Unrest Easy

Log Info

• Title: Unrest Well
• Emitter: Skielstregar
• Characters: Skielstregar, Vaera
• Place: Fernwood Pub, rented room.
• Time: February 7th, 2022
• Summary: Skielstregar suddenly awakens in the middle of the night after a terrifying nightmare at almost a near panic. Vaera calms him, and they work through what he experienced to figure out what any of it means. They resolve themselves to take care of Mictlan if anything comes to it, and they return to rest.

Fernwood, a rented room. Middle of the night.

A regular night at the Fernwood. It's quiet, mostly, save for the din of city-noise that comes through muffled from the wooden walls. This inn room is meant for giantborn, with two beds, but they're shoved together to make a larger one.

One occupant is that of a large and tall silver and bronze scale makari, his Dragonfather amulet clinking softly against his bare, scarred chest as he tosses and turns in his rest. Then-

Gasp.

Silverscales bolt up from his bed at the Fernwood. "-RADU!"

He pants, a hand on his chest, clutching at his amulet. "V... Vaermiir, thiss one..." he shudders, patting around for someone beside him.

He's positively radianting anxiety and fear, as well as some of that dread and death as some black ichor drips from his maw.

Skielstregar did not need to move far to find who he was seemingly looking for, as the red makari was curled up next to Skielstregar, arms wrapped around him slightly. She seemed to be sleeping peacefuly, until her rest was interrupted.

The hunter sniffs once, then twice, and then she blinks her eyes open to look to the silver and bronze makari she was next to.

"Skielstregar, what is wrong?" She asks, sitting up with him, and moving so she could hug him from behind. "We are just at the fernwood this moment. There is nothing amiss in the room that I can see."

Silver quickly finds red, him hugging the arms looped around him. His breathing is erratic, eyes wide with a tinge of familiar crimson in them. "A-a... dragon! This one saw- Seyardu, where is-" he babbles quickly, whipping his head around. Ichor is flung about as he does so, it wafting away as it hits various things about the space.

He shudders, forcing himself to calm as he squeezes the arms carefully. ".. a... terrible, terrible nightmare... a... scales...."

Vaera chuffs, and holds Skielstregar a bit tighter, so she could rest her head over a shoulder, and meet his gaze.

"Skielstregar, this is the inn room, there are no dragons here, it is alright." She states, doing her best to be reassuring in the moment, rumbling deep in their throat. "But this one understands, it must have been a terrible nightmare. But it is alright here, this one promises."

Skiel's crimson eye catches Vaera's yellow, and he forces himself to breathe. His trembling slows, the offensive decay abating, the ichor going away. "A-An.. an inn...," he whispers, closing his eyes as the crimson fades. "... Vaermiir the... the nightmare felt... felt so real."

Whatever fight or flight that was in him leaves and he slumps against the redscale, panting frigid plumes of air. "... there was.. a servant of the gods there... a... black dragon. But it was so, so large. It... it might have been the False Father. A-And... this one thinks the Dragonfather's daughter was there?"

He buries his face into his hands. "... so much..."

"This one understands, dreams can often feel that way. You have seen the effect they have had on myself more than once." Vaera chuffs, using a moment to wipe some of the blood off the side of her face. "But it sounds like there was more to it than just a dream? A vision from the gods, in some shape or form?"

"That is a strange pair to be together, Skielstregar. But they are not here, still. If you need a moment to think and collect yourself, then take as long as you need. This one is here for you, to support and listen."

Skielstregar slows his breath, the last of the black ichor in the room wafting away as the energies disperse. He slowly nods, turning some so that he was the one to curl up against her. "Yes, a... vision from the gods, that... that is the only way any of it makes sense. Eluna.... this one thinks it was... said something about she was glad this one's scales were coming in nicely? Her friend told her how important it was to this one. Her... friend gave this one a gift? And something about a storm coming, a nightmare..."

A wave of confusion is in the air. He groans. "... this one is not a Keeper, it hurts their head to read between so many lines..."

The red makari chuffs and chuckles quietly, taking a moment to nestle into Skielstregar's neck. "Well, if that is the only way it makes sense, then that is a good think. Even the gods are impressed with how you are looking now, Skielstregar." Vaera teases, before she sighs and gives him another squeeze. "But, there was more to it than that. A gift you are uncertain of, and a warning. Those are the two that need investigating further, yes? This one can help you find out more, if you wish."

Skiel shudders a sigh, him returning the squeeze before slowly sliding down more to rest in the redscale's lap. He glances away to the wall. "... r... right..."

Tease successful. He's blushing-not-blushing.

Dead silver eyes close. "... yes, if... you do not mind," he murmurs. "... both of them warned about the nightmare rising. This one... doesn't know what that means. And something about a storm coming... this one remembers the.. the moon being darkened."

Vaera chuffs and helps pull skielstregar into her lap, where she adjusts her hug to hold him close. "I do not mind. This one wishes to help you, if they can. And this sounds concerning to many, so this one will work to see this not come to pass. Or if it is unavoidable, to help mitigate what is possible. This one does not wish to see mictlan harmed in any way."

Skielstregar sighs, shifting around to get in a better position as he rests his head against Vaera. "... it is concerning. Very much so. And... this one will defend Mictlan if something is to come of it."

He shivers, despite being wrapped in warmth. "... the False Father was... terrifying... this one could not move, they were so afraid."

"We both will, as will everyone else there, this one imagines. If it comes to that, which this one will do all they can to not require that."

"The false god, any gods would be hard to behold. But, it is alright. You were in the presence of a vision from the gods, and one like the false father, would be difficult to most. This one is impressed that you were able to stand, and listen."

Skielstregar nods slowly, him running a hand over her back carefully. "This one just hopes it does not come to that."

A low grumble. "... this one was more concerned with putting this one's sister behind them and trying to not soil themselves..." His head lulls and plonks against her shoulder.

"It should not. But this one trusts your visions, if they are of concern to you. And, it is unwise to grow complacent." Vaera sighs, leaning into the hand on her back just slightly. "It is, right, you mentioned your sister. It is alright to be afraid, but you were able to push past it, yes? This one was not saying you were not scared, but that you were able to act in spite of it."

Skiel sighs some, him pulling away a smidge to look at the redscale he's wrapped up with. "Yes, it is fine to feel fear," he rumble mumbles, him bringing up his other hand to cup Vaera's face. "Just... ugh. All of it at once was..."

He shakes his head.

....

"What gift...?" he intones to himself, looking down and off to the side with his brow knitted.

Vaera blinks, and leans to bump her snout against Skielstregar's as he closes his eyes.

"It is a lot to take in. Too much for one night, this one imagines. But you have plenty of time now, to rest and work through it, with insight from others as well."

"A gift, they say. And perhaps something to do with your scales? Well, if it is that, then I should go to the temple of Eluna, and thank them for you."

GAME: Skielstregar rolls intelligence: (13)+0: 13

Skiel's eyes blink open at the nudge, a bit of a bashful smile crossing his face. "... yes, you are wise. There is time to process it," he softly mentions, leaning forward to return the bump.

Though, he pauses. "... this one's... scales?"

His gaze grows unfocused.

The Warrior makari was not /daft/, per se. But, in his own words, he was no Keeper. And it takes him a moment.

... it's... it's a long moment.

Okay maybe about five moments.

His eyes widen slightly. "... did... did that /gold dragon/ do this...??" he whispers with a sudden revelation.

"You mentioned that your scales were brought up in relation to the gift. This one did not assume they were linked." Vaera chuffs, leaving herself to rest her head against Skielstregar's as he seemed to be thinking through something or other. Then she blinks, and chuckles quietly. "Ah, another dragon? If they did, then this one should thank them as well. This one wondered what caused you to grow such stunning scales again, but they were happy to leave it be, for the most part."

Skielstregar's tone is soft and mumbled as he keeps his cool face upon Vaera's warm scales. "You were there," he softly says. "The small gold dragon, Tanithariairisixchel. The one that ate all the fish."

He's searching his memory. "This one.... this one was talking to the dragon while the Eluna champion was telling as story. This payed them a compliment, said something like.. 'this one wishes their scales were as shiny as yours.'"

He looks to Vaera. "Then she booped this one's nose and flew off after saying nice people deserve nice things."

Vaera was listening closely, for certain, but she was not unhappy to have Skielsreger in her lap, either, even if it was tricky to manage with much of one of her legs missing, the leg removed and set off in a corner of the room. "Ah, right. The small, but not young, curious gold dragon. That was a strange situation." The red makari chuffs. "This one would not be surprised if they are someone capable of such feats."

"This one does not know if it is possible to make an offering enough in thanks for such a thing. But she was correct, you deserve to feel comfortable and happy in your own skin and scales."

Skiel was getting used to it, by this point. He himself had many an oddity to be wary of: fangs and long talons. He bobs his head slowly. ".... yes, she seemed... mystifying, to put it simply."

The trauma of the nightmare blunts his reaction, but still, he smiles lightly, comfortingly. "... if it was Tanith... then this one will have to give her much thanks." He chuffs. "That is easy, fish is the offering."

He blinks at Vaera, then looks straight down. "....... thank you. This one, um, is very glad that she did that. This one... this one feels much, much better about themselves now..."

"Then we wills set aside some of the food we do not need, preserve it until we see them again. Yet, it still does not feel enough, for what they did, how they made you feel." Vaera chuffs.

"Your appearance is beginning to match your heart and soul, Skielstregar. So it is only natural to feel happier with yourself. Though there is still a ways to go. Perhaps we should stop by the baths while we are in town?"

"This one feels like any offering of fish is enough for her. Though, this one thinks her hunger for that cannot be sated. If... that was Eluna, then this one should go to her temple and give prayers to her to pass off to her friend," Skielstregar reasons, raising a shoulder slightly.

The latent anxiety coming from him is stymied at those words, his jaw opening slightly in surprise. "... V... Vaermiir..." he whispers, trying to hide a stupid grin that curls at the edges of his mouth but fails to do so. A sigh leaves him, and he nods slowly. "We can do that. This one would like that greatly."

His attention shifts from himself to her. He stares a moment, then looks down at his lap again. "... you are... stunning, Firebrand," he mumbles, poking the tips of his fingers together.

"This one could always go for quality over quantity." Vaera chuckles. "Good cuts of fish dried and salted, when they are best in the seasons."

Vaera chuffs as he smiles, and she bumps her snout against his. "Then, that is, a date, yes?" The makari teases, before taking a moment to process the compliment. "And that is exactly what this one speaks of. To hear you speak of a half emaciated, scarred and legless one such as myself such, your kindness knows no bounds. And this one is still happy to hear it, too."

Skielstregar bobs his head at the idea, but blinks a couple of times as he's nudged. "Y.. Yes, a-.. a date."

"A date with Vaermiir," he whispers to himself. Gods, if he could blush, he'd be scarlet.

Such words bring his gaze up to met hers. Eyes widen. "K... kindness? Scales, if there's anyone that's kind and open, it is you to even consider... consider being with... with this one. With what has happened and how this one was and still is on occasion."

His voice is warbling some, some tears showing, but he's actually just... really happy. "... t-this one.. shaa.. this one cares not about all of that. It is part of you. And this one likes you and your scales and...- erm. Well, everything. Really. This one is... is always so impressed with your tenacity and your willingness to adapt, it still baffles this one that... that we are..." He gestures vaguely between the two of them. Sharing a bed.

"Consider being with one who has willingly put themselves in front of others, time and time again, and has been nothing but accepting of this one despite their initial concerns and trepidations?" Vaera asks, chuckling more. "If remembered correctly, this one drew a bow on you the first time we met."

"Really, you are, beyond kind, Skielstregar. This one is happy that you are able to accept yourself, and this one."

Skiel sniffles with a soft chuckle, him wiping his eyes off with the back of his hand. "Yes, you did. And you were baffled that this one could eat food normally. This one is glad you did not shoot them, else... well, this one wasn't as in control back then..." he murmurs before shaking his head.

He watches the one legged, thin, scarred redscale in front front of him. Just watches.

Then, silver wreathed arms wrap around her and pull her back down into the bed. "Sshaaa... happy..." he thrums, closing his eyes as he nestles himself in. "... we rest. Thank you for... helping this one's nightmare..."

"This one is glad they did not as well. To think of all that would have been missed out on. So much joy and growth and memories." Vaera chuckles. She does note Skielstregar watching, and she leans back to strike a small pose, before she returns the hug, and flops to the bed, wrapped around the silverscale.

"Yes, more rest, now that it has passed. And this one does not mind." The hunter muses, turning into a heated blanket for the one who was near impossible to keep warm. "This one wishes to help and be there for you. If they helped at all with the nightmares, then they are happy. Rest well and easy."

"Yes... glad it turned out the way it did." Skiel blinks before they flop over, stunned for a moment before a rumbling chuckle leaves him. He closes his eyes and pulls his heated blanket close. "... rest well and easy, Vaermiir."

-End Scene-