[center][h1]Rae and Al: A Whole New Deal[/h1][/center]
[hr]

[i]Morning of the 22nd of Seed
Anvil[/i]


Of all the members of the company she had seemed to have fallen in with, Alim had been the one who she had made plans to see. She wasn’t sure what he’d been up to, but she wanted to see him before she would leave on the 24th. She packed herself a bag filled with oils and flowers, and today she brought her staff. She had noticed him suffering from some kind of back ache - and could think of no better way to bid him farewell than to put that right for him. She hoped it was early enough that he would still be in his room. She had already asked the Innkeeper where he was staying. 

She made her way up the flight of stairs, and across the corridor to where Alim was supposed to be staying, and she knocked gently against the hard wood door; “Alim? Are you here?” 

Within the room, Alim let out a soft groan as the knocks and the voice sent signals through his mind that his sleep was over. He had always been alert. He would have been killed in the hot streets of Skaven back in Hammerfell if he did not have that quality. But last night, he had stayed up far too late and it left him groggy. “Yes?” He asked aloud, before his mind caught up with him and he recognized the voice. It was sultry and lovely, much like the owner. “Ah, hold on one moment!” 

Shifting his weight, he slid out of bed. He wore trousers to bed, but his toned torso and caramel upper body was bare. As he sat up, he felt his back was stiff. He didn’t really have time to do his morning stretches. He’d do them after Raelynn and he were finished with...he wasn’t actually sure [i]why[/i] she was here. He grabbed a linen shirt, to cover up the scars along his chest if nothing else, and smoothed his thick mane of black hair before he opened the door. He still look somewhat rakishly disheveled and out of it, but he smiled and blinked the sleep out of his eyes. “And to what do I owe the pleasure, Raelynn?” His voice was smooth, as always. 

Raelynn couldn't help but look him up and down slowly. She felt like being bold about it, “did I interrupt your sleep? I would say I'm sorry for it… But you're quite a sight right now.” She laughed a little and motioned to the satchel at her side before leaning against the door frame, tilting her head to one side; “you've been withholding something from me, Alim, and I'd like to put it right before I leave…”

For once in his life, Alim was speechless for a moment. Though he smiled that wide, playful smile. “Coming from someone as beautiful as you, I take that as a huge compliment.” He said, and it wasn’t flattery. He seemed to be speaking as if it was plain, scientific fact. “But I’m a bit confused. I didn’t steal something that was yours... did I?” As he asked, he stepped aside and allowed her into the room. He didn’t have many supplies, though there were some precious stones on the table, no doubt stolen. Along with his chainmail and his sword, along with the princely cloak he bore atop the chair. 

“Ah, but you compliment me!” She wanted to keep up the flirting, and to brush under the rug how serious her feelings were, but she couldn't. It was her chance to speak to Alim properly. “You didn't steal from me, I doubt I have much that would interest…” Her blue eyes scanned the room as she entered, and she dragged a finger across the cloak set upon the chair. She leaned back against the table. Silent for a moment or two, unsure of how to say the words. She took in a deep breath and began, “I wanted to get off my chest… I, wanted to say thank you, for saving my life.”

Alim had leaned casually against the wall, but when she thanked him he regarded him. Gone was his smile, and he wondered if she was ok. “You’re very welcome.” He replied honestly.

It was possibly the most sincere she had been in her life, and she looked into Alim’s eyes as she spoke, feeling a strange tension build in the form of silence. She breathed out again, a smile across her lips “but yes, withholding… you've had a terrible back haven't you?”

And with that, Alim’s eyes widened considerably. He laughed guilty and ran a hand through his hair. “Uuhm...I wouldn’t call it terrible.” he began, and then halted himself. He sighed and moved to sit on his bed, caught. The mixed breed grimaced a bit and felt his lower back. “It’s an old wound from back in my early days of being a no-good rogue, you could say. I fell off a three story building and hit a fence with my lower back. My father’s riches still couldn’t find someone who could heal it permanently, but they healed what they could and gave my stretches to do in the morning and night to keep myself nimble. Are you...saying you can help me?” His look wasn’t suspicious, but he still thought of the idea being a bit too good to be true. 

She listened intently, taking a mental note when Alim alluded to his family wealth, she shouldn’t have been surprised - the cloak was a dead giveaway. She nodded in acknowledgement of the story, as he explained the origins of the injury. Raelynn stood up from the table and walked towards Alim, holding out her hands to indicate that she would begin touching him. Gently she placed her hands on his shoulders, channelling Magicka through her palms. “I can’t promise you that it will be fixed, but I am [i]very[/i] good at what I do…” she smirked at him in a somewhat arrogant way. She pushed down on his shoulders, and he would feel the stream of healing energy curl around his spine. 

She removed her hands, and rolled up her sleeves. “Alright then, shirt off and lie down please,” she spoke in a commanding and serious tone, pointing to his bed before reaching for her satchel as she waited for him to do as he was told. 

Alim had to admit initially he believed she was doing something else until he sensed the magicka, and then he felt his spine tingle somewhat. In respect to her, he didn’t make any playful comments. “Thank you,” was all he managed. Instead, he did as he was told and took his shirt off. Raelynn would see faded scars along his abdominals and his back, though, with one curving onto a shoulder. His skin in the dim light was almost chocolate, though his breton features stood out. He turned around and lay on his stomach, trying to calm his breathing. He closed his eyes, and tried to not think of any thoughts that might give him ideas. 

While he lay down, Raelynn worked her oils into her palms and made her way over, sitting across his body in a comfortable way that wasn't overly intrusive to him. She looked across his back, noticing the scars creeping over his shoulder. She said nothing as she began working the oil against the small of his back, kneading his flesh, using her Magicka alongside it, trying to feel out where the problem was. “So, what have you been doing in Anvil? I haven't seen you since we arrived…” she pinched tightly at individual vertebrae in Alim’s spine, knowing that it would cause him discomfort, her chatter would hopefully take his mind off it.

He felt the pinch and grunted, his next words breathless. “Having drinks with a few of the newer members of the group. I think I stayed up-” he grunted again, and shuddered. “-a bit too late last night doing so. Other than that I mostly won some money in knife throwing. Bets and the like.” He arched his upper back a tad, his head tilting back as she worked. Alim’s dark mane covering the nape of his neck for a second until he head went back down again. “And what have you been up to since we made it here?” he asked. “Actually, I have another following question. Why seek me out now?” He sounded as if he was more confused than stand-offish. “I’m grateful and I’ve wanted to speak more but, you know me. I’m a curious guy.”

He closed his mouth and pressed his face into the cushion, silencing himself to listen. 

She applied more pressure to his spine, stopping the Magicka for a while. She didn't want to deplete it entirely. She paid close attention, still unable to find the problem spot on his back. She was listening to him talk, and even gave a soft chuckle in response to his activities. As he arched his back, she nipped hard where his skull met his neck. “I'm sorry if it's uncomfortable…” to ease the discomfort, she began working her palms across his shoulders - knowing it would be far more relaxing for him. “Me? Not a great deal… I’ve rested, and have been to the markets…”

She brought the Magicka back to both palms again, pressing down flat on the centre of Alim’s back. Finally able to feel something wrong. “There you are…” she muttered under her breath. She didn't quite know how to answer his second question. “Well… I guess really I… wanted to thank you and do something for you. I'm leaving for High Rock on the 24th…” her voice trailed off. She had said too much, she went back to work on his back, pouring her Magicka into him, feeling herself grow more tired as she concentrated her efforts on the bad spot, feeling it ease up. “I’m not good with… emotions and being truthful. It would just weigh heavy on me to leave without squaring up with you and saying goodbye.” She sighed, almost annoyed that she was honest with him, and dropped her wall just that little bit towards him. 

He felt a knot in his back loosening, like a rope that had been tied for years that was finally being unraveled. He didn’t know how to feel other than strange, at the moment. Though he chuckled in disbelief and weakness. He felt nearly as tired as she did. The work on his back somehow taxed him slightly, and that along with the discomfort made his movements weak. “You seem to be doing just fine with it, now.” he said with a friendly grin, though he didn’t know if she could see it past his hair. He shuddered one final time, and felt something slip from within his lower back. He let go of the bed covers he didn’t even realize he had been gripping, and his body grew lax. 

“Why are you leaving?” he asked. “You don’t have to answer, but…”  His voice trailed off. It seemed to indicate that he felt like he would be losing something with Raelynn leaving the company. He’d not talked to her, or seen her much since after he, Raelynn, and Jude had bonded. But he was endeared to Raelynn, and after doing this for him. It seemed bad poetry or an anticlimactic story, a friend leaving like that without giving reasoning. 

“I… I guess because it's wartime. I'm scared, I want to be somewhere familiar.” The words flowed so quickly, she surprised herself by saying them and being so honest. She gently shifted herself from her position on Alim, getting back to her feet. “I hope it feels better. I'm sure if I took another shot another day you'd feel brand new.” Raelynn smiled at him, looking at him laying on the bed, relaxed and pain free. It did bring her pleasure to do her work. It wasn't often that she allowed herself a moment to appreciate her gift and feel proud of it, but this was one of those times.

She walked back over to the table and began gathering her things, before she playfully retorted back to Alim; “want me to stay with you and your friends, do you?” 

Alim sat up, lifting a leg up to lay his angle across his knee, and resting his hands on his legs. His back felt...incredible honestly. He did not know if it would stay that way, but he sincerely hoped it did. “I do,” he replied. His tone playful yet ringing with an honesty that spoke volumes. “Mostly because I consider you a friend.” 

He grabbed his shirt and slipped it over himself, whipping his hair back and forth to frame his face, and he stood up and strode over to her. He stopped just as he got to her however, parting his lips as if to say something. He hesitated for a moment, and the words flowed out of him. “I haven’t been home in many years. To High Rock I mean. I would love to see it again sometime…” He took a deep breath, and he took Raelynn’s hand in his, gently. If she pulled away he wouldn’t stop her. “I have a lot of problems with my family, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to protect them, or the place I grew up in. And this, that’s happening now…” Alim shook his head and looked into her eyes. “This war won’t go away if we ignore it. You’re not a soldier. Hell, neither am I. But…” Alim had a way of talking, shifting tones in his voice to bring out a certain charisma. “This is what tales are made of. This is how riches are found and legends are born. But most of all, if we don’t stop this here, I fear that the war will reach Highrock and destroy both of our homes. Plus, I kind of have a knack for saving pretty women and if you were gone, I couldn’t catch you.” He grinned. 

Alim let go of her hand, and held himself to his full height. “You’ve shown me right here that you’re not only a friend, but a valued member of the team. Can you stick around a bit longer? We, and High Rock, needs all the help it can get right now.” 

[i]I never did achieve knighthood, but here I go.[/i] Alim bended down on a knee, looking downward. “I humbly request that you stay. Please.” He wanted to pledge that he would protect her, but he felt that was 1, going without saying, and 2, a bit too far to say vocally. But still, there it was.  

She listened to Alim’s words again. He was kind, and an optimist. She had been joking when she initially asked the question, she hadn't expected such a big show. She didn't know why he cared so much about what she did. They were squared now after all. She furrowed her brow and sighed, leaving it all too long in an awkward silence before saying anything to him, “I guess I’ll have to think about it…” was about all she could muster up to say. She had blown it, shown him too much sincerity and she felt worse for it. She didn't like to have ties to people, she didn't like to be held down for too long. He did happen to speak of riches - and that was something she couldn't deny she would have access too. 

Suddenly the thought of being alone without those who could protect her on the way back to High Rock filled her with fear too. She would be putting herself in danger if she got on a passenger ship right now. Maybe it was best to stay with the group, and hope - no, convince them to travel to High Rock with her. She had no idea of their plans, but veering from them now may end up being a mistake. Alim was a capable fighter and so were his friends. They had numbers too. Yes, strength came in numbers. 

She felt all too uneasy having been so soft with Alim. Yet she couldn't bring herself to say something twisted to him. “Thank you Alim, I hope you'll enjoy the day. Please excuse me now… I should rest and get ready.” The way she left was awkward and hurried. She felt angry at herself, still, it was how she had been feeling at the time. Her debt to Alim was squared, and that was the end of it. She had the rest of the day to shake off the feelings, perhaps a trip to the markets was in order. Maybe a bottle of wine. She just wanted to be alone and stop herself from finding more trouble, and tripping into emotional territory again….

As Raelynn left the room, Alim lifted his head up. “Was that a yes?” he thought aloud. Realizing he’d get no answer, he began to think. He enjoyed Raelynn because she was so...conniving wasn’t the right word, but as a rogue he could appreciate the lust for treasures and the planning. But her she showed genuine sincerity and when returned she went back to how she was. To say he was confused was an understatement. Maybe [i]he’d[/i] blown it out of proportion. Usually he was far more flirty and laconic in wit, but he guessed lack of sleep and a miraculous healing of his back opened up his heart a bit. This was already turning out to be a weird day. But as he twisted his torso back and forth and realized Raelynn just might stick around, he felt that sometimes weird was needed. 

“Oh, I’m good.” he joked.