Hugs for Kol

It is not perhaps the nicest of days, but it's warmer than some have been of late, and though the sky is gray and the air damp, there's just something about today that has drawn people out of their homes and into the streets. Maybe it's the faint hope that winter is finally coming to an end. Perhaps it is the knowledge that worse weather may well be on its way. Either way, the streets are more alive now than they've been in previous months.

Not-quite mid-day could be considered something of a break time for Kira: loaves of bread were made pre-dawn and have since been distributed; morning rounds at the Soldier's Defense were completed. She enters the market on her way from the hospital and towards the temple for other duties, though she isn't in a rush. The day isn't perfect, but warmer and free of falling water makes it much more pleasant than most winters in Alexandria. That the city seems more bustling and alive than it has in months is a delight to behold and has her smile extra bright despite the overcast sky.

Dolan's attire, simple and warm as it is, is notable for the myriad of white and orange cat hairs stuck in various places all over it. He's walking amid the shoppers, eyes roving the area, tense and quieter than his usual wont, no trace of a smile. He seems to be looking for something in particular, and when he passes a clothing store, he turns his head to his companion. "Let's look in there." He seems to be mostly eschewing the stalls.

There's a similar collection of orange-and-white cat hairs on Andelena's cloak, heavy tunic, and breeches, plus a day-old cat scratch across the Sunguard's nose, but she doesn't seem to mind any of it one bit. After all, she's standing close to Dolan, and that alone seems to be the reason for the small smile she wears.

Her head turns in the direction that Dolan points out and nods. "No problem, babe," she remarks as she walks up to the store.

Walking through the crowd is a tall blue scaled sith-makar. He watches the bustle with perhaps too much interest, nimbly stepping to avoid people as they pass him, mostly without them ever realizing that he's there. He rubs his snout occasionally, particularly near the more pungent shops offering perfumes and incense. He spots Dolan, and almost - almost - knocks over a crate in his pleasure of seeing the man outside the temple. He begins to make his way in that direction.

There are moments, where fate conspires against us, and today is one of those days for Dolan. As he steps toward the shop, out of that self-same shop comes a tall figure that he recognizes instantly, and far too well. There's a single second of staring. Of realization as the two men look at one another. Green eyes widen and then the tall man is surging forward without warning. A breathless greeting exiting him. "Amber-eye!"

He steps forward and embraces Dolan like a long-lost friend. Hugs him tightly before either the man himself or Andelena at his side can react. He's speaking quickly in another language. Even as he speaks, the words unrecognizable to those closest, he clasps Dolan by the shoulders, and _twists_.

It's subtle enough a motion that most those walking by don't notice, but the result is a quiet, sickening _pop_.

Kira shares her smile with those in the crowd she passes as she walks, along with "Good morning"s and "Lovely day"s. As she enjoys the sight of others, one specific other is spotted that quirks her smile a little further. The cerulean Sunguard is pleasantly conspicuous given that he's taller than most and blue. It is a rare treat to see him outside of the temple grounds. She reflexively lifts a hand to wave, though she is neither tall nor blue and may blend into the crowd, even though she turns her steps Zeke-wards.

There's a breathless moment of green eyes and a chill down Dolan's spine as his worst nightmare suddenly materializes before his eyes. He doesn't have a chance to respond to either Andelena or Zeke before an all-too-familiar lightning and fire shriek across shoulder and arm. To those around, the left shoulder is visibly misshapen, almost stretched, the arm too low and out of balance. His scream of pain echoes across the marketplace, and he struggles in the green-eyed man's grip.

That was _not_ a friendly hug.

"Andie, run!" he gasps out, still struggling. "That's not - what you do to someone you're glad to see!"

How quickly can everything crumble down. How quickly that a normal day can turn into absolute ruin. Andelena's eyes widen as she registers what's happening, as she /comprehends/ what's just happened.

Her head doesn't catch up enough to properly comprehend Dolan's plea for her to run. The Sunguard's hand goes to the sword that she now wears on a belt on her hip, and /then/ that's when it registers with her. Yet the hesitation blooms on her face, a pale sort of flower for the horror that's suddenly playing out before her.

"I--"

"Andelena, /go/," an older female voice comes from the sword at her hip. "Find help."

The Sunguard swallows hard. "Help! Someone please help!" she yells out into the crowd, taking a few steps backward into the crowd of people.

Zeke notices the other man exit the shop, but for a moment doesn't recognize him. Particularly not when he hugs Dolan. He is so fixated on the man however that he doesn't notice Kira's wave and then... Dolan screams and the sound sends a shiver down Zeke's spine. Suddenly he's surging forward, trying to reach the man who's been his patient for the better part of a month. The edge of anger courses through him. NO ONE hurts someone under his protection. While Dolan may not be his patient any longer... That scream...

Andelena calls for aid and her words strike him as deeply as does Dolan's scream. He's never imagined that strong woman calling for help like that. He moves faster, ignoring the touch of other people lingering on his scales. Why does it seem so far away?

Kol is... he looks so happy. As happy as Dolan has ever seen him. His eyes are half lidded with the pleasure of hearing Dolan cry out. He doesn't even notice really that the sound has driven off those nearest. People moving far away from Dolan rather than trying to help him out. "Yes it is." He answers Dolan, fingers gripping tightly. It's clear he doesn't want to let go. Not even for a moment. "Come with me Amber-eye. I will continue what we have begun. I will give you pain and pleasure unlike any you have known before. Others took you away, but there will be a safe place for us where none can do so again."

... And happy feeling is gone.

The scream rattles Kira to her bones, and deeper, as someone is in obvious pain. Immediate pleas for help only add to the urgency. That she sees Zeke try and push through people... She begins to move, despite being unable to see anything clearly due to the crowd. The same one she'd have to try and push through. Or maybe not.

As she starts to dart, one hand clutches to her chest. "Healer, let Your Grace uplift me to cease other's pain.." With that plea, she leaps upwards, and over those moving away from the scream as she rushes towards.. and by Her Grace, she is uplifted to sail over them upon manifested white wings to land in the clearing just made.

Now she can better see what is happening... causing her eye to blink. Slowly. She knows that face. Those eyes.

They were inches from her when she watched them melt away into nothingness... She sputters out of her surprise with "Release him!". The wings now serve to maybe act as shield or distraction, splayed wide to cover those behind her and possibly make her seem the larger interest to.. Kol?!

GAME: Kira casts Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 10 DC: 21

Dolan's mind races desperately, trying to think of something, anything, to counter Kol, to stall for time, to slow him down. The farmboy within is in full-out panic mode, but the inner Corona whispers - no, _shows_ him something, something out of dreams. "Who was she, Kol? The vampire who made you. Your first love. Tell me about her." He speaks quickly, the fire and lightning across shoulder and arm sharpening his mind and his wits - and his world - to a sword's point. The rest is forgotten - _stall for time!_ is the primary directive. "What did she teach you?"

For Dolan's Sunguard, a similar inner war is waging. Seeing people move away from Dolan, there's that horrified expression on Andelena's face, and she stops moving, too. Leaving him alone with Kol was how they got here to begin with, and she wasn't going to repeat that act again.

She turns back on her heels to see Dolan and Kol in their twisted embrace, and she hears Dolan talking. "Good," Deliverance says quietly of Andelena's attempt to get help. "/Now/, do what a Sunguard should."

What a Sunguard should? There's a visible war on her face. Andelena's hand hovers over the hilt of her sword again, but then: resolve comes to her face. The confusion clears. The fear is left aside as she throws her arms out and briskly walks over--

To embrace both Kol and Dolan. "Kol. I had you all wrong. I had you all fucking wrong," Andelena says, her voice full of the Compassion that she's supposed to have as a Sunguard. "You deserved kindness that you never got."

Zeke stumbles as he breaks out of the crowd and into the clearing of people who have already moved away from the scene of Dolan and Kol. He gives the man a short glare, but sidles closer to Andelena, making a gentling motion toward her. "Sssaaa. Thisss one isss here." His eyes are still on Kol. One does not turn one's back on danger. "Perhapsss-" But she is determinedly walking over to the pair of men and... He can only gawk in surprise.

Kol is solely focused on Dolan, not the healthiest of preoccupations. The man's words make him blink and he shakes his head. "Why do you care Amber-eye? She is long-dead. Gone." He starts to make a gesture, but thinks better of it and doesn't remove his hands from Dolan. Someone yells at him and he slides behind Dolan, wrapping his arms in a tight hug around the other man. "I will not release him. He is coming with me."

It is at that moment that Andelena joins the embrace, and Kol eyes narrow at the woman. "You are one of those that took him from me..." Her words however seem to make no sense to him and he tilts his head quizzically. "Then... you will let me take him?"

Kira is still trying to full process the fact of Kol's presence... but she knows he is dangerous, so if he is here, there is danger to everyone here. His friendly(?) embrace of the man she saw briefly at the temple is... well, it isn't comforting in any sense. Kol seems determined to keep him... taken him, but Kira isn't about to let anyone be taken anywhere against their will.

Then Andelena steps forward to add to that embrace?! This is no less a surprise than everything else in the last few moments. Maybe she can convince Kol to let Dolan go? Distract him? Stall? Kira doesn't know her intent, and doesn't want to interfere with one closer and more aware of things than herself. For now, she just watches with concern.

"She's taught you everything you know about love, Kol. But there's more that you don't know. That's why I care." Once again, Dolan is vibrating in the man's grasp, with the effort of staying still, not making this worse. "You said there are sensations you've never experienced, yeah?" His flesh-and-blood eye widens as Andelena approaches. "Andie's showing you one of them. Compassion, something you've never had in your life."

"You've already shown me pain and pleasure like I'd never had before." Don't look at Andie. Don't look at Andie. "You kept your promise, Kol," he gentles his tone as much as he can manage. "Now it's my turn to show you something new, yeah?" He tries, again, to straighten in Kol's arms, utterly unaware of Kira and Zeke, Andie's proximity and the touch of confusion bolstering the inner Corona. _Right again._

"I think you do remember compassion," Andelena says, continuing to hold both Kol and Dolan. "Little Nalla--you gave her a name when nobody else would. You showed her kindness when you'd never known any. You told her to run when danger came. But you've never gotten compassion back since then. It's a kind of love that comes without pain. It's wholly different from what you know."

She shakes her head just a little. "We can show you. Teach you. And you get to be around Dolan again. You feel lonely without him around, right?"

Distraction. All Zeke can think is that the vampire is distracted. That he doesn't even seem aware of the others that are interested in this exchange. Not for the first time Zeke is glad that someone fails to take note of him. He slides closer, and closer. And closer. He looks at Kira meaningfully. Warning the woman that he intends - something. To take a risk. To act while Kol is distracted. He holds up three claws subtly as he moves into place. They disappear and he begins a slow count on them from one to three.

Kol blinks. "Yes. I want to be around Dolan." He repeats Andelena's words, but it's clear he's confused. "I... I remember Nalla." He blinks again, tightening his grip on Dolan. Like a child with a comfort object squeezing it to remind themselves that it's there. "You want to teach me something, then you may come with us."

Yes. This idea seems to be approved by him, and he begins to back away slowly with Dolan in his arms. "We will all go. You will teach me this new thing."

In the span of a few moments, Kira's understanding of reality has been upended in multiple ways. Kol was gone. She was always one to start with compassion and only defend as necessary, while most others were prepared for set upon conflict. Now all of that seems ...reversed. Did her more recent past make her jaded? Harden her heart somehow?

Her wings lower and her posture relaxes. She then begins to step slowly towards the trio, no longer seeking to appear threatening at all. She never knew these things of Kol, and had not considered -his- pain in that way. Everyone is deserving of mercy and compassion, and if he seeks it, she would readily offer it.

Zeke's look does not go unnoticed, either. Nor his gesture with claws. The Sunguard has her full trust. If compassion proves not enough, she will be ready for that, too.

"Andie, no! You don't want this!" Near panic, Dolan cannot help but be drawn backwards with Kol, the fire and lightning that is all too familiar to him radiating now down to his fingers and across his back as the motion pulls on the disjointed shoulder. "Use the dream!" What on earth is he talking about? He doesn't seem to see either Zeke or Kira now, so sharp is his focus, his heart racing in his chest. _You've got a start,_ the inner Corona tells him. _Keep Andie out of this and you just might get out alive. You've survived everything else, you've got this._

There's a tiny mote of panic in Andelena's eyes as Kol begins to walk with Dolan, and then there's Dolan's words. But something within her causes the panic to fall away. She looks at Dolan, steel-grey eyes meeting the artificial eye and the real: a look that reads: 'you can't protect me; you told me you wouldn't; we're doing this together'.

"Wait, Kol. Can we go someplace that Bry and I both like?" Andelena suggests as she catches up with the pair. "And can you let go of him for the moment? If you let him walk on his own, that would make both of us happy. Please?"

GAME: Zeke rolls Melee: (6)+15: 21

If there is one thing that's only going to happen over Zeke's dead body, is either of the humans being taken by Kol. He is willing to take any risk, impart any danger to himself rather than have that happen. He prays that Kol is distracted enough. To not notice him as he begins a prayer. He gives benediction to the Dragonfather as he has a million times, but never to the purpose he is about to put it. Then, he reaches his claw out to touch the vampire. To HEAL him.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (15)+27: 42

Kol relaxes somewhat, even with Dolan yelling no, he seems to be really considering Andelena's proposal. "Yes..." He hesitates, slowly, slowly releasing Dolan and - there's a sith-makar there with a talon outstretched and Kol's eyes narrow. "What is this?"

His voice is a demand and he reaches out, grasping the taller sith by the throat and... squeezing. "Trying to distract me? Trying to kill me? I will not die so easily. I will have Dolan." His every word is punctuated by tightening but his smile doesn't move an inch making him look like a madman.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (3)+7: 10

As Kol steps back further with Dolan, Kira's concern grows. Even with compassion for Kol, Dolan and Andelena's willingness seems dangerous, at best. Going with him to who knows where for who knows what?

Then the why is answered for her. In Dolan's shift to denying Andie. In Andie's shift to plea. To Kira, clarity strikes that it is less that they care for Kol, and more for one another. What they would risk for one another. That brings a surge of bittersweet joy, and all the more determination that neither of them should be going anywhere with the vampire. Which may be possible as Dolan is released, and then...

"Zeke!" Not like this. The 'anyone' in 'not taking anyone' most definitely includes him. Especially him. He doesn't like being touched, much less being throttled. There is a flash of thought to another time: bleak walls, an all-but-comatose Zeke, screams of pain... Kira's hand emerges from her robes with parchment tentatively grasped moments earlier out of concern. Now there is no doubt. "Healer, may Your Grace pass to him and his woes to me…”

GAME: Kira used a Scroll of King's Castle.

What is even happening? Dolan doesn't completely know, but the flash of Kol grabbing Zeke by the throat is enough to make all other considerations, quite simply, vanish. Including such trifles as dislocated shoulders and the fire and lightning that moments before had been panic-fueled. "ZEKE!" he bellows-

But before he can act, a figure he's only seen once or twice appears in his place, and the sith is - gone.

He glances around, swiftly, searching out the sith-makar, then without hesitation grabs Andelena by the hand, not even caring which hand in his haste. "Let's get Zeke and _run!_" he shouts. The panic is curiously gone, as much as the shoulder injury, and now, there is only action. Suiting action to words, he pulls her towards where Zeks is, clearly intending to grab the makari as well and make a break for it, into the crowds.

It's miraculous, for someone to appear where Zeke had been, and Andelena simply takes it as the miracle it appears to be, although there's an expression on her face that is... strangely, and bizarrely, conflicted. But her hand's grabbed. The words are shouted, and then clarity comes to mind.

"We'll use the dream," she murmurs, and then her attention turns to the task at hand. She helps Dolan out with Zeke. "C'mon, let's go, /now/."

GAME: Zeke rolls Will: (6)+15: 21

The world slows down for Zeke in the moment that the vampire catches him up by the throat. He should have expected retribution, but somehow... He finds himself unable to breathe. All his mind can do is think that he should run, but the vampire has him fast and he can't. He can't do anything but panic.

Then suddenly he's free and he still can't move. Can't look away from Kira in the vampire's grasp rather than himself. Dolan is there, grabbing for his claw, Andelena pulling him away. "Thisss one can not..." He's filled with horror. Remembering things that are far away from the here and now.

The image of Kira on the ground, and a piece of bread soaked in blood. "Just one bite." A woman's voice whispered to him. Promising him succor from the torture of hunger. But he'd closed his eyes then. Been too weak to help Kira.

Andelena and Dolan pull him into the crowd now, because he's weak again. Because his mind too easily latches onto the thought that he has to heal Dolan though he knows in his heart that Kira needs him just as much. He abandons her for a hundredth and final time.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+29: (2)+29: 31
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (7)+7: 14

Kol is distracted - just for a moment by Zeke. He pulls his arm back and snaps it forward, punching the sith- no it's a woman. In the face. The blow is a heavy one, and it rocks her head back a little. He blinks in confusion and glances around for the sith who is... Quickly escaping? With! "AMBER-EYE!"

GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+charisma+paladin: (19)+22+7+8+10: 66

Kira has one advantage over Zeke, and possibly the others: she has wrestled with Kol before, and more successfully, with help. Nor does she need to grant him pain to prevent him from inflicting it upon others. "No!" A simple statement as his attention begins to turn away from her. He has her right where she wants him, and she makes full use of it. The strike is taken, but so is the wrist and she kicks up to wrap her legs around his torso and neck in a full-body arm bar. If it is an embrace he needs, it is an embrace he will get. She is kept horizontal by his arm and a heavy sweep of her wings.

Make that TWO advantages, as she does not remain horizontal as wingbeats point her vertical and then lift her vertical. Both of them, in fact, as she does not release his arm. Heading skyward puts and keeps him out of reach of Zeke, Dolan, Andie, or anyone else for that matter.

Meanwhile, all Dolan can do is run for all three of their lives. He will carry Zeke if he finds he needs to, but his sole focus is clear. "The Temple, Andie. Through the back streets. This way." He doesn't stop, doesn't slow, dodging through streets and alleys and desperately hoping that he doesn't get lost. All he can do is follow the smells of the sea and hope it leads him towards the Guild, or towards the southern bridge. "Stay with me, Zeke." His tones are low, laser-focused, and as reassuring as he can make it. "We're headed for the Dragonfather's Temple."

Andie's supporting Dolan all the while, running with him and helping with Zeke as needed. "Right with you, babe.--Zeke, we're gonna be okay. /You're/ gonna be okay. The Knight is with us." Her voice is full of the compassion she'd tried to use for Kol--and now is spent on a man just as broken, a man who should be putting the broken back together--but who heals the healers?

"I do," she murmurs. Or... she'll try.

Zeke is being pulled along, but his heart is in the sky, his stomach somewhere left back where they'd been. "We left her." He murmurs, devastated. Though his feet carry him forward every step is a lance of guilt up his spine. He hardly noticed their hands carrying him forward, urging him toward the temple that he knows so well. Shame drowns out their reassurance. How could he have done that? Why is he not even now in the sky flying to her aid?

Kira carries Kol into the sky and the tiny figures exist there only for a moment before disappearing quite suddenly as they leave Alexandria's sphere of influence. Gone.

The market is silent a moment, many eyes looking in vain for the sight of those that had been there only a moment ago. Then the crowd begins to slowly move. Life returns to normal in Alexandria. As if nothing had ever happened.

-End