#edrick pyke

[loreleibellator]

pulled from the depths

The gentle rock and crash of waves against the timber hull of the ship brought the woman back to consciousness; the lull of traversing waves which had once brought so much comfort now disturbed her deep slumber. Arms wound in bandages stretched upward, cracking at the joints and causing a grimace to cross her face which had been colored in an array of hues from bruises new and old. With a sigh her arms lowered, gritting through muscles that were tender and sore to allow her hands to lay over her stomach, testing carefully for any bumps or bruises across the swollen bump. The illusion had faded, the trinket she’d acquired had drained the last of its magic days ago and she could no longer conceal her condition. Had it only been days? Or was it weeks? Time had become nothing but a blur which she only measured by how much the child within her stomach had grown. Even then it was just a guess, her seclusion driving her from anyone who could really know.

Brisk footsteps descending the stairs brought her thoughts to the present, a rescue from the clustered turmoil of trying to arrange the pieces of the puzzle of the time she’d been gone. Taught fingers pulled the blanket around her slight shoulders, more to ease the shiver than to conceal her form. The first mate came into view, a tall Elonian man whose ebony locks were now speckled with grey that even came down and touched his beard. A warm and genuinely friendly smile crossed her lips and a tension she’d been holding eased in the familiar company. “Aetes.” she spoke in relief, lifting tired azure eyes to meet his aging features. "It's been too long." The statement was only confirmed as the man nodded in agreement, a flash of a smile there and gone before moving briskly on to business.

“Lorelei... M'lady.” the taller Elonian man began, her name almost foreign on his tongue as his head dipped low to avert his eyes.  Orders were orders and they left no room for casualness. The tension rose anew in her shoulders. Such formality from one she had considered so close at one time threw her back into the unease that had become the norm as of late. “When you’ve a moment, the Capt’n would like a word with ya.” His words were clipped, to the point. Something had changed, she could only wonder exactly what.  Perhaps the captain would know, as the man seemingly no longer friend before her would give no further hints. "Of course." she returned, formal tone in place as her expression shifted to a careful neutral.

As his back turned she let a flash of pain rush to the surface, eyes watering in the uneasy hormonal state, but with a stubborn shake of her head she banished the feeling and pushed it away. There was no time for such silly things at the present. Quickly her hands moved to the pack that had been tucked nearly haphazardly beneath her cot, the strap clearly visible and laying by her feet. From the soft leather a bundle of parchment was retrieved. Letters. Some sealed in wax, others hastily folded, and a few spattered in dirt and dried blood. Just a small sign of how the journey had gone.

The bundle was held as precious cargo, clung to her chest with one hand, as the other held the blanket secure about her shoulders. The wind cut through the cloth regardless once she stepped on deck, but she clung to what warmth she could, needing the comfort it provided most of all.  Caution clung to every step she took towards the helm, her eyes set on the captain as his remained on the sea before him. Such a stubborn man he always had been and appeared to be still, always preferring to helm the ship himself rather than give the reigns to another able man.

The Captain himself hadn't changed much in the years it had been since they'd seen one another. Same shock of honeyed hair, though just like his first mate grays now hinted at his age. It was a surprise event to herself that the flaxen blonde had not grown any of her own just yet, though that had yet to be seen from the latest challenges just past. "Watch your step, Bellator! Those stairs are starting to crack!" He called out, his russet eyes now catching her gaze, and a bit of color rushed her cheeks as she'd realized she'd been staring in her reminiscent state. "The last thing we need is -you- with a concussion." Steady eyes stayed upon her as she tiptoed her way up the stairs, careful of the cracking timber so as not to catch her feet.

"Always the careful one." she mumbled under her breathe, gaze no steady on the helm that spun in his hands, shifting the course in which they were traveling. "Someone has to be, especially with you around." He scolded in return, arching a brow high as he gave her a once over before attention returned to the waters ahead. "Yes, well.. I suppose I owe you thanks and above that for coming to my aid. I was unsure if you'd even be in the region. Suppose I should have known better hmm?" A deep rumble of a chuckle shook the mans shoulders as his head bobbed in a nod. "Aye. Who could resist exploring the depths of the jungle? Even you it seems found that temptation impossible to turn down." There was no chance for a reply, no way to explain as he turned a narrowed stare down at her, anger edging clearly in his gray eyes. "What in the Gods were you thinking going out there like -that-, Lo?" he snarled the question low, top lip curling in his flash of temper before he pushed it aside to deal with things like a civilized human. "It's not unlike you to go gallivanting off without a care in the world to put yourself in danger, but to risk the life of a -child-? What got into you?"

There was no reason to argue. He had a point and they both knew it, he with his stern tone and harsh angered words, and her with her timid shrunken shoulders and lowered head. "You wouldn't..." she began but paused herself short to swallow the building lump in her throat. "I needed to find answers, to keep us both safe. I never expected it to go so far..." Her gaze shifted upward towards his face, only to catch those gray eyes boring into her, searching for truth and honesty in her answers. "You really thought of no other way? It always goes too far, Lo. It's your luck of all things. You should've take help, you should've contacted me before you even step foot into that place." A realization dawned and he blinked down at her before eyes went wider. "Does the father even know what you've been up to and where you've gone?" The look on her face was enough to answer that without a word spoken. Shame. She'd left Edrick with only a letter, headstrong and stubborn, set on a mission she and only she could take on. "Darien, if I could've.."

"Blast you girl!" he roared again, no longer caring if his voice rose above anything that was polite conversation. "No detours. You're going home, you're going back where you belong, and I'll not hear a word against it. Just because your father isn't here to make sure you actually keep that head on your shoulders doesn't mean I won't do the same. Gods be damned I am still your uncle you foolish child!" It was indeed like a child she felt again, being scolded for running off from home and not returning for dinner as she'd done so many times. Though now her brother wasn't here to make up some little white lie to dig her out of the trouble she'd put herself in, and he never would be again. "Yes, Sir." she finally agreed, head lowering again as a thumb stroked absently over the edges of the letters she clutched all the tighter to her chest. "I just have one thing to ask." There was no telling if the request would push limits, but for what her uncle had already done for her, something so simple should be an acceptable request.

"You're in need of a bird?" The guess was easy as he watched her for a long moment, pushing his anger down and away, back into the little box he kept stowed away. "Aetes." He nodded to his first mate, not bothering to wait for her confirmation. "See that she has a way to send those letters where they're intended to go and take her back below deck. Keep her out of the way." The Elonian was there at once, grasping the woman gently around her upper arm to guide her off the deck and away from the bustle that had picked up once again. The men on deck resuming their rowdy work and it was only then she'd realized how quiet they had grown during their captain's moment of roaring anger.

"So much for a warming family reunion." she muttered under the sympathetic stare of the first mate as they made their way back down below. There were after all, many letters to send and even more to write.

[binxart]

Spent the past week working on this handsome fellow. My character Lorelei’s love, Edrick Pyke. Done as a gift for the ever darling and fantastic jacobe-quinn who RPs the character.

[loreleibellator]

flowers for the dead

She knew practically nothing of the child whose grave marker she stood before. Edrick’s little girl. Killed in a Charr attack when they both still served the Vanguard. Her memories had been picked through in the past few days while she prepared for her temporary departure. Had she known the child? Had she seen the little one in passing? Perhaps in the arms of her father, or even her mother… Lorelei sunk her teeth into her bottom lip as she stared down at the marker, a hand moving to rest protectively over her stomach and the little one within. It was the sickening fear of this, history repeating itself, that brought the nausea rising anew.

Her other hand held a bouquet of flowers, fingers wrapped perhaps a bit too tightly about the thorned stems of the soft pastel pink roses. Did the girl even like pink when she still lived? Slowly she knelt to lay the flowers over the young girl’s grave before delicately peeling the weeds away from the stone. She couldn’t linger here long for risk of Edrick searching for her, though she doubted the first place he would check was the cemetery. Perhaps the city, yes, but maybe not directly here, still it was best to be safe than sorry.

“I don’t know if you’ve moved on to the Mists or if your spirit lingers here… I pray either way that you hear me.” She whispered softly, shifting backward to lightly sit on the heels of her thick leather boots. “I’ve never been a spiritual woman… Nothing compared to your father who cherishes Grenth and Dwayna so, something that perhaps when all of this is over I’ll finally change.” A subtle laugh shook her shoulders as she tried to piece together what she needed to say, finding all of this harder than originally imagined.  “Watch over him.. Please? If anything happens to me, he’s already lost so much when you and your mother were taken from him…” Her voice cracked in her throat and the familiar sting of tears pricked the corners of her eyes. “I fear what he’ll do to himself. I know he’s a strong man but one can only take so much. In the event.. “ There was a pause as the tears spilled down her cheeks, her head following them as it hung in grief over the thought. “Guide him to the Mists for me? Don’t let him linger here when all he’s loved is there. Be with him again if I cannot.”

Nothing else would leave her lips, no matter how hard she tried to choke out the rest of the words. Both hands rose shakily to pull the hood over her golden hair and further to hide her tear streaked cheeks and red eyes before she forced herself to her feet and on her way.

[loreleibellator]

in search of ghosts

My dearest Edrick-

Never once have I seen you glance to a watch for time. Whether you have no desire to because you're lost in the fantastic world that thrives in that brilliant mind of yours or you simply don't have one, I am unsure. The point is, you do now. Inside the box beneath this note is something that looks delicate but you shouldn't worry; Bastion thoroughly tested its durability for you when he mistook it for a snack meant for him rather than a gift for you. You'll have a sudden want for tracking time, perhaps for more than one reason, thus the point of this letter.

I've lost count of the times these words have tried to pass my lips in these past weeks, only to wither and die on my tongue like tiny insignificant things. but they're not tiny. Oh love, it's anything but a tiny thing though at the same time it is. Never did I think these words would be said, let alone penned. Then again I never thought when we met that I would grow so fond of you. Fond, then completely and utterly in love. It is you that brings a smile to my lips, you that brings hope to my days, and you who sparks the fire that now drives my passion. It is for you, and I, and for your child that I carry that I must leave for a short while. I only regret that now is the time these things come to light.

Some time ago my life and the lives of those I hold dear was put in danger. That danger still exists, it has only been in hibernation so to speak. It’s why I tried to push you away. it was the reason I was so stubborn about remaining alone. it was safe when it was only me. I could live with my life being in danger, with the threat of my death looming above my head each and every day. But the stark realization that it will never be only me again has sunk in. I tire of living in fear, constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for the wolf in hiding to rise up and strike. I need to do this now. to protect you, and myself, and our little pea. I beg you, please, Edrick my love, have faith in me in this and what must be done.

I could not bring you with me without putting you at immense risk. however selfish of me it may be it felt right in my heart. There is the promise that I will return, safe and sound, with your child. Our child. But only when the nightmare I have been living is over. In hindsight perhaps a pocket watch wasn't the brightest of ideas to leave you as a gift. Please try to not obsess over the time that I am gone, rather look to the time we'll have to show our child all the love and good this world can possess. Watch over Bastion, you’ll need him and he you.

I love you so.

-Lorelei

[loreleibellator]

easier said than done

How could it be so difficult? The scenario had played through her mind a dozen times by now. Somehow it had come out easily enough when she spoke with the Commander, then again, she hadn’t really had much of a choice that night. The awkward stares and his suspicious expressions, he’d already known from so few hints.  How is it possible Ed hasn’t noticed? But she already knew the answer to that question. Caution had been taken when she was home, a far cry from what her norm had consisted of.

Tired azure eyes transfixed on the reflection that stared back at her in the mirror, noting the lines of worry across her forehead that had begun to grow deeper. Down the neck her gaze traveled, for once it seemed not spotted with colorful bruises. Across the shoulder that now held two scars from two separate bullets. The scratches of claws on her forearm long since healed. Her side with the jagged valleys and punctured craters left in the wake of Charr teeth raked through her flesh. Stomach... still flat for the time being. Fingers splayed across the bare skin as she just stared. Those little flutters of new life beneath muscle and tissue so ruined from too many brushes with Grenth. Too many. There couldn't be another.

So much time had passed, living in constant threat, always in danger. The terrors that plagued nearly all of Tyria. Then closer to home, Ebonhawke, her own blood. The brother that poisoned their father, threatened nearly everything she held dear to her. Was it safe now? Of course Tyria wasn't safe, there was doubt it ever could be. But was she? Information needed to be gathered, answers found, there was so much to put to rest. For that though, skeletons would have to be pulled delicately from a few closets. All in time..

Only a fraction of what he’d been through was really known. Time served as a field medic was never easy, then to add the loss of a fiance and a young child onto those pains. It was the reason for her reluctance. What would he think? There was already careful thought on her part about bringing another child into this wretched world, but his thoughts were completely unknown. She was certain though, one of them had to be, that everything would be alright.

Palms pressed flat, protectively against the skin, trying to shield the little pea that grew inside. "I'll keep you safe. When your papa finds out about you he'll do everything he can too. Neither of us can go through the pain of losing another. We wont let it happen. You’ll have a family, we’ll all protect you from whatever the Gods decide to throw at us.”  She murmured quietly to just herself and the unborn child, voice a hush despite the fact it was unnecessary. The pads of her thumbs stroked across the muscles of her stomach as if the tiny thing growing inside could feel it. "Let's just hope he understands..."

[loreleibellator]

Just a pea...

After Kass and November had said their own goodbyes, Jackrel crept back down from the bunkhouse to sniff around the ground floor. "Lore?" he asked. "Everybody else is sleeping. But I didn't want to go to bed."

Lory looked up from the ledger she had spread across the table when Jackrel's voice filled the quiet again. "Oh? Nothing troubling you much I hope. Either way, come have a seat." With a smile he pat the chair beside her, welcoming the company again.

He shook his head, slumping down onto the chair beside her and laying his head on the desk to smile up at her beatifically. "Nope. Nothin' new, anyways. I think we were talkin' about eatin' charr when last I was down here; and I suppose there's always them, but nothin' hurts right now, and I'm with somebody I like, and I think I have some nuts with me. Would you like some?" he offered, digging in his pockets.

"I think the nuts that were with you went to sleep." She replied teasingly with a coy smirk before turning back to her book to finish the last couple notes. Her nose wrinkles at the thought of the topic they'd last been discussing. "I've only ever ate Charr once. Strictly for survival. Don't recommend it in the least."

Jackrel smiled at her joke, then sobered. "Me, too," he said, remembering. "Were you there in Ascalon when the walls were closed, and there was no gate, and there was so little food?"

She nodded slowly, a little somberly as well. "I was. That was when I was serving in the Vanguard I think. One of my early years. Before I came here." Her head shook gently and she set her quill down for the moment. "I hope dearly things don't return to that."

Jackrel nodded solemnly. "Well, we've got the gate now," he remarked, rubbing his chin. "... But I don't know if they'd just... work, if the asura stopped helping."

"I'm not sure to be honest. Guess I never really think about it because I fear the day it would happen. Or what would come of it." A frown shaped her lips and her head shook once more. "The whole city would be sitting ducks again..."

Jackrel took in a deep breath, covering his head with his hands. "... I'm scared of that," he said in a small voice. "I don't think we're as strong as last time. Not now all our people're fighting dragons."

"We're definitely not as strong as we should be. Our forces are spread too far and too thin right now. The dragons, the Mordrem, the Charr..." The frown deepened and instinctively a hand went to her stomach as if the thought was making her sick. "I'm afraid... More so than I really want to admit."

Jackrel swallowed, nodding. His eyes followed her hand. "You feel alright?" he asked. His hand automatically went over hers, the cold touch of his magic pressing through her flesh.

"Just tired... Ever since the night we helped Scarlett take control." She smiled a little, the magic oddly not phasing her as it normally would. Her fear of magic was seemingly out of mind as she thought of other things. "Probably just recovering still."

"Is it okay if I take a look?" Jackrel asked, looking up at her worriedly. "Sometimes little nothings is big somethings, when you look a bit closer. And it won't be but a little thing for me."

She blinked, her expression going slightly blank as her gaze shifted up toward his face. "I..." There was a pause and her brow furrowed then. Idly she chewed away at her bottom lip, silently letting a few things roll through her head.  "Not ... Not too much magic... " she hesitated a moment before going on. "I know it's how you do things sometimes but please... No healing. I just can't. Is that.. Ok?"

"No healing," he shook his head, reassuring. "It's just a look, promise. Won't change a thing. ... Does it hurt you?" he asked, brows furrowing.

"Not my stomach. Just feel a little sick. But that could've been from worry over our conversation..." she tried to convince herself, that endless chewing on her lip still continuing. "My shoulder still hurts but that's what happens when a bullet finds your arm."

"No, I mean, does magic?" he asked, curious.

"Oh..." Her cheeks flushed a little as her head shook. "I don't know. I'm just... I don't like the healing stuff. Had an a mature try to fix me when I was nearly dead. Didn't do it right. It hurt then... All I remember is burning pain and screaming. They had to knock me out to finish so I'd live. Haven't let anyone try since." her voice trailed off and her gaze shifted again, back to the ledger, to try to occupy her mind.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Lore," Jackrel said, brow furrowing. "That must've been awful. But I promise, I won't be doin' anything like that, and I been doin' this my whole life. Ain't no more dangerous than lookin' out the window," he assured her.

She nodded, slow and hesitant at first before giving him a small smile. "I trust you. You know that, Jackrel." Carefully her hand beneath his would move, pulling gently out from beneath the weight to give him what ever space he needed to work.

He smiled at her gently. "Thank you, Lore. I trust you, too." Then, carefully, he let his spectral hands sink inside her, feeling through the structures of her flesh.

Jackrel's brow furrowed as his hand swept in closer, closed in on the anomalies in anatomy that gave him pause - a strange tingle in the blood that suggested increased estrogen, a thickness in organic walls that suggested cycles interrupted - and then his fingers paused over her, feeling something very, very small. "That's funny," he murmured, passing through again, again.

Her eyes closed as she felt the tingles of the magic. Something she wasn't used to, at all, and something that made her stomach roll a little. Just breathe, she kept telling herself, trying to stay calm. "W-what?" her voice nearly croaked, eyes opening wide at Jackrel's words. "What's funny?" Her brow furrowed to match his own.

He took in a deep breath, his fingers continuing to roll over that one bit in her side. "Well," he said. "It's... it's a little early to say for sure," he admitted. "But I think... I'm pretty sure what I'm feelin' is..." he tilted his head back and forth. "I think you may, maybe, just be a little bit pregnant," he looked up at her, eyes wide.

"I..." Her voice cracked again and her eyes widened. "What? That's... But I was told..." The fractured sentences ceased as she just bit into her bottom lip hard, her head starting to shake slowly as she tried to digest the idea. "Y-you're sure?" Her narrowed gaze lifted to meet his widened one. "It's... I do trust you." She began then stopped again, unsure of how to put into words what raced through her mind.

He swallowed. "Well," he said in a slow, calm voice, "It's very small right now, only about as big as a pea or a bean. But it's got a little spine already, and I think I feel somethin' that could turn into a heart," he said.

"A little..." Her hand moved to the side of her stomach, leaving plenty of room for his still, as she felt. She reached mentally, trying to remember that feeling of carrying her first child. How long ago it had been. "A pea..."

Jackrel nodded. "Mm-hm. It's very small, so it's hard to be sure, but I... yeah, I, I really think it is," he said, voice soft, awestruck. He cleared his throat, brow furrowing. "Mind, it's not strictly a child yet - I mean, right now, it's just somethin' that, y'know, could be, if it grows up some." He took in a breath. "But it could be. It really could be."

The mention of a child is what finally broke what little bit of resolve she had been keeping stitched together. "Jackrel... Gods, how am I going to tell Edrick?" Her eyes went wide at just that thought. "The Charr killed his first... His little girl." Panic suddenly struck across her face and the rest just came rushing out. "Gods, the Charr.. The Mordrem, the dragons.. How am I supposed to bring a child into this world?! How am I going to protect them? I couldn't protect Vincent! I can barely keep myself safe!" Her breathes hitched, quickened, and tears began to well in her eyes.

Leaning in, Jackrel wrapped his arms around her, hugged her close. "It's alright. If they makes it, they won't be alone," he promised, rubbing her back. "It'll have you and me and Edrick and November and Kass and all of us to look after them. We'll all struggle together. And even if we can't be safe forever, we'll be happy for the while we have - and it'll be a good while," he promised.

Tears streamed down her face as he hugged her close and instinct made her face find a spot on his shoulder to hide and let it out. Muffled sniffles shook her shoulder and after a moment of his words sinking in she nodded. "Y-you're right." she hiccuped as the panic settled a fraction. "Still... Edrick. We haven't discussed this. It's never come up... A family?" She sniffles harder and shook her head, pulling away just enough to look at Jackrel. "Do you think..? Oh, there's no way to know how he'll take it." Worry pressed deeper and she paled a little, starting to feel sick over the sudden wash of emotions.

"Well, y'both had 'em once," Jackrel said, holding her quietly, resting his chin on her forehead. "Maybe you'll be better prepared this time. And you won't be alone, we'll be there to help you," he promised.

A slight laughter shook her shoulders and she couldn't help but smile a bit. "Edrick has to love it..." She tried to reassure herself. "His new little pea..." A smirk fit her lips then, a faint hint of her usual one. "All else fails there's always uncle Jackrel, right?"

Jackrel nodded solemnly, smiling at her. "Promise," he said.

One last sniffle and a nod then she reached out to hug him back, giving a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Jackrel.."

He nodded, squeezing back. "It's worth the try," he said softly, but with conviction. "Living. It really is."

She could only nod in agreement as other things went waltzing through her head. "Hey, speaking of living... You tired yet?" She asked, that smirk of hers growing a little mischievous.

"Mmn," he tilted his head back and forth, eyes squinting. They opened wide again as he looked at her. "Why? You got something in mind?"

A single shoulder shrugged as she leaned back in the chair. "Oh there's just some Seraph on patrol near by. I've wanted to go peg them with snowballs but the Commander has been around. Until today..."

Jackrel's grin slowly widened as he listened. "You're the best Ministry Guard ever," he whispered.

"Ex Ministry Guard." she reminded him before standing up and reaching for his hand. "Come on, we'll go have some fun!" A grin spread her face wide as she'd make to drag him out the door.

[loreleibellator]

not so subtle changes

She had told him she was going to the opening ceremony for the Ascalonian festival to seek out a friend. That she had done. When the time came though when she said she'd be home there was no sign of her. Long after the sun had set and the hound began to pace she'd finally make her way in.  When she left she had been nicely dressed, hair done, and with a smile on her face. The opposite would be in place as she stepped through the door. Hair slightly disheveled, clothes rumpled, and a scowl on her face. Despite the angry disposition she'd remain quiet, the door closing softly versus being slammed and her foot steps light even with the heeled boots, though that may have been from the mud caked on the soles.

The medic shuffled out of one of the upstairs room, running a towel over his head to try and dry the damp brown locks adorning his head. He came to a halt as he saw the disheveled form of the woman, his eyes widening slightly before he scuttled down the stairs, in no way decent, holding a towel over himself as he watched her. "I uh...I take it th'festival was a laugh, eh?" He tried to joke, but the humor never reached his lips, a look of absolute worry flashing across his features. He reached a hesitant hand out to touch her, before he thought best, and let it hang limp at his side. "Are ye alright, love?" His brows furrowed a bit, already knowing the answer to that.

A single brow was quirked when she caught sight of him, the look given more so because of his attire and then further with his attempted humor.  She paused for a moment, her hands still on the hound as she had been trying to calm his excited prancing about her feet. "You could say that." her voice was even calm as she spoke, further contradicting her appearance. With a sigh she straightened herself, the hound content for the time being, before she stepped closer towards his reach, giving him the silent permission he sought. "I'll be fine." she grumbled further after a pause. "Just... Didn't go as planned." Both shoulders shrugged softly before they slumped in slight defeat, the scowl slipping from her features as well into a soft frown.

"I see..." He muttered and moved closer, moving to wrap his arms around the woman and hold her gently in case she was injured in anyway. "What exactly happened? An' do I gotta slit someones throat an' watch 'em bleed?" He raised an eyebrow at that, a slight hint of a scowl crossing over his scarred features, his green gaze staring at her, a look of intensity filling his eyes as he began to get defensive before he even knew the situation. " 'Cause I'll feckin' murder someone..."

As his arms wrapped around her she leaned greatly into the embrace, only being mindful of her still sore side from the previous mishap. Her own arms looped around him as she shook her head gently, unable to keep from smirking at least a little at his defensiveness and that scowl. "Not yet." she mused quietly, her face nestling tiredly into his neck. "Though I'm sure you can take a wild guess as to who I ran into. At least one of them.."

"I'm assumin' its whatshiface? The guy who sounds like a bad kinda alcohol?" A wry smirk flickered across his face before he ran a hand through her hair, closing his eyes as he held the woman he loved close. "Did he hurt ya'...? 'cause if he did, I'm gonna make sure people're findin' him all over the reach, piece by feckin' piece, fer the next decade..." His voice took on a low pitch, eyes narrowing as he got angry at the mere thought of her being hurt by him.

She shook her head slowly into his flesh, eyes closing as she let the comfort of him being there gradually ease the stress. "Not physically..." she murmured, though that should have already been obviously based solely on her mood. "I don't think you need to get quite so blood thirsty yet." Her face shifted away to plant a quick kiss to his jaw before she'd move to gently pull away. "See." she leaned back enough to allow him to look her over but she'd not pull fully from his arms. "No harm done." There was even a slight smile shaping her lips, trying to reassure him that at least on the outside she really was ok.

He sighed and shook his head before he kissed her forehead, pulling her back in before he frowned slightly. "What happened to y'hon...? I know yer not physically hurt...wha' did he do to you?" He muttered, the want to hurt someone rising deep within his chest, like a fire, untamed, desiring the burning of everything around it. "Y'can talk t'me...I love ya, so I gotta put up wit' th'shit ye go through, right?" He cracked a cheeky grin at that.

She didn't bother arguing when he pulled her back in, letting out a deep sigh again and grumbling quietly to herself. His protectiveness was flattering, an odd comfort she'd not felt in far too long, at least in a positive light such as what he showed. "Just his attitude.. I worry about what he's turning into. His temper is too much..." she found herself biting hard into her bottom lip before shaking her head. "I know you care but really, it's not something we need to talk about right now." There was a pause as a smirk took over for a brief moment. "Especially when you voice it like that. No need to make you put up with the shit I go through, hmm?" Her own cheeky comment was made in return.

"Oh hush yer face, lovely." He planted a kiss on her cheek at that, running his hand along her other cheek lovingly. "Y'know I care, an' y'know I'm gonna do whatever it takes t'try t'make ye feel better...y'put up wit' my shit, so th'least I can do is do my best t'make ya smile an' be happy."

[loreleibellator]

making room

"I have something to show you."

"Oh? Here I thought y'were all done showin' me new things. Is it my birthday? Shite, is it...?" He muttered before he chuckled and kissed her cheek softly, linking an arm around her as he moved to decrease the distance between them. "What d'ya got t'show me, love?" He grinned playfully as he looked around the house, still curious as to why all the lights were on. "Expectin' company that isn't jus' a disheveled mess?" He grinned playfully.

"Do you really not remember?" she inquired, her brow furrowing with a slight sad smile, perhaps a little curious to as to when his birthday was now. The smile came back as he kissed her cheek, and she lifted up in her toes to press her lips lightly back into his cheek. "Just one more thing. Nothing big." she stepped away to drape his coat over a table before coming back and taking his hand. "And never mind the lights. Had company earlier. Had to go through a few things." she commented vaguely, shifting to pull him toward the kitchen if he'd let her.

"I 'ave a shite memory..." He waved it off, smiling weakly as he pulled her close, fingers linking with hers as he followed her towards the kitchen with a sly grin. "Y'should know tha', lovely...all them blows t'the head." He chewed on his lip, emerald eyes flickering to her before he closed his eyes and sighed. "S'just been a long few days...lotta work in th'Fields..." He grimaced slightly, tilting his head back and forth.

She nestled in as close as she could while still pulling him through the house, giving his fingers a tight brief squeeze. A slight frown was back in place as he spoke, wondering what stresses he'd put himself through when she sent him away. "Hopefully I can help with that... Help you relax a little. Or at least make you happier." She pulled him gently towards the cellar door, pausing a moment to turn around, wishing only to pull him against her while she opened the door with her free hand.

He smiled and held the woman close, wanting nothing more than to feel her against him. His scarred lips would move to take hers in a soft kiss, a hand resting on her side. "Y'always make me feel better. A calm in th'storm, so t'speak. Y'make things simpler, an' easier to manage despite th'bullshit goin' on in th'world." He sighed heavily and rest his head against hers, his eyes locked on hers.

Her soft lips pressed back into his scarred ones and she let out a deep sigh, realizing how much she missed that over the past couple days. When he spoke a light flush colored her cheeks and her smile broadened. The tip of her nose brushed his affectionately as she murmured back, her eyes holding his gaze. "You do the same for me.. You fill this void I didn't realize was there. Which is why I did this for you." She would kiss him again before pulling gently away save for her hand that still held his to lead him down the stairs.

He perked a brow at that and followed her down the stairs, sniffing as he looked behind him before he tutted and smiled. "Oh, down int'the basement again? We gonna have another round on th'table down here?" He grinned wickedly, clearly joking. His grin faded the further down they went, genuine curiosity beginning to overtake him.

Her eyes rolled even though he couldn't see it, a smirk curling her lips upward. "I think you'll be too distracted to think about the table." Her look wasn't the only thing that changed. The whole basement had been shifted around. The keg shelf was split in half, pushed into the corner to the left of the stairs and empty, save for a couple barrels on the bottom. Instead of the single distillery system on the far wall there were now two, the second identical to the first rather than the old she had told him he would reconnect for him. "I made a few changes.." She couldn't help but grin, biting into her bottom lip slightly as she tried to keep it contained. The desk had been moved as well, pushed back beside the shelf an under the wooden stairs was now a couch.

The mans first reaction would be like a child coming down to Wintersday gifts, a wide grin splitting his lips before he shuddered and snickered. "I...this is amazing!" He laughed and broke off his grasp from her, practically running across the confined space to look over the stills, taking in the new additions as well as just looking around the basement in general. "You did all of this for me?" He raised an eyebrow a he looked at her, unable to keep the grin off his face as he kept idley looking around.

She watched quietly, teeth sunk into her bottom lip to try to keep the grin from hurting her face too much. The space was a bit more cramped than before, but not claustrophobic feeling, even as she stepped away from the stairs to the center of the room. "I did." she spoke in a soft whisper, her own eyes shifting over the rearrangement. The grin softened on its own, a warm smile coming back and staying in place as she clasped her hands and twisted her fingers a little from nervousness. "It's... to show that you have a place in my life. For as long as you want it. I'm tired of constantly pushing, so I figured I would try to embrace it." She gave a slight shrug, chewing away at her bottom lip before she shyly shifted her gaze back to him.

"This is..." He smiled warmly and chuckled, resting on the table in front of him as his head hung long. "Yer fan-feckin-tastic Lory...really." He smiled wide at that, a toothy white smile that wasn't normally seen. "Y'didn' have ta do this...but..." He sighed and walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, small trails of tears trickling down his cheeks as he held the woman tightly. "I love you..." He muttered softly, chewing on his lip.

"I'm really not..." she muttered softly, biting her lip so she didn't say anything more. His wide smile caught her off guard, the smile faltering and her brow furrowing softly even as his arms wrapped around her. "I did have to do this though." Her arms came up to wrap around his neck loosely, pulling herself a little closer. "That smile is the biggest reason why I had to. To make you happy because I love you." Her smile crept back into place and she let out a soft quiet laugh. "Though I don't understand the tears." she teased quietly, chewing on her lip as she looked up at him.

He perked a brow at a specific word she said, unable to hide the red flush slowly creeping over his face before he simply grinned like a fool and shook his head. "Th'tears are jus' a side effect...ain't been this happy in a long while...sure as sure." He muttered softly, kissing her forehead as he tugged her up against him, as if never wanting to let her go. "I jus'...never thought I'd find someone again. Someone who made me as happy as y'do, Lory."

Another quiet laugh shook her shoulders at the blush and his confession. Her eyes closed and her forehead pressed pressed into the kiss and she let him drag her closer up against him. "I didn't think it would be you I warmed up too. Especially after I threatened to gut you when we met." A slight flush of color came over her own cheeks at the thought. "Such a stubborn man to come after a woman who threatened you..."

"Well, t'be fair...they grow 'em stubborn in Ascalon." He muttered, poking her nose as if to say the same thing about her. "But what can I say? I like a girl with some fight in 'em...an' you have plenty of it." He grinned slightly as he planted another kiss on her forehead, peppering her with dozens of small kisses.