Quarion opened his mouth to lash a biting retort to the argonianâs comment but was silenced by his appparent lover. The altmer gave an irritated sigh, as her speaking was an immense waste of time and infact a drain of his precious energy.
âDo you think its honestly sound for a Thalmor officer to go alone, undisguised into the stormcloak capital?â The altmer replied frostily, a scowl bending down on his lips as orange eyes glared at the two.The mer was silent a moment, giving a small huff as he mulled over what to do with the two.
âI can take you to the inn at Winterhold..Or otherwise a safe distance from Windhelm..âThe inquisitor added in a slightly less scraping tone, however, his tone indicated he wasnât going to let the two take his time for free.
There were several rather unpleasant feelings in the air at this moment--hostility between the argonian and the mer, nervousness within little Katya, and an overall sense of unease. One would be hard-pressed to find a more unmatched trio.
âWe understand.â Katyusha said with a forced, crooked smile. âA-as soon as we can find a spot on the map, we can take it from there. Winterhold is perfect.â She was trying to be as polite and accommodating as possible--it was no use asking for too much from an already displeased Thalmor agent. She hoped politeness and a bit of coin was enough to keep away the threat of even more hostility.
[Iâve noticed that Iâve gotten quite a few new followers, so please like this post if you would like a starter! Itâs nice to be back and Iâm hoping to kick my butt into gear this time and actually get some things done. :)]
âMistakes are how we learn, though, arenât they.â At least thatâs how sheâd heard it, though Sesuna knew herself to be a slow learner in that case.
One eyebrow raised at the mention of a partner. âAt the docks? Thatâs hard work. Did it myself in my teens.â Her features tensed a moment at memories that flitted too close, but she brushed them aside and unclenched her jaw.
âAhâŠâ She shook her head. âI grew up there, but I left years ago. Iâm just here to see some old friends and talk to some shipsâ captains, see how much Iâll need to get a smallish family and a largish zoo to Solstheim.â
Of course, of course, mistakes were only to be expected. Katyusha smiled, her eyes wandering down to the ground in a moment of shyness. She was not proud of her mistakes, but it was good not to be the only one.
To meet someone who knew the struggles of living this way--working hard, living in less-than-wonderful conditions--made Katya respect this woman just a little bit more. âYo urfamily?â she asked. âYou donât have children, do you? You look far too young to be a mother! Uhh, no disrespect meant, of course.â The Breton bit her bottom lip and stiffened her shoulders, immediately cursing her graceless conversation skills.
The inquisitor stared at the hand offered to be shook but made no move, simply folding his arms with a frown.
At the word âdarlingâ Quarion inwardly cringed into himself, giving a disgusted look at the two. So, partners with a beast race, revolting.There was only so much he could tolerate in terms of relationships with lesser races and beast races crossed well over the line.
âInquisitor Quarion. A pleasure.â The altmer answered in a chilled tone, sarcasm once again sliding across his tone.
âAnd contrary to popular belief I do believe in fairness. Perhaps a varied definition, but the belief is there none the less.â He added whilst his cold orange gaze went from the argonian to the breton.
Katyaâs hand curled back towards her, resting near her chest. She felt a little insecure about that--was her hand not good enough to shake? Was she that low? She was still getting used to no longer being a respected, wealthy heir. Here on the road, living a wandererâs life, her familyâs status in Falkreath was hardly important.
âOf course you do.â The argonian said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. It was on the tip of his tongue to mention something about the Thalmor and their habit of imprisoning civilians, but he held it back--perhaps the only smart thing he had done all day.
As if sensing the hostility, Katyusha cleared her throat and stepped forward, creating a barrier between Tyree-Ja and Quarion. âI do hope this isnât coming across as too...invasive...but, are you heading to a nearby city, by any chance?â she asked with a smile that was almost a grimace. âItâs just, weâre, uh...lost and...well, we donât know the area and just to have someone to follow after would be rather helpful. A-at least, just until we can find a place to rest, you know?â Her hands were wringing together, a concerned grin on her face as if she was almost awaiting some sort of backlash.
âHunting? Hunting vhat, exactly? Zhe deer are all hiding and zhe moose have migrated north for a while.â The older Crusader moved closer to the pair of people, stroking the long beard he possessed from beneath his mask, âSo, I vill ask you again, boy. Vhat are you two doing out here and vhy should I not take you to the nearest guard house?â
Curse these people for knowing more about the land that Tyree-Ja did. The Argonian tried to make eye contact with the stranger, but it was hard to do when he couldn't even see his eyes. âWeâre travelers.â he said honestly. âWeâve got a long ways to go. Better to get an early start, donât you think?â
Both Rowan and his mate found themselves glancing at each other at Tyree-Jaâs request, as if gauging whether it would be appropriate to share the details of how theyâd met. But in the end, many others in Skyrim knew of this story, many whom the couple had acquainted with and become friends, and many others they did not even know. There was no secret to unveil, except to those who were not already aware of whatâd happened.
âI am not quite sure if you have noticed yet,â said Rowan to their guest, conceding with the Argonianâs curiosity. âBut I am not exactly what one would call a typical, normal man. Iâm a vampire⊠and before you panic, know that I have absolutely no intention of harming you. If I had desired to lure you to my home and make a meal of you â and, no offense, but I rather prefer the taste of human criminals, myself â I would not have made any effort to heal your wound. That being said, Farkas is not your average Nord, either. Heâs a Companion. The warriors of Jorrvaskr were exiled from Whiterun and every other known settlement in Skyrim five years ago, on the account of being exposed as werewolves. This man you see before you is one of the last surviving original pack-members of the Companions⊠and that is not a title that was easily claimed.â
He turned his head for a moment, smiling proudly at Farkas before continuing on with the retelling of their story.
âThere was a war,â he explained. âThe Dawnguard, a very old organization of vampire hunters, had risen from the ashes of their thirty year defeat, and had emerged stronger than theyâd ever been before. But, the Silver Hand â an order dedicated to the extermination of Farkasâ kind â had also bolstered their forces some few months prior, and together, they formed an alliance to finally wipe the existence of both our species from the face of Skyrim. My coven, the Volkihar, had been lacking in the proper numbers to face this threat at the time, and there were no other clans we could turn to for help. The night I decided to set out and find the Companions and implore them to lend their aid in return for ours, was the very night I met my husband. Neither the wolves nor my coven were greatly thrilled at the prospect of relying on each other to survive, but together, we agreed to form a pact. I am unshakably certain that both our families would have been decimated otherwise.â
The vampire lapsed into a state of silence as his eyes glassed over, as if recalling the horror and sadness his and Farkasâ enemies had wrought.
âOur war with the Alliance lasted three years. We could not prevent the deaths of some of our friends any more than I could have prevented myself from falling in love with Farkas, just as he had fallen for me. On the day before our final planned confrontation with the Alliance, we all gathered together in the woods, and he and I were married. We did not fully believe that either of us would be alive after the battle had taken place, and we wanted to take what we thought would be our only chance to be wed. As you can see⊠we had our victory. Once the war was over, the Jarls presented the Companions with a decree of terms that revoked their banishment from Skyrimâs towns and cities, and allowed them to assist the provinceâs citizens just as they once had. And now, Farkas and I reside here, together, living a life we nearly thought could never be.â
Farkas scratched his head when Rowan had finished speaking, feeling the need to add his two cents to what Tyree-Ja had said. âI donât know, I think a relationship between an Argonian and a Breton is all right⊠I mean, you love each other, donât ya? Love doesnât have to happen between two specific people to be real love⊠it can happen to anyone. I should know, otherwise I probably wouldnât have ended up feelinâ so strongly for Rowan. So donât worry about what other people say. Long as you got each other, thatâs all that matters.â
âI think itâs wonderful that the two of you have decided to be together despite your differences. That alone is a sign of how deep your bonds truly lie,â Rowan added, smiling warmly. âFor all you know, you could be an inspiration to other couples like yourselves.â
Of all things, Tyree-Ja loved stories of triumph. And even though he knew it was quite clear that Rowan and Farkas had survived their ordeal, he still furrowed the upper muscles of his face in concern, leaning forward the slightest bit as Rowan spoke. There was something awfully romantic about it all--knowing that certain death was a great possibility, joining in marriage at the last possible moment. As dangerous as it all sounded, he often dreamed of a chance like that: one opportunity to go down fighting, to be a real hero for once in his life and to leave a lasting imprint on the world. To die for love; it was the most desirable fate.Â
âI heard about the Companions while passing through Whiterun.â Ty said, tapping a finger against the table out of habit rather than impatience. âOf course, I had heard about them far before that...you know, legends and such. I thought it was rather exciting, really...a band of brothers and sisters in arms. It is...unfortunate what happened. I am sorry for it. But Iâm glad the legends may still survive so far as there are those to tell the tales.â He gestured towards Farkas. With any hope, a new revival of the old ways could be born and a second age of heroism was on the rise. As much as Tyree-Ja opposed the Stormcloaks for their unsavory opinions of foreigners, he could respect their love of the ancient ways.
âDonât worry, I know if you wanted to kill me, you would have done so already.â the corners of his wide, thin mouth turned upwards at one side. Katya told him often that he was too trusting--you could tell him that you were a mass murderer and he would still find a reason to like you. Call it gullibility.
At Rowanâs last comment, the Argonian laughed. âAn inspiration? Not so sure about that.â he said. âMaybe one day people will accept what we have, but until then, a little bit of support is enough. We donât ask for fame and glory.â
[Gonna try to get to replies pretty soon, Iâm all sick and gross. Iâll reply to everything I can find, but if you donât want to continue after all this time, please do not feel obligated to do so. Itâs fine to drop our interaction. Just let me know if you want to start something new!]
Rowan chortled softly at the Argonianâs response. It was quite obvious that Tyree-Ja was enamored with his partner by the affection in his voice, and it warmed the vampireâs heart to hear it. Love was a wonderful thing, indeed, no matter who it was shared between. A time ago, he may not have been so optimistic about such matters, but that had changed for him when Farkas had come along and given him a new reason to chase all the splendor of life.
âWe have called this Lakeview cabin our home for two years, now,â he answered the other fondly. âAs for ourselves⊠Farkas and I met five years ago under a dire series of circumstances, you could say. Times were very dangerous for us, and very hard, but in working together to overcome a great threat to us both, we eventually found our love for each other.â
âThatâs about as short as the storyâs gonna get,â laughed the werewolf. âThereâs a much longer version, but Iâm sure yaâd rather we didnât talk your ear off. Either way, I never thought Iâd be the type to get married, at least not before my brother. I guess Rowan surprised me with a lot of things.â He tore away a large bite of the meat, chewing vigorously with a thoughtful expression. âYour partner, whatâs she like?â he questioned curiously.
âI donât mind listening to you talk.â Tyree-Ja said with a tiny chuckle, muffled behind his hand. He loved to socialize--talking, listening to other peopleâs stories, telling jokes. He was gaining quite a reputation at the Windhelm docks for being far too talkative during their work-hours, but some of his fellow Argonians didnât seem to mind so much.
âA great threat, you say?â he asked, curious now. He loved stories of bravery, valor, and overcoming evil. One could say he was a sucker for heroism. âI wouldnât mind hearing the story behind all of that.â
When Farkas asked about Katya, Ty let out a fond sigh. âHer name is Katyusha.â he said, idly tracing circles on the table with his finger. âLike I said, sheâs an alchemist, and probably the sweetest-looking blonde youâll ever see. Sheâs, uh...sheâs not like me. Sheâs a Breton. A lot of people donât seem to like the thought of people like us being together, but I knew from the first day I met her that it was destined to be.â
âHeh, donât mention it. I know you guys have it pretty tough back in your world. The least I could do is give you some comfort, at least for one night,â she told them, laying out the pillow and blanket before stepping aside. âAlright, itâs all yours. If you need anything, feel free to step into my room. Or, I guess you can try and grab Falcon butâŠâÂ
She shrugged. âHard to tell with that guy. But Iâm sure he likes you guys and would try his best to help out anyways.â
Katya offered a warm smile to Crystal and a murmur of âthank youâ, reaching a hand down to feel the blanket. It was soft, even softer than the animal pelts they were used to.Â
âWeâll be fine, Iâm sure.â Tyree-Ja said. âBut if we need anything, we know where to go.â
âHave a good night, Crystal.â Katya added, lightly patting the darker haired woman on the arm. âWeâll see you in the morning, alright?â
âIs zhere a reason you children are out so late zhis night? Is not good for one to be out vithout a older person such as meinself.â The Crusader hummed as he waddled closer to the pair of youngsters, his hammer over one shoulder as green eyes examined them from under the metal mask.
The two had hoped they wouldnât be seen this time as they made their way down the path. Traveling under the cover of darkness had its reasoning, after all. But when the crusader stopped them, Tyree-Ja held an arm out to hide Katya from view, letting her step behind his back.
âChildren?â the Argonian asked. âI think youâre mistaken. We were just out...hunting.â
Once she removed the cushions, she curled her fingers around the inside of the couch before pulling it out, revealing a sort of thin, fold-out mattress. âAlright. Iâll just grab you guys some pillows and blankets, and you guys should be all set for the night,â she told them, heading into her room to go through her closet of stuff.
Both Tyree-Ja and Katya seemed amazed that couches could change their shape like that. And yet, there it was--something that resembled a bed, and one much more comfortable than the thin bed rolls they were used to back home. A bit of fabric wasnât much against a cold, hard ground.Â
âThank you.â Katya said as she watched Crystal head back to her room. Tyree-Ja was already sitting on the edge of the mattress, checking to see if it would stand their weight. It seemed sturdy enough.
Today we lost one of our hedgehogs; our beautiful 5-year old boy Quigley. He was a special needs hog who my mother and I gave feedings, cuddles, and tummy rubs four times a day and who loved getting attention from his mamas. He left this world very loved and will be very missed by the whole family. I love you, Quig. <3Â
Tyree-Jaâs eyes were half-closed when he heard Katya speak up, her voice soft and surrounded by silence. It was dark, only the light from a Khajiitâs fire illuminating the ground from outside their tent. One of the men from the caravans was still awake, tending to the flames. Meanwhile, the runaways were huddled up in their blankets, facing one another, half-asleep. Ty gave a sigh and blinked, adjusting to the dim light with a tiny murmur of âhm?â.
âI miss you.â the blonde repeated, eyes open and staring at the argonian through a layer of darkness. âWhen youâre gone all day, working at the docks, I miss you.â
Tyree-Ja scooted a bit closer to her, finding one of her hands underneath the blankets and holding it up close to his face. âThey make us work long hours,â he said, pressing her knuckles against his lips. âIf I could come back to you sooner, trust me, I--â
A finger pressed against his mouth, silencing him.Â
âI know you would.â Katya said. Her fingertip traced along his bottom lip, then circled one of the small, dull horns on his jawline before the palm of her hand rested against his cheek. Tyree-Ja took that as in invitation to move in closer, closing his eyes and nuzzling his thin, scaled mouth against the Bretonâs softer, plumper lips. He gave her something like a kiss, capturing her bottom lip between his own, greeted with a loving kiss in return.
Lying next to one another didnât quite suffice anymore. Tyree-Ja turned, an elbow on either side of Katyaâs shoulders, moving to hover over her. His fingers tangled in her hair, pushing her head up towards him to deepen their kiss. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as one hand ran over the smooth, curved surface of his left horn. The argonian let out the tiniest groan against Katyaâs lips--that was a sensitive spot. Slowly, he pulled his face away, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. For a long moment, they just stared at one another with half-lidded eyes, before Katya circled a hand around to the back of Tyâs neck and forced him against her once more.Â
He couldnât help it--he liked that little bit of force. Katya didnât even realized she was asserting her dominance, but Tyree-Ja certainly made note of it, wishing she would take control like this more often. With that thought in his mind, his trousers suddenly felt a little too tight. He was slightly embarrassed to admit that, and it clearly didnât stay a secret for very long. The moment Katya felt his arousal press against her thigh, her cheeks flushed a bright red and she pulled back from Tyâs lips, breathless and flustered.
âI, um...â she murmured. âLetâs--letâs just..get some rest.â she said, pushing herself up. Tyree-Ja had no choice but to pick himself off of her, holding a blanket in front of his lap to hide himself.
âYeah...y-yeah, sure.â he nodded, his voice dull. He sighed as he watched Katya roll over onto her side, pulling the blankets up over her shoulders. An awkward silence fell upon the two of them. He lay down beside her, facing away, humiliated and disappointed. For a few minutes, he just remained there, staring forward, listening to his own steady breaths.Â
A warm set of arms circled around his waist. Katya had cuddled up next to him, pressed up against his back.
Crystal had nearly fallen asleep when she heard Katyaâs voice. Her eyes widened a bit. Thatâs right, it was getting late.
She quickly got out of bed and opened the door. âOh, yeah! I was actually going to ask if you wanted to sleep over. Here, lemme get you settled in first.â
She quickly walked over to the couch as she started to remove the cushions. â âScuse me, TJ. I think itâd be more comfortable if you guys had more room to sleep on, right?â
Kat moved away from the door to let Crystal through. âWe really appreciate it.â she said, wringing her hands shyly. They were used to sleeping on the ground, so this house was like a five-star hotel to them.
Tyree-Ja jumped up from his spot on the couch, letting Crystal get to work removing the cushions. He and Katya both wondered how removing the couch cushions would help make it bigger. Perhaps there was some kind of trick to it.
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