NagafenOfIlivikitty

-Obelia- She moves forward, hesitant a moment and hand raised to stop Elune, noting the direction she moves in. But she realizes, a small lament in her head for this fact, stopping her with force only confirms what she believes. To raise violence to violence, you breed more of it, rather then calm the waters. She is hesitant and yet Obelia moves only slightly between Ken and Elune, her arm blocking his heart but her form not in an attacking stance. 'Dreams are foolish things, yes. We believe we can reshape the world using only our hands. It is something to laugh at, yet if we cannot have dreams, if we cannot believe that we can change things, Ms. Elune, what does that leave us? A lifetime of cynical emptiness that begets no reward, no happiness. Simply waiting for death. You claim that you have died thrice now yet you still live, you still breathe. You are truly resolute in the belief that you cannot find some joy in this world? You think of your mother, you say, yet I have no father. But surely if he felt an ounce of love for me as your mother sounds to have for you, she'd have wanted you to find an ending that you could be satisfied with. A resolution. A revolution of spirit.' Obelia's words are all she has to wield, so she does her best with what she has. 'I will not kill you. I will not let you kill Ken. But you know then, how lonely you've been, how dark your life has been and Ken has just realized, in some respects, how isolated his existence is. Would you really throw away a chance to discover more? For the first time in his life, the person you hate, this person, is open to your words. The question is... are you as open to them too? Can you hear yourself?' -Langley- Langley's thoughts drift, her eyes half lidded. What has taken her parents from her? They aren't dead, she can't feel it. She pauses a moment, leaning against the wall of a relatively worn down house, her breathing becoming a bit erratic. What if they are dead? What if she's just deluding herself into thinking they're okay? These questions burn at the back of her head, causing her to rub her palm absently over her left breast, her heart beating harder within. Yet soon, she shakes her head, letting the question bury for a time. Now is not the time, not yet. To trouble Noel and Andy, just when Noel might find some cheer after such a torrid prank by that oaf, as well as seeing Andy come further out of that shy shell... a tiny smile draws to her lips, remembering her parents as they always are. Living for other people, rather then for themselves. She will find them, she swears inwardly. But for the moment, worry must take a backseat, to action. She turns, breaths a little more and heads towards the north, further to the coast. -Noel- Noel's eyes watch his a moment. She hesitates and yet, in her mind, after her sleepless rest, those images and that man's prank, all she can think of is how little she cares for worrying about her words at the moment. She absently cups his chin and tilts it a little upward and again, she glances to him with eyes that seem wordlessly confident, as if assured in herself further. 'I didn't push you, Andy, because if I'd hurt you, I wouldn't forgive myself. I listened to you, because I like you. And yes, before you stammer or meander thought wise, in that way.' She shrugs a little, even as a tiny smile curls her lips. She soon leans down and without any warning, her own mouth rests against his forehead, quiet kiss, quiet moment given. She doesn't care too much for worry at the moment. She has too much else to live for. -Carrie and Ellandra, Together Again, For the First Time! No, I'm not a DC Writer after Crisis on Infinite Earths.- Carrie offers a wry stare at Horatio for a time and yet, maybe it's been being around him a little too much, but her answer isn't shy, demure nor hesitant. Her cheeks do tint, oh yes, after all, he's referring to the act of bunga bunga love, yet she has just enough time to smirk instead, even as her side shoots with ocassional pained feelings and sparks of concentrated hurt. 'Feh, well, I guess remembering last night, you were kind of frisky. Though the things you're into... my my...~' She smiles a little and yet, her eyes glance to the rather hesitant looking girl, whose eyes blink a little once she's caught sight of. Carrie smiles, yet a heavy wince crosses that smile, even as she grits her teeth a little. She eventually un-'locks' her pearly whites from one another and tries to greet her. 'Hello sweetie, is there something... we can help you with? I'm Carrie and before he acts all suave, this Lothario with knives is Horatio.' Ellandra blinks a little, chuckling as if accessing a lexicon, smiling to the both of them, while confirming the words aloud. 'Lothario. Ladies Man. Charmer. Adrian. I am Ellandra. I am the healer and guide of this mission. You are wounded?' She lightly gestures to Carrie and then glances to Horatio, a rather youthful worry there as she tries to confirm with him if she is, in case she denies so. Carrie does, blinking a little and smiling a bit weakly, waves her hands as if to dismiss it. 'No worries, I'm fine, it-' She blinks again, cut off as Ellandra holds a vial of something clear, light blue, one to Carrie and one to Horatio, bowing a little bit as she hesitates, feeling she is outstaying her welcome. 'Take these two and drink whenever you are lightly wounded. It accelerates the bodies healing metabolism for a few hours, four hours and twenty two minutes to be exact. It cannot deal with wounds larger then knife wounds or broken bones, but can mend fractures, cuts, grazes and in the case of light sickness, allows for a higher response from your immune system.' She bows again, turning to leave as Carrie half stares, half gawps at the sudden, educated explanation on the vial. Horatio, Ellandra doesn't mention, was given one as she believes her and him to be 'connected' in that way and trusts him to look after her as she will for him. -Zwool- So, now what? This thought resonates in Zwool's head for a little while. He glances to the guantlet. Glowing and ebbing at the center, this odd regulator, controller. What happens if it activates something in him? What happens if he hurts someone? Two options are left to him. Run, run and never look back. He's almost eady too, to turn and escape and never to return. But something stops him. A deeper logic. A deeper care. However far he runs, if this activates, he will never truly escape this fate. And he could kill anyone. Not just... Ellandra. He remembers her. How sweet he was. Is. She isn't dead yet. She doesn't have to die yet. The other options throbs at the forefront of his mind. He glances down and gulps a little.<br>He's going to have to remove the gauntlet.

-Obelia- Obelia's eyes trail in light suprise to Ken, the girl having traveled enough with him to know how much of a leap in logic, in faith from the one he has been taught, to do this is. To take a step away from doing good because you are told that is what good is, to believing truly in what you are doing, for yourself, because you've seen so. Her smile grows a little, only a tiny bit, yet does so knowing that in that instance, Ken is both a new person, yet entirely himself. She stands quite silently, glancing back to the girl for a moment, hoping against hopes that this has somehow reached her, otherwise, things will become even more difficult then they have been. Her gauntlet clad hands rests on his shoulder a moment though, just giving him a single, strong look with a smile, an indication of her pride in his decision, in standing by him. -Noel- 'You know, you're not very good at this whole sneaking things. Fainted people don't turn their heads.' She opens an eye and smiles a little but, brushing a furred hand through his hair a little, worry soon etched back into her features as well. 'You do know you had me worried there, right? I'm... well, sorry for getting angry like that. That guy just pushed a few buttons, so... I lost it a little. Are you alright anyway, Andy? You seemed to go down like a rock, you've been out for a day or two.' She seems worried for his health, for him, eyes watching him curiously for a little bit, even with his head turned away, smiling a little at the idea this sort of position might be embarrasing the young priest. -Langley- 'Feh.' Langley offers a light nod to the wolfish blacksmith, who offers a light smile and wave back to the swordfighter. She stretches a little, fully dressed if not fully awake, tugging her cloak a little around her shoulders. She walks past the tree, with a mental note to listen to all those obscenities delivered by the struggling, bound idiot in the tree, yawning... then casually delivering a swift, strong kick, enough of her fathers blood in her that it wobbles a bit heavily, causing him to utter a squeak a mouse would be embarresed to let out, due to the high pitch of it. She smirks a tad, before heading off through the town, silence in the center of it for a good moment or two. -Carrie- 'If- Ow, if we are -ever- late again, I will drop you in the water myself.' She offers this through gritted teeth, rubbing her side a little with a wince or two, sighing a little to herself. Something's definately brusied, cracked, whatever. She just moves, not really limps, but wobbles from side to side to a seat by him, settling down with a blink, touching her face. Her glasses aren't there, which means... she offers a low, cursing tone, realising either they're back at the inn... or they fell out on the way. She sighs a little, tugging her hood back, actually letting her face be in full view for a while. She doesn't do so often, not really caring too much for letting others see her face, but shrugs to herself, resting her back against the boat for a little. -Ellandra- She smiles quite brightly, wings fluttering a little. So far, a good grasp of language, spoken too, belongs to her. She hesitantly however notes it's not really the same if you can't use it within conversation. She glances around, stepping back from the boat's front, wondering if any might be around to start said conversation with. Most seem relaxed or talking already, yet she does however note the two known as Horatio and Carrie, hesitantly moving over to them, offering a slightly high pitched, nervous greeting. 'H-Hello?' -Zwool- 'So.' The librarian glances to him for a moment or two, seeing him still quietly looking over the book. He knows the question that will be asked, yet is uncertain of the time it will take to find that answer. Nor what it will lead to. He only knows an answer that will have to suffice for now. 'What will you do?' The librarian asks this, even as Zwool's mouth opens, murmering with a half willing conciousness. 'I'd like some time to think.' The librarian nods and silently, he moves from his chair, heading away with a light sigh while the man with the book glances over it, fingers clenching and unclenching every so often on top of that too.

-Obelia- Obelia's nerves have not been of good late. Her promise to care for the priest has not wavered, yet Ken's trust and honesty have led him to take decisions that make her job of protecting him even harder. Such as taking in the assassin who mocked him before, with the death of her brother. It... stuns her to see both such reckless want for an act that seems ridiculous, yet, she grudingly admits, confirms the care with which he holds dear to. She sighs a little, entering the room in which he rests to find the situation involving the girl hidden within that bathroom. She watches from the doorway, a small wince at the shout from the girl, herself still armoured. Oddly, she's rarely seen without it, but it may be a comfort thing herself. She just observes, a mixture of sadness, sympathy, yet a hint of anger boiling with the two. Ken has done so much to aid her and the girl needs it, knowing of the wounds from Ken's words. But, she marches over, soundless bar the clank of her armour, within a second, drawing her foot back and aiming it's metal clad base at the doors hinges, letting it fly. It smashes into the side and most of the time, this might've dented the wood, albeit slightly. But coupled with a well trained swordswoman, clad in stern armour, a jolt of anger and worry powering her, the sheer force thrown into the kick smashes the hinges off the wood, not launching it, but causing it to fall back, albeit slowly, with which in the moment, Obelia's hand darts outward, to catch it by the handle and toss it aisde, her features stormy as her words come out. 'Ken, if you could heal her now. Miss, we have no intention of hurting you, raping you, sending you to prison, whatever. But for the love of anything you hold dear, let my friend heal you.' -Langley- Langley smiles a little, for the last few days having enoyed the various side trips to town. It's been enjoyable to see some of the citizens gasp a little, the residents of the town, usually against this sort of punishment, wholeheartedly grinning, sighing in frustration, one very specific couple white with both shock and shame. Langley herself rests against the blacksmiths, the grinning wolf anri she knows so well, older now, a little hunched, glancing with her to the large tree at the center of town, considering a sign of nature amid the growing township. 'Feh, considering staying a little longer, Langley? You actually okay with that? Thought you had your journey to go through.' She casts her eyes to the side, the wolf's own eyes older, a little softer with the worry he sees etched into her features. 'I would, but... my parents, you say, haven't come back yet?' He seems to be quiet, yet nods soundlessly, causing her to close her eyes for a little bit. Ignoing the display of the boy grown to angry man, screaming obscenities while his form, still clad in the mock dyed fur of an anri, tied to a tree with a sign dangling around his neck, which is to make sure they know why, written by Langley, illustrating in large capitals the words: 'Tried to be Noel's Auntie Back From The Dead. Tied To Tree Until Future Undecided Time.' 'Langley' -Noel- Two days have gone by. In Noel's bedroom, a boy's body rests after one of the longest faint periods known to the anri, her arms hugging him a little in her rest. She has her eyes closed and just listens, making sure his heart beat never gets to shallow. She's wearing clothes, quite clearly. (This isn't an eroge after all.) Her hand does ocassionally brush through his hair, her eyes a little concerned. Is the boy anemic or something..? He seems almost like he isn't built for shocks or anything of the sort. She just sighs and for now, amuses herself with a thought as to what has occured to her 'dear ol' auntie'... -Carrie- 'H.. nn? Whaaa..?' Carrie's mumbles come between groans, her body slumped against something, moving fast- wait, that smell? It smells like- she blushes a tiny bit, recognising the distinct 'scent' of Horatio, then her eyes widening, she growls a little too, seeing a ship in the distance, Horatio's footfalls leading to it as it seems almost ready to- 'H-Horatio? T-That isn't... the boat, is it?' She means the boat, drawing away from the edge of the land, about to set sail. What occurs next is done in both a blind panic and yet, with an eerie calm about Carrie. She pushes herself off Horatio's back, grabbing a firm hold of his hand, jogging quite suddenly. For a girl without much combat skill, her running speed is incredible for a non-combatant, due to the sheer amount of walking she's been doing. She jogs and tugs him with a hard tug, her foot reaching the edge of the jetty, her only word one that is quite obvious. 'Jump!' She hopes he listens, her foot pushing away, tugging him with her in one long longjump... so close to the water, she feels a little fear of just crashing into the surface. Instead, she curses as her form and Horatio's slam into wood, her body rolling with it, though her side feels atrocious. '...O... oww...' She glances though, a little weakly to the side, panting from the run, to see if Horatio made it. -Ellandra- Ellandra mumbles to herself, as the boat cuts through the water, trying new words. She knows words, dozens of them, but to say them, is quite a little bit else, a small adventure of her own to indulge in. Her smile is quiet, careful to treasure the moment of talking. Yet she seems to be relaxed enough as it is, just her mumbles, testing her vocals and for now, letting the world go about it's own buisness, herself absorbed in her own sense of self-discovery. For now, at any rate. -Zwool- Zwool's eyes tiredly glance over the pages in the book, a small, bleak glance across the pages. Suprisingly, the librarian simply sits across from him, a look of quiet consolement there. The words within reveal a sinister truth behind his own existance. Not just an anri, but an artificially made one. That seems like a redundant statement, but his life, it seems, is a futher fabrication. His type, dragonic with a strange gauntlet on each, are known simply to be odd creations, made by a delusional memeber of the 'founders' of the Anri. They are dolls, said to simply wander from place to place, killing someone and then moving on, without a word. They are referred to as the 'Unthinking Assassin's' in the pages of this disturbingly bloodstained tome, flecks of dry blood along the pages. He says nothing, nor the librarian. They just sit for a good while, quiet as he feels absolute fear, for anyone who he has mixed with, 'contaminated' with his prescence.

-Obelia- Obelia sighs a tiny bit once she leaps out of the wagon, letting herself stretch a moment or two to loosenup. Though rest will come soon, in her mind she needs to at least make sure she is ready for whatever these unseen assassins will throwat the group next. She tilts her head at Ken's query on sharing a room and while hesitant, she nods, though noting Sophia's need for extra space. She lightly touches her old friend's shoulder with a surprisingly light gauntlet, offering a solution to her worry with a smile. 'If you need space, I can rest perfectly fine in a chair or on the floor, Sophia. Just make sure you, your daughter' before finishing her sentence, she swivels her gaze to Ken and gives him a rather firm gaze 'and you, Ken, get your rest. I'd rather be defending non-lethargic charges if I could.' -Langley- So it comes to this. Langley's primary thought is this, her eyes observing the exchange between the two with a silence settled across her, arms folded and waiting. She barely notes the tensing of her hand across the side of her blades handle.This moment means more then she knows, but why comes only a few seconds later. -Noel- She could swat Andy aside and that pale idiot bound in the chair could get his throat ripped out within the space of a minute. She could do it, she really could. She wants this.But he's trying to stop her. He could die and she'd have her revenge.All she has to do is kill Andy. And it's in that thought that she realises, with a slightly sudden relaxation of her body, that may be the most impossible thought to put into practice. She feels herself go quiet a moment more and all she can muster is a glare at him. Shehas hate for the other, the other who sits frozen in their chair waiting to see what happens. '...You're lucky, boy.' Her eyes trail across to the fearful other, before returning to Andy. Langley is barely noticed, relaxing her stance as Carrie's eyes stay on Andy's amoment. It's hard to judge the expression a moment, somewhere between hurt and care. But after a moment, with what seems like great difficulty, she shrugs and turns away, murmuring over her shoulder. 'He's learnt his lesson. Set him free, take him to the city council, dump him in a flower bed, I don't care.' She waves her hand over her shoulder, before heading for the front door. -Carrie- Carrie can't really remember much as she wakes, a small sort of grumble escaping her lips once or twice at the feeling of someone nudging her awake. Her mumble that follows seems tired and drawn out, yet she moves as if on automatic from thewagon, almost shambling from the wagon to the inn ahead, intending to sleep out the night in quiet rest. She half-remembers heading to her bedroom... --- Half-awake the next morning, she grumbles the same as yesterday, wishing for five or ten more minutesto rest, tugging at sheets absently and trying to figure out her bearings a moment or two later. -Ellandra- A quiet mumble comes once or twice from the dove anri along the journey, but her reclusiveness is so much so that it's hard to tell if she's alseep or cocentrating sometimes.When eventually, the journey takes a small stop at the inn, she seems to confirm being awake, quite easily trailing out of the wagon,heading inside... --- The next day, a small yawn escapes Ellandra's throat, a tiny bit easier then yesterday. She blinks further awake, noting the ease at which sound is beginning to come from her and smiles a bit to herself, sitting up on her bed and stretching out for a few good moments, wondering what the day may bring. -Zwool- 'Wow.' Zwool's eyes trail around theroom with a sort of wonder, after all with the size of the library, shelves and stairwells towering over them, it's hard not to be slightly staggered by it. The librarian seems to have wandered out of view for a moment or two, perhaps to requisition a drink. Indeed he has and, unbeknownst to Zwool, it's probably gonna be a strong drink.Not many dragon anri turn up at his door at this time of day you see. For a few moments, Zwool is alone and he glances around nervously,unsure why he clutches so tightly onto the book. Something about it both calls out to him yet makes him nervous, like learning a parent is fallible. It's an inevitable thing and yet there is a certain sadness in that moment. For Zwool, that moment comes quickly to him and nothing is going to stop him from discovering what will be inside this book. For better or worse.

-Obelia- Obelia's smile is something that matches her mothers, but that's not really what's on her mind at the moment. What matters is that Ken is smiling again and that's what she set out to achieve. Giving his hand a squeeze, pale finger squeezing equally thin ones, almost amused at the feminine quality they have, Obelia lightly moves herself, falling into the seat by Ken with an audible clank, She smiles at his mention of what they must do and offers an agreeing nod, glad to see vengeance or anger have not consumed her friend in his entirety. 'True justice is indeed what we must seek, even at the lowest of moments for ourselves. If you ever feel yourself come close to letting sadness consume you, tell me, alright? You aren't the only one who has let… drive, shall they say, consume them.' At those words, an odd guilty look flashes across Obelia's features, something troubling her but she smiles again soon, as if the look was a temporary oversight. -Langley- 'This isn't gonna end well if you don't tell us why, kid.' Langley, having been quite calm so far, none the less understands why the spectre of a missing relative haunting them could make her quick to get things 'messy' as it were. So her tone now has a slight edge to it, though as the boys mouth opens, she pauses, noting Noel's own frozen moment. 'You'll never leave, will you? My grandparents disappeared one day, they just did and all they found in their homes were scraps of torn clothing, blood. And claw marks across the walls. You think that there aren't any human slaves? You don't HONESTLY THINK-' he raises his voice and Noel admittedly hasn't expected this, Langley noting her silent posture, 'THAT ALL OF YOU DAMN, INFERIOR SUB-BEINGS, DON'T ACT AS 'TERRIBLE' AS WE DO?!?' His eyes are angry and wild, yet something wet seems to be burning their vision. This boy has grown, but grown so full of anger. So when Noel speaks, Langley is surprised enough to jump at the interjection. -Noel- 'You think that gives you an excuse?' Her voice is low, cold. She has no sympathy for him, though her clenched fists and beginning to shake frame say something somewhat different. 'You honestly think that because your grandparents may have been taken by an Anri, maybe as slaves, you think because you never got to meet them, that gives you some sort of right to judge?' His angry features are frozen by the words as if in rapt attention to poetry, hanging on each syllable but out of fear at her darkening features. She continues, advancing a bit and Langley's hand twitches, casting a worried look back to Andy. She has honestly never seen her friend this… 'Charged'. -Carrie- 'Arcen. Archen sounds like your slurring arching.' Carrie's smile remains, her good cheer returning after witnessing the rather violent predeceasing events. If she so much as focuses on the tree that's been set on fire, she fears her mind will have to take a short reality break. So for now, she is quite content to rest her back against the side of the cart opposing Horatio and fix him with a beady stare. 'I could shoo if you like, unless you're slurring chew just for fun.' Carrie smiles once more before her eyes close and her breathing begins to take a more relaxed turn. -Ellandra- Still a tad red, Ellandra's form grabs the back of the cart, rubbing her throat as she hauls herself onto it. Speaking is rather like learning to ride a bike, in that it can hurt, it's best to take some time out before jumping straight in and if she could somehow find the equivalent of a 'bicycle helmet' for her throat, she'd wear it. But once we move away from the fact bicycles may not exist in this reality, let us instead focus on her, mirroring Carrie, curling with her back against the wagon's side, closing her eyes. It's always good after a fresh dose of embarrassment to sleep it off because usually, you forget for half a second what embarrassed when you wake. With that futile logic in mind, Ellandra's eyes clamp tight shut and she tries to return to a form of rest. -Zwool- 'I must say, when I woke to hear such banging on the door this early, a dragon anri lying on his back clutching a book was not what I'd hoped when I opened the door. Call me old fashioned, but I'd have preferred the milkman.' One of the elder librarians, his face a cragged and slightly more bewildered then annoyed set of features, stands in a rather snug, if overly long violet robe, not exactly becoming but in the middle of the night, becoming isn't really what you go for. He folds his arms with an amused expression and Zwool, eyes a bit hesitant and cheeks flushed in a form of rather typical embarrassment, stand quickly, brushing off himself as the librarian asks, rather quizzically. 'So to what do I owe such an ear-' His voice is stopped as Zwool eagerly, maybe a bit too eagerly, holds up the scaled book, eyes bright with curiosity. The librarian looks at the book, then him with an almost shrewd stare. 'Well, you're a thief or I'm sorry, it's a bit odd to get donations at this time of day.' 'N-No! I'm not… well, I guess I…' Zwool seems to hesitate, but the librarian, with an absent sigh and yet a slightly weary smile, turns and begins to walk inside. 'Maybe after you incredulously deny it a few times, you'll follow me inside and explain what it is you want. In the meantime, I'm going to get something warm to drink.' He heads inside and soon after, once Zwool's surprise and indeed, incredulous thought wears off, he hesitantly looks around, before following inside.

-Obelia- Obelia’s eyes widen and within a moment, narrow, resisting the urge to rest her hand on the blades pommel. She looks at her friend and, even with her cheeks a flushed red, resolving not to look directly at Sophia ‘feeding’ at the moment, she goes to one knee in front of Ken, moving one hand quite calmly and tugging away a gauntlet. She places pale, smooth skin over his hand, her hand gently squeezing his and gently smiles at him, murmuring. ‘You are not alone, Ken. I swear to you, on my honour that you don’t have to be alone in your journey. Being with you, I understand that sometimes, things take precedence over pride or the self. Honour and friendship, especially with good friends matter a great deal more. When she must be brought to justice…’ Her eyes narrow, but her smile grows stronger, looking into Ken’s eyes straight on, ‘Then she will be brought to the correct justice, with me there by your side, to ensure your heart remains untroubled. I swear it.’ -Langley- 'You've got a good heart in you Andy, but shall we say, things are more complicated then that.' Langley smiles a half smile at her friend and then glances casually to Noel, before, noting that her focus is both on the boy and seemingly uncaring of any explanation, continues to tell of why this bothers Noel so much. 'This kid, oddly, only met Noel once. His family kept mostly to themselves, but one time when Noel was little, she went to say hi and this kid just kinda spat in her face, called her inferior. Shall we say, Noel wasn't as… drawn together as she is now.' Langley can't help a tiny grin at the derisive snort that comes from Noel, glancing to the side a moment later. 'Noel, it was a long time ago… I'm not saying I think what he did is good, but… can't we just kick him outside or something?' -Noel- 'Yeah, that'd be fine. Except for something that bothers me, kinda a bit.' Noel's eyes narrow and her tone adopt an almost sarcastic, angrier tone as her eyes flicker to both Langley and Andy. 'I would quite like to know why he pretended to be my missing, presumed dead aunt. You know, that just bothers me, a teensy bit.' Her words drip with a sarcastic edge and her head wheels around at him. Even growling and grumbling as he is, that look makes him slightly cower, the sheer anger in her features barely restrained. 'So? I'd quite like an answer, boy. And unlike when I was little, you'll find I won't run and cry from any of your usual cut and dry insults.' Her arms fold beneath her chest and she eyes him a few moments, watching his internal struggle between being angry and being scared. -Carrie- Carrie sighs a moment or two after Horatio ambles over, Carrion quite unconscious for the moment. Luckily, there aren't any signs of serious injury for the moment, but it seems she'll be out of it for the time being. She offers an overt grumble at Horatio's shooing movement, raising an eyebrow in amused annoyance at the noise. She sighs a moment more and then follows him back to the wagon, murmuring aloud. 'So, I take it you agree she'll be fine? Or should I query you on how funny you think you sound when you go 'shoo?' Carrie makes an amused grin, despite the circumstances, though maybe that's exactly why she makes it, clambering back into the wagon. -Ellandra- Ellandra nods in answer to Aiduen's thanks, a small smile though quite easily noting the distaste in Aiduen's tones. Clearly, things are not exactly feeling that cheery for her or the group at the moment, but Ellandra is not quite sure how much of it is down to each other, or rather foolish in thought, down to her. She doesn't really think, quietly musing it to herself, that being here has had a positive effect on anything. But silently still, she resolves to just stay quiet, as always- ..Wait, why must she stay quiet? She blinks and her hands pause halfway to Aiduen, a silent thought on why she must be so silent. She has been silent her entire life, but the reasons why are… vague, she thinks. She wants others to feel like she tries to help them, but how are any meant to feel reassured by a silent wall? She goes if possible, even quieter, still as can be. Her cheeks flush and a moment later, an odd, high sort of sound escapes her throat. So she slowly, very formatively, begins forming words, her cheeks flushing every further second with high embarrassment at her lack of composition. Having a reputation as the 'Silent Angel' means nothing if others do not seek your aid, for they feel no words of reassurance come from your throat. She has seen dozens of healers do so and yet has never tried her. So she just shakes with embarrassment after some words finally leave her throat. '…Uuu… urr… uu … you… rrr, are… well-welcome?' The noise is odd and the pitch is off, the words are enunciated differently. Her throat, even if her mind is used to hearing words, is unused to saying them. Silently embarrassed at her efforts and hoping she has not made Aiduen feel embarrassed, she just turns after resolving she's well and quietly heads back for the wagon, rain trail down her hair and wings quite quickly. -Zwool- Zwool sighs a moment or two, resolving that maybe no ones in or as such, maybe just asleep. With a tiny curse, he turns away from the door, before blinking, feeling those smooth scales in his hands again. Glancing down, his eyes trail over the scaled book in his fingers. With a tiny resolve, he wonders what he should do, to read it or not? He muses that really there is no good reason not to read it, yet something feels off to him. He hesitates, back and wings resting against the door for now. His fingers trail the edges of the book cover and claws brush the edge, to flick it open, to reveal its secrets to him, to find out why it tugs at his mind so. And then the world spins forward and his head crashes against something hard.

-Obelia- Obelia offers a quiet nod to Ken as he mentions his want to aid another traveller, in the moment of talking with her old friend, letting her guard down for a few more moments. She turns her head after a few seconds, a slightly wary glance to Sophia that seems to be unsure if she's crossed a line. She seems silent for a few moments, a small tint going through her cheeks after a few moments of Sophia's head resting against her own. But she stays still, a silence settling a bit further once those words are said, a quiet sigh offered. 'Sophia, you know when you ran… look, I'm… not to great at this sort of thing but… if you want to talk, I'd be… more then willing to listen. You're my friend and… I want to be able to help you…' Something tugs at her senses, an odd feeling she's missing something a moment. But when Ken enters, she sees him look a bit off-centre, a keen eye noting that he doesn't seem as composed as he was when he left. She calls to him in a gentle tone. 'Ken..? You alright?' -Langley- Langley seems almost sympathetic to the shaky, squeaking Andy, unsure for the moment how exactly to proceed. On one hand, she see's the almost a nervous wreck Andy, having to deal with the transition from slightly eerie ghost to cruel from of prankster in a matter of moments. Yet on the other hand, she knows why Noel is this way, why he seems to anger Noel to a point where she is almost willing to beat him rather mercilessly. So she is unsure what to say, until blinking at hearing Noel raise her voice, trying to ignore the slightly shaky tone in her voice. -Noel- 'This… thing, is a boy I used to know. I tried to make friends with him… when he was younger, he… well, spat in my general direction, shall we say. I thought your parents had taught you a bit better, but…' She seems to glare a bit darkly at the now silent, if equally glare ridden man in the chair, dark hair that has slightly popped out from beneath the furred sort of mask now tugged up a bit. He stays silent and yet Noel resists shaking for the moment, just silently murmuring to Andy. 'His name is Kern, my parents told me he was just an angry kid. Guess you grew to be an angry adult, huh Kern?' To his credit, Kern declines answering. -Carrie- Her rest has dawned on her, after a time, the want to sleep becoming something Carrie can't push away for the entirety of the day. She knows the others are there, notes Amera falling asleep soon enough. But when she awakens, it's to screaming and anger and fighting. Of course, when you first awaken to such sounds, cast your eyes over the lip of the wagon and observe a fight between so many of the group it makes her wonder how it begun in the first place. For a moment, she goes a bit quiet; wondering if should do something, though noting that to get admits an argument without knowledge of it's cause is not a good way to aid a situation. So with a rather hesitant look to her and a glance around, searching for Horatio, she just sighs, moving across to the back of the wagon, before gently leaping out the back. She heads for the unconscious body of Carrion and as best she can, kneels down and checks her for any more substantial injuries, touching her neck to make sure her pulse is consistent. -Ellandra- On the other side of things, Ellandra, nodding in answer to the rather under the weather sort of looking Giselle, smiling a bit to show she appreciates the want to at least offer a greeting in kind. She lightly scrawls on her pad and then offers it to the woman, the words a bit renitent but ones that try and at least reassure the other woman she appreciates the name. -I'm Ellandra. Thanks for saying hi, Giselle. I'm sorry if I look a bit naive to be here- Then, what occurs next is something Ellandra observes with a deathly, worried silence, unsure exactly of why this has to be this way. But it's after it moves to the moment that Adrian and Arcen begin to fight, having gone still and paler then before at Carrion and Aiduen fighting that Ellandra does something odd. She writes something on her pad, then gently leaping over the rim of the wagon, a small wince as her wings don't exactly lighten the leap, she tosses the pad at Arcen's feet before he can let himself go to far, darting to Aiduen, gently touching her shoulder to steady her. She begins to focus on channelling healing energy to at least help the obvious wounded one, seeing the other girl, Carrie, checking on Carrion. -You think your sister wants you to fight like an idiot? Take a moment to look at what's important and calm down, meat head!- -Zwool- The libraries doors stand in front of him and for a moment, he hesitates, a gentle look cast towards behind him, unsure exactly what to do now that the nights closed in. He grits his teeth, even with a minor task like this, something to do and distract something to give himself time to think. So after a few moments, a bit distracted but curious, his fist raps against the door and he awaits an answer, curious and worried if anyone is available or even awake.

The First Mission: Diary of a Manly Boy Called Wil [04:49:45] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Dear Diary, Today, I was off to my military training, after finishing going through Valkyria Chronicles without saves, cus I'm a man now, when I looked to the sky, and some meteors fall. Which sucked, because I hadn't brought my umbrella. [04:51:35] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So I took refuge inside the only thing nearby that I believe could've withstood the strike of a meteor. An environment outside the game programming, which meant the meteors couldn't strike their. I could go there cus I'm a man now. [04:53:48] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So I waited there for a while, until all the fire and screaming and explosions and fire cracker factories had finished doing their thing, then came out. Well, I say came out, this large metal thing some call 'metal' fell on me, so I got stuck for a while. I whiled away the time stuck doing the one thing I knew I could do for fun, which was try and remember why I'd become a soldier in the first place. [04:55:06] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: -Editors Note: Normally we'd put a backstory here, but you know what? You can guess by now.- [04:55:46] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So after I'd done that, diary, and I managed to escape, I found this bike and despite being the only one alive, my unit showed two people in the bike due to the animation constraints of the bike unit. But I digress. [04:56:53] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So this guy turned up and he seemed shouty and stuff, and called himself the Beast, because IS likes to self-refTHIS SECTION HAS BEEN EDITED OUT BY INTELLIGENT STUDIOS. BUY OUR SHIT. [04:58:27] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: After an exchange of words, I got pulled into an alternate dimension which looked like a tent and I talked to this woman called Lin, yes there was a woman called Lin and a man called the Beast in thiTHIS SECTION HAS BEEN EDITED OUT BY INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS. YOU KNOW OUR SHIT? YOU SHOULD BUY IT. [04:59:54] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So, after that and feeling like I'd been trippng on drugs for a while, I finally emerged and then did my patented 'tutorial moves that are present in evey strategy game ever' and I did them because I'm a man now and don't need to be prompted. [05:01:16] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: After that, the Beast got mad because I think he thought I stole his tacos but I didn't because they make me gassy, so I left after the lady called Lin and the manliest man in existance turned up called BRENNER UGH LOOK AT HIS CHIN, IT'S LIKE IT'S CHISELED OUR OF CONCRETE AND VANILLA ICE CREAM. [05:03:06] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So I held back and watched BRENNER MY GOOD HIS MUSCLES ARE MADE OF TREE TRUNKS AND BITS OF JERKY in his tank go fight the beast. So the Beast was like 'Who the hell do you think I am? You think yoTHIS SECTION HAS BEEN EDITED OUT BY INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS. TRY FE10. IT'S OF MICE AND SHIT. [05:03:54] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: After he beat the Beast, and the Beast was all like 'NEXT TIME MOTHERF***IN GADGET, NEXT TIME' he ran away. [05:07:36] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So sometime later, he came to me BRENNER HIS VOICE NNNNNN IT'S LIKE A SOUND BOARD MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL AND A BOUNCY CASTLE and told me he was aiding others like me, trying to help me feel better about you know, the end of the world* [05:07:57] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: *End of the World Variant 39575, Meteor Shower. [05:09:06] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So with the end of the world gotten over, because I'm a man now, I decided to join his rag tag group of mercenaries to become a man, because I'm a man now. [05:10:15] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: This was the greatest day of my life, diary and that was just today. Oh, bar the meteors, that sucked too. They took our my favourite fire-cracker factory. Love Will. XXX A man. [05:11:43] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Lin's supplement: I weep for our group. We've taken in a boy who makes the Beast look like a dignified member of society. And considering society just got blown up by meteors, that's not that far fetched. [05:11:55] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Lin, Signing Off. [05:12:22] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Brenner's Log. God, I love being me. From, me. Yeah. [05:12:31] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: -End of Chapter One or something-

From a chat I was in. [03:33:34] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Long long ago, Ashera let her judgement fall on the world. But unfortunately it was the wrong world and the two sides, Rubinelle and Zepyhrnn\ngznkzsomething were destroyed. [03:33:51] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So Ashera went 'Oh s**t' and tiptoed away to go ruin a different game. [03:34:14] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: But what she left behind was a world shrouded in ruin, chaos and destroyed Best-Buys. [03:34:43] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: From the dark sections of a wrecked Wal-Mart, between the aisles offering fertiliser and shotguns, came a great evil. [03:34:57] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: But then Caulder came, killed the great evil and stole his wallet. [03:35:29] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So as a new, greater evil, he said 'I am what I am' clicked his heels, tried to grow breasts, failed and went on to think of an evil plot. [03:35:58] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Retreating to the Batcave, which pissed off Batman so he had to leave, he wondered what he must do with the world. [03:37:05] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So he decided to first build himself a lair. Because that's what villains do. If it's good enough for the Joker, Lex Luthor and even Monster Rancher Card Battle GB, it was good enough for him. [03:37:51] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So he built a base, decided that he'd really go with an Owl Scthick for his stuff's names becuase Owl's are, as he quoted 'Evil and shit', he begn his evil reign. [03:38:12] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Or he would've been had it not been Friday at 3.00pm and everyone was at work. [03:39:00] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So he got bored and cloned himself, thinking this was a TOTALLY BRIGHT IDEA AND WOULDN'T IN ANY WAY GO WRONG LIKE THAT THING' y'know, like with spider-man. [03:39:12] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: And then his clone killed him. [03:39:31] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Caulder's last thought was 'Shit, I left the iron on' and then passed away. [03:40:14] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Clone Caulder, or as he called himself 'Jeffery', decided that his first order of buisness was to destory the earth. And maybe tape the Fresh prince of Bel-Air. [03:42:19] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So after he taped the episode where Carlton met Tom Jones, he began to build a vast aircraft, one that would dominate the air ways and lead in a new age, one he would be at the pinaclle of. Unfortunately, the name 'Great Zaku' was taken by some dick named C. Aznable so he named it 'The Great Owl'. [03:44:13] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: However, something made Jeffery worried. What was he to do when he destroyed the world? Sell the rocks on e-bay? Not only would there be no one to sell them too, his account only had a 99.8% approval rating, so it wasn't going to be easy, considerng the 'Giant Laser things which do damage or shit' came scratched to it's reciever, a Mr. C. Azbnable, in the mail. [03:45:08] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So he decided to take over the world instead. Because y'know, he could drill for oil or re-run Friend's once he controlled the world. [03:45:51] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: First, he decided to do it by stealth. But first he thought he'd best clone himself again because THIS COULD NOT GO WRONG LIKE THE LAST TIME AND WOULD BE TOTALLY OKAY AND NOT IN ANY WAY RISKY. [03:45:56] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: And then the clone killed him. [04:26:41] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: The last thoughts in Jeffery's mind were 'Wow, still left the iron on. S**t.* [04:27:58] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So as the third clone, named 'Sturm' just to troll everyone who'd tried Dual Strike, came to life, he thought on what he could do to take over the world. Nuclear Strikes? No, most were dead anyway. [04:28:16] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: A massive army? It could work, but to do that alone would be too... sensible. [04:28:42] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Trying to buy out the Fox News Network? Too costly, and dumb. [04:29:01] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Kill everyone with flowers? F**K YESSSSSSSSS. [04:29:57] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So thus begun the idea to create a virus using flowers. Unfortunately Ivy from Batman got too bitchy halfway through the iventing and quit, causing massive dickery for Sturm. [04:30:42] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: But soon, it was ready. Ready to be unleashed on the world who you know, thought all flowers were gentle and that their was no such thing as flowers that killed humans. [04:30:45] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: You know. [04:30:56] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: Something that would take everyone aback. [04:31:01] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: You know. [04:31:11] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: A sensible idea that wouldn't go wrong at all. [04:31:14] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: You know. [04:31:22] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: And then he died. [04:31:36] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: He thought 'Huh, that time, their was no clone.' [04:31:47] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: And then 'Shit, I still didn't turn the iron off.' [04:33:15] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: And finally, after writing his will, selling his car, selling his necklaces saying 'STURM-DIZZLE' and deciding to form a charity called 'The Sturm Foundation For Kids Who Get Named After Much Cooler Bosses Who Can Throw Meteors But Can't Themselves Throw Meteors and Who Also Have A Disease Or Something', he died. [04:33:31] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: For a while, there was no one, because you know, no clones. [04:35:00] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: But after a time, Master Asia and Domon Kasshu turned up and used the Sekiha Tenkyoken, resulting Asia's defeat, as well as the defeat of the Devil Gundam. No one noticed this because they were all busy watching Lost and wondering why they did in the first place. [04:36:34] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: After a time though, Sturm ressurected himself, but lost all his memories, because he'd ressurected with the self-ressurecting ability of the DARK-GUNDAM and with the help of KYOJI except Kyoji wasn't actually called Kyoji, but here was known only as 'Gage'. [04:37:37] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: So, now calling himself Caulder, because he found his birth cetificate underneath a pile of mushrooms and some kind of carrot cake, he decided to resume his plan to control the world. [04:38:13] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: And this the wheel of fate begins to turn, becuase if it spun, you're putting the accelerator on too fast and if it moved from side to side, you've not built a wheel but a slide whistle. [04:40:31] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: The end comes and as the flowers grow, people wonder if the world is truly becoming a darker place. But our story does not end their. Because it begins with a -INSERT NAME OF MALE ANIME HERO HERE WHO MUST RISE TO THE OCASSION HERE- and a -INSERT RUINED LOCATION THAT WILL BE SCENE OF TUTORIAL FIGHT HERE- with a -INSERT VILLIAN WHO KINDA HAS A BACKSTORY BUT IS NOT CONTROLLABLE IN MULTI-CONTROLLABLE BATTLES ONLINE HERE- and a -INSERT ENEMY FORCE WITH A DARK COLOUR SCHEME 'CUS THEIR EVILLLLLLLLLLLL HERE-... [04:41:09] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: The metor shower is over and yet soon... something else must fa.ll. And it won't be the iron. [04:41:15] Olivia 'Funbags' Noel Martin: -End of prologue-

Obelia Obelia has been a light shade of pink during the duration of said journey. It seems odd to be this shade in any way, yet her body has felt an absent shyness with the head of an old friend against her shoulder, the closest she’s come to intimacy in a long, long time. She has, however, tried her best to explain through light anecdotes and simple recollection her journey, leaving the village, searching for her fathers grave and now this side-distraction, something that she feels she should do to at least aid another. She does smile at the now awake little girl, her face adopting a gentler look then she has shown in a long time. It almost mirrors her mothers in the softness displayed, smiling warmly at Sophia’s daughter, with a gentle grin at her friend. ‘I see she’s as sweet as you were when you were tiny, from all those stories your mother used to tell…’ Langley The hours have gone by and with a silence fallen over her, Langley finds herself strained from the emotions that have had to change so rapidly as things have escalated. She is now a light, rather dizzy form of angry, having understood what exactly has been following her for some time since she and Andy have arrived back here, now understanding what exactly it is that has been ‘pretending’ to be a wraith who, from the looks of things and the semblance of the costume that has now been torn of the rather glary looking man in the chair, has been pretending to be Noel’s missing auntie to try and scare them both into a guilt fuelled escape from this place. It is with a silent look to Andy she tries to weakly urge him to bed, not wanting him to see Noel quite like…. Well, this. Noel Tied to a chair now, with some rope Langley has offered from some light adventuring, is a man who Noel remembers from some time when she was tiny. Noel has quite a good memory to her, able to remember as far back as that rather awkward, ultimately fun first meeting with Langley. So she can see in the now rather lined face of this man, that same rather harsh glare, an echo of a boy who called her less then a person once long ago, a small anger called from her depths as she looks at him. ‘I remember you. Don’t think I don’t and to be honest, I thought your parents would a done a better job raising you then this.’ ‘I do-‘he begins, but a hiss from Noel almost makes him fall back with the chair, her eyes as narrow as slits. ‘I am not done. Don’t think, after all this, you have any right to speak to me.’ He does go silent, Noel’s mind a bit too angry to calm down at the moment. Carrie Carrie has spent the journey lightly chatting, sometimes back to Horatio, offering him the occasional reassuring smile, grin and some of the time lightly chatting to Amera and Gideon, wanting to know what had happened since that day at the rather crappy guild. She even blinked, wondering where Ignatius the rather kind wolf-man had gone, but for now focused on those here and now, quite content to chat. Ellandra Ellandra has been doing her best to lightly interact with others, though she has found her writing pad has slowly been getting fuller as time goes on as well. She smiles, listens, trying to engage everyone she can when they seem to be free, getting to Horatio and with a slight tired but still kind of bright smile, holding up a hello on her pad, wondering if she’s just being slightly aggravating or social enough. For now, she just sticks to it, seeing where the reactions will take her. Zwool Zwool is now simply walking to the library, yawning a bit but confident that he can check in for a book or just read for a moment or two before heading back to weight. Maybe he’s unaware this is somewhat taking a leave of being obsessive, but for now he just wonders how long the library is open, a small musing on where it is still placed, before walking in a brusque manner in said direction. The book he still holds, the odd, lightly scaled book is clutched in his hand, wanting to have somewhere slightly cosy to read it.

-Obelia- Obelia’s eyes linger on Sophia for a few moments, seeming to understand indeed what she means, seating herself next to Sophia after a moment and instead directing attention to her daughter, a lighter smile offered at the now resting little one, glancing up and inquiring with the girls mother after a few moments in a gentle tone, genuinely softened in the presence of the sleeping girl. ‘If you want help, any help, Sophia, I’d be more then willing to help out. You deserve a lot more then just help, but that’s something I know I can offer.’ -Langley- Reaching for a good bit of apple, something to mostly chew on in the meantime, she is willing to go with the whole pure fiction route as well, something that is bordering too far on the fantastical. Yet it is a sound a moment later, something that is more then surprising to her, that takes her by surprise. ‘OW!’ -Noel- ‘You little-‘ Noel is standing outside the front door. It has changed, from her just moving to the kitchen to having ran, her ears having flicked a moment or two before crossing the door. Having heard something odd as she’d walked towards the kitchen door, her body moves on automatic, brain intent on solving this mystery before it becomes something that gnaws at the edge of her mind overtime. So now, the door having been burst outward, catching the back of someone... someone who seems to be writhing in fur, some sort of chains rattling as ‘she’ growls at the now rather fierce Noel. ‘Let me go, you furry li-‘ ‘YOU LITTLE BASTARD!’ A harsh ‘thwack’ is heard and the being on the ground hisses, curling on the floor with an angry yell. Noel seems angrier then she’s ever been, yet the way she tones her words, it’s as if there is familiarity between Noel and the ‘ghost’. -Carrie- A lighter sigh at Horatio’s smirk vanishing echoes her lips but a small consolation that he isn’t just letting pride over an ignorant nobleman and his ‘profession’ allow him to continue boasting about wanting an active trip to wherever their going. Recognising the rather pointless nature of fighting is something that some never recognise, earning him a light sigh of relief from Carrie, though a weary warning glance is cast at the offer of a fight later, something which half exasperates her and yes, also amuses her a tiny bit too. After Danyon speaks up, the nobleman finds a warning glare follows to his own glance as well, as if a silent query as to why he sees to provoke a further argument with the pride filled ‘assassin’ next to her. Though her eyes blink a few times, a light surprise at the arm that now holds her a bit closer to the guy by her side and after a few moments, she does finally offer a tiny smile. ‘You think I’d just go let ya die? Horatio, I’m not master swordswoman, but I’m not gonna let you take a sword for me. If we end up in a fight, then I’m going in with you, all the way. That way…’ she thinks a moment on how best to word it but finally with a light sigh echoing her, she smiles back to him and murmurs, a firm resolve in her tone as well ‘That way, maybe you might get I’m not gonna just follow you ‘round and cling in the hope you’ll be my shining knight. I’m gonna prove not just to you, but myself… you don’t have to fight alone, nor do you even have to fight, Horatio. I don’t think I wanna see you die today.’ But she admits, she raises her eyebrows, startled to recognise… two on the wagon she really didn’t expect to see her today. ‘…Amera? Gideon…? Is that you two?’ -Ellandra- Ellandra sits up after a few moments, a light sigh as her wings flutter a few times and knowing that with more arriving, she has to make sure they have some space to seat themselves. It’s not much to do, but she was albeit enjoying the sight of the sky above in such a relaxed position. She wonders a moment what Zwool’s contenting him doing, though with how things have been going, it’s not the most important thing by far. For a few moments, she thinks and then, glancing around to the others, she takes her pad from Carrion’s side quickly draws on it and then, tapping Giselle’s shoulder, she holds it out to read, a bit hesitant of meeting a new person. -My name’s Ellandra, yours?- -Zwool- Zwool’s rest continues to envelop him though his mind is maybe too awake for the middle of the day to claim him entirely in rest. He finds himself beginning to stir, a small grumble escaping him at the mind awakening, yet with a slight effort to force sleep back, the book from before almost slipping from his grasp, he tries to turn over. Something, however, begins to build, an odd pressure in his head he finds comes from nowhere, but makes him grimace, a hazy rest replaced with a dull pain, growing to a roar….

-Obelia- Obelia glances to Ken for a moment, unsure of how at ease she should be discussing her friends past so openly in front of him, yet for now she just smiles to the side at him, a soft one before glancing back to Sophia for the moment, glad to see she’s made it onto the wagon alright. However, even as they begin moving again, she answers her question within a moment, leaving Obelia confused as well, thinking to herself for a few moments. She does remember, before she left that Sophia had been to see someone in Arashiyama, someone she… Obelia’s eyes widen a moment, realising with a start what the implication is. She is about to respond before thinking about how it isn’t right for her as her friend to just chastise her, something het family may alredy have done for what has happened. So looking to her friend’s daughter, sleeping in her arms, seeing how much Sophia seems to keep her close, she smiles a bit and then answers her old friend as calm as she can muster. ‘I… understand, shall we say. Are you… searching for Alyssa’s father or are you just travelling, Sophia?’ She keeps her inquiry gentle, no want to be intrusive in her words. -Langley- Langley really has to admit, after a moment, that it’s not fair to Andy to make him this scared and yet nothing happens in the meantime, nothing to at least console his fears instead of making them unfounded making… well, Langley seem crazy. She glances to Noel and slightly blinks, surprised to find Noel isn’t looking at her incredulously, smiling a bit but not in a patronising manner. The chill has ebbed, so it may have been whatever ‘it’ was that was here has gone now. Langley sighs a bit, lightly nodding to her friend, walking into the kitchen after a moment, answering Andy’s declaration as well. ‘Maybe. I wouldn’t worry Andy, just eat something and then go get some rest.’ She has calmed considerably, walking to the cupboards, looking for something quick to eat before finally getting some sleep. -Noel- Noel believes in her friend’s story. Langley may be tired, may have been someone who could be trying to fight just to get Andy from her, even when Noel didn’t actually have him yet. But she believes in her friend as she thinks Langley does in her, wanting to believe in her. She notes Andy’s words too, a light sigh at dismissing it and walking to the kitchen- -You look just like your father, you know.- Noel wheels on the spot, eyes wide and searching for something, for whoever said that in a light, feminine tone. But no one is there, just the quiet of the room, the tick of the clock and the still night air. She glances around, silent and pale. Before heading into the kitchen, smiling the two and pretending what just happened, never happened. -Carrie- Well, confidence in Horatio, while still quite high, Carrie may admit wavers in the face of a rather angry looking noble waving a sword at the both of them in a manner that seems to suggest they should not be heading in the direction of said cart, something which it seems Horatio is keen to disagree with. A slightly light hesitance is cast aside, Carrie sighing inwardly and quietly thinking a simple ‘Ah, to heck with it’ while placing a light trust in the, to her, quite crazy but still lightly charming man she runs with, though blinking a bit at the tug, a small inner groan at what’s about to happen, feeling her body lift from the ground, the air glancing around her form, across it. Huh, maybe I’m later then I thought, she muses before her side collides with the wood, a small breath left as the air is knocked out of her. She tries to say ‘ouch’ but it seems not enough air is left to actually speak the word, left to just mouthing it from beneath her hood, her cracked lenses. After a few moments, recognising that some sort of exchange is going on, she takes a few breaths, not so much injured as winded rather heavily. So she waits for Horatio and the other guy to finish talking, before in answer to Horatio’s, while a bit late, still rather caring inquiry as to her state of self, she sits up with a slightly strained smile, nods a bit and feels her breathing coming back to her, slow albeit but indeed coming back. The nod was to assure him she was okay, before her speech returns to her. ‘I’m… okay, Horatio, don’t worry about it. Try and… aim for a pillow next time ya try that though.’ She offers a light grumble to lighten the mood as within moments, bar noticing an unusual bunch around he, the couple at the front half-asleep, the rather surprised winged girl in front of her which she smiles a bit hesitantly to, understand that her entrance may have been a bit jarring, the knight that’s present for some reason and the angry noble, she blinks a bit at the rather odd group, not including herself, the scrappy looking civilian and the wise-cracking shifty guy she actually considers a good guy. She blinks though at the rather fancy guys implication that she can’t judge a character like Horatio’s words as true, a light answer offered that isn’t hurtful but is as firm as she can muster. ‘I’m sorry; mister, but I do trust Horatio’s word. Not necessarily because he’s the most trust worthy person I know, but if he’d wanted to be shot of me, he’d have had many opportunities to do so by now, but he hasn’t taken them. I will trust him as long as he trusts me around him as well.’ She does glance however up to Horatio, a slightly quiet gladness in the fact he does support the fact she can make decisions for herself, somewhat glad about that. But these words about Horatio being a killer, being someone who murdered for money prompts both a firm defence and in some ways, an odd promise form her. ‘And I believe in him, but I’m not letting him kill anyone who doesn’t deserve pain while I’m around, alright mister?’ The threat of the guy of that couple with a knife does bother her, but she blinks, glancing to the woman as she begins to speak and noting something in her words that bothers her, answering the woman called Carrion as honestly as she can, as light hearted as well. ‘I said I wouldn’t let him kill anyone, but that includes not letting him die, not for me, not for anyone. I know enough to know he’s a good guy at heart, so I won’t let him die, nor try and hold up you, ms.’ She goes silent finally, her back resting against the wagons side, breathing out a bit as her eyes slightly close. -Ellandra- The sky looks so peaceful for the moment to the dove anri, smiling casually as the clouds drift above. Even with the rather hectic emotions that the day has been carrying her and the others way, it seems a moment’s peace is indeed possible as the blue beyond the clouds calmly continues it light toned addition to the white of the wandering clouds. And then someone crashes into the wood in front of her. Ellandra jolts, a worried glance to other, a slightly hesitant flinch as she notes that the impact may have cracked a rib, or something close to it as the girl seems to be having slight trouble breathing. Ellandra stays silent, a slightly hidden flick of her finger, a gentle tingle going across the girls side as unbeknownst to her, she heals up rather quickly, the airflow returning to her quickly. It’s a minor spell, even though with the magic it requires, Ellandra wobbles a bit at the drawing of magic from her core. She listens to what’s going on before quietly settling back, not saying too much again. She is… nervous, shall we say. With how things went before, she is worried that any action she somehow begins with will somehow annoy another so she is a bit shy of indeed even tapping another’s shoulder for the moment. -Zwool- Sleep has dawned, or rather, dusked for the dragon anri, his wings flicking a but unconsciously against the wood of the bench while his form lays prone against the craft work, for now his mind drifting in a deep sleep and as such, clothed in darkness, nothing really passing the time in a head that itself slumbers subconsciously. His breathing, shallow for the moment, continues as the only sign of life from the still dragon man, one hand hanging over the side of the bench and swinging in tiny strokes for a few moments. And for many at the moment, this would probably not be the worst thing for them to believe. But somewhere inside Zwool’s mind, something wants to drive him forward, something he still can’t quite place, that he has no way to identify when resting this was a want to prove to himself he can change. -Lucinda- The slightly stronger reassurance going across Lilith’s features is rather more evident as her body seems to have relaxed; she does try at moving past the point of being upset which is… a positive? Lucinda hopes so; her mind wanting to will her to sleep after a few seconds more of conversation. It could be an attempt to be kinder then usual, or her mind wanting to make everything feel a bit better so it can rest easy in a few moments. So for now, she listens intently to them both, noting the exchange as best she can, though feeling a bit bleary as she listens to them both. Her aggravation does ever so slightly return, but this time at the rather annoyed exchange between the both of them, their disagreement grating at her ever so slightly. She continues to listen, occasional tired wobbles coming as she nods once or twice to each of Lilith’s answers in turn, in a light sort of answer to the fact that Jabin is at least giving her some sign that he will obey her command at the least. Surprisingly, her father being annoyed with her has not mattered this little in a long time, yet with a slightly curious tug at something in her memory, an odd vestige of memory from a long, long while ago, she muses on something, that name she says which seems to hit something from a long while ago, as if very important. ‘Adrian… somehow, I think it’s a name I heard in passing. The knight I healed, he was following a woman, a witch, who’d taken a boy with her… I think… the boy was called Adrian? Maybe, I’m sorry if it was someone with just the name… but it does ring a bell, slightly.’ She voices her one related memory, curious if it could be the same boy. But at his words to Lilith, she sighs, looking back to Lilith for a second before gently moving out the door, tugging Jabin’s arm before he departs down the corridor, firmly telling him. ‘I understand how you must feel being talked down to, but she has as much a right to be indignant as you do, captain. If I die, you are not to exact punishment against this woman unless she was the one that drove the sword into my heart, understood?’ -Seilynda- The riding continues, her mind wanders into an almost restful state of non-thought. Until Seilynda reaches her destination, her horse carries her in an almost drifting thought process along the pathways to the capital of Shuthra. She doesn’t think of too much, taking this time to let her mind ret from needless worry, sad moments that have no place in her mind. She rides and as if body is operating on automatic, her eyes glance to the sides, checking for unseen enemies, oddities amid the landscape with each gallop. Unfocused and yet at the same time, instinct aware, quiet and yet each clop of the horse echoing against the ground beneath. -Giselle- Giselle blinks off and on, Arcen’s words… she’s half a bit wary, half a tiny bit flattered by the attention. She’s not quite sure which to run with, a slightly light chuckle coming from Giselle, glancing gently to Aiduen for a moment, looking to her as she tried to explain as well. ‘I’m not freaked out by it, really… it’s just… for a guy whose focus is fighting, him… well, and actually being flushed is kinda sweet. I know he’s your brother, but… Heh, yeah, kinda sweet. And I don’t…’ she blinks, a tiny flush herself as she nods in answer to Aiduen’s question, moving with Aiduen to the wagon after a moment. She makes sure not to add ‘mind if he tries anything’ as she gets to the wagons back as the fancy guy seems to depart.

-Obelia- Obelia smiles with a glance to Ken, a light nod of silent thanks in return for the slight halt of the wagons wheels against the ground. His own smile warms her heart a bit more if possible and she turns her head to Sophia and smiles once again, no patronising in that truly bright almost grin. To see an old friend from her home now far away is a brightener for her day, yet she is curious of something as well, even as Sophia giggles, asking a rather soft question. ‘Sophia, I’m happy for you but… why are you out here, alone with her? Why are you… here, really? I know it sounds bad but… you being on your own with your little girl, isn’t that a bit dangerous?’ Obelia understands as she says it that maybe it’s a poor attitude to have to raising a child independently but she does worry that raising a little girl in times of international tension, brigand activity and chaotic magic can mean even a daily walk can be dangerous. She feels a slight ease knowing from Ken’s introduction that he’s easily willing to help though she can’t help but wonder if the assassins from before may try and hurt those involved with either Ken or her. She shudders a bit silently at the thought and instead offers her arms to hoist Sophia and her daughter up into the wagon, as gently as she can and another smile forms at the offer of food and the like for the two, though she still wonders if she’s here because of choice or… circumstance? It worries her only slightly, for now just focused on making sure her friend is comfortable and in the wagon, her little girl sleeping soundly with her mom for now. -Langley- Langley watches for a moment Andy move from Langley and again, pushes aside a slightly triumphant feeling in her heart. Human she may be but she believes that doesn’t mean her faults have to be active a hundred percent of the time. So she just looks out into the hallway, the same as her two friends, breathing ever so evenly for the moment as she wonders why she feels so cold, why is it that the stairwell is so frigid even though she can’t remember leaving a window open? Why is what tugs at both a slightly intrigued curiosity and an almost primal urge of fear, her tail twitching behind her as her body goes through a conflicting array of emotion. She walks to the stairs, a surprised yelp indeed at Andy’s rather brave dash, silently impressed though the fear at the forefront of her emotion. She follows down stairs and by her side, Noel walks too, hesitance going across her features. -Noel- Hesitance is indeed one aspect of herself that comes easily across her face, but behind a furred and cautious gaze, her own deep-set wariness is prowling her mind, trying to find an answer for this unusual turn of events. A ghost is something that is told of in nightmare tales to scare people from certain areas of woodland or in fairytales to make sure children have an afterlife to believe in. But it’s not grounded in reality, she muses, moving beside Langley, as if both are on automatic moving in a slightly mirrored, guarded position on both their sides, reflecting on another for that said moment. Fear is subjective, she knows this, and so why is she afraid? Is she afraid that the ghost is real… or as she thinks a moment on it, a quiet paling of her cheeks beneath the fur, is it because of who it sounds like, an unseen and only mentioned auntie, someone who died in slavery? She wonders this and as she moves to Andy’s left, Langley to his right, both still quiet but in protective positions as they advance on the living room, maybe she’s worried about what this might mean for her, her family, Langley’s. -Carrie- ‘Then I guess, Horatio, I’m gonna have to devote some time to figuring out how to make you blush like before again, if only to give me a good giggle.’ Carrie lightly smiles again, enjoying the teasing as it lets her mind both relax for the moment as well as wander on what it is today might bring adventure or hardship? She ponders if some sort of semblance of her daily routine back home, social chatting and the mundanely normal semblance of life as lived will be today’s routine but for some reason she doubts that, quiet a bit. Horatio seems to be someone who doesn’t like to abide by that yet she wonders how much of him does adventure love and how much is just doing things for the very sake of doing them. She smiles a bit, chuckling at his idea that they may have to walk, and slightly squeezes his hand as if in reassurance that running is not that big a deal to her. She chooses to keep how far she’s walked to herself for the moment, indeed not wanting to sound boastful to him, though tilting her head at his identified ‘smarmy bastard’ she does widen her eyes a bit, not so much at the dashing but at the sight that follows, which is said ‘smarmy bastard’ moving to an intercept, drawing his sword in a manner that makes her glance to Horatio with a slightly worried, yet as their dashing, breathy murmur. ‘Horatio… not to bed rude, but… does your plan account for sword wielding ‘smarmy bastards’ who are blocking our path? -Zwool- Sleep is a curious thing when it creeps up on you. It lies in wait, sometimes when you feel still mostly wide awake and then draws itself around you, a hidden embrace that sends your mind of to dreamland without a care for your current situation. It’s this which happens to Zwool, the coin in his hand gently pinging against the floor as it slips from his palm, hand limp by the bench as flat on it, his eyes draw shut, for now asleep. It’s not really a need to sleep but maybe it’s from an absence of his body doing other things that the maw of rest engulfs him. Suffice to say, after a few moments, his mind is out of it and as well as that, the rest of him is not that awake either, really. But that sometimes goes without saying, even as the coin comes to rest like Zwool himself, flat on its back after a moment, still. -Ellandra- Ellandra’s ‘job’ done, she resumes laying back against the wagon floor, casting her eyes up again after a moment or two. Seeing Carrion actually approach calm and even nuzzling close to who she assumes remains her loved one, anger and sadness no longer an evident issue with her, reminds the dove anri that it is indeed quite a blessing to have someone who is willing to listen, to talk to you when you need a voice to reassure your heart. It’s just a case of working out what’s the right voice, the right person to look at and want to be around. She sighs, quietly wondering how much of this is considered moping for the moment, before continuing to stare into the sky. She feels it’s best to leave Carrion and Adrian alone for now, with each other as that seems to be both cheering Carrion and, selfishly, diverting them away from being angry at her. But with a slight yawn, she pushes that aside for now, wondering exactly how things will go once the destination is reached. -Lucinda- Lucinda has not really felt this way in some time. A part of her is fearful of being this open with another simply because it feels a bit wary in trusting someone, something that the more gullible part of her has had no problems with before. So perhaps it’s a change that’s come from the struggle of the trial in her head. For now though, she just listens a moment, intent on making sure she doesn’t come across as too arrogant, though the want to disagree or state her sense of dismay at Lilith’s demands of herself tugging at the sides of her mind though she does manage to push them away for the most part. And again, it’s ‘for the most part’ as she does take a slightly firmer tone for the moment, shaking her head and keeping the bag outstretched for Lilith as her name is, to take. But she takes Lilith’s other hand, gently shaking it and answering her greeting in kind. ‘I assure you, I do not offer charity lightly but this is most certainly not that. I made you cry and feel less then yourself and this is the only way I feel I can show I want to make that up to you. And in answer to your queries, of course go and ask your mother, she is free to come along as well if it pleases her as I have no wish to separate families. And it is very good to meet you Lilith, under better circumstance. My name’s Lucinda and its good to meet you.’ She smiles a bit, though as Jabim interjects, she can understand his reasoning for being against her ‘going alone’ with Lilith on more of her journey. She also understands the stringent binding between a knight and his or her duty and honour. To some, it is above their own life they maintain that bond, something which she admits worries her slightly. She thinks on it and Lilith’s words, before a light idea pops in her head, one that she admits may not be too great an idea but one that she would like to at least voice. ‘Very well, I shall here a day or two. However, .Lilith, if I may use this money to maybe buy your services for the next few days? Or rather… make sure you don’t have to attend to anyone outside of myself for the next day or two, no men especially. I promise if you agree I will not make too many demands of you and once I’m rested and you’ve talked with your mother, we can go without any knights and until then, Jabim, would you mind waiting out of sight until I’m ready? I wish for Lilith to at least know she can enjoy the next few days and those beyond.’ Lucinda wonders how far she’s changed, feeling different then she was but for now puts that aside, listening for what they both think. -Seilynda- Horse still continuing a rather hectic gallop along the plains for the moment, Seilynda allows her mind to continue a rather innocent, if bored wandering, a quiet drift onto what the city ahead might by like. She’s seen busy areas, she knows of them and how enclosed certain areas of the world can be. But she feels, after a time of isolating herself ever so slightly from others, it may feel good to surround her with people for a while, if only a while. She smiles a bit at the thought, though for the moment just urges the horse onward, quiet and determined to make her way to the destination she’s set for herself, however long it takes. -Giselle- Giselle blinks, a slightly curious glance at Arcen as he begins to say something yet hesitantly blinks once more, a bit uneasy at his sudden turn to just staring wordlessly. She’s slightly grateful for Aiduen’s interruption, though from what she infers, she understands why she may come across more as a liability then an actual help along the journey. But she stands a bit firmer, trying to keep herself from appearing too disappointed at hearing she’s really not too much use for the trip. She smiles politely and nods in answer to being able to hold her in a fight, speaking after a second with gathered thoughts. ‘I wouldn’t worry about me; I know how to take care of myself in a scrap, you two. If she’s alright with it, I still want to come along with you.’

-Obelia- It's with a quiet smile that Obelia observes Ken from the other side of the wagon, though soon her casting her eyes to the side, hoping to cause him no awkward smiles or quiet glances away first. So she looks to the side for the few moments that the wagon begins to exit Varthas, a quiet tilt of her head, sure she can see someone walking along the side of- '…Sophia?' Her eyes widen and with a smile that suddenly cuts across a rather shocked stare from the armoured woman and then with a surprised stare turning to a agape glance at her baby, Obelia for a moment forgets where she is, who she's with, her missing and then, with a grin, a true one, gently calls down to her. 'You had a baby?!? That's… amazing, she's so beautiful!' -Langley- Langley watches Andy's fear and feels a slight guilt cross her form, a gentle look cast to him seeing that he shares her worry. Yet after a moment, the guilt shifts to determination, standing and wobbling but standing, looking over to him and the now oddly calm Noel, a slightly inner grumble felt at seeing her friend keep so calm, a pang of something as now Andy clings to her and for that moment, feels like she should be where Noel is. But with a soft thought, she made her choice, she smiles to them both and then with another wobble, Noel casting her a rather firm 'Go rest' sort of look, she moves to the door, looking to him a bit gently, a firm denial of Noel's wish granted. 'Iregardless of whether… it's real or not, it's gonna be okay, Andy. It, whatever 'it' is, we can… handle.' She looks to Noel with a sort of 'We can, yeah?' quizzical glance to her friend, looking for some support, even if her refusal to just sleep is grating on her furry friend ever so slightly. -Noel- 'We can handle it.' Noel's gaze is a reinforcement of this, a slightly quiet knowledge Langley's not at a hundred percent for the moment, but doing her best to smile to Andy too, the knowledge their maybe some sort of supernatural after-death imprint of a soul may be hanging around Langley's parents home… being a bit much to take after just the third or so day for Andy. She looks to the hallway landing, feeling a cool breeze and yet knowing that it's a bit odd considering it's a staircase… not a window. With a quiet glance to Langley, a small pause as her eyes have glazed over, she gently pokes her shoulder, jolting her friend ever so slightly, seeing her smile and yet still seeing some fear in her eyes, turning her head back to the rather cool feeling coming up the stairs. -Carrie- 'Well, I'm glad I'm in your thoughts, hopefully for more then just my 'cute ass'. Though if you could get your own rather sweet ass out after me, maybe you'll get in my thoughts to.' She grins, a quiet one as she moves out the door even with a light smile across her features, hood up for the moment while looking back to him with a gentle grin. It's quite a good start to the day indeed, she finds herself musing. Listening for a bit as she walks with him, surprised he's okay with a slightly clingy girl holding his hand, so keeps a light hold on it, a raise of her eyebrows in amusement at 'sneaking in' but smiles at his question, murmuring gently. 'I was ready before, but I know I've got to do my best and maybe grow a bit along the way. I'm ready for this.' -Ellandra- Ellandra casts one, silent glance to Carrion. It's a small one but seeing her cry seems elongate the silence. She wonders for a moment what she can do bar going away to cheer the woman, not a witch, in front of her. She glances to her pad, thinks a bit quietly and then, with Zwool's want for forgiveness whirling in her head, she quietly scribbles something on her pad, moves over to Carrion and sets the pad down beside her, returning to the floor, laying back and watching the sky again as the paper rattles beside the moving wagon. -I'm sorry for making you sad. I didn't mean to annoy you and you and Adrian look rather sweet together. I'd like that.- -Zwool- The dragon anri rests with his back against the bench. It seems people have been and still are coming and going, but for now his eyes are watching the sky, wondering what keeps the clouds up for an odd moment. He knows this is dumb but for the moment, even this trivial fleeting thought is something to occupy his thoughts, remain in his mind and give him something to do and to dwell on for some time, twirling that coin he's flipped on and off and now just cradles it within his hand, a quiet yawn from a moment of nothingness bar staring. He wonders a moment on Ellandra, but soon let's her ease from her mind, knowing he still has to try, even in the boring moments, a quiet look cast to the sky. It's… interesting/ -Lucinda- Seeing her surprise is something that Lucinda has not called out of the question, understanding that it's most likely something she's expected. The accusation of who she believes she is would not be something she has considered out of the question for the moment, but for now she just listens a bit, watching with a tired glance that seems to sink more in, a quiet twitch at the word bitch being thrown at her but somehow, maybe physically biting her tongue as she listens for the moment, watching her quietly. She finds she resists saying anything, jut listening for a moment, quietly as well. She watches her anger grow and grow and for the moment, listening to her she see's sadness and despair, she see's tears and frustration and for the moment, her face watches, impassive and quiet. It is only at the end, listening to her, a silent touch of the Captain's shoulders and wobbling before the crying woman, she murmurs, a sober tone to her. 'Little one, there are many things I've believed over my time. I've just spent two weeks in a coma for once trying to help someone. Real life… is not confined by class or by your money. There are many who seek… to av… avoid this by accumulating so much of it, they think they are shielded from all that is bad in the world. And then one day, they may by accident or by deliberation, reach past the veil… and face reality. I've seen it. And I admit… fantasy seems like a wonderful dream about now. I'm sorry for how you must strain. I do not know how to help… bar this.' From a pocket, her fingers tracing it, she draws a bag of coins, a personal bag of money, kneeling before her, no towering over and handing it to her, murmuring. 'But if you ever want work where it does not reduce your soul to tears dealing with incompetent nobles like me, I'd like a travelling companion or the like. I can pay you; it's… considering it my apology for shouting with no understanding.' -Seilynda- (Forget EVERYTHING you've seen of Seilynda before. Well, not all of it, but all of it relating to the island. Take that Blue pill) Riding still and unsure of how far her destination is quite yet, she finds the constant ride, while invigorating in some ways, still keeps her thinking on her journey ahead, where it will lead. She ignores the clatter of her spear against her back, silent bar the clopping at a quick pace of the horse, a restful moment between galloping lengths and feeding her steed with food taken from her departure to keep her horse well and able. She watches the horizon ahead, knowing Shuthra is ahead, but wondering why she heads there for the moment. She quietly growls to herself, knowing what she has to do is just run and finds a place to just…'find something' as it is. Though what she wants to find is what puzzles her. -Giselle- Giselle casts a bright smile to Arcen, glad he seems so enthusiastic, though for the moment seems to blink, a bit hesitant as she gains knowledge of a need for permission from this unnamed lady. But she smiles to Aiduen too, murmuring a bit gently as she stretches a bit, glancing around for this person to ask. 'I'll ask her then when I see her. Do you think she'll mind too much, honestly? I'm not that much of a bother; I can help in a scrap!'

-Obelia- Obelia’s chuckle is light, but her gaze seems a bit more intense that moment, one that tries to convey to Ken some of how she feels about what he’s done for her, yet knows it is with more words she must try to make him understand somewhat. And so she just talks for a moment, talking in a vain hope he’ll get it as the wagon moves along. ‘I had friends, you have to understand. But in a place where you’re surrounded by women and your mind tells you… you want more then to just be around them, you want to hold their hand, squeeze your fingers between theirs, kiss them… it’s… hard to have just friends, especially when… that sort of orientation I don’t think many have. You’re… since I started this journey, Ken, the last time I ran into anyone, I think I made most of them think I was some sort of stone hearted idiot, or some sort of, pardon me, ‘bitch’. And you’re the first person who has not just accepted me for who I appear to be, but… accepted me for more then I appear to be. You’ve made me smile, Ken and that’s a gift I hope you know how much I appreciate you for it.’ She says it with slight pauses, hesitations but a smile grows towards the end, eyes closing as she awaits his answer. -Langley- ‘It was a ghost.’ This comes a bit out of nowhere considering that before Langley was denying things stringently, trying to show she was okay but even as her friends head turns, unable to help a slightly paler tone to her furred cheeks occurring a moment later, she understands Noel would have and still would badger her for the truth given half a chance. So she just shivers for a moment, thinking back on what she saw, what she swears she saw. ‘I saw a woman, a woman in tattered clothing but… she had your dad’s fur, Noel, she… it was his colour and yet she… she just smiled at me. She was… pale and her hands were… in chains and… she… I couldn’t see her eyes but she smiled at me. I… I dunno, I’ve never felt that scared in my life.’ Noel is watching her, a slightly quiet look to her as something about the detail relating to her father… is what seems to sadden her. -Noel- Auntie? Noel’s thoughts trail to this, her father’s sister, mentioned not long after Langley had departed, after she’d asked her father why he always waited with worry at the edge of the village, telling her one day his sister, her auntie had been taken by Langley’s mom to be a slave. It was her memories of Langley’s mother, sad every time she talked with her father, smiling wearily over Langley, Langley’s brightness and friendship with her that made her do her best to react without anger, with calm. But this ghost… sounding somewhat like a slightly more horrific version of her auntie’s spirit. It’s… she goes quiet, Langley knowing somewhat what she may be thinking as she sits quietly in her chair, Noel silent as she stands next to Andy. -Carrie- Carrie glances with a slightly confused expression at the guy before her, Horatio’s stare maybe uncomfortable but she doesn’t fail to notice what she brings up with a slightly curious smile, wondering what it is that makes him turn such a light shade of red, saying it with a good natured humour to her tone too. ‘Hm? Thinking of a girl you like, Horatio? You went strawberry red~’ She doesn’t stop grinning, having a bit of fun with the teasing, though she does find it fades seeing him get his knife and finds herself surprised at the quickening of her heart, a slight worry is his head. She wonders silently how many times he’s had to use that knife, how he might have been hurt by others before and all he could- she shakes her head, refusing to head down that worry laden thought pathway and tugs her hood up, picking her glasses up and sighing at the fractured nature of them. She thinks a moment, slips them into a side pocket, smiling as she can still see quite well, smiling at Horatio too as she leaves, grinning at his kind act. ‘What a gentlemen~ No door is a match for you!’ -Ellandra- Why am I here? I’m here because I said it would, but I’m hazarding a guess that even coming along, I’ll just be considered a nuisance, a means to an end, aggravating when I try and help and someone to get shot of at the soonest opportunity. I… why am I here? Ellandra wonders this, laying at the bottom of the wagon a moment and for that same moment, she couldn’t care less what anyone thinks of her, just looking at the moving sky above her for the moment. It looks beautiful and without care for those below it, the clouds drifting on the wind and making her giggle at a very silly thought. If there was no wind, what keeps a cloud from falling to the earth? Is that what fog is? She wonders on this silliness even as Carrion leaps from the carriage, deciding to allow their fracas to just continue, knowing somehow she’d make it worse for her. -Zwool- After a time, Zwool has begun to just stretch. Stretch, yep. To be honest, bar a little exercise, he sighs as he knows for the moment there is truly nothing to do, at least to him for the moment. He remembers for a brief moment that odd, scaled book and yet sighs with slight consternation, having left it at the inn for the moment. So for now, he… yes, stretches. He knows inwardly how not… too great a sight that is, with a slightly tired stretch, touching his toes. Yes, this is really happening. -Lucinda- It takes her by surprise, the arrival of the guard that speaks to her of her past… weeks? She almost bolts upright, a slightly pale shock crossing her features after a moment or two. She’s been out of it for nearly two weeks? That is… staggering to say the least, knowing so much time gone and she has been spending most of it asleep. For the moment, she finds this news saps any want to find some sort or revelling in the fact someone has pledged themselves and a bunch of guards to her service, a slight chuckle out of light hysteria. ‘Two weeks… or so. I… I see. I… thank you, for your protection and if… I ever meet this priest again, Captain, I want to have him brought to… me and-… I’m sorry, I’m not really too focused right no-‘Of course, not every moment can be full of a Lucinda that’s slowly learning to grasp humility, whatever THAT is. For the old Lucinda does slightly arise at the sudden arrival. Though then again, awakening from a ‘coma’, being barely able to stand up without some pain, finding that a small part of your life, yet a part none the less, has been consigned to comatic sleep may bring out the worst in someone. So it’s with that call from the girl in the… wow, a maid’s outfit, she appears to be, she thinks dryly, in a male’s fantasy, unsure if she’s actually awake, that she answers this call with a steady, slightly too calm reply. ‘Little one, I’m glad you’re alive. I really am. Because… I was just talking to the nice Captain here and what I wanted most of all after finding out…’ she breathes in a moment, steadying herself and standing a bit straighter ‘finding out that I’ve been asleep for two weeks thanks to some sort of induced coma, was someone to shout at for venting purposes. So… if you would kindly take yourself, your ridiculous outfit and yes, that is not by any regards gratifying to your figure unless you’re used to being naked, take your little words and LEAVE, before I come over there and lecture you on every precise thing that is wrong with you and your outfit, that would be most gratifying, unlike your little ensemble piece. Do I make myself clear, little girl?’ She says it with eyes that could pierce steel at this moment in time, the Captain forgotten in this brief moment. -Seilynda- A pillar of flame. Seilynda see’s it, eyes wide and for the moment, the boat drifts on soft waves from the gusts coming from the air being shifted. She watches it with a staggered expression, before suddenly finding herself shocked back into noticing the boat has been drifting to the side, forcing the oar into the water once again and pushing against the current with all her might, which sends the boat into a slight spin. Yet it’s with a slight grit of her teeth that Seilynda, determined to not feel like a failure, pushes the right oar in, slowly beginning to steady the boat, feeling it turn ever so slightly careful as she wonders what it might be that causes the rising flame, rowing faster as she begins to gain more control, the boat heading for the source of the flame. Is someone alive there? That doesn’t look like volcanic activity… -Giselle- Giselle’s smile lights up, indeed quite glad that it’s no front and the twins seem to have made up, which is indeed quite a calming notion after the events of the other day. She tilts her head; curious on what it might be that this ‘chick’ could be leading them too, she answers the question yet gives on of her own, folding her arms gently as she answers. ‘Well, I’m alright though I haven’t got too much to do. Though… if you wouldn’t mind and if this, as Arcen so eloquently puts it, ‘chick’ doesn’t mind, maybe I can tag along? I haven’t really got too much to do today after all~.’

-Obelia- She offers her priestly friend a slight smile, sitting up a moment with a slight stretch of her form, listening for a second to every tiny tink and quiet Klink of her armour’s bits and pieces against one another. She then looks back to Ken a moment before answering an unasked question. ‘Ken, I wouldn’t worry about people listening to you. You’re so kind to others and all I’ve seen from you is a want to help other people. You got me on board in a quest I knew nothing about, just because… well, you impressed me with you gentility.’ Obelia smiles a bit light at Ken once again before settling back into a slightly more relaxed position against the wagons sides. -Langley- ‘…’ Langley is quite frozen a moment, even with her friends standing there in worried confusion. After a moment though, perhaps it’s the fear of something worrying the two, Andy looking fearful and Noel suddenly rather hesitant too, tugging the blanket tight around her that causes her to change tact even when un-nerved. She strains a smile and lightly forcing herself to sit back down from a rigid position standing up, Langley waves away at the air, smiling a bit tiredly to Noel, whose eyes seem to narrow and Andy, still standing there with her staff out. ‘It’s… alright, guys, I’m alright. Guess was just a bad dream, is all.’ -Noel- ‘Bull.’ Langley’s eyes blink, surprised by her friend’s slightly growled tone and her single word cutting through her defence, but Noel’s eyes cast to the stairwell. And she feels that same chill that tingled at Langley, like a quiet void out of sight, sucking the heat all away. She turns to Andy for a moment and from her blanket, moves a hand to gently touch his shoulder, smiling at him. ‘It’s alright Andy, whatever’s worrying Langley, we can deal with it.’ ‘It’s nothing, really-‘starts Langley but finds her friend moves her hand in a upright, palm to her faces direction, eyes clearly hinting for her to quit it. Langley sighs and Noel with a tiny smile knows why. Neither has been able to successfully lie to the other, at least not for long. -Carrie- ‘Hwah?’ The door opens, Carrie not having quite heard, but she is dressed bar her hooded top and her still quite cracked glasses. In actual fact, this may be the first time any outside of her village have seen her face not obscured by either. Her hair is wet and a slightly darker brown for the moment and her eyes are blinking the showers water from them, but she smiles at him, hooded top clasped in her right hand and glasses on the table, while wearing a light white tank top for beneath her hood. ‘Sorry about taking so long, been a while since I’ve had that good a shower. So, we ready to go Horatio?’ She asks with a curios smile, stretching a moment as her body readjusts slightly to room temperature. -Ellandra- Bubbling anger isn’t exactly something so subtle Ellandra cannot pick up on it. If not for the fact that on a slightly subtler note, she even offered a chance for Ellandra to leave, maybe so annoyed that she would rather less distraction from her trip then dealing with more hassle and indeed, stupid questions now the dove anri thinks about it, there’s also the rather obvious note of just yelling at the wagon owner without prompt. So Ellandra hesitates before her next move. She watches the Crimson Witch go and for a moment, it seems so easy. Head back, spend the day with Zwool, eat ice-cream, that sort of jazz. So easy. I hate being me sometimes, she sighs to herself, wings flicking as with a slight dash, the girl runs with a good speed for the wagon, reaching the back as it begins to leave the back way, tugging herself onto it with her wings beats urging her onward, until she ends up sprawled on the wagons back, dizzy a moment from the rush of the run. She swore to help her; she’ll help her and hopefully overcome her own anger at Carrion. She knows it was probably stupid to not turn back, but maybe that’s why she’s determined to stay now. To make sure it wasn’t an entirely stupid decision. -Zwool- Heads. Huh. That’s two out of six. So clearly it’s seen that Zwool, however hard he’s trying, is admittedly struggling to find much of interest to do in one spot. Bar, after a moment of searching the ground for something interesting finding a single gold coin, not much bar now flipping the coin into the air, watching it twirl and then fall into his palm, guessing the result and then opening his fingers to gather if said result was correct. So far, not many times he’s noted. He’s seen the woman leave with the rather well dressed man, even seen two, a rather tough looking boy and a rather worried looking girl; head in the same direction and for some reason finds it’s rather popular at the moment. Which is why in his head, all he can say is Focus on the coin, focus on the coin, and focus on the you get the idea. -Lucinda- It takes a few moments of rubbing her back, side, neck and almost all those rather stiff joints that refuse to go straight back into action without some ache and pain, of course. She finds her body somehow chooses to listen to her somewhat after a few moments, the pain of stiffness ebbing after some time just staying rather still. For now, all Lucinda does, with a slightly exaggerated huff to her tone, is ease her body off the bed, finding she nearly falls over with a wobble of her legs. She curses a few times, non-blasphemous ones… maybe, before standing a bit taller, straighter, wobbling ever so slightly her own way to the door, hand gripping the handle for both necessity of advancing and actually finding out where she is, as well as the fact she feels like she’ll collapse a moment later. But she tugs the handle down; glancing out the door as it opens, continuing to call out in tired confusion as to where she might be. ‘Hello? Anyone… alive?’ Not really, again, the brightest question. But for a confused now non-comatic Lucinda, it’s the most succinct she’ll get for now. -Seilynda- The waters edge approaches and Seilynda wonders for a second if this is a bust, if this is all a story in her head she’s just made up to have something to do, something to look for. But then she see’s it. A dock, an odd looking, rather rickety at that, wooden dock. It feels off somehow, she can’t quite place it as she gently pats her horse, slipping from the side to set herself on the rather muddy ground. She glances down, a curious tilt of her head, wondering how this close to the water is wet, yet still it feels like the ground here was swallowed by water, before being returned to surface at some point. So tying her horse a bit away from the odd, wet land, moving forward to the dock, she goes a bit quiet, hesitant as she feels wood creak beneath her and soon, she see’s it. Her eyes are wary of the rather odd boat, so smooth and curved, creaking among the gently splashed water across it’s lower half. She glances over it, something still feeling… off. But at the same time, she now wants to know, know why an island surrounded by water you could swim through requires a boat. So with that odd feeling ringing in her head, she lightly steps down, into the boat, grabbing two, rather clean oars for a boat and slowly, sets the paddles into the water, pushing them and herself in the direction of the island. -Giselle- It’s a pleasant surprise for Giselle today as things seem to be turning out better then she expected for herself. No sooner has she wandered down in the direction of the south gate, curiosity over the rather debonair looking man that she sights two familiar faces approach after, well, sooner then no sooner really. It seems the guys waiting for something, or someone and there seem to be one or two familiar, somehow, looking faces around here, there indeed seems to be something going down around here. And for Giselle, walking over to the two with a light smile, that sounds like something interesting to participate in. So with a wave of her hand, she smiles and greets the two siblings. ‘Hey you two! I see you made up, or are you just good at putting up a front?’ With a smile, Giselle approaches the two, both of them looking like they’re waiting as well for something.

-Obelia- ‘I’m not sure, Ken. Obelia is the kind of name that maybe some sort of high-class noble wanted to name their daughter to make sure everyone knows that their from a higher-class background. I’m not even a noble; I just have a mom who thought it sounded good on me.’ Obelia says it with not much hesitation in her tone, as if flattery is something she finds hard-pressed to accept. She does however smile once more after a few moments, settling back into her seat with a smile on her face. ‘Now, Ken Van Liro, that’s the sort of name a dashing count or something would have as a name. It suggests aristocracy, yet you seem far too… I’m not sure, sweet-natured to want a position of power Ken.’ With Obelia, while she finds flattery isn’t something she takes well, she finds flattery in her head is only flattery when it’s a lie. She honestly believes Ken is indeed quite sweet-natured, after all with everything that has happened with them both so far, how can she not? -Langley- Langley stands for a second, glancing around the room. You’d see the rings around her eyes, suggesting the tired nature of before but bar that, the slumped and rather sleepy looking girl from before is gone, replaced with an agitated woman, body shivering every so often from that cold feeling that seems to be radiating from the hallway. She glances at the door, a quiet moment offered before she begins to walk towards it, a quiet glance cast to the now closed door. Something feels off about this, something that’s been getting at her since seeing… well, whatever ‘that’ was which appeared to her that night she came home. Her hand reaches for the handle. And when the handle moves by itself, her breathing goes quiet, a slightly pallid expression across her face. The door opens… -Noel- Noel’s form pauses a brief moment, to just listen to Andy talk for a few moments. She smiles a moment, even a tiny grin at the mention of his former hobby. She rests against the wall a moment, halfway down the hall, but talking once more to him before she heads back, a quiet smile cast to the door which Andy lies through. ‘Maybe it’s cliché Andy, but that doesn’t make it any less sweet. Flowers are rather beautiful you know. And by the way.’ Noel smiles back at the wall, slightly amused she is smiling to a wall but standing as well, glancing back to the door from whence she came. ‘I don’t think being frail or meek is what defines you Andy. Because I’ve all I’ve seen of you so far… is the want to help others, even maybe at the cost of you own sense of calm. Thank you, Andy.’ She heads back to the door, opening it slightly and then blinking rapidly at the rather pale and now standing form of her best friend, a quiet glance over her. ‘Langley?’ ‘….’ -Carrie- ‘Mm.’ It’s not much, but Carrie’s mind under the heat of the water, the soft evaporation of the heated flow that caresses her skin, feels probably the most at peace she has since she left home. For a moment she smiles, even taking a slight moment to think something that quietly amuses her. He’s imaging me naked isn’t he, she ponders, but after a moment shakes her head, determined to believe he can’t be THAT perverted. The doors still closed for one. So it’s after a few moments that she smiles, switching the water jet off, climbing from the shower and drying herself down. She muses a moment on how far she’s come yet quietly acknowledges how far she needs to go as she reaches for her clothing. -Ellandra- Observation is a skill you find comes with difference contexts and different time frames allowing. Ellandra isn’t the talkative sort, as you may have guessed yet this means not many choose to talk to her. So this frees up a lot of her time to simply observe the dynamics of others, even when her own mind is a bit pissed at the present moment. She is silent as she observes Adrian, Carrion and the new, knight man who from the exchange appears to have erred Carrion in some way previously. While Carrion has been crying, eliciting some want to help from the dove anri, she admits that it isn’t as high it might usually be, still refusing to get over her gripe over her day plans not going according to, well, plan. But she sighs, inside knowing, maybe; just maybe, ever so slightly… she isn’t being mature about this. She sighs again, barely noting the arrival of the slight ‘pretty boy’ to the side that seems like he’d be more suited to a manor setting then the stables of a city of magic. But for now, she glances around, before thinking to herself, moving over to Carrion and tapping her shoulder for a moment. Before the woman can turn, she takes out something she’s been practicing with off and on, a relatively easier way of communicating with others that she is unused to, but may help her out in the long run. One item is a pencil, which she scribbles on the other item with, a slightly scribbled in book with the pages nearly all blank. She holds it up for the other woman to see, words slightly messy but still large enough to be legible. Are you okay? Can I help you at all, Carrion? -Zwool- So what do you do when you have an entire day ahead of you and you’ve made a promise to stay in one place? Well, this is, dun-dun-DUN! …where the powers of observation come into play. So for now Zwool watches the streets curiously, wondering who will come along, what they’ll look like, why they might be here, that sort of thing. He sights one or two scruffy looking people who glance around conspicuously, as if they might have some sort of ‘underhand’ business in the capital, a few rather well-dressed people, such as a familiar looking long-haired blonde guy heading the same direction Ellandra went, raising his eyebrows. He glances along the street, sighting a woman, a rather… okay, a rather ‘prominent’ in features woman grinning to herself, just walking it appears, before she pauses in the street and then glances to the same direction Ellandra and the blonde guy went, before heading in the very same direction. He blinks a bit, rather confused at the sudden popularity of that very same pathway. For now, he stays seated, knowing if he goes down that same way, the only thing that awaits him is how has been throughout this entire journey. He sits, watching quietly. -Lucinda- Lucinda’s not quite used to asking something and no one giving her an answer, even if it’s validity can be called into question. So she almost seems to growl a moment, before moving rather quickly upward, without much though and calling out a bit louder… well, shouting really to no one in particular. ‘HELLOWWWW?!?’ She flinches a bit, finding her shoulders almost spasm with a light pain. Her pain stems from the stiff nature of her body, having not moved in several weeks, even if her body hasn’t been physically harmed. She consciously grumbles to herself, making a mental note to purchase a massage therapist at some point, someone to tend to her muscles in a most gratifying manner. But for the moment, she just blinks her eyes a few times, rubbing them hastily with the palms of her hands, eager to see the environment around her in a more clear-focused manner, for the moment her trail at the far, far back reaches of her mind until she wants to ‘deal’ with what happened to her. -Seilynda- Her horses pace quickens and even with all that’s tackled her own self-confidence over the past few weeks, Seilynda keeps calm, still wondering what it is that’s drawing her to the island ahead but gently patting the sides of her hose, head down to gain some speed as they draw and closer. She swears just in the distance, she can see a landing point for boats but it could just be an over-active imagination. Still, she aims her horse for that said point, quiet for the moment. What if that island is some sort of prison…? And if so, how do you keep people prisoner who just have to swim in order to get to safety? Her mind puzzles over this even as she draws closer to the waters edge with every gallop of her steed. -Giselle- Walking along the streets centre, she glances ahead; sighting a slightly open area between buildings, a slightly curious glance at what she thinks is the city gate dead-ahead. She tilts her head a moment; sure she even sees’s a man with dragon wings sitting on a bench, quite a curious spectacle indeed. But for now she blinks once again, sighing a rather… she admits, dashing looking gentlemen heading down to said gate. She wonders on if she should follow him for a moment, but after said moment, just grins a bit, a slightly mischievous one passing over her features as well. She did say she was going to enjoy herself today so, might as well. With that in mind, she walks onwards, heading to the south gate and whatever it is that awaits her for today. After all, it’s at least guaranteed she might meet someone to talk today, right?

-Obelia- For the moment, Obelia just watches Ken. She thinks of growing up and smiling with her mom, of learning of her father, her mother's wariness and reluctance to see her go and of course the journey she's been on the past few months, feels like years now. That dream of her parents together, that idealistic yet foolish fantasy seems paler in her mind then when her journey started. But she watches him a moment and just smiles, blinking as she realises something to her own surprise. 'Oh, I haven't even told you my full name yet. Obelia Arianne Natarle.' Obelia even manages a grin, revelling in the slightly 'eccentric' nature of her own name. 'My mother wanted me to have a unique name and sure enough, she got that wish.' -Langley- It's hard to see at this point for the rather tired woman slumped in the chair. She lazily blows at her hair, realizing it's grown a bit wild, and the fringe nearly coming down in front of her eyes. She grumbles, murmuring she must get it cut at some point even as her mind tries to calmly reassure her it's too close to a jelly like substance at present to actually devote more time to this though. She thinks wistfully of Andy, smiles at a thought of Noel being happy with her, ignores a pang and yet for some reason feels herself shiver, sit upright. Something cold feels close, she can't quite place it but it induces a wary glance around her. That same feeling from the night before? -Noel- She doesn't barge in, Noel has spent too much of her life shy of others to just breach another's privacy like that. But she does touch the door a moment, unsure herself why until her brain reminds her of what she wants to say. About this whole mess, about making Andy feel so unsure of things over the past few days. It's all she can offer she realises, curling the blanket tighter around herself but with a slightly tried but also, ever so slightly cheered look to not the door, but past the door, she murmurs. 'I like to cook. I dunno why I'm telling you this, but… something special about myself for you to know. I don't know what it is, but just cooking, it feels… like magic I guess crafting something beautiful from base ingredients. I guess I'm telling you this because… everything that's happened over the past day or so has been so quick, so much so that maybe I and you and Langley, we didn't have the time to just sit and take it slow, talk about things. That's maybe why she came back. Why I'm glad she's back. And why I'm glad I met you.' She leaves a lingering touch along the door handle, almost wanting to tug it open. With a slightly hesitant sigh, her fingers though trace off it, knowing now, speed is not what any of this is about. She turns and begins to quietly head back to her room, smiling slightly and glad she said what she came to say. -Carrie- What exactly am I doing? That's still a thought dancing its way within Carrie's mind as she feels herself slip her jacket off, her clothes trailing to the floor after a moment as she steps within the shower. Heated water pushes against her skin, across her face as her eyes remain shut, thinking on what's happened, how far she's come. It's no longer just talking with the local girls or helping her mother out, but brawls, knives, Crimson Witches and finding herself clinging to a honourable but still rather rough around the edges sorta guy. She opens her eyes a moment and then her hand traces over her heart, surprised to find the beat has accelerated. So much, so fast. She knows she wants to go help Horatio, he seems like, no, and actually he's acted like a good man. She is hesitant, blushing at the thought but she somehow 'knows' he didn't take advantage of her last night. So it's with that thought, she nods, albeit she is still rather confused. Crimson Witch sounds so familiar to her. For a brief moment, she stands still, thinking to herself back to Amera, Ignatius and Gideon that time in the forest. She doesn't know why, but a small tug to say hi to them again latches inside her, even as she just sighs for the moment, washing the water into her skin lightly. -Ellandra- Let's say you were within some sort of, shall we say, 'hearing distance' of Carrion and Adrian's exchange. Let's also say the words 'Beggars can't be choosers' is a phrase that can be easily miss-interpreted and maybe taken in such a way that a girl, however supposedly 'angelic' she appears, is just as normal at heart as any other being with emotion, may believe that it's being implied that either as a beggar or chooser, you are being portrayed as some sort of desperate who can neither afford to take or find a good person to go out with. If I may say, if you've grasped this so far, then you may understand why Ellandra, now walking in the opposing direction, waving to Zwool absently, just casts one, quiet look to the couple before blinking herself back into sense. The island isn't too far, the reason why she's walking with them being she was already ready to go out, a slight satchel at her side enclosing minor foodstuffs, drinks, the usual things yet maybe more for a picnic. So she wonders why it is she maybe acts on automatic, following at a distance to the stables for a moment, before observing the scene with the knight. Ellandra finds herself drawing a light sigh, annoyed that even angry at the woman, Carrion's tears make her want to console her, glad for the moment Adrian fills that role as she guesses his boyfriend. For the moment though, she just stands, arms folded, wings flicking off and on at a slight distance behind them, determined that if her own promise and their determination to do this today is going to change her plans, they'll get their dang guide. She doesn't understand what it is about the knight that makes her cry but it is a curious affair indeed. -Zwool- Zwool sits upon a bench, doing his best to practice his new 'I'm trying not to care what Adrian and Carrion think' technique. So far, it's not working too well, his form fidgeting off and on while seated along the wood, though his eyes close halfway, wondering a bit on what it is that he should do. He sits still a moment and glancing over his own, slightly bulky hands, his gauntlet, he ponders the right thing. It's the idea, he realises with a slight surprise, that two people not only dislike him, but will continue to dislike him, that makes him keep thinking on it, making him lean back into the chair, slightly stunned by that realisation. He realises that he will not get along with everyone, after all, his track record so far has been… anyway, shaking his head, he just sits for a moment, hands on knees as he glances upward, to the sky. What's the right thing to do? What if Ellandra is in danger? What little he wants to remember of his obsession with Carrion makes him think back to her reputation as the Crimson Witch and those who will hunt her. Adrian keeps her safe, but what if those who seek to hurt her will hurt her through those she meets? What if he's obsessing again? With a worn out sigh, he rubs his forehead and just watches the quiet streets for a moment. This day is going to be a confusing one indeed. -Lucinda- …Can I open an eye? A thought, an actual coherent thought crosses Lucinda's mind a moment. The fighting has ceased. And luckily, or maybe unluckily, her personality comes back rather quickly as well, chastising her thought within a moment of thinking it. What a ridiculous idea, of course I can open my eye, it's MY body. I just have to open it. Though what am I going to see? Am I still in the forest? No, I'm far too comfortable to be there. Maybe I'm home? No, I feel no massage… hm. Well, one does not experience things with sound alone. Her eye opens a crack, a want to shut it immediately as light cuts into her vision. For the moment, everything is white. She almost wants to cry she's blind but luckily, is stopped, maybe her trial giving her a bit more sense then before she began it. Maybe I'm dead? Or maybe not. But after a moment, as light begins to filter, a wooden roof forming in her vision, the light fading to the side as it streams in from a… a broken window? Where is she, a hovel? All Lucinda can do is just open her lips, feel slightly surprised to hear a croak echo her throat at weeks of unused vocal chord coming into action and wonder if any are here. 'Hello?' It is indeed a croak, but it's one which may vary in the response that it gets, or lack thereof. -Seilynda- 'Ahhh…' It's a sigh of relief when after so long a journey, you find the destination you've… well, not been searching for but to be honest, are glad to see as it may involve food and drink at the end of it. Seilynda casts a tired smile and looks around a moment, curious about something. There looks to be some sort of… island? It's odd really, she's always thought from stories and maps there wasn't really an area for one around but an island is within sight at this distance from the capital. She doesn't know why but something's funny about it. It looks kind of like where you'd take a prisoner, drop them off and leave to die if it wasn't for the fact that most are probably able to swim. It's something odd that tickles her curiosity. But it's also what makes her gently urge her horse to the side, even a bit tired, curious about it. It's not like, she notes rather dully, she's got anything else going on, her horses pace quickening as she heads for the landmass among water in the distance. -Giselle- It'd probably be easy to just go and accomplish what she was sent her to do right now, but for the moment, Giselle's not really too bothered. She smiles, a slight grin edging into it as she finds herself determined to at least spend a day or two enjoying this city and enjoying herself. She wanders along the streets for a few more moments, a slight boredom there however. She admits to herself, with a grumble at that, it's always slightly better with others. Memories of her childhood try to tug at her thoughts but she pushes them aside for now and keeps walking for a bit, glancing around for anyone in particular. It's not a big thing, but she would like someone to even just casually flirt with. Casually, though. So she for a moment, she just wanders in any direction, not really minding where her feet take her.

-Obelia- With a slightly light chuckle coming from her lips, hearing that answer a quiet smile stretching across features forms as she stays seated along the other side of the wagon before nodding once or twice, murmuring back to Ken with a calm answer coming across to the priest. 'Very well. Then you are going to have to regale me with the life and times of Ken Van Liro.' She smiles a bit softly at that and glances back to him, awaiting his response. -Langley- She blinks a bit, hearing Andy seem to announce his departure with a rather audible tone to him. She thinks for a second that maybe there's no clear way for her to cheer the guy up, trying to ease him with not 'getting in the way' proving too quick for him, but trying to encourage him after healing her something that doesn't seem to work, nor even not stopping him leaving creating a relaxation within him. She worries, silently, if she can help him in any real way. She's about to open her tired lips, say something she thinks is futile, when she's surprised by a darting figure, clothed in a blanket. 'Noel?' She blinks and yet watching her friend run past, she just slumps a moment, offering a tired smile. She's certainly grown more stamina since last they met. -Noel- A fist weakly knocks off and on against Andy's door. For a moment, Noel just stands outside, fu still a bit messy, eyes a bit tired. But why she stands there is because all she seems to have seen in Andy today is, albeit very shortly, exhaustion. But she knows what he tried to do. So even if he doesn't let her in, which he doesn't have to, she decides to just say what she hopes will help. 'Andy? I know that you've had a… alright, it's… ahh, still a bit tired, heh. It's been a bit hectic the past day or two. But I wanted you to know I… I appreciate what you did. I appreciate you. Thank you for helping me. I was having… a bad dream but then a light cut through it. I followed it and then I woke up. I think that was you that did that.' With a slight pause, Noel just closes her eyes a moment, leaning it against the door. Maybe just leaving him alone might help. But before she does, she wants him to know that she's glad he came here. -Carrie- 'If you join me then I'm pretty sure you'll be hot under the collar a bit too quickly, Horatio.' She smiles a moment and casting a slightly teasing look back to him, she heads into the shower. Though she pauses, glancing back a moment as her hand grasps the edges of the door. 'Though if it were up to me, it wouldn't just be the collar heating up, boyo.' She casts him a grin before the door shuts and she breathes quietly for a moment, one thought welling up quite quickly. What exactly have I gotten myself into? …And why do I not seem to mind that much? -Ellandra- It's hard to not just feel like you want to blame two people who probably have had no intention to cause harm to Ellandra's 'best laid plain's'. But even if she is neither mice nor a man, they have indeed gone awry. She wants to, for the moment, stick her tongue out, turn away for a moment, ignore them, pretend that what she'd agreed to earlier. She wants to, quite a lot. But for the moment, she just tries her best to keep a relatively calm face and nod to Carrion, straining a smile to her. It's not her usual feeling, anger but for some reason, it wells in her. Maybe it's a false hope that she won't have the time to see if Zwool has truly changed today. But for now, she just remains silent, smiling, turning to Zwool, hoping to convey to this obsessive that he can't cling to her for the day. -Zwool- Zwool is not exactly Zwool anymore. It sounds odd but allows me to explain a moment. Zwool, the Zwool that has been, is not quite dead within the dragonish anri that does his best to adopt a face of almost blank acknowledgement of Adrian and Carrion. Part of him as he hears Carrion speak wants to still hear her speak to him as she does to Adrian. Part of him wants to move to Adrian and indeed, sock him in the face so hard his jaw cracks. Part of him wants to cling to Ellandra and follow her around with them, keep her safe. But there's a new part, one that he doesn't quite recognise yet but is trying it's hardest to rear its head. It's the part that makes him say this when Ellandra turns to him, through his own forced smile and slightly empty anger. 'I understand what Ca… what that woman means, Ellandra. Be… safe, if you need me I'll be back here, I promise. But… I'll be waiting for you when you come back. But if you need me, come looking for me, I'll be here, this spot, waiting.' It's a rather cliché romantic notion, to wait in a spot to see if your possible loved one will come, but this part, that stops him from socking Adrian, from nodding to them both once without feeling like he's an absolute wrench in their relationships content existence, that allows him to not cling to Ellandra in a way that causes her to feel smothered, is something that he will not know the name of till the right time. It's called 'maturity'. He hasn't got all of it yet, but it's start. -Lucinda- An ordeal's an ordeal and to say Lucinda's mind has been through one is possibly to undersell the exact nature of her journey from spoilt noble to heroic noble to comatic noble. But the fighting inside her head, maybe her soul has quietened, silence settled over her heart as well as her body now. Every so often, even with new guards surrounding her, her fingers begin to twitch; her eyelids seem to shiver with activity below them and her breathing even starting to deepen from a formerly shallow tone. The result of her inner turmoil is almost here and the answer is whether her eyes open soon or not. -Seilynda- Work's been good, somewhat. Forging weaponry is the sort of task where your focus can be diverted from the face you've had an emotional breakdown, feel useless and that you aren't up to your job. But then again, there's also the fact that those thoughts return after every weapons be forged, after the days done. So it's one day with a slight smile, an understanding nod and taking to a horse that Seilynda departs wondering what it's gonna take to just not feel like this, unaware an answer comes as her horse heads in another, uncertain direction. For now, atop her horse, Seilynda and a rather half-asleep Seilynda at that, slumps for a while as her horse clops along, registering slightly a towering building and a sort of beautiful, glowing semi-sphere ahead and it is here that her answer as yet unsaid is awaiting her arrival. -Giselle- The day is dawning and with a yawn, a woman rubs her hand through her hair. Alright, so it's not exactly the morning per-say but with a glance around her, her 'mission' still ahead of her, Giselle stretches as she exits her inn room, dressed once more but adjusting her top lightly, glancing outside a moment. The dawning sun, well, rising sun as it's always rising, really looks rather beautiful. Yet that's not the main focus, even though the other day with Arcen and Aduien has been making her think. Bonds between others isn't really something she's been having with her family since, well, a long time to sum up. So she wonders for a moment, stepping down the stairs, soon smiling with a wink to the inn-owner as she steps outside, into the still rather empty street, what it means to have a bond as close as that particular brother and sister.

-Obelia- ‘You were a help, Ken. Just… be careful, alright? No good trying to protect your, dare I say, ‘fragile’ self if you break your back just trying to hitch me up for a lift Y’know.’ Obelia’s tone has taken a further, relaxed edge, finding Ken’s company a constant ease around her. She moves to seat herself on one side of the wooden transport before nodding gently at the notion of the travel time, not too bothersome despite the obvious question raised. ‘So any ideas what we should for said long period of time?’ -Langley- ‘Go rest up, eat something, and just go relax Andy. You did well.’ Langley says her words with a slight smile to them, indeed grateful to see her friend up and about, albeit confused and bewildered by the extant of her friend’s actions. She doesn’t stop him from leaving; knowing that the past day has been rather thick tumbleweed of gathering befuddlement. She leans back in her chair a moment and smiles at the small mumble from Noel as she glances at her blanketed knees for some reason, reminding Langley of the rather shyer girl Noel used to be. -Noel- ‘Thanks… Andy, Langley. I’ll be okay, go relax.’ Noel’s fingers wrap around her steadily rising knees, realising her muzzle has tinted a slight red again. Then again, with all that’s been happening, with what that mind trip of sorts has led her to realise, all within a stunningly singular day, she doesn’t really pay too much attention to her legs, or much else, merely the fact she knows now what she chose in her head. And oddly enough, for Noel it’s going to be easier to discuss with Langley once Andy’s off resting or something close. -Carrie- ‘Wah?!?’ It’s a rather over the top exclamation but for Carrie, the hug she doesn’t see coming, truly. She finds her arms want to instinctively wrap around him too, but a voice in her head, a voice desperately trying to not become clingy, lets her just rest in the hug for a moment, listening to him. She does smile, but it’s a lighter one, not hint of sadness or teasing in it, as she answers his worry with a calm response. ‘I can fight, if that’s what you’re worried about, Horatio. I… well, I have a knife I ‘borrowed’ and let’s say on my journey, I’ve had plenty of time to practice with it.’ She says it simply and her hearts odd pang assuages to a regular beat with the explanation of Theresa in a nutshell. But she also feels a slight guilt, worried as she fees with how they are at the moment, not really sure actually what they are at the moment, she shouldn’t need him to explain stuff like this to her for her to be okay. So she smiles, standing with indeed his push, stretching slightly before heading into the bathroom. -Ellandra- You find sometimes that the joy of just watching the city, living the moment with someone who seems to be doing well on their way to being someone you might care about, can only be ruined by actions you yourself cause. Case in point, Ellandra glancing down for a moment and with a slight pause, sighting the approaching forms of Mr. Adrian and Ms. Carrion. This of course, even if she is an angelic looking dove anri, prompts a very human emotion, a very base one. A rather selfish anger, sighing to herself as she moves her form ever so slightly behind Zwool. It’s not that Carrion and Adrian are doing things to anger her deliberately, nor is it the case that she is faultless, agreeing as it was to guide them to the island. But for this second, so content a moment it was before, why does it have to end so soon? -Zwool- It’s hard sometimes not to note a change in the atmosphere of a moment when you’re so readily immersed in it. Zwool’s eyes blink a few times, feeling Ellandra stiffen beside him for a moment. It’s only after he looks to her with an inquisitive worry, follows her gaze and looks up that, with a rather tight grip of her arm, which he eases after he swears he hears her wince, he just sighs. Because it’s very hard to take a persons advice, to find a new life away from them when said person just seems to run into them and vice versa almost half the time. He glances to Ellandra and for a few moments, pretends that they’re alone again, for what good it’ll do him, smiling to her and it seems something about them is what’s causing her shift in mood as she offers a rather small back.

-Obelia- Obelia’s eyes cast over Ken’s for the moment, making sure her whole form makes its way onto the wagon, before with a slightly gentle glance her arm touches his, as if feeling for muscle. She almost grins, amused, murmuring to the priest rather softer then even usual. ‘I find it’s good if my friends warn me their muscles might hurt if they try and pull a fully armoured blade wielder up then try and act the gentlemen and maybe strain themselves in the process’ -Langley- Langley’s eyes raise and even in this early hour, her form seems rigid for a few seconds, hesitant to discover whether her friend has awoken and been healed or somehow the magic has had an adverse effect. For a moment, she tries to open her lips and give the equally confused boy some sort of reassurance, some idea that it might be okay. She manages a few words before something slightly more cheery begins to intervene. ‘Andy, it’s… well-‘ ‘Andy…? Langley?’ It takes a second for Langley’s suddenly frozen features to move steadily and sight who is sitting awake on the bed. -Noel- Well, to come from a point of light to being awake, albeit with a slight sweat matting your fur and your two friends sitting by your bed, looking equally as confused as you are, Noel seems to be taking it rather well. In that after a second, sighting the staff by Andy’s side, she does blurt out, as if surprised by such an act of kindness. ‘You tried to heal me. And you.’ Langley freezes again, her form half-risen. It appears she was about to duck out and leave them alone. ‘You stayed awake for me…’ ‘…..’ Langley says nothing, realising her tired eyes, slightly slumped shoulders may, just may, be giving her away. -Carrie- Okay, she admits silently. She is a bit peeved. There she’s been, thinking that somehow she was a special case for the dude but it turns out that her mind is convincing her that maybe she’s just another fly caught in a rather large trap. So grabbing her by the wrist, she first seems to adopt a slight frown, an almost glare. But after a moment, listening to him, she just sighs. It’s not really the words of what he’s doing that do actually ease her a bit, it’s more… the fact he’s willing to apologise. But her mother didn’t raise someone with no sense, though her dad sometimes did. She thinks for a moment and then glances at him. ‘Alright. I’ll come with you and you can prove what you’re saying is the truth. I know… I’m sorry to, the way I’ve been coming off is a bit strong, even clingy and… you aren’t ‘mine’ to hold onto, I just… I don’t know, it bothers me that someone who’s drunk might be a better match for you then me. I don’t know, I’m still sorry.’ She realises as she says this other hands been rubbing her head, slightly wary of saying any of this. -Ellandra- The streets are slowly gathering people and for now Ellandra enjoys the rather slight emptiness as it were, her arm still wrapped around the dragon guy with a rather calm glance to the rising sun. A city, she thinks to herself, is quite a sight this early, building like the mage’s tower cast in shadow and framed against the orange of the sky. She squeezes Zwool’s arm and ignores the slight jump of her heart at an equal squeeze back. Silly or not, tender company is indeed something desirable at times like these. -Zwool- Zwool hasn’t kicked every slight love struck habit. He finds his gaze drifts down to Ellandra at points, just watching her for moments as she just kind of smiles, watching the city. She squeezes his arm at one point and while he’s thinking of his own strength, squeezes hers back. But while Ellandra is focused on the city, Zwool realises with a soft blush that she is, just… beautiful. She smiles and turns to him and he blinks quickly, turning to look at the city. She tilts her head at him and with a vague attempt at pretending he’d just noticed; he smiles reassuringly back at her. They stay silent and yet for some reason, more words are said in the small squeezes and calm walking then maybe is registered.

-Obelia- With a rather soft look coming from Obelia’s eyes, sighting how even with murder attempts, the complete change of objective back and forth for the young priests journey, even with the advance of his fathers letter, one that should seem likely to dampen the man’s spirits, he seems rather together, Ken’s lack of worry oddly refreshing for someone who is filled with it nearly all the time. She takes his hand, gently pushing herself up to him and to meet on the wagon, so as to not fall backwards tugging him against her armour. -Langley- Watching Andy run so quick would maybe be curious if Langley had s embralce of truly awake consciousness to amuse. She just watches him sit with a slightly dull smile, listening to her friend call in her sleep and with a simple call like that, know that actually she has made the right choice. However much that grates at her. With a slightly curious stare, even slightly stirring from her sleeplessness at noting whether this might affect Noel badly or not… she does jolt. For what happens next first makes her try to stand and then, sink straight back into her chair. For Noel seems to spasm before calming down eerily. Quite a show indeed, her form jolting within the bed, tugging at the sheets… then falling back into half-dazed sleep. -Noel- With the rather abrupt healing, it is inside the hazed, twisted landscape of Noel’s mind, quiet as her dream tries to claim her whole… that she winces harshly, at the light that cuts through the dark around her. A burst of light, making her form jolt, as if electrified with the energy that passes through het. She tries to cry outward but finds her body soon falling back, into darkness. What this darkness is, she does not see, it merely claims her and her breathing elevates to regular levels, her body now in just a slightly deep sleep… -Carrie- ‘Most of it.’ She adds it with a slightly amused grin, a soft chukle coming from her at the slight tease of the guy. It is proving to be an entertaining premise, making Horatio squirm. ‘And yes, take that as a… well, yes.’ She says it with a slight stretch, pretending that the idea that once again, she just isn’t up to par with another somehow isn’t bothering her, nor is it slightly eating at her mind, causing her a small pain inside that for some reason, just buzzes at her. She listens to the description of Theresa and yet that doesn’t help. The idea that a moment ago, she was less appealing to be around then someone drunk just kind of… well, doesn’t help, to put it simply. She sighs, wondering if what she says is because of good or bad reasons or just reasons, but as she stands from the bed, she gives him a firm look. ‘What, not come and see you be a gentlemen for drunken women? Of course I’m coming. I’d pay to see how you can pull that off.’ With that, she takes a small, inward hint and heads for the shower with a sigh. -Ellandra- With a grin that grows from the size of a slight smile to a widened width with a flash of teeth, Ellandra takes the flowers and, however lame she might feel it is… gibes him thumbs up. Slightly smiling, she thinks to herself then with a quiet thought, she wonders. Maybe a walk? This early in the day, just a nice walk might be something to go with. She thinks, sighing at having to be ‘direct’ but takes his hand, tugging it slightly to the side, moving from her doorway. She wonders how abrupt this feels to him, but for now she also wonders what to do today? She has a guy who seems half-decent, flowers, the rest of the day ahead of her. It’s a valid thought, she muses. -Zwool- With a slightly hesitant blink, his heart decides to avoid going at the regular beat, skipping for a few moments and supposedly crafting such a grin on the angelic-… angel girl’s face. It is slightly annoying almost, seeing someone who literally has to be described as angelic, pure white wings, innocent look, as bright as any sort of light, it’s cliché but at the same time, very literal, almost too literal. He blinks a bit, a hesitant glance at the tug. But Zwool is learning, ever so slowly, that usually, when someone indicates something, try to roll with it. So he nods, moving in the direction she tugs, watching her close the door and smiling, he is surprised to find her makes her blush as his arm gently links with hers. He does too, to his credit. He does very much too.

-Obelia- Moving with him, keeping as close as she can for now, Obelia tilts her head at the wagon ahead, curious as her head turns to Ken, asking with a very curious stare, her travels mostly by, indeed, tiring foot. 'We're taking a wagon? Is it safe? You wouldn't be able to see incoming arrows inside there…' --- -Langley- 'Well, we're here, so… yeah.' Aware of her past 'pushing' with Andy, feeling as if she could be trying to throw too much at him in one go, she just nods and with a glance at his form in the doorway, ignores that silent hunger to wrap her arms around him. Yeahhhh, tired, clingy, se turns away after a moment to try and ignore this rather inward, rather selfish wants, calling back to him as she stares at her squirming friend. 'And come in, Andy, it's alright to just come in.' She does turn a small smile at his offer as she shrugs, a quiet one as hr eyes turn lightly back, seeing her quiver. 'Go ahead. But I'm not sure healing magic heals decision making, Andy but… if ti can make he-' 'Andy…' 'Orr… yeah.' She turns, seeing Noel's furred muzzle saying that, a slightly chuckle at it. Answering her worries for her. --- -Noel- Noel's mind begins to flicker, trying to switch itself on. The landscape in her head begins to fade and distort, the darkness flecked with small trickles of light streaming in. The two paths seem to distend and twist closer to the curled Noel and her head raises, feeling someone close. Perhaps distant imagination or maybe her body feels the distant body heat approaching, her friends close. 'Andy…' --- -Carrie- 'I can't wake up?' Rising with a slight smile from her rested position, awake enough to listen and putting aside thoughts of how tight, too tight she may be clinging to him. She can't tell him though. How much it feels odd to say what comes next, raising a knee and placing a hand upon it, glancing down to her side with a playful raised eyebrow. 'So, Theresa eh? ~ I see I've met some sort of match? And nice abs.' She grins and teases with ease, keeping herself bright with him. --- -Ellandra- The door opens and with a slightly surprised blink, Ellandra's eyes see… Zwool. He's actually here. With a slight flutter of her wings, a partly surprised reaction, she offers a rather small smile back to him, wearing her usual, gentle white dress, not much else to work with. He looks cool. Welllll, as cool as a dragon hybrid nervously holding flowers- hey, he got flowers? All this time, she just looks and maybe that's why Zwool, standing there, observing her gaze silently at him with such a stare, wonders… --- -Zwool- Why is she staring? He smiles back yet does hesitantly wonder why she seems so intently focused on just looking at him. He shyly remembers she doesn't speak, her expressions have been what he's found recognition in, yet for the moment he stands still, she does, in the early morning day, flowers clutched in hand, wings fluttering once or twice in curiosity. An interesting start to the day indeed.

One more glance. One more look to the girl on the bed behind her, before Obelia’s eye casts a wary and rather weary look to the guards in view. She looks once more to Ken, as if so much needs to be said on the ludicrous nature of these quick events, yet for some reason she just lets them go. Perhaps she just trusts him. Or maybe it’s the kind looks or the words that he says as if they’re so easy to believe, laced with trust. So she nods once, saying nothing but hoping, as her hand rests with an almost paranoid stiffness on the pommel of her blade, he gets enough of her answer. --- (Langley 2: The Noel Strikes Back) The door across the hall opens and it seems like Andy’s wish is granted. Langley, tired and slightly lethargic, glances with a bleary expression to the boy in front of her and darting, sluggishly albeit, a hand to hide her mouth, she speaks and yawns, elongating words and missing some sounding as she greets him. ‘Heyy… An’y… you’re… here to see Noel? She’s having a tough sleep…’ Which was the smallest way of describing it. --- (Noel 2: The Langley of Doom) Sleepless and sleeping seem hand in hand for Noel, her body almost convulsing every so often, what had made her friend jump from sleep so many times, try to shake her awake only to find Noel just curls tighter in on herself. She shakes in her sheets, her fur sticks to herself and is matted with a sweat across her frame. Though she is tired in appearance talking to Andy, Langley has been on edge all night, seeing her friend wracked with something unseen and unsaid. --- ‘Mimble wimble…’ Yes, she really said that. Carrie’s eyes slowly open, noting a distinct absences of pillow like chest against her head now. She sighs a bit and with a small curse, even awake, realises she’s probably been very, very clingy. And she knows as well from customers who clung to her mothers stall just to barter or chat when her mother had to work that it’s not the most attractive personality trait. She sits up slowly and coughs once or twice, sleep clearing from her head but a small puzzlement as she hears water running…

Obelia’s eyes watch Ken’s study the soldiers. Her blade is by her side and her eyes, while still tired, offer a polite smile to the equally polite contingent. They seem well trained and yet she is wary, glancing back to Lucinda. She knows she has to protect Ken. There is no doubt left within her heart, seeing that attack just reinforcing the oddity faced against him. What it is that faces her going with him. Her own journey feels… minute, for this moment, against what ever it is that now hounds her friend. So she vocalises it, a quiet glance to the man she now stands beside. ‘I… will, come with you, Ken. But Lady Lucinda, even under armed guard… I am uncomfortable leaving her alone. I’d carry her with us if…’ Bits desperate to cling aren’t I? She thinks it as even then, she just stops mid sentence, unsure what to really say, what to say to just make things feel a semblance of what might be considered sensible or common sense. --- --- ‘Love is indeed complicated, Andy. But you’re not exactly talking to a maestro of it either.’ Langley doesn’t think this is the best time to be bothering him, tiredly noting his turn away, his words explaining things rather well. So she just shrugs a bit, knowing in her heart that it hurts but there is only one, true right decision. The kind that her mom might make or her dad. Or maybe she thinks that to simply console herself. Maybe. ‘I’m fine, Andy. Just figure out… what you want to say to Noel. I’ll see ya… later, let’s say.’ And without much more hesitation, or rather before her hesitation decides to kick in fully, she turns and gently walks off the porch, heading into town and looking for a few old shops to peruse, to perhaps check on an old blacksmith friend… --- --- Noel sleeps. And sleeps. Possibly sleeping much more then someone would on a regular basis. But for her, she’s trapped herself in her own head. Inside her mind, that decision, unawares to her, has been handed to her by Langley yet her brain has no knowledge of the exchange between the two, keeping the furred woman curled at that cross roads. Her body has been in bed for hours and as the sun and moon begin their dance, her sheets begin to drench as the decision becomes its own nightmare, making her confidence shrink, her form within the dream shrinking with it. A choice she doesn’t need to worry on teases and torments her and as day passes to the forefront once again, the sheets are slightly torn, tugged from her hands gripping them in her sleep. Across from her… --- Langley sits there, an even more tired expression then yesterday, years almost added to slightly worn features. She watches her friend with a mumble, wanting to reach and wake her up but scared for what she might say. She knows Noel. She knows that to offer her something like this, she’d see it as a pity offering, as maybe a way to patch things up from how’d they become, throwing her a b- no, that’s bordering on insulting, she muses and thinks. She’d spent the night wandering the town, just walking. Watching the moon, listening to the distant sounds of sea and sleep gulls heading for said wave crests at the days end. She’d just wandered for a while. And now she sits, snuck in once home after she was sure Andy wasn’t on the porch still or maybe just in bed. She watches her sleeping friend. And wonders how the true, best way to wake her is. --- No more wakey. Just sleep. Lemme have more of that. Sleep. I like it. So fuzzy. Like Horatio’s chest. Is his chest hairy? I dunno… it’s soft. I think. I don’t like thinking right now. Bedtime again. Carrie’s thoughts for the moment. Not exactly high end but then again, you ask the thoughts of someone trying to wake in the morning, be prepared to get exactly what you ask for. That or what comes over the next few seconds within her tired mind. …mmmmmmnnnnn….urrr….nnnn…mmm… Something like that, I’d suppose.