Strings of slobber hang from Quasit’s mouth and she spits weakly over and over to rid herself of them, then finally just wipes her hand across her mouth. ”Uh huh.” she answers. ”The other verses… unngggh….oh wow… should we clean this up? Ugggghh, I feel awful….”
"Keep back." Maka warned before extending her hand and blasting an extended gout of flames at the splatter of sick. A burnt and black spot on the stone was all that was left of the vile vomit.
"That'll probably scrub out." Kneeling down to Quasit, Maka began to help clean her friend up as best she could.
”Ohhhuugghnn… if Pharasma has any pity she’ll take me nooowww.” she moans. ”Everything is spinning… “ She gags violently a couple times, but there’s nothing more to expel except for dry misery. Tears roll from her eyes from the effort, and her nose drips clear mucus.
"I know." She said sympathetically with a pat on Quasit's back. "Time for bed huh? I've got some medicine that will help."
”Sugar an’ spice an’ everything nice, tha’s wha’ li’l girlsh are made of…” she gurgles, half-aware.
"They must have put in extra spice when they made me!" Maka giggled at her own joke while she looped her arms under Quasit's neck and legs, lifting the small human up with a light grunt.
Making her way back to the girls' room, Maka opened the door as sneakily as she could. Once it was clear that Fin and Saki weren't inside, Maka brought Quasit inside. Not wanting to soil the beds, Maka laid Quasit on the stone floor as gently as possible before getting some rags and water.
Spitting a small ball of fire to light a candle, Maka began to clean the makeup and sick from Quasit's face and hair. While she could see perfectly fine in the dark, she didn't want Quasit to wake up and get confused. Once Quasit was cleaned up, she placed both of their dresses in a bucket of water to soak, with a quick prayer that nothing would stain.
With that taken care of, Maka transferred Quasit to her bed and placed a glass of water and a dose of alchemist's kindness on the side table before moving to clean her own makeup. Taking out a small mirror to help in the taks, Maka found she didn't want to look at her own reflection. Didn't want to look herself in the eyes. The moment her makeup was removed tears began to well. Something had been weighing on her, something she hadn't really been able to put together. But after her conversation with Efryxis, after Quasit's song, it was starting to form.
She had long maintained that in matters of love, she was right and her detractors were wrong. Even when she'd hurt Adula she hadn't considered her way wrong, just the way she'd gone about the relationship. The lack of communication about what they both wanted and needed. She had thought her relationship with Bulvi had proved that. But her ways were strange in country after country, planet after planet, species after species. Time and again, in countless big and little ways, she was told she was wrong. And some part of her was beginning to wonder if everyone else was right.
The thought ached her heart and twisted her stomach in a knot. Sitting on the foot of Quasit's bed, Maka shook her friend's leg to rouse her. "Hey Quasit...do you think I'm wicked?"
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Quasit puts up no resistance to being nursed and pampered, and only gives an occasional groan to betray that she's alive at all. She takes her medicine gamely and it seems to help the worst of her symptoms, and soon she's sleeping lightly, with a tiny whickering snore. Until Maka rouses her.
"Hey Quasit...do you think I'm wicked?"
"Why? What'd you do?" she answers, half-awake. Then she rubs her eyes and sits up a little and registers the monk's distress through the haze of sleep and alcohol. "Of course not, why would you even say that?" she says as soothingly as a gravelly voice allows. "You deserve a medal for putting up with me tonight."
"Why? What'd you do?" she answers, half-awake. Then she rubs her eyes and sits up a little and registers the monk's distress through the haze of sleep and alcohol. "Of course not, why would you even say that?" she says as soothingly as a gravelly voice allows. "You deserve a medal for putting up with me tonight."
"I don't think I did anything...but that might be the problem." Maka brought her knees to her chest with a heavy sigh. "That song about Molly bothered me. But it wasn't really the song, the song just made me think about stuff I guess I was already thinking about."
Maka paused for a long moment as she tried to gather her thoughts. "Like...I don't know. How may places have we been to now? All over our own world, a decent chunk of this one. And mostly only being attracted to the opposite gender of a similar species, only loving one person, has been the norm. I used to think it was weird, but it seems like everywhere else doesn't do it like that. It's hard not to feel like I'm the weird one." Maka made sure that she wasn't too hot to avoid burning Quasit, allowing her tears to freely flow down her face.
"And it's not just that, because I am weird. It's...it's like I keep seeing this message that what I'm doing is wrong, that who I am is wrong, that I'm hurting people. And that doesn't feel right, that doesn't sound true. But I have thought what I was doing was fine before and I did hurt people. I didn't even think about cheating on Adula and it broke her heart and tore the Owlbears apart and everyone hated me. And I pushed Efrixis about Bescaylie and he's mad at me and I don't even know if that has anything to do with anything."
Maka grabbed a rag to wipe her eyes and blow her nose. "Like I thought I had learned my lesson and done better with Bulvi, but am I just hurting him? I stopped having sex with Fin when Suki and him started batting eyes at each other. And that was fine, and I'm so happy for them, but I've been so afraid that I would mess things up for them, that I already had. I mean, should I just not be with anyone else? Go home and be with Suji because I loved her first?"
Saying it out loud, it sounded ridiculous, but that didn't do anything do soothe Maka's anxiety and self doubt. "Like that sounds stupid but what do I know? I thought that Molly should have slept with other people. Like they are far away right? Was she supposed to just be alone? Is the singer just supposed to be alone? Why does that make them wicked? Why am I wicked? Why is hurting people what I'm good at?"
Her last statement brought Maka straight back to her childhood. For a moment she was not a powerful warrior, a slayer of dragons. For a moment she was a small child, crying alone because she didn't have a tie to water like Suji. And then the moment passed and a sense of shame washed over Maka. "Gods. I'm sorry! I shouldn't have dumped on you like that."
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Quasit listens to Maka silently. When the monk begins to cry, Quasit slips out of the covers and sits beside her, wrapping one arm about her shoulders and patting her gently with the other hand.
”Wow. Ok, first off, just stop it, all right? You have more pure innocence and goodness than just about anyone I’ve ever met, except maybe Saki. I’ve spent my life in the company of a lot of wicked people, and you’re nothing like them. That’s why I like you. No wicked person cries because they worry they might be wicked. They laugh about it, hon.”
“You know the difference between you and the girl in the song? You’re up front about what you want in a romance. She deceives her man, telling him he’s her only one, then runs around on him. And yeah you’ve probably hurt some people. Welcome to life, you know? All you can do is chalk it up and try to do better.”
“Look, I don’t think you need to worry about Saki and Fin, they obviously are just silly over each other right now. And I haven’t seen any sign that Bulvi is upset about you being flirty, but you should probably talk to him tomorrow, and make sure you’re both getting what you want from your relationship. You are an honest person — that makes everything easier.”
To buy time, Quasit leans over and gives Maka a little peck on the shoulder, and jostles her a bit. Then she continues,
”I have to admit, the way you hook up with people so freely and have no feelings of possessiveness or jealousy — it kinda blows me away. I sorta wish I could be like that. It’s like the way you are when you fight sometimes, it’s all just play — it’s fun for its own sake. There’s no hint of darkness to it. But yeah, it’s pretty unusual, and it’s not going to work for most people you run into. But you have to be you, you don’t really have any choice, you know? So what if it’s different from other people? There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s probably good that you’re a little more aware of it, to be honest. Less misunderstandings that way.”
“And I’ll tell you something else, Maka. Back home, a lot of my girlfriends are whores, at least some of the time. Like, professionals, you know? They sleep with different men every night of the week, and mostly to them it’s an acting gig. They don’t really feel anything, either emotionally or physically, except they sorta enjoy the game of arousing and controlling men. And most of them do it because they just plain need to eat, and they don’t have any choice. And everyone despises them, especially the men they go with. It really twists some of them — inside I mean — it makes them cold and cruel. And lonely, because they can’t have any real intimacy any more. Some of them manage to hold on to just enough kindness and decency to still be human, and that’s a strength I can really respect. I’m not going to judge a girl because she needs to do unpleasant things to live. If she can still be honest and compassionate and generally decent in spite of all that, that’s someone I can be friends with.”
In spite of herself, Quasit yawns broadly, then grabs the glass of water and drinks.
”Which is not to say I’m comparing you to a whore. At all. I probably shouldn’t have these talks when I’m three sheets to the wind. Everyone likes you Maka — they wouldn’t feel that way if you were hurting them and giving nothing back to them. Give yourself a break, huh?”
Before the end of the night, Quasit is far from the only one showing the effects of drink. The dragonkin are... somewhat frightening when inebriated, given drink doesn't disable their ability to breathe deadly energies, so each one is escorted outside by two of their fellows as they get too uninhibited. It's hard to notice that many of the council members, including Commander Pharamol and his dragonkin partner, are not to be seen for much of the festivities.
No one comes to wake you in the morning. The whole fortress seems to be sleeping in, the only movement coming from those sentries who had to remain sober for the morning watch.
Throwing her arms around Quasit, Maka pulled her into a tight hug. "Thanks Quasit, I love you so much! Sorry you had to take care of me." Taking a deep breath, Maka felt balance return to her body and spirit. Her heart healed better than any spell by the simple acceptance and support of her friend. "I'm so glad we met each other."
No one comes to wake you in the morning. The whole fortress seems to be sleeping in, the only movement coming from those sentries who had to remain sober for the morning watch.
Maka's natural clock woke her just before sunrise. The first time she had done so without being incredibly injured in she didn't know how many years.
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After leaving Quasit with Maka, Fin takes Sakitu on a detour, a walk upon the parapets by starlight; he doesn’t talk much, just enjoys being with her, gently intertwining his fingers into hers as they walk, stopping once to point to a shooting star across the night sky…
When they finally make it to her room, he leans down, to give her a passionate kiss. When he reluctantly pulls away, he smiles warmly. ”Thank you, Hlao-roo; this has been one of the best days of my life. I’ll come by your room in the morning and we can go for breakfast together, if you wish. Good night, starshine, sleep well…”
After she enters her room, Fin goes to his, carefully removing his outfit, folding it carefully, and putting it away. He climbs into his bunk and falls asleep swiftly with a smile…
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As he now only requires a couple hours of sleep to replenish, Fin awakes well before dawn. He yawns, stretches for a moment as he rises; whispering, ”Izzy, heel,” he gently opens and closes the door as he and Izzy head to the baths…
The hallways are eerily quiet; he finds the baths empty. As he patters towards and then enters the baths, Fin disrobes, placing his undergarments on a bench. He then goes thru some of the monk forms Maka had trained him in, working up a bit of a sweat, before finally entering the hot water, savoring the heat as he slowly submerges completely…
As his head emerges from the water, he breathes a contented sigh, scratching Izzy between the eyes. Fin murmurs, ”Enjoy this while it lasts, Fánahlócë…tomorrow, it’s back to the grindstone…”
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Quasit sleeps noisily on her stomach until nearly midday.
Thanks to Maka’s medicine, she eventually wakes up with only a light headache, but her mouth and throat are scratchy and foul, and she almost immediately notices a bucket of water near her bed… with her dress in it.
”Why did I put my dress in a bucket of water?” she mutters to herself in a gravelly voice.
Imagine her surprise when she pulls the dripping garment free… only to find it entwined with Maka’s dress. She squints, staring at the sartorial enigma, trying to recall anything about how she reached her bed. Then she realizes what the taste in her mouth is, and things become more clear. With a groan she lets the dresses splash back into the bucket.
She stands unsteadily and clumps across the room to her pack, pulls out her toothbrush and begins a rough vigorous cleaning of her oral cavity. Maka wasn’t in bed with her, but their dresses suggested that they’d disrobed together, probably after she threw up. She looked around, still sawing away. Maka was not around. Already gone. Quasit shuffles back to her bed and lifts the covers, examining the bed for clues. Nothing conclusive. She sits again and keeps diligently grinding her teeth with the unhappy little brush.
After about five minutes she stops abruptly.
”Did… did I paint Izzy pink?” she asks herself in amazement.
In no mood for food, Quasit slips on her blue homespun dress, grabs the bucket of dresses and her normal clothing, and makes her way to the room with the hot water. She draws herself a large basin and sits on the floor near the wall and begins scrubbing and cleaning her cloths meticulously, then hanging them over a rope she ties between a pair of light sconces nearby. Her usual shirt bears a couple small tears, and she makes a note to repair them once the garment is dry.
She pulls her hair free of the braids after a sudden decision, then gets a knife and cuts it quickly to its normal length after dunking her whole head underwater in the washing basin. She pares her toenails and once again tries to piece together the previous night, which at the moment consists mostly of flashes and noises. She certainly recalls (with disgust) a certain dark green, cone-shaped thing she’d imagined to be some sort of hot pepper that had instead turned out to be some sort of primitive living creature, like a sort of slug that squirmed fearfully as she bit down into it, leaking a brown tobacco-juice-like ichor down her fingers, nearly causing her to scream in horror in front of the dragonkin, an impulse she managed barely to suppress. Just thinking of it made her want to brush her teeth all over.
She notices a pair of ryphorians across the room staring at her and whispering to one another. It reminds her of her alienness and her new status here in Spurhorn. She gives them a friendly wave, causing them to clam up and quickly retreat.
She sighs and wishes for the thousandth time she was home.
Selena, needing only two hours of sleep, spent much of the night meditating on one of the towers. Come morning time however, she sets to work messing around with a pile of snow and chittering away with the familiars.
"Well, I am a witch myself. But if you're tagging along, I just need to know, when you die, do you want reincarnated into a new random body?" She asks totally seriously.
"I am a druid. I know that everything that makes me will be reincarnated in many random new bodies again and again. I don't feel any need to speed up that process through magic," Kalchine calmly replies.
"Thank you for asking before just doing it."
Kalchine didn't join into the festivities as heavily as most, though he did toast and drink several times and nursed a drink or two besides. He's not up with the dawn but it isn't much after that he gets out of bed. The silence in the keep troubles him this late in the day so he is quick to get into his gear and begin exploring.
His relief over the reason he finds is tainted by worry over its potential effects. There is still a war going on, after all and having most of the keep's defenders out for the count was no safe way of doing things.
He has another reason for being out and about, too. As he comes into the courtyard, he finds Chest Thumper playing a game. It consists of the frost ape going from one dragonkin who has drunkenly fallen asleep in the courtyard to another and waking them up in the most abrupt ways he can think of. Each time he hoots and claps afterwards.
Until one of them wakes up angry enough to blast him with electricity. The frost ape yelps and howls and bounds away like a hurt puppy.
"That's what you get," Kalchine says to him even as he pour some of the healing energy of nature into him.
Though Chest Thumper sulks, the frost ape follows him as he starts to wander the parapets, looking out for an invasion force. When they get to the tower where Selena is playing? practicing? relaxing? Kalchine gives her a nod of greeting.
Selena doesn't seem to notice Kalchine save for the fact that she speaks as he gets close, "So, if you die, let you stay dead and forget everything including who you are? Magic reincarnation does have the twin advantages of getting back to the task at hand and remembering everything you already learned. Of course, I can just bring you back to life in your old body too, but that takes a lot of diamond material to accomplish."
She stays focused on what she is doing as she speaks, though she seems rather dismissive of bringing back your old body. Her activities seem to involve shaping the pile of snow into something, or multiple somethings perhaps. It seems to collapse, and she jots down a few arcane symbols into the snow at her feet as notes before trying again.
Maka's natural clock woke her just before sunrise. But instead of rising for training, she simply rolled over and went back to sleep. The first time she had done so without being incredibly injured in she didn't know how many years.
Magic reincarnation does have the twin advantages of getting back to the task at hand and remembering everything you already learned.
It was time for supper as Maka finally walked out of the forge; adamantine accessories complete and safely stored in the small box stuff under her armpit. Maka's clothes were glued to her skin, the sour sweet smell of sweat permeating the air around her. Her face was locked in a scowl and she stomped through the hallway as if she was angry at the stone.
As she neared the dining hall, an unsuspecting Bulvi moved to give her a hug and kiss. To his surprise receiving only a curt peck and the briefest endurance of his embrace. "Okay enough! I'm going to eat, give this to Fin!" She snapped as she thrust the box in his chest and stomped off.
Entering the dining hall, the fire monk moved directly to the front of the line. She growled in draconic at the poor ryphorian who tried to complain.
Loading up with as much food as she could carry, Maka plopped down at an empty table. In a blur she began to stuff the food down her gullet, paying no mind to manors. Or even safety, as onlookers wondered if the majority of the food was even being chewed. When Maka moved to get more food, non in line made the mistake of issuing a complaint. The second round of food was consumed with no less vigor, but did seem to satisfy her. At least for the moment.
Maka belched a small gout of flame and patted her stomach before rising to find Bulvi. "Heeey. I'm sorry! I was literally starving to death! You wouldn't believe how much fire I've made today. Blue fire too!" Maka wrapped her arms around Bulvi and gave him a flurry of kisses. "Don't be mad."
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Halfway through the afternoon, Quasit is dressed once again in her usual shirt and breeches as well as her winter coat, and is walking in the icy courtyard. Her few chores done for the day, she finds herself a trifle bored. And she was putting off an uncomfortable visit.
She notices Chest Thumper in his usual area and makes her way over to visit him. The ape is morosely chewing on some sort of reedy stick or stalk, and watches her blandly as she approaches. ”Hey big guy, you look bored too.” she says, slowly approaching him to give him a few tentative pats. Chest Thumper turns slightly away from her, but otherwise largely ignores her.
”You missed quite a party last night. I don’t remember much of it, but I seem to have made an impression on people here. I get the feeling we aren’t going to be missed when we’re gone. I wonder, do you know you’re gonna be leaving here? I hope you won’t be sad.”
Perhaps it’s the quiet empathy in her voice that makes Chest Thumper lift a paw and stroke the top of his own head. Encouraged by this, she rubs his back a little more vigorously, causing Chest Thumper to roll over onto his side and then onto his back, still chewing his sticks, after which he gives her a little shove, still not looking at her.
Unsure whether the ape is being friendly or is perhaps annoyed with her, Quasit momentarily backs off, picking up three palm sized stones from the ground near the wall.
”Hey Chest Thumper, you like juggling?” she says, then attempts a simple weaving pattern from hand to hand. Being a novice, all her attention is focused on watching the stones in midair, and she bites her lip as she focuses. So she is unprepared when after about 30 seconds a large paw swats one of her stones out of midair, sending it flying across the yard, after which Chest Thumper makes a series of delighted hoots that sound distinctly like laughter.
Quasit is too surprised and amused by this to even be annoyed, and snickers in return. ”Oh, you think that’s funny?” she challenges. Chest Thumper spits his stick at her. Quasit then begins tossing the two remaining stones and almost immediately Chest Thumper bats another stone away, grunting hilariously through pursed lips.
”OK, not a fan of juggling, huh? Well how about this?” says Quasit, who now poses with her hands raised over her head, followed by a brisk cartwheel. Chest Thumper seems to like this quite a bit, given his slapping of the ground, after which he dips a shoulder and turns a rather ponderous somersault of his own. Quasit bursts into laughter and begins to applaud and whistle, prompting the ape to repeat the maneuver.
”Yeah, well, can you do this?” she says, then goes into a handstand, leaning against the wall a little to steady herself. Chest Thumper takes a half step toward her and gives her a playful shove, eliciting a little shriek as she collapses into the snow. ”Cheater! No fair!” she laughs, swiping a spray of snow at him, causing him to leap backward then bound around in a circle. These antics only make Quasit laugh harder.
”Oh, Zorka is gonna love you.”
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Fin leaves the baths just before dawn, goes back to his room, brushes his teeth and quietly gets dressed as Bulvi is still asleep…but he’s snoring so loudly the moaning of the damned wouldn’t likely wake him…
He goes over to the girls room to rouse Sakitu for breakfast. He reverts to stealth mode as he enters not wanting to awake anyone but the snoring here is almost as loud as Bulvi; however, that’s information he’s smart enough to know to keep to himself…
Not eating anything at breakfast, aside from guzzling down any kinda hot beverage that might resemble coffee or hot tea, he mainly just chats with Sakitu and enjoys her company. When she’s finished, he takes another detour on the way back to her room, walking upon the parapets again, this time to watch the morning sun rise higher into the sky…
When they return to her room, he kisses her. ”I’m gonna work out this morning and take some target practice out on the archery range that’s alongside the courtyard…you’re most welcome to join me but you might find it a bit boring. If you need to find me, I’ll likely be either there or at the baths.” With a wink, he adds, ”I’ll likely be waterlogged before we leave; it’ll likely be a long while till we hit another place with baths like these. I will see you later, Hlao-roo.” Fin leans down to brush his lips across hers then goes and grabs his gear…
When Fin arrives in the courtyard, lies his gear down, takes off his shirt, exhilirated by the brisk temperatures, and stretches. He does some light calisthenics and then goes into his monk forms, especially the ones Maka said would be good with his bow. He then runs several laps around the courtyard before retrieving his bow to do some target practice…
Telling Izzy to stay clear as he shoots, he nocks an arrow as he eyes the target, 50 yards away, pulls back to his cheek, holds it there momentarily, murmuring to himself, ”Aim small, miss small,” and lets go. He winces as it strikes as he hits the edge of the bullseye…but not dead center. His next shot is better…
Fin fires at varying ranges, from both standing and kneeling positions, before noticing a few rhyphorian archers have gathered around to watch. He smiles and nods for them to join in and, although he cannot speak their language, they manage to have a friendly competition. After every good shot, he and his new friends take a swig of that fermented lichen swill and cheer each other along. He’s able to show them some tips and he’s able to learn some things from them as well…
Afterwards, with Fin thoroughly sweaty despite the cool weather, the rhyphorians invite him and Izzy, as far as he can tell, to join them in the hot baths; that’s an invitation that neither he nor Izzy will turn down…
Selena doesn't seem to notice Kalchine save for the fact that she speaks as he gets close, "So, if you die, let you stay dead and forget everything including who you are? Magic reincarnation does have the twin advantages of getting back to the task at hand and remembering everything you already learned. Of course, I can just bring you back to life in your old body too, but that takes a lot of diamond material to accomplish."
"If I come back in another body am I truly who I was or am I a copy of who I was overwritten on the mind of someone else? I am not so arrogant as to believe that I am important in the grand scheme of things so when my time comes I wouldn't want to take someone else's opportunity to do more," he says.
He pauses at her second offer, though.
"I will see about gathering the diamond material, though. To be used in emergencies. Meaning, if I die and you think you're still going to need my services, you can bring my spirit back to my body."
His ears flick, but this time not with his emotions, more like when someone catches something out of the corner of their eye.
"If you will excuse me," he says.
Kalchine hurries down into the courtyard and across it to the stables. He can hear Chest Thumper's agitated hoots and barks.
"What are you doing?!" he exclaims as he comes in, but Chest Thumper is already in high spirits and he hangs from one hand and both feet and sweeps out one long arm with a big paw to knock Kalchine down, right on top of Quasit.
"Sorry! Is...he...bothering you?" Kalchine asks. He tries to get off of Quasit but every time he pushes himself up on his hands and his knees Chest Thumper shoves him down with both hands on his back and his weight behind it.
The frost ape hoots and claps in amusement each time.
"Sorry! Sorry! I think if I just lay still, he'll get bored," he says as his body is shoved firmly against hers again.
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"Sorry! Is...he...bothering you?" Kalchine asks.
"Not exactly -- we were sorta playing around and I think we ended up playing different games. The last five minutes has been the 'Push Quasit Game' from his point of view." she says, though she doesn't sound upset or exasperated in the least. "Actually, we've been having a great time in our own way."
"Sorry! Sorry! I think if I just lay still, he'll get bored," he says as his body is shoved firmly against hers again.
"I think he's trying to tell us something." laughs Quasit, though it's clear this enforced intimacy is pretty awkward for her as well. She rests under Kalchine as stiff and motionless as she can and has just as much trouble looking him in the eye and he does her, even as their breath steams into one another's faces. "I've discovered that he really likes it when I do tumbling. For a while I was climbing up on that guard shed over there and doing backflips off the roof, and I'm afraid it got him kinda worked up -- he began picking me up and sorta tossing me back up there to do it over and over again. Which is very sweet and a little terrifying."
Chest Thumper gives another shove downward, forcing an abrupt groaning exhalation from her.
"Lemme try something. Girls have a superpower."
Quasit begins to cry, rather bombastically. She makes a lot of whining and moaning sounds and sniffles and even manages a few tears. She wipes one hand over her face in a broad downward motion a few times, just to drive the point home.
"Oh no! I'm sorry! Are you hurt?" Kalchine says, completely fooled by her acting.
"That's it! You're going into time out!" he declares. He grabs Chest Thumper's wrist and the bumping stops as a small stone statuette falls down off of Kalchine and clatters to the ground next to him.
He doesn't get up, immediately, though. Instead, he continues to lay atop her, but his hears are drooped down in worry.
"Where does it hurt?" he asks, pushing up enough to look down at her body for any blood.
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He grabs Chest Thumper's wrist and the bumping stops as a small stone statuette falls down off of Kalchine and clatters to the ground next to him.
Quasit stops her act when Kalchine disposes of Chest Thumper.
"Hey! Aww, poor Chest Thumper!" she protests.
"Where does it hurt?" he asks, pushing up enough to look down at her body for any blood.
Quasit rolls her eyes. "Oh criminy. Really? I was just trying to trick Chest Thumper into ... I wasn't actually crying." She sighs and wipes the phony tears off of her cheeks. "Do you mind getting off me?"
Once released she sits up and gives Kalchine an annoyed look that quickly morphs into a conspiratorial smile and a snorting laugh at the absurdity of situation. "Well, I hope his timeout isn't very long, he was only being a little naughty." she says in a gentler voice before standing up, brushing off the snow and offering Kalchine a hand up as well. "My back flips *are* pretty impressive, it's not really a wonder he got excited."
She looks around then starts heading back toward the indoors, looking back over her shoulder to encourage Kalchine to join her. "Where'd you go last night? I looked for you, but you weren't around. I ended up spending half the night with a very boring dragonkin captain. Among other things."
"Oh, yes, sorry!" he exclaims, getting up quickly and stumbling a couple steps away in his hurry. It's impossible to tell if he's blushing or not, but the way his ears are drooping suggests his embarrassment and that his skin might be red under his fur.
Kalchine clears out of the stable that Chest Thumper uses and then reverses the spell. The frost ape spins around and growls and roars in fury looking for his brother. He gives Kalchine an evil look and pounds the ground in threat and frustration.
But then, he sees Quasit and reaches out to gently stroke her head and back. He turns her this way and that to examine her for injuries before giving her another pat.
Triaxian and frost ape share the sort of glare only siblings understand before Kalchine follows Quasit.
"Sorry," he says and wonders how many times he's said that in the last minute or two.
"I had to meet with the keep commanders and then I was talking to Selena and by the time I got back to the party, Maka was already taking care of you. It just felt like I would get in the way."
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But then, he sees Quasit and reaches out to gently stroke her head and back. He turns her this way and that to examine her for injuries before giving her another pat.
Quasit pats her chest and lowers her head a little.
"I had to meet with the keep commanders and then I was talking to Selena and by the time I got back to the party, Maka was already taking care of you. It just felt like I would get in the way."
"I think I threw up on her. I don't really remember. To be honest i've sorta been avoiding everyone today, just to be safe. So maybe it's just as well for us both that you ducked out early. Though I'm surprised you were talking to Selena, she doesn't normally talk to anyone unless she's in the mood to condescend outrageously. I have to hand it to her though, she whipped together a kick ass dress for me in like 15 minutes."
"So, you made it official with your bosses that you're leaving with us? How'd they take it?"
He pauses, his steps stuttering for a moment, then he reaches out and grasps her wrist to stop her. "If you're intent on avoiding people, you could go on a walk with Chest Thumper. He's good company and a good listener. And most things won't mess with a frost ape. Keep close to him and you'll be warm, too."
He looks down at his hand on her wrist and abruptly lets go then narrowly avoids saying "sorry" again.
"I believe Selena was interested in the same question you just asked. She wanted to know if I was coming along. And to tell me why I shouldn't," he shrugged.
"She made some good points, but didn't change my mind."
He is thoughtfully silent for a few moments before answering the other question. "Better than you might think. With Yrax gone, they can spare me and, honestly, I'm not sure they ever knew what to make of or do with me."
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He pauses, his steps stuttering for a moment, then he reaches out and grasps her wrist to stop her. "If you're intent on avoiding people, you could go on a walk with Chest Thumper. He's good company and a good listener. And most things won't mess with a frost ape. Keep close to him and you'll be warm, too."
He looks down at his hand on her wrist and abruptly lets go then narrowly avoids saying "sorry" again.
Quasit makes a wry face at Kalchine after this oddly impassioned appeal complete with wrist grabbing and releasing. ”I don’t usually need much help avoiding notice. But I wasn’t exactly hiding — just not looking for unnecessary attention, you know?”
"I believe Selena was interested in the same question you just asked. She wanted to know if I was coming along. And to tell me why I shouldn't," he shrugged.
"She made some good points, but didn't change my mind."
”Ugh. Please don’t pay any attention to Selena. She’s a snobby phony with more bad ideas than a goblin on payday.”
"Better than you might think. With Yrax gone, they can spare me and, honestly, I'm not sure they ever knew what to make of or do with me."
Quasit takes a serious moment to process this, then looks at Kalchine sympathetically. ”I know how that feels. But that’s their loss if they couldn’t figure it out.”
She walks in silence a little before changing the subject. ”You know, I’m a little surprised they didn’t give us medals. Don’t they do that here? I mean, the feast was nice, but a medal gives you something nice for your junk drawer that you can wear at weddings and funerals.”
”Back home in Taldor, they do pomp and flummery really well. It’s a vicious corrupt police state with a half-mad paranoid autocrat, but the ceremonies are very nice, and there’s an overflowing abundance of honors and titles. For something like an important military victory, they’d pull out all the stops — parades, fireworks, cannon salutes, regattas, specially commissioned operas to commemorate the event, and enough medals to sink a galleon. The women would wear elaborate new dresses that they’d never wear again, and the men would name a new gentleman’s club in your honor so they’d have a nice new place to drink dessert wine and smoke cigars. Ahh, no place wastes time and money like Taldor. It’s a great place to be a criminal. You never have to feel guilty about what you do.”
Her smirk and jaunty cadence shows that she’s only half serious and terribly pleased with herself.
"Ugh. Please don’t pay any attention to Selena. She’s a snobby phony with more bad ideas than a goblin on payday.”
Quasit suddenly finds it difficult to be heard, like all the noise she is making is muffled. She can speak, but not very loudly.
"I heard that! See if I give you any healing next combat! And if you die I'll bring you back as a goblin! A boy goblin! See if I don't!"
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Maka belched a small gout of flame and patted her stomach before rising to find Bulvi. "Heeey. I'm sorry! I was literally starving to death! You wouldn't believe...
Bulvi raised an eyebrow. "That can't be normal... just don't make a firey burp while leaning in to kiss me. My rugged good looks can't afford the scorch marks."
He reaches out and jingles the box she had given him earlier. "I haven't given this to Fin yet either. I spotted him training but he seemed really focused so left him be for a bit." Bulvi rolled his neck along his shoulders.
"Since we'll be leaving here sooner rather than later I keep thinking there's probably lots of clever things I should pick up that some scholar back home would trade the deeds to a small farmstead for but finding the right item and then the right scholar will probably be more than a little challenging."
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After his extended workout, archery practice, and washing up, Fin spends the rest of the day with Sakitu, walking around the keep, indoors and out, dining with her, and, if she'll accompany him, partaking of the hot baths. When they stop by the chow hall so Sakitu can eat that evening, he fills both his waterskin and wineskin to the top with that fermented lichen swill so he'll have some for the road...
This brief break in their quest has been most welcome to Fin; he's gotten to spend more time alone with Sakitu than he's ever had, not to mention, a break from all the fighting and killing. Knowing they'll be getting back at it in the morning, Fin stows away his sadness, trying to just stay in the present and enjoy it while it lasts...
After seeing her to her room later that evening, Fin heads to his room with a sad sigh. Noticing Bulvi was in his bunk, he quietly got undressed, layed out his clothes for the morning, and crawled in bed, not knowing if his Ulfen friend was awake or not. "Bull...what do you think will happen with you and Maka after we're through with this? If we survive it all, that is," he murmurs, not knowing if his friend will hear and respond, not really expecting him too. Either way, he slowly drifts off before long...
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When he wakes up after a couple of hours of sleep or so, Fin quietly rises, whispers to Izzy, and heads for one last venture into the hot baths. Unsure of when Quasit plans to head back to the hut, he leaves a note on the door letting his friends know where he's at; chuckling lightly, he thinks, Like they won't already know where I am...
As he and Izzy arrive, the white mini-croc scuttles off and slinks into the steamy water, while Fin disrobes, goes thru his monk forms/stretches, then submerges into the bath, rising his head up a few moments later, leaning back and closing his eyes. He lets out another sad sigh as he savors the moment, knowing this'll likely be the last hot bath for quite some time...
Kalchine was about to jump to Selena's defense, after all, she'd made many good points and had been respectful enough to ask his opinion about a literal life and death issue before just doing what she thought was best or most likely.
But then Quasit is abruptly, magically quietened. Kalchine assumes the worst. They did just kill an important enemy leader, after all. Assassination attempts as reprisals weren't entirely out of the question.
A circle in the sky begins to waver, fire and holy fire dimly seen before his brain fully processes what happened.
He relaxes, his ears flicking. "Well, I guess we have to be careful what we say around snow..." he looks around at...the world significantly.
"I think what you're describing is what a lot of people believe the military and the war is going to be. Spectacular deeds followed by spectacular awards. Everything shiny and significant."
His ears lower in thought and he looks around the very functional fort with its very functional people. "The truth, here anyway, is that war is work. It's no game where there's some grand prize at the end. It's staying vigilant. It's continuing to fight even when you're exhausted. Sometimes, it's starting to fight while exhausted."
He shrugs. "Medals would be nice, and would probably help morale, but I think most of the people here would take a day off or a significant victory like the one we achieved over a bauble."
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But then Quasit is abruptly, magically quietened.
"I think what you're describing is what a lot of people believe the military and the war is going to be [....] I think most of the people here would take a day off or a significant victory like the one we achieved over a bauble."
"Oh no, I get it." answers Quasit easily. "Taldor is pretty much always at war with someone. All that pomp is for the folks back home, to keep up that illusion of glory, so everyone thinks its their war too, and not just the vanity project of the king and his generals. At least here you guys are fighting for something real."
"I'm just saying it might have been nice to have a keepsake to remember being honored. Maybe I shoulda swiped a cocktail napkin or something. But it's not a big deal."
She turns to Kalchine and gives his nearest ear a little tug. "You are too serious." she adds playfully.
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Bulvi raised an eyebrow. "That can't be normal... just don't make a firey burp while leaning in to kiss me. My rugged good looks can't afford the scorch marks."
"No it's pretty normal. It takes a lot of food to fuel all this fire! I once ate a whole boar during endurance training." An odd pride beamed on Maka's face. "But I'll make sure to take care of your looks." Maka said with a toothy grin.
He reaches out and jingles the box she had given him earlier. "I haven't given this to Fin yet either. I spotted him training but he seemed really focused so left him be for a bit." Bulvi rolled his neck along his shoulders.
"That's okay, just hold on to them. They were a lot of work and I can't be held responsible for keeping track of them." Maka said in a serious tone.
"Since we'll be leaving here sooner rather than later I keep thinking there's probably lots of clever things I should pick up that some scholar back home would trade the deeds to a small farmstead for but finding the right item and then the right scholar will probably be more than a little challenging."
"I mean...yeah that's probably a good idea." Maka's tone suggested that she didn't think it was a good idea at all. "But we could have Kal just keep writing stuff down for that. Isn't there anything more fun you'd rather do?"
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"I wonder what will happen here when one side or the other finally wins. There's been war for so long I don't know if we know what to do with ourselves when it doesn't exist anymore. We may just end up like your Taldor, making up new reasons to fight," he says.
His eyes focus weird as she reaches up for his ear and he looks at the arm as closely as possible. The ear flicks a couple of times before settling enough for her to hold it.
In return he reaches out and caresses her hair, touching her forehead and temple as he does so.
"Hey! I can be fun. What's the difference between a Dragonkin and a snow elk? The Dragonkin says has scales!"
He looks at her flatly, waiting for her to laugh. Then his ears or at least the one she isn't holding droop.
"It's funnier in Triaxian," he says, telling the joke again where the pun makes more sense. But the moment is lost.
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The ear flicks a couple of times before settling enough for her to hold it.
In return he reaches out and caresses her hair, touching her forehead and temple as he does so.
This tender gesture from Kalchine seems to startle Quasit. Her playfulness dries up and she freezes, searching Kalchine's eyes intently, but not stopping him.
"Hey! I can be fun. What's the difference between a Dragonkin and a snow elk? The Dragonkin says has scales!"
Quasit watches him a few seconds in silence, waiting for the funny part. Eventually one quizzical eyebrow rises.
"It's funnier in Triaxian," he says, telling the joke again where the pun makes more sense. But the moment is lost.
"Eek." she replies with equal parts pain and sympathy. "We'll work on that."
She starts walking again. "I didn't really mean it as a criticism... the being serious thing... it's just, well, you've probably noticed how informal and silly our group can be. We kinda need that, to keep ourselves sane. There's been so much horror and death for us along this journey of ours -- at first we were just scared all the time, hoping we all wouldn't be killed. It's only since we've had a few big successes that we've started to find moments to relax and bond. I just don't want you to feel like you're outside of all that. Everyone likes you, Kal. And Chest Thumper. I want you to feel like you can relax with us."
Kalchine isn't sure what to do with his hand once he's stroked her hair.
Alright for as long as their eyes are meeting but then quite awkward and he ends up patting her shoulder before letting his hand drop to his side.
"I know one about a woman soldier and an elder wyrm but it's...um...graphic," he says.
He falls falls in step beside her with his hands clasped behind his back as she resumes her walk.
"No, it's good that you're not always serious. You can be very dangerous when you need to be so it's a good thing that you don't all feel like you always need to be. You'd be frightening if you weren't so relaxed here at the keep."
He watches the snow at his feet then looks up and smiles. "I like all of you, too. That's why we're coming with you. Assuming you haven't changed your mind about me tagging along."
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…he ends up patting her shoulder before letting his hand drop to his side.
"I know one about a woman soldier and an elder wyrm but it's...um...graphic," he says.
For the first time, Quasit finds herself wondering about alien sex. Do they do it the same way here on Triaxus? Probably, they do most other things basically like us. And little fur-faces have to come from somewhere. But wouldn’t it be awkward to actually get into bed with one, only to discover some … extraordinary incompatibility?
All the same, she doesn’t press to hear Kalchine’s racy joke.
"No, it's good that you're not always serious. You can be very dangerous when you need to be so it's a good thing that you don't all feel like you always need to be. You'd be frightening if you weren't so relaxed here at the keep."
This makes Quasit smile a little uncomfortably. It wasn’t the first time Kalchine had said something like this, about how intimidating her group could be in action. Each ounce of pride in that idea was leavened with an ounce of guilt. Not for doing what had to be done, but for what that violence had so far wrought upon her soul. Up until a few months ago, she knew how to use a knife, and had been in plenty of scuffles, but she’d never actually killed anyone. Now she couldn’t even count how many deaths she was responsible for. It was a little dizzying. It had changed her. It had made her a leader somehow. Her! The scrawny little sister that nobody took too seriously. If she ran into someone from her old life, even Nevar… what would they think of her? Would they find her frightening too? Would all the desperate violence show somehow?
Nursing these thoughts, she too looks at the snow as she walks.
"I like all of you, too. That's why we're coming with you. Assuming you haven't changed your mind about me tagging along."
She smiles and shrugs at him. ”’Fraid not. Looks like you’re stuck with us.” she says.
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Her stomach full and satisfied, Quasit nonetheless finds herself thinking of home just as much as she had been for most of the day. As they prepared to return to the Hut and travel to who knew where, it sharpened the sense of distance in her mind. It was like being deep underwater, trying to get back to the surface before her air ran out, with fear mounting as the seconds passed.
She makes her way to the little room where Tezuzu was sleeping these days. On reaching it she stands in the hallway silently for a long time staring at the door, screwing up the will to knock. Eventually she does.
”Come in, it’s not bolted.” comes the familiar voice of the tengu. She pushes the door open and finds Tezuzu hard at work copying a Triaxian palimpsest written on some sort of bark material. He glances over his shoulder curiously and cocks his head slightly to regard her. ”Well well, congratulations on your dragon hunt. You’ve really earned a place in the history of this world. If there’s one constant theme in their legends, it’s the vanquishing of evil dragons. And I understand you found some sort of dragon killing spear? I should very much like to see it.” He blinks a few times, studying his guest. ”Or perhaps you’re still mad at me, and just came to glare? Glare away monkey, I don’t mind. Just do it quietly.”
”You helped Saki send a message back home to her family. Could you do that for me too?” she blurts.
Tezuzu puts down his pen and turns around on his chair. ”Of course. I’d be delighted. Who do you wish to contact?”
”My father. I want him to know I’m all right. I had planned to be home by now, at least for a visit, before I got mixed up on this mad quest.”
”Simplicity itself. Come in, have a seat. Would you like some tea? It’s one of the few things that seems to keep me warm here. I just made some.”
”No thank you.”
”Some plum wine perhaps?”
”No, I sorta overdid it last night.”
The shaman chuckles. ”So I heard. Is there a reason you drink the way barbarians fight? You seem rather sensible otherwise.”
”I guess I’m complicated.” Quasit answers peevishly. ”So what do we need to do?”
”I’ll need a few minutes to prepare the ritual. You should spend that time concentrating on your father. Imagine where he would be right now and what he’d be doing on a typical day. It’s not important that your mental image be accurate, only that you focus on what is familiar about him and clear out distractions from your thoughts.”
Quasit nods and closes her eyes, picturing her father at home cooking up a fish he’d caught, chatting lightly with her about some triviality of his day. ”Will he be able to answer us?” she asks, eyes still closed.
”A short answer, yes. And your message to him should be fairly short as well. Keep it simple. Magical messages out of blue can be disorienting to most people.” he answers as he begins burning incense in a censer. He then makes his way over to Quasit and begins painting runes in black ink on her forehead. ”Don’t be alarmed… your thoughts will serve as the focus for the spell… this merely amplifies them.” he says in a clinical voice. ”Do you know what you wish to say?”
”Yes.”
”Good. Now, I’m going to put a bowl of water here on the floor. You and I are going to sit on the floor on opposite sides of the bowl with our fingers in the water. I’ll do some chanting while you think of your father, and once I make a connection, I’ll let you know, and you can speak your message. You’ll be aware of a curious tugging sensation — I’m not quite sure how else to describe it, but you’ll recognize it immediately. You’ll also imagine that you hear ambient sounds from the place where he is. When the spell is ready, I’ll tap your hand with my finger. On his end, he’ll experience a momentary dizziness and will likely see a sort of shadowy vision of your face, as if viewed from underwater. He will also feel a tugging feeling, and will experience an emotion of familiarity. He may also catch a brief impression of the smell of our incense. He’ll have about a minute to respond. The spell does not permit a conversation, only a message from you, and a single answer from him. I will hear the words, so no dark secrets, all right?”
Quasit nods. ”I understand.”
Tezuzu begins to hum and chant, occasionally rocking in place or wagging his head. The smell of the incense fills the room, making her feel warm and sleepy. It seemed to be taking forever… several minutes went by, and she focused hard on her father, but felt no tugging sensations. She began to wonder if she was doing something wrong. Eventually, abruptly, Tezuzu stops.
”Curious…” he mutters, then stands up and drinks a long swallow of tea. ”For some reason I couldn’t make a connection.”
Quasit feels a chill pass over her. ”Is it because we’re on a different planet?” she asks.
”I don’t think so…” he answers in a distracted voice, his brow creased. He pulls out a small leather book and begins flipping through its pages. ”As long as we’re on the same plane, distance shouldn’t matter. That’s rather the whole point of the spell.”
”Well, maybe he’s asleep or something… we don’t know what time it is back home.”
Still riffling pages, Tezuzu grunts and shakes head. Eventually he finds what he was looking for and stands still as a statue, reading. Quasit sits still as a statue, watching. Her jaw clenches tight. After a solid minute, he lowers the book and looks at her, tentatively, considering.
”So?” she says impatiently, and a little too loud. ”What happened? Why didn’t it work?”
”I’m not sure. I’ve cast this spell dozens of times, and this has never happened before. It requires a great deal of concentration on my part, but I’m confident the ritual was done properly. I’m a bit at a loss.” His face suggests he may not be at a loss as much as he claims. ”Perhaps we could try again, but attempt to contact someone else. You have a brother too, yes? Or perhaps your mother? Or that man you are always pining after?”
”Couldn’t we try my father again? Maybe I wasn’t concentrating enough.”
”No I felt the psychic impression very strongly. You did nothing wrong.”
The walls seemed closer and the air seemed too thin.
”Ok, my brother then.” she says in a wary voice.
The ritual proceeds again, and this time she feels the tugging sensation after only a few minutes, and Tezuzu taps her hand once.
”Hello Colin, it’s me, Mina. I’m safe and I’m with friends, but I’m a very long way from home. I don’t know when I’ll be home. How is dad?”
In her mind she could almost see her brother. He was in some sort of dark place, like a warehouse or a shop. She thought she could hear horse hooves on cobblestones. After a brief pause she hears his voice like a loud whisper too close to one ear.
”I’m glad to hear you’re ok, come home as soon as you can. Dad died two weeks ago. He drowned in a mud puddle. Sorry.”
A choke forms in her mouth but can’t escape. Tezuzu and she look helplessly at each other. She shakes her head dumbly, her lips moving without control.
”Mina…” says Tezuzu quietly.
Quasit raises her wet hands to stop him, then gets up and stumbles from the room.
Slowly Tezuzu dries his fingers then gets up, walks over to the door and closes it. He sighs and shakes his head sadly, then pours himself a fresh cup of tea and sits again at his desk and tries to get back to work.
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As they approach the girls' room Sakitu doesn't know how to feel. All day, ever since yesterday, she's been all over the place. It's all been good. Not just good, very good! Her feet haven't touched the ground all day. Having breakfast with Fin, spending the day with Fin, even taking a bath with Fin. And now, she was going to be apart and she wasn't sure she could handle it. Maybe the other girls would let Fin stay in her room. No! That was out of the question. Or maybe she could stay in the boys' room. That might be worse!
None of these thought in her head were resolved when Fin opens the door for her and guides her into the room. She steps in but he stays at the threshold so she turns to face him. "Well, kind sir, what now?" she says while batting her eyes and smiling a knowing, wanting, desiring, teasing smile. "I mean, like, I guess we each have our rooms and there's nothing we can do about that." She lifts up on her tippy toes and kisses him in a way that leaves him breathless. "See you tomorrow morning." She leans back away from the doorway and slowly closes it.
Once the door is closed she leans against it. Her heart beats almost uncontrollably. Isn't that what Quasit told her to do? You can't give the men everything. You have to tease them and make them keep wanting. Well, what about herself? Does she have to keep herself wanting too?
She finally takes a moment to see if any of the other ladies are in the room before she makes her way to her bed and gets in.
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"I mean...yeah that's probably a good idea." Maka's tone suggested that she didn't think it was a good idea at all. "But we could have Kal just keep writing stuff down for that. Isn't there anything more fun you'd rather do?"
"You really are a big fan of the three f's don't you? Food, fighting and... fun. I know someone will point out all the missed opportunities for the advancement of knowledge."
He smirked before putting an arm around her shoulder "Of course I think we've been civic minded enough for the moment. I wonder where we'll get whisked off to next? Akiton perhaps or Castrovel or some far flung locale like the City of Brass. We'd all like to get home at some point but where would you like to see most? My talk of a ship sailing around seems very quaint now we've been to another world."
"You really are a big fan of the three f's don't you? Food, fighting and... fun. I know someone will point out all the missed opportunities for the advancement of knowledge."
"Well those are the things that will tell you the most about other people and yourself. Besides, I've learned plenty about Triaxian fighting styles. I can't wait to share the knowledge once I get back home."
He smirked before putting an arm around her shoulder "Of course I think we've been civic minded enough for the moment. I wonder where we'll get whisked off to next? Akiton perhaps or Castrovel or some far flung locale like the City of Brass. We'd all like to get home at some point but where would you like to see most? My talk of a ship sailing around seems very quaint now we've been to another world."
"Well I've always wanted to see the Eternal City of Axis and visit Irori's Serene Circle. They say every form of martial art can be found in the tournaments held there." Her father's tales of the city's impossible spires jutting towards the maelstrom ran through Maka's mind.
"But there's no way that's where Cluckers is taking us. We'll be lucky if it's just another ice planet. What if there is a whole plane of witches and winter? That's be awful!"
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As he gloriously boils in the hot bath, eyes closed, Fin reminisces over his time here for the last day-and-a-half; he absentmindedly scratches Izzy as between the eyes, unconsciously smiling as he recalls Sakitu’s last words to him just a few hours earlier…
None of these thought in her head were resolved when Fin opens the door for her and guides her into the room. She steps in but he stays at the threshold so she turns to face him. "Well, kind sir, what now?" she says while batting her eyes and smiling a knowing, wanting, desiring, teasing smile. "I mean, like, I guess we each have our rooms and there's nothing we can do about that." She lifts up on her tippy toes and kisses him in a way that leaves him breathless. "See you tomorrow morning." She leans back away from the doorway and slowly closes it.
…he can still feel that kiss lingering on his lips…she had definitely left him wanting for more, not to mention speechless…Fin recalled how tempted he was to follow Saki into her room…but that wouldn’t have been prudent and might’ve embarrassed her…
Fin sighs contentedly, hoping that whatever form the hut takes after these keys are put into the cauldron, there’s a place where he and Sakitu can sneak away to for more alone time…he comes to the realization that he’ll be sad to leave Spurhorn…but at least he’ll carry the memories there for the rest of his life, no doubt…
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Sakitu sits on her bad and starts going through her bag. She knows they'll be traveling again soon so now is a great time to get rid of some junk.
"Hey Saki." she says in passing as she sits down on her bed and begins to pull off her boots.
"Hey there." Sakitu's voice is a bit less cheerful than normal. She turns back to fiddling with her gear but pauses and lifts her face to watch Quasit pulling off her boots. Sakitu knows what's coming next. Soon her friend will pull out that old toothbrush and start working on cleaning her teeth. Then she'll pull off her outer clothes and flop onto her bed, still working her teeth, in just her underclothes. 'Relaxing' is what she calls it. Sakitu tries to smile but it just fades. She should be feeling happy but something is wrong. How could she be sad now? She's being so stupid.
She thrusts her hand into her bag with careless force. Somehow the dagger in her bag had slide a little out of its sheath and one of her fingers runs across the magically sharp blade. "Ow!" she yelps. "Desna's ...." she jerks her head up in a flash and zeros in on Quasit. Her face instantly flushes red when she realizes what she was about to say. "... spit. Desna's spit. That hurt." Without pausing she sticks her finger in her mouth and begins sucking on the wound.
Selena enters the girls bedroom and giving a nod to the other two, gently deposits the two familiars on her bed before laying down herself and just stares at the ceiling contemplatively.
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"Desna's ...." she jerks her head up in a flash and zeros in on Quasit. Her face instantly flushes red when she realizes what she was about to say. "... spit. Desna's spit. That hurt." Without pausing she sticks her finger in her mouth and begins sucking on the wound.
Quasit looks up at Sakitu's cry of pain. She comes over to sit on Sakitu's bed and gently pulls the wounded hand to check it. "Here, lemme see." She fusses over her friend for a bit, wrapping Sakitu's finger in a quick bandage. "It should stop bleeding in a few minutes, but it'll feel oogie for a day or so." She strokes the back of her friend's fuzzy head. "Are you ok?"
Selena looks up at the mention of bleeding. "Stop the bleeding? You're bleeding? Why didn't you say so?" Selena hops off the bed and steps over to look at and heal the injury. Finally catching on to what Quasit was doing when she walked in, she looks at Quasit "You do realize I can heal simple cuts. Babysitting you guys is the only real job I got around here." she says with a playful smirk at Quasit.
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Quasit looks up at Sakitu's cry of pain. She comes over to sit on Sakitu's bed and gently pulls the wounded hand to check it. "Here, lemme see." She fusses over her friend for a bit, wrapping Sakitu's finger in a quick bandage. "It should stop bleeding in a few minutes, but it'll feel oogie for a day or so." She strokes the back of her friend's fuzzy head. "Are you ok?"
Sakitu scooches over to allow Quasit room to sit, even though it really isn't needed. Although the injury isn't that deep, her touch is so gentle and comforting that the healing goes deeper than the wound. Just having the warmth of her friend sitting next to her starts to bring the turmoil of emotions under control.
She leans into Quasit's soothing caresses and then lays her head on her shoulder. "Ok? Well, I think so. I don't know. You know... me and Fin... and... well."
Selena looks up at the mention of bleeding. "Stop the bleeding? You're bleeding? Why didn't you say so?" Selena hops off the bed and steps over to look at and heal the injury. Finally catching on to what Quasit was doing when she walked in, she looks at Quasit "You do realize I can heal simple cuts. Babysitting you guys is the only real job I got around here." she says with a playful smirk at Quasit.
Sakitu abruptly stops talking when Selena approaches and reluctantly allows the witch to take her hand and start to apply magic. While Selena is focused on the wound, Sakitu turns her eyes back to Quasit's. Something has change. They're colder now. And distant. Was it something she said? Does Quasit know about her and Fin and that's making her mad? Tears start to glisten in Sakitu's eyes. The cyclone of emotions inside her that was calming, surges back with a vengeance
Quasit freezes and clenches her jaw, then rises from the bed.
"My mistake." she says, then makes her way back over to her own bed, climbs in and pulls up the covers and turns to face the wall.
Sakitu pales and looks like she's just been slapped. The threatening tears break free. Why can't Quasit see that she just needs her. She needs comfort now. But she herself is to blame? A defensive flash of anger rises. "Fine!" she says to Quasit's back and then she also climbs into her bed, pulls up the covers, and faces the wall.
Now the tears stream freely down her face. She feels so confused and lonely. Such a big day yesterday and today but no one to talk to. No one safe, that is. Fin was such a mistake and now it can't be undone! Sakitu sinks into more despair.
Selena frowns looking puzzled as Quasit hops into her bed, then a bit shocked at Saki's outburst. Selena spent a moment trying to process what just happened. Being only mostly clueless, Selena figures Quasit will be fine later, but Saki is a different matter, so she carefully sits on Saki's bed and asks in probably the gentlest voice anyone has heard from her, "Saki, are you okay? Like okay okay?"