DwC August 2025
Day 4, 8/20
Direction/Languish
@daily-writing-challenge
Silvermoon, Elder’s Walk, The Red Room
Scowling in his own little corner of the wine bar with several of his fingers rubbing against his temple, Quelios Dawnsinger was in an uncharacteristically sour mood. He chased the eyes away of previously interested parties that took notice, or had come expecting the more shamelessly inviting bachelor he was rumored to be. No one needed to be sitting at his table today.
In his mind, the only one doing her job right in the damned city was the little goblin server that kept his particular glass filled, and so he engaged her with his troubles the next moment Dezzie Fizzgrin made her rounds his way.
“Hope you’re having a fantastic day. Because I am most assuredly not!”
Dezzie put on a smile that was halfway to dry. “What’s goin’ on, sweetheart?”
“Absolutely nothing, apparently,” Quelios quipped back with a disgruntled growl. “My damn sister is missing and I was dragged back to this ridiculous city to find her because apparently I’m the only one that can. I paid 250,000 gold for a guard to point me in a direction, and it was probably the wrong one. This whole situation is absolutely languishing and I’m trapped in this gaudy corner of the city with no way out.”
“Damn,” the server chuckled, “does your family have that much’ve a chokehold on ya?”
“I’m House Dawnsinger, darling,” Quelios shot a mean smile. “They crown us all with a golden noose, yank us around with it and tell us we’re the very best boys and girls, ever.”
“Mmmm, yeah,” the goblin rolled her eyes in solidarity. “I definitely got some fam that likes ta put that squeeze on us. Sorry ‘bout your sister, honey. You can’t get the actual Silvermoon guard inta this?”
“I suppose that headache will be the next to hurdle myself through. We’ll see how much my wonderful family wants to donate this time to the cause.” Quelios scoffed, and drank deeply from his glass.
“Ya know, when I realized my family was a buncha nuts - and it took me a long time ta realize that, lemme tell ya! But when I let myself realize that they were makin’ me miserable, I knew I had to get out.” Dezzie paused, and let her eyes linger on Quelios meaningfully as he drained his wine.
The ranger chuckled, immediately understanding what was being implied. “Well that wouldn’t be my sister. She was definitely more devoted to being miserable than I am.” Lio sighed, and set the glass down for another fill. “But Serra’s young. Impressionable. She’s never stepped a day out of the city. It’s rather obvious someone lured her out of her little cage she loves to perch in. And probably put her right into another one.”
Quelios’ brow furrowed as he reflected on what he knew for certain. “Such a stupid situation really, trying to play my own detective. I should throw this back at the council and demand them to take it into their own hands. Shuttle myself back to the Sunreavers where I belong.”
“So why don’t ya?” Dezzie inquired, curious.
Quelios let the smile slant to his lips. “Well, it’s simple really. I’m the big brother.” He chuckled witheringly. “Guilt’s also a lovely little noose to hang myself by too, I suppose.”