This is just a quick reminder. There is a 9 Day policy for posts for each character. I understand that life happens and we all get busy. However, as far as I know, none of you have talked to your GMS about needing an extension. I would like to see posts no later than Friday. If you are no longer interested, please let a GM know. We do this to try and keep it fair for all the players.
I tried not to include people who haven't posted because they are waiting on someone else, but I might have made a mistake. If so, please let me know!
There had been a handful of times throughout the night where Bree had stirred. Not enough for full consciousness and rational thought, but enough for her to get echos of some of the emotions felt the night before. Her body always willed back to sleep by a more stubborn mind. When she finally awoke long enough for her eyes to open, she found a heavy unfamiliar weight across her chest and a warm breeze shifting her bangs. Glancing to the side, she saw Kagan’s sleeping face not three inches from her own. His even breaths causing the warm breeze.
It was unclear if Kagan was trying to hold her or simply take up as much of the huge bed as possible. His arm tossed over her, rather than holding her. Bree watched as Adora slide out of bed and Bree envied the ease at which she was able to slide out of bed and make her way around the room. When Adora drew closer, Bree quickly closed her eyes and feigned sleep again. The idea of having to speak to anyone, or make an effort to avoid doing, was far beyond her willpower just yet.
The room warmed quickly however, as soon as the desert sun rose. Kagan’s hold soon became stiflingly hot. Her first attempt to slip from the bed earned a sleepy grumble from Kagan and Bree found herself tangled up even tighter in his grasp, his arms pulled her till they were chest to chest. All without ever properly waking up.
Her second attempt was marginally more successful. Slowly piring him off limb by limb until he gave up his hold, favoring the less resistant pillows with which to force his affection.
Bree took a few tentative steps once out of the bed. An unfamiliar ache echoing between her legs, accompanied by the feeling of something dried cracking between them as she took her few steps. She refused to look down, not wanting to know what she would see if she did.
Giving her sister bride a silent look, not dissimilar to a predator sizing up a competitor, Bree gave her a wide breath as she made her way to the tub, longing to feel clean once again.
The water was cold to the the touch, the embers having long gone out during the night. The water held remnants of last nights bath, but seeing no alternative and not having the patience to wait for the water to heat, Bree crawled in, careful to twist her hair into a bun on the top of her head to keep it dry. Goosebumps erupting across her skin as she adjusted to the temperature. She found that the cool water soothed the pain between her legs. Still, the bath wasn't a place see wanted to linger, less it enticed Kagan again so soon. She scrubbed at her skin quickly, riding herself of all evidence of last night, before crawling back out of the tub. Pulling one of the many towels around her as she silently tiptoed across the room to her trunk.
Wheres her sister bride tried to flaunt her figure, Bree tried to hide hers. From the depths of her tunk she pulled out a long, flowy skirt. Burgundy in color, but it also had a thousand different flowers dyed into the material. Her shirt was short, barely brushing the top of her skirt. Black, simple, covering her shoulders and chest. She accentuated it with dangling gold earrings.
From there she pulled out different creams and oils, taking care to apply just the right amount of each in just the right order. Once again she struggled to keep her make-up minimal, but after the events of last night, she was more accepting of it.
She also took the time to pull her hair back in a braid across her head, collecting it in a bun in an attempt to disguise its length.
It was only once she had her ‘armor on’ that she finally faced her sister bride. She eyed the food and drink that was laid out warily before saying “Is that for me then?” Taking the mug in her hands she settled across from the Gem.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” she said lightly, twisting the tea in her hands by rotating the cup. “I’d like to not hate you,” she said, her eyes meeting Adora’s “After all, we might be strangers, but you are still from home,” The grip on her cup tightened as her eyes flashed. “But if you want us to get along, you better heed what I tell you to do. No matter how much you want to ‘help’ no matter if you disagree. Do you think we can come to an understanding?” her voice carried a vague hint of a threat, but it was by far the kindest interaction she’d had with Adora thus far.
-Struggle snuggle -Scrubbing away the sins -breakfast and threats
Xaelia bit back a whimper, her body trembling as the knife trailed its way down her body. The few breaths she dare take were shallow, not trusting any movement, less it cause the ruined dress to slip away. Tears slowly started spilling from her eyes, running down her face as she kept her arms stiffly by her side, clenched in fists.
“Do you like exploring? I heard you talk about your homeland so I bet you do. You must’ve seen many places the bright sun touches. Though I am much more interested in what the sun doesn’t touch.”
Xae was never one for meek actions. But all she could do now was stand there and tremble. He could have whatever he wanted and there was nothing. Absolutely nothing she could do to stop him.
A few deep breaths were drawn in as Xae readied herself for the inevitable. Her eyes closing tight to block the drakkan from her mind.
There was a loud crash of thunder and a shout. Xae cracked open her eyes to see the little drakkan standing as her savior. In the next moment Keregar entered through the door. Tracking in mud and dropping armor as he went. A shred of hope flared in her chest as Keregar walked across the room. Only to be crushed by the bitter truth. He is the fire, and the son is the frying pan. And you are the fishThe holes in Keregar’s amore showing layers upon layers of scars and other wound. So many that Xaelia couldn’t believe that a single creature could have survived them all.
Following Karagen were the twins. Left in their current state, Xaelia was certain that she could have taken them. The pair limped in, one taking note of the knife in his brother hand. The pair bickered a moment, throwing insults. But the words of their father made them wary to linger.
“I hope you’re not a deep sleeper. I’d hate it if you’d miss my little visit tonight”
Xaelia let out a silent sob, at his words, hugging herself tightly, even as the drakkan strutted off, deeper into the house.
And the little drakken remained her silent guard.
“Are you alright? Sorry, I-I didn’t mean to…”
In Spite of it all, the poor boys reaction brought out a choked laugh. She nodded, finally reaching a hand up to wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. Her other one still struggling to hold the martial that was her dress together enough to provide the slightest bit of dignity
“Varzar. The Gems are tired. Lead them to their chambers”
It seemed that the little drakkan was just as quick as his brothers after being given a command from his father. He quickly lead the girls down a hallway, passed a few closed doors. Deeper into the house.
No doubt to keep their treasures well protected, should the occasion every arrive,
Like the main room, the rest of the house gave off the district aura of being temporary. What little furniture there was looking worse for wear and the walls were bare and cold.
Varzar finally stopped in front of the heavy wooden door. The entrance was nearly hidden in the shadows of the house. Varzar pushed the door to reveal a small room. There was a fire burning in the corner, giving off the only light in the windowless room. There were four beds pushed against the wall, but only two of them were adorned with grey blankets and tan pillows. The rest of the room was plain, built for function above all else. But it was warm, warmer than any other room in the house. At the foot of each bed, stood a tuck. Although plain by the standards of the Gem’s, both trunks seemed out of place, far too pretty and fragil for the harshness of the rest of the room.
“ I-it locks he said weakly. He stood a moment longer waiting for the girls to say anything. Before adding a faint “If-I’ll come check on you later. It would be better if you...didn’t leave the room tonight. Good night...Mothers The last word coming out far more quickly than any of the others before shutting the door behind him.
Xae gave Nadia a wide eyed look. Before turning from her and head to her personal truck.
All of the clothing inside were various shades of brown, blue, green and white. Simple clothing. Comfortable, functional and so different from the ruins of the dress. Xaelia reaching inside and pulled out a long white shirt. Letting the ruined dress fall quickly to the floor. Her movements were quick, matter of fact, as though she had done it a thousand times before. The white shirt had been designed for a man and had baggy sleeves. The shirt ended just at her knee. After that she ran a quick comb through her hair and then stood for a moment, looking for another task to be completed. But there was nothing more to be done.
She stood in the center of the room, looking lost for a few seconds. With a cry she fell into the floor, crumpling into a tight ball as tears started falling down her face. Her body shaking as sobs wracked it.
Xae cries cuz bad touch. But then she gets ‘saved’now her dress is ruined and she is crying on the floor. Like every good ending to a bad prom night’ One day this won’t be a mobile post
Nights in the desert weren’t known for their warmth, but the falling rain brought with it a chill that soaked through to the bone. Thick clouds cut the landscape off from any source of moonlight, the darkness devouring what little light torches and lanterns could provide, while the deafening rain forced the masses inside their homes. Silent figures moved about the city unseen, some masked while others simply cloaked, all observing from their places in the shadows. Many things were witnessed that night, though death was only but one horror among many.
By the time the rain began to let up, most of the city’s occupants had either retired to their estates within the walls while few others had already embarked on a long journey home. Five small shadows darted from cover to cover, careful not to spend too much time out in the open where they could be spotted, holding their breaths each time a Drakkan drew too close for comfort. One by one they made their way to an abandoned shop, a disheveled location that looked like someone had left in a big hurry, bloodstains left behind indicating that it was not of their own volition either.
Three girls stood at the back of the building, furthest from the door so as to minimize the possibility of detection despite the hour. One leaned up against the wall with her arms folded against her chest, both her hood and her mask still donned despite her companion’s appearance. Poking her nose into every corner of the building, the second young woman took to canvassing the area while they awaited the arrival of their leader. While it was highly unlikely they would be discovered, it was always better to be sure than to assume. The other two sat together on the floor, the elder of the two helping to warm the shivering youth.
“We’re in the clear, you can remove your mask here. Friends, remember?” The one spoke, rolling her eyes when she received no response from her masked companion.
“It’s alright, leave her be.” Came another voice from the doorway, the new arrival pulling her hood down as she took refuge from the rain. Her breath escaped her mouth in tiny white tufts, water still dripping from the edges of her cloak but it didn’t seem to bother her all that much.
“So, what do we have?” She asked, looking around the room expectantly. No explanations were necessary, there were very few reasons they would risk entering the capitol especially this time of year.
“Unfortunately not much. With the ceremony being moved up the way it did, there wasn’t enough time to properly prepare. Trying to find a way inside on such short notice was next to impossible, so outside of you… and maybe him... the best we have is long after initial contact with their husbands.” The woman she was reporting to nodded her head thoughtfully, eyes drifting to the floor.
“I see. While it was not an ideal situation, it was not a total loss. Every bit of information helps, you know that. The initial contact is a great teller, but it is not everything. We’ll have to wait and see how they fair after a few days spent in their new homes. Was there anyone in need of immediate liberation?” She spoke, looking around the room to each of her companions.
“Excuse me ma’am. There were a couple we took note of that might need our assistance. Whether or not they’ll be good candidates for the front line is still unknown, but I’m sure there’s something we can do… Right?” The shivering girl spoke up, voice light and quite timid as her eyes darted about the space. She looked as if she expected a Drakkan soldier to pop up out of the shadows simply by speaking about them.
“We will try to do whatever we can, but we can’t take in everyone. We’ll have our absent friend look into rehoming the ones we cannot support. An awful premise, I know… but a necessary sacrifice to our cause.” The younger girl looked deflated, clearly having hoped to save whoever it was that she saw. Such was the price they had to pay though, with such limited resources and abundant risks, it was impossible to care for anyone that couldn’t give back to the cause. It hurt the woman’s heart to have admit it, but it was her duty to make the difficult choices.
“There were a few right out of the gate that managed to catch my attention. I think we should consider looking into recruiting them if at all possible. More than a few feisty ones this time around.”
“If by feisty you mean mouthy, then yes… Quite a few.” The deeper sound of a male voice made a few of the members jump a little, the leader clearly having expected the arrival if her relaxed posture was any indicator. Turning around, she motioned for the Drakkan youth to enter and share his thoughts with the rest of them. He was barely old enough to be considered an adult by Drakkan standards, but he had been quick to learn how to blend in with the crowds and appear as if he belonged… An easy task considering he was one of their kind.
While an outsider might have been confused by the sight of what was clearly a Drakkan male conversing with a bunch of wayward Gemmenite women, those that had been around long enough knew he was not someone to be wary of. He had been the child of a bride from one of the earlier reapings, sometime around when the Rebels had really started getting their bearings. The woman had unfortunately been impregnated before she was able to make her escape, but she managed to find sanctuary with the Rebels where she gave birth to and raised her son. She had long since passed away by this point, but the son proved to be a great asset to the Rebel’s cause.
“If the information I heard was correct, one of my primary interests is a girl whose been stirring trouble since she was brought over the spine. She’s got a lot of courage, and seemed like the sort to look out for her fellow brides. Has already taken quite a beating too from the sound of it.” She began, the boy who was now standing beside her shaking his head in response.
“As great as she sounds, you should probably give up on that one. The man she was handed to is no joke, and those chains the real deal. Even the War Lords seemed unnerved around the guy.” He chimed in, fighting a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold.
The eldest woman in the group cleared her throat to gain attention, standing to her feet despite the lack of necessity. An old habit yet to have died off.
“Our leader here has pretty sharp instincts when it comes to these girls. If she’s your prime, m’dear, then there must be reason. The girl wouldn’t be the first to liberate herself from her situation… If what you say about her husband is correct, we might have to wait to see if she makes it on her own rather than going and collecting her. In that case, we’ll be waiting to take her in with open arms.” Heads around the room nodded their agreement as the woman took her seat, the leader waiting for everything to settle before continuing on.
She went on to speak about a few others, such as one with enough nerve to all but yell at her husband and insult his prior bride, a strange girl who hailed from the Spine itself, and various others that had succeeded in standing out. Not all were spoken of in positive terms, however, as the discussion turned to interests from the previous year. More than a few of their potential candidates had died, and another had seemingly grown attached to her husband. There was little hope for converting and was thus considered a lost cause.
Another girl had almost fallen into their grasp after the death of her husband, but her mental stability had proven too weak to trust for their cause. She was left to wander the woods in the hopes that she would either die a swift death or find a way to survive on her own… Neither of these were the case as she made an appearance at this year’s event with a man known to be a bit of a hermit.
With the rain slowing to a slow drizzle, the group’s time together had come to a close. The woman in charge dismissed them, wishing them safe travels and the information necessary for locating their next meeting. She had been prepared to take off in her own direction when the elder woman from before stopped her to ask a question.
“I was able to catch a glimpse of a girl earlier this evening… She looked a lot like..well...me and I think she might be related somehow… It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anything from my family but I have this feeling… She could be of great help to us, so with your permission I would like to look into it further.” Such a request tugged at the heartstrings of the young leader, a dangerous game to play when making decisions for the wellbeing of the rebellion.
Normally she would have declined such a risky investigation due to the relation to the subject. So many things could go wrong in such a situation, several being along the lines of being recognized and found out, while others followed the more concerning topic of clouded judgement. Still, rebellion ran through the veins of the family in question, and if she was anything like the woman standing before her… She would be more than a help to the cause.
“You know I cannot allow you to investigate such a matter on your own… But you may choose somebody to run point on the investigation. If it pans out, I’ll consider her options, but that decision has to go through me… Is that understood?”
Deal struck, the pair made off in different directions, hoods pulled and bodies hugged close to the shadows. The Reaping might have been over, but there was far more work to be done.
-Who are these strange gems? Where did the come from? What do they want? -Finish up your first night. The next posts should be ending the night/taking placing in the morning! Go with peace!
A subtle jerk shot through Xaelia’s body as she instinctively started towards her distressed sister bride. But the cold metal she kept behind her back held her back, a rope tying her in place. The pool of blood caused a itch to start forming as the blood began to dry down her palm. It was too much to ask that that was a sign that the bleeding at slown, the knife was too sharp and the cut was too deep for such an idea. Being unable to comfort Nadia hurt more.
Xae’s eyes widened as she watched the young drakkan hop around Nadia, bringing her a chair and whispering sweet promises to her. Every act of kindness shown to her sister bride brought on a stab of guilt as punishment for the previous cruelty she had shown the boy. And now, she was nothing but thankful for his actions. Although he had been the one to cause the pain in the first place with his questions.
A sharp yanked twisted the knife out of her hand, in the same movement, A set of strong hands yanked her body till she was face to face with another drakken. This one smaller than the twins and far smaller than Keregar.
“Well, well, what do we have here?”
A poorly muffled cry of panic escaped Xaelia’s mouth as she found the knife pressing into her chest. She stiffened, her voice coming in short shallow breaths as he got closer. Her hand twitching to cover her chest as the sound of ripping material filled the air.
“Hiding a knife like that. Imagine what father would say about that. But what if I didn’t say a thing? Maybe, as a little reward I could get a better taste of you?”
His lips felt like cold steel on her neck. A line of goosebumps shot across her body as she tried to break free of the hold, but was held tight. She could only guess at how much of a ‘’taste’ the drakkan was asking for. But the fact that he felt the need to barter meant that he couldn’t just take what he wanted.
Maybe.
Maybe he just liked the game.
But it was a game she would rather not die playing. Her mind quickly shot through every option she had in a limited list. A brave person might have challenged him. Clever person might have thought of a safer plan.
“W-what knife,” she said, her voice a terfied whisper, but her words came out clear as day. “T-the only one here is the one in your hand,” Her entire body gave a traitorous tremor as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. It was a gamble. One where the chances of it paying off were so slim that it was little more than suicide. But the little Drakkan hadn’t known about the knife. While she didn’t expect the little Drakkan to lie for her, there was a chance that he’d at least hesitate when asked for the truth.
-He's touching me -The only solution is to lie my way out of this. *Another mobile post, I swear I'll stop making a habit out of this
“It is unwise to trust a demon, the cost is always far too high,” Rya whispered under her breath, staring at Morganna, but not really seeing, her chin being held in place by the woman’s finger. Her hand reached out, holding Lienna’s hand, the grip too stiff to be a measure of comfort for either side. A noise from somewhere far off seemed to fix Rya’s focus, as her glassy eyes became clear, or at least, clearer.
“What is the cost of protection?” Her voice sounded heavy, fearful. Like a creature who knew there was danger, yet chose to walk forward anyway. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Lienna had yet to take her eyes off of the new drakkan who claimed her as his own. Reaching up, Rya took a hold of a chunk of the girl’s silvery hair. Yanking hard until the girl was forced to look toward Morganna.
“What is the price?” Rya asked again, her hand still burried in Lienna’s hair like a leash, forcing the girl to hold her head forward, forcing her to look away from the pretty, evil, drakkan.
Bree felt a small amount of tension fall from her shoulders as Kagan got up to ready himself for the bath. He turned away from the pair to give them the illusion of privacy. A favor Bree felt no obligation to return as he stripped away his clothing, eyeing him the same way she might appraise a horse. Wonder mixed with a healthy amount of fear. She’d seen naked men before, her brother had little shame in hotter climates. She was relieved to see that the rumor of a barbed tip was false. Although that did little to quell the nausea rolling around her stomach.
She was startled out of her thought by her tiny purple problem touching Bree’s dress. The girl had done nothing wrong. She was a little too peppy, borderline obnoxious. And Bree knew that none of this was her fault, But that didn’t matter. Her very existence made Allie’s less likely. Her provocative nature and ease with her own body seemed more a desirable trait than Bree’s own...lacking skill set.
Bree snatched the girl’s wrist as it touched the top of her dress, squeezing it. Bree’s face flushed red at the Adora’s boldness. “Thank you, for your thoughtfulness,” Bree’s whispered voice hinting a poorly concealed rage. “But don’t touch me, ever,”
Being with Kagan was expected, she planned to be with a drakkan. Allie and her both. It was an inconvenience above all else. But...Adora touching her felt like betrayal. Once she was certain that the girl had gotten the message, she dropped her wrist and turned to removed her own clothing. She left her ruined dress and under things in a small pile on the floor. Bree paused for a second on her way to the tub eyeing the two abandoned glasses, hesitating over which to grab. She finally settled on Kagan’s and filled it with the remaining wine. Although she longed for more for herself, she didn’t want to fog her mind any further.
While her sister-bride made a show of getting in the water, Bree slipped in with little ceremony, careful not to spill the wine as she did. With Adora taking the spot across from Kagan Bree sat somewhere between the pair. Her body giving a few small shivers as water started to warm her. Truthfully, she would have appreciated a little more heat, but that was personal preference, this was more than fine. After a minute she held the glass out to Kagan “I’ve always found that a bath pairs best with wine,”
Bree had been in somewhat of a ball when she first entered the bath, as she warmed, her legs began to uncurl, stretching out into the water, she was only able to stretch out half as far as she like when her legs crossed over Kagan’s.
She watched as Adora put on a show of removing the pins from her hair. Bree fixed a pleasant smile on her face. “You truly are lovely,” she said, “ And the royal family must have been so lucky to find someone as experienced as you to pass out as a special reward,”
An ache started to form deep in her stomach. The more the boy spoke, the more the ache grew. You knew this would be bad. You know all the stories. You know. But knowing what had happened to others was far easier to deal with then facing the reality on her own. The fact that it was coming from such an innocent voice made it all the worst. Children are not a good liars and his voice carried such an air of certainty, that Xaelia didn’t question any of it.
The ‘smaller’ drakkan was soon forced to the side by two hulking figures. They were Keregar reborn younger and more wild. Like new sparks trying to catch the world a blaze. She felt herself shrink as they spoke about her and her sister-bride as though they were objects. Xae tried to make her self small, shoulder hunching forward and her arms crossing over her chest. She couldn’t stop them from looking, but she didn’t have to make it easy for them to see.
One of the twin’s said something to the other. Lighting a fuse that exploded into a fight between the brothers. Showing just how quickly drakken comradery could turn to violence, even between siblings.
One pulled a knife, tossing it at the brother's face. The other caught it in the cup. The cup fell. The liquid splashed across the floor. And the cup rolled. Right to Xaelia feet. Knife still buried deep.
The little drakkan had made it very clear that this was the place that Gems were sent to die. Whether it was tonight, in a week or nine months after a particularly unlucky night.
Trusting that the two brothers were now far more interested in themselves than the two girls, Xaelia risked reaching for it. The cup was heavy and the knife looked far larger in her hand than it did in the twin's. The blade was buried deep in the cup and every second she spent working it free was another second that she could be found out. In her panic, her left thumb slipped across the blade as she finally yanked it free.
The wound wasn’t deep and the blade was so sharp that she’d hardly felt it, but already a small trail of scarlet was pooling from the wound.
She felt a certain amount of comfort with the hilt in her hand. But her plan had ended with getting the knife. It was too large to hide in her dress and the room was too sparsely furnished to be of any use in hiding the object.
She tried to imagine using it, slashing at the drakkan, cutting at them. She’d lose, that was for certain no matter what. Yet even in her fantasy, she wouldn’t see herself a using for more than a threat with no intention to follow up.
“Enough!” Time was up.
“What is going on?” For the moment, Keregar’s wrath seemed to be focused on his sons. The rage of a wild fire that sent the young pups scattering into the safety of the thunderstorm. Xae shoved her hand and knife behind her back, adding the other one to make her stance seem little more natural.
The little drakkan apeared again as soon as his older brothers vanished. Carrying small mugs that gave off a familiar scent. One that reminded her of the open air markets along the costal cities. Taking the cup would have meant moving one of her hands, which she couldn’t do, not now.
“I don’t like tea,” she said curtly, then after a moment added "Thank you though, . Her voice carrying the same tone as when she lecture the boy about how mothers worked.
“You’re both from Gemina right? How does it look there?”
She could at least humor the boy with that.
“It is the most beautiful and blessed place on earth,” she said, surprised to hear a true sound of longing in her voice. “ To the south, there are the desert cities that formed around oasis'. There the sand warms and the water cools and they always serve food so rich with spices every other meal before pales in comparison. To the East are the costal towns. The beaches are white sand and there are tall trees that you climb for fresh fruit all year round. The houses are made of white stone and the water is filled with flightless birds that will swim around your feet. The north has forests of evergreen trees and in the winter, the land is covered with a blanket of snow so white that is makes all clouds look grey. They service a warm drink, sweet as melted candy. The capital is made up of diamonds that glisten in the light like a morning star and the streets are lined with marble and gold. It is a true tragedy that there are poor souls who never get to experience its wonder,”
She tried to keep the words flowing, tried to keep talking, to erase all guilt that her face might have initially displayed. While her mind tried to create a plan that would see the knife in a safer place.
Xae panics. Boys fight. Find knife. Tell story. Full spite
TheDoctor
urukhai
