Gearing Up
This scene takes place about ten days after the events of Revenant Bound - Chapter 4: Arrangements.
Rhoelyn 08/31/2018
"These?"
Ary looks at the full, heavy boots and wrinkles her nose. "Isn't there something... lighter?"
"Ary, if you buy sandals, you may as well just go barefoot, again. Boots." Sedra sighs.
Araatris
"They make my feet hot and my toes feel constricted." She reluctantly takes one boot from Sedra's grasp looking at it. "What about a normal shoe or slipper?"
Rhoelyn
Now it's Sedra's turn to wrinkle her nose, the expression a little more hidden under her cowl. Making an exasperated sound in the back of her throat, she looks around the shop's wares once more and wanders a few steps away to look at a shelf of shoes.
"No slippers. Useless things, those fabric footwraps..." She sighs and picks up a pair of sturdy shoes, really low ankle boots in a light leather save hardened and shined toes. Though she gives them a bit of a dirty look, she holds them up to Ary. "These might still save your fleshy bits."
Rhoelyn
Later…
As they wander into the leather shop, Sedra grimaces beneath her cowl, glancing around at Ary and mumbling in a low voice, "Why does it always have to smell so bad? If I wear leather, it's going to make me smell, too. Are you sure it's really the only option to survive the water?"
Araatris
"You already said no to cloth. We're out of options if you want armor that doesn't have a lot of metal." Ary sighs and gestures in exasperation. "The smell will fade over time, just like leather boots. There's also oil treatments that help and will protect the leather from water so it'll last longer."
Rhoelyn
Sedra continues her reluctant wander into the shop with a bit less trepidation at that. "Oh. Let's make sure to request some of that, then."
The apparent draenei bites her lip as she examines and passes the racks of plain jerkins and cuirasses, heading toward a display near the back of the store of more decorated items.
Araatris
Ary raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure that you want to look at those? I thought you'd prefer some of the more practical and subdued pieces up here." The young woman meanders behind her, glancing at pieces as they go.
Rhoelyn
Her companion glances back at the plain racks and then again at the fancier ones, tapping a finger against the blade pommel she rests her right palm on. She is painfully indecisive until she finally points at the fancier rack and says, "I like those better. Not the peacock ones, but the... ... you're probably right. Plain is more practical."
Araatris
Ary grins wryly. "You're swimming. Those will work just as well. Let's take a look at the ones that caught your attention." She picks up one and holds it up to Sedra, trying to see how the color and fit would work.
Rhoelyn
Sedra looks sheepish as she glances down at the leather vest sewn in graceful lines and detailed with red and grey piping. The panel across the chest is stamped with a perfect geometric pattern, and laces cinch it tight.
"I like that style. It should work well for swimming. But... maybe the blue and purple colored one?"
Araatris
Chuckling, Ary trades it for the other color. "I wore the red and grey for so long that it was my first instinct. I do think this will match better with your skin tone." She rests it against Sedra's arm to show her.
Rhoelyn
The eredar grins slightly, her admiring blue gaze on the piece. "Yes. I prefer cold colors. I've... worn a lot of reds and golds over the aeons, and they m-... I just prefer cold colors."
Araatris
"I understand. Purple isn't usually my color, but..." She shrugs. "I like it well enough. Now if this is the top you want to try. What about pants? Do you want something long or short so you can move easier in the water?" She glances at Sedra's tail. "Though we made have to give them a moment to make certain adjustments. I can't imagine it'd take long."
Rhoelyn
"Long," Sedra answers her question simply and immediately, gazing around at the racks of leather trousers and kilts and pantaloons and whatnot. She glances back at the vest Ary holds and then steps over to a particular pair with the same leather tone and purple and blue accent panels stitched in along the thighs, almost like stylized geometric feathers. Or crystals, if one is a little more imaginative.
She pulls them free and holds them out to Ary. "What do you think of these?"
Araatris
"Hmmm." Ary takes them and moves to get better lighting. "They're a good match. Do you need anything else?" She hands them back and gestures to the dressing room.
Rhoelyn
Sedra tilts her head and looks at the two pieces of leather gear thoughtfully. "I normally wear a tunic under armor. Does this need a cloth shirt?"
Araatris
Ary blinks. "Well, I suppose. Leather can be rather soft. I'd recommend a sleeveless tunic if you did, but... I often didn't. You've seen what I wore before and even my sister."
Rhoelyn
The void knight blinks at her from beneath her hood. "... if I wore the same type of thing you and your sister do, all my tattoos would show. Among many other things."
Her tone is somewhere in a grey space between amused and teasing and... something else. Worry, perhaps? Fascination?
Araatris
"You spend time with demon hunters. They wouldn't bat an eyelash, but we can do a sleeveless tunic. Do you have any tattoos on your- Wait. What other things?" Ary changes her question as Sedra's last comment sinks in.
Rhoelyn
"Mostly my breasts. And a very large swath of skin. Perhaps my scar." The void knight says these things with varying levels of nonchalance, some more convincing than others. She tugs the vest away from Ary and holds it up, assessing its lines once more.
Araatris
Ary tilts her head. "You're worried about... cleavage?" She glances down at her own deep cut dress. "I suppose if you're not used to it..." She looks mildy amused as she glances at the tunics across the store. "Let's look at that grey tunic over there. The neutral tone would work well. I need to find something for myself as well."
Rhoelyn
Sedra nods slightly. "I am used to ... plate. Lots of it. To protect all my... my fleshy bits." Her smirk is in the shadows of her cowl, but easy enough to see in the well-lit shop. "Protecting fleshy bits has always seemed to me to be the important element of armor... and clothes, I suppose, by extension."
Her hooves click on the wood as she wanders over to the clothes Ary pointed at.
Araatris
"Difference in fighting style, I suppose. I needed to move more than plate would allow. Climbing into a tree is hard enough as it is." She follows Sedra and slips ahead to tug down the tunic she had in mind.
Rhoelyn
The void knight waits to the side while her friend examines it. "And now? Perhaps you should protect more of your fleshy bits, since you are no longer fighting like a demon hunter. We could get you some plate..."
Araatris
"Ugh. No thanks. It's suffocating and too heavy to travel in. I wouldn't make it ten feet." Ary hands her the tunic. A dove grey cloth vest catches her gaze and she fingers it thoughtfully.
Rhoelyn
The eredar chuckles, shaking her head. "Can we at least try to get you back to leather? Anything is more protection than cloth," she says, watching her friend consider clothes for herself.
Araatris
Ary considers her suggestion before shaking her head. "My shadows are protection enough. Leather or cloth, it wouldn't help against a large weapon." She picks up the cloth vest and holds it up to herself. "There's no reds or purples, but what do you think?"
Rhoelyn
"I think your hair takes care of the red," Sedra says, a bit distracted.
Her nose wrinkles, and she doggedly goes back to the other topic, folding the clothes she's holding. "The shadows...? They didn't even protect you from a blow to the head. You could get used to plate. I'm sure of it..."
Araatris
The young woman snorts, "And you get stabbed through your plate sometimes. It happens. It protects me well enough in battle. How about we compromise with soft leathers? Nothing thick that will stop my movement, but... a little more." Ary puts away the cloth top and picks up a leather top... that's twice as revealing." A small smile plays at her lips.
Rhoelyn
Sedra sets her face in her cool palm, groaning. "... just pick something that you won't fall out of, please?"
Araatris
"If I haven't fallen out of my outfits yet, what makes you think I'll start?" Ary raises an eyebrow, but puts the item back. "Why don't you pick?" She gestures. "Something in a sturdy cloth or leather that you would approve of and I can still move easily."
Rhoelyn
The eredar nods slightly and glances around at the clothes before she wanders over and picks up a leather jerkin with a high, stiff collar. She considers it for a moment before glancing at Ary and smirking.
... and then she puts it back in favor of one that has a cut similar to the vest Ary first looked at. It's mostly cloth with a leather panel that is sewn in two strips over the two parts of the chest and buckles across the sternum with a drafty gap that the human will appreciate.
And this one is brown with red and black details.
The eredar offers it to Ary with a questioning look. "Do you like this one?"
Araatris
Ary grins broadly. "Yes, it's perfect. Ah! They have matching pants. Excellent." She turns back to the draenei. "Do you wish to try them on for any adjustments?"
Rhoelyn
Sedra nods and leads the way toward the dressing rooms, a little pleased sashay in her tail accompanying her gait.
Araatris
Several minutes and several modifications for Sedra's tail later, Ary is standing outside the curtain in her new clothes waiting for her friend. "How does it look, Sedra? Is it comfortable enough for you?"
Rhoelyn
I can't do this. The other woman's silent thoughts are all that pierces the still curtain, the emotions motivating them carefully withheld. They're fine. These will do for the mission. I'll get changed back and be out in a moment.
Araatris
Ary raises an eyebrow, allowing her vague questioning tendril linger across the link. "I'll change back after you." She settles into a nearby chair to wait.
Rhoelyn
The void knight stares at her reflection in the dressing room mirror and tries to ... contain her reaction. Her fingers trace the mirror-her's exposed tattoos, and she remembers doing that once before in a very different mirror in a very different place. She almost forgot for a moment, despite how she has made a ritual of looking at her new reflection every time she bothers to sleep.
... but it hasn't been often enough, apparently. And the person who stares back still feels too much like a stranger.
She sighs to herself and carefully tucks those feelings away before she assuages her friend's quiet curiosity.
I just don't want to come out without my glamour in place.
Araatris
That's fair. This is a very different place to do so. May I come in and look? Ary yawns and draws her feet into the chair as she watches the curtain. It's been a long time since she's bothered to shop like this.
Rhoelyn
There is a brief, empty hesitation before she gets a wordless affirmation. Permission given and everything else withheld.
Araatris
The young woman stands and stretches, slipping behind the curtain. Her gaze assesses Sedra clinically. "The fit and color do work nicely. You never know until you try it on. Then again, you've always had the skintone to pull these colors off." Ary offers a grin.
Rhoelyn
Taking advantage of the distraction from the bent of her thoughts, the eredar smirks slightly and brushes a hand through her short, black hair.
"I think you're saying that blue matches blue, Ary. But I'm glad you approve. I think they will suffice as long as we get some of that oil. They do have that dead-thing smell."
Araatris
"It's not that bad. Many like the smell. It's like the smell of an old leather book. And blue isn't just blue. It can clash with itself with the wrong shade." She circles around her.
Rhoelyn
Sedra stands still, her dark gaze moving from her own reflection to Ary's and back again. "An old leather book..." she repeats the phrase, almost to herself. No context. No clues as to what's behind her thoughts.
She is silent for a while before she seems to return to the moment and look at Ary once more in the mirror. "Does this outfit have your approval..." her lips twist up a bit teasingly, "shadowmancer?"
Araatris
Ary grins. "Indeed, it does. And be careful, with my luck a title like that would stick. We can't have you starting rumors." She twists to look at herself in the mirror. "I like the fit on my outfit as well."
Rhoelyn
Sedra turns to face her and nods. "It suits you. I believe it will serve well for this mission Raeisley has given us."
She reaches out to tug the bottom of the vest a bit straighter before pulling her hand back. "If you are content with both, then I'll change back. I need one more stop before we quit Dalaran."
Araatris
"Yes, they'll work well. I'll be right outside." Ary slips out from the room, tweaking the curtain closed. She leans with her back to the wall and asks, "Where is our last errand?"
Rhoelyn
"The swordsmith," Sedra announces amidst the rustle of motion and the jangle of buckles. "I'll need shorter blades. ...quieter ones."
Araatris
Ary nods even though Sedra can't see it. "Are you thinking daggers then or longer than that?" She tucks a hair behind her ear, easily ignoring the curious glances of the workers.
Rhoelyn
As the ring of plate pieces hitting each other joins the little symphony of the changing room, Sedra announces, "Slightly longer. I've been thinking that a pair of kopis styled blades should help me make up for all the changes to my style that this mission requires. They're single-edged, which should give me more options for incapacitating when we need silence."
Araatris
"That a good idea. My methods are limited. Speaking of skills, Raeisley can fight, can't she?" Ary notices the second changing room is free and gathers her dress. "Hey, this other room is free. I'm going to change as well."
Rhoelyn
"Very well," the apparent draenei acknowledges that as she works at the buckles on the side of her breastplate. "Raeisley... fights with trickery more than weapons, I think. I'm not certain. I fully expect that she will not be of great use against hostiles, but I suppose there is room to be pleasantly surprised."
With a little snort, she mutters less distinctly, "She certainly didn't impress with her martial instincts when I stabbed her."
Araatris
Ary pauses in her changing. "I'm starting to think that's a habit for you. You seem to enjoy stabbing people when you meet them. I can think of... three now? Do you have some pent up frustration from the Leafblade encounter?" She asks it with dry amusement, and she continues changing.
Rhoelyn
Sedra chuckles. "Three? It's not that many, surely." She works on her last buckle, pondering through the list. "Raeisley, admitted. That was perhaps just... unfortunate. Eraelan. He probably... Maybe that was unfortunate as well."
Though Ary can't see it, the eredar grimaces. "Who else? Who have I stabbed, lately? Oh, Veldrinas? He brought a Rider that tried to attack you. That was a justified stabbing."
Araatris
The human shadowmancer laughs. "Justified stabbing? I think the poor cabinet was more injured than I was. I thought my sister was going to explode." She shakes her head as she straightens the front line of her gown. "Justified or not, you do have a perchance for stabbing. Perhaps we should put a warning on your armor. Do not poke. May stab unexpectedly."
Rhoelyn
There's another chuckle as Sedra shoves through the curtain, head down while she buckles her eerie swords back in place. "I really thought the armor and weapons were enough for most people to absorb that message on sight. If I wished people to think me harmless, I might dress more like you: all exposed fleshy bits and tiny cutting edges."
Araatris
Ary peers out, looking incredulous. "You think I look harmless?" She opens the curtain and tugs her last glove on. "I'm not sure whether to be insulted or flattered."
Rhoelyn
Her friend snorts and looks over at her, buried once more in the security of her glamoured cowl. "I'm not sure, either. Only some of us know how not harmless you are. Are we ready to make our purchases and leave?"
Araatris
"Yes, I believe we are." She folds the garments over her arm and steps out. "Shall we then?"
Rhoelyn
The void knight sweeps up her new clothes and gestures toward where the proprietor waits patiently, watching them with avaricious eyes. "Yes. We need to get moving."
Araatris
Ary squares away their account, waving off Sedra's gold. "I'll get this. I have enough in the family account." She drops the coins and tip off.
Rhoelyn
The void knight shrugs and thanks her human friend as she grabs the sack of gear and tucks it in her cold arms before turning to the door.
As they step out onto the busy street, Sedra suddenly yawns broadly and then announces, "I'm tired. And hungry."
Just like that, the announcement made and then ignored, she scans the street for the swordsmith. She points out that and the cobbler. "We still need a final decision on your boots."
Araatris
"I don't need boots for swimming." Ary attempted to redirect. "Let's get your new blades first. We can talk about boots afterwards." She quickly hurries down the street.
Rhoelyn
Sedra follows without comment, her suspicious glare in the shadows of her cowl. The swordsmith's is a quick, straightforward affair, and soon she's flipping a pair of single-edged blades around her hands as Ary and the blacksmith both watch, a little quirk to her lips betraying her pleasure with their balance.
Araatris
Ary grins, stating dryly, "I'm not sure, Sedra. Do you think they'll work for you?" She holds out one hand and examines one of the pair herself. "I mean... they're only superbly balanced..."
Rhoelyn
The void knight smirks. "Not to mention good, keen edges and perfect lines." She flips hers once more across the back of her hand before snagging the hilt and offering it to Ary as well.
The swordsmith chuckles and bows his head at the complement as he eyes the pair of curved shortblades. "Shall I wrap them for you, friend?"
Sedra nods her head and points at an armor stand. "I need a cross harness as well. Do you have that in grey?"
The bearded human smiles and nods, striding off to the back room. Sedra leans against the wall and folds her arms, eyeing her friend.
Araatris
Ary rests the blade across her arm. "Where would you like to eat? A Hero's Welcome in Dalaran?"
She hands the weapons to the smith when he returns. "Thank you. They're excellent quality."
"Thank you, miss." He grins as he wraps up the blades. He sets the harness to the side. "If you want to check it over, miss, here's that harness."
Rhoelyn
The apparent draenei gives the harness of crossed leather sheaths a cursory once over before nodding and handing it back. She sets a stack of coins beside them all before she addresses Ary's question. "I have no preference. Just food."
And as the proprietor hands her the bundle of blades and harness, she pointedly adds, "And boots. Boots and food. In that order."
Araatris
Sighing, Ary relents. "Fine. Boots. Come on. Let's go." The human strides from the shop and glares at the cobbler before slowly walking that way. "I haven't worn boots regularly since I arrived in Kalimdor. My boots from the orphanage had worn out. I'd intended to get new ones, but... things happened."
Rhoelyn
"Things like getting yourself in trouble?" the void knight says gently, clicking along at a similarly sedate pace behind the little human.
Araatris
Ary makes a sour face. "The worst. Getting killed by sentinels was not one of my goals." She paused outside. "Now they just feel... strange. Overly restrictive."
Rhoelyn
"Well, as I told you, I only ask that you wear them on the Cleaver. At least until it's repaired enough that it's not going to slice off a foot." The eredar pauses beside her friend and looks down at her. "Unless you prefer that I carry you everywhere."
Araatris
The young woman scowls. "No. It's bad enough that it happened once." She stalks into the shop and starts looking at the footwear.
The cobbler looks up from his work. "Ah! Welcome, welcome. What can I help you with?"
Ary mutters, "Boots."
He clears his throat at her short answer. "What will you be using them for? I can help you find something that fit your needs."
Rhoelyn
When she hesitates, Sedra speaks up, managing to keep her smug amusement off her face. "They're just for rough floors. So thin soles and light bodies. Closed toes and full coverage. But something... unobtrusive."
Her false blue gaze darts to the little human at her side.
Araatris
Ary nods in agreement, her expression betraying her annoyance. She continues to look through the shoes, discarding shoe after shoe.
The cobbler watches her for a long moment. "You won't find what you're looking for there, little lady. Those are traveling boots." When she turned her glare on him, he merely reaches under his table and retrieves a pair of thinner ankle high boots. "I make them for some of the high class folks."
Rhoelyn
The eredar watches over her shoulder, looming and quiet.
Araatris
Ary grimaces under Sedra's gaze and picks them up, looking at them. She presses her fingers into the inside sole. "They're soft..."
He pats a seat at the end of the counter. "Well, try them on. I think I judged your feet right, but I won't know for sure until you try them on." He sets some thin stockings on the table.
Reluctantly, Ary complies. She pulls on the stockings, then the black boots. She wiggles her toes inside before standing and walking a few steps.
Rhoelyn
Her larger friend's satisfied look doesn’t make it to her very neutral voice as she props a hip against the cobbler's work table, resting her palms over the pommels of her swords as she asks, "What do you think of them?"
The flash of dismay on the shoemaker's face when a spider crawls out of her shadow to skitter across the wood doesn't catch her attention. It dissolves to nothing and disappears before he can do more than make a little choked sound.
Araatris
Ary glances up. "I can still move my toes." She says it as if the most important aspect had been solved. "They'll do. I only have to wear them in one place." To the cobbler, she asks, "How much?"
Rhoelyn
The man names a sum that should probably buy four pairs of boots and Sedra gives him a cold look from under her cowl, eyebrow going up. One of the blades at her hip hisses a few sibilant nonsensical tones as she says, "They are neither dragon hide nor rife with enchantment in every stitch."
He winces."Yes, but... but they are popular among the higher... ah... less budget-conscious clientele."
Araatris
"Can we make this a bit more budget conscious? I don't need anything for a fancy dance. Is there a damaged pair that is a little cheaper?" Ary grimaces.
The shopkeeper nods slowly. "Well... I do have a pair that might match your gown that I haven't managed to sell." He turns and rummages from a box, pulling a pair of purple boots. "I could settle for about a third of the price of those if you'd take these off my hands."
Rhoelyn
Sedra's eyes narrow beneath her cowl, and she says, "Or you could sell us the pair she likes at a reasonable price."
The man blinks and hesitates before suddenly he smiles at Ary. "Or I could sell you the pair you like at that price."
Araatris
Ary raises an eyebrow. "Of course. That would be very nice of you." She places the gold on the counter. "I'll be sure to recommend your business."
She joins Sedra and motions for the eredar to precede her. "Shall we? I feel as if we could use a nice dinner after all that." The young woman makes no effort to remove the shoes.
Rhoelyn
The void knight grins, pleased with herself and her friend, and picks the sack of gear with her new swords atop it off the workbench before leading the way back out into the street. "Yes, please. Food. Did you decide where you want to eat?"
Araatris
"A Hero's Welcome. I like it there, but one of the upper tables." Ary glances at Sedra. "Unless you had another suggestion that is."
Rhoelyn
"A Hero's Welcome will do." The eredar sniffs and wrinkles her nose as they walk. "Food. And something to drink. It's convenient to get hungry in Dalaran."
Araatris
Ary nods agreeably. "There's plenty of places to eat. I've even had a few deliver to the tower when I was working. My apartment isn't quite ready yet. Do you have a preference for sleeping?"
Rhoelyn
Sedra's brow furrows at that. "The Sanctuary. Can you stay up until we get back?"
Araatris
The young woman huffs. "Yes, I'll be fine. I'd rather not chance you carrying me. If need be, I can get a cup of coffee while we're here in Dalaran." She leads the way into the tavern.
Rhoelyn
When they've made their way to the table up on the lofted second floor of the inn, conveniently quiet and isolated in the corner, the eredar sets the bundle of their loot down and stretches her arms over her head with another yawn.
"It will take a little while to fly to Bradensbrook, but we should be back before midnight. I need to get our beacon set up to make it an easier process. I can work on it after a nap."
Araatris
"Perhaps I should ask if you're going to be able to stay awake." She waves to a server and orders a fruit and meat platter and wine. She gestures to Sedra to order.
Rhoelyn
The eredar flops into a chair with a metallic clatter, waving a hand at the server.
"Food," she mutters.
When the young elven man just blinks at her, she grimaces and elucidates, "Whatever is fast. Just food."
He sighs. "Of course, miss."
Sedra hooks an arm over the back of her chair, belatedly addressing Ary, "I don't think I'll fall asleep."
Araatris
Ary snorts. “Think is the key word. You're actually starting to look a bit tired, too."
Rhoelyn
Her companion shrugs slightly, looking uncomfortable from under her cowl. "It's not as if I slept long, last time. And as that was before Eraelan summoned you... I suppose I'm due."
Araatris
The young woman shakes her head. "You really need a more regular sleep schedule. Maybe not every night, but I'm sure you could do something."
Rhoelyn
"Why?" Sedra reaches under her cowl to scrub at her face. "It already seems like I lose so much time to sleep, now. I ... think I preferred it how Sedrai had it. Eating and sleeping are just so-... but then, I suppose food can be pleasant to taste."
Araatris
The little human gives her a skeptical look. "Food is pleasant, but sleep is restful. Needed. I've gotten some of my best work done right after I rested because I gave my mind a chance to process that information."
Rhoelyn
The void knight considers that for a moment... until the server sets a bowl of stew and a plate of bread in front of her. Then, with a relieved sigh, she wraps her hands around the bowl and watches as he delivers Ary's food and wine as well.
Araatris
Ary thanks the server and snacks on her light meal. "I don't suppose I'm getting much out of you until you've eaten. At least they gave you something hearty."
Rhoelyn
Sedra smirks around a mouthful of food, managing to pause long enough to swallow and mutter, "I'm not completely lost to the hunger, you know."
But there isn't much chance for a response before she is on to the next bite.
Araatris
"Oh no. Not completely, but nothing I have to say is that urgent. Try to remember to taste your dinner." Ary sips her wine, reclining slightly in her seat as she glances about.
Rhoelyn
It's not until a short while later, when most of her food is gone, that the eredar finally slows down enough to pause and say, as if long minutes hadn't just passed in the middle of the conversation, "What do you suggest, if I'm going to make a new habit? And don't say 'every night'. I don't want to sleep that often."
She looks up at her friend, the tired circles under her eyes obvious even under her cowl.
Araatris
The young woman regards her thoughtfully. "How about every other night for maybe... 4 hours? You can see how it feels and adjust from there." She sips the last of her wine, her platter long empty.
Rhoelyn
Though she makes a slight face before she starts scraping bread along her bowl, Sedra considers the suggestion quite seriously. "Every third night?"
Araatris
"If you wish. The point is just to get you on a schedule so you can figure out how much sleep you need. It's also easier to remember just one day back as opposed to two, but try and see." Ary replies easily, compromising.
Rhoelyn
The eredar nods as she shoves the last piece of her bread in her mouth.
Araatris
Ary asks dryly, "Are you sure you're not still hungry after that? I might be afraid that you'll take a bite out of my arm at this rate."
Rhoelyn
Sedra snorts and gives her a droll look, taking a drink before she says, "Give me a minute or two to decide. But I wouldn't worry too much. I'm pretty sure you would give me indigestion if I tried. ... and if I can even get indigestion."
She ponders that as she yawns and pats the belly panel on her armor.
Araatris
The young woman smirks. "Yes. I would." She pushes her glass and plate back and rests her elbows on the table. "I'm also sure that you wouldn't like testing if you can."
Rhoelyn
"Testing if I can get indigestion or testing if I can bite you?" Sedra says it deadpan, watching her friend.
Araatris
"Either." Ary crosses her arms. "But I doubt I'm in any danger of your fangs."
Rhoelyn
The other woman stretches back in her seat, shaking her head. "I am not much of a biter. You should be safe. And also, I'm no longer hungry."
She yawns and grudgingly admits, "Though the tired remains..."
Araatris
Ary nods. "Shall we leave our coin and head out then?"
Rhoelyn
"I'll take care of dinner, since you bought the gear." Interrupted once more by a yawn, the eredar stands and reaches for her pack. "At least the cobbler was one less thing to deplete your purse. I still cannot believe his ridiculous avarice."
Araatris
"I understand his reasoning for the higher class. If he charged lower, then they'd think it was cheaply made or, worse, not in style. Though, I do agree it's ridiculous." Ary stands as well, grabbing her own laden pack. "Thanks for the dinner." She grins.
Rhoelyn
Vasedra nods and scoops up her new swords and harness, tucking them and the extra sack under her arm. "You're welcome, Ary. Let's work towards somewhere to sleep. I'm fading quickly."
She mutters under her breath, "... annoying."
Araatris
The red-head raises an eyebrow, but leads them to the bar, where they pay and then to the flight master out on Krasus Landing. It didn't take long to buy a flight to their destination.
"... And you're sure that you're not going to fall asleep on the gryphon?" Ary queries skeptically.
Rhoelyn
Though she considers a different answer Sedra eyes the half-lion beast and weighs her state with honesty before she winces and says, "A multiple hour flight? I really need to get our beacon set up."
Her sigh turns into yet another yawn."I'm not so certain. I will try to make sure that if I doze off, it's over the ocean...?"
Araatris
Ary smirks. "We can share the gryphon, and I'll be sure that you stay awake. You might not like it though."
Rhoelyn
"What do you mean by that?" Sedra blinks at her friend.
Araatris
"Constantly prodding you to stay awake." Ary shrugs as if it was the only obvious option. "Or we could tie you to the gryphon."
Rhoelyn
"How embarrassing. No." The void knight makes a face. "I'm sure I can manage. You like to talk, so you can prod me awake if I drift."
Araatris
Ary grins. "Oh, a captive audience. Whatever will I talk about." She changes their plans with the gryphon master and gestures for Sedra to swing into the saddle.
Rhoelyn
Smirking, the eredar secures their goods and packs to its saddle and then swings up. "You only need to talk if I start to fall asleep. Maybe we should enjoy silence until and unless that's necessary."
She offers Ary a hand.
Araatris
The young woman takes it, settling in behind Sedra. "As you wish, but I thought the topic of crystal dynamics in that latest book was fascinating. Or perhaps we could do 'girl talk' and discuss the men in ours lives." She teases.
Rhoelyn
Vasedra chuckles. "I'm not sure you want to hear my stories about the Bloodbinder, Ary." She pats the gryphon and braces as the beast spreads its wings and launches into the long flight toward "home".
Araatris
Realizing that she's been beaten at her own game, Ary settles in for the flight good-naturedly. Only a few times does she nudge the drooping headed eredar in front of her to ensure she stays awake and when she does talk, she chats more about the progress of her apartment than anything else.
Rhoelyn
As the gryphon lands near the roost in Bradensbrook, Sedra comments, "I hope the new settee is as comfortable as the old one. It was a perfect sleeping spot."
She slips from the bird-creature and lands with the clatter of hooves and the jangle of metal.
Araatris
Ary slides down after her and retrieves her backpack while Sedra grabs the rest of the gear. "At least we don't have much further to go now. And I hope so as well. We'll have to test it."
Rhoelyn
The eredar yawns and nods, slinging their goods over her shoulder. As she leads the way at a walk through the village, her false blue gaze darts around. It's only when she's convinced there are no eyes on them that she ducks down the small alley between buildings and heads to the low, crumbled place in the wall around the perimeter of Bradensbrook.
Araatris
The little human follows through the rubble and down toward the water. Ary yawns and covers her mouth. "Seems I'm almost at my limit as well."
Rhoelyn
Sedra glances back over her shoulder, nodding. "Yes. I've been thinking that... well, perhaps you would like a second bed in the Sanctuary, since you tend to end up on the settee when we're together."
Araatris
Ary tilts her head thoughtfully. "Yes. We probably should. While it is comfortable, I would like to stretch out." She shakes her head. "And I'm not inclined to share. Not after the misunderstandings that already happen."
Rhoelyn
"Misunderstandings?" Sedra climbs up over the last boulder before the beach and pauses at the top, looking back at the little human.
Araatris
The human freezes, realizing that she'd likely forgotten to tell her of the gathering before her kidnapping. "We gathered at the Lightstroke's place before I was taken from my apartment. I... discovered that at least one person thought we were lovers. I clarified the misunderstanding."
Rhoelyn
Her companion chokes on a breath and starts coughing, leaning over. Before too long, the coughs give way to laughter, and she manages to gasp out, "Lovers? Us?! Lightless Depths! Who thought that?"
Araatris
Ary clears her throat. "Unimportant. Let's just get to Sanctuary." She hurries past her laughing friend.
Rhoelyn
The eredar, once she recovers enough from her mirth, jogs to catch up with the human. The click of her hooves gives way to the hiss of sand as she finally subsides back to a walk, and she can't help but ask, "How shocked were you?"
Araatris
"Very. It'd never even occurred to me. Of course, it meant that Tharion decided to imply part of the nature of my training with Eraelan. It was... uncomfortable to say the least." Ary rubs her face. She kicks at a stone with her booted foot.
Rhoelyn
Sedra winces. "I can imagine. I hope you gave him a headache as thanks."
As they pause on the beach, she reaches into her pouch and grabs the ship interface. For the first time since the changing room, she flips her cowl down and settles the little medallion by her temple, where it shifts and grows to loop over her ear and hug her cheek almost like a sinuous little ivory and silver starfish.
Araatris
Ary smirks. "I didn't need to. I think the thought gave him one. That is rather handy, isn't it?" She gestures to the interface. "Can you use the same one for multiple ships?"
Rhoelyn
After her gaze fixes on the distance out over the waves, the void knight shrugs slightly and yawns once more. "I don't think so, but I haven’t ever tried."
As the waves splash along the shore, she nods to the communion in her head, carefully shielding Ary from any of it as she always does when the interface is on, and then looks back at her friend. "It's a vague impression, but the Revenant feels... solitary. He may be the last of his kind, or perhaps at least believe that to be true."
Araatris
"With everything that has happened, it could be true." Ary tugs the tie on her hair free, letting the red locks fall on her shoulders. She sighs, yearning to take off the boots as well, but resists the urge this close to the ship. She attempts to turn her next yawn into a deep breath.
The young woman asks suddenly, "Are the trees in Sanctuary big enough to hold someone on a branch? I haven't looked."
Rhoelyn
"The Atrium trees?" Sedra wanders off toward their landmark, the rock just outside the deep cove that the Revenant uses for cover, beckoning Ary after her. "I think quite a few are big enough to hold you, if that's what you're asking." She hesitates..."Is that what you're asking?"
Araatris
Ary nods. "It is. I used to sleep in trees all the time. If I could find a mossy hollow under the roots though... that was the best. I thought I might enjoy sleeping there sometime. Not tonight. I think we're both too tired for that."
Rhoelyn
"Ah." Sedra grins a bit and brushes a hand through her short hair, tucking an intrusive lock behind her horn. "Certainly, but I will second the idea that it's not for tonight. I need to show you which ones will either eat you or infect you with a mind-enslaving venom if you try."
She idly looks over at the cove as the water there burbles, and the Revenant emerges from the shadowed ocean, muttering, "I wonder if that namathorian boa tree near the back survived the crash or not."
Araatris
"Hence the asking and not the trying first. I'd rather not be eaten and murdered by a plant. That would be... disgraceful." Ary scrunches her face as she waits for the Revenant to settle.
Rhoelyn
The void knight chuckles as the transport ring lights above their heads, shielding her eyes against the salt water that drips on them. "What an ignoble end. And no souls for you to steal, nor minds to sunder. I think you might be extra susceptible to murderous plant life, Ary."
Her mirth at the line of thought is ill-contained. But the circle of Legion felsteel drops to the ground at their feet and flares with fel power, delaying the conversation.
Araatris
A moment later, they're on the ship. Ary snorts. "Are you saying that you're not susceptible?"
Rhoelyn
"I have two very sharp swords," comes the answer, and Sedra smirks.
Behind the control panel, Shirraz raises a brow at the two of them. "Do I wish to know?"
Araatris
Ary shrugs and grins. "Depends. Are you interested in rating the ability of various people to fight carnivorous plant life?"
Rhoelyn
The shivarra folds two of her arms across her chest, amusement plain on her face. "I am only interested in that if we expect carnivorous plant life to attack imminently. Is that so?"
Sedra snorts. "No. We have to go to them if we wish to be endangered."
The demoness peers at the two of them from black eyes, dryly intoning, "You are a strange pair when you're together."
Araatris
Ary returns just as dryly, shooting a knowing glance at Sedra. "Oh yes, we're quite the pair even when we don't try to be."
Rhoelyn
"Oh, so Cazas' theory is correct..."
The void knight chokes. "Theory??"
Shirraz smirks, stepping around the console and leaning a hip back against it. "That you are lovers, of course. The chamber that you have placed the human in did once belong to the Golden Lion's mistress, as well."
Araatris
Ary silently doubles over, shoulders shaking. When she looks up, her eyes are shining, and she points at Sedra. "I told you! This one's yours!"
Rhoelyn
The eredar groans, her cheeks darkening. She suddenly regrets that her cowl is still down as she shoots Ary a little glare.
"Shirraz, Ary is my friend, not my lover," she says firmly. "If she ended up in some mistress's ro-"
"Sorrow," the demon interrupted to clarify, looking smug.
That only made Sedra's eyes widen and her cheeks darken further. "She was-?"
The shivarra grins, her expression becoming sultry. "You thought they were 'just friends'? You are new to the Blood, Desire, but you have surely felt it by now. Viskarri craves... and so do those she touches."
Now the void knight sobers, glancing at her human companion. The light expression she forces is only one more reason to wish she'd raised her cowl.
She waves a hand at the navigator, muttering, "Don't get overexcited by the possibilities, Shirraz. My relationship with Ary is platonic and will stay that way. I would appreciate it if you could pass that along to the others.
"You're dismissed."
Sedra watches as her crewman smirks and then bows and turns to leave, intoning, "As you wish, Captain."
Araatris
Ary waits until the demon leaves to comment. "Very good job. I think she believes you." She gestures for the eredar to precede her.
Rhoelyn
The void knight walks out into the hallway. "I believe we've covered all fronts as long as no one catches us cuddling in the middle of the night." She chuckles, shaking her head.
Araatris
She falls in next to Sedra. "If somehow we cuddle, I'm letting you deal with Eraelan. Though, I have no fear of that. In all the time we've spent, I have never considered that as a risk."
"Oh. I've started to reorganize my room to be more like my apartment was before." She added as an aside. "Would you like to see?"
Rhoelyn
"I would. Especially now that we know it used to be Sa'khari's." Her grin is interrupted by a yawn. "We still have about twelve minutes before we get to the Cleaver. I really must get the beacon working."
Araatris
"I don't disagree. I'm about half a step to just sleeping here." Ary steps up to the portal to her room, and it opens to a warm cozy living room with a large couch, coffee table, and desk. "He's still working on the bookcases I had against the wall."
Rhoelyn
Vasedra follows her into the room, a fond little smile curving her lips as she looks around at the familiar space.
"I think...I didn't realize until this moment how fond I'd become of your apartment. This is... pleasant." She steps over to where the nubs of a growing bookshelf bump out from the wall, her hand brushing across the darkening shipflesh.
Araatris
"It's a little smaller, but it's not too crowded. I've even made the bedroom the same. Though here... you don't have a reason to sleep on the couch." She gives her friend a wry little grin.
Rhoelyn
"My bed is barely more comfortable." The void knight decides to try out the new couch to see if it's actually true. She plops down, stretching her arms over her head with a groan.
Araatris
Ary nudges her with her knee. "Careful now or you really will fall asleep." She grins. "Does it feel the same? I was very specific in my request."
Rhoelyn
Sedra folds an arm over her eyes, armored against Ary's nudge. "It's very thoroughly-" a yawn interrupts her before she can finish, "-acceptable. Eight minutes feels like a long time. If only you could carry me to the Sanctuary once we reach the Cleaver."
Then she snorts from under her arm. "Clearly that would not fuel the rumors."
Araatris
"Any more than sleeping in my room which is what you'll be doing if you stay like that much longer?" Ary sits on the arm of the chair lightly and raps her knuckles against Sedra's forearm. "Really. You're going to make your own rumors at this rate."
Rhoelyn
After a deep breath, the void knight sits up, suddenly, and scrubs at her face. "Fine. I'm moving."
Araatris
"Good. As long as you don't expect me to carry you. I no longer have the strength to do so." Ary smirks. "I'm afraid I'd end up flattened."
Rhoelyn
"I'm not that heavy," Sedra grumbles, shoving herself to her hooves. "Well... less so without the plate."
She wanders over to look in Ary's mirror.
Araatris
Ary admits, "Perhaps, but you are taller and have extra appendages. Your tail might be at risk of being stepped on." She watches her friend regard herself.
Rhoelyn
Sedra smirks as she brushes her fingers through her short hair and then over her decorated horns. Her dark eyes meet the human's through the mirror.
"I do not have extra appendages, Ary. You are just missing a few. Even Belmun had more than you do, and he was human."
Araatris
Raising an eyebrow, Ary summons a shadowy tendril. "I do believe that I have as many as I need and on demand. I have the perfectly adorable number of appendages for who I am."
Rhoelyn
The eredar chuckles as she straightens away from the mirror and turns to her friend. "I'm afraid if I agree with a statement like that, I will be fueling more rumors. You are not adorable, but I can admit that you seem to make do with your appendages as they are."
Araatris
"Oh, the adorable was referring more to the appendages than me." The human ran her fingers over the tendril. "But I agree. It might be strange if you referred my appendages as such." Ary smirks. "We should almost be there, shouldn't we?"
Rhoelyn
On cue, the ship gives a little shudder beneath their feet. It's already established as his common reaction to submerging beneath the ocean.
"We'll be landing in the docking bay in 29 seconds. Let's go back to the transport room."
Araatris
Standing from the edge of the couch, Ary nods. "Let's. I could really use a good night's rest." She gestures for the door to open and leads the way through the hallways. Ary covers a yawn with her hand.
Rhoelyn
Sedra follows quietly, and in no time at all, they appear in the cavernous and poorly lit docking bay at the aft of the Soul Cleaver. The floor slopes downward at a decent angle behind them, and farther back, behind the dripping black bulk of the Revenant, the space disappears into and then under the waterline.
She yawns and stretches her arms over her head, unaware of the dark shape dashing toward them from the forward doors.
Araatris
Ary flicks her hand up, sending shadows toward the figure to hold it as they continue to walk. She calmly comments to Sedra, "Incoming."
Rhoelyn
The void knight turns with a little less calm, bracing as she looks around. Her dark eyes only narrow when she spies the excited felhound.
"Where's Pryyshon?"
As she asks it, the other felhound rushes in from the other side. Sedra smirks and dodges away as it leaps at her, snarfling in a sound somewhere between a snarl and a cackle. The beast misses its mark, scrabbling across the felsteel floor on landing.
"Not this time, mutt!"
Araatris
"You do play with them rather roughly. I think they've gotten used to it." Ary smirks and rubs Veraxx's head while Pryyshon jumps toward Sedra again.
Rhoelyn
The void knight sidesteps with a hoofy click and grabs the hound around the chest, arresting her charge and swinging around with the momentum of her hard-hided bulk. As the felhound squirms and snarls, the eredar holds her tight and staggers, glancing at Ary.
"I'm too tired to play, Pryy. That's enough. Heel."
Araatris
Ary whistles. "Heel!" Both hounds stop in their tracks. "Come on. I'm tired. You should be able to let her go now, Sedra. They just missed us."
Rhoelyn
The eredar nods and pats the hound's spiney mane, releasing her. Pryyshon joins Veraxx in flanking Ary protectively. Sedra grins to watch the three of them before she turns away and beckons.
"They are so attached to you, now."
Araatris
"Yes, I suppose they are. I think they just like nibbling on my shadows when I'm not looking." Ary snorts. "They can be greedy little things." There's a layer of affection in the young woman's tone. She follows Sedra, resting her hands on the felpups.
Rhoelyn
The path from the docking bay at the aft of the huge ship to the Sanctuary of Sedra's workshop is not short. She leads the way with sure, if dragging, steps, only pausing to let Ary lead when they go through a section that's gone dark.
The eredar sighs. "That soul didn't last long."
Araatris
Ary echoes her sigh. "No, but it's been hit or miss to find larger demons to fuel it. I'll have to combine some of the small ones." Her boots thump softly on the metal. "I can work on that tomorrow. Hopefully, the workshop is still lit." She turns a corner with Pryyshon pressing against her thigh. Veraxx nips at Sedra's hand as he drops back to her side.
Rhoelyn
The void knight rests a cold hand on the hound's head, patting him and letting him guide her. She closes her eyes as they wander through the dark, managing not to stumble. Near the Sanctuary's halls, the lights prove to be lit, still, and as the darkness around them lightens, Sedra weaves a bit, yawning. She doesn't open her eyes right away at the sign of light, reaching back and pulling her cowl up to shield them, instead.
Araatris
"What I'd give for a portal straight to the room..." Ary yawns. She stays in the lead, knowing the way nearly as well Sedra now. "Are you still awake back there? Or sleepwalking?"
Rhoelyn
"Still awake," comes the mumbled reply, followed immediately by the clatter as the eredar stumbles and catches herself, earning a grofled complaint from her demonic canine escort. She grimaces and tugs her cowl down, forcing her sleepy black eyes open. "Definitely work on beacons, tomorrow," she yawns. "After nap."
Araatris
Ary would have laughed if she wasn't too tired. "We're almost there." They turned a corner to a very familiar hallway and Ary glances over her shoulder. "Come on. Let's hurry and get this over with." She begins a light jog that does nothing to lessen the exhaustion weighing on her.
Rhoelyn
Without a word, Sedra follows at pace until they finally stand before the workshop. Her shoulders round, and as Ary triggers the door, she pats the two felhounds.
"Stay," she mutters.
Araatris
The door opens. "Don't want them getting used to sleeping in the workshop with us still?" Ary caresses Pryyshon's head and repeats Sedra's command. "Stay."
As the young warlock steps inside, the felhounds pace and settle down to sleep in front of the door. "Well, I guess they're cooperative guards tonight."
Rhoelyn
"Yes. After what I found Veraxx chewing on last time we let them in, it's safer for all of us if we have a 'no felhounds in the workshop' policy." Sedra follows her friend in, and the iris door slips shut between them and the creepy pets. "I don't want to get disassembled by a nullmana explosion behind the wards."
Araatris
Ary grimaces and walks to the settee and kicks her boots off before, flopping back on it. "No explosions. We'd have to pet proof the room and that wouldn't make it very feasible. We'll talk about it more when we--when I wake up." She grasps the light blanket on the back and tugs it over her. "I'm too tired to think on it right now."
Rhoelyn
Sedra snorts and makes her way to the shelves to toss their new gear in a random, disorganized pile motivated by exhaustion. Waving a dismissive hand at it, she clicks to the bed, busy at buckles and armor.
"Get some rest, Ary."
Araatris
"You as well." The young woman yawns and curls up on the cushions. "Enjoy the bed." She attempts to tease, but her voice trails off. She's asleep with her next breath.