No prob! I’m still hanging out with my family, so I can’t reply until later tonight
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STATUS: Does this mean we can call you abmin now? 2 yrs ago
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Does this mean we can call you abmin now?
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300 word minimum is pretty standard for casual level and up in my experience
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Just discovered Dog TV. My pitbull and I have a new shared hobby.
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Barbenheimer 2023
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There's a panhandler who hangs out on the street corner by our dispensary every afternoon with a sign that just says "Green 4 Green?" and tbh, I respect my boy's confidence.
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Bio
Personal Profile
Name: Taylor
Pronouns: They/them
Age: Mid 20s
Relationship: Married (happily, I might add)
Time Zone: Arizona (we hate daylight savings, so it's MST year-round)
Writing History: I've been on a number of different roleplaying websites for over a decade and a half
Hobbies: Writing, fitness, driving/exploring, hiking, camping, traveling, tabletop games, anything NEW (I love trying things I've never done before)
Roleplayer Profile
Format: 1x1s only. Maybe I'll try a group RP again someday, but I've never had one last longer than a few months
Posting Speed: Depending on my schedule, I can usually post at least once per week
Favorite Genres: Modern, Historical, Romance, Action/Adventure, Horror/Dark, Fantasy, Slice of Life, Dystopian, can be convinced to write some Sci-Fi
Hard 'no's: Fandoms. Sorry, but I can't maintain interest in characters/worlds I didn't build with my partner
Template: Public threads or PMs. I prefer to keep all my RPs in one place, so no emails or G-docs or the like
Rating: Comfortable with 18+ content, but it's not a necessity and I prefer not to center a plot around explicit scenes
Level: Advanced. Will consistently provide around 400-700 words per post, but can occasionally leap to 2000+
Character preference: One main character, but large side casts are greatly enjoyed. Because I write long posts, I prefer not to double
Gender preference: Male. You'll be hard pressed to convince me to play a female that isn't a background character. It's just not my forte
Romantic Relationships: MxF or MxM (currently prefer MxM)
Character Images: Faceclaims or detailed descriptions only. I envision the characters like real people in my mind, so I can't take anime seriously
OOC chat: Yes please! I'm a total extrovert who loves to get to know the amazing minds behind my partners' characters
Most Recent Posts
Crow doesn't know how to follow orders xD
The five days following the last meeting, Crow did his best to be patient as Hazel worked on refining his medicine. He itched to ask her about how Penelope seemed to be doing, since he couldn’t see her himself, but in the interest of not making her change her mind about arranging a meeting for them, he kept his mouth shut and focused on recovering instead.
The first day after their trip to Myrefall hadn’t been the most encouraging. He had woken up in the late morning but had immediately gone into another severe coughing fit that had tired him out enough to go back to sleep until later in the afternoon. The episode had concerned Hazel enough that she called Simon directly afterwards to come with her to the forest south of Myrefall to look for new herbs. Between the two of them, they managed to find enough to prepare medicine for at least a week, if not longer.
By that night, Hazel had finished making the first round of the adapted medicine and had Crow try it out. He didn’t like the taste nearly as much as the last draught—the combination of the ginger with the feverfew and turmeric created a strange spicy, bitter mix that he nearly choked on in surprise—but as long as it worked, he didn’t care how foul it was. He just wanted something to cure his illness, so he could see Penelope again.
Over the course of the following four days, it was hard to tell if Crow was doing better or worse. He exhibited no outward signs of recovery, but the blood in his occasional coughing fits seemed to have lessened. So, when the day finally came for Hazel to meet with the nobles again, he was nervous that she might decide he wasn’t well enough to meet with Penelope after all.
As she was preparing to leave, he approached her hesitantly near the opening of the cave. “Do you think this new medicine is working?” he asked her in a tentative voice as he eyed her face to see if her expression would tell him her answer.
“I don’t know,” the herbalist shook her head as she packed her bag. “Your illness is frustrating because it’s all internal. Unless I cut you open, I can’t tell if you’re actually healing or not.”
Crow shuddered at the thought. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do that,” he said and then shifted his weight as he went on. “But I’m not coughing up as much blood lately. That seems like a good sign, right?”
“Maybe,” Hazel shrugged. “But you’re still coughing. I don’t know enough about this symptom of yours to say for sure if you’re getting better. Perhaps you are, or perhaps nothing has changed besides the amount of blood. It doesn’t necessarily mean the medicine is affecting you.”
“So, what are you saying?” he frowned, worried that his hunch had been correct after all. If Hazel didn’t deem him fit enough to travel, there was no way she would talk to Penelope for him about meeting up again. He held his breath as he waited for her answer.
“I’m not saying anything,” she finally looked up from her bag to meet his gaze. “I’m going to speak with the physician about it and see what her thoughts are. She seems to have experience with this type of symptom, so she’ll be able to say if you’re healing or not much more definitively than I can. Until then, we know nothing, and we will assume nothing.”
Crow fell silent and lowered his gaze. His prospects of seeing Penelope again were looking worse and worse. “Does that mean you aren’t going to speak to her for me?” he finally asked in a soft voice, unable to keep beating around the bush any longer. He had to know what she was planning.
“I can’t say,” Hazel admitted. “It depends on what the physician tells me.” She pursed her lips slightly as she looked at him, going on seriously, “But I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you. It could still happen, but it probably won’t. Until you’re healed, your recovery comes first and foremost, so if you’re not well enough to travel on your own, then I will not be the one to send you out on a trip that could get you killed.”
“Why do you think it’s so dangerous?” Crow narrowed his eyes. “I feel fine aside from the coughing, and that only seems to happen about every other day anyway.”
“It’s a precautionary measure,” Hazel explained with a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Until I’m sure you’re better, you’re not going anywhere, and that’s final. Ah!” She held up her finger as he opened his mouth to argue. “Don’t even bother. You can’t change my mind on this.”
Crow wavered for a moment and then shot her a wordless glare.
Hazel just rolled her eyes as she shouldered her packed bag. “I know you hate this, but it’s for your own good, so I don’t give a damn. Now then,” she narrowed her eyes at him in a warning look. “Don’t you dare follow me again, or I won’t talk to your knight for you even if it turns out you’re well enough to go.”
“Fine,” Crow spat, curling his lip at her hostilely.
Hazel ignored the gesture and just shook her head as she made her way out of the camp without a word of goodbye. Crow watched her leave and let out an irritable huff, turning around to walk back to his bed mat and lay down. He glanced around the cavern to see that his companions were already beginning to settle down for the night as well.
He closed his eyes, pretending to sleep as the other thieves laid down around him. He listened closely until he heard their breathing even out, indicating that they were asleep for the night, before he carefully and quietly rose from his bed and crept towards the cave entrance. Hastily throwing on his boots and a cloak and arming himself with his daggers for safety, he slipped out into the night.
As he walked along the riverbank, he smiled to himself, proud of his own cleverness. Hazel had only made him promise not to follow her. As long as he didn’t go to the tavern, he wouldn’t be breaking his word. He quickened his pace, heart racing excitedly as he made his way through the forest. He would find a way to see Penelope again. After learning from his failure to catch her the last time, he had a new plan that he was sure would work to separate her from that physician.
The first day after their trip to Myrefall hadn’t been the most encouraging. He had woken up in the late morning but had immediately gone into another severe coughing fit that had tired him out enough to go back to sleep until later in the afternoon. The episode had concerned Hazel enough that she called Simon directly afterwards to come with her to the forest south of Myrefall to look for new herbs. Between the two of them, they managed to find enough to prepare medicine for at least a week, if not longer.
By that night, Hazel had finished making the first round of the adapted medicine and had Crow try it out. He didn’t like the taste nearly as much as the last draught—the combination of the ginger with the feverfew and turmeric created a strange spicy, bitter mix that he nearly choked on in surprise—but as long as it worked, he didn’t care how foul it was. He just wanted something to cure his illness, so he could see Penelope again.
Over the course of the following four days, it was hard to tell if Crow was doing better or worse. He exhibited no outward signs of recovery, but the blood in his occasional coughing fits seemed to have lessened. So, when the day finally came for Hazel to meet with the nobles again, he was nervous that she might decide he wasn’t well enough to meet with Penelope after all.
As she was preparing to leave, he approached her hesitantly near the opening of the cave. “Do you think this new medicine is working?” he asked her in a tentative voice as he eyed her face to see if her expression would tell him her answer.
“I don’t know,” the herbalist shook her head as she packed her bag. “Your illness is frustrating because it’s all internal. Unless I cut you open, I can’t tell if you’re actually healing or not.”
Crow shuddered at the thought. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do that,” he said and then shifted his weight as he went on. “But I’m not coughing up as much blood lately. That seems like a good sign, right?”
“Maybe,” Hazel shrugged. “But you’re still coughing. I don’t know enough about this symptom of yours to say for sure if you’re getting better. Perhaps you are, or perhaps nothing has changed besides the amount of blood. It doesn’t necessarily mean the medicine is affecting you.”
“So, what are you saying?” he frowned, worried that his hunch had been correct after all. If Hazel didn’t deem him fit enough to travel, there was no way she would talk to Penelope for him about meeting up again. He held his breath as he waited for her answer.
“I’m not saying anything,” she finally looked up from her bag to meet his gaze. “I’m going to speak with the physician about it and see what her thoughts are. She seems to have experience with this type of symptom, so she’ll be able to say if you’re healing or not much more definitively than I can. Until then, we know nothing, and we will assume nothing.”
Crow fell silent and lowered his gaze. His prospects of seeing Penelope again were looking worse and worse. “Does that mean you aren’t going to speak to her for me?” he finally asked in a soft voice, unable to keep beating around the bush any longer. He had to know what she was planning.
“I can’t say,” Hazel admitted. “It depends on what the physician tells me.” She pursed her lips slightly as she looked at him, going on seriously, “But I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you. It could still happen, but it probably won’t. Until you’re healed, your recovery comes first and foremost, so if you’re not well enough to travel on your own, then I will not be the one to send you out on a trip that could get you killed.”
“Why do you think it’s so dangerous?” Crow narrowed his eyes. “I feel fine aside from the coughing, and that only seems to happen about every other day anyway.”
“It’s a precautionary measure,” Hazel explained with a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Until I’m sure you’re better, you’re not going anywhere, and that’s final. Ah!” She held up her finger as he opened his mouth to argue. “Don’t even bother. You can’t change my mind on this.”
Crow wavered for a moment and then shot her a wordless glare.
Hazel just rolled her eyes as she shouldered her packed bag. “I know you hate this, but it’s for your own good, so I don’t give a damn. Now then,” she narrowed her eyes at him in a warning look. “Don’t you dare follow me again, or I won’t talk to your knight for you even if it turns out you’re well enough to go.”
“Fine,” Crow spat, curling his lip at her hostilely.
Hazel ignored the gesture and just shook her head as she made her way out of the camp without a word of goodbye. Crow watched her leave and let out an irritable huff, turning around to walk back to his bed mat and lay down. He glanced around the cavern to see that his companions were already beginning to settle down for the night as well.
He closed his eyes, pretending to sleep as the other thieves laid down around him. He listened closely until he heard their breathing even out, indicating that they were asleep for the night, before he carefully and quietly rose from his bed and crept towards the cave entrance. Hastily throwing on his boots and a cloak and arming himself with his daggers for safety, he slipped out into the night.
As he walked along the riverbank, he smiled to himself, proud of his own cleverness. Hazel had only made him promise not to follow her. As long as he didn’t go to the tavern, he wouldn’t be breaking his word. He quickened his pace, heart racing excitedly as he made his way through the forest. He would find a way to see Penelope again. After learning from his failure to catch her the last time, he had a new plan that he was sure would work to separate her from that physician.
I’m good with whatever you want to do ^^ I don’t have anything exciting planned for the thieves either
Sorry that took so long. I had to drive to my parents' house for like 2 hours and I've been helping my mom out with Thanksgiving meal prep all day ^^;
That's good! Glad it's working out then
That's good! Glad it's working out then
Hazel rose from the table and trailed after the nobles as they headed towards the entrance of the tavern. As she walked, her mind was already working to come up with new ways to incorporate the herbs Jane had recommended. She was pleased to hear that they were so close to finding a cure for the thief’s illness. With the success of the last medicine and Jane’s knowledge of how to cure blood clotting—a symptom the herbalist had never heard of before—she felt confident that the next remedy she created would be the one to heal him of his disease.
She stepped onto the road, closing the door to the Ivory Hatchet behind her and drawing her cloak around her shoulders. As she turned to head northwest to the thieves’ camp, she hesitated, glancing back over her shoulder at the tavern. Following a hunch, she narrowed her eyes and hissed, “Crow.”
There was a moment of silence before a figure rounded the corner of the building. The thief’s eyes were fixed on the ground and his hands were shoved in his pockets as he stepped into her view. “How did you know I followed you?” he asked in a low voice.
“I didn’t until just now,” she smirked, pleased with herself for outsmarting him.
With a slight flush on his cheeks, Crow shot her a glare before averting his gaze again, “I know you told me to stay behind, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to see her.”
“Uh huh,” Hazel crossed her arms irritably. Earlier that night, when she had been preparing to leave the cavern, the thief had insisted on joining her on her trip to Myrefall now that he was able to walk again. She had adamantly denied his request, since he wasn’t well enough to travel in her opinion, and she wasn’t sure how Jane would have reacted if she had seen him. If the physician recognized him, she might realize that Hazel and Crow knew each other—or worse, that Crow knew Penelope—and stop agreeing to meet with her altogether. She wasn’t about to let him ruin her chance at finding a cure for his illness just because he was too impatient to wait until he was feeling better to see his lover again.
“Tell me something,” she went on, curling her lip slightly. “Do any of the others know you’re here?”
“No,” Crow shifted his weight. “I left after they fell asleep.”
“What would you have done if something went wrong?” she asked. “No one knew you were out here. If your illness had gotten worse, or if a knight had caught you, none of us would have ever known what happened. Did you think about that?”
“I suppose not,” he answered and then shook his head. “But it doesn’t matter. You don’t understand, love. I haven’t seen Penelope in two weeks. I couldn’t miss this opportunity.”
“Was it really worth it, just to catch a glimpse of her back?” Hazel said dryly.
“I was hoping to stop her before she left,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t get close with that physician at her side.”
“Gods,” Hazel pinched the bridge of her nose. “You really didn’t think this through, did you, moron?”
“I’m doing the best I can,” Crow glowered at her. “Let’s see you try to go two weeks without seeing Simon without losing some of your rationality.”
The herbalist wavered at that. As much as she hated to admit it, she could understand his point. If she had to be separated from Simon for so long, it would drive her mad. After a moment, she let out a reluctant sigh. “Fine,” her gaze softened slightly. “I have a compromise: If—and only if—your next batch of medicine has positive results, I’ll talk to Penelope after our next meeting to arrange a time for you two to see each other. Until then, you will keep your nose out of my business. Deal?”
“Deal,” Crow nodded eagerly, visibly relaxing at the idea of seeing his noble lover again.
“Glad we got that sorted out,” she muttered, turning back towards the camp. “Come on, let’s go. It’s late, and I’m tired.”
Crow nodded again and trotted to catch up with her. The two talked idly as they made their way back to the tunnels to get some sleep for the night.
She stepped onto the road, closing the door to the Ivory Hatchet behind her and drawing her cloak around her shoulders. As she turned to head northwest to the thieves’ camp, she hesitated, glancing back over her shoulder at the tavern. Following a hunch, she narrowed her eyes and hissed, “Crow.”
There was a moment of silence before a figure rounded the corner of the building. The thief’s eyes were fixed on the ground and his hands were shoved in his pockets as he stepped into her view. “How did you know I followed you?” he asked in a low voice.
“I didn’t until just now,” she smirked, pleased with herself for outsmarting him.
With a slight flush on his cheeks, Crow shot her a glare before averting his gaze again, “I know you told me to stay behind, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to see her.”
“Uh huh,” Hazel crossed her arms irritably. Earlier that night, when she had been preparing to leave the cavern, the thief had insisted on joining her on her trip to Myrefall now that he was able to walk again. She had adamantly denied his request, since he wasn’t well enough to travel in her opinion, and she wasn’t sure how Jane would have reacted if she had seen him. If the physician recognized him, she might realize that Hazel and Crow knew each other—or worse, that Crow knew Penelope—and stop agreeing to meet with her altogether. She wasn’t about to let him ruin her chance at finding a cure for his illness just because he was too impatient to wait until he was feeling better to see his lover again.
“Tell me something,” she went on, curling her lip slightly. “Do any of the others know you’re here?”
“No,” Crow shifted his weight. “I left after they fell asleep.”
“What would you have done if something went wrong?” she asked. “No one knew you were out here. If your illness had gotten worse, or if a knight had caught you, none of us would have ever known what happened. Did you think about that?”
“I suppose not,” he answered and then shook his head. “But it doesn’t matter. You don’t understand, love. I haven’t seen Penelope in two weeks. I couldn’t miss this opportunity.”
“Was it really worth it, just to catch a glimpse of her back?” Hazel said dryly.
“I was hoping to stop her before she left,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t get close with that physician at her side.”
“Gods,” Hazel pinched the bridge of her nose. “You really didn’t think this through, did you, moron?”
“I’m doing the best I can,” Crow glowered at her. “Let’s see you try to go two weeks without seeing Simon without losing some of your rationality.”
The herbalist wavered at that. As much as she hated to admit it, she could understand his point. If she had to be separated from Simon for so long, it would drive her mad. After a moment, she let out a reluctant sigh. “Fine,” her gaze softened slightly. “I have a compromise: If—and only if—your next batch of medicine has positive results, I’ll talk to Penelope after our next meeting to arrange a time for you two to see each other. Until then, you will keep your nose out of my business. Deal?”
“Deal,” Crow nodded eagerly, visibly relaxing at the idea of seeing his noble lover again.
“Glad we got that sorted out,” she muttered, turning back towards the camp. “Come on, let’s go. It’s late, and I’m tired.”
Crow nodded again and trotted to catch up with her. The two talked idly as they made their way back to the tunnels to get some sleep for the night.
Ahh I get it. Sorry that happened, fam. Drama is the worst
I had my share of it during my freshman year of college, so I totally get it ^^;
Hopefully you and your friends figure out the best way to deal with it all
I had my share of it during my freshman year of college, so I totally get it ^^;
Hopefully you and your friends figure out the best way to deal with it all
Hazel didn’t have to wait long before she saw the two nobles enter the tavern. When they looked around to see if she was there, she nodded to indicate her presence. Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her arms loosely while the noblewomen took their seats across from her. Even though she was in a better mood this time, she still hoped the meeting wouldn’t last too long. She wanted to hurry up and get back to Simon before the thief fell asleep for the night.
Fortunately, Jane seemed to be on the same page as she was. Without wasting any time with formalities, the physician got straight to the point by asking her about how the new herbs had been working. Hazel met her gaze, appreciative of her straightforwardness. It was a quality she admired in anyone—even a soft-palmed noble, she supposed.
“Oh, there have definitely been results,” the herbalist reported proudly. “Over the course of the five days my patient has taken the new medicine, his energy has returned almost to normal levels. He’s no longer confined to a bed and can move on his own without trouble. I’m not sure if he can handle being strained by exercise, but I don’t want to test that this early on, just in case it has an adverse effect.
“In addition to being mobile again, my patient is also beginning to sleep a bit less. Before, he would only wake for a couple hours of the day in the evening, but now he consistently rises in the midafternoon and doesn’t go to sleep again until nightfall.”
“Those are great improvements considering your patient has only been taking this medicine for less than a week,” Jane said with interest. “Do you think we even need to refine the medicine if he’s recovering so well now?”
“Well,” Hazel shifted her weight. “The results haven’t only been positive.” Her eyes flicked towards Penelope for a moment. She wished the knight wasn’t around, so she wouldn’t have to worry about concerning her with the news that wasn’t as good. She just hoped Penelope was level-headed enough not to panic when she shared the next part.
“What do you mean?” Jane frowned contemplatively. “From what you’ve said, it sounds like your patient is healing quickly.”
“It does seem that way on the outside,” Hazel turned to her. “But I think this medicine is only covering his symptoms. Whatever is happening inside of him, whatever is killing him, has not been healed.” She pursed her lips, her blue eyes flickering subtly towards Penelope one more time before she went on. “I believe this because yesterday, he had another coughing fit that drew more blood than I’ve seen from him before. Based on that, I think it’s safe to assume that the more dangerous part of this illness is still active and has been steadily progressing despite the work of the medicine.”
“I see,” Jane narrowed her eyes slightly in thought. “There are a few different things that can cause a symptom like that, but in my experience, the most common one is blood clotting in the lungs. Since the herbs you’ve already been using have not helped, I’d say it is more than likely that this is the problem.”
“Is it treatable?”
“Yes,” Jane nodded. “As long as you catch it before the clotting becomes of fatal proportions, you can still cure it. And since your patient hasn’t even started coughing up blood daily, it sounds like you still have time.”
“What do I need to treat it?” Hazel asked, retrieving her journal to make notes.
“The turmeric you’ve already been using will help,” Jane began. “Try adding more of that, but also include ginger and feverfew. Those three herbs together should be enough to at least stop the clotting from getting worse, if not reverse it completely.”
“I know both of those,” Hazel said as she jotted down notes on a blank page. “I have a supply near here, actually.”
“Perfect,” Jane nodded.
Hazel finished her notes and put her journal away again. “I’ll try that this time, and we can meet in another five days to go over the results,” she said, looking between the two nobles. Her gaze lingering on Penelope a bit longer as she added, “Hopefully this will be the recipe that heals my patient of this illness for good.”
Fortunately, Jane seemed to be on the same page as she was. Without wasting any time with formalities, the physician got straight to the point by asking her about how the new herbs had been working. Hazel met her gaze, appreciative of her straightforwardness. It was a quality she admired in anyone—even a soft-palmed noble, she supposed.
“Oh, there have definitely been results,” the herbalist reported proudly. “Over the course of the five days my patient has taken the new medicine, his energy has returned almost to normal levels. He’s no longer confined to a bed and can move on his own without trouble. I’m not sure if he can handle being strained by exercise, but I don’t want to test that this early on, just in case it has an adverse effect.
“In addition to being mobile again, my patient is also beginning to sleep a bit less. Before, he would only wake for a couple hours of the day in the evening, but now he consistently rises in the midafternoon and doesn’t go to sleep again until nightfall.”
“Those are great improvements considering your patient has only been taking this medicine for less than a week,” Jane said with interest. “Do you think we even need to refine the medicine if he’s recovering so well now?”
“Well,” Hazel shifted her weight. “The results haven’t only been positive.” Her eyes flicked towards Penelope for a moment. She wished the knight wasn’t around, so she wouldn’t have to worry about concerning her with the news that wasn’t as good. She just hoped Penelope was level-headed enough not to panic when she shared the next part.
“What do you mean?” Jane frowned contemplatively. “From what you’ve said, it sounds like your patient is healing quickly.”
“It does seem that way on the outside,” Hazel turned to her. “But I think this medicine is only covering his symptoms. Whatever is happening inside of him, whatever is killing him, has not been healed.” She pursed her lips, her blue eyes flickering subtly towards Penelope one more time before she went on. “I believe this because yesterday, he had another coughing fit that drew more blood than I’ve seen from him before. Based on that, I think it’s safe to assume that the more dangerous part of this illness is still active and has been steadily progressing despite the work of the medicine.”
“I see,” Jane narrowed her eyes slightly in thought. “There are a few different things that can cause a symptom like that, but in my experience, the most common one is blood clotting in the lungs. Since the herbs you’ve already been using have not helped, I’d say it is more than likely that this is the problem.”
“Is it treatable?”
“Yes,” Jane nodded. “As long as you catch it before the clotting becomes of fatal proportions, you can still cure it. And since your patient hasn’t even started coughing up blood daily, it sounds like you still have time.”
“What do I need to treat it?” Hazel asked, retrieving her journal to make notes.
“The turmeric you’ve already been using will help,” Jane began. “Try adding more of that, but also include ginger and feverfew. Those three herbs together should be enough to at least stop the clotting from getting worse, if not reverse it completely.”
“I know both of those,” Hazel said as she jotted down notes on a blank page. “I have a supply near here, actually.”
“Perfect,” Jane nodded.
Hazel finished her notes and put her journal away again. “I’ll try that this time, and we can meet in another five days to go over the results,” she said, looking between the two nobles. Her gaze lingering on Penelope a bit longer as she added, “Hopefully this will be the recipe that heals my patient of this illness for good.”
No worries! I wrote most of my post earlier xD
Dang, that doesn't sound fun :/
Why would someone want to hang out with people they don't get along with?
Dang, that doesn't sound fun :/
Why would someone want to hang out with people they don't get along with?
As soon as Crow woke up the next day, Hazel was at his side to find out how he was feeling. She prodded him for specifics, wanting to know exactly how he felt better or worse than the day before. However, as much as she tried to narrow down a reason for his sudden coughing fit yesterday, he couldn’t give her any clues that would explain why the medicine wasn’t helping. As far as he knew, he felt just as good today as he did before. He had woken up around midafternoon again and had very little fatigue. The only thing that was different was that he had a bit of soreness in his chest from what he guessed was another bruised rib. Aside from that, it was almost as if the coughing fit had never even happened.
Eventually, Hazel gave up and left him alone, and he headed outside to look for the others. As he walked along the riverbank, he found them lounging around the fallen tree where he had spent his evening two days ago. Simon was reading a book, while Rikki watched Alistair try to cast a fishing line he had picked up at a market. The thief didn’t have a rod. Instead, he simply wrapped one end of the string around the palm of his hand while he threw the other end into the water. It was an amusing sight.
Crow stepped over to sit beside Rikki, who greeted him with a smile. “How are you doing?” she asked, glancing him over as if trying to figure out the state of his health just by looking at him.
“Better,” he said simply, watching as Alistair attempted to cast his makeshift fishing line again. “Has he caught anything?”
“Nope,” Rikki snorted. “But he’s convinced that he’s going to catch us a fish dinner, and he said he won’t stop until he does.”
“Doesn’t he know fish are easiest to catch in the early morning?” Crow turned to her in amusement as he recalled when the fishermen in Farhill would go out on their boats. “He’s not going to catch anything in the middle of the day.”
“That’s not going to stop him from trying,” Rikki laughed. Leaning a bit closer to him, she lowered her voice, “I’d bet anything he’s going to get frustrated soon and go after them with his bare hands.”
“I’d enjoy seeing that,” Crow grinned, looking back at Alistair as the thief cursed and drew in his empty line again.
“That’s the only reason Simon and I are still hanging around,” Rikki snickered. “Although I’m not sure how much longer Simon will stay now that Hazel is done with you.” She glanced over her shoulder at the blonde thief. “He’s been waiting for her, so they can go off somewhere to be alone.”
“Really?” Crow raised a brow, glancing over his shoulder as well. “I honestly didn’t expect him to move that fast.”
“He really loves her,” Rikki sighed, resting her chin in the palm of her hand.
“It seems that way,” Crow nodded, turning back to her. “Although I never did take him as the type to sleep with a woman unless he really cares about her. In all the time we’ve been traveling together, I’ve never seen him sneak off to be with anyone.”
“Come to think of it, neither have I,” Rikki mused in agreement. She gave a small shudder. “Gods, either the man has the willpower of an ox, or he’s never slept with anyone before.”
Crow met her gaze and exchanged a look of surprise as they both made the connection at once. “Do you think—?”
“I’ve been living with him for a lot longer than you have, and even I’ve never seen him with anyone before,” Rikki shook her head. “I think she’s his first.”
Crow whistled softly, glancing furtively back at Simon, “Well, good for him, I suppose. I’m glad he found someone he thinks was worth the wait.”
“Me too,” Rikki agreed softly. As she spoke, her brown eyes wandered over Crow, and she bit her lip, looking away again with a faint blush on her cheeks. “We should take a walk,” she said suddenly. “Just to get away for a while.”
Crow looked back at her and frowned. “Darling, you know I can’t do that anymore,” he said quietly. “I’m faithful to Penelope now.”
“I know,” she met his gaze with a sly smile. “But no one else here knows that, and you said you don’t want them to figure it out, right? They’re going to find it suspicious if we suddenly stop sleeping together.” She leaned in a bit closer to him, keeping her voice low. “All we have to do is leave here together and they won’t know the difference. You get to keep your secret, and you’ll have me as a cover up if anyone starts to question you. It’s a win win.”
Crow shifted his weight, “I can’t ask you to do that for me.”
“Come on,” Rikki nudged him. “I’m offering. Besides, it will give me a chance to spend more time with you, which is the most I can get out of you these days.” Her smile faded slightly. “Now that I know our time is limited, I want to make the most of it while I still can.”
Crow held her gaze for a moment before giving a reluctant nod. “Alright,” he said. “If you’re certain you can handle it, then we can go for a walk together.” In the next moment, he chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You know, this is the first time we’ve ever said we were going on a walk and actually meant it.”
“Funny how times change,” Rikki murmured, averting her gaze to hide her wistful expression from him. However, it wasn’t long before she turned back to him with a grin, “Anyway, we should get going before Hazel comes and steals Simon away, or the whole point of this plan will be moot.”
Suddenly, they both jumped as Alistair cursed loudly and threw his fishing line aside. “That’s it,” he snarled. “I’m coming after you scaly bastards myself!” Haphazardly rolling up his pant legs, he stormed into the shallow water and plunged his hands in as he began trying to catch the fish by himself.
Crow and Rikki bursted out laughing at the sight. “Alright, I think that’s our cue to go,” Crow snickered, rising to his feet and offering Rikki a hand to stand up as well. He wanted their act to look believable, after all.
Their timing was perfect. As soon as Rikki was on her feet, Hazel walked up from the camp to collect Simon for their own retreat. Rikki glanced at them and laced her arm through Crow’s. “We’re going on a walk,” she said, smirking up at him coyly before returning her gaze to the others. “We’ll be back before dinner.”
“It’s about time you two made up,” Simon snorted, predictably assuming that ‘walk’ was an innuendo.
Hazel glanced between her suitor and the female thief before narrowing her eyes at Crow suspiciously. He gave a subtle shake of his head, silently praying she would understand his gesture and figure out it was all just a rouse. Considering the fact that she was supposed to be meeting with Penelope and the physician that night, he didn’t want her to go spreading any rumors that he had started hooking up with Rikki again.
Fortunately, Hazel seemed to pick up on it quickly enough. “Well, the same goes for us,” she said, wrapping her arms around Simon’s waist and looking up at him affectionately.
“Wait just a moment,” Alistair looked up at them all and frowned. “You’re all ditching me?”
“Looks like it,” Crow shrugged and then winked at him teasingly. “Good luck catching your fish.”
“I get it,” Alistair shot him a glare. “You all don’t think I can catch anything. Well, I’ll prove you wrong. Just wait—by dinnertime tonight, I’ll have caught enough fish to feed the whole lot of you!” As if to prove his point, he turned back to the river water and lunged at another trout that swam between his legs.
“You do that,” Rikki said blandly. Giving Crow’s arm a tug, she took the lead as they began walking into the woods. “Come on, let’s get out of here before he makes us join him in there.”
“No arguments here,” the thief nodded, hastily following after her as they headed away from the riverbank. Despite his words, he was quick to put distance between them and the others so he could distance himself from Rikki again as well. Even though he knew it was just an act, he felt uncomfortable about having her so close when he knew she still had feelings for him. If there was even the slightest chance that she would try to act on those feelings, he wanted to have a safe interval of space between them, so he could end it before anyone crossed any lines. He just hoped she was right that this trick would help him keep Simon and Alistair from ever realizing the truth about him and Penelope before the end of the war.
--
Around sunset after dinner, Hazel made her way through the forest to Myrefall. After being with Simon for the first time and having a pleasantly filling dinner—as expected, Alistair had only managed to catch one small fish, which he ate while the rest of the group enjoyed a hearty stew—she was in a much better mood coming into this meeting tonight. She was hardly even bothered by the fact that the two women she was going to meet with were of noble blood. As long as she and the physician managed to figure out what was wrong with the medicine she had been using on Crow, she had a feeling this wasn’t going to be such a terrible night.
When she reached the tavern, she found an empty table near the far-right corner of the room and sat down facing the door. Drumming her fingers impatiently on the wooden surface, she waited for the noblewomen to arrive so the meeting could begin.
Eventually, Hazel gave up and left him alone, and he headed outside to look for the others. As he walked along the riverbank, he found them lounging around the fallen tree where he had spent his evening two days ago. Simon was reading a book, while Rikki watched Alistair try to cast a fishing line he had picked up at a market. The thief didn’t have a rod. Instead, he simply wrapped one end of the string around the palm of his hand while he threw the other end into the water. It was an amusing sight.
Crow stepped over to sit beside Rikki, who greeted him with a smile. “How are you doing?” she asked, glancing him over as if trying to figure out the state of his health just by looking at him.
“Better,” he said simply, watching as Alistair attempted to cast his makeshift fishing line again. “Has he caught anything?”
“Nope,” Rikki snorted. “But he’s convinced that he’s going to catch us a fish dinner, and he said he won’t stop until he does.”
“Doesn’t he know fish are easiest to catch in the early morning?” Crow turned to her in amusement as he recalled when the fishermen in Farhill would go out on their boats. “He’s not going to catch anything in the middle of the day.”
“That’s not going to stop him from trying,” Rikki laughed. Leaning a bit closer to him, she lowered her voice, “I’d bet anything he’s going to get frustrated soon and go after them with his bare hands.”
“I’d enjoy seeing that,” Crow grinned, looking back at Alistair as the thief cursed and drew in his empty line again.
“That’s the only reason Simon and I are still hanging around,” Rikki snickered. “Although I’m not sure how much longer Simon will stay now that Hazel is done with you.” She glanced over her shoulder at the blonde thief. “He’s been waiting for her, so they can go off somewhere to be alone.”
“Really?” Crow raised a brow, glancing over his shoulder as well. “I honestly didn’t expect him to move that fast.”
“He really loves her,” Rikki sighed, resting her chin in the palm of her hand.
“It seems that way,” Crow nodded, turning back to her. “Although I never did take him as the type to sleep with a woman unless he really cares about her. In all the time we’ve been traveling together, I’ve never seen him sneak off to be with anyone.”
“Come to think of it, neither have I,” Rikki mused in agreement. She gave a small shudder. “Gods, either the man has the willpower of an ox, or he’s never slept with anyone before.”
Crow met her gaze and exchanged a look of surprise as they both made the connection at once. “Do you think—?”
“I’ve been living with him for a lot longer than you have, and even I’ve never seen him with anyone before,” Rikki shook her head. “I think she’s his first.”
Crow whistled softly, glancing furtively back at Simon, “Well, good for him, I suppose. I’m glad he found someone he thinks was worth the wait.”
“Me too,” Rikki agreed softly. As she spoke, her brown eyes wandered over Crow, and she bit her lip, looking away again with a faint blush on her cheeks. “We should take a walk,” she said suddenly. “Just to get away for a while.”
Crow looked back at her and frowned. “Darling, you know I can’t do that anymore,” he said quietly. “I’m faithful to Penelope now.”
“I know,” she met his gaze with a sly smile. “But no one else here knows that, and you said you don’t want them to figure it out, right? They’re going to find it suspicious if we suddenly stop sleeping together.” She leaned in a bit closer to him, keeping her voice low. “All we have to do is leave here together and they won’t know the difference. You get to keep your secret, and you’ll have me as a cover up if anyone starts to question you. It’s a win win.”
Crow shifted his weight, “I can’t ask you to do that for me.”
“Come on,” Rikki nudged him. “I’m offering. Besides, it will give me a chance to spend more time with you, which is the most I can get out of you these days.” Her smile faded slightly. “Now that I know our time is limited, I want to make the most of it while I still can.”
Crow held her gaze for a moment before giving a reluctant nod. “Alright,” he said. “If you’re certain you can handle it, then we can go for a walk together.” In the next moment, he chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You know, this is the first time we’ve ever said we were going on a walk and actually meant it.”
“Funny how times change,” Rikki murmured, averting her gaze to hide her wistful expression from him. However, it wasn’t long before she turned back to him with a grin, “Anyway, we should get going before Hazel comes and steals Simon away, or the whole point of this plan will be moot.”
Suddenly, they both jumped as Alistair cursed loudly and threw his fishing line aside. “That’s it,” he snarled. “I’m coming after you scaly bastards myself!” Haphazardly rolling up his pant legs, he stormed into the shallow water and plunged his hands in as he began trying to catch the fish by himself.
Crow and Rikki bursted out laughing at the sight. “Alright, I think that’s our cue to go,” Crow snickered, rising to his feet and offering Rikki a hand to stand up as well. He wanted their act to look believable, after all.
Their timing was perfect. As soon as Rikki was on her feet, Hazel walked up from the camp to collect Simon for their own retreat. Rikki glanced at them and laced her arm through Crow’s. “We’re going on a walk,” she said, smirking up at him coyly before returning her gaze to the others. “We’ll be back before dinner.”
“It’s about time you two made up,” Simon snorted, predictably assuming that ‘walk’ was an innuendo.
Hazel glanced between her suitor and the female thief before narrowing her eyes at Crow suspiciously. He gave a subtle shake of his head, silently praying she would understand his gesture and figure out it was all just a rouse. Considering the fact that she was supposed to be meeting with Penelope and the physician that night, he didn’t want her to go spreading any rumors that he had started hooking up with Rikki again.
Fortunately, Hazel seemed to pick up on it quickly enough. “Well, the same goes for us,” she said, wrapping her arms around Simon’s waist and looking up at him affectionately.
“Wait just a moment,” Alistair looked up at them all and frowned. “You’re all ditching me?”
“Looks like it,” Crow shrugged and then winked at him teasingly. “Good luck catching your fish.”
“I get it,” Alistair shot him a glare. “You all don’t think I can catch anything. Well, I’ll prove you wrong. Just wait—by dinnertime tonight, I’ll have caught enough fish to feed the whole lot of you!” As if to prove his point, he turned back to the river water and lunged at another trout that swam between his legs.
“You do that,” Rikki said blandly. Giving Crow’s arm a tug, she took the lead as they began walking into the woods. “Come on, let’s get out of here before he makes us join him in there.”
“No arguments here,” the thief nodded, hastily following after her as they headed away from the riverbank. Despite his words, he was quick to put distance between them and the others so he could distance himself from Rikki again as well. Even though he knew it was just an act, he felt uncomfortable about having her so close when he knew she still had feelings for him. If there was even the slightest chance that she would try to act on those feelings, he wanted to have a safe interval of space between them, so he could end it before anyone crossed any lines. He just hoped she was right that this trick would help him keep Simon and Alistair from ever realizing the truth about him and Penelope before the end of the war.
--
Around sunset after dinner, Hazel made her way through the forest to Myrefall. After being with Simon for the first time and having a pleasantly filling dinner—as expected, Alistair had only managed to catch one small fish, which he ate while the rest of the group enjoyed a hearty stew—she was in a much better mood coming into this meeting tonight. She was hardly even bothered by the fact that the two women she was going to meet with were of noble blood. As long as she and the physician managed to figure out what was wrong with the medicine she had been using on Crow, she had a feeling this wasn’t going to be such a terrible night.
When she reached the tavern, she found an empty table near the far-right corner of the room and sat down facing the door. Drumming her fingers impatiently on the wooden surface, she waited for the noblewomen to arrive so the meeting could begin.
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