Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
Most Recent Posts
Lorag had a reasonable point. Even for an orc, he would stand out due to his lycanthropy. Ariel bit her lip at the idea of an alchemy competition, "Nothing that I know of. Alchemy's not like other things in competition. Most things are what people can understand and appreciate, or have enough spectacle to be entertaining. Alchemy doesn't really have either of those traits. It wouldn't hurt to have a look, though I doubt anything I could make in just an afternoon would be competition worthy, unless the rules are to make it on the spot."
As Ariel finished, the door opened with a creak and Sabine crept in. Even though she looked at them both and saw they were both awake, she still padded her way to her bed as quietly as she could. Ariel smiled at her, "Hello."
Sabine nodded as she undressed for bed. She didn't appear as if she wanted to talk as she slid herself under the sheets.
There was a mischievous chuckle under Janius' breath. "I think you should join in, you'd have fun, and you'll be in a better position to learn, like you said. Also," Janius put his book at his side and looked over to Meesei with his head bowed forward, "it's not every woman, come now, be fair. And as for propositioning you, well..." Janius wrinkled his nose and threw one arm up, turning back to lean against the wall and looking forward, "... you're the alpha, it's undermining of the respect I have for you, and... I don't know, it wouldn't feel right." His put his arm across his torso and rolled the back of his head across the wall until he was looking at Meesei with an apologetic look, "I'm not making you feel left out, am I?" He said, as if the comment about Janius' success rate wasn't as true as it was. In truth, Janius didn't realise how blatantly defensive he had reacted. Had he realised, he might have acknowledged his own insecurity about it.
As Ariel finished, the door opened with a creak and Sabine crept in. Even though she looked at them both and saw they were both awake, she still padded her way to her bed as quietly as she could. Ariel smiled at her, "Hello."
Sabine nodded as she undressed for bed. She didn't appear as if she wanted to talk as she slid herself under the sheets.
There was a mischievous chuckle under Janius' breath. "I think you should join in, you'd have fun, and you'll be in a better position to learn, like you said. Also," Janius put his book at his side and looked over to Meesei with his head bowed forward, "it's not every woman, come now, be fair. And as for propositioning you, well..." Janius wrinkled his nose and threw one arm up, turning back to lean against the wall and looking forward, "... you're the alpha, it's undermining of the respect I have for you, and... I don't know, it wouldn't feel right." His put his arm across his torso and rolled the back of his head across the wall until he was looking at Meesei with an apologetic look, "I'm not making you feel left out, am I?" He said, as if the comment about Janius' success rate wasn't as true as it was. In truth, Janius didn't realise how blatantly defensive he had reacted. Had he realised, he might have acknowledged his own insecurity about it.
"Yes, I did accompany Rukeewei most of the day. He introduced me to a number of his friends, some of which might be helpful in future for the shop. He's been awfully helpful." Ariel sighed longingly, "Like I said, I'm very lucky to have found him. He's not so much the stereotypical suspicious closed-off Argonian, I think. A very nice person." Ariel steered the conversation back to Lorag, "I might have thought you or some others in the pack might enter the athletic or the martial competitions. Have you ever tried boxing, or wrestling? I wouldn't be surprised if there was a tournament for those tomorrow. There might even be one of those violent large scale melee's like they have in some places."
With a chuckle, Fendros put her arms around Ahnasha. He wasn't as much of a show-off like Janius or Lorag, so he wasn't exactly enthused about being sketched, but there was no real harm in it. He kissed Ahnasha on the top of her head and relaxed. Even though he had a nap earlier that day, he didn't feel he would have any trouble sleeping. Barring the occasional nightmares, of course, but he had come to expect them since becoming a lycan.
Janius wondered some more. He hadn't looked into what competitions were on tomorrow, but he suspected there might be a few he would be interested in. "Well, if there's a fencing tournament of some kind, I might try my hand for fun. Apart from that, hmm..." Janius kept his grin and held his whiskered chin, "Offering my services as a model for the day of beauty," he said half-jokingly, "Hmm... flirt with every girl in sight. Maybe I'll try once again to drink Lorag under the table." His grin turned back into a smile and he looked at his book again, "More seriously, I'm quite interested in seeing Argonian fashion," he said shamelessly, "If Speaks-With-Thread's store was any indication, the dresses and suits that the city produces are lively and vibrant, very interesting." Janius put his hand down and looked at Meesei, "What about you? Are you planning to show everyone what a real mage is?"
With a chuckle, Fendros put her arms around Ahnasha. He wasn't as much of a show-off like Janius or Lorag, so he wasn't exactly enthused about being sketched, but there was no real harm in it. He kissed Ahnasha on the top of her head and relaxed. Even though he had a nap earlier that day, he didn't feel he would have any trouble sleeping. Barring the occasional nightmares, of course, but he had come to expect them since becoming a lycan.
Janius wondered some more. He hadn't looked into what competitions were on tomorrow, but he suspected there might be a few he would be interested in. "Well, if there's a fencing tournament of some kind, I might try my hand for fun. Apart from that, hmm..." Janius kept his grin and held his whiskered chin, "Offering my services as a model for the day of beauty," he said half-jokingly, "Hmm... flirt with every girl in sight. Maybe I'll try once again to drink Lorag under the table." His grin turned back into a smile and he looked at his book again, "More seriously, I'm quite interested in seeing Argonian fashion," he said shamelessly, "If Speaks-With-Thread's store was any indication, the dresses and suits that the city produces are lively and vibrant, very interesting." Janius put his hand down and looked at Meesei, "What about you? Are you planning to show everyone what a real mage is?"
Ariel looked ahead again. "I have an idea of what might be involved, but I don't know the specifics. I don't know exactly how the Hist operate." Ariel replied, noting Lorag's observations. "Whatever happens, I hope that it helps. Even with forgiveness from her, even after explaining everything and making contact with her and all... I still see a fear in her eyes that I know was my fault. I'm not sure if I can properly forgive myself while I still see it." Ariel looked down. While Sabine was of course very important to her, there wasn't much she knew to do except see if this ritual would make any difference. Her mind wandering in the silence for a moment brought up a tangential subject that she thought would be better to talk about then. She smiled and chuckled lightly, "So, are you going to be entering any beauty competitions tomorrow, Lorag?"
"Ah, how hard could it be to teach yourself that?" Fendros replied, looking at her for a few moments longer before closing his eyes as well. "Well, any way it goes, it sounds like it'll be fun. Did you want to start with a sketch book like we talked about, or jump straight into some canvasses?" Fendros felt glad that Ahnasha had the extra time to try out something that she always wanted to do. He doubted she would make masterpieces from the start, but everyone starts somewhere. As long as she had the patience for it, Fendros thought that she would enjoy it.
Janius lowered his book and looked up to the corner of the room with a creased brow. Comparing the cities in his mind was something which took a bit of thought. After twisting his lips in thought for a few seconds, he replied. "Well, there's a couple of big things I suppose. The first being how different the architecture is. The thing about the Imperial city is while it has Imperial buildings in its walls, it's structure is ancient. It's not really like anything, except old ruins. Here, it's also unique, but different. Another thing I've noticed is that in all the places I've been here in Thorn, I've felt very safe. No shady areas like the Imperial city, like the docks or the alleys." Janius shrugged, "Maybe that's because I haven't been to the shady parts of Thorn in the first place. Let's see, apart from that..." Janius nodded, "Well, there's of course the weather, the flowers, the big tree in the middle. So far, I apart from the weather, I prefer it to the Imperial city." His mouth curled into a grin, "And it's certainly many times more pleasant than Bravil."
"Ah, how hard could it be to teach yourself that?" Fendros replied, looking at her for a few moments longer before closing his eyes as well. "Well, any way it goes, it sounds like it'll be fun. Did you want to start with a sketch book like we talked about, or jump straight into some canvasses?" Fendros felt glad that Ahnasha had the extra time to try out something that she always wanted to do. He doubted she would make masterpieces from the start, but everyone starts somewhere. As long as she had the patience for it, Fendros thought that she would enjoy it.
Janius lowered his book and looked up to the corner of the room with a creased brow. Comparing the cities in his mind was something which took a bit of thought. After twisting his lips in thought for a few seconds, he replied. "Well, there's a couple of big things I suppose. The first being how different the architecture is. The thing about the Imperial city is while it has Imperial buildings in its walls, it's structure is ancient. It's not really like anything, except old ruins. Here, it's also unique, but different. Another thing I've noticed is that in all the places I've been here in Thorn, I've felt very safe. No shady areas like the Imperial city, like the docks or the alleys." Janius shrugged, "Maybe that's because I haven't been to the shady parts of Thorn in the first place. Let's see, apart from that..." Janius nodded, "Well, there's of course the weather, the flowers, the big tree in the middle. So far, I apart from the weather, I prefer it to the Imperial city." His mouth curled into a grin, "And it's certainly many times more pleasant than Bravil."
"I can't say I know," Ariel said, shaking her head slightly, "Sabine's always a bit difficult to read. I love her, but I know her place is with the pack, and my place is here. That's something she'll have to accept if she hasn't already." Ariel shifted so that she was sitting up against the wall on her bed. Ariel leaned her head back up against the wall, but rolled it to the side to look at Lorag. "Has her behaviour changed since I have been around? I heard from Meesei that she was just as shy, but..."
Fendros lay on his side facing Ahnasha. At her comment, he smiled and ran his hand over Ahnasha's stomach. "I don't care, you still win my beauty contest, Ahna."
In the next room, Janius looked up from his book for a moment. "I'd say she'll fit in. She's getting along with the locals after all." He took a deep breath through his nose and looked down at his book again. "I don't think she really needed to worry, she could have settled down in any city. This one though, it's nice. Out of direct danger, not so xenophobic, not to mention a beautiful place. Short of Morrowind and Black Marsh waging another war, I'd say this is a good place. What do you think?"
Fendros lay on his side facing Ahnasha. At her comment, he smiled and ran his hand over Ahnasha's stomach. "I don't care, you still win my beauty contest, Ahna."
In the next room, Janius looked up from his book for a moment. "I'd say she'll fit in. She's getting along with the locals after all." He took a deep breath through his nose and looked down at his book again. "I don't think she really needed to worry, she could have settled down in any city. This one though, it's nice. Out of direct danger, not so xenophobic, not to mention a beautiful place. Short of Morrowind and Black Marsh waging another war, I'd say this is a good place. What do you think?"
Ariel was at first a bit surprised by Lorag. Whether or not he was sleeping, he didn't appear to be upset by being woken up. Ariel smiled and swallowed before replying, "Yes, I did, in fact. I had just told everyone else." She slid her shoes underneath her bed, but stayed sitting up to talk. "I made an appointment with an An-Xileel official to talk about a loan. If all goes well I'll be sleeping in my own bed by tomorrow." She looked around and removed one of the pillows from her own bed, she never liked to sleep with two pillows anyway. She held the pillow for a moment and looked at it. "It will be sad to see you all go," She said, holding back her sadness this time. She smiled at Lorag and passed the pillow to him. "Did you enjoy yourself at the festival today? What did you get up to?"
With the rest of them heading to bed, only Janius and Sabine were left at the table. Janius glanced to her, "You heading to bed as well?" Janius asked.
Sabine didn't respond. instead she pulled a soul gem out of her pocket and the bracelet she had won from the throwing challenge. Ignoring Janius, she placed her hands over the items and began to weave an enchantment into the copper charm bracelet. Janius shrugged and finished his ale before leaving Sabine to her task. She could take care of herself well enough.
Up in Fendros and Ahnasha's room, Fendros began to undress to go to bed. "So, how do you like Thorn so far? It looks like it's preceding its reputation, especially with this festival." He held Ahnasha's cheeks in his hands and kissed her, "I'd say we're in luck to come at this time of year."
At first, Janius opened the door to he and Meesei's room roughly, but closed it quietly and went about his preparations for bed so as not to disturb her meditation. While the candle still burned in their room, he opened a book that he had been carrying around and began to read while sitting up against the head of his bed.
With the rest of them heading to bed, only Janius and Sabine were left at the table. Janius glanced to her, "You heading to bed as well?" Janius asked.
Sabine didn't respond. instead she pulled a soul gem out of her pocket and the bracelet she had won from the throwing challenge. Ignoring Janius, she placed her hands over the items and began to weave an enchantment into the copper charm bracelet. Janius shrugged and finished his ale before leaving Sabine to her task. She could take care of herself well enough.
Up in Fendros and Ahnasha's room, Fendros began to undress to go to bed. "So, how do you like Thorn so far? It looks like it's preceding its reputation, especially with this festival." He held Ahnasha's cheeks in his hands and kissed her, "I'd say we're in luck to come at this time of year."
At first, Janius opened the door to he and Meesei's room roughly, but closed it quietly and went about his preparations for bed so as not to disturb her meditation. While the candle still burned in their room, he opened a book that he had been carrying around and began to read while sitting up against the head of his bed.
Sounds good.
Ariel raised her arms and returned Meesei's hug. "Of course, Meesei. You will always be welcome if you come by." Even if they were going to leave, she was happy to have friends like these. She managed to open her bleary eyes to reply to Ahnasha with a smile, "That would be lovely, Ahnasha. I wish I could be there too."
Letting go of Meesei, Ariel tried to level her breathing and calm herself. She wasn't particularly hungry now, so she decided to leave her soup. What she realised was that she was tired. "I think I need to go to bed," She sniffed, wiped her eyes, and got up from her chair, "Goodnight, all."
"Goodnight, Ariel," Fendros and Janius said just out of unison.
To everyone's surprise, even Sabine spoke. "Goodnight, sister."
Sabine's words caused Ariel to halt before she sauntered off upstairs and she looked back to give Sabine a wide smile before she continued. The table became silent again for a moment. It wasn't an awkward silence, there was a warmth in the air. Janius lightly tapped his finger against the table's surface idly before breaking the silence, "I think I'm going to miss her too."
"Yeah," Fendros said through a yawn, "I don't think I'm be far from heading to bed myself."
Ariel entered her room rubbing her eyes and breathing through her mouth rather than her now blocked nose. She found Lorag leaning up against a wall and assumed he was sleeping, so she crept quietly to one of the beds and began to remove her shoes. It was strange, she thought Lorag would have taken one of the beds. Perhaps he was too intoxicated to realise.
Letting go of Meesei, Ariel tried to level her breathing and calm herself. She wasn't particularly hungry now, so she decided to leave her soup. What she realised was that she was tired. "I think I need to go to bed," She sniffed, wiped her eyes, and got up from her chair, "Goodnight, all."
"Goodnight, Ariel," Fendros and Janius said just out of unison.
To everyone's surprise, even Sabine spoke. "Goodnight, sister."
Sabine's words caused Ariel to halt before she sauntered off upstairs and she looked back to give Sabine a wide smile before she continued. The table became silent again for a moment. It wasn't an awkward silence, there was a warmth in the air. Janius lightly tapped his finger against the table's surface idly before breaking the silence, "I think I'm going to miss her too."
"Yeah," Fendros said through a yawn, "I don't think I'm be far from heading to bed myself."
Ariel entered her room rubbing her eyes and breathing through her mouth rather than her now blocked nose. She found Lorag leaning up against a wall and assumed he was sleeping, so she crept quietly to one of the beds and began to remove her shoes. It was strange, she thought Lorag would have taken one of the beds. Perhaps he was too intoxicated to realise.
"Right, my mind must be muddled for which day it is. Goodnight, Rukeewei!" Ariel said as the barman retired for the night.
Ariel had a couple more mouthfuls of soup as Meesei spoke. She nodded at the time estimate, and the mention of leaving. The letter business was something she hadn't thought of, but it stood to reason that it was within the pack's power. Ariel swallowed and considered this. It would be wonderful to hear how Sabine and the rest of the pack were. She put her spoon on the table for a moment to reply. "If you could do that, I would love to hear from you. From you all, even." She smiled and put her hand up at Meesei to gently halt her, "But, don't trouble yourself unnecessarily. If you have to keep information to yourself about anything, I won't mind, I understand." Ariel put her hand back on the table and cocked her head curiously at Sabine, who was staring at the table in front of her. "It would be wonderful to hear from you, sister. Would you write me letters every now and then?" Ariel asked.
Sabine looked up and breathed in.Then looked away, unsure. She could read passably, but she wasn't very good at writing. She tightened her lips for a moment. "I'll try," she mumbled, not enjoying that a nod or a shake of the head wasn't sufficient to communicate at that point.
In response, Ariel smiled. She might not get frequent or long letters, but to know that Sabine was okay was good enough for her. She was especially interested to know how the ritual that Meesei planned was going to turn out. If it would help Sabine to overcome her fears.
Ariel addressed the entire pack, she appeared tired after such an activity-filled day, but her tone was upbeat. "I should probably tell you that I have an appointment with the An-Xileel... oh, what did they call him..." Ariel snapped her fingers a couple of times and looked at the ceiling, trying to remember, "I think he was a guildmaster of sorts? Or an adviser? Something in Jel along that... line of thought... Anyway, they said that if I come by tomorrow afternoon at about four o'clock, I can discuss a loan to purchase a shop and have it fitted." She bobbed her head to the side, "Of course, they were too busy to discuss much else at the time, as you can imagine with the festival. I'll also have to contact suppliers and scope out what any other alchemists are selling in the city, but who knows? Perhaps I'll have a place to call my own by tomorrow. It's funny, I never thought..." Ariel stopped and leaned her head against her hand, covering one eye. She was smiling, but her next breath had a hint of emotion to it that she was trying to suppress. "I never thought I would end up here. I couldn't have done this without you all." She sniffed, but she didn't quite let go of any tears. Looking at each of their faces in turn, she continued, "You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you all."
Janius, who was sitting next to Sabine, grabbed her shoulder and ran his hand over it comfortingly. "Any family of Sabine's is family of us," He said, leaning back on his chair. Fendros nodded in agreement from across the table. For all Ariel rightly could have been, she had turned out to be a friend of the pack. She wasn't a lycan, or even a follower of Hircine, but she had shown understanding and actively helped the pack and any lycan besides who might have fallen to the suppression gas.
The reaction Ariel had to this was gradual. Her face became red, and her jaw tensed until her mouth opened suddenly with a short, sharp exhale. A tear ran down from the eye she wasn't covering and dripped into her soup. She tried not to sob, but she was tired and overwhelmed. She closed her mouth for a moment to sniff again, this time her nose sounded like it was running. "... I'm going to miss you all..." She managed to say shakily as she wrenched her eyes shut and bowed her head forward further. It was all she could communicate as she cried in almost silent sobs. Over the past few months, the pack had become some of the best friends she ever had. That when they left she might never see them again held no small amount of grief, even if it was something she couldn't change.
Ariel had a couple more mouthfuls of soup as Meesei spoke. She nodded at the time estimate, and the mention of leaving. The letter business was something she hadn't thought of, but it stood to reason that it was within the pack's power. Ariel swallowed and considered this. It would be wonderful to hear how Sabine and the rest of the pack were. She put her spoon on the table for a moment to reply. "If you could do that, I would love to hear from you. From you all, even." She smiled and put her hand up at Meesei to gently halt her, "But, don't trouble yourself unnecessarily. If you have to keep information to yourself about anything, I won't mind, I understand." Ariel put her hand back on the table and cocked her head curiously at Sabine, who was staring at the table in front of her. "It would be wonderful to hear from you, sister. Would you write me letters every now and then?" Ariel asked.
Sabine looked up and breathed in.Then looked away, unsure. She could read passably, but she wasn't very good at writing. She tightened her lips for a moment. "I'll try," she mumbled, not enjoying that a nod or a shake of the head wasn't sufficient to communicate at that point.
In response, Ariel smiled. She might not get frequent or long letters, but to know that Sabine was okay was good enough for her. She was especially interested to know how the ritual that Meesei planned was going to turn out. If it would help Sabine to overcome her fears.
Ariel addressed the entire pack, she appeared tired after such an activity-filled day, but her tone was upbeat. "I should probably tell you that I have an appointment with the An-Xileel... oh, what did they call him..." Ariel snapped her fingers a couple of times and looked at the ceiling, trying to remember, "I think he was a guildmaster of sorts? Or an adviser? Something in Jel along that... line of thought... Anyway, they said that if I come by tomorrow afternoon at about four o'clock, I can discuss a loan to purchase a shop and have it fitted." She bobbed her head to the side, "Of course, they were too busy to discuss much else at the time, as you can imagine with the festival. I'll also have to contact suppliers and scope out what any other alchemists are selling in the city, but who knows? Perhaps I'll have a place to call my own by tomorrow. It's funny, I never thought..." Ariel stopped and leaned her head against her hand, covering one eye. She was smiling, but her next breath had a hint of emotion to it that she was trying to suppress. "I never thought I would end up here. I couldn't have done this without you all." She sniffed, but she didn't quite let go of any tears. Looking at each of their faces in turn, she continued, "You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you all."
Janius, who was sitting next to Sabine, grabbed her shoulder and ran his hand over it comfortingly. "Any family of Sabine's is family of us," He said, leaning back on his chair. Fendros nodded in agreement from across the table. For all Ariel rightly could have been, she had turned out to be a friend of the pack. She wasn't a lycan, or even a follower of Hircine, but she had shown understanding and actively helped the pack and any lycan besides who might have fallen to the suppression gas.
The reaction Ariel had to this was gradual. Her face became red, and her jaw tensed until her mouth opened suddenly with a short, sharp exhale. A tear ran down from the eye she wasn't covering and dripped into her soup. She tried not to sob, but she was tired and overwhelmed. She closed her mouth for a moment to sniff again, this time her nose sounded like it was running. "... I'm going to miss you all..." She managed to say shakily as she wrenched her eyes shut and bowed her head forward further. It was all she could communicate as she cried in almost silent sobs. Over the past few months, the pack had become some of the best friends she ever had. That when they left she might never see them again held no small amount of grief, even if it was something she couldn't change.
EDIT: I read back and Rukeewei mentioned that the feasting day was after the beauty day, so I figured.
Sorry to up and leave, but I've got some study to do. I'll have another post up in a few hours.
Sorry to up and leave, but I've got some study to do. I'll have another post up in a few hours.
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