View source for Secrets of the Dancing Dragon

In the early hours of morning, a cart had arrived carrying adventurers from their most recent expedition. Among them, had been a very tired looking Rune and an even more haggard appearing Harkashan. Clearly recovering from some sort of spell, the lava-scaled Makari had been dragged into an inn room, looking sunken, scales dulled, and barely able to make his way into the inn.

It is now close to mid-day. The pub is usually quiet at this time, which is likely why Rune has finally emerged from her shared room with the ailing cleric in order to get something to eat while her mate rests. 

Dark circles show beneath the rogue's eyes as she sits at a table near the hearth, nursing a drink that likely is not alcoholic and only picking at bits of food on her plate. Whatever had happened, it still weighs on her, even if she doesn't seem to show any signs of physical injury. 

<br \>

"Now, if she keeps looking at the food like that, this one will start to get jealous." A familiar sibilant voice says from behind the battered half-elf, before the set of ruddy scales appears and leans against the back of her chair. "Should this one serve her another plate? One that bites back?" Aelwyn flashes his sharp teeth. "Gently, of course."

The jubilant words barely hide the concerned look on the sith-makar's face though, and he twists his lips. "This one heard the talk of someone fiery being dragged in here." His tail makes a slow flick behind him. "Was it that close to the edge?" 

The draconian leans over. "Are you alright?"

<br \>

A moment before Aelwyn speaks, one of Rune's ears twitches, likely picking up on his approach. Her head lifts slightly, tilting in his direction, "You'd be jealous of a plate that I've barely touched becaues I can't really stomach it at the moment?" She asks, raising a brow. "Seems like a silly thing, to me, Aelwyn." 

She sits up a bit straighter, allowing her back to lightly press against his where he leans against the chair. There is some comfort in that as she lets out a breath. "I'm about as interested in food as I am in sleep at the moment. Neither seem like a good idea." Even if she looks like she might fall asleep right there at the table.

Turning slightly to look at him, Rune nods her head once, as if confirming just how bad things had gotten. "Would you believe... there's a coachman out there that hunts down and tries to capture the souls of those who have escaped death?" She takes in a slow breath and lets it out again, "It came after me and Eztli. Hark took the brunt of it and nearly died in the process." 

<br \>

There's a strong click from Aelwyn's mouth. "Now, with the amount of staring she is doing at her plate?" He clicks his teeth again. "Tch, Ribbon has called this one worse." A low rumble in his chest.

When back and chest make contact, the ruddy sith-makar neatly folds his hands around her shoulders, clasping them in front of her. He was not a walking source of warmth like others, but at least he wasn't cold-blooded. At the mention of Harkashan nearly dying, he simply squeezes his hands tighter. "He did not." He reminds her, firmly.

"A coachman looking for lost souls?" He tilts his head down. "This one hopes one is not planning to become undead instead." He adds, nudging towards the plate of food. "Even this one hasn't heard of stories of such on the road. Why would the coachman hunt the three of you now?"

<br \>

"I still doubt you'd prefer me to stare in distain." She quips back, shaking her head, though amusement can't quite break through the fog that seems to hold her down. "Better to stare in awe and wonder." Her heart isn't quite in it, though.

There is comfort in Aelwyn's arms that she seems to relax into a little, allowing herself that much. It isn't something that she faces alone. "I know. But I can't help but feel like part of the reason he and Andelena ended up in danger was because of me." It isn't a logical way of looking at the situation. The call for help had been from the Guild, and if they had not answered that call, someone else would have.

"Harkashan was lucky, he didn't pass into the halls like Eztli and I have. So if the coachman ever returns, it would only still be hunting the two of us." She explains, "And no, I'm not planning on joining the dead or the undead. I'll eat eventually, just... not right now." 

<br \>

There's an aching and slow step coming down the stairs of the inn. Out of his heavy armor, it's that much easier to see the damage left behind by the coachdriver. The dull blacks and reds of his scales. The more sunken look to him. Though there's this soft pulse of pale-red light near his heart, and slowly seems to be aiding in growing back his strength.

There's a weakness to his pace coming down. Not quite a buckling of the legs, but clearly he's having some trouble. Holding onto the banister. His knees seem to ache for each step he takes, halting halfway down to take a moment to catch his breath as he looks to Rune and Aelwyn...

And a bit of life returns to his expression, just from seeing the two of them. Uttering a soft rumbling breath towards them, before looking back down to the stairs.

<br \>

"Tch, should this one merit that one with an answer?" Aelwyn asks, tilting his head. "They took to the stage, knowing the risks. And even if Twin had - does she think Lava would have chosen any different?" He clicks his teeth, and then headbutts the back of Rune's head lightly. "Guilt is not a very good look on her."

The ruddy sith-makar tilts his head. "She is alive, he is alive. This one would have thought it be a cause for celebration, and levity. Once more, the final night has been pushed back, and another day shall rise." There's a bit of a click from his throat. "So why does she seem as if she had not reached the comfort of this fire? To be distant enough that even those ears shan't be nipped upon?" Of which, his teeth were quite near of. "What is she afraid of?"

When Harkashan appears, Aelwyn slides away. "Speak of one," He rumbles, with a flick of his tail. "Lava, this one shall help." He gives a firm 'stay put' glance to Rune followed by even harsher point to her chair, before he picks up his glaive and rushes to aid the other with the help of his polearm. "One looks as if they had ridden the inferno." He rumbles in amusement; though he moved with obvious concern.

<br \>

For a time, Rune doesn't have an answer for Aelwyn. Oh, the logical part of her mind realizes all too well that Adventurers know what they are taking on when they go into danger. That there is always a risk that someone might not come back. She knows in her mind that the guilt is unmerited, but... her heart speaks otherwise.

"Let's just say I'm not much in the mood for celebraton." It's something difficult to dig into, but it's clear that the encounter with this Coachman had brought back old, painful memories along with it. 

Though, at the threat of her ear being nipped, it does twitch slightly, taunting thing. "What am I afraid of? Isn't that obvious?" She murmurs softly.

And then, there is Harkashan making his way down the stairs. "You're supposed to be resting." She says with a tired sound to her voice. Convincing anyone who is stubborn that they need rest is difficult, Rune included. However, with the glance from Aelwyn, Rune keeps her butt seated for the time being. 

<br \>

"Hrrrm." Harkashan doesn't complain at the offer of help. The Sith-makar has wrapped a cloak around himself to keep him warm. And when Aelwyn gets closer, he'll no doubt notice that Harkashan's normal intense heat isn't upon his body. He puts his arm around Aelwyn, and slowly uses him to steady himself and go down the rest of the steps of the stairs.

"It's hard to rest when you are not near." He then answers Rune, as she 'complains' at his presence here. "You are where I find my comfort and rest." He explains, slowly stepping towards the table with Aelwyn, and then sitting down next to Rune slowly. Slipping his tail through the gap in the chair with some difficulty. His hand reaching out, touching over hers, smiling at her.

"I'm still here." He repeats for her. "Sorry I scared you. I'll be more careful next time." He rumbles to her, before looking towards Aelwyn, who has helped him sit, and chuckles; "I promise to you too." Because he assumes Aelwyn would be sad if he suddenly disappeared.

<br \>

Aelwyn uses his glaive to make sure Harkashan doesn't suddenly tip over on the stairs - or he under the unfamiliar cold heat. One step at a time. The draconian reaches down to help ease that tail around, before he puts his glaive aside. "Tch, one refuses to sleep and eat - why not the other half?" He asks with his lips widening into a sharp grin.

The draconian steps back as he watches the pair get settled. He bites his tongue - some moments are better shared alone - but when Harkashan calls out to him as well, he lets out a held breath. "Rrrh-" He knocks at the other's horns with his own. "Try not to lose more of that bodily heat, Hotstone." His tail thwaps the other makari's. "The winter is coming."

A glance is given to Rune. "And this one feels there will be plenty of need for that comfort."

<br \>

"Yes, we're both stubborn assholes." Rune replies with a roll of her eyes. Reaching forward, she pushes the plate of food towards Harkashan. It's some sort of meat stew, so it should be at least somewhat to his liking. "I'm less concerned about getting sleep when it looks likle your lava-light is about to be extinguished any second." Reassurances from healers only go so far, it seems.

With the appology and the touch of not-warm-enough fingers on her own, Rune squeezes them and gives a reluctant sigh. "You won't be more careful, and you know it. Always having to rush in and play the big damn hero. It's going to get you killed someday, and so help me, if I have to return to the halls to drag your sorry ass back here, I will."

Then, she looks to Aelwyn, "Thanks for the worry, regardless. We'll be alright." Deciding that /now/ is a good time to turn things back towards Aelwyn. "So... I didn't get a chance to ask the other day. You seemed a little... off when your friend from your old troupe appeared. Is there anything weird going on there that we should know about?" 

<br \>

Harkashan half-energetically bumps his horns back to Aelwyn's when he makes that sound. "I will regain my heat soon." He remarks, "Winter will have no hold on me." Before looking to Rune while thwapping his own tail lazily to Aelwyn's. 

He puts his other hand over Rune's, so he's two-handed wielding a Rune, and rumbles; "I rushed in, not wishing to risk it dragging you into that place. You have experienced death one too many times already for my sake. But I misstepped. It was faster than this body of mine could handle." He's not rejecting that he plays at hero sometimes. Though it's more like a guardian, wishing the best life for her.

"My lava-light will soon burn again. I am certain Thirku is watching over it as well." He rumbles to her. He could sense its presence, even then. He then looks at the food. He'll eat it in a bit, but right now he wants to hold Rune's hand.

At her comment to Aelwyn, he looks up to Aelwyn. He'd noticed something similar, but had not said something at the time.

<br \>

Eyerolls just wash over Aelwyn, who flashes his sharp teeth and steps closer. He wraps both of his arms around Rune's and Harkashan's necks, a row of sharp teeth and a pair of orange fiery eyes between them. "This carries not one speck of worry," He rumbles, "For the two of them are as, one with particular authority stated, 'stubborn assholes'." He flicks his tongue out, flickering the twin tips. "This one is very glad to see the two of them. And that lava-light? Surely it must be fueled more by Twin's presence than a Thirku's.""

The question that was directed at him barely registers with Aelwyn at first, who lets out a question sound and a tilt of his head - before he suddenly opens his mouth. "... ah." Slowly, he begins to slide away his hands with a deep, heavy sigh. "Rue this one for dimming the mood of the moment with words from beyond the sea." It was obviously a topic that he wished to dance more around than with.

Finally, he gestures towards the drink Rune was holding. "Another? This one can make it spicy."

<br \>

"I don't plan on stoking any sort of flames until he isn't looking like half the life has been drained out of him." Rune replies with a snort. 

As the second hand is laid over her own, Rune looks back to Harkashan, her expression both a bit sad but also worried. "I don't need to hear the excuses, love. We both throw ourselves into the fire, sooner or later we get burned. Doesn't mean I have to like it one bit."

Leaving that discussion, perhaps for another time, Rune turns her attention back towards Aelwyn as he starts trying to retreat from the topic. "Oh, not so fast, you." She lifts one hand away from Harkashan's hold and uses it to grab one of Aelwyn's wrists. "No drinks. No excuses. Talk." She raises a brow.

"If there's trouble, you know we're here at your side to help, right?" 

<br \>

Harkashan rumbles a bit more deeply. "The lava-light may very well be as much my own as Thirku's. I do not know whence it comes." He had always considered it just his own. But with its strength rising as Thirku's influence did, he's gotten less certain of this. 

As Rune mentions excuses and throwing themselves into the fire, he nods his head. "Normally I'm sturdy enough to not be burnt by the fires." He remarks. 

He then leans forwards, and bumps his forehead to hers, pressing his muzzle to her chest for a moment, before drawing back and releasing his hands. He'll have the soup. Drinking it while Rune applies her skills upon Aelwyn.

<br \>

Ah, caught. Aelwyn gives a slow flick of a tail as he watches Harkashan give headbump-snug to Rune, and there was a fleeting morbid curiosity over how the larger sith-makar manages to devour the soup without spills. Mostly, he was trying to formulate how to answer.

<"Those fucking woods and its thorns..."> The ruddy sith-makar mutters underneath his breath to himself; his tongue sibilant in his accented makari. An instant later his face picks up a more typical, laxed look. "Not all words are healthy to be heard." He tells her. Another tilt of his head. And another.

"To this one's shame." The Dragoon glances at the hand holding his wrist, and he lifts his hand. "This one is a runaway." There's a low click followed by a rumble.

<br \>

With Harkashan eating, Rune turns the full force of her attention on Aelwyn. As she had said before, the half-sil fully acknowledges being stubborn and that is even more-so when it comes to matters of those she cares about. 

She does release his wrist, not about to actually hold him against his will, but she turns in the chair to face the smaller Makari. "You know most of my secrets. Those things that weigh heaviest on me. Seems only fair that I should help you carry some of your burdens as well." She raises a brow. "That's what it means to call people kin."

As he mentions being a 'runaway', Rune's brows furrow slightly, looking a bit confused. "So... I'm sorry if I'm not understanding the context but... what's so bad about being a runaway?" 

<br \>

Harkashan has no issue drinking stews or soups. After all, he just lifts the bowl up to his muzzle, tips it back slightly, curls his tongue and slurps and eats it down. 

He listens, quiet for a bit. But when Rune mentions something about being a runaway, Harkashan offers; "Perhaps Aelwyn feels shame for leaving his people behind to chase a different dream." He suggests.

<br \>

Aelwyn tilts his head towards Harkashan, with a silent bow of his head, in confirmation. "Troupe was his, as he was Troupe's." The Dragoon quietly affirms, giving a sharp eyed look around the Fernwood; but there was a resignation on his face as well. He slowly steps around the chairs and slides, or near collapses, onto one of them near his glaive.

"She drives a hard bargain." Aelwyn tells Harkashan, with a low amused rumble. He twists his lips, and then clicks his teeth, finally leaning forward to speak more quietly. "If this were to tell all she deserves to know, this one would have to sell the Troupe." He tells her. "But that trade is not only what burdens this one."

One more glance over their shoulders. "This one does not understand. Crimson Troupe. Hell's smile." A hand falls on his face. "The jester. It is all as if the endless, choking sands of Veyshan buried this town."

<br \>

There is much that Rune doesn't know or understand about Aelwyn's past, but the guilt of running away is something that she can emphatize with. It is something she has carried, herself, for many years. However, the reasons behind Aelwyn's choice are what she doesn't quite grasp.

Seeing him deposit himself in the chair in that somewhat defeated fashion, the half-sil cocks her head, "I'm not trying to pry if they are secrets that you need to keep. But you know I care about you, right?" She reaches out her hand, offering it to the Makari. "I ran away, too. From my family, or what was left of it after my mother died." She explains softly. 

Then, her ear twitches as he mentions the jester. "So, I'll admit I don't fully understand everything surrounding all that but... the jester, the strange box with that strange enchantment, that's somehow related to your old troupe?"

<br \>

"Hard and fair bargains," Aelwyn rumbles in amusement, "Are very important to this one. Tch, maybe it is not those ears that are attractive after all." He flicks his tongue out. The moment of levity passes just as as quick as it appeared. So his eyes turn towards the hand, which he weighs with his eyes.

"So many runaways in this city, yet so little to run away to." The Dragoon reaches out to grasp the hand and he pulls it in front of him. His snout touches the back of it, giving it a light nip. "And this one cares for the two of you." Tail flick. "And not only for the warmth."

Raising his head once more, the ruddy sith-makar tilts his head towards the side. "This one does not know; this one did not recognize the mask. Unrelated, perhaps. Perhaps they simply travelled here across the sea, and the Dancing Dragon will have his final performance." He lifts his hand and flashes his sharp teeth. "This one would like that. To be with family, again."

<br \>

Harkashan bumps his tail to Aelwyn's at the mention of a final performance. "I will not permit whatever it is, to be your final performance. You are too young for those kinds of words." He rumbles at Aelwyn, as he puts down the bowl of stew that Rune was unable to finish. It seems he has enough strength to finish it at least, though his chest is going up and down a bit heavy. Clearly, it took quite a bit out of him just to eat that much for now.

He then leans back, watching Aelwyn kiss and nip at Rune's hand, and tilts his head ever so slightly. "But don't forget. You are with family right now as well."

<br \>

"I don't know. I think what I found as a runaway was well worth it." Rune looks first to Harkashan, then back to Aelwyn, "I may not have a roof over my head some nights, but I have people I love, a purpose that suits me, and the freedom to be myself."

As he takes her hand, her fingers are far softer than Makari scales. The nip even gets a soft sound from her before she gives him a very draconic-chuff in response, lightly amused. Her thumb passes over his fingers slightly, "So, it's possible that their visit may be for more than just a passing show..." This si what she reads from his words.

"I agree with Harkashan. I don't plan on having this be a final anything. Do you need help to investigate what is going on with the troupe? Someone quiet who can sneak and watch, perhaps?" She's obviously suggesting herself. 

<br \>

Aelwyn's lips spread in a wide grin. "Be still now, Lava. One is spreading one's warmth too much for a dying light." The ruddy sith-makar teases. Yet the words did have impact on him, making him shift slightly in his seat. "Yet this one is grateful."

Orange slit pupils turn towards Rune then, neither confirming nor denying her suspicions. Yet at the offer, he instantly shakes his head, sending his ribbons flying from side to side. "Do not. It is bad luck." Then he tilts his head upwards for a moment, in a moment of thought, before he then levels his gaze at Rune and Harkashan both. "But come watch the show. This one is certain it will be one of a kind." His lips spread wide apart; in his macabre way.

<br \>

Harkashan can't help but show a subtle Sith-Makari grin at Rune's implications of finding runaways, and nods his head. "I quite enjoy my runaway findings too." He answers her, bumping his nose to her cheek.

"And I am no dying light. Merely a phoenix rising from its ashes." He points out to Aelwyn with a sway to his tail with his own. "I can however apply some spells on you to keep you safe during your performance if you'd like."

<br \>

"Pssh." Rune makes a soft sound, pushing at Harkashan's nose with her free hand. "Yeah, well... You've actually met the reason why I ran away, so at least you have some idea of the wheres and whys of it." 

She doesn't elaborate on that, for the moment. Instead, she gives Aelwyn's fingers another squeeze. "As you wish. You know we'll be there. And if you /do/ need anything, just ask. You know I'll kick the ass of anyone who messes with my Makari." A small hint of a smile forms at the edge of her lips. It isn't much, but it is more life than she's shown during most of the conversation. 

<br \>

Aelwyn turns his head and spreads his grin at Rune. "Oh, has this one been stolen as well, by the runaway even? Tch, what woeful fates linger on those who escape to this town." He lifts Rune's hand and just nips on a finger, leaving it hanging off his teeth for a second playfully rumbling.

At the offers of help, Aelwyn lets out a genuine sounding rumble of amusement. "Ah, this one appreciates the thought, Lava. This one is absolutely confident in his performance, though. All those years honing it cant' be in vain." Another flash of his teeth, a sway of his body.

"Now, what of those hot drinks? This one feels at least a little bit of celebration in him."