With the escalation of hostilities between Etzos and Rhakros, a series of small walled towns is being established as a network of early warnings and defenses against Rhakros' reprisals. Only the very bravest and most formidable of characters should risk themselves on the Witches' Wilds frontier.
A cloudless dark sky, painted with the bright twinkle of the countless stars, loomed over the city. The sound of water slapping on the western wall kept a calm, steady cadence. Two friends ambled down the ramparts of the sea-wall, the port’s defensive barrier on the sea itself. Lighting their way where iron braziers. Designed to be pragmatically solid whilst still displaying a simple elegance, their midnight meeting was lit for all to see.
Gangui took a deep breathe. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. His whiskers fluttered. He was much calmer since leaving Nalod’s. Perhaps the whiskey, but more likely the fatigue from a hard days work.
“Ellen, I’ve missed you,” he said with a rich, noble voice, full of the low vibrations that made his voice louder than the typical human.
She listened to him clanking along beside her for a moment, unsure of how to reply. The comment made her expression shift to one of uncertainty and the mixed-blood’s ears grew hot, but she was honest in her rebuttal.
“I missed you too,” she mumbled, then sighed. No matter how crazy or stubborn he was, she'd missed him.
“This might sound crazy,” Gangui murmured and turned his head away, as if replaying a memory in his head, “But some of the happiest times I can remember were when we fought the Severed Children Cult and tralumphed through the countryside. Ever since you left… things haven’t been the same…”
Turning towards her, he stopped in his steps, placing the leather side of two, steely hands on her arms. He looked into her fierce eyes, “If there was only a way for you to truly understand…” She would never understand, so he didn’t even try to explain himself.
Last edited by Gangui on Tue Jan 16, 2018 3:22 am, edited 1 time in total. word count: 304
She wanted to say something, but for a long moment the words were caught in her throat. Ellen opened her mouth, looking up--and up a little more--at the serious face staring down at her. Finally her voice came to her.
“You have some very strange happy memories,” she teased, but then frowned. “You've done a lot since I've been gone. And it hasn't been that long, but I don't know… It feels like things are just going to stay different now. I'm glad that you're helping Foster’s Landing like you wanted. You've changed a lot since I was in the city.” Ellen was starting to change too. She looked down at their feet for a moment, then back up after her short pause with an arched brow and a smile.
“And you still haven't asked me why we've been having this very lovely conversation all evening in Common, without a single lapse or mistranslation.” Her accent was still there, but her speech was perfectly easy to follow. A far cry from when she'd left him last season. Before, they had been pressed to communicate effectively. It made for some interesting moments nevertheless. Her smile widened just a little more at the thought.
Gangui looked as if he had received a blow to the head. A deep laugh escaped him and his face broke into a toothy smile. “Why Ellen!” He squeezed her arms momentarily, and she could feel him shaking. “You can speak Common as well as the orators of the city proper!”
She threw back her head and guffawed. “I wouldn't say that, but it's much better than it was, yes?”
“Praise humanity, your speechcraft has increased tenfold! Don’t think for a bit that you didn’t do something short of extraordinary! No one I know could have learned at such a tremendous speed!”
Her face grew serious then. “It was as much of a surprise for me then as it is for you now.” Ellen hesitated, looking around. There were very few people on the street so late at night. It was private enough. She leaned closer to him, lowering her voice. “Will you keep a secret for me?” She already knew that answer though.
“On my honor.” He released her.
“I think someone cast a spell on me. I think it was magic.” Her mouth felt drier after saying the words aloud. She’d only ever thought them in her head. “I dreamt of a man in Rynmere. He taught me things in my sleep. About language. When I woke, I could speak, read, and write the Common tongue almost as well as my mother tongue. I don't know how it happened, or why.” There was some fear in her eyes, but they also shone brightly in the firelight with an intense excitement. Her experience with magic was slim to none, and her knowledge was even less so. She'd witnessed Rupturing while fighting alongside Gangui at the beginning of the Cold Cycle, but other than that...
Last edited by Ellen'wyn on Thu Jan 18, 2018 8:44 pm, edited 6 times in total. word count: 517
As the warrior listened to the eerie story that Ellen’wyn had made him swear to secrecy, his thoughts immediately went into the aggressive realm of paranoia. The dreams were more than likely the psychological inoculation of the Immortals that he had been researching. Well, there was some research involved, but the inspiration -- the spiritual understanding -- came from vision he endured when he was struck by lightning mid-Vhalar. There was no easy way to introduce these topics to Ellen and it didn’t seem like a good idea to start getting her riled up.
“I am no Alchemist,” the Etzori patriot only took the opinion of the hard magics into account of his world view, “But they say that the dream realm, Emea, is a place where one can meet other souls. Perhaps it was a benevolent spirit? Perhaps it was an Immortal? None can tell…” He paused a moment as he tried to form the next concept into words. It was an intuitive feeling, something he just knew without really intellectually knowing it.
“A spirit?” Her face broke into a wide smile. “What if it was? Or even if it was another soul--or an Immortal--what would any of that mean? Or does it even have a meaning?” Her features had grown serious again and she folded her arms, turning to look out on the dark waters beating against the barrier wall.
Gangui shook his head, he didn’t have all the answers, but Ellen’s ponderings fueled him to finally be able to communicate the words that were caught in his stomach, “I do not know, Ellen, however there is one thing for certain. Although we,” the man referred to the society as a whole, “look to the future always, we live in the present. As long as you remain morally stalwart in your dreams and do not give into the precocious temptation that is the forces of evil,” He smiled widely showing his teeth, showing Ellen the loving confidence he had in his message, “Then everything will turn out alright!”
She couldn't help but smile, then finally laugh again. “You know you're a very strange man? You are always so passionate. Sometimes I wonder if you have a one-track mind. Do you ever just relax?” Ellen raised an eyebrow, appraising his armor. “I doubt it. You're always… on. It's exhausting sometimes, you know.” It was an accusation, but her tone wasn't unkind. It was a strange quirk, she'd come to understand, though it annoyed her a little. He was the most laid back, uptight person she'd ever met. He was a far cry different than many Sev'ryn men.
He chuckled. “I am relaxed.” He waved at the giant statue that stood on the lighthouse out in the killing pool inside the port itself. It depicted a strong man with the decapitated head of an Immortal, looking very distinctly akin to Lissira. “We are safe here.”
“This is you relaxed? Ha! Don't you ever take off your boots, kick up your feet, and lounge by the fire? If we're so safe here then why have I never seen you in normal clothes? Do you have some kind of horrible deformity you're hiding?” Both eyebrows were raised now. “Or maybe you have some sort of crippling phobia. I don't know what of, I'm still trying to make up the most ridiculous yet logical one I can imagine. Is there a phobia of linen and cotton?” She started walking again as she talked, gesticulating animatedly with her hands.
A mischievous twinkle began to glimmer with the reflection of the brazier’s light flickering in his eyes. A small grin spread across his face, but it was hidden by his mustache. “I do have something wrong with me, but you might not be courageous enough to find out what lies under this armor.” Picking up her hand, he continued the amble, leading her towards the center of the ramparts.
Ellen faltered in her steps but didn't stop when he led her on. Her face went red and she was momentarily grateful for the lack of daylight. There he went again, flipping the conversation on its head. He seemed to be good at that. “You know, Gangui,” she finally said. “You--”
Under the dancing flames and a light blanket of mist, the tall man swept in and kissed Ellen’wyn’s lips. It was a salty, dry kiss. Gentle as the warm breeze that was blowing through port, despite winter. Strong hands pulled her body closer into the circle of his arms. Less than a bit later he drew his head back and searched her eyes, smiling devilishly.
Her gasp was cut short by his lips, and for half a heartbeat she was stiff as board. His mouth was warm on her chapped lips, and he tasted like whiskey. Her knees felt weak and she worried the only thing holding her up was his arms. Any other time she would be furious to feel like such a helpless girl, but in that moment she couldn't give a shit. Her whole body felt like jelly when he leaned back, her lids heavy, heart pounding. She couldn't say a word. There weren't any, really, in the moment of your first kiss.
Last edited by Ellen'wyn on Thu Jan 18, 2018 8:46 pm, edited 4 times in total. word count: 552
Kissing Ellen’wyn was something that he had been holding back for a long time now. Before, his conscience told him not to, even in the heaviest of situations. Now none of that mattered anymore. He kissed her again, this time one hand moved up closer to head on the stop of her back and the other embraced her lower. Her arms found their way around his neck.
He admired Ellen much, but now it seemed as if lust was taking over. Chainmail fauldrons were beginning to become uncomfortable as the seductive feminine scent filled his head. It was a power to move him as he hadn’t felt in a long time. Perhaps she was right, perhaps he had been working too much.
Releasing from her grasp, he looked at her again. Holding her in his arms, a feather from her wings floating by his vision in the gentle breeze. “I should have done that the first day I met you.”
“I would have punched you,” she mumbled, but she was smiling. It was a wide, shy grin. “But I think you just made up for the lost time.”
The two just smiled at each other for a few more trills. He felt light on his feet and tight in the waist. The ravage wolf in his loins begging to be unleashed on the beauty. He steeled himself though, trying to enjoy the magical feeling they had. Words just started coming out. “I would like to court you formally,” His smile never went away. Newly beholden to the conservative ways of old Etzos - the ways of family values and order - he would remain steadfast in the traditions.
“Wait, what?” It was like ice cold water down her shirt. She broke away from him so fast that she bounced off the parapet they were standing by. Struggling for a moment to catch her balance, she found her back pressed against it, feathers smashed uncomfortable. Now her heart was pounding for a completely different reason.
“Marry me? What's all that? Who said anything about marriage, huh?” Her eyes looked a little wild, like a cornered animal. “I can't marry--” She was about to say she couldn't marry him, but that was unfair and cruel. “I can't get married.” It wasn't something she'd put much thought into, even for the future. After all, until now, she'd never even been kissed.
“Ellen,” Gangui said softly, clearly sensing her tension. “You move me deeply and I wouldn’t be able to bear it if…” What was it? Spit it out! “...if a babe were to be born and we were not truly committed to each other.”
“Whoaaa there big guy. I think you're getting ahead of your horse here.” Was that the correct expression? “Why are we talking about babies? You kissed me, okay? That's not how babies are made. At least not in Desnind!”
“No.” Gangui stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, bringing her close again. He waited a moment for her to relax. She did not. “But I intend for babies to be made.” He leaned in once more and kissed her for the third time, but this time she bit his mouth and started to struggle vehemently. He jerked instinctively, and not wanting to be unkind, released her and backed off.
Last edited by Ellen'wyn on Thu Jan 18, 2018 8:49 pm, edited 4 times in total. word count: 284
The fiery red-head’s bite actually energized the half-blood Aukari human. His body was rippling with the tingles, something he almost never felt. One of the traits that attracted him so much to the woman was her zest and courage. He would convince her. He was sure of it.
“Ellen,” Reaching into the bag holstered on his sword belt, he produced the last thing the woman expected: her heirloom, Moseke’s pendant. He held it up to her, “As an act of love, I’ve retrieved the necklace that was once stolen from you,” She froze suddenly, eyes wide and fixed on the necklace hanging from his fingers.
“Wha--?” The redhead moved forward, her hand outstretched and trembling. “Is this real?” He let her take it and she backed up quickly again, cupping the pendant reverently in her palms. Ellen inspected it closely, even though by her expression she already knew it was the real thing. Tears filled her eyes and fell heavy down her freckled cheeks.
“Gangui… I don't know what to say.”
Don’t say anything.
Embracing her once more, the two were up again on the wilds waves that were the emotional storm that was going on at the moment. Everything was laid out on the line all at once. The moment after the first kiss changed everything. Genuinely a man of action, there seemed no better way than boldly proceeding.
Or not.
Ellen very swiftly proceeded to try to knee him in the balls and stomp on his toes.
“Gang--get--stop--!” She struggled again.
Releasing her the warrior sighed. There was the fire again. Perhaps he was moving too fast.
“Ellen…”
“Gangui! Stop trying to grab me! Let me speak, please!” She took a deep, shuddering breath and backed away a few paces, clutching the necklace close to her breast.
“Gangui, I can't tell you how grateful I am that you somehow got this back, and I really want to hear that story, but--” she took another deep breath, “but you are stepping a little--well, really, way out of line here. Do you understand? I like you a lot. But I have no intentions of marrying or having anyone’s babies right now. I think you need to reevaluate what you're expectin--”
“I don’t want any babies right now either, Elle--”
“Okay, good. But I'm not marrying you. We haven't known each other that long. Gangui--”
“Damnit Ellen, you know my lifestyle! I could die at any moment!”
He was in a completely different mindset than she was. She was struck silent by it, dumbfounded. If what he was saying wasn't so absurdly ridiculous it might actually be convincing though. He was passionate after all, and so serious.
“Gangui--”
“Allow me to court you, Ellen. We don’t have to think about marriage, but I’d like to call upon you, with your permission.”
The fire in his eyes had returned. He was showing so much emotion, exposing himself to her in such a vulnerable way. The redhead was nodding slowly, as if thinking.
Gangui, you need some serious relationship advice. Ellen'wyn, you can do better. This thread was this uncomfortable mix of sweet and strange, which probably made it have a weird realistic feel to it.
Ellen'wyn
Points
XP:
15 | These points cannot be used for magic.
Fame:
N/A
Loot
N/A
Injuries + Overstepping
N/A
Knowledge
Skill Knowledge:
Unarmed (Brawling): Stomping on toes
Unarmed (Brawling): Biting
Unarmed (Brawling): Kick a man where it counts
Tactics: Fighting dirty is effective self-defense
Rhetoric: Arguing against bad ideas
Discipline: Resisting affection
Discipline: Maintaining a pokerface
Strength: Struggling against someone larger than you
Storytelling: Sharing your dreams
Other Knowledge:
Emea: A realm with souls, spirits, and Immortals
Emea: You can visit in your dreams
Gangui: First kiss
Gangui: Comes on too way strong
Gangui: Wants to marry her and have babies
Gangui: Returned her stolen necklace
Gangui
Points
XP:
15 | These points cannot be used for magic.
Fame:
N/A
Loot
N/A
Injuries + Overstepping
N/A
Knowledge
Skill Knowledge:
Philosophy: Think to the future, live in the present
Philosophy: Morality combats evil, even in dreams
Seduction: A gentle kiss
Seduction: Proposing marriage
Seduction: Laying it on too strong doesn't work
Other Knowledge:
Ellen'wyn: Gangui kissed her and he liked it.
Ellen'wyn: Won't marry Gangui... yet
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