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The goblin spins to Jenica who is the only one to land a hit and stabs with its improvised sword.
Though enraged, the halfling manages to grab hold of her sword practice. Shifting opposite of the ghost lady, she focuses her stab at the most delicate regions of goblin anatomy.
Jenica glares at the goblin that dares to raise its blade against her and she swings her blades wildly in return.
Suddenly, obviously thanks to Sabriyya, everyone gets competent and Morgana is no exception!
Amethyst attacks again.
Suddenly, obviously thanks to Sabriyya, everyone gets competent and Morgana is no exception!
The goblin falls forwards, unconscious and flat on its face as Morgans lands the final blow.
Searching the closet where it comes from reveals a hole the goblin had cut into the base of the closet filled with a collection of rat skulls and remnants of bugs and worms that the goblin had been feasting on.
Morgana executes the creature with a precise thrust of her blade. "I'll remove the body." She says, "You should try and tidy up the husband's body. There's no need to traumatise his family any more."
With the goblin dispatched, Jenica stows her phantom blades and descends through the floor to see if there are any other threats hidden away below.
Goblin dead, but the dad is still gone. She stares down at him "why did we wait, we could have, we might have..." her voice quiet but raw. Her eyes look up at Jenica and Vasia "why. did. We. Wait! For! YOU!" each word increases in pitch, until 'you' is screamed.
Morgana grabs Melody and picks her easily off the floor so that he legs kick uselessly in the air.
"Melody. Melody. Stop. This is no-ones fault. Goblins trapped are dangerous, he didn't have a chance. It's not Vasia's fault."
"We WAITED!" she twists and wiggles to no avail "You said it yourself, 'A Man's Life Might Be Be In Danger'" she mimics Morgana's voice and not really well. "BUT WE STILL WAITED!!!!"
"I-I'm sorry," Vasia replies, her eyes dropping to the floor. "I just thought that we might need ..."
"Why are you apologizing?" Jenica interrupts. "You didn't do ..."
Vasia's eyes snap up to her Bunica and the woman's image begins to tear.
"Oh for fu..." The phantom doesn't get to finish her sentence before she vanishes.
"I didn't know if there would be more and I thought that we might need the extra blades," Vasia says, finishing her thought.
"What else could we do?" Morgana asks, carrying Melody out of the room. "We had to be ready. Without Jenica we might never have even hit the thing. And now she's checking the floors to make sure there aren't any others. Perhaps Vasia should have Jenica out more often but she scares people. We did our best Melody, I swear it." She parks the halfling on a table so that the two are the same height.
"I would give many, many things to bring him back Melody, but none of us can raise the dead. Not yet. You did everything you could, we all did. If we'd got here and needed Jenica it wouldn't have been any better."
Her voice drops, "Melody, why are you so upset about this? Is there anything I can do?"
Melody stops screaming, her own tears pouring down her stricken face. She doesn't know what to do, she wants to scream at everything, she wants to fix this, but she can't Ever.
She knows they are right, she knows it, she just... "I... my...' she can't talk about them. Not now, and she hates herself suddenly for knowing this is about her. Suddenly she shakes her head, hitting it with her palms, and rolls into a ball to sob uncontrollably.
Morgana scoops up the little bundle of halfling and settles into a chair, holding Melody gently in her arms.
"There, there." She says quietly, rocking her gently. "There, there. Let it go, let it out."
When people come to see what's going on she shakes her head silently and motions for them to go away. Melody needs some time right now.
Sabriyya sees Melody upset and approaches promptly. She disregards Morgana’s singal and comes up beside her and places a hand on her back. ”Hey Mel, it’s okay to be upset. It’s alright.”
The little halfling grabs Sabriyya's shirt pulling her face into the other woman's chest and cries out the rest that is in her. Sweets knows, so she doesn't have to explain, makes it easier.
The sobs soften, her shoulders stop shaking, and she finally stops. Red rimmed eyes look sheepishly at the others, before looking to Vasia. The halfling pulls herself up to shuffling to the one she yelled at. "I know it wasn't you. I am sorry."
"That's ok," Vasia replies. "It is upsetting and I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner. I'd keep Jenica out more, but sometimes she says and does things that ..." She shrugs.
After an internal discussion over propriety and manners, she resummons Jenica to accomplish what she set out to do before - verify that under the house is free from threats.
Jenica doesn't find anything else of note.
Amele's voice rings out from the direction of the front door. "Is everything OK now? Alergast, did you find it?"
Feeling a little responsible, Vasia glances over at the others before walking outside to break the bad news to Amele.
"We found the goblin and we've dealt with it," she says, her eyes downcast. "Unfortunately, we weren't in time to ..." She glances down at the children the woman holds before looking back up at the concern and fear in Amele's eyes. She gives a small shake of her head.
"I'm sorry," she says and places a hand on the woman's arm.
Amele's colour leaves her face and she sways on the spot, as if she is going to fall down.
She places the baby in the cot a couple of feet away before leaning her back against the wall and sliding down til she is crouched on the floor against the wall.
After another moment, she bursts into violent tears and sobs, spluttering. "But what am I to do now? He had two boys? They can't be without their dad? I can't be without their dad." She says, tears streaming down her face and sniffing every other syllable.
Melody grasps the lady's sleeve. Her red puffy eyes looking at her "they still have you" she doubts it will help though. She has doubts anything will help for a long time.
Sabriyya stands up and lets Melody leave to comfort the widow, wondering how the grief of the widow would impact Melody's anger.
She then move into the house, just to make sure everything is clear and there are no other threats hidden about.
”It is small consolation, but I will offer as much coin as I can spare to make sure you and your boys are looked after,” Amethyst says, kneeling beside Amele.
"I'm going to ensure that you are taken care of!" Morgana says firmly. "Alergast fought for your family and the town against the goblins. You absolutely deserve all the support the town can give you. Now, do you have family in town? Somewhere you can stay? If not then you are staying with the Deverin's tonight."
She doesn't take no for an answer and whisks Amele and her boys out of the house. She and her children are not going back into the house until its completely cleaned any sign of what happened is completely removed.
"My...my sister is supposed to be arriving from Magnimar in a few days. Maybe the boys and I could go back with her to Magnimar." Amele suggests and follows Morgana out of the house, two boys in hand.
The rest of the evening goes as planned and Ameiko serves up a hearty dinner as usual. "You sure deserved it this time!" She says cheerfully, and even joins you at your table for a few minutes for a low-down on the daily goings-on.
Before Ameiko departs, she adds, "Now, I don't mean to pry, but I thought you'd like to know there is a rumour going around town that is getting wilder by the hour."She says, with a sly grin, as if she finds it highly amusing. Lowering her voice, she adds,"Something about Amethyst and a sex dungeon set up under Ven's store. Saying that you and Shayliss were having a little too much fun if you catch my drift. I even heard rumours that Ven chased you outta the store with a cricket bat after you tried to fight back when he said no when you offered him chance to join in. Now, I presume there's no truth to these rumours, which is why I thought I'd give you a heads up." Ameiko winks before heading off to speak with another table.
"What wild imagination these Sandpointers have," Amethyst comments idly, though she slyly returns Ameiko's wink.
Melody eats her food quietly, lost in thought mostly until she hears the rumor "the story keeps growing, as stories do. I wonder what's next" as a storyteller she is truly interested.
Sabriyya returns with the others back to the Rusty Dragon, not feeling very heroic after they were too late to save the poor man from the goblin. She's eating her hurry when Ameiko brings up the rumor of a Amethyst in a sex dungeon with Shayliss. She drops her spoon which clangs loudly and throws her hands up in the air as she interrupts "Sounds like hell to me! Being stuck somewhere with that floozy?! Do you know how many diseases she probably has by now? It's a wonder she doesn't have ten children, either. Why, I bet she's spreading these rumors herself."
Scoffing, she shakes her head "Sex dungeons in Sandpoint. Ridiculous."
Jenica hovers around as the group takes in their dinner. She's garbed in another revealing dress, but has remained silent for most of the meal.
After Ameiko walks away, she settles on the bench near Amethyst. "Being able to switch genders must be incredibly convenient," she says with a wide grin. "You can appeal to the desires of whomever you find attractive."
Vasia gives her a sharp glance, but the spectral woman holds her hands up in a gesture of innocence. "What? I'm just saying that if I were still alive, I'd be buying her a nice dinner." She gives Amethyst a bawdy wink.
"Convenient? Perhaps. I find it necessary to fully express the totality of my being," Amethyst says to Jenica. "But yes, I do like to tailor myself to my current lover's preferences. And if you were still alive, I would take you up on that offer."
"I'm not entirely without the ability to affect the material world," Jenica says with a grin and a glance in Vasia's direction.
The dark-haired girl just rolls her eyes before closing them for a moment of concentration. With no interest in watching what follows, she grabs her glass and one of the bottles of wine. "I'm going to my room," she declares.
Jenica's form seems to become a little more substantial and she turns back to Amethyst. "See? And now I can do things like this" She reaches down and picks up the woman's hand, bringing it to her lips to press her cool lips against the flesh that prickles up in goosebumps. She leans over to whisper, "And I don't have to sleep."
Amethyst shivers slightly. "Oh. Color me intrigued."
She leans in to whisper to the phantom. "And which gender lover do you prefer, darling?"
Sabriyya scoots her chair back loudly, making as much noise as possible. Without further word, she turns and heads for the front door which she slams loudly behind her.
Amethyst clucks her tongue and shakes her head sadly. ”Excuse me, Jenica.”
She moves to catch up to Sabriyya. ”I think we ought to talk.”
Sabriyya looks over at Amethyst as she huffs her way back home. Her arms are folded over her chest and she holds herself tightly as she walks. "What do you want? Aren't you supposed to be taking Vasia's granny to the sex dungeon?" she spits out sourly.
After she says it though, she instantly feels remorse and closes her head, sighs and stops walking. Turning to face Amethyst, hints of would-be tears glisten in the corner of her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. It was rude. Please forgive me."
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"Seriously?" Jenica snaps as Amethyst leaves to table to chase after Sabriyya. "I finally get a chance to get laid and she runs away. Not because she's terrified of me being dead and all, but because her girlfriend's got her panties in a bunch."
She sighs and her eyes wander around the room to the only remaining lady; Melody. Her eyes lock on the halfling's.
"So," she says, resting her chin on her hand and her elbow on the table. "What are your plans for tonight, Little Bit?"
Melody's eyes get caught with ease, but the ghostly woman can see them still dimmed with grief.
"I'm going to... go back out. Patrol, you know, in case..." not wanting to finish the sentence or her dinner, she climbs out of her chair "Good night, Jenica."
Jenica's ghostly eyes soften when she sees the still present grief. She rises from the bench she's sitting on to approach Melody. She squats down to look into the girl's eyes and, without preamble, wraps her ephemeral arms around Melody in a soft hug. The halfling is blanketed is the scent of spices and ... cookies. "You don't have to be alone tonight," she whispers. "I'm not a warm body, but I'm good at just being with someone."
Amethyst wipes Sabriyya’s eyes with the soft part of her scarf. ”It’s okay, darling. You seem to have grown very attached to me in a short amount of time. Have you had many lovers before? I’m not... I’m not your first, am I?”
Scoffing loudly with much exaggeration, "PFFT! I have men and women lining up at my door in waiting." she lies without answering the question whatsoever. "I'm sorry. I just thought. I didn't understand your faith. I thought..."
She looks away and says "I thought I was special and you wanted me, but I am beginning to understand what it means to be a follower of Arshea now."
Even with the rest of her muffled and sad, her nose perked up at the scent, taking a deep sniff. And that warmed her all over, tempering some of her grief. Her lips curved slightly, which were nuzzled into the other woman. “thank you.” pulling away she moves again to the door “I can’t stop worrying that there might be more, and if we aren’t there, ready, then… I can’t let that happen again.”
She seems very relieved to not have to be alone though.
”Sabriyya... You are special to me. I greatly value the time we spend together. The things we have done together. You are beautiful, and I desire to learn more about you. But it is too early to ask me to make a commitment.” She clasps the shamans hands. ”I ask for your understanding, and your patience.”
"I understand," Jenica replies. "But you have to accept the fact that the world is not your responsibility. You do what you can to make it safer and a better place, but at the end of the day, you have needs that should be met as well. If you're so exhausted from lack of sleep or food then you're no good to anyone."
She smiles at the small woman and lifts her chin with a couple of fingertips.
"And there are more ... subtle ... needs besides food and sleep that are no less important," she says. With a slow movement, she leans in and presses a gentle, tingly kiss to Melody's cheek. The scent of cookies fades a bit and the spices grow more prominent. She pulls back and looks Melody in the eye. Even with her slightly diminished coloring, the green in Jenica's eyes stands out. Along with the desire.
The enveloping warmth spreads deeper making the halfling whisper "oh as her brown eyes stare into the green. Her hand lifts to her own cheek where the kiss touched, a little color blossoming there. A series of soft babbling pours out of her "I am, I mean, haven't in a long time, not since the orphanage, and one time with Sweets that involved too much..., um, we promised never to talk about it, which means I shouldn't be talking about, no, um... I mean you are pretty, so I don't understand."
Sabriyya stares into Swans' eyes, unsure how she's gotten to this point. She nods "Yes, yes. Of course. I'm be fine tomorrow. Today was just a long day. I'm sorry."
She wipes her eyes and says puts on a fake smile "I need to get up early for the bakery or Alma will me. I should turn in. Thanks for talking to me. You should back and see Jenica before she does something ridiculous like try to bed Melody."
"What don't you understand? You find me attractive. I find you attractive. If you're wishing to remain faithful to someone else, I'll understand. Otherwise ..." One hand reaches up and brushes against Melody's cheek. "Neither of us need be alone tonight. Come upstairs with me and I can show you a wonderful time. Or, if you'd prefer, I'll just hold you." Her smile broadens. "Maybe this will help you decide."
She leans in again, but this time, her lips meet Melody's.
"So what's it to be?" Jenica asks when she finally pulls back.
”She wouldn’t,” Amethyst says. After a beat, she says, ”Actually, she might. Good night, Sabriyya. Sweet dreams.” The dancer places a gentle kiss on the shamans lips before heading back to the Rusty Dragon.