Vai looks up as the stranger explains what he suspects about the machine, though she makes sure to keep some distance between herself and him. Male stranger? Vai wasn't going anywhere near him if she could help it. Even if he had helped them. "So.... what you're saying is we just have to smash it... and then... and then Jan can move on?" she asks incredulously, looking to Phaeze to confirm what the stranger had said. The hand which had gone into the pouch had pulled out a pair of the personal starcasters, but Vai does nothing with them yet.
"Well, this is a particularly nasty device. Like borderline purest evil". The young man says, supressing a shudder. He then goes on to fill Vai in on what exactly this machine is and what its doing to her friend.
Phaezeriel nods to Vai, and settles to the ground near the machine. He inspects it closely without touching it, and his telepathic voice is heard by everyone near the machine, ::I do not know about the effect that the machine is having on Jan, but this stranger is correct, the machine does certainly seem to be made of the corrupting alloy; and disrupting it would likely not need to be a gentle affair.::
lang looks at everyone apparently He never realized this would be so difficult for people.
I guess growing up without any magic kind of makes me a bit....ahhh...not very thoughtful. I guess any magic can be done out here as we haven't actually entered the shrine, and there is the little village. magic can be used there also. I can go ask if maybe someone can lets you stay there.
I'm sorry about all of this, I guess I didn't really think things through.
And Tarka, I never expected you to meditate or pray, I was talking about the monks that live here, that's what they do. We are only here to spend the night. we can even stay out here if you want, I just wanted to show you all what my home is like. I never knew magic was so important to people.
Why not set up camp here, I'll go inform the monks we are staying here and they will bring us some food. you can use all the magic you want out here, just once you pass that archway it is not allowed. This is a very holy place for me and my people
"It's okay, Lang. Not everyone needs magic. But it's always good to learn how to be flexible when things don't happen the way you expect as well. The temple that raised my mother would have never been able to manage it without an ever-producing rice bowl. The monks there decided that taking care of orphans was more important than following rules about sacred places. That's not to say this is the same at all...as you've said, we can camp out here. It's more something to consider for the future."
"That's alright, falling asleep in lava is a problem anyway, because then it cools while you're sleeping, and you get stuck." Ardiente had replied, unable to stop himself from chucking at /that/ memory, especially with the giddiness that had been running through him. Giddiness didn't actually help him stay upright though, maybe even making him less balanced, so he had been glad for Raelle's support on their way to the room.
"Good thing we've been introduced already." Ardiente says wryly, and then shakes his head at the comments on the mess. "That's alright, I'll tidy up tomorrow morning. To be honest, if the mess means that you found out where I was and showed up right on time. If it means a bit of tidying, I can handle that."
"Oohh--" Ardiente says as he and Raelle step into the room itself, and he closing his eyes. "That is blessedly warm."
"Are you coming in?" he asks of Arthur, holding the door with one hand and Raelle with the other.
"You don't have to tidy the room....come on, let's get you to your bed and then I can tidy it up for you...after all, I made the mess, even if it was in a good cause."
"Well it is my room too, so yeah"
She gives him a look that would speak volumes about the need to have a talk about roommate etiquette if he weren't so totally oblivious.
'Yeah. I have to wonder if my Mom showing up was a bad omen. The weekend started out great, after all.' Ehos returns, his expression darkening slightly. 'Whoever attacked the school was targeting Lycans, Jaiye at the top of the list. And... lots of other bad stuff happened yesterday too. Too much to tell, really. At least you guys had a successful weekend.'"It was indeed. We were able to recover the tome Oniero was going after. Much was learned in the process, no one was lost, and we brought back a new student with us. I'd say it was sucessful on every possible way."
"I'd heard that you all here did not have a grand time in our absence."
"Your mom was not the problem," she said a bit sharply. "She was...different than I expected. More like Tyrrin." She sighed. "Of all the things that happened this weekend, that was one of the few that didn't go wrong. Let's not lump it in with all the other bad things."
Phaezeriel nods to Vai, and settles to the ground near the machine. He inspects it closely without touching it, and his telepathic voice is heard by everyone near the machine, ::I do not know about the effect that the machine is having on Jan, but this stranger is correct, the machine does certainly seem to be made of the corrupting alloy; and disrupting it would likely not need to be a gentle affair.::Vai looks up as the stranger explains what he suspects about the machine, though she makes sure to keep some distance between herself and him. Male stranger? Vai wasn't going anywhere near him if she could help it. Even if he had helped them. "So.... what you're saying is we just have to smash it... and then... and then Jan can move on?" she asks incredulously, looking to Phaeze to confirm what the stranger had said. The hand which had gone into the pouch had pulled out a pair of the personal starcasters, but Vai does nothing with them yet.
"Well, this is a particularly nasty device. Like borderline purest evil". The young man says, supressing a shudder. He then goes on to fill Vai in on what exactly this machine is and what its doing to her friend.
"Well....smashing things isn't usually my forte, but this seems like a good time to try something," she said, focusing on forming a forcefield in front of her and smashing it into the machine.
"I can take you to your room to drop that off if you want."
Tybalt produces a pair of thick leather gloves and some rectangular goggles. He doesn't seems to have the parachute one would think is required for this activity.
Mel looks over the gear Tybs got...
Ahhhh, tybs? where are the parachutes? I don't fly naturally you know. and I don't think Cameron does either.
Mel looks a little concerned over this.
"It's okay, Lang. Not everyone needs magic. But it's always good to learn how to be flexible when things don't happen the way you expect as well. The temple that raised my mother would have never been able to manage it without an ever-producing rice bowl. The monks there decided that taking care of orphans was more important than following rules about sacred places. That's not to say this is the same at all...as you've said, we can camp out here. It's more something to consider for the future."
Thank you Master Blackscales. But if anyone would like a tour I will galdly escort them around and show them everything, at least as much as we can. Oh and I should warn you, there is a bell hat will ring as the sun starts to rise. that is for the monks inside, not for us. But if you want to rise up early that is fine also.
Lang goes to Midori, your weapons are ok in here, some of the monks train in thier use, I was supposed to learn the sword but I really didn't pay much attension, so I am not very good at it. He adds with a smile.
|
"That's alright, falling asleep in lava is a problem anyway, because then it cools while you're sleeping, and you get stuck." Ardiente had replied, unable to stop himself from chucking at /that/ memory, especially with the giddiness that had been running through him. Giddiness didn't actually help him stay upright though, maybe even making him less balanced, so he had been glad for Raelle's support on their way to the room.
"Good thing we've been introduced already." Ardiente says wryly, and then shakes his head at the comments on the mess. "That's alright, I'll tidy up tomorrow morning. To be honest, if the mess means that you found out where I was and showed up right on time. If it means a bit of tidying, I can handle that."
"Oohh--" Ardiente says as he and Raelle step into the room itself, and he closing his eyes. "That is blessedly warm."
"Are you coming in?" he asks of Arthur, holding the door with one hand and Raelle with the other.
"You don't have to tidy the room....come on, let's get you to your bed and then I can tidy it up for you...after all, I made the mess, even if it was in a good cause."
"Well it is my room too, so yeah"She gives him a look that would speak volumes about the need to have a talk about roommate etiquette if he weren't so totally oblivious.
Arthur raises one eyebrow at Raelle, more specifically the weird look she was giving him, "what? is there something on my face?"
::"Ehos, you aren't aware of who the attacker was? Or do you just not want to share that information with Ghalen?" Ace silently asks the young elf.
'Yeah. I have to wonder if my Mom showing up was a bad omen. The weekend started out great, after all.' Ehos returns, his expression darkening slightly. 'Whoever attacked the school was targeting Lycans, Jaiye at the top of the list. And... lots of other bad stuff happened yesterday too. Too much to tell, really. At least you guys had a successful weekend.'
"Yes, well. While helping Oniero was fulfilling, being here to aid family and friends is more important, and I'm sorry we weren't here. I'm glad you all made it, though."
"Your mom was not the problem," she said a bit sharply. "She was...different than I expected. More like Tyrrin." She sighed. "Of all the things that happened this weekend, that was one of the few that didn't go wrong. Let's not lump it in with all the other bad things."
"Umm. What else happened?"
Arthur raises one eyebrow at Raelle, more specifically the weird look she was giving him, "what? is there something on my face?"
*facepalm*
"Yes, cluelessness," she said dryly.
'Yeah. I have to wonder if my Mom showing up was a bad omen. The weekend started out great, after all.' Ehos returns, his expression darkening slightly. 'Whoever attacked the school was targeting Lycans, Jaiye at the top of the list. And... lots of other bad stuff happened yesterday too. Too much to tell, really. At least you guys had a successful weekend.'"Yes, well. While helping Oniero was fulfilling, being here to aid family and friends is more important, and I'm sorry we weren't here. I'm glad you all made it, though."
"Your mom was not the problem," she said a bit sharply. "She was...different than I expected. More like Tyrrin." She sighed. "Of all the things that happened this weekend, that was one of the few that didn't go wrong. Let's not lump it in with all the other bad things.""Umm. What else happened?"
"No offense, but I think I should probably tell Tyrrin first. Not that plenty of other people don't already know," she sighed. "But I wouldn't want to compound that problem by telling you before I talk to my best friend. I'm sure you'll hear all about it later anyways."
Arthur now looks less amused, more confused. "wait, what?"
"Have you ever had a roommate before, Arthur?"
"uh, does Hermes count? oh and I shared Carl's ship, but we each had our own room"
"I'm pretty sure Hermes doesn't count. Umm....how shall I put this? There's kind of a code when you share a room with someone. Which I will gladly explain to you another time, but this time I'll just be blunt. Take a walk, Arthur. It doesn't have to be a long walk, but scram for a few minutes, 'kay?"
"No offense, but I think I should probably tell Tyrrin first. Not that plenty of other people don't already know," she sighed. "But I wouldn't want to compound that problem by telling you before I talk to my best friend. I'm sure you'll hear all about it later anyways."
"None taken. I'll leave you all to your meals."
He bows, and leaves the cafeteria.
"Heh. Parachutes can break, or fold or tear and then you just hit the ground. This is Warlock skydiving. Much safer and more fun." He is searching through a black silk top hat.
"Anyone else want goggles? I have some around here somewhere..."
He eventually finds and pulls out two sets of goggles, offering them to Mel.
"It'll be a little cold, but we won't be out for too too long."
Raelle looked up at Ardiente after Arthur had exited. She bit her lip and blushed.
"Ummm....sorry for being so forward there. It was just...going to be too weird to give you a good-night kiss with Arthur right there...ummm....unless you'd rather not...."
"Heh. Parachutes can break, or fold or tear and then you just hit the ground. This is Warlock skydiving. Much safer and more fun." He is searching through a black silk top hat.
"Anyone else want goggles? I have some around here somewhere..."
He eventually finds and pulls out two sets of goggles, offering them to Mel.
"It'll be a little cold, but we won't be out for too too long."
Mel looks even more confused.
Then how do we not hit the ground? Is This like the Anti-Grav Olympics?
she grabs a pair of goggles then looks at the fact that she is wearing a skirt. Then she looks to Cameron, a little worried now.
"I'll take care of it."
He smiles and sees Mel question her choice of attire.
After a moment of consideration, he offers her a couple safety pins.
Raelle looked up at Ardiente after Arthur had exited. She bit her lip and blushed.
"Ummm....sorry for being so forward there. It was just...going to be too weird to give you a good-night kiss with Arthur right there...ummm....unless you'd rather not...."
Gods, that lip bite... it got him every single time. Seriously.
He blushes himself, grinning a little, the giddiness from the kiss on the cheek coming back, making his stomach dance slightly. His hand was on her back and pulling her slightly closer. "No no... I do." he says, just a little awkwardly, looking back down at her, not making a move yet, just enjoying her there with him.
"You are really beautiful." Ardiente says, trying to diffuse the slight awkwardness he had made.
Raelle looked up at Ardiente after Arthur had exited. She bit her lip and blushed.
"Ummm....sorry for being so forward there. It was just...going to be too weird to give you a good-night kiss with Arthur right there...ummm....unless you'd rather not...."
Gods, that lip bite... it got him every single time. Seriously.
He blushes himself, grinning a little, the giddiness from the kiss on the cheek coming back, making his stomach dance slightly. His hand was on her back and pulling her slightly closer. "No no... I do." he says, just a little awkwardly, looking back down at her, not making a move yet, just enjoying her there with him.
"You are really beautiful." Ardiente says, trying to diffuse the slight awkwardness he had made.
She blushed more and looked down. She got that butterflies in the stomach feeling every time he looked at her like that.
"Umm...thanks," she said, a bit awkwardly.
Her heart was pounding like crazy. She decided she should just go for it before she lost her nerve and put her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his for a brief kiss.
She loooked relieved when he said he wasn't upset about Rena. "Oh. Well, I'm glad you're not upset about Rena then. I was worried about how I was supposed to handle it if things went sour between the two of you. I don't want to have to choose between my two friends," she said, with a cheerful smile.
She sorted through the jackets with a critical eye, finally finding a pale pink hoodie that suited her. It was much too big and once it was zipped up it looked like it was the only thing she was wearing. She held up her hands trying to figure out how to keep them out of the sleeves that kept falling over her fingers, and then shrugged, deciding it was something she could live with.
"Okay, all set. Let's go find something fun to do." ^.^
"My idea of fun, is exploring and learning new things-- keeping the brain busy, preferably with creative s#@$. What about you? I suppose you want to meet folks, right? get settled? Cafeteria to start ... or we could hit the town, or someplace else? No limits on this planet, save for not knowing where other cities are. I gotta learn what there is to do here anyway. Best thing to do though-- is start walking." He motions in the direction of the arrows that appear, once he touches the walls to think of the Cafeteria.
"What did you do with your free time, for fun? Or silly question? Kinda surprised you aren't looking to get payback against that jerk that abused you-- is that something you had authorities to get involved with? Or is your culture more of a feudal one, where the rich and powerful make the rules?"
"I'll take care of it."
He smiles and sees Mel question her choice of attire.
After a moment of consideration, he offers her a couple safety pins.
Mel takes the pins and works on her dress attempting to hold it down.
I guess then I will just have to trust you. she adds.
Once she is all pinned down . So what's next? she says putting on her goggles.
She blushed more and looked down. She got that butterflies in the stomach feeling every time he looked at her like that.
"Umm...thanks," she said, a bit awkwardly.
Her heart was pounding like crazy. She decided she should just go for it before she lost her nerve and put her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his for a brief kiss.
Ardiente returned the kiss, holding her close, and wobbled a bit right at the end, before breaking the kiss. He looks positively exhilarated, despite his fatigue. The hand that wasn't on her back came up a to her cheek and lightly traced his thumb along the part of her facial tattoo which was on her cheek.
"I guess I should get some rest." he says doubtfully, not wanting her out of his arms right at the moment.
"My idea of fun, is exploring and learning new things-- keeping the brain busy, preferably with creative s@@$. What about you? I suppose you want to meet folks, right? get settled? Cafeteria to start ... or we could hit the town, or someplace else? No limits on this planet, save for not knowing where other cities are. I gotta learn what there is to do here anyway. Best thing to do though-- is start walking." He motions in the direction of the arrows that appear, once he touches the walls to think of the Cafeteria.
"What did you do with your free time, for fun? Or silly question? Kinda surprised you aren't looking to get payback against that jerk that abused you-- is that something you had authorities to get involved with? Or is your culture more of a feudal one, where the rich and powerful make the rules?"
Asha laughed. "Slow down a little, you keep jumping from thought to thought like you're afraid someone is going to gag you at any second. And now that I'm out of the tower, mostly I just want to meet new people and learn new things. And there's so much to learn! I mean, it's only my second might outside after all. Last night was lots of fun, but I'm pretty sure there's lots of other things to experience too." ^.^
"But I should stay on school grounds. My family can't take me from here. The Headmaster told me that he wouldn't let them force me to leave. He's had a run-in with Embre before I guess....when Embre's ex-fiancee told him she'd married someone else. Ooh, he was soo mad....anyways, no, there wasn't anyone to report it to because the government was the council of nobles and Embre's parents were on the council. You know, before it got disbanded. And my aunt and uncle would never have allowed me to even speak with any of the other members of the council anyway. Not that they would have helped me....they would have believed my family when they said I was being disciplined for disobedience. And I'm not saying I wouldn't shove Embre into icy water if given the opportunity, but I'm not wasting my time on planning revenge. That would just make me as angry and unpleasant as he is. I've got better things to do!" she said, twirling around like a ballerina, which looked somewhat comical in the oversized pink hoodie.
"You say that like you don't."
He closes one eye and pokes his tongue out at her.
The kitty is kinda cute when he makes faces like that.
He looks around at everyone's packing up.
"Once everything is stowed away, we can head outside. Skydiving is hard with a ceiling."
Ardiente returned the kiss, holding her close, and wobbled a bit right at the end, before breaking the kiss. He looks positively exhilarated, despite his fatigue. The hand that wasn't on her back came up a to her cheek and lightly traced his thumb along the part of her facial tattoo which was on her cheek."I guess I should get some rest." he says doubtfully, not wanting her out of his arms right at the moment.
"You really should," she said a bit breathlessly. "Before you fall over. Again."
She bit her lip. "I suppose it would be alright if I stayed and just cuddled with you for a bit? At least until you fell asleep? I don't really want to go yet. I missed you today."
"You say that like you don't."
He closes one eye and pokes his tongue out at her.
The kitty is kinda cute when he makes faces like that.
He looks around at everyone's packing up.
"Once everything is stowed away, we can head outside. Skydiving is hard with a ceiling."
If I didn't I would have said no. and everything is stowed...isn't it? lets go... Mel seems like she is excited about tring something new. (that does not involve lightning bolts, fireballs, and exploding spacecraft)
"You really should," she said a bit breathlessly. "Before you fall over. Again."She bit her lip. "I suppose it would be alright if I stayed and just cuddled with you for a bit? At least until you fell asleep? I don't really want to go yet. I missed you today."
How could he resist that request when she had just bit her lip and oh boy continued hugging was a bad idea.
His face red in the extreme, Ardiente gently breaks the hug, turning slightly away. "Y-yeah, I'm fine with it. Do you mind if umm.. If I take my shirt off?" he asks, the scarlet facedness not receding in the slightest. "I'm not really used to sleeping dressed is all."
"You really should," she said a bit breathlessly. "Before you fall over. Again."She bit her lip. "I suppose it would be alright if I stayed and just cuddled with you for a bit? At least until you fell asleep? I don't really want to go yet. I missed you today."
How could he resist that request when she had just bit her lip and oh boy continued hugging was a bad idea.
His face red in the extreme, Ardiente gently breaks the hug, turning slightly away. "Y-yeah, I'm fine with it. Do you mind if umm.. If I take my shirt off?" he asks, the scarlet facedness not receding in the slightest. "I'm not really used to sleeping dressed is all."
Now it was Raelle's turn to blush as she tried to rein in her thoughts which seemed determined to explore this interesting new idea....exactly how much of a state of undress did he usually sleep in? Geez, it was a good thing she couldn't produce flames...she'd have a hard time keeping them under control now if she had them.
"Umm...yeah....that should be okay....I mean, it's just a shirt," she said, trying to sound nonchalant about it.
Ardiente nodded, still scarlet, but pulls off his shirt and tosses it into a laundry hamper. The first thing Raelle probably notices - Ardiente has all the muscles and definition that would be expected of his former profession. In other words, he is /buff/. The second thing Raelle probably noticed though - underneath all the rippling muscles, Ardiente appears to be covered in very shallow scars, small cuts and nicks that looked like they did not heal properly. Further, his back carries a few marks of the lash - scars from being whipped.
Old wounds though, and Ardiente looks back at her and beckons her over to the bed, where he goes and lays down, laying on his side to leave plenty of room for Raelle to lay next to him on the twin bed. Nothing has ever felt as comfortable as this bed, and he smiles back at Raelle, settling in.
Asha laughed. "Slow down a little, you keep jumping from thought to thought like you're afraid someone is going to gag you at any second. And now that I'm out of the tower, mostly I just want to meet new people and learn new things. And there's so much to learn! I mean, it's only my second might outside after all. Last night was lots of fun, but I'm pretty sure there's lots of other things to experience too." ^.^
"But I should stay on school grounds. My family can't take me from here. The Headmaster told me that he wouldn't let them force me to leave. He's had a run-in with Embre before I guess....when Embre's ex-fiancee told him she'd married someone else. Ooh, he was soo mad....anyways, no, there wasn't anyone to report it to because the government was the council of nobles and Embre's parents were on the council. You know, before it got disbanded. And my aunt and uncle would never have allowed me to even speak with any of the other members of the council anyway. Not that they would have helped me....they would have believed my family when they said I was being disciplined for disobedience. And I'm not saying I wouldn't shove Embre into icy...
"It's a curse, I assure you-- over active mind, curious. Fair enough though, you're answering a bunch of things, which I'm happy to learn."
He leads Asha after the twirl towards the Cafeteria adding, "Okay, so that's good to know too, revenge is stupid. Doesn't help anything except a selfish need, glad to hear. You're fairly mature for some tower trapped princess." He grinned, perfect white teeth at her, lightly tanned features, unmarred by any scars or what not.
"Pity about the family not assisting you. Being trapped by your own blood, that's not good. Icy waters, huh? Nice. Oh-- anything I /really/ should be careful of, considering your Firebirdness? New to that."
He looked around the Cafeteria once they arrived, checking out where a table with a good view might be. Motioning at it as he walks to go sit.
Ardiente nodded, still scarlet, but pulls off his shirt and tosses it into a laundry hamper. The first thing Raelle probably notices - Ardiente has all the muscles and definition that would be expected of his former profession. In other words, he is /buff/. The second thing Raelle probably noticed though - underneath all the rippling muscles, Ardiente appears to be covered in very shallow scars, small cuts and nicks that looked like they did not heal properly. Further, his back carries a few marks of the lash - scars from being whipped.
Old wounds though, and Ardiente looks back at her and beckons her over to the bed, where he goes and lays down, laying on his side to leave plenty of room for Raelle to lay next to him on the twin bed. Nothing has ever felt as comfortable as this bed, and he smiles back at Raelle, settling in.
Gods he was handsome. She blushed fiercely at the thought of actually touching his bare chest. The scars disturbed her though. Had her grandparents really been so cruel to him...well, duh. They made him stand there to be beheaded...they were monsters. What did she expect? She would definitely never forgive them. And she'd be more outraged now if she could think about anything other than how attractive he was...
She walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, shyly reaching out a hand to touch his arm. "You must have trained a lot," she said, feeling a lot self conscious.
"It's a curse, I assure you-- over active mind, curious. Fair enough though, you're answering a bunch of things, which I'm happy to learn."
He leads Asha after the twirl towards the Cafeteria adding, "Okay, so that's good to know too, revenge is stupid. Doesn't help anything except a selfish need, glad to hear. You're fairly mature for some tower trapped princess." He grinned, perfect white teeth at her, lightly tanned features, unmarred by any scars or what not.
"Pity about the family not assisting you. Being trapped by your own blood, that's not good. Icy waters, huh? Nice. Oh-- anything I /really/ should be careful of, considering your Firebirdness? New to that."
He looked around the Cafeteria once they arrived, checking out where a table with a good view might be. Motioning at it as he walks...
She shrugged. "I had a lot of time to myself in the tower. Lots of chances to think about things. I figured I could either become obsessed with revenge or I could try for being happy instead. Happy sounded like much more fun."
"Hmm....things you should know about firebirds....well, we're vulnerable to cold for one thing. It hurts us. Kind of like how fire burns humans, cold damages us. And fire heals us. That's why I curled up in the fireplace this morning....my muscles were sore and fire makes everything better. Ummm....and if I'm not sick or injured, then fire is extremely pleasurable. It feels pretty much as good as sex. Actually, I'm pretty sure that a lot of firebirds use fire to make sex feel even better...at least if I'm piecing together stuff I overheard the servants gossiping about correctly. Oh, and I can't drink water or eat too much water based food. It would make me sick. I need to drink oils and eat charred food. A lot of firebirds have fire magic of some kind. And music is really important to them. But I can't make fire, and I'm tone deaf. So I'm not so typical in that regard. I can't think of anything else you might need to know about firebirds."
Gods he was handsome. She blushed fiercely at the thought of actually touching his bare chest. The scars disturbed her though. Had her grandparents really been so cruel to him...well, duh. They made him stand there to be beheaded...they were monsters. What did she expect? She would definitely never forgive them. And she'd be more outraged now if she could think about anything other than how attractive he was...
She walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, shyly reaching out a hand to touch his arm. "You must have trained a lot," she said, feeling a lot self conscious.
As expected, Ardiente's arm is firm as Raelle's imagination had thought it would be, answering her question about training without saying anything. He does say something though, moving his other hand to hers, smiling a little sleepily, the bed already having an effect on him. His blush had started to fade, at least until Raelle had reached out to touch his arm "Yeah. It was hard, often painful work. But... worth it, I think, both then and now." is his reply, and he tugs slightly on Raelle's hand. "I believe there was cuddles promised?" he says, turning onto his back and holding out his arm, ready to pull Raelle close, with her head on his bare chest. As they lay together, Ardiente seems to absently trace the lines of any of Raelle's visible tattoos, his hand running gently up and down her arms.
Honestly, he couldn't believe he could be this lucky. Here was the most beautiful girl he had ever known, and she was here with him, even after everything. "Thank you, Raelle." he practically whispers after a few short moments of quiet.
Figuring that he had no choice if he was going to further his goals, Kodjack then sat down, not exactly sure of what the headmaster meant by "classes." It seemed like people in this place loved to make up words as they went along. "I am the last warrior and member of my tribe," Kodjack then started, figuring it was the best place to start. "We were wiped out, destroyed by magic. It was some...thing. Didn't seem affected by weapons, even from the strongest of us. Laughed as it spread its fire across our homes..." As Kodjack was retelling the story, his blood seemed to boil, memories of that tragedy swirling the rage up inside of him again. "I'm the only one that survived. Now, I need revenge. I need to get smarter to learn how to beat magic. Sometimes...I see it, and I cut it. I need to be smart enough to see it all the time and always be able to cut it."
"Well, the best way to figure out how to do that us to learn more about magic and why you can see/cut it. How much do you know about magic, Mr. Winterblow?" The Headmaster asks, listening closely. It was cases not unlike Kodjack's that made him glad he'd established the school.
As expected, Ardiente's arm is firm as Raelle's imagination had thought it would be, answering her question about training without saying anything. He does say something though, moving his other hand to hers, smiling a little sleepily, the bed already having an effect on him. His blush had started to fade, at least until Raelle had reached out to touch his arm "Yeah. It was hard, often painful work. But... worth it, I think, both then and now." is his reply, and he tugs slightly on Raelle's hand. "I believe there was cuddles promised?" he says, turning onto his back and holding out his arm, ready to pull Raelle close, with her head on his bare chest. As they lay together, Ardiente seems to absently trace the lines of any of Raelle's visible tattoos, his hand running gently up and down her arms.Honestly, he couldn't believe he could be this lucky. Here was the most beautiful girl he had ever known, and she was here with him, even after everything. "Thank you, Raelle." he practically whispers after a few short moments of quiet.
Laying there, listening to his heartbeat, with his arms around her she felt very safe and warm....he even smelled good....
She lifted her head and smiled at him. "I have no idea what you're thanking me for, but you're welcome?"
"They do know where they're supposed to meet us right?" Pan asked as they started unpacking instruments and getting the room set up.
"Yes, I told them where to meet us. Just be patient. They'll be here," she said.
Fieri and Pan arrived at the practice room, loaded down with instruments, ready to get all set up to play.
Kam comes in with his guitar and wearing a black stage outfit.
"We thought up some new songs for after the wake."
Taron waves, wearing a simple outfit.
"Someone talking about us?"
"Nothing to worry about. Pan is just incredibly impatient....not what you'd really expect from a dryad, but there you have it..."
"Anyways, I'm more than happy to include some extra songs. It's a pretty short set. We can get started as soon as you guys are ready."
"Well, the best way to figure out how to do that us to learn more about magic and why you can see/cut it. How much do you know about magic, Mr. Winterblow?" The Headmaster asks, listening closely. It was cases not unlike Kodjack's that made him glad he'd established the school.
The question of his knowledge of magic seemed to stoke the flames within him to make them even hotter. "Cowards use magic," he said, remembering the words of his tribe's eldest member and most decorated warrior. "Most weaklings who can't wield weapons of the strong fall back on it. They make things appear out of thin air to trick people, set fires to homes, and dishonor the dead by removing them from graves."
As he grew angrier, Kodjack's eyes seemed to start glowing a faint red hue, before he shook his head, realizing that he had to keep himself in check if he was going to get the help he needed so desperately. "Magic is...was frowned upon in my tribe," he then explained. "I only know what I've been told by the elders who survived magic. Not many did. I'm the only one who has now."
Laying there, listening to his heartbeat, with his arms around her she felt very safe and warm....he even smelled good....
She lifted her head and smiled at him. "I have no idea what you're thanking me for, but you're welcome?"
"Aside from you being amazing?" he says sleepily, still absently stroking her arms. His body was in a state of confusion, between desperately needing sleep and very much wanting to stay awake. "You've done a lot for me. You've supported me so much in the past few days."
It was kinda like he was floating in his a dream with her there, and the state his mind was in. He kissed the top of her head absently, and pulled the blankets up and around them both.
"No offense, but I think I should probably tell Tyrrin first. Not that plenty of other people don't already know," she sighed. "But I wouldn't want to compound that problem by telling you before I talk to my best friend. I'm sure you'll hear all about it later anyways."
Ehos looked down and away, guilty at that. He lets go of Jaiye's hand and despondently picks at the remains of his food. He really had no right to be mopey - the thing that had hurt Jaiye the most had been /his/ fault.
Runaway train
There turned out to be about a half dozen infected on the train who were still....alive wasn't the right word....mobile would perhaps be a better description. The team was used to fighting them now, and without substantial numbers the infected weren't that formidable in comparison. While part of the team dealt with the infected inside the train, the rest made their way to the engine in order to stop the train and deploy the nanites to render the virus inert. At this point they can reverse the train and bring the whole gory mess (and the inside of the train was indeed a complete bloodbath) back to Kuros.
During the ride home, Tyrrin had tried to avoid the more gorey sections of the train, her stomach revolting slightly at the thought of staying anywhere near the carnage for any lengthy duration. She found a somewhere with less gore to sit and wait. The danger was gone. The infection had been contained. The casualties though. Whoever was responsible for engineering such a virus deserved justice.
Tyrrin steps out of the train onto the platform only moments after the train arrives, eager to be out of it. She takes a deep breath of the night air, and looks up to the stars.
"Well....smashing things isn't usually my forte, but this seems like a good time to try something," she said, focusing on forming a forcefield in front of her and smashing it into the machine.