"Far busier than I expected, and it looks as if it is growing. Nous avons la tâche facile pour nous hein? Any suggestions on where to start? Getting to know the locals perhaps? I thought I would walk around and get an idea of the area in the evening if I am to be responsible for La Ronde de Nuit."
Marcel sighs with a bit of anger and regret.
Realizing that Ylrhea was at a point where she needed support and guessing that Drago's need was less than urgent, Sādhanā takes the initiative as she sees the sorcerer hesitating.
"Tell you what Drago, give us a while and I'll meet to in the inn's common room before I go to bed. We can talk about whatever you want ok?"
As the sorcerer takes his leave she turns to the gnome sitting beside her, slipping an arm around her.
"I know that feeling you were talking about...the loneliness. I lived with it for a long time. Even the random lay from time to time doesn't make it go away..although it helps for a little while." she says with a bit of a chuckle.
"Do you feel like you just need to have some fun with somebody, remind yourself everything still works, or are you looking to really find someone special?"
Ylrhea laughs, wiping at the tears. "Yeah, I'm having those urges...I haven't....been with someone since...Ixen. I don't want those memories to ruin sex for me or make me a colder person. The someone special can wait. It's not like they drop out of the sky. Sometimes, you find them in shards."
The gnome laughs again, though it's a little less cheerful this time. "Rape can change a person...usually for the worse, but I refuse to let it change me. I still desire intimacy. Maybe because it reminds me I'm not alone, that I'm not broken, that I can be happy."
While Drago seemed to blank out for a moment, Sādhanā proposed they talk later. Looking at Ylrhea, he could understand why.
"Alright, until then." He turned and headed for the inn.
Upon reaching it, he sat down at an open table and ordered a glass of wine. What in the hells just happened? Why did I blank like that? Shrugging it off, he sat back and enjoyed his wine.
A marble skinned elf walks into the inn behind Drago, wearing a elegant black dress. "Care to buy me a drink?"
"Well the fact that you're having them means you're less broken than some I've seen. And that's a really good thing. It's a testament to how strong you are." Sādhanā says with a smile.
"And don't feel bad about having a thing for Arista, I'm willing to bet before the shard she had half of Sarenrae's army tripping over themselves for her attention all the while being blissfully unaware. Besides, she's the last person to be all weird about it."
The Anizari look at her gnome friend, as compassionate with those she cares about as she is ruthless on the battlefield. "You survived. You're here he's not, and though what he did took a lot from you you survived. And now it's time to do more than survive and start living. That desire, that means when it's all said and done, you win, you're still a living breathing woman with wants and needs and that couldn't be taken from you."
Ylrhea embraces Sādhanā and cries into her chest. "It's...my silly...exotic tastes."
Drago stopped in mid-sip and turned around. Upon seeing that the woman addressing him was an Elf, he could feel the thirst return with a vengence. The Dhampir couldn't take his eyes off of her, and they wandered to her neck where he could see her blood pulsing through her veins. Shaking off the momentary stupor, he found himself once again at a loss for words, "Umm..."
"Forget me already, Drago?" the elf asks. "Oh, that's right...you haven't seen me since we've had fun in your mother's dungeon. I suppose I am a bit different now."
Sādhanā holds Ylrhea as she cries, comforting her. "It's ok, sweetie. So exotic huh? Don't you dare call your tastes silly. We're attracted to what turns us on, nothing to be ashamed of. If exotic does it for you then that's what we'll have to find you isn't it?" she says in a soothing tone.
You can tell me, is there something specific that get's you all worked up or is it unusual altogether that does it?"
Ylrhea swallows hard and blushes. "I never I thought I'd be discussing kinks with you."
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Drago's eyes went wide as he looked closer at the Elf and came to a realization. "Aliethia." He whispered. Instinctively, his hand made it's way to his sword, "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"
Sādhanā laughs with a shrug.
"I'm not an easy person to make blush, and sometimes you just need to talk. I was a mercenary for a long time and traveled a lot. If there's one thing I've learned is that if it exists, it probably makes somebody horny." she says with a giggle
"I've been following you," Aliethia admits. "I thought a nice chat before we go tearing each other apart would be nice...and unnerving. Besides, I have something you want, so you'd prefer keeping this civil."
A thin, cruel grin crosses her face.
The gnome crosses her legs and sits facing Sadhana. "I like mysterious, looks or personality. A guy like Drago gets me going, but Arista makes me wet...I think it's her exotic looks and loving personality that do it for me. Guy or girl doesn't matter, you can get the same result with either."
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Letting go of his blade, he thought, This is certainly not the place to fight her. With a cold look in his eyes, Drago indicated the seat opposite the table from him. Once she was sitting, he asked, "Following me? Since when? And what could you offer me that I want?"
"Since you left Valwick," Aliethia says, ordering a glass of wine and bread. "Laenid's moral compass put a damper on your mother's plans, plus she offended me. So, I took your little half-brother. He's been pleasant company so far. I think the fear keeps him in check."
A mixture of fear and anger crossed his face, "What have you done with him?" Drago demanded.
"Nothing yet. Alexandros' blood helped me tame my more savage urges," Aliethia says, sipping her wine. "I must apologize for my behavior...it was uncivilized."
Sādhanā smiles, glad to see how far Ylrhea had come. She wasn't the wounded victim Drago had met and saved anymore.
"So exotic and mysterious with a heart of gold. Quite the combo. Can't say I blame you. Tell you what. When we get back to Valwick, I'm getting you laid, there is someone there who's unattached and is going to make you want to drop your breeches, you just haven't met him or her yet, but you will, I promise." she says with a conspiratorial grin.
"In the meantime, you always have your imagination when your alone. There's nothing wrong with indulging your thoughts. If only to remind yourself you're alive...that and take the edge off."
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Ylrhea laughs sincerely. "Alright, I'll hold you to that."
She sighs. "I've gotta buy one of those chapbooks."
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"Uncivilized? You carved my name in my chest, amung other things. I know what I did you was monstrous, but at least I didn't torture you first." He replied with a slight venom.
"Oh, so my torturing you trumps you murdering me, allowing your mother to use me as a pawn against you. I've had my mind shattered, what's your excuse?" Aliethia asks, with a modicum of contempt.
"Try having her live inside your head for years, after having grown up under here 'care.'" Drago's expression softened a bit as he realized that he had been as much of pawn in Chalandra's game as Aliethia was now. "I'm not saying your torture trumps my murder. I'm just saying that I at least made it quick. Regardless, we've both been used by Chalandra." Looking her in the eye, he added, "I am truly sorry for the actions I've committed that turned you into this. It's not enough, I know, but you should at least know how I feel about it."
Aliethia smiles, a faint whisper of days long past. She reaches across the table and places a hand on Drago's. "Before all this, I loved you. I loved you enough to be my first kiss. Inside my dead heart, something still beats for you."
She slides a pendant across the table to Drago. It is the one Elena gave him, as flawless as it once was. "Take this. It is rightfully yours, though the sight of it angers me. I can't tell you who to love, but I can state my case, can't I?"
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The chill in the air in her room seems to get a bit colder as Arista shivers in her sleep, and tries to bury herself under the covers.
Drago stared at the pendant for a moment, "I...I thought you destroyed it." Looking back at the undead Elf, "I'm sorry I can't recipricate your feelings Aliethia, truly I am, but I love Elena and that is the way it is. Now please tell me, where is Niccolo?"
"He's safe, Drago," Aliethia says, standing up. "Unfortunately, you have just played your hand and he must stay with me. I must be off now. Tell the aasimar congratulations on my behalf. I would be a happy aunt, but...you know how it is."
She walks to the door and disappears.
Sādhanā chuckles. "Well I'm willing to bet if we didn't have them in Valwick before, with the rate things keep expanding you'll definitely be able to find one now. Maybe even one with Vishkanya art." she says with a wink.
"Halfpocket had a few in...full-color ones. But I didn't want buy that with other people around," Ylrhea divulges bashfully.
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Drago just sat there in a stunned silence as Aliethia left. He realized that deep within him, there was still a slight spark for her. Shaking his head, I can't think like that. He reached out and picked up the pendant, just holding it once more exhilerated him as he thought of Elena. Yet with the sweet, there came a bitter thought. Why did she give this back to me, and how did she put it back together? As if on queue, his vision flashed and the mytical auras of his gear became visible to him. After realizing what happened, he looked closely at the pendant.
Drago sees no auras or evidence of magical manipulation. It was carefully repaired by hand.
"I'm pretty sure with the stuff he has in stock, Halfpocket isn't the judgy type, besides, you're one of the Heroes of Valwick. We saved the world from being cracked open today, if ANYBODY has something to say about you wanting a little naughty entertainment......@&$¥%# 'em!" Sādhanā says emphatically.
Surprised to see nothing magical on the Pendant, Drago slumped in his chair. Could it be she really meant what she said? He wondered.
Ylrhea reaches up and kisses Sādhanā's cheek. "I guess I'll head to bed. Thank you for everything. You and Arista...you keep me sane."
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Ylrhea walks back into the inn and notices Drago slumped in the chair, two wine glasses and a half-eaten piece of bread in front of him. "Are you okay, Drago?"
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Drago looked at the Gnome with something of a dazed look on his face. "No, not in the slightest. I, uh, had a visitor." The Dhampir said before describing what had happened.
Ylrhea's fists tighten as she hears Aliethia's name. "So that b+*&~ just came in here after everything she put you through and acted like she was sorry? Where did she go? I'm going after her."
