[center][h1][color=ffcc55][u]E l i a n[/u][/color][/h1][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][i]~ Dungeon ~[/i]
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She was glad of Tiferet's reassurance, and even Graves had something supportive to say.  Red veered into the hysterics that Elian herself had only barely avoided, but regained control before long.  She managed an unsteady smile at the fire mage, until Rael put her idiotic two cents in.  She grit her teeth so hard she heard them creak.  "Were you born that stupid, or did you have to practice?" she snapped, her voice coming out in a low growl.  Fear was easier to handle if you were angry, and the spearmaiden had just made herself into the perfect target.  "This isn't a game anymore.  Weapon skills or not, magic or not, fucking hero character or not, there are real consequences now.  Maybe you're just some pimple-faced child playing make-believe, and you think this is your time to shine, but let me set you straight.  If you wouldn't do it irl, don't do it here."

Elian walked her closed fan through her fingers, something of a nervous habit.  "Call me a cowardly bitch if you want, but I have actual people counting on me besides those here, and I mean to get back to them.  If running away like a pansy is what it takes, then you bet your pimply prepubescent posterior that I will, and I'll encourage everyone else to do the same."  She lifted her voice loud enough for everyone to hear, hating the words even as she spoke them, but it had to be done.  "The rules are the same.  Anyone sticks their dumb neck out where it will drag the rest of us into trouble, and if I have to choose between a damned idiot dying and everyone dying, then I will hate myself for the rest of my life but I will watch the idiot get swamped.  Tiferet's right, nobody plays hero today.  We stick together, and we don't take needless risks.  I know most of you well enough, gamewise.  I wouldn't have sent an invite if I didn't think you were any good.  So...same idea, but this time for keeps, eh?"

Landon's elixirs were welcome news, and Elian slid hers into her satchel.  "I'm gonna need a drink once we're through," she told him, her expression drawn tight with nerves.  An awful thought crossed her mind, and she prayed they weren't trapped for too long.  "...I just hope someone thinks to make Freddie dinner."