wierdw

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar came downstairs, just in time to see a meeting concluding. Solomon was talking with the fox-man, Kaito. He wondered what kind of plan was in the mix this time. Regardless, it would likely involve hard travel, but exactly when he couldn't say. He'd have to ask discretely later. For now, he simply strolled past, and out the door into the sunlit street outside.

Strange, he was fairly sure the windows had been OPEN when he arrived. No matter.

The sun suggested noon on this early September day, and he could smell the stew from here, reaching out for him, and practically pulling him down the street like the song of a siren. He did not resist.

A few minutes later, he arrived outside old Gerhard's farm once more, to the jubilant fanfare of the staff. Apparently, it had become a team effort, and having thrown in so much effort, they wanted to see the spectacle of him actually "trying to EAT all that."

He merely joked with them that they should get him a trough, and stand back, which was met with a counter-joke along the lines of "This *IS* a pig farm you know.", implying that 'it could be arranged.' He declined the suggestion, and asserted it was only a joke-- but to please bring him a large wooden bowl to use.

It turned out they didn't have one, but they did have a sturdy milk bucket, and he felt that it would be sufficient for his needs. Helpful as always, the gentleman that had sold him the food rolled up the well used and divoted wooden log that served as the farm's chopping block for splitting logs into firewood for him to sit on, and the show started.

...

...

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"You e't all yah want, miss Jorry. Yah the one it' for."

He chuckled bemusedly, and the sparkles glittered brighter.

"Poor Miss Nina'd be e't outta house an' home tryin' ta keeps ME fed! 'Ere only 'nuff 'ere fer you miss Jorry. E't ya fill. Ya'll needs it, cain't grow sumthin wuth nuttin'-- did da bes' I coul' when I foun' yas, bu't if'n I's gunna work more on 'at hole in ya fron', ya gonna nee' sum good food in ya."

He stood up from sitting on the floor, and made a polite bow.

"A feller I been travellin' with 'ese las' few days as a'ready paid muh supper tab. It'sa cookin' on da odder side a taown. I'mma go e't alls I cans, an come on back. If'n yas done 'en, hows 'bout we goes shoppin? 'At dress look fine on yas, but it ain't like yas picked it ou' yaself, an ya need more an one pair."

He giggled naughtily.

"Ain't like ya cover'd in fur like I's is! Cain't have ya goin nekkid."

And with that the bearman gave the girl a smile and a nod, then shuffled out of the room, then headed downstairs.

He had a dinner date with a cauldron full of hearty pork and vegetable soup, and he did NOT want to be late.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar sighed almost exasperatedly. He did NOT like the ... Implications... of the girl's choice of words, and felt it needed immediate, but gentle correction.

"Hey naow..." he said softly, but slowly. "Ain't nobody gunna be 'of use' 'roun' 'ere. I dunno w'at all's happen'd ta ya lil' miss-- But I only wants one thang from yas, and one thang only."

He looked her square in the face, gentle, earnest, but dead serious.

"I want ya's ta be yaself-- Knows yaself-- owns yaself-- decides fo' yaself-- and knows what yas likes, dislikes, and wan's fo' yaself. ... ... I kin tells this a big thang ta ask fer. .. .. Dun wurry 'bout it. I kin tells ya ain't ne'er done nut'n like at afore. But I'l be aright---'ats w'at I wants, and all I wants from ya. Nuttin' else. "

He gently put a hand on her shoulder, and leaned toward her a little, then tilted his head a little to one side with a soft, but tender expression.

"In return, I'll help ya when'er ya needs it-- anyway ya needs it. I's'l teach ya hows ta care fer ya own self. Hows ta protect yaself. How ta treat odder peoples, and hows odder peoples is SUPPOSED ta treat ya. ANYTHANG ya need. Hell-- Ya can live with me if'n ya wanna-- I'd be happy ta have ya 'roun'. But the plan is fer ya to come ta unnerstan' and choose fer yaself, an' be yaself. I don' wan' nuttin' else from ya. Ya dun has ta gimme nuttin', ya don' has ta do nuttin' else fer me. I don' wan' it. I want yas to live a long, happy, an' fullfillin' life, makin' ya own choices, and doin' what makes *YA* happy.--- ... Unnerstan'?"

He smiled at her again, and once more the sparkles in his brown eyes glittered at her.

"Bein' free ta choose be da birthrigh' of E'ERY thinkin' bein', lil' lady."

His head tipped down, and he chuckled.

"An 'at include you too."

There was a long, pregnant pause.

"Naow-- What' ya name?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar smiled gently, with his head still tipped to the side. He approached the girl, looking for a spot to sit down next her without destroying the bed, cratering the mattress, or destroying a chair. Sadly, like basically every place that catered to wholly human, or at least, baseline human-like clientel, none of the furnishings were "really" made to suit somebody of his proportions. A bit dejectedly, he sat on the floor in front of the bed, and just to the side of where the girl was seated. He only had to look up at her slightly at least, despite sitting on the floor.

"I' ain't 'bout why sumbody woul', I' about why sumbody woundn'."

He straightened the posture of his head and looked at her with glittering brown eyes.

"Unless ya gots a reason tuh, ain't no reason not tuh. Anybuddy wit' a heart in 'er ches', an feels like a person aughta-- 'Ey aint gunna leave a lil' girl like yas hangin'. Like 'at girl Nina-- All I dids was le' 'er know, and she dun all dis."

He chuckled, and smiled warmly doing his best to not show any teeth, while gesturing at her new clothes, the bucket of water on the floor, and the room in general.

"She a real nice girl, uh think. I's jus' di' muh bes' ta fix 'at hole in ya ches'." he continued, gently pointing at her bodice where the hole once was. ".. Gots ya aways from 'em lou' people's downstarrs." The smile and glittery eyes returned. "Glads ya feelin' be'er..."

When asked if he knew the elf downstairs, his expression darkened a little in confusion, and he blinked rapidly, trying to think of how to answer such a question.

"Well.. I dun know 'er at well. Jus' met 'er yes'erday. She seem nice enough on firs' glance 'dou."

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar nodded, then carefully turned all the way around to lean in and look through the open doorway, then tilted his head and clutched the front of his robe in a very sorry and sappy expression.

"Ohh.. I's so glad she ou' from un'er 'at bed..." he mused to himself as his ears sagged to the sides of his head. He took a moment to compose himself, then very carefully and timidly entered the room.

"Are ya feelin' be'er naow lil' miss?" he asked shyly, carefully gauging the girl's body posture and language at his approach, while still clutching the front of his robe with his left hand. "Lil' Miss Nina said she'a bringin' ya sum tea, and summat ta eat. Ya thinks ya'll be a'right?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"Well.. 'n orders ta un'erstan' why I's 'ere, ya gotta knows not e'eryones in mys'ville's a to'al ass. 'Eres a' leas' 4 peoples in taown as ain't right asses-- Da inn keeper fellar, Da mage twins: Vanquis an' 'is sis'r Flo, an' da blacksmith lady. In dis case, it'd be da mage twins, as runs da library. Vanquis a bit o' a tool-- Sharp a'a razor, but dumb a'a post. Real gif'ed, but always inna rush. Ne'er does i' righ', an' always blowed stuff up. 'Is si'er on 'e odder han'-- she real bookish. Real smar', and real careful. Anyway-- Vanquis decided he wanna keep up wit' all da latest happ'nins, and set 'iself up some kin'a 'scryin pool' outta an ol' bird bath. It blowed up acourse-- E'ery thang at fellar makes gets blowed up."

Cedar made a dramatic motion with his paws to indicate just how big the explosions were, while making a "boooch!" sound.

"Anyhoo-- AFORE it blowed up, at fellar see'd a vision 'bout at fellar in da big stone house gettin' bumped off, an' a war breakin' out. Made poor Vanquis right cross. Res' o' da villagers was sure happy when I tooked up da man'le-- It were Aug'st 'en, an' da farmers was right busy-- an' da loggers was righ' happy ta sees me off-"

He huffed irritably.

"'Em Fellars--- got rocks fer brains, I swears.. E'er since da fores' stopped tryin' ta keel the lot o' em, 'ey been alls 'sup'r eag'r' ta chop doawn purdy much e'ery tree inna fores'. They's gunna kill it dead as hell if'n they keeps at shit up. 'Ey righ' cross a' me an' muh pappy fer keepin' em outta all bu' 'e new-grown parts a' da place. Ah thin's 'eys was right 'appy ta sees me off 'n fact. I showed up ou'side Rascade 'bout a month la'er, and ask'd da local birdies if'n 'eyed keeps an eye on at fellar, an' afore I knowed it, I's gettin whacked onna head while I's sleepin' ou'side- Woked up in chains, an' got beat a bunch af'er."

Just then the door behind him opened, and Nina re-emerged, carrying the used toiletries.

"Your princess' freshened up now. I will send up some food and hot tea."

Cedar's head practically whipped around like lightning to take in the young woman.

"Oh! Thank'ye kin'ly miss Nina! How she doin'? She feelin' any' be'er?"

His words came about a bit too exuberant, but it was hard to suppress the palpable relief and thankfulness he was feeling.

"If'n ya need anythung, I'd be happy ta help yas 'nyways I can-- Hones'."

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar's expression boggled for a second, before changing to a somewhat worried expression.

"Wai.. wut? But yas... an' is jus' you an' me in da hall..." he stammered, before leveling out and refocusing his thoughts.

"Ya aint plannin' on ROBBIN' me is ya? I ain't got nutin' really wort' stealin' nohow. Purdy much jus da clothes on muh skin. Why ya gots at disguise up fer? An' why ya stealin' from hones' folk fer? Mos' jus' barely gittin' by. Life hard fer jus' 'bout e'rybody ya know?"

He shrugged.

"Why I's 'ere? Wit' all 'ese people?" He looked distant for a moment. "well... As kin'a compl'cated. Apparently, "It a crime" ta keeps an eye on the fellar as lives in at great big stone house, when tryin' ta keep 'im safe. I was all lockted up fer a whole week, an' beat with a stick, wit'out food. Real not nice peoples-- I's only le' ou' by at Matilda lady-- Rush' straig' in, and den straig' out. Da village near where I's lives be in real dang'r if'n war break out. I's comes mos'ly fer 'em, e'en if they ain't the nices' ta me. I dun wan' muh home burned any more an' they does. As fer how I's foun' out? Well... As a LONG convr'sation. Ya sure ya in fer it?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar walked out uneasily into the hall. He very much hoped the young tavern girl would be alright in there, given the dire warnings he had been given about the abused girl in the room-- and he hoped that the abused girl in the room would be treated well and fairly, and given a fair shake. Both things he was very nervous about. He very much hoped he was doing the right thing.

The fox-man was still in the hallway, and had resumed his disguise.

Cedar greeted him.

"Sorry 'bout before.." he stammered. "I gits... Uncomf'terble 'round too many people... and I's is very worried 'bout 'at girl... Both o' 'em. They both seems like they really nice people un'er neath, but... I' aint always easy ta tell."

He patted the fox-man on the shoulder.

"Muh name's Cedar, and I's half-bear, as ya kin see. I see's ya part fox-- bu' I dun min'. I knows it aint always easy being what we is-- but ya shouldn' hide what ya is neither. People aint always nice, nor understandin'--- Bu' ya shouldn' be ashamed a what yas is neither. I sure aint-- I jus' wish people were nicer sumtimes. But ya knows what? Sometimes they is! Likes me-- Ya dun has to hide what ya is 'roun' me. Jus' be yaself, an dun be 'shamed. Ne'r be ashamed a who an' what ya is, un'erstand?"

He tilted his head to one side in kind of a shrug, and made a weak but honest hint of a weary smile.

"AN' thank-ya for tellin' me 'bout the girl. I's'l see at she won't git hurt, and try ta convince 'er not tuh hurt nuhbody. Righ' naow, she just a scared lil' girl, surroun'ed by scary people."

He looked back at the door, hearing the dull murmur of Nina talking kindly inside.

"An sadly, I's seems no exception...."

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"Oh, A'course miss Nina! Jus' a minute!" huffed the bear, as he levered himself upright at an almost alarming speed, then shuffled to the door, before opening it gently.

"C'mon in-- Lil' thang's all hidin' un'er da bed. Prolly scared o' a big thang like I is, but more ascared o's the people downstairs. Bringin' 'er up were prolly a good idear."

He turned his head over his shoulder and practically bellowed, but in a smooth and clam candor--

"Hey 'ere lil' miss! 'IS nice lady a 'ere ta help ya gits all cleaned up! 'Er name's Nina, an' she seem real nice. Won't ya come ou'? I's'll wait ou'side and e'vruthung. Ain't nuthin ta be a scared a- Jus' warm water & soap! Be a shame ta le' it all goes ta waste!"

He returned his attention to Nina. "I think's she more an' half-deaf. Poor thang. Ha'f blin' tuh, but 'at on'y work in muh favor. Mama say I is handsome, buh not many peoples agrees. Mos' seem ta think I's is scary." he chuckled. "Plenty a bears thinks I's cute 'dou."

He heaved in a sigh, not really relieved by his own attempt at humor. "I jus' don' wanna scare er no more an she already is.. Ya know? I's worried 'bout 'er." He leaned closer to Nina, much like he had down stairs. "I hears she was a "Owned" by sumbody, and she right mad as the folks downstairs as 'put a stop ta it', if'n ya knows what I mean. I dun think she e'er had a .. normal .. life. Aint tuh late to start naow, but gittin 'er ta sees it at way? ... Gonna take a bit I fear. ... She thinks I's had a han' in it... But I's jus' foun' out 'bout it like ya has. I jus' wan' her ta has a shot a' a normal life, ya know?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar backed away from the hall, opened the door after a gentle knock to let the girl know he was coming back in, then quickly darted back inside. He shut the door behind him with an almost palpable feeling of relief.

He really disliked being in such a confined space with so many people. It set off too many instinctual cues. He envied how 'easily' and "fluidly" full humans could handle that, and wondered how the odd fox-man managed it. He would have to ask more candidly later, when it was just the two of them. How he did that fancy trick to conceal his appearance was another, though he felt it was a two edged sword-- On the one hand, being able to fully pass as human in public would be very helpful in some circumstances, but on the other-- using it as a way of life? He was not at all ashamed of what he was-- how the world felt about it be damned. "Hiding" was not an acceptable recourse in his view.

"Sorry 'bout 'at." he said to the seemingly empty room, knowing full well the girl was hiding beneath the bed again. "E'res just too damn many people ou'side righ' naow. If'n I thought I'd fit, I'd be tempted ta hide unner 'at bed muself."

He plodded up to the side of the bed, then laid down on the floor beside it, with his back to the bed. Close enough that his presence would have to be tolerated, but not too close to invade her sanctum of refuge.

"I'mma take a nap. If'n ya needs anythung, or jus' wants ta talk, I'd be happy tuh."

He stretched and yawned. He was hungry enough to eat the butthole out of a 3 day old dead skunk-- RAW-- but that would mean having to endure that clusterfuck of a crowd downstairs again, and his nerves were shot. The repeated intrusions, conflictory requests, and other demands of his attention had rattled him, and he needed to calm down and relax. The terrified girl was at least quiet.

"If'n ya gits cold or summat, lemme know. I kin pull the blanket and pillaw down fer ya, and stuff it unner dere-- or ya can lay on muh back-- either one. I dun care."