The motion of the single scrap drew Khaeris’s eye downward with its erratic movements. The paper fluttered innocently, even as the rest of the mail flopped lazily onto the wagon’s floorboards. The alchemist ignored the rest of the mail, letting her dark fingers pluck up the paper only when it had come to rest quietly of its own accord.
There was no telling how long the note had been lodged in the mail slot. Had it arrived today? Yesterday? A week ago? A month? She had the impression it had been dislodged from a long stay unnoticed.
I have the Animal... though you would endure her as Paijwen... she is no more... come and save her. I implore you.
There was no envelop, but the few Thalassian words that took her breath and quickened her pulse.
There was no name, but Khaeris knew who’d sent it. She’d had numerous stretches of grumbled conversation with Helal about the man. And about Aeni. And about Paijwen. She had even seen him once, at the clinic’s open house. That night, she had only kept herself from doing something rash by walking away. She couldn’t walk away from Paijwen again. She already felt cowardly enough simply reading the note and knowing it might have gone ignored for weeks now.
There was no overt threat, but Khaeris knew the trap for what it was. Still? What else was there to do?
Khaeris found herself free. Earlier she had wrapped up the first round of medications for Ms. Duskwrath and her condition. Andaeros was at work. Helal… … Her teeth grit a little, thinking of him and she pushed thoughts of the wounds she’d healed just this morning to the side.
Andaeros. Her heart felt heavy, thinking of his expression. Worried, a little frayed around the laugh lines at his eyes. But supportive. Always supportive. Never angry. He never questioned her too hard, even… Always supportive even when he didn’t like it.
He wouldn’t like it. Khaeris considered not telling him. He knew she kept things from him. It weighed on him. It brought down the smile. Still, he never pressed. It would be the easiest. But it would be the dumbest thing to do. He was her best protector. When the rest of the world wouldn’t notice her absence, Andaeros had promised to rip time and space to find her. To protect her.
So there was a new note left for Andaeros on his desk just before she slipped out the city gates and on to the Bandtherion estates.
Andy,
I’ve gone to see someone about Paijwen. If I’m not home tonight, please come and look for me at the Bandtherion estates in Eversong. I’ve been led to believe Lazrael Bandtherion knows something about where Paijwen has been.
I love you.
~K
Lazrael had some questions to answer.
And maybe... Maybe she could bring Paij back. Aeni had been saved, hadn’t she? Couldn’t Paijwen, too?
“PAIJ! I got your message. Yes. I did. Andy and I had our first fight tonight. He’s in bed now, but I got up. I’m not so mad anymore, but I’ve got this iiiiitty bitty niggle–that’s a weird word–I can’t shake it. What if he’s right? I don’t think he is. He’s not. Andy’s not like that. I wouldn’t let that happen. But tonight Andy and Lyn and that Bloodsword woman all kept talking like I wasn’t even there. That it wasn’t MY decision, fuck the rest of them and what they think. I talk to who I want to talk to! Like you. …ohgodsandgoatsIamsodrunk. ... Oh. So happy to hear your voice. Come bac–” *beep*
( all the symbols from the last prompt you posted! )
( YOU’RE INSANE OHMYGOD WHAT SO MANY.. Sobs )
Send me a ♠ for what my character thinks of yours in three words
Send me a ♤ for what I think of YOU in three words
Send me a ❖ for my character’s personal thoughts about yours
Send me a ♣ for my characters thoughts during any general conversation between your and my character
Send me a ♧ for my character’s reaction if your character were to express romantic interest in my character
Send me a ♙ for what my character originally thought your character’s name was
before
learning their actual name, and why
Send me a ♖ for a hastily written ‘good-bye’ letter from my character to yours
Send me a ♔ for a word that I think sums up our character’s relationship
Send me a ⊗ for my thoughts OOC on your character
Send me a ▲ if you’ve ever wanted to talk to me, but have been too nervous to do so.
♠ - Spoiled loveable jerk.
♤ - SWEET ADORABLE QTPIE (3 words I swear)
❖ - Despite all the recent events and surprises, she felt that it was finally all coming together. She was happy .. More because Paijwen was helping her discover a new more confident Jayden.
♣ - She couldn’t help but wonder if it was just her or if Paijwen’s eyes were always .. Peering about the halflings form. Hello. My eyes are up here you know.
♧ - “We’re .. Already dating though–”
♙ - “Scary intimidating Aeni’s lover—Because you were just that!”
♖ - “Paijwen, I don’t have time to explain but I hope you trust me–I have to leave. I promise I’ll contact you as soon as possible. Your halfling.”
♔ - Growing.
⊗ - SHE’S A TOTAL BAE LIKE WHAT? WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO SAY??? But really, she’s such a fun character to interact with and watch and stuff–I’m glad Jayden gets to hang around her so much~
"I can't believe you've never read this one, Aens," Paij murmured as she approached the bed to slip beneath the hefty amounts of fur. They blanketed the two from the chill of the snow outside, the wind causing creaks and groans. It was a pleasant thing; to be indoors with a lover at the time of a harsh storm. Aeni pressed herself into Paijwen's side, the book opening before them to present script written in storybook cursive.
"It was not in our library, though I could have sworn I'd read it. I don't remember it, though, as I should. Is it good?"
Paijwen offered a single nod, beginning the story as her tongue swept between lips that threatened to chap in the cold air. "Once upon a time, in a far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich. As he had six sons and six daughters, however, who were accustomed to having everything they fancied, he did not find he had a penny too much." A pause was forced as Aeni interrupted, "Do not tell me this is another white knight story, Paij. I don't like those." She stared towards her better half, the other placing a finger to the arcanist's lower lip as she hushed her. "You'll see."
Then she began again. Words fell effortlessly with the fluency of a passionate reader. It kept Aeni captivated with the motions as she spoke the written words aloud, and the woman bothered not to interfere longer than need be for the reader was wildly beautiful.
She listened, ears perked, body relaxed. A story of a beast, mutated by curse and fallen for the likes of an alluring human girl. Truly a story written by a younger race, Aeni felt, for beauty was a concept that they wrote to be more than skin deep.
"In reality," she wrote in her journal that night after a parting kiss, "-is that the beast is on the inside, and the beauty is on the outside. It is in the form of a strong jaw, in the form of a marvelous haircut. It is a clean suit with designer hats. It is ears made of Human carve and of ringed fingers often clasped about the best whiskey. So far I'd allowed myself to forget that I hated the Beast in my story, that he'd manipulated me with words and with purchases of the best shoes. I don't know what I want from this; nor what I'm getting. He will be not as the beast in the story, where he is gentle beneath bristling fur. He will end me, and I won't see it coming for I've given myself to him. I can't give myself to him. I will end this some day soon."
Walking the streets of Silvermoon, fingers tapped anxiously against each pale palm, her strides given to exude a beguiling confidence over the doubt she felt. She wore her best roses, curled her hair. She lifted her right hand, knuckles rapping against the wood of the door that opened a whole new world to her. From the door, he emerged to lean into the frame, eyes boring into her own as she began to speak. Words took flight over that staring, lips falling to craft something though nothing came forth. Surely she'd come over for something other than to stare, and so he decided to speed the process. Arms entangled about her, bringing her into a kiss as the door was closed behind their entry.
"But today is not that day," her pen scrawled in candlelight.
Oh man, had this really happen? Did Panther and Pajiwen actually adopt a child from Shattrah? Welp, from the looks of it- yes, they had. A small little girl, no older than six, zoomed about with their arms spread apart like that of a Goblin made machine. Zooming this way and that, while locks of long chocolate hair flowed behind her. She couldn’t stop giggling, her smile exposed to show how much innocence was within the child." Mommy! Mommy! ” The small child called aloud, making her way towards Paijwen. Panther on the other hand eyed the two from her wooden chair, tilted backward with feet kicked up atop of the table. Fully clothed in leather armor, it seemed the Alpha looked as if she were about to fall asleep. Her ears flicked, however, at the very sound of their daughter.Safe within their home, warm and cozy, Pai finally grabbed the little girl by the waist- heaving her up and atop of her shoulders. ” … ! Look at mommy number two being lazy. Let’s get her! What do you say? ” The hunter smirked with a wicked tone, looking towards Panther." .. Tell mother number one, Kira, that mother number two sai—-. ” The child took hold of Pai by the dreadlocks, tugging like ropes, charging onward. Soon? All three could be seen on the floor, toppling Panther over by a chair and her two beloved.Kira continued to laugh, clapping her hands together in a fit of happiness. But the two ‘love birds’? Exchanged looks, Pai laying right atop of her mate- eye to eye." .. You’re terrible. ” Was all Panther could muster up, pressing her lips to the other. A soft kiss, perhaps sincere love, was soon shown and their daughter cheered aloud with little fingers grabbing at the air." Lovie-dovie! Lovie-dovie! Mommy one and mommy two are lovie-dovie! ” Giggle-snort.paijwen-ooc
Frostfire Ridge, the place she'd been so dreading since arriving in the foreign lands. The cold chilled her bones and made her movements more sluggish than usual, although she'd made that her reasoning for sitting inside the caravan. A head of messy hair poked out from the hefty tarp at the door, directing the illumination of her gaze towards the light lifting from the outpost in the horizon. "We rest here," Marzia called to the navigator ahead, the caravan pulling through the roads of the cold and nearly barren landscape.
As they passed the wooden gates behind them, Marzia pulled from her seat to survey the buildings, eyes narrowing and her chin lifting upwards. Spidery fingers clasped tightly at the corners of her clipboard and orders given by her employer, rings tapping away at the edges while a nearby scout approached on his patrol. She exchanged words, exchanged papers, exchanged bribes, and with a nod of approval, she gave signal.
"Unhook the horses, stretch your legs. We continue to move tomorrow, people. Enjoy your stay." Her sneer told of her annoyance by the group's groans, the skeletal beasts unfastened by the caravan that they led as the others brought them away. Marzia ignored all questions directed towards her, a black bag carried within the crook of her right arm as she treaded through snow. She overstepped the bodies of the dead, dragged away to the burning pit. Her eyes settled upon the meat rotating over the firepit in the center of the post, only straying towards the clusters of working Frostwolves ahead. The barbarians.
With a deliberate saunter, she circled the camp about her in search of a woman; a woman with a wild stare and the company of beasts. Often times, she spoke to a passerby, her upper lip curling against the iron cast of her lower jaw. "Where's Paijwen Dawnspark?" she inquired in her walk.
