#orphanhccd

[valenwccd]

“I don’t look like Thalmor, do I?” Thin grey brows arched as he spoke, attention held by partially completed maps spread across the table before him.  He’d never been accused of anything quite so many times as he had since coming to Skyrim months prior.  And Thalmor?  He supposed paranoid individuals were quicker to assume.

“You are an altmer,” the bosmer across the cabin answered, prompting a sigh from the scholar, who finally turned to his companion.

“That’s like me saying you look like you talk to plants and eat everything you kill.”  No sooner had he spoke than the altmer’s eyes narrowed, brows pulling together in realization.  Vampirism had changed the bosmer’s palate, but before they’d met eras prior, he had in fact followed the old ways - to a degree.  And that was no secret.

“Bad comparison,” Neramo said, dismissively waving a hand as he went back to his maps.  “I can live with being thought Thalmor in every city in Skyrim as long as we get from here” - he set a finger to Solitude - “to here.” As he spoke, he slid his hand southeasterly on the map, stopping with his finger atop a question mark labeled Mzulft.

Joining the scholar closer to the door and bringing him his bag, Faulaen worked around him to pack away the pages still laid out on the table.  Upon noting the location pointed out to him, he lifted Neramo’s hand, pulling the map from beneath before carefully setting it back where it had previously rested.

“This ship is going to leave with us still on it if we don’t go now.”  While it probably wasn’t true, the bosmer didn’t want to learn otherwise the hard way and hurried the other along, carrying both of their bags - Neramo had taken the folded maps and neglected his pack - to the docks outside.

Faulaen was almost surprised to see the altmer hadn’t immediately taken off and gotten himself lost in the city.  Thanks to his height he was easy enough to find when it happened, but still...one trip without almost losing the absentminded researcher was a blessing.

“That way, then?” Neramo asked, more to himself than the bosmer at his side.  Before an answer came to remind him he was the one with the maps, he nodded, raising an arm to point in the direction he faced.  “Yes.  That way.”

— - @orphanhccd - —

[leondxs]

@orphanhccd | cont. (x)

“Then..then what is it? Because this looks really suspicious, and I’m a little scared..”

An uneasy feeling began to grow in the child’s chest as fear-filled eyes looked around the rather bloody scene before her. She took a step away from the elf, finally taking his appearance in.

There were one or two bodies strewn around his feet, and there was blood pooling around one of them from the puncture marks on their neck. Every instinct within her told her to run, yet her feet remained rooted in place.

“I won’t tell the guards that you’re in here, so..so long as you promise not to kill me too.”

The creature stared, the crimson running down his chin as amber eyes burned into the child. His heart beat with a familiar rhythm, adrenaline pumping in his cursed veins. Not only from his fresh feeding, but from seeing the small child before him.

But no, he could not. She’d witnessed his gruesome dinner and would no doubt scream and alert the guard before he had the chance to wrap his claws around her throat. Besides, indulging himself further would only render him completely drunk and helpless. Unwise to do within the city walls.

❝ I won’t hurt you. I promise. ❞ he spoke gently, putting effort to sound genuine despite the sour taste of his words. A reluctant agreement, but a necessary one. He couldn’t have the girl running off to rouse the guard.

He added in a much firmer tone, a warning that his promise would prove false should she betray him.

❝ As long as you keep you keep this a secret. ❞

[frozenages]

x

The wind was icy cold as Lilyum knelt before the young child. Concern written on her features. Winter had well settled harshly over the war torn province. Bitter and unforgiving as it even drove the Nords seeking warmth within their homes and hearth. With the return of dragons it seemed it was only fit to have one of the harshest winters in a decade. “No, your not in any trouble. You shouldn’t be sitting out here.” The girl rubbed her hands together to find some warmth with exposed flesh. But that was not all. The Nord child was ignored who all passed her by before Lilyum approached. Cheeks almost gaunt as she was so thin.

“Let me see your hands, sweetie.” Lilyum said as she held out her own in a gesture for the girl to place her hands on hers. The pale woman’s voice was gentle as she did not want girl to feel anymore uncomfortable than she already was. Offering a smile to settle the child’s doubts and fears.

@orphanhccd

[childcfthecldways-archive]

{x} @orphanhccd

    “It’s okay,” Mirali said gently, coming to sit nearby, as close as she dared. She didn’t want to invade the other girl’s space. “It’s okay to cry if you’re sad. I cry sometimes, too.” Actually, she cried a lot these days. It was more often than not how she fell asleep. But she didn’t think admitting that would help here, so she kept it to herself. “My alma used to say that crying helps you feel better, and that it’s not weak to cry. It makes you stronger.”

[leondxs]

Continued from here.

@orphanhccd

Leondas playfully crept about the scene, knowing full and well where the girl was, but deciding to play along with their little game. Her stiffled giggles were easily heard by the vampire. He hummed softly, thrumming a finger to his chin as he smiled.❝  I wonder where she could be... ❞ He muttered.

Amber hues slowly traced the outskirts of his surroundings. ❝  Come out, come out, wherever you are.. ❞  He purred in a sing-song voice. He pretended to search for her, looking behind trees and into bushes. Finally, he began to leer about the boulders from which she took shelter.

In swift motion, he jumped within her view and unleashed an excited exclamation, ❝  Aha! Found you! ❞  His eyes twinkled innocently, his fangs secluded as he grinned broadly at her.

[valenwccd]

— ✯ - - @orphanhccd —  

A terrified squeak escaped Viera’s lips as thunder roared across the sky. She curled up, hiding her face in the fabric of her skirt, hands clamped tightly over her ears. Her body was tense, rocking back and forth against the cold stone floor, shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

Every clap of thunder reminded her of that terrible, earth-shaking shout that the dragon had let loose as it descended on her home, the red and black of it’s flames burning in her memories.

She didn’t hear the soft steps of Seht entering the room over the storm and her own frightened wails. In fact, she didn’t notice that he was even there until his hand rested on the top of her head, making her lift up from her fetal position.

“Make it stop!” She sobbed, head lifting as she looked at the God in front of her, bottom lip trembling and eyes filled with tears, “P-please, Seht, make it stop!”

He knew not her fear of storms, the horrible fright that gripped her at each crash from the skies, each flash that illuminated Nirn like dragon’s fire.  Her worry was (unfortunately) her own, only loosed to anyone around in the sobs that wracked her tiny body, the wails that made the god’s blood run cold as it tore him from his work and dragged him back to a past he’d rather forget.

His prior focus was no more, left behind and pushed from thoughts as he followed outcries and a fear so heavy in the air it felt almost tangible.  Door slightly ajar pushed further with a gentle touch, Seht soon stood beside the girl.  The sight alone of her caught up in her own thoughts and memories struck him like little else could.  The world might have been rough, children had to grow up quickly, but this...?  A child hurt so young, burdened by horrors that most could only briefly see in the darkest of nightmares?  His heart grew heavy.  He knew her pain.

Hand cautiously met the top of her head, lifting with Viera’s eyes.  The dunmer crouched.  He’d always told himself, time and time again, to never lower himself, bring himself to the physical level of another for conversation’s sake.  It was rude, wasn’t it?  Even though he towered over all he’d met, surely they would prefer he not sink to them.  In centuries he’d not broken his own rule.  This was different.

So he crouched, he knelt, knees covered by brilliant white robes pressed to wooden floors dulled by decades of wear and tear.  Brows unseen knitted.  Brass arms, enhancements that went from cold, harsh metal to delicate and careful once affixed to the god, encircled the girl softly.

Please make it stop.

He wished he could.  He wished he could silence the heavens, banish what caused her such anguish, calm her and the skies both with the simple flick of the wrist.  But he couldn’t.  He couldn’t fix this.  Not even for her.  A quiet sigh escaped lips, red eyes meeting tear filled.

“I’m here now.”  He wouldn’t leave her until the storm passed.  He couldn’t alter the weather that raged outside, but he could place himself before her, protect her from it all to the best of his ability.  “I’m here.”

[frozenages]

x

So drawn into her work, the pale lady had lost track of time. The hour glass long ran dry as it only seemed a few moments past. Believing still the little one was still asleep. Only a thump behind her drew her out of her study. Turning to see what made such a noise. Perhaps she should have known better. Be they human or creature. The young were sly and curious. Mischief was always a bound from one or the other.

Regardless a smile formed on her lips. Setting aside the tomes and papers as the woman waved her hand. Different tomes of various sizes floated off to wherever they where before. Putting away her studies as she gave the young hatchling her full attention. 

“Sweet little one.” Fingers brushing against smooth scales. “How I missed you. Forgive me for leaving you to rest alone. I have much on my mind as of late.”

@orphanhccd

[the-feline-curator]

New Scars | Estelle / Ma'Za

@orphanhccd

The Khajiit had recently woken from a sleep-scream, and so her mind and heart were numbed to the situation. She stared blearily at the corpse on the ground before looking at the wolf beside her. His black coat was soaked in blood, and the puzzle pieces snapping together brought a sudden anger to Ma'Zarabi's heart.

She raised a hand to strike the beast, but held it in the air. Eli stared up at his companion, unaware and shivering. Neither of them had eaten in days, a problem that would have normally been trumped by her fishing rod - but the lakes and rivers were iced over, and she didn't dare fish in the deeper waters. He must have thought this girl was prey.

Her nose whistled out in a quiver as she sank to her knees beside the small person; tilting her head to the side and gently holding it near the girl's chest, Ma'Zarabi held her breath and listened. There was a thum-thump, but it was quiet. Weak.

The feline shot a look to her wolf before awkwardly sliding her arms underneath the dying young lady, picking her up to a carry. She was only small herself, but she was big enough to help. Ma'Zarabi had to think of this as carrying a box of shinies. Do not drop, do not forget, but hurry.

Her trembling legs turned on the spot and followed the road to the nearest settlement she could see.