Ameiko approaches Melinda where she stands by Bevelek and Vankar.
"Mel," she says. "Could I ... ask something of you?"
"Anything." Mel says with a grateful smile.
She blinks at the question about Shalelu, possibly blushes just a little. "Well... I... this might be a long story..." She thinks about it for a moment, the kiss at Brinewall, the swimming in the sea before then, the gifts of apples, then comes up with a more coherent answer. "There were signs, for a while. But I was too dimm to read them. Well, maybe not dimm, but I was too hurt to see what she felt for me. I have loved her for a long time. But I have not had good experiences... I have never been in a real relationship before. I had no idea what to do, how to react. I was terrified. Afraid to admit my feelings. But she went out of her way to be with me, she spent more time with me than with anyone else, for months, even before we left on this journey, we'd hunt together, just the two of us, for days on end, spending time in the wilds. Then we started to do more things together. We went swimming alone, in the ocean with turtles... she is... really stunning, and... uhm... She blushes again, perhaps you get a flash of the memory, of how Lio looked at Shalelu, of how Shalelu was so sweet and kind and beautiful, first swimming, then lounging in the sun.
She goes off an a tangent for a moment, "Most people, they look at me, and all they see are the tattoos and the scars, and how I am uncomfortable and thus standoffish... and that is all they see. But she sees past all that. Always has. From the first moment I met her, she treated me like I was a normal person. I have always been worthy in her eyes. No one has ever looked at me quite like that. People have always been repulsed by me, or they wanted to possess me..."
A small smile. " But I digress. We...I... I think I started to realize she felt more for me that just simple friendship just before we split our group up to go to Brinewall. I, I gave her an apple, as a parting gift, because I was too afraid to tell her how I felt, and I was afraid if we didn't succeed, maybe I'd never see her again. I had no idea how close to the truth that would be... but, when I gave her that apple, we just... we stared at each other in silence for a while, and it was strange, because I couldn't look away, and neither could she... I wanted to kiss her very badly, just then. But I was too afraid to be rejected. ...I think, ultimately, the clearest moment was when I almost died in Brinewall, and she saw that, after that, she... she realized how much she cared for me, and she asked to kiss me. And I just... it took a few weeks after that, for us to truly become a couple. I made some mistakes, and she was so patient with me, so forgiving and understanding. I don't know why she loves me. I mean, I am hardly worthy. But that is when, I suppose. I'm not sure if that answers your question."
Lio, still talking to Zaiobe, blinks, and possibly blushes just a tiny bit. She seems in deep discussion. After a while, the blush goes away, and she smiles.
Shalelu quietly takes Liothonae's hand in her own.
Lio holds Shae's hand, saying nothing further, but happily remaining next to Shalelu.
"Anything." Mel says with a grateful smile.
"Well," she says. "Suishen and I have been talking. We both agree that he would best ... serve his purpose if he were wielded by someone other than me, for a number of reasons. Having talked about the options with him, we both agreed, again for a number of reasons, that the best person to bear him would be you."
"But - and I mean this - only if you're willing."
"Well," she says. "Suishen and I have been talking. We both agree that he would best ... serve his purpose if he were wielded by someone other than me, for a number of reasons. Having talked about the options with him, we both agreed, again for a number of reasons, that the best person to bear him would be you."
"But - and I mean this - only if you're willing."
Mel smiles, "It's a good thing that he and Makoa already decided that they can get along." A pause, "I guess this means that Aunt Sasha's fencing lessons might come in handy."
"I was too."
after freeing each of their friends or friends to be, she gives each of them a short hug (when they are available and with as much strength as their current condition allows)
As Myriana works on her chains, she adds, "Reta try to make you proud. They say to Reta, Goblin, tell us if woman whose name you cannot remember is related to some people you do not know, and where she has hidden the thing that sounds vaguely familiar! But Reta tell them she knows nothing!"
Reta: Reta, I also, am very proud of you. You have much courage.
Zaiobe: <I... ... ... am glad you are alive.>
Koya's eyes snap open and she is instantly alert. She relaxes slightly as she takes in the situation.
"Never doubted for a moment you'd show up," she says with gruff affection.
Koya: Really? I did. Thank you for still being here.
Ameiko clearly got the worst of whatever was done to everyone, but nonetheless the light cure is still enough to bring her back into consciousness.
"Mel," she says. "You are definitely a sight for sore ... everything. Ow."
Ameiko: I am sorry we didn't get here sooner. I am...very glad you...made it um, through um, everything.
"Remind me," Sandru says, rubbing his aching head as he takes in the situaion, "Not to get captured by psychopaths again. Bad for the health."
Sandru: Do NOT get captured again period, please.
Buttersnips apparently sees no reason to be stoic, and bursts into tears as she is released from her bonds. "Oh, it was dreadful," she cries. "We were beaten and brutalized and chained. Words cannot express how grateful I am to be rescued from certain death."
Buttersnips: I think you still owe me a...night on the town. If you're still er, up for it when we get back, that is. If you'd rather not, I..would understand that too.
Bevelek simply says, "Thank you." Vankar nods in agreement.
Bevelek & Vankar: no words, just a smile and the simple, but meaningful hug for each of them
Spivey has been chained about the waist with the smallest manacle her captors could apparently find.
sogood to seeyouall, she says. you know, i am startingto think our enemies are very badpeople.
Spivey: smile. "Ya think?", pause, "Um, Spivey, I...would like to hug you...but I'm not sure how." she seems a trifle embarrassed.
Kelda is silent until she has assessed the situation for a few moments. Then she asks, "Any still left to kill?"
Kelda: Kelda's hug is with all her strength, (if she's healed) which admittedly is not much. "not sure, but I'll be much happier having you for them to take shots at 'stead o' me." Myri smiles and rubs her temple.
Uksahkka seems shocked to see you.
"I'm ... I can't believe I'm still alive. I ... thank you," she says.
Uksahkka: "That makes two of us. Well...sort of." Myri smiles as she gives Uksahkka her hug.
The unknown man looks about warily when he is brought to consciousness, a grim expression on his face. It stays there until Uksahkka says, "Ulf, they're friends! They're here to rescue us."
A bit of the tension leaves his body.
"Well," he says, "If that's true, it sounds like I owe you all a debt of gratitude. Name's Ulf," he says, sticking his hand out. "Ulf Gormundr."
Myri slips under the hand and gives him his hug, just like everybody else. "Glad we found you Ulf." and as she withdraws, "I'm Myriana.."
"Thanks. And... if you want to talk, I am more... I can be approachable." She says. "I am... lucky." She smiles. "In the past, I would not have believed that. But maybe it's true, after all." Another moment then she continues, "If you have questions, I'm willing to try to answer them. Even if you think they are uncomfortable."
Ulf replies, "I suppose I might say the same, but looking around at the reunion here, I'm pretty sure you didn't storm an ogre-held fortress looking for my sorry ass. But if I get to tag along when you bust everyone else out of here, you've can have my thank-you-kindlies with chocolate sprinkles on top even if you don't know me from a hole in the ground and care even less."
Myri's mouth waters. She licks her lips and smiles.
He shrugs. "But if for some reason you're too stubborn, too desperate, or too dumb to take good advice, I've got to say I like your method of asking a lot more than the last people who did it. So if you're dead set on going, I'd say you've got yourself a guide."
Ulf receives a big...smile.
Sandru acknowledges the wordless camaraderie. With words.
"We," he says solemnly, "need to get seriously plastered sometime soon."
"Ho, yes," replies Kalimac. "And I've been preparing for just that occasion," he adds.
After she finishes a hushed conversation with Liothonae, Shalelu approaches Myriana.
"I have heard," she says. "That when your little sister saves your life, it is a sign that she is growing up."
Myri smiles rather brightly for a moment, before her demeanor tones down appreciably. "Thank you, sister. I...am trying." She steps in and gives Shalelu a short quick, but firm hug. "I am...really happy that you..and the others, are all um, relatively safe now."
bluff: +1 additional if could be attracted
Her face and demeanor are relatively blank, almost stand-offish, She is visibly keeping her sometimes high-strung emotions in check. At the moment, she seems to have borrowed a mask...perhaps an invisible one from Tollin.
Myri seems to be making a conscious effort to keep her emotions in a lower more platonic gear. She wants to hug Shalelu fiercly so bad its almost causing her to tear up, but she's keeping that in check too. She is not incredibly happy about it.
Ulf, overhearing, tosses in the following, "Hellwasps? Nasty customers. Like flying poisonous piranhas, only not so sweet tempered. If they're locked up somewhere, might want to leave them for the authorities to deal with when we tell them about this. Evidence of deals with hellish forces aren't looked on too kindly in these parts, and the king's wizard can probably have banishing spells at the ready when they come to investigate. If you don't mind my throwing in my two coppers on it."
Myri nods in agreement.
Mel shakes herself, obviously willing away some mood that she disapproves of and moves over to Ulf and Uksahkka, with a friendly smile, "I'm Mel. Thank you, by the way. It may be an insane venture, but it is an important one."
A pause, "So... Asvig kidnapped and tortured you to force you into being a guide? Isn't that... a really stupid way to go about getting the good will of someone that you will be staking your life on?"
"Reta is tough like month-old frog jerky," she agrees. "May I ask if big wolf will let me stick my head in her mouth, father?"
Myri smiles broadly, barely stifling her laughter.
However, this reminds her of something. She moves over to Skygni. "Thank you for your help rescuing our friends. May I?" She does not really wait, but (if Skygni allows her) reaches up, standing on tip-toes if necessary and hugs the great wolf around her neck (this occurs sometime after Skygni finishes her meal). Myri does not seem to be incredibly concerned if she gets covered in ogre magi blood or not.
"And hey. I'm still here, and I'm still going to be here, OK? I've got friends that don't let me down. It makes a difference."
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"Ve havits uv goflins ar nah unnown oo my feefle," Skygni explains around a mouthful of head.
Alaric winces with every word, but he does seem to be calming down a bit.
Myri is turning interesting colors...apparently having trouble breathing and trying desperately not to lose control and roll on the floor laughing hysterically.
Reta, I also, am very proud of you. You have much courage.
"Yes," Reta says. "That am true."
Really? I did. Thank you for still being here.
"Weren't none o' my doin'," Koya remarks.
<I... ... ... am glad you are alive.>
<Me, too,> Zaiobe replies. <Very much so. Thank you.>
I am sorry we didn't get here sooner. I am...very glad you...made it um, through um, everything.
"As far as I can tell," says Ameiko, "You swooped in just in the nick of time, bows blazing, in classic heroic style."
Do NOT get captured again period, please.
"Wasn't planning on it," Sandru replies.
I think you still owe me a...night on the town. If you're still er, up for it when we get back, that is. If you'd rather not, I..would understand that too.
"Not up for it?" Buttersnips smiles up at Myriana. "I am not about to let minor inconveniences like kidnap and torture get in the way of that!"
Reta, I also, am very proud of you. You have much courage."Yes," Reta says. "That am true."
Reta's response draws yet another smile from Myri. "Reta, you are awesome
Spivey: smile. "Ya think?", pause, "Um, Spivey, I...would like to hug you...but I'm not sure how." she seems a trifle embarrassed.
oh, iseasy. here, i showyou.
Spivey crawls under Myriana's clothes.
see? comes a muffled voice. nice close hug.
"As far as I can tell," says Ameiko, "You swooped in just in the nick of time, bows blazing, in classic heroic style."
"Anticipating the ballad of Fungdark," Rhost says, nudging Alaric.
"As far as I can tell," says Ameiko, "You swooped in just in the nick of time, bows blazing, in classic heroic style."
Myriana smiles, "Blazing? Not quite, but maybe next combat we're prepared for, considering the wand of Flame Arrow we found." Myri continues to smile, "Kind of looking forward to it actually."
oh, iseasy. here, i showyou.Spivey crawls under Myriana's clothes.
see? comes a muffled voice. nice close hug.
Lio looks over at Shalelu, the expression is easily readable by the taller elf.
Bluff:Eyes wide, she looks like she's really really surprised by this... Uhm... display of affection, with Myri, who is Shae's little sister, in front of everyone... did Spivey just climb under Myri's clothes and say she was easy? Lio is really embarrassed, possibly starting to turn colors. But at least Myri wasn't checking out Shalelu, so perhaps this was a good sign?
Tollin has, like, totally been there all along, too.
Myriana smiles, "Blazing? Not quite, but maybe next combat we're prepared for, considering the wand of Flame Arrow we found." Myri continues to smile, "Kind of looking forward to it actually."
"'ere wuz defenelty blazen..." Lio teases about the spell that hit them right before they got into the room, that Myri didn't notice and gave the all clear to...
"Not up for it?" Buttersnips smiles up at Myriana. "I am not about to let minor inconveniences like kidnap and torture get in the way of that!"
"So once we get back to Karlsgard then?" Her brow furrows a bit, "or should um...it wait until the next day? I guess it depends when we get there."
"Thanks. And... if you want to talk, I am more... I can be approachable." She says. "I am... lucky." She smiles. "In the past, I would not have believed that. But maybe it's true, after all." Another moment then she continues, "If you have questions, I'm willing to try to answer them. Even if you think they are uncomfortable."
<Thank you,> says Zaiobe. <But the problem,> she adds a little ruefully, <Is that I am uncomfortable with the question, not that I think you will be. Which is ... odd, considering that I have no such issues discussing my torture with you, but such is the nature of people, I suppose.>
oh, iseasy. here, i showyou.
Spivey crawls under Myriana's clothes.
see? comes a muffled voice. nice close hug.
Myriana squeaks slightly at the unexpected turn of events, then smiles and places a hand with just a bit of pressure on Spivey's location, being careful not to harm her wings. Feeling the warmth of this "nice, close hug". "Hmmm, nice."
"So once we get back to Karlsgard then?" Her brow furrows a bit, "or should um...it wait until the next day? I guess it depends when we get there."
A possibly unwelcome interruption...
"Mayhaps 'ese guys 'ad 'orses summawhere thot we dinna see yet. "ey 'ad ta get 'ere summa'au." She suggests. "Bought even wolken, et shuddna taike more thon ah kouple days."
Ulf receives a big...smile.
"Ho, yes," replies Kalimac. "And I've been preparing for just that occasion," he adds.
"The wise adventurer is always prepared," Sandru says, nodding.
Myri smiles rather brightly for a moment, before her demeanor tones down appreciably. "Thank you, sister. I...am trying." She steps in and gives Shalelu a short quick, but firm hug. "I am...really happy that you..and the others, are all um, relatively safe now."
Her face and demeanor are relatively blank, almost stand-offish, She is visibly keeping her sometimes high-strung emotions in check. At the moment, she seems to have borrowed a mask...perhaps an invisible one from Tollin.
Shalelu studies her sister after she steps back from the hug. Has she ascertained Myriana's motives? It would take a similar check on the motives of Shalelu to determine this ...
Shalelu nods slowly. "Thank you," she says. "I do not like to cause you distress."
<Thank you,> says Zaiobe. <But the problem,> she adds a little ruefully, <Is that I am uncomfortable with the question, not that I think you will be. Which is ... odd, considering that I have no such issues discussing my torture with you, but such is the nature of people, I suppose.>
"Well, as I said, you are welcome to ask when you are more comfortable, or when you are ready, whichever comes first... as for comfortableness, you could probably ask me nearly anything and get an honest answer, provided it does not compromise my Druidic oaths." A small smile. "Although now I must admit, I am rather curious. You do not seem... easily phased."
"'ere wuz defenelty blazen..." Lio teases about the spell that hit them right before they got into the room, that Myri didn't notice and gave the all clear to...
"Mmmhmmm." Myri lips form a thin line as her eyes turn sidewise towards Lio, her face follows and she promptly sticks out her tongue at the teasing elf.
Mel shakes herself, obviously willing away some mood that she disapproves of and moves over to Ulf and Uksahkka, with a friendly smile, "I'm Mel. Thank you, by the way. It may be an insane venture, but it is an important one."
A pause, "So... Asvig kidnapped and tortured you to force you into being a guide? Isn't that... a really stupid way to go about getting the good will of someone that you will be staking your life on?"
"Pleased to meet you, Mel," Ulf replies. "They didn't start right off with the kidnap and torture. It started with a bait-and-switch where they offered one job to me and then told me the real deal when I got there. See, they wanted to get their hands on something called the I'm-A-Tattoo Seal and get it over to Minkai as quick as possible so they could destroy it. They'd heard about the crazy stunts I'd pulled when I was a teenager so they figured I was the guy for the job, and knew I was desperate for work so thought I'd be easy."
"But I was there for about two seconds before I could tell that the whole deal stank worse than a fire sale at the rubber factory, so I told them thanks but shove it your drainpipe, if you get my drift. They didn't take too kindly to that and that's when they told me I was doing it whether I wanted to or not, a plan that as you point out I'm not sure they'd thought all the way through. I think they figured when I was out on the ice I'd work to save my own itchy hide no matter how it got there."
"Mmmhmmm." Myri lips form a thin line as her eyes turn sidewise towards Lio, her face follows and she promptly sticks out her tongue at the teasing elf.
It would probably be funnier, if the fire hadn't hurt so much, and done so much damage.
But Lio does smile at Myri's antics. And at least Lio reacted fast enough to get Mel out of the way.
However, this reminds her of something. She moves over to Skygni. "Thank you for your help rescuing our friends. May I?" She does not really wait, but (if Skygni allows her) reaches up, standing on tip-toes if necessary and hugs the great wolf around her neck (this occurs sometime after Skygni finishes her meal). Myri does not seem to be incredibly concerned if she gets covered in ogre magi blood or not.
And to Skygni: "Thank you for joining us in battle. It has been an honor fighting on your side. "
Skygni nods respectfully to Hrunndalf.
"Well... the way one of them was rushing to save your day, he may already have ideas. And I'm sure Kalimac really wants to reschedule your date, as well." Mel's voice borders on teasing.
"As long as he accepts that I had a good reason for canceling the first one," Ameiko says with a trace of a smile.
Lio looks over at Shalelu, the expression is easily readable by the taller elf.
Shalelu opens her mouth. Closes it. Thinks.
Shrugs.
"So once we get back to Karlsgard then?" Her brow furrows a bit, "or should um...it wait until the next day? I guess it depends when we get there."
"Whenever you would like," Buttersnips answers. "I have kept my dance card free.
"Pleased to meet you, Mel," Ulf replies. "They didn't start right off with the kidnap and torture. It started with a bait-and-switch where they offered one job to me and then told me the real deal when I got there. See, they wanted to get their hands on something called the I'm-A-Tattoo Seal and get it over to Minkai as quick as possible so they could destroy it. They'd heard about the crazy stunts I'd pulled when I was a teenager so they figured I was the guy for the job, and knew I was desperate for work so thought I'd be easy."
"But I was there for about two seconds before I could tell that the whole deal stank worse than a fire sale at the rubber factory, so I told them thanks but shove it your drainpipe, if you get my drift. They didn't take too kindly to that and that's when they told me I was doing it whether I wanted to or not, a plan that as you point out I'm not sure they'd thought all the way through. I think they figured when I was out on the ice I'd work to save my own itchy hide no matter how it got there."
Her smile grows a little brighter, "They didn't seem much for subtle." A shrug, "Or thinking really." Her eyes blaze with a little of her internal fire, "They killed an old man who had been kind to us thinking that would stop us from looking for you and Uksahkka. Not exactly what I would call a good understanding of humanoid nature." She shakes her head to clear the remembered anger, "I am glad that they didn't do anything irreparable to either of you."
A longer pause as Mel watches her friends for a minute. And when it is apparent that they aren't leaving the torture room for a while yet. "So... do either of you have music preferences? Because Ameiko is an amazing musician."
"As long as he accepts that I had a good reason for canceling the first one," Ameiko says with a trace of a smile.
Mel's own smile is more obvious, "And here I thought you let yourself get taken because you weren't quite happy with the dress we picked out for you. Silly me." She pauses, obviously hoping to make the older woman laugh.
A possibly unwelcome interruption...
"Mayhaps 'ese guys 'ad 'orses summawhere thot we dinna see yet. "ey 'ad ta get 'ere summa'au." She suggests. "Bought even wolken, et shuddna taike more thon ah kouple days."
"Oh, that's true," Buttersnips realizes. "Horses are dreadfully slow, but perhaps we can find a few - they'd be better than nothing."
"Incidentally, where are we, exactly?"
Shalelu opens her mouth. Closes it. Thinks.Shrugs.
Lio defers to Shae's wisdom. She leans her head against Shae's shoulder and puts her arm around Shalelu's waist. She's ready to leave the room, now that everyone is healed, but she's not willing to let go of the other woman in order to do so. And she waits until everyone else is ready to go.
"Yer thengs ahre all outesaide en e ott'r room." She says, of the group's gear.