Face Things Together
Log Info
- Title: Face Things Together
- Place: A07: Fernwood Pub
- Summary: Harkashan and Rune talk about recent events and the changes they have brought to both of their lives, but find solace in the fact that neither have to face this alone.
A comfortable room above the Fernwood Pub. Below them, they can still hear the vague echoes of music being played within the bar itself, as Harkashan works in slowly slipping his armor off. Carefully undoing some of the clasps like he's done countless times.
There's an almost ritualistic nature to how he removes his armor with such intense care. Deeply rumbling as he works on this task and looks to Rune who may or may not be helping him with this at this point.
"Thank you for your quick thinking. I did not wish to abandon my armor in the middle of a time-sensitive task such as that." He knows he was trouble for not being willing to take off his armor.
She'll notice perhaps that he's being a bit more careful than usual near certain spots of his scales, as he removes his armor. Almost like they're painful spots he might have gotten bruised. But were she to touch those areas, she's notice them to be far warmer than before.
"How are you doing? Are you still feeling cold?"
The ritualistic way that Harkashan handles his armor is nothing strange to Rune, who carefully places one of the pieces down, laying it out amongst the others so that they can air out over night. She is very delicate with them, making sure that she takes the utmost care. It is similar to how she handles her blades, though her weapons have no religious connection.
"I wasn't going to leave you behind." Rune murmurs in response. It's a loaded comment, but she doesn't push further into what it means for her. "Besides, I knew those two were watching us. How would it have looked if we just abandoned one of our own?" She adjusts her own armor, leathers and a silvery shirt worn under it, as they hang over one of the chairs. "This really does slow you down, though."
She looks back towards him, perhaps thinking about how much he has changed in the past few weeks. It's something that may very well feel uncomfortable to talk about. "I'm alright. Most of it went away once we were out of range of whatever sort of spell that was. The only thing that got wet was my boots." Which are currently also on the back posts of a chair to air and dry out.
Rune is in her usual sleep clothes, a sleeveless shirt and draw-string trousers, with her feet bare as she pads around the room.
"I know." Harkashan rumbles when she speaks of not leaving him behind, a few black plumes lifting from his nose for a moment. He'd noticed them watching them as well, but he'd not said anything at the time.
"Thank you." He then rumbles, though he doesn't explain exactly what he is thanking her form. But for a moment, as she has her hand on a last strap, he touches his hand over hers.
Then, he lets her get to her own armor as he removes the last heavy piece and lays it out carefully next to the others.
"It does. I'm working on getting that resolved." He notes, looking at the mess of bundle that is the silks that Aelwyn had helped him don a few days back. He doesn't know how to put it back into the form it once was already. But it does remind him of something. He takes out a pouch of platinum, and with a loud THUMP, throws it onto the desk.
"I forgot to mention Asphodel's gift. She did not merely donate the silks. It seems she wished to personally thank me." He rumbles, making note of the coins on the table.
Harkashan doesn't really bother with sleep clothes at the moment, and just moves to sit on the edge of his bed, tail curling around so it doesn't get booped into the wall. "Anything on your mind lately?" He then inquires. Knowing full well that he has trouble reading her sometimes.
"Mmm. I saw Alaryn working on those anklets for you when I picked up my sword. They seem to be coming along nicely." He hadn't actually mentioned them to her, but perhaps the presence of the familiar lava-stones was enough to tip her off. "How many things did she try to sell you when you went? I usually walk away with at least two or three new things she's pitched at me."
Rune's blue eyes follow his line of sight to the pile of silks, "Do you... need help with those?" She asks. The next moment, the thud of a heavy pouch of platinum draws her attention as she looks over at Harkashan. Her brow lifts.
"You know..." Her lip quirks, "Asphodel might just have been swayed a bit by the allure of her draconic hero." Though Rune sometimes obfusgages her emotions, the amusement on her face suggests that she is very much not bothered by this. Jealousy really isn't one of her character traits, and it would serve her poorly with how 'popular' Harkashan often is.
"What are you going to do with it?" She asks, moving over to try to appraise the pile of silks. However, it is his next question that has her pausing, fingers touching the fabric. "You've changed a lot lately." That carries a tinge of uncertainty and worry.
"Hrmm - I was going to mention visiting her." Harkashan remarks. "Yes, she is working on them. That should hopefully help me keep up with you and the others a bit better." The Sith-makar notes, hearing the creek of the bed beneath him.
"She only tried to sell me that actually." He then adds. "I think she may just favor you more to sell. That, or I was clearer on the fact that the anklets were already my full budget." He notes bemusedly. "If I wish to improve my armor, I will have to find a way to lighten that. But that is going to take far more money than I have right now."
He then glances to the silks, then back to Rune. A shake of his head. "Not right now. I don't think I am looking to go to another party anytime in the near future." The draconic one notes. "But I do believe you are correct. She seems to have a... interest in me at least." He admits.
"The money?" He then asks, as she asks what he is going to do with it. "Donate to keeping you safe." He then remarks. "The silks - keep them with me when I need to go to another party." He quiets then for a moment, when she indicates he's changed.
"Speaking of my scales, and my pauses?" He asks. A plume of black smoke coming from his nostrils again. "Hrrm... how much have I explained of the Awakening of my people?" He then inquires.
GAME: Rune rolls bluff: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Harkashan rolls Sense Motive: (13)+12: 25
"Your people tend to be a bit harder to read, so maybe it is harder to flavor a sales pitch when you can't determine what a Makari is thinking." Rune has lived and traveled with the Sith-Makar for years, and while that doesn't make her an expert, it does mean that she has more insight than some.
"If... you're going to need a lot of money for improving your armor, you should keep it for yourself." Rune replies, giving a soft shake of her head, "We both agreed to protect each other, I get that, but... I don't want you throwing money my way that you need." She explains.
"And that's not what I meant." Kneeling down, Rune starts to fold the silks up in a more organized fashion, "I just figured you haven't owned clothes like these before, so you might need a hand making sure they don't get dirty or damaged." With that, she starts to fan them out, folding them neatly so they take up less space and could be packed along with his other gear.
"Are you interested in her?" At the question, there is a hint of Rune keeping something closer to her chest. Not fear or jealousy, but a sort of uncertainty. As if she were trying to simply sort out the various ties Harkashan has formed and what they mean.
Then, quick to change the subject, she mrumurs, "And nearly starting the bushes on fire at Cor'lana and Telamon's place." She looks over her shoulder at him. "Not so much. Is this what you and Skielstregar were trying not to tell me, before?"
"Perhaps." He answers her when she mentions it perhaps being harder for the merchant to pitch to him. It's not given much thought.
"And I know I need a lot of money to improve my armor, but right now, there are short term investments that are more valuable and important." He proceeds to point out. "And money spent protecting you isn't 'thrown away'." He adds to that with a firmness of tone.
He watches her fold up the silks, and leans a bit on the bed. Bringing one of his legs up onto the edge of the bed, resting an arm upon it. His embered eyes watchiing. "I appreciate it. You are right, I do not know how to care for silks. Can I not just put them in my bag?"
There's a bemusement that follows at the mention of Asphodel and interest. "I do not believe we are a good match in terms of... much of anything I'd be seeking." He points out. "Do not get me wrong, she seems to be wonderful. But she's of high society, and she seems to... be very involved in her own desires and whims. You need but think of the cart." He points out.
He quiets a bit as she speaks of the bushes at Cor'lana's. "No, what I tried to silence Skielstregar on is a matter of... secret amongst my people. I fear it is not something I can speak of. But I can promise it does not come from a source of distrust, but of promise to my people." He explains.
"No, the Awakening is... a sense of awareness. A great many years ago, a wave of magic rippled throughout Am'shere. Those touched by it changed. Scales of a wyvern, breath of a dragon. Memories of fire that lifted and reached out minds." Harkashan explains. "It was transformative, and turned me into who and what I am today. These scales of mine once were dusky and red and black. These horns of mine small. This breath of mine without fire." He explains to her.
"But now..." He looks at his claws. "I feel like this transformation was not done with me. I am starting to remember things that are not mine. Sense of Deja Vu, but failing to recognize the source." He then motions for her to get closer, touching a spot on his scales. Were she to touch it, she'd feel an intense heat. Not enough to burn, but far hotter than once before. "It's disorienting. The Awakening was a quick wave. A change that came immediate. This has been... gradually changing me. And in truth... it scares me a bit." A word he has not used around her.
"I'm not going to fight you on it if that's your decision." Rune replies, but there is a beat of hesitation. "Just... know that your life matters to me more than mine. Always has, always will." That isn't something he will likely ever change. It is the reason, afterall, that she had died in the first place, taking a hit from a powerful spell to save his life. "But... I do have some ideas of what I could with it."
The last of the silks are carefully folded up, "I'd actually suggest getting something water-proof to put them in, or to store them somewhere in town rather than bringing them with us where they could be damaged." Touching the colorful pile she looks over and explains, "A stray claw could damage the fabric, and it's easily stained. It's... basically fabric for appearance rather than function."
The sort of thing that very much fits with Asphodel's aesthetic. "She... seems nice enough. Attractive, too." Rune has no issues speaking on such things, "But she's from the exact kind of high society within the Llyranesi that I ran away from." Which may explain some of Rune's behavior around the woman in question. "She knows my father, I'm certain of that." This is followed by a sigh.
At the motion, Rune rises to her feet with her usual grace, approaching to stand next to the bed. With prompting, she lets her fingertips touch the slightly brighter section of scales, then draws them away again, rubbing her fingers aganist each other. "It's... definitely different. I think others are starting to notice it, too." There is some concern there on her features.
Then, brows furrowing as she stands before him, "You heard what the Corpse-eater said, about my mother." It seems like a jump in topic, but she soon connects the two things. "I don't know what it all means, only that it seems my mother must have had some kind of pact to something. Something these tattoos represent." She looks to him, "That scares me." Her words echo his.
"Seems, we're both facing changes. Things that scare us. Things that might shake who we are to the very core." Head tilting, she offers, "But... we still have each other, right? Whatever comes, we can face it side by side."
"It is." He remarks, when she mentions it being his decision. "As for my life..." He tilts his head a bit. "I do not know under what measure a life should be weighed. As long as it is valued. So - just know that I too weigh and value your life greatly." He isn't going to turn this into a contest of who values whose life more. He just wants to make sure she understands that he values hers a lot.
There's a 'hrrm' at the suggestion of storing it locally. He's sure that TarRaCe has some kind of warehousing capabilities. Pretty sure he could get a good price for something simple like this.
"I am surprised Aelwyn did not tear it then. He seems to enjoy getting his claws close to me." He jokes, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "But yes, I got a sense that she was from your father's demense." For all he knows, she's one of those who saw him bring Rune's body to her father.
He then shifts, letting her touch. Indeed. Different.
"Yes, I think Skielstregar and Aelwyn are taking particular note. I guess it is to be expected that my Kin are particularly sensitive to something akin to an Awakening." He points out. "I do not believe it is harmful." He adds. "But..." He doesn't go further, letting her speak of the Corpse-eater and her own situation.
He touches her hand. "We still have eachother, and face this side by side." He agrees.
"I know." Rune responds, but her voice is barely a whisper. It's impossible for her to weigh lives and what they mean to one another, and so she doesn't try. Insetad, it is just a quiet acknowledgement, confirming that those ties between them run deep.
The comment about Aelwyn draws a soft laugh from her, though, breaking a bit of that more somber mood. "That he does. I like him, Aelwyn. He's... fun." The two have a great deal in common, even if it doesn't appear that way on the surface. As for Asphodel, Rune shakes her head, "She's some sort of higher nobility, my father was simply an Archivist. He served her family, as well sa many others."
Letting her hand come back to one of those brighter spots, Rune traces the lava line across his scales, following with the tips of her fnigers. It is such a simple gesture, but one that might seem intimate as well, even if only done across his arm. "Do you know anyone else who has gone through something like this?" She asks. "I mean, you're... not going to turn into a dragon and fly off to go sit on a hoard of gold somewhere, are you?"
"He is. He is young, and he's not afraid to let it be known what he wants." Or perhaps, who he wants. The male seems more amused than anything about all of this. Harkashan then tilts his head to the side, watching her trace over his scales. Following the warm lines across his body. The lava-flow.
He's not softskinned, he can't exactly get goosebumps. But she might spot that flit of flame coming from his maw for a moment. A deeper rumble from the creature - one that seems to indicate appreciation.
"I do not." He then expresses. "I have not come across others who have... re-awakened? Awakened further? I do not even know what to call this." He explains to her. "But I am ninety-nine percent certain I won't go sit on a hoard of gold somewhere."
Rune reacts to that hint of flame by giving a soft puff of air towrds his nose, causing it to turn into a little whisp of smoke, instead. "Sorry. I didn't mean to stoke the flames." Herh and draws back, and instead, the half-sil takes a seat next to him on the bed, seeming thoughtful.
"Is this something that the Makari elders might be able to lend some insight into? I mean... I thought you and some of the others might be heading back to Am'shere anyways to hunt down that smuggling operation." Something that Rune, herself, has not agreed to come along for. She has not been back to Am'shere since her departure over a year ago.
"I do hope that you don't turn into a full blood dragon. I'd probably end up having to hunt for you, and you'd end up this giant fat thing that just trundles around." Rune puffs out her cheeks, moving her hands in a way that may very well harken to the idea of a very, very rotund dragon. Her humor is obviously aimed at trying to lift his mood and ease his worries.
"It is alright." Harkashan remarks in regards to stoking his flames, and shifts his body a bit so she can more comfortably sit on the bed next to him. It creaks. As if it were not having enough trouble with Lizard on top of it.
"Perhaps." He bids. "Other Shamans may be able to help with this, be it in Am'shere or Mictlan." Harkashan offers as a thought. "But if it is the elders in Am'shere, it may be something I need help with. Others who can travel with." Who knows what that kind of journey would look like after all.
He reaches out his clawed hand to hers, laying it over hers. "Ones I know I can trust with my life." He remarks, gaze seeking.
"And... you do realize that I am rather sleek, right?" He touches his body. "And that not all dragons go around collecting hoards and eating the innocent." Though his words seem serious, his tone is jovial.
As he shifts to make room, Rune crawls up onto the bed and leans slightly in against his side. It's a familiar comfort, being close to him while the two talk. Something that was missing for a while when she first returned, but it has seemed to slowly build back to normal over the past weeks.
As his hand shifts over hers, Rune lets her fingers slip between the clawed digits, "It's hard. I haven't been back and I don't know if it's something I'll be able to handle or not." She lets out a breath, likely trying not to let her mind travel too far down that line of thought.
"And yes, I do realize that, but you /are/ terribly fun to tease." That playful grin returns, laughing softly as she bumps her cheek into his shoulder. "Good thing I'm not innocent. Safe forever from the bellies of ravenous dragons."
Harkashan's arm instinctively moves around her back and touches her side. Warmth enveloping her easily. His tail moving to cushion her back, so she can lean more easily.
"I know. But it may be something where facing it is the only way to deal with it." Harkashan answers her. "And Skielstregar has offered to serve as protection as well." He adds to that. "So it will not be all up to you." He notes.
He then softly pokes a finger to her tummy when she indicates he's fun to tease and she bumps her cheek to his shoulder.
"Indeed. Safe forever from the bellies of ravenous dragons." He answers, before playfully making a mock-chomp onto her shoulder, and just kind of nomfs on her shoulder for a bit. "Om nom nom guilty Rune."
"M-maybe. I'll think about it." Harkashan knows Rune well enough that, at least for now, this seems to actually mean: I don't want to think about it right now.
Then, she is pushing his muzzle away from her shoulder, "Hey!" Still, her laughter seems to be a breath of fresh air with all the stress the two have been under as of late.
"Hey Hark?" She asks then, her voice a little quieter. "We're going to be okay, right?" Rune doesn't elaborate on what she means, and there could be any number of things she's referring to. Even so, she looks up towards the Makari, obviously looking for some kind of reassurances.
He continues to nomf her for a bit longer, before she gets his muzzle pushed away from her, and he laughs with her. He accepts that she doesn't want to think about this right now, and isn't going to push her on it. He has given his nudge, and that is enough.
As her voice quiets, he tilts his head a bit, questioning.
"Yeah, I think so." Harkashan answers. "We are surrounded by friends who have good intentions for us, and we're growing stronger by the day here in Alexandros." He answers her. Pausing, before he adds more firmly; "And more importantly, we have eachother. We'll be okay." Taking her hand once more.