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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 3, 2022 12:18:54 GMT -5
she walks over to the shelves studying the painted portrait and then looking at the awards for cooking. sipping from her own glass of wine as she stands there. she was not used to being in another mans bedroom so she felt a bit awkward and was trying her best not to glance at the bed. knowing she would be sleeping next to him soon enough.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 3, 2022 12:56:17 GMT -5
He comes up the stairs a moment later, carefully balancing his wine glass. He sets the bottle on top of the shelf, and points at one of the awards. “That one is for my chili, and that one is for a three layer cake.” He stumbles a little as he walks over to his bed. You see him looking at his wine glass, but instead of drinking from it he sets it on the nightstand. “That one is from a timed competition, and that one was for a meal prepared with limited ingredients.” He kicks off his shoes and flips back on the bed. He shimmies up until his head is in the pillow.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 3, 2022 13:04:48 GMT -5
she cant help but giggle as she watches him get comfortable wondering just how much wine he had had before she got home. Finally deciding she cant avoid the whole reason she came up here with him she walks over setting her wine glass down beside his and sits down on the edge of the bed to take her shoes off before crawling onto the bed and laying down beside him.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 3, 2022 16:17:07 GMT -5
He has had two glasses in the last ten minutes, and that bottle was already open when you arrived. He is likely quite drunk if your previous evenings of drinking are any indication. You crawl up beside him and he rolls over to face you, "I'm so glad you wandered into the Pike..." *YAWN* "... that day." You glance down as he lays his arm across your stomach, and by the time you glance back up his eyes are already closed. Too much liquid courage you think to yourself as you glance over at the wine bottle, and partially finished glasses. "I think I might just be in love with you Myst." Is what you think he said. His words are a little slurred from the drink, and he was mumbling from being mostly asleep, and the fact that his lips are pressed into your shoulder. Maybe it was something else, and what you thought you heard was wishful thinking? Or maybe you heard exactly what you thought he said. But then what of your betrothed and your life back in Neptas? Maybe it is enough that you save your people tomorrow, and get the man of your dreams here in Clifton. But the shame you will bring to your family. What of your duty to your people? So many questions skitter across your mind like striders on the surface of the bogs here. Why did you think of an analogy from here, instead of one from back home? Ahhh! Your mind circles, one thought popping in, then another dashing it. Followed by yet another almost as soon as the first is dashed.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 3, 2022 17:07:12 GMT -5
she lays there for a long time her thoughts coming and going to quickly for her to try to even begin to sleep. as she stares at the wine glasses and contemplating drinking some more of that, but decides against it since she needs to be up early in the morning. eventually she drifts off to sleep in his arms. though its not a deep sleep as she is plagued all night by her thoughts and by dreams.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 3, 2022 17:40:33 GMT -5
You dream, but not the angelic visions you have been experiencing. The normal dreams or nightmares any mortal experiences. You have dreams of living a life here in Clifton with Yoseph, and other dreams where you leave Clifton forever and return to Neptas to fulfill your role as one of the wives of the ruler there. Keeping your people safe moving forward into the future. On the same token, you have nightmares where Neptas falls because of your dalliance with a surface dweller. Your mind conjures images of Iko and Xanadu slain in the streets by unseen blades, if only you were there to help them. Yoseph bleeding out while murmuring your name, his hand outstretched until it falls limp to the ground beside him. The Well Dressed Pike ablaze, all your memories of this place going up in smoke. Or the ruins of Neptas, all your people gone, and the empty buildings overtaken by algae and other sea life.
You wake with a start, even your subconscious could not make up it's mind as to what you should do. You realize that your arms are around Yoseph, with his back held tightly against your chest and stomach. He stirs as you tense, "Everything okay Myst?" He says, his voice sounding groggy. He rolls over in your arms, and kisses your forehead. "Go back to sleep, I will keep the nightmares at bay." He presses his forehead against yours and you nod off again, both wrapped in each other's arms. The last sensation you feel as you drift off to a peaceful sleep is him stroking your hair, and whispering some surface lullaby. The rest of your dreams are only pleasant. The people of Neptas, healthy and strong. Your friends from the surface happy, with you able to travel back and forth between them as you see fit. A pale blue child held in Yoseph's arms.
You wake again as the sky begins to lighten, Yoseph still stroking your hair and singing in a whisper.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 3, 2022 17:54:46 GMT -5
she begins to stir and looks up blinking away the sleep and the dryness in her eyes from the tears that hadnt fallen during the night. as she looks up at him trying to shake the remnenants of the nightmares and dreams from her mind as she looks at him. "morning." she whispers.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 3, 2022 19:43:55 GMT -5
He stops singing, and smiles at you. “Good morning. You seemed to have settled after. Bad dreams I take it?” He stays close, keeping his forehead pressed to yours, and his fingers still run through your hair. “Do you want to talk about it?”
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 4, 2022 15:31:17 GMT -5
"Thank you"she says as she looks up at him. " yes, though after you started singing the nightmares stayed away." she says as she just lays there in his arms unsure if she should tell him or not. she didnt want to bother him with her dreams especially since she was going off to fight the gorgon today. "i'll tell you when i get back" she says as she kisses him softly before slipping out of his arms and standing up. glancing towards the windows she realised she had to leave soon or she was going to be late meeting xanadu. though she wasnt to sure how she was going to get the large barrel to the pit.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 5, 2022 8:57:25 GMT -5
“You have time yet. That’s just the first rays of the sun reflecting off the Temple. That’s how I’m always awake before my guests.” He sits up and stretches, one arm fully extended above his head and the other bent behind his head. “I’ll go get your breakfast started.” He slips out of bed and makes his way downstairs.
By the time you make yourself ready, and head downstairs Yoseph is sitting in the common room with a cup of coffee in hand, and two packed meals besides. Xanadu is sitting beside him with his own matching steamy mug. When he sees you, his beard moves so you think he might have smiled. “I woke early, and thought I’d just meet you here.” There is a fairly large barrel sitting in the middle of the room too.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 7, 2022 17:11:23 GMT -5
"morning xanadu" she says as she walks into the room, adjusting her cloak on her shoulders as she glances towards the barrel still unsure how she was going to get that down to where it needed to be. "is there any coffee left yoseph?" she asks as she walks over standing at his side.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 7, 2022 17:40:29 GMT -5
Yoseph nods, gesturing to the extra steaming mug on the table. "Your wish is my command." The chair behind the mug slides out suddenly, and you realize that Yoseph must have pushed it out under the table with his foot. "Since you're both here, you might as well be comfortable while you eat." He hands out a set of cutlery to both of you, and then hands out one of the packed breakfasts to each of you too. Xanadu digs in without any sort of ceremony, scarfing down the food with reckless abandon. He finishes his meal before you're a quarter of the way through yours. He sits back in his chair, and takes a long slow breath, "Yoseph, you sir have outdone yourself. That was delicious." Yoseph smiles, "Thank you Xanadu, I appreciate that."
Turning his attention to Myst, Xanadu asks, "Do you want me to carry that thing?" He doesn't specify, but you suspect that he's referring to the barrel. "We can stop by my temple on the way to the Swamp Gate to grab a sled or something to make it easier to carry through the swamp."
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 8, 2022 18:12:45 GMT -5
Pausing with a bite of food halfway to her mouth as she glances towards the barrel "if you are able to with out it being to much trouble, i hadn't thought of how to get it thru the swamp when i askes the transmutation guild master about it." she says as she turns her attention back to her food.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 10, 2022 2:51:11 GMT -5
Xanadu shrugs, “If the labourers can haul crates and barrels up The Stair all day, then I should be able to manage.” You finish your food and Xanadu excuses himself from both the table and the room so you have a chance to say goodbye to Yoseph without an audience. He pauses only to heft the barrel into his shoulder. It looked like quite the struggle at first, but once it’s up there it settles into place well enough.
Yoseph closes the door behind the Dwarf, the little bell chimes as he does so. He turns back to you, “Be safe out there. Will you make it back today?”
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 14, 2022 16:20:05 GMT -5
"i will certainly try but i dont know." she says as she looks up at him. stepping close and wrapping her arms around him hugging him. "this could be the answer to saving my people." she says as she slowly looks up at him.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 14, 2022 18:42:52 GMT -5
He hugs you back, burying his face into your neck. You feel the heat of his breath as he says, "Do what you have to do for your people, but be careful. That phantom voice will likely have increased it's security since you got in last time." He pulls back, and pulls you into a kiss. It was shy at first, but after a second he pours in some passion. The kiss seems to last forever, or perhaps only a few seconds then he's at the door ready to open it and send you out into the world. You can see the redness reseeding in his cheeks, and around his neck and he seems a little breathless.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 14, 2022 19:02:32 GMT -5
"i will." she say and kisses him back. easily loosing herself in the kiss her arms sliding up around his neck, not wanting the kiss to end but knowing it has to as she has to get going. Her own cheeks are darkened from blushing as she sneaks one more light kiss on his cheek before walking out the door once he opens it.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 14, 2022 19:38:31 GMT -5
Xanadu waits outside with the barrel set on the road by his feet. When he sees you exit the inn, he hefts the barrel up onto his shoulder. "Ready to go?" When you nod your agreement, he starts to walk toward The Stair. Without complaining Xanadu just makes his way up the stairs. Your calves are hurting before you reach the Harbour Gate, you can't imagine what he's feeling. He leads you through the Commercial District to the Temple to Bahamut. Setting down the barrel, "I will be right back." He heads inside, returning a short time later with a small sled. "Can you carry the sled until we get out of the city? The cobblestones are not great for the tracks."
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 15, 2022 16:35:59 GMT -5
"oh of course." she says and picks up the sled to carry it. its a bit awkward at first but soon she figures out the best way to hold it and then follows him towards the swamps.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 17, 2022 18:14:27 GMT -5
The pair of you continue down the slope of Clifton to the ferry docks. Once you find a ferry that will take you, you both pay your copper piece and ride across the river. Once on the other side it doesn’t take long to reach the Swamp Gate. One of the guards takes one look at Xanadu and turns white as a ghost. Xanadu excuses himself, and sets the barrel down to go talk to the young man. After a minute or so of hushed conversation they shake hands and Xanadu returns for the barrel. Once hoisted back into place he starts walking without comment. The guardsmen open the gate, and give you a friendly nod. “Be safe out there Master Xanadu.” The young guardsman adds as the gate closes behind the pair of you.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 18, 2022 16:45:46 GMT -5
"what was that all about?" she asks curiously as she hears the thud of the gate closing and she sets the sled down. figuring he would want to put the barrel on it rather than carry it any longer.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 18, 2022 17:59:38 GMT -5
Xanadu glances at you, then takes more time than needed to set the barrel on the sled and adjust it’s positioning just so. “The other day I flew into the city, and he was the guard that stopped me.” He pauses, taking a long slow deep breath before continuing, “Let’s just say I gave him the rough side of my tongue, and he didn’t deserve to be treated that way for doing his job.” Xanadu starts walking, hauling the sled behind him.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 18, 2022 18:32:59 GMT -5
"oh" she said and nodded as she walked along beside him her staff in her hand as she walks looking around the swamp curiously. being on land was still fascinating to her. even though she had been here before it was still interesting to her.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 18, 2022 21:55:23 GMT -5
You walk along through the swamps, insects buzzing around your head until the water itself rises with your guidance to sweep them away. Xanadu plods along relentlessly, never wavering, never complaining. After about two hours of travel you spot a half dozen humanoids standing on a clear patch off to one side of the path you’re traveling. When you get about sixty feet away from them you can make out the pattern of their scales, black scales. They stand at their ease, javelins poked into the ground or held casually over their shoulders.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 22, 2022 17:35:38 GMT -5
"oh its the blackscales." she whispers her hand tightening on her staff, her last encounter with them hadnt been very peaceful so she wasnt sure what would happen this time though she was prepared well as prepared as she could be.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 23, 2022 17:40:19 GMT -5
Xanadu glances up at them, then gives them a friendly wave. He says something in Draconic, and you get the feeling that it was a greeting. A couple of them wave back, and then the entire group moves off away from where you will be traveling. "I guess I forgot to mention that I brokered a peace deal with the Black Scales and the other tribes, including the tribe of Clifton." He shrugs like it's no big deal and continues to plod along dragging the heavy sled through the muck.
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 24, 2022 8:00:45 GMT -5
"yeah that would have been useful, last time i was here i fought some that had attacked a greenscale and a man named venos." she says as she walks along with him. trying to help with the sled when ever she could though she was obviously not as strong as xanadu especially when dealing with the mud.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 24, 2022 13:32:13 GMT -5
Xanadu is mostly quiet for the journey, not an uncomfortable quiet. Just two people with places to be kind of quiet. After about two hours you see the outbuildings for the Sinkhole ahead in the distance. “We’re almost there. I’ll like to take a little break when we arrive if that’s alright.”
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Post by lilmsdarknes on Jul 24, 2022 13:51:13 GMT -5
"of course." she nods as they walk. she keeps an eye out for any plants that could be useful for healing, specifically ones that she remembers from the healing salve and from madame aceso's book.
(nature 15) (medicine 21)
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 27, 2022 12:47:40 GMT -5
Along the way you spot three plants that you think you recognize. One is used to settle an upset stomach, and can be brewed into a strong medicinal tea to cure the poisoned condition. The second is a lesser known plant that is used in the creation of healing potions. The third is often mistaken as a delicious food additive, but is actually a very powerful laxative.
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