyes again, just staring down at $l_their boots as $l_they come<<s>> to a stop in front of you. You can feel $l_their eyes on you for a moment before $l_they speak<<s>>.
"You have nothing to apologize for, $surname." A scoff. "At least not for this."
You give a dry laugh, wringing your hands. Despite earlier, you're grateful for the familiar presence. Lea is the tether that keeps you from drifting too far. From sinking. Your anger will never make that any less true.
"Are you going to be okay?" Lea asks then, taking a step towards the bench. Hesitating. It's not //concern//, really, you think. Maybe pity. <<if $l_relationship eq 6>>It irritates you, your teeth grinding together, but the fire in you is fading, the pain in your head like the cold, dark water of the sea outside, suffucating you - drowning you.
"Yeah," you say. Automatic. It doesn't really matter, one way or the other. Lea sighs at your response, but doesn't ask it again. Instead $l_they just resume<<s>> $l_their pacing, intent on wearing a path through the stone floor, you suppose.<<else>>"Yeah," you say it automatically, no thought behind the question. Your voice almost certainly betrays you, though. But does it really matter, either way? Lea sighs at your response, but doesn't ask it again. Instead $l_they just resume<<s>> $l_their pacing, intent on wearing a path through the stone floor, you suppose.<</if>>
You rub your hands over your face, a slight tremble in your fingers that you try to will away. Your breathing is still harsh, but you focus on Lea, still with you, always. $l_Their steady pacing is hypnotic, and you time your breaths to the sound of $l_their heel grinding into the floor, and finally you regain some control, rocking forward on the bench and dropping your hands again.
You know Lea is watching you, despite $l_their attempts to hide it. You wonder what $l_they see<<s>>, when $l_they look<<s>> at you.
[[Continue ->old temple]]"Stop fucking pacing!" you shout, your skull feeling as if it will split and spill into your hands, onto the floor.
Lea freezes in front of you, mid-step.
"Stop! Stop," you mutter, burying your face back into your hands, your breathing harsh, bile rising in your throat. You can't open your eyes, you can't look at Lea - you think you're going to vomit, swallowing frantically, hot saliva coating your mouth.
You can hear Lea move towards you, $l_their boots loud on the stone ground beneath you, and you flinch at the closeness of it, shuddering against the bench.
"Easy, $surname," Lea says softly, and $l_their voice makes your fingers curl over your eyes, your nails scraping over your skin, pressing against your eyelids, your brow. Even without seeing, you know Lea is crouched in front of you, you can feel $l_them, and you focus on $l_their presence, listening to $l_their breathing, $l_their clothes rustling as $l_they shift<<s>> on $l_their knees, tall even when sitting like this.
Lea, still here, always your tether keeping you from drifting too far. From sinking too deep. Even your anger can't make that any less true.
You wonder what Lea sees, when $l_they look<<s>> at you like this.
Another ragged breath, but it's steadying, the nausea passing, and slowly you lower your hands, rubbing your palms against your pant leg, sweat and tears smearing on the fabric.
Lea is right there, of course, dark eyes intent on you. Pity in those eyes. You keep your head bowed as Lea stands slowly, and carefully sits down on the bench next to you. Neither of you say anything.
[[Continue ->old temple]]//I'm fine.//
You sit in silence, your breathing harsh, staring at your trembling hands, curling them into fists and digging your nails into your palms. It doesn't help.
Bile rises in the back of your throat, and you close your eyes - you think you're going to vomit, swallowing frantically, hot saliva coating your mouth, burning your tongue. You shudder, the entire bench groaning under you as you curl forward again, burying your face in your hands.
"Easy, $surname," the voice makes you flinch, the sound of your name making another wave of nausea wash over you. Biting your tongue, you go still, tensed on the bench, your fingers grabbing your hood and pulling it down farther over your head, trying to hide. Trying to disappear.
//I'm fine.//
Slowly, the moment passes, and you feel yourself slump back against the bench, your body not feeling like your own, your eyes fluttering open to stare at nothing but the rotting wood of the wall across from you.
Lea isn't pacing anymore, but sitting beside you - you're not sure when that happened. How long were you curled up like that? You glance over at $l_them, and you can tell $l_they <<were>> looking at you, $l_their eyes cutting to $l_their hands in $l_their lap, fidgeting with the ring on $l_their thumb.
You wonder what Lea thinks of you, what $l_they see<<s>> when $l_they look<<s>> at you like this. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes again, letting your head lean back and rest against the wall behind you.
[[Continue ->old temple]]<<if hasVisited ("i impulsively try to grab their arm")>>Lea speaks first.
"Just stay here," $l_they <<say>>, $l_their voice rough. You don't respond, still don't even look at $l_them, just listening to $l_their movements as $l_they head<<s>> farther into whatever building it is you're in.
You lean forward, burying your face in your hands, Lea's footsteps fading. Eventually, your breathing finally steadies, the pain in your head calming but still there, needling behind your eyes. But it's manageable. You don't know how much time has passed. You let out a long breath, dropping your hands and standing in one fluid motion, keeping yourself steady despite the room spinning for a moment, swallowing the bile rising in your throat.
Looking around, you're not exactly sure where Lea dragged you, but the place is empty, save for you and the bench. There's only one way forward, a long corridor to your right, and so that's where you go. You eye the walls as you walk slowly, the wood worn and rotting, you think. And it's cold, your breath fogging in front of you, no warm fire or insulation here.
You cross your arms, hugging yourself as you shuffle along, peering up when the ceiling above you rises and the corridor opens into a large, cavernous room. You spot Lea on the far side, and it clicks in your head then where you are.
The Old Temple. High windows with shattered glass let the late afternoon sunlight in, illuminating the worn, stone floor and the motes of dust shifting through the air. It smells sweet here, lingering incense, and you eye the domed ceiling, the air above thick with cobwebs. There are tapestries hanging along the curved walls, though some have collapsed to the ground, dirty, torn, and forgotten. Not much love for the gods these days.
Lea is standing at the center, before the large idol that takes up most of the room. The Wolfmother. Lea's head is bowed in prayer, and you find yourself staring. A dull ache in your chest still, from earlier, from $l_their rejection, but not even that will stop you, apparently. What the fuck were you even thinking? What is wrong with you? You wring your hands, your breath hitching again, your face hot - shame, embarrassment, humiliation - could be any of them. Could be all of them. Knotted together, heavy in your chest. You can't even begin to imagine the effort it would take to unravel it all.
//You're still staring, idiot.//
You force yourself to look anywhere else.<<else>><<if hasVisited ("friendly market") or ("just sit down please") or ("you can sit down") or ("stop fucking pacing") or ("just let them pace")>>You lose track of time, unmoving on the bench, unsure how long you're frozen like that - you think a long time - when Lea finally stands, slowly, as if trying not to startle you. A wild animal.<<else>>You're not sure how long you just sit there - you think a long time - before Lea finally stops $l_their pacing. It's gradual, steps slowing and slowing, until $l_they come<<s>> to an eventual halt, $l_their back to you.
You blink over at $l_them as $l_they turn<<s>> around, crossing $l_their arms and taking a deep breath.<</if>>
"I'll be right back. I'll give you - give you some time. Just a few minutes, but we'll need to head back out soon, before it gets dark," Lea says. $l_They jab<<s>> a thumb over $l_their shoulder, "I'll just be right through here. A few minutes," $l_they repeat<<s>>.
<<if $l_templeflirt_reject>>Lea avoids looking at you, staring down at your boots. You suppose $l_they <<are>> just going to pretend like nothing just happened - though, really, nothing did happen. You foolishly crossed a line, and Lea pushed you back. What the fuck were you even thinking? What is wrong with you? //Why do I have to ruin everything?// You wring your hands, your breath hitching again, your face hot - shame, embarrassment, humiliation - could be any of them. Could be all of them. Knotted together, heavy in your chest. You can't even begin to imagine the effort it would take to unravel it all.
"$surname?" Lea prompts, and you blink up at $l_them, swallowing the lump in your throat.
"Yeah," you say, though it comes out like a question.
"I'm just going into the other room. I'll give you a few minutes," Lea repeats. "We have to get back to Jack's, though, before it gets dark."
<</if>>You know Lea is right. It's dark in the room you're in, no windows, just rotted gaps in the wood slats of the wall, and you can see the sky growing dark outside through them, the sun no doubt setting below the cliffs.
You nod, numb, watching Lea stare at you for a moment before $l_they turn<<s>> and walks off down the long corridor to your right. You take a deep breath, wringing your hands, the pain in your head having calmed now - still there, needling behind your eyes - but manageable. The silence, though, without Lea here, starts weighing on you, your breath catching in your throat, and you stand abruptly, keeping yourself steady despite the room spinning for a moment, swallowing the bile rising in your throat.
Looking around, you're not exactly sure where Lea dragged you, but the place is empty, save for you and the bench. There's only one way forward: the long corridor to your right, and so that's where you go. You eye the walls as you walk slowly, the wood worn and rotting. And it's cold, your breath fogging in front of you, no warm fire or insulation here.
You cross your arms, hugging yourself as you shuffle along, peering up when the ceiling above you rises and the corridor opens into a large, cavernous room. You spot Lea on the far side, and it clicks in your head then where you are.
The Old Temple. High windows with shattered glass let the late afternoon sunlight in, illuminating the worn, stone floor and the motes of dust shifting through the air. It smells sweet here, lingering incense, and you eye the domed ceiling, the air above thick with cobwebs. There are tapestries hanging along the curved walls, though some have collapsed to the ground, dirty, torn, and forgotten. Not much love for the gods these days.
Lea is standing at the center, before the large idol that takes up most of the room. The Wolfmother. Lea's head is bowed in prayer, and you can just hear the quiet murmur of $l_their voice. <<if $l_temple_flirt>>You find yourself staring, $l_their muscles tensed in $l_their back, the curve of $l_their neck, the dark hair shifting forward and shielding $l_their face from you. Heat creeps up your neck, and you force yourself to look anywhere else.<<elseif $l_templeflirt_reject>>You find yourself staring - a dull ache in your chest still, from earlier, from $l_their rejection, but not even that will stop you, apparently. Heat creeps up your neck, and you force yourself to look anywhere else.<</if>><</if>>
<<include "mercy sword tapestry">>"Lea, it's okay," you say, your own voice sounding distant. "Just... stay with me, please."
You're staring down at your hands as you speak, but you can see Lea watching you out of the corner of your eye, the way $l_they hesitate<<s>> before shifting back against the bench, not quite relaxing, but not leaving. Not leaving you.
You wonder what Lea sees, when $l_they look<<s>> at you like this.
"I'm sorry," you say, without even thinking it, closing your eyes like a child - if you can't see $l_them, $l_they can't see you. //If only.//
"$name. Look at me," Lea says, and you want to scream, to cry and kick and throw something, because it's not fair. Did $l_they read your fucking mind? And saying your name, too, like a curse; it compels you.
Opening your eyes, you slowly turn to look at $l_them, the movement causing pain in the back of your skull, and your breathing grows harsh again, until you look into Lea's dark eyes, always grounding you, Lea $l_themself the tether keeping you from falling too deep.
"It's okay," Lea says quietly. There's sadness there, in $l_their eyes. Maybe pity. Always pity. You realize then $l_they <<have>> a hand extended out towards you, hovering near your shoulder, hesitation there. A question.
You think you know the answer. You know what you want. But you can't say it. You can't have it, you'll ruin it. So you turn away again, letting your head hang, focusing on steadying your breathing, and not the offered hand beside you.
[[Continue ->old temple]]"Lea...," you trail off, your breathing still ragged, your nails digging into your palms. You can feel Lea watching you, sitting back against the bench, and you force yourself to look at $l_them, lifting your head, those dark eyes grounding you.
You lean towards $l_them, the small bench groaning from the movement, your leg brushing Lea's, $l_their eyes still on your face. $l_They tense<<s>> at the contact, rigid next to you, but $l_they <<dont>> pull away; $l_they <<dont>> look away.
You find yourself wondering what $l_they see<<s>>, when $l_they look<<s>> at you. There's a sadness there, in $l_their eyes. Maybe pity. You drop your gaze to the floor, your breathing growing harsh again, pain lancing behind your eyes from the movement. Your hand goes to your arm, the fresh bruises there from Lea's grip when $l_they grabbed you in the market, and you dig your fingers in, bowing your head, trying to focus on anything but the splitting of your skull.
<<if $l_flirt lte 1>>But Lea's hand finds yours, warm fingers over your knuckles, around your wrist, pulling your hand back, the pain fading from your arm.
"Stop," Lea speaks softly, and $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> leaning into you, still holding your wrist, for a few moments, a few beautiful moments where you are held in place by $l_their touch, something pulling you out of the deep waters. But then $l_they let<<s>> go, your hand dropping back into your lap as $l_they move<<s>> away.
The two of you sit in silence, side by side, Lea watching you, until your breathing steadies, the frantic beat of your heart finally subsiding. You blame it on the pain, the anxiety, and not the way Lea held your hand in $l_theirs, not the way $l_their leg still //just// touches your knee. Not the way $l_their voice sounded so close before, $l_their breath against your hood.<<elseif $l_flirt gte 2>>But Lea's hand finds yours, warm fingers over your knuckles, around your wrist, pulling your hand back, the pain fading from your arm.
$l_They <<dont>> speak, just leaning into you, still holding your wrist, pulling you out of the deep waters. Lea's palm is hot, sweaty, but you focus on nothing else, staring down at $l_their hand, your own trembling slightly, though whether it's from the ache in your head or from the light carress of Lea's breath against your hood, you're not sure anymore.
You could turn and kiss $l_them, right now. The thought makes you jerk back, your hand wrenching from Lea's grasp, and the bench shudders beneath the sudden movement as you scramble away, ducking your head into your still shaking hands.
Lea takes a deep breath beside you, but you can't look at $l_them, your heart in your throat, finger nails digging into your scalp - maybe if you dig hard enough, the pain inside your head, and whatever the fuck else is wrong with you, will spill out, onto your hands, onto the floor.
It would be hard to clean blood out from between the stones under your boots, you think.<</if>>
[[Continue ->old temple]]Your breathing is still harsh, a slight tremble in your hands as you dig your nails into your palms, but you force yourself to look at Lea, wanting to say something - anything.
But your voice fails you. Instead you find yourself staring, aware that you're being obvious but you don't turn away. Lea is looking down at $l_their hands, twisting the ring on $l_their thumb, $l_their leg bouncing a few times before $l_they press<<es>> $l_their hand on $l_their knee to make it stop. $l_Their dark hair is disheveled, falling loose from its bun and obscuring $l_their face, curling around the nape of $l_their neck and over $l_their shoulder.
You don't think, reaching out, just barely brushing your hand against Lea's cheek, gently catching $l_their hair between your fingers and pushing it away from $l_their face.
Lea's hand grabs your wrist before you can tuck the hair behind $l_their ear, jerking your hand back, while Lea flinches away from the touch. You don't pull away, your hand open, almost begging $l_them to take it in $l_their own.
"What - what are you doing?" Lea says, a waver in $l_their voice, $l_their grip tightening momentarily around your wrist, and then $l_they let<<s>> go, your hand hovering in the air between you for a moment before you pull back, curling it into a fist, your wrist burning as if you have been branded. Rejected.
"Don't."
The word twists in your chest - //rejected.//
"I - I....," you still can't speak, not now with Lea's eyes on you - you wonder what Lea sees, when $l_they look<<s>> at you - those dark eyes full of pity. Always pity.
You drop your head back into your hands, and Lea takes a deep breath beside you, but you can't stand that fucking look anymore. Your heart in your throat, finger nails digging into your scalp - maybe if you dig hard enough, the pain inside your head, and whatever the fuck else is wrong with you, will spill out, onto your hands, onto the floor.
It would be hard to clean blood out from between the stones under your boots, you think.
[[Continue ->old temple]]"I'm fine, Lea," you say, though your voice almost definitely betrays you.
"Are you?" Lea says, the words making you flinch.
You wring your hands, ducking your head away, unable to look directly at Lea this time when you say it. You can't stand the pity in $l_their eyes.
"I'm fine."
Lea takes a deep breath, sighing beside you, but you both lapse into silence. No noise besides the sound of your still frantic, harsh breathing. You close your eyes, vigorously rubbing your hands over your face, trying to will away the sudden wave of nausea that washes over you.
Bile rises in the back of your throat, and you close your eyes - you think you're going to vomit, swallowing frantically, hot saliva coating your mouth, burning your tongue. You shudder, the entire bench groaning under you as you curl forward again, burying your face in your hands.
"Easy, $surname," a sudden reminder that Lea is still sitting beside you, still here. That familiar presence, the tether that always keeps you from drifting too far. Sinking too deep. But the sound of your name makes you wince, shrinking into yourself, tensing on the bench, your fingers grabbing your hood and pulling it down farther over your head, trying to hide. Trying to disappear.
//I'm fine.//
Slowly, the moment passes, and you feel yourself slump back against the bench, your body not feeling like your own, your eyes fluttering open to stare at nothing but the rotting wood of the wall across from you, watching your breath curl and vanish in the cold air.
How long were you curled up like that?
You glance over at Lea, and you can tell $l_they <<were>> looking at you, $l_their eyes cutting to $l_their hands in $l_their lap, fidgeting with the ring on $l_their thumb.
You wonder what Lea thinks of you, what $l_they see<<s>> when $l_they look<<s>> at you like this. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes again, letting your head lean back and rest against the wall behind you.
[[Continue ->old temple]]"Thank you," you say, your voice rough, staring down at your hands, avoiding Lea's gaze. You can't look at $l_them - guilt heavy in your chest - and you just close your eyes, listening to your harsh breathing.
"You don't have to thank me for this," Lea says softly, shifting towards you on the bench.
You squeeze your eyes shut even tighter, your breath catching in your throat, your hands trembling despite your best efforts.
"Yes, I do," it comes out angry, though you don't know why. You don't mean it. You sigh, a sad, strangled sound, pressing your face into your hands. Silence stretches between the two of you, but Lea stays on the bench with you, not leaving you. Still here. Lea, always the tether that keeps you from drifting too far. From sinking too deep.
"Are you going to be okay?" Lea says suddenly, and you finally open your eyes, taking a deep breath, dropping your hands, still trembling slightly. You glance at $l_them, but quickly look away, the pity in $l_their dark eyes making your throat tighten.
"Yeah," you say, no real thought behind the question. Because it doesn't really matter one way or the other, does it? Lea sighs at your response, but doesn't ask it again. Instead $l_they just lean<<s>> back against the bench, crossing $l_their long legs in front of $l_them.
You vigorously rub your hands over your face, taking a few more deep breaths, before finally willing your hands steady and dropping them into your lap, slumping in your seat and staring ahead at nothing but the rotting wood wall.
You know Lea is watching you, despite $l_their best effort to hide it. You wonder what $l_they see<<s>>, when $l_they look<<s>> at you like this.
[[Continue ->old temple]]"I'm - I'm sorry," you say, swallowing the anxiety crawling up your throat, squeezing your eyes closed, just listening to the sound of your ragged breathing. "This - I shouldn't get like this anymore. I'm sorry."
You can feel Lea shift on the bench beside you, and you open your eyes again, staring down at your boots, feeling Lea's eyes on you for a moment before $l_they speak<<s>>.
"You have nothing to apologize for, $surname."
You take a deep breath, bowing your head and forcing yourself to exhale slowly, biting back the swell of emotion threatening to overtake you. You have to close your eyes again, and you find yourself focusing on Lea's familiar presence beside you, $l_their voice echoing in your mind, the quiet sound of $l_their breathing - slow and steady. Lea is always the tether that keeps you from drifting too far. From sinking.
"Are you going to be okay?" Lea asks then, and you open your eyes, turning to look at $l_them, seeing those dark eyes full of pity for you. Always pity.
"Yeah," you say it automatically, no thought behind the question. Your voice almost certainly betrays you, though. But does it really matter, either way? Lea sighs at your response, but doesn't ask it again.
You rub your hands over your face, a slight tremble in your fingers that you try to will away. Your breathing is still harsh, but you continue to focus on Lea, still with you, always. Eventually you manage to regain some control, rocking forward on the bench and dropping your hands again.
You know Lea is watching you, despite $l_their attempts to hide it. You wonder what $l_they see<<s>>, when $l_they look<<s>> at you like this.
[[Continue ->old temple]]//I'm fine.//
You sit in silence, your breathing harsh, staring at your trembling hands, curling them into fists and digging your nails into your palms. It doesn't help.
Bile rises in the back of your throat, and you close your eyes - you think you're going to vomit, swallowing frantically, hot saliva coating your mouth, burning your tongue. You shudder, the entire bench groaning under you as you curl forward again, burying your face in your hands.
"Easy, $surname," the voice makes you flinch, the sound of your name making another wave of nausea wash over you. Biting your tongue, you go still, tensed on the bench, your fingers grabbing your hood and pulling it down farther over your head, trying to hide. Trying to disappear.
//I'm fine.//
Slowly, the moment passes, and you feel yourself slump back against the bench, your body not feeling like your own, your eyes fluttering open to stare at nothing but the rotting wood of the wall across from you.
Lea has moved down the bench, right next to you - you're not sure when that happened. How long were you curled up like that? You glance over at $l_them, and you can tell $l_they <<were>> looking at you, $l_their eyes cutting to $l_their hands in $l_their lap, fidgeting with the ring on $l_their thumb, immediately sliding back a bit, putting space between you.
You wonder what Lea thinks of you, what $l_they see<<s>> when $l_they look<<s>> at you like this. You take a deep breath, closing your eyes again, letting your head lean back and rest against the wall behind you.
[[Continue ->old temple]]You wander along the outer edge of the chamber, staring up at some of the tapestries, water-stained and faded from time. A fine layer of dust and grime covers most of them, but the colors and artistry still show through. It must have taken quite some time to weave these stories. You step back and take in one of the ones that have managed to remain hanging, and recognize the tale - people walking from the sea onto the shore, formed from the violent foam of the crashing waves, naked and stumbling, the moon above guiding them forward.
You take a few more steps and find your attention pulled to one of the crumpled tapestries on the floor. It's stained dark from snow and rain, the fabric stiff and hard, so you don't even attempt to unfold it fully, instead just staring down at it, tilting your head as you try to piece it together.
A hooded figure, no discernible features, a face of shadow, raising a sword above their head, drawing your attention. A storm behind them, lightning flashing from the blade, a mountain split in the distance - and looming above it all, golden eyes cutting through the clouds, open maw and flashing teeth. You crouch down, compelled by something, your hand reaching out, your fingers brushing along the edge of the blade.
"The Mercy Sword."
The voice startles you, and you stand quickly, turning to face Lea.
"You know that one, don't you?" $l_they ask<<s>>.
You turn back to the tapestry, studying the sword again for a moment. "Yeah."
[[Continue ->mercy sword tapesty 1]]Jorah told you that one.
The sword, crafted by the daughters of the Wolfmother, is said to be the sword that will cast the final blow in the Fate of the Vel - the only sword capable of breaking the chains that hold the Firstborn in its prison at the bottom of the sea. You glance over at the statue again, stepping past Lea and staring up into the face of the Wolfmother.
She stands at the center, her two daughters standing on either side. There is no paint left on this idol, if there ever was any at all - long since faded and chipped away, leaving the three a haunting white. That's the color of the Firstborn, who lies submissive beneath the others, ears flat, tail curled beneath its belly, teeth exposed, a wild look in its eyes, captured even in stone.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Unlike Lea, I have little love for the gods. It's clear they don't give a shit about us.]]>><<set $gods to "angry">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I wouldn't say I'm particularly devout myself - I'm not like Lea. What have the gods ever done for me? But how does that one saying go... There are no non-believers when your ship is caught in a storm. And I'm always in a fucking storm.]]>><<set $gods to "indifferent">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I feel their presence even now, even in this old, battered temple. Like Lea, I have a respect for the gods, and I find myself seeking their counsel often.]]>><<set $gods to "respect">><</link>></div>You're living proof of that fact, aren't you? All the dark and evil in the world, and it all falls on you. People ask the gods for help, but instead they just get you.
You scowl at the statue in front of you, a sudden anger in you at this place, at the idea of worshipping a fucking carving.
<<include "old temple idol">>Well, they haven't done much for you yet, but there's no harm in a few frantic prayers every now and then, right? But the gods always have their favorites. Something tells you that you're not one of them.
You look between the four massive wolves, their faces intent, carved with love and attention.
<<include "old temple idol">>You can feel their presence even now, the power of the northern wind blowing off the sea, down from the mountains, cutting through the windows, chilling you through your cloak. You respect that power, and while you're not the kind to have an altar, or to go to temple, you reach out and try to speak to the gods when you can.
They've never answered. Not yet.
You bow your head before the statue, not speaking out loud, but wanting to offer something.
<<include "old temple idol">>There's sudden movement in front of you, and your eyes snap to the Firstborn, its teeth still bared, and you blink, holding your breath for a moment.
The sound of the distant waves drifts through the broken windows, echoing in the silence of the empty temple, a sudden cold wind sending a violent shiver up your spine.
And the Firstborn moves, the terrible sound of stone scraping across stone, its tongue running over its exposed teeth, claws extending towards you, the Vel trembling, reality straining and flickering, the stone wolf duplicating, stone turning to white fur, golden eyes boring through you, blood and water spilling from its open mouth, flooding over your boots, running into the cracked stone as you stagger back, reaching for your hunter's knife -
Your fingers brush the hilt and the world snaps back into place around you.
You're breathing hard, the statue unaltered in front of you, the ground dry, no blood on your shoes, no blood in its mouth.
"Do you need to sit down again?" Lea's voice comes from behind you, strained, and you spin around to see $l_them stepping towards you. $l_Their face is unreadable, but $l_their brow furrowed - more pity, again - glancing between you and the idol.
"No," you say gruffly, rubbing your face with both hands. "Let's just go."
You turn on your heel and brush past Lea, retreating back to the corridor. You don't wait, throwing open the door and stepping outside, bracing yourself for the walk back to Jack's. Lea takes a moment to catch up with you, gathering the bags of food and supplies $l_they had discarded when $l_they sat you down on the bench.
You hold out a hand and take a few of them wordlessly, slinging them over your shoulder.
<<if $l_marketfight>>"You good to make it back?" Lea asks, readjusting the bags $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> still holding.
"I'm fine," you say, giving Lea a look. //I'm fine.//<<else>>"Are you sure you're okay to walk back? We can take another minute," Lea says, readjusting the bags $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> still holding.
"I'm fine," you say, giving Lea a nod. //I'm fine.//<</if>>
Lea purses $l_their lips, but doesn't press you, instead just gesturing you forward, guiding you back from the Old Temple and onto the main street again. You find yourself glancing back, the top of the temple just visible from the street, before it vanishes behind stilted buildings, swallowed by the city.
[[Continue ->on the way back to jack's with lea]]<<if $l_marketfight>>You and Lea walk in strained silence once again,<<else>>You and Lea walk in strained silence,<</if>> passing through the darkening shadows along the street as the sun continues to dip low beneath the cliffs, a few stars beginning to shine early, just visible through the buildings and bridges above you.
You realize you don't even know if you got everything you needed today, wasting most of it curled up on a bench - and you'll still have to split the cost with Lea, later. You're not sure what happened with you earlier; you used to have fits like that when you were younger, an apprentice, but it's been a long time since one that bad. And the statue, in the temple...
//Something is wrong with you.//
A sigh from Lea distracts you from your thoughts, and you steal a glance over at $l_them.
You notice how tired $l_they look<<s>>, dark circles under $l_their eyes, $l_their hair disheveled, even $l_their hands - from here you can see the way $l_they fidget<<s>> with $l_their ring, spinning it around $l_their thumb with $l_their index finger, small cuts on $l_their knuckles from work and travel, dirt under $l_their nails. How much sleep did Lea even get last night?
<<if $l_relationship eq 6 or $l_relationship eq 5>>//More than me//, you think bitterly, rolling your shoulder then, still sore, still aching.
<</if>>Hopefully this evening will be better. A good dinner from the tavern, a real bed to sleep in - and no wraith this time. You hope.
[[Continue ->back at jack's with lea]]Back at Jack's, you and Lea seem to be the first ones in for the evening, just as the lamps in the streets begin to flicker on. No sign of Merry or Clementine, no Noel - not even Mal.
"We need to discuss what we want to do tomorrow," Lea says once you have unloaded all of the bags from the market. You're sitting in the parlor, nursing a glass of water that Lea basically forced into your hands.
Straight to business, of course.
<<if $blackwater>>This morning, you were inclined to stay in the city, secure the isolation district and investigate the missing people - or at least figure out the connection with Highfell, if there is any at all.
"Something is going on here. I don't think we can ignore it," you say.<<elseif $highfell>>"Blackwater is not our job. We need to get to Highfell," you say, sighing, because you already know Lea is going to fight you on this.<<else>> You drum your fingers on the table, staring at the condensation slowly dripping down your glass. You're not sure what to think still - the isolation district is concerning, and whatever is happening here seems like it could be connected to what's happening in Highfell. But //your// job is Highfell. Can you risk wasting more time here?<</if>>
Lea sits up across from you, but before $l_they can speak, you hear a familiar voice over the din of the parlor.
"Handler Chen, Hunter $surname!" Merry saunters towards you, throwing her hands out, grinning wide. Lea sighs, turning in $l_their chair, and you can only imagine the glare $l_they send<<s>> the captain.
Clementine isn't far behind - though they're nearly unrecognizable now, their old clothes gone, traded for a dark blue cloak and tunic, thick fur under the collar, warmer boots and even gloves, which they pull at nervously, looking between you and Lea. You even spot Mal, farther back near the front door, hovering around the bar.
"We should talk," Merry says, grinning even wider as she slides up to your table, making herself nice and comfortable next to Lea.
[[Continue ->back at jack's with lea 1]]<<if ($highfell eq false) and ($blackwater eq false)>>"So. Did you two enjoy your day at the market?" Merry says, half-perched on the table, crossing her arms as she leans towards Lea, who makes a face at her before she twists around and angles her body to look over at you. You can't help but squirm under her scrutiny, with the way her eye flicks over your face, down to your hands resting on the table, even your glass of water. She narrows her eye, leaning back and tapping a finger to her chin.
"You don't look so good, hunter," Merry says slowly.
Lea slaps $l_their hand on the table, giving Merry a sharp look.
"What do you want to talk about, Captain Harlowe?" Lea snarls, glaring up at Merry on the table.
"Fine," Merry rolls her eye, defensively raising her hands, "Right to business, then." She glares down at Lea, before turning to you again, narrowing her eye. "Have you talked about our conversation we had this morning? Made your decision? I'm just dying from anticipation," Merry says, her lip curling up in a harsh smile.
You glance at Lea, who shifts in $l_their seat across from you.
"We haven't made any decisions yet. Trust me, Merry, you'll be the first to know," you say, eyeing her over the table. Her smile fades, clearly annoyed, looking between you and Lea again, strumming her fingers on the tabletop.
"The sooner the better," Merry finally says, flashing her teeth at you.
"Well, if you would crawl down off my table we could discuss it," Lea snaps, gesturing at you. "//Privately//."
Merry throws her hands up, exasperated. "I gave you all day. What the hell have you been doing that you haven't //discussed// it yet?"
Lea glances at you, before quickly looking away, but Merry doesn't miss it, and she focuses on you again, on your half-empty glass of water.
A tense silence stretches over the table.
<<include "hostile jack's">><<elseif $highfell eq true>>"So. Did you two enjoy your day at the market?" Merry says, half-perched on the table, crossing her arms as she leans towards Lea, who makes a face at her before she twists around and angles her body to look over at you. You can't help but squirm under her scrutiny, with the way her eye flicks over your face, down to your hands resting on the table, even your glass of water. She narrows her eye, leaning back and tapping a finger to her chin.
"You don't look so good, hunter," Merry says slowly.
Lea slaps $l_their hand on the table, giving Merry a sharp look.
"What do you want to talk about, Captain Harlowe?" Lea snarls, glaring up at Merry on the table.
"Fine," Merry rolls her eye, defensively raising her hands, "Right to business, then." She glares down at Lea, before turning to you again. "Tomorrow morning. I suppose we'll need to get an early start," she says, tilting her head towards you, and you blink, glancing over at Lea.
"What?" Lea says, $l_their voice sharp, looking up and raising an eyebrow at the captain.
"You're leaving for Highfell? I told you. I'm coming with you," Merry shrugs.
Lea leans forward across the table. "I don't remember agreeing to anything like that," $l_they <<say>>.
"Oh, you don't have to agree," Merry purrs, leaning forward now as well. "What are you going to do? Stop me?"
You purse your lips, narrowing your eyes at Merry.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Is that a challenge?" Despite everything, I can\'t help but smirk.' 'is that a challenge'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $m_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Well. Maybe - with you and Noel. Maybe we could use the back-up." I look at Lea as I say it.' 'maybe we could use the backup'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We\'re going to Highfell. I don\'t care if you come or not - but I\'m just - I\'m tired of arguing."' 'im tired of arguing'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re truly insufferable, you know?" I sigh loudly.' 'youre truly insufferable'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just make yourself useful, at least." My voice is sharp.' 'just make yourself useful'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $m_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re just going to get in our way," I snap. She\'s not following us to fucking Highfell.' 'youre just going to get in our way'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $m_friendship -=2>><</link>></div><<elseif $blackwater eq true>>"So. Did you two enjoy your day at the market?" Merry says, half-perched on the table, crossing her arms as she leans towards Lea, who makes a face at her before she twists around and angles her body to look over at you. You can't help but squirm under her scrutiny, with the way her eye flicks over your face, down to your hands resting on the table, even your glass of water. She narrows her eye, leaning back and tapping a finger to her chin.
"You don't look so good, hunter," Merry says slowly.
Lea slaps $l_their hand on the table, giving Merry a sharp look.
"What do you want to talk about, Captain Harlowe?" Lea snarls, angling $l_themself to glare up at Merry on the table.
Merry curls her lip, slowly dragging her eye away from you to stare down at Lea.
"When are we getting started, Handler Chen?" she asks with a flash of teeth.
"//We//?" Lea says, wrinkling $l_their nose.
"Did you forget our conversation this morning already?" Merry says, tilting her head, her long hair sliding off her shoulder.
Lea scowls up at the captain, a tense silence stretching out between you all, painful, and you drop your face into your hands with a sigh.
<<include "hostile jack's">><</if>>"Is that a challenge?" you say, smirking at Merry across the table, unable to resist making the comment, despite everything.
Merry grins in response, a dangerous twinkle in her eye, pushing her palms to the table as she leans towards you.
"For you? Yes," she says, her eye flashing as she looks you up and down, her grin just growing wider.
"No," Lea cuts in, glaring at Merry, and giving you a dark look as well.
"Jealous? You can join too, Chen," Merry says, her voice light, almost a sing-song. Lea goes rigid in $l_their seat, and you can just see the hint of a blush cross $l_their face, contrasting with $l_their very angry, furrowed brow.
<<include "hostile jack's">>"Sorry I'm late," another familiar voice cuts in then, all of you turning as Noel approaches the table. He makes his way straight to Merry, clapping a hand on her shoulder, grinning between her and Lea. "I hope you're treating our guests well, Captain?" Noel says, all but forcing $n_themself between the two, Merry having to slide off the table to make room for $n_them.
"You know I am a great host, Noel," Merry says, crossing her arms again and giving Noel a very clearly annoyed smile.
The table is starting to feel a little crowded, with Noel and Merry hovering over Lea, and Clementine blinking owlishly behind them, twisting the straps of their new gloves. You rub at your eyes, biting back an exhausted sigh, the ache in your head spiking again.
[[Continue ->sorry i'm late]]"Well. Maybe - with you and Noel. We can travel together. Maybe we could use the back-up," you say, looking over at Lea.
$l_They scowl<<s>> at you, but <<dont>> say anything, $l_their dark eyes searching your face.
"See? You should listen to <<if $nopr>>$name<<else>>$mc_them<</if>>. Strength in numbers, and all that," Merry says, nodding as she leans her hands against the table, hovering over Lea.
Lea's scowl somehow manages to deepen, glancing between you and Merry.
"Is that really what you want?" Lea asks then, turning to you, and there's something in $l_their tone you can't quite pin down, something that catches you off guard. It's not anger - you know Lea's anger.
You blink after a moment, realizing both Merry and Lea are staring at you, waiting.
"Strength in numbers," you say, shrugging, repeating Merry's words.
<<include "hostile jack's">>"We're going to Highfell. I don't care if you come or not - but I'm just - I'm tired of arguing." You let out a long sigh, rubbing your hands over your face. "If you have to bicker, leave me out of it," you say, dropping your hands and glaring pointedly over the table at Lea and Merry.
Merry eyes you curiously, glancing at your glass of water again. You feel yourself tense as she starts to open her mouth, but Lea cuts her off before she can say anything.
"Leave <<if $nopr eq true>>$name<<else>>$mc_them<</if>> alone, Harlowe."
Merry swings back around to stare down at Lea, a crooked smile on her lips.
"Then should we get our own room, Handler Chen?" she coos, leering down, and you just catch the hint of a blush cross Lea's face, contrasting with $l_their very angry, furrowed brow.
<<include "hostile jack's">>"You're truly insufferable, you know?" you sigh loudly.
"So I have been told," she laughs, rocking back against the table.
"We have an actual job to do," Lea cuts in then, $l_their voice hard. "This isn't some casual trip, camping in the mountains for fun."
"I never said it was," Merry snaps back, all amusement gone from her tone. She glares down at Lea now, uncrossing her arms and leaning towards $l_them. "You think this is a joke to me?"
"I think all of this has been a joke," Lea grumbles, crossing $l_their arms.
"Speak up, Chen," Merry sneers, and you tense, watching Lea's lip curl as $l_they move<<s>> to stand and face Merry.
<<include "hostile jack's">>"Just make yourself useful, at least," you say, your voice hard.
Merry just smirks at you. "I can make myself //very// useful," she says, clasping her hands in front of her on the table, leaning towards you.
<<if $shy gte $bold>>You blink at her bold declaration, shrinking a bit in your chair, heat creeping up your neck.<<else>>You just glare across the table at her, your lip twitching.<</if>>
"Stop it," Lea snaps, giving Merry a dark look.
Merry just laughs, clearly pleased to have gotten under your and Lea's skin. After a moment, she gets serious, pressing her palms to the table.
"I am far more useful to you as an ally, then an enemy. Perhaps you should remember that," she says, narrowing her eye at Lea.
A tense few seconds pass then, and you can just see Lea's hand curl into a fist where it rests atop the table.
<<include "hostile jack's">>"You're just going to get in our way," you snap, annoyed.
"Is that right? I could be a far more difficult obstacle than I have been thus far, if I wanted. Maybe you should remember that," Merry says, glancing between you and Lea before looking disinterested at her nails.
Lea scoffs beside you, crossing $l_their arms and leaning back in $l_their chair.
"What's funny?" Merry says, her eye sliding lazily from her nails, to Lea.
"You and that loud mouth of yours," Lea says. "You sure love talking yourself up."
"Would you rather me show you?" Merry prompts, pressing her palms to the table and leaning forward. "I've been nothing but generous with you. Because I //want// to be. But I don't //have// to be."
You and Lea both glare across over at her, bristling at her words. A tense few seconds pass then, and you can just see Lea's hand curl into a fist where it rests atop the table.
<<include "hostile jack's">>When you drop your hands, Lea is watching you, and Noel and Merry have descended into mindless bickering, completely disregarding the two of you. Clementine has also moved closer to the table, and quietly slides into the seat beside you, ducking their head and staring down into their lap.
Noel is speaking in a harsh whisper, with Merry loudly talking over $n_them, and you don't even bother trying to listen, tuning them out instead and just staring down at the wood grain of the table, picking at the peeling finish. Lea's eyes are still on you, practically burning a hole in your head.
<<if $l_relationship eq 1>>"$name. You should head upstairs," Lea says softly, and you glance over, already shaking your head. Lea purses $l_their lips, but doesn't press you, instead glaring back over at Merry and Noel. You're tired; but you're not going to leave your seat at the table. You feel like you only just managed to take it. //Partners.//<<else>>"$surname," Lea says softly, and your face twitches, "you should head upstairs." You glance over, narrowing your eyes at your handler. "You should rest," $l_they <<say>>.
Clenching your jaw, you just shake your head. You're not going to leave and just let everyone make decisions without you. Though you're sure Lea would like that.<</if>>
Clementine shifts beside you then, and you turn to them, their chair groaning as they dig into their pocket. You watch as they pull out a colorful deck of cards. Lea is giving them a curious look as well, and they smile softly at the both of you.
"How many rounds do you think we could get in before they notice?" Clementine says, aligning the cards before they start to shuffle them. Lea chuckles, leaning back in $l_their chair and shaking $l_their head at Noel and Merry, both oblivious to the rest of the table.
At least they don't have you trapped behind a locked door this time.
"Sure. Why the hell not," Lea says, throwing $l_their hands up.
You shrug, looking expectantly to Clem. They grin and start to cut the deck, shuffling it a few more times before they start to pass you and Lea cards. They start to explain the game, but you find yourself blankly staring at the cards as they slide across the table to you.
You let the sounds of the parlor engulf you, bad singing and laughter, the off-key lute playing in the corner, the scrape of forks and knives on plates, glasses clinking and the fire in the hearth popping, Clementine's soft voice beside you, and the distant sound of ocean waves above it all.
You're partially aware that Mal has also now joined the growing crowd around your table, but you're distracted, the hair on the back of your neck suddenly standing on end, a whispering ripple passing through the parlor, a few people abruptly standing, their chairs scraping painfully loud, and you turn back to your companions to see Mal grabbing Noel's shoulders, trying to pull $n_them away from the table.
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link '//BANG!//' 'bang!'>><</link>></span>Suddenly, the door slams open, so loud that it rings in your ears, some of the glass windows shuddering in their frames.
Lea and Clementine both startle, and Merry's head snaps around, with her immediately stepping in front of Noel and Mal, blocking them both from the door.
An older man stands, wearing rather posh armor, you think, polished silver emblazoned with a swooping hawk. A dark red tunic, lined with thick grey fur, embellished with silver studs and gold feathers - there is only one person this can be. Lord Duncan. A group of soldiers stand with him, their red and silver armor just as polished as his, their faces hidden behind silver facemasks, molded with noses and lips, and with only slits for the eyes. Hands on swords, they shift, tensed in the doorway.
<<include "clem's warning">>A sudden hand around your wrist makes you jump, and you turn to see Clementine, all but leaning off their chair, pulling at your arm.
"Be careful with him, $name," Clementine whispers, their eyes hard, their hand squeezing your arm. You turn back as they release your wrist, watching as the man prowls through the parlor.
"Lord Duncan," Merry says, propping her hands on her hips and taking a few steps forward, breaking the silence. She grins, but you can see the strain for just a moment before she blinks it away. Duncan's gaze falls on your table, and he just stares at all of you for a long, painful moment, before striding across the parlor towards you.
You glance back towards Clementine, only to blink stupidly at the empty space beside you. Both Noel and Clem have vanished, along with Mal. Just you, Lea, and Merry; and Lea stands at the warden's approach. Instinctively, you do the same, eyeing the soldiers as they lurk among the other tables.
"What a wonderful surprise to have you here, Duncan-" Merry begins, but she's cut off by a sharp look.
"//Lord// Duncan," he says, his voice hard.
Merry's face twitches.
Duncan turns to you and Lea expectantly.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Bow. It's a bit formal for me, but a custom with these types, and it's clear that's what he's waiting for...]]>><<set $bow to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Don't bow. I don't care who this man is, respect is earned, first. He can keep waiting.]]>><<set $bow to false>><</link>></div>Following Merry, she leads you and Clementine along a winding, confusing path beneath towering buildings and down long alleyways. You're deep in the city now, buildings so high that you can barely see the sky, ladders and bridges crisscrossing above you. You spot quite a few soldiers - like Merry had said. She's sure to guide you far away from them, but there's no missing their red armor, even from a distance.
With Merry's erratic route, you manage to avoid them, and you turn your focus to Merry herself, who seems to constantly be exchanging pleasantries and greetings, clearly well known and, dare you say, well-liked.
You're surprised at the amount of people that seem to know her by name, and just by the amount of people out on the streets in general. Looking around as you walk, you'd never guess this town had just been ravaged by plague.
<div id="choice">[[I like it here. It's so different from the Black Iron, and anywhere else I've ever been.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[It's definitely... different. It always takes time for me to adjust when I come here.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[It's too chaotic for me. Too many people, too many things happening at once, it's overwhelming.]]</div>You can't help but be charmed by the place. This city is the third largest port in Adrania, and the main port of the north. So different from the stuffy stronghold, and there's so many //people//. Everywhere you look, there's something new and interesting to see. You always enjoyed when you and Lea would travel through in the past - the people, the food, the entertainment, all of it a much needed relief from boring times at the Black Iron. Unfortunately, though, you know a lot has changed within the last year, despite appearances.
The upper levels now are all but off-limits to most people - you have to have the wealth to climb the ladder. It wasn't always like this; but when the plague came through, it revealed the true nature of your fellow man, how quick some are to turn their backs on others, to simply not care. They gated their communities and kept the //undesirables// out, leaving you all down below to struggle through the hard times.
You feel a twinge of sadness, sympathy for the people here on the ground. The plague hurt a lot of people - but it was definitely worse in places like this.
[[Continue ->getting close to the cliffs]]You don't hate it, per se, but you definitely struggle through an adjustment period every time you come here - the noises, the crowds, the curious looks - it's always an effort not to get completely lost in it all. It was never really your favorite when you came through with Lea in the past, but now, with a lot of the changes within the past year, you can't help but be even more on edge than usual.
This city is the third largest port in Adrania, and the main port of the north. It was hit hard by the plague, and now the ground level is insanely overcrowded, due to the upper levels of the city now being all but off-limits to most people - you have to have the wealth to climb the ladder. It wasn't always like this; but when the plague came through, it revealed the true nature of your fellow man, how quick some are to turn their backs on others, to simply not care. They gated their communities and kept the //undesirables// out, leaving you all down below to struggle through the hard times.
The fact that some people care so little... you don't consider yourself a paragon by any means, but those people - those people disgust you.
[[Continue ->getting close to the cliffs]]This city is the third largest port in all of Adrania, the main port of the north, and it's far too chaotic for you. There's too many people, too many sounds and smells, way too much all at once, constantly overwhelming you. You much prefer the quiet of the stronghold, the small towns you pass through on the road, anything but this mess. It was always a bad time when you and Lea had to pass through here in the past, but now, with the way things have changed in the last year, you hate it even more - something you didn't think was possible.
The ground level is insanely overcrowded, due to the upper levels of the city now being all but off-limits to most people - you have to have the wealth to climb the ladder. It wasn't always like this; but when the plague came through, certain people would do anything to keep themselves above it, including letting everyone else suffer down below while they gated their community and protected only themselves.
It infuriates you. You're no saint yourself, you are more than aware of that, but for people to turn their backs, when they clearly have the influence and power to potentially make a difference, to actually help people - disgusting. You would spit on them, given the chance.
[[Continue ->getting close to the cliffs]]You sigh, pulling yourself from your thoughts as you can sense you're getting close to the cliffs – the buildings are beginning to thin out, giving away to open sky. It's even louder here than it was in the city proper – a giant crank elevator constantly running up and down, the mechanism rumbling in your bones as you approach one of the many sets of stairs that take you down. The elevator is off to the left, and you can just see a large platform ascending from the lower cliffs. You hustle after Merry and Clementine, dodging the crowd that surges off the lift, laughing and pushing each other as they go.
You catch up to your companions just as they begin the long descent down to the docks. The stairs are carved into the stone, a precarious rope railing anchored along each side, worn and frayed from hundreds of hands passing over it.
Going single file, you hug the right side as you pass other people going back up to the ground level. //Why didn't we just take the lift...//
[[Many steps later...]]At last, you reach the upper docks. You stretch your hands over your head as you move off to the side, watching as Merry gets her bearings. You're still sore from the fight, and the long walk down wasn't very forgiving to your tired body. Merry looks around for a moment, then points a finger in an //ah-ha// moment and continues on.
Clementine shuffles along beside you, their eyes wide as they take it all in. You get quite a few looks, and you do your best not to attract attention, staying close to Merry. Not that Clementine's little fucking bells are really helping with that. They are getting most of the weird looks, at least, sparing you and your plain northern clothes, allowing for you to fade into the background.
Walking through the upper docks, the ships are anchored down in the water beneath you, bobbing gently with the waves, their sails casting long shadows over the walkway and making you shiver as you pass through them. Some of the ships are so close you could jump to their sails if you really wanted to. Merry leads you along, and you try your best to keep track of the turns you take, but damn if this place isn't overwhelming. There's a lot of workers, loading and unloading shipments, and people harking their wares fresh off the boat.
Looking beyond the docks and the port, you can see the sea stacks. Massive rock formations, rising out of the water, unmoving despite the constant battering of the sea. They've always fascinated you, wondering where they came from. What formed them there, along the coast, forever to stand in the ocean and watch over the city and the ships anchored below. Comforting, in a way. Like distant giants.
[[Continue ->you refocus on merry]]You refocus on Merry now, and you realize you're curving around the docks back towards an area that is built against the cliff wall, cast in shadows, lined with stalls, shacks, and even tents, a kind of alley shielding you from the biting ocean breeze. You're now at the bottom of the ladder here in Blackwater, the place where the privileged shove the rest of you so you're out of sight, and out of mind. But the atmosphere here is not one of despair - rather, you feel a community, a camaraderie, friendly nods and waves as you walk after Merry, a stark contrast from all of the weird looks you had been receiving earlier.
Merry stops so suddenly, you nearly walk right into her, just managing to stop short. She stands in front of a shuttered stall, which you definitely think looks a bit precarious, like a strong wind could blow it into the cliff and out to sea. The place looks closed, and you watch as Merry steps forward and bangs her fist on the shutters. After a quick inspection, you realize it's a repurposed wagon. //How did they even get that down here?//
"Branwen! Wake up, you lazy son of a bitch!" Merry says, banging on the shutters again.
You can't help but exchange a dubious glance with Clementine, who just shrugs next to you, wringing their hands. Merry's yelling attracts a few stares from passers-by, and you instinctively reach up and pull at your hood, ducking your head away from the curious looks.
<<link '"Merry!"' 'Merry!'>><</link>>All three of you turn at the name, and you're surprised to see Mal cutting down the alley towards you. You didn't expect to see her again so soon.
Merry strides over to her, intercepting her before she can get too close to you and Clementine. Merry and Mal greet each other as if you hadn't all just been together a short while ago, clasping their hands together and slapping each other's backs in a rowdy hug.
"How is it out here?" Merry asks, still grasping Mal's hand. They stand close together, and Mal leans in even closer, whispering into Merry's ear. There's no hope for you to hear what she says, what with the noise of the water and wind around you.
Whatever Mal says, Merry just gives her a grave nod, finally releasing her hand. She looks back to you and Clementine then, as if just remembering the two of you are here, too.
Merry and Mal make their way back over to you, Merry frowning at the shutters again. She steps forward, and just as she raises her fist the shutters swing open, revealing a very disgruntled woman, her sharp blue eyes glaring daggers at Merry.
[[Continue ->branwen intro]]"One of these days I'm going to kill you, Harlowe," she growls, moving to prop the shutters open. Merry just grins at her, curling her hands around the newly exposed counter and waiting expectantly as the woman, who you assume is Branwen, continues to set up the stall.
Mal laughs quietly, leaning against the counter and watching Branwen with an amused expression. She waves a hand in front of her and signs something, too fast for you to even begin to understand, and Branwen just shakes her head.
"Make yourself useful and pull the seats out, at least," Branwen says then, turning away from Mal and crossing her arms, looking down at Merry. Merry complies, reaching under the hollow beneath the counter and sliding out a stool and a few busted crates.
As Merry does so, Branwen turns her attention to you and Clementine. Branwen is striking, tall and muscular, pale skin with long, dark hair, and a shock of black ink that trails from her lip down to her chin, and vanishes beneath the neck of her shirt. Her accent is unmistakable, northern Gaelish, like Merry's.
"Who are your friends, Harlowe?" they ask, eyeing you and your hood.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I introduce myself.]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I let Merry make the introductions.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Who are //you//?"' 'who are you'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"$name," you say, giving her a nod. She looks you up and down for a long moment, before nodding in return.
"Branwen," she says. Then she turns her attention to Clementine.
They smile at her, still wringing their hands. "My name is Clementine," they say, dipping their head slightly. Branwen narrows her eyes, but then smiles back.
"Nice to meet you, Clementine."
"Lovely," Merry cuts in, her tone sarcastic. "But I came here for business, Branwen, not to make friends."
<<include "bastard">>You glance over at Merry, who clears her throat.
<<if $nopr>>"This is $name. //$name// is a hunter."<<else>>"This is $name. <<print $mc_they.toUpperFirst()>><<if $mc_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> a hunter."<</if>> Merry says it with a smile.
"Merry," you growl, shooting her a dark look. //Are you fucking kidding me?//
Branwen raises an eyebrow at you, tilting their head curiously. "Are you collecting them now, Merry?" Branwen says then, flashing you a smile. You bristle at the comment, but Branwen just laughs, a deep, hearty sound.
"And this one is Clementine," Merry says, literally pointing a finger at Clem, who is still wringing their hands. You realize they have stepped behind you a bit, trying to avoid Branwen's attention. Clementine gives them a little wave, and Branwen narrows their eyes at them, but then smiles back.
"I'm Branwen," she says, giving you both an appraising look.
"Lovely," Merry cuts in then, her sarcasm apparent. "I did come here for //business//, though, Branwen, not to make friends," she says, waving her hand dismissively.
<<include "bastard">>"Who are //you//?" you say, crossing your arms as well, mirroring Branwen's stance.
Branwen raises an eyebrow at you, a faint smile on their lips. "I asked first," they say, their smile splitting into a grin.
<<if $nopr eq true>>"This is $name," Merry cuts in, "//$name// is a hunter."<<else>>"This is $name," Merry cuts in, "<<print $mc_they.toUpperFirst()>><<if $mc_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> a hunter."<</if>> She says it with a smile.
"Merry," you growl, shooting her a dark look. //Are you fucking kidding me?//
Branwen tilts their head curiously, staring into your hood. "Are you collecting them now, Merry?" Branwen says then, flashing you another smile. You bristle at the comment, but Branwen just laughs, a deep, hearty sound.
"And this one is Clementine," Merry says, literally pointing a finger at Clem, who is still wringing their hands. You realize they have stepped behind you a bit, trying to avoid Branwen's attention. Clementine gives them a little wave, and Branwen narrows their eyes at them, but then smiles back.
"I'm Branwen," she says, giving you both an appraising look.
"Lovely," Merry cuts in then, her sarcasm apparent. "I did come here for //business//, though, Branwen, not to make friends," she says, waving her hand dismissively.
<<include "bastard">>Branwen raises her hand and does an aggressive movement, her hand in a chopping motion towards her forehead. You know that one. //Bastard//.
Merry is unfazed, just grinning at her and then turning to you and Clem, patting the one stool. Clementine takes a step forward, but Merry halts them with a look. "Not you," she snaps.
"Mal," Merry looks over her shoulder at her first mate, where she still leans against the counter, "take our little southern clown and find them some better clothes. Something... less conspicuous," Merry says that last part as she looks Clementine up and down slowly, her lip curling in disgust.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Don\'t call them that." Clementine has a name.' 'dont call them that'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Merry\'s right. You need new clothes, Clementine." The bright colors, the bells, it\'s attracting way too much attention.' 'merry is right'>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I nod in agreement. Clem\'s clothes are... too much.' 'clems clothes are too much'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I give Clementine an apologetic look. Merry\'s a bit rude... but she\'s right.' 'i give clem an apologetic look'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t have to be an ass about it." Merry\'s attitude is starting to wear on me.' 'you dont have to be an ass about it'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"Don't call them that," you snap, giving Merry an icy glare. You've spent your whole life getting called names - it's not something you tolerate. Not anymore.
Merry just laughs, clapping a hand over her chest as she leans back. "How cute," she smirks, glancing between the two of you. You roll your eyes at her, crossing your arms and feeling your face twitch as she continues to chuckle.
"It's alright," Clementine cuts in then, giving you a grateful nod. They shift awkwardly on their feet, wringing their hands, clearly uncomfortable being caught in the middle. "I - I know. I know I need new clothes," Clementine says then, their tone a bit defensive now, turning to meet Merry's gaze.
Merry's laughter quiets down then, and something passes between them in that moment, and you feel the tension snap taut, Merry taking a half step forward before seeming to change her mind and just wave her hand dismissively.
"Mal," she says, sticking her nose up and turning away from Clementine.
<<include "merry or clem">>"Merry's right. You need new clothes, Clementine," you say, frowning at their jacket. Clementine deflates a bit under your combined gazes now, wringing their hands and glancing down at their feet.
"I'm doing you a favor," Merry says, narrowing her eye at them.
"I - I know. I know I need new clothes," Clementine says, a bit defensive, finally looking up and meeting Merry's eye. Something passes between them in that moment, and you feel the tension snap taut, Merry taking a half step forward before seeming to change her mind and just wave her hand dismissively.
"Mal," she says, giving one final icy glare at Clem.
<<include "merry or clem">>You don't say anything, but you nod in agreement with Merry. Clem's clothes are a nightmare - those damn bells. <<if $c_friendship gte 50 or $deal eq true>>Clementine glances over at you, wringing their hands, deflating a bit before lowering their eyes and staring down at their feet.<<else>>Clementine clenches their jaw, not looking at you, instead lowering their eyes and staring down at their feet.<</if>>
"I'm doing you a favor," Merry says, narrowing her eye at them.
"I - I know. I know I need new clothes," Clementine says, a bit defensive, finally looking up and meeting Merry's eye. Something passes between them in that moment, and you feel the tension snap taut, Merry taking a half step forward before seeming to change her mind and just wave her hand dismissively.
"Mal," she says, giving one final icy glare at Clem.
<<include "merry or clem">>You look over at Clementine, inclining your head slightly and giving them an apologetic look. Merry //is// right, but she didn't need to be so rude. <<if $c_friendship gte 50>>Clementine glances at you, wringing their hands, but still giving you a grateful look.<<else>>Clementine glances at you before casting their eyes down at their feet, wringing their hands and clenching their jaw.<</if>>
"I - I know. I know I need new clothes," Clementine says then, a bit defensive, finally looking up and meeting Merry's eye. Something passes between them in that moment, and you feel the tension snap taut, Merry taking a half step forward before seeming to change her mind and just wave her hand dismissively.
"Mal," she says, giving one final icy glare at Clem.
<<include "merry or clem">>"You don't have to be an ass about it," you say, your face twitching in annoyance. Merry's smart attitude is starting to get under your skin. And you've spent your whole life getting called names - it's not something you tolerate. Not anymore.
"That was me being nice, dear hunter," Merry says, tilting her head and smiling at you. "They should know that I'm doing them a favor," she adds, turning her attention back to Clementine.
"I - I know. I know I need new clothes," Clementine says then, a bit defensive, looking up and meeting Merry's eye. Something passes between them in that moment, and you feel the tension snap taut, Merry taking a half step forward before seeming to change her mind and just wave her hand dismissively.
"Mal," she says, giving one final icy glare at Clem.
<<include "merry or clem">>Mal pushes off the counter with a nod, looking expectantly at the bard.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Wait... I'll go with Clementine.]]>><<set $bw_clem to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'll stay with Merry.]]>><<set $bw_merry to true>><</link>></div>"Wait. Let me go with Clementine," you say.
Merry turns back to you, raising an eyebrow. "You sure?" she asks, in a tone that very much suggests you are making a mistake.
"Yeah. I'll go with them," you say with a nod, looking over at Clementine.
<<if $deal eq true and $clem_tavernfight eq false>>They smile at you, dipping their head slightly in thanks.<<elseif $clem_tavernfight eq false and $deal eq false>>They look at you, clearly surprised, before giving you a small smile.<<elseif $clem_tavernfight>>They give you a nervous look, glancing between Mal and Merry.<</if>>
<<if ($clem_with eq true) and ($clem_tavernfight eq false)>><div id="choice"><<link [[After everything we've been through, I feel a bit protective of Clementine.]]>><<set $reason to 5>><</link>></div>
<<elseif ($clem_with eq true) and ($clem_tavernfight eq false) and ($deal eq false)>><div id="choice"><<link [[I barely know Clem. I don't trust them. But, after everything... I still feel a bit protective of them.]]>><<set $reason to 1>><</link>></div>
<<elseif ($clem_with eq true) and ($clem_tavernfight eq true)>><div id="choice"><<link [[I barely know Clem. I don't trust them. But, despite that, despite everything... I still feel a bit protective of them.]]>><<set $reason to 1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link [[While I'm curious about Merry, I'm far more curious about Clementine - especially after this morning. I want to go with them.]]>><<set $reason to 2>><</link>></div>
<<if $deal and $for_money>><div id="choice"><<link [[This is just part of the deal. They want me to keep Merry away from them - I'll do it.]]>><<set $reason to 3>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if $deal and ($for_a_song or $for_free)>><div id="choice"><<link [[This is part of our deal, isn't it? Keeping them away from Merry? I gave them my word.]]>><<set $reason to 6>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if $clem_tavernfight>><div id="choice"><<link [[After this morning... me and Clementine need to talk.]]>><<set $reason to 4>><</link>></div><</if>>Clementine sighs, glancing back down at their feet, but they head off with Mal without much of a fight. Like they said: they //do// need new clothes. You watch them walk off, disappearing through the alley, though you can still catch a slight glimpse of Clementine's bright jacket as they go. //Who are you, Clementine?//
<<if hasVisited("you dont have to be an ass") or hasVisited("dont call them that") or hasVisited("i give clem an apologetic look")>>You frown, tapping a finger to your lips. At least they're with Mal, and you're with Merry. You can handle Merry.<<else>>You frown, tapping a finger to your lips. Merry clears her throat next to you, and you drop your hand with a sigh.<</if>>
When you turn back to her, she's smiling up at you, patting the stool again.
<div id="choice">[[I take a seat.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No, I\'d rather stand."' 'no id rather stand'>><</link>></div>Sighing, you slide onto the stool next to her.
"You need to relax," she hums, eyeing you from where she leans against the counter.
"I'm trying," you mutter, glancing over your shoulder warily.
"Try harder, mate," Merry chuckles. She turns so her back is to the counter now, and you feel a bit more comfortable with her watching the alley behind you.
Branwen raps her knuckles on the hard wood of the wagon wall then, getting Merry's attention. "Drinks?" she asks, looking between the two of you. "The usual, I'm assuming," she adds, already moving to fetch a bottle.
"Two of them, please," Merry says, holding up two fingers for Branwen and shooting you a smirk.
<<include "bar questions">>"No, I'd rather stand," you say, shifting on your feet, still hyper aware of the other people passing by through the alley behind you.
Merry huffs, waving a hand, and she takes the seat instead. You move over to where Mal had been leaning earlier, your back to the counter now, giving you a chance to watch over the alley, and keep an eye on the docks.
You can feel Merry watching you as you look around.
"So fucking tense, mate," she says, shaking her head.
Branwen raps her knuckles on the counter then, getting Merry's attention. "Drinks?" she asks, looking between the two of you. "The usual, I'm assuming," she adds, already retreating into the wagon to fetch a bottle.
"Two of them, please," Merry says, holding up two fingers for Branwen and shooting you a smirk.
<<include "bar questions">><div id="choice"><<link '"What are we doing here, Merry?"' 'what are we doing here merry'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re buying, right?"' 'youre buying right'>><<set $m_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What is //the usual//?"' 'what is the usual'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Didn\'t have enough to drink at Jack\'s?"' 'didnt have enough to drink'>><<set $m_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>"What are we doing here, Merry?"
<<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>"Just //relax//," she says, giving you a lazy smile.<<else>>"Gods, will you relax?" Merry says, rolling her eye at you.<</if>>
<<include "bartender">>"You're buying, right?"
Merry laughs. "I suppose I can cover you just this once," she says, shooting you a crooked smile.
<<include "bartender">>"And what is //the usual//?" you ask, giving Merry a look.
"The best damn drink you'll ever have," she shoots back, not missing a beat. "You'll love it," she says, drawing out the word love, clearly teasing you.
<<include "bartender">>"Didn't have enough to drink at Jack's?"
Merry barks out a laugh. "I never have enough to drink," she says, giving you a wink.
<<include "bartender">>Branwen reappears then, setting two glasses down in front of Merry. With a flourish, Branwen pops the cork off a fat bottle and pours it out between the two glasses. She's barely finished filling them before Merry swipes the glasses off the counter. Branwen clicks her tongue, shaking her head before ducking back into the wagon.
"Here you are," Merry says, holding the drink out for you.
<div id="choice">[[Take it.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Turn it down.]]</div>Merry gives you an approving nod as you take the drink from her.
"What is it?" you ask, raising an eyebrow as you catch a whiff of it.
"Just drink it!" Merry says, knocking her shoulder into yours. She takes a long drink from her own glass, slamming it down on the counter as she grins at you. "Come on."
You oblige.
<div id="choice">[[Down it all at once.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Take a tentative sip.]]</div>Merry sighs, but surprisingly, doesn't make any immediate, stinging comments.
"More for me, then," she says, throwing back the first drink and finishing it in one swift motion. She slams the glass back on the counter, giving you a grin.
"This is the real deal, you know. Imported by yours truly," she says, putting a hand on her chest and puffing it out with pride.
"From Gael?" you ask.
"Yes, from Gael! From home," she says, giving you a look. "Or are you playing pretend? Your accent //could// be better."
<<include "gaelish choices">><<if $vice eq "drinker" or $vice eq "both">>Giving Merry a look, you throw back the glass and down the drink all at once. You slam it down on the counter just like her, your glass now empty.
Merry grins at you.
"A Gael through and through, then," she says. "This shit is the real deal, imported by yours truly," she puts a hand on her chest, puffing it out with pride, "from //home//."<<else>>Giving Merry a look, you throw back the glass and, well, //try// to drink it all down at once. But it's strong. It burns your throat and makes your eyes water, and you only get about halfway through before you start coughing, and nearly spill the drink on the bar as you try to set it down.
Merry laughs, slapping you on your back as you cough, nearly knocking you over with the force of it.
"We'll make a real Gael out of you yet," she chuckles, shaking her head. "This is the real deal, imported by yours truly. From home. You'll get a taste for it eventually."<</if>>
<<include "gaelish choices">><<if $vice eq "drinker" or $vice eq "both">>You give Merry a look, taking the glass and bringing it up to your lips, taking a careful drink. It's strong, but nothing you can't handle. You take another small swig, and Merry gives you a disapproving look.
"Come on. Some Gael you are," she says, shaking her head. "You know, that's the real deal. Imported by yours truly. From home! Show it some respect and drink it right!" Merry claps you on the back with that final word, nearly knocking you over with the force of it, some of the drink sloshing out of the glass.<<else>>You give Merry a look, taking the glass and bringing it up to your lips, taking a careful drink. It's //strong//. Just the small sip makes your throat burn and eyes water. You at least manage to keep from coughing. Merry watches you, shaking her head and giving you a disapproving look.
"Come on. Some Gael you are," she says, clicking her tongue. "You know, that's the real deal. Imported by yours truly. From home! Show it some respect and drink it right!" Merry claps you on the back with that final word, nearly knocking you over with the force of it, some of the drink sloshing out of the glass.<</if>>
<<include "gaelish choices">>Her comment makes you pause, a bit caught off guard, <<if hasVisited("Take it.")>>your grip tightening around your glass.<<else>><<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>your hands curling around the edge of the stool beneath you.<<else>>your hands clenching into fists at your sides.<</if>><</if>>
//From home.//
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't really think of myself as Gaelish.]]>><<set $gaelish to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I //am// Gaelish.' 'I am Gaelish.'>><<set $gaelish to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't know. I have... conflicting feelings about it.]]>><<set $gaelish to 3>><</link>></div><<if $genuine gt $aggressive>>You hesitate for a moment, before speaking. "I don't really... consider myself Gaelish."<<elseif $aggressive gt $genuine>>You scoff. "I'm not Gaelish," you say, giving her a look.<<else>>You scoff reflexively, but hesitate a moment before speaking. "I don't consider myself Gaelish."<</if>>
"Is that right?" she says, tilting her head, peering up into your hood. Her eye searches you intently, considering, as if finally seeing you for the first time.
"I see," she says at last, turning back to her drink. "But do you ever miss it?" she asks, twisting her glass around in her hands. "How young were you?" Her voice is hard, the teasing tone gone. She just stares into the bottom of her glass, waiting for your response.
<<include "do you miss it">>You don't respond to Merry's teasing right away, instead drumming your fingers on the bar top. It's not something you spend a lot of time thinking about – it always just makes you ache.
"I don't know about that," you finally say, giving her a look.
"What do you mean?" Merry prompts, tilting her head and watching you.
"I just. I don't know," you say with a shrug.
Merry considers your words for a moment, tilting her head and peering up into your hood, fully looking at you now, as if seeing you for the first time.
"Do you ever miss it, though?" she asks suddenly, turning back to her drink and twisting her glass around in her hands. "How young were you?" Her voice is hard, the teasing tone gone. She just stares down into the bottom of her glass, waiting for your response.
<<include "do you miss it">>"I //am// Gaelish," you say, giving her a look.
"Yeah?" she says, tilting her head, peering up into your hood. Her eye searches you intently, considering, as if finally seeing you for the first time.
"Do you ever miss it?" she asks suddenly, turning back to her drink and twisting her glass around in her hands. "How young were you?" Her voice is hard, the teasing tone gone. She just stares into the bottom of her glass, waiting for your response.<<set $gaelish to 2>>
<<include "do you miss it">><div id="choice"><<link '"I barely remember it."' 'i barely remember it'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Sometimes."' '...sometimes'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t think about it, honestly."' 'i dont think about it honestly'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No. No point in that."' 'no point in that'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I think I do. In the back of my mind. The part that remembers."' 'i think i do'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No."' '"No."'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"I barely remember it," you say. Your hand wanders to your necklace without you asking it to. But you hold it in your palm, finding comfort there.
Merry doesn't respond right away. You don't look at her, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>staring down at your hands instead, fidgeting with your sleeve.<<else>>staring out across the alley, watching the gulls circle overhead.<</if>>
"You //don't// remember? At all?" Merry finally asks, the disbelief hardly contained in her voice. And maybe some pity, too.
<<if $stoic gte $genuine>>You just shake your head, still not looking at her. You remember some. But that's not for her. That's all you have, and you guard it as if speaking it out loud will take it from you. That faint memory of your $sibling, like a shadow at the edge of your vision. It's always there. And that feeling that creeps up on you, a longing for a far away place. A home you've never really known.
Your hand tightens around your pendant.<<elseif $genuine gt $stoic>>"No. No, not really," you say, shrugging a bit. You do remember some, but it's just the ghost of a memory. Barely real, haunting you. Your $sibling's distorted face in a crowd, in the reflection of a river, through the falling snow.
A constant shadow at the edge of your vision, always there until you turn to face it. And that feeling that creeps up on you, a longing for a far away place. A home you've never really known.
Your hand tightens around your pendant.<</if>>
<<include "and your family">>"....Sometimes," you say quietly. Barely a memory, it's just there beyond your outstretched hands. Sometimes it creeps up on you, that feeling, a longing, for that far away place. That ghost of a home. Your hand wanders to your necklace without you asking it to, but you hold it in your palm, finding comfort there.
Some days are worse than others. Some days, you swear you see your $sibling's face in the crowds. Between the trees. Through the falling snow. But you don't even remember what $s_they look<<s>> like, do you? It's just a haunting, a constant shadow at the edge of your vision, and it's never really there when you actually turn to look.
Your hand tightens around your pendant.
Merry doesn't respond right away. You don't look at her, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>staring down instead at your hands, fidgeting with your sleeve.<<else>>staring out across the alley, watching the gulls circle overhead.<</if>>
<<include "and your family">>"I don't think about it, honestly," you say, pursing your lips. Your hand wanders to your necklace without you asking it to. But you hold it in your palm, finding comfort there.
<<if $sent_money>>That's not entirely true. The money still connects you. You can try and push it from your mind, close the door to it, lock it, throw away the key. But it's still there. A light glowing behind the door, shadows passing through the light. And you, crouching in front of it, sliding coins through the crack between the floor.<<else>>Once you stopped sending money, you pushed it all from your mind. Close the door, lock it, throw away the key. Not that it doesn't still haunt you. The light still glows through the cracks around the door. And every now and then, a shadow will pass through the light.<</if>>
Merry doesn't respond right away. You don't look at her, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>staring down at your hands, fidgeting with your sleeve.<<else>>staring out across the alley, watching the gulls circle overhead.<</if>>
<<include "and your family">>"No. No point in that," you say. Your hand wanders to your necklace without you asking it to. But you hold it in your palm, finding comfort there.
You don't //want// to think about it. But no matter what you say, no matter what you tell Merry or yourself, it's always there - sudden longing that creeps up on you. A longing for a far away place, a home you've never known. It overwhelms you, sometimes.
Your hand tightens around your pendant.
Merry doesn't respond right away. You don't look at her, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>staring down at your hands, fidgeting with your sleeve.<<else>>staring out across the alley, watching the gulls circle overhead.<</if>>
<<include "and your family">>"I think I do. In the back of my mind. The part that remembers," you say. Your hand wanders to your necklace without you asking it to. But you hold it in your palm, finding comfort there.
Merry doesn't respond right away. You don't look at her, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>staring down at your hands, fidgeting with your sleeve.<<else>>staring out across the alley, watching the gulls circle overhead.<</if>>
"You //don't// remember?" Merry finally asks, the disbelief hardly contained in her voice. And maybe some pity, too.
<<if $stoic gte $genuine>>You just shake your head, still not looking at her. You remember some. But that's not for her. That's all you have, and you guard it as if speaking it out loud will take it from you. That faint memory of your $sibling, like a shadow at the edge of your vision. It's always there. And that feeling that creeps up on you, a longing for a far away place. A home you've never really known.
Your hand tightens around your pendant.<<elseif $genuine gt $stoic>>"No. No, not really," you say, shrugging a bit. You do remember some, but it's just the ghost of a memory. Barely real, haunting you. Your $sibling's distorted face in a crowd, in the reflection of a river, through the falling snow.
A constant shadow at the edge of your vision, always there until you turn to face it. And that feeling that creeps up on you, a longing for a far away place. A home you've never really known.
Your hand tightens around your pendant.<</if>>
<<include "and your family">>"No."
You say it with some finality. But that's a lie, isn't it? The ghost of a family, haunting you, like shadows at the edge of your vision. A sudden longing that creeps up on you sometimes, a longing for a home you've never known.
Your hand wanders to your necklace without you asking it to, and you hold it in your palm, finding comfort there.
Merry chuckles as your tone, but doesn't really respond right away. You don't look at her, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>staring down at your hands, fidgeting with your sleeve.<<else>>staring out across the alley, watching the gulls circle overhead.<</if>>
<<include "and your family">>"And your family?"
The question makes you stiffen. As if she had read your mind.
You don't talk about them, not anymore. Not even Lea knows that story.
<<if $family eq "bad">>Huffing, you cross your arms, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>leaning back in your chair, focusing on nothing but wood grain of the counter top.<<else>>scuffing the toe of your boot against the hard wood of the dock.<</if>>
"That bad, huh?" Merry says, her lips curling into a small smile. <<if hasVisited("Take it.")>>"Do you need another drink?"<<else>>"Sure you don't want that drink?"<</if>>
Your face twitches.
"Why do you think I'm drinking?" Merry laughs bitterly, shaking her head. Silence falls between you, and you both seem to drift for a moment, lost in memories and regrets, drowning together.<<elseif $family eq "complicated">>You can't help but sigh, crossing your arms and <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>sinking back into your chair.<<else>>leaning back hard against the counter.<</if>>
"Complicated," is all you say.
Merry hums. "Isn't it always?" she says. She looks at you for a long moment, her face truly understanding. She shakes her head, turning away and staring down at her drink. Silence falls between you, and you both seem to drift for a moment, lost in memories and regrets, drowning together.<<elseif $family eq "good">>You sigh, closing your eyes for a moment. You try to see them, in your mind's eye, your $sibling and your mother. But it's just a faded light, lost in the swirling fog of your memories.
"Still there," you say finally, opening your eyes again.
Merry nods. "Mine, too," she says. You glance over at her, but she looks away, and silence falls between you. You both seem to drift for a moment, lost in memories and regrets, drowning together.<</if>>
[[Continue ->finish your drink]]Merry sighs loudly then, leaning forward, tucking her chin to her chest. As she does, you notice for the first time that she wears a necklace, swinging forward now, with a ring hanging on the cord.
She notices you staring and tucks the necklace back into her shirt.
<<if hasVisited("Turn it down.")>>She gives you a look before reaching over and taking your untouched drink. This time, though, she drinks slow, taking a deliberate sip and setting it back down, her face thoughtful.<<else>>She gives you a look before turning away and looking into the wagon, muttering about Branwen taking the bottle. She clicks her tongue, clearly annoyed, spinning her empty glass around in her hands.<</if>>
"You know I'm from way up north?" she says then, staring off into some memory you can't see.
She doesn't let you answer, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>shaking her head and leaning back, resting her hip against the counter and <<if hasVisited("Turn it down.")>>holding her drink to her chest.<<else>>halting the spinning, clutching her glass tightly.<</if>><<else>><<if hasVisited("Turn it down.")>>shaking her head and laying her arms over the counter, clasping her hands in front of her drink.<<else>>shaking her head and halting the spinning glass, laying her arms over the counter and clasping her hands together.<</if>><</if>>
"Cold as shit up there. But beautiful. Mountains that go out into the sea. The Northern Light." She sighs <<if hasVisited("Turn it down.")>>before leaning back and raising her drink again.<<else>>before pushing her glass away, across the counter.<</if>>
Another silence passes between you, while you just stare at nothing, brow furrowed, and Merry <<if hasVisited("Turn it down.")>>slowly finishes her drink.<<else>>picks at her nails.<</if>>
"I'd never go back," Merry says then, <<if hasVisited("Turn it down.")>>setting her empty glass down.<<else>>slapping her hands onto the counter.<</if>>
"What?" you ask, turning towards her.
"I'd never go back. Fuck it," she says with a shrug.
There's a sudden shift in the wagon, and Branwen reappears then, holding a small coin purse in her hand. Merry composes herself quickly, already smirking over at the tall woman.
[[Continue ->don't get too excited]]"Don't get too excited," Branwen says, dropping the purse on the counter.
Merry plucks it up immediately, loosening the strings and peering down inside. You watch curiously, looking between the two.
"What exactly do you sell here?" you prompt.
Branwen smiles. "Nothing you can afford, my friend," she laughs. You scowl at the comment, looking around the shithole alley the wagon is sitting in.
"Really?" you say with a scoff. But as soon as you say it, it clicks. This is a fence. Your face must give you away, because Merry and Branwen both grin at you.
"Your //honest-earned goods//, huh?" you say, crossing your arms and glaring at Merry. Lea is going to kill you. A fucking pirate. "You're a fucking pirate!" you have to say it out loud. Merry scoffs, feigning offense.
"I prefer entrepreneur," she says, still just smiling that crooked smile, and Branwen barks out a laugh, slapping a hand to her chest.
<<if $aggressive gt $stoic>>"Merry," you all but growl her name, irritation flaring through you.<<elseif $stoic gt $aggressive>>You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment as you exhale slowly, schooling your irritation.<<else>>"Merry," you sigh, biting back your irritation.<</if>>
You're pretty sure conspiring with a //Gaelish pirate// might fall outside the bounds of political neutrality. You rub your face with your hands, feeling foolish for not realizing it sooner.
//Oh, this is bad//.... you feel yourself panic a bit, at being so careless, so stupid. The Black Iron already has enough problems when it comes to //neutrality//. But this revelation also overwhelms you with a curiosity - even more questions - how has Merry been allowed to operate so openly? She's running a tavern, for fuck's sake!
If she was here through the plague, she would technically classify as a refugee. You feel the gears turning in your mind. If things are as bad as they say at the border, arresting a refugee in the middle of a pandemic is a bad look - even if she is a suspected criminal. It's an excuse, anyways, that Gael could use to retaliate.
You press your fingers to your temples, letting out another long sigh. //Gods, help me.// You always hated politics.
But Merry herself... what loyalties could a captain like Merry truly have? Perhaps she could be the most neutral of all - loyal to only herself, no king or country. Jealousy twists, deep in your chest, like a snake constricting. It would be nice, wouldn't it? To live a life unbound, liberated.
[[Continue ->merry is oblivious]]Merry, oblivious to you and the snake coiled in your chest, just reaches into the purse then, fishing around inside in a very over-exaggerated manner, before producing a small blue pearl. She holds it up in front of her eye, rolling it between her fingers, but looking beyond it at you. Despite your swirling thoughts, your eyes are drawn to the light catching the pearl, the way it glitters an iridescent green where the sun hits it. You've never seen anything like it. After a moment, Merry curls her hand around it and drops it back into the pouch, where it clatters among what you assume to be many other pearls, cinching it closed and tucking it away into her jacket.
"Very good, Branwen," she says then. She digs around in one of her many pockets and tosses a few silver pieces onto the counter.
"Merry-" Branwen starts, shaking her head, but Merry just holds up her hand.
"For the drinks, my friend."
Branwen purses her lips, and then finally just nods. Branwen's large, scarred hand covers the coins as she slides them across the counter towards her. You can't help but follow it, entranced by the sight of money thrown around so carelessly, all worries about politics suddenly gone from your mind. That's far more than what any drink could ever cost. You just stare at the counter, aware that Merry and Branwen are speaking, but unable to get the flash of silver from your mind. So much power in a single coin. //Is that what it takes?// you wonder.
Your mother certainly thought so.
[[Continue ->you want to see my ship]]"You want to see my ship?" Merry says then, jarring you. Blinking back to reality, you realize Branwen has vanished back into the wagon, and it's just you and Merry again. Every bit of training, every lesson Jorah impressed in you, in this moment, is screaming at you to walk away. Jorah's voice cuts through your mind.
//"You have to be careful out there. With those politician types." He had made a face as he said it, shaking his head in disgust. "Those are dangerous people. Dangerous people love playing dangerous games. And you're a valuable piece - one that everyone wants on the board."//
You narrow your eyes at Merry, wondering just what kind of game she's playing, and if you're willing to roll the dice yourself.
Merry starts to slide down the counter then, taking your silence, perhaps, as hesitation. She gives you quite the roguish smile before moving even closer, until you're shoulder to shoulder with her. Clearly, Merry is done with her business here, and quite finished with her reminiscing about Gael as well. And you don't miss the innuendo in her words, apparent enough with her tone, but the smirk she gives you is far from innocent.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Against my better judgement, I lean back into her, but can't help glancing away, hiding in my hood. ♡]]>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $shy +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I lean back into her, and give her a wolfish grin. "I\'d love to." If she wants to play a game, I\'m all in. ♡' 'im all in'>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I bump into her shoulder, laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I roll my eyes at her. Gods.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I push her off me, wary and agitated.]]>><<set $m_friendship -=2>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>The sudden contact catches you off guard, and before you can think about it, and far against your better judgement, you reciprocate, leaning into her, smiling, hiding in your hood. Her arm against yours is warm, even through your thick cloak, bracing you against the cold ocean air.
<<if $touch_averse gte 1>>The touch initially makes you shrink back a bit, but Merry makes it easy, and you can't help but play along with her. If she notices, she doesn't point it out, which you're thankful for.
<</if>>You can feel her eye on you, watching, and she tries to peek under your hood, grinning even wider as she just catches your small smile before you can retreat from her, breaking contact and turning away shyly. Her attention makes every earlier thought scramble into incomprehensible nonsense, nothing in your mind but her smile, and the way she's looking at you. But you do find yourself wondering that perhaps a game with Merry wouldn't be so bad.
"Well?" Merry prompts, giving your arm a gentle nudge.
Clearing your throat, you turn back to her, willing your nerves away. "Okay," you say, though the hitch in your voice is obvious, "show me your ship."
Merry laughs, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>pushing off the wagon, watching you with a heavy gaze as she walks backwards. You push yourself off the counter and follow her, moving quickly when she turns her back to you and walks forward, so as not to lose her farther in the alley.<<else>>standing from the stool and brushing past you, playfully pulling on your cloak as she goes. You turn from the counter and follow her, moving quickly so as not to lose her farther in the alley.<</if>>
//What are you doing...// a small voice in the back of your head sounds like a warning bell, but you ignore it.
[[Continue ->flirt walk to docks]]You push back against her, bumping your shoulders with a laugh, shaking your head. Laughing at that terrible line, and just the whole situation. This is just your luck, isn't it? The gods have a sense of humor.
"Too much?" Merry chuckles then, giving you a teasing look before she <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>pushes off the counter<<else>>slides from her chair<</if>> and brushes past you, giving your cloak a playful tug as she goes.
"Come on. I //do// really want to show you my ship," Merry says, walking backwards away from you. She raises an eyebrow expectantly.
With another laugh, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>you stand, following after her as she leads you back through the alley.<<else>>you push off the counter, following after her as she leads you back through the alley.<</if>>
At this point, you've already stepped in the mess. Might as well keep going.
[[Continue ->friendly walk to the docks]]You scoff, rolling your eyes. Merry laughs at your reaction, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>pushing off the bar with glee,<<else>>sliding from her chair with obvious glee,<</if>> and brushing past you, giving your cloak a playful tug as she goes. You click your tongue at her, giving her a deadly look as you quickly readjust your cloak, pulling at the clasp around your throat. Whatever tricks she has up her sleeve, they're not going to work on you.
"I know, it was a pretty bad line," she just laughs, stretching where she stands, reaching her hands up over her head. "Come on. I //do// actually need to stop by my ship."
Pursing your lips, you <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>stand, following after her as she leads you back through the alley.<<else>>push off the counter, following after her as she leads you back through the alley.<</if>>
You suppose at this point, you've already stepped in the mess. Might as well keep going.
[[Continue ->friendly walk to the docks]]Scowling, you push her away from you with a scoff. <<if $touch_averse gte 1>>You don't appreciate her teasing, and the contact makes you bristle, burning under your clothes.<<else>>You don't appreciate her teasing, especially not with how she's acted thus far.<</if>>
Merry just laughs, <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>sliding back across the counter.<<else>>rocking on her stool.<</if>> She gives you a dark look, though, despite her smile.
<<if $n_walkout>>"I know Noel walked out on you. I see now it was because of your charming personality," she says, her eye flicking over you, studying you.<<else>>"Charming," she quips, her eye flicking over you, studying you.<</if>>
You just glare back at her, tensing under her examination. You don't know what game she's playing, but you want no part in it.
She finally looks away from you, sighing dramatically and <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>pushing off the counter,<<else>>sliding from her stool,<</if>> brushing past you and giving your cloak a playful tug. She is clearly enjoying this. You snatch your cloak out of her reach, and again she just laughs.
"Come on. I do need to swing by my ship," she says, looking at you expectantly.
You give her a withering look, but with a sigh <<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>you stand,<<else>>you push yourself off the counter,<</if>> and follow after her as she leads you back through the alley. At this point, you've already stepped in the mess. Might as well as keep going, for now.
[[Continue ->friendly walk to the docks]]You lean heavy into her shoulder, giving her a wolfish grin. "I'd love to," you say, somehow managing to keep your voice steady despite your now racing heart.
<<if $touch_averse gte 1>>The contact initially makes you shrink back a bit, but Merry makes it easy, and you can't help but play along with her. If she notices, she doesn't point it out, which you're thankful for. Instead, <</if>>Merry's smirk turns into a wide, crooked smile, and she presses her body against you, and gods you hope she can't feel your heart pounding in your chest. Her fingers brush against your hood, pulling it back a bit so she can put her lips right next to your ear.
"Follow me," she breathes the words over your skin, and you shudder as she moves away, your body growing cold with the sudden absence of her warmth.
You take a deep breath, eyeing Merry as she leans back. If she wants to play a game with you, you're all in.
<<if hasVisited("I take a seat.")>>Merry pushes herself off of the counter then, flipping her hair over her shoulder and glancing back at you expectantly. You slide from the stool, quickly following her as she leads you back through the alley.<<else>>Merry slides from the stool then, flipping her hair over her shoulder and glancing back at you expectantly. You push yourself off the counter, quickly following her as she leads you back through the alley.<</if>>
//What are you doing...// a small voice in the back of your head sounds like a warning bell, but you ignore it.
[[Continue ->flirt walk to docks]]You glance back as you go, just catching Branwen closing the shutters again. You watch for a moment, before turning back and hurrying after Merry.
Backtracking through the alley, there's a different atmosphere now, later in the day, and no longer do you feel the community as you did before - rather, shadows are longer, and whispers are quieter, and you can feel eyes following you as you go.
Back up on the main docks, the dark mood seems to lift a little, instead replaced by an end of day excitement as dockworkers and laborers prepare to make their way home. Merry catches your eye then, glancing back at you, making sure you're still close, and with a wicked grin she starts to move faster. Frowning, you pick up the pace, but as you do so does Merry, and soon you're all but running, dodging through crowds and narrowly avoiding ropes and barrels and oblivious idiots who walk right in front of you. You receive a fair amount of startled and angry shouts, but still manage to keep an eye on Merry's flash of auburn hair as she tries her best to lose you. Lucky for you she's tall.
Eventually as you near the stairs to the lower docks, Merry slows, waiting to head down the stairs with you.
"Glad you can keep up," she smiles at you, leaning towards you as you stand together, both slightly breathless. As you step closer to her she spins around, her long hair nearly catching your face, and she starts off down the stairs. You follow her, scanning the lower docks below. You've never been down here before. The upper docks you've at least passed through once or twice with the merchants there, but there's never been a reason for you to come down this far. The ships tower over you, the water dark and cast in shadows.
The galleon from your dreams itches at the back of your mind. Your skin crawls as you move between the ships; just barely catching glimpses of late afternoon sky through the dipping bows and masts.
Even with the crowd bustling around you, you feel a creeping void, a gaping loneliness beneath your feet, pulling at you. Dragging you down. Do they not feel it? Cold water splashes up through the wooden slats of the dock beneath you as waves smack against the support pillars below, startling you as it cuts through your clothes and burns against your legs.
Pulling your cloak tighter around you, you glance between the ships, searching for Merry.
You swear, bristling as people jostle you along, your lip curling at the sudden closeness. The whole dock seems to strain around you, waves loudly slapping against the ships as they groan, leering down, rocking closer and closer, the setting sun letting the cold creep back into the day, making you shiver.
A hand on your shoulder makes you flinch violently, and you nearly make a blind grab for the person's wrist until you see Merry there, watching you closely, pulling her hand back.
"Alright, mate?" she asks.
<<include "You alright, mate?">>You glance back as you go, just catching Branwen closing the shutters again. You watch for a moment, before turning back and hurrying after Merry.
As the day grows later, the docks grow more lively. Backtracking through the alley, no longer do you feel the community as you did before - rather, shadows are longer, and whispers are quieter, and you can feel eyes following you as you go.
Back up on the main docks, the heavy atmosphere seems to lift a bit, instead replaced by an end of day excitement as dockworkers and laborers prepare to make their way home. Merry glances back at you, ensuring you're still following, and you stay close as she cuts through the crowd. She slows as you near the stairs to the lower docks, once again glancing back at you before descending.
You scan the lower docks below. You've never been down to the docks here before. The upper docks you've at least passed through once in the past with the merchants there, but there's never been a reason for you to come down this far. The ships tower over you, the docks thrown in shadow.
The galleon from your dreams itches at the back of your mind. Your skin crawls as you move between the ships; just barely catching glimpses of late afternoon sky through the dipping bows and masts.
Even with the crowd bustling around you, you feel a creeping void, a gaping loneliness beneath your feet, pulling at you. Dragging you down. Do they not feel it? Cold water splashes up through the wooden slats of the dock beneath you as waves smack against the support pillars below, startling you as it cuts through your clothes and burns against your legs.
Pulling your cloak tighter around you, you glance between the ships, searching for Merry.
You swear, bristling as people jostle you along, your lip curling at the sudden closeness. The whole dock seems to strain around you, waves loudly slapping against the ships as they groan, leering down, rocking closer and closer, the setting sun letting the cold creep back into the day, making you shiver.
A hand on your shoulder makes you flinch violently, and you nearly make a blind grab for the person's wrist until you see Merry there, watching you closely, pulling her hand back.
"Alright, mate?" she asks.
<<include "You alright, mate?">><div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m fine." I definitely say it way too fast to be convincing.' 'i say it way too fast to be convincing'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Sorry... just got turned around." I\'m not a very good liar, but hopefully Merry will accept it.' 'im not a good liar'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't say anything, shouldering past her instead. I need to get out of here.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just peachy." I try to laugh it off.' 'just peachy'>><</link>></div>You shoulder past Merry, trying to get out of the flow of the crowd, but you stop short when your cloak tightens around your throat. You glare back to see Merry's hand gripping your cloak, raising an eyebrow at you.
"This way," she says, though her voice is gentler than the look she gives you. You snatch your cloak out of her hand, stalking back over, your face twitching, embarrassment creeping hot up the back of your neck.
<<include "don't look at me like that">>"I'm fine," you snap, a bit too fast and way too defensive. Merry gives you a look as she lowers her hand.
She purses her lips for a moment, narrowing her eye at you.
<<include "don't look at me like that">>"Sorry... just got turned around," you say, glancing past her and blinking a few times. Merry gives you a long look before she lowers her hand.
"Yeah?" she prompts, narrowing her eye at you, very clearly not buying your lie.
<<include "don't look at me like that">>"Just peachy," you say with a strained laugh, flashing her a grin. Merry scoffs at you as she lowers her hand, clearly unimpressed.
"Peachy, eh?" she says, narrowing her eye at you.
<<include "don't look at me like that">><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Don't look at me like that," you say, crossing your arms.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Please don't look at me like that," you say, fidgeting with the sleeve of your cloak.<<else>>Staring hard at her, you cross your arms stiffly, eventually glancing away from her narrowed gaze.<</if>>
<<include "you see lea's face">>You see Lea's face for a moment, back at camp the night before, when $l_they snapped you out of that vision. Though, to be fair, Merry has far less pity in her eye.
Merry shakes her head, but steps back, turning and gesturing for you to follow.
You stay uncomfortably close this time, focusing all your attention on the small spot between Merry's shoulder blades, looking at nothing else as you walk. You hope she can't feel your eyes all but burning a hole in her jacket.
[[Continue ->merry's omen]]At last, Merry slows in front of one of the ships. For just a second, you don't want to look up, afraid it will be all too familiar.
But it's not. You've never seen it before. Of course. It's a decent size, dark wood, almost black, three towering masts, and on the bow there's an elegantly carved selkie, a beautiful woman with the tail of a seal, painted gold, with intricate details you can see even from here. Looking up at it makes you dizzy, and you close your eyes, feeling the cold air in its shadow.
You feel someone nudge your shoulder. Opening your eyes, you glance over at Merry, who nudges you again.
"Come on," she says, stepping off towards the gangplank. “Welcome aboard //The Omen//."
Up the ramp you go, and you step foot on a ship for the very first time.
Merry's people on the ship wave at her as she boards, eyeing you curiously, but minding their business as you cross the deck. Some of them are smoking, others drinking, a few sit at a makeshift table playing some kind of game together. You try not to stare as you scurry after Merry.
Walking across the deck, you follow Merry up a short, steep set of stairs, onto an upper deck, past one of the towering masts, where the sails are currently furled and stowed. You crane your neck back as you stare up at the complex rigging mechanism, ropes and wood and bits and pulleys. You blink, struggling to envision how it all works, and a sharp whistle startles you, Merry standing with her hands on her hips.
Hurrying after her, you expect to go up another short set of stairs to a second upper deck, but instead Merry ducks behind them and opens a door you hadn't even noticed.
You descend into the dark of the ship, nothing but the light glow of lanterns and what sunlight manages to break in through the gun ports. Your eyes widen at the row of cannons you pass, somehow bigger than you ever imagined them to be.
At the far end of this... hall, for lack of a better word, Merry stands before a set of doors that are very reminiscent of the doors back at Jack's, down to the same gold paint. The captain's quarters, you assume.
[[Continue ->the captain's quarters]]Merry throws the doors open rather dramatically, but the room is dark, no windows or lanterns lit inside. Merry sighs, cursing under her breath.
"Left the damn deadlights...," she grumbles, taking a stuttering step inside, almost immediately tripping on something. The doors swing closed behind you, and you watch with amusement as Merry struggles through the room. You're blessed with rather powerful dark vision, thanks to your days in the Ladder, and while the room is still dark, you can easily see the outline of furniture that Merry continues to bump into.
You wince as she nearly falls onto the large desk at the center of the room, catching herself and gripping the edge of it, shimmying around until she blindly reaches along the back wall. She grabs at a sconce set in the wall, but then it turns in her hands, and you realize it's a latch, and then the setting afternoon sun floods into the room as the wall swings inward. You shield your eyes with your hands, blinking a few times before lowering your arms and squinting over at Merry.
Merry claps her hands together, grinning at you before striding back to her desk, jerking open one of the drawers and rummaging around inside. With the windows now revealed, the room is cast in the warm, orange light of the late day sun. The golden hour.
You watch Merry for a moment, before taking in the rest of the room. Shelves are built into the back wall, full of stacks of books and quite a few knick-knacks. You take a few steps closer, eyeing the titles along the spines. Nothing you're too familiar with. Poetry? Merry doesn't seem the type. Though the books do seem fairly untouched, a thick layer of dust having settled atop most of them. There are random bits scattered all along the shelves, too, coins, and jewels, rocks and rings, a lot of small shiny objects on display.
As close as you are to the shelves, you can see hand carved designs in the wood, beautiful craftsmanship where the shelves connect to the wall, floral designs climbing around and framing it all. Lanterns hang from the ceiling, and despite none of them being lit, they're hypnotizing still, as they sway with the motion of the waves.
In the back corner is a sad excuse for a bed, a slab of wood with a thin mattress atop it, a few flat pillows and a worn blanket. The wood frame is connected to the wall, probably to prevent any unnecessary toppling when the waves get rough at night. There's also a hammock hanging from the ceiling, too. To the left of it, you see a small table, bolted to the floor, with a few burnt down candles and stacks of stones surrounding a figure standing tall in the middle.
The Stormbringer.
It makes sense that would be Merry's deity of choice, you suppose, though you never would have taken her for the worshipping type. A woman with the head of a leopard seal, emerging from the waves. The queen of the tides, cloud rider, wave crasher, ship breaker. Her story was one of Jorah's favorites to tell. This iteration wields a large sword, with waves crashing and lightning exploding at her feet, her seal jaws open and fangs bared. You glance back over at Merry, then back to the statue.
A life at sea, all that water and sky. Having something to believe in, someone to pray to when the sky grows dark and the water gets violent... maybe it's necessary, to survive out there.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't see the point in it. The gods don't give a shit about us.]]>><<set $gods to "angry">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I wouldn't say I'm particularly devout myself... What have the gods ever done for me? But how does that one saying go... There are no non-believers when your ship is caught in a storm. And I'm always in a fucking storm.]]>><<set $gods to "indifferent">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[The gods are out there. Watching. There is no denying it. And I find myself seeking their wisdom often, even if they have yet to answer.]]>><<set $gods to "respect">><</link>></div>You're living proof of that fact, aren't you? All the dark and evil in the world, and it all falls on you. People ask the gods for help, but instead they just get you.
Scowling at the statue, you take in the rest of the table, suppressing your righteous anger for the moment. There's a small ledge just beyond the reach of the candles, oyster shells all lined up along it, flat and face down. You narrow your eyes at them, tempted to pick one up. They look rather plain there, next to the statue.
[[Continue ->this seems intimate]]Well, they haven't done much for you yet, but there's no harm in a few frantic prayers every now and then, right? But the gods always have their favorites. Something tells you that you're not one of them.
You eye the statue for another moment before taking in the rest of the table. There's a small ledge just beyond the reach of the candles, oyster shells all lined up along it, flat and face down. You narrow your eyes at them, tempted to pick one up. They look rather plain there, next to the statue.
[[Continue ->this seems intimate]]You can feel their presence even now, the power in the waves as the ship rocks beneath your feet. You respect that power, and while you're not the kind to have an altar, or to go to temple, you reach out and try to speak to the gods when you can.
They've never answered. Not yet.
You eye the statue for another moment before taking in the rest of the table. There's a small ledge just beyond the reach of the candles, oyster shells all lined up along it, flat and face down. You narrow your eyes at them, tempted to pick one up. They look rather plain there, next to the statue.
[[Continue ->this seems intimate]]It feels incredibly intimate being in this room, seeing these things. Seeing her altar. Her bed. Seeing Merry. Who is she, really? What did she call herself? An //entrepreneur//.
You look back over to where she digs around in the desk. Her hair burns a brilliant red in the glowing sunset lighting up the room. She doesn't notice you, intent in her task.
<<if $blackwater>>Does her hospitality only extend as far as your agreeability? What if you had decided to leave for Highfell tomorrow? Clearly she is far more capable than you could have guessed – an entire crew at her command. A crew of very dangerous people.
You chew the inside of your cheek, closing your eyes for a moment, not particularly fond of thinking about the possible ramifications this little visit could have.<<elseif $highfell>>Why did she invite you here? After that conversation earlier, you can't help but be surprised that she would want anything to do with you. And she clearly holds power here – in Blackwater itself, as well as having an entire crew at her command. A crew of very dangerous people.
Though, from the sound of it, she seems inclined to join you tomorrow, no matter what you say. Maybe that's preferable to being held hostage inside Jack's any longer. You suppose her stubbornness is admirable, at least, if not incredibly annoying as well.<<else>>You wonder if her attitude will change when you finally make a decision about tomorrow. If you try to leave, will she stop you? It's clear she holds power in the city, and here she has an entire crew at her command. A crew of very dangerous people. Though, she did say she would just go with you, no matter what you or Lea have to say. Maybe that's preferable to the alternative. You find that kind of admirable, if not incredibly stubborn and annoying, as well.<</if>>
[[Continue ->merry hums]]Suddenly Merry sits up from behind the desk with a triumphant hum, studying a piece of paper with intense interest, before folding it up and tucking it into her jacket.
"You going to share what's so interesting?" you prompt, refocusing your attention on her.
Merry smirks over at you. "Maybe later," she purrs, moving around the desk and walking along down the shelves, running a finger slowly over the books. She finds whatever she's looking for and plucks it out, wiping her hand over the cover.
"And that?" you prompt.
"My records," she says. "Crew information. I have it all up here," she says, tapping her temple with a finger, "but I figure Lea would prefer to look at it on paper. $l_They seem<<s>> the type."
<<if $blackwater>>Ah. So that's why you came out here. It'll be helpful, come tomorrow, you suppose. Despite the revelation about Merry's career, there are still missing people in this town, and if Merry has information, you might as well take it.<<elseif $highfell>>You purse your lips, narrowing your eyes at her. She just laughs at your expression. "I'm going to change your mind," she says with an annoyingly confident shrug.<<else>>"We haven't agreed to anything yet, Merry," you say, narrowing your eyes at her.
"Better to be prepared, though, right?" she muses with a crooked smile.<</if>>
Sliding the book away into her jacket, she walks backward into the desk now, leaning against it. She crosses her legs at her ankles, watching you with a clear curiosity.
"Like what you see?" she asks, spreading her hands out in front of her.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yeah, I - I do." I quickly look away, trying not embarrass myself. ♡' 'yeah i do'>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $shy +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It could use a bit of cleaning," I say, smirking, running a finger along one of the dusty shelves. ♡' 'it could use a bit of cleaning'>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Shooting her a smirk, I grab one of the poetry books off the shelf. ♡]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You have a unique collection," you say, smiling at her before glancing at her large collection of little trinkets scattered across the shelves.' 'you have a unique collection'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $m_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I have to know what kind of poetry //the// Captain Harlowe reads," I say, reaching for one of the books.' 'i have to know what kind of poetry'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s certainly... something," I say, eyeing all the books and knick-knacks.' 'its certainly something'>><<set $m_friendship -=3>><</link>></div>You smirk over at Merry as you reach for the first book that catches your eye, sliding it from the shelf and flipping through the pages with your thumb, not quite opening the book. Merry narrows her eye at you, tensing against the desk.
"Am I going to find some love poems in here, Captain Harlowe?" you tease, again thumbing through the pages while smiling over at her. You can't help the smug satisfaction you feel watching her squirm a bit, after all the teasing she's put you through.
"Don't you dare," Merry says, pushing herself off the desk. You both just stare at each other now, with you holding the book out in front of you. "Don't," Merry's eye flashes, and you raise your hand, holding it over the book, wiggling your fingers.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm just teasing her. I don't actually read anything, but I flip through the pages a few more times just for fun.]]>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I absolutely have to read something, now. And I'm going to read it out loud.]]>><<set $read_poem to true>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $m_friendship -=20>><<set $m_relationship to 5>><</link>></div>"Yeah, I - I do," you say, glancing away quickly and clearing your throat. You stare over at the shelves again, and you can't help but wonder how many other people have been in here like this - how many other people have seen this little home Merry has made for herself.
"Thanks for inviting me in," you manage.
Merry doesn't respond right away, narrowing her eye at you for a moment before dropping her gaze and pushing herself off the desk.
"Yeah, well. Had to get the book," she says, patting her jacket. She flashes you a smile then, putting her hands behind her back and slowly meandering across the room towards you. She looks you up and down, quite unashamedly, and you feel a bit hot under your clothes as she steps right up in front of you.
She tilts her head to peer into your hood, searching your face. She raises her hand, but you find yourself unable to pull away. You find that you don't want to pull away. Merry doesn't touch you, though, just trailing her finger through the air a few inches from your hood and stepping even closer, her eye still watching you closely.
"Maybe next time we can stay a little longer. Maybe even take off that hood. You don't have to hide down here, hunter," she whispers, her soft smile turning into a smirk.
She's incredibly close, close enough that you can smell the alcohol on her breath from earlier, as well as the smell of ash and wood fire on her clothes. Her eye burns into yours for a long moment, before she laughs softly and steps away.
You swallow thickly, watching as she spins around, her long hair flowing behind her as she all but skips away. You stand there in the center of the room, still recovering. Running a hand over your face, you let out a long breath you didn't even know you were holding, nervously readjusting your hood as Merry pauses in front of the door.
"We should get going. Lord Duncan's little soldiers like to come out at night," she says, glancing back at you.
Nodding, you step after her, your heart still hammering in your chest. You duck past her through the door, long, dark shadows in the hall, no light from the gun ports now, instead just the glow of the lanterns guiding you back to the stairs.
[[Continue ->flirty docks]]"It could use a bit of a cleaning," you say, running a finger across one of the shelves and raising it in front of your face, rolling the accumulated dust across your thumb.
Merry pushes off the desk, stalking across the room towards you. She hums, backing you up against the shelves, and you swallow your sudden nervousness, smirking at her as she leans forward, her hands pressing against the shelves on either side of you, pinning you in place.
"Too dirty for you?" she asks, peering up into your hood. The sunlight catches her hair, her face glowing red in its shadows. "Maybe I'll clean it good for you, next time," she says, her voice lower now, almost a purr as she leans against you, the shelves groaning against your weight. Your own hands curl around the bottom shelf behind you, overwhelmed by the touch, by the smell the alcohol on her breath from earlier, and the smell of ash and wood fire on her clothes, in her hair, all of it making your head spin.
She removes one of her hands then, gently touching your hood, and you let her slide it back away from your face. Her fingers barely graze your temple, and she lowers her hand slowly, trailing it along your upper arm before letting it drop back down to her side.
Her eye flicks over your exposed face now, then to your lips, but then she laughs softly, dropping her other arm and stepping back from you. You release a long, slow breath you'd been holding, watching as she spins away, her long hair flowing behind her. Your heart jumps frantic, your smirk returning as she gives you a heavy look over her shoulder.
"We should get going," she says, though she hardly sounds like she means it, her eye slowly roving over you as you straighten up next to the shelves. "Lord Duncan's little soldiers like to come out at night," she sighs, finally turning away from you and reaching for the door.
You run a hand over your head, pulling your hood back up and stepping after her, your heart still beating wildly in your chest, grinning bashfully. You duck past her through the door, long, dark shadows in the hall, no light from the gun ports now, instead just the glow of the lanterns guiding you back to the stairs.
[[Continue ->flirty docks]]"You have a unique collection," you say, smiling at her and looking over all the little trinkets displayed on the shelves next to you.
"//Unique//?" she laughs. "I'll take that as a compliment," she says, shaking her head at you.
"I mean it as one," you say, still looking at the shelves. "Are these just things you've collected...?" you prompt, glancing back over at her before you reach for the nearest knick-knack – a small, crude sculpture of... a turtle? You're not sure.
Merry pushes herself off the desk then, quickly striding over to you. "Be careful," she says, reaching out to cup her hands beneath yours, as if you were going to drop it. You look at her curiously, a bit amused at her sudden alarm. "It's things I've collected, things I've been given," she says, not looking at you, still watching your hands holding the sculpture.
"Here," you say, offering it to her. She carefully plucks it from your fingers, clearly relieved to take it away from you. You find yourself smiling at her.
Merry glances at you, looking suddenly bashful, turning the piece over in her hands. "They just mean a lot to me," she says, shrugging now, trying to play it off. She sets the turtle back on the shelf then, putting her hands on her hips and eyeballing it for a moment. Making sure it sits perfectly.
"The Thieving Magpie," you say with a laugh. You can't help it – such an interesting layer of the captain to peel back, here. All morning it's been locked doors, armed guards, strange deals in an alley – but now this. It's not what you expected.
She looks over at you with a grin. "I've been called worse," she says, flipping her hair over her shoulder and turning towards the doors. "Come on," she says then. "We should get going. Lord Duncan's little soldiers like to come out at night." She glances back at you from over her shoulder.
You nod, stepping after her with one last glance around the room. You pass through the doors, long, dark shadows in the hall, no light from the gun ports now, instead just the glow of the lanterns guiding you back to the stairs.
[[Continue ->friendly docks]]"I have to know what kind of poetry //the// Captain Harlowe reads," you say, reaching for the nearest book.
"Those books aren't mine," Merry says, pushing herself off the desk and taking a step towards you.
<<if $aggressive gt $stoic>>"Right," you say with a scoff.<<elseif $stoic gt $aggressive>>You just give her a pointed look.<<else>>You roll your eyes, giving her a pointed look.<</if>> "Just in your room for decoration, then?"
Merry purses her lips, crossing her arms and taking another step towards you. You hold the book in front of you, running a hand over the cover, no written title there, but you wipe away the dust before opening it halfway and flipping through the pages lazily.
"Wait," Merry says, and she finally crosses the room, closing the space between you, and she quickly moves to grab the book out of your hands, but you jump back, raising an eyebrow at her.
She huffs, giving you an annoyed look. "Don't."
She holds out her hands then.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I can't pass up this opportunity to tease her like this. I read one of the poems.]]>><<set $read_poem to true>><<set $m_friendship -=20>><<set $m_relationship to 4>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[With a sigh, I hand over the book.]]>><<set $m_friendship -=5>><</link>></div>"It's certainly... something," you say, giving a pointed look at all the various, weird knick-knacks and books scattered everywhere.
Merry just raises an eyebrow at you.
"Like...," you look around for a moment, spotting a crude metal sculpture near you on one of the shelves. You pick it up and hold it out for Merry to see. "Like, what is this? Art?" you snicker, rolling it between your fingers.
Merry does not share your amusement, however. She pushes off the desk and strides over to you, snatching the sculpture from your hand.
"Be careful. It was a gift," she snaps, carefully setting it back on the shelf. You eye her curiously as she turns away from you, towards the door. What a curious layer of the captain to peel back, here. All morning it's been armed guards, locked doors, a strange deal in an alley - and now this. It's not what you expected.
"Come on," she says, giving you a look over her shoulder. "We should go. Lord Duncan's little soldiers like to come out at night." Merry jerks open the door, waiting for you.
You glance over at the sculpture one last time before stepping after her and through the door, long, dark shadows in the hall, no light from the gun ports now, instead just the glow of the lanterns guiding you back to the stairs.
[[Continue ->friendly docks]]Up on the deck, you can see the sun is dipping beneath the water on the horizon now, the wine-dark waves reflecting the fading pink light back up into the sky, the whole evening alight in a strange, dreamy haze.
You follow Merry back down to the docks, not entirely sure about what just happened. Rubbing your face with your hands, you feel a sudden tightness in your chest, conflicting feelings entangling you, strings wrapped and knotted and constricting. Frustration, embarrassment, shame. Take your pick, try to follow the string to the source. But it's all just you, isn't it? A hollow at the center, a rat's nest of isolation weaved into your skin, the foundation of your blood and bones. You're not sure if you're ready to try and unravel it. What will you find at the end?
You stare after Merry, watching her long hair fall across her back, the way it sways as she walks. You take a deep breath, exhaling slowly. You just fucking met. It's been, what, a few hours?
<<if $c_flirt gte 1 and $n_flirt gte 1>>Are you so desperate that you have to cling to anyone who shows you even the slightest attention? First Clementine, then Noel, now Merry. //Gods. Get a grip//.<<elseif $c_flirt gte 1 and $n_flirt eq 0>>Are you so desperate that you have to cling to anyone who shows you even the slightest attention? First Clementine, now Merry. //Gods. Get a grip//.<<else>>//So desperate//. Disgust snakes through your ribs, prickles across your skin, makes you curl your lip. //Gods. Get a grip.//<</if>>
Merry continues on, and you trail behind, keeping quiet, not trusting yourself to speak. You rub your face again, exhaustion from the last twenty-four hours hitting you hard as well, and it's all you can do to put one foot in front of the other, to keep yourself afloat.
You end up taking a rather crowded lift ride back up the cliffs, rather than walking back up all those stairs. You're definitely thankful for that.
Your body feels heavy, a weariness making your steps slow and your eyelids droop, especially standing in the warmth of the lift, rocked gently as it rises along its track.
While the lift is without a doubt easier, it still takes a considerable amount of time, and you find yourself leaning heavily against the railing, your eyes closed as dockworkers joke and laugh around you.
"It will be a hard winter this year," Merry says suddenly.
You slowly open your eyes, tilting your head to peer over at her. She's not looking at you, but instead staring at nothing, really, focusing on the back of some stranger's head.
You swallow the lump in your throat, force yourself to speak. "And it was easier last year?" you manage to say. Sudden memories of bodies burning through the night creep up on you, making you shiver involuntarily.
"No," Merry snaps a bit, crossing her arms. "But now... People want to pretend things are back to normal. But there are a lot of empty seats at the table." Merry sighs, chewing the inside of her cheek.
You hum beside her, staring down at your feet. It is easy to forget sometimes, the loss of life. Especially today, seeing the city like this. It //did// feel normal. But there's a lot of grief, a lot of anger still, a quiet rage building behind locked doors. Silence falls between you, and the lift rattles along, the sun setting just beyond the sea. You shiver again, the night almost upon you, even colder now in the shadow of the cliff as you make your ascent.
[[Continue ->flirty docks 1]]Only teasing, you don't look away from her, blindly curling your fingers around the cover, thumbing the pages. Merry tenses. You slowly start to open the book.
Merry bolts across the room, and you jump back with a laugh, snapping the book closed in your hand, and //damn// she's fast, her hand catching your cloak and pulling you back towards her as she lunges, all but clothes-lining you across the chest, her hand curling around the clasp at your throat as she slams you back into the shelves. The whole room trembles, knick-knacks clattering against each other, and it nearly knocks the wind out of you. Her elbow digs into your collar bone, her other hand grabbing at your wrist as you half-heartedly try to hold the book away from her.
"Too slow, hunter," she growls, but she's grinning now, and you can tell she's obviously enjoying this. You easily let her take the book from you, never really intending to read it, and with that realization, and the relief of the book back in her hands, Merry's smile grows even wider. You wonder if she can feel your heart racing, her forearm pressed against your chest.
She keeps you pinned for a moment, just staring up into your hood, and you can smell the alcohol on her breath from earlier, ash and wood fire on her clothes, in her hair. You wince a bit as she pushes into you, both of you breathing hard, heat radiating between you, and your mouth goes dry, staring at Merry's slightly parted lips.
Slowly, Merry finally eases off of you, pressing her palm just below the hollow of your throat before trailing her hand across your collar, gentle touches where her elbow had just been, brushing down your arm, her gaze never breaking from yours.
"Too slow," she says again, her voice husky now, and you find yourself moving off the shelves, trailing after her without even realizing it.
Merry walks backwards across the room, now the one smirking at you, and just as you're about to step up to her she turns around, her back to you, setting the book on the desk. You halt in your tracks, swallowing thickly.
"We should get going," she says, and even though you can't see her face, you can still hear the smirk in her voice, "Lord Duncan's little soldiers like to come out at night." She turns back around, pausing for a moment, her eye flicking up and down over you, before she makes for the doors.
You run a hand over your chest, Merry's touch still burning through your clothes, and you just nod as you step after her, your heart beating wildly. You duck past her through the door, long, dark shadows in the hall, no light from the gun ports now, instead just the glow of the lanterns guiding you back to the stairs.
[[Continue ->flirty docks]]Still smirking, you turn your back on her, dramatically clearing your throat and opening to a random page. Merry tries reach around and snatch it out of your hands, jerking on your cloak, but you dart away from her, pacing the room theatrically, pressing your finger to the page and following the lines as you begin to read.
"It was in the morning light
I came home on the day you had to leave
your hair was fire against the rising sun
and you wouldn't look at me."
You press a hand to your chest, pretending to be scandalized as you read. "They //are// love poems," you shake your head, Merry just scowling at you now.
"I kept a flower in the garden
red like fire, fire like you,
and I gave it your name.
It kept you close to my heart."
You read the last few lines slowly. Studying the handwriting for a moment, you glance over at Merry now, and you feel your face flush. She stands with her arms crossed, not looking at you, staring at the floor, brow furrowed. You look over the book again, flipping through some of the pages, realizing now that this isn't something published. But personal. You falter, turning to Merry again, and she's looking at you now, disdain on her face, her lip curled in a sneer.
"Go on. Fucking read it," Merry says.
"Merry," you try, but you don't know what to say, how to salvage this. She just glares at you, waiting.
"But... But then the winter came," you stammer, feeling Merry's eye burning through you,
"and I was always a shit gardener
and a shit wife
and a shit fucking poet."
The poem ends abruptly, the //t// in poet all but a scratch that cuts through the page, the frustration of the writer clear. You swallow, closing the book carefully, feeling its weight tenfold now in your hands. Merry strides across the room, snatching it from you, and you can see the hurt there, and the anger too. She turns back and slams it on the desk, pressing her palm to the cover for a moment, taking a deep breath before glaring back at you.
You put your hands over your head, pressing your hood down over your forehead in an anxious motion, unsure what to say.
"It was my fault for bringing you down here,” Merry says, shaking her head with a bitter laugh before stomping back towards the doors now. She shakes her head again, muttering to herself, words you can't quite catch, before shooting you a dark look.
"Come on. Get out," she says, throwing one of the doors open.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Merry -" you start, but she holds up her hand, cutting you off.
"Shut up. Get out," she repeats.
"Fine!" you snap, throwing your hands up. You storm past her, angry even though you truly have no right to be.
You stand in the hallway, arms crossed, not even turning to look at her as she follows behind you, slamming the door closed, the sound reverberating through the dark, no light from the gun ports now, just the glow from the lanterns swinging from the ceiling. The light flashes around you, throwing long shadows over Merry as she steps ahead and makes for the deck.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Merry... please -" you start, but she cuts you off.
"Shut up. Get out," she says, pointing into the now dark hallway.
You duck your head, swallowing thickly as you walk past her through the door. Embarrassment burns hot on the back of your neck, and you can't look at her, wringing your hands as she follows behind you, slamming the door closed. The sound reverberates through the dark, no light coming through the gun ports now, instead just the glow from the lanterns swinging from the ceiling. The light flashes around you, throwing long shadows over Merry as she steps ahead and makes for the deck.<<else>>You hold her gaze for a moment, before glancing away, clenching your jaw and running and hand over your face. //Fuck.//
"Come on!" Merry shouts it now, and you nearly wince at the anger in her voice.
Taking a deep breath, you quickly duck past her through the door, standing awkwardly in the hall, clenching and unclenching your hands. Merry follows right behind you, slamming the door closed, the sound reverberating through the dark. No light comes through the gun ports now, just the glow from the lanterns swinging from the ceiling above you, and the light flashes all around, throwing long shadows over Merry as she steps ahead and makes for the deck.<</if>>
[[Continue ->hostile docks]]Up on the deck, you can see the sun is dipping beneath the water on the horizon now, the wine-dark waves reflecting the fading pink light back up into the sky, the whole evening alight in a strange, dreamy haze.
You follow Merry back down to the docks, perhaps even more curious about her now than you were before. Stranded here since the start of the plague, she clearly has established some kind of reputation, even as a captain of... ill-repute. People greet her on the street, either by name or title, or just with a nod. Respected.
You rub a hand over your face, keeping quiet as you begin your long walk back to Jack's, exhaustion from the last twenty-four hours hitting you hard, and it's all you can do to put one foot in front of the other. You end up taking a rather crowded lift ride back up the cliffs, rather than walking back up all those stairs. You’re definitely thankful for that.
Your body feels heavy, a weariness making your steps slow and your eyelids droop, especially standing in the warmth of the lift, rocked gently as it rises along its track.
While the lift is without a doubt easier, it still takes a considerable amount of time, and you find yourself leaning heavily against the railing, your eyes closed as dockworkers joke and laugh around you.
"It will be a hard winter this year," Merry says suddenly.
You slowly open your eyes, tilting your head to peer over at her.
She's not looking at you, but instead staring at nothing, really, focusing on the back of some stranger's head.
"And it was easier last year?" you say, your tone skeptical. Memories of bodies burning through the night creep up on you, making you shiver involuntarily.
"No," Merry snaps a bit, crossing her arms. "But now... People want to pretend things are back to normal. But there are a lot of empty seats at the table." Merry sighs, chewing the inside of her cheek.
You hum beside her, staring down at your feet. It is easy to forget sometimes, the loss of life. Especially today, seeing the city like this. It //did// feel normal. But there's a lot of grief, a lot of anger still, a quiet rage building behind locked doors. Silence falls between you, and the lift rattles along, the sun setting just beyond the sea. You shiver again, the night almost upon you, even colder now in the shadow of the cliff as you make your ascent.
[[Continue ->friendly docks 1]]You turn your back on her then, dramatically clearing your throat and opening to a random page. Merry tries reach around and snatch it out of your hands again, jerking on your cloak, but you dart away from her, pacing the room theatrically, pressing your finger to the page and following the lines as you begin to read.
"It was in the morning light
I came home on the day you had to leave
your hair was fire against the rising sun
and you wouldn't look at me."
You pause, raising an eyebrow, "//Love poems//, Captain Harlowe?" She just scowls at you, and you clear your throat before continuing.
"I kept a flower in the garden
red like fire, fire like you,
and I gave it your name.
It kept you close to my heart."
You pause again. Studying the handwriting for a moment, you glance over at Merry. She stands with her arms crossed, not looking at you, staring at the floor, brow furrowed. You look over the book again, flipping through some of the pages, realizing now that this isn't something published. But personal. You falter, turning to Merry again, and she’s looking at you now, disdain on her face, her lip curled in a sneer.
"Go on. Fucking read it," Merry says.
"But... But then the winter came," you stammer, feeling Merry's eye burning through you,
"and I was always a shit gardener
and a shit wife
and a shit fucking poet."
The poem ends abruptly, the //t// in poet all but a scratch that cuts through the page, the frustration of the writer clear. You swallow, closing the book, and Merry strides across the room, finally snatching it from your hands. She turns back and slams it on the desk, pressing her palm to the cover for a moment, taking a deep breath before glaring back at you.
"It was my fault for bringing you down here,” Merry says, shaking her head with a bitter laugh before stomping back towards the doors now. She shakes her head again, muttering to herself, words you can't quite catch, before shooting you a dark look.
"Come on. Get out," she says, throwing one of the doors open.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Merry -" you start, by she holds up her hand, cutting you off.
"Shut up. Get out," she repeats.
"Fine!" you snap, throwing your hands up. You storm past her, angry even though you truly have no right to be.
You stand in the hallway, arms crossed, not even turning to look at her as she follows behind you, slamming the door closed, the sound reverberating through the dark, no light from the gun ports now, just the glow from the lanterns swinging from the ceiling. The light flashes around you, throwing long shadows over Merry as she steps ahead and makes for the deck.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Merry... I –" you start, but she cuts you off.
"Shut up. Get out," she says, pointing into the now dark hallway.
You duck your head, swallowing thickly as you walk past her through the door. Embarrassment burns hot on the back of your neck, and you can't look at her, wringing your hands as she follows behind you, slamming the door closed. The sound reverberates through the dark, no light coming through the gun ports now, instead just the glow from the lanterns swinging from the ceiling. The light flashes around you, throwing long shadows over Merry as she steps ahead and makes for the deck.<<else>>You hold her gaze for a moment, before glancing away, clenching your jaw and running and hand over your face. //Fuck//.
"Come on!" Merry shouts it now, and you nearly wince at the anger in her voice.
Taking a deep breath, you quickly duck past her through the door, standing awkwardly in the hall, clenching and unclenching your hands. Merry follows right behind you, slamming the door closed, the sound reverberating through the dark. No light comes through the gun ports now, just the glow from the lanterns swinging from the ceiling above you, and the light flashes all around, throwing long shadows over Merry as she steps ahead and makes for the deck.<</if>>
[[Continue ->hostile docks]]"Alright, alright," you sigh, handing the book over. Merry takes it carefully, wrapping her fingers around the binding and holding it against her chest.
"Just teasing," you say, holding your hands up in surrender.
"Not very funny," Merry says defensively, turning and carefully placing the book on her desk. She hesitates then, pressing her palm into the cover before looking back over at you. "I just...," she glances away from you as she speaks, "these aren't mine."
She sighs, shaking her head. You think she might say more, but she doesn't, and the silence stretches between you. You're a bit thrown by her sudden sincerity.
"Whose are they?" you take the chance to ask.
Merry stares over at the shelves, her eye sweeping along the rows of books.
"We should go," she says, ignoring your question. "Lord Duncan's soldiers like to come out at night." She steps towards the doors, throwing them open and looking expectantly back at you.
"Yeah. Alright," you say, becoming aware that you may be pushing it with the captain. You duck past her through the door, long, dark shadows greeting you in the hall, no light from the gun ports now, instead just the glow of the lanterns guiding you back to the stairs.
[[Continue ->friendly docks]]Back up top on the docks, you trail after Merry in silence, glancing out over the water, the sun just dipping beneath it on the horizon now, the wine-dark waves reflecting the fading pink light back up into the sky, the whole evening alight in a strange, dreamy haze.
You let the sunset distract you, staring at the moon already rising above the clouds, the way the soft light hits the cliff side above the docks. Merry hasn't even looked at you since you got off the ship, and you're sure she wouldn't be sorry if you got lost at this point.
But you keep up with her brisk pace, watching her feet, cutting your way through the docks after her. You're still struggling to process exactly what just happened.
You crossed a line. Clearly.
<<if $m_flirt gte 1>>But this was all a stupid idea to begin with. //Flirting// with her. You cringe, shaking your head and running a rough hand over your face, as if you can scrub it away. You can still feel the weight of the book in your hands, see the looping handwriting in your mind.<<else>>But this was all a stupid idea to begin with. What, did you think you were going to make friends? //Should have just waited for Lea, idiot.// You can still feel the weight of the book in your hands, see the looping handwriting in your mind.<</if>>
Staring at the back of Merry's head, you scowl, frustrated at her, frustrated at yourself. You shouldn't have read the book. You shouldn't even fucking be here. You should be on your way to Highfell. But that's your fault, too. Your hand goes to your forearm, pressing against the scars there beneath your sleeve.
[[Continue ->hostile docks 1]]The loud sound of the lift breaks through your thoughts, as you approach the front of the cliffs. You stare up at the stone stairs, feeling a bit disheartened at the idea of trekking back up to the top.
Luckily, though, you are saved from that particular long, awkward walk, with Merry leading you instead to the lift. And you're not alone inside - it's rather crowded, in fact, as people end their day on the docks and begin to head home. You're grateful for it, with all the noise preventing a painful silence you're not sure you'd be able to stand.
Your head feels heavy, a weariness making your eyelids droop, especially standing in the warmth of the lift, rocked gently as it rises along its track. You rub your eyes, forcing them open, fighting the urge to let them close.
Leaning back heavily against the railing, you sigh, doing your best to avoid looking at Merry beside you, instead staring down at your feet, biting your tongue anytime you feel your head dip forward.
After some time, though, you can't help but try and steal a glimpse of her. She's turned around, her elbows propped against the railing, leaning out over the long drop back down to the docks, her hands clasped in front of her. One of the lanterns lights a halo just behind her, illuminating her auburn hair a bright, coppery red.
You look back down at your feet, pursing your lips.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Merry. I\'m sorry. I shouldn\'t have read it."' 'im sorry i shouldnt have read it'>><<set $m_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<<if $m_relationship eq 4>><div id ="choice"><<link '"Merry, it was just a joke, alright?"' 'it was just a joke'>><<set $m_friendship -=3>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if $m_relationship eq 5>><div id="choice"><<link '"Merry, I was just teasing, alright?"' 'i was just teasing'>><<set $m_friendship -=3>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice">[[I don't say anything. It's probably best I just give her some space right now.]]</div><<if $m_relationship eq 5>>You cross your arms, closing your eyes, just feeling the motion of the lift. After a moment you open them again, lifting your head to stare up at one of the lanterns hanging above you. //Fuck.// So stupid. What the hell is wrong with you?
Stealing another glance at Merry, you feel a deep ache in your chest, a creeping sense of shame burning up the back of your neck.<<elseif $m_relationship eq 4>>You cross your arms, still just glaring down at your feet. You close your eyes for a moment, just feeling the motion of the lift, listening to the chatter of the strangers surrounding you. Even if you could think of something, anything to say, at this point, keeping your mouth shut is probably for the best.
You open your eyes and lift your head, stealing another glance at Merry, before looking way again.<</if>>
You stare straight ahead, past the others in the lift with you, far beyond to the docks, the ships, and the sea. The quiet between you is as heavy as the dark sky now descending on you, as the sun slips farther beneath the waves on the horizon.
You're thankful for the noise of the lift, the conversation of the dockworkers, the sound of the ocean, all preventing the silence from completely overwhelming you. A shout from the front is your real salvation, signaling your arrival at the top of the cliffs, the city looming above you. Merry brushes past you, cold as the winter air biting through your cloak.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]"Merry," you start, turning towards her, but she snaps her head around, glaring at you, holding a hand up.
"Don't. Just - don't," Merry says, standing up straight now and crossing her arms. She just shakes her head at you, and you can see her hands tighten around her upper arms before she turns back to stare out at the water below again.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>You shift uncomfortably, fidgeting with the clasp of your cloak.
You take a deep breath, but swallow your words, dropping your gaze and letting the moment pass. Maybe it's for the best to just give it some time. Or maybe this, this right here, is for the best. <<if $m_flirt eq 0>>What would befriending the captain have really gotten you?<<else>>You feel pathetic, desperate, and incredibly foolish.<</if>>
Merry just wants something. All that talk about Gael, asking about your family - <<if $m_flirt gte 1>> the //flirting// - <</if>>she's just playing a game. Just another piece on the board.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You let out a growl of frustration, pushing off the railing yourself.
"I'm trying to fucking apologize," you snap, <<if $m_flirt eq 0>>doing your best to keep your voice low despite the loud noise of the lift.<<else>>your voice far more desperate than you would like.<</if>>
"What did I just fucking say?" Merry snaps right back, uncrossing her arms and taking a step towards you. You feel your hands curl into fists at your side, and Merry notices, scoffing at you.
You can sense some of the others in the lift staring at the two of you, and instinctively you reach up and pull at your hood. Merry just shakes her head, giving you one last dark look before completely turning her back to you. The tense moment passes, and conversation resumes around you, and you let out a long breath, just glaring at Merry's back.
Well. What did you expect, really? You knew from the start that Merry just wanted something. All that talk about Gael, asking about your family - <<if $m_flirt gte 1>> the //flirting// - <</if>>she's just playing a game. Just another piece on the board.<<else>>You take a deep breath, exhaling slowly and dropping your gaze. You're not sure where to go from here. But maybe this is for the best. After all, friendship was never really on the table for you, was it? Just stupid, fanciful thoughts.
All that talk about Gael, asking about your family - <<if $m_flirt gte 1>> the //flirting// - <</if>>she's just playing a game. Just another piece on the board.<</if>>
A shout from one of the dockworkers lets you know you've reached your stop. The lift begins to slow, though you and Merry remain unmoving as the others surge forward towards the door. The city looms before you now, the sky a deep blue up above, stars slowly appearing through the clouds.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]"Merry," you say, turning towards her then, "it was just a joke."
Merry doesn't look at you right away, slowly pushing herself off the railing and standing fully. She puts her hands on her hips, and you can see her jaw tense with anger.
"It wasn't fucking funny, was it?" Merry says, finally looking at you.
"I didn't mean to read something personal. I didn't know," you press, your voice hard.
"I don't give a shit what you meant," Merry snaps, stepping towards you. "And of course it was fucking personal. It was in my room - I invited you in." Her tone makes you falter, then, genuine and strained. Not what you're used to from her. "I invited you in and you...," she trails off, shaking her head, her lip curling into a sneer.
"Merry -" you try again, but she cuts you off, shoving you back away from her. It catches you by surprise, sending you staggering a bit.
"Just shut up!" Merry snarls, jabbing a finger at your face.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You slap her hand away, anger burning in your chest.
"Don't fucking touch me," you say, glaring at her from beneath your hood.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>Your eyes widen in surprise, and you feel a sudden, overwhelming sense of shame, dropping your gaze and clenching your fists.
Merry's accusing eye makes your face burn, and you press a hand to your chest, still feeling the force of her shove there.<<else>>You slap her hand away, struggling to swallow your anger, glaring at her from beneath your hood.
"Don't touch me," you say, pressing a hand to your chest, still feeling the force of Merry's touch.<</if>>
You can sense the others in the lift watching the two of you, stepping away and whispering to each other. But a shout from the front signals your arrival at the top of the cliff, shattering the tense moment between you, and you turn to see the city looming over you now. Merry brushes past you then, following the crowd as they move towards the doors.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]"Merry," you say, turning towards her then, "I was just teasing."
Merry doesn't look at you right away, slowly pushing herself off the railing and standing fully. She puts her hands on her hips, and you can see her jaw tense with anger.
"That wasn't //teasing//, mate," she snaps, finally looking at you.
"I didn't realize it was personal - I didn't mean to read something like that," you press, your voice more desperate than you would like.
"I don't give a shit what you meant," Merry says, stepping towards you. "And of course it was fucking personal. It was in my room - I invited you in." Her tone makes you ache, deep in your chest then, genuine and strained. She won't look at you, staring instead at some random spot on your jacket. "I invited you in and you...," she trails off, shaking her head, her lip curling into a sneer.
"Just look at me, //please//, Merry -" you try again, but she cuts you off, shoving you back away from her. It catches you by surprise, sending you staggering a bit.
"Just shut //up//," Merry snarls, jabbing a finger at your face.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You slap her hand away reflexively, anger erupting in your chest, burning through the ache there, burning hot, intense.
"Don't fucking touch me," you say, glaring at her from beneath your hood.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>Your eyes widen in surprise, and you feel a sudden, overwhelming sense of shame, dropping your gaze and clenching your fists.
Merry's accusing eye makes your face burn, and you press a hand to your chest, still feeling the force of her shove there; the ache there sharper, twisting now.<<else>>You slap her hand away reflexively, struggling to swallow your sudden anger overwhelming you, glaring at her from beneath your hood.
"Don't touch me," you say, pressing a hand to your chest, still feeling the force of her touch there; the ache there sharper, twisting now.<</if>>
You can sense the others in the lift watching the two of you, stepping away and whispering to each other. But a shout from the front signals your arrival at the top of the cliff, shattering the tense moment between you, and you turn to see the city looming over you now. Merry brushes past you then, following the crowd as they move towards the doors.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]The lift shudders to a stop, the sudden silence in the absence of the cranking mechanism ringing in your ears. You and Merry end up stepping off last, passing through the doors as a couple people trickle in to descend.
It's already dark on the streets, early night here in the north, and you blink into the shadows as you walk away from the bright lights of the lift.
<<if $read_poem>>The tension seems to all but strangle you now, the two of you alone, and when you see Mal approaching from across the street, you don't think you've ever been so happy to see another person before. She waves at you, and even from this distance you can tell she's grinning.
"Took your time, eh?" she calls, jogging over to you.
But Merry intercepts her, just like before, shaking her hand and leaning to speak into her ear. You don't miss the way Mal looks at you then.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You narrow your eyes at her, feeling that hot anger still burning in you, but just as you make to start walking towards them, Clementine appears before you.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>You can't help but look away, shame making you want to completely cover your face with your hands. But then Clementine appears right before you, pulling your attention away from Mal and Merry.<<else>>You turn away from her gaze, crossing your arms, glaring down at the cobblestone beneath your feet. Another pair of feet suddenly appear right in front of you, and you look back up to see Clementine there.<</if>>
They look almost unrecognizable now, in unremarkable new clothes. Gone is their loud jacket, traded instead for a thick, fur lined cloak, a dark blue with warm brown fur, as well as warmer boots and gloves. You find yourself actually feeling grateful at their sudden appearance, thankful for the distraction, thankful for a person to stand between you and Merry.
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>Clem shifts in front of you, glancing away now at your attention, fidgeting with the clasps on their new cloak.<<else>>"Hey, $name," they say quietly, giving you a small wave and a nervous smile.<</if>> They look shy, clearly unsure of themself here, around Merry and Mal, around you, and probably even more so now, with clothes so different from before.
"Are you okay?" Clementine prompts then, giving you a soft look.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You glance over at them, scuffing the frozen ground with the toe of your boot. "I'm fine," you say gruffly. It'll be fine.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>You stare at them for a moment, before letting out a long sigh. "I'm alright," you shrug. You're not really sure what else to say about it.<<else>>"I'm fine, Clementine," you say, your jaw clenching in frustration. Is it that obvious? You shake your head, sighing, your hand wandering to your necklace.<</if>>
Clementine doesn't seem convinced, but also doesn't ask anything else. Their expression makes something twist in the pit of your stomach, though, and you have to turn away from them.
"Come on you two!" Mal shouts then, and you blink back over at her and Merry, the two of them already starting up the street. You glance at Clementine, and the two of you move to follow after them. You watch Merry walking up ahead for a moment, and then look away.
Clementine shuffles along next to you, adjusting the cloak and gloves, pulling at the straps around their wrist. You take in their outfit a bit more closely now, a proper thick tunic and the cloak, which you can see is slightly too long on them, the very ends dragging on the ground.<<else>>"Took your time, eh?"
You turn to see Mal approaching you, Clementine trailing not far behind, almost unrecognizable now in new clothes. Gone is their loud jacket, traded instead for a thick, fur lined cloak, a dark blue with warm brown fur, as well as warmer boots and gloves. <<if $m_relationship eq 2>>You're grateful for their sudden appearance now, feeling awkward and frankly, stupid, after the scene in the lift.<</if>>
<<if $clem_tavernfight>>Clem glances at you, but quickly looks away, fidgeting with the clasps on their new cloak.<<else>>Clem gives you a little wave as they approach, and an uneasy smile.<</if>>
"Oh, look at you," Merry says then, stepping up to Clementine. "Much better, I'll say."
Clementine just nods, looking shy, still unsure of themself here, probably even more so now, with clothes so different from before.
"Good work, Mal," Merry says, clapping her mate on the back. The four of you set off together, heading back for Jack's.
Clementine shuffles along next to you, adjusting the cloak and gloves, pulling at the straps around their wrist. You take in their outfit now up close, a proper thick tunic and the cloak, which you can see is slightly too long on them, the very ends dragging on the ground.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It looks good, Clem."' 'it looks good clem'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You have to be warmer now, at least, yeah?"' 'you have to be warmer now'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I do miss the bells, a bit."' 'i do miss the bells'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't have anything to say to them. At least they won't attract so much attention, now.]]>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>Merry sighs then, turning around and leaning forward with her elbows on the railing. Her long hair falls from behind her shoulders and hangs out over the long drop down to the docks below. She seems, not vulnerable - that's not a word you would use to describe the captain any time soon - but pensive, genuine.
You follow her gaze, staring out at the Flotilla, a beacon of light against the dark water, silhouetted against the nearly set sun behind it.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I glance back from the open water, and find myself watching Merry instead, the lanterns in the lift casting a delicate glow around her. ♡]]>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $m_relationship to 3>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I glance back from the open water, looking at Merry again, and before I can think too much about it, I turn around and lean against the railing next to her, our shoulders touching. ♡]]>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $m_relationship to 3>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You alright, captain?" I ask, still staring out over the dark water.' 'you alright captain'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $m_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I just watch the lights dance with the movement of the waves, lost in my own memories from the last year.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>You watch her as the lift bumps along, the light growing warmer inside the lift now as the sky darkens, night creeping up on the sun. The lanterns hanging from the ceiling swing with the motion, the light dancing around you, casting wild shadows over Merry. Silhouetted against the soft glow of the water reflecting the final rays of the sun, the whole image is like that of a dream, Merry a woman of fire one moment, then lost in shadows the next, early stars shining in the sky behind her.
Merry turns then, catching your eye, giving you a curious look. She doesn't say anything, but she watches you now, her gaze dropping down and slowly rising back up to your face, slow and heavy. You feel hot, meekly rubbing the back of your neck, a nervous motion both at being caught under her sudden, full attention.
"What you looking at me like that for?" Merry says then, sliding along the railing towards you, close enough now your shoulders just barely touch. She leans forward a bit, trying to look up into your hood.
"That hood doesn't hide you nearly as much as you seem to think it does," she says, her voice low, as much as a whisper as it can be in the loud noise of the lift.
You open your mouth to respond, but you're cut off by a loud shout from one of the dockworkers, signaling your arrival at the top of the cliffs. Merry just smirks at you, pushing off the railing and leaving you standing all alone. Your eyes follow her as she moves towards the front of the lift with the rest of the crowd, and with a shake of your head you stand up straight and prepare to step off.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]Turning from the dark, open water, you look over at Merry again, shifting so your elbows lean against the railing, and your shoulder just touches hers.
Merry blinks over at you, quirking an eyebrow, before her face splits into a smirk. "You worried about me? You want to get warm with me, hunter?" she teases, swaying closer to you, pressing her arm to yours. "I can keep you warm," she says, her voice low and gruff, her lips close to your hood as she leans into you.
You turn to look at her then, her face so close you can't help but look straight at her lips, shining wet in the lantern light of the lift. Merry teases you, rolling her lower lip between her teeth and somehow leaning even closer, close enough that you can count the freckles across her cheeks, close enough to smell the alcohol on her breath from earlier, and the heady scent of ash and wood fire.
"You're cute," she says.
Merry leans back then, your arm suddenly growing cold in the absence of her, and she reaches out with one hand and pulls at your cloak, pulling the side closest to her fully over your cool shoulder, before trailing her arm slowly down your upper arm, the motion sending a shiver through you.
A sudden shout from one of the dockworkers jars you back into the lift, and you finally cut your eyes away from Merry, turning instead to the front of the lift as people start making for the door. You've arrived back up top.
"I believe this is our stop," Merry says, grinning over at you.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]You stare out over the Flotilla, over the dark water reflecting the lights back into the sky, and your mind wanders, recalling the long year now behind you.
Like Merry said, there are a lot of empty seats these days. You were lucky - confined to the stronghold for most of it, easily avoiding populated cities and shielding yourself from the worst.
The thing you remember the most was the smell. The burning, the decay, the rot. You purse your lips, crossing your arms and tightening them around you. You don't think you'll ever forget.
You take a deep breath then, exhaling slowly.
"It was a rough year," Merry says then, and you glance over at her, still leaning forward against the railing, staring down at the docks. You don't respond; you're not even sure if she was talking to you or herself - but you both just watch the sky grow darker around you, the sun setting just beyond the waves.
A sudden shout from one of the dockworkers makes you turn your attention back to the inside of the lift, and you realize you're back at the top of the cliffs, the city looming above you. Merry pushes off the railing beside you, brushing past you towards the doors.
"I believe this is our stop," she says, shooting you a look over her shoulder.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]"You alright, captain?" you prompt, still leaning back against the railing and staring out over the dark water below.
Merry just lets out a long sigh, but you can see her turn to look at you out of the corner of your eye.
<<if hasVisited("just peachy")>>"Just peachy," Merry jokes,<<else>>"Fucking fantastic," Merry says,<</if>> and you glance over at her, raising an eyebrow, but she just flashes you a smile.
"What?" she says then, tilting her head towards you. "You worried about me, $name?" she smirks.
You don't respond, narrowing your eyes at her, and eventually she just scoffs, sighing again and turning back to stare out over the docks. You watch her for another moment, unable to deny your growing curiosity about the woman. This //entrepreneur//.
A sudden shout from one of the dockworkers startles you, and you blink, realizing you've reached the top of the cliffs. Merry pushes herself off the railing again, shooting you a look.
"I believe this is our stop," she says, brushing past you.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]Merry leans back against the railing next to you then, and you can feel her staring at you.
"Cold?" she prompts, sliding closer. "I can keep you warm, if you'd like," Merry murmurs through your hood, close enough that you can feel her body heat against you.
<div id="choice"><<link '"How warm?" I turn my head towards her, close enough to kiss. ♡' 'how warm?'>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $m_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Merry...," it\'s all I can say with her so close, close enough her lips all but touch the hood of my cloak. ♡' 'its all i can say'>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $m_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I pull away from her, my face hot, embarrassment making my chest burn. I can't do this.]]>><<set $m_relationship to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[She's getting far too familiar, right now. I pull away from her.]]>><<set $m_relationship to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I feel uneasy, and guilty. I move away from her.]]>><<set $m_relationship to 2>><</link>></div>You pull back away from her, recoiling at the sudden intimacy, your chest constricting again. You can't make an excuse - you encouraged this, but you feel like you are getting too close to a line you're not sure you're ready to cross.
Merry lets you go, watching as you slide away from her. She just laughs, shaking her head, turning around to stare out of the lift, setting her elbows against the railing.
"It's just fun, hunter," she says, giving you that crooked smile. "Don't worry, I wouldn't propose on the first date."
Your face twitches, and heat rises up your neck.
"I didn't really take you for the commitment type," you snap. There's a sting in your words, whether it's from embarrassment or shame, you're not sure. You don't have time to unravel that knot in your chest. But //of course// Merry was just teasing you. It was stupid to think otherwise. You're just a piece on the board, right? You clench your jaw, growing hot and uncomfortable in the confines of the lift.
When Merry doesn't respond, you look over at her, but she's not looking at you. She stares out over the dark water, even darker now as the lift is nearly at the end of its ascent. Her expression is unreadable, but you catch her eye flick to you for the briefest of moments before pushing off the railing and brushing past you towards the lift door, crossing her arms, preparing to step off.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]<<if $aggressive gt $genuine>>"Merry," you say her name sharply, pulling away from her as you do. She watches you go, raising an eyebrow, though making no move to pursue you.<<elseif $genuine gt $aggressive>>"Merry...," you shake your head as you say it, pulling away from her. She watches you go, raising an eyebrow, though making no move to pursue you.<<else>>"Merry," you say her name sharply, shaking your head and pulling away from her. She watches you go, raising an eyebrow, though making no move to pursue you.<</if>>
"Let's not get too familiar, yeah?" Your voice is hard, and you feel your jaw clench after the words are spoken.
Merry laughs at you. "What? You think I'm going to propose on the first date? A bit full of yourself, aren't you?" she shakes her head, crossing her arms and turning to rest her hip against the railing.
<<if $aggressive gt $genuine>>You give her a dark look before turning to stare out over the fading docks, ignoring her now, biting back the sudden anger flaring in your chest.<<elseif $genuine gt $aggressive>>"I... That's not what I meant," you say, turning away from her, embarrassed now. You stare down hard at the fading docks, reaching up and fidgeting with your necklace.<<else>>You give her a dark look. "That's not what I meant," you say, turning away from her, your face burning.<</if>> You close your eyes for a moment, swallowing hard against the lump in your throat. //Gods//. What the hell were you expecting? //Desperate fool//. The knot in your chest tightens.
Thankfully, the noises of the dockworkers in the lift with you prevent an awkward silence, though Merry is still chuckling at you, clearly incredibly amused.
A sudden shout near the doors signals your approach to the top, and you're thankful for it, the city now looming above you.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]You feel a sudden guilt, your chest constricting again, and you turn away, moving back along the railing and putting some distance between you. Your mouth feels dry, anxiety suddenly making your hands sweat.
Merry just watches you go, raising an eyebrow, but making no move to pursue you.
You don't say anything, because what can you say? Merry is more than aware of what you are. If you repeated it out loud right now, she would just make fun of you. But you can't do this. It's not right. At least, you don't think it is. Dragging someone down with you, and for what? How selfish can you be?
"Take it easy over there," Merry says then, and you snap your head around to look at her. She raises her hands, smirking at you. "It's just fun. Don't have a fit over it," she says, giving you an amused look.
You feel your face twitch, twisting into a scowl, and you turn around completely then, leaning out over the railing of the lift, your back to Merry. Of course. Of course, she was just teasing you.
You vigorously rub your hands over your face then, before curling your fingers around the railing and gripping it with straining knuckles. //Fucking idiot.//
Thankfully, the noises of the dockworkers in the lift with you prevent an awkward silence between you, and it's not long before a sudden shout near the doors signals your approach to the top, and you're thankful for it, the city now looming above you.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]"Merry...," is all you manage to say, your heart hammering in your chest, all too aware of how close her body is to yours.
Again your chest constricts, a voice in your head screaming at you to step back, to get away, but you can't, rooted to the spot as she presses her body against your arm, and you can't turn your head because if you do her lips will be //right there//.
"Do I make you nervous, hunter?" she says, and you can feel the whisper against your hood, can hear the smirk in her voice. "You can't hide in that hood of yours forever," she says, and you shiver, but not from the cold this time. Heat creeps up the back of your neck, and you take a deep breath, forcing yourself to turn and look at her.
Your expression must be hopeless, because Merry's smirk just grows wider, and she leans in closer, close enough that you could count the freckles on her eyelid if you wanted to, and she stares intently at your lips, rolling her own lower lip between her teeth, teasing you.
And then she steps back, laughing softly, her breath just caressing your face. You exhale long and slow, fighting the urge to bury your face in your hands. A dockworker shouts at the front of the lift at that moment, your salvation, a signal that you've reached the top of the cliffs.
"I believe this is our stop," Merry says, still smirking as she brushes past you toward the lift doors.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]"How warm?" you say, turning towards her, so close you can see the little freckles on her eyelid, so close you can count them all, so close you could kiss.
Merry smiles, tilting her chin up, peering into your hood. She reaches up, touching the clasp at your throat, before running her hands down the hem of your cloak and pulling it tight around you, pinning your arms to your sides.
"As warm as you like," she says, her voice low and heavy, her fingers curling tighter around your cloak, tugging you forward, drawing your body into hers. Her breath tickles your face, and your eyes immediately go to her lips, watching as she rolls her lower lip between her teeth.
Again your chest constricts, and a voice in your head screams for you to step back, to slap her hands away, but you can't look away from the wet shine of her lips, her body pressed to yours like a sanctuary against the cold night air.
You feel yourself start to lean forward, before a shout from one of the dockworkers jars you, and Merry suddenly releases your cloak and steps away. You blink, taking a deep breath, your knees growing a bit weak beneath you. You //know// you're staring, but you can't look away from her yet, just watching as she reaches up and readjusts your hood, an amused smile on her face.
"I think this is our stop," Merry says, dropping her hands and smirking at you.
[[Continue ->lift stop w merry]]You eye them for another moment before turning away, grateful at least that you no longer have to worry about Clem's damn ringing bells.
Clementine sighs quietly beside you, still fidgeting with their gloves, their head ducked low as the two of you continue your walk through the city.
<<include "clem's bells">>"It looks good, Clem," you say, giving them an encouraging nod.
They immediately blush under your attention, fidgeting with the clasp on their cloak. "Thank you, $name," they say, giving you a small smile. They fall quiet then, contemplative, as you continue your walk through the city.
<<include "clem's bells">>"You have to be warmer now, at least, yeah?" you prompt, eyeing their fur cloak.
They smile weakly. "Yeah. I've never worn a real, actual cloak before," they say, touching the clasp around their throat. They fall quiet then, contemplative, as you continue your walk through the city.
<<include "clem's bells">>"I do miss the bells, a bit," you say, giving Clem a wry smile.
They sigh. "Me too." They fall quiet then, contemplative, as you continue your walk through the city.
<<include "clem's bells">>Clementine suddenly pulls at a strap around their shoulder, and you realize they have a bag slung across their back – their old clothes. You can just see the sleeves of the jacket poking out of the top. Clem pulls the bag around and reaches inside, digging for a minute. You slow your pace to match them, keeping an eye on Merry and Mal up ahead, careful not to lose them in the dying light.
Finally Clementine finds what they're looking for and readjusts the bag, pushing it back behind them.
Opening their palm, you see one of the bells there.
"Some old ones that had fallen off. They were in my pocket," they explain.
Holding the bell between their fingers, they ring it once.
"Have you ever heard the story of the Traveler?" Clementine asks then, palming the bell and looking over at you.
You blink, a bit caught off guard by the sudden question.
<div id="choice">[[I'm familiar with the Traveler. The god of mischief and wayward souls, usually depicted as a person with the head of a jackal.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I don't know much about the Traveler, actually.]]</div>"I know them," you say, thinking back to all the stories Jorah liked to tell you. "God of mischief."
"Yes. Mischief, and wayward souls. A trickster. They had bells woven into their cloak," Clementine continues. "And if you are lost, they'll lead you home. But only after tricking you - three times."
<<include "traveler story">>"I don't know much about the Traveler, honestly," you say, struggling to recall all the stories Jorah liked to tell you.
"God of mischief and wayward souls. They will trick you three times, before finally leading you home," Clementine says, still fidgeting with the bell in their hand. "A trickster. They had bells woven into their cloak."
<<include "traveler story">>They pause then, staring ahead, closing their fist around the bell and dropping their hand to their side.
"Do you know why? Why they have the bells?"
<<if hasVisited("I'm familiar with the Traveler. The god of mischief and wayward souls, usually depicted as a person with the head of a jackal.")>>"It's for the souls to hear, for them to follow. The way the Traveler dances, the bells play a song," you say, the story coming back to you now. It wasn't one of Jorah's favorites, you remember. He only told it a few times.
"No," Clementine says.
"No?"
"That was never their original intention."
"Then, why?"<<else>>"No, I don't," you say, the story long gone from your mind. It couldn't have been one of Jorah's favorites – those he told you too many times to forget.<</if>>
Clementine eyes you for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"When the Traveler was just a person, like you and me - flesh and blood - they would spend a lot of time on their own. If you are feeling poetic, you could even compare them to the wayward souls they now protect," Clementine says. Their voice sounds distant, but full of reverence. "One day, as they walked along an overgrown path, all alone, wolves - wild and savage - descended on them. They tried to fight them off, but all they had was a walking stick. They beat them, and beat them, but the wolves wore them down, and eventually they were overcome."
Clementine looks intently at you, their green eyes hard.
"They were beasts, turned mad, leaving the Traveler to die. A wasteful death, to not even be devoured," they muse, and you don't miss their eyes flicking to your arm.
"Alone, and dying, the Traveler desperately dug through their bag, trying to find anything to help them. Inside were trinkets they had gathered throughout their lonely travels, meaningless things now, as they lay bleeding. But they had a bell."
Clementine lifts their hand again, opening their fist, the silver of the bell catching the light of the setting sun, glimmering in their hand.
"They pulled it from their bag and began to ring it. Frantic, at first. Then slower, making a sort of rhythm. A song to die to." Clementine stops walking then, and so do you.
"There were people nearby. They heard the Traveler's song. Found them, revived them," Clementine looks at you. "The bell held power. It had been a gift, a crude bell made by a small child. But they had kept it all that time. And it had saved their life."
Clementine stares at the bell in their hand.
<<if $clem_tavernfight>><<if $flipped_table>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says then, holding the bell out to you. "And if you ever have to ring it... I hope someone will come for you, too." They twist the bell in their fingers, their eyes dark as they focus on the gleaming silver.<<elseif $c_friendship gte 55>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says then, holding the bell out to you. "Though knowing you, you'll be too damn stubborn to ever use it." They smile for a moment, twisting the bell in their fingers. "But I would come, you know," they add, "against my better judgment."<<else>><<if $c_friendship gte 51>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says then, pinching the bell between their fingers. "And if you ever have to ring it... I hope someone will come for you, too." Their eyes flick from the silver gleam of the bell over to you. "People want to help. If you let them," they say, ringing the bell and holding it out for you.<<else>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says then, holding the bell out to you. "And if you ever have to ring it... I hope someone will come for you, too." They twist the bell in their fingers, their eyes dark as they focus on the gleaming silver.<</if>><</if>><<elseif $clem_tavernfight eq false>><<if $c_friendship gte 55 and $c_rivalry lt 17>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says then, pinching the bell between their fingers. "And if ever you have to ring it, I hope someone will come for you, too." They pause, twisting the bell slowly. "I know - I know we just met. <<if $clem_with>>But you helped me. You saved me... I'd help you, too." They look away from the bell then, holding your gaze. "You just have to ask," they say, ringing the bell and holding it out for you.<<elseif $deal>>But we have a deal, now. And I'll help you. I want to help you." They look away from the bell then, holding your gaze. "You just have to ask," they say, ringing the bell and holding it out for you.<<else>>But I'd want to help you. I'd want to try." They look away from the bell then, holding your gaze. "You just have to ask," they say, ringing the bell and holding it out for you.<</if>><<elseif $c_friendship gte 55 and $c_rivalry gt 17>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says then, pinching the bell between their fingers. "Though knowing you, you'll be too damn stubborn to ever use it." They smile for a moment, twisting the bell slowly. "But I would come, you know," they add, "against my better judgment. <<if $clem_with>>You helped me. You saved me... I'd help you, too." They look away from the bell then, holding your gaze. "You just have to ask," they say, ringing the bell and holding it out for you.<<elseif $deal>>And we have a deal, now. I'll help you. I want to help you." They look away from the bell then, holding your gaze. "You just have to ask," they say, ringing the bell and holding it out for you.<<else>>I'd want to help you. I'd want to try." They look away from the bell then, holding your gaze. "You just have to ask," they say, ringing the bell and holding it out for you.<</if>><<else>><<if $c_rivalry gte 15>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says then, holding the bell out to you. "And if you ever have to ring it... I hope someone will come for you, too." They twist the bell in their fingers, their eyes dark as they focus on the gleaming silver.<<else>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says then, pinching the bell between their fingers. "And if you ever have to ring it... I hope someone will come for you, too." They twist the bell in their fingers, their eyes dark as they focus on the gleaming silver. "People want to help. If you let them," they say, ringing the bell and holding it out for you.<</if>><</if>><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Take the bell.]]>><<set $bell to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Do not take the bell.]]>><<set $bell to false>><</link>></div>You reach out, Clementine smiling softly as they gently place the bell into your palm.
The metal is warm, still holding the heat from Clementine's hand, and you stare down at it, a dim, malformed reflection of your own face staring back. You frown at yourself, the gold in your eyes flashing at you, and you shake your head, rolling the bell beneath your thumb before looking back over at Clem.
But they've already started off down the street, leaving you standing alone, and you blink, glancing back down at the bell again. You had never heard that story of the Traveler before.
If you rang the bell, would someone really come? For you?
You scowl, quickly pocketing the bell and hurrying after Clementine.
[[Continue ->after bell]]You stare at the bell, at your malformed reflection in the silver, and you shake your head.
Clementine takes a deep breath, slowly closing their hand around the bell, letting their arm drop back to their side.
What would that bell do for you? A weight in your pocket, a reminder of your mortality... and the fact that, no matter what Clementine says, when it comes down to the reality of it... no one would come for you, in the end.
Clementine doesn't say anything, just gives you a soft look that makes your stomach twist, and they step past you, continuing up the street after Mal and Merry. You run a hand over your face, closing your eyes for a moment, before turning and following after them.
[[Continue ->after bell]]You're in your own head the rest of the walk back, vaguely aware of the city changing around you as the sky grows darker, <<if $bell>>the gifted bell heavy in your pocket.<<else>>the sound of Clementine's bell still ringing in your mind.<</if>>
You walk with your arms wrapped around you, hiding in your hood, keeping a close eye on Merry and Mal up ahead, Clementine walking quietly beside you, occasionally glancing over - as if you'll vanish into thin air.
You can't stop thinking about the Traveler. About Clem's story. About that fucking bell. And the wolves. //Wild and savage.//
You bite your tongue, the sharp pain making your eyes water, and you force yourself to focus on something else, anything else, ignoring the way the bard looks at you out of the corner of their eye.
It seems that Jack's is near the center of the entertainment district, rows of pubs and taverns coming to life as the night falls and the work day comes to an end, the sidewalk choked and crowded now, your skin bristling as you dodge a few shuffling drunks, early to the bar for the evening.
Up ahead, you spot the long staircase up to the terrace, the familiar sign reading //Jack's// swaying in the ocean air. You imagine Lea waiting inside, probably poised at the front door, reciting $l_their lecture in preparation for your arrival. Merry, Mal, and Clementine all start up the stairs, and you let out a long breath, grasping the cold metal of the railing and hauling yourself forward, squinting against the light emanating from the windows, illuminating the terrace, raising your arm to shield your eyes, feeling as if the tavern itself will swallow you whole.
[[Continue ->back inside jack's without lea]]There's something about surviving a traumatic experience together that bonds two people, you know? And maybe you are going a bit soft after this morning, but you feel as if the bard is your responsibility. And you gave them your word.
It doesn't feel right, to just leave them with Mal. //A stranger//.
<<include "the face merry gives you">>There's something about surviving a traumatic experience together that bonds two people, you know? It's not that you trust Clementine - quite the opposite, in fact. You're not an idiot. You can't ignore what they confessed this morning, and their //deal//.
Despite that, though... well, maybe you're just going soft, but you feel as if the bard is your responsibility, here, and it doesn't sit right with you, leaving them with Mal. //A stranger//.
<<include "the face merry gives you">>After all, there is something about surviving a traumatic experience together that bonds two people, right? While you don't trust them - you're not an idiot - and you're not exactly sure where the two of you stand after this morning... well.
Maybe you're just going soft, but you feel as if the bard is your responsibility, here, and it doesn't sit right with you, leaving them with Mal. //A stranger//.
<<include "the face merry gives you">><<if $deal and $for_money>>With everything that happened this morning, and considering your //deal//, you're far more inclined to spend the day with Clementine. This is your chance to learn more about the bard, and what exactly it is you've gotten yourself into.<<elseif $deal and $for_a_song>>After your agreement this morning, you find yourself far more intrigued by the bard than the captain, and this is a good opportunity to get a little more familiar.<<elseif $deal and $for_free>>
After this morning, you figure you and Clementine will be spending a lot of time together - you want to get a bit more familiar.<<elseif $deal eq false and $clem_tavernfight eq false>>After what happened this morning, you're a bit curious. What exactly has driven Clementine all the way out here? And this is a chance to clear the air a bit, since you turned down their deal.<<elseif $clem_tavernfight>>You're not exactly sure where the two of you stand after this morning. But their confession, their //offer// - well. You are curious, what exactly drives someone to that extreme. Despite the argument, you want to get more familiar, and maybe you could clear the air, too. Make it easier for you both.<</if>>
<<include "the face merry gives you">>They asked you to keep them away from Merry. That's what you're going to do.
<<include "the face merry gives you">>This is what you agreed to. You keep them away from Merry - and Mal is an extension of her. You intend to keep your word.
<<include "the face merry gives you">>After what happened between you this morning... you and Clementine need to talk.
<<include "the face merry gives you">>You don't miss the face Merry gives you from her spot near the counter. Narrowing her eye, she considers you for a long moment, before finally nodding. "Alright, hunter. Just make sure they get something sensible," she says, turning away from you and back to Branwen.
You scowl at her use of the hunter title, here, in the alley, in public. Branwen peers at you from inside her wagon, leaning against the counter, propping her elbow up and putting her chin in her hand.
"You sure that's a good idea?" Branwen says, glancing between you and Clem before looking back at Merry. But Merry just smiles.
"Have fun," she says, waving her fingers at you, her rings clinking together.
You take that as your cue, and with a quick nod to the three women, you start off back through the alley, Clementine right on your heels.
Walking with a purpose, you pass through the tents and stalls, heading back around to the open area of the main upper docks. You find yourself staring out at the Flotilla as you go, watching the ships slowly rise and fall with the waves. Clementine falls into step next to you, quiet except for the bells. You follow the sound of the cranking elevator, weaving a path through all the chaos, trying to ignore the headache blooming behind your eyes.
<<if $deal>><<include "deal">><<elseif $clem_tavernfight>><<include "tavern fight">><<else>><<include "no fight no deal">><</if>>"This place is so different from King's Harbor," Clementine is the one to break the silence after a while, taking a few steps ahead of you, craning their neck to see the top of the city up on the cliff. They seem mesmerized for a moment, before you catch up with them. "So... chaotic...," they trail off, dropping their gaze then, looking around as you pass a few merchants trying to sell you something.
<<if $c_relationship eq 5>>You're appreciative of the sudden conversation, straightening up as you walk and clearing your throat. You weren't sure, if there was going to be anything to salvage here, but... you can make an effort, if Clem is, too.
"You've never been here?" you ask, despite already having had guessed as much. You just want to keep the conversation going.<<else>>"You've never been here?" You assumed as much, after this morning.<</if>>
Clem gives you a sheepish look. "Ah, no."
<<if $c_relationship eq 7>>"How is it different?" you prompt, genuinely curious, and wanting to finally close the door on what happened this morning.<<else>>"How is it different?" you prompt, genuinely curious.<</if>>
Clementine taps a finger to their chin, taking a moment to consider their answer. "Well... it's not as dirty," they say with a grimace.
You chuckle at that.
"Um, also, there's more... organization?" Clementine says. "Like, there's a lot of rules for selling things, and who to report to when you dock." They hesitate then. "And there are more...," they struggle for the word, "distinct boundaries."
"Those rules exist here, too," you say, dodging a man hauling a crate in his arms, "people just. Break them."
"Oh."
"As for //boundaries//," you say, curling your lip at the word, "you just have to go higher up in the city. Down here, we're all the same. We're all at the bottom of the ladder." You look at them then, and they're staring up at the top of the city again, seeming even higher now as you get closer and closer to the cliffs.
[[Continue ->lift w clem]]"Yeah. Of course." <<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You watch them for a moment, before sweeping your gaze through the crowd around you. "I don't trust Merry," you say. "But I don't really trust you, either."
Clementine seems thrown for a moment by your blunt honesty, their steps faltering a bit, before hurrying to catch up with you again.
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>"I - I...," Clementine stammers, "I know." They run a hand through their curls, a bit aggressively, you think.
"But I do like you more than her," you say, shooting them a smile. Their eyes widen, and then they smile, too. You can't help but find their sudden blush rather endearing.
It takes someone nearly running into you for you to refocus, shaking your head. //What the hell am I saying?// You frown, chewing on the inside of your cheek, resuming your brisk pace once again, not looking at Clementine as you continue to retrace your steps back to the cliffs.<<else>>"That's fair," Clementine says finally, sighing. The resignation is clear in their voice, and it pulls at something deep in your chest. Pity, maybe. Or maybe understanding.
"Clementine," you say, and they blink over at you, "We made a deal. I'm with you."
They tug on one of their curls, twirling it around their finger. "Yeah." You expect them to say more, but they don't, staring far ahead of you with an unfocused gaze. Looking at something you can't see.
The two of you continue on in silence, retracing your steps back towards the cliffs.<</if>>
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You eye them for a moment, before turning your attention back to the docks. "I don't trust the captain." //And I don't trust you.//
Yet here you are, with them anyways, compelled by... what, exactly?<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>Perhaps you're being a bit desperate. You remember the music you played together, just the two of you, in that little world of golden firelight inside the tent. The memory of their hand touching yours. Scowling, you shake your head, your hand flexing at the memory.<<else>>A desperate attempt at being a good person, maybe. The thought almost makes you laugh out loud.<</if>>
Clementine hums, pulling you out of that spiral, and you watch as they nod thoughtfully. "Captain Harlowe is... an interesting character," they say. You scoff, and Clementine laughs.
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>"You are far more interesting," you say, under your breath almost, not meant to be heard. But you //are// heard. Clementine looks at you, surprised at first, then with a soft smile, and you can't help but find their blushing rather endearing.
You clear your throat then, blinking a few times and shaking your head. //What am I saying?// You refocus on the task at hand, resuming your brisk pace, not looking at Clementine as you retrace your earlier steps back towards the cliffs.<<else>>"That's one way to put it," you say, shaking your head. That's probably not the word you would have used. Clementine just chuckles beside you, and you both continue on, retracing your steps back towards the cliffs.<</if>>
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]<<else>>You search their face for a moment, before turning your attention back to the docks. "I don't trust Captain Harlowe. I wasn't going to leave you with her, or Mal."
And you've been through far more with Clementine than you have been with the captain. Even if the trust has been broken, there's still... something there. Something compelling you.
"Oh... thank you," Clementine says, a little unsure, but when you glance at them they're smiling at you. <<if $c_flirt eq 0>>"I appreciate that," they add, taking a little skip, their bells ringing, clasping their hands together in front of them as they walk. They seem a bit more comfortable now, the farther you get away from Merry the more relaxed they seem, and you watch them as they match your stride.
The two of you continue on in a comfortable silence, retracing your steps back towards the cliffs.<<else>>"And I'd rather be with you, anyways," you say, blushing almost immediately when you realize how it sounds. "Uh - I mean. You know," you say, shrugging, waving your hand dismissively.
Clementine laughs, and you feel your face grow even hotter, but when you look at them they're bashful, rubbing the back of their neck.
"I know," they say then, twirling one of their curls around their finger, and you can't help but find their blushing rather endearing.
It takes someone nearly running into you for you to refocus, shaking your head. //What am I even saying?// You run a hand over your face, resuming your brisk pace once again, not looking at Clementine as you continue to retrace your steps back to the cliffs.<</if>>
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]<</if>><<if $reason eq 1>>Glancing over at Clementine, they walk with their head down, their eyes on their feet as they mirror your stride. The air is... tense, to say the least, and the silence is heavy and awkward. You chew on the inside of your cheek, turning away, staring down at your own feet.
You're thankful, for once, despite your headache, for the noise of the docks, otherwise you might not be able to stand this.
Maybe Clementine would have been better off with Mal. //Protect them// - how are you protecting them when they are afraid of you? If they need protecting from anyone, it's you.
All you can see is that look they gave you back at the tavern. The fear in their eyes.<<elseif $reason eq 2>>Glancing over at Clementine, they walk with their head down, their eyes on their feet as they mirror your stride. The atmosphere is //far// more tense than you expected, and you run a hand over your face, chewing the inside of your cheek.
If you're really curious about Clementine, you're going to have to get past what happened this morning. Your head throbs, and you pinch the bridge of your nose, cursing the docks, even though you're a bit thankful for the noise right now, otherwise you might not be able to stand it - this awkward, heavy silence between you. Maybe this was a bad idea. They don't want to spend time with you - who would?
After a moment you drop your hand, stealing another glance at the bard. All you can see is that look they gave you back at the tavern. The fear in their eyes.<<elseif $reason eq 4>>Glancing over at Clementine, they walk with their head down, their eyes on their feet as they mirror your stride. The air is tense between you, and the silence heavy and awkward. For once, despite your headache, you're actually thankful for the noise of the docks, otherwise you might not be able to stand it.
All you can see is that look they gave you back at the tavern. The fear in their eyes.<</if>>
<<if $reason eq 4>><div id="choice"><<link '"Clementine. We need to talk." We need to address what happened this morning.' 'clem we need to talk'>><</link>></div><<else>><div id ="choice"><<link '"Clementine... we should talk." I don\'t think I can just pretend like nothing happened.' 'clem we should talk'>><</link>></div><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I want to apologize. For earlier, at the tavern." It comes out fast and jumbled.' 'i want to apologize'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Actually, I don't want to bring that up. What's done is done.]]>><<set $c_relationship to 6>><</link>></div>What's done is done. What will apologizing do, anyways? You'll probably just do it again - scare them. Because that's what you do. There's no point in deluding yourself that there could ever be anything else. This is for the best. Keep them at arms-length, and let them be afraid. It's better than letting them get too close.
Bite them now, their outstretched hands, before they're close enough for you to get at their throat.
You glance over at them, still avoiding your gaze, staring down at their feet as they go. Your face twitches, and you turn away.
[[Continue ->awkward clem branch]]"Clementine. We need to talk," you say, slowing your steps as you speak.
Clementine follows suit, matching your pace, wringing their hands as they continue to avoid your eyes.
"Yes... I..." Clementine trails off a moment, before finally looking up at you. "I shouldn't have pushed you," they sigh, dropping their hands then. You watch them fumble for the right words, opening and closing their mouth before covering their face for a moment.
The two of you have completely stopped walking now, the crowd splitting around you. Clementine drops their hands then, letting out another sigh.
"I said those things... It was unfair, and cruel, and I only said them because I was scared. Desperate. And in the south - the hunters there aren't like you. It's not an excuse for it. I just want you to know. And I'm sorry, $name," Clementine takes a step towards you, hesitant.
<<include "accept or deny">>"Clementine... we should... talk," you struggle a bit, but manage to say it, slowing your steps as you speak.
Clementine follows suit, matching your pace, wringing their hands as they continue to avoid your eyes.
"Yes... I..." Clementine trails off a moment, before finally looking up at you. "I shouldn't have pushed you," they sigh, dropping their hands then. You watch them fumble for the right words, opening and closing their mouth before covering their face for a moment.
The two of you have completely stopped walking now, the crowd splitting around you. Clementine drops their hands then, letting out another sigh.
"I said those things... It was unfair, and cruel, and I only said them because I was scared. Desperate. And in the south - the hunters there aren't like you. It's not an excuse for it. I just want you to know. And I'm sorry, $name," Clementine takes a step towards you, hesitant, their eyes watching you carefully.
<<include "accept or deny">><<if $genuine gt $stoic>>"Clementine. I want to... apologize, for earlier. At the tavern," you say, slowing your steps to talk to them.
Clementine matches your pace, taking a moment before looking over at you.
"Those things I said – I mean. I...," you take a deep breath, struggling to find the words. Clementine waits patiently, both of you stopping now, the crowd splitting around you.
<<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.") or hasVisited("I don't know where that came from. I don't like them looking at me like that.")>>You take another deep breath, scrubbing your face with your hands. The anger is still there, wound through you, like always, serpentine around your ribs. Constricting.
You need to control yourself. You drop your hands from your face, exhaling slowly, seeing Clem's green eyes intent on you.<<elseif hasVisited("My hands are shaking. Gods. I need to sit down.")>>You curl your hands into fists, fighting the tremor that threatens to return, closing your eyes and shaking your head, as if you can physically will it away. But you can't. You open your eyes again to see Clem watching you intently.<<else>>You stare down at your hands, remembering the way Clementine backed away from you, the fear, the regret twisting in your chest. You don't want people to be afraid of you.<</if>>
<<if $aggressive gt $genuine>>"I just. I tend to be... a bit much, sometimes. I'm angry. I don't know. I just want to say, I'm sorry."<<elseif $genuine gt $aggressive>>"I just. I get frustrated, sometimes. It's hard for me. I don't know. I just want to say, I'm sorry."<<else>>"I get... frustrated. I'm angry. I don't know. I just want to say, I'm sorry."<</if>> <<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.")>>You hesitate a moment. "And I really shouldn't have flipped the table."
Clementine smiles a bit at that.<</if>>
There's a long pause between you as your words settle, and you shift nervously, looking to Clementine expectantly.<<else>>"Clementine," you say, halting in your tracks. Clementine takes a few more steps before they stop as well, turning to look at you. People cut around you, mumbling more than a few rude words at your sudden standstill.
<<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.") or hasVisited("I don't know where that came from. I don't like them looking at me like that.")>>You take another deep breath, scrubbing your face with your hands. The anger is still there, wound through you, like always, serpentine around your ribs. Constricting.
You need to control yourself. You drop your hands from your face, exhaling slowly, seeing Clem's green eyes intent on you.<<elseif hasVisited("My hands are shaking. Gods. I need to sit down.")>>You curl your hands into fists, fighting the tremor that threatens to return, closing your eyes and shaking your head, as if you can physically will it away. But you can't. You open your eyes again to see Clem watching you intently.<<else>>You stare down at your hands, remembering the way Clementine backed away from you, the fear, the regret twisting in your chest. You don't want people to be afraid of you.<</if>>
"I want to say. I'm sorry, for this morning," you say, clenching your jaw after you force the words out. //Not good at this//...
Clementine blinks a few times, clearly caught off guard by your sudden apology.
<<if $aggressive gt $genuine>>"I know I'm angry. It's just how I am. I...," you trail off, scuffing the ground with the toe of your boot. What else is there to say? "I'm sorry."<<elseif $genuine gt $aggressive>>"I just get. Frustrated. I...," you trail off, chewing your bottom lip. "I'm sorry."<<else>>"I just... I'm angry, sometimes. And I get frustrated... I...," you trail off, grinding your heel into the docks. "I'm sorry."<</if>> <<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.")>>You hesitate a moment. "And I really shouldn't have flipped the table."
Clementine smiles a bit at that.<</if>>
There's a long pause between you as your words settle, and you swallow hard, looking to Clementine expectantly.<</if>>
[[Continue ->apology 1]]<div id ="choice"><<link '"I accept your apology, and I\'m sorry, too."' 'i accept and im sorry too'>><<set $c_relationship to 7>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I accept your apology."' 'i accept your apology'>><<set $c_relationship to 4>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Don\'t. Just... let\'s put it behind us."' 'lets just put it behind us'>><<set $c_relationship to 5>><</link>></div>"$name," Clementine starts, wringing their hands now, "I appreciate this. I think... I also said some things, that weren't fair to you. <<if hasVisited ("My hands are shaking. Gods. I need to sit down.")>>I said it before, but... I was just desperate, you know? And the hunters in the south - they're not like you."<<else>>I just got a little desperate, you know? And - the hunters in the south - they're not like you."<</if>>
They sigh, clenching their hands in front of them. "It's not an excuse. But I hope you can understand."
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>Clementine hesitates then, running their hands over the front of their jacket repetitively. They seem like they want to say something else, but they glance away from you, seeming to cut themself off before even speaking. When they look back at you, they just smile. But it's warm, and genuine, and you nearly have to look away from it.
"Thank you, $name. And I accept your apology," they say then, with some finality, stepping closer to you, looking up into your hood. You just give them a weak smile, unable to meet their gaze. "I am grateful. For everything you've done for me. And I'm glad we had this talk."
"Thanks, Clementine," you say quietly, staring down at your hands. "Me too." Clementine hums, and you smile again, a warm moment passing between you.<<else>>Clementine takes a deep breath then, gathering themself. "Thank you. I accept your apology," they say, giving you a nod and a smile.
<<if $clem_with eq false>>"I know it's been a bit of a whirlwind, seeing you on the road, and now meeting you here. Seems our paths are destined to run together, at least for now," they say with a shrug.
"So it would seem," you say, giving them a curious look. "Thanks, Clementine," you add, and you mean it. That they heard you out at all is more than you expected, and maybe more than you deserved.
"I'm glad we had this talk," they add.
"Me too."
They just give you that soft smile, another nod, their curls bouncing with the movement.<<else>>"It's been... quite the morning. I'm grateful for what you've done for me. I know I probably didn't show it earlier," they say sheepishly, "but it's true."
<<if $genuine gt $stoic>>"Thanks, Clementine," you say, grateful yourself, thankful that they even heard you out at all, and a warm moment passes between you.<<elseif $stoic gt $genuine>>You take a deep breath, giving them a nod, grateful yourself, thankful they even heard you out at all, and a warm moment passes between you.<<else>>"Thanks, Clementine," you say, giving them a nod, grateful yourself, thankful they even heard you out at all, and a warm moment passes between you.<</if>>
<<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.")>>The words are good, apologies are good, but you know it will probably take a bit more effort on your part to mend things between you. That they accepted, that you're with them now, is a good sign, at least.
<</if>><</if>><</if>>The sudden sense of relief you feel surprises you – a burden you hadn't realized you'd been carrying lifted away, now. Has your load become so heavy you cannot even tell what weighs you down anymore? Your face twitches, and you close your eyes for a moment, sighing. //It's one less now//. That's what matters.
An awkward, but decidedly less tense, silence falls over the two of you as you resume your walk along the docks.<<set $c_relationship to 7>><<set $tavern_apology to true>>
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]The two of you continue on along the docks, and you chew on the inside of your cheek, trying to distract yourself from your growing headache. You try to keep a sharp eye out as you walk, not really sure what it is you expect to see... but while you're here, might as well take notes. Clementine stays quiet, just the sound of their bells ringing letting you know they're still with you.
You dodge a man hauling a large crate, moving quickly towards the cliffs, now. Eyeing the city high above, you watch the platforms and bridges sway precariously in the ocean breeze, the whole world seeming to groan around you with the movement.
You bite your cheek, hard, your head throbbing now as you get closer to the crank lift, the sound grating, cutting through your skull and aching behind your eyes.
"$name?"
You snap your head around to Clementine, who is looking at you with obvious concern. You just shake your head, rubbing your face but not breaking your stride, turning back to stare up at the city, seeming even higher now as you near the cliffs.<<set $sanity -=2>>
[[Continue ->lift w clem]]You take a deep breath. "I accept your apology, Clementine," you say, lowering your eyes for a moment. "And I'm sorry, too."
Gathering your thoughts, you run a hand over the top of your hood, pulling it down a bit. Hiding.
<<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.") or hasVisited("I don't know where that came from. I don't like them looking at me like that.")>>You take another deep breath, scrubbing your face with your hands. The anger is still there, wound through you, like always, serpentine around your ribs. Constricting.
You need to control yourself. You drop your hands from your face, exhaling slowly, seeing Clem's green eyes intent on you.<<elseif hasVisited("My hands are shaking. Gods. I need to sit down.")>>You curl your hands into fists, fighting the tremor that threatens to return, closing your eyes and shaking your head, as if you can physically will it away. But you can't. You open your eyes again to see Clem watching you intently.<<else>>You stare down at your hands, remembering the way Clementine backed away from you, the fear, the regret twisting in your chest. You don't want people to be afraid of you.<</if>>
<<if $aggressive gt $genuine>>"I know I'm angry. It's just how I am. I...," you trail off, scuffing the ground with the toe of your boot. What else is there to say? "Just - I'm sorry."<<elseif $genuine gt $aggressive>>"I just get. Frustrated. It's hard, sometimes. I...,” you trail off, chewing your bottom lip. "I am sorry. Truly."<<else>>"I just... I'm angry, sometimes. And I get frustrated... I...," you trail off, grinding your heel into the docks. "I'm sorry."<</if>> <<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.")>> You hesitate a moment. "And I really shouldn't have flipped the table."
Clementine smiles a bit at that.<</if>>
"Thank you, $name. And I accept your apology, too," they say then, stepping closer to you, looking up into your hood. You just give them a weak smile, unable to meet their gaze.
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>For a moment you think they might say something more, but instead they just step back, shaking their head and glancing away, before clearing their throat and smiling at you again.
<</if>><<if $clem_with>>"I know it was... an intense morning. But I really am grateful, for everything you've done for me. And that... we can talk," they add.
"Me too." You force yourself to look at them. "Thanks, Clementine."
Clementine hums, and you smile, a warm moment passing between the two of you.<<else>>"I know it's been a bit of a whirlwind, seeing you on the road, and now meeting you here. Seems our paths are destined to run together, at least for now," they say with a shrug.
"So it would seem," you say, giving them a curious look. "Thanks, Clementine," you add, and you mean it.
They smile, genuine. "I'm glad... that we can talk."
"Yeah. Me too," you say, and a warm moment passes between the two of you.<</if>>
It's not perfect, but it's something. The sudden sense of relief you feel surprises you – a burden you hadn't realized you'd been carrying lifted away, now. Has your load become so heavy you cannot even tell what weighs you down anymore? Your face twitches, and you close your eyes for a moment, sighing. //It’s one less now//. That's what matters.
An awkward, but decidedly less tense, silence falls over the two of you as you resume your walk along the docks.
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]You take a deep breath. "I accept your apology, Clementine," you say, lowering your eyes for a moment before meeting their gaze.
They smile sofly, clasping their hands in front of them. "Thank you, $name," they say, giving you a small bow. When they straighten back up, the way they look at you makes your stomach twist.
So fucking //sad//.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"It's fine," you say, though you're not sure if you're telling Clementine or yourself. "Let's just move on."
Clementine searches your face for a moment, before nodding. "Okay."
"Good," you say it too loud, clapping your hands together, forcing a grin - one with too much teeth. "Let's move on."
An awkward, but decidedly less tense, silence falls over the two of you then, and you resume your walk along the docks.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"We can put this behind us," you say, and you're surprised at the sudden strain in your voice.
Clementine searches your face for a moment, before nodding. "Okay."
"Okay," you repeat back to them, and you're thankful for it, closing your eyes for a moment before smiling at them. It's weak, and you're certain they can tell it's forced, but Clementine just nods again.
An awkward, but decidedly less tense, silence falls over the two of you then, and you resume your walk along the docks.<<else>>You take another deep breath, running a hand over your face. "Let's move on," you say, dropping your hand and looking at Clementine again.
Clementine searches your face for a moment, before nodding. "Okay," they say, smiling, but it doesn't reach their eyes.
You exhale long and slow, then nod back, giving them a weak smile. Forced. An awkward, but decidedly less tense, silence falls over the two of you then, and you resume your walk along the docks.<</if>>
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]"Don't. Just... let's just put it behind us," it comes out harsh, and you sigh, shaking your head. Apologies have just lost their meaning to you - there's no point. None at all.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I just mean... I want to move past it," you say, and the strain in your voice surprises you.
Clementine looks at you for a long time then, their eyes sad. //Sorrowful.// Gods. You can't look at them.
"Okay, $name," they say finally, and you exhale long and slow. "Let's put it behind us," Clementine smiles, but it doesn't quite reach those sad eyes.
"Okay," you say, thankful for it, nodding your head and rubbing the back of your neck.
An awkward, but decidedly less tense, silence falls over the two of you then, and you resume your walk along the docks.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You take a deep breath, running a hand over your face. "I just. Let's move forward," you say, dropping your hand and turning to Clementine.
They look at you for a long time then, their eyes sad. //Sorrowful.// Gods. You can't look at them.
"Okay, $name," they say finally, and you exhale long and slow. "Let's move forward," Clementine smiles, but it doesn't quite reach those sad eyes.
You swallow the lump in your throat, and give them a nod.
An awkward, but decidedly less tense, silence falls over the two of you then, and you resume your walk along the docks.<<else>>You put your hands on your hips, hanging your head for a moment. "I just - it's fine. Let's move on," you say, lifting your gaze to look at Clementine.
They look at you for a long time then, their eyes sad. //Sorrowful.// Gods. You can't look at them.
"Okay, $name," they say finally, and you exhale long and slow. Clementine smiles, but it doesn't quite reach those sad eyes.
"Good," you say it too loud, clapping your hands together, forcing a grin - one with too much teeth. "Let's move on."
An awkward, but decidedly less tense, silence falls over the two of you then, and you resume your walk along the docks.<</if>>
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]"Thanks for that," Clementine says suddenly, glancing over at you as they stride to match your steps.
<<if $reason eq 5>>"Of course," you say, giving them a nod. You glance back over your shoulder, and you can feel Clementine watching you curiously.
"I'm just not sure about the captain," you say, shaking your head and turning back around.
Clementine hums. "Smart to be wary around her, I think," they say, nodding their approval.
You raise an eyebrow at that, but they just smile.
"Just the two of us now. Out on the town," they say then with a light laugh, taking a skip step and spinning in place, their jacket billowing around them, bells chiming loudly.
You watch them fondly, smiling to yourself. Alright, so you are going a bit soft.
<<if $c_flirt eq 0>>Clementine isn't exactly the kind of person you would have guessed you'd be spending time with, if you're being honest. But... you're grateful. Grateful for their company. Grateful for such a //human// connection.
You sigh quietly, and the two of you continue on in companionable silence, retracing your steps back to the lift.<<elseif $c_flirt gte 1>>//Or just desperate//. Your smile fades, and you stare down at your feet as you walk. You remember the music you played together, just the two of you, in that little world of golden firelight inside the tent. The memory of their hand touching yours. Scowling, you shake your head, your hand flexing involuntarily.
"$name?" Clementine prompts, pulling you from your spiral. You blink at them, stopped a few feet in front of you.
You just shake your head again, quickly catching up with them and giving them a small smile. Clementine gives you a look, but doesn't push any further, and the two of you continue on in companionable silence, retracing your steps back to the lift.<</if>><<elseif $reason eq 6>>"Of course. I gave you my word," you say, giving them a nod. Clementine smiles over at you, taking a dramatic step closer and mirroring your nod right back.
<<if $for_a_song>>"And I gave you mine. Maybe we can start music lessons tonight...?" Clementine trails off, giving you a playful look. You scoff, shaking your head, but Clementine just grins at you.
<<elseif $for_free>>"Thank you, $name," Clementine says softly, pulling at one of the bells on their jacket.
"Yeah," you say, nodding again, glancing away. Not quite used to such open sincerity.<</if>>
"Just the two of us," Clementine says then with a contented sigh. "Out on the town." They skip beside you for a step, their bells ringing with the movement.
You watch them fondly, smiling to yourself. //I think I'm going soft...//
<<if $c_flirt eq 0>>Clementine isn't exactly the kind of person you would have guessed you'd be spending time with, if you're being honest. But... you're grateful. Grateful for their company. Grateful for such a //human// connection.
You sigh quietly, and the two of you continue on in companionable silence, retracing your steps back to the lift.<<else>>//Or just desperate//. Your smile fades, and you stare down at your feet as you walk. You remember the music you played together, just the two of you, in that little world of golden firelight inside the tent. The memory of their hand touching yours. Scowling, you shake your head, your hand flexing involuntarily.
"$name?" Clementine prompts, pulling you from your spiral. You blink at them, stopped a few feet in front of you.
You just shake your head again, quickly catching up with them and giving them a small smile. Clementine gives you a look, but doesn't push any further, and the two of you continue on in companionable silence, retracing your steps back to the lift.<</if>><<elseif $reason eq 1>><<include "reason 1">><<elseif $reason eq 2>>"Of course," you say, nodding at them. You eye them curiously, watching them walk along beside you. Even now, you're still not sure what to make of them, but you feel the foundation of something is there, something between you, even if it's starting off rather brittle, built on a deal. It's still //something//, which is more than you've ever had.
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>Perhaps you are being a bit desperate, though. Clenching your jaw, your try to suppress the idea of something... something more. You remember the music you played together, just the two of you, in that little world of golden firelight inside the tent. The memory of their hand touching yours. Scowling, you shake your head, your hand flexing at the memory.
<</if>>Clementine grins up at you,<<if $c_flirt gte 1>> oblivious,<</if>> taking a big skip step and laughing. "Just the two of us, out on the town!" they say, spinning around, their jacket billowing out and ringing loudly. <<if $genuine gt $stoic>>You can't help but smile at them, shaking your head, their energy infectious.<<else>>You smile softly despite yourself, their energy infectious.<</if>>
The two of you continue on side by side, retracing your earlier steps back towards the cliffs.<<elseif $reason eq 3>>"It's just a part of our deal," you say with a shrug. You intend to keep your side of it. Keep them away from Merry - and Mal is just an extension of her.
"Oh. Of course," Clementine nods quickly at your words, glancing at their feet for a moment. "Still. Thanks," they say, smiling at you sheepishly.
<<if hasVisited("dont call them that")>>They pause for a moment, before giving you a look. "You didn't have to stick up for me, though. //That// wasn't part of the deal."
You purse your lips, glancing away from them as the two of you retrace your steps back across the docks, towards the cliffs.<<else>>Silence falls between you then, as you retrace your steps back across the docks, towards the cliffs.<</if>><</if>>
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]"Thank you," Clementine says quietly, glancing over at you as they stride to match your steps.
<<if $reason eq 1>>"Yeah," you say, and your voice is a little tight, though you try to force a smile in an attempt to rid the residual tension from the conversation this morning. Maybe this will help clear the air - and... and do what, exactly? What are you trying to accomplish here? //What are you trying to prove?//
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>All that you're really proving is that you're //desperate//. You remember the music you played together, just the two of you, in that little world of golden firelight inside the tent. The memory of their hand touching yours. Scowling, you shake your head, your hand flexing at the memory.<<else>>Prove that you're a good person? Laughable. It will take a lot more than one good deed to ever tip the scales in your favor.<</if>>
The sound of bells draws your attention back to Clementine, who gives you a small smile, nodding. "Just the two of us now. Out on the town," they say with a light laugh, taking a skip step and spinning in place, their jacket billowing around them, bells chiming loudly.
You purse your lips, watching them, though you feel a slight relief as the strain between you does seem to relax, walking together, retracing your steps back across the docks and towards the cliffs.<<elseif $reason eq 2>>"Yeah. Of course," you shrug, waving your hand dismissively, trying your best to get rid of the residual tension from your conversation this morning. Maybe doing this will help you clear the air - and... and do what, exactly? What are you trying to accomplish here? //What are you trying to prove?//
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>All that you're really proving is that you're //desperate//. You remember the music you played together, just the two of you, in that little world of golden firelight inside the tent. The memory of their hand touching yours. Scowling, you shake your head, your hand flexing at the memory.<<else>>Prove that you're a good person? Laughable. It will take a lot more than one good deed to ever tip the scales in your favor.<</if>>
The sound of bells draws your attention back to Clementine, who gives you a small smile, nodding. "Just the two of us now. Out on the town," they say with a light laugh, taking a skip step and spinning in place, their jacket billowing around them, bells chiming loudly.
You purse your lips, watching them, though you feel a slight relief as the strain between you does seem to relax, walking together, retracing your steps back across the docks and towards the cliffs.<</if>>
[[Continue ->fuck me clem branch]]In fact, you're close enough now you can actually see the lift descending, and you guide Clementine along, gesturing ahead of you. Stopping to wait for its arrival, you tap a finger to your chin. You're only vaguely familiar with Blackwater, though you do know where the market street is, but not exactly how to get there from here. Hm. //Should have asked Merry...//
Standing here now, you become acutely aware of the stares in your direction as people mill about, waiting for the lift, like you. You're drawing a lot of attention here. Well - //Clementine// is drawing a lot of attention here. Pursing your lips, you shift uneasily, not a fan of the stares yourself, pulling at your hood, and you glance around, as if you'll suddenly find a perfect inconspicuous path to lead you the hell out of here.
Nothing jumps out, of course. No such luck for you. Maybe you should take the stairs. Just the thought itself makes you cringe, your legs already beginning to ache.
You glance back at Clementine. They're standing extremely close, just as aware as you are that the whispers are about them, that the looks, the pointing fingers - all directed at them. Crossing your arms, you glare out from beneath your hood, hopeful that your presence alone will deter any trouble.
[[Continue ->lift w clem 1]]Luckily, the lift comes quickly, and you're able to board without issue - though your fellow riders are sure to give you a wide berth. You and Clementine retreat to the back corner, doing your best to be unassuming. Which is a bit difficult, given the ability of Clem's jacket to assault all of your senses simultaneously.
Leaning back against the railing, you get a good look at said jacket, up close and proper for the first time. It's just a patchwork of various colors and fabrics, though the main color scheme is consistently purple, pink, and blue, as well as gold detailing and accents. Flowers are embroidered all down the sleeves, as if sprouting from the cuff at Clementine's wrist. The lining and lapel of the jacket bear the same pattern - an iridescent purple silk, incredibly eye-catching when the sun hits it just right. The left and right sleeves seem to be from two completely different jackets, stitched to the torso of a third to make the complete piece.
And then there's the bells. Gold, mostly, though there are a few silver and bronze sewn in. Even with their small size, they hang heavy against the fabric, pulling the jacket down, emphasizing each movement, even just the caress of the wind, with a soft ringing.
Altogether, the jacket appears to have had a lot of love put into it - and a lot of wear and tear. You can see the bottom is dirty and frayed, stained with mud and snow, and plenty of spots where holes were patched.
Suddenly Clementine shifts next to you, and you blink, pulling your eyes away from the jacket, and to their face. Clementine is watching you, their head tilted curiously, and you immediately feel a bit of heat across your face, realizing you got caught staring.
"I know it's a bit much," they say then, fidgeting with one of the bells hanging from their sleeve. Their voice is soft, hard for you to hear over the sound of the lift. "Even down south, it was a bit much." They laugh quietly to themself.
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Did you make it?" It\'s clearly a one-of-a-kind. And everything else aside, the craftsmanship is impressive.' 'did you make it'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"What did they think of it down there?" I\'m not even the least bit familiar with southern fashion.' 'what did they think of it down there'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Was the jacket part of your performance?" It\'s got to be a costume, right?' 'was the jacket part of your performance'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I have to admit. I want one." I love it.' 'i have to admit i want one'>><<set $hobby to "maybe_sewing">><</link>></div>"Did you make it?" you ask, your eyes flicking over the embroidery again.
"I did some of it," Clementine says, and you can see the faintest hint of a blush on their cheeks as they hold out their arms, displaying the sleeves. "The embroidery, some of the patches. And I added the bells."
Somehow, that doesn't surprise you.
"The bells are kinda my thing," they say, smiling fondly, turning their wrists upward to show the ones sewed along the bottom of their sleeves. "I would sew them into my stage clothes, for performances - for dancing." Clementine hums, not looking at you anymore, instead just watching the way the bells roll along their arms as they rotate them.
"It's been through a lot with me," Clementine sighs then, dropping their arms back to their sides. "That probably sounds stupid."
Your hand immediately goes to your necklace. It feels delicate in your grasp, and you run your thumb over the carving, so familiar to you now. You imagine Clem feels the same, when they hold those bells in their palm.
"Did you make that?" Clementine prompts then. You blink, dropping your hand, feeling the pendant thud against your chest.
<<include "lift hobby choice">>"What did they think of it down there?" you prompt, genuinely curious. You recall Noel's clothes, $n_their emerald cloak with the feathers - southern colors applied to a more northern style. But beyond that, and Clementine themself, you're really not familiar with southern fashion. You're always out here in the cold and the snow.
"Ah. People loved the bells. That was kind of my thing," Clementine says, holding up their arm and rolling one of said bells between their fingers. "I would sew them into my stage clothes, for performances - dancing. It's what I was known for." They laugh then, but it doesn't sound like them - sad, and bitter.
"That feels so long ago now." Clem releases the bell and drops their arm back to their side. "Now I'm just... Clementine." They scowl, crossing their arms and mirroring your own stance, leaning back against the railing next to you.
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Better than just $name."' 'better than name'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Is that such a bad thing?"' 'is that such a bad thing'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"You could perform again, out here, if you wanted."' 'you could perform again'>><</link>></div>"Was the jacket part of your performance?" you ask. That thing //has// to be a costume...
"Sometimes," Clementine says. "Believe it or not, I had even more obnoxious clothes than this for performances," they smile fondly, running a hand over some of the embroidery. "The bells were kinda my thing. I had them on all of my stage clothes."
"Performances? Playing the pandura?"
"Yeah. Not just the pandura, but yeah. Or dancing," Clementine sighs. "I miss dancing..." they trail off, staring down at the jacket, rolling one of the bells between their fingers. "I was known for the bells," they add, ringing it once before letting it go.
"I have to say, I'm very curious about what those stage outfits looked like," you say, raising an eyebrow at them. Clementine laughs lightly, shaking their head.
"They were made for me. Very beautiful," they say quietly, almost dreamlike now, staring off at nothing in particular. "I made some of them myself. The jacket - I didn't make it, but I added everything to it. The embroidery, the bells. It means a lot to me," Clementine says then. "That probably sounds silly," they add quickly, glancing at you then down at their feet.
Your hand immediately goes to your necklace. It feels delicate in your grasp, and you run your thumb over the carving, so familiar to you now. You imagine Clem feels the same, when they hold those bells in their palm.
"Did you make that?" Clementine prompts then. You blink, dropping your hand, feeling the pendant thud against your chest.
<<include "lift hobby choice">>"I have to admit, Clementine, I want one," you say, admiring the embroidery.
"Oh," Clementine laughs lightly, "I didn't think you liked it..." they trail off, pulling at one of their sleeves. "If... if you want," they start, "I could help you. Embroider something on your jacket, maybe."
You blink over at them, taking a moment to process the sudden offer. "You would do that?"
Clementine smiles shyly at you. "Yeah. If you want," they shrug. "I could show you how, too, so you could add more yourself."
You glance down at your hands, trying to imagine them doing anything like that. The colors, stitching those delicate designs, flowers and bells... You must stare for a moment too long, because Clementine shifts towards you, you think maybe they're going to reach out. But they don't.
"$name," they say softly. The way they say it makes your hands curl into fists, your knuckles straining. Or maybe it's the flash of red you see behind your eyes, the shaking hands and ripped skin as you stitch yourself closed for the first time. It can't be that different. Maybe you would be good at it.
"Okay," is all you say.
<<include "lift w clem 2">><div id="choice"><<link '"No. Someone gave it to me, a long time ago."' 'no someone gave it to me'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I don\'t think I could even draw a straight line if I had to, much less do whatever it takes to make something like this..."' 'i dont think i could draw a straight line'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I... don\'t want to talk about it."' 'i dont want to talk about it'>><</link>></div>"No. Someone gave it to me, a long time ago," you say, shrugging.
"A friend?"
You purse your lips. "Something like that."
"It's important to you," Clementine says then.
"Yeah. Been through a lot with me," you say, repeating their words back to them. Clementine gives you a small smile, before staring down at their sleeves again, gently running their fingers over the embroidered flowers there.
"I got this jacket from someone, too. Not quite a gift. More like an inheritance," Clementine says, still fidgeting with their sleeve. They sigh then, turning to look out at the docks down below.
Your hand goes back to your necklace, just letting the weight of it rest against your palm.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>You let out a dry laugh. "I don't even think I could draw a straight line, much less do whatever it is to make something like this," you say, glancing down at the pendant.
"There's always time to learn," Clementine says, and the sincerity in their voice annoys you. Turning around, you glare out over the docks, drumming your fingers against the railing. Time is not a luxury you have.
<<if $for_a_song>><<if $played_pandura>>"You can play the pandura," Clementine offers then.
That just makes you laugh again.
"I'm serious," Clementine says. You glance over at them, and their brow is furrowed, arms crossed. "You can learn more. I'm going to teach you that song."
<<if $clem_promise eq false>>//Right.// You made a deal, after all.<<else>>//Right.// You did promise, after all.<</if>>
You turn around, pressing your hands to the railing and leaning forward, staring out of the lift. You close your eyes, remembering how it felt to play those chords. To listen to Clementine's song. That ache you felt. Your grip tightens around the railing, and you open your eyes, the cold metal biting through your skin.<<set $hobby to "pandura">><<else>>"You'll be able to play the pandura soon," Clementine says then, stepping up to the railing beside you. "I'm going to teach you."
"Right," you say, and even though it was your idea, you feel foolish for it now. A //song//? Really? What fairytale bullshit. You glance over at Clementine, clearing your throat then. "Right," you repeat yourself with a little more enthusiasm this time. It's not Clementine's fault.
You made the deal, after all.<<set $hobby to "pandura">><</if>>
[[Continue ->lift w clem 2]]<<else>>"You can play the pandura now," Clementine offers.
That just makes you laugh again. "What? Three chords? That's not anything."
Clementine chews on their lip for a moment, leaning forward against the railing.
"If you could. What would you do? Anything. Drawing, painting, any instrument, woodworking, whatever," Clementine says then, looking to you expectantly.
<div id="choice"><<link '"A string instrument, like what you play."' 'a string instrument'>><<set $hobby to "instrument">><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Woodcarving, I think."' 'woodcarving'>><<set $hobby to "woodcarving">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'d want... I\'d want to draw."' 'id want to draw'>><<set $hobby to "drawing">><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"... Writing."' 'writing'>><<set $hobby to "writing">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Embroidery, and sewing. Useful."' 'embroidery and sewing'>><<set $hobby to "sewing">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Dancing. I\'ve always wanted to learn to dance."' 'dancing'>><<set $hobby to "dancing">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'d want to keep a garden."' 'a garden'>><<set $hobby to "gardening">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Nothing. No point in playing pretend."' 'no point in playing pretend'>><<set $hobby to "nothing">><</link>></div><</if>>"I... don't want to talk about it."
Clementine just hums. "I understand."
They don't say anything for a moment, instead giving you a moment as they pull at their jacket, glancing over the docks below.
"It's hard for me to talk about, too," they say quietly, thumbing some of the embroidery along their sleeve.
You blink over at them, before leaning back against the railing, your hand going to the pendant again, and you just hold it there, feeling the weight of it in your palm, again running your thumb over the carving.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>The lift continues its rattling ascent, jostling you every now and then, lanterns swinging from the ceiling. The lull in your conversation stretches, both of you lost in your own thoughts for the moment. Already the sun hangs low in the sky, setting incredibly early out here in the north. You're thankful to be leaving the docks before it gets darker, and colder.
You glance over at Clementine, who is fiddling with one of their bells again. They sigh quietly, holding their hands in front of them and staring out over the docks, and you watch as they close their eyes for a moment, letting the setting sun shine across their face.
<<include "lift choices">>"Dancing. I've always wanted to learn to dance," you say, a faint memory stirring in the back of your mind - of you, dancing, holding your $sibling's hands as $s_they stand<<Ss>> on top of your feet. It's fleeting, barely there, and it fades away before you can fully realize it.
"I could teach you to dance," Clementine says softly. They're looking at you with their brow furrowed slightly, the concern clear in their eyes. You must have been making a face.
You study Clementine, taking a moment to process their words. "You would do that? Isn't this supposed to be hypothetical?"
"Well...yes, I suppose. But - I think you would be good at it, $name."
You huff, turning away from them and staring out of the lift. Jorah would laugh at you right now, if he was here. //Dancing//. Well, maybe it wouldn't be so far from fighting. The movements, at least. You'd just have to learn how to do it without drawing blood. Without flinching.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>"I'd want to learn a string instrument. Something like what you play," you say, nodding towards them. "I always hear it, in taverns, on the road."
Clementine all but glows, clasping their hands together. "We can do that!" They grin at you, all but bouncing in place.
"I thought this was hypothetical," you say, raising an eyebrow.
"Well. I-I mean, yeah. I guess so," Clementine says, deflating a bit, tilting their head towards you.
You search their face for a moment, before turning to stare out of the lift. Playing an instrument... it just seems so preposterous. Trying to imagine something as delicate as a lute, or harp, in your hands... you curl your fingers around the lift railing, your knuckles straining.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>"Woodcarving, I think," you say. That would be the most fitting, wouldn't it? Destroying something with your hands. You're already pretty good at that.
Clementine hums, looking at you thoughtfully.
You turn and lean against the lift railing, the memory of Jorah and his carvings materializing before you. The smell of cut wood, the sound of his knife scraping away the bark.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>"I'd want to draw. To paint," you say.
Clementine hums, looking at you thoughtfully. "What would you draw?" they ask softly.
"I... I don't know." You stare down at your hands, pulling on a string hanging loose from your cloak. What //would// you draw? A memory scratches at the back of your mind, just beyond your reach. Flowers, simple and crude, drawn by a child's hand.
It's a fleeting image. It slips through your fingers, gone before you can make sense of it.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>"Embroidery. And sewing. I think... that could be useful, for me," you say, recalling all the times you've had your clothes ripped. The shirt you had just been wearing last night being one of them - the sleeve shredded, just like your arm.
Clementine claps their hands together, smiling at you. "I could teach you," they say, their eyes glowing.
You scoff, turning and curling your fingers around the railing of the lift. "I thought this was just hypothetical," you say.
"Well. Yeah - I... I mean. Yeah, I guess so. But I could show you, if you want, $name."
The way they say your name makes your grip tighten around the railing, your knuckles straining. Or maybe it's the flash of red you see behind your eyes, the shaking hands and ripped skin as you stitch yourself closed for the first time. It can't be that different. Maybe you would be good at it.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>"I don't know if it counts," you start, "but I'd want to keep a garden, maybe. Grow something." There's a garden at the Black Iron, for vegetables, and you've always wanted to try your hand at it. What that would be like, to grow something from nothing.
"Oh," Clementine says with clear interest. "Like, flowers? Or vegetables?"
"Either, I guess. Or both." You frown. "But this is just hypothetical."
"Right." Clementine stares at you for a moment, searching your face, before you turn away, grabbing the railing and leaning forward, letting the cold metal biting through your skin ground you.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>"Nothing. No point in playing pretend," you say with a shrug.
Clementine stares at you for a long moment. "Why not?" they ask, and it's a genuine question, but it gets under your skin.
"//Why not//? Why bother? I'm not interested in torturing myself," you snap, turning away from them and grabbing the railing, your knuckles straining against the cold metal. "Pretending to be something I'm - something I'm not."
Clementine doesn't say anything for a while, but then you hear their bells ring as they shift closer to you. You tense, half expecting them to touch you, but they don't.
"What is it that you think you're doing to yourself now?" Clementine says softly. "You don't have to punish yourself - to torture yourself. You're a hunter, but you're human, too. That's the truth."
You feel your face twitch, and you bite your tongue. You don't want to talk about this. What would Clementine know about what you are? They don't know the things you've done.
"Just... think about it," Clementine says. "I think there's something out there for you, that will compel you. That will make you happy."
"Okay, Clementine," you say, bitter. But then you sigh. Clementine is just naïve. They'll learn.
<<include "awkward lift w clem">><div id ="choice"><<link [[I can't help but stare, quite enchanted. ♡]]>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $c_liftflirt to true>><</link>></div>
<<if $for_a_song>><div id="choice"><<link '"I do look forward to learning a song. With you." ♡' 'i do look forward to learning a song'>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $c_liftflirt to true>><<set $hobby to "pandura">><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if hasVisited("you could perform again")>><div id ="choice"><<link '"Maybe I can see you perform, one day." ♡' 'maybe i can see you perform'>><<set $c_liftflirt to true>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"I am going to miss the jacket, a bit. Those clothes look good on you." ♡' 'i am going to miss the jacket'>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $c_liftflirt to true>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link [[I reach out, wanting to offer comfort. Something. ♡]]>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $c_liftflirt to true>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Think we can find a jacket with even more bells than that one?"' 'think we can find a jacket'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"New clothes will help you get across the border."' 'new clothes will help you'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I turn away, and give them space, staring out at the dark sea below.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>"I think... writing," you say, remembering Lea's journal that $l_they keep<<s>>, to track your jobs and supplies.
"Yeah?" Clementine hums. "I think... that would be good for you, $name."
You don't even guess what that comment is supposed to mean. You lean against the railing, the cold metal cutting through your clothes, through your skin. You had a journal during your apprenticeship, mainly filled with notes and doodles in the margins. But you've never really tried to write anything, for yourself.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>An awkward silence stretches between you, and you lean back against the railing, crossing your arms and staring past the others in the lift, letting your eyes unfocus. The lift continues its rattling ascent, jostling you every now and then, lanterns swinging from the ceiling. The tension eases after a few minutes, and you sigh again, shaking your head and blinking, refocusing, staring down at your feet. Already the sun hangs low in the sky, setting incredibly early out here in the north. At least you're leaving the docks before it gets any darker, and colder.
You glance over at Clementine, who is turned away from you, fiddling with one of their bells again. You watch them inhale deeply, dropping the bell and holding their hands against their stomach, staring out of the lift and down at the docks. They close their eyes for a moment, letting the setting sun shine across their face.
You pull at a string on one of your sleeves, taking a deep breath.
<<include "lift choices">>"Better than just $name."
<<if $clem_taverfight eq false>>Clementine doesn't miss a beat. "Oh, you're not so bad."<<else>>Clementine hesitates a moment, and you can feel them staring at you. "You're not so bad. No matter how hard you try to be."<</if>>
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You scoff. "Thanks."
"I mean it," Clementine says, stepping closer to peer up into your hood. You just give them a look before turning away.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>You stare down at your feet, fidgeting with one of the buckles on your jacket.
"Thanks, Clementine," you say, giving them a small smile.
"I mean it," Clementine says, leaning forward next to you to peer up into your hood. You scoff lightly, turning away.<<else>>You clench your jaw, turning away from them for a moment. But you hear the sound of their bells as they move around you, back into your line of sight.
"I mean it," Clementine says, giving you a pointed look. You just scoff, shaking your head and leaning back against the railing.<</if>>
<<include "lift w clem 2">>"Is that such a bad thing?"
Clementine purses their lips, tightening their arms around them. "Look at where it's gotten me," they say, staring down at their feet.
"Clementine...," you shift towards them a bit, unsure of what else to say, if it even is your place to say anything at all.
They turn partly away from you, but you don't miss them quickly wiping their eyes with the back of their hand.
"Sorry," Clementine says quickly, rubbing their face and turning back around, giving you a weak smile. "I don't mean to... be like that."
"It's alright," you say, giving them what you hope is an encouraging nod.
They sigh, shaking their head. "We'll be okay," they say, leaning back against the railing again and running a hand through their curls. "It's almost over, now."
You're certain they're not talking to you anymore, but just trying to assure themself. You don't say anything, instead letting the noise of the lift envelop you.
<<include "lift w clem 2">>"You could perform again, I bet," you say, nodding at them. "Here, in Blackwater. Or wherever you end up."
But they just sigh, shaking their head. "No. I don't think so."
You watch them for a long moment. "Why not?"
"I just can't, okay?" Clementine snaps, giving you a dark look. "Just leave it."
You don't say anything else, just leaning back against the railing, eyeing Clementine as they turn away from you, staring out at the docks below.
<<include "lift w clem 2">><<if hasVisited("awkward lift w clem")>>You exhale slowly, staring down at your hands, before looking back over at Clementine. They still have their eyes closed, the sun illuminating their curls, golden now. Even the wet shine of their lips glow in the falling light, and the effect leaves Clementine looking holy, righteous, like an outstretched hand, an offering.<<else>>You can't help but stare, the sun illuminating their curls, golden now. Their eyes are still closed, the smallest smile just there, even the wet shine of their lips glowing in the light. Clementine looks holy, righteous, like an outstretched hand, an offering.<</if>>
And you're the serpent that bites.
Clementine opens their eyes then, and you quickly look away, staring back down at your feet. You can feel them looking at you, and you wonder if they could feel you, too.
A shout at the front of the lift startles you, and you jolt off of the railing, before you remember where you are. Clementine steps up next to you, and you both look up at the city looming overhead, having reached your destination.
[[Continue ->city market]]<<if ($c_relationship isnot 6) and ($c_relationship isnot 7) and ($c_relationship isnot 5)>>You shift against the railing, leaning forward and reaching out. You hesitate. Curl your hand into a fist, hovering just over Clementine's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, you open your hand and rest your palm on their shoulder.
They turn their head, slowly opening their eyes to look at you, the sun illuminating their curls, golden now.
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>"I...uh," you fumble for something to say, before Clementine reaches up and places their hand over yours, smiling softly. They step closer to you, leaning into your touch, their hand warm on yours.
"$name," Clementine starts, but you watch them struggle too, their face turning pink, all the way up to the tip of their ears. They glance away, laughing weakly, gently squeezing your hand. It makes your heart skip.
"It's okay," they say quietly, looking back into your hood. "Thank you." You let out a breath, nodding, and Clementine slowly draws their hand back, letting it drop to their side. You do the same, leaning back against the railing again, sliding your hand beneath your cloak and curling it into a fist.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, their eyes wide before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They smile then, laughing lightly at their reaction or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way their curls fall across their face, the way their nose wrinkles slightly, their eyes sparkling - looking at you. It makes your chest ache.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<<else>>"I...uh," you fumble for something to say, before Clementine reaches up and places their hand over yours, smiling softly. They give your hand a quick squeeze before letting go, and it makes your heart skip.
"It's okay," they say quietly, looking up into your hood. "Thank you." They search your face for a moment, and you watch the slight blush color their cheeks. You let out a breath, nodding, letting your hand slide off their shoulder, pulling it under your cloak and curling it into a fist.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, their eyes wide before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They smile then, laughing lightly at their reaction or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way it sounds alongside the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs below you.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<</if>><<elseif $c_relationship eq 7 or $c_relationship eq 5>><<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.")>>You shift against the railing, leaning forward and reaching out. You hesitate. Curl your hand into a fist, hovering just over Clementine's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, you open your hand and rest your palm on their shoulder.<<set $hand_on_shoulder to true>>
But Clementine startles, pulling away from you, their eyes fluttering open. You jerk back your hand as if you had just touched hot coals, Clementine's wide eyes trapping you where you stand, unmoving, clutching your hand to your chest.
"I'm sorry," Clementine says, immediately stepping towards you, their eyes flicking over your face, a sudden panic in their expression. "I - you just -"
"I scared you," you cut them off, slowly lowering your hand then.
Clementine's face flushes, and they look away from you, struggling to say something.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"It's fine," you snap, not waiting for them to come up with some excuse, and you rub your face with your hands, leaning back against the railing again.
"$name-"
"It's fine," you all but snarl, dropping your hands and giving Clementine a sharp look. They wince at your words, wringing their hands, shuffling back a few feet.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift draws your attention then, you and Clementine both turning towards it. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. You push yourself off the railing with a sigh, brushing past Clementine without a word, heading off the lift with or without them.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You don't wait for them to speak, instead turning away, crossing your arms tightly over your chest. You feel your nostrils flare as you take a deep breath and exhale slowly, your fingers digging into your upper arms.
"$name, I'm sorry," Clementine says next to you, still standing close, trying to look into your hood.
You shake your head, biting back a bitter laugh.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift draws your attention then, you and Clementine both turning towards it. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. You push yourself off the railing with a sigh, brushing past Clementine without a word, heading off the lift with or without them.<<else>>You take a ragged breath, pressing your face into your hands for a moment, exhaling slowly, before dropping your hands and just staring at nothing.
"$name, I'm sorry," Clementine says next to you, still standing close, trying to look into your hood. You turn towards them, crossing your arms tightly over your chest, searching Clementine's face.
"Please," Clementine whispers, reaching out, but before their hand gets close there's a shout from the front of the lift, and they startle again, freezing in place, their hand hanging between you. You push yourself off the railing, brushing past their outstretched hand without a word, heading off the lift with or without them.<</if>><<else>>You shift against the railing, leaning forward and reaching out. You hesitate. Curl your hand into a fist, hovering just over Clementine's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, you open your hand and rest your palm on their shoulder.
They turn their head, slowly opening their eyes to look at you, the sun illuminating their curls, golden now.
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>"I...uh," you fumble for something to say, before Clementine reaches up and places their hand over yours, smiling softly. They step closer to you, leaning into your touch, their hand warm on yours.
"$name," Clementine starts, but you watch them struggle too, their face turning pink, all the way up to the tip of their ears. They glance away, laughing weakly, gently squeezing your hand. It makes your heart skip.
"It's okay," they say quietly, looking back into your hood. "Thank you." You let out a breath, nodding, and Clementine slowly draws their hand back, letting it drop to their side. You do the same, leaning back against the railing again, sliding your hand beneath your cloak and curling it into a fist.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, their eyes wide before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They smile then, laughing lightly at their reaction or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way their curls fall across their face, the way their nose wrinkles slightly, their eyes sparkling - looking at you. It makes your chest ache.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<<else>>"I...uh," you fumble for something to say, before Clementine reaches up and places their hand over yours, smiling softly. They give your hand a quick squeeze before letting go, and it makes your heart skip.
"It's okay," they say quietly, looking up into your hood. "Thank you." They search your face for a moment, and you watch the slight blush color their cheeks. You let out a breath, nodding, letting your hand slide off their shoulder, pulling it under your cloak and curling it into a fist.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, their eyes wide before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They smile then, laughing lightly at their reaction or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way it sounds alongside the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs below you.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<</if>><</if>><<else>><<if hasVisited("I let my anger burn. I flip the table.")>>You shift against the railing, leaning forward and reaching out. You hesitate. Curl your hand into a fist, hovering just over Clementine's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, you open your hand and rest your palm on their shoulder.<<set $hand_on_shoulder to true>>
But Clementine startles, pulling away from you, their eyes flying open. You jerk back your hand as if you had just touched hot coals, Clementine's wide eyes trapping you where you stand, unmoving, clutching your hand to your chest.
"I'm sorry," Clementine says, immediately stepping towards you, their eyes flicking over your face, a sudden panic in their expression. "I - you just-"
"I scared you," you cut them off, slowly lowering your hand then.
Clementine's face flushes, and they look away from you, struggling to say something.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"It's fine," you snap, because... it is, isn't it? This is what you wanted, after all. Afraid of you. You sigh, rubbing your face with your hands, leaning back against the railing again.
"$name-"
"It's //fine//," you repeat, but it comes out a bit more strained this time, your lip curling as you drop your hands. Clementine just stares, wringing their hands, shuffling back a few feet. You almost want to grab them by their shoulders, shake them, tell them to get away; //you're right, you're right about me// - but you don't. You remain unmoving.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift draws your attention then, you and Clementine both turning towards it. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. You push yourself off the railing with another sigh, brushing past Clementine without a word, heading off the lift with or without them.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You don't wait for them to speak, instead turning away, crossing your arms tightly over your chest. You shouldn't be angry - you knew it would be this way. Them, afraid of you. You feel your nostrils flare as you take a deep breath and exhale slowly, your fingers digging into your upper arms.
"$name, I'm sorry," Clementine says next to you, still standing close, trying to look into your hood.
You just shake your head. You almost want to grab them by their shoulders, shake them, tell them to get away; //you're right, you're right about me// - but you don't. You remain unmoving.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift draws your attention then, you and Clementine both turning towards it. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. You push yourself off the railing with a sigh, brushing past Clementine without a word, heading off the lift with or without them.<<else>>You take a ragged breath, pressing your face into your hands for a moment, before exhaling slowly, dropping your hands and just staring at nothing. This is the way it should be. At arms-length.
"$name, I'm sorry," Clementine says next to you, still standing close, trying to look into your hood. You turn towards them, crossing your arms tightly over your chest, searching Clementine's face. You almost want to grab them by their shoulders, shake them, tell them to get away; //you're right, you're right about me// - but you don't. You remain unmoving.
"Please," Clementine whispers, reaching out, but before their hand gets close there's a shout from the front of the lift, and they startle again, freezing in place, their hand hanging between you. You push yourself off the railing, brushing past their outstretched hand without a word, heading off the lift with or without them.<</if>><<else>>You shift against the railing, leaning forward and reaching out. You hesitate. Curl your hand into a fist, hovering just over Clementine's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, you open your hand and rest your palm on their shoulder.
You can feel Clementine tense a bit under your hand, but they don't pull away, instead opening their eyes and slowly turning towards you, the sun illuminating their curls, golden now.
They give you a small smile. "It's okay," they say quietly, looking up into your hood. "Thank you." They search your face for a moment, and you watch the slight blush color their cheeks. You let out a breath, nodding, letting your hand slide off their shoulder, pulling it under your cloak and curling it into a fist.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, their eyes wide before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They smile again then, laughing lightly at their reaction or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way it sounds alongside the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs below you.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<</if>><</if>>
[[Continue ->city market]]You turn away, giving Clementine some space, taking a deep breath and leaning forward against the railing, letting the sun wash over you as well. It's warm, surprisingly so against the cold ocean air, and you taste the salt on your tongue as you exhale slowly.
The silence between you is comfortable, at least, and you glance over at Clementine again, who still has their eyes closed. You wonder what they're thinking. You let your gaze wander down to the docks below, and out over the dark, black water that seems to stretch on endlessly, the Flotilla rocking gently with the waves. The sun is already hanging low, sun set nearly upon the city already. That's the one of the things you hate out here - and with winter getting closer, the days will only get even shorter.
Hopefully you can resolve all of this business quickly. You're not looking forward to spending the long, winter months out in the mountains.
A sudden shout at the front of the lift makes draws you back out of your thoughts, both you and Clementine turning almost in unison, looking up to see the city looming overhead. You've reached the end of your ascent. Clementine steps up next to you as you push off the railing, giving you a small smile, and the two of you head off the lift together.
[[Continue ->city market]]<<if hasVisited("awkward lift w clem")>>Exhaling slowly, you shift against the railing, glancing from Clementine, to your hands, then back to Clementine again. "Clementine...," you start carefully, "I do look forward to learning a song. With you," you say, inclining your head towards them, tensing as you wait for their response.<<else>>You shift against the railing, glancing down at your hands, then back to Clementine. "I do look forward to learning a song. With you," you say, inclining your head towards them.<</if>>
Clementine opens their eyes, turning then to look at you, the sun illuminating their curls, golden now. They smile softly, glancing away quickly for a moment before speaking.
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>"Private lessons?" Clementine says, their green eyes sparkling mischievously, their smile turning coy.
<<if $bold gt $shy>>You feel your face grow hot, and your lips twitch into a smirk. "Yeah. I'd like that very much."
Clementine giggles then, covering their face with their hands, but you can still see the tips of their ears turning pink.
"Yeah. Yeah, I look forward to it, too," they say, dropping their hands and grinning at you. You both just smile, and you forget yourself for a moment, Clementine stepping closer, not quite touching you but close enough that you can feel their body heat against the cold northern air. Until a shout from the front of the lift startles you both, signaling your arrival back at the top, Clementine jumping back and clearing their throat as you turn to look up to see the city looming over you.
Clementine giggles again, at their reaction or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way their curls fall across their face, the way their nose wrinkles slightly, their eyes sparkling - looking at you.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<<else>>Your eyes widen, and immediately heat begins to crawl up your neck and burn across your face. You tug at your hood, as if that could save you somehow, but you're smiling, and you can't look away from those green eyes.
Clementine giggles then, their smirk splitting into a grin, and you can see their cheeks flush red, the tips of their ears turning pink.
"I'm really looking forward to it, too," they say, and they lift their hand, hiding their smile, pulling on one of their curls with the other, and stepping closer to you, not close enough to touch but close enough to feel their body heat against the cold northern air. Until a shout from the front of the lift startles you both, signaling your arrival back at the top, Clementine jumping back and clearing their throat as you turn to look up to see the city looming over you.
Clementine giggles again, at their reaction, or out nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way their curls fall across their face, the way their nose wrinkles slightly, their eyes sparkling - looking at you.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<</if>><<else>>"I'm really looking forward to it, too," they say, beaming at you. "I... really want to get to know you," they say, and they glance away shyly, pulling at one of their curls, wrapping it around their finger. "I mean. We'll be stuck together for a bit, I guess," they add, shrugging, but you can see their face turning pink.
"I want to get to know you, too," you say, shifting against the railing, leaning towards them. Clementine raises their gaze back to you then, their smile growing. They take a half-step in your direction, turning and sliding against the railing, and then they giggle, an endearing sound that makes you smile, too.
A shout from the front of the lift startles you both, signaling your arrival back at the top, Clementine stepping back and clearing their throat as you turn to look up to see the city looming over you.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you turn back to them, pushing yourself off the railing and following them off the lift.<</if>>
[[Continue ->city market]]You lean forward a bit, clasping your hands in front of you. "Clementine," you say softly, and they slowly open their eyes to look at you, the sun illuminating their curls, golden now.
"Maybe," you continue slowly, "maybe one day, I could see you perform."
<<if $c_relationship isnot 6>>
<<if $perfectWorld>>For a painful moment, you don't think Clementine will even respond, but then they smile sadly. "In a perfect world, maybe," they say. Your words.
"In a perfect world, I'll dance for you."
<<if $c_touch_knows eq true>>Then they start to reach out for your hands, before pulling back, shoving their hands in their pockets, their cheeks turning pink, and you're certain it's not because of the cold.
A shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, their eyes wide, before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They smile then, laughing lightly, covering their mouth with their hand, shy again, and the sound makes your chest ache.
You push off the railing, watching them, captivated, before Clementine finally lowers their hand again, their smile still warm, and directed at you. For you. They tilt their head then, and you blink, quickly glancing away, and moving to step off the lift, Clementine right at your side.<<else>>Then they start to reach out for your hands, still clasped in front of you, a gentle touch, their fingers brushing your knuckles. Your hands twitch, but you stay unmoving, rigid against the railing.
Clementine steps closer to you, that sad smile still there, but their cheeks turning pink, and you're certain it's not because of the cold. You think they might take your hands in theirs.
A shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps and quickly pulls their hand back, glancing away from you and shoving their hands into their pockets. You've arrived back at the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. Clementine laughs lightly then, covering their mouth with their hand, shy again, and the sound makes your chest ache.
You push off the railing, aware of how close they still are, but Clementine doesn't move away, and the two of you all but bump into each other as you walk off the lift together, with you desperately trying to clear your head.<<else>>For a painful moment, you don't think Clementine will even respond. But then they smile sadly, their eyes cast down.
"Maybe one day," they say, and you can barely hear them over the sounds of the lift. They take a deep breath, letting out a long sigh before looking back up at you.
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>Their eyes gleam and harden. "One day," they say it differently now, a little louder this time, and their smile grows. "I'll dance for you."
They take a small step towards you, not close enough to touch, but close enough to still feel their body heat against the unforgiving northern air. Their cheeks have gone pink, the tips of their ears, though you're certain it's not because of the cold.
Clementine starts to reach out, reaching for your hands, still clasped in front of you. But a sudden shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, quickly pulling back, their eyes wide before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They smile then, laughing lightly, at their reaction or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way their curls fall across their face, the way their nose wrinkles slightly, their eyes sparkling - looking at you.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<<else>>They smile again, but it doesn't reach their eyes. "It's a nice thought. To dance for you," they all but whisper, wrapping their arms around themself. They don't look away from you, though, and actually move towards you, not close enough to touch but close enough to still feel their body heat against the unforgiving northern air.
You lean forward, tilting your head slightly and searching their face. You notice their cheeks have gone pink, the tips of their ears, though you're certain it's not because of the cold.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, their eyes wide before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They smile then, laughing lightly at their reaction, or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, and you feel them brush against you as you both make your way out of the lift.<</if>><<else>>For a painful moment, you don't think Clementine will even respond. But then they smile sadly, their eyes cast down. You can tell the smile is forced.
"I don't think so, $name," they say, and you can barely hear them over the sounds of the lift. They take a deep breath, letting out a long sigh before looking back up at you. "I don't think I'll dance like that again."
"Clementine -" you start, but they shake their head, before turning to stare back out at the docks. You struggle to find something to say, but words fail you, and you just stare at them, wishing you could ask. Wishing you could understand.
"I'm sorry," Clementine says then, still not looking at you. Before you can respond, though, a shout from the front of the lift cuts you off, signaling your arrival back at the top. The city looms overhead, and Clementine steps up beside you as you push off the railing, and the two of you head off the lift together, leaving words unspoken.<</if>>
[[Continue ->city market]]<<if $c_relationship isnot 6>><<if $c_flirt eq 0>>"I think I'm going to miss the jacket, a bit. All of it, really," you say, shifting against the railing and leaning towards Clementine. "Those clothes look good on you."
Clementine starts blushing even before they open their eyes, turning and smiling bashfully at you. Even the tips of their ears turn pink, and they bundle the front of their shirt in their hands, twisting it in a nervous motion. You laugh a little, glancing away then, suddenly not quite as sure of your comment as you thought.
"Thank you, $name," Clementine says with a giggle. They release the front of their shirt then, and take a step towards you, tilting their head and staring up into your hood. You feel your mouth go dry at their sudden closeness, not quite touching you, but close enough to feel their body heat against the frigid northern air.
You watch some of their curls fall across their forehead, a few of the bells ringing quietly as their duster brushes against you.
"I didn't think...," Clementine starts, their brow furrowing as they trail off. They look at you for a long moment, differently now you think, the subtlest change, a flash in their eyes. The way their smile turns into a laugh, the way they cover their face with their hands then, shy again.
A sudden shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps, their eyes wide before they remember themself, where you both are. You've reached the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. They laugh again, at their reaction, or out of nervousness, you aren't sure, but the sound distracts you from anything else, the way their curls fall across their face, the way their nose wrinkles slightly, their eyes sparkling - looking at you.
"Come on," Clementine says, and you blink, swallowing hard, pushing yourself off the railing, the two of you walking off the lift side by side, Clementine's arm brushing yours.<<else>>"I think I'm going to miss the jacket, a bit. All of it, really," you say, shifting against the railing and leaning towards Clementine. "Those clothes look good on you."
Clementine starts blushing even before they open their eyes, turning and smiling bashfully at you. Even the tips of their ears turn pink, and they raise their hands to cover their smile, peeking over their fingers at you. You feel yourself smile too, unable to resist it when looking at them.
"Thank you, $name," Clementine says, dropping their hands then and stepping towards you. They're not close enough to touch, but close enough for you to feel their body heat against the frigid northern air.
They tuck some of their curls back behind their ear, before tilting their head to look up into your hood. "I bet you would look good in some southern clothes," they say, touching the ruffles along the collar of their shirt.
<<if $c_touch_knows eq false>>"But something... flowy. Maybe a deep neckline," Clementine says, letting go of their ruffles and reaching out, running their hand along your upper arm. "Something to show off your... muscles."
You feel yourself tense against the railing, unmoving under Clementine's hand. Their green eyes roam up your arm, across your chest, following your jaw line, and you feel your face get hot, and you swallow thickly under their gaze, your arm all but burning at their touch.
A shout from the front of the lift startles you both, and Clementine jumps and quickly pulls their hand back, glancing away from you and shoving their hands into their pockets. You clear your throat, shifting back a bit and vigorously rubbing your hands over your face.<<else>>"But something...flowy. Maybe a deep neckline," Clementine says, letting go of their ruffles and reaching out for your arm. They stop themself, though, blinking, jerking their hand back and shoving it into their pocket. They clear their throat, nodding at your arm instead. "You'll need something... to show off your muscles."
You feel yourself tense a bit under their stare, their green eyes roaming up your arm, across your chest, following your jaw line. Your face grows hot, and you glance down sheepishly, hiding in your hood.
A shout from the front of the lift startles you both, you jerking your head up and Clementine jumping, their eyes wide before they remember where you are. They turn towards the front of the lift, and you blink a few times, free from those green eyes, shifting back a bit and vigorously rubbing your hands over your face.<</if>>
You've arrived back at the top of the cliffs, the city looming over you. You release a long breath, shaking your head, but before you can even think about what just happened, Clementine laughs, at their reaction, maybe out of nervousness, and you're immediately distracted by that sound, watching the way their curls move, the way they cover their mouth with their hand, the way their nose scrunches up a bit, the way they look at you while they do it. It makes your chest ache.
"Come on," Clementine says, smiling, stepping up beside you, and you push yourself off the railing, the two of you walking side by side off the lift together, with you desperately trying to clear your head.<</if>><<else>>"I think I'm going to miss the jacket, a bit. All of it, really," you say, shifting against the railing and leaning towards Clementine. "Those clothes look good on you."
Clementine starts blushing even before they open their eyes, a small smile on their face. They pull at the front of their jacket, glancing at you and then quickly looking away.
"Thank you, $name. I... didn't think you liked it," they say, staring down at their hands. "I'm glad you do," they giggle as they say it, turning and leaning back against the railing. "I'm going to miss the jacket, too," they sigh then, touching the lapels. They seem to fall into some far off memory then, and you search their face, their brow furrowed, eyes cast down.
A shout from the front of the lift signals your arrival back at the top, and Clementine startles a bit, blinking back into the present. They glance at you sheepishly, pushing off the railing, and you both make your way off the lift together, a sudden melancholy falling over you.<</if>>
[[Continue ->city market]]"New clothes will help you get across the border," you say, trying to offer... something.
Clementine opens their eyes, turning to look over at you. "Yes. I know...," they trail off, glancing down at their jacket, running their hands over the front of it. "It's silly, but I'm attached to my clothes." They pause, raising their gaze again. "If I change them... It makes it official."
You tilt your head at them, searching their face. "Official...? What do you mean?"
"That I'm not going back."
You're not sure what to say to that.
"Can you - can you never go back, Clementine?" you ask carefully.
They don't respond right away, instead turning to stare out of the lift again. "It doesn't matter now," they finally say, shrugging. You want to ask more, for them to stop being so vague, but something tells you Clementine won't talk easily.
A sudden shout at the front of the lift ends your conversation anyways, and makes both of you turn, looking up to see the city looming overhead. You've reached the end of your ascent. Clementine steps up next to you as you push off the railing, and the two of you head off the lift together.
[[Continue ->city market]]"Think we can find a jacket with even more bells than that one?" you ask, leaning towards Clementine.
They open their eyes, a small smile on their face, and they turn to look at you, their eyes flashing. "How many do you think I have on this one?" they ask, pulling the jacket taut at the bottom. You give it a quick once over, dramatically tapping your finger to your chin.
"Definitely at least four," you say after a long, theatrical pause.
Clementine laughs, letting the jacket slide from their hands, the bells ringing as if on cue. "Well, technically you're not wrong," they say, still laughing. "There //are// definitely at least four."
"I knew it," you say, grinning at them. Clementine shakes their head, but they're smiling big now, genuine, and you can't help feeling a little thrill at being the source of it.
A sudden shout at the front of the lift makes both of you turn, looking up to see the city looming overhead. You've reached the end of your ascent. Clementine steps up next to you as you push off the railing, and the two of you head off the lift together.
[[Continue ->city market]]<<if $hand_on_shoulder>>The two of you meander down the street for a bit as you get your bearings, neither of you speaking, as you do your best to ignore what just happened despite the strangling silence coiling between you. You're stuck with each other, now, but it's awkward, and tense, a product of your own making.
You shouldn't have touched them. Your hand is still clenched at your side, as if opening it would release something, something that you'll never be able to recapture. Your nails dig into your palm as you step onto the main road through the ground level, heading for the market.<<else>>The two of you meander down the street for a bit as you get your bearings. You struggle for a few minutes, but this area is far more familiar to you than Jack's, and you've been through here enough times before - the main road through the ground level is easy enough to find from the lift, and once there you're confident where to go.<</if>>
Unlike Merry, you don't duck under buildings or cut through back alleys, instead sticking to the cobbled street,
<<if $hand_on_shoulder>>focusing on anything other than Clementine walking beside you. You eye the faces passing you by, intent on your task - and definitely //not// listening to the faint sound of Clem's bells - instead keeping your eyes peeled for soldiers.<<else>>keeping your eyes peeled for soldiers.<</if>>
But it's not any soldier you see that starts to worry you. There's a group of dockworkers, which you're almost certain had been on the lift with you, that you keep catching sight of. Somehow, they end up in the street up ahead, and Clementine nearly runs right into you when you slow to a stop.
"Let's cross the street," you say, and you cut over, going around them, and <<if $c_flirt gte 1>>instinctively you shift in front of Clementine, blocking them from the stares as you pass by, though the group stays quiet, just //watching// you.<<else>>you stare the group down as you pass by, but they stay quiet, just...//watching// you.<</if>>
//Oh, I've got a bad feeling about this...//
Finally you look away, though tense now, acutely aware that those people are //there//. "Shops right up ahead," you say then, more to yourself then Clementine, <<if $hand_on_shoulder>>though they make a noise of acknowledgement,<<else>>though they hum in acknowledgement,<</if>> oblivious, still following close behind.
[[Continue ->inside shop]]Heading down the market street, you make a beeline straight for the outfitter. The street itself is a flurry of activity, people making stops here and there on their way home now at the end of the work day, some sellers pacing the cobblestones, trying to make a few more sales before the night comes.
Halting in front of the outfitter, you throw the door open, a bit forcefully, wincing as a bell on the door chimes obnoxiously. You let Clementine step in ahead of you while you hold the door open, scanning the street behind you. But there's no sign of the dockworkers now. You chew on the inside of your cheek, taking one last look before ducking into the store after Clementine, standing side by side right in the doorway.
"Hello!"
You're greeted by a cheery voice, a young woman at the front counter, an impressive display of furs hanging up behind her. You blink a few times, your eyes adjusting to the light in the shop, the door swinging closed behind you.
It's an unassuming shop, quite small and intimate, and you stamp your boots on the welcome mat, thankful for the warmth. Clementine follows your example, scraping their shoes clean, before stepping past you and into the parlor.
The woman behind the counter is watching you both, giving Clementine a curious look before smiling at you.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Um. I smile back.]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I just nod.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I take off my hood and smile back.]]</div>You shift in the shadow of the doorway, and smile back. That makes her smile grow even wider.
<<include "hood on welcome">>You shift in the doorway, giving the woman a quick nod. She seems to deflate a bit, glancing quickly between you and Clementine, still smiling, though.
<<include "hood on welcome">>You don't know what compels you to do it. Technically, it //is// rude to wear a hood indoors. So you reach up and push it away, letting it fall back aross your shoulders, and you turn to the woman and smile.
Her face drains immediately, the smile snapping into a frown. Your smile fades too, and you glance away, scowling at the floor.
"Um- uh -" she fumbles to play it off, nervously running a hand over her head and clearing her throat. "What can I do for you two today? Are you here for a pickup?"
Clementine looks between the two of you, stepping forward then. "Do you have anything ready to sell?" they ask, clasping their hands in front of them and still smiling warmly at the woman, ignoring her change in demeanor.
"Oh... yes, we do have some pre-made pieces. I just - need your measurements."
"Of course," Clementine says, nodding encouragingly. The woman looks from them back to you, before quickly looking down behind the counter and jerking open a drawer, far harder than necessary.
You feel your face grow hot, self-conscious now, //shameful//. Why the hell did you take your hood off? <<if $hand_on_shoulder>>What the hell is wrong with you today? First in the lift, now //this//. Really pulling out all the stops, aren't you?<</if>> You rub both of your hands over your face before sighing, still standing in the doorway. Clementine is looking at you, trying to catch your eye.
"Hey," they say softly, but gods your face is too hot, you can't look at them, you just can't.
You stay back as the woman comes around the counter with a pencil and a thin roll of parchment. She stops in front of Clementine, struggling to unroll the parchment, and you don't miss the slight tremor in her hands.
[[Continue ->hood off 1]]"What can I do for you two today? Are you here to pick-up?" she asks, looking directly at you as she says it.
"Uh, no," you start, your eyes scanning the shop. It's empty, save for you and Clementine, with a few completed pieces hanging out waiting for pick-up, and bundles of fur and reams of fabrics, all of varying shades and prints, displayed along the walls.
"Do you have anything ready to sell?" Clementine cuts in then, smiling at the woman. They walk over to the counter, giving the outfitter a quick bow. She flusters, bowing quickly as well, her braid whipping over her face with the movement. She stands back up then, grinning, clearly delighted.
"Yes, we have a few pieces pre-made," she says, clapping her hands together and nodding. She pulls at a drawer under the counter, grabbing a long, thin roll of parchment. "I can measure you, and bring out whatever we have that will fit."
"Thank you," Clementine says, stepping back from the counter now as the woman comes around to stand in front of them.
"Can you take your jacket off for me, please?" the woman asks, nodding at Clementine.
"Oh, right," Clem says, blushing a bit and fumbling with the front of it before unclasping it and shrugging it off.
<<if $hand_on_shoulder>>They glance over at you, hesitating for a moment, clutching the jacket against their chest.
"$name? Can you... hold onto this, for me?"
You blink at them, caught off guard by the question, by the look they give you. An olive branch. //A peace offering.// You swallow, aware that the outfitter is staring at you now as well, and you just nod numbly, and you take the jacket. Clementine smiles softly at you, inclining their head, looking at you for as long as they can, until they're forced to readjust for the outfitter.
You take a deep breath, gripping the jacket tightly.
You stare down at it in your hands, running a finger over some of the embroidery, the bells ringing as you slowly turn it over. Holding it now, this close, it smells sweet, like vanilla and sugar. Like sweet bread baking, warm and comforting.<<else>>They glance over at you, clutching the jacket against their chest for a moment. "Um. Can you hold onto this for me?"
You blink as they offer their jacket to you. "Okay," you manage, and take the jacket, bundling it carefully in your hands. You stare down at it for a moment, running a finger over some of the embroidery, the bells ringing as you slowly turn it over. Holding it now, this close, it smells sweet, like vanilla and sugar. Like sweet bread baking, warm and comforting.<</if>>
Looking back over at Clementine, you watch as the woman begins to take their measurements. It's strange seeing them without the jacket - it sounds foolish, but you don't really know what you expected. You realize now they're wearing a dress over their trousers, tailored at the waist, and that they have a low cut bodice overtop that cinches in the front, black with black embroidery that you can just barely see in the darker light of the shop.
The woman has Clementine hold the parchment in one hand as she measures their arm-span. You can't help but notice how lean the bard is. Without the big jacket on, the sleeves of their dress hug their arms, and you can see fabric pull as they stretch. <<if $c_flirt gte 1>>You glance away quickly, focusing on the jacket in your hands, trying your best not to stare.<<else>>It's clear they are a dancer - or were one, you suppose. It's evident in their arms, the way they move, uninhibited now without the jacket.<</if>>
[[Continue ->hood on welcome 1]]"Okay! Perfect," the woman says then, snapping the parchment back and rolling it in her hands. Clementine drops their arms back to their sides, adjusting their dress, pulling at it where it had ridden up under the bodice.
"And what about you?" the woman turns, raising an eyebrow at you. She starts to unfurl the parchment again, taking a step towards you, and you quickly shake your head, though that doesn't deter her.
"No, I don't -" you start, but she strides over to you, stretching the parchment out between her hands, and she's close, too close, too fucking //close//-
"Oh!"
She drops the parchment and jumps back, and you do the same, backing up into the door, the bell ringing as the back of your heels kick the wood and rattle it on its hinges. Your clutching Clementine's jacket against your chest like a shield, your head turned away, though it's clear enough that she saw. Saw //you//.
Your face is hot, and your grip tightens on the jacket, and you try not to look at her.
"I-I'm... I'm so sorry, I'm sorry," she stammers, backing away from you, frantic now, nearly tripping over the parchment trailing across the floor.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"I said //no//," you snap, glaring at her, prickling at the intrusion, unable to stop the shame at being seen. You pull anxiously at your hood, as if adjusting it now will do anything at all.
The woman flinches at your tone, at your movements, raising her hands, because... because what? She thinks you'll hurt her. <<if $hand_on_shoudler>>Just like Clementine. Just like everyone else.<</if>>
She all but cowers, her hands trembling in front of her, her eyes wide like a frightened animal.
Clementine steps between you then, reaching out and putting a reassuring hand on the woman's arm, whispering to her, what, you don't know, you don't fucking care.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You keep back, rigid against the door, letting the woman retreat. Clenching your jaw, you slowly turn, the fear in her face lancing through your chest. Carefully you ease off the door, lowering Clem's jacket, but the woman still flinches at your movements, because... because what? She thinks you'll hurt her. <<if $hand_on_shoudler>>Just like Clementine. Just like everyone else.<</if>>
Clementine steps between you then, reaching out and putting a reassuring hand on the woman's arm, whispering to her, what, you don't know, you're not listening, just gripping the jacket, your fingers straining against the fabric.<<else>>"It - it's okay," you manage, pressing yourself back against the door, trying to sink through the wood. You stare down at the floor, pulling at your hood, as if adjusting it now will do anything at all.
The woman flinches at your movements, raising her hands, because... because what? She thinks you'll hurt her. <<if $hand_on_shoulder>>Just like Clementine. Just like everyone else.<</if>>
Clementine steps between you then, reaching out and putting a reassuring hand on the woman's arm, whispering to her, what, you don't know, you're not listening, instead just staring at the floor, your fingers gripping the jacket in your hands like it will save you.<</if>>
[[Continue ->shopkeep reaction]]"I'm so sorry," the woman mutters again, and Clementine continues to soothe her, and you just stand there, like the dog who just bit the master's hand.
"It's alright," Clementine reassures her, "how about you just fetch us those clothes?"
"I'm sorry," she says again, stepping back and then bowing deeply. "I'll... I'll bring out the clothes. The change room... is there," she points a shaking finger to a small, curtained alcove in the corner, with a bench sat in front of it. Then she scurries away, back behind the counter and into a back room. You close your eyes for a moment, letting out a long sigh, worrying the jacket in your hands.
[[Continue ->after hood reveal]]"$name," Clementine says softly, and you jerk your head up, tensing, for what you don't know. But they just offer you their hand, giving you an encouraging nod.
<div id="choice">[[Take their hand.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Do not take their hand.]]</div>"Um, can you take your jacket off for me?" she asks after a painful moment, finally pulling the parchment loose in her hands.
"Of course," Clementine says with a nod, and they deftly unclasp it and shrug it off. They glance over at you, taking a half step while clutching the jacket against their chest. "Can you hold onto this for me?"
You swallow thickly, raising your head and blinking at them as they hold it out to you. "Okay," you manage, and take the jacket, bundling it carefully in your hands. You stare down at it for a moment, running a finger over some of the embroidery, the bells ringing as you turn it slowly. Holding it now, this close, it smells sweet, like vanilla and sugar. Like sweet bread baking, warm and comforting.
Looking back over at Clementine, you watch as the woman begins to take their measurements. It's strange seeing them without the jacket - it sounds foolish, but you don't really know what you expected. You realize now they're wearing a dress over their trousers, tailored at the waist, and that they have a low cut bodice overtop that cinches in the front, black with black embroidery that you can just barely see in the darker light of the shop.
The woman has Clementine hold the parchment in one hand as she measures their arm-span. You can't help but notice how lean the bard is. Without the big jacket on, the sleeves of their dress hug their arms, and you can see fabric pull as they stretch. <<if $c_flirt gte 1>>You glance away quickly, focusing on the jacket, your hands tightening around the fabric.<<else>>It's clear they are a dancer - or were one, you suppose. It's evident in their arms, the way they move, uninhibited now without the jacket.<</if>>
[[Continue ->hood off 2]]"Okay," the outfitter steps back, snapping the parchment between her fingers, "I'll bring out what we have. You can wait there," she points to a bench in the corner of the shop, across from the changing room, or at least that's what you assume the small, curtained alcove is.
She gives another quick bow to you and Clementine before darting back behind the counter and vanishing into a back room. You let out a long sigh, worrying the jacket in your hands.
<<include "after hood reveal">>Slowly, you shift the jacket under your arm and reach out and take their hand. Gently, they pull you along, guiding you over to the bench, waiting for you to take a seat before doing the same. They hold your hand for another moment, before lifting it up and carefully laying it across the jacket in your lap. You stare dumbly at your hand as Clementine pulls away.
<<include "sit on bench">>You swallow hard, shaking your head, your face twitching as you walk by them and take a seat on the bench, throwing yourself down harder than necessary. Clementine stares at you for a moment, dropping their hand, before they join you, sitting carefully so as not to touch you.
<<include "sit on bench">>You sit in silence for a while, nothing but the sound of people passing by outside, as well as the outfitter digging around in the back.
Clementine shifts next to you then, leaning forward on the bench and peering up into your face. You frown, glancing away.
"Are you okay?" Clementine asks, clasping their hands in their lap.
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I\'m fine."' 'im fine clem'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s alright, Clem. This is just how it is."' 'this is just how it is'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No, I\'m not fucking okay."' 'no im not okay'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just - don\'t."' 'just dont'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Damn. I didn\'t think I was //that// ugly."' 'didnt think i was that ugly'>><</link>></div>"I'm fine," you say, your tone unmistakably bitter. Clementine glances away from your face, down at their hands, then back to you.
"$name..."
You put your face in your hands, sighing loudly again. Gods. Every time they say your name. Why do they say it like that?
"It's fine, Clementine. I'm fine," you say, dropping your hands and leaning back against the bench. You can still feel them staring at you, but they don't say anything else, and you lapse back into silence.
<<include "clothes for clem">>"It's alright, Clem. This is just how it is," you say, your face twitching. You don't look at them when you speak.
"But are //you// alright, $name?" Clementine prompts gently.
You feel your face twitch again, and you stare down at your hands, still curled atop the jacket. Gods. Every time they say your name. Why do they say it like that? You can feel them staring at you, but when it becomes clear you're not going to respond, they shift back a bit, and you lapse back into silence.
<<include "clothes for clem">>"No, I'm not fucking okay," you snap, shooting them a look before taking a deep breath.
"$name..."
You put your face in your hands, sighing loudly again. Gods. Every time they say your name. Why do they say it like that?
You drop your hands then, slumping back against the bench. You can still feel Clementine staring at you, but they don't say anything else, and you lapse back into silence.
<<include "clothes for clem">>"Just - don't," you mutter, leaning forward, your face twitching. There's no reason to talk about it; just ignore it. That's what you have to do.
"$name..."
You put your face in your hands, sighing loudly again. Gods. Every time they say your name. Why do they say it like that?
You drop your hands then, slumping back against the bench.
"Just leave it," you say. You can still feel Clementine staring at you, but they don't say anything else, and you lapse back into silence.
<<include "clothes for clem">>"Damn," you say, laughing weakly, "I didn't think I was //that// ugly."
Clementine gives you a very unamused look, pursing their lips.
"$name...," they say gently, and you look away, clenching your jaw. Gods. Every time they say your name. Why do they say it like that?
"Don't worry about me," you sigh, slumping back against the bench. You can still feel them watching you, but they don't say anything else, and you lapse back into silence.
<<include "clothes for clem">>This is nothing new for you. You just. Need a moment. And then you can pretend like it never happened at all. <<if ($c_relationship eq 5) or ($c_relationship eq 6)>>Just like everything else - sweep it under to rug; let it rot out of sight.<</if>>
A few more minutes pass before you hear the outfitter's footsteps approaching. You go a bit rigid on the bench, once again tightening your grip on Clem's jacket.
Clementine stands before the woman comes around the counter, her arms full of furs, and she awkwardly stops in front of you.
"Um. So I have a few things. The only cloak, though, is a bit long. I could, uh, tailor it though, if you'd like," she stumbles through her words, anxiously glancing between you and Clementine. She doesn't really look //at// you, more like the spot on the wall just behind your head.
"That's alright," Clementine says, holding their arms out, and the woman carefully shifts the load of clothes to them.
"I also have shoes and gloves, when you're ready for them." She wrings her hands for a moment. "If you need anything, I'll just be. Over there," she jabs her thumb over her shoulder, pointing around the corner to the counter on the other side. Clementine just smiles and nods, and the woman gives you both a quick bow before darting away again.
[[Continue ->clothing montage]]Clementine comes back over to the bench and dumps the clothes onto the spot beside you, where they had just been sitting. It looks like a few tunics, only two pairs of pants, an obnoxious fur coat, and the over-sized cloak.
<<if $hand_on_shoulder>>You watch them, glancing down at their jacket in your lap, before looking back up at them. Your fingers trace the embroidery, touching the cold metal of some of the bells, and again you see that face in your mind, wide eyes, afraid of you. Clementine is hardly the first person to react that way - but it bothers you, it bothers you so fucking much, more than it ever has before. But it shouldn't matter, you know this, and yet. And yet.
"Hmmm." Clementine pulls you from your thoughts, and you blink, still staring at them, and they tap their finger to their chin, their nose twitching slightly. They're staring at the pile of clothes beside you, considering their options. Clearly, not impressed.<<else>>"Hmmm." Clementine taps their finger to their chin, and you can just see their nose twitch. //Not impressed//.<</if>>
They pull the tunics from the pile first, thick and heavy, soft fur lining all three of them. You're not surprised when Clementine favors the one with color - a dark blue, almost black - tucking it under their arm with a sigh. They only half-heartedly look at the pants, just taking the first pair from the top.
They walk across to the little alcove, throwing open the curtain and blinking at the cramped space inside.
"Not the worst place I've had to change before...," they muse, and you raise an eyebrow at that. But Clementine just steps inside and jerks the curtain closed, leaving you sitting alone on the bench.
You can hear the outfitter tapping nervously somewhere, not the counter, hiding in the back room, you think - you do your best to ignore her. Shifting Clem's jacket from your lap, you pull out the other tunics in the pile, both rather bland, shades of brown with more brown fur. //Especially// bland for Clementine. Lea prefers blue colors as well, the tunic Clementine took with them looking similar to something $l_they would wear. Grabbing the cloak, it feels warm and heavy, also lined with fur, though not as thick as the tunics. You nod your approval, and can't help but note it's another shade of blue, a bit lighter than the tunic, with warm, freckled brown fur that's almost white in some spots.
<<if $c_relationship isnot 6 and $hand_on_shoulder eq false and $c_flirt gte 2>>[[Continue ->can you help me]]<<else>>[[Continue ->montage 1]]<</if>>So focused on the clothes, you startle a bit when Clementine's head suddenly pokes out of the curtain, their curls looking even wilder than usual.<<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $c_tattoos to true>>
"Hi," they say, smiling at you.
You look up at them, questioning, setting the cloak aside.
Clementine grips the curtain between their hands, glancing down and twisting it a bit. "Will you... help me?"
"Uh. Okay," you say, standing from the bench and walking over to them. You glance over your shoulder, but it's just you in the shop. Turning back to Clementine, they tug on the curtain a bit more before finally stepping back into the alcove and opening it, just wide enough for you.
They've removed the black bodice, as well as their trousers and their shoes, nothing but the white dress now, and you shift on your feet, doing your best to focus your attention on Clementine's face.
"It's just. The buttons, they're on the back..." Clementine trails off, bundling the front of the dress in their hands and twisting that now. You blink stupidly at them, but they just smile and turn around, using one hand to hold up some of the longer curls on the back of their neck. The collar is high, right up to their hairline, though the ruffles are only in the front.
The back of the dress is actually very plain besides the buttons, straight down the middle, from the neck down to their lower back. White buttons on white fabric.
Clementine glances back at you, and you can see they're blushing. So are you.
<<if $shy gte $bold>>"Um. Okay," you say again, immediately cursing yourself for it. //Say something else, stupid//.
"Just. I'll be careful, with your hair." You cringe again, wanting to just pass through the floor and into the earth.
Clementine nods, stills holding their curls, their head tilted forward now, waiting.
You reach up, hesitating, chewing the inside of your cheek. You flex your hands. And then undo the first few buttons, carefully untangling some of their hair where it's caught around the stitching. Clementine shivers as your fingers brush the back of their neck, pushing some of their baby hairs away, and you can only imagine how cold your hands are.
"Sorry," you say quietly, halfway down their back now, staring at nothing else but your hands. Clementine drops their arm, freeing their hair and pulling at the neck of the dress as you finish undoing the last few buttons. You jerk your hands back, pinning them to your sides as the dress falls open at the back under Clementine's guidance, exposing their bare skin. You stare, eyes widening at the tattoos now revealed, that you never would have guessed were there.<<else>>You smile at them, and their blush deepens, and they duck back around, hiding behind their curls. They're still holding their hair with one hand, and as you step closer they tilt their head forward for you.
You flex your hands before reaching up and undoing the first few buttons, carefully untangling some of their hair where it's caught around the stitching. Clementine shivers as your fingers brush the back of their neck, pushing some of their baby hairs away, and you can only imagine how cold your hands are.
"Sorry, Clementine," you say, your voice low, and they shiver again, and you can't help the slight satisfaction you feel at that reaction. You're about halfway down their back when Clem drops their arm, freeing their hair and pulling at the neck of the dress just as you finish undoing the last of the buttons. The dress falls open at Clementine's guidance, exposing their bare skin, and you jerk your hands back, pinning your arms to your sides, but you're unable to stop staring at the tattoos revealed now, that you never would have guessed were there.<</if>>
"Wow," you say softly, and you resist the urge to reach up and touch the artistry there.
Gold wings, starting in the middle of Clementine's upper back, along their shoulder blades, tattooed as if they were really a part of them, extending and vanishing beneath the sleeves of their dress, you assume going all the way down to at least their elbows, maybe their forearms.
And with the high collar pulled back, you can see golden laurels encircling Clementine's neck, delicate leaves drawn as if they were just resting on their skin.
Clementine finally turns around now, grinning at you, holding the front of the dress up, their cheeks still tinged pink.
"Thank you," they say, giggling, and with a wink they snap the curtain closed.
[[Continue ->can you help me 1]]You jerk your head up at the sound of the curtain sliding open, Clementine posing in the alcove with a goofy grin. You set the cloak aside as they step out and spin around, the new tunic billowing out a bit. They also have the new pants on, and both fit suprisingly well, considering they aren't tailored at all.
"What do - wait!" Clementine cuts themself off with a gasp, hopping over to the bench and tugging the huge fur coat free from the pile. You barely manage to catch the other clothes before they fall to the floor, but Clementine doesn't notice, spinning around again and throwing the coat over their shoulders.
You can't help but chuckle at the sight - it's absolutely massive on them, the collar nearly engulfing their entire face, pushing their curls up in various directions. The sleeves go past their hands, and they flap their arms a bit, before putting their hands on their hips and posing again.
"Now it's perfect," they say, tugging the collar down a bit so they don't get fur in their mouth.
"It's definitely something," you say, raising your eyebrows at them. They grin, shuffling through a multitude of poses with the thing, before they devolve into a laughing fit, doubled over in front of you.
<<if $c_flirt eq 0>>You watch, amused, as Clementine eventually straightens back up, spluttering a bit on the collar, before shrugging the coat off. "Wow. That thing is hot," they say, tossing it back onto the bench, though it doesn't quite make it, sliding to the floor. Some of the fur flies through the air, and you wave your hand in front of your face, trying to avoid it from going into //your// mouth.
"Okay. I think this is it. And the cloak, I suppose," Clementine says then, eyeing said cloak beside you. They fall quiet for a moment then, pulling at their new sleeves, adjusting the waist and fidgeting with the clasps on the front.
<<else>>You watch, amused, as Clementine eventually straightens back up, spluttering a bit on the collar. They smooth out the front, petting the fur a bit, before looking back over at you.
They run their hands up the lapels, before dramatically shrugging it off and twirling it around. You just catch their smirk before they toss the coat at you, and you fumble on the bench, the thing draping over your head. It's immediately too warm, and you rip the thing off of you, a bit dramatic yourself, throwing it to the floor.
Clementine laughs again, and you scoff, indignant, but they just shoot you a wink.
You feel your face heat up, //not// because of the coat, <<if $shy gte $bold>><<if $hand_on_shoulder eq false>>and you glance away with a bashful smile.<<else>>and you glance away quickly, surprised, swallowing the sudden lump in your throat.<</if>>
"Well," Clementine says softly then, and you look back over as they take a step towards you, "what do you think?" You blink at them, a bit taken aback at their sudden nervous demeanor after that whole show. They tug on one of their sleeves, not looking at you.<<else>><<if $hand_on_shoulder eq false>>and you narrow your eyes at them, giving them a quick once over that leaves them blushing.<<else>>and your eyes widen for a moment, surprised, blinking a few times before you can react, a small smile quirking your lips as you give then a quick once over that leaves them blushing.<</if>>
"W-well," Clemetine stammers then, looking away from you bashfully, covering their mouth with their hand. It takes them a moment to recover, finally clearing their throat and shifting on their feet. "What... do you think?" You blink at them, a bit taken aback at their sudden nervous demeanor after that whole show. They tug on one of their sleeves, not looking at you.<</if>><</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It looks - you look really good, Clem." ♡' 'you look really good clem'>><<set $shy +=1>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know, I think you need to give me another spin." ♡' 'give me another spin'>><<set $bold +=1>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It looks good. That color suits you, too."' 'that color suits you'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"You look like a proper northerner, now."' 'you look like a proper northerner now'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Definitely warmer at least, yeah?"' 'definitely warmer now'>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><</link>></div>You stand there, stunned, unmoving for a few seconds before you finally manage to stagger back and drop down onto the bench.
You just stare blankly ahead, struggling to recover from... that. Cheeky fucking bard. Pressing a hand to your chest, you take a deep breath, closing your eyes and exhaling slowly. You feel... you don't know what you feel. Looking down at your hands, calloused and scarred, you think that may have just been the gentlest thing you've ever done with them.
//What are you doing?//
What //are// you doing? What did you come here for, really? Your chest tightens, and you lean forward, your elbows on your knees. Last night was one thing - they were supposed to //leave//. You were all supposed to go your separate ways. A clean break. You rub your face roughly, biting down hard on your lip, swallowing the growl of frustration threatening to rise in your throat.
<<if $deal and $for_money>>And now you made this deal. But was it for the money, or something else? How desperate are you, really?<<elseif $deal and $for_free>>And now you agreed to this... arrangement. To help them. And for nothing, because you're //such// a good samaritan. Or maybe you were hoping to get something else out of it. How desperate are you, really?<<elseif $deal and $for_a_song>>And now you made this deal. For a song. How romantic. But is that all you were hoping for? Just how desperate are you, really?<<elseif $c_relationship eq 7>>And now you did all this - going out of your way to apologize. But were you looking for forgiveness, or hoping for something else? Just how desperate are you, really?<</if>> You have to stand, abruptly, nearly knocking Clementine's jacket from the bench and to the floor. You feel too hot, shameful - that old familiar friend of yours. Always checking up on you. Always that hot brand burning on your skin.
Conflicted, you're pulled one way then the other, all of it entangling you, and it constricts, tighter and tighter, a knot in your chest. Heavy.
[[Continue ->can you help me 2]]The sound of the curtain sliding open again makes you clear your throat, shaking your head and standing up straight. You wipe your face on your sleeve, though you don't know why, and you take a moment before turning back around to face Clementine.
"What do you think?" Clementine says, posing in the alcove for you.
You clear your throat again, running a hand over your head. The tunic fits surprisingly well, considering it wasn't made for them, though seeing Clementine in dark clothes is a bit jarring. Their green eyes look even greener against the dark blue, and at the moment, you can't help but notice they're sparkling at you, their smile making you smile, despite everything.
"It looks really good, Clem," is all you manage to say, though.
Their smile softens, and they step out of the alcove towards you. They glance down at their feet, wringing their hands, before looking back at you again.
"Thank you," they say, and the sincerity there makes your chest tighten all over again. Clementine rocks up onto the balls of their feet, and then they seem to hesitate a moment, before taking a few quick steps and reaching out for you.
<<if ($height eq "tallest") or ($height eq "tall") or ($height eq "average")>>They don't touch you, their hand hovering over your arm, rising up onto their tip-toes and you feel yourself tense, eyes widening as you watch them, but you don't step away despite the voice in your head screaming for you to do just that.
Clementine gently presses their lips to your cheek, a kiss that barely registers before they pull away again, dropping back down and smiling up at you, their expression soft, blushing pink, their eyes never leaving your face.<<else>>They don't touch you, their hand hovering over your arm, leaning forward, and you feel yourself tense, eyes widening as you watch them, but you don't step away despite the voice in your head screaming for you to do just that.
Clementine gently presses their lips to your cheek, a kiss that barely registers before they pull away again, stepping back and smiling at you, their expression soft, blushing pink, their eyes never leaving your face.<</if>>
"Thank you," they say again. You just stand there, stunned again, your whole face burning, your body rigid, unresponding, a whining in the back of your mind - like an alarm, signaling you to run, to push away, but you don't want to. You don't want to run - you want to stay.
[[Continue ->can you help me 3]]"Okay. Let me... pay for this. And get shoes," Clementine giggles then, looking down at their socked feet and wiggling their toes.
You nod, unable to speak and not trusting yourself to anyways, watching as they gather up the other clothes from the bench, before precariously teetering off to the counter with their arms nearly overflowing. Your mouth is dry, your head spinning now, and you almost drop back onto the bench. But you need to move, do something, anything - you numbly move and pick up the coat off the floor, then busy yourself with grabbing Clementine's old clothes out of the alcove, mindlessly folding them, ignoring the fact that they're still warm, like the spot on your cheek, hot from their lips.
You drop their bodice and swear, quickly picking it back up, fumbling helplessly. //Fucking keep it together.//
[[Continue ->payment]]After a few minutes, Clementine reappears, free of the extra clothes, save for the cloak, as well as what appears to be a burlap sack slung over their shoulders. Oh, and they have shoes on now.
<<if hasVisited("can you help me")>>You glance away for a moment, clearing your throat, before turning back to them.
"What - what's that for?" you stammer, cringing immediately, and you can't look at them, instead just staring at the bag in their hands.
"I got one of the other tunics, too. And for my old clothes," Clementine says, dropping the sack and the cloak onto the bench next to the pathetic pile you've created. You can feel them watching you, but they don't question you, instead giving you space and moving to stash their clothes into the bag, careful not to ruin your bad folding job. You take a deep breath, forcing yourself to fucking relax.<<else>>You give them a questioning look, nodding towards the sack.
"I got one of the other tunics, too. And for my old clothes," they clarify, dropping it and the cloak onto the bench next to the neat pile you've created. Clementine looks at it then smiles at you. "Thanks for doing that," they say, reaching out and touching the jacket folded carefully on top. They gently tuck their cothes away into the bag, sliding their shoes in on top.<</if>>
Clementine leans the precarious bag of clothes back against the bench and grabs the cloak again, slinging it over their shoulders, pulling it tight around their neck. You watch for a moment as they fumble with the clasp, brow furrowed, their tongue poking out slightly as they try to see beneath their chin.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Let me help."' 'let me help'>><</link>></div>
<<if $c_flirt gte 1>><div id="choice">[[I start to reach out, but think better of it. I can't... do this with them.]]</div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"You can do it." I can\'t help but watch them, a little amused.' 'you can do it'>><</link>></div>"It looks - you look really good, Clem," you say, smiling softly at them. They glance up at you, searching your face for a moment. Then they smile sweetly, rubbing the back of their neck, twisting in place, the tunic flaring out a bit with their movements.
The dark blue contrasts nicely with their sun-kissed skin, and the darker color really makes their green eyes stand out. There's something about them in northern clothes that gets you, and you blink a few times, very aware that you're staring. Clementine, however, all but glows under the attention.
<<if $hand_on_shoulder>>"Thanks, $name," Clementine says then, dropping their hand and stepping towards you. "I... really appreciate you coming with me," they say, and once again they start fidgeting with their sleeve, though they don't drop their gaze from you.
You glance away from them, staring down at your boots. "Yeah," you say, but it comes out weak, and you sigh.
"I mean it," Clementine says quietly.
"Yeah," is all you say again.
You hear Clementine walk back into the alcove, and you lift your head, running a hand over your face. You stand up and pick up the coat off the floor, busying yourself with mindlessly folding the pile of clothes next to you.<<else>>"Thanks, $name," Clementine says then, dropping their hand and stepping towards you. "Thanks for all of this. It's... really helped, get my mind off some things," they say, and once again they start fidgeting with their sleeve, though they don't drop their gaze from you.
"Yeah," you say, nodding, and you shift on the bench, leaning towards them. For a moment, you both just look at each other, and then Clementine giggles, turning away and hopping back over to the alcove. You smile after them, standing from the bench yourself, picking up the coat off the floor and tossing it back onto the pile, which almost immediately topples over.<</if>>
[[Continue ->flirty deal with this]]"I don't know, I think you need to give me another spin," you say, leaning forward on the bench. Clementine gives you a wide-eyed look, before blinking a few times and then they beam at you, taking a step towards you and holding their arms up, graceful as ever, and spinning slow, you're sure in some kind of dance move you're not cultured enough to recognize.
When Clementine's face turns back around to you they're giving you a heavy look, peering through their eyelashes, smiling coyly.
"Was that good?" they ask, dropping their arms and holding them behind their back as they lean down over you on the bench.
You grin up at them, watching their curls fall around their face, your heart skipping as they tilt their head closer and closer. <<if $hand_on_shoulder>>The tension from the lift transforms into something else between you now, pulled taut, a bow string ready to snap.<</if>>
Then Clementine laughs, and spins around away from you, hopping back over to the alcove.
You shake your head, releasing a long breath, <<if $hand_on_shoulder>>watching them for a moment, before closing your eyes. You clench your one hand again, unsure about where the line is between you and Clementine right now.<<else>>smiling after them.<</if>>
You run your hand over your head, standing then, willing away the sudden heat creeping up your neck. You snatch the fur coat up off the floor, tossing it back onto the pile, and you eye the rest, picking them up now, distracting yourself.
[[Continue ->flirty deal with this]]"It looks good. That color suits you, too," you say, giving them an encouraging smile.
They blush, twisting in place, glancing down at the new tunic, pulling at the front. The dark blue can't hold a candle to their jacket, but the darker color makes their green eyes look even brighter, and it genuinely does look good on them.
"Thank you, $name," Clementine says, giving you a warm smile. <<if hasVisited("This is just part of the deal. They want me to keep Merry away from them - I'll do it.")>>"I know you only came because of our deal. But I really appreciate this. <<if $hand_on_shoulder eq false>>It's helped take my mind off... some things," Clementine says then, wringing their hands.
"Yeah. Sure," you nod, glancing down at your feet.<<else>>I really appreciate you coming with me," Clementine says then, wringing their hands.
"Yeah. Sure," you nod, glancing down at your feet.<</if>><<else>><<if $hand_on_shoulder>>"I... really appreciate you coming with me," they say, glancing down and fidgeting with their sleeve again.
You clear your throat, nodding. "Yeah."<<else>>"I really appreciate all of this. It's helped take my mind off... some things," Clementine says then, wringing their hands.
"Of course, Clem."<</if>><</if>>
Clementine smiles, but it's small, and they still seem nervous, almost uneasy.
"Maybe... maybe you can sew //one// bell on the tunic later," you joke, trying to lighten the mood back up.
Their mouth twitches, but they can't suppress the playful look in their eye, now. "Only one?" they say, giving you a pleading look.
"Okay, two. Maybe three," you concede, and they laugh then, relaxing again, their shoulders easing back, their hands dropping to their sides. They give you a real smile this time, before turning around and heading back into the alcove. You stare after them for a moment, before standing yourself, picking up the ugly coat off the floor and setting it back onto the bench. You eye the other clothes as well, and busy yourself with organizing the pile.
[[Continue ->friendly deal with this]]"You look like a proper northerner, now," you say, giving them an agreeable nod. That's what matters the most, at the end of the day. Hopefully the change will keep the nosey stares to a minimum, at least.
Clementine chuckles quietly, shaking their head. "I don't think I'll ever be a proper northerner. The accent gives me away, anyways," they say, pursing their lips.
"As long as you //look// like one," you say, shrugging. "It helps." You pause for a moment, glancing down at your boots. "People out here... I mean. It will get better for you, Clementine," you try to be encouraging, but you're tone isn't very convincing, and you wince a bit, still staring down at your boots.
"Yeah," is all Clementine says, sighing and wringing their hands. You lift your head up again, watching them for a moment.
"It does look good, Clem," you try again, and they glance back up at you, a small smile on their lips. The dark blue is a startling difference from their jacket, but the darker color makes their green eyes look even brighter, and it genuinely does look good on them.
"Thank you, $name," Clementine says, seeming to relax a bit then, dropping their hands and smiling a little wider, before turning around and heading back into the alcove. You stare after them for a moment, before standing yourself, picking up the ugly coat off the floor and setting it back onto the bench. You eye the other clothes as well, and busy yourself with organizing the pile.
[[Continue ->friendly deal with this]]"Definitely warmer at least, yeah?" you prompt, leaning forward on the bench.
"Yeah," Clementine says with a sigh. "Never worn fur before," they mutter, more to themself than you. They adjust the tunic a bit, pulling at the waist, the collar, the sleeves, before just dropping their arms back to their sides.
"Yeah. I'll be warmer now," they say, turning around and stepping back into the alcove. You stare after them for a moment, before standing yourself, picking up the ugly coat off the floor and setting it back onto the bench. You eye the other clothes as well, and busy yourself with organizing the pile.
[[Continue ->friendly deal with this]]You gather the clothes as best you can, sloppily folding them, trying your best not to think too hard about what the hell it is you think you're doing with Clementine. You close your eyes, swallowing thickly, jerkily folding one of the tunics. Before you can spiral, though, Clementine comes back out of the alcove, dropping their shoes on the floor next to you. You blink at them, and quirk an eyebrow at their socked feet.
<<include "payment 1">>You sloppily fold the pile of clothes, keeping the cloak on top for Clementine. Coming back out of the alcove, Clementine drops their shoes on the floor next to you. You blink over at them, and quirk an eyebrow at their socked feet.
<<include "payment 1">>"I'll go... pay for this. And get shoes," they say, wiggling their toes with a laugh. They grab the pile of clothes, turning on their heel and teetering around to the counter. You don't follow, instead grabbing Clementine's jacket, and the rest of their clothes out of the alcove. You focus intently on folding them now, far more careful than with the outfitter's clothes, and you purposefully ignore the sound of their conversation as Clementine pays.
<<include "payment">>You start to reach out, your hand hanging in the air, Clementine oblivious as they stare down at their hands at their throat. You pull back, curling your hand into a fist at your side.
<<if $hand_on_shoulder eq false>>You shouldn't... you //can't// do this with them.<<else>>What the fuck are you thinking? You'll just scare them again. You can't do this with them.<</if>>
The clasp clicks into place then, and Clementine drops their hands, raising their head and grinning at you. "Got it," they say with a little laugh, grabbing the hem of the cloak and pulling it tight around them.
"Yeah," you say, giving them a jerky nod. "That one should keep you proper warm."
<<include "clem is ready">><<if $c_flirt gte 1>><<if $hand_on_shoulder eq false>>"Let me help," you say,<<if hasVisited("can you help me")>> despite yourself, despite the way your face still burns,<</if>> and Clementine raises their head, letting you take the clasp and clip it around their throat. Your hand brushes against the bare skin of their neck as you shift the collar into place, and you jerk your hand back, clenching it at your side.
Clementine either doesn't notice, or pretends not to, instead reaching up and running their hand over the clasp and the soft fur on the lining of the collar.
"Thank you," they say, giving you a warm smile.
"Yeah," you say gruffly, running a hand over your head, not quite looking at them.<<else>>"Let - let me help you," you say, despite yourself, despite the way your one hand flexes automatically, clenching at your side, still feeling the burn from the lift, even now.
Clementine stops their struggling with the clasp, looking over at you. Slowly, they lower their hands, and step forward, tilting their head back, exposing their throat. You take the clasp and quickly clip it properly, carefully adjusting the collar for them, gently fixing where it folded under as they had pulled at it.
You blink, slowly lowering your hands, and Clementine is smiling at you, //glowing//, and you look away, unable to stand having that directed at you.
"Thank you," Clementine says softly, pulling the cloak tightly around them, and you just nod, though you feel a warmth in your chest, at being trusted, at being allowed close.<</if>><<else>>"Let me help," you say, and Clementine raises their head, letting you take the clasp and clip it around their throat. You turn the collar a bit, adjusting the heavy cloak around their shoulders, before stepping back and giving them an approving nod.
"Thank you," they say, running their hand over the clasp and the soft fur on the lining of the collar.
"Sure," you say with another nod, "you'll get more familiar with it after you do it a few times."
Clementine smiles at you, holding the hem of the cloak and pulling it tight around them.<</if>>
<<include "clem is ready">>"You can do it," you say, watching them, amused. Clementine makes a show of it, dramatically pulling at the clasp, grinning at you. They flex their arms and give one big yank, and somehow actually manage to clip it in place.
"Got it!" Clementine says victoriously.
"Well done," you say, and they shoot you a look. They're still smiling, though, grabbing the hem of the cloak now and pulling it tight around them.
<<include "clem is ready">>"Okay!" Clementine exclaims then, throwing the cloak out and letting it drape naturally around them. "I'm ready." They grab their burlap sack off the bench and slide their arm through the large strap, pulling it across their shoulders and shifting it to rest against their back.
"Okay," you say, and you check the bench one last time, confirming all of the stray clothes have been gathered, before heading for the door. <<if hasVisited("I take off my hood and smile back")>>Pulling your hood back up over your head, you fidget with your cloak for a moment, adjusting it and pulling it down over your face as far as you can get away with. Clementine watches you, but doesn't say anything, instead just turning towards the door.<</if>> You hold it open again for Clementine, the bell ringing softly, but Clem pauses and turns back, giving a small wave to the outfitter.
"Thank you," Clementine says, before hopping out the door. You glance back at her as well, where she stands again behind the counter, but you don't say anything before slipping out onto the street.
[[Continue ->back in the market street]]Stepping back out into the bustle of the market, it's still packed with people, despite the late hour and the city growing dark around you. Lamps have flickered on, illuminating the cobblestones, and it takes you a few seconds of blinking before your eyes adjust.
You and Clementine start off again, heading off down the main street in the direction of the lift. You're not entirely sure where Jack's is from here... but you figure you can at least get back to the lift, then figure it out from there.
It's strange now, without the sound of the bells as you go, and you glance over at Clementine, with their bag looking comically large on their back. But they don't seem to be straining, hefting it up and adjusting it easily as you both continue on.
Once you pass by the lift, and get a good distance away from it so it's not splitting your skull with the noise, you slow your pace, turning to Clementine.
"Any idea how Merry got us here from Jack's?" you ask, the two of you stepping out of the flow of the crowd. Clementine makes a face, giving a quick look around before leaning back towards you.
"Maybe we should just ask someone?" they offer.
[[Continue ->maybe we should ask someone]]You chew on the inside of your cheek, not particularly fond of that suggestion, taking a few steps down the street, craning your neck, hoping to catch sight of any recognizable landmark.
You got nothing.
//Really should have asked Merry...// Guess it doesn't hurt to just keep walking.
"Clem –" you start to turn back to them, but get cut off by someone shoving into your back, and you stagger forward, just managing to catch yourself and stay on your feet.
Spinning around, you see a few familiar faces. The dockworkers from earlier, crowding you, one of them pushing Clementine back into you again. You manage to catch them, your hands on their shoulders, steadying them as the worker steps towards you.
"A change of clothes, huh? You can't cover your southern stench that easy. What are you trying to hide, mate?" the man sneers, glaring down at Clementine. "You here to take notes for Lord Duncan?" He spits as he says Duncan's name, and you can hear the street growing quiet, restless as people slow, turning to watch. Your skin prickles, and you curse yourself for not watching your back. Seems this Lord Duncan is quite the unpopular man, and not just with Merry.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Easy. We\'re all friends of Redwine, here."' 'all friends of redwine'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"That\'s quite enough."' 'thats quite enough'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Fuck off, //mate//."' 'fuck off mate'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I freeze up. Monsters are one thing. But this... they're all staring at me.]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>"Clementine -" you take a step towards them, but the man steps between you, shoving Clementine away again, and blocking you. You can feel the eyes of the onlookers burning through your cloak, loud whispers swirling around you. Tensing, you stand rigid, glancing around frantically in the shadows of your hood. The murmurs of the crowd sound cacophonous in your ears, and you clench your fists, swallowing hard.
The man's lips twitch into a cruel grin, glaring at you where you stand.
"Was that an accent, I heard? A southerner and a Gael. There's a joke here, I know it," he says, leering at you.
"$name," Clementine's voice sounds far away, and you can just see them hovering at the edge of the growing crowd, though you're unable to truly look at them, eclipsed by the presence of this stranger in front of you.
//Come on, coward. Fucking say something.//
<<include "escalating fight">>"Easy. We're all friends of Redwine, here," you say, holding your hands up and moving between Clementine and this stranger.
The man's lip twitches, and he focuses his glare on you now, still hiding under your hood.
"Keep Redwine's name out of your filthy mouth," the man says, sneering at you. He steps towards you, and you take a step back, your hands still up.
"A southerner and a Gael. There's a joke here, I know it," he says, shaking his head as he looks you up and down.
"$name," Clementine whispers behind you, putting a hand on your arm.
<<include "escalating fight">>"That's enough," you say, holding your hands up and moving between Clementine and this stranger.
The man's lip twitches, and he focuses his glare on you now, still hiding under your hood.
"A southerner and a Gael. There's a joke here, I know it," he says, stepping towards you. You move back, keeping your hands up.
"$name," Clementine whispers behind you, putting a hand on your arm.
<<include "escalating fight">>"Fuck off, //mate//," you hiss, pulling Clementine back behind you.
The man's lip twitches, and he focuses his glare on you now, still hiding under your hood.
"A southerner and a Gael. There's a joke here, I know it," he says, stepping towards you. Unmoving, you just stare at him from the shadows of your hood, daring him closer.
"$name," Clementine whispers behind you, putting a hand on your arm.
<<include "escalating fight">><<if not hasVisited("I freeze up. Monsters are one thing. But this... they're all staring at me.")>><div id="choice"><<link '"Oh, do tell this joke."' 'do tell this joke'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"Touch me or my friend again and I\'ll break your arm."' 'break your arm'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Not just a Gael, asshole." //Pull off your hood.//' 'not just a gael asshole'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<<if hasVisited("I freeze up. Monsters are one thing. But this... they're all staring at me.")>><div id="choice"><<link '"We\'re just - we\'re just leaving. Let\'s calm down."' 'we are just leaving'>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if not hasVisited("I freeze up. Monsters are one thing. But this... they're all staring at me." or "fuck off mate")>><div id="choice"><<link '"We\'re just leaving, yeah? Let\'s calm down."' 'lets calm down'>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice">[[I'm not trying to cause a scene. I back off and walk away.]]</div><<if hasVisited("fuck off mate")>>You let Clementine pull you back, moving away from the stranger. While you would love to give this dick a piece of your mind, garnering even more attention is the last thing you need, or particularly want.
"Let's go," Clem says quietly, their hand still on your arm, squeezing lightly as you turn away from the man.<<elseif hasVisited("I freeze up. Monsters are one thing. But this... they're all staring at me.")>>You take a few steps back, raising your hands, swallowing thickly as everyone's eyes follow your movements. Then Clementine is there, beside you, a hand on your arm, whispering your name. They squeeze your arm lightly, pulling you back.
"Let's go, $name," Clem says quietly, and you both turn away from the man.<<else>>You let Clementine pull you back, moving away from the stranger, your hands still up as a deterrent.
"Let's go," Clem says quietly, their hand still on your arm, squeezing lightly as you turn away from the man.<</if>>
<<include "clem leads you away">><<if hasVisited("fuck off mate")>>"Oh, do tell this joke," you snap, your voice thick with sarcasm. Clementine squeezes your arm lightly, pulling on you a bit, trying to lead you away.
The man scoffs at you, unfazed by your comment. "Keep running your mouth. Just give me an excuse," he says, and he jabs you hard in the chest with his finger, forcing you to take a step back.
Clementine's hand tightens again, and this time they truly make an effort to pull you away.
"Let's go," they say, pleading with you now.
As much as you want to give this bastard a mean hook, you've already pushed it a bit far with this. The eyes on you now – it's not good, it's never good. You're lucky it's as dark as it is, and they can't see your eyes. Clenching your jaw, you give the man one last glare, before finally letting Clem guide you away.<<else>>The man's tone gets under your skin, and you drop your hands, glaring at him from beneath your hood.
"Oh, do tell this joke," you snap, your voice thick with sarcasm now. He smirks at your tonal shift, clearly enjoying the fact he managed to rile you up. Asshole.
"Just give me an excuse," he says, quieter now, just for you to hear.
Clementine squeezes your arm lightly. "$name, let's just go," they say.
Your face twitches, and your hands flex into fists at your side. As much as you would enjoy giving this bastard a mean hook, you've already pushed it a bit far with this. There are eyes on you now – it's not good, never good. You're lucky it's as dark as it is, and they can't see your eyes. Clenching your jaw, you give the man one last glare, before finally letting Clem guide you away.<</if>>
<<include "clem leads you away">><<if hasVisited("I freeze up. Monsters are one thing. But this... they're all staring at me.")>>Something flips then, in your mind, this man in your space, his tone, the way he looks down his nose at you. Your uneasiness evaporates, your hands clenching at your sides, and you find your voice.
"Touch me or my friend again and I'll break your arm," you snarl, stepping forward and forcing the man to back up. He blinks at you for a moment, clearly surprised at your tonal shift, but then he just scoffs, looking between you and Clementine and shaking his head.<<elseif hasVisited("fuck off mate")>>"Touch me or my friend again and I'll break your arm," you growl, unmoving as the man leers at you. He just scoffs, looking between you and Clementine and shaking his head.<<else>>The man's tone gets under your skin, and you drop your hands, glaring at him from beneath your hood.
"Touch me or my friend again and I'll break your arm," you snarl, stepping forward and forcing the man to back up. He blinks at you for a moment, clearly surprised at your tonal shift, but then he just scoffs, looking between you and Clementine and shaking his head.<</if>>
Clem squeezes your arm then, pulling gently. "$name, let's go," they say.
"You should listen to your friend, //$name//," the man says, grinning at you.
Clementine pulls you again, more forcefully this time. "$name," they plead with you now. They try to move a bit between you and the stranger, in an attempt to force you apart, but the man scoffs again and shoves Clementine away, their hand ripping from your arm at the force.
[[Continue ->break your arm 1]]<<if hasVisited("fuck off mate")>>"Not just a Gael, asshole," you say, stepping up to him and jerking your hood off.
A collective gasp ripples through the gathered crowd, and the man balks at your reveal.
You can still feel Clem's hand on your arm, squeezing lightly as you stare down the stranger. He doesn’t say anything, his eyes wide, mouth opening and closing stupidly, like a fish.<<elseif hasVisited("I freeze up. Monsters are one thing. But this... they're all staring at me.")>>Something flips then, in your mind, this man in your space, his tone, the way he looks down his nose at you. Your uneasiness evaporates, your hands clenching at your sides, and you find your voice.
"Not just a Gael, asshole," you say, stepping up to him and jerking your hood off.
A collective gasp ripples through the gathered crowd, and the man balks at your reveal.
Clementine is there at your side then, their hand reaching out, touching your arm.
They pull at your arm gently as you stare down the stranger. He doesn't say anything, his eyes wide, mouth opening and closing stupidly, like a fish.<<else>>The man's tone gets under your skin, and you drop your hands, glaring at him from beneath your hood.
"Not just a Gael, asshole," you say, stepping up to him and jerking your hood off.
A collective gasp ripples through the gathered crowd, and the man balks at your reveal.
Clementine is there at your side then, their hand reaching out, touching your arm. They pull at you gently as you stare down the stranger. He doesn't say anything, his eyes wide, mouth opening and closing stupidly, like a fish.<</if>>
<<include "lets go clem says">>"We're just - we're just leaving. Let's calm down," you finally manage to say, raising your hands defensively, swallowing the lump in your throat.
Clementine is there then, at your side, a hand on your arm, whispering your name. The man curls his lips at the two of you, and Clementine squeezes your arm, gently pulling you back.
"Let's go, $name," Clem says quietly, and you numbly let Clementine turn you away.
<<include "clem leads you away">>"Look, we're just leaving, yeah? Let's calm down," you say, your arms still up in an attempt to deter any escalation, and you let Clementine pull you back, moving away from the stranger.
"Let's go," Clem says quietly, their hand squeezing you lightly as you turn away.
<<include "clem leads you away">>You don't hesitate, lunging forward, grabbing his wrist and jerking him towards you, twisting his arm around behind his back. He staggers forward, his feet catching on the cobblestones, but you hold him up, pulling him close to you.
"What did I just fucking say?" you hiss, your lips right next to his ear. He tries to squirm free from your grip, but you hold fast, dodging him when he surges backwards and tries to headbutt you. He starts reaching blindly behind him with his free arm, swiping at your face. You easily avoid his frantic, outstretched hand, but his fingers just manage to catch your hood, and you jerk your head back, your hood falling away.
There's a loud, collective gasp around you, the sound of people scattering, running. Running from you.
Your hands curl around his forearm, and the man whimpers as you kick the back of his knees, sending him to the ground. Anger burns in your chest, electricity thrumming in the air all around you. People are yelling at you now, shouting, but no one makes a move to stop you.
Except Clementine. Their hand on your shoulder, they tug on your cloak, their voice panicked beside you. "We have to go," they say. "Please, $name."
<div id="choice">[[Let him go.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Break his arm.]]>><<set $sanity -=5>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>Looking at Clementine, you search their face for a moment, before turning back to the man on his knees in front of you. With a frustrated growl you release his arm, but still kick him in the back, sending him sprawling into the street.
Clementine stands beside you, looking down at the man now cowering on the ground. They blink a few times, then reach out and grab your wrist, not waiting for you to respond, just pulling you away, past the gathered audience. You can't help but stare back at the man still on the ground, at the people that swarm around him as you go.
[[Continue ->mad dash w clem]]You turn away from Clementine, tightening your grip on the man's arm, raising it up over your knee.
"I warned you," you say, just before you bring his arm down over your leg, snapping it easily. Like it's nothing. He lets out a strangled scream, keeling forward as you drop his arm and kick him into the street.
You're breathing hard now, taking a few steps back, flexing your hands.
<<include "mad dash wo clem">><<set $reluctant_fight to true>>You snarl, twisting in their arms, and you watch as someone else pushes Clementine down in front of you.
"I was trying to walk away!" you growl, gripping the arm that wraps around your throat. You dig in your nails, letting your anger burn, consuming you, lightning forming and flashing across the dark city sky.
You hear a whimper as the person tries to let go of you, but you hold fast, reaching back and grabbing a handful of their clothes and wrenching them forward, flipping them over you and slamming them down onto their back.
The man gasps, the wind knocked out of him, and you watch as he tries frantically to scramble away from you. Taking a few steps, you stalk after him, your power humming in the air, a few people shouting and others running, but none making a move towards you.
"Fucking coward," you sneer. "My back was turned."
Clementine stands in front of you, looking down at the man still cowering on the ground. They blink a few times, then look at you, quickly moving to your side, and grabbing your wrist.
"Let's go," they say, not waiting for you to respond, instead pulling you away and past the gathered audience. You can't help but stare back at the man still on the ground, at the people that swarm around him as you go.
[[Continue ->mad dash w clem]]<<set $violent_fight to true>>You snarl, twisting in their arms, and you watch as someone else pushes Clementine down in front of you.
Grabbing at the arms trying to grapple you, you dig in your nails, letting your anger burn, consuming you, lightning forming and flashing against the dark city sky.
You hear a whimper as the person tries to let go of you, but you hold fast, reaching back and grabbing a handful of their clothes and wrenching them forward, flipping them over you and slamming them down onto their back.
The man gasps, the wind knocked out of him, and he tries to scramble away but you move around him, putting a foot on either side of him and reaching down to grab his throat. A few people are shouting, others are running, but no one else makes a move towards you.
"You're the fucking joke here," you sneer, tightening your hand on his throat. He thrashes beneath you, slapping at your face, but you lift him up and slam him back down, his head bouncing against the cold cobblestones, his feet kicking uselessly beneath you.
"Fucking coward. My back was turned!" You slam him down again, ignoring his hands as they claw at your arms. Straddling him, you wind back and hit him once. Hit him twice. Again. His blood splatters around you, and you pull back again, watching him squirm.
Someone grabs your arm, though, holding you back.
You wrench your arm free with a snarl, turning to see Clementine there, already reaching to grab you again. "$name, please. Let's go," they say, clinging to you, all but whispering it into your ear.
<div id="choice">[[Let him go and leave.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Hit him one more time.]]>><<set $sanity -=5>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>"Let's go," Clem says quietly behind you.
For a moment, you debate giving the guy a good hook across the jaw, but instead you let Clementine pull you back, and you turn away, walking off down the street. You've already pushed this too far – Lea will chew you out later, you're sure.
People scramble away from you as you go, but you only make it a few steps before something hard pulls back on your cloak,<<if not hasVisited("not just a gael asshole")>> ripping your hood off,<</if>> and you stagger backwards. Hands grab at you from behind, grasping at your face, your arms, trying to pull you down to the ground.
<<if hasVisited("fuck off mate")>><<include "violent fight">><<else>><<include "reluctant fight">><</if>>Clementine starts to lead you down the street, and people scramble away from you as you go, seeming to hold their breath. But you only make it a few steps before something pulls hard on your cloak, your hood slipping off, and you stagger backwards, hands grabbing at you from behind and trying to pull you down to the ground.
<<if hasVisited("fuck off mate")>><<include "violent fight">><<else>><<include "reluctant fight">><</if>>More shouting, and you look up and can see some soldiers coming down the street, pointing at you and Clementine.
Clementine squeezes your wrist and you turn to them, letting them lead you along.
With your other hand, you reach up and pull your hood back up, ducking your head and breaking into a run, Clementine matching your pace as you both make a mad dash away from the pursuing soldiers.
You head for the nearest alley, Clementine letting go of your wrist as you both run side by side. The two of you duck through the shadows of the raised buildings, darting around the precarious stilts, and it's cooler now in the dark. You and Clementine move erratically, choosing directions at random, slipping behind whatever you can. You look back again, and slow, seeing no sign of pursuers. You must have lost them in the shadows. Pulling your hood up farther over your face, you slink along, Clem at your heels, wary of anyone walking too close to you, talking too loud. You're not sure where you are, and you glance up through the city above you, the day only growing darker as the light from the sun barely reaches you now, as it sets below the cliffs, beyond the water.
As you continue to walk through the stilts, you begin to feel uneasy, a creeping dread rising in your stomach, clawing at your chest, lodging in your throat. In the long shadows at the edge of your vision you swear you see something lurking, looking at you with eyes like molten gold, and you snap your head around, sucking in a sharp breath. But there's nothing there. Greeted by uncomfortable stares of strangers passing you by, you quickly turn away, pulling your cloak tighter around you, bristling at the looks, the eyes burning into you.
You try to just keep going, one foot in front of the other, but the evening seems to strain around you, the shadows lengthening right before your eyes, stretching into grotesque shapes, dark water churning in the cracks between the cobblestones, something breathing down the back of your neck, it's stalking you, //right behind you// -
"$name."
You startle at the sound of your name, turning to see Clementine reaching a hand out for you, moving to guide you towards a small alley hidden amongst random storage crates.
<<include "reluctant fight reacts">><div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m fine." My tone is far from convincing.' 'my tone is far from convincing'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Are you okay?" I reach out for them, too.' 'i reach out for them too'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry." I can\'t look at them.' 'i still cant look at them'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I wanted to walk away..." my voice doesn\'t sound like my own.' 'my voice doesnt sound like my own'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't say anything, and just move into the alley with them.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I step away from them, dodging their hand and scowling.]]>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You glare down at the man, blood bubbling from his mouth, spilling across your hand still tight around his throat. Your face twitches, and you feel Clementine holding you, pulling gently. Slowly, you release him, rising and stepping back, watching as he struggles to scramble away from you.
Clementine slides their hand down your arm and wraps their fingers around your wrist. "Let's go," they say, not waiting for you to respond, quickly starting off down the street, the crowd gathered around quickly parting for you.
You can't help but stare back at the man still on the ground, at the people that swarm around him as you go.
[[Continue ->mad dash w clem]]You push Clem away and hit the man one more time. The satisfying crunch of his nose breaking beneath your knuckles, his head cracking against the stones again. He finally goes limp beneath you, his head rolling back.
Standing, you glare down at him, breathing hard.
<<include "mad dash wo clem">>There are distant shouts coming towards you, and you turn to Clementine, but find them gone. Up the street you can see soldiers running towards you, pointing and calling out. All around you people stare with wide eyes, hands covering mouths, and when you step away from the unconscious man they all push back as quick as they can, getting out of your way, the fear palpable in the air, as thick as the metallic smell of blood on your hands.
Pulling your hood back up you immediately make for the nearest alley, cutting beneath raised buildings, away from the main street and incoming soldiers. You don't know where Clementine is, you just know you need to get away from here.
[[Continue ->mad dash wo clem 1]]You break into a run, darting through the shadows, heading in what you hope is the general direction of Jack's. Glancing back, you can still see some soldiers giving chase, and you swear. This is the last thing you need.
Your anger still burns hot in your chest, and you shove your way through any group stupid enough to walk in front of you, knocking people back and throwing whatever you can into the path behind you. You move erratically, choosing directions at random, ducking behind whatever you can. After an intense sprint, you look back again, and slow, seeing no sign of pursuers. You must have lost them through the stilts. Pulling your hood up farther over your face, you slink along, wary of anyone walking too close to you. You're not quite sure where you are, and the day is only growing darker, the light from the sun barely reaching the city now as it sets below the cliffs, beyond the water.
As you continue to walk through the stilts, you begin to feel uneasy, a creeping dread rising in your stomach, clawing at your chest, lodging in your throat. In the long shadows at the edge of your vision you swear you see something lurking, looking at you with eyes like molten gold, and you snap your head around, sucking in a sharp breath. But there's nothing there. Greeted by uncomfortable stares of strangers passing you by, you quickly turn away, pulling your cloak tighter around you, bristling at the looks, the eyes burning into you.
You try to just keep going, one foot in front of the other, but the evening seems to strain around you, the shadows lengthening right before your eyes, stretching into grotesque shapes, dark water churning in the cracks between the cobblestones, something breathing down the back of your neck, it's stalking you, //right behind you// -
A sudden hand on your shoulder makes you flinch violently, and you almost make a blind grab for the person's wrist before you recognize Clementine standing next to you.
<<include "violent fight reacts">><div id="choice"><<link '"You left me!" I think I might be shouting.' 'you left me'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Are you okay?" I reach out for them.' 'are you okay clem'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry." I can\'t look at them.' 'i cant look at them'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I couldn\'t. I couldn\'t walk away." I don\'t know if I\'m trying to convince myself, or Clem.' 'i couldnt walk away'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[They came back. Why did they come back?]]>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I step away from them, shrugging off their hand and scowling.]]>><<set $c_friendship -=2>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You blink stupidly at Clementine before you, shaking your head.
"Why - why did you come back?" you stammer, swallowing the lump in your throat.
Clementine's brow furrows as they look up into your hood. "I'd always come back," they say, squeezing your shoulder.
You just stare at them, searching their face, trying to understand.
But standing still now, with your focus on Clementine, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel yourself take an involuntary step towards them, but they hold you steady, raising their other hand to grab your arm.
You barely notice as Clementine pulls you away, into a small alley, tucked away and hidden by barrels and crates.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]You curl you lip, stepping away from them and shrugging their hand away. Clementine lets their hand drop to their side, but they stare up into your hood, searching your face, their brow furrowed.
Standing still now, no longer running, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel yourself take a sudden, staggering step, but Clementine grabs you and holds you steady, and you barely notice it as they pull you away, into a small alley, tucked away and hidden by barrels and crates.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]"You left me!"
"I... the soldiers… $name, please," Clementine whispers, grasping a handful of your cloak, their other hand pressing a finger over their lips, gesturing for you to be quiet.
<<if $touch_averse gte 1>>You slap their hand away, glaring at them from beneath your hood. Clementine flinches, their eyes wide, glancing around frantically, not looking at you.
With your focus on them, now, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you.
You barely notice as Clementine herds you back into a small alley, hidden away from the crowd by barrels and crates.<<else>>You glare at them from beneath your hood. Clementine withers under your gaze, their eyes wide, glancing around frantically, avoiding looking at your face.
With your focus on them, now, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you.
Clementine's hand tightens around your cloak, and you barely notice as they pull you away, into a small alley, tucked away and hidden by barrels and crates.<</if>>
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]"Are you okay?" you ask, reaching out for them. Your hands barely touch their upper arms, almost-but-not-quite holding them there in front of you.
"I'm alright," Clementine says, their hand squeezing your shoulder reassuredly.
Standing still now, with your focus on Clem, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel your hands tighten around their arms involuntarily, as you start to lean into them.
You barely notice as Clementine pulls you away, into a small alley, tucked away and hidden by barrels and crates.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]"I'm sorry," you say, lowering your gaze, the weight of their hand on your shoulder heavier than you could ever have imagined.
"It's alright, $name," Clementine says, their hand squeezing your shoulder, stepping closer to you. You let out a ragged breath, feeling your lip curl, not at Clementine but at yourself. You can't look at them, or the faces of the strangers passing you by.
Standing still now, with your focus on nothing but your hands, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel yourself take an involuntary step towards Clementine, who holds you steady, raising their other hand to grab your arm.
You barely notice as Clementine pulls you away, into a small alley, tucked away and hidden by barrels and crates.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]"I couldn't. I couldn't walk away," you say, shaking your head, your voice straining. You couldn't. You just couldn't. You close your eyes for a moment, the weight of Clementine's hand on your shoulder heavier than you could ever have imagined.
"It's alright, $name," Clementine says, their hand squeezing your shoulder, stepping closer to you. You let out a ragged breath, feeling your lip curl, not at Clementine but at yourself. Who are you really trying to convince, here? You search Clem's face, afraid of what you might find.
Standing still now, with your focus on Clementine, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel yourself take an involuntary step towards them, but they hold you steady, raising their other hand to grab your arm.
You barely notice as Clementine pulls you away, into a small alley, tucked away and hidden by barrels and crates.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]You slump back against the crates stacked in the alley, rubbing your face. Your hands still tremble slightly from the adrenaline. <<if $violent_fight>>You clench your one fist, glancing over your split knuckles.<<else>>You clench them into fists, willing them to still.<</if>>
Clementine stands at the mouth of the alley for a few minutes, tense, their shoulders drawn tight. You can see their knuckles turning white where they anxiously pull at their new cloak. Eventually, though, they duck back, moving into the shadows with you. They approach you slowly, and it irritates you, your nails digging into your palms. A fucking wild animal. That's all you are.
But then Clementine takes a seat next to you on the same crate, their leg brushing yours. You can't help but flinch at the sudden touch, and you almost laugh out loud, hysterical, because maybe you //are// just a wild animal. You press your elbows to your thighs, leaning forward, hanging your head.
For a long while you just sit in silence. Watching the mouth of the alley, you see no signs of soldiers or an angry mob - small mercies. The shadows slowly grow darker and longer as the night comes. You continue to clench and unclench your hands, staring down at them, your breathing still ragged.
<<if $violent_fight>>Blood, still hot and wet, leaks from the cuts on your knuckles, and you force your fist tighter and tighter, feeling the sharp pain as your skin pulls apart over the bone. You can't look away from the red. You wipe at it with your other hand, smearing it on your pants, on your cloak. It always ends this way for you, doesn't it? Anger, and so much red. But that's what they expect of you. The outfitter, the dockworkers - they cast you in this role, and you're just playing your part.<<elseif hasVisited("Let him go.") or ($reluctant_fight eq true)>>The ease with which you threw that man down onto the street. The way the outfitter, and those people looked when they saw your face. You didn't miss that, not even in the chaos of that moment. You try to walk away and still. //Still//.<<elseif hasVisited("Break his arm.")>>You broke his arm. You did warn him, at least. But who is he? Just some dockworker, who probably relies on physical labor to survive. That's what all of you are doing - just trying to survive. And now you broke is arm. But there was a satisfaction there, when his arm snapped in your hands, the way the bone splintered under the skin, the sound still ringing in your ears. Maybe they're right to treat you that way.<</if>>
Clementine's voice breaks through your thoughts, then.
"Your hands," they speak softly, tilting their head to look up into your face from where they sit. "May I?" they ask, holding their hands out to you.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I reach out for them. I need an anchor right now. ♡]]>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I can't... I can't handle the touch. I just want to sit here with them. ♡]]>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $touch_averse +=1>><<set $c_touch_knows to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm fine. I'm fine. I don't take their hands, but the gesture almost sends me over the edge. ♡]]>><<set $c_flirt +=1>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I let them take my hands. Anything to ground me, right now.]]>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm not big on physical touch. But I appreciate them asking.]]>><<set $touch_averse +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><<set $c_touch_knows to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't... I don't need them to help me. I'm fine. I'm fine, right?]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[My hands are fine. I don't need them to take care of me.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_friendship -=3>><</link>></div>Clementine gently touches your shoulder, and you just close your eyes for a moment, letting their touch ground you, and you move towards the alley with them.
You're aware that you're breathing hard, your heart still hammering in your chest, and your steps stagger a bit - you're dizzy, nauseous almost, and the city seems to constrict around you. But Clementine steadies you, raising their other hand to grab your arm and pull you into the alley.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]You curl you lip, stepping away from them, away from their outstretched hand. Clementine lets their hand drop to their side, but they stare up into your hood, searching your face, their brow furrowed.
Standing still now, no longer running, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost, nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel yourself take a sudden, staggering step, but Clementine grabs you and holds you steady, and you barely notice it as they pull you away into the alley.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]"I'm fine," you say, almost reflexively, because you're always fine, aren't you? You have to be.
But your voice is strained, and the sudden weight of Clementine's hand on your shoulder feels astronomically heavy. They step closer to you, searching your face, and you just stare at the fur of their collar, looking anywhere else rather than meeting their eyes.
Standing still now, nothing to distract you, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You take an involuntarily step towards Clementine, but they hold you steady, raising their other hand to grab your arm.
You barely notice as Clementine pulls you away into the alley.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]"Are you okay?" you ask, reaching out for them, too. Your hands barely touch their upper arms, almost-but-not-quite holding them there in front of you. Clementine lightly rests their hands on your forearms, staring up into your hood.
"I'm alright," Clementine says, their hands squeezing you reassuredly.
Standing still now, with your focus on Clem, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel your hands tighten around their arms involuntarily, as you start to lean into them.
You barely notice as Clementine pulls you away into the alley.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]"I'm sorry," you say, lowering your gaze, the sudden weight of their hand on your shoulder heavier than you could ever have imagined.
"It's alright, $name," Clementine says, their hand squeezing your shoulder, stepping closer to you. You let out a ragged breath, feeling your lip curl, not at Clementine but at yourself. You can't look at them, or the faces of the strangers passing you by.
Standing still now, with your focus on nothing but your hands, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost, nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel yourself take an involuntary step towards Clementine, who holds you steady, raising their other hand to grab your arm.
You barely notice as Clementine pulls you away into the alley.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]"I wanted to walk away..." you trail off, your throat tightening, your voice strained, not your own.
"I know," Clementine says, their hand on your shoulder. "It's okay."
You let out a ragged breath, feeling your lip curl, not at Clementine but at yourself. Who are you really trying to convince, here? You search Clem's face, afraid of what you might find.
You stare at them, their hand on your shoulder grounding you. But standing still now, with your focus on Clementine, you realize you're breathing hard, your heart hammering in your chest. Dizzy, almost nauseous, the crowd constricting around you. You feel yourself take an involuntary step towards Clementine, who holds you steady, raising their other hand to grab your arm.
You barely notice as Clementine pulls you away into the alley.
[[Continue ->slumped in the alley]]You reach out, and Clementine takes your hands in theirs. You didn't realize how cold your fingers were until you feel the warmth of their palms, holding your trembling hands steady in their lap. They gently brush their thumb over your knuckles, giving your fingers a soft squeeze. Closing your eyes, you just sit like that, the distant sound of the city and the waves crashing against the cliffs, and Clementine's thumb making rhythmic circles over your hand.
This touch is foreign to you - a touch with meaning, intention beyond hurting. The kind that breaks you and rebuilds you. You feel your hand tighten around Clementine's, and they continue their circles, humming softly next to you.
Eventually, you open your eyes again, and you glance up, too dark now for you to distinguish the sky from the city that expands above you. How much time has passed like this?
<<if $c_flirt gte 3>>Clem squeezes your fingers again, making you look at them then, smiling softly at you.
<<if $violent_fight>>Letting go of your one hand, they take your other one and pull it closer to them, gently touching your busted knuckles. They stare down at the dried blood and bruises, their brow furrowed, and carefully they take your wrist and lift your hand to their lips. They barely even breathe, looking to you first, their face so open, so vulnerable it makes you ache.<<else>>They let go of one of your hands, instead clasping both of theirs over one of yours, encasing it in warmth. They lift your hand up, brushing a thumb across your knuckles, and hold them to their lips. They barely even breathe, looking to you first, their face so open, so vulnerable it makes you ache.<</if>>
Clementine kisses your knuckles, once, twice, three times, closing their eyes and holding your hand to their lips longer and longer with each kiss. You just watch, their brown curls falling across their face, your breath hitching in your throat.
"Clementine," you barely say their name, just a whisper, a prayer. Clementine opens their eyes and looks over at you, lowering your hand and letting it go, letting it slide through their fingers. Slowly you pull your hand back, resting it in your lap, where you clench it into a fist, your nails digging into your palm.<<set $knuckle_kiss to true>><<else>>Clem squeezes your fingers again; you look at them, smiling softly at you. They let go of one of your hands, reaching up and carefully touching the edges of your hood. Slowly they pull it back a bit, looking into your face.
"I want to see you," they say quietly, their face so open and tender it makes you ache.
Their knuckles just barely touch your cheek where they hold your hood, and after a long moment they pull back their hand, placing it overtop yours.
Your face slightly more exposed now, you feel the bite of the cold ocean air, and you stare down at your hands, at Clementine's, the warmth of their touch radiating through you.<</if>>
[[Continue ->Found you!]]You shake your head slightly, glancing away, clenching your hands into fists in your lap.
"I... I can't," is all you manage to say. Clementine just nods at you, giving you a warm smile, their green eyes understanding. So instead they lean back, folding their legs beneath them atop the crate. After a moment they begin to hum quietly next to you. You don't recognize the song – why would you? But it's slow, gentle, and you lean into it, letting it fill the space around you, with the sound of the city and the distant ocean waves.
Closing your eyes, you put your elbows on your knees, your face in your hands, just focusing on Clementine's song, letting it ground you. Your hands finally stop shaking.
When you open your eyes again, you're not sure how much time has passed. Clementine continues to hum quietly next to you, and they've shifted at some point, their legs dangling from the crate, one swinging back and forth as they sway with the rhythm.
Watching them, they notice, and smile at you, their face so open and tender it makes you ache. Has anyone ever looked at you like that? With such kindness. Do you deserve it?
They lean forward then, trying to look into your hood, and they reach out for you. But you flinch away.
They quickly pull their hand back, their face flushing, eyes wide. "I – I'm sorry," they stammer. "I just... I want to see your face," they say, so quiet you almost don't hear it. You don't respond right away, instead turning away from them, swallowing the lump in your throat, your jaw clenched so tight you feel your teeth might crack.
[[Continue ->Found you!]]Shaking your head, you clench your jaw and look away, your eyes burning. You stand abruptly and begin to pace, hiding in your hood, not looking at them.
"$name," they say your name so softly it twists in your chest, and you halt mid-step, putting your hands on your hips, staring hard at the dirty cobblestones beneath your feet.
"I'm fine," you say, but your voice is ragged, harsh, your back to them.
"Just look at me. Please," Clementine says, a pleading in their voice that makes you squeeze your eyes closed, take a deep breath, and exhale.
You rub your face on your sleeve, swallowing thickly, and you just shake your head again. You stand for a long time, unmoving, letting the cold air creep into your bones, burn the back of your throat, your hands aching from it.
[[Continue ->Found you!]]You reach out, and Clementine takes you hands in theirs, giving your fingers a gentle squeeze. Your hands are cold, aching, trembling, and the warmth of Clementine's palms makes you relax a bit, your eyes closing as you let out a long sigh through your nose.
You just sit like that, unmoving, Clem holding your hands between you, the distant sound of the city, and the waves crashing against the cliffs. After a while, you open your eyes again, but they're unfocused, with you staring at nothing but the cobblestones under your feet. Clementine starts to hum, quiet, barely audible, just for you, a tune you don't recognize, but again you let it ground you, the calming sound of it, and slowly you feel yourself come back into your own skin.
Clementine squeezes your fingers again, and you blink over at them, wondering just how it is the two of you ended up together like this. You look down at your hands, and you feel a dull throb in the back of your skull, a tightness in your throat; and you jerk back your hands suddenly, standing and taking a few steps away from Clementine, rubbing your face with your hands, ignoring the dull ache in your knuckles at the return to the absence of touch.
[[Continue ->Found you!]]You close your eyes, shaking your head.
"Sorry. I - can't," you say, hanging your head, clenching your hands in your lap.
Clementine doesn't say anything next to you, but you feel them shift, folding their legs underneath them where they sit, and then they start to hum. Not a song you recognize - how could you? But you find yourself leaning into it, squeezing your eyes closed even tighter, just listening to their song.
You let it steady your breathing, the rise and fall of your chest slower now, your clenched fists relaxing slightly, the tremor fading.
When you open your eyes again, you're not sure how much time has passed. Clementine continues to hum quietly next to you, and they've shifted at some point, their legs dangling from the crate, one swinging back and forth as they sway with the rhythm.
They turn to you then, catching you looking, and they smile warmly, and you quickly glance away, clenching your hands again.
[[Continue ->Found you!]]You stand abruptly, shaking your head, taking a few steps away from Clementine.
"I'm fine," you say gruffly, glaring down at the cobblestones beneath your feet.
"$name," Clementine prompts, and you feel yourself sneer, spinning around on them.
"Stop it! Stop saying - stop saying my name like that!" you snap, throwing your hands up. Almost immediately though, the fire leaves you, and your arms drop to your sides, your hands curling into fists.
"I'm fine," you repeat, softer now, and you turn away from them again, crossing your arms, letting out a long sigh through your nose. You stand like that for a long time, unmoving, Clementine quiet behind you, nothing but the distant sound of the city and the waves crashing against the cliffs.
[[Continue ->Found you!]]You stand abruptly, brushing past Clementine's outstretched hands, shaking your head.
"My hands are fine," you say, your voice sharp, and you feel a dull ache in the back of your head, glaring down at the cobblestones, your blood still roaring in your ears.
"$name," Clementine prompts, and you feel yourself sneer, spinning around on them.
"Stop it! Stop saying my name like that! I don't need you to - to fucking take care of me!" you're shouting, jabbing a finger at them, where they still sit on the crates.
Clementine flinches, turning away from you, their eyes cast down.
"You're not any different from the rest of them," you snarl, spitting at your feet, gesturing with your arm to indicate... everyone.
Clementine looks back up at you, their eyes wide, and they start to speak, and you know they're going to say your name - it starts forming on their lips before they can cut themself off.
"Don't," you hiss, pointing your finger at them again. You glare at them, while they just stare, stare into your hood, staring at //you//.
[[Continue ->Found you!]]"Found you!"
<<if hasVisited("My hands are fine. I don't need them to take care of me.") or ("I don't... I don't need them to help me. I'm fine. I'm fine, right?") or ("I'm fine. I'm fine. I don't take their hands, but the gesture almost sends me over the edge. ♡")>>You snap your head around,<<else>>You jump up, spinning<</if>> towards the front of the alley, where none other than Mal stands, her hands on her hips, grinning at you and Clementine.
"Heard you put on quite the show, hunter," she says, still just standing there, silhouetted by the dock lights glowing behind her. You take a deep breath, blinking a few times, before clearing your throat.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck off, Mal."' 'fuck off mal'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Sorry you missed it. Next time I\'ll be charging for admission."' 'sorry you missed it'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What the hell are you doing here?"' 'what the hell are you doing here mal'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You shouldn\'t believe everything you hear..."' 'you shouldnt believe everything you hear'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I just glare at her.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Instinctively, I shift in front of Clem, despite it just being Mal. "What are you doing here?"' 'i shift in front of clem'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=3>><</link>></div>You don't say anything, just glaring out of your hood at her as she saunters into the alley, the crates jostling behind you as Clementine stands and joins you.
"Ah, yes, the brooding. Very menacing of you," Mal says with a wink, and your glare just hardens, your lips curling into a sneer. Merry appears then, as if on cue, her head popping out from behind one of the crates near the mouth of the alley. She trails behind Mal, crossing her arms and quirking an eyebrow at you.
<<include "did you have fun">>"Fuck off, Mal," you snap, clenching your jaw and rubbing your face with your hands. Mal just laughs, stepping into the alley towards you, with Merry appearing as if on cue, her head popping out from behind one of the crates near the mouth of the alley.
You hear the crates jostle behind you, and Clementine stands now as well, giving Mal and Merry a slight nod as they approach.
<<include "did you have fun">>"Sorry you missed it. Next time I'll be charging for admission," you say, your lip curling. You try to make it a joke, but your tone is far from sarcastic. Mal grins at you, and you watch as she digs into her jacket pocket, and produces a silver coin, holding it up before flipping it through the air. It thuds off your chest and clatters onto the cobblestones at your feet.
Your hands curl into fists at your sides, and anger flashes hot through you. You hear Clementine jump from their spot on the crate behind you then, moving quickly to your side, their arm brushing yours; you jerk away from it, from the touch.
Then, as if on cue, Merry appears, her head popping out from behind one of the crates near the mouth of the alley. You tense as both her and Mal begin to make their approach, moving into the shadows with you.
<<include "did you have fun">>"What the hell are you doing here?" you say, blinking over at her.
"Here to make sure you don't get into anymore trouble," Mal says, smirking as she saunters into the alley towards you. "Or at least. Make sure you don't get caught," she adds with a wink. You can hear Clementine stand from the crate behind you, moving to your side, giving Mal a quick nod.
Merry appears then, as if on cue, her head popping out from behind one of the crates near the mouth of the alley. She trails behind Mal, crossing her arms and quirking an eyebrow at you.
<<include "did you have fun">>"You shouldn't believe everything you hear, Mal," you say, crossing your arms.
"Should I assume it was some other Gaelish Hunter and southern idiot everyone is talking about, then?" she says, stepping into the alley towards you, with Merry appearing as if on cue, her head popping out from behind one of the crates near the mouth of the alley.
Clementine stands now, walking up beside you, giving Mal and Merry a slight nod as they approach.
<<include "did you have fun">>Instinctively, you shift slightly, standing now between Mal and Clementine, your jaw clenching.
"What are you doing here?" you ask, narrowing your eyes.
Mal raises an eyebrow at you, glancing over your shoulder at Clementine as they hop down from the crates and move to stand beside you.
"I'm here to make sure you don't get into anymore trouble," Mal says then, smirking as she continues to glance between you and Clem. "Or at least. Make sure you don't get caught," she adds with a wink.
Merry appears then, as if on cue, her head popping out from behind one of the crates near the mouth of the alley. She trails behind Mal, crossing her arms and quirking an eyebrow at you.
<<include "did you have fun">>"Did you have fun?" Merry says, giving you a crooked smile.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Fuck you," you say, your face twitching, which just gets a laugh from her.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You don't respond to her teasing, just narrowing your eyes, giving her a dark look.<<else>>You just sigh, running a hand over your face, glancing between the two women.<</if>>
"Don't worry, hunter. We'll escort you home," Merry says then, still grinning at you.
Reluctantly, you walk towards the front of the alley, joining Mal and Merry, who both unashamedly inspect you for a moment.
"Still in one piece, at least," Mal mutters, and Merry nods, tapping a finger to her chin.
"Let's get you back to Jack's. Then we'll talk," Merry says, and not waiting for a response she turns on her heel and heads back out into the street, Mal at her side. You trail after the two, Clementine readjusting their bag still across their back, shuffling along next to you.
[[Continue ->let's get back to jack's]]Walking in silence, Clementine suddenly slows their pace, and you glance over at them, struggling with the bag, pulling at the strap around their shoulder. Clem manages to finally pull the bag around and reaches inside, digging for a minute. You shorten your stride to match them, keeping an eye on Merry and Mal up ahead, careful not to lose them in the night darkening around you.
Finally Clementine finds what they're looking for and readjusts the bag, pushing it back behind them.
Opening their palm, you see one of the bells there.
"Some old ones that had fallen off. They were in my pocket," they explain, their voice soft, tentative, as if they're afraid to break the long silence. But they clear their throat then, holding the bell carefully between their fingers.
They ring it once.
"Are you a believer, $name?" Clementine asks then, palming the bell and looking over at you.
You blink, a bit caught off guard by the sudden question.
<div id="choice"><<link [[No. I have little love for the gods; why would I? None of them give a shit about us.]]>><<set $gods to "angry">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Believer is a strong word... The gods haven't done much for me. But I do find myself sending a quick prayer every now and then.]]>><<set $gods to "indifferent">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes. The gods are powerful, and I respect them; the nature of my work has me seeking their counsel often.]]>><<set $gods to "respect">><</link>></div>You're living proof of that fact, aren't you? All the dark and evil in this world, and it all falls on you. People ask the gods for help, but instead they just get you.
"No," you say simply, shaking your head.
Clementine hums, nodding slowly. You expect them to comment, but instead they ask you another question.
"Have you ever heard the story of the Traveler?"
<<include "the traveler">>You wouldn't call yourself a believer, no. The gods haven't ever done much for you, but there's no harm in a few frantic prayers every now and then, right? But the gods always have their favorites. Something tells you that you're not one of them.
"Believer is a strong word," you say, shaking your head.
Clementine hums, nodding slowly. You expect them to comment, but instead they ask you another question.
"Have you ever heard the story of the Traveler?"
<<include "the traveler">>You can feel their presence, even now, the power in the distant waves crashing against the cliffs, the wind blowing off the sea, down from the mountains, cutting through the street and chilling you beneath your cloak. You respect that presence, that power, and while you're not the kind to have an altar, or to go to temple, you reach out and try to speak to the gods when you can.
They've never answered. Not yet.
"Yes, I am," you say, nodding over at Clementine.
They hum, tapping their chin for a moment, and you expect them to comment, but instead they ask you another question.
"Have you ever heard the story of the Traveler?"
<<include "the traveler">>You take a moment to think back, and while you're not //too// familiar with it, you know Jorah told you the story once.
"The god of mischief and wayward souls," you say, repeating Jorah's words. A trickster, depicted with the head of a jackal.
"They'll trick you three times, before leading you home," Clementine says, smiling over at you. They fidget with the bell in their hand. "They had bells woven into their cloak."
You wait for Clementine to continue, watching as they fully close their fist around the bell, and drop their fist to their side, taking a deep breath.
"When the Traveler was just a person, like you and me - flesh and blood - they would spend a lot of time on their own. If you are feeling poetic, you could even compare them to the wayward souls they now protect," Clementine says. Their voice sounds distant, but full of reverence. "One day, as they walked along an overgrown path, all alone, wolves - wild and savage - descended on them. They tried to fight them off, but all they had was a walking stick. They beat them, and beat them, but the wolves wore them down, and eventually they were overcome."
Clementine looks intently at you, their green eyes hard.
"They were beasts, turned mad, leaving the Traveler to die. A wasteful death, to not even be devoured," they muse, and you don't miss their eyes flicking to your arm.
"Alone, and dying, the Traveler desperately dug through their bag, trying to find anything to help them. Inside were trinkets they had gathered throughout their lonely travels, meaningless things now, as they lay bleeding. But they had a bell."
Clementine lifts their hand again, opening their fist, the silver of the bell catching the light of the setting sun, glimmering in their hand.
"They pulled it from their bag and began to ring it. Frantic, at first. Then slower, making a sort of rhythm. A song to die to." Clementine stops walking then, and so do you.
"There were people nearby. They heard the Traveler's song. Found them, revived them,” Clementine looks at you. “The bell held power. It had been a gift, a crude bell made by a small child. But they had kept it all that time. And it had saved their life."
Clementine stares at the bell, their brow furrowed.
<<if $c_relationship isnot 6>><<if $c_flirt gte 2>><<if $knuckle_kiss>>"I... want you to have this. I know it's silly," they say quickly, blushing faintly, "it's just a bell. But - it means something, to me. It's important to me." Clementine hesitates then, staring over at you before reaching out, carefully taking your wrist in gentle hands, rotating your arm so your palm faces the darkening night sky.
You feel yourself hold your breath, letting Clementine guide your movement, your hand open to them as they press the bell into your palm. Clem lightly squeezes your wrist before sliding their hand down to envelope yours, closing your fingers over the small silver bell, holding your hand in a fist.
"It's important to me," they repeat quietly, their green eyes studying your face.
The bell is warm in your hand, still holding the heat of Clementine's touch, and you watch them as they step closer to you, raising your fist to their lips. A gentle kiss over your curled fingers, a memory of the kiss from earlier, and then they let go, your hand hovering for a moment before you let it drop to your side, your fingernails digging into your palm around the bell.
Clementine steps back then, smiling softly, glancing up the street and nodding at you.
"We're going to be left behind," they say with a light laugh, brushing past you, a ghost of a touch over your shoulder as they go.<<else>><<if $c_touch_knows>>"I... want you to have this. I know it's silly," they say quickly, blushing faintly, "it's just a bell. But - it means something, to me. It's important to me." Clementine hesitates then, staring over at you, their eyes flicking down to your hand at your side.
"Your hand...?" they say, taking a step towards you, and it takes your brain a moment to catch up and realize what they're asking. You watch the way Clementine tilts their head towards you, their brown curls dark in the fading evening light, and you raise your arm, opening up your hand so your palm faces the night sky.
"It's important to me," they repeat quietly, their green eyes studying your face.
Clementine carefully presses the bell into your hand, the metal still warm from their touch, and for a moment they cup both of their own hands around yours, not quite touching you but holding you close, before they pull back quickly, wringing their hands in front of them, blushing again.
Stepping back, they smile softly, glancing up the street and nodding at you.
"We're going to get left behind," they say with a light laugh, brushing past you, their new cloak ghosting against you as they go.<<else>>"I... want you to have this. I know it's silly," they say quickly, blushing faintly, "it's just a bell. But - it means something, to me. It's important to me." Clementine hesitates then, staring over at you before reaching out, carefully taking your wrist in gentle hands, rotating your arm so your palm faces the darkening night sky.
You feel yourself hold your breath, letting Clementine guide your movement, your hand open to them as they press the bell into your palm. Clem lightly squeezes your wrist before sliding their hand down to envelope yours, closing your fingers over the small silver bell, holding your hand in a fist.
"It's important to me," they repeat quietly, their green eyes studying your face.
The bell is warm in your hand, still holding the heat of Clementine's touch, and you watch them as they step closer to you, both of their hands around yours now, cradling your fist, and they draw their thumb back and forth across your curled fingers, squeezing your hand gently before letting go.
Clementine steps back then, smiling softly, glancing up the street and nodding at you.
"We're going to be left behind," they say with a light laugh, brushing past you, a ghost of a touch over your shoulder as they go.<</if>><</if>><<elseif $c_flirt lte 1>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says, pinching the bell between their fingers. "And if ever you have to ring it, I hope someone will come for you, too." They pause, twisting the bell slowly. "I know - I know we just met. But I'd want to help you. I'd want to try." They look away from the bell then, holding your gaze. "You just have to ask," they say, giving you a small smile.
Clementine hesitates then, staring over at you before reaching out, carefully taking your wrist in gentle hands, rotating your arm so your palm faces the darkening night sky. <<if $touch_averse gte 1>>The touch burns through your sleeve, but you don't pull away, biting the inside of your cheek, your brow furrowed as you stare down at Clem's hand around your arm.<</if>>
You feel yourself hold your breath, letting Clementine guide your movement, your hand open to them as they press the bell into your palm. Clem lightly squeezes your wrist before letting go, and for a moment you just hold the bell between you, before slowly curling your fingers around it, holding it steady in the center of your palm. The bell is warm, still holding the heat of Clementine's touch.
Clementine steps back then, smiling softly, glancing up the street and nodding at you.
"We're going to be left behind," they say with a light laugh, brushing past you, a ghost of a touch over your shoulder as they go.<</if>><<else>>"I want you to have this," Clementine says, pinching the bell between their fingers. "And if ever you have to ring it, I hope someone will come for you, too." They pause, twisting the bell slowly. "I know - I know we just met. But I'd want to help you. I'd want to try." They look away from the bell then, holding your gaze. "You just have to ask," they say, giving you a small smile.
Clementine hesitates then, staring over at you before reaching out, carefully taking your wrist in gentle hands, rotating your arm so your palm faces the darkening night sky. <<if $touch_averse gte 1>>The touch burns through your sleeve, but you don't pull away, biting the inside of your cheek, your brow furrowed as you stare down at Clem's hand around your arm.<</if>>
You feel yourself hold your breath, letting Clementine guide your movement, your hand open to them as they press the bell into your palm. Clem lightly squeezes your wrist before letting go, and for a moment you just hold the bell between you, before slowly curling your fingers around it, holding it steady in the center of your palm. The bell is warm, still holding the heat of Clementine's touch.
Clementine steps back then, smiling softly, glancing up the street and nodding at you.
"We're going to be left behind," they say with a light laugh, brushing past you, a ghost of a touch over your shoulder as they go.<</if>>
[[Continue ->the bell weighs heavy]]<<set $bell to true>>You stare stupidly after Clementine, before dropping your gaze down to your hand, holding the bell up again, rolling it under your thumb. A dim, malformed reflection of your own face stares back within the silver, watching you from inside your hood. You frown at yourself, the gold in your eyes flashing at you, and you shake your head, quickly pocketing the bell and hurrying after Clementine.
It weighs heavy in your pocket.
The rest of the walk back to Jack's is quiet, for the most part, Clementine glancing over at you every now and then, smiling whenever they manage to catch your eye. Merry and Mal converse quietly up ahead, occasionally waving and calling out to random people on the street.
You're not particularly paying attention to the women - because you can't stop thinking about the Traveler. About Clem's story. About that fucking bell. And the wolves. //Wild and savage.//
You bite your tongue, the sharp pain making your eyes water, and you force yourself to focus on something else, anything else, ignoring the way the bard keeps looking at you out of the corner of their eye.
It seems that Jack's is near the center of the entertainment district, rows of pubs and taverns coming to life as the night falls and the work day comes to an end, the sidewalk choked and crowded now, your skin bristling as you dodge a few shuffling drunks, early to the bar for the evening.
Up ahead, you spot the long staircase up to the terrace, the familiar sign reading //Jack's// swaying in the ocean air. You imagine Lea waiting inside, probably poised at the front door, reciting $l_their lecture in preparation for your arrival. Merry, Mal, and Clementine all start up the stairs, and you let out a long breath, grasping the cold metal of the railing and hauling yourself forward, squinting against the light emanating from the windows, illuminating the terrace, raising your arm to shield your eyes, feeling as if the tavern itself will swallow you whole.
[[Continue ->back inside jack's without lea]]You hesitate, Lea's dark eyes looking into yours, that pained look on $l_their face. You take a deep breath. You're angry, you're frustrated, but most of all, you're //tired//. You're so tired of this. This arguing, this stupid back and forth, the yelling and the hate.
"I... I - okay. Okay, Lea. We're partners," you say, glancing away, your voice soft now, strained. You can't lie - it sounds nice. And Lea... $l_they seem<<s>> so sure of it, when $l_they <<say>> it. Saying it out loud, yourself... maybe that's the first step. You think you want to be partners. You want to try. You want to say it with the same certainty as Lea. Partners... maybe friends. <<if $l_flirt gte 2>>//Maybe more.//<</if>>
Lea seems to crumple at your words, releasing a sharp breath and vigorously rubbing $l_their hands over $l_their face again. You fidget with your sleeves, ducking into your hood, far too aware of everyone watching the two of you right now.
"I'm... I'm sorry," Lea says then, dropping $l_their hands, and you close your eyes briefly at the words, taking another deep breath. Lea steps closer to you, lowering $l_their voice, a hand reaching out, hesitating, hovering between you. "I'm sorry that... that there's this doubt, between us."
"We haven't had an easy go of it," you say, because it's easier than trying to explain all that //doubt//. It actually makes Lea laugh, and you relax slightly at the sound.
"That's one way to put it." Lea hesitates then. <<if $l_campfight>>"$name, I'm sorry - I'm sorry for Keld. I'm sorry for last night, at camp, and - and with the wraith," Lea glances down to the floor, wringing $l_their hands.<<else>>"$name, I'm sorry - I'm sorry for Keld, too, if that wasn't clear before. And last night... with the wraith..." Lea glances down to the floor, wringing $l_their hands.<</if>>
You just stare for a few stunned moments - unexpected apologies, their sincerity making your throat tighten, your eyes burn; and you glance away too, crossing your arms.
"I know, Lea," you say, because you do. "I'm sorry, too. For leaving you. <<if $l_campfight>>And for what I said, last night," you say then.<<else>><<if hasVisited("fight again")>>And I shouldn't have said that. Last night. About us just fighting again," you say then.<<else>>And... Last night... I think about it, and I do want to be better. I liked being better, with you," you say then, recalling the ease with which you two spoke together at the fire, awkward, but comfortable, like you //were// friends.<</if>><</if>>
Lea lifts $l_their gaze back to you, and you don't miss the surprise there, which you have to admit stings a bit. But you press forward, and surprising even yourself, you hold your hand out to Lea.
Lea smiles softly, and you grasp each other's forearms, holding each other close despite the audience of the parlor and your companions.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>You feel Lea's hand squeeze your arm before $l_they release<<s>> you, and slowly $l_their hand slides through yours, before dropping to $l_their side, your skin burning under your clothes from $l_their touch.
You don't miss the way $l_their fingers flex, curling into a fist.<<elseif $l_flirt eq 1>>Lea's touch burns through your clothes, and you can't help but watch $l_their hand holding you, your own grip tight around $l_their arm. Lea lets go first, and, a little reluctantly, you admit, you slide your own hand away, letting it drop to your side.<<else>>Lea releases your arm with a nod, $l_their smile growing a little wider, warm, even $l_their dark eyes softening as $l_they look<<s>> at you.<</if>>
Lea takes a deep breath then,<<if $l_flirt gte 1>> your eyes snapping back up to $l_their face, $l_them<</if>> holding your gaze as $l_they speak<<s>>. "We should... we should talk later," $l_they <<say>>, clearing $l_their throat and rubbing the back of $l_their neck before meekly glancing around the parlor.
It's not quiet by any means, but you're more than aware of people listening in, and the way <<if $bw_noel>>Merry, Clementine, and Noel<<else>>Merry and Clementine<</if>> hover nearby makes your face burn.
"Yeah. Okay. We'll talk later, Lea," you say, nodding.
Lea exhales slowly, and for a moment you both just stand awkwardly, not sure what to do now with this sudden revelation between you - this unexpected outcome, this drastic shift in your relationship.
[[Continue ->Well that was touching, really.]]"No. No, we're not. We're not partners, Lea," you say, your lip curling slightly.
Lea seems genuinely stunned, taking a moment to process your words. "Do I make you feel that way?" $l_they ask<<s>> then, taking a step towards you.
"//Come on.// I walk in the door and you're yelling, swearing at me! Your title is literally //my handler//. Tell me what you're not understanding," you snap, pressing your hands to your head. In what world could you ever be partners? Lea holds your leash, the key to your cage. That's all this is.
Lea clenches $l_their jaw, staring down at $l_their feet.
"You know being a handler is for show. It's a title that means nothing," Lea finally says.
"It's a title that means everything!"
You're yelling now, in the middle of the parlor, a few seconds of hushed silence follow your words, but you don't care, not right now. You're thinking about Keld now, and the wraith, and your aching arm, every bruise and broken bone and nightmare that's kept you up at night. Your nameless $sibling, your faceless mother.
"Don't pretend like you would ever trade places with me, that this is some //partnership//. We are not the same," you say, your voice quieter now, but still harsh.
Lea doesn't answer for a moment, looking away from you, and when $l_they look<<s>> back $l_their face is twisted, anger like you've never seen in $l_their eyes.
<<if $l_campfight>>"You really think you just know fucking everything, don't you?" Lea sneers.
"I know enough," you say.
"Yeah. I know about you, too, because you never stop going on and on about it. I get it, okay? You fucking hate me, you hate all of this, your life is so hard. But don't blame me! I didn't force you to be here!" Lea shouts, jabbing $l_their finger at you. You slap it away, your hand curling into a fist.
<<if $family eq "bad">>"You think I fucking chose this?" Oh, you're //really// shouting now. "Fuck you, Lea."<<elseif $family eq "complicated">>You stare at Lea for a long moment, disbelief making you lose your words for a moment.
"You think I wanted this?" your voice cracks, despite yourself. "Fuck you, Lea."<<else>>$l_Their words cut straight through you, and you take a step back, just staring at $l_them.
"I chose this because it was the //only// choice I had," you hiss, though your voice wavers, despite yourself. "Fuck you, Lea."<<set $sanity -=5>><<set $l_friendship -=5>><</if>><<else>>"No - no. You don't... there are things you don't know," Lea says then, $l_their voice tight, almost a snarl.
"Then fucking tell me!" you throw your hands up, taking a step towards them. "If we're //partners//, then fucking tell me!"
Lea stares down at $l_their feet, $l_their hands on $l_their hips. $l_They take<<s>> a deep breath, and for a fraction of a second you have hope. But then $l_they shake<<s>> $l_their head.
"No."
You feel the metaphorical rug ripped out from under you - it's all you can do to stay standing.<<set $sanity -=3>><<set $l_friendship -=5>><</if>>
[[Continue ->Alright, that's enough.]]"Well, that was touching, really," Merry's voice cuts in then, and Lea's face falls immediately, a glare over your shoulder at the captain. Merry just laughs, <<if $bw_noel>>though Noel shoves her sideways, rolling $n_their eyes, and they both rejoin the two of you, while Clementine still hangs back a bit, staring owlishly around the parlor.<<else>>though she's shoved sideways by Noel - $n_xe must have showed up while you and Lea were talking - and they both join the two of you, while Clementine still hangs back a bit, staring owlishly around the parlor.<</if>>
"If the two of you are quite finished, we need to talk," Merry says, flashing her teeth in something far closer to a snarl than a smile.
"Merry," Noel puts a hand on the captain's shoulder, then turns to you. "Let's slow down. How about we start with grabbing a table?" $n_xe all but herds the lot of you over to an empty table in the back, and it's awkward, but not... uncomfortable. Rather, it's new and uncertain, different from before - you've crossed some invisible threshold, you think.
You glance over at Lea, who catches your eye, and $l_they give<<s>> you a small smile, and as you both step up to the table, before taking the seat next to you Lea leans towards you, $l_their voice low, just for you: "Thank you."
You blink over at $l_them, though $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'ve<<else>>'s<</if>> turned away, dropping down into $l_their chair. After a moment you shake your head, and you quickly sit down, clearing your throat.
[[Continue ->you all sit down]]Clementine quietly slides into the seat beside you, ducking their head and staring down at their lap, fidgeting with their gloves. Merry and Noel are still standing, bickering about something, and you all look to them expectantly, but as the minutes pass, you sigh, sinking into your chair, exhaustion weighing heavy on you, your head still spinning from the whiplash of the //argument?// - conversation - you just had.
There is an awkward silence between you and Lea, hanging over the table, heavy and uncertain.
Lea eyes you for a moment, before rapping $l_their knuckles on the table, drawing Merry and Noel's attention.
"Can we make this quick?" $l_they <<say>>, frowning across the table at them.
"That depends entirely on you," Merry says, pressing her palms to the tabletop and leering over at Lea. But Lea just rolls $l_their eyes, before motioning towards the empty seats.
"It's been a long day, //Captain//," Lea says, giving her a pointed look.
"Merry," Noel cuts in, giving Lea an apologetic look before $n_xe pulls her back off the table, turning her away from Lea, and the bickering ensues all over again, their voices low and quick. Lea sighs loudly, leaning $l_their elbows on the table and burying $l_their face in $l_their hands.
Noel has $n_their lips all but pressed to Merry's ear, speaking in a harsh whisper, with Merry loudly talking over $n_them. You don't even bother trying decipher the cross-talk, instead tuning them out and just staring down at the wood grain of the table, picking at the peeling finish. You can feel Lea's eyes on you again, practically burning a hole in your head. You close your eyes for a moment, massaging your sore arm, feeling yourself tense at the raised voices across the table.
"You should head upstairs," Lea says softly, and you open your eyes, already shaking your head. Lea purses $l_their lips, but doesn't press you, instead glaring back over at Merry and Noel. You're tired; but you're not going to leave your seat at the table. You only just managed to take it. //Partners.//
Clementine shifts beside you then, and you glance over, their chair groaning as they dig into their pocket. You watch as they pull out a colorful deck of cards. Lea is giving them a curious look as well, and they smile softly.
"How many rounds do you think we could get in before they notice?" Clementine says, aligning the cards before they start to shuffle them. Lea chuckles, leaning back in $l_their chair and shaking $l_their head at Noel and Merry, both oblivious to the rest of the table.
At least they don't have you trapped behind a locked door this time.
"Sure. Why the hell not," Lea says, throwing $l_their hands up.
You shrug, looking expectantly to Clem. They grin and start to cut the deck, shuffling it a few more times before they start to pass you and Lea cards. They start to explain the game, but you find yourself blankly staring at the cards as they slide across the table to you.
You let the sounds of the parlor engulf you then, bad singing and laughter, the off-key lute playing in the corner, the scrape of forks and knives on plates, glasses clinking and the fire in the hearth popping, Clementine's soft voice beside you, and the distant sound of ocean waves above it all. You close your eyes again, and you think you might actually drift off for a few moments, lulled by the sing-song of Clem's accent, until a new presence draws you back.
Mal has now joined the growing crowd around your table, speaking in a harsh whisper with Merry and Noel, Clem pausing their explanation at her arrival, and you sit up fully then, a shift in the atmosphere, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end as a sudden ripple passes through the parlor, and a few people stand abruptly, their chairs scraping painfully loud, sending a shiver up your spine, and you turn back to your companions to see Mal grabbing Noel's shoulders, tugging at $n_their cloak, trying to pull $n_them away from the table.
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link '//BANG!//' 'bang!'>><</link>></span>"Alright, that's enough," Merry's voice is hard, and deadly serious, stepping between you and Lea, pushing a hand against Lea's chest and forcing $l_them back. Clementine also steps in front of you, glancing nervously from you, to Lea, to Merry, and back again.
<<if $bw_noel>>Noel puts a hand on your arm, making you flinch despite yourself, and you shrink back, swallowing the anger in your chest, aching and burning, still glaring at Lea, who glares right back at you.<<else>>Someone puts a hand on your arm, and you flinch violently despite yourself, shrinking back and swallowing the anger in your chest, your eyes flicking over to see Noel standing at your side, before you snap back around to glare at Lea again, who glares right back.<</if>>
Merry keeps pushing, guiding Lea back into the parlor, breaking $l_their gaze away from you, while Noel starts to herd you in the opposite direction, towards the bar. Clementine watches you go, wringing their hands, seeming torn for a moment before turning after Merry. You finally look away from Lea, spinning around and walking to the bar on your own, brushing past Noel and leaving $n_them trailing behind you.
The little audience that gathered around you scrambles to get out of the way, heads snapping around to avoid catching your eye, people shuffling awkwardly and staring down into their drinks. You take the first empty seat you see at the bar, ignoring the man that immediately gets up and moves away. Glaring down at the bartop, you pick at the peeling finish, leaning forward on your one elbow only to immediately recoil at the sticky surface.
Noel slides up next to you, still standing, $n_their back against the bar. The two of you sit in silence for a few minutes, the parlor slowly coming back to life around you, apparen that there will be no fists thrown - for now.
You lift your head, eyeing the bartender dutifully ignoring you at the other end of the bar.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Are you going to fucking serve me or not?"' 'are you going to fucking serve me'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Fuck them. I don't want a drink anyway.]]</div>You watch the bartender with a cold stare, their movements jerky and awkward as they feign cleaning the bartop, doing everything they can to avoid your gaze.
Fuck them. You didn't want a drink anyway.
You curl your lip, letting out a huff as you rub a hand over your face.
<<include "Noel starts">>"Are you going to fucking serve me or not?"
The bartender spins around, their eyes wide, glancing frantically back and forth as if there could be anyone else you are talking to. You glare over at them, curling your lip, and they finally take the hint and scramble over to you, clutching a glass to their chest like a shield.
"Um... Uh - what - um..." They twist the glass in their hands, looking everywhere but at you, and you sigh loudly, rubbing a hand over your face as they begin to stammer even more.
"Just give me a fucking drink!"
They blanch in front of you, but quickly reach for the nearest bottle, fumbling a bit before they start pouring you a glass, their brow furrowed, avoiding your gaze by focusing intently on their task - you imagine if it wasn't so cold you would see sweat beading on their forehead.
They nearly overflow the glass before hastily passing it over to you, setting it down far harder than necessary.
You swipe the drink and take a few quick sips, eyeing the bartender over the glass as they scamper away back down the bar. This time it's you that sets the glass down harder than necessary, some of the cool drink sloshing out and trickling over your hand.
<<include "Noel starts">><<if $bw_noel>>"$name," Noel starts then, leaning back on $n_their elbows and glancing over at you, and you close your eyes at your name, dropping your head again, your chin against your chest. "I'm not going to tell you what to do, here," $n_xe continues, and you open your eyes at that, your brow furrowed, staring down at your lap.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Don't tell me anything at all," you snap, your lip curling.
Noel sighs, though it sounds sad more than annoyed. You glance over at $n_them, not looking at you, but glaring down at $n_their boots.
Then $n_xe lifts $n_their head and turns to look straight at you, sliding closer along the bar, reaching out and putting a hand on your shoulder. $n_Their eyes are tired, and there's something there, in the black and gold that you can't quite decipher, and $n_xe starts to open $n_their mouth to speak before looking away again, squeezing your shoulder and letting $n_their hand drop back to $n_their side.
<<if $touch_averse gte 1>>The touch burns through your cloak even after Noel pulls away, and your face twitches, but you don't say anything.<<else>>You feel your face twitch, your jaw clenching at the sudden gesture, a cold spot lingering now in the absence of Noel's warm touch.<</if>>
"You should take some time. Clear your head. Figure out if this is really how you want it to be - between you and $l_them," Noel says then, and you sense $n_them shift against the bar beside you.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"But...," Noel hesitates a moment, and you turn to look at $n_them, though $n_xe's staring down at $n_their boots, a look on $n_their face you can't quite decipher. "I know - I know how it feels," $n_xe lifts $n_their gaze then, $n_their eyes soft in the dim light over the bar.
"You should take some time. Clear your head. Figure out... if this is really how you want it to be - between you and $l_them," Noel nods at you.<<else>>"But...," Noel hesitates a moment, and you clench your jaw, your hands curling into fists in your lap, nails digging into your palms. "I know - I know how it feels," $n_xe says. You still don't look at $n_them, though you can feel $n_their eyes on you, all but burning you.
"You should take some time. Clear your head. Figure out if this is really how you want it to be - between you and $l_them," Noel says, sighing, but it sounds sad, and you sense $n_them shift against the bar beside you.<</if>>
Is this how you want it to be? How much longer are you and Lea going to be able to keep going like this? You glance down at your hands, fidgeting, anger still burning hot in your chest. But you still have to get through this job together. //Fuck//. <<if $l_campfight>>Keld should have been it. You just keep ending up with your teeth at each other's throats. One of these days you're going to bite too hard - and you won't be able to take it back.<</if>>
You take a deep breath, <<if hasVisited("are you going to fucking serve me")>>and you grab your glass on the bartop, slowly rotating it in your hands, running your fingers over the cool condensation, the glass scraping quietly against the worn finish.<<else>>and you pick at the finish along the bartop, cracked and peeling, feeling the sharp edge of it prick the skin beneath your fingernail, and you peel off a long strip, slow and deliberate, letting it fall to the floor beneath your chair.<</if>><<else>>"$name," Noel starts then, and you close your eyes at your name, dropping your head again, your chin against your chest. "I'm not going to pretend to know you, or Lea," Noel continues, and you open your eyes again, your brow furrowed, glaring down at your lap.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"You're right. You //don't// know me. Don't act like we're friends," you snarl, shooting $n_them a dark look. $n_xe's not looking at you, though, instead staring down at $n_their boots. You watch as $n_xe takes a deep breath, letting out a sigh, but it sounds sad. Defeated.
"I just want to say. As a hunter - to another hunter. I know. I know what it's like," Noel says. "And if you ever want to talk. I'm here for you."
You keep watching $n_them as $n_xe lifts $n_their gaze to look at you, $n_their eyes soft in the dim light of the bar, and there's something there, some emotion in the black and the gold that you can't quite decipher.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"But...," Noel hesitates a moment, and you turn to look at $n_them, though $n_xe's staring down at $n_their boots, a look on $n_their face you can't quite decipher.
"Noel?" you prompt after a long beat, and $n_xe lifts $n_their gaze to you, seeming to steel $n_themself at the sound of your voice.
"I just want to say. As a hunter - to another hunter. I know. I know what it's like." $n_xe turns against the bar, leaning closer to you. "If you ever want to talk. I'm here for you."
You glance away, swallowing hard, and Noel slides back again, but you can still feel those eyes on you.<<else>>"But...," Noel hesitates a moment, and you clench your jaw, your hands curling into fists in your lap, nails digging into your palms. "I just want to say. As a hunter - to another hunter. I know what it's like," $n_xe says. You still don't look at $n_them, though you can feel $n_their eyes on you, all but burning you.
"If you ever want to talk. I'm here for you," Noel says, sighing, but it sounds sad, and you sense $n_them shift against the bar beside you.<</if>>
"You should take some time. Clear your head. And decide if this is really how you want it to be - between you and $l_them," Noel says, turning away, towards the rows of bottles behind the bar, finally releasing you from $n_their stare.
Is this how you want it to be? How much longer are you and Lea going to be able to keep going like this? You glance down at your hands, fidgeting, anger still burning hot in your chest. But you still have to get through this job together. //Fuck//. <<if $l_campfight>>Keld should have been it. You just keep ending up with your teeth at each other's throats. One of these days you're going to bite too hard - and you won't be able to take it back.<</if>>
Your face twitches, <<if hasVisited("are you going to fucking serve me")>>and you grab your glass on the bartop, slowly rotating it in your hands, running your fingers over the cool condensation, the glass scraping quietly against the worn finish.<<else>>and you pick at the finish along the bartop, cracked and peeling, feeling the sharp edge of it prick the skin beneath your fingernail, and you peel off a long strip, slow and deliberate, letting it fall to the floor beneath your chair.<</if>><</if>>
[[Continue ->at the bar w noel]]The two of you lapse back into silence, and you are content to let it stretch, but it only lasts for a few moments instead, before Mal suddenly joins the two of you, glancing over at you before shoving her way next to Noel.
You raise an eyebrow, letting out an annoyed huff as Mal knocks against your chair, but it passes quickly when you sense the urgency in her movements, the way her hand reaches out and curls too tightly around Noel's arm.
You sit up in your seat, casting a quick look over your shoulder at the parlor, just as Mal begins to speak. There is a shift in the atmosphere then, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end as a sudden ripple passes through the parlor, and a few people standing abruptly, their chairs scraping painfully loud, sending a shiver up your spine, and you find yourself standing as well, your own chair knocking against the back of your knees.
"Noel, you need to come with me," Mal says, and you snap your eyes back to her, her back to you, but you can see the way she tugs on Noel's arm, hear the way her voice is tight and clipped.
You turn away from them again, your eyes darting around the room, and you see Merry and Clementine, and Lea looking at you, the two of you making eye contact for the briefest moment-
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link '//BANG!//' 'bang! 1'>><</link>></span>Suddenly, the front door slams open, so loud that it rings in your ears, some of the glass windows shuddering in their frames. You and Lea, on opposite sides of the parlor, both swing around towards the door, and your hand instinctively hovers towards your hunter's knife.
An older man steps through the door, wearing rather posh armor, you think, polished silver emblazoned with a swooping hawk. A dark red tunic, lined with thick grey fur, embellished with silver studs and gold feathers - there is only one person this can be. Lord Duncan. A group of soldiers stand with him, their red and silver armor just as polished as his, their faces hidden behind silver facemasks, molded with noses and lips, and with only slits for the eyes. Hands on swords, they shift, tensed in the doorway.
The warden focuses in on Merry, cutting across the parlor towards her and Lea, prowling among the tables, people turning their faces away from him.
"Lord Duncan," Merry clears her throat, propping her hands on her hips and taking a few steps forward, breaking the silence. She grins, but you can see the strain for just a moment before she blinks it away. Duncan takes a long, painful moment to close the distance between him and the captain, the entire parlor seeming to hold their breath.
You glance back towards Noel, only to blink stupidly at the empty space beside you. Both Noel and Mal have vanished, leaving you alone at the bar. You frown, looking back over at the soldiers as they lurk after Duncan, those silver masks flashing in the lamp light.
"What a wonderful surprise to have you here, Duncan-" Merry begins, but she's cut off by a sharp look.
"//Lord// Duncan," he says, his voice hard.
Merry's face twitches.
You watch this all from the bar, tensed, your hands clenched at your side. Lea is standing slightly behind Merry, looking Duncan up and down, $l_their eyes cutting to you before Duncan turns his attention to $l_them, stepping in front of Lea and blocking $l_their line of sight with his soldiers.
"I heard we had visitors, Captain Harlowe. Very rude of you to keep them from me," Duncan says, and even from here, even without seeing Lea's face, you can all but feel $l_their distaste at Duncan's words, the way $l_they shift<<s>> slightly in front of the warden, standing up straighter and crossing $l_their arms.
[[Continue ->I was expecting a hunter]]"I was expecting a hunter, here," Duncan says then, tilting his head towards Lea. "I have to say, I don't like the idea of a monster like that prowling around my city without a handler," he continues, and you feel your nails dig into your palms, disgust rising like bile in the back of your throat.
"I'd expect a Chen to keep a tighter leash," he adds, quiet, but you still hear it.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Speak up.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Let Lea handle it.]]</div>"You do not need to worry yourself about my leash," you speak up then, your teeth flashing, "my handler has quite the choke chain."
Duncan turns around, narrowing his eyes at you, a clear look of disgust wrinkling his features.
"Call it over," he says, but he's speaking to Lea, glancing at $l_them before giving you another repulsed look.
You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"$surname," Lea calls, and you obey, walking across the parlor, all the eyes on you making your skin crawl.
<<include "your dogs">>Lea manages to keep $l_their composure, clearing $l_their throat before addressing the warden.
"My partner was just fetching us drinks, my lord," Lea says, peering past Duncan and gesturing towards you, and you fight the urge to flinch at that fucking word again.
Duncan turns, raising an eyebrow at you, standing alone at the bar.
"I assure you, my lord, I keep my leash //very// tight," Lea growls, taking a step towards the warden, and your hands twitch, watching the way the man swings his head back around, his hand moving to rest on the hilt of his sword.
"Call it over," Duncan says then.
You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"$surname," Lea calls, and you obey, walking across the parlor, all the eyes on you making your skin crawl.<<set $stoic +=1>>
<<include "your dogs">>Clenching your jaw, you keep your distance as you pass by Duncan, taking your spot beside Lea, but before Duncan can say anything to you, Merry cuts back in.
"Is there a reason you've brought //your dogs// into my establishment, Lord Duncan?" she snaps, glaring at the soldiers still rooting around the parlor.
"We were all just so excited to meet your lovely new friends here," Duncan turns to her, smiling coolly, before looking at you and Lea expectantly.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Bow. I know that's what he's waiting for.]]>><<set $bow to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Don't bow. He can keep waiting.]]>><<set $bow to false>><</link>></div>Glancing at Lea, you bow stiffly, an unusual motion for you. You keep your eyes on Lord Duncan, though, and don't miss the way he eyes you before turning to Lea.
Lea, however, remains unmoving beside you.
Standing back up, you shift on your feet uncomfortably, looking between $l_them and Duncan.
"Well, at least it's got //some// manners," Duncan says then, turning slowly from Lea to look you up and down, his lip curled slightly.
<<include "should we do some introductions">>You and Lea both remain unmoving, even under his steely gaze. You can see his hand tighten around his sword as he stands there, waiting. A moment passes. And another.
Duncan curls his lip at the two of you.
<<include "should we do some introductions">>"Should we do some introductions? Put some tea on? How about some little cakes for your dogs?" Merry snarks then, her hands still on her hips as she leers over at the warden.
"Introductions are hardly necessary. I am quite aware of Handler Chen," Duncan says, though he sounds far from impressed. "I think it would be impossible to live here and not know about the darling Chen family."
Lea stiffens beside you, but $l_their face remains unreadable, $l_their dark eyes betraying nothing.
"Though... //You//," he says, turning to you, "You interest me...," Duncan trails off, taking a sudden step towards you and reaching for your hood.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Slap his hand away.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $hood_off to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Step away from him.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $hood_off to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm a bit stunned by his boldness, and fail to react.]]>><<set $hood_off to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Let him take off your hood.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $hood_off to true>><</link>></div><<if $aggressive gte $stoic>>You slap his hand away with a barely concealed snarl, stepping away from him.<<else>>Instinctively you slap his hand away, unmoving where you stand, clenching your jaw and swallowing your anger.<</if>>
The sound of swords unsheathing cuts through the quiet of the tavern, and chairs scrape across wooden floors as patrons jump to their feet to back away, soldiers converging around you, no hesitation in their movements. Merry draws her own sword, and Lea tenses beside you, grabbing a fistful of your cloak and preparing to pull you back.
But Duncan holds one hand up, and the soldiers surrender to his command. Their swords remain unsheathed, and your companions hold their breath around you.
Duncan, still holding up his one hand, curls the other that you slapped into a fist, clicking his tongue, clear disappointment on his face. His eyes remind you of Jorah, steely grey, and hard to read. In a different life, no ring of gold there.
"I think your monster needs a bit more training," he drawls, turning his glare from you to Lea. Lea shifts then, releasing your cloak and clearing $l_their throat, stepping a bit between you and Duncan.
<<include "bad duncan intro">>You step back, glaring at him from the shadows of your hood. Duncan clicks his tongue, disappointment on his face, curling his hand back away from you. His eyes remind you of Jorah, steely grey, and hard to read. In a different life, no ring of gold there.
"No need to be shy," he says, still eyeing you. Lea shifts slightly, clearing $l_their throat, stepping between you and Duncan. Duncan's focus turns to $l_them now, his eyes narrowing.
<<include "easy duncan intro">>You stiffen, stunned as Duncan's fingers brush your hood aside, just barely touching your face. Clenching your jaw, you both stare at each other, a small smile curling at the edge of Duncan's lips. His eyes remind you of Jorah, steely grey and hard to read. In a different life, no ring of gold there.
"Look at that," he says, tilting his head to the side as he gazes over you, his hand still hovering uncomfortably close to your face. Lea shifts next to you, clearing $l_their throat then. Duncan drops his hand and his focus turns to Lea now, his eyes narrowing.
<<include "easy duncan intro">>Clenching your jaw, you remain unmoving, allowing Duncan to remove your hood. His fingers just barely touch your face as he reveals you. You both stare at each other for a long moment, your hands curling into fists at your sides. His eyes remind you of Jorah, steely grey, and hard to read. In a different life, no ring of gold there. A small smile flickers across Duncan's face, a flash of teeth.
"Look at that," he says, tilting his head to the side as his gaze sweeps over you, his hand still hovering uncomfortably close to your face. Lea shifts next to you, clearing $l_their throat then. Duncan drops his hand and his focus turns to Lea now, his eyes narrowing.
<<include "easy duncan intro">>"It would be best not to provoke the hunter, my lord," Lea says, a bite to $l_their voice, and you can tell Lea isn't even making an effort to mask like $l_they usually <<do>> with people like Lord Duncan; you figure it's a bit too late for that now, anyways.
Duncan clicks his tongue, shaking his head with a sigh, before suddenly turning to Merry, who still grips her sword in her hand.
<<include "get a room">>"Is there something you want to discuss with us, Lord Duncan?" Lea says, and you can tell $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> using $l_their //diplomat// voice, a different Lea from the one you know. It makes your skin crawl, the fakeness of it, especially after the earlier hostility.
Duncan eyes Lea for a moment before suddenly turning to Merry.
<<include "get a room">>"How about a room, Captain? To talk to our guests, in private," he says then, peering around the parlor. You're almost certain that some people are holding their breath just to ensure they can hear everything that's being said.
<<if hasVisited ("Slap his hand away." or "Slap his hand away. 1")>>Merry glares at the man and his soldiers for a painfully long moment, before slowly sheathing her sword. She says nothing, but waves you all towards the stairs. There is no choice here but to follow, swords still drawn around you. The clank of armor follows you as you go, and you and Lea glance at each other, an unspoken moment of shared hatred towards this Lord Duncan passing between you.
Merry leads you along the mezzanine and down the hallway, towards a back room along the far wall. She raises her hand and wraps her knuckles once, twice, three times, and when no response comes, she digs a ring of keys from her pocket and unlocks the door, throwing it open and stepping inside.<<else>>Merry just nods, waving you along towards the stairs. The clank of armor follows you as you go, and you and Lea glance at each other, a shared unease rising between you. Merry leads you along the mezzanine and down the hallway, towards a back room along the far wall. She raises her hand and wraps her knuckles once, twice, three times, and when no response comes she digs a ring of keys from her pocket and unlocks the door, throwing it open and stepping inside.<</if>>
You and Lea trail behind, all too aware of the soldiers right on your heels.
The room is almost an exact copy of yours, though instead of a dresser, there is just a large chest at the foot of the bed. It's an uncomfortable space for all of you to squeeze into; you, Lea, and Merry on one side of the room, with Duncan and three of his soldiers on the other. You can't help but stare at the silver masks, a haunting remnant of the plague. It was popular down south to wear such facemasks, though you're sure the soldiers continue to wear them to intimidate, and as an excuse to hide their faces.
<<if hasVisited ("Slap his hand away." or "Slap his hand away. 1")>>All three of them are watching you, the steel of their blades flashing dangerously.<<else>>All three of them are watching you, each of them with hands clasped around the hilts of their swords.<</if>>
[[Continue ->You can leave us.]]Glancing at Lea, you bow stiffly, an unusual motion for you. You keep your eyes on Lord Duncan, though, and don't miss the way he eyes you before turning to Lea.
Lea, however, remains unmoving beside you.
Standing back up, you shift on your feet uncomfortably, looking between $l_them and Duncan.
"Well, at least you've trained it," Duncan says then, turning slowly from Lea to look you up and down, his lip curled slightly in distaste.
<<include "your dogs 1">>You and Lea both remain unmoving, even under his cool gaze. You can see his hand tighten around his sword as he stands there, waiting. A moment passes. And another.
Duncan curls his lip at the both of you.
<<include "your dogs 1">>"Is there a reason you've brought your little dogs into my establishment, Warden?" Merry cuts in then, a bite in her voice.
"I heard we had visitors. Very rude of you to keep them from me," Lord Duncan says then, lazily looking you up and down. "And a hunter, no less."
Lord Duncan suddenly steps towards you, reaching for your hood.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Slap his hand away.' 'Slap his hand away. 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $hood_off to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Step away from him.' 'Step away from him. 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $hood_off to false>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I\'m a bit stunned by his boldness, and fail to react.' 'Im a bit stunned by his boldness, and fail to react.'>><<set $hood_off to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Let him take off your hood.' 'Let him take off your hood. 1'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $hood_off to true>><</link>></div><<if $aggressive gte $stoic>>You slap his hand away with a barely concealed snarl, stepping away from him.<<else>>Instinctively you slap his hand away, unmoving where you stand, clenching your jaw and swallowing your anger.<</if>>
The sound of swords unsheathing cuts through the quiet of the tavern, and chairs scrape across wooden floors as patrons jump to their feet to back away, soldiers converging around you, no hesitation in their movements. Merry draws her own sword, and Lea tenses beside you, grabbing a fistful of your cloak and preparing to pull you back.
But Duncan holds one hand up, and the soldiers surrender to his command. Their swords remain unsheathed, and your companions hold their breath around you.
Duncan, still holding up his one hand, curls the other that you slapped into a fist, clicking his tongue, clear disappointment on his face. His eyes remind you of Jorah, steely grey, and hard to read. In a different life, no ring of gold there.
"I think perhaps you need to tighten your monster's leash," he drawls, turning his glare from you to Lea. Lea shifts then, releasing your cloak and clearing $l_their throat, stepping a bit between you and Duncan.
<<include "bad duncan intro 1">>You step back, glaring at him from the shadows of your hood. Duncan clicks his tongue, disappointment on his face, curling his hand back away from you. His eyes remind you of Jorah, steely grey, and hard to read. In a different life, no ring of gold there.
"No need to be shy," he says, still eyeing you. Lea shifts slightly, clearing $l_their throat, stepping between you and Duncan. Duncan's focus turns to $l_them now, his eyes narrowing.
<<include "easy duncan intro 1">>You stiffen, stunned as Duncan's fingers brush your hood aside, just barely touching your face. Clenching your jaw, you both stare at each other, a small smile curling at the edge of Duncan's lips. His eyes remind you of Jorah, steely grey and hard to read. In a different life, no ring of gold there.
"Look at that," he says, tilting his head to the side as he gazes over you, his hand still hovering uncomfortably close to your face. Lea shifts next to you, clearing $l_their throat then. Duncan drops his hand and his focus turns to Lea now, his eyes narrowing.
<<include "easy duncan intro 1">>Clenching your jaw, you remain unmoving, allowing Duncan to remove your hood. His fingers just barely touch your face as he reveals you. You both stare at each other for a long moment, your hands curling into fists at your sides. His eyes remind you of Jorah, steely grey, and hard to read. In a different life, no ring of gold there. A small smile flickers across Duncan's face, a flash of teeth.
"Look at that," he says, tilting his head to the side as his gaze sweeps over you, his hand still hovering uncomfortably close to your face. Lea shifts next to you, clearing $l_their throat then. Duncan drops his hand and his focus turns to Lea now, his eyes narrowing.
<<include "easy duncan intro 1">>"Introductions?" Lea says, and you can tell $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> using $l_their //diplomat// voice, a different person entirely than the Lea you know. It makes your skin crawl, the fakeness of it.
"My name is Lea Chen. This is Hunter $surname. We only just arrived early this morning, and unfortunately had a few things to handle in the city. A shame we haven't crossed paths earlier. I've heard many good things," Lea continues, smiling warmly at the warden. Your stomach twists at the sight. You've seen $l_them do this a dozen times before, but it's always strange.
"The market here is impressive - the town seems to have completely recovered under your leadership," Lea adds, nodding at him. "It's admirable." Lea's voice is tight, but $l_their mask doesn't slip, even as Duncan's demeanor shifts slightly, a slight upward curve of his lips.
He glances between the two of you, and then looks to Merry.
<<include "get a room">>"How about introductions?" Lea says, $l_their words tight and clipped, clasping $l_their hands in front of $l_them. $l_They<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> using $l_their //diplomat// voice, a different Lea from the one you know. It makes your skin crawl, the fakeness of it.
"My name is Lea-" $l_they start<<s>>, but Duncan waves $l_them off.
"I know who you are, Handler Chen," he says, glaring up at $l_them. His eyes cut to you. "And you are Hunter $surname," he says it as if it is amusing to him.
"Yes," Lea says, and there's a shift then, $l_their mask dropping, clear that it's too late for that, now. "A shame we haven't crossed paths sooner, Lord Duncan," $l_they <<say>>, $l_their lip curling, a mockery just subtle enough to deny, but going by the way Duncan's eye twitches, it's clear he understands what Lea is conveying.
Lea looks expectantly at Duncan, and you wonder if there is any hope of salvaging this, of diffusing the dangerous tension building between all of you.
Duncan sighs loudly then, giving Lea a contemptuous look, before suddenly turning to Merry, who still grips her sword in her hand.
<<include "get a room">>Lord Duncan stands for a moment, picking at some unseen speck of dust on his sleeve, before looking over at Merry.
"You can leave us," he says, stepping aside so Merry can reach the door. She gives him a long, hard look.
"No. I think I'd rather stay," she says.
"I wasn't asking," Duncan snaps back, curling his lip.
You can feel Lea tense up beside you, and Merry continues to remain unmoving, hands on her hips, her glare unwavering.
Duncan sighs, glancing to one of his soldiers and waving his hand. They respond immediately, striding across the room and grabbing Merry by her elbow, hauling her forward.
Merry rips her arm from the soldier's grip, but they're undeterred, grabbing her again and twisting her arm, forcing her to turn around and face Duncan.
"Don't fucking touch me," Merry snarls, once again jerking her arm free, "I'm fucking going!"
She steps back away from the soldier, holding her hands up. If looks could kill, Duncan would drop dead in that moment. Instead, he just smiles, watching as Merry steps out the door, slamming it closed behind her.
A tense silence passes before Duncan speaks again, nothing but the sound of grinding metal as the soldiers shift on their feet.
[[Continue ->What brings you and your hunter to my city?]]"So. Tell me, Handler Chen, what brings you and your hunter to my city?" he says, crossing his arms and eyeing you both across the room.
"We are just passing through, my lord," Lea says simply, and the title nearly makes you curl your lips in disgust.
"And your destination?" he prompts.
"The mountains, near Skala. We received some reports of a weak spot in the Vel. A wraith lurking around," Lea says. $l_They <<dont>> look at you, and you don't look at $l_them, but you're a bit thrown by $l_their lie. Clearly, now is not the time to show it, and you remain unmoving beside $l_them.
"Is that right?" Duncan muses, turning to you now. "Do you have anything to say about that?" he asks.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't have anything to say about that. I just shrug.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't have anything to say about that, and I'll tell him so.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Keep it brief, and back Lea. We're just passing through.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[This man is making me uneasy - I look to Lea for help.]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[This man sure is full of himself. And he's pissing me off.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You just shrug. Honestly, there's not much more you could say if you wanted to, considering Lea just made it up on the spot. It's probably best you just keep your mouth shut.
Duncan stares at you for a long moment, perhaps thinking you might eventually say something, but you don't, and finally he lets out a long sigh. Disappointed.
"I see," he says, shaking his head.
<<include "diplomatic discussion">>You give him a smirk and shrug, spreading your hands out in front of you, "Nothing to say at all."
He takes a deep breath, sighing loudly. "I see," he says, clearly disappointed.
<<include "diplomatic discussion">>"As my handler said. We're here to restore the Vel, and ensure nothing has passed through. And if something has, we're here to kill it," you say resolutely. Duncan eyes you for a moment, before taking a deep breath.
"I see," he says with a slow nod.
<<include "diplomatic discussion">>You glance over at Lea, desperate for any kind of direction here.
<<if $hood_off>>"Don't look at $l_them. Look at me," Duncan snaps, and you do, blinking over at him.<<else>>"I can tell you're looking at $l_them. Look at me," Duncan snaps, and you do, blinking under your hood.<</if>>
<<if hasVisited("Speak up.")>>"What? Lost your voice, now?" he says, his tone annoyed. You start to open your mouth, but he just waves his hand, scoffing. "It doesn't matter."<<else>>"Can't you speak?" he says, his tone annoyed. You start to open your mouth, but he just waves his hand, scoffing. "It doesn't matter."<</if>>
<<include "diplomatic discussion">><<if $aggressive gt $stoic>>You shift on your feet, crossing your arms, and you can already feel Lea tense beside you in preparation for whatever you're about to say. "I'm afraid we really don't have the time to explain the intricacies of the Vel to you right now. I doubt you would understand it, anyways. I could repeat what $l_they said, nice and slow for you, if that would help, //my lord//," you say, though it all comes out as more of a snarl.<<else>>Your face twitches in annoyance, and you glare over at the man, taking a deep breath before you speak. "It's as my handler said. Or do you need me to repeat it, nice and slow for you?"<</if>>
Duncan stares at you for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
"I see," he finally says. He pauses again before continuing. "This hospitality, right now?" he says then, waving his hand around the room, "it is not unconditional. Make no mistake, I allowed you to walk around Blackwater today. Captain Harlowe got to you first, but I am the final authority here. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my lord," Lea says, $l_their voice hardly sincere.
"I'm speaking to the beast," Lord Duncan says, ignoring Lea, leveling his gaze at you.
<<if $aggressive gt $stoic>>"Yes, //my lord//," you say, spitting at your feet, the title like poison in your mouth.
Duncan's eyes flash, and you see real anger there, now.<<elseif $stoic gt $aggressive>>"It is clear," you say, your voice hard.
"Use my title when you address me," Duncan says.
You say nothing else.
He glares at you, his grey eyes flashing, real anger there now<<else>>"It is clear," you say, your voice hard.
"Use my title when you address me," Duncan says.
"It is clear, //my lord//," you say, spitting at your feet as you say it.
Duncan's eyes flash, and you see real anger there, now.<</if>>
"Listen to me," he snarls, jabbing a finger at you and Lea. His cool façade shattered, he leans over the bed, giving away to his anger. "I want the two of you out of my city. You are not welcome here. We have enough problems without you running around scaring my people."
"These are not your people."
Both you and Duncan turn to Lea then, $l_their voice sounding like a command.
"You are no northerner. You're just a southern bastard! How dare you call these people //your people//! Don't insult us, //my lord//," Lea shakes $l_their head in disgust. "I know your type. What have you done for them that does not benefit your own pocket? The captain is the one who should be the warden of this city, not you. You do not deserve the title."
Duncan stares at Lea, dumbfounded.
A terrible, electric tension crackles through the room in the following silence. The soldiers all stand with their hands on their swords, and you become all too aware of them now.
[[Continue ->You will leave this city]]Duncan takes a step into the room now, the soldiers moving with him.
"It's unfortunate Captain Harlowe got to you first," he starts. "You should be more careful about the company you keep." He's not looking at either of you, instead adjusting the collar of his tunic. "A pirate? A criminal - is that the kind of people the Order is doing business with these days?"
Lea shifts next to you, crossing $l_their arms, but otherwise neither of you take the bait. <<if $bw_merry>>You glance over at your handler, but Lea's face is totally blank - you're not sure if $l_they figured it out before now, or if this is news to $l_them, but either way $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> hiding it well.<<else>>You have to admit, that definitely explains a few things about Merry. Glancing over at Lea, $l_their face is unreadable, but you can imagine $l_they <<are>> internally cursing the captain right now.<</if>>
Duncan clicks his tongue at your silence, staring hard at the two of you.
"So, from what I understand, you've had quite the day, today," he says then, holding his hands behind his back. <<if $bw_clem>><<if $violent_fight>>He looks you over again, this time eyeing your busted knuckles. You pull your hand back behind you, clenching it into a fist.
<</if>>"You caused quite the commotion, didn't you?" he says, narrowing his eyes at you.<<elseif $bw_noel>>"Trespassing...," he trails off, //tsking// you, waving a finger in front of his face.<<elseif $bw_merry>>"As I said. You should be careful about the company you keep," he says, narrowing his eyes at you.<<elseif $bw_lea>>"I heard you are quite the gossip. Asking a lot of questions, none of which I believe had anything to do with wraiths, or the Vel," he says, his gaze sliding from you to Lea, smiling coldly.<</if>>
<<if $bw_lea eq false>>"And you," his eyes snap over to Lea then, "quite the gossip. Asking a lot of questions - none of which I believe had anything to do with wraiths, or the Vel."
<</if>>Again he moves farther into the room, clearing his throat before he stops right in front of the both of you. "Make no mistake. I allowed you to do the things you did. Don't let Captain Harlowe fool you. I am the final authority here, not her." His cold eyes flick between the two of you. "My hospitality is not unconditional."
"Of course, my lord," Lea says then, giving Duncan a mirthless smile.
"I'm glad we understand each other," he says, though he looks at you as he says it.
[[Continue ->duncan discussion]]<<if $bow eq true and $hood_off eq false>><<include "hood up but bowed">><<elseif $bow eq false and $hood_off eq false>><<include "hood up and did not bow">><<elseif $hood_off and $bow eq false>><<include "hood off but did not bow">><<else>><<include "hood off and bowed">><</if>>"You will leave this city. You and that fucking pirate, Harlowe. If you are still here noon tomorrow, you will receive no mercy from me," Duncan growls, his voice deadly. He takes a step back, but doesn't reach for the doorknob – instead he bangs his fist against the door twice. It opens, and two more soldiers step in.
At the sight of their flashy armor, you shift instinctively in front of Lea, your hand hovering towards your hunter's knife.
"I wouldn't," Duncan says, smiling at you. You clench your hand, heeding his warning, but you keep yourself positioned between them.
<<include "duncan confrontation">>"Now. Unfortunately, I need you out of my city. The two of you, the way you're running around, you're scaring my people," he says, looking at you sadly.
Lea scoffs quietly next to you.
Duncan turns to $l_them now, disgust wrinkling his nose. "What's funny, Handler Chen?"
You can feel the soldiers tense around the room, hands on their swords, and you watch Lea closely, $l_their dark eyes flashing, surprised a bit at the blatant disrespect from $l_them.
"These aren't //your// people, Lord Duncan," Lea says, a bite in $l_their voice. "Don't insult us by pretending otherwise."
Duncan considers Lea for a painfully long moment. Then he takes a few steps back, closing rank with his soldiers. "I want you gone by noon tomorrow. You two, and the //captain//. If you are still in this city tomorrow afternoon, you will receive no mercy from me," he growls, his voice deadly. He moves towards the door now, but doesn't reach for the doorknob – instead he bangs his fist against the door twice. It opens, and two more soldiers step in.
At the sight of their flashy armor, you shift instinctively in front of Lea, your hand hovering towards your hunter's knife.
"I wouldn't," Duncan says, smiling at you. You clench your hand, heeding his warning, but you keep yourself positioned between them.
<<include "duncan confrontation">>"Take off your hood," he says suddenly as the door closes again behind him. You blink, eyeing the five soldiers circling the room, all of them watching you.
<div id="choice">[[Take it off.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Refuse.]]</div>"Take off your hood," he says suddenly, as the door closes again behind him. You blink, eyeing the five soldiers circling the room, all of them watching you.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Take it off.' 'Take it off. 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Refuse.' 'Refuse. 1'>><</link>></div>"I want you to bow," he says suddenly as the door closes again behind him. You blink, eyeing the five soldiers circling the room, all of them watching you.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Do as he says.' 'Do as he says. 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Refuse.' 'Refuse. 2'>><</link>></div>"Handler Chen," he says suddenly, as the door closes again behind him. You narrow your eyes, glancing between Duncan and the five soldiers now circling the room.
Duncan turns from the door, his eyes dark, a cold glare leveled behind you, at your handler.
"Handler Chen, I want you to bow," he says.
You feel your lip curl, and you take a step forward, but Duncan's eyes snap over to you.
"Grab $surname," he says.
There's an explosion of furious movement in the tiny room, two of the soldiers vaulting over the bed to get at you. You try to dodge backwards, but there's nowhere to go, backed into the corner, and they grab your arms, slamming your back into the wall. You lash out, but they hold fast, and there's truly nothing you can do – gutting royal soldiers in a tavern isn't exactly a good look.
Another soldier rounds the bed, drawing their sword, stopping in front of you and pressing the blade against your stomach. You glare into the mask, wanting nothing more than to rip it off their face, pulling against your captors, ignoring the way the sword digs into your gut. You're jerked backwards again, knocked against the wall, fingers bruising your arms.
Lea has been grabbed as well, the other two soldiers holding $l_their arms pinned behind $l_their back. Lord Duncan still stands on the other side of the room, and you watch as he steps up onto the bed and walks across it, dropping down right in front of Lea.
Again you surge forward, anger burning in your chest, the blade piercing your clothes and nicking your stomach, and again the soldiers slam you back against the wall. The other one raises their sword, placing the edge along your throat to keep you in place.
Lord Duncan is frowning over at you, a disgusted look on his face.
"You really need to train your beast to behave," he says, turning back to Lea.
To Lea's credit, $l_they <<dont>> react, unmoving, just glaring down at Duncan with a hate you've never seen from $l_them before.
Duncan shakes his head, taking a step back and crossing his arms. "I'm waiting, Chen," he says then. "Don't make me repeat myself."
Again, Lea doesn't move, though you can see $l_their hands curl into fists behind $l_them, $l_their jaw clenching, dark eyes flashing.
Duncan clicks his tongue, clearly disappointed, and gives the soldiers holding Lea a nod. Lea grunts as the back of $l_their legs are kicked out, sending $l_them hard to the floor, on $l_their knees, Duncan prowling back and forth in front of $l_them.
"All the way to the floor," Duncan says, halting his pacing and holding his hands behind his back.
"Fuck you," Lea snarls, but the soldiers shove $l_them forward, slamming $l_them face first into the floor. One of the soldiers presses their knee into Lea's back, grabbing a handful of $l_their hair and pinning $l_them to the floor. Duncan crouches down next to Lea, then, leaning forward, pushing some of the hair out of $l_their face.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?"
He stands, waving his hand, and the soldiers release Lea at his command, the one in front of you lowering their sword before you're shoved forward violently. You just barely catch yourself against the bed, glaring over at Duncan as he pauses at the door. Lea slowly pushes $l_themself up onto $l_their hands and knees, $l_their boots scraping over the wood floor.
"Noon tomorrow," he says over his shoulder. Then he steps through the door, the soldiers trailing after him.
[[Continue ->lea on the floor]]Reluctantly, you reach up and pull your hood back. Duncan smiles over at you.
"Good. That wasn't so hard, was it?" he says, taking a step towards you. He reaches down and pulls a knife from his belt, twirling it for a moment in his hand, watching the light glint off the blade. You tense, but hold your ground as he comes around the bed. The soldiers follow him, three of them coming towards you, the other two going to Lea.
"This isn't necessary," Lea says, but $l_their tone is far from diplomatic now, almost a hiss as the two soldiers converge behind $l_them, one drawing their sword, a clear warning to stop talking. Lea scowls as Duncan stops in front of $l_them.
"Grab $surname," Duncan says, turning and pointing the knife at you.
You try to dodge the soldiers' hands, but there's nowhere for you to go in the tiny room, and they grapple you back, two of them grabbing one arm each, while the third draws their sword, the blade pressing into your side. You lash out, but they hold fast, and there's truly nothing you can do – gutting royal soldiers in a tavern isn't exactly a good look.
Lea stands unmoving, though $l_their eyes flash to you, and you can just see $l_them clench $l_their jaw before $l_they return<<s>> $l_their attention to Duncan.
[[Continue ->hood up but bowed 1 - removed hood]]<<if $aggressive gt $stoic>>"Fuck you," you snarl, shaking your head.<<elseif $stoic gt $aggressive>>You make no move to comply.<<else>>You make no move to comply, biting back the snarl in your throat.<</if>>
Duncan clicks his tongue, shaking his head at you. He turns to the soldiers, giving them a nod, and there's an explosion of furious movement in the tiny room, two of the soldiers vaulting over the bed to get at you. You dodge quick, but there's nowhere to go, backed into the corner, and they grab your arms, slamming your back into the wall. You lash out, but they hold fast, and there's truly nothing you can do – gutting royal soldiers in a tavern isn't exactly a good look.
Lea has been grabbed as well, $l_their arms pinned behind $l_their back, and $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> struggling, but you can tell $l_their heart's not in it. $l_Their focus is on you, and you can see $l_them shaking $l_their head before another soldier steps in front of you, blocking your view, their sword drawn.
Lord Duncan still stands on the other side of the room, and you watch as he reaches down and pulls a knife from his belt. He twirls it for a moment in his hand, watching the light glint along the blade, before stepping up onto the bed and walking across it, dropping down right in front of you.
You lurch against your captors, but they slam you back against the wall again, and you huff, eyeing the knife as Duncan waves it in front of your face.
"You will learn to listen to me," he says, smiling at you, caressing the blade along your cheek. He flicks it back, snagging the edge of your hood and jerking it away, revealing your face. He taps your cheek with the flat side of the knife, laughing.
Suddenly his other hand grabs you, gloved fingers digging into your skin as he squeezes your face, tilting it this way and that.
"Don't fucking touch <<if $nopr>>$surname<<else>>$mc_them<</if>>!" Lea shouts from behind him, but Duncan ignores $l_them, all his attention on you.
"Look at that," he purrs, looking at your eyes, <<if $faceScar>>running a finger over the new scars along your jaw.<<elseif $faceScratch>>running a finger over the scratches along your jaw, pushing into the wound, making you wince.<<else>>running a finger along your jaw.<</if>>
He shoves your head back then, cracking it against the wall, dropping his hand from your face. You slump forward, the soldiers holding you in place as the room spins for a moment.
Refocusing, you manage to look up as Duncan walks over to Lea now, still held in place by one of the other soldiers. You swallow thickly, your blood roaring in your ears, and you try to step towards $l_them, but you're held fast, a sword pressing into your side.
All you can do is watch.<<set $duncan_face_grab to true>><<set $sanity -=2>>
[[Continue ->lea bow 1]]Duncan nods to the soldiers behind Lea, and they immediately grab $l_them, pinning $l_their arms behind $l_their back. Still, Lea remains unmoving, just glaring down at Duncan with a hate you've never seen from $l_them before.
<<include "lea bow 1">>"I want you to bow," Duncan says, glaring up at Lea. $l_They hold<<s>> his stare, and $l_they stand<<s>> up straighter, clenching $l_their jaw.
Duncan just sighs, waving his hand at the soldier holding $l_them, who kicks the back of Lea's knees, dropping $l_them to the floor. Again you lurch against your captors, but they pull you back, again the sword cutting into your side.
"All the way to the floor," Duncan instructs, and the soldier presses their knee into Lea's back, grabbing a handful of $l_their hair and forcing $l_their face into the floor. Duncan crouches down next to Lea, whispers to $l_them.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?"
He stands then, and waves his hand again, the soldier releasing Lea at his command, and the two holding you shove you forward. You just barely catch yourself against the bed, glaring over at Duncan as he pauses at the door. Lea slowly pushes $l_themself up onto $l_their hands and knees, $l_their boots scraping over the wood floor.
"Noon tomorrow," he says over his shoulder. Then he steps through the door, the soldiers trailing after him.
[[Continue ->lea on the floor]]You push yourself off the bed, <<if hasVisited("Refuse.")>>holding your head for a moment and breathing hard, before turning to Lea, still on the floor.<<else>>breathing hard, turning to Lea, still on the floor.<</if>>
<<if ($l_relationship isnot 6) or ($l_relationship isnot 7)>>Lea tries to stand before you can even reach $l_them, staggering forward and clutching $l_their head in $l_their hands.
Your eyes are drawn to the red stains down the front of $l_their shirt, panic spiking through you as Lea sways dangerously on $l_their feet.
"Lea," you say, reaching out, <<if $l_templeflirt_reject>>but you hesitate, your hands hovering over $l_their shoulders, a sudden fear twisting in your chest - afraid to try and touch $l_them again.
Lea suddenly jerks back, blinking over at you, $l_their eyes unfocused, $l_their hair falling loose, a busted lip dripping blood down $l_their chin, staining $l_their teeth, and an angry red scrape across $l_their forehead, which $l_they reach<<es>> up and blindly touch<<es>>.
"Lea," you repeat $l_their name, more urgent this time, and $l_their eyes snap to your face, and $l_they drop<<s>> $l_their hand, shaking $l_their head.
"Are you okay?" Lea barely manages to mumble the words before trying to take a few feeble steps, pitching forward towards the floor.
"Hey!" you shout, because it's all you can think to say as you make a grab from Lea, stopping $l_them from dropping all the way to the floor again.<<else>>roughly grabbing at $l_their shoulders, keeping $l_them steady, tilting $l_their head back to look at $l_them. $l_Their lip is busted, blood dripping down $l_their chin, staining $l_their teeth, and there's a red, angry scrape across $l_their forehead, $l_their hair falling loose around $l_their face.
Lea stares over your shoulder, $l_their eyes unfocused, blindly grabbing at your arms.
"Lea," you say again, your voice more urgent this time, and $l_their eyes snap to your face, before $l_their hands tighten around your forearms.
<<if $l_touch_knows eq true>>Lea seems to come to then, shaking $l_their head and staring down at $l_their hands, <<if $l_flirt gte 1>>fingers still digging into your arms, painful even through the thick fabric of your cloak. But then $l_their eyes widen, and $l_they recoil<<s>>, staggering back away from you.<<else>>before suddenly snatching them back, releasing your arms, swaying a bit without the support.<</if>>
"S-sorry," $l_they mumble<<s>>, wiping $l_their mouth with $l_their sleeve. "Are you okay?" Lea barely manages to mumble the words before trying to take a few feeble steps, pitching forward towards the floor.<<else>>Lea seems to come to then, shaking $l_their head, brow furrowed, staring down at $l_their hands, fingers still digging into your arms. <<if $l_flirt gte 1>>$l_They lean<<s>> against you, fingers curling around handfuls of your cloak, until $l_they suddenly snatch<<es>> both hands back, $l_their eyes wide.
$l_They glance<<s>> away, letting out a ragged breath, quickly stepping back, too quickly, and unsteady now without your arms bracing $l_them, tripping over $l_their feet and stumbling back towards the floor.<<else>>$l_They loosen<<s>> $l_their grip after a few moments, letting go and reaching up to wipe $l_their mouth on $l_their sleeve.
"Are you okay?" $l_they manage<<s>>, and then you think $l_they <<if $l_plural>>try<<else>>tries<</if>> to take a few steps back, but $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> unsteady now, without your arms bracing $l_them, tripping over $l_their feet and stumbling back towards the floor.<</if>><</if>>
"Hey!" you shout, because it's all you can think to say as you make a grab for Lea, stopping $l_them from dropping all the way to the floor again.<</if>>
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>You fumble for a moment, grabbing at the front of Lea's shirt, pulling $l_them close and holding $l_their face in your hands. $l_They inhale<<s>> sharply at the touch, squeezing $l_their eyes closed. You study $l_their face, your attention again going to the mark on $l_their forehead.
"Just take it easy. You hit your head," you say, your voice tight. The soldiers must have really smashed $l_their face into the floor. Lea nods into your hands, $l_their own hands gently touching your wrists, and you can feel $l_them tilt forward a bit, swallowing hard, $l_their eyes still closed, pain contorting $l_their features.
You ignore the way your hands shudder against $l_their warm skin, the way your throat tightens to see $l_them like this - this strange role reversal. Lea's blood on your hands, this time. Can Lea feel you tremble against $l_them? When $l_they open<<s>> $l_their eyes, will your face give you away?
[[Continue ->you hear the sound of the doorknob then 2]]<<else>>You fumble for a moment, but you keep $l_them on $l_their feet, letting $l_them lean into you. Lea squeezes $l_their eyes closed, and you study $l_their face, your attention again going to the mark on $l_their forehead.
"Just take it easy. You hit your head," you say, your voice tight. The soldiers must have really smashed $l_their face into the floor. Lea nods, $l_their eyes still closed, $l_their hands reaching up to gently touch your arms, still holding $l_them steady. You can feel $l_them shift back a bit, testing $l_their legs, swallowing hard, pain contorting $l_their features.
"Take it easy," you repeat, because you don't know what else to do - this is a strange role reversal, with Lea's blood on your hands, this time.
[[Continue ->you hear the sound of the doorknob then 1]]<</if>><<elseif ($l_relationship eq 7) or ($l_relationship eq 6)>>Lea tries to stand before you can even reach $l_them, staggering forward and clutching $l_their head in $l_their hands.
Your eyes are drawn to the red stains down the front of $l_their shirt, a sudden panic spiking through you as Lea sways dangerously on $l_their feet.
"Lea," you say, reaching out, roughly grabbing at $l_their shoulders, keeping $l_them steady, tilting $l_their head back to look at $l_them. $l_Their lip is busted, blood dripping down $l_their chin, staining $l_their teeth, and there's a red, angry scrape across $l_their forehead, $l_their hair falling loose around $l_their face.
Lea stares over your shoulder, $l_their eyes unfocused, blindly grabbing at your arms.
"Lea," you say again, your voice harder this time, and $l_their eyes snap to your face, before $l_their hands tighten around your forearms.
Lea seems to come to then, shaking $l_their head and staring down at $l_their hands, <<if $l_flirt gte 2>>fingers still digging into your arms, painful even through the thick fabric of your cloak. But then $l_their eyes widen, and $l_they recoil<<s>>, staggering back away from you.<<else>>before suddenly snatching them back, releasing your arms, swaying a bit without the support.<</if>>
"S-sorry," $l_they mumble<<s>>, wiping $l_their mouth with $l_their sleeve. "Are you okay?" Lea barely manages to mumble the words before trying to take a few feeble steps, pitching forward towards the floor.
"Hey!" you shout, because it's all you can think to say as you grab Lea by the shoulders again, stopping $l_them from collapsing completely.
You fumble for a moment, but you keep $l_them on $l_their feet, holding $l_them up in front of you, your thumb digging into $l_their collarbone. Lea squeezes $l_their eyes closed, and you study $l_their face, your attention again going to the mark on $l_their forehead.
"Take it easy. You hit your head," you say, your voice tight. The soldiers must have really smashed $l_their face into the floor. Lea nods, $l_their eyes still closed, $l_their hands reaching up to gently touch your arms, still holding $l_them steady. You can feel $l_them shift back a bit, testing $l_their legs, swallowing hard, pain contorting $l_their features.
"Take it easy," you repeat, because you don't know what else to do. You can't deny the dark satisfaction you feel, though, at this role reversal - for once you are not the one left bleeding on the floor. You glance away, swallowing back the guilt rising in your throat.
[[Continue ->you hear the sound of the doorknob 3]]<</if>>Reluctantly, you reach up and pull your hood back. Duncan smiles over at you.
"Good. That wasn't so hard, was it?" he says, taking a step towards you. He reaches down and pulls a knife from his belt, twirling it for a moment in his hand, watching the light glint off the blade. You tense, but hold your ground as he comes around the bed. The soldiers follow him, three of them coming towards you, the other two going towards Lea.
"This isn't necessary," Lea says, but $l_their tone is far from diplomatic now, almost a hiss as the two soldiers converge behind $l_them, one drawing their sword, a clear warning to stop talking. Lea scowls.
"Now," Lord Duncan says as he steps up in front of both of you, casually flipping the knife in his hand, "Bow."
<div id="choice">[[Do as he says.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No."' 'No lol'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck no."' 'Fuck no lol'>><</link>></div><<if $aggressive gt $stoic>>"Fuck you," you snarl, shaking your head.<<elseif $stoic gt $aggressive>>You make no move to comply.<<else>>You make no move to comply, biting back the snarl in your throat.<</if>>
Duncan clicks his tongue, shaking his head at you. He turns to the soldiers, giving them a nod, and there's an explosion of furious movement in the tiny room, two of the soldiers vaulting over the bed to get at you. You dodge quick, but there's nowhere to go, backed into the corner, and they grab your arms, slamming your back into the wall. You lash out, but they hold fast, and there's truly nothing you can do – gutting royal soldiers in a tavern isn't exactly a good look.
Lea has been grabbed as well, $l_their arms pinned behind $l_their back, and $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> struggling, but you can tell $l_their heart's not in it. $l_Their focus is on you, and you can see $l_them shaking $l_their head before another soldier steps in front of you, blocking your view, their sword drawn.
Lord Duncan still stands on the other side of the room, and you watch as he reaches down and pulls a knife from his belt. He twirls it for a moment in his hand, watching the light glint along the blade, before stepping up onto the bed and walking across it, dropping down right in front of you.
You lurch against your captors, but they slam you back against the wall again, and you huff, eyeing the knife as Duncan waves it in front of your face.
[[Continue ->hood up and did not bow 1 - refused]]You look to Lea beside you, the sword piercing through your clothes and pulling at your skin with the movement. Swallowing thickly, you turn back to Duncan, and slowly, slowly, you begin to bow, but the soldiers holding you shove you down to your knees, and you grunt at the impact, the hard wooden floor unforgiving.
"$name," Lea all but growls your name, struggling beside you.
You keep your eyes on Lord Duncan as you lower your head, your face burning.
"All the way down," he says.
<<include "your lip curls">>He leans heavily into you, leering down, his voice a whisper just for you.
"You'll remember this next time we meet, yes, $surname?" And then he steps off of you and turns away. You try to sit up but just slump against the wall, searching for Lea, seeing $l_them held to the floor just as you were. Duncan nods at the soldiers as he walks back to the door and they release Lea, and immediately $l_they stagger<<s>> to $l_their feet, nothing but hate in $l_their eyes.
Duncan pauses, glancing back at you, his soldiers once again surrounding him. "Noon tomorrow," is all he says as he steps out through the door.<<set $sanity -=5>>
[[Continue ->you on the floor]]Your lip curls up in disgust, but you don't get a chance to say anything, one of the soldier's hands grabbing the back of your neck and forcing you to the ground, your face smashing into the hard wood, more hands pinning your arms behind you. You grunt at the impact, a knee in your back, weight pressing down against you, splinters piercing your cheek. Lea still stands beside you, twisting violently in the soldiers' grasp.
You look up at $l_them with your eyes, watching as Duncan moves in front of $l_them. $l_They drop<<s>> to the floor hard next to you, pain evident on $l_their face as a soldier slams a knee into $l_their back.
You hiss, spittle staining the floor under you. You try to move towards Lea, squirming under your captor, but their hands just tighten. You swallow thickly as a panic suddenly rises in you, the memory of fire and claws at your throat too fresh to ignore, your arms twisted uncomfortably behind you.
Lea snarls as $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> pushed to the floor, and you close your eyes, panting now, truly panicking, the toes of your boots scraping against the wood as you try to move. You can hear Duncan laugh, but he sounds far away, and when you open your eyes you see snow all around you, and black ichor spills from your lips.
You convulse, surging against the people holding you down, and there's a yelp as your elbow digs into someone's side, and you wrench yourself free with a snarl, scrambling away across the floor, blinking as the snow vanishes and the black evaporates into nothing. You look around, frantic, your mind spinning, unable to even throw your hands up as Duncan steps towards you and kicks you in the face. Collapsing back onto the floor, you let out a wheeze as he puts his foot on your chest, pinning you down.
<<include "leering down">>Duncan catches his knife and sighs. He glances at his soldiers and gives them a nod. Hands grab at your arms, and you snarl, nowhere to go in the small room as they grapple you into place. Two of them grab your arms, while the other pulls their sword and presses the blade into your side. The others restrain Lea as well, twisting $l_their arms behind $l_their back and forcing $l_them to move over next to you.
Lea huffs, glaring down at Duncan as he prowls back and forth in front of you. He stops, holding the knife in his hand and pressing the point of the blade against one of his fingertips, twisting it there.
He nods again, and Lea grunts beside you as the soldier kicks the back of $l_their knees, sending $l_them to the floor. They do the same to you, kicking your legs until you collapse forward. You can feel your arms bruising under the soldiers' hands as they grip you tight.
"All the way to the floor," Duncan says, and a knee digs into your back, a hand pressing your face to the wood floor. You hiss, spittle staining the floor under you. You try to move towards Lea, but the hands around you tighten, and you swallow thickly as a panic suddenly rises in you, the memory of fire and claws at your throat too fresh to ignore, your arms twisted uncomfortably behind you.
Lea snarls as $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> pushed to the floor, and you close your eyes, splinters digging into your cheek as you start panting now, truly panicking, the toes of your boots scraping against the wood as you try to move. You can hear Duncan laugh, but he sounds far away, and when you open your eyes you see snow all around you, and black ichor spills from your lips.
You convulse, surging against the people holding you down, and there's a yelp as your elbow digs into someone's side, and you wrench yourself free with a snarl, scrambling away across the floor, blinking as the snow vanishes and the black evaporates into nothing. You look around, frantic, your mind spinning, unable to even throw your hands up as Duncan steps towards you and kicks you in the face. Collapsing back onto the floor, you let out a wheeze as he puts his foot on your chest, pinning you down.
<<include "leering down">>"Fuck no," you sneer.
<<include "No lol">>"You will learn to listen to me," he says, smiling at you, caressing the blade along your cheek. He flicks it back, snagging the edge of your hood and jerking it away, revealing your face. He taps your cheek with the flat side of the knife, laughing.
Suddenly his other hand grabs you, gloved fingers digging into your skin as he squeezes your face, tilting it this way and that.
"Don't fucking touch <<if $nopr>>$surname<<else>>$mc_them<</if>>!" Lea shouts, followed by the sounds of struggle, but Duncan ignores $l_them, all his attention on you.
"Look at that," he purrs, looking at your eyes, <<if $faceScar>>running a finger over the new scars along your jaw.<<elseif $faceScratch>>running a finger over the scratches along your jaw, pushing into the wound, making you wince.<<else>>running a slow, creeping finger along your jaw.<</if>>
He shoves your head back then, cracking it against the wall, dropping his hand from your face. You slump forward, the soldiers holding you in place as the room spins for a moment.
"Bring that one here as well," Duncan says then, and it takes you a moment to process that he's talking about Lea. The other soldier drags $l_them over to stand next to you, and you just manage to regain yourself and stand full again when one of the soldiers puts a hand around the back of your neck and jerks your head around to look at Duncan.
He lets out a long sigh, looking between the two of you. He still twirls the knife in his hand, poking his finger against the tip of the blade and twisting it there.
"Now. Bow," he says.
<div id="choice"><<link '"No."' 'no x2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Hell no."' 'hell no x2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck no."' 'fuck no x2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck you."' 'fuck you x2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Spit on him.' 'Spit on him.'>><<set $aggressive +=2>><</link>></div>"Fuck no."
<<include "duncan rolls his eyes">>"No."
<<include "duncan rolls his eyes">>"Hell no."
<<include "duncan rolls his eyes">>"Fuck you."
<<include "duncan rolls his eyes">>You curl your lips into a sneer, your hands clenched in fists where the soldiers hold your arms back.
You don't say anything. You spit in his face.
Duncan flinches in an incredibly satisfying way, gripping his knife with white knuckles as he raises his other hand to wipe your saliva from just under his eye. He flicks his gloved hand clean, glaring at you with those grey eyes. Slowly, he flips the knife over, holding it backwards, shaking his head but never looking away from you. Then he winds his hand back and smashes the butt of the hilt against the side of your face.
You sag back against the soldiers, but they hold you up, one of them tilting your head back and lifting your face to Duncan. You barely process it before he hits you again. And again. Lea is shouting, but you can't understand it over the ringing in your ears.
You try to curl forward again, tucking your chin to your chest, but still the soldiers hold you in place, forcing you back, a hand on top of your head. Duncan puts his face close to yours, his eyes narrowed.
"Bow," he says again.
<div id="choice">[[Do it.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Refuse.' 'Refuse x2'>><</link>></div>Duncan rolls his eyes at you. He flips the knife in his hand, holding it backwards, and then he swings at you, smashing the butt of the hilt against the side of your face. Lea lurches next to you, but the soldier holding $l_them kicks the back of $l_their knees out, sending $l_them to the floor.
He nods at the two holding you and they do the same, kicking at your legs until you crumple to the ground.
"All the way to the floor," Duncan says, and a knee digs into your back, a hand pressing your face to the wood floor. You hiss, blood and spittle staining the floor under you. You squirm, swallowing thickly as a panic suddenly rises in you, the memory of fire and claws at your throat too fresh to ignore, your arms twisted uncomfortably behind you.
The hand presses harder, splinters digging into your cheek, and you close your eyes, panting now, frantic, the toes of your boots scraping against the wood as you struggle to move. You can hear Duncan laugh, but he sounds far away, and when you open your eyes you see snow all around you, and black ichor spills from your lips.
<<include "you convulse">>You convulse, surging against the people holding you down, and there's a yelp as your elbow digs into someone's side, and you wrench yourself free with a snarl, scrambling away across the floor, blinking as the snow vanishes and the black turns red. You look around, frantic, your mind spinning, unable to even throw your hands up as Duncan steps towards you and kicks you in the face. Collapsing back onto the floor, you let out a wheeze as he puts his foot on your chest, pinning you down.
<<include "leering down">>The soldiers release you, and you drop to the floor. Sitting back on your heels, you look up at Duncan, and you don't think you've ever hated anyone more than you hate him in this moment. You look to Lea, still held in place, and you close your eyes for a moment, letting out a long, harsh breath.
Reluctantly, you lean forward, on your knees, pressing your palms into the hard wood floor.
"$name," Lea growls beside you, but you don't look at $l_them, staring down at your hands. Lifting your head, you glare at Duncan, wanting nothing more than to launch across the room, and put your hands around his throat.
"All the way to the floor," he says.
<<include "your lip curls">>The soldiers release you, and you drop to the floor. Sitting back on your heels, you look up at Duncan, and slowly start to stand again. He doesn't let you get very far, though, hitting you again, sending you back down to your knees. Groaning, you look up at him, and you don't think you've ever hated anyone more than you hate him in this moment.
Your hands clench into fists at your sides, and there's a sudden pulse in the air, lightning crackling around you as you grit your teeth.
"All the way to the floor," Duncan says quickly, taking a step back from you then. Again, hands on your arms, and they shove you forward, pressing your face to the hard wood floor. You just catch a glimpse of Lea, dropped to the floor like you, but still struggling valiantly, trying to get to you, before Duncan's boots step between you. There's a knee on your back, a heavy weight against you, splinters piercing your cheek.
You hiss, blood and spittle staining the floor under you. You squirm, swallowing thickly as a panic suddenly rises in you, the memory of fire and claws at your throat too fresh to ignore, your arms twisted uncomfortably behind you.
The hand presses harder, and you close your eyes, panting now, frantic, the toes of your boots scraping against the wood floor as you try to move. You can hear Duncan laugh, but he sounds far away, and when you open your eyes, you see snow all around you, and black ichor spills from your lips.
<<include "you convulse">>You look to Lea beside you, standing with $l_their hands clenched at $l_their sides. You turn back over to the soldiers crowding the front of the room, their swords glittering dangerously in the dim light. Swallowing thickly, you raise your gaze to Duncan, and slowly, slowly, you lower you head, glaring down at the floor.
"$name," Lea all but growls your name, taking a step towards you.
You keep your eyes down, your face burning, anger in your chest making your hands shake, even as you dig your nails into your palms.
"All the way down," Duncan says.
"Stop it," Lea snaps, stepping towards you again. You straighten back up, your brow furrowed.
"What?"
"You heard me. All the way to the floor," Duncan sneers.
You hesitate, glancing at Lea, and Duncan clicks his tongue impatiently.
"Just grab them," he says, waving his hand, and there's an explosion of furious movement in the tiny room, two of the soldiers vaulting over the bed to get at you. You're too stunned to react, belatedly staggering back - but there's nowhere to go, and they grab your arms, slamming your back into the wall. It knocks the breath from your lungs, and you lash out, but they hold fast, and there's truly nothing you can do – gutting royal soldiers in a tavern isn’t exactly a good look.
Lea swears loudly, the other soldiers holding $l_them, too, $l_their arms pinned behind $l_their back, glaring daggers at Duncan.
"I did what you asked!" you try to break free, but your captors hold fast, forcing you back against the wall.
"Now. Again. Bow," Duncan smiles coldly at the two of you, ignoring your outburst.
[[Continue ->hood off but did not bow - bowed]]<<if $aggressive gt $stoic>>"Fuck you," you snarl, shaking your head.<<elseif $stoic gt $aggressive>>You make no move to comply.<<else>>You make no move to comply, biting back the snarl in your throat.<</if>>
Duncan clicks his tongue, shaking his head, disappointed. He turns to the soldiers, giving them a nod, and there's an explosion of furious movement in the tiny room, two of the soldiers vaulting over the bed to get at you. You dodge quick, but there's nowhere to go, backed into the corner, and they grab your arms, slamming your back into the wall. You lash out, but they hold fast, and there's truly nothing you can do – gutting royal soldiers in a tavern isn't exactly a good look.
Lea has been grabbed as well, $l_their arms pinned behind $l_their back, and $l_they<<re>> struggling, but you can tell $l_their heart's not in it. $l_Their focus is on you, and you can see $l_them shaking $l_their head before another soldier steps in front of you, blocking your view, their sword drawn.
Lord Duncan still stands on the other side of the room, and you watch as he reaches down and pulls a knife from his belt. He twirls it for a moment in his hand, watching the light glint along the blade, before stepping up onto the bed and walking across it, dropping down right in front of you.
You lurch against your captors, but they slam you back against the wall again, and you huff, eyeing the knife as Duncan waves it in front of your face.
"You will learn to listen to me," he says, smiling at you, caressing the blade along your cheek. He laughs then, patting the flat blade of the knife against your face, before stepping back.
[[Continue ->hood off but did not bow - refused]]The soldiers jerk you forward, away from the wall, and kick out the back of your knees, sending you hard to the floor.
You hiss as a hand grabs the back of your neck then, forcing you to the ground, your face smashing into the hard wood, more hands pinning your arms behind you. You grunt at the impact, a knee in your back, weight pressing down against you, splinters piercing your cheek. Lea still stands beside you, twisting violently in the soldiers' grasp.
You look up at $l_them with your eyes, watching as Duncan moves in front of $l_them. $l_They drop<<s>> to the floor hard next to you, pain evident on $l_their face as a soldier slams a knee into $l_their back.
You hiss again, spittle staining the floor under you. You try to move towards Lea, squirming under your captor, but their hands just tighten. You swallow thickly as a panic suddenly rises in you, the memory of fire and claws at your throat too fresh to ignore, your arms twisted uncomfortably behind you.
Lea snarls as $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> pushed to the floor, and you close your eyes, panting now, frantic, the toes of your boots scraping against the wood as you try to move. You can hear Duncan laugh, but he sounds far away, and when you open your eyes you see snow all around you, and black ichor spills from your lips.
You convulse, surging against the people holding you down, and there's a yelp as your elbow digs into someone's side, and you wrench yourself free with a snarl, scrambling away across the floor, blinking as the snow vanishes and the black evaporates into nothing. You look around, frantic, your mind spinning, unable to even throw your hands up as Duncan steps towards you and kicks you in the face. Collapsing back onto the floor, you let out a wheeze as he puts his foot on your chest, pinning you down.
<<include "leering down">>He glances at his soldiers and gives them a nod. Lea is forced to move over next to you, and one of the soldiers draws their sword, glaring at you through their mask, pressing the blade against your ribs.
Lea huffs, glaring down at Duncan as he prowls back and forth in front of you. He stops, holding the knife in his hand and pressing the point of the blade against one of his fingertips, twisting it there.
He nods again, and Lea grunts beside you as the soldier kicks the back of $l_their knees, sending $l_them to the floor. They do the same to you, kicking your legs until you collapse forward. You can feel your arms bruising under the soldiers' hands as they grip you tight.
"All the way to the floor," Duncan says, and a knee digs into your back, a hand pressing your face to the wood floor. You hiss, spittle staining the floor under you. You try to move towards Lea, but the hands around you tighten, and you swallow thickly as a panic suddenly rises in you, the memory of fire and claws at your throat too fresh to ignore, your arms twisted uncomfortably behind you.
Lea snarls as $l_they<<re>> pushed to the floor, and you close your eyes, splinters digging into your cheek as you start panting now, panicking, the toes of your boots scraping against the wood as you try to move. You can hear Duncan laugh, but he sounds far away, and when you open your eyes you see snow all around you, and black ichor spills from your lips.
You convulse, surging against the people holding you down, and there's a yelp as your elbow digs into someone's side, and you wrench yourself free with a snarl, scrambling away across the floor, blinking as the snow vanishes and the black evaporates into nothing. You look around, frantic, your mind spinning, unable to even throw your hands up as Duncan steps towards you and kicks you in the face. Collapsing back onto the floor, you let out a wheeze as he puts his foot on your chest, pinning you down.
<<include "leering down">>You're still struggling to regain your breath, lifting a hand and rubbing your chest where Duncan's boot had just been. Blinking, dazed, blood stains the front of your shirt, and you wipe your face with your sleeve, leaning heavily against the wall.
<<if ($l_relationship isnot 7) or ($l_relationship isnot 6)>>Lea appears in front of you, and you grow dizzy looking up at $l_them, closing your eyes for a moment. When you reopen them, $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> on $l_their knees, <<if $l_touch_knows>>a hand hovering near your shoulder, but not touching you, $l_their presence that familiar anchor always holding you steady.
$l_They <<dont>> say anything for a moment, both of you just looking stupidly at each other, reeling in the aftermath.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"$name," Lea says it quietly, $l_their eyes flicking over the blood dripping down your shirt, scooting closer to you, a hand half reaching for your face before $l_they recoil<<s>>, looking away from you, $l_their face shadowed with guilt.
You take a ragged breath, closing your eyes again and leaning your head back against the wall, your hands curling around fistfuls of your cloak, splayed out on the ground beneath you.<<else>>"$surname," Lea says, $l_their eyes searching your face, your busted nose and bleeding lip, and you duck your head, taking a ragged breath and shifting back against the wall, bracing yourself.<</if>><<else>>a hand now gripping your shoulder, Lea as always that familiar anchor holding you steady.
$l_They <<dont>> say anything for a moment, both of you just looking stupidly at each other, reeling in the aftermath.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"$name," Lea whispers it, barely loud enough for you to hear. $l_They squeeze<<s>> your shoulder, scooting even closer, $l_their other hand hesitantly reaching for your face, with you watching through half-lidded eyes. It's the faintest, ghost of a touch, before Lea suddenly recoils, looking away from you guiltily.
You take a ragged breath, leaning into the touch, following Lea as $l_they pull<<s>> back. But Lea puts both hands on your shoulders now, keeping you an arms-length away, $l_their dark eyes cast down, $l_their brow furrowed.
You slump back, your face burning under the blood.<<else>>"$surname," Lea says, $l_their eyes searching your face, your busted nose and bleeding lip. $l_They squeeze<<s>> your shoulder, and you duck your head, taking a ragged breath and shifting back against the wall, bracing yourself.<</if>><</if>>
"Don't - don't try to get up yet," $l_they <<say>>, sitting back on $l_their heels.
"I'm fine," you say quickly, just like always, a repeating mantra.
"Yeah. I know," Lea says softly, and you look up at $l_them then, and you realize $l_their lip is bleeding, too, $l_their hair disheveled, falling loose around $l_their face.
"You're bleeding," you say.
"I know."
You scoff, glancing away from $l_them, and you do try to stand, pushing off the wall with a grunt.
"I just said -" Lea starts, cutting $l_themself off as $l_they jump<<s>> up, clicking $l_their tongue and holding $l_their hands out to steady you. You take a few faltering steps, Lea immediately grabbing you, and you don't think $l_they mean<<s>> to hold you so tightly, painful even through the thick fabric of your cloak.
$l_They start<<s>> to speak again, only for the sound of the doorknob turning across the room to make you both start. Lea's mouth snaps shut and $l_they quickly spin<<s>> around, placing $l_themself between you and the door. But then Lea relaxes slightly, and you look over to see Noel, Merry, and Clementine all come piling into the room.
Realizing your hood is still down, you duck your head, quickly grabbing it and jerking it back on, glaring down at your boots, a deafening silence stretching now, nothing but the shuffle of feet as everyone finds a spot in the small room. Hiding in your hood, you wipe your mouth again, your sleeve dark red. You try not to look at it.<<else>>Lea appears in front of you, and you grow dizzy looking up at $l_them, closing your eyes for a moment. When you reopen them, $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> on $l_their knees, <<if $l_touch_knows>>a hand hovering near your shoulder, but not touching you, $l_their presence that familiar anchor always holding you steady.
$l_They <<dont>> say anything for a moment, both of you just looking stupidly at each other, reeling in the aftermath.<<else>>a hand now gripping your shoulder, Lea as always that familiar anchor holding you steady.
l_They <<dont>> say anything for a moment, both of you just looking stupidly at each other, reeling in the aftermath.<</if>>
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"$name," Lea whispers it, barely loud enough for you to hear. $l_They squeeze<<s>> your shoulder, scooting even closer, $l_their other hand hesitantly reaching for your face, with you watching through half-lidded eyes. It's the faintest, ghost of a touch, before Lea suddenly recoils, looking away from you guiltily.
You take a ragged breath, turning away from the touch like it burns, and Lea puts both hands on your shoulders now, keeping an arms-length between you, $l_their dark eyes cast down, $l_their brow furrowed.
You press yourself back against the wall, your face burning under the blood.<<else>>"$surname," Lea says, $l_their eyes searching your face, your busted nose and bleeding lip. $l_They squeeze<<s>> your shoulder, and you duck your head, taking a ragged breath and swatting Lea's hands away, bracing yourself against the wall.<</if>>
"Don't - don't try to get up yet," $l_they <<say>>, sitting back on $l_their heels.
"I'm fine," you snap, just like always, a repeating mantra.
"Yeah. I know," Lea says softly, and you look up at $l_them then, and you realize $l_their lip is bleeding, too, $l_their hair disheveled, falling loose around $l_their face.
"You're bleeding," you say.
"I know."
You scoff, glancing away from $l_them, and you do try to stand, pushing off the wall with a grunt.
"I just said -" Lea starts, cutting $l_themself off as $l_they jump<<s>> up, clicking $l_their tongue and holding $l_their hands out to steady you. You take a few faltering steps, Lea immediately grabbing you, and you don't think $l_they mean<<s>> to hold you so tightly, painful even through the thick fabric of your cloak, and you push $l_their hands away again, shaking your head.
$l_They frown<<s>>, and start<<s>> to speak, but is cut off by the sound of the doorknob turning across the room. Lea's mouth snaps shut and $l_they quickly spin<<s>> around, placing $l_themself between you and the door. But then Lea relaxes slightly, and you look over to see Noel, Merry, and Clementine all come piling into the room.
Realizing your hood is still down, you duck your head, quickly grabbing it and jerking it back on, glaring down at your boots, a deafening silence stretching now, nothing but the shuffle of feet as everyone finds a spot in the small room. Hiding in your hood, you wipe your mouth again, your sleeve dark red. You try not to look at it.<</if>>
[[Continue ->what the hell happened]]Once the door closes again, Merry looks like she's going to speak, before hesitating, and turning back to lock the door. When she turns around again, she looks straight at you.
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I don\'t think he likes us." A poor attempt at a joke, but an attempt nonetheless.' 'i dont think he likes us'>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Is everyone alright?" Everyone //seems// to be in one piece - well, besides me and Lea.' 'is everyone alright'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $n_friendship +=1>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><<set $m_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Gods, can you people give us just five fucking minutes?" I don\'t want to deal with all of them right now.' 'can you give us just five fucking minutes'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I'm too angry to say anything at all.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<<if $vice eq "drinker" or $vice eq "both">><div id ="choice"><<link '"I need a drink."' 'i need a drink'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if $vice eq "smoker" or $vice eq "both">><div id="choice"><<link '"I need a smoke."' 'i need a smoke'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id ="choice"><<link '"Fuck Lord Duncan." I\'ll kill him.' 'fuck lord duncan'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $m_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link [[I'm still reeling a bit - too numb to say anything at all.]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>Realizing your hood is still down, you duck your head, quickly grabbing it and jerking it back on, glaring down at your boots, a deafening silence stretching now, nothing but the shuffle of feet as everyone finds a spot in the small room.
<<include "what the hell happened">>You hear the sound of the doorknob turning then, and you spin around, putting yourself between Lea and the door. But you relax slightly, letting out a weary sigh as Noel, Merry, and Clementine all come piling into the room.
You step back towards Lea as $l_they hover<<s>> close to you, offering a steadying hand, though $l_they ignore<<s>> it now, taking a deep breath and staring across the room at your companions.
You drop your hand, clenching it into a fist at your side.
[[Continue ->realising your hood is still down]]You hear the sound of the doorknob turning then, and you spin around, putting yourself between Lea and the door. But you relax slightly, letting out a weary sigh as Noel, Merry, and Clementine all come piling into the room.
You step back towards Lea as $l_they hover<<s>> beside you, offering a steadying hand, though $l_they ignore<<s>> it now, taking a deep breath and staring across the room at your companions.
You let your hand drop, watching $l_them for another moment, but $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> steady on $l_their feet, and you turn towards the others, who are staring at both of you with a mix of anger and worry.
Realizing your hood is still down, you duck your head, quickly grabbing it and jerking it back on, glaring down at your boots, a deafening silence stretching now, nothing but the shuffle of feet as everyone finds a spot in the small room.
<<include "what the hell happened">>You hear the sound of the doorknob turning then, and you spin around, putting yourself between Lea and the door. But you relax slightly, letting out a weary sigh as Noel, Merry, and Clementine all come piling into the room.
You step back towards Lea as $l_they hover<<s>> beside you, taking a deep breath and staring across the room at your companions.
You watch $l_them for a moment, but $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> steady on $l_their feet, and you turn towards the others, who are staring at both of you with a mix of anger and worry.
Realizing your hood is still down, you duck your head, quickly grabbing it and jerking it back on, glaring down at your boots, a deafening silence stretching now, nothing but the shuffle of feet as everyone finds a spot in the small room.
<<include "what the hell happened">>You're too angry to say anything, glaring out from inside your hood, dropping your gaze from Merry and down to the floor. Your anger is too loud, too hot, the sensation of stranger's hands grabbing you still aching in your arms, the wet cut in your side from the pressing blade a reminder that what just happened was real. You feel bile rise in the back of your throat, the image of Lea being grappled to the floor making your lip curl again.
"Well?" Merry says, throwing her hands up. "What the hell happened?"
<<include "He wants us gone">>You don't think you could speak if you wanted to, your voice lost in your throat, the phantom grip of strangers' hands on your arms still making you cringe, the wet cut in your side from the pressing blade a reminder that what just happened was real. You feel bile rise in the back of your throat, the image of Lea being grappled to the floor making your lip curl again.
You retreat into your hood, glancing away from Merry and the others, taking a deep breath and wrapping your arms around yourself.
"Well?" Merry snaps, impatient, turning to Lea now instead. "What the hell happened?"
<<include "He wants us gone">>"I don't think he likes us," you say with a weak smile.
To your surprise, Lea actually laughs out loud, <<if hasVisited("you on the ground")>>shaking $l_their head and glancing back with a dark smile.<<else>>stepping up beside you then, a dark smile on $l_their face.<</if>>
Noel grins at you across the room, and some of the tension eases out, giving you all room to breathe.
"What the hell happened?" Merry says, standing with her hands on her hips.
<<include "He wants us gone">>"Is everyone alright?" you ask, glancing between Merry, Noel, and Clementine.
"We're all fine, dear," Noel assures you, the other two both nodding in agreement. It seems Noel and Clementine managed to dodge Duncan's wrath all together, though Merry still looks a little ruffled.
"Fine, just pissed off," she adds with a huff.
You feel a relief you weren't expecting, and you duck into your hood, pulling at your necklace.
"What the hell happened?" Merry asks then, crossing her arms.
<<include "He wants us gone">>"Gods, can you people give us just five fucking minutes?" you snap, running a hand over your face. You can't deal with all of them right now, in this tiny room, your head still spinning, anger still hot in your chest. You let out a harsh breath, dropping your hand and glaring over at Merry.
You have to admit the sheepish looks they all give you are a little bit satisfying, at least.
"We just wanted to make sure you were both okay, dear," Noel says then, clasping $n_their hands in front of $n_them and stepping farther into the room.
"Do we fucking look okay?" Lea cuts in, throwing $l_their hands up, clearly just as annoyed as you.
"Well, what the hell happened?" Merry snaps back, looking between you and Lea.
<<include "He wants us gone">>"I need a smoke," you say, sighing loudly and running a hand over your face.
"You and me both," Lea scoffs.
Merry raises an eyebrow, and Noel smiles, with some of the tension easing out of the room then, giving you all room to breathe.
"What the hell happened?" Merry asks.
<<include "He wants us gone">>"I need a drink," you say, sighing loudly and running a hand over your face.
"I need a whole fucking bottle," Merry says with a huff.
Noel chuckles at the both of you, and some of the tension eases out of the room then, giving you all room to breathe.
"What the hell happened?" Merry asks.
<<include "He wants us gone">>"Fuck Lord Duncan," you snap, spitting on the floor as you say his name.
"Fuck Lord Duncan," Lea echoes, nodding in agreement.
Noel barks out a laugh, grinning at the two of you across the room, and some of the tension eases out, giving you all room to breathe.
"What the hell happened?" Merry says, standing with her hands on her hips.
Clenching your jaw, you don't say anything, your anger too loud, too hot, the sensation of stranger's hands grabbing you still aching in your arms, the wet cut in your side from the pressing blade a reminder that what just happened was real. You feel bile rise in the back of your throat, the image of Lea being grappled to the floor making your lip curl again.
"I'll kill him," you say, quietly, more to yourself, and you close your eyes, pressing the heel of your palms against your eyelids.
You hear someone speak but you ignore it, pressing harder until stars explode in front of you, as if maybe it will erase it all.
"Hey. Easy, $surname," Lea's voice comes to you, and you take a long, deep breath, before dropping your hands and opening your eyes with a sigh.
"What happened?" Merry repeats, looking between the two of you.
<<include "He wants us gone">>"He wants us gone. Tomorrow. Before noon," Lea explains, short and clipped, and you're grateful $l_they <<dont>> elaborate beyond that.
"What?" Merry says, clearly surprised, exchanging a look with Noel.
"You, too. //Pirate// Captain Harlowe," Lea sneers, giving her a look, but Merry just rolls her eye.
<<if ($bw_lea eq false) and ($l_relationship eq 7)>>"And you," Lea continues, rounding on Clementine now, "what the hell was that earlier?"
Clementine immediately deflates where they had been hiding behind Noel, their eyes widening as you all stare at them.
"I - I'm just familiar with his reputation," Clementine stammers, wringing their hands.
"What?" you prompt, raising an eyebrow as you glance between Clem and Lea. "What are you talking about?"
"They told me to //be careful with him//," Lea jabs $l_their finger at Clementine as $l_they <<say>> it.<<else>>You can sense an impending argument with the way the two are glaring at each other, and apparently Noel does too, stepping forward and putting a hand on Merry's shoulder.
"Clementine," you say then, turning to the bard and trying to redirect the coversation, "what do you know about Lord Duncan?"
Clementine seems to shrink into their cloak at your words, half-hiding behind Noel, their eyes widening as all the attention shifts to them.
"What are you talking about?" Lea asks, glancing between you and Clem, $l_their anger at Merry forgotten for now.
"You said something when he got here," you say, nodding towards them, but they just wring their hands, and you can't help but feel a little bad, putting them on the spot. But you had to ask.
"I - I'm just familiar with his reputation," Clementine explains, mumbling a bit, ducking behind their curls.<</if>>
"Oh, you know Lord Duncan, do you?" Merry purrs then, taking a leering step towards Clementine.
"No, no, I just - I don't know him," Clementine looks like they might cry.
"Is that why you ran off? Didn't want someone to recognize you, little bard?"
"Merry-" Noel gives her a look, raising a hand to block her from Clementine.
She just sneers at $n_them, but still steps back, shaking her head.
"If he told you to leave - you should listen to him," Clementine says then, and they ignore Merry's dark look, instead staring at you.
"Fuck that," Merry says with a huff. "I'm not going to let some southern bastard tell me what to do."
Clementine sighs loudly, rubbing their eyes for a moment. "What will you do, then? Kill him? Kill his soldiers? Then what? What do you think will happen, Captain Harlowe?"
Merry's face twitches, and she crosses her arms, huffing again, but then she glances away, no answer for Clementine's questions.
[[Continue ->We knew this would happen eventually]]"We knew this was going to happen eventually, Merry," Noel says then, and $n_xe paces across the room, standing in front of the dark, cold fireplace. "We were never going to get to just stay here forever. I don't know if the Order's spooked Duncan, or what, but it seems we're now out of time."
Merry scowls at Noel's words, her eye dark, and a heavy silence passes between you all before Noel speaks again.
"He has set his terms. We can assume at this point Duncan is going to move against you," $n_xe turns back to look over at Merry. "And you're not going to like this, but I have to agree with Clementine. As much as Duncan may deserve it, killing the man won't do any good."
"It will make me feel better, though," Merry says.
"Me too," Lea adds, and Merry grins over at $l_them.
Noel taps a finger to $n_their chin. "While you make a compelling argument, I'm still going to have to say no."
Merry sighs in mock disappointment, giving Noel an amused smile, before it quickly fades, and that heavy silence returns.
<<if $highfell>><<include "highfell choices">><<elseif $blackwater>><<include "blackwater choices">><<else>><<include "undecided choices">><</if>><div id ="choice"><<link '"Well. We were already planning to leave tomorrow. We\'ll be long gone by noon."' 'highfell we were already planning to leave'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"If we leave tomorrow, what will happen here?"' 'highfell if we leave tomorrow'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Duncan wants us to leave - a good reason to stay, if you ask me."' 'highfell a good reason to stay'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know, I think we should discuss the //killing him// option a bit more."' 'highfell killing him option'>><</link>></div><div id ="choice"><<link '"Are we really going to listen to that old bastard and just leave now?"' 'blackwater listen to that old bastard'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"If we stay... what do you think will happen?"' 'blackwater if we stay'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I agree with Clementine. I think we should leave."' 'blackwater i think we should leave'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know, I think we should discuss the //killing him// option a bit more."' 'blackwater killing him option'>><</link>></div><div id="choice"><<link '"What can he do? If we do stay. What do you think he\'ll do?"' 'undecided if we do stay'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"If we leave tomorrow... what will happen here?"' 'undecided if we leave'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I agree with Clementine. I think we should just leave for Highfell."' 'undecided i think we should leave'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t know, I think we should discuss the //killing him// option a bit more."' 'undecided killing him option'>><</link>></div>"Well. We were already planning to leave tomorrow. We'll be long gone by noon," you say, glancing around the room as everyone turns to you.
Merry hums, crossing her arms.
"This city is at a breaking point," Lea says, scowling. "We should have known before we left the stronghold. Coming here has done nothing but put people at risk. I wouldn't have...," Lea shakes $l_their head. "How was our information so wrong?"
You shake your head too, as lost as Lea. You didn't expect it to be //fun//, really, but a warning about Duncan would have been nice. //Harmless, my ass.//
"If we do leave, we can probably at least get around Duncan and contact the Black Iron," Lea continues.
"Is that what we want to do?" Merry cuts in. "Leave?"
"It's what we //should// do," Clementine says, their brow furrowing when Merry shoots them an annoyed look.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"If we leave tomorrow, what will happen here?" you ask, glancing around the room as everyone turns to you.
"That's what I'm worried about," Merry says, crossing her arms. "Duncan would have left the ground level to fucking rot if we hadn't been here this past year. I'm worried what he'll do - if we're gone."
"Soldiers already harass our people in the streets," Noel sighs. "He'll only get bolder without us here."
"And the isolation district will just get worse," Lea adds.
Merry rubs her eye, shaking her head. "I don't know what his plan is, honestly. People don't like him, but he's got power. He's got soldiers. Money."
"He's held back this long, because of the plague. Something seems to have boosted his confidence, though," Noel says. "He hasn't set foot on this level of the city since he got here - now he comes down //and// walks right into Jack's?"
"Leaving may allow Duncan more freedom to do as he pleases. But staying will invite conflict in the streets. This city doesn't need that," Clementine speaks up, and for once Merry doesn't disagree with them.
You all lapse back into silence, Noel scuffing the floor with $n_their boot.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"Duncan wants us to leave - a good reason to stay, if you ask me," you say, glancing around the room as everyone turns to you. "I don't think our arrival coinciding with his little display is a coincidence."
Merry hums, crossing her arms. "I'm inclined to agree," she says.
"The Order is different here... in the north. I think it scares him," Clementine is the one that says it, which gets some surprised looks from everyone.
"The Order can go where others can't," Lea says then. "Though I doubt he'll allow it. Most likely will just jail us for as long as he can get away with."
"It would explain why he stopped your letters to the stronghold, though," you nod to Merry. "I don't think it has anything to do with the missing people, not really. He's worried we'll go sniffing around. He wants us gone," you gesture between you and Lea. "Throwing your lot in with us is just a bonus."
Merry scowls, and Lea runs a hand over $l_their hair, and you all lapse back into silence but for Noel scuffing the floor with $n_their boot.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"I don't know, I think we should discuss the //killing him// option a bit more," you say with a cold smirk.
"See! $surname agrees. That's three to two," Merry says, pointing at you and Lea.
Noel sighs, rolling $n_their eyes. "Be serious," $n_xe says, though $n_xe's smiling.
"I am serious," you say, crossing your arms.
"We shouldn't... we shouldn't talk like this," Clementine says, wringing their hands, staring at you with wide eyes.
"Listen, something is going on," Noel cuts in again, $n_their smile gone now. "That man has not set foot on this level of the city since he got here - now he comes down //and// walks right into Jack's?"
"And makes a clear display against you. And the Order," Lea adds.
You scowl, tightening your arms around you, but say nothing else. The room lapses back into silence, Noel scuffing the floor with $n_their boot.<<set $aggressive +=1>>
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"We have until noon," Noel says after a few beats. "That's still a lot of time."
"Not enough time," Merry scoffs.
"It's something. Better than just running out first thing in the morning."
"Is that a risk we're willing to take, though?" Clementine all but pleads.
Lea takes a deep breath, running a hand over $l_their hair. "Our information about Duncan was wrong. It could be wrong about Highfell, too. There's no guarantee that leaving really is the better option. Either way, we don't know what we're walking into."
"What do you want to do, Chen?" Merry prompts - impatient.
Lea's face twitches, but $l_they hesitate<<s>>, turning to you. "I want to stay," $l_they <<say>>. "But...," $l_they struggle<<s>> for a moment. "The soldiers, and Duncan... this could cause a lot of problems." Lea sighs. "We're already on thin ice, here," $l_they gesture<<s>> at Merry, who just raises an eyebrow. "But the isolation district... We can't just leave it, not like this. And people are still missing. Someone needs to be looking for them - someone needs to try."
You take a deep breath, staring into the empty fireplace.
<div id="choice">"We should leave. We're already pushing our luck, here." [WIP]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I hear you. And you\'re right. We have to stay."' 'we should stay'>><<set $blackwater to true>><<set $highfell to false>><<set $l_friendship +=3>><<set $m_friendship +=5>><<set $c_friendship -=3>><</link>></div>"Are we really going to listen to that old bastard and just leave now?" you huff, glaring around the room as everyone turns to you.
"No," Merry snaps back. "I have no interest in leaving."
"Hang on," Noel raises $n_their hands. "We need to actually think about this. I know you're angry," Noel nods to you, and you cross your arms, "but just - consider the consequences, first. Consider our options."
Merry takes a deep breath. "Well. At this point, if we stay, I assume he'll arrest me. Mal and Branwen. Any other of my crew he can get his hands on." She frowns, looking over at Noel.
"What about the city? I can't imagine most people would take you getting arrested very well," Lea asks.
Merry sighs. "I don't know."
Noel shakes $n_their head. "Blackwater has kept us protected for this long. But Duncan is really starting to push people. Handing us over might seem like an easy solution for some. Others might fight it."
"Leaving may allow Duncan more freedom to do as he pleases. But staying will invite conflict in the streets. With you, the soldiers, Duncan... the Order. This city doesn't need that," Clementine speaks up, and for once Merry doesn't disagree with them.
Lea stands beside you, brow furrowed, and $l_they just shrug<<s>>.
Back to square one, then.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"If we stay... what do you think will happen?" you ask, glancing around the room as everyone turns to you.
Merry considers your question for a moment. "Well, I assume he'll arrest me," she says with a shrug. "Mal and Branwen, too. Any other of my crew he can get his hands on." She frowns, looking over at Noel.
"I... I'm not sure, beyond that. He's been looking for me for a while, now," Noel says, pulling at $n_their sleeves. "Technically, he'd have to hand me over to the Order. Something tells me he won't do that, though," Noel adds with a tight smile.
"And what about the city? I can't imagine most people would take either of you getting arrested very well."
Merry sighs. "I don't know."
Noel shakes $n_their head. "Blackwater has kept us protected for this long. But Duncan is really starting to push people. Handing us over might seem like an easy solution for some. Others might fight it."
"Leaving may allow Duncan more freedom to do as he pleases. But staying will invite conflict in the streets. With you, the soldiers, Duncan... the Order. This city doesn't need that," Clementine speaks up, and for once Merry doesn't disagree with them.
Lea stands beside you, brow furrowed, and $l_they shrug<<s>>.
Back to square one, then.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"I agree with Clementine. I think we should leave," you say, crossing your arms. "Duncan - fuck Duncan. But after all that, I think the smart move here is to get the hell out."
"And what about Blackwater? Just leave these people behind, let the isolation district rot while Duncan parades his soldiers around in the streets? While people are still going missing?" Merry huffs, shaking her head at you.
"That's not what I said," you snap, giving Merry a look.
"We don't know what Duncan's plan is," Noel says, raising $n_their hands. "But you can't deny it's a gamble to stay, Merry. Especially now - something seems to have boosted Duncan's confidence," Noel continues. "He hasn't set foot on this level of the city since he got here - now he comes down //and// walks right into Jack's?"
"Leaving may allow Duncan more freedom to do as he pleases. But staying will invite conflict, too. This city doesn't need that," Clementine speaks up, and for once Merry doesn't disagree with them.
"But the isolation district and those missing people are our responsibility. That's our job," Lea says then, looking to you as $l_they <<say>> it. "How can we just walk away when we know something is happening here? Something we can stop?"
"We //don't// know that," you say with a sigh. "And if we really want to argue that point, //Highfell// is our job."
You all lapse back into silence, Noel scuffing the floor with $n_their boot.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"I don't know, I think we should discuss the //killing him// option a bit more," you say with a cold smirk.
"See! $surname agrees. That's three to two," Merry says, pointing at you and Lea.
Noel sighs, rolling $n_their eyes. "Be serious," $n_xe says, though $n_xe's smiling.
"I am serious," you say, crossing your arms.
"We shouldn't... we shouldn't talk like this," Clementine says, wringing their hands, staring at you with wide eyes.
"Listen, something is going on," Noel cuts in again, $n_their smile gone now. "That man has not set foot on this level of the city since he got here - now he comes down //and// walks right into Jack's?"
"And makes a clear display against you. And the Order," Lea adds.
You scowl, tightening your arms around you, but say nothing else. The room lapses back into silence, Noel scuffing the floor with $n_their boot.<<set $aggressive +=1>>
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"What can he do? If we stay. What do you think he'll do?" you ask, glancing around the room as everyone turns to you.
Merry considers your question for a moment. "Well, I assume he'll arrest me," she says with a shrug. "Mal and Branwen, too. Any other of my crew he can get his hands on." She frowns, looking over at Noel.
"I... I'm not sure, beyond that. He's been looking for me for a while, now," Noel says, pulling at $n_their sleeves. "Technically, he'd have to hand me over to the Order. Something tells me he won't do that, though," Noel adds with a tight smile.
"And what about the city? I can't imagine most people would take either of you getting arrested very well."
Merry sighs. "I don't know."
Noel shakes $n_their head. "Blackwater has kept us protected for this long. But Duncan is really starting to push people. Handing us over might seem like an easy solution for some. Others might fight it."
Lea stands beside you, brow furrowed, and $l_they just shrug<<s>>. "Something tells me he'll jail us, too, for as long as he can get away with."
Back to square one, then.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"If we leave tomorrow... what will happen here?" you ask, glancing around the room as everyone turns to you.
"That's what I'm worried about," Merry says, crossing her arms. "Duncan would have left the ground level to fucking rot if we hadn't been here this past year. I'm worried what he'll do - if we're gone."
"Soldiers already harass our people in the streets," Noel sighs. "He'll only get bolder without us here."
"And the isolation district will only get worse," Lea adds.
Merry rubs her eye, shaking her head. "I don't know what his plan is, honestly. People don't like him, but he's got power. He's got soldiers. Money."
"He's held back this long, because of the plague. Something seems to have boosted his confidence, though," Noel says. "He hasn't set foot on this level of the city since he got here - now he comes down //and// walks right into Jack's?"
"And to make such a clear display against you... and us," Lea adds.
"Leaving may allow Duncan more freedom to do as he pleases. But staying will invite conflict in the streets. With you, the soldiers, Duncan... and now the Order. This city doesn't need that," Clementine speaks up, and for once Merry doesn't disagree with them.
You all lapse back into silence, Noel scuffing the floor with $n_their boot.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"I agree with Clementine. I think we should leave," you say, crossing your arms. "Duncan - fuck Duncan. But after all that, I think the smart move here is to get the hell out."
"And what about Blackwater? Just leave these people behind, let the isolation district rot while Duncan parades his soldiers around in the streets? While people are still going missing?" Merry huffs, shaking her head at you.
"That's not what I said," you snap, giving Merry a look.
"We don't know what Duncan's plan is," Noel says, raising $n_their hands. "You can't deny it's a gamble to stay, Merry. Especially now - something seems to have boosted Duncan's confidence," Noel continues. "He hasn't set foot on this level of the city since he got here - now he comes down //and// walks right into Jack's?"
"Leaving may allow Duncan more freedom to do as he pleases. But staying will invite more conflict, too. With you, the soldiers, Duncan... the Order. This city doesn't need that," Clementine speaks up, and for once Merry doesn't disagree with them.
"But the isolation district and those missing people are our responsibility. That's our job," Lea says then, looking to you as $l_they <<say>> it. "How can we just walk away when we know something is happening here? Something we can stop?"
"We //don't// know that," you say with a sigh. "And if we really want to argue that point, //Highfell// is our job."
You all lapse back into silence, Noel scuffing the floor with $n_their boot.
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"I don't know, I think we should discuss the //killing him// option a bit more," you say with a cold smirk.
"See! $surname agrees. That's three to two," Merry says, pointing at you and Lea.
Noel sighs, rolling $n_their eyes. "Be serious," $n_xe says, though $n_xe's smiling.
"I am serious," you say, crossing your arms.
"We shouldn't... we shouldn't talk like this," Clementine says, wringing their hands, staring at you with wide eyes.
"Listen, something is going on," Noel cuts in again, $n_their smile gone now. "That man has not set foot on this level of the city since he got here - now he comes down //and// walks right into Jack's?"
"And makes a display against you. And the Order," Lea adds.
You scowl, tightening your arms around you, but say nothing else. The room lapses back into silence, Noel scuffing the floor with $n_their boot.<<set $aggressive +=1>>
<<include "final ch1 decision">>"We should leave. I get what you're saying, but - we're already pushing our luck, here," you shake your head. "And we're endangering more than just ourselves - but the Black Iron, too. We won't be so easily forgiven for causing problems. Not in this city."
Lea takes a deep breath at your words, before exhaling through $l_their nose.
"Okay," $l_they <<say>>, nodding at you. "You're right. We should leave."
You blink over at $l_them, not bothering to hide your surprise. Lea takes another deep breath, rubbing the back of $l_their neck.
"I'm with you," $l_they <<say>>.
"We can contact Commander Hadrien once we get some distance between us and Duncan," you say, and Lea nods in agreement.
You both turn to the others, and Merry purses her lips, her eye narrowed as she looks between the two of you.
"Promise me we won't forget about the people here," she says then.
"Merry," Noel cuts in, gently, "we've asked a lot of them already."
Merry's face twitches, and she turns on Noel.
"Promise me."
Noel hesitates, and you shift on your feet, Lea glancing over at you, but neither of you say anything as the silence stretches.
"I promise, Merry," Noel says at last.
Merry nods. "Thank you, my friend." There's a softness to Merry's voice, and a way she looks at Noel that tells you she means it.
Noel clears $n_their throat then, turning to address the rest of you. "We'll need to get things in order."
"I'll have to talk with my crew," Merry says, lifting her gaze and looking around the room. "Prepare them for...," she trails off, scowling, seeming to struggle with the words. "We'll leave as soon as we can. Before first light."
"The three of you should get some sleep. Whatever you can," Noel steps in front of Merry, glancing between you, Lea, and Clementine. Merry sighs, muttering under her breath, while Noel smiles softly, giving her a moment.
"It won't be much, but any rest is better than none," Noel says. $n_xe steps over to you, then, and you don't miss the concern in $n_their eyes as $n_xe looks you over.
"You alright, dear?"
"I'm fine," you say, crossing your arms and glancing away. You feel defensive, hiding in your hood, and you're grateful none of the others were in here with Lord Duncan - you can barely handle the pity looks as it is.
Noel just nods, before turning to Lea, who waves $n_them away before $n_xe can even speak. Noel doesn't try to argue with $l_them, instead just bowing and stepping back towards the door.
[[Continue ->decision made]]"Yeah... I hear you. And you're right. We have to stay," you say, nodding over to Lea. <<if $bw_noel>>You saw yourself what the isolation district is like right now. If you can do anything else for it, you will.<</if>>
"We'll cover the isolation district. If there's a connection to Highfell - with the missing people - we'll find it. If Duncan's a part of it... we'll figure it out," Lea says, nodding.
"This is a bad idea," Clementine says, shaking their head.
"You can always just leave, little bard," Merry sneers, "or can't you?"
<<if $deal>>Clementine glances over at you, back to Merry, then shakes their head again, all but physically stepping back out of the conversation.<<else>>Clementine balks at Merry's words, dropping their gaze and all but physically stepping back out of the conversation.<</if>>
"It is a bad idea," Lea agrees with a shrug, "but we've got until noon tomorrow before it becomes a //really// bad idea."
Merry nods, and Noel takes a deep breath.
"Okay. If that's what we're going to do, then it might be a good idea to get a few hours of sleep first," $n_xe says.
"That's wasting time," Merry frowns.
Noel glances at you, and so does Lea, your skin prickling under the quick looks. You can practically hear them both say it: //You need to get some rest.//
"Merry, you need to prepare with Mal," Noel says, with surprising gentleness, and Merry's frown deepens, but there's something else - you think a sudden realization that this is actually happening.
"Fuck," Merry breathes, shaking her head. "Okay. You're right." She takes a deep breath, crossing her arms. "There's a chance we'll need to leave... quickly. We'll need to be prepared for that," Merry says. "Pack what you need," she says, nodding to you and Lea, "and I'll talk to Mal, and Branwen."
"The three of you definitely need to get some sleep. Whatever you can," Noel adds, glancing between you, Lea, and Clementine. Merry sighs, muttering under her breath, while Noel smiles softly at you and Lea.
"It won't be much, but any rest is better than none," Noel says. Xe steps over to you, then, and you don't miss the concern in xir eyes as $n_xe looks you over.
"You alright, dear?"
"I'm fine," you say, crossing your arms and glancing away. You feel defensive, hiding in your hood, and you're grateful none of the others were in here with Lord Duncan - you can barely handle the pity looks as it is.
Noel just nods, before turning to Lea, who waves xem away before xe can even speak. Noel doesn't try to argue with $l_them, instead just bowing and stepping back towards the door.
[[Continue ->decision made]]"Here," Merry says, pausing at the door, <<if $read_poem>>and you barely turn in time for her to hurl a set of keys at you, which thump against your chest, though you manage to catch them in your hands before they drop to the floor. You scowl over at her, but she just gives you an amused look as she brushes past you, stopping in front of Lea.
She dangles another set of keys in front of $l_them, letting them swing lazily in the air. "You'll bring me my hormone potions later, won't you, Handler Chen?" she says, raising an eyebrow. Lea rolls $l_their eyes, but just nods, holding out $l_their hand.
Merry drops the keys into $l_their palm, and she must give Lea some kind of look then, because even before Merry speaks again you can see the hint of a blush on Lea's face.
"This room. Or my room, for you, Handler Chen. Downstairs, through the golden doors." Merry shrugs. "I'll leave it unlocked for you."
<<if $m_relationship eq 5>>You feel your scowl deepen, and you turn away, embarrassed at the hurt you feel. You wonder if any of the time you spent with Merry today meant anything at all. Maybe it did, but you ruined it when you opened that stupid fucking book.<<else>>You resist the urge to roll your eyes, but you do spot Noel making a silent gagging motion near the door, and you scoff, quickly covering your mouth with your hand when Merry glares over at you.<</if>><<else>><<if $bw_merry eq false>>and you turn to her as she holds out a set of keys, stepping back and dangling them in front of you. "Set of keys for your room. I won't lock you in this time," she says, smirking at you.
You reach for the keys but Merry pulls back, raising her eyebrow at you, chuckling as she offers them again and you snatch them from her.
"Handler Chen," she says, brushing past you and holding up another set of keys. "I expect you to bring me my hormone potions?" she poses it as a question. Lea just nods, and Merry tosses $l_them the keys. "For this room. A mutual exchange. And I figured you could really use your own separate bed."
Lea catches the keys with an annoyed click of $l_their tongue.
"There's always my bed, too. Downstairs, through the golden doors. You're both invited, if you'd like," she adds, and you can see Lea's jaw clench, and your own face grows hot, embarrassed by Merry's boldness in front of everyone.<<else>><<if ($m_relationship eq 1) or ($m_relationship eq 3)>>and you turn as she digs out a set of keys, dangling them in front of you. "Set of keys for your room. I won't lock you in this time," she says, smirking at you.
You reach for the keys but Merry pulls them back, raising her eyebrow at you.
"My room is downstairs. Through the golden doors," she says, eyeing you, her voice low, "I'll be sure to leave them unlocked for you."
She hands you the keys then, your face burning at her words, and you retreat in your hood, thrown by Merry's boldness in front of everyone.
She fishes out another set of keys and holds them up, too, turning to Lea now. "Handler Chen, I expect you to bring me my hormone potions?" she poses it as a question. Lea rolls $l_their eyes but just nods, and Merry tosses $l_them the keys. "Good. Those are for this room. A mutual exchange. And I figured you could really use your own separate bed."
Lea catches the keys with an annoyed click of $l_their tongue, rolling $l_their eyes again as Merry turns back for the door.<<elseif $m_relationship eq 2>>and you turn as she steps back towards you, dangling a pair of keys. "Set of keys for your room. I won't lock you in this time," she says, smirking at you.
You reach for the keys but Merry pulls back, raising her eyebrow at you.
"My room is downstairs. Through the golden doors," she says, eyeing you, "I'll leave them unlocked for you, if you'd like." She lowers her voice then, "If that's not //too familiar// for you."
She hands you the keys then, your face burning at her words, and you retreat into your hood, thrown by Merry's boldness in front of everyone, and a little hurt, too.
She fishes out another set of keys and holds them up again, turning to Lea now. "Handler Chen, I expect you to bring me my hormone potions?" she poses it as a question. Lea rolls $l_their eyes but just nods, and Merry tosses $l_them the keys. "Good. Those are for this room. A mutual exchange. And I figured you could really use your own separate bed."
Lea catches the keys with an annoyed click of $l_their tongue, rolling $l_their eyes again as Merry turns back for the door.<<else>>and you turn to her as she holds out a set of keys, stepping back and dangling them in front of you. "Set of keys for your room. I won't lock you in this time," she says, smirking at you.
You reach for the keys but Merry pulls back, raising her eyebrow at you, chuckling as she offers them again and you snatch them from her.
"Handler Chen," she says, brushing past you and holding up another set of keys. "I expect you to bring me my hormone potions?" she poses it as a question. Lea rolls $l_their eyes but just nods, and Merry tosses $l_them the keys. "For this room. A mutual exchange. And I figured you could really use your own separate bed."
Lea catches the keys with an annoyed click of $l_their tongue.
"There's always my bed, too. Downstairs, through the golden doors. You're both invited, if you'd like," she adds, and you can see Lea's jaw clench, and your own face grows hot, embarrassed by Merry's boldness in front of everyone.<</if>><</if>><</if>>
"Let's leave them to it," Noel says, and you can hear the exasperation in $n_their voice as Merry skips past $n_them towards the door, who unlocks it and opens it with a flourish. "Clementine, I'll take you to your room."
<<if $bw_clem>>You catch Clementine - who has been all but hiding in the corner - take a few steps towards you, before they seem to hesitate, turning away and shuffling after Noel.<<else>>Clementine has been all but hiding in the corner, and they quickly shuffle after Noel, avoiding both you and Lea as they go.<</if>>
"Get some sleep," Noel says again, ushering Clementine along as they slip through the door, "I'll wake you when we're ready." Noel smiles, and gives you both a quick bow before vanishing out into the hallway behind Clementine.
Merry stands in the doorway for another moment, eyeing the two of you, before giving an exaggerated bow, sweeping her jacket behind her and rising slowly, her eye flashing. Then she swings herself around the door, closing it but for a crack. "Goodnight," she says, and you can hear the smirk in her voice as she closes the door with a quiet click.
There's a long moment of silence that rings between you and Lea in the echo of Merry's departure, the room feeling massive now with just the two of you. Lea lets out a long breath, and you lean back, staring up at the ceiling and inhaling deeply, taking a few moments to recover in the quiet.
Lea is the one to break the long silence between you.
"Well. Which room do you want?"
[[A short time later...]]You end up keeping the original room from the night before, while Lea plans to move into the other one at the end of the hall. It's rare the two of you get to have your own space, so you figure you might as well take advantage of it while you can - especially after the last forty-eight hours, you think the both of you could use some privacy.
You've cleaned up in the washroom, scrubbed your skin until it's painful and angry, but you still feel grimy, unable to get all the dirt out from under your fingernails, and you pick at your cuticles, pulling at the dried skin cracking over your knuckles.
The two of you have avoided speaking, for the most part, ignoring each other in the small space of your room despite the very loud reality of your situation.
<<if $l_relationship eq 1>>You think about the idea of you and Lea being partners. You want it to be true, and you think it //is// true, in Lea's mind. But... Lea is convinced that it doesn't matter what others think, and you so badly want to believe them - you did believe them, for a moment - <<if hasVisited("leering down")>>but the bruises on your arms, the cut on your side, and the blood you had to wash off your face remind you that other people's judgment can be a very dangerous thing. Nothing Lea says will change the way people act around you - the way they're afraid, or angry, or violent. At least Lea is treated like a human being. Maybe you should be grateful. You suppose it's worse, for people whose handler isn't a Chen.<<else>>but the bruises on your arms and the cut on your side remind you that other people's judgment can be a very dangerous thing. Nothing Lea says will change the way people act around you - the way they're afraid, or angry, or violent. At least Lea is treated like a human being. Maybe you should be grateful. You suppose it's worse, for people whose handler isn't a Chen.<</if>><<else>>You keep thinking about your argument with Lea earlier. You feel as though Lord Duncan proved your point - though you don't feel particularly smug about it. The idea of being partners is naïve at best, but it's dangerous at worst. You can't pretend like people aren't afraid of you, that they won't be angry at the very sight of you, that they won't get //violent//. Duncan is an extreme example, but an example nonetheless. You always have to consider the judgement of other people. It's too dangerous for you not to.<</if>>
Sitting at the small table in your room, you glance over for a moment and watch Lea dig around in $l_their bag; $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'ve<<else>>'s<</if>> been busy condensing the mess left over from your late night arrival yesterday, as well as all the supplies $l_they managed to buy at the market earlier - mainly food, consisting of various smoked fish and dried meats, all carefully wrapped up for the road.
<<if $PassedOutInClearing>>Lea also had new gear delivered to your room; apparently $l_they had that sorted this morning, before even leaving the tavern. Your shiny new bag sits at the foot of your bed, fresh bed roll and other camping gear already packed up inside.
<</if>>Lea sighs then, and you blink over at $l_them as $l_they dramatically throw<<s>> $l_their hands up in frustration.
"Fucking hate packing," Lea mumbles, dropping the bag to the floor and replacing it with another one - a smaller messenger bag, with $l_their alchemy supplies.
<<if $bw_lea>>Lea starts to lay out the new bottles and various ingredients $l_they bought from Alphonse earlier, sorting it all in a way that you are sure makes sense to $l_them, but looks absolutely chaotic to you.<<else>>Lea starts to lay out a collection of new bottles and various ingredients you assume $l_they must have bought at the market today, sorting it all in a way that you are sure makes sense to $l_them, but looks absolutely chaotic to you.<</if>>
You recognize most of the potions, at least, since working together for so long you know what Lea's favorites are. Your eye is drawn to the pretty, soft pink glow of Lea's hormone potions, which $l_they set<<s>> aside as $l_they reorganize<<s>> $l_their bag. That one is a popular enough potion that you would recognize it pretty easily, even without Lea's influence.
<<if $l_person eq "man">>Lea has been taking hormone potions long before you were paired together - he began to question his identity when you were still just apprentices, as most do at that age, and it was only a short amount of time before he began to transition. You would bet money on the hormone potion being the first thing he perfected as an alchemist. These days, he doesn't only make them for himself, but also for others at the stronghold, typically always having quite a few extra bottles rolling around.<<elseif $l_person eq "person">>Lea has been taking hormone potions long before you were paired together - they began to experiment with their identity when you were still just an apprentice, as most people do at that age, choosing to present more masculine early on and gradually becoming more comfortable with themself with the help of hormone potions. You would bet money on those potions being the first thing they perfected as an alchemist - these days they make them not only for themself, but for others at the stronghold as well, typically always having a few extra bottles rolling around.<<else>>Lea doesn't take hormone potions anymore, though you know she did when you were still an apprentice, before the two of you had really properly met. Lea was questioning things and exploring her identity, as most people do at that age. She's always presented herself more masculine - referring to herself as //butch// - and she took hormones for some time, lowering her voice and adjusting her appearance to something that made her more comfortable. Now, even though she no longer takes the potions herself, she is content with the permanent changes - and she perfected the crafting process, still making the potion for others at the stronghold, typically always having a few extra bottles rolling around.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Lea also brews hormone potions for me, too.]]>><<set $hormones to true>><<set $hormoneChoice to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I don't take hormone potions myself, but I've always admired Lea's generosity when it comes to crafting and sharing them.]]>><<set $hormones to false>><<set $hormoneChoice to true>><</link>></div>"Go ahead and take an extra bottle. I know you're probably getting low," Lea comments then, and you blink over at $l_them, taking a moment to realize $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> talking about the potions.
"Thanks," you say, reaching over and sliding one of the bottles across the table towards you. Despite being a common potion, it's a tricky brew, requiring a mixture of both magic and alchemical compounds. Lea isn't strong with magic, but for this particular potion $l_they <<were>> determined enough to master it.
"I thought about selling these, for extra money," Lea says, keeping a few set out on the side as $l_they carefully repack<<s>> the others, "that's what Merry was commenting about earlier. She wants to buy - for herself and her crew," $l_they sigh<<s>> then, $l_their brow furrowed, struggling to fit everything back inside the bag with the new supplies, even with the extra potions removed now.
"When did you talk about that?" you ask, blinking up at Lea - you suppose it must have been some time this morning. You don't remember the two of them really talking at any point, though... you glance over at $l_them, your eyes narrowed.
"Earlier," Lea says, waving a hand, "Her alchemist is one of the missing from her crew," Lea explains, sighing again as $l_they shuffle<<s>> the contents of the bag around once more, determined to get it all to fit. "Offered the extra room. And she insisted on paying, too. And really... we could use the money."
You hum, fidgeting with your own bottle, twisting it in your hands. Extra money is always nice, you suppose. It's not the first time Lea's sold $l_their potions like this, or even worked some odd alchemy job on the road, and you doubt it will be the last.
"Here. Take this, too," Lea adds, and $l_they pull<<s>> out a dark, viscous potion from $l_their bag, and you feel your stomach drop.
<<include "hunter's draught">>From what you understand, it's a tricky brew, the most difficult of common potions, requiring a mixture of both magic and alchemical compounds. Lea isn't strong with magic, but for this particular potion $l_they <<were>> determined enough to master it.
Lea sets a few aside, and you raise an eyebrow over at $l_them.
"I thought about selling these, for extra money," Lea says, as $l_they carefully repack<<s>> the others, "that's what Merry was commenting about earlier. She wants to buy - for herself and her crew," $l_they sigh<<s>> then, $l_their brow furrowed, struggling to fit everything back inside the bag with the new supplies, even with the few extra bottles removed now.
"When did you talk about that?" you ask, blinking up at Lea - you suppose it must have been some time this morning. You don't remember the two of them really talking at any point, though... you glance over at $l_them, your eyes narrowed.
"Earlier," Lea says, waving a hand, "Her alchemist is one of the missing from her crew," Lea explains, sighing again as $l_they shuffle<<s>> the contents of the bag around once more, determined to get it all to fit. "Offered the extra room. And she insisted on paying, too. And really... we could use the money."
You hum, fidgeting with your necklace, twisting it in your hand. Extra money is always nice, you suppose. It's not the first time Lea's sold $l_their potions like this, or even worked some odd alchemy job on the road, and you doubt it will be the last.
"Here," Lea says, jarring you from your thoughts, and you watch as $l_they pull<<s>> out a dark, viscous potion from $l_their bag, and you feel your stomach drop.
<<include "hunter's draught">>"I know you just took one yesterday, but with... the wraith," Lea struggles for a moment, wincing as $l_they <<say>> it, "I think it would be best for you to take another one. After what happened."
You stare at the black liquid, clinging to the glass, an iridescent shine to it where the light from the fire hits. You can't help but glance over to your jacket, tossed on the bed behind you, where you know the potion from yesterday is still tucked away in your pocket.
You forgot to take it.
[[Continue ->hunter's draught 1]]You take the hunter's draught and set it on the table right in front of you, just watching the way it swirls and eventually settles inside the bottle. You forgot to take it.
Maybe that's it. You just forgot to take the hunter's draught. Maybe you forgot before Keld, too. How many draughts have you missed? You rack your brain, struggling to remember. You can't remember.
You can't remember.
You ignore the doubt in the back of your mind, the way it scratches at the base of your skull. It's not that you don't remember - not really - but if you repeat it enough times, it will be true. It would explain everything, wouldn't it? Tie it all up with a nice bow on top. //You can't remember.//
You want to believe that the bottle in front of you will solve all your problems. It has to.
[[Continue ->hunter's draught 2]]Lea mutters something again about how much $l_they hate<<s>> packing, before suddenly dropping heavily into the other chair across from you, drawing your attention away from the draught as $l_they slide<<s>> $l_their bag off the table and to the floor. You force yourself out of your own head, staring down at your hands, focusing on the sound of the fire crackling in the hearth. Hunched over, Lea digs around for another moment before popping back up in $l_their seat, a pipe clasped in $l_their hand.
You glance over at $l_them, but Lea gives you a //don't fucking start with me// look, and you turn away, still purposefully ignoring the dark bottle in front of you, your eyes instead falling on the few bags of food from today that still need to be packed, as well as your own gear scattered haphazardly around the room.
<<if $bw_lea>><<include "went w lea">><<else>><<include "did not go w lea">><</if>><<if $buy_bread eq true>><<include "bought bread">><<else>><<include "did not buy bread">><</if>><<if $l_relationship eq 1>><<include "partners variant">><<else>><<include "not partners variant">><</if>><<if $l_relationship eq 2>>The bag from Hawkell's bakery is sitting close enough for you to reach it, and you lean over and drag it over to you, glancing over at Lea as you do.
"I can probably fit this in one of my bags," you offer, and Lea just nods, more focused on packing $l_their pipe than listening to you. You set the bag on the table, fidgeting, the sweet smell of the bakery still strong even all this time later.
"You should rest," Lea says suddenly, and you blink over at $l_them. "I can finish packing," Lea continues, "I just... need a moment," $l_they <<say>>, lifting $l_their pipe towards you with a tight smile.
You don't respond right away, leaning back in your chair, your eyes wandering to the bag of bread again. You can see the sweet bread, carefully wrapped in cheesecloth, sitting at the very top. You tug on your sleeve for a moment, before clearing your throat. If you're going to talk, now would be the time.
You reach into the bag, carefully taking out the sweet bread and setting it on the table, moving the hunter's draught off to the side, the bottle clinking softly.
Lea is watching you curiously, $l_their brow furrowed, $l_their pipe forgotten in $l_their hand.
"A peace offering," you say, sliding it across the table towards $l_them.
Lea just gives you a skeptical look before setting down $l_their pipe and taking the bread, quickly unwrapping it, $l_their brows shooting up in surprise.
Lea doesn't say anything for a long time, and you squirm in your seat, unable to decipher the look on $l_their face as $l_they slowly turn<<s>> the loaf of bread over in $l_their hands.
[[Continue ->bought bread and wants to talk]]<<else>>The bag from Hawkell's bakery is sitting close enough for you to reach it, and you lean over and drag it over to you, glancing over at Lea as you do.
"I can probably fit this in one of my bags," you offer, and Lea just nods, more focused on packing $l_their pipe than listening to you. You set the bag on the table, fidgeting, the sweet smell of the bakery still strong even all this time later.
"You should rest," Lea says suddenly, and you blink over at $l_them. "I can finish packing," Lea continues, "I just... need a moment," $l_they <<say>>, lifting $l_their pipe towards you with a tight smile.
You don't respond right away, leaning back in your chair, your eyes wandering to the bag of bread again. You can see the sweet bread, carefully wrapped in cheesecloth, sitting at the very top. If you want to get this over with, after everything, now is the time.
You reach into the bag, carefully taking out the sweet bread and setting it on the table, moving the hunter's draught off to the side, the bottle clinking softly.
Lea is watching you curiously, $l_their brow furrowed, $l_their pipe forgotten in $l_their hand.
"A peace offering," you say, sliding it across the table towards $l_them.
Lea just gives you a skeptical look before setting down $l_their pipe and taking the bread, quickly unwrapping it, $l_their brows shooting up in surprise.
"Just - put today behind us. Like Keld," you say simply, though you can't quite keep the bitterness out of your voice at the mention of Keld - like a wound you can't stop picking at, no matter how many times it bleeds.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"You... bought this today?" Lea asks, $l_their brow furrowed as $l_they stare<<s>> down at the bread, $l_their face softening for a moment.
"Yeah," you say, shifting in your chair.
You can see Lea's jaw clench, and $l_they take<<s>> a deep breath, $l_their eyes hardening - unreadable again.
"Yeah. Like Keld, huh?"<<else>>Lea scoffs, shaking $l_their head. "Yeah. Like Keld," $l_they <<say>>.<</if>>
You frown, and Lea frowns right back, slumping back in $l_their chair.
"I don't know that this is enough - that we can just ignore it. Not this time," Lea sighs, running a hand over $l_their hair.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"What the fuck do you want me to say?" you snap then, hot anger flaring through you, and you press your palms to your eyes, taking a deep breath. "What am I supposed to do here? What's good enough for you? Because right now all I can give you is some fucking bread!" you try to bite your tongue, but it all comes out in a rush, the hurt from earlier returning to pierce through your chest.
Lea's face twitches, and $l_they glance<<s>> away for a moment, twisting $l_their ring around $l_their thumb with a nervous hand.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I know," you say, because you do know. "I don't know what else to do. I'm just - the way I am - I'm not good at this," the words come rushing out, and you stare down at your hands, though you can feel Lea's dark eyes on you and you can't stop, "If I could be better, I would. But I can't help the way I am. All I can give you is a loaf of fucking bread."
You glance back over at Lea, though $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> staring down at the table now, twisting $l_their ring around $l_their thumb with a nervous hand.<<else>>"Yeah. I know," you say, because you do know. Of course you fucking know. "I don't know what else to do. I don't know what's good enough. I don't know how to fix this," you say through clenched teeth, your voice wavering, despite yourself. "All I got is some fucking bread."
Lea doesn't respond right away, instead staring down at $l_their hands, twisting $l_their ring around $l_their thumb.<</if>>
"I just want us to fucking //talk//, $name," Lea says finally, swallowing hard as soon as the words leave $l_their mouth. "There's clearly something going on with you, that you won't tell me," $l_they gesture<<s>> a hand over the table, $l_their dark eyes softening slightly, despite the sharp look you give $l_them.
$l_They take<<s>> a deep breath, before continuing, "I think - we should talk. Finish this job, and - and talk, back at the stronghold. You're not the only one - I - I just mean. There are... things -," Lea seems to choke then, putting $l_their face in $l_their hands before quickly shaking $l_their head and smoothing back $l_their hair, "there are things I should have told you, a long time ago."
"There are other things I haven't told you, either," you say quietly, your mind wandering to your mother, to your $sibling, to a forgotten name on the tip of your tongue.
A tense silence passes between both of you, and Lea's dark eyes search your face, and you realize that $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> waiting. Waiting for you.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay, Lea. We\'ll talk. I want to talk."' 'reconcile talk w bread'>><<set $l_friendship +=10>><<set $l_relationship to 11>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No. No - I don\'t want to talk. I\'m tired of all of this. We finish this job, and that\'s it."' 'you want a reassignment harsh'>><<set $l_friendship -=8>><<set $l_relationship to 10>><</link>></div><</if>><<if $l_relationship eq 1>>"Can you hand me that bag?" Lea says, and you blink over at $l_them, forcing your eyes to refocus.
You stare stupidly for a moment, and Lea leans forward and points at the bag from Hawkell's bakery, sitting on the floor near your chair. You blink again, shaking your head, before leaning over, hanging out of your seat to reach the slouching handles of the bag, swinging it up onto the table and sliding it over to Lea.
$l_They set<<s>> aside $l_their pipe and open<<s>> the bag, plucking one of the rolls off the top and carefully unwrapping it, the smell of the sweet bread hitting you as soon as the cloth falls away.
Lea smiles over at you, raising an eyebrow. "I think we deserve this, after today," $l_they <<say>>, and you watch as Lea slowly tears the bread with careful hands, another wave of that sweet smell washing over you, stronger this time.
Lea reaches out and offers you a small piece, and you don't try to argue, just taking it with a nod, and you turn it over slowly in your hands before taking a bite, though you aren't really feeling hungry. You're not particularly feeling anything at all.
You don't taste it as you swallow, painful and dry, and you close your eyes as you finish it, wishing nothing more than to taste the sweet kiss of honey, or the bite of cinnamon, or the rush of sugar. You want to enjoy this moment, shared with Lea. But it just tastes like sand.
"You're welcome," Lea says, and you can hear the grin in $l_their voice.
"Yeah," is all you say, wiping the crumbs from your shirt.
You can feel Lea staring at you across the table, and you tense, squirming in your seat under $l_their scrutiny, reaching up and fidgeting with your necklace.
"What's going on with you, $name?" Lea says then, and your face twitches at the question, even though you were expecting it, waiting for it.
<<include "What's going on with you">><<elseif $l_relationship eq 4>>There is, to put it lightly, still an unfortunate amount of shit that needs to be packed and put away. Some of it will have to go in your saddlebags eventually, but it's unlike the two of you to trash a room so thoroughly.
"You should rest," Lea says suddenly, and you blink over at $l_them. "I can finish packing," Lea continues, "I just... need a moment," $l_they <<say>>, lifting $l_their pipe towards you with a tight smile.
You don't respond right away, leaning back in your chair, still purposefully ignoring the bottle in front of you, your eyes instead wandering to the fireplace where the shadows and light flash against the brick and across the wooden floor. Your eyelids are heavy, and your gaze slides in and out of focus; you //should// rest.
But there's still a tension in your shoulders, your jaw clenched, an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of your stomach when you glance over at Lea, watching $l_them fidget with $l_their pipe, those familiar dark eyes downcast, avoiding your gaze.
Your face twitches, and you turn back to the fire again, reaching up and pulling at your necklace, the weight of the pendant comforting in your palm.
Lea shifts in $l_their chair then, and you can feel $l_them lean against the table, towards you.
"Do you... do you want to talk, about today?" Lea prompts. $l_They sound<<s>> uncertain, awkward, and you glance over to see $l_them twisting $l_their ring around $l_their thumb, $l_their pipe set off to the side.
"No," you say automatically.
"Fuck, $surname," Lea sighs, pressing $l_their palms to the table. "I'm trying, here."
Your hand tightens around your pendant.
"What is it with you and wanting to talk all of a sudden?" you snap, glaring over at $l_them. "Gods. How long have we been stuck together? Never once have we //talked//. Isn't it... a little late, now?" You can't help the way your voice waivers towards the end, the way it turns into a genuine question rather than a statement. It's too late now, isn't it?
"No. No, no," Lea shakes $l_their head, "I want to talk. It's not too late - it's not too late for us to do that. Please." Lea suddenly leans across the table, and you think for a brief moment $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> going to grab you, but $l_they stop<<s>> short, $l_their hands laying open in front of you.
"Please. We can wait - give it time - until after this job. Back at the stronghold, once we're done here. I want to talk," Lea seems to choke then, glancing away from you before continuing, "There are things I haven't told you. Things I should have told you."
"There are things I haven't told you, either," you say quietly, your mind wandering to your mother, to your $sibling, to a forgotten name on the tip of your tongue.
A tense silence passes between both of you, and Lea's dark eyes search your face, and you realize that $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> waiting. Waiting for you.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. Okay, Lea. We\'ll talk. I want to talk."' 'reconcile talk wo bread'>><<set $l_friendship +=10>><<set $l_relationship to 11>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No. It\'s too late for this! It\'s too late. We finish this job, and - and that\'s it."' 'you want a reassignment harsh'>><<set $l_friendship -=8>><<set $l_relationship to 10>><</link>></div><<elseif $l_relationship eq 6>><<include "fuck lea variant">><</if>><<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"I...," Lea starts, carefully putting the bread back down, not looking at you, "I - thank you." There's another long pause as Lea rubs a hand over $l_their face, and there's a sharp twisting in your chest, a spike of fear - maybe this was a mistake.
"Lea," you say, and Lea flinches at $l_their name, dropping $l_their hand and finally looking over at you, a pleading in $l_their dark eyes you weren't expecting.
"Thank you," $l_they repeat<<s>>, and you find yourself pressed against the table, leaning forward in an attempt to understand Lea, in an attempt to coax an explanation from $l_them - but $l_they lower<<s>> $l_their gaze again, just staring at the bread.<<else>>"You bought this today?" Lea finally says as $l_they set<<s>> the bread back down on the table. You wait for Lea to look over at you, but $l_they refuse<<s>>, just staring down at the fucking bread.
"Yeah," is all you say, wringing your hands under the table.<</if>>
Lea takes a deep breath, and you can see $l_them fidgeting with $l_their thumb ring, twisting it violently between $l_their fingers.
"How many times are we going to do this? I don't know that this is enough anymore, $name," Lea says softly, swallowing hard after the words leave $l_them.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"I know!" you surprise yourself with the way you snap, pressing your palms to your temples for a moment. "I'm fucking trying, here. I don't - I don't know what else you want me to do," you say, your voice wavering, the fight draining out of you almost immediately.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I know," you say automatically, because you do know. "But I wanted to try. I didn't want to leave things... how they were," you explain, glancing down at your hands. "I just wanted to try," you say again, your voice wavering a bit.<<else>>"Yeah. I know," you say, because you do know. Of course you fucking know. "I don't know what else to do. I don't know what's good enough," you say through clenched teeth, your voice wavering, despite yourself.<</if>>
Lea doesn't speak right away, just twisting $l_their ring, staring down at $l_their hands.
"Maybe - maybe we could talk. We //should// talk, I mean. After all of this... back at the stronghold," Lea finally says, glancing over at you. "There are things -," Lea seems to choke then, putting $l_their face in $l_their hands before quickly shaking $l_their head and smoothing back $l_their hair, "there are things I should have told you, a long time ago."
"There are things I haven't told you, either," you say quietly, your mind wandering to your mother, to your $sibling, to a forgotten name on the tip of your tongue.
A tense silence passes between both of you, and Lea's dark eyes search your face, and you realize that $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> waiting. Waiting for you.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. I want to talk. We\'ll talk, after this job."' 'reconcile talk w bread'>><<set $l_friendship +=10>><<set $l_relationship to 11>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Lea... I think - I don\'t want to talk anymore. I think this will be our last job."' 'you want a reassignment'>><<set $l_friendship -=8>><<set $l_relationship to 10>><</link>></div>Lea lets out a long, ragged breath at your words, a breath you hadn't even realized $l_they had been holding. $l_They slump<<s>> back in $l_their chair, reaching out and picking up $l_their pipe again, fidgeting with it before looking over at you.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"I... I care about you, you know? And I don't - I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose you, like I lost Shoshana," Lea says, and you close your eyes, a sudden heat in your chest, a needle prickling behind your eyes, and you find it hard to breathe for a moment, Lea's words constricting you like a pair of hands around your throat.
"$name," Lea says softly, and you still can't open your eyes, instead turning your head away from $l_them, because you can't take it - this confession from $l_them, the way you feel exposed, laid bare by $l_their acknowledgement.
It hurts. You didn't expect it to hurt.<<else>>"I want us to be partners, $name," Lea says, smiling weakly, twisting $l_their pipe in $l_their hands. "Fuck! I want us to be friends," $l_they says, leaning into the table, towards you.
You stare down at your hands, resting in your lap under the table, before closing your eyes, and there's a strange feeling in your chest, an ache you didn't expect - the idea of being wanted, the realization that Lea wants you here. Wants to be friends. For some reason, it hurts.<</if>>
Lea clears $l_their throat then, you think as a way to concede your silence, and even though it's a bit awkward, a bit heavy, it's less oppressive now, and you find yourself feeling... relieved, breathing deeply, despite the ache in your chest.
[[Continue ->reconcile talk w bread 1]]You don't expect Lea's reaction - it's visceral, flinching at your words, and the way $l_they squeeze<<s>> $l_their eyes shut, $l_their whole body trembling as $l_they release<<s>> a ragged breath you hadn't even realized $l_they had been holding, slumping back into $l_their chair, smoothing $l_their hair back, over and over, $l_their movements jarring and forced.
You stare over at $l_them, a cold pain in your chest, a bitter taste in your mouth.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"It's too fucking late to pretend like this is going to end any other way. It's either this, or both of us in the fucking ground," you say, and your voice is hard, maybe even mean, but it's the fucking truth. You're lucky that lycan didn't get you in Keld. That the wraith didn't rip open your throat last night.
You're one bad day away from the grave. You can't do this anymore.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"It's too late, Lea. Let's not pretend. I'm just... I'm tired. It's too late," you say, shaking your head, and it's the truth. You can't just ignore your problems away this time. You've reached the end of that rope.
At this point, you're one bad day away from the grave. You can't do it anymore.<<else>>"It's just too fucking late, Lea," you say through gritted teeth, a bite in your voice, but it's the truth; at this point, you're surviving on pure luck - you're lucky that lycan didn't get you in Keld. That the wraith didn't rip open your throat last night.
You're one bad day away from the grave. You can't do this anymore.<</if>>
"You want a reassignment," Lea says, and it's not a question.
"Yeah. I want a reassignment."
Lea opens $l_their eyes, and stands abruptly, $l_their chair knocking loudly behind $l_them. $l_They swipe<<s>> $l_their pipe off the table, holding it with white knuckles, and it's unbearable, watching $l_them trying to light it, the hairs on your arms standing on end as Lea struggles to command $l_their magic.
Lea was never very good at magic.
<<include "reassignment pipe">>You don't expect Lea's reaction - it's visceral, the way $l_they squeeze<<s>> $l_their eyes shut, $l_their whole body trembling as $l_they release<<s>> a ragged breath you hadn't even realized $l_they had been holding, slumping back into $l_their chair, smoothing $l_their hair back again, over and over, $l_their movements jarring and forced.
You stare over at $l_them, a heaviness on your chest, a sadness washing over you, cold as the dark ocean water outside.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"You know it's for the best," you say, and your voice is hard, maybe even mean, but you feel detached from it, just going through the motions. This is the person you are - so you know you have to say it, even if the words taste bad in your mouth, even if they burn in your throat.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You don't say anything, trying to keep your expression cool and detached, despite the burning in the back of your throat, the twisting of your gut as you watch Lea take a harsh breath, $l_their dark eyes still squeezed closed.<<else>>"Lea...," you say, but you're at a loss of what to do here. What else can you say? You glance down at your hands, swallowing hard, doing your best to ignore the guilt creeping up on you. This is for the best.<</if>>
"You want a reassignment," Lea says, and it's not a question.
Lea opens $l_their eyes, and stands abruptly, $l_their chair knocking loudly behind $l_them. $l_They swipe<<s>> $l_their pipe off the table, holding it with white knuckles, and it's unbearable, watching $l_them trying to light it, the hairs on your arms standing on end as Lea struggles to command $l_their magic.
Lea was never very good at magic.
<<include "reassignment pipe">><div id="choice"><<link '"Let me help you."' 'let me help you'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Just give it to me."' 'just give it to me'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I doubt my help will be well-received, so I just turn away.]]</div><<if $vice eq "both" or $vice eq "smoker">><div id="choice"><<link 'Take it and light it for $l_them. ♡' 'Take it and light it for them. ♡'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_tavernflirt to true>><<set $l_pipeflirt to true>><</link>></div>
<<else>><div id="choice"><<link [[Light it for them. ♡]]>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_tavernflirt to true>><<set $l_pipeflirt to true>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"Let me." I know $l_they\'ll never ask.' 'let me. i know theyll never ask'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What would you even do without me?" I laugh as I stand to help $l_them.' 'what would you even do without me'>><</link>></div>After a few beats, you can sense Lea move against the table, and you finally open your eyes, glancing over to see $l_them leaning forward to pick up the bread, and with careful hands $l_they slowly tear<<s>> a piece off - and offer<<s>> it to you.
You don't try to argue, instead numbly taking the small piece, staring down at it for a long moment, before finally taking a bite. You don't taste it as you swallow, painful and dry, and you close your eyes as you finish it, wishing nothing more than to taste the sweet kiss of honey, or the bite of cinnamon, or the rush of sugar. You want to enjoy this moment you've shared with Lea. But despite the relief, despite everything, it just tastes like sand.
"Thank you," Lea says, and the sincerity of it makes your throat tighten.
"Yeah," is all you say, wiping the crumbs from your shirt.
Lea stares over at you, and you tense for a moment, expecting $l_them to say more, to question you, but the moment passes, and Lea sighs quietly, looking away.
[[Continue ->reconcile talk w bread 2]]"You should get some rest," is what Lea says instead, re-wrapping the remainder of the sweet bread and tucking it back into the bag.
"How many times are you going to say that to me?"
"As many times as it takes for you to finally listen."
You scoff, ducking your head as Lea lets out a low laugh, picking $l_their pipe back up off the table. The remaining tension between you seems to evaporate then, and you lean back in your chair, shaking your head and letting out a long sigh, forcing yourself to relax, forcing the invisible hands constricting your chest to let go. //Let go.//
It's a start, you suppose.
"I mean it, $surname. I can finish packing," Lea says again, standing with a nod. $l_They take<<s>> a few steps from the table, before halting to focus on $l_their pipe, holding it between $l_their lips and attempting to light it. Lea makes an annoyed sound after a few failed attempts to summon $l_their magic, fruitlessly snapping $l_their fingers. Lea was never very good with magic.
<<include "reconcile pipe">><div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m just tired."' 'im just tired 1.0'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I... I don\'t know."' 'i... i dont know 1'>><<set $lea_knows_nightmares to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Nothing is going on with me, Lea."' 'nothing is going on with me 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"What //isn\'t// going on with me?"' 'what isnt going on with me 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I... I\'ve just been having nightmares, recently. It\'s nothing."' 'ive been having nightmares 1'>><<set $lea_knows_nightmares to true>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'I don\'t respond.' 'i dont respond 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Fuck. I think I'm going to cry.]]>><<set $tavern_cry to true>><</link>></div>Lea lets out a long, ragged breath at your words, a breath you hadn't even realized $l_they had been holding. $l_They slump<<s>> back in $l_their chair, reaching out and picking up $l_their pipe again, fidgeting with it before looking over at you.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"I... I care about you. And I don't - I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose you, like I lost Shoshana," Lea says, and you close your eyes, a sudden heat in your chest, a needle prickling behind your eyes, and you find it hard to breathe for a moment, Lea's words constricting you like a pair of hands around your throat.
"$name," Lea says softly, and you still can't open your eyes, instead turning your head away from $l_them, because you can't take it - this confession from $l_them, the way you feel exposed, laid bare by $l_their acknowledgement.
It hurts. You didn't expect it to hurt.<<else>>"I want us to be partners, $name," Lea says, smiling weakly, twisting $l_their pipe in $l_their hands. "Fuck! I want us to be friends," $l_they says, leaning into the table, towards you.
You stare down at your hands, resting in your lap under the table, before closing your eyes for a moment, and there's a strange feeling in your chest, an ache you didn't expect - the idea of being wanted, the realization that Lea wants you here. Wants to be friends. For some reason, it hurts.<</if>>
Lea clears $l_their throat then, you think as a way to concede your silence, and even though it's a bit awkward, a bit heavy, it's less oppressive now, and you find yourself feeling... relieved, breathing deeply, despite the ache in your chest.
[[Continue ->reconcile talk wo bread 1]]After a few beats, you can sense Lea move against the table, and you finally open your eyes, glancing over to see $l_them packing $l_their pipe, $l_their brow furrowed. You can't help but notice there's a slight tremor in $l_their hands, some of the tobacco spilling from the bowl, dark spots along the tabletop.
"You should get some rest," Lea says after a few minutes of uneasy silence.
"How many times are you going to say that to me?"
"As many times as it takes for you to finally listen."
You scoff, ducking your head as Lea lets out a low laugh, giving you a small smile. The remaining tension between you seems to evaporate then, and you lean back in your chair, shaking your head and letting out a long sigh, forcing yourself to relax, forcing the invisible hands constricting your chest to let go. //Let go.//
It's a start, you suppose.
"I mean it, $surname. I can finish packing," Lea says again, standing with a nod. $l_They take<<s>> a few steps from the table, before halting to focus on $l_their pipe, holding it between $l_their lips and attempting to light it. Lea makes an annoyed sound after a few failed attempts to summon $l_their magic, fruitlessly snapping $l_their fingers. Lea was never very good with magic.
<<include "reconcile pipe">>There is, to put it lightly, still an unfortunate amount of shit that needs to be packed and put away. Some of it will have to go in your saddlebags eventually, but it's unlike the two of you to trash a room so thoroughly.
"You should rest," Lea says suddenly, and you blink over at $l_them. "I can finish packing," Lea continues, "I just... need a moment," $l_they <<say>>, lifting $l_their pipe towards you with a tight smile.
You don't respond right away, leaning back in your chair, still purposefully ignoring the bottle in front of you, your eyes instead wandering to the fireplace where the shadows and light flash against the brick and across the wooden floor. Your eyelids are heavy, and your gaze slides in and out of focus; you //should// rest.
But there's still a tension in your shoulders, your jaw clenched, anger curled tight in the pit of your stomach when you look at Lea, watching $l_them for a moment, fidgeting with $l_their pipe, those familiar dark eyes downcast, avoiding your gaze.
Your face twitches, and you turn back to the fire again, reaching up and pulling at your necklace, the weight of the pendant comforting in your palm.
Lea shifts in $l_their chair then, and you can feel $l_them lean against the table, towards you.
"Do you... do you want to talk, about today?" Lea prompts. $l_They sound<<s>> uncertain, awkward, and you glance over to see $l_them twisting $l_their ring around $l_their thumb, $l_their pipe set off to the side.
"No, I don't," you say, your lip curling.
"Fuck, $surname," Lea sighs, pressing $l_their palms to the table. "I'm trying, here."
Your hand tightens around your pendant.
Lea sighs again, rubbing $l_their hands over $l_their face. But $l_they <<dont>> say anything else, instead slumping back in $l_their chair and picking $l_their pipe up again.
The two of you lapse into a heavy silence, Lea glaring down with a furrowed brow as $l_they pack<<s>> $l_their bowl, a bit more aggressively than you think is necessary, some of the tobacco spilling out onto the tabletop, dark spots stark against the light wood finish.
The silence soon becomes punctuated by Lea's attempts to light $l_their pipe, a sharp snap of $l_their fingers, your hair standing on end as Lea attempts to summon $l_their magic. It sets your teeth on edge, and you lean forward, setting your elbows on the table and rubbing your temples. After a few failed attempts, Lea huffs and slams the pipe back down on the table, slumping back into $l_their chair. $l_They <<were>> never very good at magic.
"I want to talk," Lea says suddenly, and you sigh, raising your head to look over at $l_them. Still slouched back in $l_their chair, $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'ve<<else>>'s<</if>> crossed $l_their arms over $l_their chest, giving you a hard look.
<div id ="choice"><<link '"I\'m fucking angry at you! Don\'t you get that? I can\'t just //talk// right now!"' 'im fucking angry at you'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $l_relationship to 8>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You want to talk? Let\'s talk. I want a reassignment."' 'you want to talk lets talk'>><<set $l_friendship -=10>><<set $l_relationship to 12>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck you, Lea. I\'m done talking with you, and I\'m done being your fucking //partner//."' 'im done being your fucking partner'>><<set $l_friendship -=15>><<set $l_relationship to 9>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing.' 'say nothing to lea'>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $l_relationship to 8>><</link>></div>"I'm fucking angry at you!" you snap, slapping your hands down on the table. "Don't you get that? I can't just //talk// right now! Especially when you want to pretend like we're the same! We're not the same, Lea!"
"$surname, I would never-"
"It doesn't matter! You can say it over and over again, it doesn't make it true. Call me your partner. I can call the sky green, too. It doesn't fucking matter." You're breathing hard, your face flushed with your reignited anger. You admit - some of it may be redirected from Lord Duncan, and maybe Lea doesn't deserve all of it, but $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> the one in front of you right now.
"Can't you just leave me alone?" you say quietly then, like a whisper after your shouting, and you slump back in your chair, pressing your face into your hand, shaking your head.
Lea doesn't say anything for a long time, and you eventually drop your hand to look over at $l_them, staring into those dark eyes as they search your face.
"Is that what you want?" Lea asks, twisting $l_their thumb ring again.
You don't know what you want. You're tired, and you're angry, always fucking angry, but today - all of it really got under your skin. Talking about it right now - it's too fresh, your anger still simmering in your chest, only one moment away from catching fire again and consuming you.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"I don't know! I don't fucking know. I don't know what I want, Lea."<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I - I don't know what I want, Lea."<<else>>"I don't know, Lea."<</if>>
"How about - after this job. Back at the stronghold, once all this is over. We can talk. Please, $name," Lea says slowly, "I don't want things to end like this."
You take a deep breath. "We'll see," is all you say.
<<include "we will see">>"You want to talk? Let's talk. I want a reassignment," you snap, a bitter taste in your mouth at the words.
Lea blanches in front of you, staring at you with $l_their mouth open before $l_they snap<<s>> it closed.
"You - what?" Lea stammers, standing so fast $l_their chair clatters to the floor behind $l_them.
"I want a reassignment," you say, emphasizing each word, leaning across the table towards $l_them. "Don't act like this is shocking news. It was always going to end this way for us. Either this, or both of us in the fucking ground."
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>Lea struggles for a moment, blinking over at you. "I thought - I thought you..." $l_They shake<<s>> $l_their head then, $l_their eyes flashing.
<</if>>"Why did we even come here, then? Why did you agree to this job? Could have saved us a lot of trouble if you had said something before!"
"Don't you fucking blame me!" the ferocity in your voice makes Lea turn away, and it even surprises you. "Don't fucking blame me."
"You were on watch last night," Lea says through gritted teeth.
You stand up now, too, glaring over at your handler. "Take some accountability, Lea. For fucking once! Forget last night. Forget Keld. What about Shoshana?"
Lea snaps back around, $l_their lip curling. "Keep her name out of your mouth."
"Two hunters! Was Merry telling the truth? Did she ask for a reassignment, too?"
"Shut up!"
"There's one common factor here, and it's you. It's your fucking fault. //Your// fault. You're a shit handler, hiding behind your family's name."
Lea's eyes are dark, $l_their brow furrowed, and $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> still not looking at you, instead staring down at the floor, $l_their hands on $l_their hips.
"Fuck you, $surname," Lea says, and $l_they start<<s>> gathering up $l_their bags, swiping $l_their pipe off the table and shoving it into $l_their pocket.
You're breathing hard, glaring after $l_them as $l_they head<<s>> for the door. Lea slams the door hard enough to rattle the hinges, the whole room shuddering around you, the silence that follows ringing in your ears.
[[Continue ->worst leave]]You glare over at Lea, clenching your jaw and crossing your arms, sinking farther into your chair, mirroring $l_them, before turning to stare into the fire again.
You don't say anything.
"$name, please," Lea says then, a sudden shift in $l_their tone now, sitting up and leaning across the table towards you.
You close your eyes, taking a deep breath through your nose, exhaling as you open your eyes again and look over at $l_them.
"How about - after this job. Back at the stronghold, once all this is over. We can talk. Please, $name," Lea says again, "I don't want things to end like this."
You feel a pang of guilt, deep in your gut, with the way Lea is leaning across the table towards you, $l_their hands clasped together, pleading, begging. You tighten your arms around your chest, glancing down at your lap.
"We'll see," you say.
<<include "we will see">>Lea closes $l_their eyes, bowing $l_their head for a moment. Then $l_they just nod<<s>>, standing from the table and picking up $l_their pipe.
"Okay. Yeah. We'll see," $l_they <<say>>, holding the pipe in $l_their mouth and moving to gather $l_their bag. Slinging it over $l_their shoulder, $l_they pick<<s>> up as much as $l_they can carry in $l_their arms as well, and you just watch, unmoving in your chair.
"I'll finish packing," Lea says around the pipe, glancing over at you, "and you should get some rest." $l_They head<<s>> for the door, though $l_they pause<<s>> briefly to adjust $l_their bag and the load in $l_their arms.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Lea... goodnight."' 'lea goodnight'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing.' 'you do not say goodnight'>><</link>></div>"Lea... goodnight," you say, and Lea turns back to look at you over $l_their shoulder.
"Goodnight, $name," $l_they <<say>>, slipping out the door, closing with a quiet click behind $l_them.
<<include "leaning forward in your chair">>Neither of you speak again, Lea just slipping out the door, closing with a quiet click behind $l_them.
<<include "leaning forward in your chair">>You sigh, leaning forward in your seat, pressing your face into your hands. You sit like that for a long time, unmoving, just the quiet sounds of the wood burning in the fireplace, and you're trying to stay in control, taking deep breaths through your nose, ignoring the guilt sitting heavy in your chest.
Lea is trying. You want to believe that. You just need some time. And you need to get through this job together, before anything else.
You finally drop your hands, standing slowly from your chair, glancing at the dying fire before walking over and feeding fresh wood into it, letting it reignite and burn hot, your face aching and red from the heat where you sit crouched on the hearth. But you're restless, despite your exhaustion, and you can't sit still, eventually standing and resorting to pacing the length of the room, all while glancing longingly at your bed over and over out of the corner of your eye.
It seems to only make it worse, though, your hands twitching, your pacing becoming more urgent, and you're starting to sweat, and after another lap around the room, you can't stand it anymore. You need to get some fresh air. Anything to get out of this room.
You stride over to the door, snatching up your cloak as you go, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way into the hallway.<<set $l_friendship +=2>>
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]It's empty out on the mezzanine, a shroud of silence over the tavern, this late at night - though you think it has less to do with that, and more to do with Duncan's little display earlier. You pull your cloak tighter around you as you peer out over the railing, down into the parlor. Wrapping your hands around the banister, your eyes flick to the bar - where only one sad soul drinks alone - and over the empty tables, towards the front door and through the windows, to the dark, shapeless shadows outside, and you quickly push off and head for the stairs.
You nearly trip over yourself in your restraint, resisting the urge to bound down the stairs three at a time, gripping the railing like a life line. Unfortunately, you've barely taken three steps off the last stair when someone calls your name. You feel the familiar presence at the same time, and you curse yourself for not being more aware.
Wincing, you slowly turn around to see Noel standing from a small table tucked in the corner, hidden beneath the mezzanine, out of sight. Noel skips across the parlor towards you, smiling, though $n_their smile falters slightly when $n_xe gets closer. <<if $tavern_cry>>You quickly run a hand over your face, desperate to hide any trace of the fact that you had been crying earlier, but the look Noel gives you is clear enough indication that it's useless.<</if>>
"You okay?" Noel asks softly, and you quickly glance away, scowling back at the front door.
<<if $bw_noel>><<include "bw noel in parlor">><<else>><<include "not bw noel in parlor">><</if>>"Fuck!"
You let out an angry shout, kicking your chair so it collides into the table, clattering loudly, and you can hear someone banging on the far wall, with a muffled //shut up!// for good measure.
A bitter taste claws its way up your throat, and for a moment you think you're going to vomit, and you bend forward, your hands on your knees, still slightly breathless and breathing erratically.
It passes.
Slowly, you stand back up, taking a deep breath, swallowing hard and moving to pick the chair back up, setting it upright and pushing it in alongside the table. Your hands are shaking slightly, and you clench and unclench them into fists as you begin to pace around the room.
You feel like a caged animal. You need to get out of here. It's too hot, claustrophobic, and you feel your breath hitching again, your chest tightening, and you all but run across the room, grabbing your cloak and quickly throwing it over your shoulders, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way out the door and into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]"Fuck you, Lea. I'm done talking with you, and I'm done being your fucking //partner//."
You stand from the table, you don't know why - where are you going to go? But you're angry, and you shove your chair away from you and pace around the room, Lea watching you with a stunned expression.
"You - what?" Lea stammers, standing now too.
"I said I don't want to fucking talk!" You halt your pacing, jabbing a finger in Lea's direction. "I want a reassignment."
Lea's shock morphs into anger, their dark eyes flashing.
"Why did we even come here, then? Why did you agree to this job? Could have saved us a lot of trouble if you had said something before!"
"Saved //us// trouble? Who is the one that had to fight the wraith? Who is the one that had their arm broken? Who is the one called a beast, a monster?" You curl your lip, taking a step towards Lea, who - to $l_their credit - remains unmoving.
"I'm not the one that broke your arm, $surname!"
"Gods, you know that's not what I mean. Take some fucking accountability, Lea! You're a shit handler! Just admit it."
Lea's face twitches, and $l_they turn<<s>> away, crossing $l_their arms.
"How many hunters have you gone through?" you say then, your voice low and dangerous.
You can see the muscle in Lea's jaw flicker as $l_they grit<<s>> $l_their teeth at your words.
"Was Merry right? Did Shoshana request a reassignment too?"
"Keep her name out of your mouth."
You scoff, rolling your eyes.
"What's the common factor, Lea? Because it's not me," you say.
"Shut up."
"I thought you wanted to talk?" you sneer.
Lea closes $l_their eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "You're just lashing out. I know there's something wrong with you. You're not thinking straight," Lea says slowly, opening $l_their eyes and glaring at you.
"No. No, I'm perfectly fucking fine. Don't pretend like you care. You just don't want to lose another hunter. What would that do to your beloved family name? Listen to what I am saying: You're not my fucking partner. You're barely even a handler. You're lucky you're a Chen, or you'd just be nobody at all."
Lea closes $l_their eyes again, turning away from you, as if you'd just slapped $l_them.
"Fuck you, $surname. Fuck. You."
Lea grabs $l_their things off the table, scoops up $l_their bag, and heads for the door. You just glare after $l_them, your lip curled, unflinching as Lea slams the door closed behind $l_them, hard enough to rattle the hinges, the whole room shuddering around you.
[[Continue ->worst leave]]<<set $lea_gift to true>>It's a bit awkward right now, between you and Lea - the argument earlier, and then everything with Duncan - you're not sure how to break this silence. But Lea is the one who says something first.
"Can you hand me that bag?" Lea says, and you blink over at $l_them, forcing your eyes to refocus as $l_they set<<s>> aside $l_their pipe.
You stare stupidly for a moment, and Lea leans forward and points at one of the few bags on the floor near your chair. You blink again, shaking your head, before leaning over, hanging out of your seat to reach the slouching handles of the bag, swinging it up onto the table and sliding it over to Lea.
Grabbing the bag, Lea roughly drags it towards $l_them, digging to the bottom of the bag before making an approving hum, producing <<if ($vice eq "smoker") or ($vice eq "both")>>a small leather pouch.
You raise an eyebrow, watching as $l_they drop<<s>> it on the table.
"It's for you," Lea says.
"What?" you say, because you didn't expect that.
"Here," Lea leans across the table, picking the pouch up again and setting it down right in front of you.
Blinking, you reach out and take it in your hand, untying the little strings holding it closed. You've barely opened it when the smell hits you - tobacco. And a very specific kind. This is expensive.
You quickly look back over at Lea, your brow furrowed.
"Well? Are you going to share?" Lea says, picking $l_their pipe back up.
"You got this today?"
Lea quirks an eyebrow at you. "Yeah. Can only get your fancy shit here in Blackwater."
You stare down at the pouch, rotating it slowly in your hands.
"Why?"
Your question seems to confuse Lea, $l_their eyes narrowing and head tilting slightly.
"What do you mean, //why//?" Lea asks. "Why did I buy it?"
You nod slowly. "Even after - after I left you?" it comes out as a question.
"I know you like that kind," Lea gives you a look, shrugging.
You suppose $l_their reaction is understandable. Lea has bought you things like this before - $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> the type of person to do that, always has been. But today feels different - after everything. Keld, and everything that's come since - it's been a lifetime, hasn't it? Your hand tightens around the pouch, your eyes unfocused, not really looking at anything at all.
The weight of the day is heavy on you, and yet for some reason this stupid pouch of tobacco feels heaviest of all.
"Thanks," you finally say.
You can feel Lea staring at you across the table, and you tense, squirming in your seat under $l_their scrutiny, reaching up and fidgeting with your necklace, setting the pouch of tobacco down and clearing your throat.
"What's going on with you, $name?" Lea says then, and your face twitches at the sudden question, your hands curling into fists atop the table.<<else>>a small bottle - and not the alchemy kind.
You raise an eyebrow, watching as $l_they set<<s>> it on the table.
"It's for you," Lea says.
"What?" you say, because you didn't expect that.
"Here," Lea leans across the table, sliding the bottle forward until it's right in front of you.
Blinking, you reach out and take it in your hand, the glass still cool from the cold air outside. You run a thumb over the label, blinking as the words slowly come into focus. You recognize this brand - Jorah's favorite. And yours. This is expensive.
You quickly look back over at Lea, your brow furrowed.
"Well? You're welcome," Lea says with a smirk, picking $l_their pipe back up.
"You got this today?"
Lea quirks an eyebrow at you. "Yeah. Managed to talk the merchant down to a reasonable price, too."
You stare down at the bottle, rotating it slowly in your hands.
"Why?"
Your question seems to confuse Lea, $l_their eyes narrowing and head tilting slightly.
"What do you mean, //why//?" Lea asks. "Why did I buy it?"
You nod slowly. "Even - even after I left?" you say it like it's a question.
"I know you like that kind," Lea gives you a look, shrugging.
You suppose $l_their reaction is understandable. Lea has bought you things like this before - $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> the type of person to do that, always has been. But today feels different - after everything. Keld, and everything that's come since - it's been a lifetime, hasn't it? Your hand tightens around the bottle, your eyes unfocused, not really looking at anything at all.
The weight of the day is heavy on you, and yet for some reason this stupid bottle feels heaviest of all.
"Thanks," you finally say.
You can feel Lea staring at you across the table, and you tense, squirming in your seat under $l_their scrutiny, reaching up and fidgeting with your necklace before setting the bottle down and clearing your throat.
"What's going on with you, $name?" Lea says then, and your face twitches at the sudden question, your hands curling into fists atop the table.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m just tired."' 'im just tired'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I... I don\'t know."' 'i... i dont know'>><<set $lea_knows_nightmares to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Nothing is going on with me, Lea."' 'nothing is going on with me'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"What //isn\'t// going on with me?"' 'what isnt going on with me'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I... I\'ve just been having nightmares, recently. It\'s nothing."' 'ive been having nightmares'>><<set $lea_knows_nightmares to true>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice">[[I don't respond.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Fuck. I think I'm going to cry.]]>><<set $tavern_cry to true>><</link>></div>There is, to put it lightly, still an unfortunate amount of shit that needs to be packed and put away. Some of it will have to go in your saddlebags eventually, but it's unlike the two of you to trash a room so thoroughly.
"You should rest," Lea says suddenly, and you blink over at $l_them. "I can finish packing," Lea continues, "I just... need a moment," $l_they <<say>>, lifting $l_their pipe towards you with a tight smile.
You don't respond right away, leaning back in your chair, still purposefully ignoring the bottle in front of you, your eyes instead wandering to the fireplace where the shadows and light flash against the brick and across the wooden floor. Your eyelids are heavy, and your gaze slides in and out of focus; you //should// rest.
But there's still a tension in your shoulders, your jaw clenched, anger curled tight in the pit of your stomach when you look at Lea, watching $l_them for a moment, fidgeting with $l_their pipe, those familiar dark eyes downcast, avoiding your gaze.
Your face twitches, and you turn back to the fire again, reaching up and pulling at your necklace, the weight of the pendant comforting in your palm.
Lea shifts in $l_their chair then, and you can feel $l_them lean against the table, towards you.
"Do you... do you want to talk, about earlier?" Lea prompts. $l_They sound<<s>> uncertain, awkward, and you glance over to see $l_them twisting $l_their ring around $l_their thumb, $l_their pipe set off to the side.
You frown, and you sink back into your chair. You didn't quite expect Lea to bring the argument up again so soon - if at all.
"Since when do we //talk//?" you say, a bitterness in your voice you can't help, your hand tightening around your pendant.
Lea sighs, and $l_they keep<<s>> twisting $l_their ring, faster now.
"I shouldn't - I shouldn't have yelled at you," Lea blurts then, and you blink over at $l_them. "But you... You were just gone," $l_they add<<s>>, frowning down at the table. A spike of guilt pierces through you, and you glance away, shifting in your chair.
Lea sighs again, rubbing $l_their hands over $l_their face. But $l_they <<dont>> say anything else, instead slumping back in $l_their chair and picking $l_their pipe up again.
The two of you lapse into a heavy silence, Lea glaring down with a furrowed brow as $l_they pack<<s>> $l_their bowl, a bit more aggressively than you think is necessary, some of the tobacco spilling out onto the tabletop, dark spots stark against the light wood finish.
"I want to talk," Lea says suddenly, quietly, setting $l_their pipe down again. Lea leans across the table, and you think for a brief moment $l_they<<re>> going to grab you, but $l_they stop<<s>> short, $l_their hands laying open in front of you.
"Please. We can wait - give it time - until after this job. Back at the stronghold, once we're done here. But I want to talk, I want to be partners. I don't want things to end like this," Lea seems to choke then, glancing away from you before continuing, "There - there are things I haven't told you. Things I should have told you."
"There are things I haven't told you, either," you say, and your mind wanders to your mother, to your $sibling, to a forgotten name on the tip of your tongue.
A tense silence passes between both of you, and Lea's dark eyes search your face, and you realize that $l_they<<re>> waiting. Waiting for you.
You take a deep breath, running a hand over your face.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Okay, Lea. I want to talk. We\'ll talk, after this job."' 'okay we will talk'>><<set $l_friendship +=10>><<set $l_relationship to 11>><<set $lea_gift to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"No. No, I don\'t want to talk. This will be our last job, Lea."' 'this will be our last job lea'>><<set $l_friendship -=8>><<set $l_relationship to 10>><</link>></div>
<<if $l_campfight>><div id="choice"><<link '"No. I don\'t want to talk. And I don\'t ever want to be your fucking //partner//."' 'i dont ever want to be your fucking partner'>><<set $l_friendship -=15>><<set $l_relationship to 9>><</link>></div><</if>>Even though you knew it was coming, you knew that Lea was going to say something, you knew - it still hits you like a slap. This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you can't just ignore things like you did before. You always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
Taking a deep breath, you set your elbows on the table and put your face in your hands, swallowing hard against the sudden lump in your throat. The tell-tale burn in your face, the feeling of hot needles pricking behind your eyelids warns you what's coming. You try to force it down, a few more desperate swallows, a ragged breath, and you vigorously rub your hands over your eyes, squeezed shut, as if you can force the tears back into your skull, back into the dark corner of your mind.
When you finally drop your hands and open your eyes, the tears spill over, and you quickly try to wipe them away, staring down at the table.
Lea stands abruptly, $l_their chair clattering to the floor, and you would laugh if you didn't think it would turn into a sob.
"$name," $l_they come<<s>> around the table, standing awkwardly beside you for a moment, holding $l_their hands out but stopping short. Lea's face is bewildered, worried and uncertain; you've never cried in front of $l_them before.
You don't remember the last time you cried. Trying to think about it right now just makes you cry more. You keep wiping at your face, the tears hot on your skin, and you're violent, rubbing harder than necessary, pressing your fingers into your eyes as you hide your face in your hands again.
<<if $l_touch_knows eq false>>Lea's hand on your shoulder makes you flinch, sinking into your chair before turning to look up at $l_them, crouched beside you.
"Tell me - tell me what to do, here. Tell me to leave, if you want. Tell me what to do," Lea says, squeezing your shoulder, and you can see tears in $l_their eyes, too.<<else>>Lea steps closer, crouching down beside you, $l_their hand on the back of your chair, and the weight of $l_them leaning into it makes you drop your own hands and turn to look up at $l_them.
"Tell me - tell me what to do, here. Tell me to leave, if you want. Just tell me what to do," Lea says, and you can see tears in $l_their eyes, too.<</if>>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'Reach out for $l_them.' 'reach out for them'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Can you just stay with me?"' 'can you just stay with me'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Leave. Please leave."' 'please leave'>><</link>></div>You hesitate a moment, staring down at your hands, the question hanging in the air between you. It takes you a moment to recover from it, your mind racing, despite the simplicity of Lea's words. This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you can't just ignore things like you did before. You always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
"I'm just tired," is all you say, though. Old habits die hard.
Lea purses $l_their lips, eyeing you over the table. You think you might see some disappointment, there, and you glance away, fidgeting with <<if $vice eq "drinker">>the bottle again.<<else>>the pouch again.<</if>>
"Well. I guess I should let you get some sleep, then," Lea says, standing slowly, $l_their chair scraping painfully loud in the now tense room. $l_They start<<s>> to gather $l_their things, setting $l_their bags by the door.
Lea walks back over to the table, picking $l_their pipe up, turning it over in $l_their hands. You think $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> going to say something, but instead just sighs quietly, turning away, back to the door.
<<include "friendly lea choices tavern partners">>You hesitate before responding. This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you can't just ignore things like you did before. You always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
You want to try. But what can you even say?
"I... I don't know," is all you manage.
Lea leans forward, resting $l_their arms on the table, $l_their brow furrowed.
"I know you've been having trouble sleeping," $l_they <<say>> carefully, and you blink over at $l_them. "We share a tent, $name. I... notice things," Lea explains.
You glance away, rubbing your arms, feeling stupid and embarrassed. Of course Lea would notice things. $l_They probably noticed all the way back around Keld.
"What about with the wraith? What happened then?" Lea prompts gently.
You swallow hard, avoiding Lea's gaze. "... It did something to me. It spoke to me. It felt - wrong."
Lea makes a visible effort not to jump on that. $l_They let<<s>> it settle in for a bit, and you can feel $l_their dark eyes scanning your face, your hands, your newly scarred arm.
"What did it say?" $l_they finally ask<<s>>.
<<if $PassOutInClearing or $PassedOutOnRoad>>"It said... it would see me soon."<<else>>"It was... happy... that I was there. Happy to see me."<</if>>
<<include "telling lea about dreams 2">>You sink farther into your chair, pursing your lips and picking at your hands. You don't respond to $l_their question, giving $l_them a hard look. You knew this was coming after everything - the wraith, and what happened at the market, and now Duncan - but there's still some part of you reluctant to speak about it; to admit it out loud to Lea.
<<include "you cant say it 2">>"Nothing is going on with me, Lea," you snap automatically, crossing your arms defensively. You knew this was coming after everything - the wraith, and what happened at the market, and now Duncan - but there's still some part of you reluctant to speak about it; to admit it out loud to Lea.
<<include "you cant say it 2">>"What //isn't// going on with me?" you say with a wry smile, purposefully ignoring the question, despite the guilt that settles in your chest.
This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you know you can't just ignore things like you did before - you always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
And you're still doing it. Making a fucking joke. Old habits die hard, you suppose.
Lea purses $l_their lips, eyeing you over the table. You think you might see some disappointment, there, and you glance away, fidgeting with your sleeves.
"I'm serious, $name," Lea says after a few moments.
You sigh, slumping down in your chair. "Yeah. I know," you say, staring beyond Lea and into the fireplace.
You still don't answer $l_their question.
Lea takes a deep breath then, before slowly standing from the table, $l_their chair scraping painfully loud in the now tense room. "Okay. I should - let you rest, anyways," $l_they <<say>>, and $l_they start<<s>> to gather $l_their things, setting $l_their bags by the door.
Lea walks back over to the table, picking $l_their pipe up, turning it over in $l_their hands. You think $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> going to say something, but instead just sighs quietly, turning away, back to the door.
<<include "friendly lea choices tavern partners">>You hesitate a moment before responding.
This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you know you can't just ignore things like you did before - you always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
You've kept this from Lea since Keld.
"I - I've just... been having nightmares, recently," you say, and it's painful at first but then you feel an unexpected flood of relief, at having said it out loud now, even if you're dancing around it. "It's nothing," you add, because you can't help it - old habits die hard.
It's a start, at least.
Lea leans forward, resting $l_their arms on the table, $l_their brow furrowed. $l_They seem<<s>> to consider $l_their words carefully before speaking.
"I knew you were having trouble sleeping," Lea says slowly, and you blink over at $l_them. "We share a tent, $name. I... notice things."
You feel your face grow hot, and you feel stupid - how did you ever think you could hide this from $l_them? You wring your hands in your lap, picking at the dried, cracked skin of your knuckles.
"What about with the wraith?" Lea asks gently.
You swallow hard, avoiding Lea's gaze. "I don't - I don't know. It did something to me. It spoke to me. It felt - wrong."
Lea makes a visible effort not to jump on that. $l_They let<<s>> it settle in for a bit, and you can feel $l_their dark eyes scanning your face, your hands, your newly scarred arm.
"What did it say?" $l_they finally ask<<s>>.
<<if hasVisited ("dawn passed out")>>"It said... it would see me soon."<<else>>"It was... happy... that I was there. Happy to see me."<</if>>
<<include "telling lea about dreams 2">><div id="choice"><<link '"Wait... Can you - can you stay? Just for a little while." ♡' 'wait can you stay 2'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_tavernflirt to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Goodnight, Lea. And thank you."' 'goodnight lea and thank you 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Goodnight, Lea. And... I\'m sorry."' 'goodnight lea and im sorry 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing.' 'say nothing again 2'>><</link>></div>Lea twists $l_their thumb ring around, thinking. "Wraiths are known to talk - to get in your head."
"No - no. This was different," you say quickly, but you don't know how to explain it beyond that. "You know entrancement doesn't work on me."
Lea nods. "Okay. You're right."
You give $l_them an appreciative look, before glancing back down at your hands, sat on the table now. A heavy silence hangs between you now. You're not sure what else to say. You keep picking at your knuckles, just listening to the sound of the fire burning low and the distant ocean waves outside.
[[Continue ->telling lea about dreams 2.2]]Your face feels hot, whether from anger at the question or embarrassment over your inability to just fucking //say it//, you're not sure. You know you can't just ignore things like you did before - today was pivotal. You're //partners// now. You always blamed Lea for keeping you in the dark, for ignoring things between you... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
Still are.
Lea takes a deep breath, and you don't miss the disappointment in $l_their eyes.
"Don't do this. Not after today. Just talk to me, please," Lea says, leaning forward across the table towards you.
"I thought we agreed we'd talk back at the stronghold?" you say, giving Lea a tight smile.
Lea's face hardens then, and $l_they turn<<s>> away, staring at the far wall, through the window. You don't think $l_they<<if $l_plural>>'re<<else>>'s<</if>> going to say anything else, until suddenly $l_they snap<<s>> $l_their gaze back to you, slapping a hand on the table.
"Fine. Fine!" Lea throws $l_their hands up, standing from $l_their chair, which scrapes loudly behind $l_them.
<<if $l_campfight>>You're immediately reminded of the fight back at camp the night before, and you tense in your chair, your lip curling back as you scowl over at $l_them.
"//Partners//. Guess that didn't last long, then, did it?" you scoff, your arms tightening around you, bitterness rising in the back of your throat.
Lea looks at you as if you had slapped $l_them. $l_They all but physically shrink<<s>> in front of you, and you almost expect $l_them to drop back into $l_their chair.
"I'm not - I'm not trying to fight with you," $l_they stammer<<s>>, shaking $l_their head. You purse your lips, glancing away, a spike of guilt piercing through your chest.
"You're right," Lea says quietly. "We agreed - we agreed to talk later. I just worry about you, you know?"
You swallow hard, your brow furrowing, but you can't stop the question from slipping out, harsh and vitriolic: "Why? Afraid I'll ruin it all for you and your family? Tarnish the Chen name?"
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"Because I fucking care about you!" Lea shouts it at you, slamming $l_their hands on the table again.
You flinch, closing your eyes, recoiling at the sudden confession, stunned into silence. Lea seems just as stunned, too, breathing hard, pushing $l_themself back away from the table and roughly running $l_their hands over $l_their hair. The two of you just sit there for a few moments, the words hanging heavy in the air between you, emphasized by the harsh sound of wood hissing in the fireplace.
"I'll finish packing," Lea says then, and the way $l_their voice wavers leaves you weak.
"Lea..," you don't know what you're even going to say, but you try, just whispering $l_their name aloud, but $l_they wave<<s>> $l_their hand at you, shaking $l_their head.
"Just get some sleep, $name."
Lea starts to move around the room, gathering the few stray bags in $l_their arms as well as slinging $l_their rucksack onto $l_their back. Your mouth has gone dry, just watching $l_them as $l_they <<if $l_plural>>go<<else>>goes<</if>>, your nerves suddenly on edge, your heart racing, a slight tremor in your hands you only notice when you finally look away from Lea and glance down at them.
Lea hesitates at the door, though, and you can see $l_them out of the corner of your eye, glancing back over $l_their shoulder at you.
"Goodnight," $l_they <<say>> softly, before slipping through the door, closing it with a quiet click, leaving you all alone at the table.<<set $aggressive +=1>>
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]<<else>>"Because you're my fucking friend!" Lea shouts it, jabbing $l_their finger at you as if there could be anyone else.
You blink over at $l_them, both of you equally stunned at Lea's outburst, with Lea breathing hard, pushing $l_themself back away from the table and roughly running $l_their hands over $l_their hair. A heavy silence passes between you, nothing but the harsh hissing of wood in the fireplace.
Lea clears $l_their throat after a few moments, dropping $l_their hands and shaking $l_their head. "I'll finish packing," $l_they <<say>> then, stepping back and starting to gather the few remaining stray bags around the room.
"Lea...," you don't know what to say, just stuttering over $l_their name, watching as $l_they sling<<s>> $l_their rucksack across $l_their back.
"Just get some sleep, $name."
You sigh, glancing down at your hands, which you only just now notice are trembling slightly.
Lea reaches for the door, but $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their head bowed before $l_they look<<s>> back over $l_their shoulder at you.
"Goodnight," $l_they <<say>> softly, before slipping through the door, closing it with a quiet click, leaving you all alone at the table.<<set $aggressive +=1>>
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]<</if>><<else>>You feel your face twitch, and you turn away, glaring into the fireplace. You don't look at Lea as $l_they start<<s>> to move around the room, gathering $l_their bags in $l_their arms. But after a few painful moments $l_they stop<<s>>, and you can feel $l_them looking at you.
"I don't want to fight," Lea says quietly. You slowly turn to see $l_them standing by the door. <<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"I worry about you. I care about you," Lea all but whispers it, and you can just see $l_their hand tighten around the doorknob.
You blink over at $l_them, stunned by the sudden admission, and Lea seems just as stunned as you, quickly glancing away from you and clearing $l_their throat, $l_their words hanging heavy between you.
"Lea...," you don't know what you're even going to say, but you try, just speaking $l_their name aloud, but $l_they wave<<s>> $l_their one hand at you, shaking $l_their head.
"Just get some sleep, $name," Lea says, and the way $l_their voice wavers makes your chest ache. "Goodnight." And then Lea slips through the door, closing it with a quiet click, leaving you all alone at the table.<<set $aggressive +=1>>
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]<<else>> "You're my friend, $name. And I worry about you," Lea says, fidgeting with the lock on the door.
You stare at $l_them, $l_their back turned towards you, $l_their profile just visible, partially hidden behind a loose curtain of hair fallen free from $l_their bun.
"Are we friends?" you say, your brow furrowed.
"I consider you my friend," Lea says quietly. "You're my only friend."
Lea takes a deep breath, opening the door and halfway stepping out, before pausing and glancing back at you.
"Goodnight, $name," $l_they <<say>>, and the door closes behind $l_them with a soft //click//, leaving you all alone at the table.<<set $aggressive +=1>>
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]<</if>><</if>>You feel like you're going to be sick, leaning forward in your chair, pressing your forehead to your knees. You sit like that for a long time, just listening to the sounds of the fire, the wood hissing loudly in the silence around you.
You don't know what the hell you're doing.
You sit up, your breathing harsh, and you drop your feet to the floor, standing abruptly. You need to get out of this room. It's too hot, your palms slick with sweat, and you feel like you can't breathe, the walls closing in around you.
You all but run to the door, grabbing your cloak and throwing it over your shoulders, fumbling with the clasp as you shove your way out the door into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]"You'll let me know - let me know, if it gets worse," Lea says then, $l_their hands sliding across the table towards you.
You just nod, your eyes unfocused, the memories of the wraith coming to the front of your mind again, the way its claws scraped along your throat, the dull ache still in your arm from where your skin split and your tendons snapped, its voice whispering in the back of your mind -
"$name," Lea says then, and you blink over at $l_them, swallowing hard.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," you say, in an attempt to convince yourself.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>Lea looks helpless, opening and closing $l_their mouth before glancing down at $l_their hands.
"$name," Lea says softly, and the way $l_they <<say>> it this time makes your chest ache. "I worry about you. I wish I could do more for you."
Lea looks up then, right at you, and you quickly drop your gaze, staring down at your hands again, and then at Lea's, reaching for you across the table. Your fingers twitch, and something compels you, maybe the intensity of Lea's stare, the sincerity in $l_their words, or maybe it's just the exhaustion clouding your mind, but you find yourself closing the space between you, a desperate grab at Lea's hands.
But Lea pulls away, staring at you with sad eyes.
"$name," $l_they <<say>> it again, and it twists in your chest, and you slide your hand back and drop your gaze, reaching for your pendant.
There's a long, painful silence between you, before Lea takes a deep breath.
"You shouldn't - I'm not...," Lea struggles to say something, and when you look over at $l_them, $l_they <<have>> $l_their head in $l_their hands. "I'm sorry," $l_they blurt<<s>> then, abruptly standing from $l_their chair.
"Lea-"
"No, I'm sorry. I should let you rest," Lea says, quickly moving around the room, gathering $l_their bags in $l_their arms. "Can't keep you awake asking question all night. You should rest," Lea rambles as $l_they <<if $l_plural>>go<<else>>goes<</if>>, all but bolting for the door. But then $l_they hesitate<<s>>, fidgeting with the doorknob.
"You know where my room is. If you need anything..." Lea doesn't look at you as $l_they speak<<s>>, staring at the door. "Goodnight, $name."
$l_They <<dont>> wait for a response, slipping out the door, and it closes behind $l_them with a soft click.
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]<<else>>Lea takes a deep breath, staring down at $l_their hands.
"$surname - $name. I wish I could do more," $l_they <<say>> softly, twisting $l_their ring again.
<div id="choice"><<link '"You already do enough. This is enough." ♡' 'you already do enough 2'>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_tavernflirt to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I know, Lea."' 'i know lea 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry."' 'im sorry lea 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You can\'t do anything for me."' 'you cant do anything for me 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div><</if>>"Okay, Lea," you say, exhaling slowly, "I want to talk. We'll talk, after this job."
You're frustrated, and you're angry, maybe even a little hurt - but you also feel guilty, and ashamed, because you know Lea isn't the only one to blame for the way things are between you. It goes both ways, doesn't it? And right now, you can tell Lea is trying. And you want to try, too.
Lea lets out a long, ragged breath at your words, a breath you hadn't even realized $l_they had been holding. $l_They slump<<s>> back in $l_their chair, reaching out and picking up $l_their pipe again, fidgeting with it before looking over at you.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"I... I care about you. And I don't - I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose you, like I lost Shoshana," Lea says, and you close your eyes, a sudden heat in your chest, a needle pricking behind your eyes, and you find it hard to breathe for a moment, Lea's words constricting you like a pair of hands around your throat.
"$name," Lea says softly, and you still can't open your eyes, instead turning your head away from $l_them, because you can't take it - this sudden confession from $l_them, the way you feel exposed, laid bare by $l_their acknowledgement.
It hurts. You didn't expect it to hurt.<<else>>"I want us to be partners, $name," Lea says again, smiling weakly, turning $l_their pipe in $l_their hands. "Fuck! I want us to be friends," $l_they says, leaning into the table, towards you.
You stare down at your hands, resting in your lap under the table, before closing your eyes for a moment, and there's a strange feeling in your chest, an ache you didn't expect - the idea of being wanted, the realization that Lea wants you here. Wants to be friends. For some reason, it hurts.<</if>>
Lea clears $l_their throat then, you think as a way to concede your silence, and even though it's a bit awkward, a bit heavy, it's less oppressive now, and you find yourself feeling... relieved, breathing deeply, despite the ache in your chest.
[[Continue ->okay we will talk 1]]You exhale sharply, shaking your head.
"No. No, Lea, I don't want to talk. Not now, not later," you say, your voice hardening, and you try to restrain the anger burning in the back of your throat, swallowing hard. "This will be our last job."
You don't expect Lea's reaction - it's visceral, flinching at your words, and the way $l_they squeeze<<s>> $l_their eyes shut, $l_their whole body trembling as $l_they release<<s>> a ragged breath you hadn't even realized $l_they had been holding, slumping back into $l_their chair, smoothing $l_their hair back, over and over, $l_their movements jarring and forced.
You stare over at $l_them, a hot pain in your chest and a bitter taste in your mouth.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Let's just stop playing nice. Let's stop pretending this was ever going to end any other way. It's either this, or both of us in the fucking ground," you say, and your voice is harsh, maybe even mean, but it's the fucking truth. You're lucky that lycan didn't get you in Keld. That the wraith didn't rip open your throat last night.
You're one bad day away from the grave. You can't do this anymore.<<elseif _top_trait eq $genuine>>"Lea... Let's not pretend. I'm just... I'm tired. It's too late for us to //talk//," you say, shaking your head, and it's the truth. Any talk between you will just devolve to a shouting match. You've reached the end of that rope.
And at this point, you're one bad day away from the grave. You can't do it anymore.<<else>>"I can't do this anymore. I'm tired of pretending like some kind of //talk// is going to magically fix this. We're lucky we haven't ended up dead in the ground," you say through gritted teeth, a bite in your voice, but it's the truth; at this point, you're surviving on pure luck. It was lucky that lycan didn't get you in Keld. That the wraith didn't rip open your throat last night.
You're one bad day away from the grave. You can't do this anymore.<</if>>
"You want a reassignment," Lea says, and it's not a question.
"Yeah. I want a reassignment."
Lea opens $l_their eyes, and stands abruptly, $l_their chair knocking loudly behind $l_them. $l_They swipe<<s>> $l_their pipe off the table, holding it with white knuckles, and it's unbearable, watching $l_them trying to light it, the hairs on your arms standing on end as Lea struggles to command $l_their magic.
Lea was never very good at magic.
<<include "reassignment pipe">>Your fist clenches around your necklace, and you shake your head, your lip curling, the momentary camaraderie between you evaporating just as quickly as it came. $l_They always <<do>> this. Guilting you into forgiveness. You're fucking tired of it.
"No. I don't want to talk. And I don't ever want to be your fucking //partner//," you snap, glaring across the table at Lea. $l_They balk<<s>> at your words, looking as if you just slapped $l_them.
You stand from the table, you don't know why - where are you going to go? But you're angry, and you shove your chair away from you and pace around the room, Lea watching you with a stunned expression.
"You - what?" Lea stammers, standing now too.
"I said I don't want to fucking talk!" You halt your pacing, jabbing a finger in Lea's direction. "I want a reassignment."
Lea's shock morphs into anger, $l_their dark eyes flashing.
"What the fuck, $surname! Why did we even come here, then? Why did you agree to this job? Could have saved us a lot of trouble if you had said something before!"
"Saved //us// trouble? Who is the one that had to fight the wraith? Who is the one that had their arm broken? Who is the one called a beast, a monster?" You curl your lip, taking a step towards Lea, who - to $l_their credit - remains unmoving.
"I'm not the one that broke your arm, $surname!"
"Gods, you know that's not what I mean. Take some fucking accountability, Lea! You're a shit handler! Just admit it."
Lea's face twitches, and $l_they turn<<s>> away, crossing $l_their arms.
"How many hunters have you gone through?" you say then, your voice low and dangerous.
You can see the muscle in Lea's jaw flicker as $l_they grit<<s>> $l_their teeth at your words.
"Was Merry right? Did Shoshana request a reassignment too?"
"Keep her name out of your mouth."
You scoff, rolling your eyes.
"What's the common factor, Lea? Because it's not me," you say.
"Shut up."
"I thought you wanted to talk?" you sneer.
Lea closes $l_their eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "You're just lashing out. I know there's something wrong with you. You're not thinking straight," Lea says slowly, opening $l_their eyes and glaring at you.
"No. No, I'm perfectly fucking fine. Don't pretend like you care. You just don't want to lose another hunter. What would that do to your beloved family name? Listen to what I am saying: You're not my fucking partner. You're not my friend. You're barely even my handler. You're lucky you're a Chen, or you'd just be nobody at all."
Lea closes $l_their eyes again, turning away from you, inhaling sharply.
"Fuck you, $surname. Fuck. You."
Lea grabs $l_their things off the table, scoops up $l_their bag, and heads for the door. You just glare after $l_them, your lip curled, unflinching as Lea slams the door closed behind $l_them, hard enough to rattle the hinges, the whole room shuddering around you.
[[Continue ->worst leave]]After a few beats, you can sense Lea move against the table, and you finally open your eyes, glancing over to see $l_them digging around in one of the bags from the market.
"I got this for you today," Lea says, pulling out a <<if $vice eq "smoker" or $vice eq "both">>small leather pouch.
Blinking, you reach out and take it in your hand, untying the little strings holding it closed. You've barely opened it when the smell hits you - tobacco. And a very specific kind. This is expensive.<<else>>small bottle - and not the alchemy kind.
Blinking, you reach out and take it in your hand, the glass still cool from the cold air outside. You run a thumb over the label, blinking as the words slowly come into focus. You recognize this brand - Jorah's favorite. And yours. This is expensive.<</if>>
"Why?" is all you can say.
Lea has gone back to packing $l_their pipe again, and you can't help but notice the slight tremor in $l_their hands, despite how $l_they <<try>> to hide it when you look back over at $l_them.
"What do you mean why? Why did I buy it?" Lea asks, lowering $l_their pipe, and $l_their hands, into $l_their lap, under the table.
"Yeah. I mean - even after I left," you say, frowning over at $l_them.
Lea doesn't look at you, just shrugging. "I know you like that kind."
And that's all $l_they <<say>>.
You suppose $l_their reaction is understandable. Lea has bought you things like this before - $l_they<<re>> the type of person to do that, always has been. But today feels different - after everything. Keld, and everything that's come since - it's been a lifetime, hasn't it? Your hand tightens around <<if $vice eq "drinker">>the bottle,<<else>>the pouch,<</if>> your eyes unfocused, not really looking at anything at all.
The weight of the day is heavy on you, and yet for some reason <<if $vice eq "drinker">>this stupid bottle feels heaviest of all.<<else>>this little pouch of tobacco feels heaviest of all.<</if>>
"Thanks," you finally say.
You can feel Lea staring at you across the table, and you tense, squirming in your seat under $l_their scrutiny, reaching up and fidgeting with your necklace, but Lea glances away, sighing quietly, the moment passing.
"You should get some rest," Lea says after a few minutes of uneasy silence.
"How many times are you going to say that to me?"
"As many times as it takes for you to finally listen."
You scoff, ducking your head as Lea lets out a low laugh, giving you a small smile. The remaining tension between you seems to evaporate then, and you lean back in your chair, shaking your head and letting out a long sigh, forcing yourself to relax, forcing the invisible hands constricting your chest to let go. //Let go.//
It's a start, you suppose.
"I mean it, $surname. I can finish packing," Lea says again, standing with a nod. $l_They take<<s>> a few steps from the table, before halting to focus on $l_their pipe, holding it between $l_their lips and attempting to light it. Lea makes an annoyed sound after a few failed attempts to summon $l_their magic, fruitlessly snapping $l_their fingers. Lea was never very good with magic.
<<include "reconcile pipe">>"Wait...," you struggle to speak for a moment, trying to find the words, "can you - can you stay? Just for a little while longer."
Lea turns back around, and you both stare at each other, Lea's dark eyes unreadable.
"Okay. For a little while," Lea says, setting $l_their bag back down on the floor and returning to the table, and you tense - you don't know why - as Lea slides $l_their chair closer before sitting back down again.
You glance away from $l_them, sitting up in your chair a bit, <<if $vice eq "drinker">>grabbing the bottle Lea gave you and sliding it towards $l_them.
Lea laughs, leaning back in $l_their chair. "You know I hate that stuff," $l_they <<say>>, shaking $l_their head. "Plus, you should get the first drink, anyways."
You chuckle, relaxing a bit now, pulling the bottle back and digging your fingers under the top, forcing it open with a satisfying pop.
Lea makes a noise beside you. "Gods, I hate when you do that."
You just wiggle your fingers at $l_them, raising the bottle with your other hand and taking a long drink. You wince, swallowing hard and setting the bottle down a bit more forceful than necessary. Sliding it back over again, you raise an eyebrow at Lea, who sighs and relents.
$l_They snatch<<es>> the bottle up and take<<s>> a quick drink, making a face and slamming the bottle down even harder than you did. The two of you fall into a comfortable silence, just passing the bottle back and forth, watching the fire and listening to the muted sounds of the tavern and the ocean waves outside.
You're not sure how much time passes like this; it's hard to measure time in the small, dim room, especially now when you've drank more than is probably wise. You glance over at Lea, who is twisting the bottle in $l_their hands, but $l_they catch<<es>> your eye and slide<<s>> it back over to you, and you reach for it, too quick, too clumsy, your hand nearly closing overtop Lea's, still holding the bottle.
Lea jerks back, startled, the bottle clattering loudly and tipping over the table, the remaining alcohol spilling on the both of you as the bottle rolls and then drops to the floor, shattering loudly.
You and Lea both jump up at the same time, Lea swearing, while you just stare dumbly at the floor, the broken glass glittering in the light from the fire.
"I'm - I'm sorry," Lea stammers, and you look over at $l_them, $l_their head in $l_their hands.
Again, you both move at the same time, crouching down to the floor to pick up the pieces, and your hand nearly touches Lea's again, but this time it's you who jerks back, and you barely manage to catch yourself from falling flat backwards.
Instead, your hand slaps down on jagged glass.
Now you swear loudly, grabbing your hand and standing back up, stepping away from the table and the giant fucking mess you made.
Lea follows you, the sound of glass cracking under $l_their boots.
"Let me see," $l_they <<say>>, and you just sigh, slowly opening your hand and holding it out for $l_them.
[[Continue ->can you stay drinker 2]]<<else>>grabbing the little pouch Lea gave you and setting it in front of $l_them.
"Oh? You're going to share?" Lea smirks at you, but doesn't reach for the pouch. "Where's your pipe?"
You blink, patting your pockets before Lea chuckles beside you, pointing at the table, where your pipe still sits from this morning. You click your tongue, giving $l_them an annoyed look as you reach for it.
"Here. I'll pack yours first," Lea offers, holding out $l_their hand.
"Feeling very generous today, aren't you?" you joke, letting $l_them take the pipe.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"Only for you," Lea says, opening the pouch in front of $l_them, not looking at you but focusing on carefully preparing the tobacco.
You blink at $l_them, taken aback, and when you don't say anything Lea does eventually glance back over, giving you a small smile.<<else>>Lea rolls $l_their eyes, but gives you a small smile, before dropping $l_their gaze to focus on carefully preparing the tobacco, yanking the pouch open with one hand.<</if>>
The two of you lapse into silence as Lea finishes with your pipe. $l_They<<re>> always very meticulous about the way $l_they prepare<<s>> it, something you're sure Lea doesn't realize you've noticed.
Lea has always tried to hide $l_their smoking, but it's just not possible when the two of you travel together. You don't know why - you've never bothered $l_them about it, and it's never really been acknowledged between you. You tease Lea about a lot of things, but never over $l_their smoking.
If $l_they smoke<<s>> for the same reason you do, it's best to just leave it be. You're both just coping, you suppose.
"What are you thinking so hard about over there?" Lea asks, jarring you with an elbow.
"Watch it," you scoff, slapping $l_them away, but Lea just grins, holding the pipe out for you.
"Here. We'll be here all night if I try to light it," $l_they <<say>>.
You chuckle, taking the pipe from $l_them, smacking your lips as you place the mouthpiece between your teeth.
"You should try," you say around the pipe, leaning forward and raising your eyebrows. Lea scoffs, making a face at you.
"Just light it," Lea says, leaning back in $l_their chair.
You shake your head, but do as $l_they <<say>>, raising your hands with a flourish, which gets a laugh out of Lea, which then makes you smile, even with the pipe in your mouth.
[[Continue ->can you stay smoker 2]]<</if>>"Goodnight, Lea. And thank you," you say, and Lea glances back over $l_their shoulder at you.
"Goodnight, $name," $l_they <<say>>, giving you a small smile before slipping out the door.
You let out a long sigh, slumping back in your chair. Guilt snakes through your chest, at pushing Lea away, and you scrub your hands over your face, trying to get the image of $l_their small, sad smile out of your head.
You know you should make an effort with Lea. You should //be// $l_their fucking partner. Earlier - something shifted between the two of you, in the parlor. But you can't keep the doubt out of the back of your mind, the grim certainty that it's just a temporary thing - a mercy after last night, Lea feeling sorry for you. //A peace offering.//
You sigh, standing slowly and walking over to the fire, stuffing fresh wood onto the burning stack and letting the heat lull you for a while. But you're restless, despite your exhaustion, and you can't sit still, resorting to pacing the length of the room while glancing longingly at your bed over and over out of the corner of your eye.
It seems to only make it worse, though, your hands twitching, your pacing becoming more urgent, and you're starting to sweat, and after another lap around the room, you can't stand it anymore. You need to get some fresh air. Anything to get out of this room.
You stride over to the door, snatching up your cloak as you go, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]"Goodnight, Lea. And... I'm sorry," you say, staring down at your hands, though you can see Lea glance back over $l_their shoulder at you out of the corner of your eye.
"I know, $name," Lea says. "Goodnight."
You close your eyes, listening for the tell-tale //click// of the door shutting behind $l_them, before letting out a long sigh, sinking into your chair. Guilt is already gnawing through you, and you know you shouldn't be pushing Lea away - after what happened in the parlor, you should be making an effort, you should be $l_their fucking partner.
You sigh, standing slowly and walking over to the fire, stuffing fresh wood onto the burning stack and letting the heat lull you for a while. But you're restless, despite your exhaustion, and you can't sit still, resorting to pacing the length of the room while glancing longingly at your bed over and over out of the corner of your eye.
It seems to only make it worse, though, your hands twitching, your pacing becoming more urgent, and you're starting to sweat, and after another lap around the room, you can't stand it anymore. You need to get some fresh air. Anything to get out of this room.
You stride over to the door, snatching up your cloak as you go, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]You stare down at your hands, waiting for the tell-tale //click// of the door shutting behind Lea, before letting out a long sigh, sinking into your chair. Guilt is already gnawing through you, and you know you shouldn't be pushing Lea away - after what happened in the parlor, you should be making an effort, you should be $l_their fucking partner. But you don't know how to do this - you're not even sure you can.
You sigh, standing slowly and walking over to the fire, stuffing fresh wood onto the burning stack and letting the heat lull you for a while. But you're restless, despite your exhaustion, and you can't sit still, resorting to pacing the length of the room while glancing longingly at your bed over and over out of the corner of your eye.
It seems to only make it worse, though, your hands twitching, your pacing becoming more urgent, and you're starting to sweat, and after another lap around the room, you can't stand it anymore. You need to get some fresh air. Anything to get out of this room.
You stride over to the door, snatching up your cloak as you go, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]You sit in the silence after Lea's departure for some time, just watching the fire burn low. Eventually, you stand, feeling numb, pacing back and forth. You're still processing the conversation you just had with Lea.
You halt suddenly, realizing your breathing has gone harsh, and that your palms are slick with sweat, your mouth gone dry. You need to get out of this room. It's too hot, and you can't breathe, the walls closing in around you.
You all but run to the door, grabbing your cloak and throwing it over your shoulders, fumbling with the clasp as you shove your way out the door into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]"You already do enough. This is enough," you say softly, genuinely, and Lea looks up at you, $l_their brow furrowed, clear surprise on $l_their face.
"I know... I can be difficult," you say, glancing away from $l_them, "but you're here. And - everything you do - it's more than enough, Lea," you almost choke on the words, your face hot, and you can't look at $l_them, instead staring down at the floor in front of the fireplace.
"$name," Lea leans sideways, trying to catch your eye, and you turn to look back over at $l_them, though you can't hold $l_their gaze, your eyes flicking to $l_their hands still resting on the table.
"I just -" you start to blurt //something//, you don't even know, but you stop yourself, snapping your mouth closed and shaking your head. Lea's looking at you, that familiar, ever-present stitch between $l_their brows softening slightly as $l_they watch<<es>> you fidget in your seat.
"It's alright, $name," Lea says gently, and you're staring at $l_their hands again, and something compels you to reach for $l_them, your fingers brushing $l_their knuckles, the briefest of touches before Lea pulls back, $l_their hands sliding off the table and into $l_their lap.
$l_They give<<s>> you a sad look.
"You should get some rest," $l_they <<say>>, and $l_their tone is cold now, distant, and $l_their face is unreadable, the sadness in $l_their eyes replaced with $l_their usual hardiness.
Lea stands then, quickly moving around the room, gathering the remaining bags in $l_their arms and slinging $l_their rucksack across $l_their back.
"Sleep will help. In a warm bed, not a shitty tent. You'll feel better," Lea says, though $l_they <<dont>> look at you, just striding towards the door.
"Lea-"
"Goodnight, $name," Lea says then, jerking the door open, though $l_they hesitate<<s>>, one foot in the hallway. "If you need anything... You know where to find me."
And then the door closes behind $l_them with a soft click, leaving you all alone at the table.
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]"I know, Lea," you say, glancing away and staring into the fire, clearing your throat. "I know."
Lea sighs, sinking into $l_their chair.
"You're my friend," Lea says quietly. "I know I haven't always been good to you. But you're my friend and - I want you to be okay."
You blink stupidly over at $l_them, taken aback by Lea's words.
Lea glances away then, shaking $l_their head and suddenly standing from the table.
"Are we friends?" you blurt, drawing $l_their attention back to you.
Lea stares at you for a long moment, and $l_their face is unreadable now, composed and hard, crossing $l_their arms and scuffing the floor with $l_their boot.
"I consider you my friend," Lea finally says. "You're my only friend."
Lea shifts on $l_their feet, dropping $l_their gaze from you, $l_their words hanging in the air between you, emphasized by the wood hissing in the fireplace.
"You should get some rest," Lea says quickly then, turning on $l_their heel and moving around the room, gathering the remaining bags and hauling $l_their rucksack onto $l_their back. "You need sleep - in a warm bed, not a shitty tent. It will help."
Lea's jaw is set, and $l_they avoid<<s>> looking back over at you, fumbling a bit with the bags, swearing. You move to stand but Lea shakes $l_their head.
"I got it," $l_they snap<<s>>, and you can see $l_them close $l_their eyes, wincing. "Sorry. I got it," $l_they repeat<<s>>, softer now. $l_They quickly head<<s>> for the door, but then $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their hand on the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name."
"Goodnight, Lea," you say, but Lea is already slipping through the door, and it closes behind $l_them with a soft click.
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]"I'm sorry," you say, glancing away and staring into the fire, wringing your hands under the table.
"Why are you apologizing?" Lea asks, and you look back over at $l_them, $l_their brow furrowed as $l_they search<<es>> your face.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I... I'm sorry - it's not your responsibility," you say slowly, blinking down into your lap.
Lea shakes $l_their head, looking bewildered. "It's not about responsibility, $name - that's not what I mean. You - you're my friend," Lea says, leaning across the table towards you.<<else>>"I shouldn't be this weak," you say, scowling down into your lap.
"You're not //weak//, $name," Lea says, leaning across the table towards you. "You're my friend. You - you're one of the strongest people I know."<</if>>
Your face twitches, and you run a hand over your head, a bit taken aback at Lea's sudden, earnest words.
"Are we friends?" you blurt, dropping your hand and pressing your palms to the table.
Lea stares at you for a long moment, and $l_their face is unreadable now, composed and hard, crossing $l_their arms and kicking $l_their chair under the table a few times.
"I consider you my friend," Lea finally says. "You're my only friend."
Lea shifts in $l_their seat, twisting $l_their ring while holding your gaze, $l_their words hanging in the air between you, emphasized by the harsh sound of wood hissing in the fireplace. Until Lea stands abruptly, glancing to the floor and clearing $l_their throat.
"You should get some rest," Lea says quickly then, turning on $l_their heel and moving around the room, gathering the remaining bags and hauling $l_their rucksack onto $l_their back. "You need sleep - in a warm bed, not a shitty tent. It will help."
Lea's jaw is set, and $l_they avoid<<s>> looking back over at you, fumbling a bit with the bags, swearing. You move to stand but Lea shakes $l_their head.
"I got it," $l_they snap<<s>>, and you can see $l_them close $l_their eyes, wincing. "Sorry. I got it," $l_they repeat<<s>>, softer now. $l_They quickly head<<s>> for the door, but then $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their hand on the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name."
"Goodnight, Lea," you say, but Lea is already slipping through the door, and it closes behind $l_them with a soft click.
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]"You can't do anything for me," you say, unable to keep the bitter bite from your voice.
You can see Lea close $l_their eyes, turning away slightly, as if you had slapped $l_them. An uncomfortable silence stretches between you, until Lea stands from the table, running a hand over $l_their face.
"You don't - you don't always have to do this," Lea says, dropping $l_their hand and looking down at you. "I know... I haven't always been good to you. But you're my friend. You don't have to treat every conversation with me like - like a fight. I just... I worry about you."
You blink up at $l_them, wrapping your arms around yourself and hunching forward a bit in your chair.
"Are we friends?" you ask, your brow furrowed, but the question isn't harsh, your voice softer now.
Lea stares at you for a long moment, and $l_their face is unreadable now, composed and hard, crossing $l_their arms and scuffing the floor with $l_their boot.
"I consider you my friend," Lea finally says. "You're my only friend."
Lea shifts on $l_their feet, dropping $l_their gaze, $l_their words hanging in the air between you, emphasized by the wood hissing in the fireplace.
"You should get some rest," Lea says quickly then, turning on $l_their heel and moving around the room, gathering the remaining bags and hauling $l_their rucksack onto $l_their back. "You need sleep - in a warm bed, not a shitty tent. It will help."
Lea's jaw is set, and $l_they avoid<<s>> looking back over at you, fumbling a bit with the bags, swearing. You move to stand but Lea shakes $l_their head.
"I got it," $l_they snap<<s>>, and you can see $l_them close $l_their eyes, wincing. "Sorry. I got it," $l_they repeat<<s>>, softer now. $l_They quickly head<<s>> for the door, but then $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their hand on the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name."
"Goodnight, Lea," you say, but Lea is already slipping through the door, and it closes behind $l_them with a soft click.
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]But Lea hesitates, $l_their hands hovering around yours, the glass in your palm already stained red. And then Lea gently takes your wrist, bracing your hand against $l_theirs, stepping closer to get a better look, and you hold your breath, Lea's face so close to yours. So close to your outstretched hand.
Lea carefully extracts the glass, your arm twitching, but $l_they hold<<s>> you steady, turning back to drop the glass on the table.
"I'm sorry," Lea says quietly, pulling the last piece of glass free.
"It looks worse than it is," you say, but you're not even looking at your hand. You're looking at Lea.
$l_Their dark eyes flick to your face, and the two of you are close - very close - your hand still cradled in $l_theirs, and you can't help looking at $l_their lips, which you imagine must still taste like the drink now seeping into the floorboards.
"I'm sorry," Lea says again, a whisper between you, and you're leaning forward, your breaths intermingling, and you swear you see a slight blush on Lea's face, from this or the alcohol you can't tell.
"Uh -," Lea stammers then, dropping your hand and turning away.
You blink, slowly pulling your hand back against your chest, watching as Lea crouches back down and quickly picks the glass up off the floor.
"You should wrap that," Lea says, turning back to you, but $l_they <<dont>> look //at// you, rubbing the back of $l_their neck and stepping back towards the door.
"Lea-"
"I'm really sorry. I'll let you rest. Sorry," Lea cuts you off and all but bolts out of the room, leaving you standing alone in front of the fireplace, the door slamming loudly behind $l_them.
[[Continue ->can you stay 2.1]]You snap your fingers, igniting a small flame at the tip of your thumb, and carefully draw it over the bowl, inhaling quickly and repeating the process until the tobacco lights all the way through.
When you lower your hands, you notice Lea staring at you.
"What?" you say, tilting your head slightly to exhale the smoke away from the two of you.
"Nothing," Lea says quickly, turning $l_their attention back to $l_their own pipe now.
You scoff, shaking your head, leaning back in your chair and turning towards the fire, letting it lull you for a while, enjoying the shared silence between you.
You sense Lea shift towards you before $l_they even <<say>> anything, and you blink the fire from your eyes and turn to $l_them, who gives you a small smile, holding $l_their pipe up. You can't help but chuckle, sitting up in your chair and nodding at $l_them.
"What would I do without you?" Lea hums as $l_they raise $l_their pipe to $l_their mouth, and you don't say anything, scooting to the edge of your seat, suddenly all too aware of how your legs fit around Lea's, like two puzzle pieces sliding into place beneath the table, your knees nearly bumping, and whatever smart comment you were going to make dies in your throat at the intimacy of it, as $l_they look<<s>> at you expectantly with those dark eyes.
You raise your hands - which are thankfully steady despite your sudden spike in nerves - and with an effortless snap a small flame ignites between your fingers.
You lean forward now, your brow furrowed, dropping your gaze from Lea's face to the pipe, and you carefully place your other hand over $l_theirs cradling the bowl, protecting it from the heat of the flame as you start to pull it back and forth over the tobacco. You can still feel Lea's eyes on you, but you just focus on your task, biting the inside of your cheek, watching the tobacco burn.
"Inhale," you manage to say, and Lea obeys without a word, taking quick breaths until the tobacco is lit all the way through.
You shake the flame from your finger and drop your hands, Lea's eyes burning into you, and $l_they swallow<<s>> hard enough for you to hear it - and when had the two of you gotten so close?
Close enough to see the way Lea's lips part, $l_their hand lowering the pipe which is all but forgotten, and $l_they<<re>> still just looking at you, and your eyes go to $l_their lips again, and you wonder what it would be like to kiss $l_them, to inhale the smoke from $l_their mouth, taste it on $l_their tongue. Your breaths intermingle, your heart racing, and you're leaning forward, and Lea is leaning forward, your legs brushing under the table, and you can't hear anything but the roaring in your ears, can't see anything but the dark black pools of Lea's eyes.
Until $l_they abruptly jerk<<s>> back, $l_their foot colliding with your shin under the table as $l_they scramble<<s>> to push $l_their seat back.
"Sorry! I'm - I'm sorry," Lea stammers, $l_their eyes wide, jumping from the table and turning away - shattering whatever fragile thing had just formed between you like brittle ice.
You blink, exhaling painfully as you quickly stand as well, but you're unable to speak as Lea retreats to $l_their bag, picking it up and slinging it over $l_their shoulder.
"You should get some rest," Lea blurts, turning back to you, but $l_they <<dont>> look //at// you, rubbing the back of $l_their neck and stepping back towards the door, $l_their pipe still hanging out of the side of $l_their mouth.
"Lea-"
"I'm really sorry. I'll let you rest. Sorry," Lea cuts you off and all but bolts out of the room, leaving you standing alone in front of the fireplace, the door slamming loudly behind $l_them.
[[Continue ->can you stay 2.1]]You take a few short steps back, dropping down hard into your chair, your face flushed. You stare stupidly at the table, <<if $vice eq "drinker">>at the shattered glass glistening on the floor,<<else>>at the partially spilled bag of tobacco,<</if>> at Lea's chair shoved back from the table, set awkward in the middle of the room now.
Your hands are shaking, and you turn away.
For a while you just sit there, staring into the fire, letting the light burn through your skull, until it aches, a white shadow imprinted behind your eyelids.
Your hands are still shaking. You clench them into fists, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath, before standing abruptly, pacing back and forth, crossing the room and jerking open the window, letting the cold night air wash over you.
You take a few gulping breaths, the cold burning your throat and making your eyes water, and you realize you need to get out of this room. It's too hot, and your hands won't stop fucking shaking.
You quickly stride across the room, snatching up your cloak and throwing it over your shoulders, fumbling with the clasp as you shove your way through the door and into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]You hesitate before responding. This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you can't just ignore things like you did before. You always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
"I'm just tired," is all you say, though. Old habits die hard.
Lea purses $l_their lips, eyeing you over the table. You think you might see some disappointment, there, and you glance away, fidgeting with your sleeves.
"Well. I guess I should let you get some sleep, then," Lea says, standing slowly, $l_their chair scraping painfully loud in the now tense room. $l_They start<<s>> to gather $l_their things, setting $l_their bags by the door.
Lea walks back over to the table, picking $l_their pipe up, turning it over in $l_their hands. You think $l_they<<re>> going to say something, but instead just sighs quietly, turning away, back to the door.
<<include "friendly lea choices bw partners">>"What //isn't// going on with me?" you say with a wry smile, purposefully ignoring the question, despite the guilt that settles in your chest.
This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you know you can't just ignore things like you did before - you always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
And you're still doing it. Making a fucking joke. Old habits die hard, you suppose.
Lea purses $l_their lips, eyeing you over the table. You think you might see some disappointment, there, and you glance away, fidgeting with your sleeves.
"I'm serious, $name," Lea says after a few moments.
You sigh, slumping down in your chair. "Yeah. I know," you say, staring beyond Lea and into the fireplace.
You still don't answer $l_their question.
Lea takes a deep breath then, before slowly standing from the table, $l_their chair scraping painfully loud in the now tense room. "Okay. I should - let you rest, anyways," $l_they <<say>>, and $l_they start<<s>> to gather $l_their things, setting $l_their bags by the door.
Lea walks back over to the table, picking $l_their pipe up, turning it over in $l_their hands. You think $l_they<<re>> going to say something, but instead just sighs quietly, turning away, back to the door.
<<include "friendly lea choices bw partners">>You hesitate before responding. This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you can't just ignore things like you did before. You always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
You want to try. But what can you even say?
"I... I don't know," is all you manage.
Lea leans forward, resting $l_their arms on the table, $l_their brow furrowed.
"I know you've been having trouble sleeping," $l_they <<say>> carefully, and you blink over at $l_them. "We share a tent, $name. I... notice things," Lea explains.
You glance away, rubbing your arms, feeling stupid and embarrassed. Of course Lea would notice things. $l_They probably noticed all the way back around Keld.
"What about with the wraith? What happened then?" Lea prompts gently.
You swallow hard, avoiding Lea's gaze. "... It did something to me. It spoke to me. It felt - wrong."
Lea makes a visible effort not to jump on that. $l_They let<<s>> it settle in for a bit, and you can feel $l_their dark eyes scanning your face, your hands, your newly scarred arm.
"What did it say?" $l_they finally ask<<s>>.
<<if hasVisited("dawn passed out")>>"It said... it would see me soon."<<else>>"It was... happy... that I was there. Happy to see me."<</if>>
<<include "telling lea about dreams 1">>"Nothing is going on with me, Lea," you snap automatically, crossing your arms defensively. You knew this was coming after everything - the wraith, and what happened at the market, and now Duncan - but there's still some part of you reluctant to speak about it; to admit it out loud to Lea.
<<include "you cant say it 1">>You hesitate a moment before responding.
This new partnership you've just forged - it's delicate, on fragile legs, barely standing, but it's been spoken out loud and it's there now, and you know you can't just ignore things like you did before - you always blamed Lea for that... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
You've kept this from Lea since Keld.
"I - I've just... been having nightmares, recently," you say, and it's painful at first but then you feel an unexpected flood of relief, at having said it out loud now. "It's nothing," you add, because you can't help it - old habits die hard.
It's a start, at least.
Lea leans forward, resting $l_their arms on the table, $l_their brow furrowed. $l_They seem<<s>> to consider $l_their words carefully before speaking.
"I knew you were having trouble sleeping," Lea says slowly, and you blink over at $l_them. "We share a tent, $name. I... notice things."
You feel your face grow hot, and you feel stupid - how did you ever think you could hide this from $l_them? You wring your hands in your lap, picking at the dried, cracked skin of your knuckles.
"What about with the wraith?" Lea asks gently.
You swallow hard, avoiding Lea's gaze. "I don't - I don't know. It did something to me. It spoke to me. It felt - wrong."
Lea makes a visible effort not to jump on that. $l_They let<<s>> it settle in for a bit, and you can feel $l_their dark eyes scanning your face, your hands, your newly scarred arm.
"What did it say?" $l_they finally ask<<s>>.
<<if hasVisited("dawn passed out")>>"It said... it would see me soon."<<else>>"It was... happy... that I was there. Happy to see me."<</if>>
<<include "telling lea about dreams 1">>You sink farther into your chair, pursing your lips and picking at your hands. You don't respond to $l_their question, giving $l_them a hard look. You knew this was coming after everything - the wraith, and what happened at the market, and now Duncan - but there's still some part of you reluctant to speak about it; to admit it out loud to Lea.
<<include "you cant say it 1">><div id="choice"><<link '"Wait... Can you - can you stay? Just for a little while." ♡' 'wait can you stay 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Goodnight, Lea. And thank you."' 'goodnight lea and thank you 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Goodnight, Lea. And... I\'m sorry."' 'goodnight lea and im sorry 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing.' 'say nothing again 1'>><</link>></div>Lea twists $l_their thumb ring around, thinking. "Wraiths are known to talk - to get in your head."
"No - no. This was different," you say quickly, but you don't know how to explain it beyond that. "You know entrancement doesn't work on me."
Lea nods. "Okay. You're right."
You give $l_them an appreciative look, before glancing back down at your hands, sat on the table now. A heavy silence hangs between you now. You're not sure what else to say. You keep picking at your knuckles, just listening to the sound of the fire burning low and the distant ocean waves outside.
[[Continue ->telling lea about dreams 1.2]]"You'll let me know - let me know, if it gets worse," Lea says then, $l_their hands sliding across the table towards you.
You just nod, your eyes unfocused, the memories of the wraith coming to the front of your mind again, the way its claws scraped along your throat, the dull ache still in your arm from where your skin split and your tendons snapped, its voice whispering in the back of your mind -
"$name," Lea says then, and you blink over at $l_them, swallowing hard.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," you say, attempting to convince yourself.
<<if $l_templeflirt_reject>>Lea looks as if $l_they<<re>> in pain, closing $l_their eyes for a moment at your words and hanging $l_their head slightly.
"$name," Lea says softly, and the way $l_they <<say>> it this time makes your chest ache. "I worry about you. And I - I wish I could do more for you... I wish I could..." $l_they trail<<s>> off, $l_their voice wavering, whatever $l_they <<were>> going to say lost to you.
Lea looks up then, right at you, and you quickly drop your gaze, staring down at your hands again, and then at Lea's, reaching for you across the table but not quite far enough. Not far enough.
You take a deep breath, exhaling slowly, your own hands curling into fists before you pull them back into your lap. You don't trust yourself, not when Lea speaks your name like that, not with the way $l_their dark eyes burn through you, and $l_their hands right there on the table like a final temptation - but you're thinking about the temple, and the way Lea recoiled from your touch, fearful and disgusted - and you can't do that to $l_them again.
"You should go," you blurt, your brow furrowed, turning away completely now to stare into the fire.
"$name-," Lea starts, and again $l_their hands scoot closer to you as $l_they lean<<s>> forward, pressing against the table, but you just shake your head.
"Please, Lea," you say. "I'm tired."
Lea slowly sinks back into $l_their chair then, before running $l_their hands over $l_their face, over $l_their hair.
"Okay. Yeah. You should rest," Lea nods, standing quickly, $l_their chair scraping painfully loud. $l_They stand<<s>> across from you for a few seconds, fidgeting with $l_their thumb ring - you can tell without even looking at $l_them, the familiar motion out of the corner of your eye.
Lea slowly moves around the room, gathering $l_their bags in $l_their arms. You watch $l_them now, $l_their back turned to you as $l_they head<<s>> for the door, a heavy silence hanging between you.
Lea bows $l_their head, fidgeting with the doorknob, before looking back over at you.
"You know where my room is. If you need anything..." Lea sighs, giving you a weak smile. "Goodnight, $name."
"Goodnight, Lea."
Lea slips out the door without another word, the door closing with a quiet click behind $l_them.
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]<<elseif $l_flirt gte 2>>Lea looks helpless, opening and closing $l_their mouth before glancing down at $l_their hands.
"$name," Lea says softly, and the way $l_they <<say>> it this time makes your chest ache. "I worry about you. I wish I could do more for you."
Lea looks up then, right at you, and you quickly drop your gaze, staring down at your hands again, and then at Lea's, reaching for you across the table. Your fingers twitch, and something compels you, maybe the intensity of Lea's stare, the sincerity in $l_their words, or maybe it's just the exhaustion clouding your mind, but you find yourself closing the space between you, a desperate grab at Lea's hands.
But Lea pulls away, staring at you with sad eyes.
"$name," $l_they <<say>> it again, and it twists in your chest, and you slide your hand back and drop your gaze, reaching for your pendant.
There's a long, painful silence between you, before Lea takes a deep breath.
"You shouldn't - I'm not...," Lea struggles to say something, and when you look over at $l_them, $l_they <<have>> $l_their head in $l_their hands. "I'm sorry," $l_they blurt<<s>> then, abruptly standing from $l_their chair.
"Lea-"
"No, I'm sorry. I should let you rest," Lea says, quickly moving around the room, gathering $l_their bags in $l_their arms. "Can't keep you awake asking question all night. You should rest," Lea rambles as $l_they <<if $l_plural>>go<<else>>goes<</if>>, all but bolting for the door. But then $l_they hesitate<<s>>, fidgetng with the doorknob.
"You know where my room is. If you need anything..." Lea doesn't look at you as $l_they speak<<s>>, staring at the door. "Goodnight, $name."
$l_They <<dont>> wait for a response, slipping out the door, and it closes behind $l_them with a soft click.
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]<<else>>Lea takes a deep breath, staring down at $l_their hands.
"$surname - $name. I wish I could do more," $l_they <<say>> softly, twisting $l_their ring again.
<div id="choice"><<link '"You already do enough. This is enough." ♡' 'you already do enough 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I know, Lea."' 'i know lea 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry."' 'im sorry lea 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You can\'t do anything for me."' 'you cant do anything for me 1'>><</link>></div><</if>>"You already do enough. This is enough," you say softly, genuinely, and Lea looks up at you, $l_their brow furrowed, clear surprise on $l_their face.
"I know... I can be difficult," you say, glancing away from $l_them, "but you're here. And - everything you do - it's more than enough, Lea," you almost choke on the words, your face hot, and you can't look at $l_them, instead staring down at the floor in front of the fireplace.
"$name," Lea leans sideways, trying to catch your eye, and you turn to look back over at $l_them, though you can't hold $l_their gaze, your eyes flicking to $l_their hands still resting on the table.
"I just -" you start to blurt out //something//, you don't even know, but you stop yourself, snapping your mouth closed and shaking your head. Lea's looking at you, that familiar, ever-present stitch between $l_their brows softening slightly as $l_they watch<<es>> you fidget in your seat.
"It's alright, $name," Lea says gently, and you're staring at $l_their hands again, and something compels you to reach for $l_them, your fingers brushing $l_their knuckles, the briefest of touches before Lea pulls back, $l_their hands sliding off the table and into $l_their lap.
$l_They give<<s>> you a sad look.
"You should get some rest," $l_they <<say>>, and $l_their tone is cold now, distant, and $l_their face is unreadable, the sadness in $l_their eyes replaced with $l_their usual hardiness.
Lea stands then, quickly moving around the room, gathering the remaining bags in $l_their arms and slinging $l_their rucksack across $l_their back.
"Sleep will help. In a warm bed, not a shitty tent. You'll feel better," Lea says, though $l_they <<dont>> look at you, just striding towards the door.
"Lea-"
"Goodnight, $name," Lea says then, jerking the door open, though $l_they hesitate<<s>>, one foot in the hallway. "If you need anything... You know where to find me."
And then the door closes behind $l_them with a soft click, leaving you all alone at the table.<<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_tavernflirt to true>>
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]"I know, Lea," you say, glancing away and staring into the fire, clearing your throat. "I know."
Lea sighs, sinking into $l_their chair.
"You're my friend," Lea says quietly. "I know I haven't always been good to you. But you're my friend and - I want you to be okay."
You blink stupidly over at $l_them, taken aback by Lea's words.
Lea glances away then, shaking $l_their head and suddenly standing from the table.
"Are we friends?" you blurt, drawing $l_their attention back to you.
Lea stares at you for a long moment, and $l_their face is unreadable now, composed and hard, crossing $l_their arms and scuffing the floor with $l_their boot.
"I consider you my friend," Lea finally says. "You're my only friend."
Lea shifts on $l_their feet, dropping $l_their gaze from you, $l_their words hanging in the air between you, emphasized by the wood hissing in the fireplace.
"You should get some rest," Lea says quickly then, turning on $l_their heel and moving around the room, gathering the remaining bags and hauling $l_their rucksack onto $l_their back. "You need sleep - in a warm bed, not a shitty tent. It will help."
Lea's jaw is set, and $l_they avoid<<s>> looking back over at you, fumbling a bit with the bags, swearing. You move to stand but Lea shakes $l_their head.
"I got it," $l_they snap<<s>>, and you can see $l_them close $l_their eyes, wincing. "Sorry. I got it," $l_they repeat<<s>>, softer now. $l_They quickly head<<s>> for the door, but then $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their hand on the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name."
"Goodnight, Lea," you say, but Lea is already slipping through the door, and it closes behind $l_them with a soft click.
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]"I'm sorry," you say, glancing away and staring into the fire, wringing your hands under the table.
"Why are you apologizing?" Lea asks, and you look back over at $l_them, $l_their brow furrowed as $l_they search<<es>> your face.
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>"I... I'm sorry - it's not your responsibility," you say slowly, blinking down into your lap.
Lea shakes $l_their head, looking bewildered. "It's not about responsibility, $name - that's not what I mean. You - you're my friend," Lea says, leaning across the table towards you.<<else>>"I shouldn't be this weak," you say, scowling down into your lap.
"You're not //weak//, $name," Lea says, leaning across the table towards you. "You're my friend. You - you're one of the strongest people I know."<</if>>
Your face twitches, and you run a and over your head, a bit taken aback at Lea's sudden, earnest words.
"Are we friends?" you blurt, dropping your hand and pressing your palms to the table.
Lea stares at you for a long moment, and $l_their face is unreadable now, composed and hard, crossing $l_their arms and kicking $l_their chair under the table a few times.
"I consider you my friend," Lea finally says. "You're my only friend."
Lea shifts in $l_their seat, twisting $l_their ring while holding your gaze, $l_their words hanging in the air between you, emphasized by the harsh sound of wood hissing in the fireplace. Until Lea stands abruptly, glancing to the floor and clearing $l_their throat.
"You should get some rest," Lea says quickly then, turning on $l_their heel and moving around the room, gathering the remaining bags and hauling $l_their rucksack onto $l_their back. "You need sleep - in a warm bed, not a shitty tent. It will help."
Lea's jaw is set, and $l_they avoid<<s>> looking back over at you, fumbling a bit with the bags, swearing. You move to stand but Lea shakes $l_their head.
"I got it," $l_they snap<<s>>, and you can see $l_them close $l_their eyes, wincing. "Sorry. I got it," $l_they repeat<<s>>, softer now. $l_They quickly head<<s>> for the door, but then $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their hand on the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name."
"Goodnight, Lea," you say, but Lea is already slipping through the door, and it closes behind $l_them with a soft click.
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]"You can't do anything for me," you say, unable to keep the bitter bite from your voice.
You can see Lea close $l_their eyes, turning away slightly, as if you had slapped $l_them. An uncomfortable silence stretches between you, until Lea stands from the table, running a hand over $l_their face.
"You don't - you don't always have to do this," Lea says, dropping $l_their hand and looking down at you. "I know... I haven't always been good to you. But you're my friend. You don't have to treat every conversation with me like - like a fight. I just... I worry about you."
You blink up at $l_them, wrapping your arms around yourself and hunching forward a bit in your chair.
"Are we friends?" you ask, your brow furrowed, but the question isn't harsh, your voice softer now.
Lea stares at you for a long moment, and $l_their face is unreadable now, composed and hard, crossing $l_their arms and scuffing the floor with $l_their boot.
"I consider you my friend," Lea finally says. "You're my only friend."
Lea shifts on $l_their feet, dropping $l_their gaze, $l_their words hanging in the air between you, emphasized by the wood hissing in the fireplace.
"You should get some rest," Lea says quickly then, turning on $l_their heel and moving around the room, gathering the remaining bags and hauling $l_their rucksack onto $l_their back. "You need sleep - in a warm bed, not a shitty tent. It will help."
Lea's jaw is set, and $l_they avoid<<s>> looking back over at you, fumbling a bit with the bags, swearing. You move to stand but Lea shakes $l_their head.
"I got it," $l_they snap<<s>>, and you can see $l_them close $l_their eyes, wincing. "Sorry. I got it," $l_they repeat<<s>>, softer now. $l_They quickly head<<s>> for the door, but then $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their hand on the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name."
"Goodnight, Lea," you say, but Lea is already slipping through the door, and it closes behind $l_them with a soft click.<<set $aggressive +=1>>
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]<<set $aggressive +=1>>Your face feels hot, whether from anger at the question or embarrassment over your inability to just fucking //say it//, you're not sure. You know you can't just ignore things like you did before - today was pivotal. You're //partners// now. You always blamed Lea for keeping you in the dark, for ignoring things between you... but you were just as guilty of it, too.
Still are.
Lea takes a deep breath, and you don't miss the disappointment in $l_their eyes.
"Don't do this. Not after today. Just talk to me, please," Lea says, leaning forward across the table towards you.
"I thought we agreed we'd talk back at the stronghold?" you say, giving Lea a tight smile.
Lea's face hardens then, and $l_they turn<<s>> away, staring at the far wall, through the window. You don't think $l_they<<re>> going to say anything else, until suddenly $l_they snap<<s>> $l_their gaze back to you, slapping a hand on the table.
"Fine. Fine!" Lea throws $l_their hands up, standing from $l_their chair, which scrapes loudly behind $l_them. <<if $l_campfight>>You're immediately reminded of the fight back at camp the night before, and you tense in your chair, your lip curling back as you scowl over at $l_them.
"//Partners//. Guess that didn't last long, then, did it?" you scoff, your arms tightening around you, bitterness rising in the back of your throat.
Lea looks at you as if you had slapped $l_them. $l_They all but physically shrink<<s>> in front of you, and you almost expect $l_them to drop back into $l_their chair.
"I'm not - I'm not trying to fight with you," $l_they stammer<<s>>, shaking $l_their head. You purse your lips, glancing away, a spike of guilt piercing through your chest.
"You're right," Lea says quietly. "We agreed - we agreed to talk later. I just worry about you, you know?"
You swallow hard, your brow furrowing, but you can't stop the question from slipping out, harsh and vitriolic: "Why? Afraid I'll ruin it all for you and your family? Tarnish the Chen name?"
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"Because I fucking care about you!" Lea shouts it at you, slamming $l_their hands on the table again.
You flinch, closing your eyes, recoiling at the sudden confession, stunned into silence. Lea seems just as stunned, too, breathing hard, pushing $l_themself back away from the table and roughly running $l_their hands over $l_their hair. The two of you just sit there for a few moments, the words hanging heavy in the air between you, emphasized by the harsh sound of wood hissing in the fireplace.
"I'll finish packing," Lea says then, and the way $l_their voice wavers leaves you weak.
"Lea..," you don't know what you're even going to say, but you try, just whispering $l_their name aloud, but $l_they wave<<s>> hand at you, shaking $l_their head.
"Just get some sleep, $name."
Lea starts to move around the room, gathering the few stray bags in $l_their arms as well as slinging $l_their rucksack onto $l_their back. Your mouth has gone dry, just watching $l_them as $l_they <<go>>, your nerves suddenly on edge, your heart racing, a slight tremor in your hands you only notice when you finally look away from Lea and glance down at them.
Lea hesitates at the door, though, and you can see $l_them out of the corner of your eye, glancing back over $l_their shoulder at you.
"Goodnight," $l_they <<say>> softly, before slipping through the door, closing it with a quiet click, leaving you all alone at the table.
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]<<else>>"Because you're my fucking friend!" Lea shouts it, jabbing $l_their finger at you as if there could be anyone else.
You blink over at $l_them, both of you equally stunned at Lea's outburst, with Lea breathing hard, pushing $l_themself back away from the table and roughly running $l_their hands over $l_their hair. A heavy silence passes between you, nothing but the harsh hissing of wood in the fireplace.
Lea clears $l_their throat after a few moments, dropping $l_their hands and shaking $l_their head. "I'll finish packing," $l_they <<say>> then, stepping back and starting to gather the few remaining stray bags around the room.
"Lea...," you don't know what to say, just stuttering over $l_their name, watching as $l_they sling<<s>> $l_their rucksack across $l_their back.
"Just get some sleep, $name."
You sigh, glancing down at your hands, which you only just now notice are trembling slightly.
Lea reaches for the door, but $l_they hesitate<<s>>, $l_their head bowed before $l_they look<<s>> back over $l_their shoulder at you.
"Goodnight," $l_they <<say>> softly, before slipping through the door, closing it with a quiet click, leaving you all alone at the table.
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]<</if>><<else>>You feel your face twitch, and you turn away, glaring into the fireplace. You don't look at Lea as $l_they start<<s>> to move around the room, gathering $l_their bags in $l_their arms. But after a few painful moments $l_they stop<<s>>, and you can feel $l_them looking at you.
"I don't want to fight," Lea says quietly. You slowly turn to see $l_them standing by the door. <<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"I worry about you. I care about you," Lea all but whispers it, and you can just see $l_their hand tighten around the doorknob.
You blink over at $l_them, stunned by the sudden admission, and Lea seems just as stunned as you, quickly glancing away from you and clearing $l_their throat, $l_their words hanging heavy between you.
"Lea...," you don't know what you're even going to say, but you try, just speaking $l_their name aloud, but $l_they wave<<s>> a hand at you, shaking $l_their head.
"Just get some sleep, $name," Lea says, and the way $l_their voice wavers makes your chest ache. "Goodnight." And then Lea slips through the door, closing it with a quiet click, leaving you all alone at the table.
[[Continue ->you feel like you're going to be sick]]<<else>>"You're my friend, $name. And I worry about you," Lea says, fidgeting with the lock on the door.
You stare at $l_them, $l_their back turned towards you, $l_their profile just visible, partially hidden behind a loose curtain of hair fallen free from $l_their bun.
"Are we friends?" you say, your brow furrowed.
"I consider you my friend," Lea says quietly. "You're my only friend."
Lea takes a deep breath, opening the door and halfway stepping out, before pausing and glancing back at you.
"Goodnight, $name," $l_they <<say>>, and the door closes behind $l_them with a soft //click//, leaving you all alone at the table.
[[Continue ->are we friends lea]]<</if>><</if>><<if $l_touch_knows>>You hesitate a moment, before reaching out with a trembling hand, carefully taking a handful of Lea's shirt and moving to close the space between you. Lea doesn't resist as you gently pull on $l_their shirt, but you can see the uncertainty in $l_their face at the closeness, at the touch.
"It's okay," you say weakly, and Lea nods slowly, before leaning forward and wrapping you in $l_their arms, holding you tight, and you bury your face in the crook of $l_their neck, curling into $l_them, gulping in air like you're drowning. And maybe you are.<<else>>You don't speak, instead reaching out with a trembling hand, grabbing a handful of Lea's shirt, and $l_they <<dont>> resist as you gently pull $l_them forward, closing the space between you. You're enveloped in $l_their arms, holding you tight, and you hide your face in the crook of $l_their neck, curling into $l_them, gulping in air like you're drowning. And maybe you are.<</if>>
Lea is unmoving, statuesque aside from the warmth of $l_their body against you.
You let yourself cry. Melting against the solid strength of Lea, who just stares at you, $l_their brow knit with concern, $l_their dark eyes sorrowful and helpless, a look that makes your stomach twist, and you have to look away, pressing your face into $l_their shirt. You cry, and cry.
Being held like this, hiding away safe in someone else's arms, and that Lea doesn't push you away, that $l_they<<re>> not afraid to keep you close, you feel - you feel human, for the first time in a long time, and there's a relief you didn't expect that comes with that feeling - that even after everything, there's still some humanity left.
But it doesn't last. Your breaths slow, and so do the tears, and once it passes you feel disgusted, still clinging to Lea, thoroughly ruining $l_their shirt, that helpless look still on $l_their face.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>You finally pull back, though Lea's hands tighten for a moment, before letting you go, $l_their arms loosening, but $l_they stay<<s>> close, palms light against your sides, and you think $l_they might be afraid you'll collapse without $l_their support.
You can feel the fear in $l_their touch, see it in $l_their eyes.
You drop your gaze, staring at the dark stains you've left behind on $l_their shirt, on $l_their shoulder and collar, and you can't stop staring at $l_their neck, wet from your hot breath and tears.
You are disgusted.
You keep staring. You can't stop. You imagine what it would be like, to lean back into $l_them again, to hold Lea instead, to touch your lips to $l_their neck and taste the salt of your tears on $l_their skin, your tongue relishing the pool in the hollow of $l_their throat-
You are disgusted, and you pull away, twisting out of Lea's hands, turning in your chair, and you feel guilty - using Lea like that. Is that what this all was? So much for having some fucking humanity.
//What is wrong with you?//
"$name," Lea says softly, and you can't look, you can't look at $l_them, your own name twisting in your chest like a knife.<<else>>You finally pull back, and Lea's arms loosen, though $l_they stay<<s>> close, draping $l_their arm over the back of your chair, $l_their other hand resting on your shoulder, and you think $l_they might be afraid you'll collapse without $l_their support.
You can feel the fear in $l_their touch, see it in $l_their eyes.
You drop your gaze, staring at the dark stains you've left behind on $l_their shirt, on $l_their shoulder and collar, the pulls and wrinkles from your too-tight grip.
You are disgusted.
"I'm - I'm sorry," you say, twisting in your chair, pulling anxiously at your sleeves.
"Don't apologize."
"I ruined your shirt."
"I don't give a shit about my shirt," Lea says, and $l_they laugh<<s>>, and so do you, a little bit, putting your face in your hands.<</if>>
A heavy silence consumes the two of you, and you realize you still haven't answered Lea's question.
The silence lasts a long time, you think.
But Lea does eventually stand up beside you, stepping back, a shiver crawling over you at the sudden cold void $l_they leave<<s>> behind, and you take a deep breath, preparing for that fucking question again.
But it never comes. Instead, Lea starts to move around the room, and you watch as $l_they gather<<s>> $l_their bags, setting them by the door, before turning and crouching in front of the fireplace. Carefully, Lea picks up the stacked logs besides the hearth and rebuilds your dying fire, stuffing the fireplace until you're sweating under your clothes.
[[Continue ->reach out for them 1]]"Can you - can you just stay with me?" you manage to say, a harsh whisper as you try to calm down your frantic breathing. "Please."
Lea hovers next to you for a few more moments, $l_their dark eyes intent on you, before slowly standing back up.
"Okay," Lea says, <<if $l_touch_knows eq false>>and $l_their hand slides from your shoulder, a shiver crawling up your spine at the sudden loss of touch, and you wrap your arms around yourself, curling forward in your chair.<<else>>dropping $l_their hand from the back of your chair and stepping back, and a shiver crawls up your spine at the sudden cold void $l_they leave<<s>> behind.<</if>>
Moving around the table, Lea grabs $l_their chair and drags it a little closer, sitting next to you, the table groaning as $l_they lean<<s>> into it. $l_Their hands slide over the tabletop towards you, and you can feel Lea watching you, $l_their brow furrowed, the concern on $l_their face making your stomach twist, and you have to look away, staring into the fire.
You try to swallow back the tears, but it seems to be endless, catching in your eyelashes, dripping down your nose and chin, onto your hands.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>It's dim in the room around you, and the fire casts long shadows, though the flickering light reflects off the wet shine on the back of your hands where you keep wiping your face. You lose focus for a while, nothing but the bright blur of the fireplace through your tears, though eventually you turn away and find yourself staring down at Lea's hands on the table, $l_their thumb ring that $l_they always wear<<s>>, the harsh black lines of $l_their tattoos next to the red, raw scratches from the last few days of travel, and the older, worn scars accumulated from years of this life you've lived together.
You can see how $l_their one finger is crooked slightly, never setting straight after it was broken - and not even by a monster, but a man, a man who wouldn't leave you alone.
How many hits has Lea taken for you in your time together? You wish you could fix $l_their finger. Or maybe you just want to feel what it would be like to hold $l_their hand in yours.
The thought makes you close your eyes, biting down on your tongue, and you retreat back to stare at the fire again, ignoring the way your face burns under your tears.<<else>>It's dim in the room around you, and the fire casts long shadows, though the flickering light reflects off the wet shine on the back of your hands where you keep wiping your face. You grit your teeth and try again to calm your breathing.
You find yourself staring at Lea's hands on the table, tracing $l_their tattoos in your mind in an attempt to focus on anything else. You can see how $l_their one finger is crooked slightly, never setting straight after it was broken - you remember that. It wasn't even a monster, that time. It was a man - one who wouldn't leave you alone.
How many hits has Lea taken for you in your time together? All that blame you like to throw around, but here you are, wasting Lea's time, losing valuable sleep because - what? You felt a little sad?
You turn away, staring into the fire again, a pathetic sniffle as you wipe at your again.<</if>>
You watch the fire for an excruciatingly long time, you think, until the light of it is painful, the red and orange burning behind your eyelids, a phantom flame dancing in front of your vision even when you glance away.
You realize you've stopped crying, now.
"You should go," you say numbly, your eyes refocusing, looking down at your hands.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"I can stay. I can stay, $name," Lea says quickly, relieved, you think, that you've finally managed to speak again.
"No. You need rest, too," you say, fidgeting with your shirt. You can't stand this - the guilt is already eating you up inside, and you can barely look at $l_them - at $l_their crooked finger.
Lea lets out a long breath, hesitating still, before slowly standing from $l_their chair.<<else>>"Are you sure?" Lea asks softly, but you can hear some relief in $l_their voice, relief that you've finally managed to speak again.
"Yeah. You should go," you repeat again - the guilt is already eating you up inside, and you can barely look at $l_them now.
Lea nods, letting out a long breath and slowly standing from $l_their chair.<</if>>
"I'll finish packing." But Lea hovers for a moment, and you glance up at $l_them, Lea's eyes dark with concern, $l_their jaw set. "You know where my room is. I'm just down the hall, if you need anything."
There's a few awkward beats where Lea just stares at you, and you fidget with your necklace.
Neither of you really know how to do this.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," you finally say, trying to convince yourself.
Lea takes a deep breath, rubbing the back of $l_their neck.
"How about for now you just try to get some sleep. You've barely had any the last two days now," Lea says gently.
"I don't need to sleep," you say it automatically.
Lea just huffs. "I know."
"It's fine, Lea, I'm fine-"
"You're not fine," Lea cuts you off, giving you a look, before glancing away. "Sorry," $l_they add<<s>>. $l_They sigh<<s>>, stepping away from the table towards the door, picking up $l_their bag and hefting it onto $l_their back, gathering a few of the smaller ones in $l_their arms, before looking back at you one more time.
"Goodnight, $name. You know where to find me."
"...Goodnight, Lea."
[[Continue ->after tavern cry]]"Leave. Please leave," you say, and it comes out as a pathetic whine, half-strangled by the sob trapped in your throat.
Lea hovers at your side for a few more moments, $l_their dark eyes intent on you, before slowly standing back up, <<if $l_touch_knows>>dropping $l_their hand from the back of your chair and stepping back, and a shiver crawls up your spine at the sudden cold void $l_they leave<<s>> behind.<<else>>and $l_their hand slides from your shoulder, a shiver crawling up your spine at the sudden loss of touch, and you wrap your arms around yourself, curling forward in your chair.<</if>>
"Are you sure?" Lea asks gently.
"Yes! Please, Lea," you're shouting now, and Lea winces, turning away from you.
$l_They quickly move around the room then, grabbing the remaining bags and gathering them in $l_their arms, and slinging $l_their rucksack across $l_their back. Lea avoids looking back at you, and you just sit hunched in your chair, viciously wiping the tears from your face.
At the door, Lea hesitates, $l_their hand on the doorknob.
<<if $l_flirt gte 2>>"I don't want to leave you, $name," Lea says softly, peering back over $l_their shoulder at you. You turn to $l_them in time to see $l_them release the doorknob and wipe the back of $l_their hand across $l_their face.
"I - I'll give you your space. But if you need anything... You know where to find me. My door is always open for you."
Lea sighs then, facing the door, hanging $l_their head for a moment, before finally slipping out into the hallway, leaving you alone except for the flickering shadows from the fire.<<else>>"If you need anything - you know where to find me. Any time. My door is always open for you," Lea says softly, peering back over $l_their shoulder at you.
You give $l_them a stiff nod, and Lea sighs, facing the door, hanging $l_their head for a moment, before finally slipping out into the hallway, leaving you alone except for the flickering shadows from the fire.<</if>>
As soon as the door closes, you drop your head into your hands, biting back a sob, scrubbing your hands over your face, hot tears smearing across your skin.
You can't help the pathetic, strangled sound that slips out of you, and you pull your feet up onto your chair, burying your face in your knees, wrapping your arms around your legs - a poor attempt to hold yourself together.
The chair groans under you as your whole body shakes, the fabric of your trousers stretched over your knees already soaking through with your tears, and you close your eyes, gasping for air but refusing to sit up and breathe deeply - you're afraid you'll just collapse.
You don't know how long you sit like that, curled in on yourself, crying and crying; you didn't think you had that many tears left in you. Eventually, though, it passes, and your breathing calms down, and you just sit in front of the fire, your eyes swollen and red, your skin rubbed raw from your rough hands and the sleeve of your shirt.
The fire is burning low now, and the cold is creeping through the walls, through your clothes, but you're still too hot, and you stand abruptly, wincing at the pain in your legs, stiff from being folded up against you for so long. You run your hands over your hair, blinking a few times, trying to compose yourself, embarrassment making your lip curl. You're glad there is no mirror in this room - you don't think you could look at yourself right now.
You need fresh air. You need to get out of here. You stride over to the door, swiping up your cloak and throwing it over your shoulders in one swift movement, fumbling with the clasp as you shove your way through the door and into the tavern hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]"You need to rest," Lea says then, standing and walking back over to the table.
You don't respond, just staring down at your hands.
"I'll finish packing." But Lea hesitates then, and you glance up at $l_them, Lea's eyes dark with concern, $l_their jaw set. "You know where my room is. I'm just down the hall, if you need anything."
There's a few awkward beats where Lea just stares at you, and you fidget with your necklace.
Neither of you really know how to do this.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," you finally say, trying to convince yourself.
Lea takes a deep breath, rubbing the back of $l_their neck.
"How about for now you just try to get some sleep. You've barely had any the last two days now," Lea says gently.
"I don't need to sleep," you say it automatically.
Lea just huffs. "I know."
You both just stare at each other, Lea's hand still on your shoulder. $l_They make<<s>> no move for the door.
"You should go. I'm fine-"
"You're not fine," Lea cuts you off, giving you a look, before glancing away. "Sorry," $l_they add<<s>>. $l_Their hand drops from your shoulder then, and Lea hefts $l_their bag onto $l_their back, gathering a few of the smaller ones in $l_their arms, before looking back at you one more time.
"I can stay. If you want."
"No - no, it's okay." You can't stand this - the guilt is already eating you up inside, and you can barely look at $l_them - at the tear stains on $l_their shirt.
"Okay," Lea still hesitates again. "Goodnight, $name. You know where to find me."
"Goodnight, Lea."
[[Continue ->after tavern cry]]As soon as the door closes, you drop your head into your hands, biting back a sob, viciously rubbing your hands over your face, refusing to cry again.
You can't help the pathetic, strangled sound that still slips out of you, though, and you curl your lip, standing abruptly and beginning to pace in front of the fire, crossing your arms over your chest, digging your fingers into your biceps.
You don't know how long you pace like that, your skin bruising under your vise grip, the fire burning low and the cold creeping through the walls, through your clothes, but you're too hot, your face still burning and your eyes rubbed raw by your rough hands.
You need fresh air. You need to get out of this room. You stride over to the door, swiping up your cloak and throwing it over your shoulders in one swift movement, fumbling with the clasp as you shove your way through the door and into the tavern hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]"Wait...," you struggle to speak for a moment, trying to find the words, "can you - can you stay? Just for a little while longer."
Lea turns back around, and you both stare at each other, Lea's dark eyes unreadable.
"For a little while," Lea says, setting $l_their bag back down on the floor and returning to the table, and you tense - you don't know why - as Lea slides $l_their chair closer before sitting back down again.
You glance away from $l_them, sitting up in your chair a bit, <<if $vice eq "drinker">>looking over the table and clearing your throat. Your flask is still resting on the tabletop from this morning, knocked on its side at some point, and you reach for it, setting it back upright in front of you, fiddling with the cap.
"How about a drink?" you say, "I think it's been earned, after today."
Lea makes a face.
"I don't know how you drink that stuff."
"It's easy, really," you smirk, popping the top off and lifting the flask to your lips, staring over at Lea as you take a long drink. There's a moment where your eyes meet, before Lea quickly glances away, shifting in $l_their chair.
You swallow hard, your face suddenly hot, and not from the alcohol. You set the flask down a little harder than necessary, staring into the fire, ignoring Lea's eyes on you again, instead just letting the bright light burn into your skull.
"Here," you say after a few quiet moments, clearing your throat and sliding the flask over to Lea. You avoid meeting $l_their gaze, just staring at the fire's reflections against the metal of the flask.
Lea chuckles, breaking some of the sudden tension between you.
"If you insist," Lea sighs, and $l_they take<<s>> a quick drink, wincing and shaking $l_their head. "Should have grabbed some of that expensive shit you like today," $l_they <<say>>, setting the flask back down.
You don't say anything, staring down at your hands.
"Sorry, I didn't mean - I don't blame you, or anything. We got what we needed," Lea says quickly, then, sitting up in $l_their chair, tilting $l_their head forward to look at you.
"Yeah," you shrug, grabbing the flask again and taking another drink.
<<link [[Continue ->wait can you stay drinker 1]]>><<set $left_pipe to true>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_tavernflirt to true>><<set $l_drinkflirt to true>><</link>><<else>>fidgeting with your hands and clearing your throat. Your pipe is still resting on the tabletop from this morning, knocked on its side with some of the tobacco spilled across the table, and you reach for it, turning it over in your hands.
"You want some of mine?" Lea offers then, and you look over as $l_they hold<<s>> up $l_their tobacco pouch, dropping it on the table beween you. "I'm going to have some, anyways," $l_they <<say>>, shrugging, digging $l_their pipe back out from inside $l_their pocket.
You nod, getting up and walking over to the bin to dump the old tobacco clean from yours before sitting back down. You don't bother actually properly cleaning the thing - probably considered a sin by most, you're sure. Jorah is probably shaking his head somewhere, sensing the betrayal.
The two of you lapse into silence as Lea packs $l_their pipe first. $l_They<<re>> always very meticulous about the way $l_they prepare<<s>> it, something you're sure Lea doesn't realize you've noticed.
Lea has always tried to hide $l_their smoking, but it's just not possible when the two of you travel together. You don't know why - you've never bothered $l_them about it, and it's never really been acknowledged between you. You tease Lea about a lot of things, but never over $l_their smoking.
If $l_they smoke<<s>> for the same reason you do, it's best to just leave it be. You're both just coping, you suppose.
"What are you thinking so hard about over there?" Lea asks, jarring you with an elbow.
"Watch it," you scoff, slapping $l_them away, but Lea just grins, sliding the pouch of tobacco over to you.
"What's that kind you like?" Lea prompts then, carefully twirling $l_their pipe between $l_their fingers, leaning $l_their elbow against the table.
"The Captain's Blend," you say, peering into the pouch and giving it a sniff. "Is this Red Sea?"
"Yeah," Lea nods. "I like the Captain's Blend, too. Always reminds me of you," $l_they add<<s>>, propping $l_their chin on $l_their hand. "I could always tell when you and Jorah were back at the stronghold."
"Yeah?" you blink over at $l_them, a bit surprised at the sudden admission.
"Too bad we didn't get to get any today," $l_they <<say>>, frowning slightly.
You don't say anything to that, just glancing away, staring down at your hands.
"Sorry, I didn't mean - I don't blame you, or anything. We got what we needed," Lea says quickly, then, sitting up in $l_their chair, tilting $l_their head forward to look at you.
"Yeah," you shrug, not looking at $l_them as you begin to pack your own pipe.
<<link [[Continue ->wait can you say smoker 1]]<<set <<set $left_tobacco to true>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<set $l_tavernflirt to true>><<set $l_pipeflirt to true>><</link>><</if>>"Goodnight, Lea. And thank you," you say, and Lea glances back over $l_their shoulder at you.
"Goodnight, $name," $l_they <<say>>, giving you a small smile before slipping out the door.
You let out a long sigh, slumping back in your chair. Guilt snakes through your chest, at pushing Lea away, and you scrub your hands over your face, trying to get the image of $l_their small, sad smile out of your head.
You know you should make an effort with Lea. You should //be// $l_their fucking partner. Today - something shifted between the two of you, today. But you can't keep the doubt out of the back of your mind, the grim certainty that it's just a temporary thing - a mercy after last night, Lea feeling sorry for you. //A peace offering.//
You sigh, standing slowly and walking over to the fire, stuffing fresh wood onto the burning stack and letting the heat lull you for a while. But you're restless, despite your exhaustion, and you can't sit still, resorting to pacing the length of the room while glancing longingly at your bed over and over out of the corner of your eye.
It seems to only make it worse, though, your hands twitching, your pacing becoming more urgent, and you're starting to sweat, and after another lap around the room, you can't stand it anymore. You need to get some fresh air. Anything to get out of this room.
You stride over to the door, snatching up your cloak as you go, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]"Goodnight, Lea. And... I'm sorry," you say, staring down at your hands, though you can see Lea glance back over $l_their shoulder at you out of the corner of your eye.
"I know, $name," Lea says. "Goodnight."
You close your eyes, listening for the tell-tale //click// of the door shutting behind $l_them, before letting out a long sigh, sinking into your chair. Guilt is already gnawing through you, and you know you shouldn't be pushing Lea away - after today, you should be making an effort, you should be $l_their fucking partner.
You sigh, standing slowly and walking over to the fire, stuffing fresh wood onto the burning stack and letting the heat lull you for a while. But you're restless, despite your exhaustion, and you can't sit still, resorting to pacing the length of the room while glancing longingly at your bed over and over out of the corner of your eye.
It seems to only make it worse, though, your hands twitching, your pacing becoming more urgent, and you're starting to sweat, and after another lap around the room, you can't stand it anymore. You need to get some fresh air. Anything to get out of this room.
You stride over to the door, snatching up your cloak as you go, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]You stare down at your hands, waiting for the tell-tale //click// of the door shutting behind Lea, before letting out a long sigh, sinking into your chair. Guilt is already gnawing through you, and you know you shouldn't be pushing Lea away - after today, you should be making an effort, you should be $l_their fucking partner. But you don't know how to do this - you're not even sure you can.
You sigh, standing slowly and walking over to the fire, stuffing fresh wood onto the burning stack and letting the heat lull you for a while. But you're restless, despite your exhaustion, and you can't sit still, resorting to pacing the length of the room while glancing longingly at your bed over and over out of the corner of your eye.
It seems to only make it worse, though, your hands twitching, your pacing becoming more urgent, and you're starting to sweat, and after another lap around the room, you can't stand it anymore. You need to get some fresh air. Anything to get out of this room.
You stride over to the door, snatching up your cloak as you go, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]The silence stretches now, but it's comfortable, with the two of you sharing the flask back and forth without a word, watching the fire slowly dwindle in the fireplace.
After another drink, you set the flask down, and you're not sure how much time has passed, but you've probably drank more than is wise. You sigh, once again sliding the flask back over to Lea, though this time $l_they reach<<es>> for it without looking, $l_their hand nearly closing overtop of yours, still holding the flask.
Lea jerks back, stammering apologies, but the unexpected touch and the sudden movement startle you, the flask clattering loudly and tipping over, alcohol spilling down the front of your shirt and pants, splashing across the floor. You're surprised there was even that much left in there.
You and Lea both jump up at the same time, Lea now swearing loudly, while you just stare dumbly at the floor, your head spinning as you watch the way the spilled liquid glitters in the firelight and slowly spreads across the old, scratched floorboards.
"I'm - I'm sorry," Lea is saying, and you blink over at $l_them, $l_their head in $l_their hands.
You glance down and pull at your shirt, shivering at the sensation of the wet fabric clinging to your stomach. You hear Lea move around the room then, grabbing $l_their bag and digging around for a few moments.
Lea comes back over with a cloth, walking right up to you and frowning at your shirt. <<if $touch_averse gte 1>>$l_They hesitate<<s>> though, glaring down at the cloth in $l_their hand, before shaking $l_their head and holding it out for you.
"Lea, it's alright," you say, because you feel the need to reassure $l_them, and you take the cloth from $l_them with a nod. $l_Their hands linger in the small space between you, still wanting to offer something, watching as you wipe the alcohol from your arms and hands.
Lea quickly looks away as you pull at your shirt again, and you hesitate, too aware of the tension from earlier creeping back into the room - how close Lea is, and the slight blush you can see on $l_their face.
"Lea," you don't know why you say $l_their name, but $l_they respond<<s>>, turning back to look at you, $l_their dark eyes flicking to your face, and again you realize that the two of you are close - very close - $l_their hands still hovering near you, and you can't help looking at $l_their lips, which you imagine must still taste like the drink now seeping into the floorboards.
"I'm sorry," Lea says again, a whisper between you, and you're leaning forward, your breaths intermingling, and you're certain now that the blush on Lea's face isn't from the alcohol.
"Uh -," Lea stammers then, pulling $l_their hands back and turning away - shattering whatever fragile thing had just formed between you like brittle ice.
You blink, clutching the cloth tightly, watching as Lea retreats to $l_their bag again, picking it up and slinging it over $l_their shoulder.
"Make sure you lay your clothes out to dry," Lea blurts, turning back to you, but $l_they <<dont>> look //at// you, rubbing the back of $l_their neck and stepping back towards the door.
"Lea-"
"I'm really sorry. I'll let you rest. Sorry," Lea cuts you off and all but bolts out of the room, leaving you standing alone in front of the fireplace, the door slamming loudly behind $l_them.<<else>>You just stare as Lea attempts to dry your shirt, which you think is a bit ridiculous - but you don't protest, your hands hovering over $l_theirs as $l_they press<<es>> the cloth to your stomach.
You don't know what compels you - maybe it's the liquid courage from the drink now spilled all over you, or maybe it's the slight tremor in Lea's hands as $l_they aggressively wipe<<s>> at your shirt - but you press your hands overtop Lea's, steadying $l_their movements, until you're just holding $l_their hands in yours, suspended in the air between you.
"Lea," you say, your voice soft in the deafening silence of the room, and $l_they raise<<s>> $l_their gaze to meet yours, for the briefest moment $l_their dark eyes softening, and you're certain the blush across $l_their face is not from the alcohol.
The two of you are close - very close - $l_their hands still enveloped in yours, and you can't help looking at $l_their lips, which you imagine must still taste like the drink now seeping into the floorboards.
"I'm sorry," Lea says again, a whisper between you, and you're leaning forward, your breaths intermingling, your heart hammering in your chest.
"Uh -," Lea stammers then, $l_their eyes widening, jerking back and shoving the cloth into your hands, turning away - shattering whatever fragile thing had just formed between you like brittle ice.
You blink, clutching the cloth against your chest, an unworthy replacement for Lea's hands, and you're unable to speak as Lea retreats to $l_their bag again, picking it up and slinging it over $l_their shoulder.
"You should lay your clothes out to dry," Lea says, turning back to you, but $l_they <<dont>> look //at// you, rubbing the back of $l_their neck and stepping back towards the door.
"Lea-"
"I'm really sorry. I'll let you rest. Sorry," Lea cuts you off and all but bolts out of the room, leaving you standing alone in front of the fireplace, the door slamming loudly behind $l_them.<</if>>
[[Continue ->wait can you stay 1.2]]Lea sinks back in $l_their seat, and after a few moments you glance over at $l_them as $l_they lift<<s>> $l_their pipe and attempt<<s>> to light it.
It puts you on edge, the hairs on your arms standing up straight, a whining static in the room as Lea tries and fails again and again to summon $l_their magic.
"Lea...," you start, setting your own pipe down.
You can tell $l_they<<re>> frustrated, and $l_they <<dont>> look at you, lowering the pipe and scowling down at $l_their hands.
"Fucking pathetic," Lea sighs, leaning $l_their elbows on the table.
You turn in your chair, angling towards $l_them, which gets you a look, but you just gesture towards the pipe in Lea's hand. $l_They sigh<<s>> again, but gives you a small smile.
"What would I do without you?" Lea hums, lifting the pipe back to $l_their mouth, and you don't say anything, scooting to the edge of your seat, suddenly all too aware of how your legs fit around Lea's, like two puzzle pieces sliding into place beneath the table, your knees nearly bumping, and whatever smart comment you were going to make dies in your throat at the intimacy of it, as $l_they look<<s>> at you expectantly with those dark eyes.
You raise your hands - which are thankfully steady despite your sudden spike in nerves - and with an effortless snap a small flame ignites between your fingers.
You lean forward now, your brow furrowed, dropping your gaze from Lea's face to the pipe, and you carefully place your other hand over $l_theirs cradling the bowl, protecting it from the heat of the flame as you start to pull it back and forth over the tobacco. You can still feel Lea's eyes on you, but you just focus on your task, biting the inside of your cheek, watching the tobacco burn.
"Inhale," you manage to say, and Lea obeys without a word, taking quick breaths until the tobacco is lit all the way through.
You shake the flame from your finger and drop your hands, Lea's eyes burning into you, and $l_they swallow<<s>> hard enough for you to hear it - and when had the two of you gotten so close?
Close enough to see the way Lea's lips part, $l_their hand lowering the pipe which is all but forgotten, and $l_they<<re>> still just looking at you, and your eyes go to $l_their lips again, and you wonder what it would be like to kiss $l_them, to inhale the smoke from $l_their mouth, taste it on $l_their tongue. Your breaths intermingle, your heart racing, and you're leaning forward, and Lea is leaning forward, your legs brushing under the table, and you can't hear anything but the roaring in your ears, can't see anything but the dark black pools of Lea's eyes.
Until $l_they abruptly jerk<<s>> back, $l_their foot colliding with your shin under the table as $l_they scramble<<s>> to push $l_their seat back.
"Sorry! I'm - I'm sorry," Lea stammers, $l_their eyes wide, jumping from the table and turning away - shattering whatever fragile thing had just formed between you like brittle ice.
You blink, exhaling painfully as you quickly stand as well, but you're unable to speak as Lea retreats to $l_their bag, picking it up and slinging it over $l_their shoulder.
"You should get some rest," Lea blurts, turning back to you, but $l_they <<dont>> look //at// you, rubbing the back of $l_their neck and stepping back towards the door, $l_their pipe still hanging out of the side of $l_their mouth.
"Lea-"
"I'm really sorry. I'll let you rest. Sorry," Lea cuts you off and all but bolts out of the room, leaving you standing alone in front of the fireplace, the door slamming loudly behind $l_them.
[[Continue ->wait can you stay 1.2]]You take a few short steps back, dropping heavily into your chair, your face flushed and hot, Lea's presence still haunting the room, the chair $l_they had been sitting in knocked sideways away from the table, <<if $left_tobacco>>their pouch of tobacco left behind.<<elseif $left_pipe>>their pipe left behind.<</if>>
Your hands are shaking, and you turn away.
For a while you just sit there, staring into the fire, letting the light burn through your skull, until it aches, a white shadow imprinted behind your eyelids.
Your hands are still shaking. You clench them into fists, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath, before standing abruptly, pacing back and forth, crossing the room and jerking open the window, letting the cold night air wash over you.
You take a few gulping breaths, the cold burning your throat and making your eyes water, and you realize you need to get out of this room. It's too hot, and your hands won't stop fucking shaking.
You quickly stride across the room, snatching up your cloak and throwing it over your shoulders, fumbling with the clasp as you shove your way through the door and into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]You watch Lea for another few moments before standing yourself, stepping around the table, Lea raising an eyebrow at your approach.
Reaching out, you pluck the pipe from Lea's hands, who clicks $l_their tongue in mock irritation, but lets you take it nonetheless.
You eye the tobacco in the bowl before turning it around in your hands, and your eyes can't help but be drawn to the wet shine around the mouthpiece where Lea's lips had just been.
Your face grows hot, but you've gone too far to stop now, the pipe hovering just in front of your mouth, and you raise your other hand - which is thankfully steady despite your sudden spike in nerves - and with an effortless snap a small flame ignites between your fingers.
You've shared a pipe before. You've done //this// before.
But you feel Lea's eyes on you as you lick your lips, parting them and inhaling deeply as you carefully pull the flame over the bowl, and you can't help but stare back - though Lea is, as always, unreadable. After a few quick takes the tobacco lights all the way through, and you offer it back to Lea, holding it tighter than necessary, trying not to look at the mouthpiece again, or think too hard about how it was still warm in your mouth, the way it tasted on your tongue - Lea's lips on yours.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>Lea roughly takes the pipe, $l_their eyes burning into you, and $l_they hesitate<<s>>, swallowing hard enough for you to hear it - and when had the two of you gotten so close?
Close enough to see that Lea's own lips are parted, but the pipe is forgotten, and $l_they<<re>> still just looking at you. The sweet smoke from the tobacco curls in the air around you, shivering as your breaths intermingle. Your heart is beating jackrabbit fast, and you're leaning forward, and Lea is leaning forward, and you can't hear anything but the roaring in your ears, can't see anything but the dark black pools of Lea's eyes.
Until $l_they abruptly turn<<s>> away.<<else>>Lea takes the pipe, eyeing you for a painfully long moment, those dark eyes unreadable as they search your face, flicking briefly to your lips before $l_they abruptly step<<s>> back - when had you two even gotten that close? - and clears $l_their throat again, leaving you slightly breathless in the sudden space between you.
"Thanks," $l_they <<say>>, $l_their voice rough, running a thumb along the pipe before taking a long drag, not looking at you, instead turning away to stare into the low, dying fire in the hearth.<</if>>
[[Continue ->flirt leave]]You watch Lea for another few moments before standing yourself, stepping around the table, Lea raising an eyebrow at your approach.
Reaching out, you nod at Lea to keep the pipe steady, your hand hovering over $l_theirs where it cradles the bowl, but you hesitate, your face suddenly growing hot with your hand so close to $l_theirs. You furrow your brow, but can't stop from glancing at Lea's lips, the wet shine around the pipe's mouthpiece drawing your eye, and you swallow hard, quickly turning your gaze back to the packed tobacco.
You raise your other hand - which is thankfully steady despite your sudden spike in nerves - and with an effortless snap a small flame ignites between your fingers.
You've shared a pipe before. You've done //this// before.
And now you've gone too far to stop now, so you close the rest of the space between you, placing your hand over Lea's, protecting it from the heat of the flame as you pull it back and forth over the bowl. You can feel Lea's eyes on you, but you just focus on your task, biting the inside of your cheek, watching the tobacco burn.
"Inhale," you manage to say, and Lea obeys, taking quick breaths until the tobacco is lit all the way through.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>You shake the flame from your finger and drop your hands, Lea's eyes burning into you, and $l_they swallow<<s>> hard enough for you to hear it - and when had the two of you gotten so close?
Close enough to see the way Lea's lips part, $l_their hand lowering the pipe which is all but forgotten, and $l_they<<re>> still just looking at you, and your eyes go to $l_their lips again, and you wonder what it would be like to kiss $l_them, to inhale the smoke from $l_their mouth, taste it on $l_their tongue. Your breaths intermingle, your heart racing, and you're leaning forward, and Lea is leaning forward, and you can't hear anything but the roaring in your ears, can't see anything but the dark black pools of Lea's eyes.
Until $l_they abruptly turn<<s>> away.<<else>>You shake the flame from your finger and lower your hands, and Lea takes a long, deep breath, eyeing you for a painfully long moment, those dark eyes unreadable as they search your face, flicking briefly to your lips before $l_they abruptly step<<s>> back - when had you two even gotten that close? - and clears $l_their throat, exhaling slowly, smoke curling between you.
"Thanks," $l_they <<say>>, $l_their voice rough, taking the pipe out of $l_their mouth and running a thumb along the bowl, not looking at you, instead turning away to stare into the low, dying fire in the hearth.<</if>>
[[Continue ->flirt leave]]"Let me," you say, standing yourself and stepping around the table.
Lea frowns at you for a moment, before letting out a sigh, dropping $l_their hand and looking to you expectantly.
You can't help but let out a small chuckle, shaking your head at $l_them - you've lost count of how many times you've had to do this for $l_them. And $l_they<<re>> always reluctant, every time, always giving you that same look. But $l_they always relent<<s>>.
"You laughing at me?"
"Yes," you say, smirking at $l_them as you effortlessly snap your fingers, a small flame igniting at the tip of your thumb.
Lea starts to complain but you click your tongue.
"Be quiet and hold it steady," you say, and Lea huffs through $l_their nose, watching as you draw your hand over the bowl, careful not to bring it to close to $l_their hand, the tobacco gradually catching as Lea inhales.
"There," you say, lowering your hand and shaking the flame away. Lea gives you a look, before taking the pipe out of $l_their mouth and exhaling off to the side.
"Thanks, $name," Lea says, smiling softly.
For a moment you both just stand there, a bit awkward, but nice, sharing a smile between you. Eventually Lea steps back, rubbing the back of $l_their neck.
"I should let you get some sleep," $l_they <<say>>, moving to gather $l_their bags.
"Want help?" you offer, watching as Lea slings $l_their messenger bag across $l_their shoulder. $l_Their pipe hangs out of the side of $l_their mouth, and $l_they just shake<<s>> $l_their head at you.
<<include "good leave">>"What would you even do without me?" you joke as you stand up as well, stepping around the table towards Lea. $l_They raise<<s>> an eyebrow, scoffing and shaking $l_their head.
"Without you, I could probably relax for once," $l_they <<say>>, smirking at you around the pipe in $l_their mouth.
"You think //I'm// the reason you can't relax? What about the giant stick up your-"
"Alright, alright, just light my fucking pipe," Lea cuts you off, rolling $l_their eyes but still smiling.
Grinning, you raise your hand, effortlessly snapping your fingers and igniting a small flame at the tip of your thumb. You step closer to Lea and pull the flame over the pipe's bowl, careful not to get too close to Lea's hand, the tobacco gradually catching as Lea inhales.
"There," you say, lowering your hand and shaking the flame away. Lea gives you a look, before taking the pipe out of $l_their mouth and exhaling off to the side.
"Thanks, $name," Lea says, smiling softly.
For a moment you both just stand there, a bit awkward, but nice, sharing a smile between you. Eventually Lea steps back, rubbing the back of $l_their neck.
"I should let you get some sleep," $l_they <<say>>, moving to gather $l_their bags.
"Want help?" you offer, watching as Lea slings $l_their messenger bag across $l_their shoulder. $l_Their pipe hangs out of the side of $l_their mouth, and $l_they just shake<<s>> $l_their head at you.
<<include "good leave">>You take a few short steps back, dropping heavily into your chair, your face flushed. Lea stands unmoving in front of the hearth, $l_their back to you, nothing but the sound of the burning wood and the distant ocean waves between you.
And then Lea is moving through the room like it's on fire, grabbing $l_their bag and slinging it over $l_their shoulder, loading up as much as $l_they can carry, $l_their movements frantic and clumsy. $l_Their pipe is still hanging out of the corner of $l_their mouth, and it's ridiculous; you would laugh at the sight, if you could only catch your breath.
"I'll finish packing in my room," Lea mumbles around the pipe, though $l_they avoid<<s>> looking at you, focusing on balancing the bags in $l_their arms, "and you - you rest."
"Lea-," you start, but $l_they <<dont>> even look at you, just shaking $l_their head.
"Goodnight, $surname," Lea says, all but running out of the door, slamming it behind $l_them.
You sit stunned for a few moments, staring dumbly into the fire.
"Yeah. Goodnight, Lea," you finally manage to say, speaking to an empty room now. You stare down at your hands, your heart still racing a bit, and you slowly sink into your chair, pressing your palms over your eyelids.
You're not sure how long you sit like that, your face hidden in your hands. The fire has burned low, and the cold is starting to creep in through the walls, under the door, and you shiver, despite your body still burning - from embarrassment. From excitement. Your hands are still shaking.
You need to get out of this room. You're too hot, claustrophobic, and you stand abruptly, swiping your cloak up and throwing it over your shoulders in one swift movement, fumbling with the clasp as you clumsily shove your way through the door.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]"I'll finish packing. My bag fits more shit than yours, anyways," Lea shrugs, hefting said bag onto $l_their back.
You follow $l_them to the door, stepping up to open it for $l_them. Lea looks ridiculous, armful of bags with $l_their pipe hanging out of $l_their mouth.
"Sure you don't want help carrying it over?" you prompt, raising an eyebrow.
Lea huffs at you, shoving $l_their way through the door and immediately tripping, staggering into the hallway and swearing loudly, though $l_they manage<<s>> not to drop anything. You just chuckle, shaking your head at $l_them.
"Shut up," Lea laughs, readjusting $l_their grip on the bags.
"Goodnight, Lea," you say, still smiling, leaning against the doorframe.
"Goodnight, $name," Lea says, shooting you a grin before shuffling off down the hallway.
You close the door, standing for a moment with your hand on the doorknob, your smile lingering for a few moments. You step back into your room, taking a deep breath and running your hands over your head. You feel... light, like a heavy weight has been lifted from you, and you find yourself smiling again, and then you laugh, alone in your room.
You think you and Lea are friends, now. You're not sure. You don't know how to do this - but you want to try. It would be nice, you think, to be friends.
[[Continue ->good leave 1]]Slowly, you wander over to the fireplace, crouching down in front of it and feeding the fire fresh logs, building it up until you're sweating. You're certain it's from the heat, but you're also restless, a sudden anxiety scratching in the back of your mind.
//Are// you and Lea friends?
You can't sit still, and you stand from the hearth and begin to pace, wringing your hands, trying to ward off the doubt already worming its way into your head.
It seems to only make it worse, though, your hands starting to twitch, your pacing becoming more urgent, and you're starting to sweat even more, and after another lap around the room, you can't stand it anymore. You need to get some fresh air. Anything to get out of this room.
You stride over to the door, snatching up your cloak as you go, fumbling with the clasp around your throat as you shoulder your way into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]You turn away, crossing your arms and closing your eyes for a moment, just the sound of Lea snapping $l_their fingers, and the fire burning low in the hearth.
"Fuck!" Lea slams the pipe onto the table, startling you, and you open your eyes as $l_they turn<<s>> away, hands on $l_their hips as $l_they glare<<s>> into the fireplace.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"I thought...," Lea takes a ragged breath, struggling for the words, "I thought you..." but $l_they just trail<<s>> off, and you wish you could see $l_their face, you wish $l_they would fucking look at you.<<else>>"Why did we even take this job? Why waste the time? Could have saved us a lot of fucking trouble at this point."
Lea crosses $l_their arms, and you just stare at $l_their back, wrapping your head in your arms.<</if>>
A long silence stretches between you, and you feel as if you are on the edge of a precipice, one you have been balancing on for a long time - but now the foundation is crumbling beneath your feet, and there's nothing for you to hold onto, nothing to keep you from falling.
[[Continue ->bad leave]]You find yourself standing before you can think it through, taking a step towards Lea.
"Let me help you," you say, holding out your hand, but Lea just glares over at you, $l_their lip curling around the pipe.
"Don't. Don't fucking do that," Lea says, snatching the pipe out of $l_their mouth and slamming it on the table. "Don't - //be nice// after that."
"Lea-" you start, but $l_they shake<<s>> $l_their head, turning away from you.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"I thought...," Lea takes a ragged breath, struggling for the words, "I thought you..." but $l_they just trail<<s>> off, and you wish you could see $l_their face, you wish $l_they would fucking look at you.<<else>>"Why did we even take this job? Why waste the time? Could have saved us a lot of fucking trouble at this point."
Lea crosses $l_their arms, and you just stare at $l_their back, wrapping your arms around your head.<</if>>
A long silence stretches between you, and you feel as if you are on the edge of a precipice, one you have been balancing on for a long time - but now the foundation is crumbling beneath your feet, and there's nothing for you to hold onto, nothing to keep you from falling.
[[Continue ->bad leave]]You stand, your chair scraping painfully loud over the floor as you do, Lea wincing at the sound.
"Just give it to me," you say, holding out your hand. Lea gives you a dark look, $l_their lip curling around the pipe.
"Fuck you, $surname. I can fucking do it!" $l_they snarl<<s>>, stepping back away from you.
You just watch as Lea tries and fails to light the pipe over and over again.
"Fuck!" Lea slams the pipe onto the table and turns away, hands on $l_their hips as $l_they glare<<s>> into the fireplace.
<<if $l_flirt gte 1>>"I thought...," Lea takes a ragged breath, struggling for the words, "I thought you..." but $l_they just trail<<s>> off, and you wish you could see $l_their face, you wish $l_they would fucking look at you.<<else>>"Why did we even take this job? Why waste the time? Could have saved us a lot of fucking trouble at this point."
Lea crosses $l_their arms, and you just stare at $l_their back, wrapping your head in your arms.<</if>>
A long silence stretches between you, and you feel as if you are on the edge of a precipice, one you have been balancing on for a long time - but now the foundation is crumbling beneath your feet, and there's nothing for you to hold onto, nothing to keep you from falling.
[[Continue ->bad leave]]Lea turns on $l_their heel then, striding across the room and gathering the remaining bags in $l_their arms, slinging $l_their rucksack across $l_their back.
"I'll finish packing," Lea says roughly, not looking at you.
$l_They head<<s>> for the door, but hesitate<<s>>, $l_their hand on the doorknob, $l_their head bowed slightly. You think maybe $l_they<<re>> going to say something, but instead $l_they just shake<<s>> $l_their head and slips out the door without another word.
You let the silence in the room consume you, sinking back into your chair, throwing your arms over your head, just staring at the wall. You're not sure how long you sit like that. Long enough that the fire starts to burn low, the cold creeping in through the walls, and yet you feel too hot. Too confined. Your palms are slick with sweat, a slight tremor in your hands, and you stand abruptly, breathing hard.
You need to get out of here. Fresh air. That will help. You're sure of it. You all but run across the room, snatching up your cloak and throwing it over your shoulders, fumbling with the clasp as you shove your way through the door and into the hallway.
[[Continue ->jack's hallway]]<<if $n_relationship eq 1>><<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>Noel's hand on your arm makes you turn back to $n_them, and $n_xe slowly trails $n_their fingers down your sleeve, to your hand, taking it in $n_theirs. He gives your hand a gentle squeeze, peering into your hood and searching your face.
You swallow hard, your anxiety from earlier scrambled, your heart racing for a different reason, now.
"You should come sit," Noel says gently, pulling on your arm and walking backwards, guiding you towards the corner table.
"Okay," you say, your voice gruff and your face hot, just letting Noel pull you along.<<set $n_holding_hands to true>><<else>>Noel steps up to you, tilting $n_their head and peering into your hood, searching your face. You swallow hard, blinking at $n_them as $n_xe moves even closer, $n_their brow knit with concern.
$n_Their hand hovers near yours, your knuckles just brushing, and your panic from earlier is scrambled now, your heart racing for an entirely different reason.
"You should come sit," Noel says gently, pulling his hand back and slowly walking backwards, gesturing for you to follow.
"Okay," you say, your voice gruff, and you shuffle after him, your hands twitching at your sides.<</if>><<elseif ($n_relationship eq 2) or ($n_relationship eq 4)>><<if hasVisited("Entwine your fingers with Noel's. ♡")>>Noel's hand on your arm makes you turn back to him, and $n_xe slowly trails $n_their fingers down your sleeve until $n_xe reaches your hand, taking it in $n_theirs. $n_xe gives your hand a gentle squeeze, peering into your hood and searching your face.
You swallow hard, your panic from earlier scrambled, your heart racing for a different reason, now. You pull your hand back, crossing your arms and clearing your throat.
"Noel...," you warn, scuffing the floor with your boot.
"You should come sit," Noel says gently, taking a few steps back towards the table, gesturing for you to follow, clearly undeterred by your brusqueness, and despite your reservations, you can't deny the pull you feel, the tiny spike of excitement at him approaching you.
"Okay," you say, your voice gruff, and you shuffle after him, tightening your arms around yourself.<<else>>Noel steps up to you, tilting $n_their head and peering into your hood, searching your face. You swallow hard, blinking at $n_them as $n_xe moves even closer, $n_their brow knit with concern.
$n_Their hand hovers near yours, and instinctively you pull back, dropping your gaze from $n_them, though your panic from earlier is scrambled now, your heart racing for an entirely different reason.
"Noel...," you warn, scuffing the floor with your boot.
"You should come sit," Noel says gently, pulling his hand back and slowly walking back towards the table, gesturing for you to follow, undeterred by your brusqueness, and despite your reservations, you can't deny the pull you feel, the tiny spike of excitement at him approaching you.
"Okay," you say, your voice gruff, and you shuffle after him, your hands twitching at your sides.<</if>><<elseif $n_relationship eq 5>> Noel steps up to you, tilting $n_their head and peering into your hood, searching your face. You swallow hard, blinking at $n_them as $n_xe moves even closer, $n_their brow knit with concern.
$n_Their hand hovers at your side, $n_their knuckles brushing yours, and your panic from earlier is scrambled now, your heart racing for an entirely different reason.
"You should come sit," Noel says gently, pulling his hand back and slowly walking backwards, gesturing for you to follow.
"Okay," you say, your voice gruff, and you shuffle after him, your hands twitching at your sides.<<else>>Noel steps up to you, tilting $n_their head and peering into your hood, searching your face. You frown, blinking at $n_them as $n_xe moves even closer, $n_their brow knit with concern.
"What?" you say, but it's not as snappy is you want it to be, a slight waver caught in your throat.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>><<if $touch_averse gte 1>>Noel gently lays his hand on your shoulder, but you quickly shrug it off, wrapping your arms around yourself. Noel doesn't look offended or anything, simply lowering $n_their hand and giving you a soft smile. $n_Their attempt to comfort you does help a bit, the sudden panic that sent you running down here waning slightly, and you take a deep breath, exhaling slowly.<<set $n_touch_knows to true>><<else>>Noel gently lays $n_their hand on your shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. You just stare at $n_them, but the touch does help ground you a bit, your anxiety waning slightly, and you take a deep breath, exhaling slowly.<</if>><<else>>Noel purses $n_their lips, taking a moment to respond, raising $n_their hand as if to touch you, though eventually $n_xe just gives you a small smile, and despite everything, the sudden panic that sent you running down here wanes slightly, and you take a deep breath, exhaling slowly.<</if>>
"You should come sit," Noel says gently, pulling his hand back and slowly walking backwards, gesturing for you to follow.
"Okay," you say, your voice gruff, and you shuffle after him, your hands twitching at your sides.<</if>><<include "parlor table">><<if $n_flirt gte 1>>Noel steps up to you, tilting his head and peering into your hood, searching your face. You swallow hard, blinking at $n_them as $n_xe moves even closer, $n_their brow knit with concern.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>><<if $touch_averse gte 1>>Noel gently lays $n_their hand on your shoulder, but you quickly shrug it off, wrapping your arms around yourself. Noel doesn't look offended or anything, simply lowering his hand and giving you a soft smile. You feel your face grow hot, your sudden panic from earlier scrambled now, your heart racing for an entirely different reason.<<set $n_touch_knows to true>><<else>>Noel gently lays his hand on your shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. You just stare at $n_them, your face growing hot, your sudden panic from earlier scrambled now, your heart racing for an entirely different reason.<</if>><<else>>Noel purses $n_their lips, taking a moment to respond, raising $n_their hand as if to touch you, though eventually $n_xe just gives you a small smile, and despite everything you find $n_their attempt to comfort you does manage to help a bit... maybe because your panic has scrambled into something else now, your face growing hot, your heart racing for an entirely different reason with Noel's attention on you like this.<</if>>
"You should come sit," Noel says gently, pulling his hand back and slowly walking back towards the table, gesturing for you to follow.
You hesitate. "Okay," you concede, your voice gruff, and you shuffle after him, your hands twitching at your sides.<<else>>Noel steps up to you, tilting $n_their head and peering into your hood, searching your face. You frown, blinking at $n_them as $n_xe moves even closer, $n_their brow knit with concern.
"What?" you say, but it's not as snappy is you want it to be, a slight waver caught in your throat.
<<if $n_touch_knows eq false>><<if $touch_averse gte 1>>Noel gently lays $n_their hand on your shoulder, but you quickly shrug it off, wrapping your arms around yourself. Noel doesn't look offended or anything, simply lowering his hand and giving you a soft smile. You glance away from him for a moment, taking a deep breath, exhaling slowly, before giving him an apologetic look.<<set $n_touch_knows to true>><<else>>Noel gently lays $n_their hand on your shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. You just stare at $n_them, but the touch does help ground you a bit, and you take a deep breath, exhaling slowly, giving $n_them an apologetic look.<</if>><<else>>Noel purses $n_their lips, taking a moment to respond, raising $n_their hand as if to touch you, though eventually $n_xe just gives you a small smile, and despite everything, the sudden panic that sent you running down here wanes slightly, and you take a deep breath, exhaling slowly.<</if>>
"You should come sit," Noel says gently, pulling his hand back and slowly walking backwards, gesturing for you to follow.
You hesitate. "Okay," you concede, your voice gruff, and you shuffle after him, your hands twitching at your sides.<</if>>
<<include "parlor table">>You find yourself glancing back over your shoulder, though, and you stare at the door for a moment, biting the inside of your cheek - debating your last chance to retreat.
But there's something about Noel, the way $n_xe feels familiar, the closest thing to what you would call //home//, that invisible thread between you two drawing you back. It reminds you of the Black Iron, of Jorah, of familiar gold eyes flashing across a campfire, and a wave of melancholy washes over you, calming and pensive, cooling the hot anxiety prickling under your clothes. You close your eyes briefly, turning away from the door then, letting Noel lead you farther into the parlor.
"Clementine was just about to do a reading for me," Noel says cheerfully then, and you blink, looking past $n_them to see Clementine sitting alone at the table, a spread of cards laid out in front of them.
<<if $n_holding_hands>>Noel squeezes your hand again, before letting go, stepping up and pulling a chair out for you. You just stare at him and the chair for a moment, unable to process the gesture right away. You shake your head and quickly sit down, ducking your head into your hood, your heart still fluttering in your chest.<<if $c_flirt gte 1>>
You scoot your chair in and glance over at Clementine, who is eyeing you and Noel with an unreadable expression, though they quickly drop their gaze to their cards when they see you looking at them, reaching out and shifting some of them slightly, only to shift them right back, their green eyes hard.<</if>><<else>><<if $n_flirt gte 1>>Noel sweeps ahead and pulls a chair out for you, and you just stare at him and the chair for a moment, unable to process the gesture right away. You shake your head and quickly sit down, ducking your head into your hood, your heart still fluttering in your chest.<<else>>Noel sweeps ahead and pulls a chair out for you, and you just stare at him and the chair for a moment, unable to process the gesture right away. You shake your head and quickly sit down, ducking your head into your hood, clearing your throat.<</if>>
As you scoot your chair in, you glance over at Clementine, who gives you a small smile, their hands pressed to the table, though they fidget slightly with the cards, glancing between you and Noel.<</if>>
"What card do you think I'll get?" Noel asks then, dropping down heavy in the chair next to you.
"Uh," you blink over at him, still attempting to collect yourself, "I don't know. Six of hearts?" you say with a shrug.
Noel grins at you, and Clementine giggles, partially covering their laugh with their hand. You squirm in your chair, scowling down at the table, your face growing hot.
"You're funny," Clementine says, propping their chin on their hand.
"Not those kinds of cards, dear," Noel says. "Skrying cards."
"Oh."
"Have you ever had a reading?" Noel asks, leaning towards you.
"No," you say, "I do know what it is, though," you add quickly, defensively, shaking your head at your mistake. You eye the cards on the table then, painted with intricate golden florals reflecting the dim light of the parlor, shimmering like the sun reflecting over open water, sentient almost, and you half expect them to start growing roots across the table.
Your gaze flicks back up to Clementine. "A bard //and// a seer?" you prompt.
"Don't forget dancer!" Noel adds with a smile. "//And// - just how many instruments can you play?"
"I'm not a seer," Clementine says quickly, blushing. "This is just for fun," they say, shifting in their seat. <<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 2)>>You can't help but smile over at them, catching their eye, and their blush deepens even more, ducking their head and hiding behind their curls.<</if>>
"How many instruments?" Noel goads again, clearly revelling in Clementine's modesty.
"I can't play the flute, like you, if that's what you're fishing for," Clementine says, and Noel beams while Clementine just laughs.
"What about you, $name?" Noel asks then.
What about you? Tapping your fingers on the tabletop, you don't answer right away, pursing your lips and resisting the urge to sigh.
"No. I can't say I've ever had the time to... pick up an instrument. I've not had the time for a lot of things," you finally say, pressing your palms to the table and leaning back in your chair.
[[Continue ->parlor table 1]]<<if $hobby eq "maybe_sewing">><<include "maybe sewing">><<elseif $hobby isnot " ">><<include "already chose hobby">><<else>><<include "has not chose hobby">><</if>>"Yet," Clementine adds to your sentence, leaning across the table. "You haven't had the time, //yet//."
You can't help but scoff, slumping farther back in your chair. But Clementine is watching you, their green eyes hard.
<<if $for_a_song>>"I'll teach you to play the pandura. And if you want to learn embroidery, if you want to learn to make your own jacket, I'll teach you that, too," Clem says. You blink over at them, having all but forgotten the remark in the lift earlier today - about their jacket, about embroidering your cloak - and you fumble for something to say, unfamiliar with this... //familiarity//.
Noel looks between you and Clementine, his brow furrowed, and you end up just closing your eyes for a moment, retreating into your hood.<<set $hobby to "pandura">><<else>>"I was serious when I offered before - I can teach you how to embroider," Clem says. You blink over at them, having all but forgotten the remark in the lift earlier today - about their jacket, about embroidering your cloak - and you fumble for something to say, unfamiliar with this... //familiarity//.
Noel looks between you and Clementine, his brow furrowed, and you end up just closing your eyes for a moment, retreating into your hood.<<set $hobby to "sewing">><</if>>
<<include "cards">>"Yet," Clementine adds to your sentence, leaning across the table. "You haven't had the time, //yet//."
You can't help but scoff, slumping even farther back in your chair. You already had this conversation once. But Clementine is watching you, their green eyes hard, and you imagine they'd have more to say if Noel wasn't here right now.
<<if $hobby eq "instrument">>"You could learn the pandura. Or the lyre. Maybe... a harp?"
Clem pauses, leaning forward to peer into your hood. "Or maybe not an instrument after all. Maybe something else."<<elseif $hobby eq "pandura">>"I'll teach you the pandura. And then you could learn the lyre, and the harp. You could learn them all."
Clem pauses, leaning forward to peer into your hood. "Or maybe not an instrument after all. Maybe something else."<<elseif $hobby isnot "nothing">><<if $for_a_song>>"I'll teach you that song. And maybe you'll stick with it - or maybe you'll try something else. Maybe... $hobby?"<<else>>"I'd offer to teach you the pandura... But something tells me you're not interested in learning an instrument," Clementine says then, tilting their head at you. "Maybe... $hobby?"<</if>>
Noel looks between you and Clementine, his brow furrowed, and you close your eyes for a moment, retreating into your hood.<<else>>"I told you before, Clementine. There's no point in playing pretend," you say, shaking your head.
Clementine gives you a sad look, but doesn't say anything else, instead just letting out a little sigh and fidgeting with the cards. Noel glances between you, his brow furrowed, and you just turn away, your face twitching.<</if>>
<<include "cards">>"Well, there's always more time," Clementine says gently. They hesitate for a moment, before leaning forward, peering into your hood.
<<if $for_a_song>><<if $played_pandura>>"You can play the pandura," Clementine offers then.
That just makes you laugh. "Three chords? I hardly think that counts."
"It does!" Clementine says. You glance over at them, and their brow is furrowed, arms crossed. "You can learn more. I'm going to teach you that song."
"Right," you say softly, rubbing a hand along your jaw. <<if $clem_promise>>You did make a promise, after all.<<else>>You did make a deal, after all.<</if>>
You close your eyes, remembering how it felt to play those chords. To listen to Clementine's song back at camp last night. That ache you felt. You sigh, clearing your throat and opening your eyes.
"How about that reading then?" you say, a bit snappy, and you shift in your chair, glancing away and avoiding Clementine's gaze.
You can still see Clem nod out of the corner of your eye, and they run a hand over their curls. "Okay. Yes, a reading," they say.
"Can I go first?" Noel cuts in then, and it's clear he's trying to keep the mood light, and you're grateful for it, as the atmosphere shifts, attention pulled away from you and back to the cards.<<set $hobby to "pandura">>
[[Continue ->card reading]]<<else>>"You'll be able to play the pandura soon," Clementine says then, "I'm going to teach you."
"Right," you say, and even though it was your idea, you feel foolish for it now. A //song//? Really? What fairytale bullshit. You glance over at Clementine, clearing your throat then. "Right," you repeat yourself with a little more enthusiasm this time. It's not Clementine's fault.
You made the deal, after all.
They give you a warm smile, before turning their attention back to the cards. Noel is glancing between the two of you, his brow furrowed curiously, and you fidget with you hands, hoping he doesn't ask...
"How about that reading then?" Clementine says, and Noel turns away, immediately perking up at Clem's words.
"I'll go first!" $n_xe says, and Clementine laughs, nodding.<<set $hobby to "pandura">>
[[Continue ->card reading]]<</if>><<else>><<if $played_pandura>>"You can play the pandura now," Clementine offers.
That just makes you laugh again. "What? Three chords? That's not anything."
Clementine chews on their lip for a moment, considering.
<</if>>"If you could. What would you do? Anything. Drawing, painting, maybe another instrument... whatever?"
Clem and Noel both look at you expectantly.
<<include "parlor hobby choices">><</if>><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"How about the cards? Isn't that what we're doing? A reading? Just pull a fucking card," you snap then, your annoyance flaring for a moment before you sigh, running a hand over your face and glancing away, avoiding Clementine's gaze.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You chew on the inside of your cheek, glaring down into your lap. "Are we going to do a reading or not?" you say then, your voice hard.<<else>>You let out a long sigh then, shaking your head. "Can we just do the reading now?" you say, glancing between Noel and Clementine, before just dropping your gaze to the cards, crossing your arms over your chest.<</if>>
Clementine still stares at you, though their eyes are softer now, and they sink back into their seat a bit, pulling at the front of their tunic.
"Yes. You're right," Clem says, dropping their gaze and running a hand through their curls.
"Can I go first?" Noel chimes in, all but waving his hand in front of Clementine's face. It's clear he's trying to keep the mood light, and you're grateful for it, as the atmosphere shifts, attention pulled away from you and back to the cards.
Clementine still takes another moment to fully recompose themself, laughing weakly as Noel waves $n_their hand a few more times in front of them before leaning over the cards.
[[Continue ->card reading]]"We'll just do one card," Clementine says, glancing over to Noel. "I already shuffled and set them up. So you just have to... pick one," Clementine drops their voice and wiggles their fingers as they say it.
Noel hums, leaning across the table and tapping a finger to $n_their chin. He swings his hand back and forth over the cards, his eyes narrowed, stopping for a few moments over certain cards and wiggling his fingers just like Clementine, teasing them as if $n_xe's going to pick one before snatching his hand back and moving on to another.
Right when you think Clementine might just snatch one up for Noel themself, Noel points to one of the cards with a nod. Clementine carefully flips the card around, sliding it across the table so it's easier for you and Noel to see.
There's a lone man, walking towards a cliff edge, a rucksack on their back and one foot perilously hanging over the edge. Black ocean water rises up the cliff face towards them, with a dark sky up above, no stars or moon - only an iridescent, inky black. The only real source of light is the lantern the person holds over their head, a cool green light that gives them a ghostly appearance, reflecting across the water. It reads //The Fool//.
It makes your skin crawl.
"The Fool?" Noel gasps dramatically, pressing a hand to $n_their chest and giving Clementine a wounded look.
"It's not a bad card!" Clementine says quickly, and Noel laughs. You look between the both of them, though they seem oblivious to your sudden dismay, and you try to swallow it down, shaking your head and rubbing your hand over your arm.
"//Sure//," Noel teases, sliding the card back over to Clem.
Clementine huffs, but still smiles, picking the card up and holding it in their hands.
"It's new beginnings. Freedom to start over," Clem says, rotating the card, their voice soft. "It's a good card, Noel."
It's a good card. You exhale slowly, watching the way the oil lamps reflect off the iridescent paint of the green lantern as Clementine holds it up.
Noel seems to be surprised, blinking and pursing his lips while drumming his fingers on the table. "Your turn," $n_xe says abruptly, turning to you.
Clementine quickly reshuffles the cards, and your amazed at how fast their hands are, the cards blurring as they pass between their palms. Carefully laying them out on the table again, they tuck their hands into their lap and then look over at you.
You feel the hair on the back of your neck slowly rise.
<div id="choice">[[I pick a card.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Clementine, why don\'t you pick a card first?"' 'clem why dont you pick a card first'>><</link>></div><div id="choice"><<link '"A string instrument, I think. Like what you play, Clementine."' 'a string instrument i think'>><<set $hobby to "instrument">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"...Woodcarving."' '... woodcarving'>><<set $hobby to "woodcarving">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'d want to draw. To paint."' 'to draw to paint'>><<set $hobby to "drawing">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Embroidery. And sewing. I think that could be... useful."' 'embroidery n sewing'>><<set $hobby to "sewing">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'ve always wanted to try and write something."' 'try and write something'>><<set $hobby to "writing">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Dancing. I\'ve dreamed about dancing, before."' 'dreamed about dancing'>><<set $hobby to "dancing">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'d want to keep a garden, like the one we have at the stronghold."' 'keep a garden'>><<set $hobby to "gardening">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Nothing. No point in playing pretend."' 'no point in playing pretend 1'>><<set $hobby to "nothing">><</link>></div>"But this is all just a hypothetical," you say, giving Clementine a hard look.
"Right," Clementine says, dropping their gaze then, fidgeting with the cards. They clear their throat then, taking a moment before looking back to you and Noel. "Okay. How about that reading now?" they say, nodding.
"Can I go first?" Noel cuts in then, and it's clear he's trying to keep the mood light, and you're grateful for it, as the atmosphere shifts, attention pulled away from you and back to the cards.
[[Continue ->card reading]]You hesitate before answering, wondering how the conversation got turned on you like this.
"A... a string instrument, I think," you say slowly, pulling at your sleeve. "Like what you play, Clementine. I always hear it, on the road, in taverns," you gesture around the parlor, though the music has long since stopped being played for the night.
Clementine presses their elbows to the table, their eyes lighting up. "Yeah? The pandura is a good start," they say, clearly excited about the idea.
<<if $played_pandura eq false>>You frown, glancing down at your hands. Playing an instrument like that... it just seems so preposterous. Trying to imagine something as delicate as the pandura in your hands... you clench them into fists, shaking your head.<<else>>You frown, glancing down at your hands. That night in camp with Clem was just a one time thing. You can't imagine having to take care of a delicate instrument like the pandura. You would break it. Your hands clench into fists then, and you shake your head.<</if>>
<<include "hobby chosen">>You hesitate before answering, wondering how the conversation got turned on you like this.
"...Woodcarving, I think," you say. That would be the most fitting, wouldn't it? Destroying something with your hands. You're already pretty good at that.
Clementine hums, looking at you thoughtfully. "Maybe we could pick up some woodcarving tools?" They glance to Noel, who considers it, tapping a finger to $n_their lips.
You frown, glancing down at your hands, the memory of Jorah and his carvings materializing before you. The smell of cut wood, the sound of his knife scraping away the bark.
<<include "hobby chosen">>You hesitate before answering, wondering how the conversation got turned on you like this.
"I... I'd want to draw. To paint, maybe," you say.
Clementine hums, looking at you thoughtfully. "What would you draw?" they ask softly.
"I... I don't know." You stare down at your hands, pulling on a string hanging loose from your cloak. What //would// you draw? A memory scratches at the back of your mind, just beyond your reach. Flowers, simple and crude, drawn by a child's hand.
It's a fleeting image. It slips through your fingers, gone before you can make sense of it.
<<include "hobby chosen">>You hesitate before answering, wondering how the conversation got turned on you like this.
"...Embroidery. And sewing. I think that could be... useful, for me," you say, recalling all the times you've had your clothes ripped. The shirt you had just been wearing last night being one of them - the sleeve shredded, just like your arm.
Clementine presses their elbows to the table, their eyes lighting up. "Yeah? I could show you some tricks," they say, clearly excited about the idea.
You frown, glancing away, your hands clenching into fists, your knuckles straining. Or maybe it's the flash of red you see behind your eyes, the shaking hands and ripped skin as you stitch yourself closed for the first time. It can't be that different. Maybe you would be good at it.
<<include "hobby chosen">>You hesitate before answering, wondering how the conversation got turned on you like this.
"I think... writing," you say slowly, remembering Lea's journal that $l_they keep<<s>>, to track your jobs and supplies.
"Yeah?" Clementine hums. "I think... that would be good for you, $name."
You don't even guess what that comment is supposed to mean. You frown, glancing down at your hands. You had a journal during your apprenticeship, mainly filled with notes and doodles in the margins. But you've never really tried to write anything, for yourself.
<<include "hobby chosen">>You hesitate before answering, wondering how the conversation got turned on you like this.
"...Dancing," you say slowly, pulling on your sleeve, "I've dreamed about dancing before, I think." There's a faint memory stirring in the back of your mind - of you, dancing, holding your $sibling's hands as $s_they stand<<Ss>> on top of your feet. It's fleeting, barely there, and it fades away before you can fully realize it.
"I could show you a few things. Noel, too," Clem says gently, and they're looking at you with their browed furrowed slightly, the concern clear in their eyes. You must have been making a face.
You frown, quickly glancing away from them, avoiding Noel's similarly concerned look as well. Jorah would laugh at you right now, if he was here. //Dancing//. Well, maybe it wouldn't be so far from fighting. The movements, at least. You'd just have to learn how to do it without drawing blood. Without flinching.
<<include "hobby chosen">>You hesitate before answering, wondering how the conversation got turned on you like this.
"...I'd want to keep a garden. Like the one we have at the stronghold." There's a garden at the Black Iron, for vegetables and fruit, even some flowers, too, and you've always wanted to try your hand at it. What that would be like, to grow something from nothing.
"Oh! That would be so lovely," Clementine says, smiling across the table at you.
You frown, glancing away, staring down at your hands. You imagine you wouldn't be very good at it. You'd probably overwater everything, or be too rough and careless, and forget to water them altogether.
<<include "hobby chosen">>"Nothing. No point in playing pretend," you say with a shrug.
Clementine stares at you for a long moment. "Why not?" they ask, and it's a genuine question, but it gets under your skin.
"//Why not?// Why bother? I'm not interested in torturing myself," you snap, sinking into your chair and crossing your arms over your chest. "Pretending to be something I'm - something I'm not."
Clementine opens their mouth to say something else, but Noel waves his hand, shaking his head.
"Don't push <<if $nopr>>$name<<else>>$mc_them<</if>>," Noel says, and Clementine looks between the two of you, before nodding, lowering their gaze and wringing their hands.
You glance over at Noel, who's giving you a look you can't quite decipher, but you feel an unexpected gratitude towards $n_them, a knowing moment passing between the two of you: //Clementine wouldn't understand.//
"It's alright. We don't need to talk about it," $n_xe says, smiling gently. That smile makes your stomach twist, and you quickly glance away, staring down at the cards on the table.
"How about the cards? Weren't you going to do a reading?" you say, clearing your throat then, and Clementine perks back up, nodding quickly.
"Can I go first?" Noel is grinning now, and it's clear he's trying to keep the mood light, and you're grateful for it, as the atmosphere shifts, attention pulled away from you and back to the cards.
[[Continue ->card reading]]You pick the first card you really look at, jabbing it with your finger. Clementine flips it for you, sliding it across the table, and you lean back a bit, blinking down at it.
<<if $family eq "bad">><<include "bad relationship cards">><<elseif $family eq "complicated">><<include "complicated relationship cards">><<else>><<include "good relationship cards">><</if>>"Clementine, why don't you pick a card first?" you say, and you don't know if it's because you're actually curious, or because you want to delay picking your own card.
Clementine blinks, clearly not expecting the request, glancing between you and Noel for a moment.
"Oh, okay," they say, giving you a little smile as they shift in their chair, their eyes flicking over the cards.
They purse their lips, their hand hovering over the spread, and they seem to make a choice, but they hesitate, changing their mind at the last moment, fumbling a bit as they flip it over.
The card is facing you, upside down for Clementine, and you and Noel both lean forward to peer down at it. A woman, sitting in a plain, stone chair, one of her arms hanging at her side, palm facing forward, dark red blood trickling from beneath her robes and dripping from her fingers. In her other hand she holds a sword, pointed skyward, the blade a dark, watered steel. And the woman's head, not that of a woman's at all, but instead the head of a stag, antlers curling upward, and from each one a scale hangs, perfectly balanced with her shoulders back and head high, her stare unrelenting, watching you, //seeing// you. Even as you sink back in your chair, the eyes follow you, the sword's blade seeming to flash in the tavern's dim light.
"Justice?" Noel says, reading the word at the bottom of the card.
You look over at Clementine when they don't respond, and they're just staring at the card, their face unreadable.
"It means... something more like - the truth," is all they say before they pluck it off the table and swipe up the deck to reshuffle them. Noel raises an eyebrow, giving you a quick sideways look, but you don't say anything, the image of the stag's dark eyes still burning in your mind.
"Here," Clementine is already resetting the cards, spreading them across the table top in front of you. "Your turn."<<set $clem_card to true>>
[[Pick a card. ->I pick a card.]]You recognize the Wolfmother, leering down from the sky, her fur black as the black water, jaws wide and teeth dripping with saliva. Her claws are prominent, curling forward, her ears pinned back, an open mouthed snarl. Beneath her is a graveyard, hands breaking through the dirt in front of rotting tombstones, a few people standing with hands over their ears, their bodies painfully contorted and //wrong//, all wrong, in the shadow of the Wolfmother. The dirty, bloody hands grasp at their ankles, leaving red scratches down their calves and shins, flayed skin and exposed bone. It reads //Judgement//.
A chill creeps up your spine, your palms sweating, and you quickly look over at Clementine.
<div id="choice"><<link '"What the hell does that mean?"' 'what the hell does that mean 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"That doesn\'t look very good..."' 'that doesnt look very good... 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I think I would have preferred The Fool."' 'would have preferred the fool 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t - I don\'t even want to know what that means."' 'i dont want to know what that means 1'>><</link>></div><<set $aggressive +=1>>"What the hell does that mean?" you say, jerking back a bit in your chair, and you quickly do your best to calm the sudden alarm blaring in your mind, forcing yourself to look away from the card.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," he chuckles, though he gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"Judgement," they say, and they seem unsure now, nervously glancing at you, reluctant to explain.
"What does it mean?" you say again, your voice harder, though your mouth has gone dry.
<<include "final judgement">>"That doesn't look very good...," you say, squirming a bit in your seat. There's a panic needling in the back of your mind, but you do your best to suppress it, sitting back in your chair and forcing yourself to look away from the card, giving Clementine a weak smile.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," he chuckles, though he gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"Judgement," they say slowly, studying the card for a moment before glancing back at you, considering whether or not to elaborate, you think.
"Well?" you prompt. "What's the verdict?" You try to keep your voice light, but your mouth has gone dry, and you wring your hands in your lap.
<<include "final judgement">>"I think I would have preferred The Fool," you say, giving Clementine a tight smile. There's a panic needling in the back of your mind, but you do your best to suppress it, sitting back in your chair and forcing yourself to look away from the card, chuckling nervously.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," $n_xe chuckles, though $n_xe gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"Judgement," they say slowly, studying the card for a moment before glancing back at you, considering whether or not to elaborate, you think.
You purse your lips together, watching the card as it flashes in Clementine's hand. "Well? The suspense is killing me," you say, forcing another smile, though your mouth has gone dry.
<<include "final judgement">>"I don't - I don't even want to know what that means," you say, shaking your head and pushing your chair back from the table. You feel your lip curl, a sudden panic rising in the back of your throat, and you turn away from the card just as Noel places $n_their hand over it and slides it away from you.
Clementine quickly takes it from $n_them, turning it over in their hands.
"Judgement," they say softly, before glancing at you and placing the card back on the table.
"Yeah, I can read," you snap, and you fight the urge to stand from your chair, gripping the arm rests with straining knuckles.
"It's a complex card," Clementine starts, but you silence them with a look.
"I don't want to know."
"Okay," Clementine blanches a bit, dropping their gaze and fidgeting with the remaining cards on the table, sliding them into a small, cluttered pile before stacking them back into a single deck.
An awkward silence falls over the table, with you scowling down at the floor, picking at your hands, doing your best not to think too hard about who, exactly, is going to be //judged//.
Noel hums beside you then, and you can feel $n_them looking over at you.
"Don't worry about it. The cards are clearly wrong. I am no fool, after all," he says, puffing out his chest and grinning over at you.
You scoff, sinking into your chair, which just gets you a worried look from Noel. Your anxiety from earlier has returned now, if not worse than before, and you rub your palms together, hunching over the table, just watching as Clementine continues to gather the cards up and tuck them away into their pocket.
[[Continue ->a good card]]Why didn't you get a good card?
"I'm sorry," Clementine says softly, and your attention snaps from their hands to their face, their green eyes wide and regretful. "I didn't mean - it was supposed to be fun. I'm sorry. I forget sometimes the cards can be... a bit ruthless."
"Ruthless! I've been called worse things than //fool// before, Clementine," Noel smirks, leaning across the table, and Clementine blushes, giving Noel a small smile before looking back to you.
"It's fine," you say, because what else can you say? Clementine is clearly not convinced though, giving you a sad look before pulling their legs up into their chair, wrapping their arms around their knees and ducking their head for a moment, turning away to stare out the nearby window.
Noel stands beside you then, letting out a loud and comical groan, raising his hands over his head. He yawns, dropping his arms to his side before shooting you a sideways glance.
"Well, I hate to run out on you both," he says, "but if the cards are quite finished bullying us, I've got a few things to take care of before morning gets here. And you two should get some sleep," Noel adds, giving you a pointed look. You peer up at $n_them as $n_xe adjusts $n_their cloak and picks up a bag that had been sitting on the floor beside $n_their chair, slinging it over $n_their shoulder.
Noel pauses, though, meeting your gaze, $n_their dark gold eyes flashing inside $n_their hood.
<<if $bw_noel>><<include "bw noel farewells">><<else>><<include "not bw noel farewells">><</if>>The card is upside down, and you tilt your head to get the full picture. Two horses race towards the foreground of the card, their mouths open and nostrils flared, their eyes wide with the whites exposed, spittle flying from their lips. They're pulling a chariot behind them, a man sitting atop with a whip in his hand, his arm wound back to snap it down across the horses' backs. He wears no shirt, his chest bare, and his head is not human - but wolf. Blood trickles down his shoulders from where the wolven head meets the human neck, and above it all he wears a golden crown, gleaming in the hot sun, clouds of dust rising from the thundering hooves and the churning wheels beneath him. It reads //The Chariot//.
A chill creeps up your spine, your palms sweating, and you quickly look over at Clementine.
<div id="choice"><<link '"What the hell does that mean?"' 'what the hell does that mean 2'>><<set $aggresssive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"That doesn\'t look very good..."' 'that doesnt look very good... 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I think I would have preferred The Fool."' 'would have preferred the fool 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t - I don\'t even want to know what that means."' 'i dont want to know what that means 2'>><</link>></div>"What the hell does that mean?" you say, jerking back a bit in your chair, and you quickly do your best to calm the sudden alarm blaring in your mind, forcing yourself to look away from the card.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," he chuckles, though he gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"The Chariot," they say, and they seem unsure now, nervously glancing at you, reluctant to explain.
"What does it mean?" you say again, your voice harder, though your mouth has gone dry.
<<include "the chariot">>"That doesn't look very good...," you say, squirming a bit in your seat. There's a panic needling in the back of your mind, but you do your best to suppress it, sitting back in your chair and forcing yourself to look away from the card, giving Clementine a weak smile.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," $n_xe chuckles, though $n_xe gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"The Chariot - reversed," they say slowly, studying the card for a moment before glancing back at you, considering whether or not to elaborate, you think.
"Well?" you prompt. "What's the verdict?" You try to keep your voice light, but your mouth has gone dry, and you wring your hands in your lap.
<<include "the chariot">>"It's the final judgement. When the Vel opens and the Wolfmother returns. That's what the picture is," Clementine adds quickly. "The card itself - it can mean a few things. But for you..." they trail off, hesitating again, considering their words carefully.
"A turning point. A confrontation. With yourself, or maybe with someone close to you," they say slowly, staring down at the card, gently bending it in their hands - not enough to crease it, but enough that the light from the nearby oil lamp catches on the gold leaf decorating the back, the florals shimmering like golden water.
You quickly turn away, frowning across the parlor.
"How delightfully ominous," Noel says with a scoff. "Are the cards always like that?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Clementine says with a weak laugh.
An awkward silence falls over the table, with you scowling down at the floor, picking at your hands, doing your best not to think too hard about who, exactly, is going to be //judged//.
"Well that's enough of that," Noel says then, waving $n_their hand over the spread before crossing $n_their arms. Clementine obliges without a word, quickly swiping them up and gathering them back into a stacked deck.
[[Continue ->after card reading]]You know you're being too quiet, and you can see Noel glancing at you out of the corner of your eye, but your anxiety from earlier has returned now, if not worse than before, and you rub your palms together, hunching over the table, just watching as Clementine continues to gather the cards up and tuck them away into their pocket.
<<include "a good card">>"I think I would have preferred The Fool," you say, giving Clementine a tight smile. There's a panic needling in the back of your mind, but you do your best to suppress it, sitting back in your chair and forcing yourself to look away from the card, chuckling nervously.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," $n_xe chuckles, though $n_xe gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"The Chariot - reversed," they say slowly, studying the card for a moment before glancing back at you, considering whether or not to elaborate, you think.
You purse your lips together, watching the card as it flashes in Clementine's hand. "Well? The suspense is killing me," you say, forcing another smile, though your mouth has gone dry.
<<include "the chariot">>"I don't - I don't even want to know what that means," you say, shaking your head and pushing your chair back from the table. You feel your lip curl, a sudden panic rising in the back of your throat, and you turn away from the card just as Noel places his hand over it and slides it away from you.
Clementine quickly takes it from $n_them, turning it over in their hands.
"The Chariot - reversed," they say softly, before glancing at you and placing the card back on the table.
"Yeah, I can read," you snap, and you fight the urge to stand from your chair, crossing your arms over your chest and gripping the sleeves of your cloak.
"Reversed?" Noel prompts, $n_their curiosity getting the better of $n_them - though he immediately gives you an apologetic look, leaning back in his chair.
"I said I don't want to know."
"Okay," Clementine blanches a bit, dropping their gaze and fidgeting with the remaining cards on the table, sliding them into a small, cluttered pile before stacking them back into a single deck.
An awkward silence falls over the table, with you scowling down at the floor, picking at your hands, doing your best not to think too hard about horses breaking free. About your chariot tipping over.
Noel hums beside you then, and you can feel $n_them looking over at you.
"Don't worry about it. The cards are clearly wrong. I am no fool, after all," he says, puffing out his chest and grinning over at you.
You scoff, sinking into your chair, which just gets you a worried look from Noel. Your anxiety from earlier has returned now, if not worse than before, and you rub your palms together, hunching over the table, just watching as Clementine continues to gather the cards up and tuck them away into their pocket.
[[Continue ->a good card]]"When it's reversed... There is a lack of direction. A lack of control. The horses are going to break free of their ropes," they say slowly, staring down at the card, gently bending it in their hands - not enough to crease it, but enough that the light from the nearby oil lamp catches on the gold leaf decorating the back, the florals shimmering like golden water.
You quickly turn away, frowning across the parlor.
"How delightfully ominous," Noel says with a scoff. "Are the cards always like that?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Clementine says with a weak laugh.
An awkward silence falls over the table, with you scowling down at the floor, picking at your hands, doing your best not to think too hard about horses breaking free. About your chariot tipping over.
"Well that's enough of that," Noel says then, waving his hand over the spread before crossing his arms. Clementine obliges without a word, quickly swiping them up and gathering them back into a stacked deck.
[[Continue ->after card reading]]A person hangs upside down by their ankle, bound with chains, their hands behind their back with their head angled to expose their throat. They hang from a bare, stark white tree, stained with smears of red, thorned vines twisting around some of the bare branches and along the chains wrapped around them. But it's their throat that draws your eye, the way their head is thrown back, the deep red gash vibrant against the duller colors of the cold, snowy landscape, spilling down their face, running into their eyes and mouth, and staining the ground beneath them. It reads //The Hanged Man//.
A chill creeps up your spine, your palms sweating, and you quickly look over at Clementine.
<div id="choice"><<link '"What the hell does that mean?"' 'what the hell does that mean 3'>><<set $aggresssive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"That doesn\'t look very good..."' 'that doesnt look very good... 3'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I think I would have preferred The Fool."' 'would have preferred the fool 3'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t - I don\'t even want to know what that means."' 'i dont want to know what that means 3'>><</link>></div>"What the hell does that mean?" you say, jerking back a bit in your chair, and you quickly do your best to calm the sudden alarm blaring in your mind, forcing yourself to look away from the card.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," $n_xe chuckles, though $n_xe gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"The Hanged Man," they say, and they seem unsure now, nervously glancing at you, reluctant to explain.
"What does it mean?" you say again, your voice harder, though your mouth has gone dry.
<<include "the hanged man">>"That doesn't look very good...," you say, squirming a bit in your seat. There's a panic needling in the back of your mind, but you do your best to suppress it, sitting back in your chair and forcing yourself to look away from the card, giving Clementine a weak smile.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," $n_xe chuckles, though $n_xe gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"The Hanged Man," they say slowly, studying the card for a moment before glancing back at you, considering whether or not to elaborate, you think.
"Well?" you prompt. "What's the verdict?" You try to keep your voice light, but your mouth has gone dry, and you wring your hands in your lap.
<<include "the hanged man">>"I think I would have preferred The Fool," you say, giving Clementine a tight smile. There's a panic needling in the back of your mind, but you do your best to suppress it, sitting back in your chair and forcing yourself to look away from the card, chuckling nervously.
Noel leans over and peers down at it, raising an eyebrow. "Intense," $n_xe chuckles, though $n_xe gives you a worried look, putting $n_their hand over the card and sliding it away from you.
Clementine shifts in their chair, tucking a loose curl behind their ear, reaching over and plucking the card off the table.
"The Hanged Man," they say slowly, studying the card for a moment before glancing back at you, considering whether or not to elaborate, you think.
You purse your lips together, watching the card as it flashes in Clementine's hand. "Well? The suspense is killing me," you say, forcing another smile, though your mouth has gone dry.
<<include "the hanged man">>"I don't - I don't even want to know what that means," you say, shaking your head and pushing your chair back from the table. You feel your lip curl, a sudden panic rising in the back of your throat, and you turn away from the card just as Noel places his hand over it and slides it away from you.
Clementine quickly takes it from $n_them, turning it over in their hands.
"The Hanged Man," they say softly, before glancing at you and placing the card back on the table.
"Yeah, I can read," you snap, and you fight the urge to stand from your chair, crossing your arms over your chest and gripping the sleeves of your cloak.
"It's... it's a fitting card," Clementine says, but you silence them with a look.
"I said I don't want to know."
"Okay," Clementine blanches a bit, dropping their gaze and fidgeting with the remaining cards on the table, sliding them into a small, cluttered pile before stacking them back into a single deck.
An awkward silence falls over the table, with you scowling down at the floor, picking at your hands, doing your best not to think about the exposed red muscle and sinew of the hanged man's throat.
Noel hums beside you then, and you can feel $n_them looking over at you.
"Don't worry about it. The cards are clearly wrong. I am no fool, after all," he says, puffing out his chest and grinning over at you.
You scoff, sinking into your chair, which just gets you a worried look from Noel. Your anxiety from earlier has returned now, if not worse than before, and you rub your palms together, hunching over the table, just watching as Clementine continues to gather the cards up and tuck them away into their pocket.
[[Continue ->a good card]]"In the most basic sense, it means... sacrifice. Repentance. Something has been asked of you, and you will see it through," they say slowly, staring down at the card, gently bending it in their hands - not enough to crease it, but enough that the light from the nearby oil lamp catches on the gold leaf decorating the back, the florals shimmering like golden water.
You quickly turn away, frowning across the parlor.
"How delightfully ominous," Noel says with a scoff. "Are the cards always like that?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Clementine says with a weak laugh.
An awkward silence falls over the table, with you scowling down at the floor, picking at your hands, doing your best not to think too hard about what, exactly, is going to be //asked of you//.
"Well that's enough of that," Noel says then, waving his hand over the spread before crossing his arms. Clementine obliges without a word, quickly swiping them up and gathering them back into a stacked deck.
[[Continue ->after card reading]]<<if $n_relationship eq 1>><<if $n_holding_hands eq true>><<include "holding hands">><<else>><<include "not holding hands">><</if>><<elseif ($n_relationship eq 2) or ($n_relationship eq 4)>>Xe seems to hesitate for a moment, before stepping closer to you, tilting $n_their head and placing a hand on the back of your chair.
"You'll try to get some sleep for me, yeah?" he says quietly, just for you.
"I told you not to worry about me," you say quickly, glancing away, unable to hold $n_their dark gold eyes in your own.
"I know. It's just in my nature. To worry," he whispers, and you can still feel $n_them looking at you for a few painful seconds, before sighing softly and dropping $n_their hand from your chair. You stare down into your lap, a dull ache in your chest, and you wish you could offer something for Noel's concern, for $n_their kindness $n_xe continues to show you.
He steps back then, clearing his throat, turning to address you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.
[[Continue ->you and clem in the parlor]]<<elseif $n_relationship eq 5>><<include "not holding hands">><<elseif ($n_relationship eq 3) or ($n_relationship eq 6)>>Xe steps a little closer to you, tilting $n_their head and placing a hand on the back of your chair.
"I mean it, $name. Try to get some sleep," he says, his voice low, just for you.
You don't say anything, pursing your lips and glancing down into your lap, avoiding Noel's gaze. You should be grateful for $n_their concern, for $n_their kindness - but there's something about the incessant prompting, the hovering, that makes your stomach twist. //Something is wrong with you.//
You can still feel $n_them looking at you for a few painful seconds, before sighing softly and dropping $n_their hand from your chair. Noel steps back then, clearing $n_their throat, turning to address you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," he bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.
[[Continue ->you and clem in the parlor]]<<elseif $n_relationship eq 0>>Xe steps a little closer to you, tilting $n_their head and placing a hand on the back of your chair.
"I mean it, $name. Try to get some sleep," he says, his voice low, just for you.
<<if $dont_worry_about_me>>You give him a look. "I told you not to worry about me, Noel," you say, and Noel sighs, giving you a tight smile.
"Right," $n_xe says, dropping $n_their hand and stepping back away from you. You should be grateful for $n_their concern, for $n_their kindness - but there's something about the incessant prompting, the hovering, that makes your stomach twist.
Noel clears his throat then, turning back to the table, addressing both you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," he says, bowing with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<<else>>You just nod, glancing down into your lap, unable to hold Noel's dark golden eyes in your own. You're grateful for $n_their concern, for $n_their continued kindness - but there is something about the way Noel hovers that makes your stomach twist.
You can still feel him looking at you for a few painful seconds, before sighing softly and dropping his hand from your chair. Noel steps back then, clearing his throat, turning to address you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<</if>>
[[Continue ->you and clem in the parlor]]<</if>>But $n_xe says nothing else, instead clearing $n_their throat, dropping $n_their gaze before shooting a smile at both you and Clementine.
"Goodnight, my friends," he says, bowing with a flourish, before turning on his heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind him.
[[Continue ->you and clem in the parlor]]Reaching out, $n_xe rests $n_their hand on your shoulder, giving you a little nod.
"You'll try to get some sleep for me, yeah?" he says quietly, just for you.
<<if $bold gt $shy>>You take a deep breath, struggling for a moment to hold those dark golden eyes in your own. But you don't look away, reaching up and resting your hand atop $n_theirs, giving it a reassuring squeeze, wanting to offer something for $n_their concern, for $n_their kindness.
"For you, I suppose," you say, though your voice is still a little uncertain, but stronger now, your anxiety easing a bit again.
Noel smiles, his eyes drawn to your hand on his, and when you pull back $n_their smile softens, $n_their grip on your shoulder tightening for the briefest moment before he lets go.
<<if $touch_averse gte 1>>You miss $n_their touch immediately - and you realize it's not something you've ever really experienced before. That longing for closeness and contact. But with Noel, you seem to crave it.
<</if>>He steps back then, clearing his throat, turning to address you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<<else>>You take a deep breath, struggling to hold those dark golden eyes in your own, glancing down at your hands instead.
"I'll try," you say quietly, and you cringe at your voice, nervous and weak, and you force yourself to look at $n_them, force yourself to smile, wanting to offer something for $n_their concern, for $n_their kindness.
Noel smiles, soft and warm, and his grip on your shoulder tightens for the briefest moment before he lets go.
<<if $touch_averse gte 1>>You miss his touch immediately - and you realize it's not something you've ever really experienced before. That longing for closeness and contact. But with Noel, you seem to you crave it.
<</if>>Xe steps back then, clearing $n_their throat, turning to address you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<</if>>
[[Continue ->you and clem in the parlor]]Your cloak shivers around you from the sudden ocean breeze, and despite the sharp coldness of it, it's welcome, clearing your head as it burns in the back of your throat, your eyes watering a bit. But just as quick as it comes it's chased away by the warmth emanating from inside the tavern, enveloping you and making you sink back into your chair, your whole body warm and heavy and sore.
The parlor is quiet now, too, except for the sound of wood burning in the stove at the center, and the quiet clinking of glass as the bartender works to clean the place before morning, washing glasses and plates and everything in between. You know you need to get some sleep - but you're reluctant, a nagging apprehension putting you on edge, the image of that fucking card haunting you when you close your eyes.
Clementine shifts across from you then, drawing your attention back to the table, blinking the exhaustion from your eyes as they clear their throat, pulling on one of their curls.
<<if $bw_clem>>"Um. I guess we should call it a night," they say, and you glance down at your hands, feeling a bit awkward with just the two of you, after what happened in the city today.<<else>>"I guess we should call it a night," they say, and you glance over at them, biting the inside of your cheek.<</if>>
<<if ($deal eq true) and ($tell_lea eq true)>><<include "made deal and want to tell lea">><<elseif ($deal eq false) and ($tell_lea eq true)>><<include "did not make deal and want to tell lea">><<elseif ($deal eq true) and ($tell_lea eq false)>><<include "made deal">><<else>><<include "neither made deal">><</if>><<if $n_touch_knows eq false>><<if $touch_averse gte 1>>Reaching out, $n_xe rests $n_their hand on your shoulder, giving you a little nod.
"You'll try to get some sleep for me, yeah?" he says quietly, just for you.
You grimace at $n_their words, reaching up and carefully taking $n_their hand in yours, removing it from your shoulder - though you hesitate, giving $n_their fingers a light squeeze before letting go. You don't want to be touched - but you can give $n_them that, at least, for $n_their concern, for $n_their kindness.
<<if $bold gt $shy>>"For you, I suppose," you say, though your voice is still a little uncertain, but stronger now, your anxiety easing a bit again as you hold Noel's dark gold eyes in your own.
Noel's smile softens, searching your face for another few moments before he steps back, clasping his hands in front of him and clearing his throat, turning to address both you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<<else>>"I'll try," you say, though you don't sound very convincing, your voice uncertain and nervous, though it is stronger now, Noel's gentle prompting easing your anxiety a bit again - but you still struggle to look at $n_them, to hold those dark golden eyes in your own.
Noel just smiles, soft and warm, searching your face for another few moments before he steps back, clasping his hands in front of him and clearing his throat, turning to address both you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<</if>><<set $n_touch_knows to true>><<else>>Reaching out, $n_xe rests $n_their hand on your shoulder, giving you a little nod.
"You'll try to get some sleep for me, yeah?" he says quietly, just for you.
<<if $bold gt $shy>>You take a deep breath, struggling for a moment to hold those dark golden eyes in your own. But you don't look away, reaching up and resting your hand atop $n_theirs, giving it a reassuring squeeze, wanting to offer something for $n_their concern, for $n_their kindness.
"For you, I suppose," you say, though your voice is still a little uncertain, but stronger now, your anxiety easing a bit again.
Noel smiles, his eyes drawn to you hand on his, and when you pull back his smile softens, his grip on your shoulder tightening for the briefest moment before he lets go.
He steps back then, clearing $n_their throat, turning to address you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<<else>>You take a deep breath, struggling to hold those dark golden eyes in your own, glancing down at your hands instead.
"I'll try," you say quietly, and you cringe at your voice, nervous and weak, and you force yourself to look at $n_them, force yourself to smile, wanting to offer something for $n_their concern, for $n_their kindness.
Noel smiles, soft and warm, and his grip on your shoulder tightens for the briefest moment before he lets go.
He steps back then, clearing his throat, turning to address you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<</if>><</if>><<else>>Xe steps a little closer to you, tilting $n_their head and placing a hand on the back of your chair.
"You'll try to get some sleep for me, yeah?" he says quietly, just for you.
<<if $bold gt $shy>>You take a deep breath, struggling for a moment to hold those dark golden eyes in your own. But you don't look away, giving $n_them a weak smile, wanting to offer something for $n_their concern, for $n_their kindness.
"For you, I suppose," you say, though your voice is still a little uncertain, but stronger now, your anxiety easing a bit again, with Noel looking at you like that.
Noel's smile softens, searching your face for another few moments before he steps back, clasping his hands in front of him and clearing his throat, turning to address both you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<<else>>"I'll try," you say, though you don't sound very convincing, your voice uncertain and nervous, though it is stronger now, Noel's gentle prompting easing your anxiety a bit again - but you still struggle to look at $n_them, to hold those dark golden eyes in your own.
Noel smiles, soft and warm, and he looks at you for another few moments before he steps back, clasping his hands in front of him and clearing his throat, turning to address both you and Clementine, now.
"Goodnight, my friends," $n_xe bows with a flourish, before turning on $n_their heel and sweeping out the door into the night, a wave of cold air washing over you as the door swings closed behind $n_them.<</if>><</if>>
[[Continue ->you and clem in the parlor]]<<if $bw_clem eq false>>An awkward beat passes between you, though, with neither of you moving to actually stand.
<</if>>Clementine sighs then, dropping their hand in their lap, their curl bouncing back into place as they lean against the table, their green eyes flicking over to you.
"Did you... did you talk to Lea? About - about our deal," Clementine seems to force themself to say it, looking a bit uncomfortable, glancing around nervously.
You blink over at them, taking a moment to process the question. Oh. //Oh, shit//. You forgot. It was only this morning, but it feels... it feels like ages have passed since that conversation with them. And your fucking deal.
<<if $blackwater>>And now, after everything, you've made the decision to stay - for a day, a week, you aren't even sure. You suppose it depends if you end up getting arrested or not. //A lovely thought.// You frown, rubbing a hand over your face.
<<if $bloodpact>>"Do we still //have// a deal?" you ask, but you know it's a stupid question as soon as you say it. You glance down at your hand, at your palm, the cut already healed for you, but still apparent nonetheless. You would know if you no longer had a deal.
Clementine hesitates, and you catch them pressing their hand to their own palm, still wrapped in cloth, before they nod.
"Yeah. We still have a deal. However long it takes, once you leave for Highfell, I'm with you," they say.<<else>>"Do we still //have// a deal?" you ask. Clementine could just... leave. But they're already nodding, blinking over at you.
"I assume you will still head for Highfell eventually," Clementine says, pulling on their curl again. "I'm with you until then."<</if>>
"Merry seems interested in keeping you around, too," you say, and Clementine frowns, turning away for a moment. You haven't got the faintest idea what it is that has Merry so interested - maybe time will tell. It's clear that it irritates Clementine, though. <<if $bloodpact eq false>>And it does surprise you a bit, that they would risk this - Merry's presence, Duncan's wrath, the looming possibility that something terrible will happen at noon tomorrow - when they could easily walk away. There's nothing holding them here.
Clementine seems to read your thoughts, though, sighing again.
"I'm not stupid, $name. I know I'll never make it to Highfell on my own. Look at me," they scoff, throwing their hands up. "Even if I have to wait a few days - or - or however long it takes. You're my best bet, here."
You know they're right.
"You - you and Lea," they say. "What did $l_they say about it?" Clementine asks again, their voice a little harder now.<<else>>You wonder if they would still be here if you hadn't already agreed to this. Your hand twitches, and you can't help glancing down at your palm again. Keeping Merry away from them was always a part of the deal, though. It's just a bit more complicated, now.
"And Lea? What did $l_they say?" Clementine pushes forward, ignoring your comment, and you take a deep breath.<</if>><<else>>Clementine, now Noel and Merry, too - it will be an interesting ride to Highfell, that's for sure. And you thought two was a crowd...
"It's a long way to Highfell, still," you say, eyeing them across the table. "And Merry will be coming along now, too," you add, and Clementine frowns, turning away for a moment. You haven't got the faintest idea what it is that has Merry so interested in the bard - maybe time will tell. It's clear that it irritates Clementine, though.
"Part of the deal has always been to keep her away from me. This doesn't change that," Clementine says curtly, and - they're right. Though you didn't expect for it to turn out like this. Of course, Clementine probably didn't, either.
"Lea - what did Lea say?" Clementine pushes forward, giving you a hard look, and you take a deep breath.<</if>>
<<include "made deal already choices">><<if $bw_clem eq false>>An awkward beat passes between you, though, with neither of you moving to actually stand.
<</if>>Clementine sighs then, dropping their hand in their lap, their curl bouncing back into place as they lean against the table, their green eyes flicking over to you to you.
"Did you... did you talk to Lea? About - about my offer, this morning," Clementine seems to force themself to say it, looking a bit uncomfortable, glancing around nervously.
You blink over at them, taking a moment to process the question. Oh. //Oh, shit//. You forgot. It was only this morning, but it feels... it feels like ages have passed since that conversation with them. You rub your hands over your eyes, fighting back a groan.
Dropping your hands, you take a moment before meeting Clementine's gaze, watching you expectantly across the table.
<<if $blackwater>>"You still want to make a deal?" you ask, "I've no idea how long we'll be in Blackwater, now." Chances are you won't stay for very long, considering Duncan has made it clear you're not exactly welcome. But there's always the threat of being jailed, and who knows how long it would take for the Order to bail you out. //A lovely thought.//
"I assume you will still head for Highfell eventually," Clementine says, pulling on their curl again. "I can wait."
You raise an eyebrow at them.
"Merry seems interested in keeping you around, too," you prompt, and Clementine frowns, turning away for a moment. You haven't got the faintest idea what it is that has Merry so interested - maybe time will tell. It's clear that it irritates Clementine, though. And it surprises you a bit, that they would risk this - Merry's presence, Duncan's wrath, the looming possibility that something terrible will happen at noon tomorrow - when they could simply leave. There's nothing holding them here.
"I need to know, $name. Do we have a deal? I need to know - I need to know if you're with me."
"Are you going to leave? If I say no?"
Clementine seems surprised by your question, hesitating for a moment. "Where am I going to go? I don't know this place. I don't know anyone."
<<if ($c_flirt gte 2) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"That wasn't going to stop you before," you say, and the sudden bitterness rising in the back of your throat startles you, and you quickly glance away from them, wringing your hands. You were surprised earlier, though, to see them in your room with everyone else, especially after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan arrived. You thought - you thought they had left. You're not sure why it bothers you so much.
<<elseif ($c_flirt lte 1) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"That wasn't going to stop you before," you say, a little bitter, you admit.<<else>>"With that money in your pocket, I'm sure you could find some new friends," you say, a little bitter, you admit.<</if>>
<<if ($clem_with eq true) and ($bw_clem eq false)>>"But I trust you," Clementine blurts. They seem to regret it immediately, staring down at their hands. "I mean - you've already helped me this far."
You just blink over at them, a bit stunned at the admission, at the way their words all rush out at once, guilt grabbing at you immediately, piercing through your bitterness.
They take a deep breath then. "And things have changed. The situation here... I didn't realize it was this bad. I thought it would be... different, this far north."
"Different?" you prompt, tilting your head and dropping your voice.
But Clementine just shakes their head, ignoring your question. "Look," they sigh, rubbing their hands over their face, "I'm not stupid. I know I won't make it to Highfell alone. I know I'm suspicious. I can't fight. I can barely build a fire on my own. And you and I both know something is brewing out here - with the soldiers, with Duncan, at the border. My best chance is to stick with you and Lea, even if it means waiting around in this city for a few days - or - or however long it takes.
"You're going to go to Highfell. All I'm asking is for you to get me there, too," Clementine drops their hands, their brow furrowed. "Same as I said before." They pat their new cloak then, and you can faintly hear the sound of their coin purse clinking from the movement.<<elseif ($clem_with eq true) and ($bw_clem eq true)>>"But I trust you," Clementine blurts. They seem to regret it immediately, staring down at their hands. "You've helped me this far. You were kind to me, today, and that means - that means a lot. You've helped me more than anyone else, $name."
You just blink over at them, a bit stunned at the admission, at the way their words all rush out at once, guilt grabbing at you immediately, piercing through your bitterness.
But Clementine takes a deep breath then, pulling nervously at the front of their tunic. "I'm not stupid. I'll never make it to Highfell on my own. I doubt I even would have made it out of this city, if I had ditched you like I originally planned. Look what happened today, and that was //with// you!" They let out a humorless laugh. "Maybe I am stupid, after all."
"Clementine..."
"You're already going to Highfell - tomorrow, or in a few days, in a few weeks," they talk over you, their voice tight. "All I'm asking is for you to get me there, too." There's a desperation in their voice now that you hadn't noticed before, a pleading in their face as they lean across the table towards you. "Please, $name."
Clementine fumbles for a moment, patting the front of their new cloak, and you can faintly hear the sound of their coin purse clinking from the movement.<<elseif ($clem_with eq false) and ($bw_clem eq false)>>Clementine sighs, sinking into their chair. "You know how lucky I am? It's all pure luck that I even got here at all last night, after losing you and Lea on the road. It's pure luck that merchant was a nice man. It's pure luck someone hasn't taken one look at me and robbed me." They give you a hard look. "The state of this city - I open my mouth, they hear my accent, and they'll beat me in the street. There's soldiers, pirates, people going missing... I knew about Duncan, but I didn't - the situation here..." they trail off, pulling nervously at the front of their tunic. "I flash that coin purse to anyone else and it's the end of the line for me."
You know they're right.
They take a deep breath then. "Look," they start, rubbing their hands over their face, "I know I won't make it to Highfell alone. I don't have the proper gear, and I can't fight or hunt or - do any of that. My best chance is to stick with you and Lea, even if it means waiting around in this city for a few days - or - or however long it takes.
"You're going to go to Highfell. All I'm asking is for you to get me there, too," Clementine drops their hands, their brow furrowed. "Same as I said before." They pat the front of their new cloak then, and you can faintly hear the sound of their coin purse clinking from the movement.<<else>>Clementine sighs, sinking into their chair. "You know how lucky I am? It's all pure luck that I even got here at all last night, after losing you and Lea on the road. It's pure luck that merchant was a nice man. It's pure luck someone hasn't taken one look at me and robbed me. If I flash that coin purse to anyone else, it's the end of the line for me." They hesitate then, wringing their hands in their lap. "You saw what happened today. If you hadn't been with me... You helped me today, $name. And you were - you were kind to me. That means so much."
You blink over at them, caught off guard a bit by the sudden admission, the way the words all rushed out at once.
Clementine takes a deep breath then. "Look," they start, rubbing their hands over their face, "I'm not stupid. I know I won't make it to Highfell alone. I know I'm suspicious. I can't fight. I can barely build a fire on my own. And you and I both know something is brewing out here. My best chance is to stick with you and Lea, even if it means waiting around in this city for a few days - or - or however long it takes.
"You're going to go to Highfell. All I'm asking is for you to get me there, too," Clementine drops their hands, their brow furrowed. "Same as I said before." They pat the front of their new cloak then, and you can faintly hear the sound of their coin purse clinking from the movement.<</if>>
"I didn't get to talk to Lea, Clementine," you admit, frowning at their hand pressed to their cloak. The hand drops away at your words.
Clementine struggles to respond for a few seconds. "Whether you agree to this deal or not, I'm coming with you," they finally manage, speaking slowly. "I think I've made it abundantly clear that I have - I have nowhere else to go. But I need to know if you'll have my back. Against Merry, or anyone else. If not - then I need to know. Now."<<else>>"You still want to make a deal?" you ask, "Even with Merry coming along now? I thought... you'd be gone by now, to be honest." <<if ($c_flirt gte 2) and ($bw_clem eq true)>>You're startled at the sting in your words as you say it, and you quickly glance away from them, clearing your throat. It's true, though - you were surprised to see them in your room earlier, with everyone else, after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan arrived. You thought - you thought they had left.<<else>>You actually had been surprised to see them in your room earlier, with everyone else, after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan had arrived. You thought for sure that had scared them off. And given them a distraction, to dodge Merry - who seems to be very interested in them.<</if>>
Clementine sighs, shaking their head. "Where am I going to go? I don't... I don't know this place. I don't know anyone."
<<if $clem_with>>"That wasn't going to stop you before," you say, that sharp sting in your voice distorting into a sour bitterness in the back of your throat. You know you're just being callous, now, but the idea of Clementine leaving - it bothers you. You're not sure why.<<else>>"With that money in your pocket, I'm sure you could find some new friends," you say, a little bitter, you admit.<</if>>
<<if ($clem_with eq true) and ($bw_clem eq false)>>"But I trust you, $name," Clementine blurts. They seem to regret it immediately, staring down at their hands. "I mean - you've already helped me this far."
You just blink over at them, a bit stunned at the admission, at the way their words all rush out at once, guilt grabbing at you immediately, piercing through your bitterness.
They take a deep breath then. "I'm never going to get to Highfell on my own. I'm not stupid, okay? I can deal with Merry - if it means I can get to Highfell. What else can I do? And part of the deal always included keeping her off my back."
You suppose that's true - though you didn't really expect for things to turn out like this. Clementine probably didn't, either.
"You're going to go to Highfell. I'm coming with you. All I'm asking is for you to watch my back along the way," Clementine drops their hands, their brow furrowed. "Same as I said before." They pat their new cloak then, and you can faintly hear the sound of their coin purse clinking from the movement.<<elseif ($clem_with eq true) and ($bw_clem eq true)>>"But I trust you, $name," Clementine blurts. They seem to regret it immediately, ducking their head and staring down at their hands. "I just... You've helped me this far. You were kind to me, today, and that means - that means a lot. You've helped me more than anyone else, $name."
You just blink over at them, a bit stunned at the admission, at the way their words all rush out at once, guilt grabbing at you immediately, piercing through your bitterness.
But Clementine takes a deep breath then, pulling nervously at the front of their tunic. "I'm not stupid. I'll never make it to Highfell on my own. I doubt I even would have made it out of this city, if I had ditched you like I originally planned. Look what happened today, and that was //with// you!" They let out a humorless laugh. "Maybe I am stupid, after all."
"Clementine..."
"You're going to go to Highfell. I'm coming with you," they talk over you, their voice tight. "All I'm asking is for you to watch my back along the way." There's a desperation in their voice now that you hadn't noticed before, a pleading in their face as they lean across the table towards you. "Please, $name."
Clementine fumbles for a moment, patting the front of their new cloak, and you can faintly hear the sound of their coin purse clinking from the movement.<<elseif ($clem_with eq false) and ($bw_clem eq true)>>Clementine sighs again, sinking into their chair. "You know how lucky I am? It's all pure luck that I even got here at all last night, after losing you and Lea on the road. It's pure luck that merchant was a nice man. It's pure luck someone hasn't taken one look at me and robbed me. If I flash that coin purse to anyone else, it's the end of the line for me." They hesitate then, wringing their hands in their lap. "You saw what happened today. If you hadn't been with me... You helped me today, $name. And you were - you were kind to me. That means so much."
You blink over at them, caught off guard a bit by the sudden admission, the way the words all rushed out at once.
Clementine takes a deep breath then. "Look," they start, rubbing their hands over their face, "I'm not stupid. I know I won't make it to Highfell alone. I know I'm suspicious. I can't fight. I can barely build a fire on my own. My best chance is to stick with you and Lea, even if it means having Merry breathing down my neck.
"You're going to go to Highfell. I'm coming with you. All I'm asking is for you to watch my back along the way," Clementine drops their hands, their brow furrowed. "Same as I said before." They pat the front of their new cloak then, and you can faintly hear the sound of their coin purse clinking from the movement.<<else>>Clementine sighs again, sinking into their chair. "You know how lucky I am? It's all pure luck that I even got here at all last night, after losing you and Lea on the road. It's pure luck that merchant was a nice man. It's pure luck someone hasn't taken one look at me and robbed me." They give you a hard look. "The state of this city - I open my mouth, they hear my accent, and they'll beat me in the street. There's soldiers, pirates, people going missing... I knew about Duncan, but I didn't - the situation here..." they trail off, pulling nervously at the front of their tunic. "I flash that coin purse to anyone else and it's the end of the line for me."
You know they're right.
They take a deep breath then. "Look," they start, rubbing their hands over their face, "I know I won't make it to Highfell alone. I don't have the proper gear, and I can't fight or hunt or - do any of that. My best chance is to stick with you and Lea, even if it means having Merry breathing down my neck.
"You're going to go to Highfell. I'm coming with you. All I'm asking is for you to watch my back along the way," Clementine drops their hands, their brow furrowed. "Same as I said before." They pat the front of their new cloak then, and you can faintly hear the sound of their coin purse clinking from the movement.<</if>>
"I didn't get to talk to Lea, Clementine," you admit, frowning at their hand pressed to their cloak. The hand drops away at your words.
Clementine struggles to respond for a few seconds. "I need to know, $name," they finally manage, speaking slowly. "I've given you all the time I can - but I need to know. Now. Do you have my back - against Merry, or anyone else? Do we have a deal?"<</if>>
<<include "final deal or no deal">>Clementine sighs after a few beats, dropping their hand, their curl bouncing back into place before they brace themself against the table to stand.
<<if $blackwater>>"You're staying, then?" you blurt it out as you realize they're about to leave, eyeing them across the table, your curiosity getting the better of you.
They blink, clearly surprised by the question, sinking back into their chair.
"Yes. We made a deal," they say, tilting their head.
"I wasn't sure we still had a deal. Since things changed - since we're staying." <<if $bloodpact>>You know it's stupid as soon as you say it, glancing down at your palm, running a thumb over the thin scar there, healed already for you. You would know if you no longer had a deal.
When you look back over at Clementine, they've raised their own hand, palm facing you, still wrapped up in a torn cloth, and they give you a tight smile, wiggling their fingers.<<else>>Honestly, you're not sure why Clem is even still here at all. <<if ($c_flirt gte 2) and ($clem_with eq true)>>The bitterness rising in the back of your throat startles you, and you quickly glance away from them, wringing your hands. It's true, though - you were surprised to see them in your room earlier, with everyone else, after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan arrived. You thought - you thought they had left. You're not sure why it bothers you so much.<<else>>You actually had been surprised to see them in your room earlier, with everyone else, after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan had arrived. You thought for sure that had scared them off. And given them a distraction, to dodge Merry - who seems to be very interested in them.<</if>><</if>>
"We still have a deal," they say. "I won't pretend like I'm thrilled over the idea of staying here... but I'm not stupid. You're my best bet at getting to Highfell. I can't get there on my own. So I can wait." <<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true)>>They hesitate then, reaching up and pulling at one of their curls again. "You saw what happened today - I can't...," they take a deep breath. "If you hadn't been there..." They drop their hand, giving you a soft look. "I trust you, $name. I can wait."
You drop your gaze, swallowing hard, fidgeting with your sleeves. "Okay," you manage, giving them a nod.<<elseif ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq false)>>They hesitate then, reaching up and pulling at one of their curls again. "You saw what happened today - I can't...," they take a deep breath. "If you hadn't been there..." They drop their hand, giving you a soft look. "I trust you, $name. I can wait."
You drop your gaze, swallowing hard, fidgeting with your sleeves. "Okay," you manage, giving them a nod.<<else>>
You eye them for a moment, before giving them a nod. "Okay," you say.<</if>><<else>>"You're joining us, then?" you blurt it out as you realize they're about to leave, eyeing them across the table, your curiosity getting the better of you.
They blink at you, clearly surprised by the question, sinking back into their chair.
"Yes. We made a deal," they say, tilting their head.
"I wasn't sure we still had a deal. With Merry coming now." <<if $bloodpact>>You know it's stupid as soon as you say it, glancing down at your palm, running a thumb over the thin scar there, healed already for you. You would know if you no longer had a deal.
When you look back over at Clementine, they've raised their own hand, palm facing you, still wrapped up in a torn cloth, and they give you a forced smile, wiggling their fingers. <<else>>Honestly, you're not sure why Clem is even still here at all. <<if ($c_flirt gte 2) and ($clem_with eq true)>>The bitterness rising in the back of your throat startles you, and you quickly glance away from them, wringing your hands. It's true, though - you were surprised to see them in your room earlier, with everyone else, after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan arrived. You thought - you thought they had left. You're not sure why it bothers you so much.<<else>>You actually had been surprised to see them in your room earlier, with everyone else, after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan had arrived. You thought for sure that had scared them off. And given them the distraction they needed to dodge Merry - who seems to be very interested in them.<</if>><</if>>
"We still have a deal," Clementine confirms. "I'm not thrilled about Merry joining us, but part of the deal was always to keep her away from me," they say, giving you a nod. You suppose that's true. "And I'm not stupid - even with Merry, you're still my best bet to get to Highfell. I can't get there on my own." <<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true)>>They hesitate then, reaching up and pulling at one of their curls again. "You saw what happened today - I can't...," they take a deep breath. "If you hadn't been there..." They drop their hand, giving you a soft look. "I trust you, $name. Everything else aside - I trust you."
You drop your gaze, swallowing hard, fidgeting with your sleeves. "Okay," you manage, giving them a nod.<<elseif ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq false)>>They hesitate then, reaching up and pulling at one of their curls again. "You saw what happened today - I can't...," they take a deep breath. "If you hadn't been there..." They drop their hand, giving you a soft look. "I trust you, $name. Everything else aside - I trust you."
You drop your gaze, swallowing hard, fidgeting with your sleeves. "Okay," you manage, giving them a nod.<<else>>
You eye them for a moment, before giving them a nod. "Okay," you say.<</if>><</if>>
"Okay," Clementine sits up a bit straighter then, giving you a smile and a nod in return. You're grateful, at least, to know where you and Clementine really stand.
The two of you lapse into silence again, fidgeting in your chairs, Clementine pulling and twisting at their cloak, while you pick at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.
[[Continue ->clem scene or already decided scene]]Clementine sighs after a few beats, dropping their hand, their curl bouncing back into place before they brace themself against the table to stand.
"You're staying with us, then?" you blurt it out as you realize they're about to leave, your curiosity over the bard getting the better of you.
They blink, clearly surprised by the question, sinking back into their chair.
<<if $blackwater>>"Where else would I go? I don't... I don't know this place. You're the only familiar face here."
<<if ($c_flirt gte 2) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"That wasn't going to stop you before," you say, and the bitterness rising in the back of your throat startles you, and you quickly glance away from them, wringing your hands. Honestly, you were surprised earlier, to see them in your room with everyone else, especially after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan arrived. You thought - you thought they had left. You're not sure why it bothers you so much.<<elseif ($c_flirt lte 1) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"That wasn't going to stop you before," you say, a little bitter, you admit.<<else>>"With that money in your pocket, I'm sure you could find some new friends," you say, a little bitter, you admit.<</if>>
Clementine frowns, staring down at their hands. "I suppose I deserved that," they say quietly, tugging on their sleeves. They sigh, reaching up and pulling on their curl again. "I didn't realize... The state of this city - with Duncan - I'd be a fool to try and run off on my own," they say.
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"You saw what happened today. If you hadn't been there...," they trail off, shaking their head. "And then there was the wraith." Their fingers twitch, and they pale right before your eyes, shrinking back into their chair. "I'll never make it to Highfell on my own.<<elseif ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq false)>>"You saw what happened today. If you hadn't been there...," they trail off, shaking their head. "I'll never make it to Highfell on my own.<<elseif ($bw_clem eq false) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"I mean - just look at what happened with the wraith. What if I had been alone?" they shake their head. "I'll never get to Highfell by myself.<<else>>"I've been lucky. Incredibly fucking lucky. It's all pure luck that I even got here at all last night, after losing you and Lea on the road. It's pure luck that merchant was a nice man. It's pure luck someone hasn't taken one look at me and robbed me. If I flash that coin purse to anyone else, it's the end of the line for me." They let out a long sigh, closing their eyes for a moment.<</if>>
"Even staying in Blackwater - whether it's for a few days, a few weeks, whatever - I have a better bet with you. Even with Merry breathing down my neck," they grimace at that, "it's still better than being alone out here. So I can wait. And I - I don't expect you to put your neck out for me, or anything. But whenever you go to Highfell, I'm coming with you."<<else>>"Of course I am. You're going to Highfell. I'm coming with you," they say, shrugging.
"Is that right?" you raise an eyebrow at them. "Even with Merry hanging around, now? Honestly, I thought you'd be long gone by now," you say, <<if ($c_flirt gte 2) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"since, you know, you were going to ditch us to begin with." The bitterness rising in the back of your throat startles you, and you quickly glance away from them, wringing your hands. It's true, though - you were surprised earlier, to see them in your room with everyone else, especially after they had pulled that vanishing act when Duncan arrived. You thought - you thought they had left. You're not sure why it bothers you so much.<<elseif ($c_flirt lte 1) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"since you had been planning to ditch us to begin with." You're definitely a little bitter about it still.<<else>>"with all that money in your pocket. Haven't you made any new friends yet?" You're definitely a little bitter about it still.<</if>>
Clementine frowns, staring down at their hands. "I suppose I deserved that," they say quietly, tugging on their sleeves. They sigh, reaching up and pulling on their curl again. "I didn't realize... The state of this city - with Duncan - I'd be a fool to try and run off on my own," they run a hand over their face, taking a deep breath.
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"You saw what happened today. If you hadn't been there...," they trail off, shaking their head. "And then there was the wraith." Their fingers twitch, and they pale right before your eyes, shrinking back into their chair. "I'll never make it to Highfell on my own.<<elseif ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq false)>>"You saw what happened today. If you hadn't been there...," they trail off, shaking their head. "I'll never make it to Highfell on my own.<<elseif ($bw_clem eq false) and ($clem_with eq true)>>"I mean - just look at what happened with the wraith. What if I had been alone?" they shake their head. "I'll never get to Highfell by myself.<<else>>"I've been lucky. Incredibly fucking lucky. It's all pure luck that I even got here at all last night, after losing you and Lea on the road. It's pure luck that merchant was a nice man. It's pure luck someone hasn't taken one look at me and robbed me. If I flash that coin purse to anyone else, it's the end of the line for me." They let out a long sigh, closing their eyes for a moment.<</if>>
"Traveling with you... it's my best bet. Even with Merry breathing down my neck," they grimace at that, "it's still better than being alone out here. And I - I don't expect you to put your neck out for me, or anything. I'll... pull my own weight. I'll deal with Merry."<</if>>
You watch them for a long moment, before nodding. "Okay," you say.
You figure you've already got Noel and Merry tagging along now - what's one more, at this point? Even with whatever secrets Clementine is keeping, you've already got a fucking pirate and a rogue hunter hanging around to incriminate you either way. You scoff, running a hand over your hood and shaking your head. You do appreciate Clementine being straightforward with you about it, at least. <<if ($clem_tavernfight eq true) and ($bw_clem eq false)>><<include "tavern fight apology">><<else>><<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 2)>>Dropping your hands, you let out a long sigh, and Clementine searches your face, before returning your nod.
"Okay," they say, giving you a small smile.
Looking at them across the table, you can't help but smile now, too, and you find that you're glad - despite everything, you're glad that they're staying with you. Glad that you'll get to spend more time with them. Clementine is blushing, you realize, and you're staring - you quickly clear your throat and drop your gaze, retreating into your hood.
You can feel them watching you still, but you resist the urge to look at them again, and instead the two of you lapse back into an awkward silence, and you fidget in your chair, picking at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.
[[Continue ->clem scene or already decided scene]]<<elseif ($bw_clem eq true) and ($c_flirt lte 1)>>Dropping your hands, you let out a long sigh, and Clementine searches your face, before returning your nod.
"Okay," they say, giving you a small smile.
Looking at them across the table, you smile weakly, though you find that you're glad - despite everything, you're glad that they'll be hanging around for a while. You're starting to grow fond of the little bard, against your better judgement.
The two of you lapse into a bit of an awkward silence then, and you fidget in your chair, picking at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.
[[Continue ->already decided]]<<else>>Dropping your hands, you let out a long sigh, and Clementine searches your face, before returning your nod.
"Okay," they say, and you catch a bit of relief in that one word.
You eye them across the table, unsure exactly what to think of them, honestly. But it is what it is.
The two of you lapse into a bit of an awkward silence then, and you fidget in your chair, picking at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.
[[Continue ->already decided]]<</if>><</if>><<if $l_relationship isnot 9>><div id="choice"><<link '"Let\'s not worry about Lea. It\'s just you and me." This is starting to feel a bit dubious. I don\'t - I don\'t want Lea to be involved in this.' 'lets not worry about lea'>><<set $changed_mind_about_lea to true>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"I didn\'t get to talk to $l_them yet." I want to tell $l_them, though.' 'i didnt get to tell them yet'>><</link>></div>
<<if ($l_relationship eq 7) or ($l_relationship eq 9)>><div id="choice"><<link '"Lea\'s not a part of this. It\'s just you and me." After today - I\'m not cutting Lea in on anything. This is my deal.' 'leas not a part of this'>><<set $changed_mind_about_lea to true>><</link>></div><</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"Okay. We have a deal."' 'okay we have a deal'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I can\'t agree to this. Not without talking to Lea."' 'not without talking to lea'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"//Anyone else?// Clementine... I can\'t agree to this. You\'re not giving me enough information."' 'i cant agree to this'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"How about we forget this deal? Just come with us. Like you said... we\'re going to Highfell either way."' 'how about we forget this deal'>><</link>></div><<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true) and ($played_pandura eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 3)>><<include "clem tavern already decided">><<else>><<include "already decided">><</if>>"Well," Clementine is the one to break the silence once again, "With that sorted... Are you – are you going to head back up?" they say slowly, nodding towards the stairs over your shoulder.
You let out a long sigh, glancing back at the stairs, at the front door, a reluctance still at the thought of trying to go to sleep, an anxiety still scratching at the back of your mind.
"I – I only ask because I wanted to show you something," Clementine says, and you turn back to see them giving you a nervous look, standing from the table, carefully pushing their chair in.
You raise an eyebrow at them as they come around the table, <<if $c_touch_knows eq false>>offering you their hand. But they hesitate, pulling their hand back, giving you a bashful look.
"I know you're probably exhausted. I just mean, if you're tired, I'm not going to be offended, if you don't want to, I mean..." Clementine trails off, tugging at their sleeve.
You stare at their hand, your brow furrowed, surprised at the gesture, after the conversation you just had. Maybe it's because you had begun to suspect Clementine had only been kind up to this point //because// of their interest in the deal - and not actually... any interest in you. You thought maybe it would have been easier if that was true.
But instead, Clementine stands in front of you, their green eyes nervous, watching you expectantly.
<<include "clem tavern no touch averse options">><<else>>stopping in front of you. But they hesitate, giving you a bashful look.
"I know you're probably exhausted. I just mean, if you're tired, I'm not going to be offended, if you don't want to, I mean..." Clementine trails off, tugging at their sleeve.
You stare at their hand, your brow furrowed, surprised at the gesture, after the conversation you just had. Maybe it's because you had begun to suspect Clementine had only been kind up to this point //because// of their interest in the deal - and not actually... any interest in you. You thought maybe it would have been easier if that was true.
But instead, Clementine stands in front of you, their green eyes nervous, watching you expectantly.
<<include "clem tavern touch averse options">><</if>>"Well... with that cleared up," Clementine is the one to break the silence again, "I'll be heading up, I suppose. I'm afraid Noel may reappear and scold us at any moment," they say with a small laugh.
You make yourself laugh, too, sinking into your chair, before glancing back at the stairs, at the front door, a reluctance still at the thought of trying to go to sleep, an anxiety still scratching at the back of your mind, and the card - that fucking card still lurking just behind your eyes.
Clementine slowly stands, carefully pushing their chair under the table and adjusting the front of their cloak and tunic. They're clearly hesitating, and you wonder if they're avoiding any nightmares, too.
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 2)>>They take a deep breath, before stepping around the table, and they give you a soft smile, twisting their cloak in their hands before suddenly leaning forward and brushing a light kiss against your cheek.
"Goodnight, $name," they say, your own name whispered against your skin, and they step back with a quick bow, hiding behind their curls as they quickly brush past you for the stairs, and you find yourself turning around in your chair to watch them go, catching one last glance back from them before they vanish around the banister.
You're a bit stunned, raising a hand to your face, pressing your fingers to where Clem's lips had just been. You quickly glance around the room, your face growing hot, but there's no one else here, and you take a deep breath, sinking into your chair, retreating into your hood.
It takes you a moment to recover, letting out a long sigh, leaning your elbows against the table and dropping your head in your hands. The sweet smell of Clementine hangs around you still, making your head a little heavy, and it's not long before you regret not going up with them.<<else>>"Goodnight, $name," they say finally, giving you a quick bow, and with that they slip past your chair and head for the stairs, leaving you all alone in the parlor.
It's not very long before you start to regret not going up with them.<</if>>
<<include "clem gone parlor">>And it's good to know where things stand after your //conversation// this morning.
"I am sorry, too. For earlier. For what I said," Clementine says then, as if they had read your mind. "I really am. And... it's not an excuse - but - in the south... the hunters aren't like you."
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s alright, Clementine." I don\'t really have anything else to say about it - I was angry, and I\'m sure Clementine was, too. It\'s behind us, now, and hopefully next time they\'ll think twice before trying to buy someone like that.' 'its alright clementine'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yeah. I\'m sorry, too." I was angry this morning, and I do regret what I said to them - it\'s clear Clementine doesn\'t have a lot of experience with hunters, or northern etiquette in general.' 'yeah im sorry too'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I just shrug. It is what it is.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Look - I don\'t know what your deal is. I don\'t trust you. And it\'s fine if you don\'t trust me. Let\'s not pretend anything different." Just because they\'re going to be around doesn\'t mean we have to get along or be friends.' 'look i dont know what your deal is'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $c_relationship to 9>><</link>></div>Alone, staring down at the table, the solitude forces your mind to start wandering, to start replaying the events of the last two days over and over in your mind. You lay your arm across the table, clenching and unclenching your hand, feeling the tightness of your skin there, the sore and bruised muscle in your forearm.
You run a hand over it, pulling at your sleeves until the new scars there are exposed, the raised skin still angry and red and hot. You trace them with your thumb, frowning, before jerking your sleeve back down and sighing. What a fucking mess this has all been, and you haven't even reached Highfell yet. And there's that gnawing sense of dread, crawling up your spine again, heavier now than it had been yesterday, the weight of your fight with the wraith, of your day in Blackwater, of everything - piling onto it, dragging you down.
And then - <<if $family eq "bad">>//Judgement.//<<elseif $family eq "complicated">>//The Chariot.//<<else>>//The Hanged Man.//<</if>> The final nail in the coffin.
You press your elbows to the table, pressing your face into your palms, and for a moment you just sit like that, breathing deeply, your breath hot on your skin, and you focus on that, forcing the image of <<if $family eq "bad">>the snarling Wolfmother from your mind.<<elseif $family eq "complicated">>those bloody horses from your mind.<<else>>the slit throat and heavy chains from your mind.<</if>>
<<if ($m_flirt gte 2) or ($m_relationship eq 5)>><<include "merry distraction choices">><<else>>Instead, you find yourself seeking comfort in thoughts of...
<<if ($l_flirt gte 2) and ($l_relationship isnot 9)>><div id="choice">[[Somehow, you can't stop thinking about your handler, Lea. ♡]]</div>
<</if>><<if $c_flirt gte 1>><div id="choice"><<link [[You really miss the warm presence of Clementine. ♡]]>><<set $thought_about to "clem">><<set $rom to true>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link [[Against your better judgement... The captain, Merry. ♡]]>><<set $m_flirt +=1>><<set $thought_about to "merry">><<set $rom to true>><</link>></div>
<<if $n_flirt gte 1>><div id="choice"><<link [[You feel drawn towards your fellow hunter, Noel. ♡]]>><<set $thought_about to "noel">><<set $rom to true>><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if ($l_relationship isnot 9 and $l_friendship gte 50) or ($bw_lea eq true)>><div id="choice"><<link [[The familiarity of Lea.]]>><<set $thought_about to "lea">><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if ($c_friendship gte 60) or ($bw_clem eq true)>><div id="choice"><<link [[Clementine, with their colorful clothes and southern accent.]]>><<set $thought_about to "clem">><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if ($bw_merry eq true) or ($m_friendship gte 55)>><div id="choice"><<link [[You find the pirate captain, Merry, to be rather interesting.]]>><<set $thought_about to "merry">><</link>></div>
<</if>><<if ($bw_noel eq true) or ($n_friendship gte 55)>><div id="choice"><<link [[Noel, and xir genuine concern and kindness.]]>><<set $thought_about to "noel">><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice">[[Nothing. You just listen to the sound of the wind whispering through the cracks in the building around you, and the crashing waves of the ocean beyond the cliffs, the dull hum of the docks where the ships move with the sea.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Your hand goes to your necklace, and you think about Jorah.]]>><<set $thought_about to "jorah">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'You push through the fog in your mind, and grasp for memories of your $sibling.' 'You push through the fog in your mind, and grasp for memories of your $sibling.'>><<set $thought_about to "sibling">><</link>></div><</if>>"I am sorry, Clementine," you say, and you mean it. You wish you could do more for them.
Clementine just shakes their head, waving their hand and letting out a light laugh, though you can see the strain in their smile as they push their curls back from their face.
"It's okay, $name," they say then, and //gods//, the way they say your name makes your chest ache.
The two of you lapse into an awkward silence then, you dropping your gaze and picking anxiously at splinters peeling off the underside of the table, while Clementine keeps running their hands over their hair, pulling at their curls and staring off over your shoulder, at something you can't see.
[[Continue ->clem tavern no deal 1]]You take a deep breath, scrubbing your face with your hands. You would be lying if you said you're not still angry - that anger isn't going anywhere. It's wound tight through you, serpentine around your ribs. Constricting.
But it is what it is. Clementine isn't your enemy, not really - just a desperate fool. You drop your hands from your face, exhaling slowly, and you just shrug, waving your hand dismissively.
Clementine studies you for a few more moments, but when it's clear you're not going to say anything else, they just nod, clearing their throat.
"Okay," they say, and they let out a long breath, and you realize then how they had been tensed for your reaction. They quickly smile, though, before glancing away, hiding behind their curls.
<<include "after nod">>You take a deep breath, scrubbing your face with your hands. The anger //is// still there, wound through you, like always, serpentine around your ribs. Constricting.
You need to control yourself. Clementine isn't your enemy, not really - just a desperate fool. You drop your hands from your face, exhaling slowly, seeing those green eyes intent on you.
"It's alright, Clementine," you say, giving them a little nod. "It's alright."
<<include "scared okay">>You take a deep breath, scrubbing your face with your hands. The anger //is// still there, wound through you, like always, serpentine around your ribs. Constricting.
You need to control yourself. Clementine isn't your enemy - just a lost, desperate fool. If you're being honest, maybe the two of you are more alike than appearances would suggest. You drop your hands from your face, exhaling slowly, seeing Clem's green eyes intent on you.
"Yeah. It's okay. I'm sorry, too," you say, giving them a little nod, ducking back into your hood a bit.
<<include "scared okay">>"Look - I don't know what your deal is. I don't trust you. Let's not pretend anything different," you say, crossing your arms over your chest. "Just because you're coming with us doesn't mean we're going to be //buddies// now."
You don't like this bard. You can't stop them from following you to Highfell, but you can at least make your feelings about it painfully clear - they're a sad, desperate fool, and no apology or other bullshit from them is going to make that any different.
Clementine frowns, sinking into their chair a bit.
"I'm not trying to be //buddies//, okay? I just thought - we're stuck together. So I at least wanted to apologise," they say, "but you don't have to accept-"
"I don't accept," you cut them off.
They flinch at your words, and you feel your face twitch. Clementine is tense in the chair across from you, shrinking into themself, avoiding your gaze - afraid of you. That's what they are.
"Okay. Okay, $name," they say quickly, staring down at their hands, now. A painful silence passes between the two of you, before Clementine abruptly stands, their chair scraping loudly across the floor.
"I'm tired," they blurt, wringing their hands, "I'm - I'm going to head up." They hesitate then, shifting on their feet in front of you. "Goodnight, Hunter $surname," they say, giving you a quick bow before they brush past you, all but running for the stairs.
You let them go, pressing your palms to the table, listening to their footsteps all the way up the stairs and across the mezzanine above you.
[[Continue ->clem gone parlor]]"Okay," Clementine returns your nod, letting out a long breath, and you realize then how they had been tensed for your reaction. They quickly smile, though, before glancing away, hiding behind their curls.
<<include "after nod">>You lean back in your chair, pressing your palms to the table. //Afraid of you//. That's what they are. It's not like it's unexpected... but it still hurts. It always hurts.
The two of you lapse into an awkward silence, Clementine pointedly avoiding your gaze while you fidget in your chair, picking at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.
[[Continue ->already decided]]You consider them for a long moment, before running a hand over your face and taking a deep breath.
"Okay. We have a deal, Clementine," you say.
Clementine's face twitches, and they give you a strained smile, patting the front of their cloak again, the coins clinking softly in their pocket. "Thank you," they say, "I promise you, you get me to Highfell and it's yours."
They reach into their cloak then, and you reflexively tense in your seat as they suddenly pull out a small knife.
"We can shake on it," they say, offering you the knife, hilt first.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Take the knife.]]>><<set $deal to true>><<set $bloodpact to true>><<set $for_money to true>><<set $c_friendship +=2>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[We don't need to do that.]]>><<set $deal to true>><<set $for_money to true>><<set $c_relationship to 1>><</link>></div>"I can't agree to this. Not without talking to Lea."
<<if $l_relationship eq 1>>The two of you have just started to mend things between you; you can't, in good conscious, go behind $l_their back with this. //You won't//.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 7>>Despite the the current //state// of your relationship with Lea, you don't feel right going behind $l_their back on this. Maybe it's some weird sense of duty you still feel towards $l_them... or maybe it's just guilt. But you can't do it.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 8>>You're not sure where you and Lea stand after today - but it doesn't feel right, to go behind $l_their back with this, after everything. Maybe it's some weird sense of duty you still feel towards $l_them... or maybe it's just guilt. But you can't do it.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 9>>You're not sure why you refuse to budge on this - you doubt Lea will want to talk about anything with you, after today. You have always been pretty stubborn; but maybe it's just the principle of it all. Going behind Lea's back will just give $l_them the fuel $l_they want<<s>>, proof that it's all //your fault//, not $l_theirs. That you're the problem. You won't give $l_them the satisfaction.
You shake your head, a bitter taste in your mouth, taking a moment before leveling your gaze back at Clementine.
"No deal," you say simply.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 10>>Despite everything, you find yourself unable to do this - to go behind $l_their back like this. Maybe it's some weird sense of duty you still feel towards $l_them... or maybe it's just guilt. But you can't do it.<<else>>You're not really sure where you and Lea will stand at the end of this job - but you've promised $l_them that you'll talk, and it's not worth risking it just for some gold coins. You're not going to turn around and go behind $l_their back like this. You can't.<</if>>
<<if $l_relationship isnot 9>>You don't know what Clementine's situation is, you don't know how they got all that money, what it is they're running from - these are all things that could jeopardize not just you, but Lea, and the Black Iron.
<</if>>Clementine closes their eyes for a moment, doing their best, you think, to hide their disappointment, before letting out a long breath.
"Okay. I understand."
Clementine presses their palms to the table, staring down at their hands. "Unfortunately, you're still stuck with me," they let out a dry laugh, "but - I get it. I'm on my own." They swallow hard then, sliding their hands back across the table top as they lean back in their chair. "I'll... plan accordingly."
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true) and ($played_pandura eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 3)>><<include "clem tavern no deal">><<else>><<if ($bw_clem eq true) or ($c_friendship gte 60)>>
"I'm sorry, Clementine," you say, but they just shake their head.
"It's okay, $name," they say softly, giving you a small smile.
You don't know what else to say, and the two of you lapse into an uncomfortable silence, Clementine pulling and twisting at their cloak, while you pick at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.<<else>>You don't really know what else to say, and the two of you lapse into an uncomfortable silence, Clementine pulling and twisting at their cloak, while you pick at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.<</if>>
[[Continue ->no deal]]<</if>>"//Anyone else?// Clementine... I can't agree to this. You're not giving me enough information," you shake your head, running a hand over your hood. "First it was just Merry. Now it's //anyone else?// You realize how that sounds?"
The more you learn about this bard, the less you seem to actually know. And Clementine clearly isn't willing to tell you anything. You don't know what they're running from, you don't know where they got all that money from, and now with Merry, Noel, and fucking Duncan involved - you can't risk this.
Clementine glances away, clearly abashed by your scolding, wringing their hands in their lap.
"I know," they say quietly, and they bow their head, taking a deep breath.<<if $bw_clem>>"I... I understand. I wish..." Clementine trails off, and whatever they were going to say they seem to decide against, pursing their lips and sighing. "I wish I could tell you everything," they say then, their voice even quieter now.
But then they just shake their head, pressing their palms into the table. "Unfortunately, you're still stuck with me," they let out a dry laugh, "but - I get it. I'm on my own." They swallow hard then, sliding their hands back across the table top as they lean back in their chair. "I'll... plan accordingly."<<else>>"I... I understand," they give you a nod, "Okay. I understand."
Clementine presses their palms to the table, staring down at their hands. "Unfortunately, you're still stuck with me," they let out a dry laugh, "but - I get it. I'm on my own." They swallow hard then, sliding their hands back across the table top as they lean back in their chair. "I'll... plan accordingly."<</if>>
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true) and ($played_pandura eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 3)>><<include "clem tavern no deal">><<else>><<if ($bw_clem eq true) or ($c_friendship gte 60)>>"I'm sorry, Clementine," you say, but they just shake their head.
"It's okay, $name," they say softly, giving you a small smile.
You don't know what else to say, and the two of you lapse into an uncomfortable silence, Clementine pulling and twisting at their cloak, while you pick at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.<<else>>You don't really know what else to say, and the two of you lapse into an uncomfortable silence, Clementine pulling and twisting at their cloak, while you pick at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.<</if>>
[[Continue ->no deal]]<</if>>You shake your head, exhaling through your nose.
"How about we forget this deal? Just come with us. Like you said... we're going to Highfell either way," you say then, waving your hand dismissively.
"Yes. And I'll be coming with you, either way," Clementine says, and for the first time they seem genuinely frustrated with you. "But I'm asking for more than that - for protection. I can't put it any plainer, $name."
"If you're with us, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Hell, Lea isn't going to let anything happen to you, either," you say, "you'll be safe."
Clementine sinks back into their chair then, rubbing a hand over their face. They sigh, letting their hand drop onto the table, sitting back up again.
"You promise me," they say then, emphasizing the words, "you promise. You'll have my back?"
"I'm not promising anything," you say carefully. "But I'll keep you safe, Clementine," you nod. You don't want to make any promises, any deals, not really - but you mean it when you say you're not going to let anything happen to them.
Clementine eyes you for a painful amount of time, before nodding. They don't seem particularly reassured - but you suppose they were hoping for a handshake, a real contract between you - but you just can't give that to them.
"Okay, $name," they sigh then, fidgeting in their chair. "Thanks."
"Okay," you repeat it back to them, nodding again, and you both seem to relax slightly then, the room all but exhaling around you. A bit of an awkward silence follows, with Clementine staring off over your shoulder at something you can't see, and you scuff your boot into the floor, exhaustion digging its nails even deeper under your skin as you sway in your chair. You slouch forward against the table, running a hand over your face, and Clementine seems to jolt back into the room then, their eyes refocusing and blinking over at you.
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true) and ($played_pandura eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 3)>>"Um... well... I guess - if that's it, I guess I'll be heading up," they say slowly, clearing their throat before letting out a small laugh. "I feel like Noel will reappear at any moment and scold us."
You hum, shifting in your chair, glancing back at the stairs, at the front door, your apprehension still holding you in place, a reluctance, despite your exhaustion, at the thought of trying to go to sleep, an anxiety scratching at the back of your mind.
"Are you - are you going to head back up?" Clementine asks, slowly standing across from you. You must make a face, because they take a quick step towards you, "I - I only ask because I want to show you something."
You raise an eyebrow at them, watching as they glance down at their feet before <<if $c_touch_knows>>offering you their hand. But they hesitate, pulling their hand back, giving you a bashful look.
"I know you're probably exhausted. I just mean, if you're tired, I'm not going to be offended, if you don't want to, I mean..." Clementine trails off, tugging at their sleeve.
You stare at their hand, your brow furrowed, surprised at the gesture, after the intensity of the conversation you just had. Maybe it's because you had begun to suspect Clementine had only been kind up to this point //because// of their interest in clinching a deal - and not actually... any interest in you. You thought maybe it would have been easier if that was true.
But instead, Clementine stands in front of you, their green eyes nervous, watching you expectantly.
<<include "clem tavern no touch averse options">><<else>>shuffling closer to your chair. But they hesitate, giving you a bashful look.
"I know you're probably exhausted. I just mean, if you're tired, I'm not going to be offended, if you don't want to, I mean..." Clementine trails off, tugging at their sleeve.
You stare at their hand, your brow furrowed, surprised at the gesture, after the conversation you just had. Maybe it's because you had begun to suspect Clementine had only been kind up to this point //because// of their interest in clinching a deal - and not actually... any interest in you. You thought maybe it would have been easier if that was true.
But instead, Clementine stands in front of you, their green eyes nervous, watching you expectantly.
<<include "clem tavern touch averse options">><</if>><<else>>[[Continue ->yes deal]]<</if>>You stand, taking the knife in your hand. Clementine rises with you.
"You're sure you want to do this?" you ask.
"Yes." Clementine says without hesitation.
You glance around the parlor for a moment, but it's just the two of you, the crackle of the woodstove, and the sound of wind rushing over the roof outside. You cut your own palm first, slashing the blade quickly over your skin. Clementine holds out their own hand for you, and you pause, giving them a long look, before taking their wrist in your bloody hand.
Holding them steady, you slash their palm, just like yours. Clementine winces, but doesn’t pull away.
Releasing their wrist, you clasp their hand, both of you holding tight as your blood mingles in your palms. After a long moment, you let go, both of you dropping your arms to your sides.
You reach over and grab a napkin from the table, and hand one to Clementine, who wraps it around their bloody hand. Picking up another one, you do the same.
The air around you feels electric, thrumming with magic, powerful and intense. You sway on your feet for a moment, your head spinning, a burn in the back of your throat. And then it passes.
"Thank you," Clementine says. Eyeing them, you just nod, tightening the rag around your hand. Clementine opens their mouth to say something else, but seems to decide against it, dropping their gaze instead to the blood smeared across their hand, seeping through the cloth.
"Alright?"
They blink over at you, before nodding quickly, clearing their throat. "Yeah," they nod again, holding their hand to their chest.
<<include "tell lea or no">>"We don't need to do that," you say, waving the knife away. Clementine blinks, clearly surprised, slowly lowering the blade.
"If that's what you want," they say, carefully stashing the knife away and eyeing you warily as you stand up.
You just hold out your hand, and after a few seconds, Clementine rises and takes it.
The two of you shake on it.
"Thank you," Clementine says, giving your hand a squeeze before letting go.
<<include "tell lea or no">><div id="choice"><<link '"I\'ll let Lea know about this."' 'ill let lea know about this'>><<set $tell_lea to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"About Lea..."' 'about lea...'>><<set $changed_mind_about_lea to true>><<set $tell_lea to false>><</link>></div>"Well... if that's it, then," Clementine is the one to break the silence again, "I'll be... heading up." They hesitate a moment, before giving you a forced smile. "I'm afraid Noel may reappear and scold us at any moment."
You just nod, sinking into your chair, before glancing back at the stairs, at the front door, a reluctance still at the thought of trying to go to sleep, an anxiety still scratching at the back of your mind, and the card - that fucking card still lurking just behind your eyes.
Clementine slowly stands, carefully pushing their chair under the table and adjusting the front of their cloak and tunic. They're clearly hesitating, and you wonder if they're avoiding any nightmares, too.
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 2)>>They take a deep breath, before stepping around the table, and they give you a soft smile, twisting their cloak in their hands before suddenly leaning forward and brushing a light kiss against your cheek.
"Goodnight, $name," they say, your own name whispered against your skin, and they step back with a quick bow, hiding behind their curls as they quickly brush past you for the stairs, and you find yourself turning around in your chair to watch them go, catching one last glance back from them before they vanish around the banister.
You're a bit stunned, raising a hand to your face, pressing your fingers to where Clem's lips had just been. You quickly glance around the room, your face growing hot, but there's no one else here, and you take a deep breath, sinking into your chair, retreating into your hood.
It takes you a moment to recover, letting out a long sigh, leaning your elbows against the table and dropping your head in your hands. The sweet smell of Clementine hangs around you still, making your head a little heavy, and it's not long before you regret not going up with them.<<else>>"Goodnight, $name," they say finally, giving you a quick bow, and with that they slip past your chair and head for the stairs, leaving you all alone in the parlor.
It's not very long before you start to regret not going up with them.<</if>>
<<include "clem gone parlor">>"Um... well... I guess - with that settled, I guess I'll be heading up," they say slowly, before letting out a small laugh. "I feel like Noel will reappear at any moment and scold us."
You hum, shifting in your chair, glancing back at the stairs, at the front door, your apprehension still holding you in place, a reluctance, despite your exhaustion, at the thought of trying to go to sleep, an anxiety scratching at the back of your mind, and the card - that fucking card still lurking just behind your eyes.
Clementine wrings their hands, shifting on their feet in front of you. They're clearly hesitating, and you wonder if they're avoiding any nightmares, too.
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 2)>>But they take a step towards you, giving you a soft smile, twisting their cloak in their hands before suddenly leaning over and brushing a light kiss against your cheek.
"Goodnight, $name," they say, your own name whispered against your skin, and they step back with a quick bow, hiding behind their curls as they quickly brush past you for the stairs, and you find yourself turning around in your chair to watch them go, catching one last glance back from them before they vanish around the banister.
You're a bit stunned, raising a hand to your face, pressing your fingers to where Clem's lips had just been. You quickly glance around the room, your face growing hot, but there's no one else here, and you take a deep breath, sinking into your chair, retreating into your hood.
It takes you a moment to recover, letting out a long sigh, leaning your elbows against the table and dropping your head in your hands. The sweet smell of Clementine hangs around you still, making your head a little heavy, and it's not long before you regret not going up with them.<<else>>"Goodnight, $name," they say finally, giving you a quick bow, and with that they slip past your chair and head for the stairs, leaving you all alone in the parlor.
It's not very long before you start to regret not going up with them.<</if>>
<<include "clem gone parlor">><div id ="choice"><<link '"I want to."' 'i want to'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I reach out and take their hand.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We should... we should both just get some sleep, Clem."' 'we should both just get some sleep clem'>><</link>></div><div id ="choice"><<link '"I want to."' 'i want to 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Just take their hand.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We should... we should both just get some sleep, Clem."' 'we should both just get some sleep clem'>><</link>></div>"I'll let Lea know about this," you say, <<if $bloodpact>>tightening the cloth around your hand.<<else>>fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>>
You don't like that Clementine forced you to make a decision without Lea's input... but you figure it's better to ask for forgiveness, than to ask for permission. And that money will probably make Lea feel pretty forgiving.
"Right," Clementine says, "of course."
<<include "awkward silence w clem">>"About Lea...," you say slowly, <<if $bloodpact>>tightening the cloth around your hand.<<else>>fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>>
Clementine tilts their head at you, their curls falling across their face.
"Let's keep this between us, now," you say, dropping your hands and giving them a nod.
Clementine considers you for a moment, before returning your nod. "Okay," they say.
"Okay."
<<include "awkward silence w clem">>The two of you lapse into an awkward silence then, with Clementine staring off over your shoulder at something you can't see, and you scuff your boot into the floor, exhaustion digging its nails even deeper under your skin as you sway on your feet. Stepping back, you drop heavy in your chair, running a hand over your face, and Clementine seems to jolt back into the room then, their eyes refocusing and blinking down at you.
<<if ($bw_clem eq true) and ($clem_with eq true) and ($played_pandura eq true) and ($c_flirt gte 3)>>"Um... well... I guess - with that settled, I guess I'll be heading up," they say slowly, before letting out a small laugh. "I feel like Noel will reappear at any moment and scold us."
You hum, shifting in your chair, glancing back at the stairs, at the front door, your apprehension still holding you in place, a reluctance, despite your exhaustion, at the thought of trying to go to sleep, an anxiety scratching at the back of your mind.
"Are you - are you going to head back up?" Clementine asks. You must make a face, because they take a quick step towards you, "I - I only ask because I want to show you something."
You raise an eyebrow at them, watching as they glance down at their feet before <<if $c_touch_knows>>offering you their hand. But they hesitate, pulling their hand back, giving you a bashful look.
"I know you're probably exhausted. I just mean, if you're tired, I'm not going to be offended, if you don't want to, I mean..." Clementine trails off, tugging at their sleeve.
You stare at their hand, your brow furrowed, surprised at the gesture, after the intensity of the conversation you just had. Maybe it's because you had begun to suspect Clementine had only been kind up to this point //because// of their interest in clinching a deal - and not actually... any interest in you. You thought maybe it would have been easier if that was true.
But instead, Clementine stands in front of you, their green eyes nervous, watching you expectantly.
<<include "clem tavern no touch averse options">><<else>>shuffling closer to your chair. But they hesitate, giving you a bashful look.
"I know you're probably exhausted. I just mean, if you're tired, I'm not going to be offended, if you don't want to, I mean..." Clementine trails off, tugging at their sleeve.
You stare at their hand, your brow furrowed, surprised at the gesture, after the conversation you just had. Maybe it's because you had begun to suspect Clementine had only been kind up to this point //because// of their interest in clinching a deal - and not actually... any interest in you. You thought maybe it would have been easier if that was true.
But instead, Clementine stands in front of you, their green eyes nervous, watching you expectantly.<<include "clem tavern touch averse options">><</if>><<else>><<include "yes deal">><</if>>"Well," Clementine is the one to break the silence once again, "With that settled... Are you – are you going to head back up?" they say slowly, nodding towards the stairs over your shoulder.
You let out a long sigh, glancing back at the stairs, at the front door, your apprehension still holding you in your chair, a reluctance, despite your exhaustion, at the thought of trying to go to sleep, an anxiety scratching at the back of your mind.
"I – I only ask because I wanted to show you something," Clementine says, and you turn back to see them giving you a nervous look, standing from the table, carefully pushing their chair in.
You raise an eyebrow at them as they come around the table, <<if $c_touch_knows eq false>>offering you their hand. But they hesitate, pulling their hand back, giving you a bashful look.
"I know you're probably exhausted. I just mean, if you're tired, I'm not going to be offended, if you don't want to, I mean..." Clementine trails off, tugging at their sleeve.
You stare at their hand, your brow furrowed, surprised at the gesture, after the conversation you just had. Maybe it's because you had begun to suspect Clementine had only been kind up to this point //because// of their interest in the deal - and not actually... any interest in you. You thought maybe it would have been easier if that was true.
But instead, Clementine stands in front of you, their green eyes nervous, watching you expectantly.
<<include "clem tavern no touch averse options">><<else>>stopping in front of you. But they hesitate, giving you a bashful look.
"I know you're probably exhausted. I just mean, if you're tired, I'm not going to be offended, if you don't want to, I mean..." Clementine trails off, tugging at their sleeve.
You stare at their hand, your brow furrowed, surprised at the gesture, after the conversation you just had. Maybe it's because you had begun to suspect Clementine had only been kind up to this point //because// of their interest in the deal - and not actually... any interest in you. You thought maybe it would have been easier if that was true.
But instead, Clementine stands in front of you, their green eyes nervous, watching you expectantly.
<<include "clem tavern touch averse options">><</if>>You don't say anything, just reaching out and carefully slipping your hand in theirs, slowly standing from your chair.
Clementine stares at your entwined hands with wide eyes for a moment, clearly surprised, before breaking into a big smile, pulling you forward and lightly squeezing your fingers, running a thumb over your knuckles. You've never been one to reach out like this, to hold someone, but with Clementine you find yourself wanting it, and your hand in theirs sends a thrill through you, and any of the remaining tension <<if $deal eq false>>from you declining the deal evaporates,<<else>>from your earlier conversation evaporates,<</if>> Clementine's excitement infectious, despite your exhaustion, despite your doubts.
They take a few steps back, grinning up at you, and you can't help but laugh, and you hope you're not squeezing their hand too tight, that they can't feel the way your pulse speeds up when they smile at you like that.
<<include "clem holding hands">>"I want to," you say, and Clementine breaks into a big smile, quickly stepping back as you stand from your chair, clasping their hands in front of them, and any of the remaining tension <<if $deal eq false>>from you declining the deal evaporates, <<else>>from your earlier conversation evaporates,<</if>> Clementine's excitement infectious, despite your exhaustion, despite your doubts.
You can't help but laugh at the way they're grinning at you, and you're grateful then that they can't hear the way your heart skips a few beats when they smile at you like that.
<<include "clem not holding hands">>Clementine leads you up the stairs, glancing back as they reach the top as if you would have disappeared, as if your hands weren't linked between you. Up on the mezzanine, they pull you along down the hallway, dimly lit by the flickering oil lamps set high along the wall, slowing to a stop at one of the last doors on the left, digging around in their pocket for their key. They reveal it with a flourish, flashing it in their palm before jamming it into the keyhole.
They struggle a moment, trying to unlock it with one hand, before giving you an apologetic look and letting go of your own, forcing the key and doorknob to turn together and shoving the door open, stepping inside.<<set $c_relationship to 10>>
<<include "into clem's room">>Clementine leads the way up the stairs, glancing back as they reach the top as if you would have disappeared in the short amount of time it took them to ascend the stairs. Up on the mezzanine, they do the same, glancing back as they walk down the hallway a little ways ahead of you, smiling when you catch their eye. They stop at one of the last doors on the left, digging around in their for the key, revealing it with a flourish, flashing it in their palm before jamming it into the keyhole.
They struggle a moment, jiggling the doorknob and giving you a sheepish look before they manage to shove the door open, ducking their head as they step inside.<<set $c_relationship to 10>>
<<include "into clem's room">>"We should... we should both just get some sleep, Clem," you say, giving them a tight smile.
They blush, clearly abashed by your words, but they nod.
"Okay. You're right. Want to walk up together?" they ask, twisting the front of their tunic in their hands.
You can't help but be charmed by them, and you smile wider, more genuine, standing from your chair.
"Sure," you say, and they beam at you, sidling up beside you as you both head for the stairs.
"You're stuck with me now," Clementine says then, "we'll have plenty of time, later, on the way to Highfell."
You hum, eyeing them as you start up the stairs.
"Are you planning an itinerary?" you joke, and again they blush, glancing away and hiding in their curls. "I'll look forward to it," you add, without even thinking, the words rushing out a bit, and now it's your turn for your face to flush, heat creeping up your neck, and you duck back into your hood as Clem turns to give you a surprised, but pleased look.
At the top of the stairs, you both stop awkwardly, mainly because you don't know which room is Clementine's, if you're walking to theirs first or yours, but they gesture for you to go, so you quickly shuffle across the terrace to your door, digging down into your pockets for the key.
Clementine hovers behind you, wringing their hands, before clearing their throat and stepping a little closer.
"Um. Well...," they say, and they hesitate before reaching a hand out for your arm, a careful touch that you barely even feel through your clothes, though it's enough to make you turn away from the door and look at them. You blink at them as they lean forward, their hand tightening on your arm for the briefest moment, before they brush a light kiss against your cheek.
"Goodnight, $name," they say, your own name whispered against your skin, and they step back with a quick bow, before turning on their heel and all but running down the hallway, glancing back one last time before they vanish around the corner.
You're a bit stunned, raising a hand to your face, pressing your fingers to where Clem's lips had just been. You quickly glance around the terrace, your eyes wide, but there's no one else here, and you take a deep breath, shaking your head and fumbling your key.
You really don't know what to make of Clementine. But... you're grateful, that they're still going to be around. You think you would miss them, otherwise.<<set $c_relationship to 11>>
[[Continue ->should just get some sleep 1]]You don't say anything, just reaching out and carefully slipping your hand in theirs, slowly standing from your chair.
Clementine stares at your entwined hands with wide eyes for a moment, before breaking into a big smile, pulling you forward and lightly squeezing your fingers. Their hand around yours sends a thrill through you, and any of the remaining tension <<if $deal eq false>>from you declining the deal evaporates,<<else>>from your earlier conversation evaporates,<</if>> Clementine's excitement infectious, despite your exhaustion, despite your doubts.
They take a few steps back, grinning up at you, and you can't help but laugh, and you hope you're not squeezing their hand too tight, that they can't feel the way your pulse speeds up when they smile at you like that.
<<include "clem holding hands">>"I want to," you say, and Clementine breaks into a big smile, reaching out and grabbing your hand out of your lap, all but pulling you out of your chair. Their hand around yours sends a thrill through you, and any of the remaining tension <<if $deal eq false>>from you declining the deal evaporates,<<else>>from your earlier conversation evaporates,<</if>> Clementine's excitement infectious, despite your exhaustion, despite your doubts.
They take a few steps back, grinning up at you, and you can't help but laugh, and you hope you're not squeezing their hand too tight, that they can't feel the way your pulse speeds up when they smile at you like that.
<<include "clem holding hands">>You shake your head again, biting the inside of your cheek and turning back to your door, your key still gripped tight in your hand. You feel a bit delirious, from exhaustion or from the warm kiss haunting you, you're not sure.
You need to get some sleep.
You jam the key into the keyhole, all but forcing your door open, stumbling inside with a groan, pushing all thoughts of feathery kisses and curious bards from your mind.
[[Try to get some sleep.]][[...Try to get some sleep.]]They hold the door open for you, and you glance into the room, your heart suddenly fluttering in your chest, your palms sweaty as the full realization of what you're doing hits you.
"$name?"
And that's all it takes to draw you back in - them saying your name the way they do, like it means something to them, like they're afraid it will break if they speak it too loudly. Maybe not your name, but maybe you. You blink at them, swallowing back your nerves and shuffling into the room, ducking your head as Clem closes the door behind you.
The first thing you notice is that it's fucking cold. The room has the same furniture as yours, but the layout is flipped around, a bit disorienting, especially because the fireplace is dark and empty, not even any ash piled inside. There's a stack of logs set on the hearth, untouched, and you glance back over at Clementine, setting their key on the dresser.
"It's cold in here, Clem," you say, and you stride over to the fireplace, crouching down and hefting a few logs from the stack.
"You don't have to do that," Clementine says, quickly walking over to you, wringing their hands.
"It's okay," you say.
Clementine moves around you and crouches next to the stacked wood, watching as you carefully place the pieces into the fireplace. When you reach for another log, they quickly grab one to hand to you, and they scoot closer, giving you a little smile.
It's quick work, and you don't even bother with any kind of tinder, just pressing your hands against the wood, taking a deep breath, brow furrowing as your magic slowly uncoils in your chest, snaking down your arms, burning through your palms and igniting the dry logs.
Clementine watches with wide eyes, standing slowly as you sit back on your heels for a moment, until you're certain the fire will keep.
"There," you say, standing with a nod.
"Thank you," Clementine says sheepishly.
The two of you stand awkwardly for a moment, Clem still wringing their hands.
"Um-"
"Clem-"
You both start at the same time, and you duck into your hood while Clementine glances away into the fire, a bright blush blooming across their face.
"Um...," Clementine clears their throat then, and steps back towards the bed, brushing down the front of their tunic as they go.
<<if $PassedOutInClearing eq true>>[[Continue ->lost pandura tavern scene]]<<else>>[[Continue ->has pandura tavern scene]]<</if>>They stop short, though, rather abruptly, and with their back to you, they stand very still, until they start wringing their hands again, stopping briefly to reach up and pull on their curls, too. A few seconds of this and you shift on your feet, moving away from the fireplace to step up beside them.
"Clementine?" you prompt, and you blink when they turn away from you, hiding their face in their hands.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I... I can leave." I try to hide the hurt in my voice, but I don\'t do a very good job.' 'i... i can leave'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"... Didn\'t you want to show me something?" I disregard the sudden cold shoulder, trying to keep my voice light.' '... didnt you want to show me something'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry." It\'s all I can think to say.' 'its all i can think to say'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Clem? Are you okay?" My voice wavers despite my best efforts.' 'clem? are you okay?'>><</link>></div>Stepping around the far side of the bed, Clementine crouches down in front of their bag, reaching for the buckle before hesitating. They end up changing their mind, standing back up and instead grabbing their pandura where it leans against the little nightstand. They grab it by the neck and swing it up against their chest, slowly spinning around on their heel and smiling at you as they strum their fingers over the strings.
"I... I thought maybe I could show you some more of that song," they say, tilting their head as they flop down onto the bed, bouncing back up a bit before settling into the mattress. <<if ($for_a_song eq true) and ($clem_promise eq true)>>"Since I promised...," they trail off, lazily strumming the pandura again, staring down at the floor for a moment before peeking back up through their curls at you.<<elseif ($for_a_song eq true) and ($clem_promise eq false)>>"Since we made that deal," Clem shrugs, lazily strumming the pandura again, staring down at the floor for a moment before peeking back up through their curls at you.<<else>>"Since... I don't know. I just thought I could show you more...," they trail off, their voice going quiet, unsure now saying it out loud. They lazily strum the pandura again, staring down at the floor for a moment before peeking back up through their curls at you.<</if>>
<<if _top_trait eq $genuine>>You stand for a moment, slipping your hand into your hood and rubbing the back of your neck, watching Clem's fingers fiddle over the pandura.
"Okay," you smile, dropping your hand and pulling at your sleeve. Clem grins at you, sitting up straighter on the bed.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You glance down at your hands, pulling on your sleeves, before nodding slowly, peering out of your hood to watch the way Clem's fingers fiddle over the pandura. They smile at your response, perking up a bit on the bed.<<else>>You shift on your feet, watching the way Clem's fingers fiddle over the pandura, and you must be making a face, your jaw clenched, because Clementine's demeanor deflates, and they lay their hands over the strings to stop the strumming.
"We... don't have to," they say, but you're already shaking your head, cursing yourself.
"No, I want to," you say, cutting them off, your voice loud in the small room. You wince, glancing down at your feet, though when you look back up Clementine is smiling at you, sitting straighter on the bed.<</if>>
The bed. You shuffle closer, standing in front of Clementine for a moment, eyeing the bed. There's a sudden shift in the room, a sudden heaviness around you, and you feel like you're about to cross a line, here, and you look to Clementine, uncertain, fear paralyzing you now, making you hot under your cloak, a pounding in your ears - you don't know what it will mean if you cross this line.
Clementine's smile softens, and they give you a little nod, and one look from those green eyes is all it takes for you to give in, and you step forward and sit down beside them, the bed frame groaning beneath your weight, Clementine lightly bumping into you as the mattress shifts, and you tense at the touch, and even after they've moved back a bit you find yourself rigid, wound tight, staring down at your hands as you retreat into your hood.
[[Continue ->has pandura tavern scene 1]]"I... I can leave," you say, taking a step back towards the door, cursing yourself for agreeing to come up here now, into their room.
<<include "clem tavern cry">>"... Didn't you want to show me something?" you say, taking a half-step towards them, though you're cursing yourself for agreeing to come up here now, into their room.
<<include "clem tavern cry">>"I'm sorry," you say softly, glancing down at your hands, taking a step back away from Clementine, cursing yourself for agreeing to come up here, into their room.
<<include "clem tavern cry">>"Clem? Are you okay?" you take a half-step towards the, as you say it, though you're cursing yourself for agreeing to come up here now, into their room.
<<include "clem tavern cry">>You feel like an intruder, too big for the room that seems to shrink around you, constricting, the fire too hot, making you sweat under your cloak.
Clementine doesn't seem to hear you, though, a tense silence stretching between you, though it's interrupted by a sudden sniffle from them, their body shuddering.
"I'm sorry," Clementine blurts then, dropping their hands and turning to stare at you with wide, glassy eyes. "I... I forgot that my - my things. Everything got left behind," they say it all in a rush, their words jumbling together, and tears start to spill over, with Clementine frantically trying to wipe them away.
You just stare at them, stunned, watching as they seem to shrink right before your eyes, curling in on themself, pulling their cloak tightly around them.
"Left behind?" you echo, but it clicks as soon as you say it - Lea had to get you both to Blackwater on $l_their own, and didn't get to go back for anything. Including Clementine's belongings... their bag, their pandura.
Clementine sobs, clapping their hands over their mouth and bowing their head, their shoulders shaking as they struggle to compose themself.
"I'm sorry," they say again, scrubbing their face and sniffling into their sleeve. "I can't... that was all I had left. It was all I had left."
You struggle to find something to say, just watching as Clementine slowly sinks to the floor, curling forward and pressing their face into their hands.
<<if $tavern_cry>>There's some cruel humor here, you think, in having your role in this situation reversed so quickly - your eyes still raw and dry from your own tears just a short while ago. Your face twitches at the thought, and instead of focusing on the irony, you think back to what Lea did for you, and you parrot their movements, crouching down beside Clementine, reaching out but hesitating - always hesitating.
"What can I do, Clementine? Tell me what to do for you," you say slowly, softly, gently laying your hand on their shoulder.
The touch seems to bring them back into the room with you, and they raise their head, looking back at you with wide, sad eyes, and before you can say anything else, Clementine grabs at your shoulders and pulls you into a hug, burying their face in the collar of your cloak, another sob stifled in the fabric. You rock back on your heels, nearly knocked over by the force of it, but you manage to stay upright, shifting off your haunches and simply sitting on the floor, wrapping your arms around Clementine and holding them against you.<<else>>You don't know what to say, you don't know what to do, frozen in place, a lump in your throat as Clementine cries quietly in front of you. The only thing you can think of is to drop down onto the floor beside them, leaning forward to try and get their attention, to get them to look at you.
"Clementine?" you say, your voice tight, but the sound of their name seems to bring them back into the room with you, one more quiet whimper before they lift their head to look over at you, blinking in surprise to find you right beside them.
Clementine clumsily reaches out, grabbing your shoulders and pulling you into a hug, burying their face in the collar of your cloak, another sob stifled in the fabric. You rock back on your heels, nearly knocked over by the force of it, but you manage to stay upright, shifting off your haunches and simply sitting on the floor, wrapping your arms around Clementine and holding them against you.<</if>>
[[Continue ->clem tavern cry 1]]Clementine completely curls themself around you, folding their legs up against their chest, and you pull your cloak around them, their curls tickling against your neck, your face. You find yourself staring at the door, at the shadows the fire casts along the wood, your eyes unfocused, your grip tightening around Clementine.
You've lost things before. Your bag got left behind, too. But Clementine is a long way from home - and while you don't know why, it's been made abundantly clear that they can't go back; not now, maybe not ever. The tears are for more than just //things//, it's more than just a bag and a single lost instrument.
You close your eyes for a moment, angry at yourself - this is your fault. Your fucking fault. A phantom pain shoots through your arm then, the memory of fire in your throat and claws tearing through your skin, hot and shameful in your mind. Opening your eyes, you look down at Clementine, still hiding in your cloak, and if you could go back in time and fix this, you would.
But that's not possible.
"Clementine. Let's get off the floor," you say instead, loosening your arms and running a hand over their hair. You're not sure if they're crying anymore, but when they pull their head back to look at you, you can see the wet smears across their face, glittering in the fire light. They just nod, sitting back as you slowly stand, taking their hands in yours and helping them up.
You guide them over to the bed, letting them sit down first, but then you just stand in front of them, still holding their hands. You feel like you're about to cross a line, here, and you look to Clementine, uncertain, a sudden fear paralyzing you, making you far too aware of their hands in yours - you don't know what it will mean if you cross this line.
Clementine squeezes your hands, giving you a gentle tug, and you give in, moving to sit beside them, the bed groaning beneath your weight.
[[Continue ->clem tavern cry 2]]At first you don't look at them, just staring down at your hands in their lap, their fingers tight around yours, not wanting to let go.
"$name?" Clementine's voice wavers, raw and mercilessly tender, and it forces you to lift your gaze and look at them, and you wonder how much of your face they can see, inside your hood, with the fire hot on your back.
Clementine doesn't say anything else, but they begin to trace circles over your knuckles with their thumb. Eventually, they let go, sliding their hands free and pressing their palms into the bed, pulling their legs up and folding them beneath them, and you realize they're crying again, silent tears, trying to pull away from you, trying to hide.
<div id="choice">[[I reach out for them.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I let them cry - but I stay close beside them - a comfort, I hope.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I can't stand this. Fuck. I will not cry right now. I refuse.]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry. I\'m so sorry, Clementine." I know it\'s not enough.' 'i know its not enough'>><</link>></div>You lean forward on the bed, again the frame groaning beneath you, the mattress shifting at the movement. It makes Clementine turn and look at you, their green eyes wide, their face flushed and sad. You reach out, slowly, as if any sudden movements would scare them away, as if //you// might scare them away - but Clementine just watches, unmoving as you raise your hand to their face.
Your palm barely brushes their cheek before they blindly lean into it, closing their eyes and grabbing at your wrist, clinging to your touch, their fingers curling around your arm, pulling at your sleeve.
You wipe away their tears with your thumb, your throat tightening at the sight, their skin hot under your palm, the tears caught in their eyelashes falling heavy onto the back of your hand. Clementine opens their eyes then, staring up at you, taking a deep breath, their whole body shuddering with the effort.
You feel their hands tighten around you, uncomfortably so, but you don't say anything - you don't pull away. Clementine opens their eyes then, blinking out the last of their tears, searching your face, their eyes bright, reflecting the light of the fire behind you.
"$name...," they say it so softly, you barely hear it, but you feel it, the way they turn their lips slightly, pressing into your palm, their breath dancing over your skin. You swallow, your mouth going dry, but you stroke their cheek again, though their tears have stopped now.
"Can I... Can I kiss you?" Clementine asks then, their eyes fluttering over your face, to your lips, and you swallow again, your heart skipping in your chest, beating against your ribs.
<<include "cry can i kiss you">>You lean back, glancing away from them, giving them their space. You know there's nothing you can say - if you even knew what to say - so instead you just sit beside them, hoping that your presence is at least some kind of comfort. Staring down at your lap, a long few minutes pass where neither of you speak, Clementine just wiping their tears and sniffling quietly beside you.
Eventually, Clementine shifts, pulling their legs up onto the bed, their shoulder gently bumping into yours, and you let Clem lean into you a bit as they take a few more moments to compose themself.
"I'm sorry," they say softly, and you peer over at them out of your hood.
"You have nothing to apologize for," you say, and Clementine drops their gaze, staring down at your hands in your lap. They reach out, gently taking your one hand and tilting it upward, your palm opening towards the ceiling. They lightly trace a fingertip along the lines of your palm, not quite touching you, and your fingers twitch as you watch their face through their curls.
"Thank you for staying here with me," Clementine says, peering up into your hood, still blindly tracing your lifelines.
You turn fully towards them then, and they're close now, pressed against you still, close enough for you to see the faintest scattering of freckles across their face, for you to see the way their eyelashes stick together, still damp from their tears. You swallow, your mouth going dry as their eyes flutter to your lips, your heart skipping in your chest.
They raise their hand from yours, hesitating a moment before lightly brushing their fingers over the collar of your cloak.
"$name...," they're speaking so quietly now, you barely hear it, though you can't look away from their lips, reading your name there as they lean even closer. "Can I... Can I kiss you?"
<<include "cry can i kiss you">>You have to turn away from them, biting the inside of your cheek, hard enough to taste blood. <<if $tavern_cry>>Have you not cried enough? How can there be any tears left, you wonder.
But there's that telltale burn behind your eyes, and it refuses to leave, no matter how many holes you bite through your cheek. You let out a ragged breath, tensing to stand from the bed, to run away-<<else>>Staring into the fireplace, you try to will it away, blinking profusely, your hands clutching at your knees, but it refuses to leave. The culmination of the last few days has caught up with you now, the sight of Clementine sobbing on the floor seeming to be the final straw, and you let out a ragged breath, tensing to stand from the bed, to run away-<</if>>
"$name?"
You close your eyes, ducking back into your hood, clenching your hands in your lap. You can feel Clementine lean forward on the bed, pressing into you, trying to look at you. And then they reach out, gently taking your one hand and tilting it upward, your palm opening towards the ceiling. They lightly trace a fingertip along the lines of your palm, not quite touching you, and your fingers twitch as you open your eyes, watching their face through their curls.
"I'm sorry," Clementine says, peering up into your hood, still blindly tracing your lifelines.
You don't respond, afraid that if you try to speak it will just turn into more tears, instead just lifting your other hand and roughly wiping your face.
Clementine pulls their hand from yours then, hesitating a moment before pressing their hand to your shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze, drawing their touch down your arm, leaning even closer.
You turn fully towards them then, Clementine pressed against you still, close enough for you to see the faintest scattering of freckles across their face, for you to see the way their eyelashes stick together, still damp from their tears. You swallow, your mouth going dry as their eyes flutter to your lips, your heart skipping in your chest.
"$name...," they're speaking so quietly now, you barely hear it, though you can't look away from their lips, reading your name there as they lean even closer. "Can I... Can I kiss you?"
<<include "cry can i kiss you">>"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Clementine," you say, staring down at your lap, though you can sense Clementine turn back to look at you. There's a long stretch of silence between you, before they take a shaky breath, still wiping at their face.
"Why are you apologizing?" they ask, their brow furrowed, even as they blink away a few more tears.
"I... the wraith... if I hadn't..." you struggle to find the words, your hand tightening around your arm, and Clementine notices, their face softening as they lean forward to peer into your hood.
"It's not your fault, $name," Clementine says, and you close your eyes, letting out a long sigh, your fingers digging into your arm now, but Clementine's hand on yours makes you open your eyes again, startling as they lean into you and firmly pull your hand away. Their strength takes you by surprise, and you just stare dumbly at them, even after they let go.
"None of this is your fault," Clementine repeats, their voice soft, just audible over the crackle of the fire. And they're close now, pressed against you still, close enough for you to see the faintest scattering of freckles across their face, for you to see the way their eyelashes stick together, still damp from their tears. You swallow, your mouth going dry as their eyes flutter to your lips, your heart skipping in your chest.
They raise their hand, hesitating a moment before lightly brushing their fingers over the collar of your cloak.
"$name...," they're speaking so quietly now, you barely hear it, though you can't look away from their lips, reading your name there as they lean even closer. "Can I... Can I kiss you?"
<<include "cry can i kiss you">><div id="choice"><<link '"... Yes."' '... yes kiss'>><<set $clem_tavernkiss to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss them.]]>><<set $clem_tavernkiss to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"... I don\'t think that\'s a good idea, Clementine."' 'i dont think thats a good idea 1'>><</link>></div>You answer them by closing the remaining space between you, their breath hot on your skin before you press your lips to theirs, warm and soft, and your eyes flutter closed, tasting their tears in your mouth, salty and bitter. <<if hasVisited("I reach out for them.")>>Their hands tighten around your arm before they let go, grabbing instead at the front of your shirt, pulling at fistfuls of fabric, trying to hold you as close as they can, your hand still cupping their face, your other one quickly going to tangle in their curls, cradling the back of their neck.<<else>>Their hand flutters from your collar to briefly cup your face, sliding beneath your hood to wrap around the back of your neck, their other hand grabbing at the front of your shirt, pulling at a fistful of fabric, trying to hold you as close as they can.<</if>>
Their tongue teases a deeper kiss between you as they tug at your shirt, their lips moving against yours with an urgency you didn't really expect from them, making you inhale sharply. They're eager, pressing against you, their hand tightening around your shirt as their teeth brush your bottom lip. They make a soft sound in the back of their throat, before suddenly pulling back, their lips slightly parted and their face flushed, their eyes half-lidded as they look at you this close. They lean back in to press one more kiss to the side of your mouth before sitting back on the bed, letting you go, pulling their hands back, brushing down the wrinkles in your shirt before lowering their gaze and pressing their palms into the mattress.
You're breathless, dazed, just staring at them beside you, still holding the taste of them on your lips.
<<include "cry after kiss">>"... Yes," you breathe the answer, and Clementine sways forward, closing what little space still remains between you, and they hesitate for the briefest moment before pressing their lips against yours, warm and soft, and you close your eyes, tasting their tears in your mouth, salty and bitter. <<if hasVisited("I reach out for them.")>>Their hands tighten around your arm before they let go, grabbing instead at the front of your shirt, pulling at fistfuls of fabric, trying to hold you as close as they can, your hand still cupping their face, your other one quickly going to tangle in their curls, cradling the back of their neck.<<else>>Their hand flutters from your collar to briefly cup your face, sliding beneath your hood to wrap around the back of your neck, their other hand grabbing at the front of your shirt, pulling at a fistful of fabric, trying to hold you as close as they can.<</if>>
Their tongue teases a deeper kiss between you as they tug at your shirt, their lips moving against yours with an urgency you didn't really expect from them, making you inhale sharply. They're eager, pressing against you, their hand tightening around your shirt as their teeth brush your bottom lip. They make a soft sound in the back of their throat, before suddenly pulling back, their lips slightly parted and their face flushed, their eyes half-lidded as they look at you this close. They lean back in to press one more kiss to the side of your mouth before sitting back on the bed, letting you go, pulling their hands back, brushing down the wrinkles in your shirt before lowering their gaze and pressing their palms into the mattress.
You're breathless, dazed, just staring at them beside you, still holding the taste of them on your lips.
<<include "cry after kiss">><<if hasVisited("I reach out for them")>>You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment and pulling back away from them, dropping your hand from their face, their own hands sliding from your arm.<<else>>You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment and pulling back away from them, Clementine's hand sliding from your collar, dropping into their lap.<</if>>
"... I don't think that's a good idea, Clementine," you say, unable to look at them as you do, staring down at the floor instead.
Clementine quickly moves back on the bed, putting space between you, leaving a cold void creeping through your cloak. They let out a light scoff, before bowing their head, hiding behind their curls, reaching up and wiping at their face again.
"It's not a good idea, is it?" they say then, pushing themself off the bed, taking a few steps towards the fireplace. You stare up at them, their back to you, and can see them raise their hands to scrub their face, push their curls back, and adjust the front of their tunic.
"Clementine..." you say, standing slowly, taking a half-step towards them. Your chest tightens, and you start to reach out for them, before deciding against it, quickly pulling your hand back, crossing your arms over your chest. It's a bad idea, after all.
Clementine turns back to you then, a wistful smile on their face, their eyes watery again.
"It's okay, $name," they say, twisting their tunic in their hands. "You're too good to me," they drop their gaze, releasing their tunic and rubbing their eyes. "You should go, though. You should get some rest, before... before whatever tomorrow brings."
"Okay," you say slowly, "Yeah. Yeah, you're right," you sigh, running a hand over your hood.
Clementine gives you a look you can't quite decipher, before they turn towards the door. You hesitate, before following after them. They lean against the wall beside the door, dropping their gaze, and you close your eyes for a moment, your chest aching, before you reluctantly reach for the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name... Thank you, again. I'll see you in the morning," Clementine says, soft words that you find yourself holding onto, hesitating in the doorway.
"Goodnight, Clementine," you finally say, slipping out the door, giving Clementine one last look before you close it behind you.
You press your hand to the cold, peeling wood, standing in the dark hallway, taking a deep breath, biting the inside of your cheek. You step back from the door, vigorously rubbing your hands over your face, trying to ignore how badly you want to go back into that room. Standing alone in the hallway now, you are almost overwhelmed by your exhaustion, with Clementine no longer there to distract you, and you sway on your feet, burying your face into your hands.
"Fuck," you whisper to your palms, before dropping your hands and forcing yourself to turn away, dragging your feet down the hall, stopping abruptly at your door and leaning against it as you dig down into your pocket to find your key. It takes you a few fumbling moments to actually get the key out, and you jam it into the keyhole, having to jiggle the doorknob and all but force the door open.
Your head aches, and you keep seeing that sad, wistful smile of Clementine's, the tears in their eyes, but your exhaustion leaves you no room to ponder about what just happened between you. You press your fingers against your eyelids, swearing again, before throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You just need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]Clementine carefully tucks a few curls behind their ear, and they regain their composure first, blinking over at you, their green eyes soft, even with the bright light of the fire reflecting in them as they look at you.
<<if $c_touch_knows>>"$name," they say suddenly, shifting back on the mattress and clasping their hands in front of them. "Is this- is this okay? I know you don't like being touched."
<<include "touch averse clem ask">><<elseif $touch_averse gte 1>>Their brow furrows then, and they shift back on the mattress, clasping their hands in their lap.
"Is this... okay? Touching you, I mean? I didn't even think..." they trail off, apologetic.
<<include "touch averse clem ask">><<else>>"I like you, $name," Clementine says then, their voice almost too quiet to hear over the fireplace. They push themself off the bed, taking a few steps towards the door, standing with their back to you.
Your head is still spinning, your body still burning under your clothes where Clementine touched you, whiplash from the last few moments, and it takes you a some time before you can manage a response.
<<include "i like you too">><</if>>"I like you, too," you say, glancing down at your hands, forcing yourself to relax, though your heart is still skipping a bit in your chest, your hands clenched into fists without you realizing it.
Clementine turns back around, giving you a wistful smile, tucking more curls behind their ear again. They hold out their hand, and you take it, letting them pull you up off the bed.
"You're too good to me," they say, squeezing your hand, staring up into your hood. "I want you to stay," they glance away then, a slight blush across their face, "But I know you should get some proper rest... before whatever tomorrow brings."
Their words seem to act as a jarring reminder, then, exhaustion making you sway slightly on your feet. Or maybe you're still just recovering from that kiss. You're not sure - but either way it's enough to make Clementine squeeze your hand again, and step a little closer to you, concern furrowing their brow.
"Yeah, yeah," you say, biting the inside of your cheek. "You're right."
Neither of you make a move for the door.
Clementine smiles, <<if $height isnot "short">>leaning up on their tip toes<<else>>leaning forward<</if>> to press a light, brief kiss to your lips again, their hand tight around yours, before they step back and urge you towards the door.
Now you squeeze their hand, and they turn back to lean against the wall beside the door, giving you a look that makes your chest ache, and you swallow hard, letting your hand slide from theirs as you reach for the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name... Thank you. I'll see you in the morning," they say, soft words that you find yourself holding onto, hesitating in the doorway.
"Goodnight, Clementine," you finally say, slipping out the door, giving Clementine one last look before you close it behind you.
You press your hand to the cold, peeling wood, standing in the dark hallway, taking a deep breath, nerves making your whole body tremble still. With a shaking hand you reach up and touch your fingers to your lips, a phantom kiss from Clementine still lingering there, and you sigh, pushing off the door and slowly making your way down the hall.
You feel as if you're floating, stopping abruptly at your door and leaning against it as you dig down into your pocket to find your key. It takes you a few fumbling moments to actually get the key out, and you jam it into the keyhole, having to jiggle the doorknob and all but force the door open.
Lightheaded, still buzzing a bit, but your exhaustion leaves you no room to ponder about what just happened. You touch your lips one more time, before throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]<div id="choice"><<link '"I like when you touch me."' 'i like when you touch me'>><<set $clem_touch to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"<<link '"It\'s okay. I\'d let you know if I was uncomfortable."' 'id let you know'>><<set $clem_touch to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s - it\'s alright. I mean - you\'re right, I don\'t like it."' 'youre right i dont like it'>><<set $clem_touch to 3>><</link>></div>"I like it when you touch me," you say, and you realize how it sounds as soon as you say it, swallowing hard and quickly looking away from them, scuffing the floor with your boot.
You can still see them smile out of the corner of your eye, see them raise their hand to place on your arm, a gentle touch, though it burns through your clothes, and you feel as if it will leave a mark, Clem's handprint seared into your skin.
"I like when you touch me, too," Clementine says, their voice low and far more suggestive.
They let their touch linger, and for a moment you think they might lean back in and kiss you again, but they pull back, giving you a wistful smile.
"I like //you//, $name," they say, pushing themself off the bed then, taking a few steps towards the fireplace.
Your head is still spinning, your body still hot under your clothes, a bit of whiplash from a few moments ago, and it takes you a few more seconds before you can manage a proper response.
<<include "i like you too">>Your head is still spinning, your body still burning under your clothes where Clementine touched you, and it takes you a few more seconds before you can manage a proper response.
"It's okay. I'd let you know if I was uncomfortable," you say slowly, giving them a nod. "It's okay."
Clementine smiles, small and wistful, and they lean back a bit, before lightly bumping their shoulder against yours.
"Okay. As long as you're sure," they say, and you nod again, and they duck their head a bit, blushing pink with you looking at them.
"I like you, $name," they say then, glancing away from you, pushing themself off the bed and taking a few steps towards the fireplace.
<<include "i like you too">>Your head is still spinning, your body still burning under your clothes where Clementine touched you, and it takes you a few more seconds before you can manage a proper response.
"It's - it's alright," you stammer, "I mean - you're right. I don't like it," you say sheepishly, dropping your gaze and fidgeting with your sleeves. Kissing someone... obviously, there is going to be some touching. You're not sure you could handle more than that, though.
"I'm sorry," Clementine says gently, leaning forward to look into your hood.
"I like kissing you, though," you blurt then, because you did like it, and you don't want them to apologize for that.
"I like kissing you, too," Clementine says slowly, giving you a wistful smile. "And I like //you//." They pause, glancing sideways, before looking back into your hood. "I'll be more mindful about the touching. I promise."
You take a deep breath, glancing down at your hands, forcing yourself to relax a bit, though your heart is still skipping a bit in your chest, your hands clenched into fists without you realizing it.
"Thank you," you say then, and Clementine's face softens, their features particularly delicate in the fire light, their brown hair glowing gold.
"You are too good to me," they say, pushing themself off the bed, taking a few steps towards the fireplace.
You stand from the bed, too, though you stay back a bit, giving Clementine some space before they turn back to you.
"I want you to stay," they say softly, peering into your hood. "But I know you should get some proper rest... before whatever tomorrow brings."
Their words seem to act as a jarring reminder, then, exhaustion making you sway slightly on your feet. Or maybe you're still just recovering from that kiss. You're not sure - but either way it's enough to make Clementine step a little closer to you, concern furrowing their brow.
"Yeah, yeah," you say, biting the inside of your cheek. "You're right."
Neither of you make a move for the door.
Clementine smiles, <<if $height isnot "short">>leaning up on their tip toes<<else>>leaning forward<</if>> to press a light, brief kiss to your lips again, their hands ghosting over your chest, before they step back and urge you towards the door.
You blink stupidly, before forcing your feet to cooperate, following after them. Clementine turns back to lean against the wall beside the door, giving you a look that makes your chest ache, and you swallow hard, reluctantly reaching for the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name... Thank you. I'll see you in the morning," they say, soft words that you find yourself holding onto, hesitating in the doorway.
"Goodnight, Clementine," you finally say, slipping out the door, giving Clementine one last look before you close it behind you.
You press your hand to the cold, peeling wood, standing in the dark hallway, taking a deep breath, nerves making your whole body tremble still. With a shaking hand you reach up and touch your fingers to your lips, a phantom kiss from Clementine still lingering there, and you sigh, pushing off the door and slowly making your way down the hall.
You feel as if you're floating, stopping abruptly at your door and leaning against it as you dig down into your pocket to find your key. It takes you a few fumbling moments to actually get the key out, and you jam it into the keyhole, having to jiggle the doorknob and all but force the door open.
Lightheaded, still buzzing a bit, but your exhaustion leaves you no room to ponder about what just happened. You touch your lips one more
time, before throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]Clementine picks at the strings, a short little tune, rocking on the bed and not even having to look at the instrument as they play. They're holding it vertical in their lap, their right hand raised high along the neck with their left lower along the body, and for a while you just watch them play, entranced by both Clementine and the music, songs you've never heard before, and you can almost envision them sitting in the middle of some courtly party, in a fancy southern dress maybe, playing for a bunch of people that don't even look at them, that don't even see them. Not you, though - they're all you see.
Eventually, they transition into the northern song from last night, starkly different from everything else, and they play it slow, you think so you can watch the way their hands move.
"Okay," Clementine looks over at you, after playing the opening of the song, lowering the pandura to lay it across their lap. "Let's have you play."
"Ah... okay," you say, and Clem slides the instrument over into your lap, and you feel too big, too clumsy holding it again. You try to hold it vertical like Clementine, but they shake their head.
"I think it'll be more comfortable for you to hold it across your lap," they say, and you blink, just nodding, lowering the neck carefully. It takes you a few moments before you get comfortable, though it still feels a little awkward, a little wrong.
"Do you remember the three chords?" they ask.
You feel your brow furrow, and you stare down at the frets, slowly moving your hands along the strings. You struggle through it. Clementine corrects the last one, which you get wrong, but they are beaming at you, and you feel your face grow hot, your hands tightening around the pandura.
"The more you play, the more natural it will feel," Clementine offers, and then they're leaning close to you, guiding your hand along the fretboard, but you're too distracted at how close they are, the sweet, honey smell of their hair making your head spin, and you swallow hard, jerking back, the pandura making a clanking sound as it smacks against your leg.
Clementine quickly moves back, their face flushing pink, and you both stammer apologies over each other, before you clear your throat and reposition the pandura in your lap again.
"Okay - um - the next note. Is here," they stammer a bit, just pointing at the fret with a nod.
You take a deep breath, forcing yourself not to look over at Clem, just staring at the strings, and slowly you start to play again, moving through the beginning of the song, sloppy and... bad. It's bad. You're too slow, your hands are too big for the neck, you keep pressing on the wrong strings, and your strumming feels too forceful, a twanging sound rather than the soft, gentle hum that Clementine was playing.
You scowl, finally glancing back over at Clem, but they smile, nodding encouragingly, and they start to walk you through the opening again, pointing you to the right spots along the fretboard, naming the chords as you go, though you doubt you'll remember them. After a while Clementine leans back, just letting you play without their guidance again, a quiet, personal audience.
<div id="choice">[[I'm getting frustrated.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[It doesn't sound good, but I'm having fun.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm embarrassed. It's making me fumble even more.]]</div>You try, again and again, to play through it, but you keep messing up, without Clementine showing you what to do, and you're getting frustrated, your face growing hot from both irritation and embarrassment, and it's making you mess up even more, angry and flustered. Your hand is starting to ache from the unfamiliar movement as well, with the awkward positioning of your fingers along the fretboard, your fingertips burning against the strings as you struggle to press the right ones.
You all but jump when Clementine reaches out and puts a hand on your arm, and you almost snap at them, your hand tightening around the pandura as if they're going to snatch it away from you. <<if _top_trait eq $stoic>>But you blink over at them, clearing your throat and dropping your gaze, staring down at their hand on your arm. Clenching your jaw, you avoid their stare, retreating into your hood and letting out a sigh, a wave of embarrassment making your skin crawl.<<elseif _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You feel your face twitch, and you curl your lip, recoiling from their touch at first, before you realize what you're doing, shaking your head and letting out a long sigh. You scoff then, trying to fight off the sudden wave of embarrassment, giving Clementine an apologetic look.<<else>>You close your eyes for a moment, letting out a long sigh and carefully lowering the pandura and retreating into your hood. Clementine squeezes your arm, and you open your eyes, giving them an apologetic look.<</if>>
"Remember it's only your second time playing," they say, "it will get easier."
Clementine slides closer to you then, their leg bumping yours as the bed squeaks in protest, and they lift their hand from your arm and move it higher to guide your own hand along the fretboard again.
"Here," they say gently, pressing your fingers against the strings. "We'll play through one more time," they say, and you nod, staring intently at the instrument, readjusting it in your lap. Clementine's hand hovers over yours, the heat from their palm radiating over your knuckles, and you swallow hard, your mouth going dry, your frustration all but forgotten with Clementine leaning so close, their eyes flicking from your stuttering hand along the fretboard to your face.
They smile softly, and you can see the pink blush spreading across their face, the delicate curve of their lips, and they're close enough that you can see the faint scattering of freckles over their nose, the dark green of their eyes flashing in the fire light illuminated behind you. Their hand on your arm again, the pandura all but forgotten, some of the strings still humming gently, but all you can hear is the sudden frantic beating of your heart, leaping in your throat.
"$name," Clementine all but whispers it, their eyes flicking over your face, to your lips, "Can I... Can I kiss you?"
<<include "can i kiss you">>You cringe as you play, but despite how bad it sounds, you're excited, grinning over at Clementine, almost disbelieving that you're actually playing music. You manage to stumble through the chords a few more times, playing over your mistakes, your hand starting to ache from the unfamiliar movement, your fingertips burning where they press into the strings, fumbling along the fretboard.
"You're a natural," Clementine says, laughing as you stumble your way through it again.
"I don't know about that...," you say, shaking your head, laughing with them.
Clementine slides closer to you then, their leg bumping yours as the bed squeaks in protest, and they reach out to guide your hand along the fretboard again.
"Here," they say, "let's try adding a little more."
You nod, staring intently at the instrument, readjusting it in your lap. Clementine's hand hovers over yours, the heat from their palm radiating over your knuckles, and you swallow hard, your mouth going dry, only able to play through once before your concentration breaks now with Clementine leaning so close, their eyes flicking from your stuttering hand along the fretboard to your face.
They smile softly, and you can see the pink blush spreading across their face, the delicate curve of their lips, and they're close enough that you can see the faint scattering of freckles over their nose, the dark green of their eyes flashing in the fire light illuminated behind you. Their hand on your arm, the pandura all but forgotten, some of the strings still humming gently, but all you can hear is the sudden frantic beating of your heart, leaping in your throat.
"$name," Clementine all but whispers it, their eyes flicking over your face, to your lips, "Can I... Can I kiss you?"
<<include "can i kiss you">>You try, again and again, to play through it, but you keep messing up, without Clementine showing you what to do, and you're getting frustrated, your face growing hot from embarrassment, and it's making you mess up even more, nervous and flustered. Your hand is starting to ache from the unfamiliar movement as well, with the awkward positioning of your fingers along the fretboard, your fingertips burning against the strings as you struggle to press the right ones.
You huff out a sigh, dropping your hand from the pandura and slapping your other one on the body to quiet the strings.
"Sorry," you say, glancing down at the floor and shaking your head.
"It's only your second time playing," Clementine says, "don't be so hard on yourself."
You frown, unable to meet their gaze as they lean forward to peer into your hood. You feel incredibly uncomfortable, and even with Clementine's encouraging words, you don't feel very convinced, an unshakable feeling of doubt that they're just being nice, just waiting for the right moment to start laughing at you.
"Here," Clementine says gently, sliding a little closer to you then, their leg bumping yours as the bed squeaks in protest, and they reach out to guide your hand along the fretboard again. You tense a bit at first, your hands tightening around the pandura as you readjust it in your lap, but Clementine just gives you a little nod, and you let out a breath, trying your best to focus on the chords, playing them nice and slow under their direction.
Clementine's hand hovers over yours, the heat from their palm radiating over your knuckles, and you swallow hard, your mouth going dry, only able to play through once before your concentration breaks with Clementine leaning so close, their eyes flicking from your stuttering hand along the fretboard to your face.
They smile softly, and you can see the pink blush spreading across their face, the delicate curve of their lips, and they're close enough that you can see the faint scattering of freckles over their nose, the dark green of their eyes flashing in the fire light illuminated behind you. Their hand on your arm, the pandura all but forgotten, some of the strings still humming gently, but all you can hear is the sudden frantic beating of your heart, leaping in your throat.
"$name," Clementine all but whispers it, their eyes flicking over your face, to your lips, "Can I... Can I kiss you?"
<<include "can i kiss you">><div id="choice"><<link '"... Yes."' '... yes kiss 1'>><<set $clem_tavernkiss to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss them. ->kiss them 1]]>><<set $clem_tavernkiss to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"... I don\'t think that\'s a good idea, Clementine."' 'i dont think thats a good idea'>><</link>></div>You answer them by closing the remaining space between you, their breath hot on your skin before you press your lips to theirs, warm and soft, and your eyes flutter closed, inhaling sharply as one of Clementine's hands slide beneath your hood and wrap around the back of your neck, the other one grabbing your arm.
Your own hands just tighten around the pandura, clutching it against your chest, Clementine pressed against it, and you think that maybe if you weren't holding the instrument, they would take its place in your lap.
Their tongue teases a deeper kiss between you, their hand urging you forward, their lips moving against yours with an urgency you didn't really expect from them. It turns into a heavy, open mouthed kiss, the two of you pushing and pulling at each other hungrily, until, until - Clementine makes a soft sound in the back of their throat, suddenly pulling back, their lips slightly parted and kiss swollen. Their face is flushed, their eyes half-lidded as they look at you this close, leaning back in to press one more kiss onto the side of your mouth before sitting back on the bed, pulling their hand back, brushing their fingers along the hem of your hood before trailing down your arm, back to the pandura.
You're breathless, dazed, just staring at them beside you, still holding the pandura in an iron grip.
<<include "after clem kiss">>"... Yes," you breathe the answer, and Clementine sways forward, their body leaning against the pandura, leaning into you, and they hesitate for the briefest moment before pressing their lips against yours, warm and soft, and you close your eyes, inhaling sharply, one of Clementine's hands sliding beneath your hood to wrap around the back of your neck, their other one grabbing your arm.
Your own hands just tighten around the pandura, clutching it against your chest, Clementine pressed against it, and you think that maybe if you weren't holding the instrument, they would take its place in your lap.
Their tongue teases a deeper kiss between you, their hand urging you forward, their lips moving against yours with an urgency you didn't really expect from them. It turns into a heavy, open mouthed kiss, the two of you pushing and pulling at each other hungrily, until, until - Clementine makes a soft sound in the back of their throat, suddenly pulling back, their lips slightly parted and kiss swollen. Their face is flushed, their eyes half-lidded as they look at you this close, leaning back in to press one more kiss onto the side of your mouth before sitting back on the bed, pulling their hand back, brushing their fingers along the hem of your hood before trailing down your arm, back to the pandura.
You're breathless, dazed, just staring at them beside you, still holding the pandura in an iron grip.
<<include "after clem kiss">>You take a deep breath, closing your eyes for a moment and pulling back away from them, your hands tightening around the pandura.
"... I don't think that's a good idea, Clementine," you say, unable to look at them as you do, staring down at the floor instead.
Clementine pulls their hands back, shifting away on the bed, leaving a cold void beside you. They let out a light scoff, before bowing their head, hiding behind their curls.
"It's not a good idea, is it?" they say then, pushing themself off the bed, taking a few steps towards the fireplace. You stare up at them, their back to you, and can see them raise their hands to scrub their face, push their curls back, and adjust the front of their tunic.
"Clementine..." you say, setting the pandura aside and standing slowly, taking a half-step towards them. Your chest tightens, and you start to reach out for them, before deciding against it, quickly pulling your hand back, crossing your arms over your chest. It's a bad idea, after all.
Clementine turns back to you then, a wistful smile on their face.
"It's okay, $name," they say, twisting their tunic in their hands. "Thank you... for playing with me," they say, nodding towards the pandura. "You should go, though. You should get some rest, before... before whatever tomorrow brings."
"Okay," you say slowly, "Yeah. Yeah, you're right," you sigh, running a hand over your hood.
Clementine gives you a look you can't quite decipher, before they turn towards the door. You hesitate, before following after them. They lean against the wall beside the door, dropping their gaze, and you close your eyes for a moment, your chest aching, before you reluctantly reach for the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name. I'll see you in the morning," Clementine says, soft words that you find yourself holding onto, hesitating in the doorway.
"Goodnight, Clementine," you finally say, slipping out the door, giving Clementine one last look before you close it behind you.
You press your hand to the cold, peeling wood, standing in the dark hallway, taking a deep breath, biting the inside of your cheek. You step back from the door, staring down at your hand, the tips of your fingers angry and painful from the strings on the pandura. Standing alone in the hallway now, you are almost overwhelmed by your exhaustion, Clementine no longer there to distract you, and you sway on your feet, pressing your face into your hands.
"Fuck," you whisper to your palms, before dropping your hands and forcing yourself to turn away, dragging your feet down the hall, stopping abruptly at your door and leaning against it as you dig down into your pocket to find your key. It takes you a few fumbling moments to actually get the key out, and you jam it into the keyhole, having to jiggle the doorknob and all but force the door open.
Your head aches, and you keep seeing that sad, wistful smile of Clementine's in your mind's eye, but your exhaustion leaves you no room to ponder about what just happened between you. You glance down at your sore hands one more time, before throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You just need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]Clementine carefully tucks a few curls behind their ear, bashful now, though they regain their composure first, clearing their throat and smiling softly at you.
<<if $c_touch_knows>>"Oh!" they exclaim suddenly, their eyes widening, shifting back on the mattress and clasping their hands in front of them. "I - I'm sorry, I know you don't like being touched," they stammer, "I didn't think - I'm sorry."
<<include "touch averse clem ask 1">><<elseif $touch_averse gte 1>>Their brow furrows then, and they shift back on the mattress, clasping their hands in their lap.
"Is this... okay? Touching you, I mean? I didn't even think..." they trail off, their eyes wide, apologetic.
<<include "touch averse clem ask 1">><<else>>"I like you, $name," Clementine says then, bouncing a bit on the bed as they say it.
Your head is still spinning, your body still burning under your clothes where Clementine touched you, and it takes you a few more seconds before you can manage a response.
<<include "i like you too 1">><</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"I like when you touch me."' 'i like when you touch me 1'>><<set $clem_touch to 1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s okay. I\'d let you know if I was uncomfortable."' 'id let you know 1'>><<set $clem_touch to 2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s - it\'s alright. I mean - you\'re right, I don\'t like it."' 'youre right i dont like it 1'>><<set $clem_touch to 3>><</link>></div>"I like you, too," you blurt, glancing down at the pandura and adjusting it in your lap, forcing your grip to finally relax a bit, the strings leaving painful, red imprints where your fingers pressed against them around the neck.
Clementine bounces forward, standing from the bed with one final bounce. They reach out and take the pandura from you, walking around and setting it back against the wall beside the bed, before coming back over and standing in front of you, tucking more curls behind their ear again, a shy smile on their face.
They hold out their hand, and you take it, letting them pull you up off the bed.
"I kinda want you to stay after that," they say softly, squeezing your hand. "But you've been here a while, and you should get some proper rest."
Their words seem to act as a jarring reminder, then, exhaustion making you sway slightly on your feet. Or maybe you're still just recovering from that kiss. You're not sure - but either way it's enough to make Clementine squeeze your hand again, and step a little closer to you, peering into your hood, concern furrowing their brow.
"Yeah, yeah," you say, biting the inside of your cheek. "You're right."
Neither of you make a move for the door.
Clementine laughs, <<if $height isnot "short">>leaning up on their tip toes<<else>>leaning forward<</if>> to press a light, brief kiss to your lips again, just long enough for you to feel their smile against your teeth, before they step back and gently pull you towards the door.
Now you squeeze their hand, and they turn back to lean against the wall beside the door, giving you a look that makes your chest ache, and you swallow hard, letting your hand slide from theirs as you reach for the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name. I'll see you in the morning," they say, soft words that you find yourself holding onto, hesitating in the doorway.
"Goodnight, Clementine," you finally say, slipping out the door, giving Clementine one last look before you close it behind you.
You press your hand to the cold, peeling wood, standing in the dark hallway, taking a deep breath, nerves making your whole body tremble still. With a shaking hand you reach up and touch your fingers to your lips, a phantom kiss from Clementine still lingering there, and you sigh, pushing off the door and slowly making your way down the hall.
You feel as if you're floating, stopping abruptly at your door and leaning against it as you dig down into your pocket to find your key. It takes you a few fumbling moments to actually get the key out, and you jam it into the keyhole, having to jiggle the doorknob and all but force the door open.
Lightheaded, still buzzing a bit, but your exhaustion leaves you no room to ponder about what just happened. You touch your lips one more time, before throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]"I like it when you touch me," you say, and you realize how it sounds as soon as you say it, swallowing hard and quickly looking away from them, scuffing the floor with your boot.
You can still see them smile out of the corner of your eye, see them raise their hand to place on your arm, a gentle touch, though it burns through your clothes, and you feel as if it will leave a mark, Clem's handprint seared into your skin.
"I like when you touch me, too," Clementine says, their voice low and far more suggestive.
They laugh then, letting go of your arm and bouncing a bit on the mattress, bumping you with their shoulder.
"I like //you//, $name," they say.
Your head is still spinning, your body still hot under your clothes, and it takes you a few more seconds before you can manage a proper response.
<<include "i like you too 1">>Your head is still spinning, your body still burning under your clothes where Clementine touched you, and it takes you a few more seconds before you can manage a proper response.
"It's okay. I'd let you know if I was uncomfortable," you say slowly, giving them a nod. "It's okay."
Clementine smiles, still looking a little unsure, and they lean back a bit, before bumping their shoulder against yours.
"Okay. As long as you're sure," they say, and you nod again, and they let out a light laugh, ducking their head a bit, blushing pink with you looking at them.
"I like you, $name," they say then, bouncing a bit on the bed beside you as they say it.
<<include "i like you too 1">>Your head is still spinning, your body still burning under your clothes where Clementine touched you, and it takes you a few more seconds before you can manage a proper response.
"It's - it's alright," you stammer, "I mean - you're right. I don't like it," you say sheepishly, dropping your gaze and fidgeting with the pandura. Kissing someone... obviously, there is going to be some touching. You're not sure you could handle more than that, though.
"I'm sorry," Clementine says gently, leaning forward to look into your hood.
"I like kissing you, though," you blurt then, because you did like it, and you don't want them to apologize for that.
"I like kissing you, too," Clementine giggles, hiding behind their curls, "and I like //you//," they bounce on the bed as they say it, making you laugh. "I'll be more mindful of the touching. I promise," they add, giving you a resolute nod.
You take a deep breath, glancing down at the pandura and forcing your grip to finally relax a bit, the strings leaving painful, red imprints where your fingers pressed against them around the neck.
"Thank you," you say, and Clementine's face softens, their features particularly delicate in the fire light, their eyes bright as they look at you.
They bounce forward then, pushing themself off the bed with one final bounce. They reach out and take the pandura from you, walking around and setting it back against the wall beside the bed, before coming back over and standing in front of you, tucking more curls behind their ear again, a shy smile on their face.
You stand from the bed, too, joining them, both of you shifting awkwardly on your feet.
"I kinda want you to stay after that," they say softly, peering into your hood. "But you've been here a while, and you should get some proper rest."
Their words seem to act as a jarring reminder, then, exhaustion making you sway slightly on your feet. Or maybe you're still just recovering from that kiss. You're not sure - but either way it's enough to make Clementine step a little closer to you, concern furrowing their brow.
"Yeah, yeah," you say, biting the inside of your cheek. "You're right."
Neither of you make a move for the door.
Clementine laughs, <<if $height isnot "short">>leaning up on their tip toes<<else>>leaning forward<</if>> to press a light, brief kiss to your lips again, just long enough for you to feel their smile against your teeth, before they step back and urge you towards the door.
You blink stupidly, before forcing your feet to cooperate, following after them. Clementine turns back to lean against the wall beside the door, giving you a look that makes your chest ache, and you swallow hard, reluctantly reaching for the doorknob.
"Goodnight, $name. I'll see you in the morning," they say, soft words that you find yourself holding onto, hesitating in the doorway.
"Goodnight, Clementine," you finally say, slipping out the door, giving Clementine one last look before you close it behind you.
You press your hand to the cold, peeling wood, standing in the dark hallway, taking a deep breath, nerves making your whole body tremble still. With a shaking hand you reach up and touch your fingers to your lips, a phantom kiss from Clementine still lingering there, and you sigh, pushing off the door and slowly making your way down the hall.
You feel as if you're floating, stopping abruptly at your door and leaning against it as you dig down into your pocket to find your key. It takes you a few fumbling moments to actually get the key out, and you jam it into the keyhole, having to jiggle the doorknob and all but force the door open.
Lightheaded, still buzzing a bit, but your exhaustion leaves you no room to ponder about what just happened. You touch your lips one more time, before throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]<<if $l_tavernflirt>><<include "merry distraction lea flirt choice">><<else>>You sigh, sinking back in your chair, dropping your hands down to your side. And then you turn your head, and find yourself staring at the golden double doors across the parlor. Immediately your mind drifts to the captain, and you sit up a bit straighter then, still staring at the doors.
<<if $m_relationship eq 1>>Well... she //did// invite you...
You pull at your sleeves, staring down at your hands, swallowing hard.
<<include "good rel merry choices">><<elseif $m_relationship eq 2>>You shouldn't be thinking about her like this. You feel that heavy knot in your chest again, and you wish you could just cut it out - how much easier it would be to slice through it with a knife, than attempt to untangle it at all.
But...
<<include "good rel merry choices">><<elseif $m_relationship eq 5>>Would she even open the door for you, if you knocked? She went out of her way earlier, to make that comment to Lea in front of you, to hurt you, you're sure. You let out a long sigh, dropping your gaze and staring down at your lap.
You suppose it's only fair. You hurt her first.
<div id ="choice"><<link [[I want to try and talk to her.]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[It's best to just leave it... It was always a mistake, from the beginning. It's better this way.]]</div><<else>>Well... she //did// invite you...
You pull at your sleeves, staring down at your hands, swallowing hard.
<<include "good rel merry choices">><</if>><</if>><<if $l_tavernflirt>><div id="choice">[[I'm not interested in Merry's offer, but I am interested in her. ->I'm not interested in her offer, exactly, but I am interested in her.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I want to see Merry again. And maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier. ->I want to see her. And maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Actually, I don't think I can do this. ->Actually... this is a bad idea. I shouldn't do this.]]</div><<else>><div id="choice">[[I'm not interested in her offer, exactly, but I am interested in her.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I want to see her. And maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Actually... this is a bad idea. I shouldn't do this.]]</div><</if>><<include "merry tavern read poem">>You stand abruptly then, your chair clattering loudly at the sudden movement, and you roughly rub your hands over your face as you step away from the table and head for the stairs. //It's better this way.// You should keep your distance from her. //It's better this way.// You hesitate at the bottom of the stairs though, leaning against the banister, hesitating, hesitating, hesitating. Finally, you turn away, slowly dragging your feet up each step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
There's a painfully long moment of silence, and you're certain she's not going to answer, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. She's unchanged, still in her clothes from earlier, even her jacket back on, the collar pulled up high. She looks tired, just for a second, before her brow furrows and she scowls through the door at you.
"You're not Lea," she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
You take a deep breath, swallowing back your usual cruel retort, your usual defense, instead just forcing yourself to hold Merry's gaze.
"Merry, I want to talk," you say, somehow managing to keep your voice steady.
She gives you a look, before sighing and swinging the door open, gesturing you inside.
You let out a long breath, quickly obliging and closing the door quietly behind you.
Merry meanders across the room, towards that large, ornate desk, and you stand a few feet behind her, taking in the room again, the large windows on the back wall revealing the dark night sky outside.
The dim glow of lanterns, one hanging from the ceiling, one set on the desk, casts the whole room in a haunting, warm glow, the shadows in the corner seeming especially dark in contrast. There is a door you haven't noticed before – more lantern light spilling out from within, and you assume that must be Merry's bedroom. Overall, the place is bare, aside from the desk and a little shelf of alcohol, stacked with bottles. You suppose this place wasn't always Merry's, and that she would keep most of her belongings back on her ship, anyways.
Merry hums as she leans over the desk, snatching up a half empty bottle, popping off the decanter with a flourish, raising the bottle to her lips and taking a long drink, staring back at you as she does.
At last she lowers the bottle, wiping her mouth on her sleeve, leaning back against the desk.
"What do you want, $name?" she finally says.
You struggle for the words, her sharp stare making your mouth go dry.
"I... About what happened on the ship-"
But Merry waves her hand, cutting you off and shaking her head.
"Just forget about it." She takes another drink, eyeing you again over the bottle.<<set $bw_visitmerry to true>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Have you been drinking all night?"' 'have you been drinking all night'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Well... can you offer me a drink, at least?"' 'can you offer me a drink at least'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Merry, please... I am really sorry."' 'merry please i am really sorry'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Can I ask... who wrote that poem?"' 'who wrote that poem'>><</link>></div>After your day in Blackwater together, you can't help but find yourself thinking about her - the teasing, her smile, and the way she looked at you. You know what her invitation earlier implied... but really, you just want to see her, talk to her. You're a fool with a crush, you know it, but you can't help it.
Regarding her //offer//...
<div id="choice">[[I want to get to know her more, first.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm not really interested in physical intimacy like that.]]</div>After your day in Blackwater together, you can't help but think about her - the teasing, her smile, and the way she looked at you. Slowly standing, you vigourously rub your hands over your face, shaking your head and taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror.
<<if $l_tavernflirt>>You've stopped at the foot of the stairs, pressing a hand to the banister, glancing up to the second floor again - forcing Lea from your mind - before turning back to Merry's room. You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, too, you know it.<<else>>You've stopped at the foot of the stairs, pressing a hand to the banister, glancing up to the second floor before turning back to Merry's room. You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it.<</if>>
<div id="choice">[[My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter.]]</div>You stand abruptly then, your chair clattering loudly at the sudden movement, and you roughly rub your hands over your face as you step away from the table and head for the stairs. //A bad idea.// You should keep your distance from her. Getting any more involved with someone like her... a pirate captain. You can get more than just yourself in trouble with that. You're already lucky that nothing happened in the city with her today, that Duncan didn't retaliate more publicly. You hesitate at the bottom of the stairs though, leaning against the banister, hesitating, hesitating, hesitating. Finally, you turn away, slowly dragging your feet up each step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]<<set $ace to 1>>You stand slowly from the table, running your hands over your face and shaking your head before taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror...
Before you even realize it, you're at the foot of the stairs, pressing a hand to the banister, glancing up to the second floor before turning back to Merry's room. You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it.
<<include "bw merry tavern no spice">><<set $ace to 2>>You've never really been interested in physical intimacy like that. It's just not something you seek out, or want, really. But you like Merry, and you want to see her.
You stand slowly from the table, running your hands over your face and shaking your head before taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror...
Before you even realize it, you're at the foot of the stairs, pressing a hand to the banister, glancing up to the second floor before turning back to Merry's room. You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it.
<<include "bw merry tavern no spice">>Closing your eyes, you shake your head slightly, before letting out a frustrated breath. You push yourself off the banister and stride across the parlor, though you do find yourself glancing up at the mezzanine again, <<if $l_tavernflirt>>still expecting Lea to be staring down at you with a scowl. But it's still just as empty.<<else>>half expecting Lea to suddenly appear and catch you in the act - as if you're doing something wrong. But it's empty.<</if>>
You quickly dart through the tables, making for the gold doors. No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
There's a painfully long moment of silence and doubt, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. She's unchanged, still in her clothes from earlier, even her jacket back on, the collar pulled up high. She looks tired, just for a second, before her face splits into a grin at the sight of you.
"Well, good evening," Merry purrs, leaning against the doorframe, slowly looking you up and down, her fingers drumming against the golden wood. She makes no movement to invite you inside, and you fidget with your cloak, pulling it tighter around you.<<set $bw_visitmerry to true>>
<<include "let me in no spice">><<set $experience to 1>>You don't have... any experience with this kind of thing. You feel your face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and anxiety making you question your decision right now. Will she be able to tell? Is she going to make fun of you?
<<include "bw merry tavern spice">><<set $experience to 2>>You've done something like this a few times before. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
<<include "bw merry tavern spice">><<set $experience to 3>>You consider yourself experienced, but that's probably not true when compared to real people. //Real people//? People... not like you. But you know what you're doing. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
<<include "bw merry tavern spice">>Closing your eyes, you shake your head slightly, before letting out a frustrated breath. You push yourself off the banister and stride across the parlor, though you do find yourself glancing up at the mezzanine <<if $l_tavernflirt>>yet //again//, still expecting Lea to be staring down at you with a scowl. But it's still just as empty.<<else>>again, half expecting Lea to suddenly appear and catch you in the act - as if you're doing something wrong. But it's empty.<</if>>
You quickly dart through the tables, making for the gold doors. No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
There's a painfully long moment of silence and doubt, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. She's unchanged, still in her clothes from earlier, even her jacket back on, the collar pulled up high. She looks tired, just for a second, before her face splits into a grin at the sight of you.<<set $bw_visitmerry to true>>
<<include "good evening hunter">><<set $l_flirt +=1>><<if $bw_lea>>You think about Lea.<<else>>You think about Lea - how you left $l_them behind today. Maybe you were trying to get some distance between the two of you, see the city without $l_them hovering. Maybe you just wanted to be cruel. You're not sure.<</if>>
Thinking about $l_them confuses you - it's angry and painful and sad. And it's comforting. Familiar. You and Lea have been working together for a couple years, now - a //strained// couple of years. You've been angry with $l_them, frustrated, annoyed, and indifferent; the two of you have argued more than you've ever really //talked//. But you've spent a lot of time together, and while that time hasn't always been kind, it's something that you'll always have.
You've shared beds, and meals, and drinks, watched each other's backs, dragged each other out of the fire more times than you'd like to admit - bandaged each other's wounds, helped each other to bed. Lea //knows// you - more than anyone.
<<if ($n_flirt gte 1) or ($c_flirt gte 1) or ($m_flirt gte 1)>>Despite your desperate attempts to gain the attention of anyone else... you always end up thinking about Lea.
<</if>>Maybe this was inevitable. To be known - that's the first step, isn't it? And there's no one else. No one else, but Lea. <<if $l_relationship eq 7>>But now you've said things you can't take back. Pushing $l_them away. //It's for the best//, is what you want to say. But you think maybe you're just being fucking selfish.
<<elseif $l_relationship eq 10>>But you're pushing $l_them away. //It's for the best//, is what you want to say. But you think maybe you're just being fucking selfish.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 1>>You're //partners//, after all. You think the gods are having a laugh at you, but you're the one playing along - your guilty conscience catching up to you. It's too late, now. It's too late.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 11>>Once this is all over, you're going to talk. Whatever that means. But it's too late, now. It's too late.<<else>>What did you say to $l_them? //We'll see.// That was a lie, though. It's too late, now. It's too late.<</if>><<set $thought_about to "lea">><<set $rom to true>>
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">>You really wish you had gone up with Clementine. Or that they had stayed down here with you. Thinking about them... you like them. You find yourself worrying about them. There's something about the bard that you can't quite figure out, and that makes you worry even more. But they've been kind to you - even when you've not done much to deserve it. You don't meet a lot of people like that, not out here.
<<if ($l_flirt gte 1) or ($n_flirt gte 1) or ($m_flirt gte 1)>>Though Clementine has hardly been the only one that's turned your head. There is a reason for it, you know - a reason that you're feeling so //clingy//. You frown, pulling on your sleeves.
<</if>><<if $bell>>Shifting in your chair, you reach into your pocket and pull out Clem's little bell. You turn it over in your hands, ringing it once.<<else>>Shifting in your chair, you stare down at your hands, your fingers twitching, and you mime the movements of the song they showed you, as if you were holding the instrument in your lap, playing the chords again with them.<</if>>
They looked good in their new clothes. You can't help but miss the colorful jacket, though. And their bells. <<if $bell>>You ring the bell one more time, before slipping it back in your pocket.<<else>>You sigh, dropping your hands, sinking back into your chair.<</if>> You wish you had more time. More time to spend with them, to learn a song with them, to do something more.
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">><<if $bw_merry>><<include "bw merry the captain">><<else>>You have to admit, the captain piques your interest. A pirate captain... and from Gael. Of course, you've met other Gaelish people before - your job has brought you out here plenty of times, and this close to the border there will always be people passing through.
You just don't really get to talk to them, and most of them don't //want// to talk to you. You think that's what it is about Merry that gets you the most - she seems at ease, unbothered by what you are, and treats you just like everyone else. She even teases you, flirts with you...
Your eyes wander over to the golden double doors then, across the parlor.
She did invite you, technically. Though you haven't got the faintest idea if she's actually there right now - you thought she would have left for the docks, maybe.
<div id ="choice"><<link [[Go knock.]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I shouldn't. Leave it be.]]</div><</if>><<if $bw_noel>>At first you wanted to blame it on the fact that you're both hunters. All hunters are naturally drawn to each other because of the shared connection to the Vel. But with Noel... there's more to it than that. Today, in Blackwater - you wish it had been different. But you're also grateful that Noel trusted you enough to let you come along, to set the wards with him, to just be there with him.
<<if ($l_flirt gte 1) or ($c_flirt gte 1) or ($m_flirt gte 1)>>Though... Noel is not the only person that's turned your head recently, and you can't help feel a spike of guilt, thinking about him. There is a reason for it, you know - a reason that you're feeling so //clingy//. You frown, pulling on your sleeves and shaking your head. If only you had more time.
<</if>>You wish you had more time with $n_them.<<else>>You were certain that it was just that you're both hunters - all hunters are naturally drawn to each other because of the shared connection to the Vel. But you're realizing now, with Noel, you think it's a little bit more than that. You feel charmed by $n_them, grateful to be in $n_their company. When xe left earlier... you really wanted $n_them to stay, just a little while longer.
<<if ($l_flirt gte 1) or ($c_flirt gte 1) or ($m_flirt gte 1)>>Of course, Noel is not the only person that's turned your head recently, and you can't help feel a spike of guilt, thinking about him. There is a reason for it, you know - a reason that you're feeling so //clingy//. You frown, pulling on your sleeves and shaking your head.
<</if>>You wonder if Noel can sense that something is wrong with you.<</if>>
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">>You think about Lea. <<if $l_relationship eq 1>>The one constant in your life. Your //partner//.
$l_Their frustration, $l_their anger, as well as $l_their small, kind gestures, the familiarity of it all does bring you some comfort. It will be strange, having a room to yourself tonight, especially after a day like today.
You wonder if Lea feels the same.<<elseif ($l_relationship eq 7) or ($l_relationship eq 10)>>Leaning forward in your chair, elbows pressed to the table, you bury your face in your hands, letting out a long sigh.
Lea, the one constant in your life over the last few years, $l_their frustration and $l_their anger and the familiarity of it all. The two of you have been through a lot together. Lea knows you more than anyone else.
$l_They probably blame<<s>> you for all of this.
Are they going to ship you off to Whaler's Watch, too? You're the expendable one. A broken sword, easy enough to replace.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 8>>Leaning forward in your chair, elbows pressed to the table, you bury your face in your hands, letting out a long sigh.
Lea, the one constant in your life over the last few years, $l_their frustration and $l_their anger and the familiarity of it all. The two of you have been through a lot together. Lea knows you more than anyone else.
$l_They probably blame<<s>> you for all of this.
You scoff, dropping your hands then, sinking back into your chair. But you immediately feel guilty, too, thinking of $l_them like that. You can't know that for sure. But you think that just makes it worse.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 11>>Leaning forward in your chair, elbows pressed to the table, you bury your face in your hands, letting out a long sigh.
Lea, the one constant in your life over the last few years, $l_their frustration and $l_their anger and the familiarity of it all. The two of you have been through a lot together. Lea knows you more than anyone else.
That's not saying much, though, not really.
You drop your hands, sinking back into your chair and fidgeting with your sleeves. You wonder if $l_they blame<<s>> you for all of this. That's probably cruel to think, after today, your relationship with $l_them suspended in this state of uncertainty - but it was clear Lea wants to repair the broken bridge between you.
So why do you keep doubting it?<</if>>
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">>You think about the bard, their colorful clothes, which you find yourself kind of missing now that they're gone. You really haven't met many southerners in your life... in fact, you don't think you've really met any, beyond exchanging pleasantries while passing through somewhere.
And Clementine is about as southern as they come. Though in their new clothes, they don't look half-bad. With the rest of your bizarre little crew, they'll blend in as long as they don't open their mouth.
You blink, leaning back in your chair. You're surprised at how much you care about the little bard, if you're being honest. But you worry about them. And there's something about them you can't quite figure out, which makes you worry even more.
<<if $bell>>Shifting in your chair, you reach into your pocket and pull out Clem's little bell. You turn it over in your hands, ringing it once.<<else>>You sigh, shaking your head and pulling at your sleeves.<</if>>
You hope you don't regret letting them stay around.
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">><<if $bw_merry>><<include "bw merry the captain 1">><<else>>You think about the captain. A pirate captain... and from Gael. Of course, you've met other Gaelish people before - your job has brought you out here plenty of times, and this close to the border there will always be people passing through.
You just don't really get to talk to them, and most of them don't want to talk to //you//. You think that's what it is about Merry that interests you - she seems at ease, unbothered by what you are, unimpressed by who Lea is, and she treats you just like everyone else. Even flirting with you, which is definitely not something you're used to.
Your eyes wander over to the golden double doors then, across the parlor.
She did invite you, technically. Though you haven't got the faintest idea if she's actually there right now - you thought she would have left for the docks, maybe.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Go knock. ->Go knock friendly]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I shouldn't. Leave it be. ->I shouldn't. Leave it be. friendly]]</div><</if>>You think about Noel. You feel naturally drawn to $n_them, no doubt due to both of you being hunters, and you're actually looking forward to having another hunter around for this job. And you honestly haven't met many hunters like him - aside from the fact he doesn't have a handler, it's not often you meet a hunter with such a light disposition.
<<if $bw_noel>>After your day in Blackwater together, you realize now that it is a bit of an act. Maybe that's not the right expression, but Noel is definitely keeping $n_their cards close to $n_their chest.<<else>>You wonder how $n_xe manages it, especially being alone out here.<</if>>
You don't think you could do it. You can barely cope as it is, much less if you were in his position. Though maybe that just says something more about you than about Noel.
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">>You keep your face in your hands, pressing the heels of your palms against your eyes until white sparks flash in the dark, until it hurts. The tavern settles all around you, creaking and moaning from the wind, the soft sounds of quiet voices from some of the upstairs rooms, the hiss of the fire in the woodstove, the way the sign outside rattles every now and then, smacking against the front of the building.
You're not sure how much longer you can take this. The painful ache behind your eyes, at the base of your skull, the way your hands seem to never stop trembling, this new yet primal fear that one night you'll go to sleep and wake up as someone - or something - else. You shouldn't have agreed to take this fucking job.
You let out a ragged breath, dropping your hands hard onto the table, your knuckles cracking against the wood.
<<if _top_flirt eq $l_flirt>>Is Lea sleeping yet, you wonder? <<Are>> $l_they pacing away the night, wearing a rut in the floorboards? Does Lea have nightmares like you?
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">><<elseif _top_flirt eq $m_flirt>><<include "merry top flirt">><<elseif _top_flirt eq $n_flirt>>You wonder where Noel went off to, out in the cold and the dark. You wish he had stayed, just a little while longer.
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">><<elseif _top_flirt eq $c_flirt>>You wonder if Clementine is already sound asleep, all alone on foreign soil. A shame that all they seem to have right now is you.
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">><</if>>You pull on the leather strap around your neck, grabbing your pendant and pulling it out from beneath your shirt. You hold it in your palm, staring down at the unblinking eye, running a thumb over the stone, warm from being pressed against your skin.
It's been years since you last saw Jorah. He just //left//. He could be dead now, for all you know.
Your hand curls into a fist around the pendant, and you just hold it there, staring at the faded wood of the table. You hate that Duncan, of all people, reminded you of him. You wonder if you would actually recognize him, no doubt older now. Would he even recognize you?
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">>You must be feeling especially sentimental, to try and reach for those memories. Being so far up north always stirs it up, though, makes you think about it, makes you wish you could really remember.
You sigh, sinking into your chair, letting your head roll back as you stare up at the ceiling.
Gods, why can't you remember $s_their name?
You open and close your mouth stupidly, as if just making the shapes of some words will make it come back to you. If you heard someone say the name, would you even know it? Would you recognize it as your $sibling?
You groan, sitting up and wrapping your arms over your head, a dull throb in your temples. You're not sure how much longer you can take this. The painful ache behind your eyes, at the base of your skull, the way your hands seem to never stop trembling, this new yet primal fear that one night you'll go to sleep and wake up as someone - or something - else. You shouldn't have agreed to take this fucking job.
You let out a ragged breath, dropping your hands hard onto the table, your knuckles cracking against the wood.
You wish you could see your $sibling one more time, at least. Just one more time.
<<include "You stand abrubtly then">>You slowly stand from the table, adjusting your hood and cloak, before meandering across the parlor. You're not really sure what you're doing, and you hesitate at the foot of the stairs, leaning against the banister for a moment, <<if ($n_flirt gte 1) or ($c_flirt gte 1) or ($m_flirt gte 1)>>chewing on your bottom lip. Merry is not the only person that's turned your head recently, and you can't help feel a spike of guilt, staring at those gold doors. There is a reason for it, you know - a reason that you're feeling so //clingy//. You frown, pulling on your sleeves and shaking your head.<<else>>fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>>
Taking a deep breath, you push off the banister and continue through the tables.
<<include "merry tavern no bw">>You shake your head, turning away, frowning down at your hands. You stand abruptly then, knocking your chair back, and you quickly make your way through the tables, across the parlor. You hesitate at the bottom of the stairs, though, leaning against the banister, eyeing the golden double doors before turning away, slowly dragging your feet up each step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]<<set $thought_about to "merry">><<if $m_relationship isnot 4>>After your day in Blackwater together, you can't help but find yourself thinking about Merry - the teasing, her smile, the looks she gave you. It's not often you have someone so boldly show interest in you in a way that actually feels genuine. It's probably not a good idea, in your position, to be chasing after Gaelish pirates... but there's something about her.
She did invite you to her room, tonight. If you wanted to go see her.
<div id="choice">[[I'm not exactly interested in her offer... But I am interested in her. ♡]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I want to see her - and maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier. ♡]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Actually, this is a bad idea. I shouldn't do this.]]</div><<else>>Despite what happened on the ship today... you still can't help but think about the captain - the teasing, her smile, the looks she gave you. It's not often you have someone so boldly show interest in you in a way that actually feels genuine. It's probably not a good idea, in your position, to be chasing after Gaelish pirates... but there's something about her.
But then you read that fucking poem. You doubt she'll even look at you at all, now.
You glance around the parlor, eyeing the golden doors across the way. You don't know if she'd let you in, or even answer the door. She didn't invite //you//, after all. But maybe you can talk to her...
<div id="choice"><<link [[I want to try. I go and knock.]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I should just leave it be. It's better this way.]]</div><</if>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>>You stop short in front of the double doors, glancing back over your shoulder, back up at the mezzanine, <<if $rom>><<if $thought_about eq "merry">>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
<<include "turning back no bw">><<elseif $thought_about eq "lea">>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there giving you a disappointed look. How quickly you shook $l_them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that... ->It's not like that... 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way? ->So what? What's it matter, either way? 1]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "clem">>half-expecting to see Clementine standing up there giving you a betrayed look. How quickly you shook them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that... ->It's not like that... 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way? ->So what? What's it matter, either way? 1]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "noel">>half-expecting to see Noel standing up there giving you a sad look. How quickly you shook $n_them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that... ->It's not like that... 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way? ->So what? What's it matter, either way? 1]]</div><</if>><<else>>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
<<include "turning back no bw">><</if>>You know what her invitation earlier implied... but really, you just want to see her, talk to her. You're a fool with a crush, you know it, but you can't help it.
Regarding her //offer//...
<div id="choice">[[I want to get to know her more, first. ->I want to get to know her more, first. 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm not really interested in physical intimacy like that. ->I'm not really interested in physical intimacy like that. 1]]</div>Slowly standing from the table, you vigourously rub your hands over your face, shaking your head and taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror.
You've stopped at the foot of the stairs, pressing a hand to the banister, glancing up to the second floor before turning back to Merry's room. You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it.
<div id="choice">[[My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. ->My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. ->I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. ->I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. 1]]</div>You stand abruptly then, your chair clattering loudly at the sudden movement, and you roughly rub your hands over your face as you step away from the table and head for the stairs. //It's better this way.// You should keep your distance from her. //It's better this way.// You hesitate at the bottom of the stairs though, leaning against the banister, eyeing the golden double doors before turning away, slowly dragging your feet up each step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]<<set $ace to 1>>You slowly stand from the table, brushing down the front of your cloak, adjusting your collar and your hood. You stop at the foot of the stairs, leaning against the banister for a brief moment, running a hand over your face. You wish you had a mirror...
You're hesitating, you know it, dragging your feet across the floor as you make your way through the tables, towards those gold doors.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty no spice">>You've never really been interested in physical intimacy like that. It's just not something you seek out, or want, really. But you like Merry, and you want to see her.
Running your hands over your face, you shake your head before standing from the table and taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror...
You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, dragging your feet across the floor as you make your way through the tables, towards those gold door.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty no spice">><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>>You stop short in front of the double doors, glancing back over your shoulder, back up at the mezzanine, half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
Turning back to the doors, you let out a long sigh. No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
There's a painfully long moment of silence, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. She's unchanged, still in her clothes from earlier, even her jacket back on, the collar pulled up high. <<if $bw_merry>><<if $m_flirt gte 2>>She looks tired, just for a second, before her face splits into a grin at the sight of you.<<else>>She looks tired, just for a second, before surprise flickers across her face, quickly followed by a rather wolfish grin.<</if>>
"Well, good evening," Merry purrs, leaning against the doorframe, slowly looking you up and down, her fingers drumming against the golden wood. She makes no move to invite you inside, and you fidget with your cloak, pulling it tighter around you.
<<include "let me in no spice">><<else>>She looks tired, just for a second, before surprise flickers across her face, quickly followed by a rather wolfish grin.
<<include "merry nice to see you">><</if>><<set $experience to 1>>You don't have... any experience with this kind of thing. You feel your face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and anxiety making you question your decision right now. Will she be able to tell? Is she going to make fun of you?
You let out a frustrated sigh, pushing off the banister and forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">><<set $experience to 2>>You've done something like this a few times before. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated sigh, pushing off the banister and forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">><<set $experience to 3>>You consider yourself experienced, but that's probably not true when compared to real people. //Real people//? People... not like you. But you know what you're doing. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with… well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated sigh, pushing off the banister and forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>>You stop short in front of the double doors, glancing back over your shoulder, back up at the mezzanine, <<if $rom>><<if $thought_about eq "merry">>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
<<include "turning back friendly flirty">><<elseif $thought_about eq "lea">>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there giving you a disappointed look. How quickly you shook $l_them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that...]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way?]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "clem">>half-expecting to see Clementine standing up there giving you a betrayed look. How quickly you shook them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that...]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way?]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "noel">>half-expecting to see Noel standing up there giving you a sad look. How quickly you shook $n_them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that...]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way?]]</div><</if>><<else>>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
<<include "turning back friendly flirty">><</if>>Standing slowly, you vigourously rub your hands over your face, shaking your head and taking a few stuttering steps, pausing at the foot of the stairs, leaning against the banister for a moment, hesitating.
You close your eyes, shaking your head and pushing off the banister, making your way through the tables, across the parlor, towards the golden doors.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty">>You stand abruptly then, your chair clattering loudly at the sudden movement, and you roughly rub your hands over your face as you step away from the table and head for the stairs. //It's better this way.// You hesitate at the bottom of the stairs though, leaning against the banister, eyeing the golden double doors before turning away, slowly dragging your feet up each step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]<<if $read_poem>><<include "friendly flirty read poem">><<else>>You stop short in front of them, glancing back over your shoulder, back up at the mezzanine, half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
Turning back to the doors, you take a deep breath. No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
There's a painfully long moment of silence, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. She's unchanged, still in her clothes from earlier, even her jacket back on, the collar pulled up high. She looks tired, just for a second, before her face splits into a grin at the sight of you.
"Well, good evening, hunter," Merry purrs, leaning against the doorframe, slowly looking you up and down, her fingers drumming against the golden wood. She makes no move to invite you inside, and you fidget with your cloak, pulling it tighter around you.
"Good evening, Merry. Are you going to let me in?" you say impatiently, shifting awkwardly on your feet. Merry seems to revel for a moment in your discomfort, before stepping back and swinging the door open, gesturing you inside. Turning on her heel, she retreats into the room, and you quickly follow after her, closing the door behind you.
Merry meanders across the room, stopping at one of the shelves on the wall to your left and grabbing a fancy looking bottle and two glasses, both clinking together as she sets them on the desk in front of you, and you stand a few feet behind her, taking in the room again, the large windows on the back wall revealing the dark night sky outside.
The dim glow of lanterns, one hanging from the ceiling, one set on the desk, casts the whole room in a haunting, warm glow, the shadows in the corner seeming especially dark in contrast. There is a door you haven't noticed before – more lantern light spilling out from within, and you assume that must be Merry's bedroom. Overall, the place is bare, aside from the desk and the little liquor cabinet. You suppose this place wasn't always Merry's, and that she would prefer to keep most of her belongings back on her ship, anyways.
Merry hums as she pops the top off the decanter, your eyes flicking back to her as she pours a generous amount of alcohol in each glass, lifting one to her lips and taking a long drink before offering you the other one.
<div id="choice">[[Accept. ->Accept 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Decline. ->Decline 1]]</div><</if>>You stand abruptly then, your chair clattering loudly at the sudden movement, and you roughly rub your hands over your face as you step away from the table and head for the stairs. Dropping your hands, you scan the empty parlor, your hand hovering over the banister, searching for any kind of excuse to stay, to avoid the solitude of your room upstairs, to stay awake.
Your eyes wander to the golden double doors.
<<if $m_relationship isnot 4>><div id="choice"><<link [[Well... she did invite me. I go and knock.]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<<else>><div id="choice"><<link [[Maybe... Maybe I could try talking to her. We didn't exactly part on good terms, earlier...]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice">[[Leave it. I should just try to get some sleep.]]</div><<if $read_poem>>You think about Merry. Despite what happened today, back on the ship, you still think about Merry. You liked spending time with her, getting to know someone who treats you... normal. But then your read that poem. //That fucking poem.// You curse yourself under your breath, sinking back in your chair.
You glance around the parlor, eyeing the golden doors across the way. You don't know if she'd let you in, or even answer the door. She didn't invite //you//, after all. But maybe you can talk to her...
<div id="choice"><<link [[I want to try. I go and knock.]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I should just leave it be. It's better this way.]]</div><<else>>You think about Merry. After your day in Blackwater together, you can't help but find yourself thinking about her. You liked spending time with her, talking to her about Gael - even if it was a little painful. You've never really talked about it, and you've never really wanted to, but maybe it's the fact that she's from Gael, too, that makes you feel comfortable enough to even mention it.
You've met other Gaelish people before, of course - your job has brought you out here plenty of times, and this close to the border there will always be people passing through.
You just don't really get to talk to them, and most of them don't want to talk to //you//. You think that's what it is about Merry that gets you the most - she seems at ease, unbothered by what you are, and treats you just like everyone else.
That's not something that happens often.
Your eyes wander over to the golden double doors then, across the parlor.
She did invite you, technically. Though you haven't got the faintest idea if she's actually there right now - you thought she would have left for the docks, maybe.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Go knock. ->Go knock. 1]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I shouldn't. Leave it be. ->I shouldn't. Leave it be. 1]]</div><</if>>Standing slowly, you run a hand over your face before slowly picking your way through the tables, towards the double doors.
You do find yourself hesitating, though, at the foot of the stairs, leaning against the banister, biting your lip. After a few moments, you let out a long sigh, and continue on across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern no bw">>You stand abruptly then, your chair clattering loudly at the sudden movement, and you roughly rub your hands over your face as you step away from the table and head for the stairs. //You shouldn't. You really shouldn't.// You hesitate at the bottom of the stairs though, leaning against the banister, eyeing the golden double doors before turning away, slowly dragging your feet up each step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]Standing slowly, you run a hand over your face before slowly picking your way through the tables, towards the double doors.
You do find yourself hesitating, though, at the foot of the stairs, leaning against the banister, biting your lip. After a few moments, you let out a long sigh, and continue on across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty">>You stand abruptly then, your chair clattering loudly at the sudden movement, and you roughly rub your hands over your face as you step away from the table and head for the stairs. //You shouldn't. You really shouldn't.// You hesitate at the bottom of the stairs though, leaning against the banister, eyeing the golden double doors before turning away, slowly dragging your feet up each step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]"Let's not worry about Lea," you say slowly, drumming your fingers on the table, "It's just you and me."
Clementine blinks, clearly surprised at your change of plans.
But this - all of this - is starting to feel a bit dubious. You've already made the deal... but you don't need to involve Lea.
<<if $l_relationship eq 10>>Though there is some guilt, there, keeping secrets still. But you doubt one more will change anything, at this point. What's left between the two of you after today? <<if $for_money>>At least if things work out, you can still split the money between you once it's all over. Better to ask for forgiveness, rather than permission, right? And money always helps people forgive.<</if>>
You sigh, shaking your head before sitting up a little straighter in your chair.
"I'll get you to Highfell," you say with a nod.
Clementine looks at you for a long moment, before nodding back. "Okay," they say.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 8>>It's better this way. What's one more secret between the two of you? The thought almost makes you laugh out loud, even with Clementine watching you. Unfortunately, your bitter humor doesn't quite manage to keep the guilt from creeping in, and you frown down at your hands, your fingers still tapping the tabletop. <<if $for_money>>You suppose if things work out, you can split the money between you once it's all over at least. Better to ask for forgiveness, rather than permission, right? And money always helps people forgive.<</if>>
You just sigh, shaking your head before sitting up a little straighter in your chair.
"I'll get you to Highfell," you say with a nod.
Clementine looks at you for a long moment, before nodding back. "Okay," they say.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 11>>You can't help the guilt, though, at having gone behind $l_their back for this. You don't know where exactly you and Lea will stand at the end of this job, but you suppose you can just add this to the list of things the two of you will //talk// about. <<if $for_money>>At least if things work out, you can split the money between you once it's all over. Better to ask for forgiveness, rather than permission, right? And money always helps people forgive.<</if>>
You sigh, shaking your head before sitting up a little straighter in your chair.
"I'll get you to Highfell," you say with a nod.
Clementine looks at you for a long moment, before nodding back. "Okay," they say.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 1>>The two of you are partners, now - you don't need this deal to jeapordize that. If something happens - if things go bad, at least Lea has some deniability. You can take the fall on your own. <<if $for_money>>If things work out, you can split the money between you once it's all over. Better to ask for forgiveness, rather than permission, right? And money always helps people forgive.<</if>>
You swallow hard, ignoring the guilt scratching at the back of your mind, before sitting up a little straighter in your chair.
"I'll get you to Highfell," you say with a nod.
Clementine looks at you for a long moment, before nodding back. "Okay," they say.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 7>>Despite the the current //state// of your relationship with Lea, you don't feel right dragging $l_them into this. Maybe it's some weird sense of duty you still feel towards $l_them... or maybe it's just guilt. But you can't do it. You won't.
If something happens - if things go bad, at least Lea has some deniability. You can take the fall on your own.
You sigh, shaking your head before sitting up a little straighter in your chair.
"I'll get you to Highfell," you say with a nod.
Clementine looks at you for a long moment, before nodding back. "Okay," they say.<</if>>
<<if $blackwater>>"I don't know how long we'll spend in the city, though," you add, leaning back in your chair again. "Could be a day... could be a week."
"I can wait," Clementine shrugs. There's some finality in their voice, and it's clear that the deal has been made - they're in this, one way or another. <<if $bloodpact>>You run a finger over your scarred palm again.
Right. The deal has been made.<<else>>Like they said - you're their best bet.<</if>>
"Okay."<<else>>"Okay."<</if>>
Clementine sits up a bit straighter then, giving you a smile and a nod in return. You force a smile, too, though you're certain you're showing too much teeth.
The two of you lapse into silence again, fidgeting in your chairs, Clementine pulling and twisting at their cloak, while you pick at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.
[[Continue ->clem scene or already decided scene]]"I didn't get to talk to $l_them yet," you say, giving Clementine a look.
They frown, clearly disappointed, but they quickly shake their head, running their hands through their hair. "But you're still going to? Eventually?"
You hesitate a moment, narrowing your eyes at the bard. <<if $l_relationship eq 1>>You feel bad enough already after today, having gone behind Lea's back for this - and the two of you are supposed to be partners, now, but Lea doesn't even know you've agreed to this. It's not fair to keep it from $l_them - you've made $l_them a part of this, and $l_they deserve<<s>> to know. You //want// $l_them to know.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 11>>You're not sure where you and Lea will stand after this job - but you've agreed to talk, once it's all over. And there's already enough shit between the two of you as is - you don't need to add this to the pile. You want Lea to know that you've agreed to this. It's the least you can do.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 7>>Despite the current //state// of your relationship with Lea, despite the angry words and the frustration, you don't feel right going behind $l_their back on this. Maybe it's some weird sense of duty you still feel towards $l_them... or maybe it's just guilt. But you can't do it. You won't.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 8>>You're really not sure where you and Lea will stand at the end of this job. You're not even really sure where the two of you will stand come tomorrow morning. But you don't want to keep this from $l_them. You've already made the deal, you've already made $l_them an unwilling participant - the least you can do is let $l_them know it.<<elseif $l_relationship eq 9>>While you you doubt Lea will want to talk about anything with you after today, you don't particularly want to keep this from $l_them. After all, going behind Lea's back will just give $l_them the fuel $l_they want<<s>>, proof that it's all //your fault//, not $l_theirs. That you're the problem. You won't give $l_them that satisfaction.
You shake your head, a bitter taste in your mouth, taking a moment before leveling your gaze back at Clementine.<<else>>Despite the current //state// of your relationship with Lea, despite the angry words and the frustration, you don't feel right going behind $l_their back on this. Maybe it's some weird sense of duty you still feel towards $l_them... or maybe it's just guilt. But you can't do it. You won't.<</if>>
"Yes. I'm going to tell $l_them."
"Right," Clementine says, "of course. Just... Just let me know."
<<if $bloodpact>>Your hand twitches in your lap, and you lift your palm upwards, tracing the raised skin there. You don't know why Clementine is concerned, really - it doesn't matter what Lea thinks. The deal has been made.
<</if>>The two of you lapse into an awkward silence then, you dropping your gaze and picking anxiously at splinters peeling off the underside of the table, while Clementine keeps running their hands over their hair, pulling at their curls and staring off over your shoulder, at something you can't see.
[[Continue ->clem scene or already decided scene]]You hesitate a moment, before leaning forward in your chair and dropping your voice.
"Lea's not a part of this. It's just you and me, now," you say, narrowing your eyes at Clementine.
They seem surprised, but they quickly compose themself, searching your face before giving you a nod.
"Okay," is all they say.
"Okay." You take a deep breath, running a hand over your hood. "I'll get you to Highfell."
Clementine nods again, giving you a small smile, and you force a smile in return, though you're certain you're showing too much teeth. There is an unasked question hanging in the air between you, but Clementine seems content to ignore it, and you're fine with that, too. It's not Clementine's business what's going on between you and Lea right now - and really, it doesn't matter. You've already made the deal.
The two of you lapse into silence again, fidgeting in your chairs, Clementine pulling and twisting at their cloak, while you pick at a few small splinters peeling off the underside of the table.
[[Continue ->clem scene or already decided scene]]Is the captain down at the docks, you wonder? Maybe you should walk down there, feel the cold air on your face, icy water on your skin. You're not sure Merry would be enough to stop you from drowning, though.
You stand abruptly then, your chair clattering loudly at the sudden movement, and you roughly rub your hands over your face as you step away from the table and head for the stairs. Dropping your hands, you scan the empty parlor, your hand hovering over the banister, searching for any kind of excuse to stay.
Your eyes wander to the golden double doors.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Go and knock.]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Leave it, and just head upstairs.]]</div><<if $m_relationship isnot 4>>She did invite you, technically. Though... you're not even sure if she's actually here.
You take a deep breath, bracing yourself against the banister.
<div id="choice">[[While I'm not exactly interested in her offer, I am interested in her. ♡]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I do want to see her. And maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier. ♡]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'd like to talk to her, maybe learn more about her... and Gael, too.]]</div><<else>>You're not sure she'll even let you in. She didn't invite //you//, after all. But maybe you can talk to her...
You push off the banister, meandering through the tables, making your way across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty">><</if>>There's really nothing left for it, at this point - you're just being a coward, looking for anything to distract you. You turn away, slowly ascending the stairs, dragging your feet up every step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]After your day in Blackwater together, you can't help but find yourself thinking about her - the teasing, her smile, the looks she gave you. You know what her invitation earlier implied... but really, you just want to see her, talk to her. You're a fool with a crush, you know it, but you can't help it.
Regarding her //offer//...
<div id="choice">[[I'd like to get to know her more, first.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm not really interested in physical intimacy like that. ->I'm not really interested in physical intimacy like that. 2]]</div>After your day in Blackwater together, you can't help but think about her - the teasing, her smile, and the way she looked at you. You push off the banister, letting out a long sigh, running a hand over your face. You wish you had a mirror.
Taking a few stuttering steps, you fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, dragging your feet across the floor.
<div id="choice">[[My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. ->My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. 2]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. ->I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. 2]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. ->I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. 2]]</div>After spending the day with her in Blackwater, you admit that you want to talk more with her, learn more about her. You like Merry, and she seems pretty insistent on sticking with you and Lea for now - so maybe it would be good to get to know her properly.
You push yourself off the banister, slowly making your way through the tables, across the parlor, to those golden double doors.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty">><<set $ace to 1>>Pushing yourself from the banister, you run your hands over your face and shake your head, taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror...
You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, dragging your feet across the floor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty no spice">><<set $ace to 2>>You've never really been interested in physical intimacy like that. It's just not something you seek out, or want, really. But you like Merry, and you want to see her.
Running your hands over your face, you shake your head before taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror...
You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, dragging your feet across the floor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty no spice">><<set $experience to 1>>You don't have... any experience with this kind of thing. You feel your face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and anxiety making you question your decision right now. Will she be able to tell? Is she going to make fun of you?
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">><<set $experience to 2>>You've done something like this a few times before. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">><<set $experience to 3>>You consider yourself experienced, but that's probably not true when compared to real people. //Real people//? People... not like you. But you know what you're doing. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">>You stop short in front of the double doors, glancing back over your shoulder, back up at the mezzanine, half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
Turning back to the doors, you let out a long sigh. No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
There's a painfully long moment of silence, and you're certain she's not going to answer, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. She's unchanged, still in her clothes from earlier, even her jacket back on, the collar pulled up high. She looks tired, just for a second, before her brow furrows and she scowls through the door at you.
"You're not Lea," she scoffs, eyeing you up and down.
"Sorry to disappoint you," you say, giving her a dry smile while forcing yourself to hold her gaze.
She rolls her eye, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe. "What do you want?"
"Merry, I want to talk," you say, biting back your usual defensiveness, doing your best to keep your tone even and steady.
She gives you a look, before letting out a long sigh, though she doesn't make any move to unblock the doorway or invite you inside.
"About what happened today, on the ship-" you press on, but she waves her hand, cutting you off.
"Just forget about, $name," she says, pushing herself off the doorframe and moving to close the door.
"Merry, wait-" you shove your foot against the door, to keep her from closing it on you, and she clicks her tongue at you in annoyance.
"What the hell do you want? I said just forget it," she snaps, her patience clearly running out.<<set $bw_visitmerry to true>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I just want to say - I\'m sorry."' 'i just want to say im sorry'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $m_tavernapology to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re not going to offer me a drink or anything?"' 'youre not going to offer me a drink'>><<set $owe_merry_drink to true>><<set $m_tavernapology to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You don\'t have to be such an asshole all the fucking time, you know."' 'you dont have to be such an asshole'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"... Fine. Yeah. Just forget it."' '... fine just forget it'>><</link>></div>"I just want to say - I'm sorry. I'm sorry for reading that poem, Merry," you say, pulling your foot back then.
She doesn't slam the door on you, though, just staring at you for a few moments instead, pursing her lips.
"I know, $name," she says finally, glancing away from you, taking a deep breath. "It's alright, really. You couldn't have known...," she trails off briefly before giving you a sharp smile. "In the future, though, maybe don't be so fucking nosey."
You laugh weakly, nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, okay. I think I can manage that," you say.
Merry leans back, fiddling with the doorknob, eyeing you again.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" she says then, giving you an accusatory look.
Her words seem to jar you, exhaustion making you sway slightly on your feet. You step back from the door then, holding your hands up in surrender. Merry laughs, shaking her head at you, closing the door a bit more now without your foot there to block it.
"Goodnight, $name," she says, "see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Merry."
She closes the door with a soft click, leaving you standing alone in the parlor. You stare at the golden double doors for a few seconds, letting out a long sigh and running a hand over your face.
Slowly, you walk backwards through the tables, before turning to the stairs, again eyeing the mezzanine, glancing along the banister as if someone will be staring down at you. But it's still empty.
At the bottom of the stairs, you pause again, still reluctant. Though you feel better having cleared the air with Merry, at least, even if things are still a little shaky between you. You sigh again, forcing yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet along the steps and across the terrace.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]"You're not going to offer me a drink or anything?" you say, pulling your foot back and giving her a pointed look.
She seems to waver a bit, though still looks clearly annoyed.
"No. //You// should be offering //me// a drink," she says, moving to close the door again.
"Okay. I owe you a drink, then," you say quickly, before she slams the door.
She stops short, pursing her lips, eyeing you through the door again.
"I'll hold you to that," she says then.
"Promise," you say, holding your hands up.
Merry finally cracks, a faint smile as she shakes her head. You smile too, taking a few steps back and dropping your hands.
"Goodnight, Merry," you say, wanting to end on a good note.
"Goodnight, $name," she says, "see you in the morning."
She closes the door with a soft click, leaving you standing alone in the parlor. You stare at the golden double doors for a few seconds, letting out a long sigh and running a hand over your face.
Slowly, you walk backwards through the tables, before turning to the stairs, again eyeing the mezzanine, glancing along the banister as if someone will be staring down at you. But it's still empty.
At the bottom of the stairs, you pause again, still reluctant. You're not exactly sure where you and Merry stand, but it feels better than it did before, at least. You sigh again, forcing yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet along the steps and across the terrace.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]<<set $aggressive +=1>>"You don't have to be such an asshole all the fucking time, you know," you snap, any goodwill you had for the captain evaporating in this moment.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>Merry scoffs. "You're throwing stones in a glass house, hunter," she says, almost laughing as she does.
"What's that supposed to mean?" you say, glaring through the door at her.
"Do I have to spell it out for you? You and me, we're not //nice//. I've seen the way you treat people. Don't pretend like you're any fucking better than me, here," she snarls.
"Fuck you, Merry," you curl your lip, stepping away from the door, then.
"Yeah, fuck you, too," Merry laughs again, before slamming the door in your face.
Standing alone in the parlor, you stare at the golden double doors for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, rubbing your hands over your face.
Slowly, you walk backwards through the tables, before turning to the stairs, again eyeing the mezzanine, glancing along the banister as if someone will be staring down at you. But it's still empty.
At the bottom of the stairs, you pause again, still reluctant. That was a bad idea. You should have just fucking left it alone. You sigh again, forcing yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet along the steps and across the terrace.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>Merry scoffs. "What? You'd prefer me to be all calm and quiet like you? Sorry for having emotions! For being angry!"
She's shouting now, and you pull your foot back, stepping away from the door. She starts to step out after you, but seems to think better of it, instead staying in the doorway, glaring after you.
"Just fuck off, $name," she says then, moving back behind the door, shaking her head.
You feel your face twitch, your hands clenched at your sides, and Merry seems to laugh at your expression, before slamming the door in your face.
Standing alone in the parlor, you stare at the golden double doors for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, rubbing your hands over your face.
Slowly, you walk backwards through the tables, before turning to the stairs, again eyeing the mezzanine, glancing along the banister as if someone will be staring down at you. But it's still empty.
At the bottom of the stairs, you pause again, still reluctant. That was a bad idea. You should have just fucking left it alone. You sigh again, forcing yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet along the steps and across the terrace.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.<<else>>Merry seems to waver a bit, glancing away from you for a few moments, letting out a long sigh.
"Yeah. Maybe," she says, giving you a tight smile. "Maybe you're right."
You sigh then, too, pulling your foot back and stepping away from the door. "I... I just mean..." you try, but Merry is shaking her head.
"No, you already said what you mean," she says, giving you a hard look, though the edge is gone from her voice now. She runs a hand through her hair, shaking her head again.
"You should get some sleep, $name," she mutters, moving to close the door again.
You put your hands behind your head, pulling on your hood.
"Yeah. Goodnight, Merry," you say softly.
"Goodnight," she says, and she closes the door with a soft click, leaving you standing alone in the parlor. You stare at the golden double doors for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, dropping your hands and shaking your head.
Slowly, you walk backwards through the tables, before turning to the stairs, again eyeing the mezzanine, glancing along the banister as if someone will be staring down at you. But it's still empty.
At the bottom of the stairs, you pause again, still reluctant. You're not exactly sure where you and Merry stand, now. Maybe you should have just left it. You sigh again, forcing yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet along the steps and across the terrace.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.<</if>><<set $such_an_asshole to true>>
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]"... Fine. Yeah. Just forget it," you say, pulling your foot back and stepping away from the door.
Merry gives you an annoyed look, shaking her head.
"Goodnight, $name," she says, her voice hard, emphasizing the words with some finality.
"Goodnight, Merry," you say, though she closes the door as you do, leaving you standing alone in the parlor. You stare at the golden double doors for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, dropping your hands and shaking your head.
Slowly, you walk backwards through the tables, before turning to the stairs, again eyeing the mezzanine, glancing along the banister as if someone will be staring down at you. But it's still empty.
At the bottom of the stairs, you pause again, still reluctant. You're not exactly sure where you and Merry stand, now. Maybe you should have just left it. You sigh again, forcing yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet along the steps and across the terrace.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]Merry presses the glass into your hand with an approving nod before pulling back and leaning against the desk, crossing one of her arms over her chest and taking another long drink.
You swirl your own drink in your glass, a rich, dark brown liquid, smelling strongly of smoke and spice. You take a small sip, more than aware of Merry staring at you as you do, her eye peeking over her own glass, studying your face.
<<include "squirming a bit">>Merry nods and just sets the other glass back down, turning around to face you and leaning back against the desk, crossing one of her arms over her chest and taking another long drink. Merry watches you over the rim of the glass, her eye narrowed, studying your face.
<<include "squirming a bit">>"What?" you say, squirming a bit under her scrutiny.
"I haven't been around a lot of hunters. Besides Noel," she says, waving her hand, her drink sloshing dangerously in her glass. "Always hear lots of horror stories, you know," she adds, giving you a coy smile.
"Am I scary to you?" you ask, a defensive edge creeping into your voice. Maybe you shouldn't have come here, after all.
"No."
The two of you stare at each other for a moment as Merry takes another drink.
"I told you I'm from way up north," Merry says then, "but there was a time when I lived down by the Wall. A few years, actually."
You blink, tilting your head curiously. The Wall is the Gaelish stronghold, along the coast here, just across the border and past the mountains. You would never have guessed that - Merry's accent is very strong, and undeniably from the northern highlands, hundreds of miles beyond the Wall, all snow and hills, ice and open water.
"Those hunters kept their distance, though. Very secretive, always watching from their little towers."
"What were you doing by the Wall?" you can't help but ask.
"Believe it or not, I've not spent the last twenty-odd years just sitting in a room doing nothing. I've been around," she shrugs, taking another drink. You give her a look and she laughs. "I was taking a break. From... the business, you know," she waves her glass again.
"Have you been there? That stronghold is something else," she asks.
<div id="choice"><<link '"No, I can\'t say I have."' 'no i cant say i have'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"If I have, I don\'t remember it."' 'if i have i dont remember it'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"We\'re not allowed to cross the borders like that anymore."' 'were not allowed to cross the borders like that anymore'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'ve only ever been to the Black Iron."' 'ive only ever been to the black iron'>><</link>></div>"No, I can't say I have," you sigh, <<if hasVisited("Accept 1")>>just watching your drink swirl in its glass.<<else>>glancing over at the woodstove in the corner, the hot red glow of the fire inside it.<</if>>
Merry hums in response, taking another drink, studying you over the glass.
"Would you ever want to go back?" she asks then, leaning forward a bit, "Back to Gael, I mean. You said your family is still there..." she trails off, seeming to waver under the look you give her.
<<include "back to gael">>"If I have, I don't remember it," you say, <<if hasVisited("Accept 1")>>just watching your drink swirl in its glass.<<else>>glancing over at the woodstove in the corner, the hot red glow of the fire inside it.<</if>>
"Right," Merry says, pointing her finger at you, "they snatched you up when you were young, didn't they?" She shakes her head, taking another drink, studying you over her glass.
"Would you ever want to go back?" she asks then, leaning forward a bit, "Back to Gael, I mean. You said your family is still there..." she trails off, seeming to waver under the look you give her.
<<include "back to gael">>"We're not allowed to cross the borders like that anymore," you say, shaking your head.
Merry blinks, seemingly confused by your answer, taking a moment, before: "Oh, you mean as a hunter?"
You nod.
"Ah. I meant... just in general. Not for the Order, or anything. Would you want to go back one day?" she leans forward a bit, "You said your family is still there...," she trails off, seeming to waver under the look you give her then.
<<include "back to gael">>"I've only ever been to the Black Iron," you say, shaking your head. You've been close to Whaler's Watch for jobs before, but never actually stayed there. You and Lea have always preferred to fly solo and just camp through the nights whenever you've had to travel back and forth.
Merry hums in response, taking another drink, studying you over the glass.
"Would you ever want to go to the Wall? Go back to Gael?" she asks then, leaning forward a bit, "You said your family is still there...," she trails off, seeming to waver under the look you give her then.
<<include "back to gael">><div id ="choice"><<link '"No."' 'no gael'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"... Maybe."' '... maybe gael'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes."' 'yes gael'>><</link>></div>"...Maybe," you say slowly, shifting on your feet.
Merry nods, narrowing her eye at you.
"Think about it," she says then. "I could take you there, you know," she shrugs, as if it was the easiest thing in the world. "Once this is all over, I have business to take care of." She pauses then, frowning, seeming to consider her words carefully. "I won't go up north. But I can at least get you across the border and around the mountains."
You just blink over at her.
"Think about it," she says again, raising her hands.
You don't know what to say, instead just <<if hasVisited("Accept 1")>>quickly taking a drink, hiding behind your glass.<<else>>staring down at the floor, fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>><<set $merry_offer to true>>
<<include "well then">>"No," you say simply, glaring down at your feet.
Merry raises her glass towards you then, tilting her head forward.
"Cheers to that," she says with a dark laugh, throwing back the rest of the drink before turning around and setting the empty glass on the desk.
You raise an eyebrow at her.
"Don't you go back for... business?" you say, putting air quotes around //business//.
Merry scoffs, shaking her head. "That's not the same as just //going back//," she says, as if that clears it all up. Now it's your turn to study her, watching as her face twitches and she looks away from you, nowhere to hide now with her glass empty on the desk.
<<include "well then">>"Yes," you say, and it comes out suddenly, without any thought. You frown, shifting on your feet, hiding in your hood.
You can just see Merry nodding, staring at you.
"I could take you there, you know," she says, and you snap your head up to look at her, "Once this is all over, I have business to take care of." She pauses then, frowning, seeming to consider her words carefully. "I won't go up north. But I can at least get you across the border and around the mountains."
You just blink over at her.
"You just let me know," she nods again.
You don't know what to say, instead just <<if hasVisited("Accept 1")>>quickly taking a drink, hiding behind your glass.<<else>>staring down at the floor, fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>><<set $merry_offer to true>>
<<include "well then">>[[Continue ->well then 1]]"Well," Merry says after a few moments of silence, pushing herself off the desk, stretching her arms over her head, "it's getting a bit late, hunter. I'm sure you've heard this plenty of times today, but... you should get some sleep."
She laughs at the face you make, dropping her hands back to her sides as she walks over to you.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," she says, shaking her head,<<if hasVisited("Accept 1")>> reaching out for your glass. You quickly finish the rest of your drink and hand it over, watching as she sets the glass back over on the desk next to hers before turning back to you.<</if>> "But you do look exhausted, my friend," she adds, giving you a sympathetic look.
Her words seem to act as a jarring reminder, then, exhaustion making you sway slightly on your feet. Merry steps a little closer to you then, peering into your hood, though you shrug her off.
"Yeah, yeah," you say, biting the inside of your cheek. "You're right."
You let her herd you back towards the door, dragging your feet a bit, and when she opens the door for you, you hesitate, reaching into your hood and rubbing the back of your neck.
"Thank you, Merry," you say, and she just smirks, leaning against the wall beside you.
"Goodnight, $name," she says, ushering you out, closing the door with a quiet click behind you, leaving you standing alone in the parlor. You stare at the golden double doors for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, dropping your hand and shaking your head.
Slowly, you walk backwards through the tables, before turning to the stairs, again eyeing the mezzanine, glancing along the banister as if someone will be staring down at you. But it's still empty.
At the bottom of the stairs, you pause again, still reluctant.<<if $merry_offer>>There's also Merry's offer, echoing in your mind, the thought of Gael, <<if $gaelish eq 1>>the thought of that foreign home making your head heavy.<<elseif $gaelish eq 2>>the thought of your forgotten home making your head heavy.<<else>>the thought of it all making your head heavy.<</if>><<else>>You're grateful, at least, that Merry gave you a bit of time, a welcome distraction from it all.<</if>>
You sigh again, forcing yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet along the steps and across the terrace.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]"Are you going to let me in?" you ask sheepishly, resisting the urge to glance over your shoulder.
"Depends what you're here for," she says, stepping back behind the door, keeping it open just enough for her to peak through. You feel your face flush, and you scoff, shaking your head.
"Merry...," you say, forcing yourself to look at her, and she just smiles even wider, and there's a few awful seconds where you genuinely don't think she's going to let you in, but then she laughs lightly, swinging the door open and gesturing you inside.
You let out a long breath and oblige, stepping after her and closing the door quickly behind you.
Merry meanders across the room, stopping at one of the shelves on the wall to your left and grabbing a fancy looking bottle and two glasses, both clinking together as she sets them on the desk in front of you, and you stand a few feet behind her, taking in the room again, the large windows on the back wall revealing the dark night sky outside.
The dim glow of lanterns, one hanging from the ceiling, one set on the desk, casts the whole room in a haunting, warm glow, the shadows in the corner seeming especially dark in contrast. There is a door you hadn't noticed before – more lantern light spilling out from within, and you assume that must be Merry's bedroom. Overall, the place is bare, aside from the desk and the little liquor cabinet. You suppose this place wasn't always Merry's, and that she would prefer to keep most of her belongings back on her ship, anyways.
Merry hums as she pops the top off the decanter, your eyes flicking back to her as she pours a generous amount of alcohol in each glass, lifting one to her lips and taking a long drink before offering you the other one.
<div id="choice">[[Accept. ->Accept 2]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Decline. ->Decline 2]]</div>"Nice to see you, hunter," she purrs, leaning against the door frame, her eye narrowed as she takes you in.
"Are you going to let me in?" you say impatiently, pulling at the collar of your cloak and resisting the urge to glance over your shoulder.
She huffs a laugh, raising her eyebrow at you. There's a few awful seconds where you genuinely think she isn't going to move, she isn't going to let you in, but then she pushes herself off the door frame and gestures you inside. Turning on her heel, she retreats into the room, and you quickly follow after her, closing the door behind you.
"Good to know you're not as uptight as your handler," she says, her back to you as she stops at a small liquor cabinet, taking a moment to peruse the bottles.
"I don't think anyone could be as uptight as Lea," you mutter, watching as Merry makes her selection, pulling a fancy bottle and two glasses from the cabinet, both clinking together as she carries them over to the large ornate desk at the center of the room. You stand a few feet behind her, taking in the room again, the large windows on the back wall revealing the dark night sky outside.
The dim glow of lanterns, one hanging from the ceiling, one set on the desk, casts the whole room in a haunting, warm glow, the shadows in the corner seeming especially dark in contrast. There is a door you hadn't noticed before – more lantern light spilling out from within, and you assume that must be Merry's bedroom. Overall, the place is bare, aside from the desk and the little liquor cabinet. You suppose this place wasn't always Merry's, and that she would prefer to keep most of her belongings back on her ship, anyways.
Merry hums as she pops the top off the decanter, your eyes flicking back to her as she pours a generous amount of alcohol in each glass, lifting one to her lips and taking a long drink before offering you the other one.
<div id="choice">[[Accept. ->Accept 3]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Decline. ->Decline 3]]</div>Merry presses the glass into your hand, her fingers brushing yours, the touch lingering far longer than necessary before she pulls back and leans against the desk, crossing one of her arms over her chest and taking another long drink.
You swirl your own drink in your glass, a rich, dark brown liquid, smelling strongly of smoke and spice. You take a small sip, more than aware of Merry staring at you as you do, her eye roaming your face, your throat, your hand curled around the glass.
<<include "cant sleep no spice">>Merry nods and just sets the other glass back down, turning around to face you and leaning back against the desk, crossing one of her arms over her chest and taking another long drink. Merry watches you over the rim of the glass, her eye flicking over your face, along your chest, down to your hands at your sides.
<<include "cant sleep no spice">>It's not like that. At least, that's what you're telling yourself.
<<include "turning back friendly flirty">>So what? What's it matter, either way? You fidget with you sleeves, biting your lip. You can tell yourself it doesn't matter all you like, but you can't help the guilt that worms its way into your chest still.
But it's not enough to stop you.
<<include "turning back friendly flirty">>Turning back to the doors, you let out a long sigh. No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
There's a painfully long moment of silence, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. <<if $m_flirt gte 2>>She looks tired, just for a second, before her face splits into a grin at the sight of you.
<<include "good evening hunter">><<else>>She looks tired, just for a second, before surprise flickers across her face, quickly followed by a rather wolfish grin.
"This is a pleasant surprise, hunter," she says, leaning against the doorframe, slowly looking you up and down, her fingers drumming against the golden wood. "I didn't actually expect you to show up. But I'm so glad you did." She makes no movement to invite you inside, and you fidget with your cloak, pulling it tighter around you.
<<include "let me in spice">><</if>>"Well, good evening," Merry purrs, leaning against the doorframe, slowly looking you up and down, her fingers drumming against the golden wood. She makes no movement to invite you inside, and you fidget with your cloak, pulling it tighter around you.
<<include "let me in spice">>"Are you going to let me in?" you say sharply, resisting the urge to glance over your shoulder.
"Depends what you're here for," she says, stepping back behind the door, keeping it open just enough for her to peak through. You feel your face flush, and <<if $bold gt $shy>>you push your open palm against the door, leaning into the small space there, narrowing your eyes at her.
"Merry," you say gruffly.
Merry gives you a look you can only describe as wolfish, clearly pleased at that reaction, and she swings the door open, gesturing you inside.<<else>>you swallow hard, glancing down at your hands.
"Merry...," you say, forcing yourself to look at her, taking a half step forward, accidentally kicking the door and all but physically cringing as Merry raises her eyebrow at you.
But then she smirks, swinging the door open and gesturing you inside.<</if>>
You oblige, stepping after her and closing the door quickly behind you.
Merry meanders across the room, stopping at one of the shelves on the wall to your left and grabbing a fancy looking bottle and two glasses, both clinking together as she sets them on the desk in front of you, and you stand a few feet behind her, taking in the room again, the large windows on the back wall revealing the dark night sky outside.
The dim glow of lanterns, one hanging from the ceiling, one set on the desk, casts the whole room in a haunting, warm glow, the shadows in the corner seeming especially dark in contrast. There is a door you haven't noticed before – more lantern light spilling out from within, and you assume that must be Merry's bedroom. Overall, the place is bare, aside from the desk and the little liquor cabinet. You suppose this place wasn't always Merry's, and that she would keep most of her belongings back on her ship, anyways.
Merry hums as she pops the top off the decanter, your eyes flicking back to her as she pours a generous amount of alcohol in each glass, lifting one to her lips and taking a long drink before offering you the other one.
<div id="choice">[[Take it. I could use the liquid courage...]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Decline. I shouldn't drink right now, before...]]</div>Merry presses the glass into your hand, her fingers brushing yours, the touch lingering far longer than necessary before she pulls back and leans against the desk, crossing one of her arms over her chest and taking another long drink.
You swirl your own drink in your glass, a rich, dark brown liquid, smelling strongly of smoke and spice. You take a small sip, more than aware of Merry staring at you as you do, her eye roaming your face, your throat, your hand curled around the glass.
<<include "cant sleep spice">>Merry nods and just sets the other glass back down, turning around to face you and leaning back against the desk, crossing one of her arms over her chest and taking another long drink. Merry watches you over the rim of the glass, her eye flicking over your face, along your chest, down to your hands at your sides.
<<include "cant sleep spice">>It's not like that. At least, that's what you're telling yourself.
<<include "turning back no bw">>So what? What's it matter, either way? You fidget with your sleeves, biting your lip. You can tell yourself it doesn't matter all you like, but you can't help the guilt that worms its way into your chest still.
But it's not enough to stop you.
<<include "turning back no bw">>Turning back to the doors, you let out a long sigh. No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
There's a painfully long moment of silence and doubt, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. She's unchanged, still in her clothes from earlier, even her jacket back on, the collar pulled up high. She looks tired, just for a second, before surprise flickers across her face, quickly followed by a rather wolfish grin.
<<include "merry nice to see you">>Merry presses the glass into your hand with an approving nod before pulling back and leaning against the desk, crossing one of her arms over her chest and taking another long drink.
You swirl your own drink in your glass, a rich, dark brown liquid, smelling strongly of smoke and spice. You take a small sip, more than aware of Merry staring at you as you do, her eye peeking over her own glass, studying your face.
<<include "merry no bw 1">>Merry nods and just sets the other glass back down, turning around to face you and leaning back against the desk, crossing one of her arms over her chest and taking another long drink. Merry watches you over the rim of the glass, her eye narrowed, studying your face.
<<include "merry no bw 1">>"What?" you say, squirming a bit under her scrutiny.
"I haven't been around a lot of hunters. Besides Noel," she says, waving her hand, her drink sloshing dangerously in her glass. "Always hear lots of horror stories, you know," she adds, giving you a coy smile.
"Am I scary to you?" you ask, a defensive edge creeping into your voice. Maybe you shouldn't have come here, after all.
"No."
You and Merry stare at each other for a long moment.
"I used to live close to the Wall," she says then. "But they kept their distance. Watching down on us from their little towers."
You blink, tilting your head curiously. The Wall is the Gaelish stronghold, along the coast here, just across the border and past the mountains.
"I thought you were a northerner," you say. Merry's accent is undeniably from the northern highlands, hundreds of miles beyond the Wall, all snow and hills, ice and open water.
"I am. That's where I'm from, anyways. But believe it or not, I've not spent the last twenty-odd years just sitting in a room doing nothing. I've been around," she shrugs, taking another drink, pausing for a beat, then: "What about you, hunter?"
You purse your lips, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>staring down at your drink.<<else>>staring down at your hands.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m not sure. Not really."' 'im not sure not really'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Take a guess."' 'take a guess'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"The Black Iron is my home."' 'the black iron is my home'>><</link>></div>"Have you been drinking all night?"
Merry raises an eyebrow, lowering the bottle then, before giving you a cold smile.
"What? You worried about me?" she sneers, and she pushes herself off the desk as she says it, taking a few lazy steps towards you. "You don't even know me," she says, tilting her head to peer into your hood, her long hair falling over her shoulder. "And I don't know you. Barely see your face, how you're always hiding in that fucking hood."
She's close, jabbing a finger at your chest, her drink sloshing in the bottle as she glares at you, waiting for something.
<<include "merry hood choice">>"Well... can you offer me a drink, at least?" you say, giving her a weak smile and shifting awkwardly on your feet.
Merry peers over at you, raising her eyebrow, before scoffing and pushing herself off the desk, stopping a few feet short and thrusting out the bottle for you.
"Thanks," you say, grabbing the bottle by the neck and taking a long drink. <<if $vice eq "drinker" or "both">>It's //strong//, burning in your throat and warming you all the way through.<<else>>It's //strong//, burning in your throat, making your eyes water and warming you all the way through.<</if>>
Merry watches you closely, peering into your hood as you lower the bottle and offer it back to her. She ignores it, tilting her head a bit, her hair falling across her shoulders.
"What exactly were you expecting, here, $name?" she says then, her voice hard.
You frown, staring down at the drink in your hand, your resolve wavering at the question.
"I - I wanted to talk," you say, taking a deep breath, but Merry cuts you off before you can say anything else.
"You said that already," she snaps, taking a step towards you. "You ever take that hood off?" she says then, swiping her drink back out of your hand as she steps even closer, her eye narrowed. "Or you going to keep hiding from me forever?" She takes a quick drink, glaring at you over the bottle, waiting for something.
<div id="choice">[[Take off your hood.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Do nothing.]]</div>"Merry, please... I am really sorry," you say, because you want to say it out loud, you want her to //know// it, you have to say it.
Merry sighs, lowering the bottle, her face twitching.
"I know. Gods, I know. You don't have to fucking grovel," she shakes her head, waving her hand again. "Why do you even care so much? You want to be best friends or something?" She scowls, taking another drink, narrowing her eye at you, before pushing herself off the desk and taking a few lazy steps towards you. She tilts her head, shuffling a little closer, peering into your hood. "You don't even know me. I don't even know you. Barely see your face, the way you're always hiding in that fucking hood."
She takes yet another long drink, glaring at you over the bottle, waiting for something.
<<include "merry hood choice">>"Can I ask... who wrote that poem?" you say slowly, searching Merry's face as she finishes a long drink before responding.
Lowering the bottle, her face twitches, and she scowls over at you, her eye flashing.
"What the fuck is with you? Why you want to know my business so fucking bad?" she snaps, jabbing her finger at you, her drink sloshing from the movement. "Gods, I never would have invited you had I known you'd be such a nosey prick."
You frown, turning away and shaking your head.
"I just meant, that if you wanted to talk about it-"
"Why the fuck would I want to talk about it with you?"
The two of you just glare at each other for a few long moments, before Merry lets out a long sigh, dropping her gaze to stare down into her bottle. She reaches back and sets it on the desk behind her, twisting it in place a few times, and then turning back to look at you.
"Are you worried about me?" she asks softly, pushing herself off the desk and taking a few lazy steps towards you. She tilts her head, shuffling a little closer, peering into your hood. "You don't even know me," she says, but it's not harsh, or cruel - it's just a fact. "And I don't know you. Barely see your face, how you're always hiding in that hood."
<<include "merry hood choice">>You hesitate a moment, watching the way the liquid sloshes in the glass bottle as Merry lets her arm drop back to her side, her hand tightening around the bottle neck. You slowly reach up, keeping your gaze low as you pull back your hood. You fidget with the clasp around your throat, swallowing hard, glancing up and staring at the collar of Merry's jacket, at the glow of the oil lamp illuminating her auburn hair.
You want her to see your face.
The muscle in Merry's jaw tenses, her eye flicking over your face, and you feel so small in front of her, exposed, the shadows you usually hide in now flooded with light.
She doesn't say anything, but she steps even closer, and you're holding your breath, forcing yourself to look at her, at the way her eyelashes flutter as she takes you in, the wet shine on her lips from her drink, the smell of alcohol and salt water clinging to her and making your head spin.
<<if $faceScar>>Merry raises her hand to your face then, gently running her thumb over the new scars there, no doubt still red and angry and ugly.<<else>>Merry raises her hand to your face then, gently pressing her palm to your cheek, slowly tracing her thumb along your temple.<</if>>
<<include "merry lean into">>You glare back, clenching your jaw, unmoving. There's something holding you back, keeping your hands at your sides, keeping your face half-hidden in shadows. Maybe you're just a coward. But if you pull back the hood, what's left, really? What would she think of you in the light?
Merry takes a deep breath, narrowing her eye at you, and then just shakes her head, scoffing.
"That's what I thought," she says, turning her back to you and striding back to the desk. She lifts the bottle to her lips again, taking another drink, staring out the window.
"Merry...," a half-hearted attempt to salvage this, but she just shakes her head again, throwing up her hand.
"Just //forget// it, $surname. And go. Go back to your room. There's nothing for you here," she says, still with her back to you, still staring out the window.
You stand there for a few more seconds, but there's a clear finality in her words. You sink farther back into your hood, ducking your head and turning on your heel, throwing open the gold doors harder than you mean to, and you just let them swing back on their own as you cut across the parlor, resisting the urge to look back and just maybe catch one last glimpse of her through the slowly closing doors.
[[Continue ->Do nothing 1]]<div id="choice"><<link [[Take off your hood. ->Take off your hood 1]]>><<set $m_tavernapology to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Do nothing.]]</div>You hesitate, only for a moment, before slowly reaching up, lowering your gaze as you pull back your hood. You fidget with the clasp around your throat, swallowing hard, glancing up and staring at the collar of Merry's jacket, at the glow of the oil lamp illuminating her auburn hair.
You want her to see your face.
The muscle in Merry's jaw tenses, her eye flicking over your face, and you feel so small in front of her, exposed, the shadows you usually hide in now flooded with light.
She doesn't say anything, but she steps even closer, and you're holding your breath, forcing yourself to look at her, at the way her eyelashes flutter as she takes you in, the wet shine on her lips from her drink, the smell of alcohol and salt water clinging to her and making your head spin.
<<if $faceScar>>Merry raises her hand to your face then, gently running her thumb over the new scars there, no doubt still red and angry and ugly.<<else>>Merry raises her hand to your face then, gently pressing her palm to your cheek, slowly tracing her thumb along your jaw.<</if>>
<<include "merry lean into">>You exhale under her touch, <<if $touch_averse gte 1>>closing your eyes, and you don't know what it is about this moment but for once you don't pull away. This means something to Merry, so you let her have it.<<else>>leaning into it, closing your eyes for a moment, letting yourself be held, letting Merry be the one to do it.<</if>>
When you open your eyes again, Merry is leaning in, her eye half-lidded, her hand sliding to the back of your neck, gingerly urging you forward as her breath ghosts over your lips.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her.]]>><<set $m_tavernkiss to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Pull away.]]</div>You do find yourself hesitating at the first step, though, anger burning in your chest, but it's not hot enough to burn out the embarrassment, and guilt, making you take a ragged breath, closing your eyes briefly, leaning against the banister.
Why the fuck did you read that poem?
You grit your teeth and force yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace, stopping short in front of your room, reaching into your pocket to dig out your key. Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, all but having to force the door open, and you stagger into your room, kicking the door closed behind you, letting out a long sigh.
You just want to crawl into your bed. End this day. Get some sleep.
[[Try to get some sleep.]]There is no space left between you, your lips lightly brushing together, your eyes fluttering closed as she kisses you, her lips warm and sweet from alcohol, making your head spin. <<if hasVisited("who wrote that poem")>>Merry's hand tightens around the back of your neck, her other hand coming up to cup your face as the kiss deepens, your lips moving together, the taste of her tongue in your mouth.<<else>>Merry's hand tightens around the back of your neck, the glass bottle she's still holding bumping against your leg as the kiss deepens, your lips moving together, the taste of her tongue in your mouth.<</if>>
And then she suddenly breaks away from you, her <<if hasVisited("who wrote that poem")>>hands<<else>>hand<</if>> trailing down your neck, your chest, before dropping away, leaving you breathless. You blink, swaying on your feet, watching as she retreats back to the desk again, leaving you feeling exposed, alone in the center of the room.
"Merry," you finally manage to say, your voice thick, but Merry doesn't turn around, keeping her back to you, though you can see her lift the bottle back to her lips, taking another long drink.
"You should go," she says at last, glancing back over her shoulder, but she keeps her eye low, not meeting your gaze.
You don't respond, just standing there, reaching up to touch the collar of your cloak, where her hands had been.
"$name," Merry says then, her voice harder, and you blink over at her, shaking your head.
"Okay," you say quietly, swallowing hard, "Okay, Merry."
And with that, you head for the door, stopping for just a moment before grabbing the doorknob and slipping back into the parlor, closing the door with a soft click behind you. You stand there with your hand pressed to the wood, your heart pounding pitifully loud in your chest.
[[Continue ->Kiss her 1]]You pull back, and she lets you go, her hand sliding from your neck, her fingers tracing your jaw before she lets her hand drop away.
"Merry," you say her name gently, as if it might shatter in your mouth and leave glass between your teeth.
She doesn't respond, just taking a few steps back before letting out a low laugh, deep in her chest, and then turning away, retreating back to the desk again.
"Merry," you say again, because you're not sure what else to say, but she just waves her hand, keeping her back to you, though you can see her lift the bottle back to her lips, taking another long drink.
"You should go," she says at last, glancing back over her shoulder, and her expression is distant, not quite looking at you, not really. "There's nothing for you here, $name."
The last words are painful, and you turn away, as if she had slapped you.
"I'm sorry," you say.
"I know."
And with that, you head for the door, stopping for just a moment before grabbing the doorknob and slipping back into the parlor, closing the door with a soft click behind you. You stand there with your hand pressed to the wood, your heart pounding pitifully loud in your chest.<<set $m_pullaway to true>>
[[Continue ->Pull away 1]]Closing your eyes briefly, you take a deep breath before pushing off the door, retracing your steps back to the staircase. You feel drunk, not from any alcohol, but from whatever the hell that just was that happened, between you and her.
You reach the top of the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace to your door, digging into your pocket for the key.
You've known the woman a day, and what have you do to her?
Your hand tightens involuntarily around the key, and you jam it into the keyhole with a grunt, all but forcing your door open. You swing the door open hard enough for it to slam against the wall, and you wince, quickly pushing it back closed.
[[You just need to get some sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]Closing your eyes briefly, you take a deep breath before pushing off the door, retracing your steps back to the staircase. You feel drunk, not from any alcohol, but from whatever the hell that just was that happened, between you and her.
You reach the top of the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace to your door, digging into your pocket for the key.
Your hand tightens involuntarily around the key, and you jam it into the keyhole with a grunt, all but forcing your door open. You swing the door open hard enough for it to slam against the wall, and you wince, quickly pushing it back closed. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
You lay there for a moment, reaching up to touch your fingers to your lips, the taste of Merry's kiss still there, the slight burn of alcohol on your tongue.
You close your eyes, pressing the heels of your palms against your eyelids, rolling onto your side with a loud sigh.
[[You just need to get some sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]"Can't sleep?" she asks then, tilting her head a bit as she says it.
<<if $stoic gte $genuine>>"No," you say slowly, pursing your lips and<<else>>"I... no. I can't," you say slowly,<</if>> <<if hasVisited ("Accept 2")>>staring down at the drink in your hand.<<else>>staring down at your hands.<</if>>
"Me neither," Merry says, giving you a sharp smile. She throws back the rest of her drink then, making a face as she does, eyeing the now empty glass for a few moments. She reaches back and sets the glass on the desk and pushes herself off of it, rocking forward on the soles of her feet.
"It's a good thing we have each other, then, yeah?" Merry says softly, closing the space between you. The intention behind her words is apparent, and you clear your throat before forcing yourself to look at her. She invited you here for a reason - of course she would assume certain things.
"Merry - I...," you struggle for a moment, trying to find the words. "I'm not interested in - that." You cringe as you say it, feeling a bit like a child. //That//. "I just wanted to see you. To talk."
Merry blinks, her composure seeming to waver. She takes a moment, turning around a pouring herself another drink, and leaning against the desk again, cradling her glass against her chest, narrowing her eye at you.
"Talk?" she makes a face as she says it. "You came down here just to talk? To //me//?" She laughs, as if you had made a joke.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Why are you laughing?" you snap, immediately defensive, <<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>>your hand tightening around your drink.<<else>>your hands curling into fists at your sides.<</if>><<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"Why are you laughing?" you say, your voice hard, <<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>>your hand tightening around your drink.<<else>>your hands curling into fists at your sides.<</if>><<else>>"Why are you laughing?" you say, and you can't help the hurt in your voice, <<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>>your hand tightening around your drink.<<else>>your hands curling into fists at your sides.<</if>><</if>>
Her face falls then, and she stares down at the floor for a long time before responding.
"I don't understand you," she finally says, taking a long drink, eyeing you over the glass.
"Because I don't want to fuck you?" you say bluntly, her laugh still echoing in your head.
She scowls then, narrowing her eye at you. "It's not - well, when you say it like that," she says, taking another quick sip, glancing away from you for a moment. "I don't care that you //don't want to fuck me//," she says, curling her lip a bit. She seems like she wants to say something else, but then changes her mind, and you can see the muscle in her jaw twitch.
"Merry," you try to prompt her, but she just shakes her head.
"What could you possibly want to talk about?" she says then, and there's a bite in her voice, and you're beginning to regret this. "What exactly do you want, huh? To //talk//?" She laughs again. "Please. I don't want to hear it. I don't //care//. Whatever sad story you want to share - I don't care."<<set $m_relationship to 10>>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Fuck you, Merry."' 'fuck you merry'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Alright. I get it. I\'m leaving."' 'alright i get it'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Why are you acting like this?"' 'why are you acting like this'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t //want// anything from you, Merry."' 'i dont want anything from you'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[That... hurts. I can't even think of anything to say.]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>You just stand there, <<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>>staring down into your drink,<<else>>staring down at your hands,<</if>> a heavy weight pressing on your chest, making you swallow painfully.
"What?" Merry snaps, pushing herself off the desk, taking a leering step towards you, "I thought you wanted to talk? Nothing to say now, huh?"
"Stop it," is all you manage, taking a step back, hiding in your hood.
Merry scoffs, shaking her head. She waves a hand towards the door, her drink sloshing dangerously in its glass.
"Go back to your room, $name," she says, spitting your name as if it left a bad taste in her mouth.
You close your eyes, swallowing hard, your chest constricting even more, your throat tightening, and you can't help the way you still hesitate <<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>>before forcing yourself to open your eyes again, stepping forward and setting your glass down on the desk beside Merry, avoiding her gaze all the while.<<else>>before forcing yourself to open your eyes again and turn away, back towards the doors.<</if>>
Your steps are heavy, and you grip the doorknob painfully tight before slipping out into the parlor, resisting the urge to look back at Merry as you close the doors behind you. You stand there, pressing a palm to the golden wood, letting out a long breath, your heart pounding pitifully loud in your chest. You step back then, slowly retreating across the parlor, back to the stairs.
//Fuck.//
[[Continue ->That... hurts 1]]"Fuck you, Merry," you snarl, your patience snapping. <<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>Just to really emphasize your point, you take a step forward and throw your drink on her, before slamming the glass down on the desk beside her.
To her credit, she doesn't even flinch, just scowling down at her jacket, flicking alcohol from her hand. The next few seconds are painful, the tension and anger between you palpable, the faint taste of alcohol still in your mouth turning sour.
"Get out," Merry finally says, her voice dangerous, though she hardly has to tell you - you've already turned on your heel, stalking for the doors. You throw them open harder than necessary, slamming them into the wall and making them shake on their hinges, and you don't bother closing them, just storming straight across the parlor for the stairs. <<set $m_threwdrink to true>><<else>>You stomp forward and slam your glass on the desk beside her, and she swears as some of the drink sloshes across the desk, pushing herself away from it. You don't even bother giving her another look as you turn on your heel and head for the doors, throwing them open far harder than necessary, sending them slamming into the wall and making them shake on their hinges.
You slam them closed, too, just for good measure, before storming across the parlor for the stairs.<</if>><<else>>She doesn't respond to that, just watching you with a cold, amused expression. Shaking your head, you turn on your heel, heading for the doors, throwing them open far harder than necessary, sending them slamming into the wall and making them shake on their hinges.
You slam them closed, too, just for good measure, before storming across the parlor for the stairs.<</if>>
[[Continue ->fuck you merry 1]]"Alright," you scoff, raising your hands,<<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>> still holding your drink,<</if>> "I get it. I'm leaving."
Merry doesn't say anything, just glaring over at you, and you swallow back your anger, though you're sure it still shows on your face, in your scowl, in the way your lip twitches.
The hurt, too, the way it sits heavy on your chest, makes you hesitate, <<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>>before you step forward and set your glass down on the desk beside her, avoiding her gaze as you turn towards the doors.<<else>>before you turn away, back towards the doors.<</if>>
You grip the doorknob painfully tight, slipping out into the parlor, resisting the urge to look back at Merry as you close the doors behind you. You stand there, pressing a palm to the golden wood, letting out a long breath, your heart pounding pitifully loud in your chest. You step back then, slowly retreating across the parlor, back to the stairs.
//Fuck.//
[[Continue ->alright i get it 1]]"Why are you acting like this?" you ask, unable to hide the hurt in your voice.
Merry turns away from you then, shaking her head.
"Stop playing dumb," she says, her voice clipped. She gives you a burning glare, but whatever look you give in return seems to make her waver, and she turns away again, taking a deep breath.
"Just go, $name," she says then, softer now, letting out a long sigh as she stares down into her drink. "There's nothing for you here."
<<include "just go hunter">>"I don't //want// anything from you, Merry," you say, unable to entirely keep the hurt out of your voice. "I just... thought we could talk."
Merry just stares at you, her lips pressed into a thin line, before suddenly pushing off the desk and turning away.
"How stupid do you think I am?" she says, scoffing down into her glass. She mutters under her breath, before shaking her head, taking a long drink. "All day I've been trying to figure you out," she says, turning back to you now, pointing her glass at you. "What the fuck do you want?"
"Merry, I don't want anything from you!" you don't mean to raise your voice, but you do, throwing your hands up, too. "Why is that so hard to believe? Do you think me that terrible of a person?"
Merry's face is unreadable, staring at you over her glass for a painful moment before turning away again, staring down at the desk.
"Just go, $name," she says then, her voice softer now, letting out a long sigh before taking another drink. "There's nothing for you here."
<<include "just go hunter">>You find yourself hesitating at the first step, though, anger burning in your chest, but it's not hot enough to burn out the hurt, making you take a ragged breath, closing your eyes briefly, leaning against the banister.
What exactly were you expecting? Why did you even expect anything at all?
You grit your teeth and force yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace, stopping short in front of your room, reaching into your pocket to dig out your key. Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, all but having to force the door open, and you stagger into your room, kicking the door closed behind you, letting out a long sigh.
You just want to crawl into your bed. End this day. Get some sleep.
[[Try to get some sleep.]]You reach the top of the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace, stopping short in front of your room, reaching into your pocket to dig out your key.
Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, all but having to force the door open, and you stagger into your room, kicking the door closed behind you, letting out a long sigh.
Best not to dwell on it. Why did you expect anything different?
You just need to get some sleep. Crawl into bed, end this day.
[[Try to get some sleep.]]"Merry-" you start, but she cuts you off, waving her hand.
"Just //go//," she says again, the venom creeping back in now, her lip curling, her eye hard.
You close your eyes, swallowing hard, your chest constricting, your throat tightening, and you can't help the way you still hesitate <<if hasVisited("Accept 2")>>before forcing yourself to open your eyes again, stepping forward and setting your glass down on the desk beside Merry, avoiding her gaze all the while.<<else>>before forcing yourself to open your eyes again and turn away, back towards the doors.<</if>>
Your steps are heavy, and you grip the doorknob painfully tight before slipping out into the parlor, resisting the urge to look back at Merry as you close the doors behind you. You stand there, pressing a palm to the golden wood, letting out a long breath, your heart pounding pitifully loud in your chest. You step back then, slowly retreating across the parlor, back to the stairs.
//Fuck.//
[[Continue ->just go hunter 1]]You find yourself hesitating at the first step, though, anger burning in your chest, but it's not hot enough to burn out the hurt, making you take a ragged breath, closing your eyes briefly, leaning against the banister.
What exactly were you expecting? Why did you even expect anything at all?
You grit your teeth and force yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace, stopping short in front of your room, reaching into your pocket to dig out your key. Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, all but having to force the door open, and you stagger into your room, kicking the door closed behind you, letting out a long sigh.
You just want to crawl into your bed. End this day. Get some sleep.
[[Try to get some sleep.]]You find yourself hesitating at the first step, though, anger burning in your chest, but it's not hot enough to burn out the hurt, making you take a ragged breath, closing your eyes briefly, leaning against the banister.
What exactly were you expecting? Why did you even expect anything at all?
You grit your teeth and force yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace, stopping short in front of your room, reaching into your pocket to dig out your key. Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, all but having to force the door open, and you stagger into your room, kicking the door closed behind you, letting out a long sigh.
You just want to crawl into your bed. End this day. Get some sleep.
[[Try to get some sleep.]]"Can't sleep?" Merry asks suddenly, <<if hasVisited("Take it. I could use the liquid courage...")>>and you swallow hard, painfully so, biting back a cough as you hastily take another drink before answering, the question for some reason catching you off guard.<<else>>and you swallow hard, painfully so, before clearing your throat and blinking at her, the question for some reason catching you off guard.<</if>>
<<if $stoic gte $genuine>>"No," you finally manage to say, pursing your lips and<<else>>"I... no. I can't," you finally manage to say,<</if>> <<if hasVisited("Take it. I could use the liquid courage...")>>staring down at the drink in your hand.<<else>>staring down at your hands.<</if>>
"Me neither," Merry says, tilting her head at you. She throws back the rest of her drink then, making a face as she does, eyeing the now empty glass for a few moments. She reaches back and sets the glass on the desk and pushes herself off of it, rocking forward on the soles of her feet.
"It's a good thing we have each other, then, yeah?" Merry says softly, closing the space between you. You can feel the room shift at her words, anticipation crawling up your spine, the sudden closeness nearly throwing you off-kilter, with <<if hasVisited("Take it. I could use the liquid courage...")>>Merry's eye studying your lips, no doubt still wet from your drink.
Her gaze drifts down to the glass you're still holding, and she carefully plucks it from your hand, turning slightly to set it back on the desk next to her own empty glass, before slowly turning back to you, her eye narrowed now in a half-lidded stare that makes your breath catch in your throat.<<else>>Merry's eye studying your lips, parted slightly as your breath catches in your throat.<</if>>
<<if $experience eq 1>><div id="choice"><<link '"I don\'t... I don\'t really - know how to do this."' 'i dont really know how to do this'>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link [[Wait for her to make the first move.]]>><<set $m_tavernkiss to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Kiss her. ->Kiss her spice]]>><<set $m_tavernkiss to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"This... I think this was a mistake." //Leave.//' 'i think this was a mistake'>><</link>></div>You remain unmoving, your eyes on Merry, watching her watching you. Her eye is intense, a sudden seriousness in her face you haven't seen from her before, directed at you. Slowly raising a hand, she brushes her knuckles along your jaw, sending a shiver through you, before she hooks her fingers around your hood and pulls it back, revealing you fully.
"Always hiding, aren't you?" she says softly, and again she trails her hand over your jaw, searching your exposed face now, <<if $experience eq 1>>before pressing her palm to your cheek, and you shiver again. You can't help yourself, leaning into her touch, craving it, your eyes closing for a moment as you reach up and touch her wrist, barely resisting the urge to cling to her arm. When you open your eyes, Merry's brow is furrowed as she stares at you, but her expression is unreadable, and you feel a sudden panic that you've done something wrong. But then her eye flicks to your mouth, and she slowly draws her thumb down across your lower lip, her own lips parting in anticipation.<<else>>before pressing her palm to your cheek, and you shiver again. You can't help yourself, leaning into her touch, craving it, and she smirks at your reaction, slowly drawing her thumb down across your lower lip.<</if>>
Her warm breath tickles your skin as she leans closer, her hand moving to the back of your neck, pulling you into her, and then her lips are pressing softly against yours, your heart thundering in your chest, and for a moment you don't respond, overwhelmed, your hands grabbing at her arms, your eyes fluttering closed, and then – <<if $experience eq 1>>and then you're clumsily kissing her back, your lips moving against hers,<<else>>and then you're kissing her back, your lips moving against hers,<</if>> and you can feel Merry smile as you reciprocate, a soft hum deep in her chest. Her one hand begins to roam over you, feeling you through your clothes, her touch hot and thorough, burning even with the fabric between you. But she stops suddenly, pulling back and pressing her hand to your chest, putting some space between you.
"This is okay? You want to keep going?" she asks.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes."' 'yes explicit 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes." //This choice will fade to black.//' 'yes fade to black 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Wait... I want to stop."' 'i want to stop 1'>><</link>></div>You reach up and pull back your hood, and Merry's face softens slightly as she looks at you.
"I like seeing your face," she says, and you're caught off guard by the sudden sincerity in her voice, and she quickly glances down at the floor, before she looks back at you expectantly.
<<if $experience eq 1>>You hesitate for the briefest moment, steeling your nerves and raising a hand to Merry's face, barely touching her cheek, your heart in your throat. She gives you a crooked smile, leaning forward slightly, encouragingly, her breath ghosting over your lips now, and you take one last frantic breath of your own before you kiss her, closed mouth, your hand cupping her face as you pull back and then kiss her again, and again.
Merry presses into you, and on the third kiss she starts to truly kiss you back, her lips moving against yours, and you inhale sharply, Merry smiling into your mouth as your own lips part, letting her in, and after a heavy moment she slides her thigh between your legs, her hands starting to roam over top of your shirt, her touch hot and thorough, burning you even through the fabric. But then she stops, making you gasp, pulling back and pressing a hand to your chest, putting a little space between you, your hand sliding from her face.
"This is okay? You want to keep going?" she asks.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes."' 'yes explicit 3'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes." //This choice will fade to black.//' 'yes fade to black 3'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Wait... I want to stop."' 'i want to stop 1'>><</link>></div><<else>>You hesitate briefly, before raising a hand to Merry's face, pressing your palm to her cheek, slowly tracing her cheekbone with your thumb, her eye fluttering closed as she leans forward, your breaths intermingling now, your heart leaping in your throat, and before you can think too much about it you close the remaining space between you and kiss her.
Merry reciprocates enthusiastically, pressing into you, a hand wrapping around the back of your neck, urging you forward, and you inhale sharply as she begins to move her lips against yours, smiling into your mouth as your own lips part breathlessly and let her in. You're vaguely aware of her hands starting to roam over top of your shirt, feeling you through the fabric, her thigh sliding between your legs, but she stops before you can really process the touch, pulling back and pressing a hand to your chest, putting a little space between you, your hand sliding from her face.
"This is okay? You want to keep going?" she asks.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes."' 'yes explicit 4'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes." //This choice will fade to black.//' 'yes fade to black 3'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Wait... I want to stop."' 'i want to stop 1'>><</link>></div><</if>>"I don't... I don't really - know how to do this," you say, your voice tight, and you have to look away from her as you say it.
Merry is quiet for a moment, but you can feel her looking at you, peering into your hood.
"Well," she finally says, "step one would be to just //relax//. If you can manage it," she chuckles, reaching out and picking some unseen dust off your cloak. She glances back to your face, tilting her head and smirking at you.
You know she's joking, but her laugh twists in your chest, and you frown, chewing on the inside of your cheek; but your sour expression just makes her laugh more.
<<if $genuine gt $aggressive>>"Don't – don't laugh at me," you say, disgusted at how weak your voice sounds.<<else>>"Don't fucking laugh at me," you snap, your face on fire.<</if>>
You start to turn away, but Merry grabs your wrist, stopping you.
"Wait, no, I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you, I swear," she says, gently turning you back around, but she's still smiling, still clearly enjoying herself.
You clench your jaw, looking at anything but her, embarrassment making your skin crawl.
But Merry's hand slides from your wrist, taking your own hand in hers and pulling you towards her, closer, so much closer.
"Let's start with this," Merry says then, her smile fading, serious now, and she lets go of your hand, putting both of hers on your shoulders, standing directly in front of you. "Look at me," she says, her voice almost a whisper.
You do as she says, swallowing the lump in your throat, meeting the gaze of her warm brown eye. She tilts her head again, staring at you, and you watch as she reaches for your hood, her thumbs just touching your temples as she slides it back and away from your face.
"Always hiding, aren't you?" she says softly, and she brushes her knuckles down along your jaw, the contact sending a shiver through you. She searches your now revealed face for a moment, before pressing her palm to your cheek, and you shiver again. You can't help yourself, leaning into her touch, craving it, closing your eyes for a moment and just feeling the warmth of her hand, calloused and rough, against your face.
Slowly, reluctantly, Merry draws her hand down to your neck, and you open your eyes again as her fingers curl around the collar of your cloak. With both hands now, she undoes the clasp at your throat, and your cloak slides from your shoulders, down to a heap on the floor.
Your heart is hammering in your chest, Merry's fingers tracing along your jaw before wrapping around the back of your neck, her thumb caressing your throat, your breaths intermingling as she leans forward. She searches your face for a moment, her mouth parted slightly, before closing the remaining space between you and giving you a soft, chaste kiss, her lips warm and sweet with the faint taste of alcohol. She kisses you again, and you clumsily follow suit, light, careful kisses back and forth between you that leave you breathless when Merry suddenly pulls back.
She presses her other hand to your chest, putting a little space between you, tilting her head as she studies your face again.
"This is okay? You want to keep going?" she asks softly.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes."' 'yes explicit 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yes." //This choice will fade to black.//' 'yes fade to black 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Wait... I want to stop."' 'i want to stop 1'>><</link>></div>Merry nods, before leaning back in, her breath ghosting over your lips, encouraged now by your confirmation. Her hand tightens around the back of your neck, her other hand curling around a fistful of your shirt, grabbing roughly and jerking you forward, knocking your bodies together as she kisses you again. You close your eyes, your lips parting as Merry tastes you, open mouthed and hungry. Her hand releases your shirt, roaming over your chest, feeling you through your clothes, and her enthusiasm overwhelms you for a moment, your hands grabbing at her arms, fingers digging into her as you moan into her mouth.
<<include "reconvene kiss">>Merry nods, her breath ghosting over your lips as she pulls you close again, walking backwards now, guiding the two of you to her bedroom...
[[Time passes.]]Merry quickly pulls back, dropping her hand from your chest, tilting her head at you.
"Are you alright?" she says, though you can't respond right away, swallowing hard, your heart still racing painfully fast.
"Yeah," you finally manage, your voice thick, and you shake your head, running your hands over your face. "I just - I had to stop."
Merry gives you a look you can't quite decipher, her brow furrowed as she searches your face.
"I thought - I thought I could do this," you blurt then, wanting to say something, but Merry quickly shakes her head, though you don't wait to hear what she's going to say, instead bolting for the doors, fumbling your way out of the room, quickly closing the doors behind you.
You all but run across the parlor, quickly retreating up the stairs and going straight for your door, fumbling to find your key, digging it out of your pocket with shaking hands.
Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, all but having to force the door open, and you quickly slip into your room, pressing yourself against the door, letting out a frustrated breath. You immediately begin to pace, forcing yourself to unwind, tight coiled energy in your chest, a slight tremble still in your hands.
You're not sure how much time passes with you just pacing like that, but eventually your exhaustion beats out your anxiety, your feet growing heavy as you walk back and forth. You move through a fatigued haze, until finally crawling into bed, letting out a pathetic sigh.
//Don't think about her.//
You just need to get some sleep. Get some sleep, and end this fucking day.<<set $ran_out_on_merry to true>>
[[Try to get some sleep.]]<<set $slept_w_merry to true>>You listen to the muffled sound of the ocean through the window set in the wall above the bed, staring up at the ceiling, watching lights from outside flicker through the dark, occasionally illuminating the room before fading out again, dancing with the wind rushing from the sea.
You roll onto your side, eyeing Merry where she lays curled in the fetal position, her back to you, wrapped tight in the sheets, her breathing slow and quiet.
You've been trying to fall asleep, unsuccessfully, tossing and turning in Merry's bed for what feels like hours. You don't think it's actually been that long - but the time is dragging painfully slow, leaving you with nothing to do but stare at the walls. Your mind is actually quiet for once, lethargic after what just happened - no pain behind your eyes, a far more pleasant ache in your body, and yet you still can't sleep.
Merry shifts beside you then, stretching her legs out a bit, but her breathing remains steady, still asleep.
It's cold in this room, a smaller woodstove in the corner, but you can't bring yourself to get up and check it, instead just burying yourself deeper in the pillow, moving a little closer to Merry. You think about reaching out, wrapping an arm around her, but something stops you.
Closing your eyes, you pull the blanket up over your head, willing yourself to sleep.
[[You will sleep.]]Merry nods, before leaning back in, her breath ghosting over your lips, her hand tightening around the back of your neck. Her other hand curls around a fistful of your shirt, grabbing roughly and jerking you forward, knocking your bodies together as she kisses you again, and you close your eyes, your lips parting as Merry tastes you, open mouthed and hungry. Her hand releases your shirt, touching your chest, your stomach, and you moan into her mouth as the kiss deepens between you.
<<include "reconvene kiss">>Merry nods, her breath ghosting over your lips as she pulls you close again, walking backwards now, guiding the two of you to her bedroom...
[[Time passes.]]You take a faltering step back, turning away from Merry, your heart leaping in your throat, and you struggle for a moment, opening and closing your mouth.
"This... I think this was a mistake," you say, the words rushing out, "I'm sorry," you add quickly, wincing at how it sounds, how desperate your voice twists through the sudden space between you.
Merry blinks, taking a few steps back herself, tilting her head and peering into your hood, her eye narrowed.
"Right. You should leave, then, before you make any more mistakes," she says, turning away from you, slowly walking back to the desk.
You watch as she pours herself another drink, and you hesitate, still struggling to think of something else to say, but in the end you just turn on your heel and bolt out the door, quickly closing it behind you, standing with your palm pressed to the wood for a few seconds, silently cursing yourself. Dropping your hand from the door, you all but run across the parlor, quickly retreating up the stairs and going straight for to your room, fumbling to find your key, digging it out of your pocket with shaking hands.
Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, all but having to force the door open, and you quickly slip into your room, pressing yourself against the door, letting out a frustrated breath. You immediately begin to pace, forcing yourself to unwind, tight, coiled energy in your chest, a slight tremble still in your hands.
You're not sure how much time passes with you just pacing like that, but eventually your exhaustion beats out your anxiety, your feet growing heavy as you walk back and forth. You move through a fatigued haze, until finally crawling into bed, letting out a pathetic sigh.
//Don't think about her.//
You just need to get some sleep. Get some sleep, and end this fucking day.<<set $ran_out_on_merry to true>><<set $m_mistake to true>>
[[Try to get some sleep.]]Merry hums, her hand curling around a fistful of your shirt, pulling you back into her. Her lips brush along your jaw before she kisses you again, and you can't help but grab at her arms, overwhelmed at her enthusiasm as the kiss deepens between you, your fingers digging into her as you moan into her mouth.
<<include "reconvene kiss">>Merry nods, her breath ghosting over your lips as she pulls you close again, walking backwards now, guiding the two of you to her bedroom...
[[Time passes.]]Merry hums, her hand curling around a fistful of your shirt, pulling you back into her, your bodies crashing together. Her lips brush along your jaw before she kisses you again, and you can't help but grab at her arms, your head spinning as the kiss deepens between you, your fingers digging into her as you moan into her mouth.
<<include "reconvene kiss">>When you finally have to pull away, you're both breathing hard, and Merry grins at you before leaning in and trailing kisses along your jaw, your neck. You sigh, running a hand through her hair, down her back, your fingers curling around fistfuls of her jacket. She starts to pull at your shirt, exposing your stomach and slipping her hands underneath, and again you shiver as she lightly trails her fingers over your bare skin, up to your chest.
<<if hasVisited("i dont really know how to do this")>>Merry traces the raised skin of the scars she finds along your sides,<<else>>"Take this off," she says, her voice gruff, eyeing your cloak.
You do as she says, fumbling a bit with the clasp as her hands continue to explore beneath your shirt. Finally your cloak falls away, sliding off your shoulders and landing into a heap on the floor. Merry's fingers trace the raised skin of the scars she finds along your sides, <</if>> her hands gripping you roughly as she kisses your neck once more, her tongue hot and wet and sweet on your skin before you capture her lips in yours again.
Emboldened now, you let your own hands slide under Merry's jacket, feeling her breasts through the padding of her gambeson, sliding a hand down her stomach and hooking a finger under the waistband of her trousers. She hums, attempting to shrug out of her jacket then without breaking away from you, struggling for a moment, and you can feel her laugh, the way it reverberates through you with your bodies so close.
She manages to get her arms free, flinging her jacket away, jerking open the buckles of her gambeson impressively with one hand before throwing that away, too. Her white undershirt clings to her torso in a way that makes you stare, leaving little to the imagination. She lets out a huff of frustration as she has to pull back to tug the shirt off over her head, her long hair getting pulled through, and her bandana coming off with it. She pays it no mind as it drops to the floor, though you see the slightest hesitation from her now with her eye revealed. It's milky white, her eyelid drooping, with angry, jagged scars crossing from her brow down to her cheek. You really look at her then, your eyes flicking over her face and her chest, her shoulders and stomach kissed with freckles, your gaze lingering on the single gold hoop pierced through one of her nipples before you realize you can finally see her chest tattoos.
Two dueling snakes, one wrapped around each arm, their tails just reaching the top of her hands, while their heads meet at her chest, face to face, jaws open and fangs bared – and there are more, far more tattoos than you ever expected, even another snake curling around her ribs and up her back. You can see a sparrow, a ship, a few skulls - a hangman's noose. You're sure you'll get more familiar with them later.
Merry glances down, her hands fumbling for the first time as she grabs at your shirt again. You assist her, helping her pull it off, your necklace thumping against your chest, and your head is barely through before she's kissing your neck again. Her tongue presses into the hollow of your throat, <<if $bra eq true>>her fingers teasing the straps of your bra as she draws her lips along your collar bone,<<else>>drawing her lips along your collar bone,<</if>> slow and deliberate, your whole body shuddering against her, heat building between you in anticipation. You twine your fingers through her hair, your other hand reaching to cup her jaw and guide her back up to your mouth, and you meet again with a burning kiss, Merry's palms pressed to your chest.
You close your eyes, tasting the alcohol on Merry's tongue, heat pooling in your gut as your bodies crash together, Merry dragging her hands down to your hips and grinding against you, and you can feel her hard against your thigh. You have to break apart then, your breathing harsh and fast, and Merry starts to guide you back, though you're still tangled in each other, and you both nearly tumble over her discarded shirt. She laughs, her lips brushing yours, and you laugh too, opening your eyes again and watching her.
She pulls you along, bumping into the desk as you go, a glass shattering somewhere which you both promptly ignore, and you make for the open door to her bedroom. As you pass through, you hook your foot around the door and kick it closed behind you before Merry grabs you and throws you onto the bed...
[[Time passes.]][[You will.]]You will... sleep.
<<link '//Sleep.//' 'ch1 nightmare'>><</link>>The cold is what wakes you up.
It's seeping through your clothes, icy hands digging nails into your skin, your shirt clinging to your back as you roll onto your side, pressing your palms into fresh snow. You're disoriented, the world blurring around you, fading in and out, a sudden loud roaring in your ears as you force yourself onto your hands and knees, the acid burn of vomit in the back of your throat making you gag.
Your vision swims, and you struggle to see your own two hands right in front of you. Your fingers curl around fistfuls of snow, and you let the burning pain of it bring you back, your tether to the world around you as you struggle to bring it into focus. Black shadows phase in and out, phantom hands touching your back, your arms, caressing your face, whispering in a language you don't understand.
And then it all snaps into place.
A wave of nausea overwhelms you, and you sink into the snow for a moment, pressing your face into the crook of your elbow. You're breathing hard, your brow slick with cold sweat, your whole body shivering, and you realize you're only in your underclothes. You had been asleep.
[[Are you still asleep?]]"The Black Iron is my home," you say bluntly, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>lifting your glass to your lips and taking a slow drink.<<else>>shrugging and crossing your arms over your chest.<</if>>
Merry hums, downing the rest of her glass, turning back to set it on the desk behind her.
"You call yourself Adranian, then?" she asks.
"I'm just a hunter."
<<include "why are you here hunter">>"Take a guess," you say, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>lifting your glass to your lips and taking a slow drink.<<else>>crossing your arms over your chest.<</if>>
Merry hums, downing the rest of her glass, before turning back to set the it on the desk behind her.
"I'd guess you were south," she says. "Can't say for sure, though. Your accent is pretty weak."
You roll your eyes at her, and she laughs.
<<include "why are you here hunter">>"I'm not sure. Not really," you say, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>watching your drink swirl in its glass.<<else>>glancing over at the woodstove in the corner, the hot red glow of the fire inside it.<</if>>
Merry responds with a hum, finishing her drink then, turning back to set the glass on the desk behind her.
"Too young to remember?" she asks.
You just nod.
<<include "why are you here hunter">>Merry takes a deep breath then, sitting back on the desk and clasping her hands in her lap. She's studying you again, her eye following you as you shift on your feet, curiosity furrowing her brow.
"Why'd you come see me, $name?" she asks suddenly.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I wanted to talk to you." ♡' 'i wanted to talk to you'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"What do you mean why? You invited me." ♡' 'what do you mean why you invited me'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I... I guess I just wanted to talk to someone."' 'i guess i just wanted to talk to someone'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I didn\'t want to go to sleep."' 'i didnt want to go to sleep'>><</link>></div>You hesitate a moment, a little taken aback at the directness of her question.
"I wanted to talk to you," you say, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>fidgeting with your glass.<<else>>fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>>
Merry blinks, tilting her head and leaning forward, looking you up and down. <<if _top_flirt eq $n_flirt>>"And here I thought Noel had your eye..."<<elseif _top_flirt eq $c_flirt>>"What about that little bard?"<<else>>"And here I was certain there was something going on between you and that handler of yours..."<</if>>
She slides off the desk then, swinging her arms lazily at her sides, slowly closing the space between you.
<<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>Your hand tightens around your glass, and you take a shaky breath, your face growing hot as Merry peers into your hood.<<else>>Your hands curl into fists at your side, fingernails digging into your palms, your face growing hot as Merry peers into your hood.<</if>><<if hasVisited("It's not like that... 1")>> So much for it not being //like that//.<</if>>
"You're cute, $name," she says, smirking at you. "I have to admit I really didn't expect you to show up down here tonight," she reaches out as she talks, carefully taking the front of your cloak and adjusting it over your shoulders, around your throat, "but you're cute."
<<if $bold gt $shy>>"Can't say anyone has called me that before," you scoff, and Merry laughs, her eye flashing.<<else>>You swallow hard, feeling her fingers ghost along your neck, her touch burning through the thick fabric of your cloak.<</if>> She lets her hands drop, stepping back towards the desk again.
"You should probably get going, though," she turns around and begins to pour herself another glass. "I'm sure Handler Chen won't be too pleased with you fraternizing with the //pirate// captain." She raises her refilled glass to her lips, taking a long drink before turning back around to face you.
Your mouth has gone dry, the implication of her words clear, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>and you quickly take a sip of your drink,<<else>>and you quickly look away,<</if>> <<if $shy gte $bold>>wishing in that moment that you could just sink through the floor.<<else>>clearing your throat and giving her a rueful smile.<</if>>
"Fine," you say brusquely, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>throwing back the rest of your drink and taking a few quick steps to set the glass down on the desk beside Merry. You can feel her watching you as you do, and you purposefully avoid looking at her, ducking into your hood as you retreat back across the room to the golden doors.<<else>>shaking your head and ducking into your hood, glaring down at the floor. You give Merry one last look before turning on your heel and retreating for the doors.<</if>>
"Goodnight, sweetheart," Merry calls over your shoulder, "sleep tight."
You resist the urge to look back at her, slipping out the door and closing it behind you a little harder than necessary. You press your hand to the gold wood, shaking your head with a scoff before pushing off and turning back into the parlor. You cut through the tables, straight for the stairs, but you find yourself hesitating at the first step, though, anger burning in your chest, but it's not hot enough to burn out the embarrassment,<<if hasVisited("It's not like that... 1")>> and the guilt at even coming here to begin with,<</if>> making you take a ragged breath, closing your eyes briefly, leaning against the banister.
You grit your teeth and force yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace, stopping short in front of your room, reaching into your pocket to dig out your key. Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally crawling into your bed.
You just need to sleep. Get some sleep, and end this fucking day.<<set $m_flirt +=1>>
[[Try to get some sleep.]]"What do you mean why? You invited me," you say, glancing sideways as you say it, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>twisting your glass in your hands.<<else>>fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>>
Merry blinks, tilting her head and leaning forward, a slow smile creeping over her face as she looks you up and down. <<if _top_trait eq $n_flirt>>"And here I thought Noel had your eye..."<<elseif _top_flirt eq $c_flirt>>"What about that little bard?"<<else>>"And here I was certain there was something going on between you and that handler of yours..."<</if>>
She slides off the desk then, swinging her arms lazily at her sides, slowly closing the space between you.
<<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>Your hand tightens around your glass, and you take a shaky breath, your face growing hot as Merry peers into your hood.<<else>>Your hands curl into fists at your side, fingernails digging into your palms, your face growing hot as Merry peers into your hood.<</if>> <<if hasVisited("It's not like that... 1")>>So much for it not being //like that//.<</if>>
"You're cute, $name," she says, smirking at you. "Really cute. I have to admit I didn't expect you to show up down here tonight," she reaches out as she talks, carefully taking the front of your cloak and adjusting it over your shoulders, around your throat, "but you're cute."
<<if $bold gt $shy>>"Can't say anyone has called me that before," you scoff, and Merry laughs, her eye flashing.<<else>>You swallow hard, feeling her fingers ghost along your neck, her touch burning through the thick fabric of your cloak.<</if>> She lets her hands drop, stepping back towards the desk again.
"You should probably get going, though," she turns around and begins to pour herself another glass. "Don't want Handler Chen scolding you for showing up in the morning all disheveled and sleep-deprived." She raises her refilled glass to her lips, taking a long drink before turning back around to face you.
Your mouth has gone dry, the implication of her words clear, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>and you quickly take a sip of your drink,<<else>>and you quickly look away,<</if>> <<if $shy gte $bold>>wishing in that moment that you could just sink through the floor.<<else>>clearing your throat and giving her a rueful smile.<</if>>
"Fine," you say brusquely, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>throwing back the rest of your drink and taking a few quick steps to set the glass down on the desk beside Merry. You can feel her watching you as you do, and you purposefully avoid looking at her, ducking into your hood as you retreat back across the room to the golden doors.<<else>>shaking your head and ducking into your hood, glaring down at the floor. You give Merry one last look before turning on your heel and retreating for the doors.<</if>>
"Goodnight, sweetheart," Merry calls over your shoulder, "sleep tight."
You resist the urge to look back at her, slipping out the door and closing it behind you a little harder than necessary. You press your hand to the gold wood, shaking your head with a scoff before pushing off and turning back into the parlor. You cut through the tables, straight for the stairs, but you find yourself hesitating at the first step, though, anger burning in your chest, but it's not hot enough to burn out the embarrassment,<<if hasVisited("It's not like that... 1")>> and the guilt at even coming here to begin with,<</if>> making you take a ragged breath, closing your eyes briefly, leaning against the banister.
You grit your teeth and force yourself up the stairs, dragging your feet across the terrace, stopping short in front of your room, reaching into your pocket to dig out your key. Glancing down the hall, your eyes flick to Lea's door, the soft glow of lantern light leaking out under the frame betraying $l_them, and you swallow hard, thanking whatever god must be watching over you that $l_they didn't catch you out here.
You fight with the keyhole for a moment, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally crawling into your bed.
You just need to sleep. Get some sleep, and end this fucking day.<<set $m_flirt +=1>>
[[Try to get some sleep.]]You take a moment to respond, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>staring down at your drink, twisting the glass in your hands.<<else>>staring down at your hands, fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>>
"I... I guess I just wanted to talk to someone," you say, shrugging, glancing sideways at the woodstove in the corner, avoiding Merry's gaze.
You can still feel her staring at you, though, and you shift on your feet, feeling more and more embarrassed.
"Sorry I'm not good conversation," she says then, and you finally look back at her as she lets out a long sigh. She looks a bit sad, watching you, and she shakes her head, leaning back against the desk. "I'm not the best person for talking."
"The fact you even talk to me at all is better than most," you say, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>raising your glass and staring into the bottom as you take a quick drink.<<else>>giving her a wry smile.<</if>>
Merry frowns, dropping her gaze and eyeing the floor, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Sorry..." you say, for lack of knowing what else to say.
Merry shakes her head, pushing off the desk then, waving her hand dismissively.
"No, it's alright, I just..." she runs a hand through her hair, taking a few steps towards you. "You should probably get some rest, $name," she says abruptly, and you blink, unable to stop yourself from letting out a dry laugh.
"Yeah. Alright," you shrug again, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>quickly finishing your drink as Merry holds out her hand for the glass.<<else>>letting your hands clap against your sides.<</if>>
You turn to the door, hesitating a moment with your hand on the doorknob. You look back over your shoulder at Merry, awkwardly standing in front of the desk, holding her own empty glass again, twisting it in her hands.
"Thanks, Merry," you say, giving her a little nod as you slip out the door.
"Goodnight, $name," she calls after you, just as the door clicks closed. You sigh, shaking your head, feeling a little confused, but also you're smiling, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>grateful for the short talk and the drink.<<else>>grateful for the short talk.<</if>> Even if it was a little awkward.
Alone in the parlor now, though, your smile fades quickly, and you sigh again, reluctantly making your way across the parlor for the stairs. You take each step one at a time, your exhaustion catching up to you all at once, making your limbs grow heavy, and you lean against the railing at the top, taking a moment before dragging your feet across the terrace to your door, digging into your pocket for the key.
Your hand tightens involuntarily around the key, and you fumble with if before all but forcing your door open. Stepping inside, you glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
You lay there for a few minutes, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about what a long fucking day it's been, thinking about the wraith, and Duncan, and thinking about your conversation with Merry.
You close your eyes, pressing the heels of your palms against your eyelids, rolling onto your side with a loud sigh.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]You take a moment to respond, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>staring down at your drink, twisting the glass in your hands.<<else>>staring down at your hands, fidgeting with your sleeves.<</if>>
"I didn't want to go to sleep," you finally say, shrugging, glancing sideways at the woodstove in the corner, avoiding Merry's gaze.
She chuckles, and you can still see her watching you, tilting her head and shifting against the desk.
"You don't need to sleep, right?" she asks then. "I'm not sure if that's true or just some shit Noel made up so I'd stop bothering $n_them."
You look back at her, smiling a little. "No, that's true. Hunters don't need to sleep. Or at least, not as much as everyone else," you explain. "After a while... we do get tired."
"You look pretty tired, $name," Merry says, and your smile fades, though you don't say anything, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>instead just quickly finishing your drink.<<else>>just dropping your gaze and shrugging again.<</if>>
She pushes off the desk then, <<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>holding out her hand for your empty glass. You let her take it, turning to watch her as she brushes past you towards the double doors.<<else>>and you turn to watch her as she brushes past you towards the double doors.<</if>>
"You should get some rest," she says, leaning against one of the closed doors and gesturing towards the other one.
You sigh, glancing down at the floor before nodding.
"Yeah. Alright," you say, stepping after her and reaching for the doorknob. You pause for a moment, your hand curling around the cold metal, and you take a deep breath, giving Merry a small smile.
<<if hasVisited("Accept 3")>>"Thanks for the drink," you say,<<else>>"Thanks for the talk," you say,<</if>> nodding as you slip through the door.
"Goodnight, $name," she calls after you as the door closes with a quiet click. Pressing your hand against the wood, you shake your head, still smiling, just a little, and you feel a sudden rush of gratitude that Merry opened the door when you knocked, that she talked to you, even if just for a short while. Even if she kind of kicked you out just now.
Alone in the parlor now, though, your smile fades quickly, and you sigh, reluctantly making your way across the parlor for the stairs. You take each step one at a time, your exhaustion catching up to you all at once, making your limbs grow heavy, and you lean against the railing at the top, taking a moment before dragging your feet across the terrace to your door, digging into your pocket for the key.
Your hand tightens involuntarily around the key, and you fumble with if before all but forcing your door open. Stepping inside, you glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
You lay there for a few minutes, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about what a long fucking day it's been, thinking about the wraith, and Duncan, and thinking about your conversation with Merry.
You close your eyes, pressing the heels of your palms against your eyelids, rolling onto your side with a loud sigh.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]<<if $bw_merry eq false>>You push off the banister, meandering through the tables across the parlor, ignoring the voice in the back of your head wondering just what the hell it is you're doing, going to visit a woman this late at night.
<<include "merry tavern no bw">><<else>><<if $rom eq false>>You hesitate a moment, though, bracing yourself against the banister, drumming your fingers against the worn wood.
<div id="choice">[[I'm not exactly interested in her offer, but I am interested in her. ♥]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I want to see her. And maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier. ♥ ->I want to see her. And maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier. ♥ 1]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I can\'t help but think about her //offer//... sharing a bed. I\'m interested in that.' 'I cant help but think about her offer... sharing a bed. Im interested in that.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I'd like to talk to her, maybe learn more about her... and Gael, too. ->I'd like to talk to her, maybe learn more about her... and Gael, too. 1]]</div><<else>><<if $thought_about eq "merry">>You hesitate a moment, though, bracing yourself against the banister, drumming your fingers against the worn wood.
<div id="choice">[[I'm not exactly interested in her offer, but I am interested in her. ♥]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I want to see her. And maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier. ♥ ->I want to see her. And maybe more. If she really meant it, earlier. ♥ 1]]</div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I can\'t help but think about her //offer//... sharing a bed. I\'m interested in that.' 'I cant help but think about her offer... sharing a bed. Im interested in that.'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[I'd like to talk to her, maybe learn more about her... and Gael, too. ->I'd like to talk to her, maybe learn more about her... and Gael, too. 1]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "lea">>You hesitate a moment, though, bracing yourself against the banister, drumming your fingers against the worn wood.
You glance up the stairs, up at the mezzanine, half-expecting to see Lea standing up there giving you a disappointed look. How quickly you shook $l_them from your mind for someone else.
You scowl down at your hands, shaking your head.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that. I just want to talk to her, nothing else.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I just... need a distraction. Merry offered one. That's all this is.]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "clem">>You hesitate a moment, though, bracing yourself against the banister, drumming your fingers against the worn wood.
You glance up the stairs, up at the mezzanine, half-expecting to see Clementine standing up there giving you a betrayed look. How quickly you shook them from your mind for someone else.
You scowl down at your hands, shaking your head.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that. I just want to talk to her, nothing else.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I just... need a distraction. Merry offered one. That's all this is.]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "noel">>You hesitate a moment, though, bracing yourself against the banister, drumming your fingers against the worn wood.
You glance up the stairs, up at the mezzanine, half-expecting to see Noel standing up there giving you a sad look. How quickly you shook $n_them from your mind for someone else.
You scowl down at your hands, shaking your head.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that. I just want to talk to her, nothing else.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I just... need a distraction. Merry offered one. That's all this is.]]</div><</if>><</if>><</if>>She didn't exactly invite //you//, but... you want to talk to her. Maybe you can mend this bridge before it burns completely.
You push off the banister, meandering through the tables, making your way across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty">>There's really nothing left for it, at this point - you're just being a coward, looking for anything to distract you. You turn away, slowly ascending the stairs, dragging your feet up every step, exhaustion making your limbs heavy. You shoot one last glance down at the parlor before heading down the hall to your room.
Stopping at your door, you fumble for your key, cursing a bit as you struggle to unlock the door, finally forcing your way in. You glance around the room, pulling off your cloak and tossing it on the table, moving through an exhausted haze before finally throwing yourself down onto your bed.
[[You need to sleep. ->Try to get some sleep.]]After your day in Blackwater together, you can't help but find yourself thinking about her - the teasing, her smile, the looks she gave you. You know what her invitation earlier implied... but really, you just want to see her, talk to her. You feel a shared connection with her, with Gael, and maybe you're starting to develop a bit of a crush because of it.
Regarding her //offer//...
<div id="choice">[[I want to get to know her more, first. ->I want to get to know her more, first. rom]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm not really interested in physical intimacy like that. ->I'm not really interested in physical intimacy like that. rom]]</div>After your day in Blackwater together, you can't help but think about her - the teasing, her smile, and the way she looked at you. You push off the banister, letting out a long sigh, running a hand over your face. You wish you had a mirror.
Taking a few stuttering steps, you fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, dragging your feet across the floor.
<div id="choice">[[My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. ->My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. rom]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. ->I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. rom]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. ->I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. rom]]</div>After spending the day with her in Blackwater, you admit that you want to talk more with her, learn more about her. You like Merry, and she seems pretty insistent on sticking with you and Lea for now - so maybe it would be good to get to know her properly.
You push yourself off the banister, slowly making your way through the tables, across the parlor, to those golden double doors.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty">>Merry has clearly shown interest in you - that's not exactly a common occurrence for you, and while you don't particularly have strong feelings towards Merry one way or the other, you like her teasing, her directness... you like the attention.
You push yourself off the banister, taking a deep breath, running a hand over your face. You wish you at least had a mirror, though...
You take a few steps, before stuttering to a halt, staring over at the golden doors, fidgeting with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, standing alone amongst the tables.
<div id="choice">[[My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. ->My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. hookup]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. ->I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. hookup]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. ->I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. hookup]]</div><<set $ace to 1>>Pushing yourself from the banister, you run your hands over your face and shake your head, taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror...
You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, dragging your feet across the floor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty no spice">><<set $ace to 2>>You've never really been interested in physical intimacy like that. It's just not something you seek out, or want, really. But you like Merry, and you want to see her.
Running your hands over your face, you shake your head before taking a few stuttering steps. You wish you had a mirror...
You fidget with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, dragging your feet across the floor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty no spice">><<set $experience to 1>>You don't have... any experience with this kind of thing. You feel your face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and anxiety making you question your decision right now. Will she be able to tell? Is she going to make fun of you?
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">><<set $experience to 2>>You've done something like this a few times before. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">><<set $experience to 3>>You consider yourself experienced, but that's probably not true when compared to real people. //Real people//? People... not like you. But you know what you're doing. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty spice">><<set $merry_hookup to true>>You stop short in front of the double doors, glancing back over your shoulder, back up at the mezzanine, <<if $rom>><<if $thought_about eq "merry">>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
<<include "turning back hook up">><<elseif $thought_about eq "lea">>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there giving you a disappointed look. How quickly you shook $l_them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that... ->It's not like that... hookup]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way? ->So what? What's it matter, either way? hookup]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "clem">>half-expecting to see Clementine standing up there giving you a betrayed look. How quickly you shook them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that... ->It's not like that... hookup]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way? ->So what? What's it matter, either way? hookup]]</div><<elseif $thought_about eq "noel">>half-expecting to see Noel standing up there giving you a sad look. How quickly you shook $n_them from your mind for someone else.
<div id="choice">[[It's not like that... ->It's not like that... hookup]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[So what? What's it matter, either way? ->So what? What's it matter, either way? hookup]]</div><</if>><<else>>half-expecting to see Lea standing up there and giving you a disapproving look. But it's empty.
<<include "turning back hook up">><</if>><<set $experience to 1>>You don't have... any experience with this kind of thing. You feel your face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and anxiety making you question your decision right now. Will she be able to tell? Is she going to make fun of you?
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern hook up">><<set $experience to 2>>You've done something like this a few times before. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern hook up">><<set $experience to 3>>You consider yourself experienced, but that's probably not true when compared to real people. //Real people//? People... not like you. But you know what you're doing. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with… well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won’t have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern hook up">><<if $m_flirt gte 1>>It's not like that. You just want to talk to her... nevermind the earlier flirting. It didn't really mean anything. You're not interested in her offer. You rub your hands over your face, still shaking your head.
You just want to talk.
You push yourself off the banister, slowly making your way through the tables, across the parlor, to those golden double doors.<<else>>It's not like that. You just want to talk to her. You spent the day together - you want to get to know her more. You like Merry, and if she's going to be sticking around then you should get to know her properly.
You just want to talk.
You push yourself off the banister, slowly making your way through the tables, across the parlor, to those golden double doors.<</if>>
<<include "merry tavern friendly flirty">>Merry has clearly shown at least one kind of interest in you - and while you <<if $m_flirt gte 1>>played along with the flirting earlier, and you liked it - anyone would like that kind of attention - you don't particularly have strong feelings towards her one way or the other. At least, that's what you're telling yourself.<<else>>don't particularly have strong feelings towards her one way or the other, you like her teasing, her directness... you like the attention.<</if>>
And you could really use the distraction, right now.
You push yourself off the banister, taking a deep breath, running a hand over your face. You wish you at least had a mirror, though...
You take a few steps, before stuttering to a halt, staring over at the golden doors, fidgeting with the front of your cloak, readjusting the collar, pressing down the fabric. You're hesitating, you know it, standing alone amongst the tables.
<div id="choice">[[My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. ->My life hasn't really allowed for me to experience a lot of things... including this. hookup 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. ->I have some experience, but I'm far from confident, if I'm being honest. hookup 1]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. ->I'm pretty experienced – for a hunter. hookup 1]]</div><<set $experience to 1>>You don't have... any experience with this kind of thing. You feel your face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and anxiety making you question your decision right now. Will she be able to tell? Is she going to make fun of you?
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern hook up 1">><<set $experience to 2>>You've done something like this a few times before. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with... well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won't have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern hook up 1">><<set $experience to 3>>You consider yourself experienced, but that's probably not true when compared to real people. //Real people//? People... not like you. But you know what you're doing. It helps, with the stress, with the bad dreams, with… well. Life. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost with another person for a night. Other hunters, mainly. Always the ones passing through. That way, you won’t have to see them again. A clean break.
You let out a frustrated breath, forcing yourself across the parlor.
<<include "merry tavern hook up 1">><<set $merry_hookup to true>>You stop short in front of the double doors, taking a deep breath, still fidgeting, pulling at your sleeves and readjusting your hood again and again. No one stands guard now - it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
<<include "painful silence hook up">>It's not like that. At least, that's what you're telling yourself.
<<include "turning back hook up">>So what? What's it matter, either way? You fidget with you sleeves, biting your lip. You can tell yourself it doesn't matter all you like, but you can't help the guilt that worms its way into your chest still.
But it's not enough to stop you.
<<include "turning back hook up">>Turning back to the doors, you let out a long sigh. No one stands guard now – it's just you and that peeling gold paint. You reach up and knock once, twice.
<<include "painful silence hook up">>There's a painfully long moment of silence, and you debate running back up the stairs to avoid any further embarrassment before you start to hear movement on the other side of the doors. And then they're open, and Merry stands before you. She’s unchanged, still in her clothes from earlier, even her jacket back on, the collar pulled up high. She looks tired, just for a second, before her face splits into a grin at the sight of you.<<set $m_hook_up to true>>
<<include "good evening hunter">>Try... try to sleep.
<<link '//Sleep.//' 'ch1 nightmare'>><</link>>You let out a groan, slowly shifting back to sit on your heels, lifting your head skyward and taking a few frantic lungfuls of air to clear your head.
It's snowing, white flurries swirling all around you, and you can barely see beyond it, but you force yourself to your feet, taking a few stumbling steps forward, raising your hand overhead, a meager attempt to block the wind and snow from your eyes. There's the distant sound of ocean waves, turned violent in the storm, and you can hear the waves crest, crashing against rocks, across the sand, the spray of salt water carried through the night.
You begin to walk towards it.
Your feet are bare, completely numb, and you struggle to move your legs, your limbs stiff and unresponsive, the fresh layer of snow pulling at your ankles. The water gets louder, and so does the wind, howling as it comes off the sea and over the cliffs, whipping through the trees around you.
You're in the woods. But the cliffs are close. You can taste the salt, and the waves are pounding in your ears, shaking the earth beneath your feet.
And then it all opens up around you, and you feel the breath ripped from your lungs, a silent void of nothing swallowing you as you stagger up to the cliff edge, kicking snow into the emptiness, watching as it spirals down to the raging waters below. Cascades of ice cover the cliff face, weeping tears down into the sea.
It's all just inky black, nothing to tell you where the water ends and the sky begins, and there's no moon, no stars above you. But you can see it. You can see the ship. You're gasping for air, and you think you're dreaming but you're not sure anymore. The ship is cracked open on the rocks at the foot of the cliff, so far beneath you, black water churning in its exposed belly, and you think the water might be red, if there was light to illuminate it.
[[Continue ->The sound of metal scraping]]The sound of metal scraping over ice pierces through your skull then, nearly sending you to your knees, nearly sending you over the edge. Everything seems to fluctuate with the sound, your own body seeming to warp, a painful throb right behind your eyes, a pressure in your chest as if it was being pried open, nails digging under your skin and peeling it back, ribs snapping and distorting - and the Vel //breathes//, the falling snow suddenly suspended right in front of you, rivulets of water crawling upwards out of the sea, like arms of drowning men reaching for the sky. And again that sound of metal on ice - and with the snow no longer obscuring it, you see it. A massive chain, coming out of the sea, and though you can tell it's old there is no real wear on the metal, no real sign that it has been underwater besides the seaweed clinging to it, the long trails of ice forming where it is suspended in the air. Even in the dark, you recognize the blue sheen, the signature watered metal. The same as your hunter's knife.
Blood iron.
The chain is pulled taut over the cliff edge, leading into the woods, and again it scrapes over the rock, across the ice, and it's a horrible noise, making the hairs rise on the back of your neck, and you reach instinctively to your side - but you are unarmed. You don't even have shoes on.
[[But there is something out there.]]There is something at the end of that chain. You glance back down at the ship one last time, before turning away from the cliffs, away from the yawning black sea and into the dark, dense woods. The snow has begun to fall again, though as you move beneath the trees it slows to a trickle beneath the canopy of pine, and the vicious ocean wind turns to a gentle tug on your clothes, a cold whisper over your skin. It's deathly quiet here, the whole world muted, except for that sound - heavy metal moving slowly over the earth, scraping against the frozen soil - closer now.
You want to stop. You want to turn back. You want to wake up.
But there is a pull in your gut, something reaching in, hands carefully entwining within you, fingers wrapped in your viscera - cradling you and coaxing you forward, deeper into the woods.
Your breath fogs in front of you, and your hands ache, your fingers growing stiff in the cold. You curl them into fists, shoving them under your arms as you continue onward, ignoring how your entire body trembles, how your skin burns, how your feet grow heavier and heavier with each step through the snow. You're getting closer.
The snow beneath your feet begins to change, from the thick, soft powder of freshly fallen snow, to a slick, muddy mess of water and earth. It's salt water, seeping over the ground, pooling at your feet, mixing with the snow and swallowing it whole, melting it down into the soil.
It feels nauseatingly warm, and it jars you enough to stop.
That, and the rot.
[[You didn't notice it before.]]It's that same familiar rot, here to visit you again.
You keel forward and vomit.
Salt water burns through your nose, your throat, floods past your hands and knees through the snow, and you know it's close. You struggle to breathe, gasping around mouthfuls of water, and you wonder if it's possible to drown on land.
"<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Hunter.</span>"
Familiar rot, familiar voice.
It seems to surround you completely, flooding your nose and throat, burning in your chest and behind your eyes.
You heave again.
"Do not be afraid."
You scramble backwards, slipping in the mud and vomit, panting and holding your hands up, a sudden primal fear that you can't explain wrapping hands around your throat. You're about to see something you're not supposed to.
"Hunter. You came," the voice says. Familiar words. You've heard this before.
It tries to speak again, but it's beyond your understanding, an ancient language no longer spoken.
You can't look. You won't look.
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link '"Look."' 'Look.'>><</link>></span>You close your eyes, covering your face with your hands, your breath hot on your skin.
"It's too late for that."
The voice is right in front of you, all around you, ringing in your head.
"You have to stop fighting it. It's too late, now. You need to s̴̜̩̚e̵̹̥͎͔͑͜e."
Cold, wet hands grab your arms and rip your hands away from your face, nails digging into your wrists, and you open your eyes.
It's you. It's just you.
Your own face staring down at you, your eyes flashing gold, your hand - yours but not yours - tightening around your arm, and you let out a pathetic whine as your skin grows hot, painfully tight, and it's almost a relief when it splits open, your scars reopening, your own fingers curling into your flesh and peeling back your skin, your blood steaming in the cold night air, burning as it runs down your arms.
"You've already felt my touch before," your voice says, "your blood calls to me. Yours and mine are the same."
You watch as it drips from their hand, pooling on the ground beneath your feet.
It's black.
[[The Vel exhales.]]The illusion shatters then, your doppelganger morphing into a long, dark shadow, something you can't quite comprehend - painful to look at, agony splitting your skull even after you turn away, even as the shadow beast is pulled back and your arm ripped from its hands, the chain scraping unbearably loud over the rocks and ice. You can still make out the golden eyes staring back at you - your own eyes staring back at you, and you see the massive maw of the beast open, water spilling from between its lips, bloodied gums and white teeth flashing, the chain tightening again, dragging it back, back to the cliffs. Back to the sea.
You stagger sideways, clutching your arm to your chest, staring dumbly down as your blood splatters across the ground, your fingers curling into a fist, blood under your nails - though they hardly look like yours anymore, too long, too sharp, stained red and black.
There is a sudden explosion of movement above you, and you flinch, blinking up into the night sky, crows pulsing through the Vel, circling overhead, the frenzied flapping of wings, hundreds of eyes flashing between them, wide and frantic and staring down at you, the mass barely visible against the starless void as they swarm and slam into each other, but the screaming - the screaming is in your head, in your chest, a knife dragging across your skin with the way it makes you shiver, all of the crows watching you and screaming.
"Don't be afraid," the words come again, somehow, from the beast, straining now to stay close, with the crows swarming and distorting its shape, its claws digging into the earth as the chain is drawn farther back. It seems to grin at you then, and you find yourself grinning back.
"They're watching. But they can't stop it. Not now," it says, and it gags as the chain tightens around its throat. "They are the ones who should be afraid. Afraid of //us//."
The last few words come out in a harsh whisper, and then the chain snaps back, more blood spilling in front of you, black ichor that burns as it touches your skin, and you stare down at your hands, blood stained and trembling. When you look up again, the beast is gone.
You're all alone.<<set $sanity -=10>>
[[You're all alone.]]You're on your hands and knees, your whole body trembling, and you're partially aware of a shudder in the air around you, an otherworldly cold creeping up your spine, loud roaring in your ears as you just stare into the darkness between the trees. But your eyes are drawn to black shapes in the snow, your own blood, hissing where it mixes with the salt water, swirling before you, foreign shapes, ancient runes carving themselves into the ground with //your// blood, magic humming loud in your ears, in your head, straining against the Vel, building pressure right behind your eyes.
And then it all goes still.
There is just the sound of your ragged breathing, the distant ocean waves, and the silence of the dark night sky watching you from above.
You vomit, and this time it's dark, dark like your blood, steaming and hot on the bare skin of your hands and arms. Black and red, a nauseating mixture that washes away the runes, snapping an invisible thread between you and your blood and the Vel, the pressure behind your eyes dissipating in that moment and you can't look at it – your eyes squeeze closed, and you heave again, your arms shaking with the effort to keep your body upright.
Saliva and mucus drip from your nose and mouth, and you're panting hard, but you feel as if there are hands squeezing around your diaphragm, none of the breaths you take deep enough to satisfy your aching lungs, your throat burning from the vomit and the cold, tears streaming down your face as you open your eyes again.
A distant voice rings through the trees.
You snap your head around, and it nearly makes you vomit again, the world reeling from the sudden motion, but still you try to force yourself onto your feet, staggering sideways and slamming shoulder first into the unforgiving bark of a tree, your shirt and skin tearing at the contact. You fumble for your hunter's knife, only to realize too late that it's not here. You've got no armor, no weapon, no fucking shoes.
You lean against the heavy trunk of the tree, the branches shuddering above you, snow falling lightly from the motion. It's almost here. You can feel it.
"$name?"
The voice is familiar, but the relief doesn't come, your eyes searching the shadows of the dark woods, waiting for the inevitable moment when the beast imitating that voice appears, and devours you whole.
"Merry! <<if $nopr>>$name's<<else>><<print $mc_they.toUpperFirst()>><<switch $mc_plural>><<case true>>'re<<case false>>'s<</switch>><</if>> over here!"
The sound of snow crunching beneath boots, and Noel appears in front of you, running in your direction.
You tense, shifting behind the tree, still breathing hard, your breath fogging in front of you, and you watch Noel approach with narrowed eyes.
[[Continue ->Noel slows in front of you]]Noel slows in front of you, raising $n_their hands, and Merry appears then, too, stomping through the muddy snow and swearing loudly. She starts to move towards you, but Noel quickly grabs her wrist and pulls her back.
"What the fuck, Noel?" she snaps, but Noel isn't looking at her, $n_xe's only looking at you.
You feel your face twitch, and you sink back farther behind the tree, glancing between the two, your fingers curling around the rough edges of tree bark, digging painfully into your skin, beneath your fingernails.
"$name?" Noel prompts, taking a careful step forward, putting himself between you and Merry.
"Don't come near me," you snarl, though you don't even realize you've said it at first, your own voice seeming to belong to someone else, coming from the shadows around you, a whisper through the trees.
"What's wrong with <<if $nopr>>$name<<else>>$mc_them<</if>>?" Merry asks, and you don't miss the way her hand moves to her sword at her hip. "What's wrong with <<if $nopr>>$name's<<else>>$mc_their<</if>> eyes..."
Noel doesn't respond, instead pressing $n_their palms together and taking a deep breath, and you can feel $n_their magic stirring around $n_them, with a few flurries of snow rising as a warm wind passes over you. Noel kneels to the ground and exhales, hands to the earth, runes materializing in the air, glowing softly, a trembling light in the dark, flashing for a brief moment before they fade away.
A terrible pain splits through your skull, and you collapse to your knees, sagging against the tree, and it takes a few moments for it to fade to a dull ache behind your eyes, a soreness in your clenched jaw. You don't bother trying to get up again this time, leaning into the tree, closing your eyes as a weight seems to lift off of you, despite the lingering pain.
Noel doesn't stop Merry this time, who runs over to you, shrugging off her jacket and draping it over your shoulders.
"$name?" Noel asks again.
"What did you do?" you barely manage the words.
"You opened the Vel," he says, and you realize he's crouched down beside you now, too. "I closed it."
Merry has a hand on your shoulder, and Noel leans forward, gently taking your face in $n_their hands, locking $n_their eyes with yours.
"What did you see?" Noel asks softly.
You don't answer $n_them.
[[Continue ->We need to get them inside]]"We need to get <<if $nopr>>$name<<else>>$mc_them<</if>> inside," Merry says then, her hand tightening around your arm, and Noel nods, moving around you and grasping your other arm, the two of them easily lifting you to your feet.
You feel like a child, the way they carry you back through the woods, along the cliffs, back to the city. You're barely even walking, your bare feet dragging over the cobblestones, your head rolling forward, your chin resting against your chest.
You're all but blinded when the three of you stagger through the doors back at Jack's, the light from the parlor making you wince. They steer you through the golden doors, and Merry mutters something you don't manage to catch, but her arm slips away from around your waist as she moves into the room, dragging her large, ornate chair from behind the desk and positioning it in front of the room's woodstove.
Noel holds you against him, and you can feel him staring at you, but you just watch Merry as she opens the door to the stove and shoves fresh wood inside, the wave of heat immediately making you feel heavy, your eyes closing for a moment as you sag against Noel.
"Here you are, dear," Noel says softly, guiding you over and lowering you into the chair, careful to keep Merry's jacket secure around your shoulders.
You sink down into the plush, raising your hands to rub at your eyes, though you're clumsy and slow, your fingers not responding, your whole body aching and stiff. You're starting to feel pins and needles in your feet, with the heat from the fire returning feeling to your limbs, and you lean forward, your elbows on your knees, your face in your hands. Still shaking, still nauseous, you flinch violently when Noel places a hand on your shoulder.
"I need to look at your arm," Noel says, and you just blink at $n_them.
"My arm..." you mumble, glancing over at Merry, still hovering by the woodstove, before looking down at your arm.
Blood has seeped completely through your shirt, it's smeared on your hands, dripping from your fingers to the floor. Noel gives you another second to process this, before taking Merry's jacket off your shoulders, while your gaze remains transfixed on the three gashes, exposing your muscle and bone. Your undershirt stops at your elbow, the bottom of the sleeve wet and plastered to your skin, and you're starting to breathe hard again, panting loudly in the quiet room.
Merry retreats away from the woodstove momentarily, out of sight, before reappearing with Noel's bag, setting it down beside $n_them, eyeing your arm. She moves quickly to bring the lantern from her desk closer, holding it over you, giving Noel more light.
You flinch again as Noel takes your arm in $n_their hands, turning it slowly, examining it carefully.
Staring into the stove, you try not to look at it, but you can't help it, the way your blood shines in the light.
Dark veins pulsing under your skin, expanding from the wound, like an infection.
But Noel breaks the trance, clearing his throat as he starts to dig through his bag.
"I have to clean it first. //Really// clean it," $n_xe says, holding up a small bottle of alcohol.
You don't say anything, just nodding, sinking farther into the chair and gripping the arm rests. Merry sets down the lantern and walks around you, putting a hand on both shoulders, holding you down.
<<if $slept_w_merry eq true>>"Take it easy, sweetheart," she says, giving your shoulders a light squeeze, bracing against the chair behind you.<<else>>"Sit still," she says, giving your shoulders a rough squeeze in a gesture you think is supposed to be encouraging, before bracing against the chair behind you.<</if>>
[[Continue ->You watch Noel search through the bag]]You watch Noel search through the bag for another moment, before producing a few cleaning cloths, tensing as $n_xe carefully begins to wipe away the excess blood still trickling down your arm. You inhale sharply, pressing yourself back into the chair, resisting the urge to recoil. Applying a bit of pressure, for a while you just sit like that, Noel holding your arm, and Merry keeping you steady in the chair.
At last Noel carefully removes the cloths, setting them aside and reaching for the alcohol, uncorking the bottle with a sympathetic look.
"I apologize for this," he says, and with a quick glance over your shoulder at Merry, he douses your arm with the alcohol, quickly catching it and pressing it into the wound with another cloth.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You jerk violently, beyond your control, your elbows slamming into the back of the chair, though Merry keeps you in place, and you let out a long list of obsenities that you think would even make Jorah blush.
"Fuck," you hiss, bowing your head, your brow slick with sweat, your whole body trembling again.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You manage to keep yourself still, your jaw clenched so hard you fear your teeth may crack, the chair creaking under the strength of your grip around the arm rests. You take a ragged breath, exhaling slowly, bowing your head, your brow slick with sweat, your whole body trembling from the effort.<<else>>You hiss, inhaling sharply, twisting in the chair, clutching the arm rests with straining knuckles. You catch Merry's gaze out of the corner of your eye, full of pity, and you bow your head, your brow slick with sweat, your whole body trembling from the pain.<</if>>
Noel doesn't waste any time, wiping clean the gashes while you writhe in a pain-induced haze, pressing $n_their hands on your arm as <<if hasVisited("dawn awake")>>the familiar blue light erupts between you,<<else>>a bright blue light erupts between you,<</if>> encasing your arm, making you squint as you watch the sinew, the tendons and muscle of your arm slowly reform back over your bone, your flesh slowly crawling inward and stitching itself back together, leaving your skin angry, bruised, and scabbed, not quite a clean heal like before.
The light fades, and you feel Noel's magic retreat as $n_xe pulls back, $n_their eyes intent on your face.
You're panting again, shaking violently in the chair, your clothes clinging to your sweaty skin. You can't help but notice those nasty black veins remain, crawling down your forearm, even the tips of your fingers, purplish-black, //wrong//.
"$name...," Noel says slowly, "You're sick. Really sick." $n_Their eyes flick from your arm to your face as $n_xe stands slowly, wiping $n_their hands clean.
<div id="choice"><<link '"I am aware."' 'i am aware'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Well, you\'re the healer, here. Fix it."' 'well youre the healer here'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Yeah, no shit."' 'yeah no shit'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m fine."' 'im fine noel rot'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Say nothing.' 'say nothing noel'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div><<if $bw_noel eq false>>"I am aware," you say, giving $n_them a look, pulling your arm back and cradling it against your chest.
Noel stares down at you for a long moment, $n_their face unreadable.
"Are you going to make me say it?" he finally says, crossing his arms.
You grit your teeth, turning away from $n_them. You've been dancing around this since Keld. It's been easier to just ignore it, to pretend like you don't know.
Well, you do know. Something is wrong with you.<<else>><<if $noel_knows>>"I am aware," you say, avoiding the look he gives you, just staring down at your arm and cradling it against your chest.
"You told me you didn't know," Noel says, and gods, $n_their voice is so //gentle//, so careful, "but. I think you do."
You clench your jaw, taking a deep breath, just holding your arm tighter against you.
"Yeah," is all you say.<<else>>"I am aware," you say, avoiding the look he gives you, just staring down at your arm and cradling it against your chest.
"$name...," Noel says, and gods $n_their voice is so //gentle//, so careful, "do you want me to say it?"
You close your eyes for a moment, curling in on yourself in your chair, holding your arm tighter against you, bowing your head to your chest.<</if>><</if>>
<<include "rot reveal">><<if $bw_noel eq false>>"Well, you're the healer, here. Fix it," you snap, sitting back in your chair and clutching your arm to your chest. You don't really know why you say it - frustration, the pain, the denial you're still clinging to.
Noel frowns, crossing his arms.
"You and I both know that's not an option," $n_xe says, though it's not really mean - just a fact. "Are you going to make me say it?"
You grit your teeth, turning away from $n_them. You've been dancing around this since Keld. It's been easier to just ignore it, to pretend like you don't know.
Well, you do know. Something is wrong with you.<<else>>"Well, you're the healer, here. Fix it," you snap, sitting back in your chair and clutching your arm to your chest. You don't really know why you say it - frustration, the pain, the denial you're still clinging to.
Noel just gives you a sad look.
"You and I both know that's not an option," he says, and gods, his voice is so //gentle//, so careful. <<if $noel_knows>>"You know."<<else>>"You know, don't you?"<</if>>
You clench your jaw, taking a deep breath, just holding your arm tighter against you.
"Yeah," is all you say.<</if>>
<<include "rot reveal">>"Yeah, no shit," you snap, curling your lip, sinking back into your chair and clutching your arm to your chest.
Noel sighs, running a hand over his face, but he doesn't seem frustrated - just sad.
<<if $bw_noel>>"$name...," Noel says then, and gods $n_their voice is so //gentle//, so careful, "do you want me to say it?"
You close your eyes for a moment, curling in on yourself in your chair, holding your arm tighter against you, bowing your head to your chest.<<else>>"Are you going to make me say it?" $n_xe finally says.
Your face twitches, but you still don't respond, glaring down at the floor. You've been dancing around this since Keld. It's been easier to just ignore it, to pretend like you don't know.
Well, you do know. Something is wrong with you.<</if>>
<<include "rot reveal">>"I'm fine," you say, shaking your head, sinking back into your chair and clutching your arm to your chest.
"The hell you are," Merry scoffs, throwing her hands up, and Noel just sighs, giving you a sad look.
<<if $bw_noel eq false>> "Are you going to make me say it?" he finally says.
Your face twitches, but you don't respond, glaring down at the floor. You've been dancing around this since Keld. It's been easier to just ignore it, to pretend like you don't know.
Well, you do know. Something is wrong with you.<<else>>"$name...," Noel says, and gods $n_their voice is so //gentle//, so careful, "do you want me to say it?"
You close your eyes for a moment, curling in on yourself in your chair, holding your arm tighter against you, bowing your head to your chest.<</if>>
<<include "rot reveal">><<if $bw_noel eq false>>You don't respond, gritting your teeth and turning away from $n_them, pulling your arm back, cradling it against your chest.
Noel frowns, crossing $n_their arms, giving you a sad look.
"Are you going to make me say it?" he finally says.
Your face twitches, but you still don't say anything, glaring down at the floor. You've been dancing around this since Keld. It's been easier to just ignore it, to pretend like you don't know.
Well, you do know. Something is wrong with you.<<else>><<if $noel_knows>>You don't respond, gritting your teeth and turning away from $n_them, pulling your arm back, cradling it against your chest.
Noel sighs, running a hand over his face, but he doesn't seem frustrated - just sad.
"Earlier, you told me you didn't know," $n_xe says, and gods, $n_their voice is so //gentle//, so careful, "but. I think you do."
You clench your jaw, taking a deep breath, just holding your arm tighter against you.<<else>>You don't respond, gritting your teeth and turning away from $n_them, pulling your arm back, cradling it against your chest.
Noel sighs, running a hand over his face, but he doesn't seem frustrated - just sad.
"$name...," Noel says, and gods, $n_their voice is so //gentle//, so careful, "do you want me to say it?"
You close your eyes for a moment, curling in on yourself in your chair, holding your arm tighter against you, bowing your head to your chest.<</if>><</if>>
<<include "rot reveal">>Reaching out, you poke $l_them in the shoulder, repeating $l_their name a little louder.
$l_They stir<<s>> a bit, but $l_their snoring continues.
"Lea. Come on," you say, pressing your finger into $l_their arm, hard, and holding it there for an uncomfortably long time.
Lea grumbles, swatting your hand away. It takes $l_them a few more seconds, but eventually $l_they shift<<s>>, stretching $l_their legs out and opening $l_their eyes, looking over at you and Noel.
"What?" Lea growls, $l_their voice thick with sleep.
"I gave you as much time as I could, but Merry is about ready to kick your door down," Noel says.
Lea lets out a long, dramatic sigh, slowly standing from the chair, stretching $l_their arms overhead. "Fine. Let's get this over with," Lea says, dropping $l_their arms to $l_their sides, "so we can all get the hell on with our lives."
<<include "let's goo">><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Wraiths</span>
Wraiths form in the aftermath of a violent death. Someone who has lived a life of hate and anger will be barred from passing through the Vel - a judgment passed down from spiteful gods.
Upon their death their soul will not be able to find peace, and will instead be forced to wander the realm, searching for weak spots in the Vel in the hopes that they will be able to finally pass through. Over time, these souls gradually begin to lose their humanity and forget who they once were, turning into a personification of their hate, anger and violence.
Typically, wraiths are more incorporeal, though with age they become stronger and more physical as they let go of their memories and the Vel corrupts them.
They appear humanoid in nature, and may be mistaken for a ghost when they are younger, before they show their aggression. They have long limbs and twisted features, appearing far more corpse-like than a real ghost. Their death is imprinted on them - nasty scars and fatal injuries that never heal, constantly oozing blood and black ichor.
Overall, wraiths are aggressive and violent and attack on sight. They are common in areas where the Vel is weak, haunting old battlefields, dark hallways, and shipwrecked beaches. The only way to truly get rid of them is with a hunter's knife.
[[Return|Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Lycans</span>
Lycanthropy is a disease that has haunted this realm for longer than humanity can remember.
It came through the Vel - that is all we know.
It spreads through a bite, and despite being terminal, it can be manageable. Unfortunately, such people are not exactly welcome in polite society, and are seen as dangerous, not matter the treatment.
Lycans appear human, and will actually retain their humanity despite their affliction. They will lose their memories during transformations, though, and have no control over themselves in this form.
They are influenced by both the Vel and the moon in tandem. Weak spots in the Vel can cause aggression and partial transformations, such as claws and thicker hair and wolven eyes.
During the full moon, a lycan transform beyond their will. This cannot be stopped. Their bones break and realign, fur sprouts through their skin, their teeth grow and they become an animal. Lycans are both bipedal and quadrupedal, and even on all fours they tower over the average human.
They will attack on sight in this form, killing animals and humans alike, as the moon compels them to do one thing: hunt.
If lycanthropy is known, the person can be locked up on the days of a full moon, supervised by trained professionals, while an alchemist can provide them with wolfsbane. Wolfsbane helps control the violent urges a lycan can experience, as well as dampen their senses and make them weaker and easier to control in their wolven form.
Once bitten by a lycan, there is no cure. If a lycan refuses to cooperate with Order mandated treatment, they can only be killed by a hunter's knife.
[[Return|Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Omens</span>
Omens usually take the shape of a large black dog, a murder of crows, or even on occasion, a lone wolf.
Omens arrive and are exactly what they sound like – an omen for something worse to come. A sign that the Vel is weakening, and that something is going to tear its way through. Omens tend to appear and linger for at least a week, if not longer, before anything actually happens. They tend to kill small animals - cats, dogs, livestock, and they even will kill crops, too.
Poisoned water, bad weather, freak accidents are just a few other things omens will cause with their presence. Technically, it's their way of warning the people around them, though it's not exactly the most considerate of methods.
Hunters favor omens - a job involving them will consist of just warding the area and reinforcing the Vel, monitoring the location for however long it takes to finally chase the omen out and divert whatever impending tragedy the omen was foretelling.
It's not necessary to kill an omen. Despite the problems they cause, they are actually one of the more benevolent creatures from beyond the Vel.
[[Return|Codex]]<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">The Hunter's Knife</span>
The Hunter's Knife is a special blade crafted for a hunter upon their initiation into the Order.
It is made with a specific type of metal, dark blue and watered, like damascus steel. The hilt is traditionally white, and while the knife may look uniform, most hunters have put a bit of their own personality in each one.
Along the butt of the hilt you will find a simplified crest that is the basic symbol of each stronghold. For the Black Iron, that symbol is a wolf's head. The Wall is depicted with a circular wave, crashing in on itself. The Flood uses the same icon as the king - a hawk. Whaler's Watch is a kraken and its many arms.
The hilt is typically decorated by the hunter, with various things potentially carved into it - names, dates, or other imagery to accompany the crest.
The blade is special in that it can kill creatures from the other side of the Vel. Mundane weapons can injure these creatures, but only a hunter's knife can kill. However, each knife works only for the hunter it was created for. It is not something you can exchange, and it's not something a normal human can use.
The process in which hunter's knives are forged is a secret one. Only high ranking members of the Order are privy to it, though the fact that it involves the blood of the hunter leads many to suspect blood magic is at play...
[[Return|Codex]]"It's Vel rot."
You let out a long breath, exhaling through your nose, scowling down at your hands. Biting the inside of your cheek, tasting blood, and the still lingering burn of bile in the back of your throat.
"Rot? Rot, what is that? What does that mean?" Merry asks, still eyeing your arm.
"It means I'm dying," you say bluntly.
Noel's jaw clenches, and Merry blinks, glancing between the two of you.
"It's something that can happen to hunters," Noel starts, "it's something we risk every time we open the Vel."
"I... I messed up," you say, sinking back into the plush chair. "I opened it at some point, and I didn't close it properly. Could have been a few months ago. Could have been years ago." You shake your head, letting out a dark laugh. "I was always so fucking careful. Never used it if I didn't have to. Not even during hunts."
"If it's not closed properly...," Noel takes a moment to compose his thoughts, to figure out how to explain it to Merry. "If it's not closed properly, it stays in here," $n_xe says slowly, pressing $n_their hand to $n_their chest. "And eventually, it starts to rot."
You mirror Noel's gesture, pressing a hand to your chest.
"The Vel always leaves a mark when we use it. You have to sever it once you're done. Or it will drain you, trying to pull you through."
"Or trying to drag itself out," you add with a dry smile.
"Yes," Noel frowns. "You think something has attached itself to you?"
You just nod. Something is following you on the other side of the Vel. Visiting you in dreams. And you're walking around like a fucking siphon, the Vel so weak out here it practically just opens itself up to you. It would explain the localized snow last night, and the wraith - you hadn't even used the Vel in that fight, but it was open. It used the wraith to talk to you. And it's why you felt that fire afterwards - something was trying to get through to you. To use you, too.
<<if $bw_noel>>"When we went into the isolation district...," Noel shakes his head.
"It showed me something. It tried to get through," you finish the thought for $n_them. The Vel there was already damaged from the plague - you just got lucky, with Noel being there, able to push it back. You're a danger to this whole fucking city - a short fucking fuse, and if someone lights it you're going to rip the whole fucking Vel open.<<else>>"The Vel here is so damaged from the plague," Noel shakes his head, reaching up and grabbing at his locs, distressed.
You know what $n_xe's trying to say. You're a danger to this whole fucking city - a short fucking fuse, and if someone lights it you're going to rip the whole fucking Vel open.<</if>>
"So what exactly are we meant to do here, then?" Merry cuts in again, putting her hands on her hips.
Noel turns to you.
<div id="choice"><<link '"This doesn\'t change anything."' 'this doesnt change anything'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Noel knows what to do. And Lea. If it comes to that."' 'if it comes to that'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m handling it."' 'im handling it'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"It\'s not your fucking business, is it?"' 'its not your fucking business'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You and Noel can keep an eye on me."' 'keep an eye on me'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Right now, I just want to go the fuck to sleep."' 'i just want to go the fuck to sleep'>><</link>></div>Noel sighs then, pressing $n_their hands to $n_their face, rubbing $n_their eyes. He looks like how you feel - and so does Merry, for that matter.
"It's late," $n_xe says, dropping $n_their hands and giving you an apologetic look. "We should all... We should all just get some sleep."
You expect Merry to argue some more, but surprisingly, she doesn't, instead just taking a deep breath, eyeing you for another moment before nodding.
"Okay. I'm sure some rest will do all of us some good." She pauses for a moment, turning to Noel. "I'm trusting your discretion on this," she says, jerking her head towards you. //This//.
"Standing around here arguing about it isn't going to change anything about our situation right now, and it's not going to help <<if $nopr>>$name<<else>>$mc_them<</if>>, either," Noel says sadly, and you close your eyes at his words. "We'll just need to be... cautious."
"I'm sitting right here," you say, opening your eyes to glare up at them again.
Noel gives you a sympathetic look, though only for a second, his eyes suddenly widening with alarm.
"Your nose is bleeding," $n_xe explains, quickly rushing back over to $n_their bag.
You blink, reaching up and touching your face, staring down at your bloody hands, at the blood dripping down the front of your shirt. Licking your lips, you can taste it now, too, metallic and thick in your throat.
It's red this time, at least.
Noel pulls out another cloth from $n_their bag and hands it to you, and you quickly wipe your face, your nose and mouth, shaking your head. You can feel Merry staring at you from over Noel's shoulder, her arms crossed over her chest, her lips pressed in a thin line.
"We should get you back upstairs," Noel is saying, standing and slinging his bag over his shoulders. "Can you stand?"
Noel adjusts $n_their bag and then offers you $n_their hand.
<div id="choice"><<link 'Let $n_them help.' 'let noel help'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Just get up.' 'just get up on ur own'>><</link>></div>"This doesn't change anything," you say, your voice hard. <<if $highfell>>"We'll leave in the morning, and ride to Highfell, find these missing people, and go the fuck home."
"Will you make it to Highfell?" Merry asks.
"Merry," Noel snaps, giving her a dark look.
"Well someone has to ask! I'm not going to leave here if we won't even make it half way," she snaps back, throwing her hands up.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Fuck you. I'm not going to just drop dead," you glare up at the both of them, hunching forward in the chair, doing your best to ignore the way they're hovering over you.<<else>>"I'll make it," you say, glaring up at the both of them, hunching forward in the chair, doing your best to ignore the way they're hovering over you.<</if>><<else>>"We're still staying here in Blackwater. We're going to look for those missing people."
"And we just - what? Ignore that some abomination from across the Vel is trying to possess you?" Merry asks.
"Merry," Noel snaps, giving her a dark look.
"Well someone has to ask! What happens when that thing rips its way through while you're in my city? How many people are you going to kill before someone can stop you?" Merry takes a step towards you then, studying you, her eye narrowed and cold.
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Fuck you. That's not going to happen," you snarl, glaring up at the both of them, tensing in your chair.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"I'm not going to let that happen," you say, glaring up at the both of them, tensing in your chair.<<else>>"I'm not going to kill anyone," you say, swallowing hard and glaring up at the both of them, tensing in your chair.<</if>><</if>>
<<include "noel and merry hovering">>"Noel knows what to do. And Lea. If it comes to that," you say, staring down at your hands, your jaw clenched.
"And will it?" Merry asks, taking a step towards you. "Will it come to that?"
"Merry," Noel snaps, giving her a dark look.
She just shakes her head, turning away from you and staring down into the woodstove.
<<include "noel and merry hovering">>"I'm handling it," you say, gritting your teeth, flexing your hand and staring down at your arm.
"This is you //handling it//?" Merry scoffs. "Gods."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Fuck off, Merry," you snap, curling your lip.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You give her a dark look, your face twitching, tensing in the chair.<<else>>"I'm handling it the best I can," you reiterate, avoiding Merry's accusatory look.<</if>>
Merry opens her mouth to say something else, but Noel puts a hand on her shoulder, and they have a quick, wordless exchange, Noel shaking $n_their head. Merry just turns away, staring down into the woodstove.
<<include "noel and merry hovering">>"It's not your fucking business, is it?" you snap, curling forward in the chair, gritting your teeth and flexing your hand.
Merry scoffs, rolling her eye.
"You know what? You're right. I should have just left you to freeze to death out there," she jabs a finger as she says it, taking a step towards you.
"Merry," Noel puts a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back, and they have a quick, wordless exchange, Noel shaking $n_their head. Merry just turns away, staring down into the woodstove.
<<include "noel and merry hovering">>"You and Noel can keep an eye on me," you say, nodding between the two of them.
Merry frowns, glancing over at Noel.
"If that's what you want," $n_xe says slowly, rubbing the back of $n_their neck.
"You already were keeping an eye on me, weren't you?" you ask, and Noel just nods.
Noel almost certainly knew there was something wrong with you as soon as you set foot in the city yesterday, and probably told Merry about it. You wonder how long it took for him to realize just how bad it was.
<<include "noel and merry hovering">>"Right now, I just want to go the fuck to sleep," you say, reaching up and rubbing at your eyes.
Dropping your hands, you glance up at Noel, who is still just looking down at you with concern furrowing $n_their brow.
"Should we sit watch this time so you don't walk off into the woods again?" Merry says, throwing her hands up.
"Merry," Noel frowns, giving her a disapproving look.
<<if $m_relationship eq 10>><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"What the fuck do you care, anyways?" you snap, glaring up at Merry.
Noel seems taken aback, glancing between the two of you, but Merry just scowls, crossing her arms and turning away, staring down into the woodstove.<<else>>"Thought you didn't care," you say, glaring up at Merry, and Noel seems taken aback by the comment, glancing between the two of you.
But Merry just scowls, crossing her arms and turning away, staring down into the woodstove.<</if>><<else>>Merry scoffs, crossing her arms and rolling her eye, but she doesn't say anything else, pursing her lips and turning away to stare into the woodstove.<</if>>
<<include "noel and merry hovering">><<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>You scowl, turning away from his outstretched hand and pushing yourself out of the chair, inhaling sharply as you take a few shaky steps.
You pointedly ignore Noel, just shuffling towards the door. You can't take this fucking hovering, the way $n_xe's treating you, all that pity in $n_their eyes - how weak it all makes you feel.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>You turn away from $n_their outstretched hand, your own hand tightening around the arm of the chair before you push yourself up, inhaling sharply as you take a few shaky steps.
You glance at Noel, but you can't stand all the pity in $n_their eyes, that outstretched hand, and how weak it all makes you feel. You clench your jaw, shuffling towards the door, still holding your arm to your chest.<<else>>You turn away from $n_their outstretched hand, closing your eyes for the briefest moment, unable to look at $n_them, your hand tightening around the arm of the chair before you push yourself up, inhaling sharply as you take a few shaky steps.
You keep your gaze lowered, staring at the floor as you begin to shuffle towards the door. You refuse to lean on Noel any more than you already have tonight, to drag $n_them any farther down, just forcing yourself to put one foot in front of the other.<</if>>
Noel just lowers his hand and follows after you.
<<if $slept_w_merry>>"You'll probably want these," Merry says then, making both of you turn back around.
She's got your cloak draped over her arm, and you realize your clothes from earlier are stacked on her desk, your boots set on top.
Immediately your face ignites, and you instinctively duck your head despite the fact you're not wearing your hood, brushing past Noel and snatching your cloak out of Merry's hands.
She gives you a smirk, but it's half-hearted at best, not reaching her eye, and she grabs the folded clothes as you pull your cloak on, careful to roll your sleeve up over your injured arm, Merry offering the rest of your clothes to you once you're done.
You give her a nod, taking them under your good arm, clutching your boots in your hand. But then you hesitate, looking back at Merry, her arms crossed again, and you think maybe you should say something, but-
"Goodnight, $name," Merry says, tilting her head a bit, before flicking her eye over to Noel, giving him a nod over your shoulder before turning away, retreating back to her desk.
You stare after her for another moment, before taking a deep breath and heading for the door.
Noel does a noble job of giving you some privacy, and if $n_xe has any thoughts about you and the captain sharing a bed, $n_xe keeps them to himself, closing the door behind you both as you slip out into the parlor.<<else>>At the door, you wince at the sudden loud scraping sound of Merry dragging her chair back to the desk, and you fumble the doorknob for a moment before you manage to slip out the door. Noel is right behind you, closing the door quietly and giving you a bit of space, letting you walk ahead as you cross the parlor.<</if>>
At the bottom of the stairs, you stop, the idea of walking up them incredibly daunting, your limbs heavy as lead, still unsteady on your feet. But you clench your jaw and take the first step, then the next, all but crawling your way up, Noel a few steps behind, silent, letting you stubbornly do this on your own.
Once you reach the terrace you're sweating, breathing hard, having to lean against the banister, Noel stopping short, watching you, waiting for you to compose yourself. Pushing off the banister you stagger to down the hall, to your door, trying the doorknob - it's locked, of course.
"I've got it," Noel says then, stepping up beside you, pulling out a ring of keys. You raise an eyebrow at $n_them, but $n_xe just cycles through the keys before jamming one into the keyhole, jiggling the doorknob and forcing your door open. But then he stops, turning to look at you, pulling the key from the door, leaving it halfway open between you.
<<include "outside your door">>You take his hand, letting $n_them help you up out of the chair, steadying you with $n_their other hand on your shoulder. You give $n_them a grateful look, letting $n_them guide you towards the door.
<<if $slept_w_merry>>"You'll probably want these," Merry says then, clearing her throat, making both of you turn back around.
She's got your cloak draped over her arm, and you realize your clothes from earlier are stacked on her desk, your boots set on top.
Immediately your face ignites, and you instinctively duck your head despite the fact you're not wearing your hood, pulling away from Noel and brushing past him, teetering dangerously as you shuffle back over and snatch your cloak out of Merry's hands.
She gives you a smirk, but it's half-hearted at best, not reaching her eye, and she grabs the folded clothes as you pull your cloak on, careful to roll your sleeve up over your injured arm, Merry offering the rest of your clothes to you once you're done.
You give her a nod, taking them under your good arm, clutching your boots in your hand. But then you hesitate, looking back at Merry, her arms crossed again, and you think maybe you should say something, but-
"Goodnight, $name," Merry says, tilting her head a bit, before flicking her eye over to Noel, giving him a nod over your shoulder before turning away, retreating back to her desk.
You stare after her for another moment, before Noel puts a hand on your shoulder, and you take a deep breath, turning back around and heading for the door.
Noel does a noble job of giving you some privacy even while pressing a steadfast hand to your back, and if $n_xe has any thoughts about you and the captain sharing a bed, $n_xe keeps them to $n_themself, closing the door behind you both as you slip out into the parlor.<<else>>At the door, you wince at the sudden loud scraping sound of Merry dragging her chair back to the desk, though Noel tightens $n_their hand on your shoulder, and you fumble the doorknob for a moment before you manage to open it and step through. Noel is right behind you, dropping $n_their hand for a moment and quietly closing the door, quickly stepping back up and gently taking your arm, leading you across the parlor.<</if>>
At the bottom of the stairs, you stop, the idea of walking up them incredibly daunting, your limbs heavy as lead, still unsteady on your feet, even with Noel's support. But you clench your jaw and take the first step, then the next, Noel at your side the whole way, $n_their hand hovering at your back, ready to catch you.
Once you reach the terrace you're breathing hard, having to pause a moment and lean on Noel, who just watches you, carefully waiting for you to compose yourself. Eventually you ease off, giving him a sheepish look, heading down the hall to your door. You grab at the doorknob, only to find it locked - because of course.
"I've got it," Noel says then, shifting beside you and pulling out a ring of keys. You raise an eyebrow at $n_them, but $n_xe just cycles through the keys before jamming one into the keyhole, jiggling the doorknob and forcing your door open. But then $n_xe stops, turning to look at you, pulling the key from the door, leaving it halfway open between you.
<<include "outside your door">>"$name," he says slowly <<if $noel_knows>>"you told me Lea doesn't know."
You blink over at $n_them, already not liking where this is going.
"I have no intention of betraying your trust, here," $n_xe says quickly, giving you a reassuring nod, "and I'll keep Merry in check." He hesitates then, taking a deep breath.<<else>>"I assume Lea doesn't know."
You blink over at $n_them, already not liking where this is going.
"I have no intention of betraying your trust, here," $n_xe says quickly, giving you a reassuring nod, "and I'll keep Merry in check." He hesitates then, taking a deep breath.<</if>>
"But you should tell $l_them."
Noel continues before you can say anything, raising a placating hand, "For now, we need to wrap your arm."
Noel shifts $n_their bag and reaches inside, producing a roll of bandages and holding them out to you.
"You should wrap your hand, too. Your fingers," Noel nods at your hand where it's tucked against your side. "It will keep the rot hidden." Xe stares down at the bandages for a moment. "In the morning - I'll do what I can, to heal you up. I just... can't handle it, right now."
You take the bandages, the discoloration in your fingers even more noticeable against the white cloth, the unnatural, sharp curve of your nails, and the dark, scabbed gashes on your arm.
<<if $n_walkout eq false>><div id="choice"><<link '"Does this count as one of those attractive scars you like?" ♡' 'does this count as one of those scars'>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<</if>><div id="choice"><<link '"Can you... can you help me?" ♡' 'can... you help me'>><<set $bandaged to true>><<set $n_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Can you - help me with this?"' 'can you help me with this'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $bandaged to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Thank you, Noel."' 'thank you for this noel'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"I\'m sorry about all of this."' 'im sorry about all of this'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"This better stay between us."' 'this better stay between us'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[I have nothing to say. I just want to get back in my bed.]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>You turn the bandages over in your hand, before raising them half-heartedly and giving Noel a nod, turning towards the door. You're halfway through it when Noel steps after you and calls your name.
"Wait," he says, and you let out a long sigh, turning back to him.
Noel is looking at you with sad eyes, concern furrowing $n_their brow, and $n_xe searches your face for a moment.
"$name... Have you ever seen the rot before?" $n_xe says slowly, carefully, as if you're going to bolt.
<<include "rot explain noel">><<if $slept_w_merry>><<include "slept w merry noel flirt 1">><<elseif $bw_noel>><<include "bw noel flirt">><<else>><<include "no bw noel flirt">><</if>><<if $n_flirt eq 0>><<if $shy gte $bold>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, and you don't know what spurs you to do it, but you give him a weak smirk, shaking your head.
"Does this count as one of those scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.<<else>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, and you're not sure what spurs you to do it, especially with the way you can barely hold $n_their gaze, but you give him a weak smile, taking a deep breath.
"Does this count as one of those scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.<</if>>
Noel gives you a look, raising an eyebrow at you.
"You're really going to do that after you just slept with someone else?" Noel looks more amused than anything, but you can definitely see a hint of disapproval in $n_their eyes, "Come on."
You blink, dropping your hand then, and quickly turn away, clearing your throat.
Noel scoffs at your reaction, crossing his arms over his chest, but after an awkward moment $n_xe shakes $n_their head and it passes, both of you just standing and looking at each other, stiffly shifting on your feet.
"Just... wrap your arm, $name."
"Yeah. Okay," you say, reaching for the doorknob.
Noel hovers as you slip into your room, and you half-expect $n_them to say something else, but instead all $n_xe says is: "Goodnight."
You don't respond, just closing the door and letting out a long sigh.<<else>><<if $bold gt $shy>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, and you give him a weak smirk, shaking your head.
"Does this count as one of those scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.<<else>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, and you can barely hold $n_their gaze, but you give him a weak smile, taking a deep breath.
"Does this count as one of those scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.<</if>>
Noel frowns at you, $n_their mouth pressing into a thin line.
"You're really going to do that after you just slept with someone else?" Noel says, clear disapproval in $n_their eyes. "Don't."
You blink, dropping your hand then, and quickly turn away, clearing your throat.
Noel scoffs at your reaction, crossing his arms over his chest, but after an awkward moment $n_xe shakes $n_their head and it passes, both of you just standing and looking at each other, stiffly shifting on your feet.
"Just... wrap your arm, $name."
"Yeah. Okay," you say, reaching for the doorknob.
Noel hovers as you slip into your room, and you half-expect $n_them to say something else, but instead all $n_xe says is: "Goodnight."
You don't respond, just closing the door and letting out a long sigh.<</if>>
[[Continue ->Rot explain alone]]After a few seconds, you turn away, <<if $slept_w_merry>>tossing your clothes onto the bed before throwing yourself down into one of the chairs in front of the fireplace.<<else>>dragging your feet across the floor before throwing yourself down into one of the chairs in front of the fireplace.<</if>>
You stare down at the bandages, rotating them in your hands, before letting out another long sigh, sitting back and jerking up your sleeve. As you begin to wrap your arm, you can't help the long repressed memories fighting back to the forefront of your mind, clawing just behind your eyes.
You've seen the rot before. Only once, when you were an apprentice.
Too young to really understand - before the Ladder.
But you remember it; you couldn't forget it if you wanted to.
[[Continue ->Rot explain alone 1]]<<if $slept_w_merry>><<include "slept w merry noel flirt 2">><<else>><<include "no slept w merry noel flirt 2">><</if>>You turn the bandages over slowly, ignoring the slight tremor in your hands, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, before dropping your gaze again.
"Can you... can you help me?" you ask, your hand tightening around the bandages.
Noel gives you a long look, searching your face, before nodding.
"Yeah," $n_xe says, gesturing towards your door.
You shuffle into your room, Noel close behind, following you to the little table by your fireplace. Noel sets $n_their bag down on the table, turning to you expectantly.
"You going to put those down?" he says after a moment, jerking his chin towards the clothes bundled under your arm. You immediately sink back into your hood, fumbling to dump your stuff onto the bed, wincing at the awkward tension building between you and Noel.
You clear your throat and stalk back over to the table, still fidgeting with the bandages in your hand. Noel gives you a rather unimpressed look, glancing over your shoulder at the bed before looking back at you and holding out $n_their hand. Giving $n_them the bandages, you shift on your feet, watching as $n_xe begins to unroll them.
"Go ahead and sit down," Noel says, and you comply, dropping down a bit heavier in the chair than necessary, wincing, holding your arm in your lap. Your sleeve comes down to the crook of your elbow, though you still roll it up over your shoulder just to keep it out of the way.
Noel crouches down in front of you, gently taking your arm and setting about carefully wrapping the gashes, layering the bandages up and down your forearm. His brow is furrowed in concentration, oblivious to the way you stare at $n_them, studying $n_their jaw, the curve of $n_their lips, before closing your eyes for a moment. <<if $n_touch_knows>>You can tell Noel is careful not to touch you any more than necessary, his fingers ghosting over your skin, making your hand twitch, a slight shiver up the back of your neck.<<else>>Noel's touch is slow and deliberate, lifting and rotating your arm gingerly as he goes, $n_their fingers ghosting over your skin, sending a slight shiver up the back of your neck.<</if>>
"Thank you, Noel," you say then, as $n_xe sits back on $n_their heels, wrapping your hand and fingers now. He glances up at you, before $n_their face softens and he gives you a small smile.
"I'll come by in the morning, check it over again, and rewrap it," $n_xe says, carefully lacing the bandages between your knuckles. $n_xe layers it a few more times, before leaning back to examine $n_their work. Your hand shakes, noticeable before you curl it into a fist and draw it back against your chest. Noel's face falls before $n_xe stands, and you quickly stand with $n_them, clutching your arm, watching as $n_xe turns back and picks up $n_their bag again, slinging it across $n_their shoulders.
"$name...," Noel says slowly, looking back at you, "Have you ever seen the rot before?"
<<include "rot explain noel">><<if $bw_noel eq false>>You turn the bandages over slowly, ignoring the slight tremor in your hands, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, before dropping your gaze again.
"Can you... can you help me?" you ask, your hand tightening around the bandages.
Noel tilts $n_their head at you, $n_their dark eyes softening as $n_xe looks at you.
"Yeah. Of course," he says, gesturing towards your door.
You shuffle into your room, Noel close behind, following you to the little table by your fireplace. Noel sets his bag down on the table, turning to you expectantly.
You fumble to hand $n_them the bandages, and $n_xe lightly takes them from you, slowly unrolling a few inches before once again giving you an expectant look.
"Go ahead and sit down," he says, taking a few steps back and nodding his head towards one of the chairs, and you comply, sitting down a bit heavier than necessary, wincing, holding your arm in your lap. Your sleeve comes down to the crook of your elbow, though you still roll it up over your shoulder just to keep it out of the way.
Noel crouches down in front of you, gently taking your arm and setting about carefully wrapping the gashes, layering the bandages up and down your forearm. $n_Their brow is furrowed in concentration, oblivious to the way you stare at $n_them, studying $n_their jaw, the curve of $n_their lips, before -
Noel glances up at you, the slightest smile pulling up one corner of $n_their mouth, $n_their eyebrow raised just enough to tell you $n_xe's not as oblivious as you thought.
You clear your throat, your face hot as you turn away, staring into the sad, fading embers in your fireplace.
Noel chuckles, though he doesn't say anything, $n_their attention falling back to your arm as he turns it over in $n_their hands. <<if $n_touch_knows>>You can tell Noel is careful not to touch you any more than necessary, his fingers ghosting over your skin, making your fingers twitch, a slight shiver up the back of your neck.<<else>>Noel's touch is painfully tender and deliberate, lifting and rotating your arm gingerly as $n_xe goes, his fingers ghosting over your skin, sending a slight shiver up the back of your neck.<</if>>
"Thank you, Noel," you say then, as $n_xe sits back on $n_their heels, wrapping your hand and fingers now. He glances up at you, giving you a warm smile.
"I'll come by in the morning, check it over again, and rewrap it," $n_xe says, carefully lacing the bandages between your knuckles. He layers it a few more times, before leaning back to examine his work. Your hand shakes, noticeable before you curl it into a fist and draw it back against your chest. Noel's face falls before $n_xe stands, and you quickly stand with $n_them, clutching your arm, watching as $n_xe turns back and picks up $n_their bag again, slinging it across $n_their shoulders, hesitating a moment with $n_their back to you.
"$name...," Noel says slowly, looking back at you, "Have you ever seen the rot before?"<<else>><<if $n_flirt lte 1>>You turn the bandages over slowly, ignoring the slight tremor in your hands, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, before dropping your gaze again.
"Can you... can you help me?" you ask, your hand tightening around the bandages.
Noel gives you a sad smile, his dark eyes soft as he looks at you.
"Of course," $n_xe says, gesturing towards your door.
You shuffle into your room, Noel close behind, following you to the little table by your fireplace. Noel sets $n_their bag down on the table, turning to you expectantly.
You fumble to hand $n_them the bandages, and $n_xe lightly takes them from you, slowly unrolling a few inches before once again giving you an expectant look.
"Go ahead and sit down," he says, taking a few steps back and nodding $n_their head towards one of the chairs, and you comply, sitting down a bit heavier than necessary, wincing, holding your arm in your lap. Your sleeve comes down to the crook of your elbow, though you still roll it up over your shoulder just to keep it out of the way.
Noel crouches down in front of you, gently taking your arm and setting about carefully wrapping the gashes, layering the bandages up and down your forearm. $n_Their brow is furrowed in concentration, oblivious to the way you stare at $n_them, studying $n_their jaw, the curve of $n_their lips, before -
"What is it? Something on my face?" Noel says, raising an eyebrow as he glances at you out of the corner of his eye.
<<if $shy gte $bold>>"Oh... um. No...," you squirm a bit in your chair, your face growing hot, and you turn away, staring at the sad, fading embers in the fireplace.<<else>>"No," you say quickly, scoffing, glancing away to stare at the sad, fading embers in the fireplace.<</if>>
"Well, that's good. I'd be pretty embarrassed otherwise - mortified, even," Noel grins up at you, pausing in $n_their work. "Especially in front of you. I would never recover."
Now you smile, shaking your head as you turn back to look at him.
"Don't worry. I don't think you have to worry about embarrassing yourself around me. I mean... I don't think you could really top wandering around half naked in the woods in the middle of the night, anyways," you scoff, shifting in your chair as Noel starts wrapping your arm again.
He doesn't respond to that, though you can see him hesitate briefly as he turns your arm over. <<if $n_touch_knows>>You can tell Noel is careful not to touch you any more than necessary as $n_xe layers the bandages, $n_their fingers ghosting over your skin, making your fingers twitch, a slight shiver up the back of your neck.<<else>>Noel's touch is painfully tender and deliberate, lifting and rotating your arm gingerly as $n_xe goes, $n_their fingers ghosting over your skin, sending a slight shiver up the back of your neck.<</if>>
A heavy silence falls over both of you as Noel finishes up your arm.
"Thank you, Noel," you say then, and $n_xe sits back on $n_their heels, wrapping your hand and fingers now. He glances up at you, giving you a warm smile.
"I'll come by in the morning, check it over again, and rewrap it," $n_xe says, carefully lacing the bandages between your knuckles. Xe layers it a few more times, before leaning back to examine $n_their work. Your hand shakes, noticeable before you curl it into a fist and draw it back against your chest. Noel's face falls before $n_xe stands, and you quickly stand with $n_them, clutching your arm, watching as $n_xe turns back and picks up $n_their bag again, slinging it across $n_their shoulders, hesitating a moment with $n_their back to you.
"$name...," Noel says slowly, looking back at you, "Have you ever seen the rot before?"<<else>>You turn the bandages over slowly, ignoring the slight tremor in your hands, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, before dropping your gaze again.
"Can you... can you help me?" you ask, your hand tightening around the bandages.
Noel gives you a sad smile, his dark eyes soft as he looks at you.
"Of course," he says, gesturing towards your door.
You shuffle into your room, Noel close behind, following you to the little table by your fireplace. Noel sets $n_their bag down on the table, turning to you expectantly.
You fumble to hand $n_them the bandages, and $n_xe lightly takes them from you, slowly unrolling a few inches before once again giving you an expectant look.
"Go ahead and sit down," he says, nodding his head over your shoulder at your bed, and you comply, stepping backwards until your legs hit the mattress, and you drop down a bit heavier than necessary, the bedframe groaning as you wince, holding your arm in your lap. Your sleeve comes down to the crook of your elbow, though you still roll it up over your shoulder just to keep it out of the way.
Noel crouches down in front of you, gently taking your arm and setting about carefully wrapping the gashes, layering the bandages up and down your forearm. $n_Their brow is furrowed in concentration, oblivious to the way you stare at $n_them, studying $n_their jaw, the curve of $n_their lips, before -
"What is it? Something on my face?" Noel says, raising an eyebrow as he glances at you out of the corner of $n_their eye.
<<if $bold gte $shy>>"Oh... um. No...," you squirm a bit on the bed, your face growing hot, and you turn away, staring at the sad, fading embers in the fireplace.<<else>>"No," you say quickly, scoffing, glancing away to stare at the sad, fading embers in the fireplace.<</if>>
"Well, that's good. I'd be pretty embarrassed otherwise - mortified, even," Noel grins up at you, pausing in $n_their work. "Especially in front of you. I would never recover."
Now you smile, shaking your head as you turn back to look at him.
"Don't worry. I don't think you have to worry about embarrassing yourself around me. I mean... I don't think you could really top wandering around half naked in the woods in the middle of the night, anyways," you scoff, shifting in your chair as Noel starts wrapping your arm again.
Xe doesn't respond to that, though you can see $n_them hesitate briefly as $n_xe turns your arm over. <<if $n_touch_knows>>You can tell Noel is careful not to touch you any more than necessary as $n_xe layers the bandages, $n_their fingers ghosting over your skin, making your fingers twitch, a slight shiver up the back of your neck.<<else>>Noel's touch is painfully tender and deliberate, lifting and rotating your arm gingerly as $n_xe goes, $n_their fingers ghosting over your skin, sending a slight shiver up the back of your neck.<</if>>
A heavy silence falls over both of you as Noel finishes up your arm.
"Thank you, Noel," you say then, and $n_xe sits back on $n_their heels, wrapping your hand and fingers now. He glances up at you, giving you a warm smile.
"I'll come by in the morning, check it over again, and rewrap it," $n_xe says, carefully lacing the bandages between your knuckles. Xe layers it a few more times, before leaning back to examine $n_their work. Your hand shakes, noticeable before you curl it into a fist and draw it back against your chest. Noel's face falls before $n_xe watches you, and you have to look away again, clenching your jaw.
You startle slightly as Noel suddenly sits down beside you, the mattress squeaking in protest, and you blink over at him, though he's staring down at his hands.
"$name...," Noel says slowly, "Have you ever seen the rot before?"<<set $n_on_bed to true>><</if>><</if>>
<<include "rot explain noel">>You have. Once, when you were an apprentice. Too young to really understand - before the Ladder.
But you remember it; you couldn't forget it if you wanted to.
You take a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Yeah. I've seen it."
[[Continue ->rot explain noel 1]]You turn the bandages over slowly, ignoring the slight tremor in your hands, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, before dropping your gaze again.
"Can you... can you help me?" you ask, your hand tightening around the bandages.
Noel tilts $n_their head at you, before nodding, giving you a small smile.
"Yeah. Yeah, of course," he says, gesturing towards your door.
You shuffle into your room, Noel close behind, following you to the little table by your fireplace. Noel sets his bag down on the table, turning to you expectantly.
You fumble to hand $n_them the bandages, and $n_xe lightly takes them from you, slowly unrolling a few inches before once again giving you an expectant look.
"Go ahead and sit down," he says, taking a few steps back and nodding his head towards one of the chairs, and you comply, sitting down a bit heavier than necessary, wincing, holding your arm in your lap. Your sleeve comes down to the crook of your elbow, though you still roll it up over your shoulder just to keep it out of the way.
Noel crouches down in front of you, gently taking your arm and setting about carefully wrapping the gashes, layering the bandages up and down your forearm. $n_Their brow is furrowed in concentration, and you find yourself staring off into the sad, fading embers of the fireplace, exhaustion pressing on your shoulders, making your feel heavy in your chair.
Glancing back at Noel, <<if $n_touch_knows>>you can tell he's careful not to touch you any more than necessary, $n_their fingers barely brushing your skin, making your hand twitch slightly.<<else>>you can tell $n_their's touch is painstakingly deliberate, lifting and rotating your arm gingerly as he goes, $n_their fingers strong and sure with every movement.<</if>>
"Thank you, Noel," you say then, as he sits back on his heels, wrapping your hand and fingers now. He glances up at you, giving you another small smile.
"I'll come by in the morning, check it over again, and rewrap it," $n_xe says, carefully lacing the bandages between your knuckles. Xe layers it a few more times, before leaning back to examine $n_their work. Your hand shakes, noticeable before you curl it into a fist and draw it back against your chest. Noel's face falls before $n_xe stands, and you quickly stand with $n_them, clutching your arm, watching as $n_xe turns back and picks up $n_their bag again, slinging it across $n_their shoulders.
"$name...," Noel says slowly, looking back at you, "Have you ever seen the rot before?"
<<include "rot explain noel">>"Thank you, Noel," you say, turning the bandages over in your hand, still staring down at your arm.
"Yeah. Of course," Noel gives you a small smile, though $n_their eyes flick down to your arm, studying the gashes there. "If you need anything else-"
But you cut him off with a shake of your head.
"You've done more than enough," you say quickly, your hand tightening around the bandages. You wince, dropping your gaze. "Sorry. But I mean it. And I can only imagine the effort it takes to heal this kind of thing..."
"In the morning, I'll check it over," Noel says, crossing $n_their arms over $n_their chest. "Heal it again."
You scoff, shaking your head again.
"Noel..."
"I'm here to help you. It's the least I can do with what me and Merry have dragged you into here."
You take a deep breath, relenting, just giving him a nod. "Thank you."
A heavy silence falls between the two of you then, and you shift on your feet, glancing sideways at the door, while Noel is studying your arm, eyeing the gashes down your forearm.
"$name," Noel says slowly, and you glance back over at $n_them, "Have you... ever seen the rot?"
<<include "rot explain noel">>"I'm sorry about all of this," you say, turning the bandages over in your hand, still staring down at your arm.
Glancing back up at Noel, $n_xe's giving you a sad look, concern furrowing $n_their brow. He opens $n_their mouth to respond but you cut $n_them off with a shake of your head.
"Don't tell me not to apologize," you say, letting out a long sigh. "Just - I'm sorry."
Noel purses his lips, dropping his gaze for a moment before nodding, looking back at you while fidgeting with his bag.
"It's alright," Noel finally says. "This is... difficult. I wouldn't expect anyone in your position to be making... rational choices."
That makes you laugh a little, giving $n_them a look. You appreciate what $n_xe's saying, and you do think if anyone could sympathize it would be Noel. But it still makes you laugh.
"I've been making bad decisions for a long time. It hardly started with this," you shrug.
"I just mean I understand why you would keep it to yourself, why you would ignore it - and I don't blame you." Noel chews on his bottom lip, still studying your face.
"Yeah. Thanks, Noel," you say, staring down at your hand again, your fingers tightening around the bandages.
"$name... Have you ever seen the rot before?" Noel asks then.
<<include "rot explain noel">>"This better stay between us," you say, your hand tightening around the bandages as you narrow your eyes at Noel. Lea can't know about this right now, not after today.
"I told you, $name, I'm not going to tell Lea - I'm not going to tell anyone," Noel says, $n_their voice hard.
You stare at him for a long moment, before shaking your head and turning for the door.
Noel doesn't stop you, just stepping back and watching as you slip into your room and close the door behind you.
You stand there, your hand on the doorknob, and you let out a frustrated breath, pressing your forehead to the wood for a moment.
<<include "Rot explain alone">><<if $n_flirt eq 0>><<if $bold gt $shy>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, and you don't know what spurs you to do it, but you give $n_them a weak smirk, shaking your head.
"Does this count as one of the scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.
Noel looks surprised at the comment, blinking at you for a moment, before laughing through $n_their nose and shaking $n_their head.
"You're going to flirt with me right now?" he says, giving you a warm smile, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes.
"You're dodging the question," you say, and Noel rolls $n_their eyes while you just laugh at $n_their clear exasperation. He does smile just a little bit wider, though, before glancing away, fidgeting with his bag.
"If you're trying to get my attention, you don't need more scars to do it," $n_xe says softly, tilting $n_their heads towards you. "You need to be careful. I want you to be careful."
You scoff, glancing sideways and scuffing the floor with your heel.
"I mean it, $name," $n_xe says, stepping closer, <<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>reaching out and putting $n_their hand on your arm. You close your eyes at the touch, hanging your head for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"$name," Noel says then, squeezing your arm before letting his hand drop away, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?"<<else>>searching your face. You turn away, hanging your head for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"$name," Noel says slowly, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?"<</if>><<else>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, and you're not sure what spurs you to do it, especially with the way you can barely hold his gaze, but you give $n_them a weak smile, taking a deep breath.
"Does this count as one of the scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.
Noel looks surprised at the comment, blinking at you for a moment, before laughing through $n_their nose and shaking $n_their head.
"You're going to flirt with me right now?" $n_xe says, giving you a warm smile, though it doesn't quite reach $n_their eyes.
"Yeah... I guess I am," you say, glancing sideways, letting out a nervous laugh.
Noel smiles a little wider, giving you a warm look, dropping his gaze to fidget with his bag. When $n_xe looks back at you again, $n_their eyes go to the bandages in your hand, and $n_their smile fades, a heavy silence falling between you.
"If you're trying to get my attention, you don't need more scars to do it," $n_xe says softly, tilting $n_their heads towards you. "You need to be careful. I want you to be careful."
You sigh, just giving Noel a weak nod, tucking your arm back against your chest.
"I mean it, $name," $n_xe says, stepping closer then, <<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>reaching out and putting $n_their hand on your good arm. You close your eyes at the touch, hanging your head for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"$name," Noel says then, squeezing your arm before letting his hand drop away, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?"<<else>>searching your face. You turn away, hanging your head for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"$name," Noel says slowly, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?"<</if>><</if>><<else>><<if $bold gt $shy>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, <<if $n_relationship eq 4 or 2>>ignoring the guilt that still twists in your chest every time you look at $n_them, instead just giving $n_them a weak smirk, shaking your head.<<else>>and you give $n_them a weak smirk, shaking your head.<</if>>
"Does this count as one of the scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.
Noel raises an eyebrow at you, before laughing through $n_their nose, shaking $n_their head.
"Really? You're going to flirt with me right now?" he says, and he's smiling, though it doesn't quite meet $n_their eyes.
"You're dodging the question," you say, and Noel rolls $n_their eyes while you just laugh at $n_their clear exasperation. He does smile just a little bit wider, though, before glancing away, fidgeting with his bag.
"You already have my attention. No more scars needed," Noel says softly, tilting $n_their head towards you. "You need to be careful. I want you to be careful."
You scoff, glancing sideways and scuffing the floor with your heel.<<else>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, <<if $n_relationship eq 4 or 2>>with the guilt that still twists in your chest every time you look at $n_them, before shaking your head and giving $n_them a weak smile, taking a deep breath.<<else>>especially with the way you can barely hold $n_their gaze, but you give $n_them a weak smile, taking a deep breath.<</if>>
"Does this count as one of the scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.
Noel raises an eyebrow at you, before laughing through $n_their nose, shaking $n_their head.
"You're going to flirt with me right now?" he says, giving you a warm smile, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes.
"Yeah... I guess I am," you say, glancing sideways, letting out a nervous laugh.
Noel smiles a little wider, giving you a warm look, dropping $n_their gaze to fidget with $n_their bag. When $n_xe looks back at you again, $n_their eyes go to the bandages in your hand, and $n_their smile fades, a heavy silence falling between you.
"You already have my attention. No more scars needed," Noel says softly, tilting his head towards you. "You need to be careful. I want you to be careful."
You sigh, just giving Noel a weak nod, tucking your arm back against your chest.<</if>>
<<if $n_flirt gte 2>>"I mean it, $name," $n_xe says, stepping closer then, <<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>reaching out and putting $n_their hand on your good arm. You close your eyes at the touch, hanging your head for a moment, taking a deep breath.
Noel gives your arm a light squeeze, before reaching for your face, brushing $n_their knuckles along your jaw, <<if $touch_averse eq 0>>and you can't help but lean into it, opening your eyes again to see Noel giving you a sad look, before pulling back and letting his hand drop back to his side.
"$name...," Noel says then, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?"<<else>>and you resist the urge to pull away, instead opening your eyes to see Noel giving you a sad look, before letting his hand drop back to his side.
"$name...," Noel says then, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?"<</if>><<else>>searching your face. You turn away, hanging your head for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"I'm worried about you," $n_xe says, and you open your eyes again to see Noel giving you a sad look, concern furrowing $n_their brow.
You don't say anything, just holding your arm tighter against your chest.
"$name," Noel says then, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?"<</if>><<else>>"I mean it, $name," $n_xe says, stepping closer then, <<if $n_touch_knows eq false>>reaching out and putting his hand on your good arm. You close your eyes at the touch, hanging your head for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"$name," Noel says then, squeezing your arm before letting $n_their hand drop away, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?<<else>>searching your face. You turn away, hanging your head for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"$name," Noel says slowly, "Have you... ever seen the rot before?"<</if>><</if>><</if>>
<<include "rot explain noel">><<if $n_flirt gte 1>><<if $bold gt $shy>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, and you give $n_them a weak smirk, shaking your head.
"Does this count as one of those scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.
Noel raises an eyebrow at you, before laughing through $n_their nose, shaking $n_their head.
"Really? You're going to flirt with me right now?" he says, and he's smiling, though it doesn't quite meet his eyes.
"You're dodging the question," you say, and Noel rolls $n_their eyes while you just laugh at $n_their clear exasperation. He does smile just a little bit wider, though, before glancing away, fidgeting with his bag.
But your laughter fades, and a heavy silence falls between you, while you stare down at the bandages in your hand again.
"$name...," Noel starts, shifting on $n_their feet, "have you ever seen the rot before?"<<else>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, and you can barely hold $n_their gaze, but you give $n_them a weak smile, taking a deep breath.
"Does this count as one of those scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.
Noel raises an eyebrow at you, before laughing through $n_their nose, shaking $n_their head.
"Really? You're going to flirt with me right now?" he says, and he's smiling, though it doesn't quite meet his eyes.
"Yeah... I guess I am," you say, glancing sideways, letting out a nervous laugh.
Noel smiles a little wider, giving you a warm look, dropping $n_their gaze to fidget with $n_their bag. When $n_xe looks back at you again, $n_their eyes go to the bandages in your hand, and $n_their smile fades, a heavy silence falling between you.
"$name...," Noel starts, shifting on his feet, "have you ever seen the rot before?"<</if>><<else>><<if $bold gt $shy>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, and you don't know what spurs you to do it, but you give $n_them a weak smirk, shaking your head.
"Does this count as one of the scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.
Noel raises an eyebrow at you, though overall looks unamused at your comment, instead his face falling as his eyes follow the movement of your fingers as you trace the angry scabs along your forearm.
"Just wrap them up," $n_xe says then, and you sigh, glancing away and stepping back into the doorway.
"Yeah. Okay."
Noel hesitates, though, still watching you, studying your arm, your face. "$name... have you ever seen the rot before?"<<else>>You turn the bandages over in your hand, staring at your arm for a moment too long. You glance back at Noel, hesitating a moment, and you're not sure what spurs you to do it, especially with the way you can barely hold $n_their gaze, but you give $n_them a weak smile, taking a deep breath.
"Does this count as one of the scars you like?" you say, your hand hovering over the gashes on your arm.
Noel raises an eyebrow at you, though overall looks unamused at your comment, instead his face falling as his eyes follow the movement of your fingers as you trace the angry scabs along your forearm.
"Just wrap them up," $n_xe says then, and you sigh, glancing away and stepping back into the doorway.
"Yeah. Okay."
Noel hesitates, though, still watching you, studying your arm, your face. "$name... have you ever seen the rot before?"<</if>><</if>><<set $n_flirt +=1>>
<<include "rot explain noel">>It was an older woman at the Black Iron, no longer an active hunter; but someone who was living out the rest of their days at the stronghold, assisting masters with their apprentices and otherwise just helping around the stronghold where needed - you remember she was a favorite in the kitchen, rivaling even Master Chen's hot pot on occasion.
But over time you stopped seeing them as much, whether at training in the courtyard where she would usually give exasperated masters unsolicited advice from the sidelines, or working in the stronghold's garden, harvesting food for the kitchen.
You had a fleeting thought about them every once and a while... missing the dinners she would host, gregarious and loud, always making it an elaborate ordeal in the evenings and giving you hell the next day if you had skipped out on her. They grew less and less frequent, and while it hadn't felt like it at the time, it happened quick - one day she was in the courtyard giving Jorah a hard time, and then suddenly she was sick, hidden away in the stronghold, with Commander Hadrien and the Master Alchemist, Asha, being the only two seeing to them.
You remember Jorah arguing with Asha about it.
It didn't really seem like anything serious to you until then. Jorah and Master Chen started having to set additional wards against the Vel in and around the stronghold, and a lot of people were angry, and it wasn't uncommon to walk into a room to a heated argument that would go quiet when they saw you.
Jorah did his best to shield you from it, you think, which is why you didn't really understand what the problem was.
You still aren't really sure what happened to her, even now. But you saw enough.
[[Continue ->Rot explain alone 2]]You had been scolded plenty of times for wandering around the stronghold at night - even as a child, you had problems sleeping. For different reasons, though. It was one of those times, when you couldn't sleep - this part you remember vividly. You were sore, aching from whatever shit Jorah had put you through in training that day, tossing and turning and growing more frustrated as sleep evaded you. So you went for a walk. It was your usual route. The apprentice boarding was in the upper levels of the stronghold, and you would walk your floor, and then pass through the upper towers, and walk along the balustrade.
Outside, you stopped for a bit and stood facing the mountains, and it was snowing - slow and quiet, thick layers of white on the trees and in the courtyard, and the moonlight was so bright against it, illuminating the stone walls of the fortress.
You know you stood there longer than usual. If you had continued on your walk, if you had followed your routine, you would never had seen it.
It's a cruel thought.
Instead you just stood there, watching the snow.
There was no lead up to it, there was no warning, you had just been standing there on the balustrade, when suddenly the far door slammed open, making you jump, bewildered, scrambling back across the walkway. Someone was standing there in the doorway, before taking a few staggering steps forward, seemingly oblivious to you, muttering something you couldn't make out.
A pressure in your head, and high pitched keening coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. You wish it hadn't been a full moon that night - if it had been dark, you wouldn't have had to see what she looked like. What //you'll// look like.
Her eyes were different. The gold had taken over their irises, and there was no white. Only black. She was hunched forward, her body seeming to be in the process of collapsing in on itself, and everything felt wrong - arms and legs twisted, her features sharper and bestial, her head tilting unnaturally from side to side - surveying you, like a predator. Black claws flashed and clicked at her sides, and her hair was viscous, something oozing from her head, her nose and eyes, black blood dripping loud and wet onto the stones.
She had opened her mouth, her teeth inhuman - pointed sharp and too big for her bloodied gums, monstrous and horrible, and she had started to speak, words in a language no longer spoken, black ichor spilling over her lips.
You had been unable to move, frozen with the snow still slowly falling around you.
She had taken a few more steps, getting closer, and you could see in the moonlight how her skin was rotting, black and purple veins bursting under her skin, a terrible smell burning the back of your throat, festering wounds deep enough to expose bone, wet and shimmering in the white light. The shadows were dark on her face, harsh and unforgiving with the way the light reflected off the snow, making everything simultaneously indistinguishable and sharp, too sharp.
You could hear shouting now from somewhere in the stronghold. But you still couldn't move.
Not even when the far door burst open again, and she started screaming, with Hadrien having to grapple her to the ground, Asha frantically grabbing at the flailing claws as they tried to rip at Hadrien's face. And Jorah was there, and his handler Rodrick, too, both of them seeming shocked at the sight of you before running over, shouting your name.
Rodrick reached you first, grabbing you and hiding you in his jacket, dragging you away, but you still saw the way Jorah and Hadrien had to beat the wailing creature down, the sound of snapping bones and wet punches, the Vel pulsating and keening over the stronghold until they finally pinned her arms and legs, so Asha could collar her. That was the only time you ever saw a collaring, too, and that stirs another memory.
The locked room in the armory. Collars of blood iron, forged centuries ago, only one locked door away from all of you, only one locked door from being used on you.
[[Continue ->Rot explain alone 3]]You swear under your breath, fumbling the bandages, having to unravel them and start again. After a few more pathetic attempts you finally manage to get your arm and hand completely wrapped, sitting on the bed just staring down at it, rotating your shoulder and flexing your hand.
Every time you blink, you see the image of that rotting woman behind your eyes, lurking atop the balustrade, watching you, waiting.
You swear again, shaking your head and standing abruptly, pacing back and forth. You stare down at the floor as you go, and you realize how filthy you are - your feet and clothes stained with mud and black ichor, your skin hot and clammy, your clothes sticking to you uncomfortably, your shirt sticking to the small of your back.
You quickly change, doing your best to scrub yourself clean with the dirty clothes before shoving them down in the bottom of your bag, before the ache in your legs finally forces you to sit down on your bed. You just stare down at the bandages, at your shitty attempt at wrapping your arm, clenching and unclenching your hand, curling your fingers and watching the way the tips of your nails press against the fabric.
<<include "see right through you">>It was an older woman at the Black Iron, no longer an active hunter; but someone who was living out the rest of their days at the stronghold, assisting masters with their apprentices and otherwise just helping around the stronghold where needed - you remember she was a favorite in the kitchen, rivaling even Master Chen's hot pot on occasion.
But over time you stopped seeing them as much, whether at training in the courtyard where she would usually give exasperated masters unsolicited advice from the sidelines, or working in the stronghold's garden, harvesting food for the kitchen.
You had a fleeting thought about them every once and a while... missing the dinners she would host, gregarious and loud, always making it an elaborate ordeal in the evenings and giving you hell the next day if you had skipped out on her. They grew less and less frequent, and while it hadn't felt like it at the time, it happened quick - one day she was in the courtyard giving Jorah a hard time, and then suddenly she was sick, hidden away in the stronghold, with Commander Hadrien and the Master Alchemist, Asha, being the only two seeing to them.
You remember Jorah arguing with Asha about it.
It didn't really seem like anything serious to you until then. Jorah and Master Chen started having to set additional wards against the Vel in and around the stronghold, and a lot of people were angry, and it wasn't uncommon to walk into a room to a heated argument that would go quiet when they saw you.
Jorah did his best to shield you from it, you think, which is why you didn't really understand what the problem was.
You still aren't really sure what happened to her, even now. But you saw enough.
[[Continue ->rot explain noel 2]]You had been scolded plenty of times for wandering around the stronghold at night - even as a child, you had problems sleeping. For different reasons, though. It was one of those times, when you couldn't sleep - this part you remember vividly. You were sore, aching from whatever shit Jorah had put you through in training that day, tossing and turning and growing more frustrated as sleep evaded you. So you went for a walk. It was your usual route. The apprentice boarding was in the upper levels of the stronghold, and you would walk your floor, and then pass through the upper towers, and walk along the balustrade.
Outside, you stopped for a bit and stood facing the mountains, and it was snowing - slow and quiet, thick layers of white on the trees and in the courtyard, and the moonlight was so bright against it, illuminating the stone walls of the fortress.
You know you stood there longer than usual. If you had continued on your walk, if you had followed your routine, you would never had seen it.
It's a cruel thought.
Instead you just stood there, watching the snow.
There was no lead up to it, there was no warning, you had just been standing there on the balustrade, when suddenly the far door slammed open, making you jump, bewildered, scrambling back across the walkway. Someone was standing there in the doorway, before taking a few staggering steps forward, seemingly oblivious to you, muttering something you couldn't make out.
A pressure in your head, and high pitched keening coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. You wish it hadn't been a full moon that night - if it had been dark, you wouldn't have had to see what she looked like. What //you'll// look like.
Her eyes were different. The gold had taken over their irises, and there was no white. Only black. She was hunched forward, her body seeming to be in the process of collapsing in on itself, and everything felt wrong - arms and legs twisted, her features sharper and bestial, her head tilting unnaturally from side to side - surveying you, like a predator. Black claws flashed and clicked at her sides, and her hair was viscous, something oozing from her head, her nose and eyes, black blood dripping loud and wet onto the stones.
She had opened her mouth, her teeth inhuman - pointed sharp and too big for her bloodied gums, monstrous and horrible, and she had started to speak, words in a language no longer spoken, black ichor spilling over her lips.
You had been unable to move, frozen with the snow still slowly falling around you.
She had taken a few more steps, getting closer, and you could see in the moonlight how her skin was rotting, black and purple veins bursting under her skin, a terrible smell burning the back of your throat, festering wounds deep enough to expose bone, wet and shimmering in the white light. The shadows were dark on her face, harsh and unforgiving with the way the light reflected off the snow, making everything simultaneously indistinguishable and sharp, too sharp.
You could hear shouting now from somewhere in the stronghold. But you still couldn't move.
Not even when the far door burst open again, and she started screaming, with Hadrien having to grapple her to the ground, Asha frantically grabbing at the flailing claws as they tried to rip at Hadrien's face. And Jorah was there, and his handler Rodrick, too, both of them seeming shocked at the sight of you before running over, shouting your name.
Rodrick reached you first, grabbing you and hiding you in his jacket, dragging you away, but you still saw the way Jorah and Hadrien had to beat the wailing creature down, the sound of snapping bones and wet punches, the Vel pulsating and keening over the stronghold until they finally pinned her arms and legs, so Asha could collar her. That was the only time you ever saw a collaring, too, and that stirs another memory.
The locked room in the armory. Collars of blood iron, forged centuries ago, only one locked door away from all of you, only one locked door from being used on you.
<<link '"$name?"' 'rot explain noel 3'>><</link>><<if $n_on_bed>><<if $touch_averse gte 1>>You inhale sharply, startled at the sound of your name, blinking over at Noel, leaning close to you on the bed.<<else>>You inhale sharply, startled at the sound of your name and the sudden hand on your knee, blinking over at Noel beside you.<</if>><<elseif $bandaged>>You inhale sharply, startled at the sound of your name, blinking over at Noel, the two of you still just standing at the table.<<else>>You inhale sharply, startled at the sound of your name, blinking over at Noel, the two of you still standing in the tavern hallway.<</if>>
Noel's face is hard, and you can't tell what he's thinking, and maybe right now that's a good thing.
"Yeah," you say again, clearing your throat. "I've seen it happen before."
<<if $n_on_bed>><<if $touch_averse eq 0>>Noel gently squeezes your knee, taking a deep breath.<<else>>Noel leans back, taking a deep breath.<</if>><<else>>Noel pulls at the strap of $n_their bag, taking a deep breath.<</if>>
"I've seen it, too," $n_xe frowns then, glancing away. "I'm sorry. I have to ask this. How ready is Lea to collar you, if it becomes necessary?"
"What?" you're taken aback, agitated by the question, as if Noel had been skrying into your mind. "No. No, $l_they <<dont>> even have a fucking collar," <<if $n_on_bed>><<if $touch_averse eq 0>>you snap, shaking Noel's hand off and putting some space between you on the bed.<<else>>you snap, putting some space between you and Noel on the bed.<</if>><<else>>you snap, shaking your head.<</if>>
Noel gives you a pitying look.
"$name..."
<<if _top_trait eq $aggressive>>"Why are you fucking asking me that? That's not going to happen," you say, jabbing a finger at him. Trying to convince Noel or yourself, you're not sure.<<elseif _top_trait eq $stoic>>"That's not going to happen," you say slowly, crossing your arms the best you can with your injuries. Trying to convince Noel or yourself, you're not sure.<<else>>"Why are you asking me that?" you frown, wringing your hands. "That's not going to happen," you say quickly, trying to convince Noel or yourself, you're not sure.<</if>>
"Lea has a collar," Noel says carefully, "all handlers have a collar."
"Maybe in the south! We don't do that shit at the Black Iron," <<if $n_on_bed eq false>>you're getting angry, shaking your head again.<<else>>you're getting angry, standing from the bed and taking a few steps away.<</if>>
Noel takes a deep breath then, and just nods.
"Okay. You're right. We should shelf this for later, anyways. I'm not - I don't want to upset you. And you need to get some actual sleep." Noel raises his hands <<if $n_on_bed eq false>>and takes a few steps back, gesturing towards your door.<<else>>and stands slowly, taking a few steps towards the door.<</if>>
"I'll be by in the morning, to look at your arm again. Okay?"
You glare at $n_them for a few more seconds, but in the end your own exhaustion wins out, and you feel your shoulders sag a bit, and you let out a long, painful sigh.
"Okay."
Noel nods again, giving you a tight smile. "Goodnight, $name," $n_xe says.
<<if $bandaged>>"Goodnight," you say, watching as Noel retreats across your room and slips out the door, closing it quietly behind $n_them.<<else>>"Goodnight," you say, turning towards your door, and you carefully step through and quietly close the door behind you.<</if>>
[[Continue ->Goodnight Noel]]<<if $bandaged>>Alone now, you finally take stock of... your current state.
You're filthy, your feet and clothes stained with mud and black ichor, your skin damp and clammy, your shirt sticking uncomfortably to the small of your back. You change your clothes, doing your best to scrub yourself clean with the dirty pair before shoving them down in the bottom of your bag, and you throw yourself down on the edge of your bed, staring down at the stark white bandages, flexing your hand, rotating your shoulder.<<else>>In your room, you finally take stock of... your current state.
You're filthy, your feet and clothes stained with mud and black ichor, and you don't even want to look at your arm any longer than you have to. You change your clothes, doing your best to scrub yourself clean with the dirty pair before shoving them down in the bottom of your bag, and you quickly wrap up your arm, all the way down to the tips of your fingers. Sitting on the edge of your bed, you just stare down at the stark white bandages, flexing your hand, rotating your shoulder.<</if>>
<<include "see right through you">>Lea is going to see right through this. You're going to have to come up with something really good to keep $l_them off your back. The thought of Lea makes your eyes wander over to the little table on the other side of the room. The hunter's draught still sits, untouched, right where you left it.
You didn't even take it earlier. Gods, how many fucking times have you forgotten it?
You suppose it doesn't matter, now. You're already sick. Already dying.
You stand from the bed then, slowly walking across the room, picking up the draught, carefully turning it over in your hands.
<div id="choice">[[I'm going to take it anyways. It will help. It has to help.]]</div>
<div id="choice">[[Fuck it. I pour it out the window.]]</div>You twist the stopper free and toss it back onto the table, staring down into the little vial, swirling the thick, dark liquid for a few seconds, before shaking your head and raising it to your lips. You quickly down it, wincing and coughing as it burns especially hot in your raw throat, slapping the vial down as you lean against the table.
Your chest aches, and your eyes water, but you manage to keep it down, swallowing hard before staggering back to bed.<<set $draught to true>>
<<include "You let out a dark laugh">>You turn to the window, the shutters closed tight, but you stride over and struggle for a moment before throwing them open, peering down into the dark alley below. There's no one there, just the sound of the wind rushing between the buildings and through the stilts.
You take the vial and twist the stopper free, tossing it back onto the table, staring down at the swirling, thick liquid, completely black in the dim light. Stepping back to the window you lean out, slowly tilting the vial until it all pours out, too thick to get caught in the wind, falling heavy to the ground far below.
You step back into your room, just staring at the empty glass before setting it back on the table and then closing the shutters again, staggering over to your bed.<<set $draught to false>>
<<include "You let out a dark laugh">>You let out a dark laugh, flopping backwards onto the mattress, throwing your arms out beside you. You stare up at the ceiling, your eyes immediately growing heavy with you laying down like this, and you hope this time your sleep is dreamless.
You close your eyes, seeing the flash of blood iron - your hunter's knife, the collar in the moonlight, the sea water-soaked chain in the woods, and that black liquid of the hunter's draught, and you sink into your mattress, heavy hands pulling you down into sleep.
<<if $blackwater eq true>><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">[[Next Chapter ->CHAPTER TWO]]</span><<else>><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">[[End of Demo ->DEMO]]</span><</if>>LEA
1 = partners, 2 = want to talk w bread, 3 = even w bread, 4 = ignore it no bread, 6 = fuck lea, 7 = not partners in parlor
relationship w lea at end of ch1 vvv
1 = partners, 7 = rude reassignment, 8 = we'll see, 9 = fuck lea x2 (locked out of romance), 10 = reassignment w/o fight, 11 = want to talk
CLEM
1 = made deal, 2 = no deal, 5 = fight & mc did not accept apology, 6 = fight & no apology, 7 = fight & apologized, 8 = need to talk to lea
MERRY
1 = reciprocating, 2 = reluctant, 3 = initiated on lift, 4 = poem platonic, 5 = poem romantic
0 = no bw/nonromantic
NOEL
1 = reciprocating, 2 = reluctant, 3 = fight no apology, 4 = guilty reluctant, 5 = forgiven flirt, 6 = forgiven friendly
0 = no bw/nonromantic<<if $faceScratch>>Your hand wanders up to your face, and you run your fingers across the gashes there, warm and wet, the blood and dirt crusted over.
<<if $flipped_table>>Standing, you walk over to where the bowl of water lay spilled on the floor, the rags scattered around it. You pick one up, still damp, and return again to your chair. You don't have a mirror, so you do your best to wipe the grime away on your own, wincing as the cloth pulls on the wound.<<else>>The bowl of water and bloody rags still lay on the table, and you reach for the last clean cloth, dipping it in the water and ringing it out so it's nice and damp. You don't have a mirror, so you do your best to wipe the grime away on your own, wincing as the cloth pulls on the wound.<</if>>
Now it's //really// going to be a nasty scar. Your face twitches, and you can see fresh blood seeping through the cloth. Tossing the rag back down, you slump hard in your chair, letting out a growl of frustration, Noel's harsh words still echoing in your mind. //What the hell is going on...//<<else>>You just sit like that for a moment, one arm laid across the table, rubbing your face while your fingers strum against the wood. Clenching your hand into a fist, you let out a growl of frustration, Noel's harsh words still echoing in your mind. //What the hell is going on...//<</if>>
Gaels, rogue hunters, a weird little bard. This is a bit much, even for you. And then Lea? What the hell was that about? You can feel a headache sprouting just behind your eyes. Standing abruptly, you begin to pace back and forth in front of the hearth. Sleep is probably a good idea. Though you feel reluctant to sleep, not without knowing what the hell kind of mess you're stepping in by coming here.
Glancing at the bed, you pause in your pacing. But before you can make a decision, your door flies open again.<<set $sanity -=5>>
Merry stands there, her hands on her hips. "Let's talk, hunter," she says with a grin.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Let\'s make this quick."' 'lets make this quick'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You better explain what the hell is going on here."' 'you better explain what the hell is going on here'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Don\'t try me, Harlowe. Get out."' 'dont try me harlowe'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'I just nod, sighing loudly.' 'i just nod sighing loudly'>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Yes. Let\'s //talk//."' 'yes lets talk'>><</link>></div>"Let's make this quick," you snap. You want to get this over with. There's no avoiding it, at this point – considering there was an armed guard outside your room this morning, Merry doesn't seem the type to just let you walk out.
Merry just steps back out into the hallway, and you follow her out onto a large mezzanine. It's your first look at the tavern since early this morning, when you stumbled through, bleeding all over the floor.
<<include "on the mezzanine alone">>"You better explain what the hell is going on here," you snap, jabbing a finger at Merry.
Merry just keeps smiling. "I would have done it earlier, if your pathetic handler had any self control. It's alright, though. Like I said. Low expectations."
You step towards Merry with a snarl, but she just laughs, turning and flipping her hair over her shoulders as she walks back into the hallway.
"Well? Come on. I'll explain everything," she says lightly, glancing back at you.
With a huff you follow her through the door and out onto a large mezzanine. It's your first look at the tavern since early this morning, when you stumbled through, bleeding all over the floor.
<<include "on the mezzanine alone">>"Don't try me, Harlowe. Get out," you hiss, taking a step towards her.
Merry's lips twitch, and her smile grows wider. "What? Are you going to force me out? You going to fight me right here in this tavern? How about I run out and flag down a few town guards, maybe even some of Lord Duncan's soldiers?" Merry's smile curls into a snarl. "Use your fucking head, hunter."
You clench your jaw, crossing your arms and glaring at her. Neither one of you back down.
"Well?" Merry prompts.
You hate to admit it, but Merry's right. Having a fight right here, right now, mid-morning, is not a good idea. Especially when you haven't got a clue what the situation is in Blackwater. If soldiers really are here... you don't want to test your luck. Not with your bad streak, at the moment.
"Fine," you all but spit the word, throwing a hand up and gesturing for Merry to lead the way. She doesn't smile again, instead just giving you a cold look before turning and walking back out into the hall.
You follow her through the door and out onto a large mezzanine. It's your first look at the tavern since early this morning, when you stumbled through, bleeding all over the floor.
<<include "on the mezzanine alone">>Sighing loudly, you give Merry a single nod. You figure this is the only person who can give you the information you need, at least at this moment. And honestly, Merry doesn't seem like the type of person that will just let you and Lea walk out without having said her piece. She literally put an armed guard at your door when you first got here.
"Follow me," Merry says lightly, turning back into the hallway and tossing her hair over her shoulder. You follow her through the door, and out onto a large mezzanine. It's your first look at the tavern since early this morning, when you stumbled through bleeding all over the floor.
<<include "on the mezzanine alone">>"Yes. Let's //talk//," you say with a smirk. You're tired of all this waiting around. Whatever Merry has to say, you want her to just fucking say it.
Merry just laughs, giving you a wicked look. "Follow me," she says, throwing her hair over her shoulder as she turns back and steps into the hallway.
You follow her through the door and out onto a large mezzanine. It's your first look at the tavern since early this morning, when you stumbled through, bleeding all over the floor.
<<include "on the mezzanine alone">>Heading down a flight of stairs and across a parlor, you dodge around a few shambling drunks, all lost at the bottom of a bottle. The energy is infectious all around you. The air is thick with smoke, loud voices laughing and shouting, the smell of alcohol and tobacco, someone playing a lute and singing terribly off-key. The time of day seems to have no effect on this place, a drunken sanctuary. It all overwhelms you as you make your way to a large set of double doors.
The doors are wood, but painted an ostentatious gold, though you can see the paint chipping and peeling considerably. There's someone standing off to the side, eyeing you warily, but nodding nonetheless. Allowing you to pass.
Merry pushes the doors open and you pass into a large, open room, with towering windows against the back wall, open to the port and the sea beyond, the blue sky yawning overhead. You can smell the salt of the sea and the foul smell of fish. There is an ornate desk in the middle of the room, which Merry heads straight for, moving around to stand behind the chair.
Merry shrugs off her jacket, tossing it across the desk in front of her. With the jacket gone, you can see along her neck and chest the dark black ink of a tattoo. You can't quite make out the piece on her chest, her shirt still covering most of it, but without the high collar of her jacket, and her hair pushed back behind her shoulder, you can clearly see the script on her neck. A name. //Ronan//.
The door suddenly opens again behind you, and Noel and Lea walk through, with the woman standing guard following behind them and quietly closing the doors.
[[Continue ->time to talk]]You sit like that for a moment, one arm laid across the table, your fingers strumming the wood. Clenching your hand into a fist, you let out a growl of frustration, Noel's harsh words still echoing in your head. //What the hell is going on...//
Gaels, rogue hunters, a weird little bard. This is a bit much, even for you. And then Lea? What the hell was that about? You can feel a headache sprouting just behind your eyes. Standing abruptly, you begin to pace back and forth in front of the hearth. You don't want to try and sleep again. You can still taste the salt water in your mouth, feel the burn of it in your nose. Shaking your head, you start pacing again, pressing the heels of your palms against your eyes.
Suddenly your door flies open, and you startle, dropping your hands and tensing.
Merry stands there, her hands on her hips. "Let's talk, hunter," she says with a grin.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Let\'s make this quick."' 'lets make this quick'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You better explain what the hell is going on here."' 'you better explain what the hell is going on here'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Don\'t try me, Harlowe. Get out."' 'dont try me harlowe'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $m_friendship -=3>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link 'I just nod, sighing loudly.' 'i just nod sighing loudly'>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id ="choice"><<link '"Yes. Let\'s //talk//."' 'yes lets talk'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You don't use any pronouns, and prefer for people to address you only by your name.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Yes, that's correct. ->scars]]>><<set $nopr to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Wait, that's not right. ->pronouns]]>><</link>></div>Along with the bracers and sword, some alchemists also choose to tattoo runes and sigils on their hands and forearms.
Do you have these alchemical tattoos?
<div id="choice"><<link 'Yes.' 'mug'>><<set $alchtats to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'No. The sword and bracers are enough.' 'mug'>><<set $alchtats to false>><</link>></div><span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;">Magic</span>
Magic is a powerful life force that connects humans to nature and the wider world through a vast network of ley lines, and typically manifests through one of the four elements - fire, water, earth, and air. The elements allows for manifestation, though it is not the only magic that can occur - with practice, the power of the elements can be channeled into far more delicate and specific magic, such as enchantments.
Enchantments are typically used to power certain objects - armor and weapons the most popular, but also mundane objects, like a quill, or even prosthetics. Using a core, such as a strong, precious stone, or a focus like an amulet, a mage can concentrate their magic within the chosen object and use it as a power source. The type of magic the mage uses can effect the power source - such as using fire to enchant a blade, it will thus be susceptible to fire magic and allow for even non-mages to use a flaming blade in combat. For more mundane things, enchanting a quill with fire magic may cause it to spark occasionally, but otherwise the magic is not necessarily being channeled, rather only used as raw energy, and thus the quill will not catch fire and burn your fingertips.
A core is not always necessary - some mages will choose to channel it directly through runes instead, which is more dangerous and runs the risk of injuring the mage should the enchantment suddenly drain //them//, rather than a concentrated power core.
Enchantments are quite difficult, and only performed by trained mages - but magic is present in all living beings, and it is possible for non-mages to use magic, with the most common magic typically manifesting as hot sparks or full on lightning. With proper training mages can focus on certain elements and refine their craft, specializing in one of the four - and occasionally taking on more than one, though this is no easy feat.
There is also healing magic, which is one of the most dangerous magics there is - a combination of water magic, blood magic, and scientific knowledge of anatomy, it requires a tremendous amount of energy and takes its toll on the mage over time. You will usually find that most mages work alongside surgeons, or are even surgeons themselves, which allows for a balance between practical science and magic that isn't quite as damaging on the magic user.
Speaking of blood magic, this is technically the "fifth element" - though it is forbidden, and very taboo, except for very specific circumstances, such as healing magic. Blood magic is a very old magic, and while drawing from the living world just like any other magic, it also draws from the Vel. This is what makes it especially dangerous - as well as the fact that blood is taken directly from the mage, rather than drawing from some natural outside source. There are very few people that are properly trained to handle the Vel in such a way - only the chosen hunters of the Order of the Hunt - and it is very likely anyone tampering with the Vel will meet a grisly end, either by possession, corruption, or execution.
Overall, magic is universal, though each mage brings their own unique twist to the table, and there are endless possibilities if you are creative enough with the elements. There are healers, there are engineers, agriculturists, and various other ways in which magic can be exploited. There is even the rare battlemage, a soldier who has trained for years to exploit the elements in violent and creative ways.
Magic has always served the people, all around the world, and it is revered and respected as a vital part of human culture, changing and developing over the centuries alongside it.
[[Return|Codex]]Double-click this passage to edit it.You sigh, sinking back in your chair, dropping your hands down to your side. And then you turn your head, and find yourself staring at the golden double doors across the parlor. Immediately your mind drifts to the captain, and you sit up a bit straighter then, still staring at the doors.
<<if $m_relationship eq 1>>Well... she //did// invite you...
You pull at your sleeves, staring down at your hands, swallowing hard.
But.
//But what about Lea?//
$l_Their dark eyes flash in your mind, and guilt twists in your chest as you imagine $l_them watching you from the mezzanine.
You glance back up the stairs - but there's no one there, of course. Lea is probably asleep.
A sudden bitterness burns in the back of your mouth, and you scowl, your hands curling into fists atop the table. //What about Lea?// What does it even matter? $l_They ran<<s>> out on you. You and Lea... you're not even sure if you can really be partners, let alone... anything else. Anything more.
You don't want to think about Lea right now. You turn back to the golden double doors.
<<include "good rel merry choices">><<elseif $m_relationship eq 2>>You shouldn't be thinking about her like this. You feel that heavy knot in your chest again, and you wish you could just cut it out - how much easier it would be to slice through it with a knife, than attempt to untangle it at all.
But...
//But what about Lea?//
$l_Their dark eyes flash in your mind, and the knot grows heavier, twisting with guilt as you imagine $l_them watching you from the mezzanine.
You glance back up the stairs - but there's no one there, of course. Lea is probably asleep.
A sudden bitterness burns in the back of your mouth, and you scowl, your hands curling into fists atop the table. //What about Lea?// What does it even matter? $l_They ran<<s>> out on you. You and Lea... you're not even sure if you can really be partners, let alone... anything else. Anything more.
You don't want to think about Lea right now. You'd rather think about Merry.
You turn back to the golden double doors.
<<include "good rel merry choices">><<elseif $m_relationship eq 5>>Would she even open the door for you, if you knocked? She went out of her way earlier, to make that comment to Lea in front of you, to hurt you, you're sure. You let out a long sigh, dropping your gaze and staring down at your lap.
You suppose it's only fair. You hurt her first.
But...
Her talking to Lea like that - it really bothered you. Unexpectedly so. It needles under your skin, makes you glare at those fucking doors.
Your thoughts go from the long red hair of the captain, her little gap-toothed smile, to Lea, with their dark hair in $l_their usual severe bun, $l_their usual scowl, and $l_their dark eyes watching you.
You imagine $l_them looking down at you from the mezzanine, and you twist in your chair, glancing up the stairs - but there's no one there, of course. Lea is probably asleep.
There's a sudden bitterness seeping into your thoughts, and you shake your head. You and Lea... you're not even sure if you can really be partners, let alone... anything else. Anything more.
It doesn't matter. This has nothing to do with $l_them. You turn back to the golden double doors.
<div id ="choice"><<link [[I need to talk to her - I want to try. ->I want to try and talk to her.]]>><<set $bw_visitmerry to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice">[[Actually.. It's best to just leave it be. It was always a mistake, from the beginning. It's better this way. ->It's best to just leave it... It was always a mistake, from the beginning. It's better this way.]]</div><<else>>Well... she //did// invite you...
You pull at your sleeves, staring down at your hands, swallowing hard.
But.
//But what about Lea?//
$l_Their dark eyes flash in your mind, and guilt twists in your chest as you imagine $l_them watching you from the mezzanine.
You glance back up the stairs - but there's no one there, of course. Lea is probably asleep.
A sudden bitterness burns in the back of your mouth, and you scowl, your hands curling into fists atop the table. //What about Lea?// What does it even matter? $l_They ran<<s>> out on you. You and Lea... you're not even sure if you can really be partners, let alone... anything else. Anything more.
You don't want to think about Lea right now. You turn back to the golden double doors.
<<include "good rel merry choices">><</if>><center>
<span style="font-family:'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:200%;">CHAPTER ONE
//[[THE TOLL ->prlg dream 1]]//</span>
</center>The Northern Passage is a horror story. It includes the discussion and exploration of heavy topics, as well as graphic violence and gore.
Would you like to turn on content warnings? This will give you a specific content warning at the start of each chapter. All content warnings can be found at any time on the game page.
-- <<link [[Yes, turn on the content warnings. ->ch1 content warnings]]>><<set $cw to true>><</link>>
-- [[No, just take me to the game. ->prologue]]<center><b>CHAPTER ONE CONTENT WARNING</b></center>
This chapter includes:
Blood
Violence
Vomit
Gore
Drowning
[[Begin the game ->prologue]]<<if $chest is "none">>You've had no top surgery of any kind, but do you take potions to alter your physical appearance?<<elseif $chest is "bra">>You've had no top surgery of any kind, but do you take potions to alter your physical appearance?<<elseif $chest is "binder">>You bind your chest, do you also take any potions to alter your physical appearance?<<elseif $chest is "top surgery">>You've had top surgery, do you also take any potions to alter your physical appearance?<<else>>You've had top surgery, do you also take any potions to alter your physical appearance?<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link 'Yes. //[This indicates that the hunter takes hormones.]//'
'eyes'>><<set $hormones to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[No. ->eyes]]>><<set $hormones to false>><</link>></div>There are a few travelers lined up on the other side of the gate, exchanging papers and conversing quietly with one of the many soldiers manning the toll. They turn towards you and Lea as you approach, hands on their swords, words muttered between them that you can't hear. All of them wear cloth masks. The first few travelers pass through without incident, the gate rumbling loudly as it opens, and your trio gives them a wide berth as they ride by, their horses huffing loudly and appearing strained and sweaty, even in the cold. They pay you no mind.
You have a bad feeling, twisting slightly in your saddle to watch them disappear around the bend. When you turn back, the gate is closed again, and you catch Clementine's arms tightening around Lea, their green eyes blinking fearfully in your direction.
"We just want to go home," you hear as you draw closer. "Our papers are good! We have the money!"
"These papers are outdated," a soldier responds, their voice bored. "You need new papers. Ones that include your plague status."
"What!" splutters the old man on the other side of the gate. "Look at me, do I look sick?"
"It doesn't matter. You need new papers," the soldier repeats.
A few yards behind the old man, you spot a young girl and a donkey. She clutches the reins in one hand, her other hand holding the strap of an oversized rucksack slung over her shoulder. She peers through the wooden slats of the gate, staring with wide eyes at you and Lea.
"Papers," a soldier drones, drawing your attention. Lea already has them in $l_their hand, the seal of the Order stamped at the top. The soldier takes it without looking, glancing over the faded parchment before their eyes snap back up to Lea, then straight to you.
"A hunter," the soldier says, loud enough for their companions to hear.
You tense in your saddle as heads swivel in your direction.
"Handler Chen," the soldier says then, reading from the paper. They eye the seal for a moment, before returning it to Lea. "Where are you headed?" the soldier asks. The northern accent assuages your anxiety somewhat, but you remain tense, barely resisting the urge to retreat back into your hood.
"Just restocking in Blackwater," Lea says smoothly. The soldier nods, their stare unapologetic. They look you up and down, then turn back to Lea with a furrowed brow. They open their mouth to say more, but a wail from the old man cuts them off.
"Please! We just want to go home!" he cries, grabbing at the other soldier's thick surcoat. The soldier quickly shoves him off with a scoff, sending him sprawling to the ground. The little girl hurries over, silently dropping to her knees beside him, reaching for his hand. You frown, quickly looking away.
"You're clear, Handler Chen," the soldier says, ushering you and Lea through. The gates rattle open, the wheels turning slowly, caught in the ice and mud. You guide $horse_name through, letting Lea ride ahead with Clementine, who goes completely unnoticed by the soldiers. They're too busy watching you.
You stare over at the little girl, as she helps the old man back to his feet. She tilts her head at you, turning slowly as you pass by.
[[She reminds you of someone.]]Through the gate, you pass the small, hastily built compound, with what you assume to be barracks and a longhall that extends into the woods beyond the toll's watchtower. In the courtyard, there's a small group of soldiers that seem to have been in the middle of sparring-- they've stopped now, and one of them waves in your direction, the group moving to intercept you and Lea.
"This is isn't a toll, this is a damn outpost," Lea mutters, giving you a wary look.
"A hunter, eh?" someone calls then, and Lea pulls on Gambit's reins, slowing the horse and keeping $l_themself placed between you and the approaching group of soldiers.
"You should join us for a round or two," another one says. There's a hint of mockery in their words, the kind that always comes from those who have power and the intention to abuse it.
"Ah, not today, sers," Lea speaks before you can say anything you'll regret. $l_They give<<s>> the group a charming little smile-- fake, of course. But the soldiers don't pick up on the edge in Lea's voice like you do. They aren't familiar with this particular show of teeth. "Perhaps another time."
Another wail from the old man at the gate has the soldiers scowling, and Lea urges you forward with a sharp nod while their attention is elsewhere. You glance back as you spur $horse_name out of the courtyard, catching a final glimpse of the little girl, standing alone with her donkey, dwarfed by the gate and its soldiers.
[[Continue ->prlg the gate]]You ride hard for some time, putting space between yourself and the toll, until you're sure you're clear of its reach.
"Fucking soldiers," Lea says eventually, slowing Gambit to a walk. You do the same with $horse_name.
That wasn't the first toll you've been through since you've left the Black Iron, but it was definitely the most unpleasant. There are a lot more of them now, erected just recently, before the roads reopened. "Bastards," you mutter, glancing back over your shoulder, sending the curse in the soldiers' direction.
"You alright back there?" Lea says then, turning in $l_their saddle to peer back at Clementine. They nod, their face a little pale, but they seem giddy, laughing suddenly and squeezing Lea's waist hard enough to make $l_them wince.
"They didn't even see me," they say with another breathless laugh.
Lea frees $l_themself from Clementine's grasp, sliding off of Gambit and helping Clementine down after. $l_They retrieve<<s>> their jacket from your saddlebag, and the two swap again, Clementine excitedly pulling their jacket back on and hugging themself as Lea does the same. You notice the gold coins still in your hand then-- the soldiers didn't take any payment. You glance over at Clementine, before quickly tucking the coins into your pocket. They don't notice.
"So... did you mean that, back there? Are we really going to Blackwater?" Clementine asks.
Lea doesn't answer, and you frown.
"We'll see," $l_they <<say>> eventually, giving you a look as $l_they climb<<s>> back atop Gambit. "We're headed in that direction. Don't see why you can't at least ride with us, for now."
Your frown deepens.
[[Continue ->ontheroad]]Snow begins to fall as the three of you continue on.
Clementine glances back at you occasionally, and you can sense that they're working up the courage to ask you something. You wait, not out of patience, but out of the hope that they'll think better of it.
They do not.
"What's Gael like?" they ask abruptly, after a steady hour of silent travel.
"Why are you asking me?"
"You're Gaelish," they say with bold certainty.
You roll your eyes, not bothering to respond to that. Your accent isn't particularly strong, but it still comes through on certain words and phrases, and easy for a trained ear to pick up on. Clementine's southern accent is far stronger than yours, and so is Lea's northern one, for that matter.
"What's it like?" Clementine asks again.
"I don't know," you snap, annoyed. Not a lie, since you barely remember it. You left Gael as a child, recruited to a higher calling, as they say. The accent really is the only Gaelish thing about you.
As a hunter, you have no affiliation, no home. You can only wonder what happened to those you left back in Gael, and if the money you sent ever helped. //The damn money//. That was why you did it-- you don't remember much, but you remember that. You were young, and a lot of your memories from before the Black Iron are just a colorless haze. All you have left of your family, really, is your name.
[[And I had a sister.]]You shift uncomfortably in your saddle.
She was younger than you. You see her in your dreams, sometimes. Or rather, you feel her. Just... the presence of her. You wish you could remember //her// name.
Almost all your life you lived at the Black Iron. In exchange for your service as a hunter you were provided shelter, a bed, meals three times a day, and money would be sent monthly to your family in Gael-- as long as you were still breathing.
<div id="choice"><<link "I may not remember much, but I remember that day. Being pulled away from her, from my family. I didn't want to leave." "badfamily1">><<set $family to "bad">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "It was complicated. I know that much. It was either this, or a short, hard life in Gael. At least this way, we had a chance." "complicatedfam1">><<set $family to "complicated">><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link "I wanted to go. It was my choice. I wanted to provide for them, even if it wasn't my job as a child to do so." "goodfamily1">><<set $family to "good">>
<</link>></div>You stand slowly then, stretching your arms over your head before retreating to the horses. <<if $mc_axeman>>You pull your axe from your saddle, needing something mindless to occupy yourself with-- you grab a whetstone and return to the fire, sitting slightly away from the others, decompressing quietly in the shadows.<<elseif $mc_archer>>You pull your quiver from your saddle, needing something mindless to occupy yourself with. You find a new spot, slightly away from the others, decompressing quietly in the shadows.<<else>>You pull your sword from your saddle, needing something mindless to occupy yourself with-- you grab a whetstone and return to the fire, sitting slightly away from the others, decompressing quietly in the shadows.<</if>>
Lea gets up after a moment as well, meandering around the camp and collecting more firewood. <<if $mc_axeman>>You aren't sure how much time passes as you work your axe,<<elseif $mc_archer>>You aren't sure how much time passes as you count your arrows, checking the fletching, eyeing the arrowheads,<<else>>You aren't sure how much time passes as you work your blade,<</if>> but eventually you stop, glancing up as Lea refuels the fire, throwing logs down and sending up a bright burst of sparks, the wave of heat reaching even where you sit back in the dark.
Clementine is staring at you from across the fire, though they quickly look away when you catch them, jumping back on the oilskin and peering off into the trees.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Say something. ->askthem]]>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Stare back at them. ->stareback]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Let it go. ->letitgo]]>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>"Get the fuck out of my face, Lea," you warn, your hands clenching into fists at your side.
Lea holds your glare for a few more seconds, before abruptly turning away. $l_They return<<s>> to the fire, staring down at the flames with $l_their back to you. Then $l_they sit<<s>> in $l_their chair, exhaling loudly through $l_their nose.
"I'll take first watch," $l_they <<say>> coolly.
You have nothing to say to that. You grab your bedroll from your rucksack without a word, and retreat to the tent, leaving Lea alone by the fire.
[[Continue ->tent after fight 1]]"Get the fuck out of my face, Lea," you warn, your hands clenching into fists at your side. $l_They<<re>> //way// too fucking close-- close enough that your anger twists into something hotter, something far more difficult for you to understand.
Lea's face twitches, and you want to shove $l_them again, get $l_them //the fuck// away from you--
$l_They turn<<s>> abruptly, retreating to the fire, staring down at the flames with $l_their back to you. You watch $l_their shoulders rise and fall as $l_they take<<s>> a few deep breaths, running a hand over $l_their hair and shaking $l_their head. Then $l_they sit<<s>> in $l_their chair, exhaling loudly through $l_their nose.
"I'll take first watch," $l_they <<say>> coolly.
You have nothing to say to that. You resist the urge to run, wanting to put as much space between you and Lea as possible, snatching your bedroll from your rucksack and hurrying past the fire towards the tent. But-- you hesitate, glancing back over your shoulder, catching one last glimpse of $l_them, your eyes meeting briefly before $l_they turn<<s>> away and you duck out of sight.
[[Continue ->tent after fight flirt 1]]You clench your jaw until your teeth ache, and then you turn away from $l_them, walking towards the edge of the clearing with your hands on your hips. You take a few deep breaths, closing your eyes, feeling the cool air on your face and the heat of the fire on your back.
"Fuck," you sigh quietly, bowing your head and staring down at your feet.
When you turn back around, Lea has returned to $l_their seat in front of the fire, glaring into the flames.
"I'll take first watch," $l_they <<say>> coolly.
You let out a long breath, and all the remaining fight leaves you along with it. You have nothing else to say, so you grab your bedroll from your rucksack without a word, and head for the tent, leaving Lea alone by the fire.
[[Continue ->tent after fight 1]]You pull back the flap with more force than necessary, the tent shuddering as you shoulder your way inside. The bard startles, and you nearly do the same-- you forgot the little bastard was in here. You ignore them with an irritated huff, throwing your bedroll down and dropping on top of it with your back to them.
This tent isn't meant for anything more than staying dry and sleeping, which means it's quite narrow, just enough room for two people to lay side by side-- but it is longer and slightly taller than most like it, modified for Lea's long legs. It's easier to pack out and lighter for the horses to carry on such a long journey, but... Gods, what you wouldn't give for a full camp kit. What you wouldn't give to be //alone// right now, away from Lea, and away from this bard.
You can feel them staring at you. You quickly roll over, whipping around to glare at them.
"I'm sorry," they blurt, before you can even say anything.
<<include "after fight clem choices">><div id="choice"><<link '"Just go to sleep, Clementine."' 'prlg just go to sleep clem'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"//Stop// staring at me."' 'stop staring at me 1'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>You pull back the flap with more force than necessary, the tent shuddering as you shoulder your way inside. You and the bard both startle at your sudden entry-- you forgot they were even in here. Already flustered, you fumble with your bedroll, throwing it down quickly and laying with your back to Clementine. You close your eyes, but the image of Lea in front of the fire lingers in the dark, $l_their lips so close to your own-- //Fuck//. You squirm on your bedroll, letting out an irritated huff, too hot to hide under the covers like you long to do.
This tent isn't meant for anything more than staying dry and sleeping, which means it's quite narrow, just enough room for two people to lay side by side-- but it is longer and slightly taller than most like it, modified for Lea's long legs. It's easier to pack out and lighter for the horses to carry on such a long journey, but... Gods, what you wouldn't give for a full camp kit. What you wouldn't give to be //alone// right now, away from Lea, and away from this bard.
The bard-- you can feel them staring at you. You seize the opportunity to throw your emotions at someone else, and you quickly roll over, whipping around to glare at them.
"I'm sorry," they blurt, before you can even say anything.
<<include "after fight clem choices">>You scowl, dropping your hand and shaking your head. You walk over to your rucksack then, gathering up your bedroll and turning towards the tent.
"Wake me up when it's my turn for watch," you say curtly.
Lea doesn't respond, stone-faced atop $l_their chair. You leave $l_them to it.
[[Continue ->tent after fight 1]]<<notify 3s>>Lea will remember this.<</notify>>"...Sorry," you say slowly, breaking the silence and wincing at the unfamiliar word in your mouth. "I shouldn't have said that about your parents."
Lea gives you a withering look, $l_their face harsh in the firelight. "I'll take first watch, $surname," $l_they <<say>>, ignoring you. "Just get some sleep," $l_they add<<s>> with a sigh.
You nod, gathering up your bedroll and turning towards the tent. You hesitate for a moment, but ultimately slip inside without another word.
[[Continue ->tent after fight 2]]"Look, Lea..." you start, slowly crossing back over to the fire.
"I'll take first watch," $l_they <<say>> coolly, ignoring you.
"Lea," you try again, and $l_their dark gaze snaps over to you, the firelight harsh on $l_their face.
"What?" $l_their lip curls as $l_they <<say>> it, tensing in $l_their chair-- priming for another round.
You just shake your head, cursing yourself as the words catch in your throat, a sudden tightness in your chest as $l_their stare pins you in place. Lea's eyes harden at your silence, $l_their hands clenching in $l_their lap, and then $l_they turn<<s>> away, crossing $l_their arms and leaning back with a scoff.
"I'll take first watch," $l_they repeat<<s>>.
You just nod this time, barely resisting the sudden urge to run, needing to put as much space between you and Lea as possible, snatching your bedroll from your rucksack and hurrying past the fire towards the tent. But-- you hesitate, glancing back over your shoulder, catching one last glimpse of $l_them, your eyes meeting again for just a moment before you quickly duck out of sight.
[[Continue ->tent after fight flirt 2]]You pull back the flap with more force than necessary, the tent shuddering as you shoulder your way inside. You and the bard both startle at your sudden entry-- you forgot they were even in here. Already flustered, you fumble with your bedroll, throwing it down quickly and laying with your back to Clementine. You close your eyes, but the image of Lea in front of the fire lingers in the dark, and your face gets hot again, frustrated at your inability to find the right words to say when it matters. //But I can insult $l_their parents just fine.// Fuck. You squirm on your bedroll, letting out an irritated huff, too hot to hide under the covers like you long to do.
This tent isn't meant for anything more than staying dry and sleeping, which means it's quite narrow, just enough room for two people to lay side by side-- but it is longer and slightly taller than most like it, modified for Lea's long legs. It's easier to pack out and lighter for the horses to carry on such a long journey, but... Gods, what you wouldn't give for a full camp kit. What you wouldn't give to be //alone// right now, away from Lea, and away from this bard.
The bard-- you can feel them staring at you. You seize the opportunity to throw your irritation at someone else, and you quickly roll over, whipping around to glare at them.
"I'm sorry," they blurt, before you can even say anything.
<<include "after fight clem choices">>You pull back the flap with more force than necessary, the tent shuddering as you shoulder your way inside. The bard startles, and you nearly do the same-- you forgot they were even in here. But you just ignore them, throwing your bedroll down and dropping on top of it with a heavy sigh.
This tent isn't meant for anything more than staying dry and sleeping, which means it's quite narrow, just enough room for two people to lay side by side-- but it is longer and slightly taller than most like it, modified for Lea's long legs. It's easier to pack out and lighter for the horses to carry on such a long journey, but... Gods, what you wouldn't give for a full camp kit. What you wouldn't give to be //alone// right now, away from Lea, and away from this bard.
//Why did I say that about $l_their parents?// Fuck. You squirm atop your bedroll, embarrassed in hindsight that you would stoop so low.
You hear the soft sound of the bard's bells behind you then, as they shift nervously in their corner. You can feel them staring at you. You quickly roll over, giving them a look.
"I'm sorry," they blurt, before you can even say anything.
<<include "after fight clem choices">>"No, Lea. I don't want to go to Blackwater," you say it with some finality. When Lea opens $l_their mouth to argue, you reach into your pocket and pull out the two gold coins from earlier. Lea's brow furrows as you flash the coins in the firelight.
"The toll didn't take any payment," you say, dropping your voice low. "We don't need to take them all the way." You press the coins into Lea's hand, and you start to think $l_they<<re>> going to object-- but eventually $l_they just shake<<s>> $l_their head and slip<<s>> the coins into $l_their purse, clinking softly as they land amongst your collective meager coins.
Lea adjusts the purse where it hangs from $l_their belt, fidgeting atop $l_their chair, glancing towards the tent again. "Alright," $l_they concede<<s>> at last. "We'll leave them in the morning."
You nod. "They'll be alright," you mutter. Trying to convince yourself or Lea, you aren't sure.
Your handler sighs then, sinking back into $l_their chair, staring past the fire, into the woods. It's still snowing, a light fall coming through the pines, though most of it vanishes in the smoke from your fire before it can hit the ground.
[[Continue ->lea concedes]]"Fine. //Gods//. We'll go to Blackwater," you say, rolling your eyes.
"It'll be worth it," Lea insists.
"Yeah," you huff. "We'll see."
Now it's Lea that rolls $l_their eyes, waving $l_their hand dismissively. "You'll be grateful once we're in that mountain pass. We won't have to be as stingy with our rations."
You want to remind Lea, yet again, that there are plenty of other places to restock besides Blackwater-- but you just bite your tongue. "Sure," is all you say instead, sighing as you lean back on the oilskin, clasping your hands over your stomach.
From your spot on the ground, you eye the back of Lea's head, watching as $l_they poke<<s>> at the fire, sending a little burst of sparks fluttering skyward.
[[Continue ->humor them 3]]"What's that one village..." Lea says suddenly, talking mostly to $l_themself.
"South Shaw," you offer, and $l_they snap<<s>> $l_their fingers.
"That's right. We can stop there," $l_they nod<<s>>, as if it was $l_their idea all along. You roll your eyes at $l_them, but agree. It's a small village, and while the land isn't great for agriculture, they raise a variety of livestock in the foothills, and you know you can get decent supplies there before continuing on. The people will probably be grateful for it, if they're having to deal with soldiers like the innkeeper from this morning.
"You think anyone in South Shaw will sell me tobacco?" Lea asks then.
You raise an eyebrow at $l_them.
"Shut up. I'm almost out," $l_they mumble<<s>>.
You can't help but laugh, and Lea gives you a wounded look.
"Shut up," $l_they repeat<<s>>, but $l_they<<re>> laughing now, too.
"I see. So //that's// why you wanted to go to Blackwater so bad," you muse.
"Not the //only// reason," $l_they <<say>> weakly, still laughing.
You lean back on the oilskin, peering up at Lea in $l_their chair. You try to remember the last time the two of you laughed like this-- and your smile fades when you realize you can't recall. Lea doesn't notice, staring into the fire, $l_their shoulders relaxed and $l_their hands resting in $l_their lap.
<div id="choice"><<link [[I really like Lea's laugh. ♡ ->lea's laugh]]>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Don't think too much about it. Just enjoy it while it lasts.]]>><</link>></div>The thought comes sudden and unbidden. //I really like Lea's laugh.//
It catches you by surprise, along with the sudden flutter in your chest-- which you immediately try to suppress. Hunching forward, you wrap your arms around your knees, staring down at your boots to avoid Lea's glance in your direction.
"You look tired," Lea says then. "How about I take first watch?"
"Okay," you blurt, standing abruptly-- and you silently curse yourself, shifting awkwardly on your feet. Lea blinks up at you, $l_their brow furrowing, a sudden, unfamiliar tension snapping taut between the two of you. $l_They quickly turn<<s>> back to the fire, crossing $l_their arms and sinking back into $l_their chair, while you barely resist the urge to run, gathering up your bedroll and turning towards the tent.
"Goodnight," Lea calls, and you hesitate, glancing back over your shoulder, catching one last glimpse of $l_them, your eyes meeting again for just a moment before you quickly duck out of sight.
[[Continue ->tent no fight flirt]]You try not to think about it too much-- //just enjoy it while it lasts.//
But the sudden giddiness of the moment passes quickly, and you quietly watch Lea from your spot slightly behind $l_them. The silence between you doesn't feel comfortable-- instead you feel inexplicably anxious, chewing on your lip and fidgeting with your boot buckles. It's as if you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, for your previous argument to resume-- it's not like Lea to give up so easily.
"How about I take first watch?" Lea asks then, glancing over $l_their shoulder at you.
"Okay," you say slowly, suddenly remembering earlier this morning, when Lea shared $l_their coffee. //A peace offering.// You narrow your eyes at your handler, rising to your feet behind $l_them.
You just shake your head, turning away and fetching your bedroll.
"Goodnight," Lea calls after you, and you pause before the tent, glancing back over your shoulder.
"Night," you mutter, quickly ducking out of sight.
[[Continue ->tent no fight]]When you pull back the flap, you startle again, and so does Clementine-- you'd forgotten the damn bard was even in here. They're sitting in the corner, huddled in their bedroll and blanket, clutching their pandura with their jacket folded up like a pillow behind them.
Already flustered, you ignore them and fumble with your bedroll, throwing it down and quickly dropping on top of it, laying with your back turned to Clementine. You close your eyes, but Lea's smile still lingers in the dark, and your face gets hot again, embarrassed-- //embarrassed?// Fuck. You squirm on your bedroll, letting out an irritated huff, too hot to hide under the covers like you long to do.
This tent isn't meant for anything more than staying dry and sleeping, which means it's quite narrow, just enough room for two people to lay side by side-- but it is longer and slightly taller than most like it, modified for Lea's long legs. It's easier to pack out and lighter for the horses to carry on such a long journey, but... Gods, what you wouldn't give for a full camp kit. What you wouldn't give to be //alone// right now to clear your head, away from Lea, and away from this bard.
The bard-- you can feel them staring at you. You seize the opportunity to throw your emotions at someone else, and you quickly roll over, whipping around to glare at them.
"I'm sorry," they blurt, before you can even say anything.
<<include "no fight clem choices">>When you pull back the flap, you startle again, and so does Clementine-- you'd forgotten the damn bard was even in here. They're sitting in the corner, huddled in their bedroll and blanket, clutching their pandura with their jacket folded up like a pillow behind them.
You do your best just to ignore them, laying out your bedroll before flopping down with a sigh, your back turned to Clementine. You close your eyes, but you still have a nagging feeling in your chest, a sliver of doubt that you can't shake loose, and you find yourself glaring at the tent wall, playing your conversation with Lea over and over in your head, picking it apart-- looking for.... //What?//
You squirm on your bedroll, letting out an irritated huff.
This tent isn't meant for anything more than staying dry and sleeping, which means it's quite narrow, just enough room for two people to lay side by side-- but it is longer and slightly taller than most like it, modified for Lea's long legs. It's easier to pack out and lighter for the horses to carry on such a long journey, but... Gods, what you wouldn't give for a full camp kit. What you wouldn't give to be //alone// right now to clear your head, away from Lea, and away from this bard.
The bard-- you can feel them staring at you. You seize the opportunity to throw your irritation at someone else, and you quickly roll over, whipping around to glare at them.
"I'm sorry," they blurt, before you can even say anything.
<<include "no fight clem choices">>"Thank you," Lea says suddenly.
You raise an eyebrow as $l_they glance<<s>> back over $l_their shoulder at you. "Don't thank me," you muse. "Going to Blackwater-- it's fine. You don't have to thank me." And then you laugh, so caught-off guard by Lea's sincerity. "It's fine."
"Why are you laughing?" $l_they <<say>> indignantly. But $l_they<<re>> smiling now, too. "I was just trying to..." $l_they throw<<s>> $l_their hands up in exasperation. "You're an ass."
You grin up at $l_them, shaking your head. "So are you," you say, and you scramble back, laughing harder as Lea leans forward and tries to kick some snow in your direction. You retaliate by kicking $l_their chair, which collapses under $l_them, sending Lea sprawling to the ground.
$l_They recover<<s>> quickly, grabbing a fistful of snow and lobbing it right at your face. You manage to get partially out of the line of fire, and it falls short, hitting you in the chest instead. Some of it slips beneath your collar, and the cold makes you gasp, writhing on the ground for a moment as you try to get it out from under your shirt. Lea smirks at your discomfort, already reaching for more snow, but you throw some of your own, catching $l_them across the face, clumps of snow clinging to $l_their hair-- and some of it lands in the fire, a loud, angry hiss startling you both.
"//Shit//," Lea laughs, quickly sitting up, shaking out $l_their hair, letting it loose from its bun. You sit up beside $l_them, pulling your feet back away from the hissing flames, your shoulder brushing against Lea's. The two of you look at each other then, slightly dazed, still smiling.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Lea's smile is a rare sight these days. I didn't realize how much I missed it. ♡]]>><<set $l_flirt +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[When was the last time we laughed like this?]]>><</link>></div>A genuine smile from Lea has always been rare, even when you were younger-- or maybe, just rare //for you//. So you try to commit it to memory, studying $l_them closely as $l_they sigh<<s>> and slowly rise to $l_their feet, brushing off the remaining snow and righting $l_their chair before sitting down to rebuild the fire. You compare it to $l_their smile earlier, the one $l_they gave<<s>> to those soldiers at the toll. You've seen that one hundreds of times, but you don't think $l_they<<ve>> ever directed it at you.
"What?" Lea says suddenly, and you startle, quickly turning away as $l_they glance<<s>> back over $l_their shoulder at you. $l_They<<re>> still smiling a little, and you feel your face get a hot, a sudden tightness in your chest.
"Nothing," you say, standing abruptly-- and you silently curse yourself, shifting awkwardly on your feet. Lea blinks up at you, $l_their brow furrowing as $l_their smile fades. $l_They turn<<s>> back to the fire, $l_their elbows on $l_their knees as $l_they lean<<s>> towards the flames.
"How about I take first watch?" $l_they <<say>> then, $l_their voice soft as $l_they glance<<s>> down at $l_their hands in $l_their lap.
"Okay," you say, suddenly desperate to put as much space between yourself and Lea as possible. You snatch up your bedroll from your rucksack and hurry past the fire towards the tent, avoiding Lea's stare. But-- you hesitate, glancing back over your shoulder, catching one last glimpse of $l_them, your eyes meeting again for just a moment before you quickly duck out of sight.
[[Continue ->tent no fight flirt]]"Damn," you sigh, wiping the remaining snow from your jerkin. Lea sighs, too, standing slowly and righting $l_their chair, $l_their focus shifting to rebuilding the fire.
The sudden giddiness of the moment passes, and you quietly watch Lea stack fresh logs and nurse the flames back to life, your eyes watering slightly as the smoke shifts in your direction. The silence between you doesn't feel comfortable-- instead you feel inexplicably anxious, chewing on your lip and fidgeting with your boot buckles.
You try to remember the last time the two of you laughed and joked around like this-- but if such a time existed, you can't recall.
"How about I take first watch?" Lea asks, $l_their voice quiet, still facing the fire.
"Okay," you say. You hesitate then, remembering earlier this morning, when Lea shared $l_their coffee. //A peace offering.// You narrow your eyes at your handler, rising to your feet behind $l_them. You feel foolish-- and then guilty.
You just shake your head, turning away and fetching your bedroll.
"Goodnight," Lea calls after you, and you pause before the tent, glancing back over your shoulder.
"Night," you mutter, quickly ducking out of sight.
[[Continue ->tent no fight]]<div id="choice"><<link '"...Can\'t sleep?"' 'prlg cant sleep?'>><<set $genuine +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Stop staring at me."' 'stop staring at me 2'>><<set $aggressive +=1>><</link>></div>"Alright, fine. Let's go to Blackwater," you say with another sigh.
"It'll be worth it," Lea insists.
"Yeah," you mutter. "We'll see."
"You'll be grateful once we're in that mountain pass. We won't have to be as stingy with our rations," Lea muses, "and maybe we can get a map to avoid any more of those damn tolls."
"Sure," you say, acquiescing as you lean back on the oilskin, clasping your hands over your stomach. From your spot on the ground, you eye the back of Lea's head, watching as $l_they poke<<s>> at the fire, sending a little burst of sparks fluttering skyward.
[[Continue ->humor them 3]]"No, Lea. I don't want to go to Blackwater," you say it with some finality. When Lea opens $l_their mouth to argue, you reach into your pocket and pull out the two gold coins from earlier. Lea's brow furrows as you flash the coins in the firelight.
"The toll didn't take any payment," you say, dropping your voice low. "We don't need to take them all the way." You press the coins into Lea's hand, and you start to think $l_they<<re>> going to object-- but eventually $l_they just shake<<s>> $l_their head and slip<<s>> the coins into $l_their purse, clinking softly as they land amongst your collective meager coins.
"We've managed the tolls and the soldiers fine on our own. There will be fewer in the mountains," you insist. "We can stop somewhere else for supplies."
Lea adjusts the purse where it hangs from $l_their belt, fidgeting atop $l_their chair, glancing towards the tent again. "Alright," $l_they concede<<s>> at last. "We'll leave the bard in the morning, then, and keep heading inland."
You nod. "They'll be alright," you mutter. Trying to convince yourself or Lea, you aren't sure.
Your handler sighs then, sinking back into $l_their chair, staring past the fire, into the woods. It's still snowing, a light fall coming through the pines, though most of it vanishes in the smoke from your fire before it can hit the ground.
[[Continue ->lea concedes]]You feel your anger falter, and you just sigh, flopping down onto your back. You stare up at the sloped tent ceiling, chewing on the inside of your cheek. "Just go to sleep, Clementine," you say.
Clementine picks at their blanket, the bells on their jacket ringing softly as they pull their knees up to their chest.
"I heard you arguing," they mutter after a beat.
"I told you to go to sleep," you say, harsher this time.
Clementine sniffs, the bells ringing louder as they sit up straight. "I can't," they huff. "I'm-I'm not used to this... lifestyle," they stammer.
You sit up then, narrowing your eyes at them.
"I was, once," they say slowly. "When I was younger. I was in a performance troupe, before I ended up in King's Harbor, and we travelled all across the southern coast. We argued just the same as you and Lea, too." They let out a bitter laugh then. "How things change."
You tilt your head at them, studying their face in the dark.
<<include "friendly clem questions">>"//Stop// staring at me," you sneer, making them flinch, which only irritates you further. "Gods, I'm not going to bite you," you add, giving them a withering look.
"Th-that's not..." they stammer, their face flushing visibly, even in the dark. "I don't think you're going to bite me," they finally manage. A beat passes, and then: "I heard you arguing."
You narrow your eyes at them, sitting up fully in the tent. They don't flinch this time, at least.
"Good," you snap. "Then you already know what's going to happen tomorrow morning." You drop back onto your bedroll then, turning away to glare at the tent wall. Clementine sniffs behind you, shifting in their corner, the bells of their jacket ringing softly with the movement.
"I didn't mean to impose," they mutter quietly. You grind your teeth, feeling your shoulders tense at the sound of their voice. "I just haven't traveled like this in a long time. When I was younger-- I was in a performance troupe, and we travelled all across the southern coast together, before I ended up in King's Harbor. We argued just the same as you and Lea, too." They let out a bitter laugh then. "How things change."
You sit up again, propped on your elbows, considering the bard where they sit hunched in their little corner.
"I appreciate that you've let me come this far," they say, nodding at you. "We'll go our separate ways, come morning."
<<include "aggressive clem questions">><div id="choice"><<link '"Where are you from, if not the Harbor?"' 'where are you from'>><</link>></div>
<div id="chocie"><<link '"This troupe— are these the old friends you\'re meeting with?"' 'troupe 2'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Can I ask you something, about the Harbor?"' 'about the harbor'>><</link>></div>"If not King's Harbor, where in the south are you from?" you ask. You would have guessed the Harbor, with their accent, but you're still surprised that they actually came all the way from the capital.
"Well... I'm not sure. I was on my own as a kid. I was actually living in the Lower City of the Harbor, for a long time, playing in the streets, before I joined the troupe." They smile, bitter again. "Yes, how things change."
"Oh," you say, for lack of anything else. They seem rather young-- you wonder how long they've been off the streets, to be so out of sorts with it now.
Clementine sighs, picking at their blanket again. "I was always performing, as long as I can remember. Singing, dancing, whatever they asked of me." They lapse into silence then, staring off at nothing in particular.
You watch them for a moment, before eyeing their pandura where is lays at their side, pressed against the wall of the tent. It only has three strings, unlike the lutes you're more familiar with, which makes it look a little odd to you-- but based on Clementine's performance earlier, it's clearly just as capable of playing more complex songs. In the dark, you can just make out an impressive inlay beneath the strings, just below the soundhole, of curling leaves and blooming flowers, all done in gold and pearl. The instrument itself looks masterfully made, a warm brown wood for the body and a darker wood for the neck, and the headstock is carved in the shape of a rose, with gold and pearl turning pegs on either side.
You wonder how much it cost.
"Do you want to try it?" Clementine asks suddenly. They're watching you, their head tilted to the side, a curious look on their face.
<<include "pandura">>"This troupe-- are these the old friends you're meeting with?" you ask.
"No," Clementine says slowly. "No, I lost touch with that group a long time ago."
"Oh," you say, for lack of anything else.
"I don't think that particular group would be too keen on seeing me, anyways," they muse, giving you a humorless smile.
"Jealous?" you prompt. "I don't know much, but I assume playing in the capital makes you quite accomplished."
"Yes," they say. "I was." The bard falls silent then, staring off at nothing in particular, fidgeting with one of the bells hanging off their jacket.
You watch them for a moment, before eyeing their pandura where is lays at their side, pressed against the wall of the tent. It only has three strings, unlike the lutes you're more familiar with, which makes it look a little odd to you-- but based on Clementine's performance earlier, it's clearly just as capable of playing more complex songs. In the dark, you can just make out an impressive inlay beneath the strings, just below the soundhole, of curling leaves and blooming flowers, all done in gold and pearl. The instrument itself looks masterfully made, a warm brown wood for the body and a darker wood for the neck, and the headstock is carved in the shape of a rose, with gold and pearl turning pegs on either side.
You wonder how much it cost.
"Do you want to try it?" Clementine asks suddenly. They're watching you, their head tilted to the side, a curious look on their face.
<<include "pandura">>"You lived in the capital?" you ask, surprised. Clementine's accent made you suspect, but you didn't think they were actually coming all the way from King's Harbor itself. "Can I ask you something, about the Harbor?" you press.
Clementine hesitates before nodding.
"I've heard there's been a lot of infighting since restrictions have lifted-- around the ports, and the Lower City."
"Oh, I don't know anything about that," Clementine says with a shrug. "I was kept in the higher districts, and there were hardly any restrictions there. I was performing daily, up until I left."
"You don't know anything? Not even a whisper?" you press, raising an eyebrow at them.
"No."
"You really expect me to believe that you're all the way out here just to visit some friends? No other reason for someone like you to flee the capital?"
Clementine narrows their eyes at you. "//Someone like me//?" they huff.
You shake your head with a laugh before dropping back down on your bedroll. "Nevermind," you say. "It's not my business."
The bard is quiet, and you imagine them stewing in the corner. You glance over at them, but their face is hidden behind their curls, their arms folded atop their knees. Their pandura lays beside them, pressed against the wall of the tent, and you take a moment to get a decent look at it. It only has three strings, unlike the lutes you're more familiar with, which makes it look a little odd to you-- but based on Clementine's performance earlier, it's clearly just as capable of playing more complex songs. In the dark, you can just make out an impressive inlay beneath the strings, just below the soundhole, of curling leaves and blooming flowers, all done in gold and pearl. The instrument itself looks masterfully made, a warm brown wood for the body and a darker wood for the neck, and the headstock is carved in the shape of a rose, with gold and pearl turning pegs on either side.
You wonder how much it cost.
"Do you want to try it?" Clementine asks suddenly. They're watching you, their head tilted to the side, a curious look on their face.
<<include "pandura">><div id="choice"><<link '"This troupe— is that who you\'re going to see in Blackwater?"' 'troupe 1'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"You\'re from the capital?"' 'capital'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link '"Can I ask you something, about the Harbor?"' 'ask about the harbor'>><</link>></div>"This troupe-- is that who you're going to see in Blackwater?" you ask, your curiosity overcoming your indignation. Clementine perks up a bit at the question, or maybe they're just relieved you aren't snapping at them anymore.
"No," Clementine says slowly. "No, I lost touch with that group a long time ago."
"Oh," you say, for lack of anything else.
"I don't think that particular group would be too keen on seeing me, anyways," they muse, giving you a humorless smile.
"Jealous?" you prompt. "I don't know much, but I assume playing in the capital makes you quite accomplished."
"Yes," they say. "I was." The bard falls silent then, staring off at nothing in particular, fidgeting with one of the bells hanging off their jacket.
You watch them for a moment, before eyeing their pandura where is lays at their side, pressed against the wall of the tent. It only has three strings, unlike the lutes you're more familiar with, which makes it look a little odd to you-- but based on Clementine's performance earlier, it's clearly just as capable of playing more complex songs. In the dark, you can just make out an impressive inlay beneath the strings, just below the soundhole, of curling leaves and blooming flowers, all done in gold and pearl. The instrument itself looks masterfully made, a warm brown wood for the body and a darker wood for the neck, and the headstock is carved in the shape of a rose, with gold and pearl turning pegs on either side.
You wonder how much it cost.
"Do you want to try it?" Clementine asks suddenly. They're watching you, their head tilted to the side, a curious look on their face.
<<include "pandura">>"You're from the capital?" you ask, your curiosity overcoming your indignation. You would have guessed the Harbor, with their accent, but you're still surprised that they actually came all the way from the capital.
Clementine seems to perk up a bit at the question, or maybe they're just relieved you aren't snapping at them anymore.
"Well... I'm not sure. I was on my own as a kid. I was actually living in the Lower City of the Harbor, for a long time, playing in the streets, before I joined the troupe." They smile, bitter again. "Yes, how things change."
"Oh," you say, for lack of anything else. They seem rather young-- you wonder how long they've been off the streets, to be so out of sorts with it now.
Clementine sighs, picking at their blanket again. "I was always performing, as long as I can remember. Singing, dancing, whatever they asked of me." They lapse into silence then, staring off at nothing in particular.
You watch them for a moment, before eyeing their pandura where is lays at their side, pressed against the wall of the tent. It only has three strings, unlike the lutes you're more familiar with, which makes it look a little odd to you-- but based on Clementine's performance earlier, it's clearly just as capable of playing more complex songs. In the dark, you can just make out an impressive inlay beneath the strings, just below the soundhole, of curling leaves and blooming flowers, all done in gold and pearl. The instrument itself looks masterfully made, a warm brown wood for the body and a darker wood for the neck, and the headstock is carved in the shape of a rose, with gold and pearl turning pegs on either side.
You wonder how much it cost.
"Do you want to try it?" Clementine asks suddenly. They're watching you, their head tilted to the side, a curious look on their face.
<<include "pandura">>"You lived in the capital?" you ask, your curiosity overcoming your indignation. Clementine's accent made you suspect, but you didn't think they were actually coming all the way from King's Harbor itself. "Can I ask you something, about the Harbor?" you press.
Clementine seems to perk up a bit at the question, or maybe they're just relieved you aren't snapping at them anymore. Still, they hesitate briefly before nodding.
"I've heard there's been a lot of infighting since restrictions have lifted-- around the ports, and the Lower City."
"Oh, I don't know anything about that," Clementine says with a shrug. "I was kept in the higher districts, and there were hardly any restrictions there. I was performing daily, up until I left."
"You don't know anything? Not even a whisper?" you press, raising an eyebrow at them.
"No."
"You really expect me to believe that you're all the way out here just to visit some friends? No other reason for someone like you to flee the capital?"
Clementine narrows their eyes at you. "//Someone like me//?" they huff.
You shake your head with a laugh before dropping back down on your bedroll. "Nevermind," you say. "It's not my business."
The bard is quiet, and you imagine them stewing in the corner. You glance over at them, but their face is hidden behind their curls, their arms folded atop their knees. Their pandura lays beside them, pressed against the wall of the tent, and you take a moment to get a decent look at it. It only has three strings, unlike the lutes you're more familiar with, which makes it look a little odd to you-- but based on Clementine's performance earlier, it's clearly just as capable of playing more complex songs. In the dark, you can just make out an impressive inlay beneath the strings, just below the soundhole, of curling leaves and blooming flowers, all done in gold and pearl. The instrument itself looks masterfully made, a warm brown wood for the body and a darker wood for the neck, and the headstock is carved in the shape of a rose, with gold and pearl turning pegs on either side.
You wonder how much it cost.
"Do you want to try it?" Clementine asks suddenly. They're watching you, their head tilted to the side, a curious look on their face.
<<include "pandura">>You feel your anger falter, and you just sigh, flopping down onto your back. You stare up at the sloped tent ceiling, chewing on the inside of your cheek. "...Can't sleep, I take it?"
Clementine picks at their blanket, their eyes glittering in the dark. "No," they say eventually.
"Well, I'm not going to bite," you say dryly.
"T-That's not..." they stammer, giving you an indignant look. "I'm just not used to this... lifestyle."
"I can tell."
Clementine is quiet for a moment. "I used to travel like this a lot," they start. "When I was younger. I was in a performance troupe, before I ended up in King's Harbor, and we travelled all across the southern coast." They let out a bitter laugh then. "How things change."
You sit up on your elbows, considering the bard, hunched in their little corner.
<<include "friendly clem questions">>"Stop staring at me," you huff, making them flinch, which only irritates you further. "Gods, I'm not going to bite you," you add, giving them a withering look.
"Th-that's not..." they stammer, their face flushing visibly, even in the dark. "I don't think you're going to bite me," they finally manage. They drop their gaze and stare down at their hands, picking at their blanket. "I just... I can't sleep," the mumble. "I don't mean to stare."
"If you want to sleep, start by closing your eyes," you snap, flopping back down on your bedroll.
Clementine is quiet for a moment, and you think maybe they've taken your advice.
"I used to travel like this a lot, you know," they say suddenly. You bite back a groan. "When I was younger. I was in a performance troupe, before I ended up in King's Harbor, and we travelled all across the southern coast. Slept in plenty of tents that weren't mine. With plenty of strangers just like you." They let out a bitter laugh then. "How things change."
You sit up again, propped on your elbows, considering the bard where they sit hunched in their little corner.
<<include "aggressive clem questions">><<notify 3s>>Clementine will remember this.<</notify>>"No," you say gruffly, shaking your head. "No point in that, is there?" you add, and Clementine frowns. "You should get some sleep, anyways, bard. It's a long walk to Blackwater."
Clementine's brow furrows, their eyes glinting hard in the dark. "Right," they say, giving you one last look before turning away, burrowing into their corner and hiding beneath their blanket. Only their curls stick out, and you watch the rise and fall of their breathing, quick and angry, before it eventually starts to even out.
You lay on your back, crossing your arms over your chest with a sigh. You listen to the fire outside and watch the tent sway slightly overhead with the wind and the snow.
[[Eventually, you try to sleep. ->wake for watch]]"No," you say slowly, shaking your head. "No, I don't think that's a good idea."
"No?" Clementine prompts gently, leaning forward slightly, their hands grasping at their blanket.
"No, Clementine," you repeat gruffly. "We should get some sleep, anyways. It'll be a hard ride to Blackwater in the morning."
Clementine slowly sits back, pursing their lips for a moment. "Okay, then. Maybe later," they add with a little smile.
"Sure," you say without meaning it, laying back on your bedroll and turning towards the wall with a sigh. //Later// will only see the two of you as strangers again.
You listen to Clementine shift behind you, burrowing back into their corner, and then the tent falls quiet but for the two of you breathing.
"Goodnight, $name," the bard says after a beat.
<div id="choice"><<link '"Goodnight, Clementine."' 'wake for watch'>><<set $c_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[Say nothing. ->wake for watch]]>><<set $c_friendship -=1>><</link>></div>"And here," Clementine says, leaning forward and poking at the fret again. "Move your hand back up and hold down all three strings."
You move your hand carefully, following Clementine's instruction until you've got a proper feel for the opening of the song.
"Now put it all together," they say, clasping their hands excitedly.
You look down at the instrument in your lap, moving your hand hesitantly along the strings. It's slow and shaky, but it's undeniably the beginning of the song Clementine played earlier. You loop the riff over and over, until it all becomes a bit more cohesive, your fingers aching slightly from the repetition.
You glance over at Clementine grinning at you, and you lose focus, your fingers fumbling. You laugh weakly, shaking your head and flexing your hand, the sudden silence in the tent making your ears ring.
"I bet you could learn the whole thing," Clementine says.
"Maybe..." you trail off, holding the pandura out for them. "But not tonight."
Clementine's smile fades slightly, tilting their head as they study your face in the dark. "Not tonight," they repeat softly, and reality comes crashing back into the tent, their hand warm and reluctant where it brushes yours along the fretboard.
<<include "clem tent flirt">>It feels like you've only just closed your eyes when Lea appears to wake you. $l_They reach<<es>> in and pat<<s>> your leg, and you suppress a groan as you sit up and glare at $l_them. $l_They duck<<s>> back out while you squirm your way down to the opening, careful not to disturb Clementine, jealous of the bard's deep, even breathing.
<<if $l_campfight>>No words are exchanged as you follow Lea over to the fire. You watch as $l_they gather<<s>> up $l_their own bedding, muttering a goodnight to Gambit before shuffling towards the tent. $l_They pause<<s>> at the entrance, glancing back at you, but $l_they seem<<s>> to decide against whatever it is $l_they <<were>> about to say, instead just vanishing silently into the tent and leaving you alone with the fire.
You meander over, grateful for the heat, the woods feeling colder to you now after your time in the tent. You spot a fresh stack of firewood nearby, and you purse your lips, glancing back over after Lea.
"Thanks," you mutter into the dark.<<else>>"I gathered some fresh logs for you," Lea says as you follow $l_them over to the fire, gesturing to a neat little stack nearby. You just grunt an affirmative, getting an amused look from your handler.
"Don't look so excited," $l_they muse<<s>>.
"I barely even slept," you whine, rubbing at your eyes with a sigh.
"Well, we'll try to find a proper place to sleep tomorrow," $l_they assure<<s>> you. "Inside. With a bed."
You chuckle half-heartedly, shuffling closer to the fire, shivering against the late night chill.
Lea gathers up $l_their own bedding then, muttering a goodnight to Gambit before saying the same to you. "It's been quiet," $l_they add<<s>>, giving you a little nod.
"Alright," you say. You rub your hands together, watching Lea slip inside the tent and take your place beside the bard. It's even colder out here when you're all alone.<</if>>
[[Continue ->wraith fight start]]<<timed 1s>><<fadein 3s>>[[In the darkness, you push back.]]<</fadein>><</timed>>Each breath you take echoes through the Vel, the thread in your hand pulsing along with the blood in your veins. You feel the slow curl of peeling bark as if it were your own flesh, feel the crunch of snow like every bone you've ever broken beneath your boot, feel the sticky sap thicken in your mouth. You pass through the trees and brush the icy waters of the Blackwater, the waves caressing you while mud and sand swirls between your fingers and the salty air cracks your lips until they bleed.
The thread leads you back to shore, but as you rise from the water, it suddenly goes slack, turning black and viscous in your hand. You stumble back, collapsing into the churning water, the sudden smell of rot nearly making you gag.
The sea recoils, abandoning you in the sand, your thread on the ground taking root among the dunes. Only for a moment, though.
[[Something else pulls it taut.]]You're yanked forward, dragged through the wet sand, even as you thrash and kick and claw back towards the sea. The wet earth oozes between your fingers, and you can feel it caught in your teeth, scraping your gums and needling beneath your tongue.
The thread swings wide then, moving past you, looping back into the sea you were just reaching for. You quickly turn around and roll onto your back, trying to dig your heels in, successful only for a few seconds before you're lurched onto your feet and then falling forward into the waves.
The rot is everywhere now, pressing down on you with all the weight of the sea and the Vel and every realm beyond. It's in your nose, in your mouth, pushing down your throat along with sand and mud. Under your fingernails, seeping into your clothes, festering just beneath your flesh. The thread binds you as it drags you down into the water, the sky vanishing into the endless void of the sea.
[[In the depths, you hear the rattling of chains.]]You gasp, spluttering on land, on your hands and knees in the snow. You're in the woods and it's dark and there's something out here with you. The smell of rot on its breath, panting down the back of your neck, long claws pressing sharp and hot against your skin-- until blood swells and trickles down your face, the taste hot and metallic as you lick your lips and search blindly for your thread. Then a voice, all around you, in your head, in your chest, in your bones.
It says your name. It says--
//<<link '"$surname!"' 'leas voice cuts thru'>><</link>>//<<if $mc_swordsman>>You draw your sword and strike out in one swift motion, lunging through the snow and swiping your blade at the creature's face. It quickly jumps back, dodging your attempt with a chittering laugh-- but you ignore its taunt and swing again, close enough to glance a heavy blow off its too-long forearm, sending it stumbling back in shock.
It stops laughing then-- and //screams//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it leers closer, claws reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your sword, you manage to block it, slapping its hands away and knocking it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick to its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
You let out a hiss as you stagger sideways, catching yourself before you can fall and join the bastard. Each movement makes your back twitch, your blood turning cold and heavy, dripping down into the snow at your feet. You grip your sword tighter, shaking your head, steadying yourself just as the beast scrambles away on all fours, its limbs jerking violently with visceral popping sounds that make your skin crawl.
You follow close behind, herding it away from Clementine, keeping yourself firmly between the two-- something the creature very much notices. It starts to lunge from side to side with quick, erratic movements, attempting to feint you, to circle you, cocking its head back and forth and flashing its teeth. But you're quick, too, shifting your feet and keeping your sword held high, holding your ground.
As your little dance brings you closer, you start to sweat beneath your clothes, the weight of the Vel growing unbearably oppressive, its corruptive dark magic on full display, leeching off the living corpse in front of you. You don't feel a tear, though-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and the beast is not exactly the sentimental type. It clicks its teeth at you, its eyes bulging as it halts abruptly-- and lunges. You hastily retreat, swinging your sword to counter those deadly claws, and you hit your mark with a satisfying, wet //crunch//. Your blade slices through its thin skin, clipping bone and sloughing black viscous blood at your feet.
It shrieks just like before, but doesn't back off, lunging again and again and //again//, and you block again and again and again, panting with the effort as your back screams in protest. Your sword bites at its hands and arms, but it's relentless, throwing itself at you with wild abandon.
Frustrated, you parry a hard swipe and shove it backwards with a shout. It retreats a few steps, but keeps its footing, shaking its head with a grin that sprays a mixture of blood and spittle in your direction.
You take a few deep breaths, and the thing mimics you, its breathing shallow and ragged. In the brief moment of calm, you become hyper-aware of the Vel again, humming overhead, begging to be opened-- but you ignore it for now, readjusting your sword and gritting your teeth.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to finish this, now, before it wears me down completely.' 'injured aggressive aggressive sword'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to try something else— my back isn\'t going to let me keep this up much longer.' 'injured aggressive defensive sword'>><<set $injury +=1>><</link>></div><<elseif $mc_axeman>>You reach back and draw your axe from its bandolier in one quick motion, raising it high with both hands before swinging straight for the creature's throat. A quick decapitation would have been far too easy, though, and the creature is quite fast, jumping back and dodging your strike with a chittering laugh-- but you ignore its taunt and swing again, close enough to glance a heavy blow off its too-long forearm, sending it stumbling back in shock.
It stops laughing then-- and //screams//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as the beast leers over you, claws outstretched for your throat. Fumbling with your axe, you just manage to block it with the grip, knocking it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick to its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
You let out a hiss as you stagger sideways, catching yourself before you can fall and join the bastard. Each movement makes your back twitch, your blood turning cold and heavy, dripping down into the snow at your feet. You heft your axe, shaking your head and rolling your shoulders, steadying yourself just as the beast rises and scrambles away on all fours, its limbs jerking violently with visceral popping sounds that make your skin crawl.
You follow close behind, herding it away from Clementine, keeping yourself firmly between the two-- something the creature very much notices. It starts to lunge from side to side with quick, erratic movements, attempting to feint you, to circle you, cocking its head back and forth and flashing its teeth. But you're quick, too, shifting your feet and keeping your axe held in front of your chest like a shield, your hands primed to slide back down the shaft into a swing once the opportunity presents itself.
As your little dance brings you closer, you start to sweat beneath your clothes, the weight of the Vel growing unbearably oppressive, its corruptive dark magic on full display, leeching off the living corpse in front of you. You don't feel a tear, though-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and the beast is not exactly the sentimental type. It clicks its teeth at you, its eyes bulging as it halts abruptly-- and lunges. You hastily retreat, swinging your axe to counter those deadly claws, and you hit your mark with a satisfying, wet //crunch//. The bit cuts straight through its thin skin and embeds itself deep into bone, black viscous blood bursting across the snow at your feet.
It shrieks just like before, but doesn't back off-- it twists itself free, making you stumble as your axe is nearly wrenched right out of your hands, and you barely have time to block as it lunges at you. It lunges again and again and //again//, and you block again and again and again, panting with the effort as your back screams in protest. Your axe bites at its hands and arms, the heavy shaft cracking against its thin wrists, but it's relentless, throwing itself at you with wild abandon.
Frustrated, you parry a wild swipe and shove it backwards with a shout. It retreats a few steps, but keeps its footing, shaking its head with a grin that sprays a mixture of blood and spittle in your direction.
You take a few deep breaths, and the thing mimics you, its breathing shallow and ragged. In the brief moment of calm, you become hyper-aware of the Vel again, humming overhead, begging to be opened-- but you ignore it for now, hefting your axe and gritting your teeth.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to finish this, now, before it wears me down completely.' 'injured aggressive aggressive axe'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to try something else— my back isn\'t going to let me keep this up much longer.' 'injured aggressive defensive axe'>><</link>></div><<elseif $mc_archer>>Your bow isn't exactly useful this close, so you reach for your sword, drawing it quickly and striking out in one fluid motion, swiping your sword at the creature's face. It quickly jumps back, dodging your blade with a chittering laugh-- but you ignore its taunt and swing again, close enough to glance a heavy blow off its too-long forearm, sending it stumbling back in shock.
It stops laughing then-- and //screams//. It makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it leers over you, claws outstretched and reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your sword, you manage to block it, slapping its hands away and knocking it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick to its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
You let out a hiss as you stagger sideways, catching yourself before you can fall and join the bastard. Each movement makes your back twitch, your blood turning cold and heavy, dripping down into the snow at your feet. You grip your sword tighter, shaking your head, steadying yourself just as the beast rises and scrambles away on all fours, its limbs jerking violently with visceral popping sounds that make your skin crawl.
You follow close behind, herding it away from Clementine, keeping yourself firmly between the two-- something the creature very much notices. It starts to lunge from side to side with quick, erratic movements, attempting to feint you, to circle you, cocking its head back and forth and flashing its teeth. You try to keep up, shifting your feet and keeping your sword held high, holding your ground as best you're able.
As your little dance brings you closer, you start to sweat beneath your clothes, the weight of the Vel growing unbearably oppressive, its corruptive dark magic on full display, leeching off the living corpse in front of you. You don't feel a tear, though-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and the beast is not exactly the sentimental type. It clicks its teeth at you, its eyes bulging as it halts abruptly-- and lunges. You hastily retreat, swinging your sword to counter those deadly claws, but your hit only manages a glancing blow. It's not enough to stop it, and you get a nasty scratch across your chest, your shirt tearing as you backpedal and twist away before it can really get its claws into you.
Both of you back off, eyeing each other, the creature clicking its teeth again, more of your blood dripping from its claws.
You take a few deep breaths, and the thing mimics you, its breathing shallow and ragged. In the brief moment of calm, you become hyper-aware of the Vel again, humming overhead, begging to be opened-- but you ignore it for now, readjusting your sword and gritting your teeth.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to finish this, now, before it wears me down completely.' 'injured aggressive aggressive archer'>><<set $injury +=2>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I can\'t keep this up. I need to switch to my bow. Quickly.' 'injured aggressive defensive archer'>><<link>></div><<elseif $mc_mage>>You draw your sword and strike out in one fluid motion, lunging through the snow and swiping your blade at the creature's face.
It quickly jumps back, dodging your swing with a chittering laugh before immediately retaliating-- but you parry hard, your blade slashing at its hands and sending it stumbling backwards in shock, a pained hiss spitting between its teeth. You stalk after it, forcing it across the clearing and away from the downed bard as you prepare your magic.
You keep your eyes on the beast, though your focus shifts, a branching of the thread inside your chest as you reach out towards the forest, the life within thrumming in response, from the earth beneath your feet to the high pines arching through the sky. Your magic stirs, a sudden rush as your hair stands on end, a pop of lightning dancing from your fingertips and twisting down your blade-- before you rein it in, the air trembling as you bend it to your will.
<<if $magic_pref eq "air">>It starts as a cold caress, and then a gust of wind rushes into the clearing, pulling at your clothes, sending snow cascading down from the branches overhead, the trees bending and groaning as their pines whip back and forth and scatter through the sky.
You watch as the creature tosses its head, agitated, huffing and clicking its teeth, swiping at the air as it howls through the clearing. You start to press forward again, and its attention snaps back to you, letting out a scream you can't hear, torn away by the wind.
But it doesn't deter the beast in the slightest, and soon it's closing back in, with you stepping up to meet it, swinging for its chest. It lurches to the side, trying to flank you, but it's unable to dodge the burst of cold air that coalesces at the end of your blade, throwing it off its feet and sending it tumbling head over heels across the clearing. You follow close behind, your movements quickened as the wind at your back propels you forward, your feet barely touching the ground.
You make a running leap, preparing to finish it with a powerful downward blow, but it barely scrambles away, and instead you land disappointingly in the space it left behind-- though your blade still manages to catch its arm as it frantically rolls out of the way. You nearly sever it with the power of your strike, and the thing screams again-- and this time, you hear it, so loud you nearly double over as the sound pierces through your skull.
You stagger back, just managing to stay on your feet, and you watch as the creature crawls away from you, its arm twisted and flopping at its side, its knuckles scraping over ice.
You groan and grit your teeth as you steady yourself, your back twitching, fresh pain radiating down your spine-- something the creature definitely notices. It starts to creep close again, ignoring the damage to its arm, lunging from side to side and attempting to feint you, to circle you, cocking its head back and forth and flashing its teeth. But you're quick, too, shifting your feet and keeping your sword held high, your magic still whispering along your blade.
As your little dance brings you closer, you start to sweat beneath your clothes, the weight of the Vel growing unbearably oppressive, its corruptive dark magic on full display, leeching off the living corpse in front of you and pulling greedily at your own magic. You don't feel a tear, though-- just a terrible pressure, both threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and the beast is not exactly the sentimental type. It lunges forward, swinging its dangling arm in your direction, and you drop quickly, rolling out of the way, springing back on your feet and slashing at its back, another gust of wind bursting from your blade and throwing it back to the ground. You stumble slightly, your legs weak, every movement lancing pain through the open wounds in your back. Your magic crackles through the clearing, boundless in your current agony, teasing the Vel with dark clouds and howling winds as a storm begins to brew in the dark sky overhead.
The beast gasps as it hunches forward on all fours, bloody spittle dripping from its open jaws as it whips back around with a grin.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>Your sword immediately frosts over, emanating a freezing fog that swirls through the clearing as you and creature come back together with a thunderous clash.
You swing against its outstretched claws, and this time you expect it when it tries to jump away, pivoting your stance and lunging to the side to meet it. Your blade slices into the creature's shoulder, ice leaping from metal to skin on contact, splintering across its chest and spreading down its arm, its blood freezing before it can even truly spill.
It makes a strange sound, clawing at its frozen shoulder-- and then it //screams//. It makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull, pain spiking behind your eyes. You fumble with your sword and just manage to recover in time to block a wild swipe from the beast, slapping its claws away with your blade. It's enough to knock it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick in its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
You let out a hiss as you stagger sideways, catching yourself before you can fall and join the bastard. Each movement makes your back twitch, your blood turning cold and heavy, dripping down into the snow at your feet. You grip your sword tighter, shaking your head, steadying yourself just as the beast scrambles away on all fours, its limbs jerking violently with visceral popping sounds that make your skin crawl.
You follow close behind, herding it away from Clementine, keeping yourself firmly between the two-- something the creature very much notices. It starts to lunge from side to side with quick, erratic movements, attempting to feint you, to circle you, cocking its head back and forth and flashing its teeth. But you're quick, too, shifting your feet and keeping your sword held high, holding your ground.
As your little dance brings you closer, you start to sweat beneath your clothes, the weight of the Vel growing unbearably oppressive, its corruptive dark magic on full display, leeching off the living corpse in front of you and pulling greedily at your own magic. You don't feel a tear, though-- just a terrible pressure, the two threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and the beast is not exactly the sentimental type. It clicks its teeth at you, its eyes bulging as it halts abruptly-- and lunges. You hastily retreat, swinging your sword to counter those deadly claws, and you hit your mark with a satisfyingly wet //crunch//. Your blade cracks against its frozen shoulder, sending a shower of bloody ice across the clearing, drawing another scream from the beast as it throws its head back and scratches wildly at its arm. The ice is spreading even faster now, down to its forearm as the veins in its wrist thicken and swell, its hand curling painfully from the ice crystals forming beneath its claws, splitting through flesh and nail.
The pain in your back makes you hesitate, and you watch the creature retreat again, both of you breathing hard. You're getting sloppy, and your magic is, too, crackling around the beast and through the clearing, boundless in your current agony, turning the air heavy and wet. Your breath fogs thicker in front of you as you struggle to breathe, shivering against the frost prickling down your arms, your blade growing heavy in your hands.
The beast gasps as it hunches forward on all fours, and you know it feels it, too, wheezing as it shakes its head and sprays a mixture of blood and spittle in your direction.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "earth">>Your feet slide with intention through the freshly fallen snow, searching for the mud and the dirt compacted underneath. Roots down below pulse like the veins beneath your skin, and you let them swell with your magic as you sweep your arm forward, ripping a chunk of earth free and hurling it straight at the beast.
It explodes on impact, stopping it in its tracks and sending stone and ice scattering across the clearing. Broken roots rise from the tear at your feet, twisting and lashing in the air, grabbing at the creature's arms and legs while it struggles to catch its breath, and you take your chance, rushing forward with a powerful swing.
You catch it in the shoulder with a satisfying crunch, and you rip your blade downward with practiced violence, slicing through its thin skin, across its chest, sloughing viscous black blood from the edge of your blade and into the snow.
It makes a strange sound, desperately clawing itself free from the roots-- and then it //screams//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull, pain spiking behind your eyes. You fumble with your sword and just manage to recover in time to block a wild swipe from the beast, slapping its claws away with your blade. It's enough to knock it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick in its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
You let out a hiss as you stagger sideways, catching yourself before you can fall and join the bastard. Each movement makes your back twitch, your blood turning cold and heavy, dripping down into the snow at your feet. You grip your sword tighter, shaking your head, steadying yourself just as the beast rises and scrambles away on all fours, its limbs jerking violently with visceral popping sounds that make your skin crawl.
You follow close behind, herding it away from Clementine, keeping yourself firmly between the two-- something the creature very much notices. It starts to lunge from side to side with quick, erratic movements, attempting to feint you, to circle you, cocking its head back and forth and flashing its teeth. But you're quick, too, shifting your feet and keeping your sword held high, holding your ground.
As your little dance brings you closer, you start to sweat beneath your clothes, the weight of the Vel growing unbearably oppressive, its corruptive dark magic on full display, leeching off the living corpse in front of you and pulling greedily at your own magic. You don't feel a tear, though-- just a terrible pressure, the two threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and the beast is not exactly the sentimental type. It clicks its teeth at you, its eyes bulging as it halts abruptly-- and lunges. You hastily retreat, sidestepping those deadly claws and countering with a heavy overhead swing. Your blade cracks against its shoulder again, cleaving its way to the bone, another burst of blood darkening the snow at your feet. The creature retreats with a frustrated growl, scrambling over broken earth and nearly tripping among the still twitching roots.
The pain in your back stops you from pursuing immediately-- you're getting sloppy, and your magic is, too, crackling around the beast and through the clearing, boundless in your current agony, the trees swaying ominously as the ground trembles with each unsteady step you take.
The beast gasps as it hunches forward on all fours, and you know it feels it, too, its claws curling around fistfuls of dirt, shaking its head and spraying a mixture of blood and spittle in your direction.<<else>>Fire erupts from your hands, burning down your blade, the air hissing with heat as you and the creature come back together with a thunderous clash.
Your flaming sword carves straight through the beast's shoulder, the fire spiking on impact and spreading from metal to skin, burning across its chest, the intensity of it singeing your face before you can back off, watching grimly as the thing falls and writhes in the snow. It's frenzied laughter fades, and when it rises back onto its feet-- it starts to //scream//.
You stagger backwards, barely resisting the urge to clap your hands over your ears, gritting your teeth against the pain lancing through your skull. You fumble with your sword and just manage to recover in time to block a wild swipe from the beast, slapping its claws away with your blade. It's enough to knock it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick in its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling back to the ground.
You follow close behind, herding it away from Clementine, keeping yourself firmly between the two-- something the creature very much notices. It starts to lunge from side to side with quick, erratic movements, attempting to feint you, to circle you, cocking its head back and forth and flashing its teeth. But you're quick, too, shifting your feet and keeping your sword held high, waving the flaming blade in front of you to ward it back when it gets too close.
As your little dance carries you across the clearing, you start to sweat beneath your clothes, the weight of the Vel growing unbearably oppressive, its corruptive dark magic on full display, leeching off the living corpse in front of you and pulling greedily at your own magic. You don't feel a tear, though-- just a terrible pressure, the two threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and the beast is not exactly the sentimental type. It clicks its teeth at you, its eyes bulging as it halts abruptly-- and lunges. You hastily retreat, swinging your sword to counter those deadly claws, and you hit your mark with a satisfying burst of sparks. Your blade hisses as it slices across the its chest, the smell of burning skin filling the clearing as flames leap overhead, drawing another scream from the beast before it recoils and throws itself down into the snow again.
The pain in your back makes you hesitate, and you watch the creature crawl away again, both of you breathing hard. You're getting sloppy, and your magic is, too, crackling dangerously around the creature and through the clearing, boundless in your current agony, the thickening smoke choking the air from your lungs. You tighten your grip on your sword, fire crackling along your blade and spreading with each step you take, burning even through the snow and the storm forming overhead.
The beast gasps in front of you, hunching forward on all fours, and you know it feels it, too, wheezing as it shakes its head and sprays a mixture of blood and spittle in your direction.<</if>>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to finish this, now, before it wears me down and I lose control of my magic.' 'injured aggressive aggressive mage'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to calm my magic and ease off— my back isn\'t going to let me keep this up much longer.' 'injured aggressive defensive mage'>><</link>></div><<else>>You don't hesitate, drawing your sword and striking out in one fluid motion, lunging through the snow and swiping your blade at the creature's face. It quickly jumps back, dodging your attempt with a chittering laugh-- but you ignore its taunt and swing again, close enough to glance a heavy blow off its too-long forearm, sending it stumbling back in shock.
It stops laughing then-- and //screams//. It makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it leers over you, claws reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your sword, you manage to block it, slapping its hands away and knocking it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick to its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
You let out a gasp as you stagger sideways, catching yourself before you can fall and join the bastard. Each movement makes your back twitch, your blood turning cold and heavy, dripping down into the snow at your feet. You readjust the grip on your sword, the alchemical runes along your blade glowing softly in response just as the beast rises and scrambles away on all fours, its limbs jerking violently with visceral popping sounds that make your skin crawl.
You follow close behind, herding it away from Clementine, keeping yourself firmly between the two-- something the creature very much notices. It starts to lunge from side to side with quick, erratic movements, attempting to feint you, to circle you, cocking its head back and forth and flashing its teeth. But you're quick, too, shifting your feet and keeping your sword held high, holding your ground.
As your little dance brings you closer, you start to sweat beneath your clothes, the weight of the Vel growing unbearably oppressive, its corruptive dark magic on full display, leeching off the living corpse in front of you. You don't feel a tear, though-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and the beast is not exactly the sentimental type. It clicks its teeth at you, its eyes bulging as it halts abruptly-- and lunges. You hastily retreat, swinging your sword to counter those deadly claws, and you hit your mark with a satisfying //crunch//. Your blade slices through thin skin, carving down its chest, black viscous blood splattering across the snow at your feet.
It screams again, right in your face, slashing at your blade and lunging after you in a burst of fury. You quickly leap back, slamming your foot into the ground, the sigils <<if $alchtats>>on your hand igniting<<else>>on your bracer igniting<</if>> with the runes along your blade, and with a sudden surge of red alchemical lightning, the ground rises at your command. You're launched forward and over the creature, which lunges into empty space as you land hard behind it. You're nearly staggered by the pain in your back, but you swing wildly with your sword, slashing the beast between the shoulder blades and sending it the ground.
It lets out a wheezing laugh, crawling forward on its hands and knees before whipping around and grinning at you, blood dripping from its mouth. You grip your sword tight, breathing hard and glaring down at the thing as it clicks its teeth and shakes its head, sending spittle and blood flying in your direction.
You watch the dark droplets splatter in the snow, and suddenly become hyper-aware of the Vel again, humming overhead, begging to be opened-- but you ignore it for now, readjusting your sword and gritting your teeth.
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to finish this, now, before it wears me down completely.' 'injured aggressive aggressive alchemist'>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I need to back off and try something else— my back isn\'t going to let me pull off another move like that again.' 'injured aggressive defensive alchemist'>><</link>></div><</if>>You don't hesitate, striking out in one swift motion, lunging through the snow and swiping your sword at the creature's face. It quickly jumps back, dodging your blade with a chittering laugh-- but you ignore its taunt and swing again, close enough to glance a heavy blow off its too-long forearm, sending it stumbling back in shock.
It stops laughing then-- and //screams//. It makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it leers over you, claws outstretched and reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your sword, you manage to block it, slapping its hands away and knocking it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick to its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
With a snarl, you lunge after it, swinging your sword down hard and fast, cracking your blade against the beast's protruding ribcage as it tries to roll out of the way. Black blood bursts across the snow at your feet, and it lets out a strangled groan, scrambling away on all fours before you can strike again, darting across the clearing-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv aggressive sword]]You keep your movements quick and light, circling again as the creature starts to stalk closer, clicking its teeth and tapping its claws together, the noise grating in the stillness just before a fight. You keep your breathing slow and steady, summoning the patience Jorah instilled in you, waiting for the creature to make the first move.
It doesn't take too long-- it's clearly itching for violence, and soon enough it's hissing and spitting in irritation, moving back and forth erratically, getting closer and closer. When it lunges, you're ready for it, your blade swinging up to meet its outstretched claws, clashing together with a strange sound. You slice at its hands, pushing it back, before quickly rolling out of the way as it throws its weight at you, crashing through the snow in a tangle of bloody, thrashing limbs. You dart backwards, dodging again and again and again, until once more it throws itself at you in frustration. Again, you dive out of the way, landing in a crouch before spinning around and plunging your sword into its side.
It's not a perfect hit by any means, its flailing arm managing to redirect the strike so you simply slice it across its back, but it's enough to make it //scream//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it scrambles away on all fours-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv patient sword]]You take a deep breath, keeping your movements quick and light as the creature starts to stalk closer, clicking its teeth and tapping its claws together, the noise grating in the stillness just before a fight.
Once it's close enough, you strike out with a quick swipe, watching it jerk back with a hiss. When it retaliates, you easily sidestep, and the beast whirls around after you with its claws slashing the air in frustration before it lunges for your throat.
You dive out of the way, swiping low with your blade, slashing at its legs. You carve out a chunk of what's left of its emaciated calf-- and then it starts to //scream//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it scrambles away on all fours-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back towards you with a snarl, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv swiping sword]]You don't hesitate, raising your axe swiftly with both hands, lunging through the snow and swinging it straight for the creature's throat. A quick decapitation would have been far too easy, though, and the creature is quite fast, jumping back and dodging your strike with a chittering laugh-- but you ignore its taunt and swing again, close enough to glance a heavy blow off its too-long forearm, sending it stumbling back in shock.
It stops laughing then-- and //screams//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it leers closer, claws outstretched and reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your axe, you manage to block it with the bit, knocking it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick in its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
With a snarl, you lunge after it, throwing all your weight behind your swing. You bring it down hard and fast, slicing the bit across its protruding ribcage as it desperately tries to roll out of the way, and you can feel the bones break beneath your hands, reverberating up your grip. Black blood bursts across the snow at your feet, and the beast lets out a strangled groan, scrambling away on all fours before you can strike again, darting across the clearing-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv aggressive axe]]The beast lets out weak, wet laugh, grinning up at you, its lips slick with black blood. You scowl back, crouching down and raising your knife in both hands, but before you can plunge the blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You nearly fall backward as it rises, heedless of its injury, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, swinging with your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You keep your movements quick and light, circling again as the creature starts to stalk closer, clicking its teeth and tapping its claws together, the noise grating in the stillness just before a fight. You keep your breathing slow and steady, summoning the patience Jorah instilled in you, waiting for the creature to make the first move.
It doesn't take too long-- it's clearly itching for violence, and soon enough it's hissing and spitting in irritation, moving back and forth erratically, getting closer and closer. When it lunges, you're ready for it, your axe swinging up to meet its outstretched claws, clashing together with a strange sound. You slice at its hands, pushing it back, before quickly rolling out of the way as it throws its weight at you, crashing through the snow in a tangle of bloody, thrashing limbs. You dart backwards, dodging again and again and again, until once more it throws itself at you in frustration. Again, you dive out of the way, landing in a crouch before spinning around, using your momentum to swing your axe in retaliation.
Your bit embeds itself into its flailing arm, just above the elbow, and you can feel the metal scrape bone before you quickly wrench it free, black blood splattering across the snow at your feet-- and that makes it //scream//. It makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it scrambles away on all fours-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv patient axe]]You take a deep breath, keeping your movements quick and light as the creature starts to stalk closer, clicking its teeth and tapping its claws together, the noise grating in the stillness just before a fight. As it draws closer, you brace yourself, studying its movements, and when it strikes out with a vicious swipe of its claws you dive beneath its outstretched arms, spinning around in a low crouch and rising just behind it.
It's faster than your expecting, turning after you with a shriek, your heavy hit missing its spine and embedding deep into the back of its shoulder, and you can feel the bone shatter beneath the bit, hear the //crunch// of it in the sudden vacuum between you and the beast.
It stares at for a brief moment-- and the it starts //screaming//. It makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull, and you're nearly thrown off your feet as the creature rips itself free from your axe, a burst of black blood arcing overhead as you stagger back and dodge its wild retaliation, claws singing dangerously close to your throat.
You grit your teeth against the ringing in your ears, countering swiftly and once again throwing all your weight behind your swing. You bring it down hard and fast, nearly lopping off its arm at the elbow. More dark blood splatters the snow at your feet, and it lets out a strangled groan, scrambling away on all fours before you can strike again, darting across the clearing-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv brutal axe]]The beast lets out weak, wet laugh, grinning up at you, its lips slick with black blood. You scowl back, crouching down and raising your knife in both hands, but before you can plunge the blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You nearly fall backwards as it rises, heedless of its injury, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, swinging your axe in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You don't hesitate, straightening your arm and pulling back your bow until the arrow's fletching tickles your cheek-- and then you let it loose, zipping across the clearing and hitting the beast square in the chest.
It blinks at you, then down at the arrow, before raising its claws and snapping the shaft in half with a huff. You quickly pull another arrow and fire it off, but it dodges this time, a clumsy mess of too-long limbs rolling through the snow-- and then coming straight for you.
You dart backwards, swiftly readying another arrow, twisting around and shooting over your shoulder midstride. It //thuds// nearly on top of the first, and the creature shakes its head, its teeth snapping loudly-- before it suddenly //screams//. It makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull, and the thing is on you before you realize it, claws reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your bow, you manage to block it with the grip before thwacking it over the head, which stuns it enough to knock it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick in its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling back into the snow.
You quickly regain your ground and loose two rapid-fire arrows as the beast slowly rises back to its feel, one burrowing itself nearly in its armpit and the second one sinking deep between its ribs. It tosses its head with another frustrated scream and scrambles away on all fours-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you again, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv aggressive bow]]You take a deep breath, keeping your movements quick and light as the creature starts to stalk closer, clicking its teeth and tapping its claws together, the noise grating in the stillness just before a fight. You keep your breath slow and steady, your eyes remaining on the beast but your focus shifting slightly, a branching of the thread inside your chest as you reach out towards the forest, the life within thrumming in response, from the earth beneath your feet to the high pines arching through the sky. Your magic stirs, the Vel flickering excitedly, and there's a sudden rush as your hair stands on end, a pop of lightning dancing from your fingertips and twisting along your bow-- before you rein it in, the air trembling as you bend it to your will.
The beast watches curiously, but it's impatient, itching for violence, and soon it's advancing faster, and you fire off a few quick shots-- one hits it in the shoulder, the next nearly in its armpit, and the third //thudding// loudly and burrowing itself in its chest. The creature recoils, hissing at the burn of electricity popping between each arrow, before it raises its claws and snaps the shafts in half-- and then it //screams//.
It makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull, and the thing is on you before you realize it, claws reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your bow, you manage to block it with the grip before thwacking it over the head, which stuns it enough to knock it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick in its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling back into the snow.
You quickly regain your ground, watching as it tosses its head with another scream and scrambles away on all fours-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you again, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv charged bow]]You nearly fall backwards as it rises, suddenly reanimated and heedless of its injuries, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, reaching for an arrow with your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it and the entire contents of your quiver clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You don't hesitate, striking out in one swift motion, lunging through the snow and swiping your sword at the creature's face. It quickly jumps back, dodging your blade with a chittering laugh-- but you ignore its taunt and swing again, close enough to glance a heavy blow off its too-long forearm, sending it stumbling back in shock.
It stops laughing then-- and //screams//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it leers closer, claws outstretched and reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your sword, you manage to block it, slapping its hands away and knocking it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick to its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
With a snarl, you lunge after it, bringing your sword down hard and fast, cracking your blade against the beast's ribcage as it tries to roll out of the way. Black blood bursts across the snow at your feet, and it lets out a strangled groan, scrambling away on all fours before you can strike again, darting across the clearing-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv aggressive mage]]You take a deep breath, keeping your movements quick and light as the creature starts to stalk closer, clicking its teeth and tapping its claws together, the noise grating in the stillness just before a fight.
Once it's close enough, you strike out with a quick swipe, watching it jerk back with a hiss. When it retaliates, you easily sidestep, and the beast whirls around after you with its claws slashing the air in frustration before it lunges for your throat.
You dive out of the way, swiping low with your blade, slashing at its legs. You carve out a chunk of what's left of its emaciated calf-- and then it starts to //scream//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it scrambles away on all fours-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back towards you with a snarl, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv defensive mage]]You don't hesitate, striking out in one swift motion, lunging through the snow and swiping your sword at the creature's face. It quickly jumps back, dodging your blade with a chittering laugh-- but you ignore its taunt and swing again, close enough to glance a heavy blow off its too-long forearm, sending it stumbling back in shock.
It stops laughing then-- and //screams//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it leers closer, claws outstretched and reaching for your throat. Fumbling with your sword, you manage to block it, slapping its hands away and knocking it off-balance, and you swiftly follow it up with a hard kick to its side, bloated flesh popping under your boot before the creature goes sprawling to the ground.
With a snarl, you lunge after it, swinging your sword with both hands, a burst of alchemical lightning from your runes turning the clearing red. You bring your blade down hard and fast, cracking it against the beast's ribcage just as it tries to roll out of the way. Black blood bursts across the snow at your feet, and it lets out a strangled groan, scrambling away on all fours before you can strike again, darting across the clearing-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back to click its teeth at you, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv aggressive alchemy]]You keep your movements quick and light, circling again as the creature starts to stalk closer, clicking its teeth and tapping its claws together, the noise grating in the stillness just before a fight. You keep your breathing slow and steady, summoning the patience Jorah instilled in you, waiting for the creature to make the first move.
It doesn't take too long-- it's clearly itching for violence, and soon enough it's hissing and spitting in irritation, moving back and forth erratically, getting closer and closer. When it lunges, you're ready for it, your blade swinging up to meet its outstretched claws, clashing together with a strange sound. You slice at its hands, pushing it back, before quickly rolling out of the way as it throws its weight at you, crashing through the snow in a tangle of bloody, thrashing limbs. You dart backwards, raising a hand that glows with a sudden burst of alchemical lightning, your runes igniting and bathing the clearing red.
The beast recoils, jerking its head around as lightning pops dangerously close, snow and mud spraying across the clearing as you set off a series of little explosions, runes forming in the air in front of you while your fingers burn with red flame. You quickly close the space between you and the beast, striking out in one quick motion, your blade slicing across its chest before it even realizes you're there. The scream that follows makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it scrambles away on all fours-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back towards you with a snarl, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv distraction alchemy]]You take a deep breath, keeping your movements quick and light as the creature starts to stalk closer, clicking its teeth and tapping its claws together, the noise grating in the stillness just before a fight.
Once it's close enough, you strike out with a quick swipe, watching it jerk back with a hiss. When it retaliates, you easily sidestep, and the beast whirls around after you with its claws slashing the air in frustration before it lunges for your throat.
You dive out of the way, swiping low with your blade, slashing at its legs. You carve out a chunk of what's left of its emaciated calf-- and then it starts to //scream//. It nearly makes you double over, the noise piercing straight through your skull as it scrambles away on all fours-- for a moment, you think it might try to flee, but it slows at the treeline, turning back towards you with a snarl, breathing hard and spitting blood in your direction.
[[Continue ->adv swiping alchemy]]The beast lets out weak, wet laugh, grinning up at you, its lips slick with black blood. You scowl back, crouching down and raising your knife in both hands, but before you can plunge your blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You nearly fall backwards as it rises, heedless of its injuries, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, swinging with your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You start to stalk a small circle around the clearing, the beast following you curiously with a slow turn of its head. Your body is tired, your legs shaking slightly with each careful step, blood soaking the back of your trousers and spilling down into your boots. The strike to your back is worse than you initially thought, and you aren't sure how much longer you can keep going before it becomes a real problem.
You and the creature stare at each other, your eyes narrowed as you peer down the edge of your sword. It sits back on its haunches, unmoving, tracking you with its eyes.
"Come on, you ugly bastard," you mutter, darting closer, but the thing just regards you with a hollow stare. You take a few steps back, lowering your sword with a frustrated snarl. Your back is burning, and you're impatient, taunting it to come closer, even kicking snow at it-- but it just sits, unimpressed and waiting for you.
You resolve to resume your earlier method of attack, lifting your sword with some effort and cutting back across the clearing. The creature laughs then, just as it stands and turns towards Clementine.
"No!" you blurt, cursing yourself for leaving them there. You hadn't even realized it had managed to get between you and the bard, and you curse again-- and you curse Lea, too, wherever the //vel// $l_they <<are>>. You watch as it rushes for the bard before breaking into a desperate sprint, and you manage to throw yourself against it just as its claws curl around a handful of Clementine's jacket. The fabric tears in its hand and you both go tumbling through the snow, your sword flailing uselessly and nearly slicing your leg as you fall.
Somehow, you manage to land on top of the beast, but your advantage is short lived-- all it has to do is reach around and dig its nails into your already shredded back, and you collapse in a white burst of pain.
It throws you aside effortlessly, hard enough that when you hit the ground again you lose your sword somewhere in the snow. You groan, gasping for a moment, the wind knocked from your lungs, and your vision blurs as you blink up at the night sky overhead.
You frantically reach for your hunter's knife, pulling it from its sheath strapped to your thigh. You'll at least take the bastard down with you.
It's on you just as your hand tightens around the hilt. It goes right for your throat, and you weakly bat away its claws, trying to slice at it with the knife and kick it off of you. But it just grabs at your clothes, taking a fistful of your jacket and heaving you around, throwing you down onto your stomach and crushing you beneath its weight. You wheeze, scrabbling and kicking at the snow, waving your knife over your head until it grabs your wrist and wrenches your arm back, twisting it violently behind you, ripping at your flesh, nails scraping to the bone. You let out a pathetic whimper as you feel your shoulder pop, intense pain making you gasp, your vision going white for a second time.
Your arm useless now, it releases your wrist and reaches up to push your face into the earth, all the snow kicked aside and the mud thawed from your footsteps and thrashing. You taste the grit of it on your tongue, feel it scrape the skin of your cheek as it grinds the heel of its palm into the back of your skull.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head into its palm, blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
You try to reach out, for your knife, for your magic, for anything, but you get no response, the pain making your head spin, darkness creeping at the edge of your vision. Until-- the Vel. It's the Vel, and it responds. It trembles all around you, and the creature's eyes suddenly change color, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- and yours, too.
"//Hunter//," it says, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until you feel blood trickling down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its movements far more fluid and sure than they had been just a moment ago. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You exhale slowly, and then heft your sword and lunge forward with a powerful, two-handed swing. The beast scrambles back with a snarl and attempts to counter, taking a wild swipe at you-- claws tear flesh as it catches your arm, your steps too slow as pain radiates from your back down through your legs. But you let the momentum of the strike carry you forward, ignoring the blood now slicking your palms, stepping past the creature and turning hard on your heel in a feint. It follows, only to meet your blade there instead.
It slices across its chest, its sternum collapsing from the force of the blow, a strangled sound escaping between its teeth along with a sudden burst of black blood. You shove it back with a snarl, more blood arcing from your blade as you swing your sword back to strike again.
This time you catch it in its side, just above its jutting hipbone, as it tries and fails to dive out of the way. You force the blade in deep, pushing forward as it staggers back, the air crackling as you reach for the energy humming in the clearing, pressing down on you from the Vel.
You slam your shoulder into the already collapsing chest of the beast as you rip your sword from its side, sending it crashing to the ground where it groans and writhes, your blood-soaked hands and slickened blade trembling along with the Vel overhead.
You take a few seconds to catch your breath, hunching forward with a hand on your knee as the Vel settles back into place, the excitement having passed and the fight nearing its end. You grimace at the hot pain in your back as you slowly straighten up, shaking out your limbs before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the black blood now seeping out across the clearing, steaming against the snow, closing the space between you and the dying creature. It glares up at you, grinning, desperately clawing its way backwards as you advance.
"Come on," you growl, moving to lunge after it. But before you can finish it and plunge your blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You take a few steps back as it rises, your eyes widening, too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, lifting your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until you feel blood trickling down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You're blinded by a bright, white light, then a burst of blue lightning that flashes through the clearing, followed by a clap of thunder loud enough to shake snow from the trees overhead. The beast screams, its eyes black once more, and you look around to see Lea standing at the treeline, readying another potion and hurling it at the creature.
You watch as it finds its mark, glass shattering and more lightning exploding across its chest and sending it crashing to the ground, another roll of thunder pealing through the night as the clearing churns with magic and alchemy. The beast scrambles to its feet and runs for the trees, swallowed by the shadows before Lea can bring it back down, swearing loudly and lowering their third potion.
You sit up, reaching for your knife in the snow before staggering to your feet. Lea runs over, raising $l_their sword and standing between you and the shadows-- but you shove past $l_them, brandishing your knife, heading straight for the trees.
"Get the bard out of here," you shout back over your shoulder, ignoring Lea's outstretched hand. $l_They <<say>> something you can't hear-- you can't hear anything but the crashing in your head and the roar of your blood pumping in your chest.
Something pulls at you still, phantom claws caressing your face.
You have to follow it. You have to finish it.
<<link '//Finish it//.' 'finish it1'>><</link>>You start to stalk a small circle around the clearing, the beast following you curiously with a slow turn of its head. Your body is tired, your legs shaking slightly with each careful step, blood soaking the back of your trousers and spilling down into your boots. The strike to your back is worse than you initially thought, and you aren't sure how much longer you can keep going before it becomes a real problem.
You and the creature stare at each other, your eyes narrowed as you palm your axe. It sits back on its haunches, unmoving, tracking you with its eyes.
"Come on, you ugly bastard," you mutter, darting closer, but the thing just regards you with a hollow stare. You take a few steps back, lowering your axe with a frustrated snarl. Your back is burning, and you're impatient, taunting it to come closer, kicking snow in its face-- but it just sits, unimpressed and waiting for you.
You resolve to resume your earlier method of attack, lifting your axe with some effort and cutting back across the clearing. The creature laughs then, just as it stands and turns towards Clementine.
"No!" you blurt, cursing yourself for leaving them there. You hadn't even realized it had managed to get between you and the bard, and you curse again-- and you curse Lea, too, wherever the //vel// $l_they <<are>>. You watch as it rushes for the bard, and you break into a desperate sprint, before raising your axe over your head and hurling it at the beast.
The bit buries itself square between its shoulder blades, sending it sprawling just in front of Clementine. You jump on top of it with an angry growl, grabbing the shaft with both hands and ripping your axe free with a horrible //squelch//. The creature groans, but you slam your foot down on the back of its head before it can try and roll over, and then you bring the axe down a second time, severing its spine.
"Ugly bastard," you repeat, panting hard, using the axe to drag it back out of reach of Clementine, still unconscious and oblivious-- for the best. Overhead, the Vel crackles for a moment before settling down, almost as if disappointed by such an unceremonious end to the fight.
You take a few seconds to catch your breath, hunching forward with your hands on your knees. You grimace at the hot pain in your back as you slowly straighten up, shaking out your limbs before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
You grip your axe and dislodge it from the creature's back before rolling it over with your foot. It lets out weak, wet laugh, grinning up at you, its lips slick with black blood. You scowl back, crouching down and raising your hunter's knife. But before you can finish it and plunge your blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You nearly fall backwards as it rises, heedless of its injury, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, swinging with your axe in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until you feel blood trickling down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You exhale slowly, and then lunge forward with a heavy, downward swing. The beast scrambles back with a snarl and attempts to counter, taking a wild swipe at you-- claws tear flesh as it catches your arm, your steps too slow as pain radiates from your back down through your legs. But you let the momentum of the strike spin you around, ignoring the blood now slicking your palms, throwing all your weight behind your axe as you pivot sharply and swing.
The bit slams into the creature's chest, its sternum collapsing from the force of it, a strangled sound escaping between its teeth with a burst of blood. You tear your axe free violently, more black blood arcing overhead as you wind back to strike once more.
This time you nearly succeed in decapitating it, your axe embedding where neck meets shoulder, its thin collarbone snapping under the pressure. You tighten your bloodied grip and shove downward, forcing the creature onto its knees, the air crackling as you reach for the energy humming in the clearing, pressing down on you from the Vel.
Once again you wrench your axe free, and then slam your heel into the already collapsing chest of the beast, sending it crashing to the ground where it groans and writhes, your blood-soaked hands and slickened axe trembling along with the Vel overhead.
You take a few seconds to catch your breath, hunching forward with a hand on your knee as the Vel settles back into place, the excitement having passed and the fight nearing its end. You grimace at the hot pain in your back as you slowly straighten up, shaking out your limbs before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the black blood now seeping out across the clearing, steaming against the snow, closing the space between you and the dying creature. It glares up at you, grinning, desperately clawing its way backwards as you advance.
"Come on," you growl, moving to lunge after it. But before you can finish it and plunge your blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You take a few steps back as it rises, heedless of the way its head flops forward-- too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, swinging with your axe in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until you feel blood trickling down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You muster what strength you have left and lunge forward, carving upward with your sword.
But the creature sidesteps you easily, lashing out and nearly slapping your sword out of your hands. You stagger sideways, jerking back as it makes a genuine grab for your blade., its fingers grazing the edge, the metal whispering at the touch, dark and glistening with blood. You try to regain your footing, lunging forward and thrusting your sword at the beast's stomach, though you only succeed in nicking it below the ribs-- and its claws catch you across the face.
You both fall back away from each other, the creature keening in the back of its throat while you groan and hastily wipe the hot blood from your face, shivering as some of it trickles down your neck beneath your collar. The keening turns into a laugh then, and you just watch as the creature holds its bloodied fingers in front of its face, marveling at the slow trickles of your blood. Your lip curls in disgust as it opens its mouth and runs a long, black tongue, swollen and wet with dark saliva, along its claws to taste you. You swallow hard and take an unsteady step.
Its laughter ringing in your ears, you take your chance and rush forward, hoping to catch it as it gloats. It recoils, simply huffing at the inconvenience, but you do manage to slice its arm again as it moves to shield its chest.
You attempt to twist away then, but it doesn't let you, still laughing as it grabs you and reaches for your throat. Muscle memory buys you a few seconds as your hand instinctively reaches for an arrow out of your quiver, and you thrust it up into the creature's armpit, its grip weakening enough for you to momentarily slip free. It's still too close for you to swing your sword, and you discard it in favor of your hunter's knife, pulling it from its sheath strapped to your thigh. You'll at least take the bastard down with you.
You turn hard on your heel, pivoting to face the beast just as it slams into you. You both go tumbling through the snow, your knife hissing in your hand as it slips between a pair of ribs, the creature screaming in your ear and flailing wildly. You manage to end up on top, panting and struggling as the thing squirms beneath you, and you try to raise your knife again, ready to plunge it into its heart, but-- all it has to do is reach around and dig its nails into your already shredded back, and you collapse in a white burst of pain.
It throws you aside effortlessly, hard enough that when you hit the ground again you lose your knife somewhere in the snow. You groan, gasping for a moment, the wind knocked from your lungs, and your vision blurs as you blink up at the night sky overhead.
You frantically sift through the mud and snow around you, but your knife is out of reach. The beast is on you just as you try to grab another arrow, which it unceremoniously snaps in half with a swipe of its claws. It grabs at your clothes, taking a fistful of your jacket and heaving you around, throwing you down onto your stomach and crushing you beneath its weight. You wheeze, scrabbling and kicking wildly, waving your hand over your head in a last desperate attempt to fight back-- until it grabs your wrist and wrenches your arm back, claws ripping at your flesh, nails scraping to the bone. You let out a pathetic whimper as you feel your shoulder pop, intense pain making you gasp, your vision going white for a second time.
Your arm useless now, it releases your wrist and reaches up to push your face into the earth, all the snow kicked aside and ice partially thawed from your footsteps and thrashing. You taste the grit of it on your tongue, feel it scrape the skin of your cheek as it grinds the heel of its palm into the back of your skull.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head into its palm, blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
You try to reach out, for your knife again, for your magic, for anything, but you get no response, pain making your head spin, more white spots flashing before your eyes. Until-- the Vel. It's the Vel, and it responds. It shudders overhead, and you watch as the creature's eyes change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- and yours, too.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood is dripping from your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, the movements far more fluid and sure than they had been just a moment ago. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]Taking advantage of the lull, you start to backpedal, getting a bit more distance between you and the creature. Your body is tired, your legs shaking slightly with each careful step, blood soaking the back of your trousers and spilling down into your boots. The strike to your back is worse than you initially thought, and you aren't sure how much longer you can keep going before it becomes a real problem. The beast just watches you curiously, grinning, saliva dripping from its open mouth.
When it suddenly turns its attention to Clementine, you curse loudly, shoving your sword into its sheath and quickly ripping your bow free from the straps across your back. You hadn't even realized it had managed to get between you and the bard, and you curse again-- and you curse Lea, too, wherever the //vel// $l_they <<are>>.
You swiftly pull an arrow and draw it back, letting it soar and find a home between the beast's shoulder blades. It makes an angry keening sound, snapping its head back around in your direction just as you loose a second arrow. It hits in the soft spot beneath its arm, nearly in its armpit, and its keening turns into a snarl as it raises its claws and snaps the shaft of the arrow in half. It turns all the way around now, the bard forgotten, and you curse for a fourth time as it starts to come for you.
It's faster than you're expecting, loping on all fours, and you break for the treeline, reaching for your quiver, thumping against your thigh as you run. You draw a quick arrow and whip around midstride, releasing the string and hoping your aim is true.
You manage to nail it in the shoulder with the blind shot, but it doesn't slow down, barreling into you, and you both go crashing through the bushes, some of your arrows flying from your quiver as you tumble.
You quickly right yourself, scrambling backwards and blocking a strike with your arm, hissing as the creature's claws bite deep, your blood spraying across the bed of pines at your feet. You wind back and slap the beast in the side of the head with your bow, which stuns it enough for you to get away, darting backwards and skillfully avoiding rocks and roots with practiced footwork. You start to cut back for the clearing, and the creature is slow to follow, lurking in the foliage, behind the trees, and you turn back and watch as it reaches up and rips the arrow from its shoulder, staring at you as it hurls it to the ground.
You only have a few arrows left, and you need to make them count.
You focus, taking a deep breath, reaching for energy humming through the clearing, the Vel pulsing with excitement overhead. Drawing back your arm, the runes carved along your bow begin to glow, the arrow's feathers just brushing against your cheek as you hold your shot, you and the creature just staring at each other.
When it surges forward, you release, your arrow moving too fast to see, not until its head snaps back on impact. It tries to scream-- but it only manages a choked, gurgling sound that makes your skin crawl. You fire off two more shots in quick succession, both //thunking// loudly into its chest, but still it staggers forward, its black eyes burning into your own.
Your bloody arm trembles as you pull back for a fourth shot, waiting until it's nearly on you to let it go, its head snapping back again as your arrow burrows into its eye. At last the beast crumples to the ground where it groans and writhes, your blood-soaked hands and slickened bowstring still trembling along with the Vel overhead.
You take a few seconds to catch your breath, hunching forward with a hand on your knee as the Vel settles back into place, the glow of your runes fading along with it, the excitement having passed and the fight nearing its end. You grimace at the hot pain in your back as you slowly straighten up, shaking out your limbs before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the black blood now seeping out across the clearing, steaming in the snow, closing what space remains between you and the dying creature. It jerkily rolls onto its back at your approach, most of your arrows snapped where they protrude from its chest, though the one in its eye remains intact-- until it reaches up and wrenches it free with a terrible squelching sound, tossing the arrow away with a weak snarl. Then it stills, black blood pouring from its mouth, its chest heaving, watching you with its one remaining eye.
You raise your hunter's knife high, but before you can finish it and plunge the blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's single eye suddenly changes, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You nearly fall backwards as it rises, heedless of its injuries, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, battering it with your bow in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You take a deep breath, feeling the thrum of the Vel and the wild power of the storm now churning in the night sky overhead. You brace yourself-- and reach for it, rain falling and lightning flashing between the pines as your magic surges through the clearing.
<<if $magic_pref eq "air">>The runes carved into your blade ignite at your will, and you point it straight at the beast as it rises back to its feet. It looks amused, grinning and clicking its teeth again, before rushing you with a strangled shout. You pull your blade back and quickly spin out of the way, lightning bursting nearby as the wind picks up and tears at your clothes, snow swirling upwards and scattering into the sky. The creature stumbles in the space you left behind, and as you draw your blade back farther, tucking it against your side, the runes burn even brighter, the Vel flickering in excitement.
The beast staggers after you, bracing against the wind and the rain, but it's clawing at its throat, gasping helplessly until it crumples to the ground. You force the breath from its lungs, pulling it into the air churning overhead, leaving it trapped in a silent void-- no air, no sound, just its own frantic panting.
You bring your sword down low and end its gasping, knocking its hands away and slicing your blade along its throat. Its head rolls back, its nostrils flaring as it glares up at you, black blood weeping from your blade and spilling across the snow at your feet.
Stepping back, you stare up into the storm, and you raise your sword again, the edge slicked black, closing your eyes and gritting your teeth as you will your magic to calm. For a moment you think the Vel is going to fight you-- but reluctantly, it lets go, a flicker of disappointment passing through the clouds overhead, and gradually your magic dissipates, the storm slowing to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
You exhale loudly, hunching forward with a hand on your knee as the Vel settles back into place, and you notice blood dripping from your fingers, a bloody handprint left on your trousers as you slowly straighten back up. You grimace at the pain that lances down your spine, quickly shaking the blood from your hand before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the growing puddle of viscous blood, steaming against the snow, and crouch low over the dying creature. It's wheezing has gone quiet, and instead you hear nothing but a wet gurgling from its open throat-- and still it grins, even as it tries desperately to crawl out from beneath your blade.
"Come on," you growl, moving to lunge after it. But before you can finish it and plunge your knife into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, speaking through all the blood in its mouth, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You take a few steps back as it rises, your eyes widening, too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, lifting your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision. You try then to reach back out for your magic, but nothing responds, only the slightest ruffle of wind kissing your cheek.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>The runes carved into your blade ignite at your will, and you point it straight at the beast as it rises back to its feet. It looks amused, grinning and clicking its teeth again, before rushing at you with strangled shout.
You move to meet it, taking a few quick steps before swinging your blade low, the tip slicing through snow-- and it melts at the touch, flowing swiftly beneath your feet, rising like a snake and swirling around your blade as you thrust it towards the beast. With a twist of your wrist and bright flash of runes, the water turns to ice, cutting through the air before breaking into jagged shards and piercing the creature's chest with a chorus of wet //thuds//. It tries to scream, just like before, but your sword follows close behind, plunging between its ribs, ripping the scream from its lungs as blood weeps down your blade. You push until nothing but the hilt protrudes from beneath your hands, and then withdraw, letting it collapse into the broken ice at your feet.
Stepping back, you stare up into the storm, wincing at the rain now falling hard enough to hurt, while your foot slips in the muddy mess of melted snow and ice. You steady yourself, raising your sword and gritting your teeth as you will your magic to calm. For a moment you think the Vel is going to fight you-- but reluctantly, it lets go, a flicker of disappointment passing through the clouds overhead, and gradually your magic dissipates, the storm slowing to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
You exhale loudly, hunching forward with a hand on your knee as the Vel settles back into place, and you notice blood dripping from your fingers, a bloody handprint left on your trousers as you slowly straighten back up. You grimace at the pain that lances down your spine, quickly shaking the blood from your hand before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the growing puddle of viscous blood, steaming in the mud, and crouch low over the dying creature. It's grinning again, still scratching at the ice hardened across its chest, its breathing wet and ragged as it kicks its feet and tries to crawl away into the bushes.
"Come on," you growl, moving to lunge after it. But before you can finish it and plunge your knife into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You take a few steps back as it rises, your eyes widening as the ice shatters from its flesh, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, lifting your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision. You try to reach back out for your magic, but nothing responds, only a slight shift in the rain overhead.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>The runes carved into your blade ignite at your will, and you point it straight at the beast as it rises back to its feet. It looks amused, grinning and clicking its teeth again, before rushing you with a strangled shout. You quickly dart back, slashing your flaming sword in front of you, though the beast has learned its lesson, quickly twisting away from the heat, the two of you passing each other before pivoting and coming back together again. And again, it avoids your blade, skittering back from your swing, but you lunge after it, slamming your heel into the earth, and the runes flash as fire surges forward with a burst of sparks from beneath your boot. It fans out like a blossoming flower, enveloping the creature as the flaming petals close, and you can hear it screaming again, a piercing whine that rises over the fire and the gathering storm.
But you're close enough to end it, plunging your blade between its ribs, ripping the scream from its lungs as you withdraw with an arc of black blood. The beast collapses in front of you, its skin charred and oozing, your fire dancing along with the lightning flashing through the rain.
Stepping back, you stare up into the storm, and you raise your sword again, the edge slicked black, closing your eyes and gritting your teeth as you will your magic to calm. For a moment you think the Vel is going to fight you-- but reluctantly, it lets go, a flicker of disappointment passing through the clouds overhead, and gradually your magic dissipates, the fire fizzling out as the storm slows to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
You exhale loudly, hunching forward with a hand on your knee as the Vel settles back into place, and you notice blood dripping from your fingers, a bloody handprint left on your trousers as you slowly straighten back up. You grimace at the pain that lances down your spine, quickly shaking the blood from your hand before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the growing puddle of viscous blood, smoking in the melted snow, and crouch low over the dying creature. It wheezes quietly, opening and closing its mouth, what lips that remained now shriveled and burned-- but you can tell that it's grinning still, even as tries desperately to crawl out from beneath your blade.
"Come on," you growl, moving to lunge after it. But before you can finish it and plunge your knife into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, speaking through all the blood in its mouth, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You take a few steps back as it rises, your eyes widening, too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, lifting your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision. You try to reach back out for your magic, but nothing responds, only the slightest ruffle of hot wind kissing your cheek.<<else>>The runes carved into your blade ignite at your will, and you point it straight at the beast as it rises back to its feet. It looks amused, grinning and clicking its teeth again, before rushing you with a strangled shout. You quickly dart back, slashing with your blade, warding off its claws as you both twist away, passing each other before pivoting and coming back together again. You dodge beneath a clawed hand and lunge to the ground, spinning around as your magic tunnels beneath dirt and stone, pushing the ground up around the creature's feet, knocking it off-balance before it can pounce-- and it falls forward onto your waiting blade. You plunge it between its ribs, pushing it all the way up to the hilt, grunting at the weight of it before shoving it off and withdrawing with a fresh arc of black blood.
You stand shakily, stepping back and staring up into the storm, and you raise your sword again, the edge slicked black, closing your eyes and gritting your teeth as you will your magic to calm. For a moment you think the Vel is going to fight you-- but reluctantly, it lets go, a flicker of disappointment passing through the clouds overhead, and gradually your magic dissipates, the earth stilling beneath your feet as the storm slows to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
You exhale loudly, hunching forward with a hand on your knee as the Vel settles back into place, and you notice blood dripping from your fingers, a bloody handprint left on your trousers as you slowly straighten back up. You grimace at the pain that lances down your spine, quickly shaking the blood from your hand before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the growing puddle of viscous blood and crouch low over the dying creature. Still it grins, even as it tries desperately to crawl away, out from beneath your blade.
"Come on," you growl, moving to lunge after it. But before you can finish it and plunge your knife into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, speaking through all the blood in its mouth, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You take a few steps back as it rises, your eyes widening, too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, lifting your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision. You try to reach back out for your magic, but nothing responds, only the slightest tremor tickling beneath your cheek.<</if>>
But then the beast abruptly stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You start to stalk a small circle around the clearing, the beast following you curiously with a slow turn of its head. Your body is tired, your legs shaking slightly with each careful step, blood soaking the back of your trousers and spilling down into your boots. The strike to your back is worse than you initially thought, and you aren't sure how much longer you can keep going before it becomes a real problem. You release your magic, immediately feeling a sense of relief, some of the pain easing off your shoulders.
You continue to circle the creature, your eyes narrowed as you peer down the edge of your sword. It sits back on its haunches, unmoving, tracking you with its eyes. Then the creature laughs, just as it stands and turns towards Clementine.
"No!" you blurt, cursing yourself for leaving them there. You hadn't even realized it had managed to get between you and the bard, and you curse again-- and you curse Lea, too, wherever the //vel// $l_they <<are>>.
You take a few quick steps forward, reaching back out for your magic-- and the Vel responds, flickering with excitement, the runes carved along your blade igniting all at once as you're nearly overwhelmed by the sudden rush of power.
<<if $magic_pref eq "air">>The storm overhead howls, and as you thrust your sword forward it lifts you off your feet, throwing you at the creature just as its clawed hand wraps around the collar of Clementine's jacket. You slam into it, blade first, knocking you both over the bard and sending you tumbling through the snow. You feel it caught on your blade, shrieking and twisting beneath you, your sword jammed between a pair of ribs. You leverage yourself on top, pressing your weight down until your blade is buried up to the hilt, the creature's movements slowing until it finally stills beneath you.
The wind swirls overhead, pulling snow and blood up into the sky, and you shield your face from it, withdrawing your sword and rolling off the beast with a pained groan. You try to rein in your magic, staring up into clouds, wincing at the rain falling hard enough to hurt. The pain in your back radiates all the way through your chest, an agonizing, helpless feeling of being crushed-- but you take a deep, shaky breath, lifting your sword overhead, the edge slicked black, and again you will your magic to calm. For a moment you think the Vel is going to keep fighting you-- but reluctantly, it lets go, a flicker of disappointment passing through the darkness overhead, and gradually your magic dissipates, the storm slowing to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
Your arm drops to your side, your sword far too heavy to hold. Laying on your back, your panting is suddenly all you can hear in the quiet of the calming storm.
"Fuck," you breathe, your head throbbing, your chest tight from a stitch in your side. You can feel warm blood spreading beneath you, soaking your clothes, and you shiver, your back twitching painfully. Before you can try and roll over onto your hands and knees, claws grab at your sleeve, and you startle as the creature starts to drag itself over to you, baring its bloody teeth with a snarl.
You quickly fumble for your hunter's knife, pulling it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, but it's on you just as your hand tightens around the hilt. It goes right for your throat, and you weakly bat away its claws, trying to slice at it with the knife and kick it off of you. But it just grabs at your clothes again, heaving you around by your collar, throwing you down onto your stomach and crushing you beneath its weight. You wheeze, scrabbling and kicking at the snow, waving your knife over your head until it grabs your wrist and wrenches your arm back, twisting it violently behind you, ripping at your flesh, nails scraping to the bone. You let out a pathetic whimper as you feel your shoulder pop, intense pain making you gasp, your vision going dark for a few seconds.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>The storm howls overhead, and you swing your sword low, cutting through the snow at your feet. It melts at the touch, water rising like a snake around your blade, and as you lunge forward and thrust out your sword, a spear of water hurtles from the end of it. It cuts through the rain, flying straight for the beast where it hunches over Clementine. With a twist of your blade and a bright flash of runes, the spear turns to ice just before impact, piercing right between its shoulder blades with a wet //thud//. It screams, just like before, but the sound fades quickly, replaced with a low moan as it collapses onto its side, clawing weakly at the shard of ice protruding from its chest.
When you lower your sword, the creature jerks back across the clearing, as if pulled by an invisible tether, the ice trying to return to your blade. And then you collapse, the snow beneath your hands frothing uncontrollably as you struggle to rein in your magic. You roll onto your back, staring up into the sky, wincing at the rain now falling hard enough to hurt. The pain in your back radiates all the way through your chest, an agonizing, helpless feeling of being crushed-- but you take a deep, shaky breath, lifting your sword overhead, and again you will your magic to calm. For a moment you think the Vel is going to keep fighting you-- but reluctantly, it lets go, a flicker of disappointment passing through the dark clouds gathered over the clearing, and gradually your magic dissipates, the snow calming beneath you as the storm slows to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
Your arm drops to your side, your sword far too heavy to hold. Laying on your back, your panting is suddenly all you can hear in the quiet of the calming storm.
"Fuck," you breathe, your head throbbing, your chest tight from a stitch in your side. You can feel warm blood spreading beneath you, soaking your clothes, and you shiver, your back twitching painfully. Before you can try and roll over onto your hands and knees, claws suddenly grab at your sleeve, and you startle as the creature drags itself towards you, baring its bloody teeth with a snarl.
You quickly fumble for your hunter's knife, pulling it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, but it's on you just as your hand tightens around the hilt. It goes right for your throat, the shard of ice pushing into your chest, and you weakly bat away its claws, slapping at the ice before it can stake you-- but it just grabs at your clothes again, heaving you around by your collar, throwing you down onto your stomach and crushing you beneath its weight. You wheeze, scrabbling and kicking at the snow, waving your knife over your head until it grabs your wrist and wrenches your arm back, twisting it violently behind you, ripping at your flesh, nails scraping to the bone. You let out a pathetic whimper as you feel your shoulder pop, intense pain making you gasp, your vision going dark for a few seconds.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>The storm howls overhead, and you thrust your sword skyward, lightning crackling forth from the clouds and the now glowing runes before coalescing along the edge of your blade-- and shooting across the clearing, reaching like a skeletal white hand for the beast, enveloping it just before it can reach the bard.
Your hair stands on end as the air turns electric, a sudden wave of heat tossing your clothes, smoke hissing against the rain and the smell of burning flesh filling your mouth and making you gag. The creature starts to scream just like before, but the sound fades quickly, replaced with a low moan as it collapses into the snow, its limbs jerking wildly. You draw your sword back, and it follows, pulled by an invisible tether, your lightning dragging it back towards your blade. You stagger the rest of the way, plunging your sword between the creature's ribs, pressing your weight onto it until its buried up to the hilt, until you hear the sound of snow crunching and grass tearing as the blade sinks into the earth beneath it. You feel your face nearly blistering, the heat from the beast's twitching body making your eyes water, electricity still popping through the clearing, a few stray flames burning in the trees.
The wind swirls overhead, pulling fire and blood up into the sky, and you shield your face from it, withdrawing your sword and rolling off the beast with a pained groan. You try to rein in your magic, staring up into the clouds, wincing at the rain now falling hard enough to hurt. The pain in your back radiates all the way through your chest, an agonizing, helpless feeling of being crushed-- but you take a deep, shaky breath, lifting your sword overhead, the edge slicked black, and again you will your magic to calm. For a moment you think the Vel is going to keep fighting you-- but reluctantly, it lets go, a flicker of disappointment passing through the darkness overhead, and gradually your magic dissipates, flames receding and lightning returning to the clouds, the storm slowing to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
Your arm drops to your side, your sword far too heavy to hold. Laying on your back, your panting is suddenly all you can hear in the quiet of the calming storm.
"Fuck," you breathe, your head throbbing, your chest tight from the stitch in your side. You can feel warm blood spreading beneath you, soaking your clothes, and you shiver, your back twitching painfully. Before you can try and roll over onto your hands and knees, claws grab at your sleeve, and you startle as the creature starts to drag itself over to you, bloody teeth exposed beneath charred lips in a permanent snarl.
You quickly fumble for your hunter's knife, pulling it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, but it's on you just as your hand tightens around the hilt. It goes right for your throat, and you weakly bat away its claws, trying to slice at it with the knife and kick it off of you. But it just grabs at your clothes again, heaving you around by your collar, throwing you down onto your stomach and crushing you beneath its weight. You wheeze, scrabbling and kicking at the snow, waving your knife over your head until it grabs your wrist and wrenches your arm back, twisting it violently behind you, ripping at your flesh, nails scraping to the bone. You let out a pathetic whimper as you feel your shoulder pop, intense pain making you gasp, your vision going dark for a few seconds.<<else>>The storm howls overhead, and you swing your sword low, the blade cutting through the snow and biting into the earth underneath. It gives away at the touch, the ground splitting in front of you, ripping through the clearing as you lunge forward and thrust out your sword. A chunk of ice and mud tears free and hurtles straight for the beast where it leers over Clementine, cracking across its shoulders and the back of its head. It breaks apart in a burst of stone and ice, showering the bard while the beast spins around with a furious shriek. Roots explode from the muddy gash at your feet, whipping across the clearing and lashing its arms, hauling it closer-- hauling it into your blade. The scream abruptly ends, replaced instead with a low moan as you plunge your sword up to the hilt, black blood oozing over your hands before you withdraw with a gasp.
And then you collapse, the ground beneath your hands trembling violently as you struggle to rein in your magic. You roll onto your back, staring up into the sky, wincing at the rain now falling hard enough to hurt. The pain in your back radiates all the way through your chest, an agonizing, helpless feeling of being crushed-- but you take a deep, shaky breath, lifting your sword overhead, and again you will your magic to calm. For a moment you think the Vel is going to keep fighting you-- but reluctantly, it lets go, a flicker of disappointment passing through the clouds overhead, and gradually your magic dissipates, the earth settling beneath you as the storm slows to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
Your arm drops to your side, your sword far too heavy to hold. Laying on your back, your panting is suddenly all you can hear in the quiet of the calming storm.
"Fuck," you breathe, your head throbbing, your chest tight from a stitch in your side. You can feel warm blood spreading beneath you, soaking your clothes, and you shiver, your back twitching painfully. Before you can try and roll over onto your hands and knees, claws suddenly grab at your sleeve, and you startle as the creature drags itself towards you, baring its bloody teeth with a snarl.
You quickly fumble for your hunter's knife, pulling it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, but it's on you just as your hand tightens around the hilt. It goes right for your throat, and you weakly bat away its claws, trying to slice at it with the knife and kick it off of you. But it just grabs at your clothes again, heaving you around by your collar, throwing you down onto your stomach and crushing you beneath its weight. You wheeze, scrabbling and kicking at the snow, waving your knife over your head until it grabs your wrist and wrenches your arm back, twisting it violently behind you, ripping at your flesh, nails scraping to the bone. You let out a pathetic whimper as you feel your shoulder pop, intense pain making you gasp, your vision going dark for a few seconds.<</if>>
Your arm useless now, it releases your wrist and reaches up to push your face into the earth, all the snow kicked aside and the mud thawed from your footsteps and thrashing. You taste the grit of it on your tongue, feel it scrape the skin of your cheek as it grinds the heel of its palm into the back of your skull.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head into its palm, blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
You try to reach out, for your knife, for your magic, for anything, but you get no response, the pain making your head spin, white spots flashing before your eyes. Until-- the Vel. It's the Vel, and it responds once again-- but not just to you, it seems. It shudders overhead, and you watch as the creature's eyes change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- and yours, too.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its movements far more fluid and sure than they had been just a moment ago. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You exhale slowly, and then heft your sword and lunge forward with a powerful, two-handed swing. The beast scrambles back with a snarl and attempts to counter, taking a wild swipe at you-- claws tear flesh as it catches your arm, your steps too slow as pain radiates from your back down through your legs. But you let the momentum of the strike carry you forward, ignoring the blood now slicking your palms, stepping past the creature and turning hard on your heel in a feint. It follows, only to meet your blade there instead.
There's another burst of alchemical lightning, the air crackling as you concede and reach for the energy humming through the clearing, pressing down on you from the Vel. The runes along your blade burn even brighter, the metal shifting at your command, spikes bursting from the tip of the blade in a crude attempt at a morningstar-- but all that matters is it //hurts// when you smash it into the beast's face.
You both hear and feel the crush of bone, the collapse of the skull as it's head snaps to the side, thrown off its feet from the force of it. The newly formed spikes along the edge of your blade embed themself deep in the creature's face, and you're dragged sideways as it falls, before you wrench your sword free with an audible //squelch//.
The side of its face is nothing but black gore, an eye popped from its socket, teeth jumbled among bits of flesh-- you flick viscera from your sword, the runes dimming as it shifts back into its original shape, trembling slightly as your hands shake along with the Vel overhead. You take a few seconds to catch your breath, hunching forward with a hand on your knee as the Vel settles back into place, the excitement having passed and the fight nearing its end. You grimace at the hot pain in your back as you slowly straighten up, shaking out your limbs before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the black blood now seeping out across the clearing, steaming against the snow, closing the space between you and the dying creature. It glares up at you, and despite the ruin you've made of its face, you can tell it's grinning. You just scowl, crouching down and raising your hunter's knife. But before you can finish it and plunge your blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's remaining eye suddenly changes, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You stagger back as it rises, your eyes widening, too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, lifting your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You start to stalk a small circle around the clearing, the beast following you curiously with a slow turn of its head. Your body is tired, your legs shaking slightly with each careful step, blood soaking the back of your trousers and spilling down into your boots. The strike to your back is worse than you initially thought, and you aren't sure how much longer you can keep going before it becomes a real problem.
You and the creature stare at each other, your eyes narrowed as you peer down the edge of your sword. It sits back on its haunches, unmoving, tracking you with its eyes. Then the creature laughs, just as it stands and turns towards Clementine.
"No!" you blurt, cursing yourself for leaving them there. You hadn't even realized it had managed to get between you and the bard, and you curse again-- and you curse Lea, too, wherever the //vel// $l_they <<are>>.
You take a few quick steps forward, slamming your hands to the ground as you exhale, sigils igniting beneath your palms. Across the clearing, ice erupts from the ground, a spiked barrier forming around Clementine, nearly skewering the creature before it can jump back with a shriek. It whirls around, baring its teeth at you as you straighten back up with some effort, pointing your sword at it with a sneer.
"Focus on me, you ugly bastard," you hiss, and it laughs, breaking into a run on all fours in your direction. "//Fuck//," you mutter, stumbling back and dragging your foot through the snow, once again willing water into ice-- and you finally concede, reaching for the energy humming through the clearing, the Vel pulsing with excitement overhead. Your <<if $alchtats>>hand glows as you lift it high, sigils forming in the air,<<else>>bracers glow as you lift your hand high, sigils forming in the air,<</if>> before another burst of ice explodes from the ground, tearing through the creature's arms and chest, sending it reeling in front of you.
You rush forward as the thing flails around on its back, plunging your blade through its chest with a shout. You lean into the hilt, breathing hard, the beast stilling beneath you, and it takes you another moment before you can step back and rip your sword free, staggering as pain lances from your back, down your legs, into the soles of your feet.
Overhead, the Vel crackles for a moment before settling down, almost as if disappointed by such an unceremonious end to the fight. You ignore its discontent, still struggling to catch your breath, hunching forward with a hand on your knee. You grimace as you slowly straighten back up, shaking out your limbs before reaching down and pulling your hunter's knife from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
Carefully, you step over the growing puddle of viscous blood, steaming against the snow, and crouch low over the dying creature. It glares up at you-- but still bares its teeth in a nasty grin, even as it tries desperately to crawl out from beneath your blade.
"Come on," you growl, moving to lunge after it. But before you can finish it and strike your knife through its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You take a few steps back as it rises, your eyes widening, too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, lifting your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your already bleeding arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]The Vel shudders, and a thread uncoils in your chest before snapping taut. You grasp it in both hands and pull forward, until you're walking through the treetops, one hand falling away to trail along the frozen pines, the frost biting at your fingers.
[[The world stretches out before you.]]You trail close behind, your sword raised high, and the two of you come back together with a clash of claws against steel. You harden yourself against the beast's shrieking as the two of you exchange blows back and forth, dancing across the clearing, every consecutive strike you block growing weaker than the last as its attacks turn frenzied and desperate.
A wild swipe nearly catches you across the face, but you continue to dodge and block its crazed lashes, letting it tire itself out before you go back on the offensive.
It deflects your first strike with a snarl, but the counter betrays its exhaustion, spittle foaming at the corners of its mouth as it shrieks again, and you take your chance and push forward with a flurry of blows until it falters-- then you pull back your sword for one final thrust, plunging your blade between its ribs, burying it up to the hilt. The beast grabs at your shoulders, its claws tearing at your shirt as you withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood staining your boots before it crumples to the ground.
You lower your sword, breathing hard and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Next ->adv sword win]]You trail close behind, your sword raised high, and the two of you come back together with another clash of claws against steel. You harden yourself against the beast's shrieking as the two of you exchange blows back and forth, dancing across the clearing, every consecutive strike you block growing weaker than the last as its attacks turn frenzied and desperate.
A wild swipe nearly catches you across the face, but you continue to dodge and block its crazed lashes, letting it tire itself out before you decide to go on the offensive.
Leading with a deceptive feint, you watch it recoil and strike out reflexively, sloppy and weak, its claws finding nothing there but cold air before it spins around with another shriek-- and you pull back your sword for one final thrust, finding your mark this time and plunging your blade between its ribs, burying it up to the hilt. The beast grabs at your shoulders, its claws tearing at your shirt as you withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood staining your boots before it crumples to the ground.
You lower your sword, breathing hard and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Next ->adv sword win]]You watch as it starts to circle again, keeping your sword raised high, pivoting along with its erratic movements. It's still on all fours, loping sideways, favoring its one leg, a trail of black blood steaming against the snow in its wake.
"Come on," you sneer, and the two of you come back together with a clash of claws against steel. You harden yourself against the beast's shrieking as the two of you exchange blows back and forth, dancing across the clearing, every consecutive strike you block growing weaker than the last as its attacks turn frenzied and desperate.
A wild swipe nearly catches you across the face, but you continue to dodge and block its crazed lashes, letting it tire itself out before you go back on the offensive.
After a particularly sloppy strike you dive beneath its outstretched arm, slicing upwards with your blade as you rise back onto your feet. You cut it clean across the thigh, up into its torso, where your blade bites in deep, hooking beneath its protruding ribcage. It batters at your shoulders with its claws, but you just thrust your sword deeper, plunging your blade up to the hilt until it goes limp. Its claws tear at your shirt as it sags into you, and then you withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood staining your boots before it crumples all the way to the ground.
You lower your sword, breathing hard and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Next ->adv sword win]]You trail close behind, your axe raised high, and the two of you come back together with a clash of claws against steel. You harden yourself against the beast's shrieking as the two of you exchange blows back and forth, dancing across the clearing, every consecutive strike you block growing weaker than the last as its attacks turn frenzied and desperate.
A wild swipe nearly catches you across the face, but you continue to dodge and block its crazed lashes, letting it tire itself out before you go back on the offensive.
It wards off your first attack with another vicious swipe aimed at your wrists, but you can feel its exhaustion, and you push forward with a flurry of blows until it falters-- and then you swing your axe down for one final blow. This time you nearly succeed in decapitating it, your axe embedding where neck meets shoulder, its thin collarbone snapping under the pressure. You tighten your grip and shove downward, forcing the creature onto its knees, the bit sinking even deeper, blood gushing down the beast's chest, hissing as it steams in the cold night air. The beast reaches up and scratches weakly at your arms, its claws tearing at your sleeves when you finally withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood arcing overhead before it crumples to the ground.
You step back, breathing hard, sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Continue ->adv axe win]]You trail close behind, your axe raised high, and the two of you come back together with another clash of claws against steel. You harden yourself against the beast's shrieking as the two of you exchange blows back and forth, dancing across the clearing, every consecutive strike you block growing weaker than the last as its attacks turn frenzied and desperate.
A wild swipe nearly catches you across the face, but you continue to dodge and block its crazed lashes, letting it tire itself out before you decide to go on the offensive.
Leading with a deceptive feint, you watching the beast recoil and lash out reflexively, sloppy and weak, its claws finding nothing but cold air before it spins around with a shriek-- and you swing your axe down for one final blow, abruptly silencing it. You nearly decapitate the thing, your axe embedding where neck meets shoulder, its thin collarbone snapping under the pressure. You tighten your grip and shove downward, forcing the creature onto its knees, the bit sinking even deeper, blood gushing down the its chest, hissing as it steams in the cold night air. It reaches up and scratches weakly at your arms, its claws tearing at your sleeves when you finally withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood arcing overhead before it crumples to the ground.
You step back, breathing hard, sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Continue ->adv axe win]]You trail close behind, your axe raised high, and the two of you come back together with a clash of claws against steel. You slap away its attack with the flat of your axe, the creature's movements growing sloppy and erratic, its one arm bending awkwardly at the elbow. It suddenly swings it at you like a weapon, and you dodge yet again, dropping low beneath its swipe before propelling yourself upwards, lifting your axe overhead in both hands, bringing it down for one final blow. You aim higher this time, and the bit embeds itself in its back, right at the base of the beast's neck, nearly decapitating it. It makes a wet sound, its head lolling forward, and you tighten your grip and shove downward, forcing the creature onto its knees, the bit sinking even deeper, blood gushing down the beast's back, hissing as it steams in the cold night air. It paws weakly at you, its one good arm waving behind its head, claws scraping against the small part of the bit that's not buried deep in its rotted flesh. When you withdraw, you feel something snap beneath your hands, and the beast collapses in silence, unmoving.
You step back, breathing hard, sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Continue ->adv brutal axe 2]]You roll the beast over onto its back with the toe of your boot, and it lets out weak, wet laugh, grinning up at you, its lips slick with black blood. You scowl back, crouching down and raising your knife in both hands, but before you can plunge the blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You nearly fall backwards as it rises, suddenly reanimated and heedless of its injuries, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, swinging your axe in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, letting its head flop back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You take a deep breath, glancing down at the arrows you have left in your quiver. //Need to make them count.//
You begin to circle again, lifting your bow and staring down the arrow's edge as the beast takes a few tentative steps in your direction. It glares at you, pivoting to follow your movements around the clearing, its claws twitching at its side. It's //calculating.// The Vel flickers overhead, excited by the escalation and the blood, but you ignore it, pulling your arm back with a long exhale.
When the beast lunges forward, you release the shot, whistling through the cold air and snapping its head back on impact. It shrieks loud enough to chill your blood, but you shoot again, your arrow burrowing into its neck and abruptly silencing it. You fire off two more shots in quick succession, both //thunking// loudly into its chest, but still it staggers forward, its black eyes burning into your own.
You take a few steps back, priming a fourth shot, waiting until it's nearly on you to let it go, its head snapping back again as your arrow burrows into its eye. That, at last, brings the beast down right at your feet, groaning and weakly batting at the arrows protruding from its chest--and then it stills, sighing loudly, its one good eye glaring up at you.
You lower your bow and take a few panting breaths, wary and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You pull your bow over your shoulders and grab your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
You retrieve a few of your arrows first, inspecting the tips for damage and wiping the blood off on your trousers before returning them to your quiver. The beast just grins up at you, its lips slick with black blood, and you watch as it grabs the arrow in its eye before you can reach for it, wrenching it free with a terrible squelching sound and tossing it away with a weak snarl. Then it stills again, black blood pouring from its mouth, its chest heaving, still watching you with its one remaining eye.
You scowl, crouching over it and raising your hunter's knife high, but before you can plunge your blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's single eye suddenly changes, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
[[Continue ->adv bow win]]The air is charged with your magic, a burst of lightning flashing overhead, your bow practically humming in your hand, and you glare over at the creature as it slowly rises back onto its feet. You take a deep breath, pull your arm back, and exhale, your hands burning as electricity coalesces along your bow, swirling around the arrowhead, your body shaking from the strain as you pull and pull and pull-- and then you let go, the arrow zipping across the clearing, too fast for you to see.
The creature's head snaps back, and there's a burst of sparks and wave of heat the washes over you as you quickly close the gap, looping your bow across your shoulders and drawing your sword. The creature groans, pawing at the burning arrow protruding from its throat, its limbs jerking with electricity, the smell of burning flesh filling your nose as you ready your blade-- and plunge it between its ribs, burying it up to the hilt. The beast grabs at your shoulders, its claws tearing at your shirt as you withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood staining your boots before it crumples to the ground.
You lower your sword, breathing hard and sweating beneath your clothes, from the sudden exertion and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You stow your sword and grab your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust. You retrieve a few of your arrows first, inspecting the tips for damage, wiping the blood on your trousers before returning them to your quiver. The beast just grins up at you, its lips slick with black blood, and you watch as it grabs the arrow in its throat before you can reach for it, wrenching it free with a terrible squelching sound and tossing it away with a weak snarl. Then it stills again, black blood pouring from its mouth, its chest heaving, still watching you through narrowed eyes.
You scowl, crouching over it and raising your hunter's knife, but before you can plunge your blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
[[Continue ->adv bow win]]You keep your eyes on the beast, though your focus shifts, a branching of the thread inside your chest as you reach out towards the forest, the life within thrumming in response, from the earth beneath your feet to the high pines arching through the sky. Your magic stirs, the Vel flickering excitedly, and there's a sudden rush as your hair stands on end, a pop of lightning dancing from your fingertips and twisting down your blade-- before you rein it in, the air trembling as you bend it to your will.
<<if $magic_pref eq "air">>It starts as a cold caress, and then a gust of wind rushes into the clearing, pulling at your clothes, sending snow cascading down from the branches overhead, the trees bending and groaning as their pines whip back and forth and scatter through the sky.
You watch as the creature tosses its head, agitated, huffing and clicking its teeth, swiping at the air as it howls through the clearing. You start to press forward again, and its attention snaps back to you, letting out another scream you can't hear, torn away by the wind. But it doesn't deter the beast in the slightest, and soon it's closing back in, with you stepping up to meet it, swinging for its chest. It lurches to the side, trying to flank you, but it's unable to dodge the burst of cold air that coalesces at the end of your blade, throwing it off its feet and sending it tumbling head over heels across the clearing. You follow close behind, your movements quickened as the wind at your back propels you forward, your feet barely touching the ground as you rain down a flurry of blows that keep the beast cowering on all fours, panting and bleeding as it desperately tries to avoid your blade.
But there's nowhere for it to go, the vicious wind buffeting it on all sides while your sword pins it to the ground, and you're ready when it falters, tripping over itself-- you lunge forward, thrusting your blade between its ribs, burying it up to the hilt. The beast grabs at your shoulders, its claws tearing at your shirt as you withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood staining your boots before it crumples to the ground.
Stepping back, you stare up into the storm, and you raise your sword, the edge slicked black, closing your eyes and gritting your teeth as you will your magic to calm. Gradually, it dissipates, the wind calming and the storm slowing to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
You lower your sword, breathing hard and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the two threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>Your sword immediately frosts over, emanating a freezing fog that swirls through the clearing as you and the creature come back together with a clash. You swing against its outstretched claws, and this time you expect it when it tries to jump away, pivoting your stance and lunging to the side to meet it. Your blade slashes across the creature's sternum, ice leaping from metal to skin on contact, splintering its chest like shattered glass as its blood freezes before it can even begin to spill.
It tries to scream again, but you push forward with a flurry of blows, beating it back across the clearing, feeling it weaken with each strike, the ice clinging to its chest and slowing its movements until at last it falters-- and you pull back your sword for one final thrust, plunging your blade between its ribs, burying it up to the hilt. It leans into you, its body trembling as ice seeps from your sword and spreads quickly with each beat of its rotten heart. It weakly tries to drab at your shoulders when you withdraw, but it just collapses to the ground with a black slosh of icy blood landing in the snow at your feet.
Stepping back, you let out a long breath, shivering as the blackened frost on your blade creeps up along your arm, the air in the clearing thick and wet. You close your eyes and grit your teeth, lifting your sword towards the sky as you will your magic to calm. Gradually, it dissipates, your blade and arm thawing, left dripping water and blood as a suddenl light pattering of rain begins to fall.
You lower your sword, shaking slightly and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the two threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>Fire erupts from your hands, burning down your blade, the air hissing with steam as you and the creature come back together with a clash. You swing against its outstretched claws, and it recoils from the heat, its rotted skin blistering as your blade slashes dangerously close to its face. You grit your teeth against the flames, keeping up the pressure and swinging again, a sudden flash of lightning illuminating the clearing as your magic surges, and the fire leaps from the edge of your blade and whips across the creature's chest with a burst of sparks.
It tries to scream again, but you follow the burn up with a quick flurry of blows, beating it back across the clearing, feeling it weaken with each strike, the fire clinging to it arms while the flames from your sword continue to hiss and spit until finally the beast falters-- and you pull back your sword for one final thrust, plunging your burning blade between its ribs, burying it up to the hilt. You withdraw quickly, an arc of boiling blood hissing in the snow at your feet while flames burst from the creatures open mouth, swirling up into the night sky before the beast collapses in a heap of charred limbs.
Stepping back, you let out a long breath, wincing as the flames from your blade begin to creep up along your arm, the air in the clearing hot and thick with smoke. You close your eyes and grit your teeth, raising your sword high as you will your magic to calm. Gradually, it dissipates, the flames receding and your blade cooling beneath a sudden light pattering of rain.
You lower your sword, trembling slightly and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.<<else>>Your feet slide with intention through the freshly fallen snow, searching for the mud and the dirt compacted underneath. Roots down below pulse like the veins beneath your skin, and you let them swell with your magic as you and the beast come back together with a clash. You swing against its outstretched claws, and this time you expect it when it tries to jump away, pivoting your stance and dragging your foot in a quick arc, swiping at the creature's legs while simultaneously shaking the clearing with a surge of magic.
It staggers but manages to keep itself upright, claws slashing through air as you quickly backpedal before lunging forward and exchanging a flurry of blows that has the both of you dancing across the clearing together. You keep yourself on your toes, feeling for the roots down below-- and the clearing shakes again, stone and ice cracking beneath your feet, and again the creature staggers, its ankle catching on a stray root. You pull back your sword and seize your chance as the ground shudders, plunging the blade between its ribs and burying it up to the hilt. The beast grabs at your shoulders, its claws tearing at your shirt as you withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood staining your boots before it crumples to the ground.
Stepping back, you stare down at the cracked earth, swaying slightly as it trembles beneath your feet, and you raise your sword overhead, the edge slicked black, closing your eyes and gritting your teeth as you will your magic to calm. Gradually, it dissipates, the ground settling just as a light pattering of rain begins to fall.
You lower your sword, breathing hard and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.<</if>>
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Continue ->adv mage win]]The beast lets out weak, wet laugh, grinning up at you, its lips slick with black blood. You scowl back, crouching down and raising your knife in both hands, but before you can plunge the blade into its heart, the thread in your chest abruptly tightens. The Vel shudders through the clearing, and you watch as the creature's eyes suddenly change, turning vibrant and gold, something pulling on its thread-- the same thing that's tightening yours.
"//Hunter//," it says suddenly, its voice clear and articulate. Its voice no longer its own.
You nearly fall backwards as it rises, heedless of its injuries, and you're too stunned to react when it suddenly lunges at you, its movements far more fluid than before. It grabs your wrist, trying to pull away your hunter's knife, but you tighten your grip and start to thrash, swinging with your sword in your other hand-- but it easily slaps it away with a new, unnatural strength, sending it clattering into the snow.
"Wait--" you yelp as it twists your arm behind your back, your shoulder popping out of its socket before it slams you down to the ground, pinning you beneath it.
"Let go," it croons, and it takes you a moment to realize its talking about the knife. Only when its claws dig into your arm do you know what it wants. You let it go reluctantly, gasping pitifully, white spots dancing across your vision.
And then it stops, its hand easing back into what you can only describe as a caress. You twist on the ground, turning your head and blinking up at it through a haze of pain. It hunches forward, breathing into your ear, and you can feel spit drip into your hair, burning like ice where it touches your skin.
"//Hunter//," it whispers again.
It leans back onto its haunches, grabbing your face and twisting you around, its long nails digging into your cheeks until blood trickles down your chin. It pulls you up and studies you for a moment, tilting its head back and forth, its face softening as it holds you close. The smell of rot suddenly washes over you, familiar now, your eyes watering as you grit your teeth against it.
"What....What are you?" you breathe, staring up into the sky, into the Vel.
[[But it doesn't answer.]]You watch as it starts to circle again, keeping your sword raised high, pivoting along with its erratic movements. It's still on all fours, loping sideways, favoring its one leg, a trail of black blood steaming against the snow in its wake. With your eyes still tracking the beast, your focus shifts, a branching of the thread inside your chest as you reach out towards the forest, the life within thrumming in response, from the earth beneath your feet to the high pines arching through the sky. Your magic stirs, the Vel flickering excitedly, and there's a sudden rush as your hair stands on end, a pop of lightning dancing from your fingertips and twisting down your blade-- before you rein it in, the air trembling as you bend it to your will.
<<if $magic_pref eq "air">>It starts as a cold caress, and then a gust of wind rushes into the clearing, pulling at your clothes, sending snow cascading down from the branches overhead, the trees bending and groaning as their pines whip back and forth and scatter through the sky.
You watch as the creature tosses its head, agitated, huffing and clicking its teeth, swiping at the air as it howls through the clearing. Its attention eventually snaps back to you, letting out another scream you can't hear, torn away by the wind. But it doesn't deter the beast in the slightest, and soon it's closing in again, circling tighter and tighter as you swiftly dance around it, your feet barely touching the ground with the wind at your back.
When it lunges for you, you swiftly jump to the side, flanking it as it flounders in the empty space you left behind. You seize your chance, digging your heels in before leaping up into the air, the wind lifting you higher and bringing you down harder, slamming into the beast and sending you both sprawling through the snow. It's caught on your blade, shrieking and twisting beneath you with your sword jammed between its ribcage. You leverage yourself on top, pressing your weight down until your blade is buried up to the hilt, the creature letting out a low groan before falling still.
You stand slowly as you withdraw, grimacing against the wind and the rain falling hard enough to hurt. The wind howls through the trees, a storm gathering overhead, and you lift your black-slicked blade skyward, closing your eyes and gritting your teeth as you will your magic to calm. Gradually, reluctantly, it dissipates, the wind calming and the storm slowing to nothing but a light pattering of rain.
You lower your sword, trembling slightly and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the two threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "water">>Your blade immediately frosts over, the temperature dropping and the ice thickening beneath your boots. Rain begins to fall, heeding your call, clouds darkening the sky overhead.
You watch as the creature tosses its head, agitated, huffing and clicking its teeth, swiping at the rain now falling hard enough to hurt. Its attention eventually snaps back to you, and soon it's closing in again, circling tighter and tighter as you dance around it, keeping your icy blade raised between you.
When it lunges, you swiftly jump to the side, swinging close enough to keep it from following, the rain shifting and whipping across its back, the sound of it slapping against its skin making you shiver in disgust. It spins around, snapping its teeth in the space you had just been occupying, and again you dodge it easily when it leaps clumsily after you. The rain shifts again, following your blade as you raise it high and point it straight at the creature-- and it hones in, pelting it like arrows, water and ice piercing flesh and splintering like glass across its chest. It flounders, weakly raising its arms to shield its face, and you take your chance, rushing forward with the rain and plunging your blade between its ribs, burying it up to the hilt. It leans into you, its body trembling as ice seeps from your sword, spreading quickly with each beat of its rotten heart. It weakly tries to drab at your shoulders when you withdraw, but it just collapses to the ground with a black slosh of icy blood landing in the snow at your feet.
Stepping back, you let out a long breath, shivering as the blackened frost on your blade creeps up along your arm, the rain pelting against your shoulders. You close your eyes and grit your teeth, lifting your sword towards the sky as you will your magic to calm. Gradually, reluctantly, it dissipates, your blade thawing and the storm slowing to just a light pattering of rain.
You lower your sword, trembling slightly and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the two threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.<<elseif $magic_pref eq "fire">>Fire erupts from your hands, burning down your blade, the cold air hissing at the sudden heat, a harsh cloud of steam swirling skyward as you raise your sword and steel yourself against the flames.
You watch as the creature tosses its head, agitated, huffing and clicking its teeth, swiping at the smoke now flooding the clearing, a sudden rain falling as the temperature fluctuates with lightning flashing overhead. Its attention eventually snaps back to you, and soon it's closing in again, circling tighter and tighter as you dance around it, keeping your sword high and burning hot between you.
The heat allows you to hold your ground, forcing the creature back with each swipe of your blade, and you carefully maneuver yourself to where you're pushing it onto its injured leg, the waves of fire from your sword soon all the beast can focus on to keep itself standing. You lunge forward, lashing out with a burst of flame, and it shrieks as it scrambles out of the way-- but the lightning that follows tracks its movements, flying down from the clouds, to the tip of your sword, redirecting and bursting against the creature's chest, throwing it to the ground as its limbs spasm and its body smokes against the rain. You're close enough to finish it, rushing over and plunging your flaming sword between its ribs, burying the blade as deep as you can until it pierces the earth beneath it. It thrashes once, twice, and then finally stills, the electricity receding while a spray of fire rushes out of its open mouth. You withdraw quickly, an arc of boiling blood hissing in the snow at your feet, your blade glowing and steaming dangerously in the dark.
Stepping back, you let out a long breath, wincing as the flames from your blade begin to creep up along your arm, the air thickening with a new wave of smoke. You close your eyes and grit your teeth, lifting your sword towards the sky as you will your magic to calm. Gradually, reluctantly, it dissipates, the flames receding and your blade cooling beneath a light pattering of rain.
You lower your sword, trembling slightly and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.<<else>>Your feet slide with intention through the freshly fallen snow, searching for the mud and the dirt compacted underneath. Roots down below pulse like the veins beneath your skin, and you let them swell with your magic as the beast begins to advance, snarling as the ground begins to shake beneath its feet.
You let it come, easily dodging its claws and teeth, waiting for it to wear itself out as it stumbles and trips its way through each attack, until eventually it drops back on all fours with a frustrated shriek. When it lunges, you roll out of the way, letting your sword clash against the ice and snow, sweeping your arms up while jumping back onto your feet, a chunk of earth ripping free and flying straight for the pursuing beast. It bursts across its chest, ice and mud scattering across the clearing, and it collapses back onto its bad leg with a groan. You let the shifting earth propel you forward, until you're right on top of it, your sword plunging between its ribs, burying the blade as deep as you can until it pierces the ground underneath. It thrashes once, twice, and then finally stills, a long wheeze hissing between its teeth as it slowly slumps onto its back. You wrench your blade from the earth and withdraw quickly, an arc of black blood splattering the snow at your feet.
Stepping back, you let out a long breath, grimacing at the low rumble still shaking through the clearing, the pines overhead swaying ominously. You close your eyes and grit your teeth, lifting your black-slicked sword skyward as you will your magic to calm. Gradually, reluctantly, it dissipates, the earth settling with a heavy silence ringing in your ears just a sudden light rain begins to fall.
You lower your sword, trembling slightly and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it and pulling greedily at your own magic, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the two threads in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.<</if>>
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Continue ->adv mage win]]You trail close behind, your sword raised high, more alchemical lightning twisting along the blade, the runes glowing bright as the metal shifts just before you and the beast come back together with a clash of claws against steel. You harden yourself against the beast's shrieking as the two of you exchange blows back and forth, dancing across the clearing, every consecutive strike you block growing weaker than the last as its attacks turn frenzied and desperate.
A wild swipe nearly catches you across the face, but you continue to dodge and block its crazed lashes, letting it tire itself out before you go back on the offensive.
It wards off your first attack with another vicious swipe, but you can feel its exhaustion-- so you swing again and again, the weight of the sword changing in your hands, carrying you forward with a new momentum as the blade tip transmutes and swells into the unmistakable shape of a morningstar. Crude, but all that matters is that it hurts when it finally smashes into the creature's skull. Spikes slam into its temple, your lip curling as blood splatters your front and down into the snow at your feet. You pull back and swing again with both hands, crushing its chest and embedding the spikes deep in flesh and bone, the weight of the creature collapsing nearly dragging you down with it. You grunt as you rip the weapon free, chunks of flesh and meat coming with it and exposing the beast's shattered sternum and shriveled lungs still heaving, desperate for air. You step back, avoiding the spreading pool of blood while shaking viscera from your blade, glowing red as it deconstructs back to its original form.
You lower your sword, trembling slightly and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Continue ->adv alchemist win]]It eyes the red glow of your sword with a new wariness as it starts to circle again. You keep it raised high, squinting against the glow of runes while pivoting along with the beast's erratic movements. It's still on all fours, loping sideways, occasionally touching the gash across its chest while a trail of black blood steams against the snow in its wake.
"Come on," you sneer, and the two of you come back together with another clash of claws and steel. You harden yourself against the beast's shrieking as the two of you exchange blows back and forth, dancing across the clearing, every consecutive strike you block growing weaker than the last as its attacks turn frenzied and desperate.
A wild swipe nearly catches you across the face, but you continue to dodge and block its crazed lashes, letting it tire itself out before you go back on the offensive.
After a particularly sloppy strike you dive beneath its outstretched arm, slicing upwards with your blade as you rise back onto your feet. You cut it clean across the thigh, up into its torso, where your blade bites in deep, hooking beneath its protruding ribcage. It batters at your shoulders with its claws, but you just thrust your sword deeper, plunging your blade up to the hilt until it goes limp. Its claws tear at your shirt as it sags into you, and then you withdraw, a fresh spray of black blood staining your boots before it crumples all the way to the ground.
You lower your sword as the runes slowly fade out, breathing hard and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But the moment passes quickly, and you are not exactly the sentimental type. You reach for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh, glaring down at the creature with disgust.
[[Continue ->adv alchemist win]]You watch as it starts to circle again, keeping your sword raised high, pivoting along with its erratic movements. It's still on all fours, loping sideways, favoring its one leg, a trail of black blood steaming against the snow in its wake.
You let it come closer, readjusting the grip on your sword, the soft glow of your runes bathing the clearing red. The creature watches you cautiously, its eyes narrowed, but it continues its advance, panting and keening as it gets closer and closer-- until you come back together with a clash of claws against steel. You harden yourself against the beast's shrieking as the two of you exchange blows back and forth, dancing across the clearing, every consecutive strike you block growing weaker than the last as its attacks turn frenzied and desperate.
A wild swipe nearly catches you across the face, but you continue to dodge and block its crazed lashes, waiting for the right moment-- and you don't have to wait long.
It lunges with an exhausted recklessness, throwing itself at you with a snarl. You quickly jump back, slamming your foot into the ground, power surging from the runes <<if $alchtats>>on your hands<<else>>on your bracers<</if>>, red lightning popping across the snow where your foot connects-- and the earth transmutes at your command, the ground rising and launching you forward and over the bewildered creature. A move you have practiced a thousand times, the landing perfected, your feet hit the ground and immediately you swing around, slicing the thing across the back, knocking it to its knees. You plunge your blade after it, easing it between its ribs, burying it up to the hilt, the edge of the blade glinting back at you where it protrudes from its chest. It weakly tries to grab at it, its fingers pricking on the edge before you withdraw and it collapses forward into the snow.
You lower your sword as your runes slowly fade, breathing hard and sweating beneath your clothes, from the effort and the overbearing weight of the Vel pressing down on your shoulders, excited by the sudden violence. Its corruptive dark magic pulses around the creature, leeching off of it, but you don't feel a tear-- just a terrible pressure, the thread in your chest constricting cautiously. You know the beast has its own thread, too, and for a moment you see it, your shared connection, ghostly tendrils vanishing into the shimmering Vel overhead.
But you are not exactly the sentimental type. You kick the beast over onto its back, reaching for your hunter's knife, drawing it from its sheath strapped to your thigh.
[[Continue ->adv alchemist win]]Pulling at your clothes, you shake your head viciously, vomiting more water, slicing at the air with your knife. Trying to cut your thread before it pulls you under-- trying to free yourself from something you can't see.
"$surname!"
Suddenly Lea is there, $l_their hands around your wrists, prying the knife from your fingers and hauling you back up onto your knees. You vomit on $l_them, but $l_they hold<<s>> you tight, giving you a rough shake and slapping at your back. You cough up a few more mouthfuls of water before looking over at $l_them in a daze.
<div id="choice"><<link [[Don't touch me. Lea knows not to touch me.]]>><<set $aggressive +=1>><<set $touch_averse +=1>><<set $l_touch_knows to true>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link [[What's happening to me?]]>><<set $stoic +=1>><<set $l_friendship +=1>><</link>></div>
<div id="choice"><<link 'I grab for Lea, saved by $l_them for the second time tonight.' 'I grab for Lea.'>><<set $genuine +=1>><<set $l_friendship +=2>><</link>></div>Clarity strikes, and you smack Lea's hands away with a snarl, pushing yourself away from $l_them, scrambling to stand. "Don't touch me," you snap, shaking your head.
"I'm trying to help you!" Lea is yelling, still gripping your knife in $l_their hand. "What's //wrong// with you?"
"Nothing," you lie.
You both glare at each other. You bite your tongue until it bleeds, ignoring everything else but the pain in your mouth and the taste of blood. Then you turn away, the burn of shame breaking your glare as you wipe the water and vomit from your chin with the back of your hand.
"Your shoulder," Lea finally says. "Let me set it."
You grit your teeth but nod, slowly turning back around. You still can't help but flinch, both at the contact and the pain in your arm as $l_they press<<es>> $l_their hand to your shoulder. You take a deep breath and lean into $l_them, taking a handful of $l_their jacket, preparing yourself.
"Okay," Lea says, "on three. One, two–," and $l_they shove<<s>> $l_their weight against you, your shoulder popping back into place.
"//Fuck// you," you spit, pushing Lea back just as hard. You let out a ragged breath, clutching your arm, careful not to dislocate it again with any sudden movements. Once you're sure it's set, you glance back over at Lea, realizing suddenly that $l_they<<re>> still wearing $l_their underclothes, now stained with blood and vomit. You lower your gaze as $l_they rip<<s>> at the hem of $l_their shirt, pulling free a long strip of fabric and nodding at you.
<<include "sling">>"What's happening to me?" you blurt, Lea's hands still clutching at your shoulders. You sag back into the snow, letting out a trembling breath, your throat wheezing from the lingering burn of salt.
"Just breathe, $surname," Lea says. You nod, bowing your head and closing your eyes, Lea's voice and $l_their warm touch chasing out the chill. Eventually, your racing heart calms and you carefully sit back up, Lea tentatively letting go as you open your eyes.
"Are you with me?" $l_they ask<<s>>.
"Yeah," you mutter, shame lowering your gaze as you wipe the water and vomit from your chin with the back of your bloody sleeve. Lea stands then, offering you $l_their hand, and you take it, letting $l_them help you to your feet.
"I'm fine," you lie, even though Lea didn't ask. A tense moment passes between the two of you while you both just stand there looking at each other.
"Your shoulder," Lea says at last, "let me set it."
You take another deep breath, glancing down at where your one arm hangs uselessly at your side, and then nod. "Do it."
You can't help but flinch at $l_their touch, pain spiking through your arm as Lea presses $l_their hand to your shoulder. You lean into $l_them, taking a handful of $l_their jacket, preparing yourself.
"Okay," Lea says, "on three. One, two–," and $l_they shove<<s>> $l_their weight against you, your shoulder popping back into place.
You curse, releasing Lea's jacket and staggering back. $l_They quickly reach<<es>> out a hand to steady you, but you don't need it, waving $l_them off and carefully relaxing your arm, not wanting to dislocate it again with any sudden movements. Once you're sure it's set, you glance back over at Lea, realizing suddenly that $l_they<<re>> still wearing $l_their underclothes, now stained with blood and vomit. You watch grimly as $l_they rip<<s>> at the hem of $l_their shirt, pulling free a long strip of fabric and nodding at you.
<<include "sling">>"S-sorry," you stammer, Lea's hands still clutching at your shoulders. You sag back into the snow, letting out a trembling breath, your throat wheezing from the lingering burn of salt.
"Just breathe, $surname," Lea says. You find yourself reaching for $l_them, grabbing at $l_their forearms and curling forward, desperate for $l_their touch and warmth to chase out the chill. The look of surprise on Lea's face doesn't get past you, even in your current state-- but $l_they just sit<<s>> back on $l_their heels and wrap an arm around your shoulders, holding you close until your heart rate slows and your breathing comes easier.
Eventually, you sit up on your own, slipping out of Lea's arms and wiping your face with the back of your sleeve, shame lowering your gaze to the ground.
Lea gives you a moment before standing and offering you $l_their hand. You take it, letting $l_them help you to your feet.
"I'm fine," you lie, even though Lea didn't ask
Lea gives you a long look, and then just nods. "Okay," $l_they <<say>> softly. "But your shoulder," they continue after a beat, "Let me set it."
You take another deep breath, glancing down at where your arm hangs uselessly at your side, and then nod. "Do it."
You can't help but flinch at $l_their touch, pain spiking through your arm as Lea presses $l_their hand to your shoulder. You lean into $l_them, taking a handful of $l_their jacket, preparing yourself.
"Okay," Lea says, "on three. One, two–," and $l_they shove<<s>> $l_their weight against you, your shoulder popping back into place.
You curse, releasing Lea's jacket and staggering back. $l_They quickly reach<<es>> out a hand to steady you, but you don't need it, waving $l_them off and carefully relaxing your arm, not wanting to dislocate it again with any sudden movements. Once you're sure it's set, you glance back over at Lea, realizing suddenly that $l_they<<re>> still wearing $l_their underclothes, now stained with blood and vomit. You watch grimly as $l_they rip<<s>> at the hem of $l_their shirt, pulling free a long strip of fabric and nodding at you.
<<include "sling">>"If that's where we have to go," you say, shooting Lea a glare, "it's a bad idea for me to go alone. What's a few minutes going to do for me, really? And what happens when I show up at the Blackwater gates without a handler?"
Lea purses $l_their lips, Gambit shifting beneath $l_them and rocking $l_them in $l_their saddle. You ignore $l_their stare, turning back to $horse_name and hauling yourself up into the saddle behind Clementine-- you nearly shove them off as you make room for yourself, the saddle not exactly designed for two. You struggle for a moment, the world spinning briefly through a haze of pain as the bard slumps back and jars your injured arm, but eventually you get them settled in front of you, turning $horse_name around to look at Lea expectantly.
"We're wasting time," you say.
$l_Their jaw clenches, and then $l_they sigh<<s>>. "Come on, then," $l_they mutter<<s>>, turning Gambit and starting off back towards camp.
You quickly urge $horse_name to follow<<if $backScratch>>-- and barely bite back a shout as her heavy steps send pain lancing up your spine. You hunch forward, pressing your face into the back of Clementine's shoulder, jerking $horse_name to an abrupt stop.
You take a few deep breaths, blinking tears from your eyes before straightening back into the saddle. "Sorry, girl," you say weakly, reaching around the bard to give $horse_name a few pats.
Thankfully, Lea doesn't notice, and you ease yourself and $horse_name back into a slow walk, falling in line a few yards behind Gambit.<<else>>, guiding her carefully through the muddy clearing and between the trees, falling in line behind Gambit.<</if>>
[[Continue ->back to camp]]"I don't need to ride ahead," you say, indignant at the idea. "What's a few minutes head start going to do for me, Lea?"
$l_They purse $l_their lips, $l_their hands visibly tightening around Gambit's reins. "$surname..." $l_they start<<s>>, but you ignore $l_them, turning back to $horse_name and hauling yourself up into the saddle behind Clementine-- you nearly shove them off as you make room for yourself, the saddle not exactly designed for two. You struggle for a moment, the world spinning briefly through a haze of pain as the bard slumps back and jars your injured arm, but eventually you get them settled in front of you, turning $horse_name around to look at Lea expectantly.
$l_Their jaw clenches, and then $l_they sigh<<s>>. "Come on," $l_they <<say>>, turning Gambit and starting off back towards camp.
You quickly urge $horse_name to follow<<if $backScratch>>-- and barely bite back a shout as her heavy steps send pain lancing up your spine. You hunch forward, pressing your face into the back of Clementine's shoulder, jerking $horse_name to an abrupt stop.
You take a few deep breaths, blinking tears from your eyes before straightening back into the saddle. "Sorry, girl," you say weakly, reaching around the bard to give $horse_name a few pats.
Thankfully, Lea doesn't notice, and you ease yourself and $horse_name back into a slow walk, falling in line a few yards behind Gambit.<<else>>, guiding her carefully through the muddy clearing and between the trees, falling in line behind Gambit.<</if>>
[[Continue ->back to camp]]"Is that really a good idea?" you ask skeptically. "What am I going to do, showing up at the Blackwater gates with no handler?"
Lea purses $l_their lips. "Yeah. You're right," $l_they concede<<s>>, shaking $l_their head. "I just..." $l_they trail<<s>> off, glancing sideways. "Come on. We'll pack up quick."
Lea turns Gambit around and starts off back towards camp. You frown over at $horse_name, taking a deep breath before reaching for the saddle and hauling yourself up behind Clementine-- you nearly shove them off as you make room for yourself, the saddle not exactly designed for two. You struggle for a moment, the world spinning briefly through a haze of pain as the bard slumps back and jars your injured arm, but eventually you get them settled in front of you, breathing hard and grabbing at $horse_name's reins.
You quickly spur her after Gambit<<if $backScratch>>-- and barely bite back a shout as her heavy steps send pain lancing up your spine. You hunch forward, pressing your face into the back of Clementine's shoulder, jerking $horse_name to an abrupt stop.
You take a few deep breaths, blinking tears from your eyes before straightening back into the saddle. "Sorry, girl," you say weakly, reaching around the bard to give $horse_name a few pats.
You ease her back into a slow walk, guiding her through the trees, retracing your steps back to camp.<<else>>, guiding her carefully through the trees, retracing your steps back to camp.<</if>>
[[Continue ->back to camp]]With a bone-deep sigh, you turn $horse_name to follow after Lea, urging her forward<<if $backScratch>>-- and barely biting back a shout as her heavy steps send pain lancing up your spine. You hunch forward, pressing your face into the back of Clementine's shoulder, jerking $horse_name to an abrupt stop.
You take a few deep breaths, blinking tears from your eyes before straightening back into the saddle. "Sorry, girl," you say weakly, reaching around the bard to give $horse_name a few pats.
You ease her back into a slow walk, guiding her through the trees, retracing your steps back to camp.<<else>>, guiding her carefully through the trees, retracing your steps back to camp.<</if>>
[[Continue ->back to camp angry 1]]With a bone-deep sigh, you urge $horse_name forward<<if $backScratch>>-- and barely bite back a shout as her heavy steps send pain lancing up your spine. You hunch in your saddle, pressing your face into the back of Clementine's shoulder, jerking $horse_name to an abrupt stop.
You take a few deep breaths, blinking tears from your eyes before straightening back into the saddle. "Sorry, girl," you say weakly, reaching around the bard to give $horse_name a few pats.
You ease her back into a slow walk, guiding her through the trees, passing the campsite at a distance, where Lea is just a little shadow moving swiftly in the dark. <<else>>, wincing as the movement jars your arm again.
You guide her carefully through the undergrowth, passing the campsite at a distance, where Lea is just a little shadow moving swiftly in the dark.<</if>> You hear $l_them cursing loudly, wrestling with the tent as you reach the main road, stark moonlight guiding the way as $horse_name opens her stride and quickens her pace.
<<link [[Continue ->blackwater gates alone]]>><<set $ch1rideahead to true>><</link>>Alone in the misting rain, you scan the empty clearing, eyeing the muddy mess of footprints and blood.
Letting out a bone-deep sigh, you shake your head and urge $horse_name forward<<if $backScratch>>-- and barely bite back a shout as her heavy steps send pain lancing up your spine. You hunch in your saddle, pressing your face into the back of Clementine's shoulder, jerking $horse_name to an abrupt stop.
You take a few deep breaths, blinking tears from your eyes before straightening back into the saddle. "Sorry, girl," you say weakly, reaching around the bard to give $horse_name a few pats.
You ease her back into a slow walk, guiding her through the trees, passing the campsite at a distance, where Lea is just a little shadow moving swiftly in the dark.<<else>>, wincing as the movement jars your arm again.
You guide her carefully through the undergrowth, passing the campsite at a distance, where Lea is just a little shadow moving swiftly in the dark.<</if>> You hear $l_them cursing loudly, wrestling with the tent as you reach the main road, stark moonlight guiding the way as $horse_name opens her stride and quickens her pace.
<<link [[Continue ->blackwater gates alone]]>><<set $ch1rideahead to true>><</link>>Despite being on horseback, the ride feels longer than when you had walked it previously, as if the clearing had shifted deeper into the woods during the fight.
<<if hasVisited("is that a good idea")>>You slip into the campsite to see Lea already working on disassembling the tent, your bags and belongings tossed into a pile in front of Gambit.<<else>>Lea all but jumps from $l_their saddle when you enter the camp, moving quickly and gathering up all of your collective loose belonging before you can even think about helping, tossing it into a pile in front of Gambit.<</if>>
<<if $backScratch>>You stop $horse_name alongside him, grimacing as your back is jolted in your saddle again. You feel a bit dizzy, your arm damp between you and Clementine, the blood on your back turning cold in the late night air. Without $horse_name's movement to focus on, you become more aware of your pain and the feverish sweat gathering along your brow.
You look for something to do, eyeing the pile on the ground, and with some effort stand in your stirrups, letting Clementine slide back into the saddle before you attempt to dismount.
"$surname-"
You hear Lea's warning, but you're already falling from $horse_name's back, crashing down into the snow and landing in a heap atop the bags, your body twisted as one foot stays caught in the stirrup. This time you're unable to hold back your cry of pain, your arm crushed beneath your weight as you instinctively tried to catch yourself, and you collapse back while cradling it against your chest. $horse_name startles, tossing her head before unwittingly dragging you a few feet through the snow, your wounded back scraping over frozen ground, the pain nearly making you vomit.
The last thing you see is Lea raising $l_their hands, calming $horse_name, and the distant flicker of the Vel overhead.
<span style="font-family: 'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link 'End of Demo' 'DEMO'>><<set $ch1backtocamp to true>><<set $sanity -=8>><<set $prologueComplete to true>><<set $ch1backtocamp to true>><</link>></span><<else>>You stop $horse_name alongside Gambit, grimacing as you're jolted in the saddle. You feel a bit dizzy, your arm damp between you and Clementine, the sweat on your back turning cold in the late night air. Without $horse_name's movement to focus on, you become more aware of your pain and the aching soreness of your body, a slight tremble in your thighs as you adjust yourself behind Clementine.
You look for something to do, eyeing the bags on the ground, and with some effort stand in your stirrups, letting Clementine slide back into your spot before you attempt to dismount.
"$surname-"
You ignore Lea's warning, grunting as you drop heavy down into the snow. You grab your own rucksack first, slinging it over $horse_name's hind, which gets you an annoyed look from her. "I know," you pat her nose affectionately. "Only for a short ride, okay?"
Her ears pin back as she huffs her displeasure. The combined weight of you and Clementine is going to be a strain-- hopefully the ride will be easy, otherwise.
"Put it on Gambit," Lea offers from behind you. You glance back over at $l_them as $l_they stand<<s>> and bring the oilskin over, shoving it into one of $l_their saddlebags. "He can carry more than $horse_name."
You purse your lips, hesitating. "Alright," you say after a moment, stepping around and transferring the rucksack over to the other horse, who watches you suspiciously, his ears pinned back just like $horse_name's. You don't dare try to give him any pats, though.
You turn around and try to reach for Lea's rucksack next, but $l_they jump<<s>> to wave you back. "Don't, you're going to hurt yourself, $surname," $l_they snap<<s>>, giving you a withering look.
You bristle slightly, stepping back with a huff, watching as $l_they throw<<s>> $l_their bag up alongside yours. Then $l_they haul<<s>> the tent over, clumsily stowed and bulging from its bag, securing it with a few leather straps. With that done, $l_they pull<<s>> $l_themself up into the saddle, and you do the same, though much less gracefully and with a few sharp hisses of pain.
<<link [[Continue ->blackwater gates]]>><<set $ch1backtocamp to true>><</link>><</if>>Despite being on horseback, the ride feels longer than when you had walked it previously, as if the clearing had shifted deeper into the woods during the fight.
You slip into the campsite to see it mostly disassembled already, your bags packed and piled together near Gambit, while Lea aggressively packs the tent. $l_They ignore<<s>> you, turning $l_their back as $l_they fold<<s>> the oilskin over and over before roughly shoving it into one of $l_their saddlebags.
<<if $backScratch>>You stop $horse_name alongside Gambit, grimacing as your back is jolted in your saddle again. You feel a bit dizzy, your arm damp between you and Clementine, the blood on your back turning cold in the late night air. Without $horse_name's movement to focus on, you become more aware of your pain and the feverish sweat gathering along your brow.
You look for something to do, eyeing the bags on the ground, and with some effort stand in your stirrups, letting Clementine slide back into the saddle before you attempt to dismount.
"$surname-"
You hear Lea's warning, but you're already falling from $horse_name's back, crashing down into the snow and landing in a heap atop the bags, your body twisted as one foot stays caught in the stirrup. This time you're unable to hold back your cry of pain, your arm crushed beneath your weight as you instinctively try to catch yourself, and you collapse back while cradling it against your chest. $horse_name startles, tossing her head before unwittingly dragging you a few feet through the snow, your wounded back scraping over frozen ground, the pain nearly making you vomit.
The last thing you see is Lea raising $l_their hands, calming $horse_name, and the distant flicker of the Vel overhead.
<span style="font-family: 'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link 'End of Demo' 'DEMO'>><<set $sanity -=8>><<set $ch1backtocamp to true>><<set $prologueComplete to true>><</link>></span><<else>>You stop $horse_name alongside Gambit, grimacing as you're jolted in the saddle. You feel a bit dizzy, your arm damp between you and Clementine, the sweat on your back turning cold in the late night air. Without $horse_name's movement to focus on, you become more aware of your pain and the aching soreness of your body, a slight tremble in your thighs as you adjust yourself atop $horse_name.
You look for something to do, eyeing the bags on the ground, and with some effort stand in your stirrups, letting Clementine slide back into the saddle before you attempt to dismount.
"$surname-"
You dismiss Lea's warning, grunting as you drop heavy down into the snow. You grab your own rucksack first, slinging it over $horse_name's hind, which gets you an annoyed look from her. "I know," you pat her nose affectionately. "Only for a short ride, okay?"
Her ears pin back as she huffs her displeasure. The combined weight of you and Clementine is going to be a strain-- hopefully the ride will be easy, otherwise.
"Put it on Gambit," Lea says suddenly, though $l_they <<dont>> wait for you, suddenly appearing at your side and grabbing your rucksack, transferring it over to the other horse along with $l_their own. "He can carry more weight."
You purse your lips, bristling slightly at $l_them handling $horse_name, still stroking her nose as you turn to watch $l_them haul the tent and lash it alongside the bags. Once secured, $l_they pull<<s>> $l_themself up into the saddle, and you do the same, though much less gracefully and with a few sharp hisses of pain.
<<link [[Continue ->blackwater gates]]>><<set $ch1backtocamp to true>><</link>><</if>>Back on the road, the weather is calm, a fresh layer of snow crunching beneath the horses' hooves. You and Lea gently ease them into a quickened pace, falling into a rhythm side by side, time blurring quickly until the northern forest falls away and opens into swathes of terraformed farmland, small villages smattering the outskirts of Blackwater. The road beneath you turns from snow and mud to hard gravel, more worn and compacted by frequent footsteps and passing wagon wheels.
The city itself rises up ahead, and with the approaching dawn comes the salty ocean air, the distant sound of waves crashing far below the cliffs just beyond the rolling fields and the shadows of the Upper City.
Before you can reach the gates, though, someone steps out on the road in front of you. Both you and Lea have to pull hard on your reins, your arm hooking around Clementine to keep them from flying off the saddle. It's a whole group of them, moving from a nearby field and fanning out across the road, and you notice then the eyes of prying villagers, peeking through windows or watching curiously from their front stoops.
"Gods, are you fucking kidding right now..." Lea mutters, turning Gambit in a tight circle as the ragtag group blocks your path. They wear no recognizable colors or uniform that you can see-- not soldiers, and not guards. But they are armed.
You all face off in the early dawn shadows, a tense silence but for the ocean wind that rushes up from the cliffs, tossing $horse_name's mane and rustling what's left of the harvested wheat fields.
One of them steps forward then, a woman with long hair beneath a bandana tied tightly around her crown. A triangle of the fabric is folded down over her right eye, though the scar along her cheek runs lower, harsh enough to see even in the dark. She studies you for a moment, tilting her head like a cat that's caught the canary.
"Hunter," the stranger says, breaking the long silence. "You look like you have had some trouble," she says, flashing you a grin. Her eye cuts over to Lea then, stewing atop Gambit.
"Let us pass," $l_they <<say>>, before the woman can even address $l_them.
"Oh, trust me, you don't want to go that way," she says, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder and shaking her head. "You want into the city? We'll go //my// way."
"And who exactly are you?" you snap, and $horse_name stomps a hoof as if to emphasize your point.
You tense as the stranger nods to her company, and the group begins to fan out, fully encircling you and Lea. The leader peers up at you, her face harsh with shadows but for the bright flash of teeth as she smiles again.
"My name is Captain Harlowe," the stranger says. "Welcome to my city, Hunter."
<span style="font-family: 'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link 'End of Demo' 'DEMO'>><<set $sanity -=5>><<set $prologueComplete to true>><</link>></span><<if $backScratch>>Back on the road, the weather is calm, a fresh layer of snow crunching beneath $horse_name's hooves. You try to find a comfortable rhythm in the saddle with Clementine, but it's unbearable, the pain in your arm and your back turning the world into a dark haze, time blurring as you move in and out of consciousness. You haven't even made it out of the woods before you start to consider stopping-- but the thought comes too late, and you're not even able to slow $horse_name down before your body fails and you fall from the saddle, Clementine tumbling down after you. You're both thrown from the road, rolling a few feet until you're stopped short at the foot of a tree, unable to avoid the bard before they come crashing into you.
You take a few seconds before you can summon the strength to push them off, the pain in your back nearly making you vomit with the effort, and then you collapse back into the snow with an agonized gasp.
The moon overhead peers down at you, a great milky eye always observant to your suffering, it seems. A god is laughing somewhere, you're sure of it-- and that's the last though you have before slipping into the dark.
<span style="font-family: 'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link 'End of Demo' 'DEMO'>><<set $sanity -=8>><</link>></span><<else>>Back on the road, the weather is calm, a fresh layer of snow crunching beneath $horse_name's hooves. Despite your pain, you fall into a rhythm in the saddle with Clementine, time blurring quickly until the northern forest falls away and opens into swathes of terraformed farmland, small villages smattering the outskirts of Blackwater. The road beneath you turns from snow and mud to hard gravel, more worn and compacted by frequent footsteps and passing wagon wheels.
The city itself rises up ahead, and with the approaching dawn comes the salty ocean air, the distant sound of waves crashing far below the cliffs just beyond the rolling fields and the shadows of the Upper City.
Before you can reach the gates, though, someone steps out on the road in front of you. You pull hard on your reins, caught off-guard, your arm hooking around Clementine to keep them from flying off the saddle. It's a whole group of them, moving from a nearby field and fanning out across the road, and you notice then the eyes of prying villagers, peeking through windows or watching curiously from their front stoops.
Your stomach drops, and you curse under your breath as you realize what a mistake it was to ride out without Lea. You turn $horse_name in a tight circle as the ragtag group advances, encircling you and blocking the road in both directions. They wear no recognizable colors or uniform that you can see-- not soldiers, and not guards. But they are armed.
You face off in the early dawn shadows, a tense silence but for the ocean wind that rushes up from the cliffs, tossing $horse_name's mane and rustling what's left of the harvested wheat fields.
One of them steps forward then, a woman with long hair beneath a bandana tied tightly around her crown. A triangle of the fabric is folded down over her right eye, though the scar along her cheek runs lower, harsh enough to see even in the dark. She studies you for a moment, tilting her head like a cat that's caught the canary.
"Hunter," the stranger says, breaking the long silence. "You look like you have had some trouble," she says, flashing you a grin. "I think you need a healer. And your friend, too," she continues, nodding towards the bard.
You hesitate before speaking.
"They have friends here, in Blackwater," you say, still not really sure if that's true but deciding it's safer to bluff. Maybe if they think someone is expecting you-- or rather, the expensive looking southern bard-- they'll let you through without too much of a problem.
"And what about you? Do you have friends here?" the stranger replies.
You let out a growl of frustration. You don't have the patience for this kind of conversation. "Let me pass."
"Oh, trust me, you don't want to go that way," she says, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder and shaking her head. "You want into the city? We'll go //my// way."
"And who exactly are you?" you snap, and $horse_name stomps a hoof as if to emphasize your point.
You tense as the stranger nods to her company, and the group advances again, forcing you to urge $horse_name forward. The leader peers up at you, her face harsh with shadows but for the bright flash of teeth as she smiles again.
"My name is Captain Harlowe," the stranger says. "Welcome to my city, Hunter."
<span style="font-family: 'Spectral SC', serif; font-size:150%;"><<link 'End of Demo' 'DEMO'>><<set $sanity -=5>><<set $prologueComplete to true>><</link>></span><</if>><center><b>CHAPTER TWO CONTENT WARNING</b></center>
This chapter includes:
Blood
Alcohol & smoking
Violence
Vomit
Discussion of terminal illness (player character)
Proceed?
<<if $backScratch>>[[Yes. ->dawn passed out]]<<else>>[[Yes. ->dawn awake]]<</if>>
[[No. ->CHAPTER 2]]"Karstark," Lea's voice is harder now, and you can sense them hovering just before they put a rough hand on your shoulder, fingers anxiously digging into your collar despite their steely tone.
It doesn't matter– it's not in this bag. No, that wouldn't make sense; too much of a chance you'd reach in for something. You shrug off Lea's hand as you stand, brushing past them again and heading for the horses.
Lea follows right on your heels, and you hesitate only for a moment before going for Gambit's saddlebags. You never go through Lea's saddlebags– mainly because Gambit doesn't usually let you get close enough to even think about it. But as it is, he lets out an annoyed huff at your approach, pinning his ears back, but he doesn't do anything else. You feel smug about it– as if the horse is on your side. The reality is just that the poor beast is too anxious and exhausted to care.
You pull open the buckles, but when you go to reach inside Lea grabs your arm to stop you.
"What are you doing?" they ask, their voice low and tight. You glare right back at them, ripping your arm free and digging into the saddlebag. It's almost too easy, how quickly you find it. It's in a thick, leather bag, etched with runes and tied tight with a rough black cord. Lea's face is twisted into a scowl, and when you hold the bag out in front of you, you wonder if they'll try to fight you for it.
They don't. They just stand there, their black eyes flashing as you unravel the cord.
You wanted to be wrong. But as soon as the bag is open, as soon as the seal breaks, you can feel it. You reach in, wrap your hand around cold metal, and let the bag drop away, thudding quietly at your feet as you reveal the collar clenched in your fist.