You know, guys, I might try and do a post this weekend. I've had a good week so far. Let's see how this goes. Maybe if I cram hard enough I can bring Loralom into the current turn timeline.
Expect much timeskipping.
Expect much timeskipping.
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!
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The beginnings of Lunise's curiosity regarding what Meesei might have meant were rapidly turned around. She widened her eyes, put a hand to her mouth, and reflexively stepped back with her other hand half-raised. Meesei knew Lunise's disgust response by rote. This was not it. This was bewilderment.
Just as it might have seemed like too much, Lunise doubled over laughing into her palm. Meesei had never heard her laugh so hard. It was a high and haughty laughter that was not the most pleasant to hear, though it had no lack of sincerity. Perhaps the sound was why she seldom laughed at all.
It was not too long before Lunise recovered and straightened herself up. "...You cannot be serious," she said. "Meesei, do not take my acceptance of you as an Argonian as a lack of boundaries."
Sabine stopped and grabbed Do'rhajul's wrist. Or, at least as much as she could wrap her fingers around. With a sudden lift of her staff, she poured magical energy out in front of herself in a rushed manner. By some miracle of skill or focus, it formed into a portal to an empty common room that Sabine's pack usually made use of in the Silent City. Dim magical lights and a smouldering fireplace gave the room enough to see its home made furniture by.
The portal had no apparent purpose, especially with the short distance it spanned. That was, until Sabine pulled Do'rhajul through with her and let it close behind them.
Then she let him go. Her hands gripped her staff tightly at shoulder height. Her forehead rested on her thumbs and she sobbed. She sobbed quietly and with long periods of holding her breath. It was as if she was ashamed rather than overwhelmed, when in truth she felt both.
"I cannot keep this up," she said, straining her voice. "I cannot be a hero or a leader. I am not capable of that. I thought I could help Ri'vashi to forgive." She rubbed the tensed bridge of her nose against her clenched thumb joint. "I was stupid to think that."
Just as it might have seemed like too much, Lunise doubled over laughing into her palm. Meesei had never heard her laugh so hard. It was a high and haughty laughter that was not the most pleasant to hear, though it had no lack of sincerity. Perhaps the sound was why she seldom laughed at all.
It was not too long before Lunise recovered and straightened herself up. "...You cannot be serious," she said. "Meesei, do not take my acceptance of you as an Argonian as a lack of boundaries."
Sabine stopped and grabbed Do'rhajul's wrist. Or, at least as much as she could wrap her fingers around. With a sudden lift of her staff, she poured magical energy out in front of herself in a rushed manner. By some miracle of skill or focus, it formed into a portal to an empty common room that Sabine's pack usually made use of in the Silent City. Dim magical lights and a smouldering fireplace gave the room enough to see its home made furniture by.
The portal had no apparent purpose, especially with the short distance it spanned. That was, until Sabine pulled Do'rhajul through with her and let it close behind them.
Then she let him go. Her hands gripped her staff tightly at shoulder height. Her forehead rested on her thumbs and she sobbed. She sobbed quietly and with long periods of holding her breath. It was as if she was ashamed rather than overwhelmed, when in truth she felt both.
"I cannot keep this up," she said, straining her voice. "I cannot be a hero or a leader. I am not capable of that. I thought I could help Ri'vashi to forgive." She rubbed the tensed bridge of her nose against her clenched thumb joint. "I was stupid to think that."
Lunise kept her lips sealed while pressed up against Meesei's front. She laughed through her nose, as much bemused as ticklish with a wet nose brushing against her face. Still, she put her arms around Meesei in turn.
She caught Meesei's eyes when she looked down at her and finally spoke. "Well, the beast can like me all she wants. You still owe me a goodnight kiss." She took a small breath. "Not to be rude but I do not desire wolf fur in my mouth and clothes."
"No." Sabine shook her head and avoided Do'rhajul's eyes. "Just...I have to go, and I cannot leave you here alone, and..." She tripped over her words just enough for her face to tense up and tears to form. "I have had enough today."
She clenched her teeth and increased her pace. If she focussed on the path ahead, perhaps she would not start crying after the strong face she had to put on to everyone at the feast.
She caught Meesei's eyes when she looked down at her and finally spoke. "Well, the beast can like me all she wants. You still owe me a goodnight kiss." She took a small breath. "Not to be rude but I do not desire wolf fur in my mouth and clothes."
"No." Sabine shook her head and avoided Do'rhajul's eyes. "Just...I have to go, and I cannot leave you here alone, and..." She tripped over her words just enough for her face to tense up and tears to form. "I have had enough today."
She clenched her teeth and increased her pace. If she focussed on the path ahead, perhaps she would not start crying after the strong face she had to put on to everyone at the feast.
"Two hours?!" Ming bemoaned with her head craned forward. "What am I going to do in two whole hours?" She sighed and let her head and straight hair fall forward.
"Agar agar agaaar...Agar agar cream~" Ming quietly sung along while holding a bowl of jellied fruits swimming in fresh double-thick cream in both hands. Her little song helped her concentrate on not spilling it while walking along the arena stands, so she repeated the two lines over and again.
"Agar agar agaaar...Peach and cherry cream~"
She was looking forward to the cool and refreshing treat, but not as much as the hype all around her. The seated crowd burbled and chattered, talking all sorts of gossip about the next show. Ming clanked her small armoured backside upon the stone seats and listened out. It was hard not to listen when the first spoonful of early dessert stopped her lyrics.
>Perception for what's coming up next: 14
"Agar agar agaaar...Agar agar cream~" Ming quietly sung along while holding a bowl of jellied fruits swimming in fresh double-thick cream in both hands. Her little song helped her concentrate on not spilling it while walking along the arena stands, so she repeated the two lines over and again.
"Agar agar agaaar...Peach and cherry cream~"
She was looking forward to the cool and refreshing treat, but not as much as the hype all around her. The seated crowd burbled and chattered, talking all sorts of gossip about the next show. Ming clanked her small armoured backside upon the stone seats and listened out. It was hard not to listen when the first spoonful of early dessert stopped her lyrics.
>Perception for what's coming up next: 14
Lunise closed her eyes. Some more recognition came to her face with the hand over her shoulder, even if it was oversized.
"Really?" Lunise held amused scepticism at Meesei's comment. "Leave those saccharine words for poetry books, my dear. I have heard enough stories of lycans and their incidents with loved ones."
She took a long, leisurely breath through her nose and opened her eyes up to Meesei again. "I have never felt this small since I was a child. Especially up this close."
Sabine was all but shaking now. Perhaps under better circumstances, having not been drained by the fear of all the confrontations over the past few hours, she might have held her emotions together. But now she could not even think. Even with Ri'vashi's attempt at sounding reasonable, Sabine was angry and upset.
She caught herself just short of shouting out.
"Then we will stop," Sabine said quickly under her breath. She suddenly took off at a brisk walk towards the feast. "I have to go."
With how stiffly Sabine walked, any attempt she was making to hide her emotions was failing to any who looked at her. She made a focussed course to Do'rhajul and stopped abruptly beside him. "We have to go now," she said as quickly as she could. "Come."
She stormed off towards the city gates by the time Do'rhajul was just halfway out of his seat.
Sabine's behaviour did not escape the members of her pack that remained at the table. Fendros, Rhazii, and Janius were so surprised they were frozen and staring.
"Really?" Lunise held amused scepticism at Meesei's comment. "Leave those saccharine words for poetry books, my dear. I have heard enough stories of lycans and their incidents with loved ones."
She took a long, leisurely breath through her nose and opened her eyes up to Meesei again. "I have never felt this small since I was a child. Especially up this close."
Sabine was all but shaking now. Perhaps under better circumstances, having not been drained by the fear of all the confrontations over the past few hours, she might have held her emotions together. But now she could not even think. Even with Ri'vashi's attempt at sounding reasonable, Sabine was angry and upset.
She caught herself just short of shouting out.
"Then we will stop," Sabine said quickly under her breath. She suddenly took off at a brisk walk towards the feast. "I have to go."
With how stiffly Sabine walked, any attempt she was making to hide her emotions was failing to any who looked at her. She made a focussed course to Do'rhajul and stopped abruptly beside him. "We have to go now," she said as quickly as she could. "Come."
She stormed off towards the city gates by the time Do'rhajul was just halfway out of his seat.
Sabine's behaviour did not escape the members of her pack that remained at the table. Fendros, Rhazii, and Janius were so surprised they were frozen and staring.
Meesei was not the only one that substantially relaxed when the door closed. Lunise unfolded her arms for the first time in what felt like the entire afternoon and bowed her head, running her hands through her long blonde hair. She sighed as her hands ran around her neck and fell slack against her sides. When she turned around to look up at Meesei, her eyelids were drooping and the corners of her mouth turned slightly upwards.
"It is quite fine," she answered calmly. "I am just glad to see you again, Meesei. Even if you insist on testing my limits in front of Marod with your incessant teasing." For once, her words were not laced with venom or derision.
Whether Meesei answered or not, Lunise all the while took two steps towards her, removing her gloves. She reached out her open palms, not so much affectionately as curiously, to touch Meesei's arm and navel. She ran her fingers over the fur. She looked at Meesei's body with more relaxed trust than anyone outside of her pack.
"I daresay," she spoke quietly. "I never before regarded you as...quite the same person when in this form. But after today, seeing you change forms over and again, I cannot deny it. Not logically."
"I have to keep him alive!" Sabine interrupted. She took on a firmer tone, even if her clear anxiety dulled its impact. "You misunderstand. I did not have to talk to you at all."
She stopped to keep herself from tripping over her own words. "Have you thought about what you would do if you had your way? What do you wish he knew? What do you wish he felt? What act upon him would make you feel any better? Do not accuse me of thoughtlessness. I am not a stupid child who does things for no reason. And if you feel too angry to work out my reasons then ask me for them. Ask me now."
"It is quite fine," she answered calmly. "I am just glad to see you again, Meesei. Even if you insist on testing my limits in front of Marod with your incessant teasing." For once, her words were not laced with venom or derision.
Whether Meesei answered or not, Lunise all the while took two steps towards her, removing her gloves. She reached out her open palms, not so much affectionately as curiously, to touch Meesei's arm and navel. She ran her fingers over the fur. She looked at Meesei's body with more relaxed trust than anyone outside of her pack.
"I daresay," she spoke quietly. "I never before regarded you as...quite the same person when in this form. But after today, seeing you change forms over and again, I cannot deny it. Not logically."
"I have to keep him alive!" Sabine interrupted. She took on a firmer tone, even if her clear anxiety dulled its impact. "You misunderstand. I did not have to talk to you at all."
She stopped to keep herself from tripping over her own words. "Have you thought about what you would do if you had your way? What do you wish he knew? What do you wish he felt? What act upon him would make you feel any better? Do not accuse me of thoughtlessness. I am not a stupid child who does things for no reason. And if you feel too angry to work out my reasons then ask me for them. Ask me now."
My hain timeline I've been maintaining lately except for the last page or so puts the battle for Xerxes at circa 3 PR. A lot happened that year.
Marod raised his hands and conceded with an outward breath and a smile. "I admit, I am not enough of a gourmand to know of such...delicacies. I apologise for my reaction. The meal was wonderful."
After a quiet harrumph at Marod's continued ingratiating behaviour, Lunise had to bring up the clearer issue before them before it drove her to any further distraction. "Meesei," she asked. "If these creatures can simply climb over this fence, why was it built to begin with?"
The beginning of Ri'vashi's answer grew Sabine's anxiety behind her remaining cringe. The last half, with more hope, made her lift her eyes. Still, she blinked a few times and looked down again. "Ri'vashi...I am..."
She paused. She had the beginnings of a few different answers in her head. All of them either went nowhere or would only antagonise Ri'vashi more. Much like with Ri'kalesh, Sabine could only go off her feelings in the end.
"Ri'vashi, I am sorry," she said. "I wanted to speak to you about this because I feel guilty. I do not know what I wanted the outcome to be when I asked you to talk. I just..." She let out the last of her breath and looked aside. "I need to do this. I do not want to make you angry or...hurt you with this. But I need to do this. "
After a quiet harrumph at Marod's continued ingratiating behaviour, Lunise had to bring up the clearer issue before them before it drove her to any further distraction. "Meesei," she asked. "If these creatures can simply climb over this fence, why was it built to begin with?"
The beginning of Ri'vashi's answer grew Sabine's anxiety behind her remaining cringe. The last half, with more hope, made her lift her eyes. Still, she blinked a few times and looked down again. "Ri'vashi...I am..."
She paused. She had the beginnings of a few different answers in her head. All of them either went nowhere or would only antagonise Ri'vashi more. Much like with Ri'kalesh, Sabine could only go off her feelings in the end.
"Ri'vashi, I am sorry," she said. "I wanted to speak to you about this because I feel guilty. I do not know what I wanted the outcome to be when I asked you to talk. I just..." She let out the last of her breath and looked aside. "I need to do this. I do not want to make you angry or...hurt you with this. But I need to do this. "
Neither Lunise nor Marod seemed any more interested in approaching the chaurus.
"Might I ask, for what purposes do you use these creatures?" Marod said. "Pest control? Guarding?"
"I recognised its meat being used in the feast," Lunise mentioned.
"Oh?" Marod turned his head again. "In what?"
Lunise lifted an eyebrow. "You did not see the shells they were served in? That was chaurus chitin holding chaurus flesh. Steamed, I believe."
Marod's smile took a turn for the noticeably forced. He went white. "...I was under the impression that was crab meat."
Sabine shrank somewhat. No amount of good reasons could shake the guilt she felt for Ri'vashi's emotions. Rather than try to coax anything, she shook her head and got straight to the point.
"Ri'vashi, is there a way we can still be friends with this between us?" Sabine asked more forcefully than she planned to. "It is important to me."
"Might I ask, for what purposes do you use these creatures?" Marod said. "Pest control? Guarding?"
"I recognised its meat being used in the feast," Lunise mentioned.
"Oh?" Marod turned his head again. "In what?"
Lunise lifted an eyebrow. "You did not see the shells they were served in? That was chaurus chitin holding chaurus flesh. Steamed, I believe."
Marod's smile took a turn for the noticeably forced. He went white. "...I was under the impression that was crab meat."
Sabine shrank somewhat. No amount of good reasons could shake the guilt she felt for Ri'vashi's emotions. Rather than try to coax anything, she shook her head and got straight to the point.
"Ri'vashi, is there a way we can still be friends with this between us?" Sabine asked more forcefully than she planned to. "It is important to me."
The revelation of the chaurus caused both Lunise and Marod to each betray some surprise. Lunise slightly turned her head away, looking at the creature's face with confusion. Meanwhile, Marod leant down slightly to get a better look at the chaurus Meesei called by name.
"Fascinating!" he breathed. "Are these native to this cavern? I have never seen a creature such as this before?"
Lunise chimed in before Meesei could answer. "I...was unaware that chaurus were intelligent enough to be trained. How on Nirn did your clan even manage this? How do you deal with their acidic venom they are known to spit?"
Marod tried to be surreptitious in his stepping back from the pen and holding his half-closed hand up to his chest. The only discernible reason for the gesture was to shield his eyes if he needed to.
"Thank you." Sabine lowered her head and lead Ri'vashi a short distance away. They walked behind a tree-sized fungus stalk, far enough away to be out of earshot of the feast and obscured enough to allow Ri'vashi to emote freely.
Sabine held her upper arm and avoided Ri'vashi's eyes. "When you first saw Do'rhajul here, you wanted to kill him. Do you really believe the council came to the right decision?"
"Fascinating!" he breathed. "Are these native to this cavern? I have never seen a creature such as this before?"
Lunise chimed in before Meesei could answer. "I...was unaware that chaurus were intelligent enough to be trained. How on Nirn did your clan even manage this? How do you deal with their acidic venom they are known to spit?"
Marod tried to be surreptitious in his stepping back from the pen and holding his half-closed hand up to his chest. The only discernible reason for the gesture was to shield his eyes if he needed to.
"Thank you." Sabine lowered her head and lead Ri'vashi a short distance away. They walked behind a tree-sized fungus stalk, far enough away to be out of earshot of the feast and obscured enough to allow Ri'vashi to emote freely.
Sabine held her upper arm and avoided Ri'vashi's eyes. "When you first saw Do'rhajul here, you wanted to kill him. Do you really believe the council came to the right decision?"
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