[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Jgd0FN9.png[/img] Collab between [@c3p-0h], [@Beard Dad], and [@The Muse] [sub]Location: Eye of the Beholder[/sub][hr][/center] Kira said nothing as the Priestess approached, offering no smile in return. Deliberately slow, her gaze swept over the woman, taking her in from top to bottom. Kira remembered her well. The one she’d seen at the hot springs, fumbling to steady the nobleman who’d insulted Sya, panic in her eyes as she looked to Orion with a silent plea for help. The one she’d seen inside the temple with the so-called “Gardener,” Gadez. He’d been shirtless, smug, and entirely too familiar. As Ivor spoke, Kira’s attention shifted back to him. The cold shell she wore like armor snapped back into its proper place. Whatever soft flicker of openness that had surfaced between them, it had sealed itself away the instant the Priestess appeared. Her presence was an intrusion, intentional or not. Like the threat she was, Kira watched her carefully out of the corner of her eye, even as Ivor rambled on about blizzards, healing and… snuggling? Her brows drew down slightly at that. Then lifted again when she noticed the Priestess shifting uncomfortably, eyes wide, shaking her head in subtle, frantic motion. Her gaze narrowed briefly on the blonde. She knew that look. She’d seen it more times than she could count. The anxious panic of someone realizing a secret was slipping out. Whatever Ivor was saying, he wasn’t meant to. She looked at him then. Still speaking, still smiling, his attention fixed on Kira rather than the Priestess. Ordinarily, she would’ve let it play out. Let the words fall and the awkwardness settle. If someone wanted their secrets kept, they should have had the [i]discipline[/i] to guard them more closely. But the tavern was pressing in on her with every passing second. Too many voices. Too many bodies. Too much motion. Every sound sharpened—heartbeats, laughter, clinking glasses, that wretched four armed blight-born shouting atop a table. Her jaw clenched. [color=DC561E]“[b]Ivor[/b].”[/color] Ivor’s eyes went wide, his mouth snapped close; the soft spoken blightborn surprised him with her sudden vocalisation. Beside him, the Priestess startled. She blinked at Kira with wide eyes. It was louder and more forceful than anything she’d said in months—perhaps years. The authority in her tone almost felt completely foreign to her these days, but muscle memory had served her well. It worked. He stopped. [color=DC561E]“I want to hear your story,”[/color] she said, voice firm but quieter now. Her eyes slid toward the crowd, to the table-top blight-born just as Sya hurled something at him. The timing nearly coaxed laughter from her, but her expression was locked into place, her armor too practiced to let it move an inch. [color=DC561E]“But it’s too much here. For me.”[/color] The admission left her lips before she’d fully decided to say it. To her surprise, it wasn’t a lie. But saying it aloud in front of a stranger—the High Priestess of Aelios—felt like exposing far too much. Surprise flickered in Tia’s dark gaze, before softening into something more hesitant and thoughtful. Kira felt a hint of regret creep in immediately. Even so, she met Ivor’s gaze, hoping he’d understand what she meant. [color=DC561E]“Can we…”[/color] She gestured vaguely toward the door or the upper floor of the inn, but said nothing more. Ivor blinked a few times before looking around to read the room. The noise level had been steadily increasing, having reached its peak when the four armed pirate had begun to sing. Even the giant himself had to admit that a proper conversation or a tale of adventure couldn’t be told amongst the cacophony. Her head and eyes barely motioned to the passage that lead to Sya’s guest area; she’d been mentioning it to Kira earlier, perhaps now was the time to use it. Speaking of the devil Sya had come over to chide Ivor for even putting himself in danger, though all he could muster in response was a sheepish grin and shrug. Her other comment made him laugh, [color=9a45dc][i]“Next time you’re in danger Syraea I’ll personally come and carry you to safety,”[/i][/color] he retorted in his native tongue, [color=9a45dc][i]“If it is not too much trouble the three of us will be using the guest area,”[/i][/color] he explained to her, his eyes gesturing over to the pirate, [color=9a45dc][i]“it’s too loud, need a quiet place to talk.”[/i][/color] The serpent woman nodded in understanding before slithering off to resume her duties. Ivor motioned for the other two to follow as he led them up the stairs. Slipping Sya’s small bottle of alcohol into her coat pocket, Kira followed behind the Priestess. If anyone was going to ensure their time was not disturbed, it would be Syraea. The four armed pirate was certainly an interesting oddity among the tavern, having enthralled the other patrons with his performance. Ivor wasn’t sure what to make of him, but more importantly, he wasn’t sure what to make of being called a ‘whale man’. These questions were better left for another time as they approached the guest parlor. The room was darker compared to the main area, but also much quieter and with a distinct lack of clientele utilizing it. Kira stepped around Ivor as they entered, veering right. Without a word, she began to circle the edge of the room, eyes sweeping over the unfamiliar space—comfortable padded chairs, scattered pillows and low sofas. The kind of room meant for conversation, not spectacle. It reminded her of a brothel house. She could still hear heartbeats beneath the floorboards—and the two beating steadily behind her—but here, the noise was dulled. Manageable. At last, she could hear herself think. Once inside, Ivor turned to look upon his compatriots once more and for the first time since the priestess arrived, he saw how frazzled she looked, [color=9a45dc]“Miss Priestess, are you sure you should being up and about right now?”[/color] The door clicked shut behind them, muffling the chaos of the inn. Kira glanced up, noting it had been the Priestess to close the door. Guarding her secrets a little more carefully this time. Tia looked up at Ivor, his eyes glowing brightly in the shadowed room – ominous purple embers, punctuating a hulking figure. Prowling along the periphery of the room was the other woman, like she was trying to create distance, and the new confined space they occupied was more cage than refuge. She was sleek where Ivor was staggering, quiet and careful as she watched them – Tia thought that when her eyes caught the dim glow of the candles, perhaps they had a glow to them too. Tia’s heart hammered with a fear older than she was – something primal and animal, as she locked herself away with what her body knew to be predators. The fabric of her scarf seemed to catch against her scarred throat. But Tia forced herself to look up at Ivor – [i]Ivor[/i], who’d kept her safe and warm, and had carried her home when she’d collapsed. Ivor, who smiled and laughed like he’d only ever known the world to be kind – or perhaps he’d determined that it simply wasn’t kind enough. She held his gaze, and bit by bit the glow didn’t seem quite so frightening. It dimmed enough for her to see the concerned pull of his eyebrows, hear the caring tone that colored his voice as thickly as his accent did. Tia offered him a forced smile – but soon enough, it became easier to hold, warm and friendly as she fought to muffle her own nerves. Her skin still prickled where she could feel the woman’s eyes on her – but that wasn’t fair to her, either. She’d done Tia a kindness, after all. She remembered the snap of the woman’s voice as she’d seen Tia’s rising panic and cut Ivor off. The woman had even made an [i]excuse[/i] for her, to move the conversation away from the crowd. For all her sharpness and quiet intensity, she was actually… rather [i]considerate[/i]. It made Tia feel all the more guilty, that she was about to ask Ivor to keep a secret from her. Briefly, she considered trying to find some way to… be [i]discrete[/i] in her request to Ivor. But what good would [i]that[/i] do? The woman had clearly just learned that Tia was trying to hide [i]something,[/i] and it felt disrespectful to now pretend that she [i]wasn’t.[/i] Besides, it wasn’t like discretion came naturally to either Tia [i]or[/i] Ivor. No, Tia would just have to accept that this surprisingly thoughtful, if intimidating, blight-born woman already knew something was afoot. She would just have to hold out hope that her courtesy would extend to not trying to pry. She was Ivor’s friend – maybe her affection for him would keep her from trying to get too much out of him. At least the woman had kept the whole tavern from finding out about their adventure yesterday. Tia glanced at the woman, her sharp eyes bright and piercing. She gave her a small nod, half thanks and half apology. With one last moment of hesitation, Tia pulled her notebook and pen out of her pocket. She flipped to a fresh page and wrote out the simplest words she could use, taking care to write the letters large and clear – even if it strained her hand anew. When she was done, she held it up to Ivor’s large face. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon]I am OK. Thank you for your help. But please do not tell others yet.[/color][/quote][/i] Ivor plopped down to the floor, his rear landing with a resounding thud as the room shook a little, decorations shaking on their wall hooks and mantle tops. He leaned in close to read her words, mouthing each word out as he tried to interpret the sentence. Understanding clicked in his brain and raced to his facial features as he looked at the priestess confused. [color=9a45dc]“But why must Ivor keep such a glorious tale from the others?”[/color] He asked. As she began to write out her response Ivor thought of the myriad of reasons why she’d want to and verbally listed them off as he thought. [color=9a45dc]“Is it because of Lunarian guard that Ivor had punch in stomach? Or because Ivor almost died when the fish ate him and you had to do the healing? Or is it because of glowing rock that gave you a real spoo-”[/color] From the opposite corner of the room, Kira’s gaze flicked to Ivor. Tia’s eyes widened as she frantically wrote faster and shoved the notebook at him. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon][s]I will be in[/s] Yes. [u]All of it.[/u][/color][/quote][/i] He read the words on her paper and frowned, [color=9a45dc]“Even the fish? Because Ivor already gave fish to Syraea and Ivor told her about the hole he fell in to find the fish,”[/color] he mused thoughtfully, [color=9a45dc]“but Ivor not tell her about glowing rock or guard or-”[/color] A strangled sound escaped Tia. He paused, seeing the distress on her face, [color=9a45dc]“ohhhh, Ivor was doing thing again,”[/color] he covered his mouth. Somewhere in the room that blight-born was prowling with her sharp eyes – and if Tia had to guess, sharper ears. Closing her eyes, the Priestess tried to take in a breath and steady herself. When she opened them again, she gave him a pleading look. Then she wrote out another message. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon]The fish are OK. Nothing else. Do not talk about the rock or me please.[/color][/quote][/i] Ivor lowered his massive hand from his mouth, reading the words once again. He nodded, [color=9a45dc]“Ivor not know why crystal cave is secret, but Ivor will not be saying another peep, he swears to you upon life and moon.”[/color] The last day felt like a whirlwind and whatever happened in that cave, whatever things the priestess had seen with the glowing rock, he now had to keep buried beneath those stones. However something bugged him, secrets usually meant trouble was afoot or that people were in danger should the secret be discovered. His eyes narrowed and he leaned in unusually close to the priestess – she leaned back on instinct. [color=9a45dc]“Be honest with Ivor, are you in the danger?”[/color] His glowing eyes narrowed into slits, his gaze reminiscent of their first meeting when she first asked him to bring her there; silently he awaited her response. Tia blinked at him, pinned by the intensity of his purple gaze. But then… she softened. He’d asked for honesty, and suddenly Tia wanted nothing more than to give it to him – Ivor, her new, terrifying, disarming friend. She saw the concern in his eyes, achingly human. His collapsed, bloody form flashed in her mind, on the damp floor of that cave. Her smile was small and a little sad as she looked at him. Words she didn’t know how to say piled up in her ruined throat. Finally, she pulled back her notebook and looked down at the words littering the page. Tia flexed her sore hand. Then she held the book back up to him, pointing at two sentences she’d already written. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon]I am OK. Thank you for your help.[/color][/quote][/i] It felt too much like a lie. But Tia didn’t know how to begin to unravel the truth. He looked at her intently at first, then at the words she was pointing to, then back to her face. There was a sorrow there that he wasn’t quite sure what to make of, but he had no reason to doubt her words thus far. His face and posture relaxed, reverting back to the jolly blightborn giant he was. [color=9a45dc]“Very well, Ivor will not tell a soul of the adventure.”[/color] He nodded in affirmation, then his gaze hardened once again, [color=9a45dc]“However, if you are ever in the danger because of it, call to Ivor and I will come.”[/color] He mused for a moment, [color=9a45dc]“But Ivor may not be around to hear, so find Mr. Guard…but if he is not around…”[/color] his gaze turned towards Kira who had been silently watching them. He smiled at her, giving a sort of wink that came across as more of an intense blink before turning back towards the priestess, [color=9a45dc]“Then call Miss Kira and she will come to your aid.”[/color] He nodded again, firmly volunteering her for an unasked duty. To their left, glowing orange eyes lifted from the notebook in Tia’s hands to meet Ivor’s gaze. Kira stood leaning against the edge of a rounded table, arms crossed, her expression unreadable—neither warm nor cold—giving nothing away as her eyes slid back to the Priestess. Tia’s eyes widened as she looked over at the woman – Kira – and her decidedly approachable demeanor. Flicking her gaze back and forth between the two of them, Tia gave an awkward smile and shook her head. She raised her hand to wave Ivor’s offer away for good measure, not wanting this woman to feel obligated for anything. Ivor watched the priestess wave her hand and he shook his head in return. [color=9a45dc]“Ivor know Miss Kira may seem a little…scary,”[/color] he looked back over to her sheepishly with an apologetic look. [color=9a45dc]“Ivor trusts Miss Kira, like a sister, she will come if you call.”[/color] His eyes returned back to the priestess, [color=9a45dc]“and Ivor know that the armored lady is strong, can keep you safe, but if she is not around and the danger is close…”[/color] Ivor gave a wide smile and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing, [color=9a45dc]“Ivor insist.”[/color] Tia couldn’t help but meet Ivor’s infectious warmth, her hesitation melting under his large palm. She hugged her notebook to her chest. A little huff escaped her, almost a laugh. A faint, barely perceptible smile ghosted across Kira’s lips as she held her gaze on the Priestess. A predatory imitation of warmth she wore like a costume. [color=DC561E]“What’s your name?”[/color] Tia’s hesitation came back as she found those eyes studying her again. But Ivor trusted her. And she’d only been considerate to Tia thus far. [color=lemonchiffon]“Tia.”[/color] Her name was soft and fragile when her rasping voice finally slipped out. [color=DC561E]“Tia,”[/color] Kira echoed, letting the name linger in the air between them. She watched the Priestess carefully, noting the struggle behind her tone, briefly wondering what had caused it. Her eyes flicked back to Ivor—her trusting, self-declared “brother.” [color=DC561E]“Any friend of Ivor’s is a friend of mine.”[/color] The words felt like poison on her tongue. Ivor lit up with excitement, [color=9a45dc]“Jabool!”[/color] the giant blightborn laughed, unaware of any deception. Tia stared back at her, held in place by that firelight gaze. Her nerves rose. She tried to push them back down. She offered Kira a smile, before she finally caved and pulled her gaze back to Ivor. Her smile came easier, pulled by his boundless enthusiasm. Her own hand lifted to rest on the back of his. But her dark eyes glanced back at Kira for a moment – like she was a prey animal who couldn’t afford to take her eyes off the nearest set of fangs. She tried to swallow, her ruined throat straining with the motion. Guilt poured into Tia. She wasn’t being fair. Ivor had been frightening too – as both a man [i]and[/i] a bear – but he was unfailingly kind. Tia wouldn’t be [i]alive[/i] if it weren’t for him. Forcing herself to look back at Kira more surely, she tried to count all the reasons to not distrust her: Ivor had vouched for her, she’d kept him from spilling Tia’s secrets when she’d been panicking, she’d let Tia and Ivor talk in peace, she’d even protected Sya yesterday from that nobleman who’d been accosting her… This time, when Tia smiled at Kira, it was warm and friendly, if still a little small. Tia hoped Kira knew that she didn’t [i]actually[/i] expect her to… what, jump to her defence? But any attempt to say that now would just lead to more Ivor noises, so Tia let it be. She gave Kira another nod before turning back to Ivor. [color=lemonchiffon]“Thank you again,”[/color] she said, stepping back. Tia immediately missed the warmth of his hand that’d spanned over the entirety of her shoulder – and then some. Again Ivor laughed, his voice echoing in the small chamber. Realizing he was being too loud though, he turned to look at Kira, giving her an apologetic look. Turning back to Tia he addressed her, [color=9a45dc]“Miss Pries… hm Miss Tia, yes,”[/color] he nodded as if to commit the name to his memory. His eyes bugged out as something suddenly clicked in his head, [color=9a45dc]“Oh no, if I didn’t know that this was not to be spoken of, then surely the guard doesn’t either, quickly we must go and search for him!”[/color] He moved like he was starting to get up. Kira’s eyes shifted silently between the two of them. Tia briefly thought of the guard – tall, and freckled, and [i]too close[/i] this morning as he’d promised to keep her secrets. She tried to swallow again, attempting to force down the heat that rose in her like her pulse. Blinking, she shook her head quickly. [color=lemonchiffon]“He knows,”[/color] she said, making a concerted effort to keep her voice steady. [color=9a45dc]“Oh…”[/color] Ivor already half way up plopped back down on his rear with another thud, [color=9a45dc]“This is the good then, already the secret is safer.”[/color] The guard seemed a trustworthy man, he certainly proved his bravery when he dove in after Ivor or even when he punched Ivor when requested to do so. Tia trusted him which was another plus and although he briefly wondered where the glowing rock was now, he realized it probably wasn’t the best time to ask about it. [color=9a45dc]“We all are in the agreements then, this stays here and the cave, nowhere else. Ivor think in fact, there was no crystal cave at all, fish came from lake,”[/color] his eyes wandered off to the side. It was a poor attempt at lying, his tone changed, he couldn’t look her in the eyes saying it, it probably sounded made up too. Hopefully though it showed his commitment to keeping her tale behind closed lips. It earned him another silent laugh from Tia as she raised an amused eyebrow at him. But beneath her fondness for Ivor, there was a thin layer of worry. [color=DC561E]“If I’m to help protect this…. [i]information[/i], I’d like to know who else is holding it.”[/color] Kira’s tone was even, almost casual. [color=DC561E]“Who’s ‘Mr. Guard’? Is there anyone else who knows about this… crystal cave?”[/color] Tia stilled. After a moment she lifted her notebook again. But her pen hesitated before scrawling out a new message for Kira. Silent as a shadow, the redhead pushed off the table and crossed the room to stand beside Ivor—close enough now to read Tia’s handwriting in the dim lighting. Close enough to note the blonde’s heart rate, beating slightly faster than average. Kira said nothing, only watched, gaze steady. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon]He was with Ivor and I yesterday. I trust him. No one else knows.[/color][/quote][/i] [color=DC561E][i]Except the entire tavern,[/i][/color] Kira thought, her attention flicking to the giant on the floor beside her. Ivor nodded, [color=9a45dc]“Ivor not know what his name is,”[/color] he looked to Tia who also appeared to not know, [color=9a45dc]“but any man who can be told to punch Ivor in belly and do it, without fear, has Ivor’s respect.”[/color] He stroked his beard in thought, [color=9a45dc]“However maybe one of guards at the prison would know, they were with Mr. Guard when he punched Ivor in stomach,”[/color] the giant laughed, [color=9a45dc]“there was one man, who, his face, he cannot believe it.”[/color] Ivor mimicked the guard’s face, mocking shocked disbelief with wide eyes and a big gaping mouth. There was a sinking feeling in Tia’s stomach as she remembered the scene they’d all made outside of the prison. They really [i]hadn’t[/i] been discrete. If someone — like, say, the [i]Prince[/i] — started asking questions about where she’d been yesterday, the three of them had made quite the memorable party to any onlookers. Ivor and the guard would face consequences because of her. Tia bit her lip and frowned as she busied herself in her notebook again. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon]I can check. I’ll visit there next.[/color][/quote][/i] Actually, it was probably for the best if she [i]didn’t[/i] know the guard’s name. At least then she wouldn’t need to lie about who’d been with her. But Tia needed to go check on Gadez in prison — this was as good an excuse as any. Ivor stood up and stretched, his hands easily touching the low ceiling, [color=9a45dc]“Ivor will come with you Miss Tia, need to stretch legs after being cramped in tiny chairs. Sya will not be happy if Ivor breaks more chairs…”[/color] he looked at Tia after stretching, [color=9a45dc]“besides, there is the DANGER lurking around the corners.”[/color] But Tia shook her head, glancing between Ivor and Kira. She flexed her sore hand before writing. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon]The town is safe.[/color][/quote][/i] …If you didn’t count the [i]murders[/i] that had apparently happened yesterday. But Tia didn’t know how to explain to Ivor that the danger she was afraid of wasn’t something he could punch, or… tear at with his bear claws. The gemstone’s vision flashed in her mind again — an obsidian colossus and towering spires. Kira raised a brow, her eyes lingering on the page before lifting to Tia’s face, searching—calculating. What was she trying to keep Ivor away from? Or was she truly that naive, thinking the town was safe? She’d shut herself in a room with two individuals who could easily snap her in half—and she thought she was safe. Kira knew the Aurelians had a talent for delusion, but this seemed unusually dense. Still, she held her tongue. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon]I think I should go alone. A lot of people saw us together yesterday and I don’t want you to get into any trouble because of me.[/color][/quote][/i] Ivor frowned, but she seemed determined to go on her own anyway and all he could do for now was acquiesce her request. [color=9a45dc]“If you are sure, then Ivor will go elsewhere, still much work to be done after all!”[/color] Tia gave him as reassuring a smile as she could manage and nodded. She looked between the two blight-born again — Ivor, enormous and exuberant, and Kira, quiet and intense. She tried to keep her smile from slipping under the other woman’s scrutiny. One final note. [i][quote][color=lemonchiffon]Be safe, and thank you for not telling anyone yet. It was nice to meet you Miss Kira.[/color][/quote][/i] She bowed slightly to both of them, offering a friendly smile. With that, Tia lowered her notebook and turned towards the door. She tried to ignore the way the hair on the back of her neck stood on end as she put her back to the two blight-born. Her scar seemed to burn along her neck with each step she took, nerves building in her chest like a warning. But Ivor and Kira had been kind — they were friends. And there were things in this world more dangerous than fangs and claws.