|
|
Post by Cedric Von Abendroth on Nov 25, 2017 21:23:59 GMT
The sound of someone shouting came in muffled waves, distorted by the sound of his own heart beating in his ears. Cedric was a bit too preoccupied to look over, but he knew what was coming. The man was starting to turn interesting colors, from red, to purple, and eventually to blue. His constant clawing at the rope was becoming weaker as he foolishly wasted whatever oxygen he had had in his blood before the rope closed around his throat.
Somewhere over his shoulder there was a soft thud as Lux dismounted, but Cedric couldn’t look at her. Still she came nearer and actually knelt beside him. “Lux, don’t.” he huffed, his voice strained as he kept the tension on either side of the rope. She pulled against his fists, trying to cause the line to slack and restore air to the one who had caused her so much pain. There wasn’t much she could do to force his hands to budge, and when she realized that, she touched his face. This made his eyes turn to look up at her, still ablaze with anger and maybe a twinge of guilt for disobeying her. Her fingers quivered as she wiped the blood from his mouth, and he imagined he must be quite the site. What she said about waiting didn’t make any sense. His eyes moved to look past her, catching sight of the guard talking to the stableboy in the not-so-distant distance. If the man was still alive when the guard came, he would tell him everything. Now with two motives to kill, his gaze turned back to Lux. “I have to.” he said, and he released the rope to grab the man’s head. With a quick jerk, the dragon snapped his neck and let him roll to the side, lifeless. The struggle was over.
He was about to stand up, when something shiny and blue caught his eye. The vial of stones. Thinking quickly, Cedric snatched it and shoved it down his pants. He groaned as he stood, the skin of his chest and abdomen pulling against his new wounds. He pulled the rope from the man’s neck and began tying it around his waist, as if it were a twine belt. But his hands were shaky, and he was still working on tying a knot when the guard and boy came within speaking range.
The guard spoke first, face aghast at the sight of the blood that covered Cedric’s shirt and the fresh corpse that lay crumpled in the grass. “What happened here?!” To the stablehand’s relief, it was not Bursey’s voice that echoed behind the helmet.
“Thank the gods.” Cedric gasped, resting his hands on his knees. Acting time. He turned to the young boy. “Gunnar, you were…. good to get the guards... when you did.” The out-of-breath state he was in was not acting, however. The dragon was exhausted, his energy depleted. The guard waited, still in shock, as he caught his breath. Cedric raised a finger to point at the torturer. “This drunkard… I beat him last night in a game of chance. From him I won this slave.” his gesture waved towards Lux in the background. “He came this afternoon to demand her back. My boys only let him into the stables because he said she had run away from him. Isn’t that right, Gunnar?” The boy nodded vigorously, remembering the man entering their barn. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think he would try to-” the boy began apologizing, but Cedric cut him off. “It’s ok boy, you didn’t do anything wrong. Go help the others in the barn now, it’s alright.” He watched him run back to the stables before he continued his story with the guard. “As you can see, he came onto my property and demanded that I return my winnings. When I refused, he attacked me. I had no choice but to defend myself.” Cedric motioned to his own wounds, and also to the body of the deadman. “You can see the results for yourself. … I think I’ve killed him.”
The guard shifted from foot to foot, saying nothing just yet as he looked around. “This is a godawful mess.” he heard him murmur.
“It is too common a story here in Cendra, I’m afraid.” the dragon agreed with him. “Believe me, this is not how I intended to spend my day. I’m sorry for the trouble it has added to yours.” he motioned toward the torturer again. “If it is any consolation to you, no one will miss this drunk. I understand your paperwork must be terrible enough as it is with the other crime. If it helps you, allow me to dispose of this body and spare you the trouble.” he offered, dipping his head in a way he had practiced when he first entered the human realm. “If he had been stronger and if Gunnar had sought you sooner, I might be in your debt.” His eyes watched him, waiting to see if he was buying the story.
|
|
Hetero.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Rook.
Offline.
|
Post by Lux Volkov on Nov 25, 2017 22:55:35 GMT
And just like that it was over. Lux knew from the way his head had twisted that it was over. That Cedric had just killed him. Lux had witnessed death. She was hardly the only prisoner they had taken to milk dry. But that was them, it was different. Seeing Cedric kill someone with just a powerful jerk of his arms made her stomach clench, nearly losing the contents of her morning meal. Lux didn’t move toward him, shying back as the guard came to investigate. She was staring down at the blood that ran across the pale skin of her thumb when a distinct word caught her attention. Slave.
The lies easily fell from Cedric’s lips, smooth and easy. Playing the part of the innocent man attacked by someone going back on a wager. Lux turned away from the scene entirely, resting her forehead against Bjorn’s neck. Her fingers still twitching as they moved over his smooth hide. She couldn’t stop the concerning thoughts that rose in her mind after seeing such a performance. What if it had all been an act? A way to lure her in? Had she just leapt from the frying pan and into the fire? She didn’t think it was true…she hoped she could see through such an act. But it was hard not to wonder.
The guard sighed heavily and reluctantly knelt to check the body, quickly finding that the man was no longer breathing. He rose to his feet, looking from the strange woman with her back turned to him to Cedric. It was only them now since the boy had disappeared at the stableman’s urging. His voice dropped lower, an underlying threat following his words. ”Just…get rid of him. But so help me if I have a family come in here harassing me to find him.” He sighed heavily, not wanting to deal with this today but also not wanting to risk his job because of some stupid drunkard who had apparently went on a stabbing spree against a larger man. Foolish.
”Get it-him out of the city, and for god’s sake keep him covered?” He turned away but stopped, mouth opening to speak again. ”I’ve got my eye on you, boy.” Cedric was likely around the same physical age as the guard but it was a power play, just letting Cedric know where he stood. With that he strode away, shaking his head and mumbling about not being paid enough.
Lux slowly turned to see Cedric, and the body, once the guard had gone. But she didn’t make a move toward him. She should have felt happy, that man had caused her so much pain. Had toyed with her daily, mentally beating her down and physically making her scream. But there was something so…final, about death. She had pictured that one day she might encounter him and the others again. But that she would be stronger, they couldn’t catch her. Listing to the choking gasping sounds as he struggled for breath made her feel dirty, soiled. His blood on her thumb almost burning in an accusation.
Her blue eyes slowly rolled up Cedric, not meeting his face but lingering on his wounds. ”I…I can heal you.” She offered softly, refusing to look him in the eye her gaze darted away only to fall on the dead body. The guard sounded as if he would want the problem of the body taken care of quickly, she didn’t think she would work that quickly. But the stones the human had been brandishing could. ”Use one of the stones he had, just touch the wounds with it….It will stop glowing once it’s depleted.” She didn’t address the elephant in the room. The dead body of a man she hated but felt some odd sense of guilt for. The guard’s words of watching Cedric. Or how easily Cedric had brandished a mask, or dropped one…it was hard to know which might be real. Both were carried flawlessly.
She wanted to ask him, to pester him with uncomfortable questions as she had since her arrival when he took her under his wing. But Lux was afraid…afraid that she might not be able to handle the answers given.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedric Von Abendroth on Nov 26, 2017 0:08:14 GMT
Relief washed over him as the guard implored him to get rid of the body. Whatever threats he followed up with, whatever challenges he placed in rank for once did not matter to him. “If you need me, you know where to find me. I’ll be here.” he promised the guard, and let out a sigh as he finally walked away.
Now for the first time since the death, his eyes fell on Lux. Instead of finding her smiling or even remotely happy, he found her rigid. Instead of so much as a ‘thank you’, she was silent, refusing to look at him. Cedric understood he had shocked her, perhaps even shaken her up a bit. But hadn’t they won? Wasn’t this a good thing? One of her captors could bother her no more. As for himself, he wasn’t going to prison. She hadn’t been hurt in the process. Cheers all around? ...no? His heart fell, not understanding why…
When she did speak, she still would not meet his eyes. It was kind of her to offer to heal him, but somehow, she almost seemed more broken that when he had found her. He imagined her cowering alone against the other horse’s shoulder, the guard yelling at her. He looked at her now. How much better was this? She conveyed no emotion towards him. At least, none that he could pick up on.
He retrieved the vial of stones and turned it over in his hand, looking at the bright blue pearls that seemed luminous, even in the sunlight. It was strange how beautiful they were, as if crafted in the heavens themselves. Who would ever suspect they had been knit from anguish? The dragon heaved a great breath and tried to find Lux’s gaze, but instead found her eyes yet again cast to the ground. “I don’t want it.” his voice was stripped bare, almost vulnerable. His legs trembled from exhaustion and left over adrenaline that had nowhere else to go. He approached her slowly, one step at a time until he was beside her. “I know what you went through… what they forced you through to make these. His gaze looked at the stones again, disgusted not with the pearls themselves, but with their creation. He wondered how many tears - and how many scars - each small one had cost her. “I cannot benefit from your suffering.” Cedric held the vial out to her, returning to her what was rightfully hers.
He would be fine. It would be painful for a time, but his wounds would heal. Grunting and stifling a growl, he bent to pick up the corpse. Standing with the man slung over his shoulder was more painful than he had anticipated, but just grunted and winced, baring the pain. He had been through worse. Slowly carrying him to the back of the house where no one would see him, he carefully laid the body beside the wall. Cedric disappeared into the house for a moment, but returned with a dark blanket and placed it over the top, blending him with the shadows.
Thoughts echoed in his mind, some of them torturing him. He didn’t feel as proud as he had thought he would, returning to murder for the first time in over half a century. He believed he had done good, had saved his new friend from one who would persecute her forever. Maybe he had even prevented some other poor soul from being kidnapped and tortured, somewhere down the line. He thought he had done good. But the fae drew into herself, drew away from him as if eh were a monster. She wouldn’t even look at him. He didn’t say a word as he stepped back into the pasture, summoning Björn with a low whistle. The horse trotted up to him, his eyes once again soft as he looked upon his master. He sniffed at his wounds worriedly before stepping forward and pressing his great head into Cedric’s arms. The dragon held him there, scratching his ears in a way that was as therapeutic to him as it was to the horse. He rested his forehead against the horse's for a moment. “You were brilliant, Björn.” he said to him, and took his bridle from his face. His calloused hand moved over the animal’s shoulder, smoothing his dark fur. “You’re a good boy. Go on.” he dismissed him to return to his grazing, but the stallion stood still. When Cedric turned to leave the pasture, Björn followed him to the gate and stood there as he locked it. The dragon granted him one final pet before picking up the jar of salve he had left on the post and returning to Lux.
He looked at her, trying again to find her eyes. “Would you… come inside with me, please?” he asked. “I need medicine, and I think we could both use a drink. A hot meal would do us good, and I think we need to talk.”
|
|
Hetero.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Rook.
Offline.
|
Post by Lux Volkov on Nov 26, 2017 1:21:10 GMT
The silence that stretched between them was deafening. Thoughts ran wild through the hybrids mind, her emotions already at a high after seeing the all too familiar face reappear to remind her that there was no escape. There were others. Some weren’t human and wouldn’t be so easily defeated. What would she do then? Lux had quietly offered him the healing stones. His reply caused her to look over at him. “I don’t want it.” Everyone wanted those stones, those little stones that were worth so much coin. But not Cedric apparently, perhaps her worries were unfounded. Were he just putting on an act he shouldn’t have turned down something he could easily barter for gold. He stepped in closer and Lux tensed. Not afraid of him, not yet at least, but certainly overwhelmed by everything.
She just wanted to live. It shouldn’t be so complicated to just live her life as so many others did. Cedric held out the vial to her, the small stones inside tinkling against one another. After a moment of hesitation she took it, clutching it tight enough in her palm that the vial would leave a definite impression in her skin. It was hard to know what to think. What to feel. Just being out here, it was like waking up from a very long nightmare. But it left her floundering. She wasn’t the same light hearted girl that had been taken all those years ago. She was different now, damaged.
Lux could see that her actions or lack thereof were affecting Cedric. Or maybe it was just the act of killing, which was also a result of her presence. She was finally ready to speak, blue eyes rolling up to see that Cedric was walking away. Lifting the body with a pained sound and carrying it away. Lux’s shoulders slumped forward and she briefly looked to the distance. Wondering if she should leave now before she made Cedric more uncomfortable and brought someone else knocking on his door. She lost her hold on that idea when Bjorn suddenly moved, trotting away from her and over to where Cedric had called him. Lux took that moment to move out of the fence so that she wouldn’t be in the way. Not wanting to infringe on the moment the two were having Lux stood nervously near the bath stall she had enjoyed earlier.
Lux had been distracted by her own thoughts and didn’t hear Cedric’s approach. But suddenly he was there and not at the pasture gate, his deep voice rolling over her and making her shoulders jerk upward with surprise, an immediate submissive bow of her head following as if to suffer a blow. She blinked and slowly relaxed her tense posture when she realized it was only Cedric. Her gaze moving to him briefly before away in embarrassment. Maybe one day she would stop flinching like a field mouse at every surprise. Please. He had implored her, not demanded or ordered. It was still such a foreign feeling to even have the ability to choose.
She looked over at him again when he said he needed medicine and a worried look came to her face. The rest of his words didn’t matter as much to her as the fact that he was hurt and needed to rest and care for his wounds. Slowly her gaze rose to meet his and she gave just the slightest nod, an attempt at a forced smile making the corner of her lips twitch. ”Alright.”
She stepped toward his house and if he opened the door she would step inside, immediately drifting closer to the fire that was crackling invitingly in the hearth. She paused there for a few beats, obviously lost in her own head before she turned back to Cedric. ”I’m sorry I…are you upset with me?” Her voice came quickly at first but then got softer and more hesitant toward the end. ”I didn’t mean to bring this to your doorstep. I should have known they would-“ She turned away quickly, back to the flames that dances in the moisture that gathered in her eyes. The unshed tears. She was so frustrated and confused. Afraid. It was too much for her to handle.
Lux cleared her throat softly and turned back around, taking a step closer to Cedric. ”How can I help with your wounds? Since you don’t wish to use the stones.” Her fingers that had been wrapped around the vial so tightly opened reluctantly. She stared down at them and slowly dropped them into one of the large pockets of the borrowed coat. Lux wondered how deep the wounds might be, if Cedric could just hide his pain very well or if they were mostly superficial. She knew precisely how painful the bite of a blade could be. And knew he must be in a good amount of pain from the blood on his clothing. She waited for him to act, possibly remove the tunic so that the wounds could be better seen. ”Are you alright?” She was concerned and should have asked him back in the pasture instead of immediately offering to heal him. But her mind was a muddled mess. And likely would be for a while.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedric Von Abendroth on Nov 26, 2017 3:37:30 GMT
A sigh caught itself in his throat, not wanting to escape and make the situation awkward. So he held his breath, lightly releasing it as he continued whatever he had been doing. Why was she jolting from him now? Ducking her head as if he were going to hit her? He had been so careful, so gentle with her. So much so that she had asked him to ride with her. And now they were back to this? Had he not literally just taken a life, for the sake of keeping her safe? He wasn’t angry with her, but it was mildly insulting to be regarded like something he wasn’t. The dragon bit his tongue.
Finally, she looked at him. Her smile may have been forced, but at least her eyes held some degree of worry for his sake. That was really all he wanted: to know she didn’t hate him for trying to do something right, for once in his life. He opened the door for her respectfully, inviting her in. He watched her for a moment, tiny and frail, still wrapped a massive coat, a hat and a scarf and warming herself by the fire. A twinge of a smile crept to the corners of his lips, fading as he wished how things could have gone differently, before that creature showed up. She turned, and asked a question he hadn’t been expecting. “I’m sorry I…are you upset with me?”
The sigh did escape him then, and he looked into her face, studying it. “I’m not upset with you, Lux.” he told her gently, closing the door and walking up to stand beside her near the fire. It felt good against the chill that had settled over his skin. “I just don’t understand... Why didn’t you want me to kill him? Are you not glad he’s gone? After everything, you wouldn’t look at me. Why do you shut me out, as if I am some kind of beast? … I did it for you, you know.” Cedric paused, reflecting on what had happened. “I may have killed him, but the world is better without him. …I’m not a bad person, Lux.” his voice was quiet, questioning. What he said was true, he wasn’t a bad person. At least, he wasn’t a bad person anymore. Maybe he had been, once, killing for vengeance on an entire race. But it had broken him, and led to the loss of the only family he had left. Decades of solitude had done him some good. He still didn’t like the race, but he could live among them.
“I didn’t mean to bring this to your doorstep. I should have known they would-”
She had turned her back to him unexpectedly, making him feel even worse. “No, Lux… no. Please… please don’t cry.” he implored her. He couldn’t see her face anymore, but he had caught a glimpse of the mist that glazed over her eyes, present but held back. He had heard the tone in her voice. Careful, unsure but taking a risk, the man reached out and gently laid a hand on her shoulder, his thumb moving back and forth in an attempt to comfort her. “I would rather have everything happen as it did, changing nothing, than have that man find you alone.” He meant what he said. She was the closest thing to a friend he had had in fifty years. He wouldn’t trade that for anything, even if it had brought him a little trouble. She was worth it.
His arm fell back to his side as she turned to face him again, the topic shifting to his wounds. “If you could just… look at them, I guess. Tell me what you think.” The dragon honestly hadn’t been anticipating her helping him, but was going to wash them and apply salt and salve. But some of them were closer to his collarbone and out of comfortable sight. The thought had occurred to him that some might need to be cauterized if they were too deep, but not having looked at them yet, he wasn’t sure. Two cast iron pots of water sat beside the fire, waiting for use. He heaved them up one at a time with a grunt, connecting their handles to hooks within the fireplace. One was for hot water for his wounds, the other was for their soup. Then he gripped the bottom of his tunic, slowly and carefully pulling it over his body as he was forced to twist certain ways to free himself. Once or twice the pain was too sharp for him to contain a whimper, which he was ashamed of and looked away as if it hadn’t happened. When at last he was free, he was glad to be rid of the tunic, glad to have the blood-soaked cloth no longer sticking to his skin. The entire front of him was stained red, and the blood had become matted in some of his chest hair. Fetching a cloth from the kitchen, he dipped it into one of the pots as it was warm and had not yet become hot. “Um… could you, please…” he asked. Now it was his turn to feel awkward asking for help, just as she had with the salve. He knew he would be able to reach all of his wounds, but it was the constant arm movement that made him fear more pain.
|
|
Hetero.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Rook.
Offline.
|
Post by Lux Volkov on Nov 26, 2017 5:08:39 GMT
Lux watched him as he sighed, the gentle parting of his lips followed by words she had hoped to hear. He drew nearer and this time she didn’t react as harshly as before. Just knowing he was coming closer helped. But then the questions came. Questions that Lux could hardly answer for herself let alone someone else. ”- I’m not a bad person, Lux.” Her gaze had drifted downward but on that note she looked up to meet his blue eyes again. ”I know that…I think I do. The story just came so easily to you. I don’t know who to trust anymore…who won’t just use me like they did.” But it wasn’t an excuse to suspect that he might have ulterior motives. She couldn’t help but wonder, and he couldn’t help but be effected by her suspicions.
”I don’t understand it all myself...I’m glad he’s gone but at the same time it feels….” She paused, her thin lips pursing together as she tried to find the words to convey her scattered thoughts. ”I feel guilty. And then I was afraid for you, that killing him would make it harder for you here. I don’t-I don’t know what to think of anything anymore….so much has happened and all in one day.” She brushed a lock of gold from her eyes and reached up to pull the hat from her head, gently placing it down on the table nearby.
”I know you aren’t like him. I just can’t stop that nagging voice in the back of my mind that says to not trust anyone. I’m sorry I…..I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. It’s just hard to see anyone die, but knowing I’m the cause makes it worse. I think if I had more time before he found me that it wouldn’t have been so hard. But today…today I just feel like everything is spinning and I cant keep up.” Lux rubbed her arms that were warmed by the heavy coat and the fire but somehow still felt cold. ”I know you did it for me…I shouldn’t have put you in that position where you felt you needed to. I should be able to take care of myself. I’m not a child.” She shook her head with a soft scoff. ”I would have gone back with him….he would have said those things he always says and I would have been foolish enough to do it. I would have, if you hadn’t stepped in.”
She had become upset then, her eyes filling with tears that did not spill. The sudden pressure of his hand on her shoulder made her tense momentarily. But it faded quickly and she found herself leaning into the touch, the reassurance it offered. She didn’t respond to his kind words, not verbally. But her hand rose to cover his own where it lay on her shoulder. Squeezing his fingers gently.
He moved away then to get some pots over the fire. She had nodded in agreement to look at the wounds although she didn’t know how much assistance she would be without her gift. He pulled his tunic up over his head causing Lux’s breath to catch in her throat. The soft sounds of his pain not going unnoticed by her. She was staring at the angry wounds when he spoke again, holding out a wet cloth that she stared at dumbly. Eyes moving between his chest and the cloth before she figured out what he needed. ”O-ok.” She stammered. Lux looked over to the wooden chairs by the table, nearly asking if he would want to sit but she assumed he was already doing what he wanted. She sat the cloth on the lip of the pot for a moment as she took off his coat, not wanting to get it stained and damp. After sitting it out of the way she returned and wetted the cloth again. Her raw fingers squeezing the warm excess water back into the pot before she stepped in front of Cedric. Her fingers were shaking as he reached out, the white cloth gently moving over his tanned skin as she dabbed away the blood, folding it over to another clean spot on the cloth she continued. Her movements getting more sure as she continued, less hesitant but equally as gentle. ”Some of these look deep….” The blood was running back over the skin as soon as she would wipe it free.
”…you will have to do something to stop the bleeding.” She stepped back to rise the rag in the warm water, squeezing it before returning to wiping away the blood. Trying to stay away from the edges of his wounds and just get the surface surrounding them. ”I would like you to use one of the stones… It would hurt a lot less than anything else I’m sure…” But it was his decision. Her fingers gently continued to wipe away the blood, a look of guilt prominent in her pale eyes. "It's your decision, Cedric...but we need to do something."
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedric Von Abendroth on Nov 26, 2017 8:16:16 GMT
Most of his questions went unanswered, but that was ok. He accepted that she didn’t have an answer for everything. Surprisingly enough, it was her comment that brought him the most relief. Was that all it was? The story he had told to escape arrest? “I’ve lived a lie on a daily basis for more than half a century, of course it came easy to me.” explained Cedric matter-of-factly. “I live as a human, but I’m not. It’s matter of survival. It’s just… a skillset.” His eyes lowered to floor, remembering what he had told the guard. “... I’m sorry I said you were a slave.” his voice was quiet. At the time, it seemed like the most believable lie, given what the other man had said shortly before he died about her being his property. Cedric had learned through experience, the most believable lies were the ones that stayed as near to the truth as possible. But he had also punched the man and strangled him for saying exactly that… so he hoped that might make up for it. His gaze connected with hers, catching the tail of her comment about fearing trust and being used. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it, as if even denying it would somehow breathe life into her fears. The dragon shook his head anyway, not wanting connection to something so cruel. “I wouldn’t…” he started. If he had wanted to, he had already had multiple opportunities to take advantage of her. Before the bastard came, during, and after. But Cedric had no interest in gold. He was a stablehand, what interest should he have in gold? And more than that, he was a dragon. There was nothing he wanted that gold could buy. Also, it just wasn’t who he was. Sure, he had an ego. He enjoyed respect and praise. He could be stubborn, stuck in his ways, even. But he wasn’t an asshole, and he certainly wasn’t a torturer. Hell, he would kill someone for treating his horses the way Lux had been treated. And they were horses.
His head shook again as her next explanation came about. “Don’t you feel guilty. You are not to blame.” he tried to reassure her. She had nothing to feel guilty for. “It’s their fault.” He would have killed the whole lot of them if they had come… or so he told himself. He probably would have died trying, stubborn and hard-headed as he was. But then he blinked at her, taking in what she had said. “You were afraid… for me?” At least she hadn’t doubted that he would win. But… no one ever worried about him. What bearing did he have, truly, on anyone else’s life? He dipped his head, meaning thanks but not knowing what to say.
As she spoke further, Cedric immediately accepted her apology, understanding her behavior better as she explained herself. “I know it might be hard for you to watch someone die,” he acknowledged her struggle, though it was something he didn’t suffer with. “But you did not cause his death. He sealed his fate when he came after you. That was his choice. You even tried to save him. But I.. What is done, is done. He can’t hurt you anymore.” he told her softly. “Don’t allow him to hurt you further by thinking of him. He doesn’t deserve your thoughts.” He watched her rub her arms, a habit she seemed to have developed for some reason or other. Her words hung bitterly in the air for a moment, undisturbed pieces of what might have been. She would have gone back with him… had he not intervened. Maybe he did feel a little pride that he had stopped her from doing that, but for once he had the sense not to show it. Of all of things she had said that day, including the comment about chicken clucking, that one was probably the dumbest. Going back to torture was just… no. “You’re not a child,” he confirmed, bobbing his head thoughtfully, “But you have had a rough go of it. And it’s ok if you can’t keep up,” Cedric looked at her, trying to offer a small smile. “You don’t need to.” She was safe here, the danger was past. There was no one else to interrupt them. Now, if she would allow herself, she was free to relax.
That would not be right away, it would seem. He felt her shoulders tense as he touched her, but was glad when that rigidity quickly melted away and she even reclined back a bit against him. Lux’s hand covered his own, and for the first time since meeting her that morning, Cedric actually felt like she was going to be ok.
As she turned back to him and agreed to wash and look at the stab wounds over his torso, the man bowed his head, watching her work. His chin lifted when she neared the wounds on his collarbone. He flinched occasionally, but held his breath, dead set on not expressing pain in front of her. After she got the dried blood away, it felt much better and no longer tugged at the cuts on his skin or at the hairs on his chest.
He winced when she mentioned the depth of some of the cuts. He had thought as much. She offered the healing stones to him again, maybe a little more sincere this time. But still he could not bring himself to use them. “I…” he started to refuse, the horrible thought of cauterizing the wounds on his mind. It was still a more bearable option, despite the pain, than using something that had been forced from her even when willingly given. “I don’t want you to waste your stones on someone like me.” he said, shaking his head. He didn’t deserve them. And after everything he had learned of her, he could not bear to profit from her torture. “Thank you, for your gift. I know what they are to you. But you… you may find someone who is more worthy of them - who has greater need of them. These wounds are not life threatening.” He denied the stones a second time. Their history plagued him like ghosts, and he would not be able to forgive himself if he used them. “You have a limited supply, and I don’t want you making any more of them unnecessarily, just because you gave one to me.” A war was coming, he could feel it. The treaty was beginning to lose its stronghold, and she may have greater need of those stones than she expected. So he prepared himself for other methods of healing, and looked towards the kitchen. “In the cupboard there, you will find a package of salt. If you please wouldn’t mind bringing it here? And a second towel.” he asked for her help once again. In the meantime, he knelt carefully and pulled his bootknife from his right boot, something he hadn’t even pulled during his fight. Just as carefully, he placed the blade end into the fireplace so that it hovered above the coals, slowly turning orange in the heat. He seated himself in one of the two armchairs in front of the fire, not eager at all for what was to come. He took a breath and waited for Lux to return with the salts.
|
|
Hetero.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Rook.
Offline.
|
Post by Lux Volkov on Nov 26, 2017 9:23:22 GMT
A skillset…it made sense really. For someone who kept who they were/what they were a secret then lies must be like their bread and butter. ”I understand.” She said with a small nod. A strange look came to her face when he apologized for calling her a slave. That was new and unexpected. ”I see why now, but I have been called much worse in my time. It’s fine, it is what I have been for a long time so it’s not inaccurate.” She pursed her lips in thought. It had startled her to hear that word from Cedric in reference to herself but looking back it did weave perfectly with his story.
“I wouldn’t…” Lux watched him, studied the look on his face that spoke nothing of deceit. ”I know…” It made no sense really, she was a living contradiction. She knew he wouldn’t but at the same time that rivulet of fear remained. That wary nature that had been ingrained over the years. No longer just a hyper awareness but a part of her she couldn’t so easily shed. Had Cedric wanted to harm her he would have had multiple chances. It wasn’t as if she could stand up to him. But he had been nothing but kind and gentle toward her. Again Lux felt the burn of guilt in her cheeks. It wasn’t fair that he was forced to deal with her preconceived notions about strangers and their intentions. But then again, neither was life.
She didn’t respond when he told her not to feel guilty. As welcome as the words were they had all the effect of telling someone who was crying not to be sad. It wasn’t so easy or simple. “You were afraid… for me?” He sounded surprised. His head dipping in an action she had noticed earlier with the guard. Although now it didn’t seem so submissive…more unsure, maybe. ”Of course.” Her answer was short but she would feel foolish to come out and say that she considered him her friend. They had only met a couple hours ago. It sounding foolish even in her own head so she couldn’t imagine how the words might be perceived out loud.
Cedric was indeed patient, at least from her point of view. Constantly reassuring her even when he was the one who had just been chopped at like a slab of meat. Her lids lowered over her blue eyes partially when Cedric said he couldn’t hurt her any more but Lux didn’t agree or speak. He followed up with a statement that made more sense to her. Lux was only hurting herself by feeling guilty. He could still hurt her, the memories a poignant reminder of what had been. But she could overcome them, she had to.
She gave Cedric a grateful smile at the words that came after. Thankful that he didn’t comment on her foolishness. It was hard not to allow yourself to fall into a trap of mind games, especially when they were all you had known for so long. He would threaten her mother, her old friends back in Niwetri, when he needed to invoke her fear. He had attempted the same thing here, and of course it had worked. It always worked. Only this time Cedric had been the deciding factor.
Lux had attempted to offer the stones again but was met with another refusal. She didn’t comment, knowing her words wouldn’t make a difference but nodded to show she understood. She did plan to leave the stones for him though, a token of her thanks for what he had done for her. And perhaps one day he would use them. If not for him then someone he cared for. She had the ability to make more if need be. Her ability was strange in the way it functioned. Making its user cry, her tears also had no effect on her own wounds. Even in her creation she had been formed for the use of others. Lux dipped her head when he sent her after salt and a towel. Her fingers tugging open the top of a small tied bag until she saw the little crystals inside. Taking the opportunity to slip the little vial into the cabinet behind a back of what appeared to be flour before she took a towel in hand and headed back to Cedric’s side.
She noticed that he had sat down and lay the items he requested on the table, turning to see the small blade lingering over the fire. Oh.. She swallowed and looked back at Cedric worriedly. Knowing now what the dragon had in mind. ”I-I cant do that.” She said, somewhat flustered. She wanted to help but she didn’t think she could bring herself to literally melt his wounds shut. ”I know I said I would help but I just-“ She spoke quickly, her words rushing together as they escaped all in one breath. ”I don’t want to hurt you.” Her words came softer this time, apologetic. Helping or not, it would still be very painful for him. She knew as much.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedric Von Abendroth on Nov 26, 2017 17:08:23 GMT
He was glad they were understanding each other again. But his eyebrows quirked when she mentioned that the term ‘slave’ had been directed at her for a long time, and that it was ‘not inaccurate’. Cedric disagreed visibly, but he tucked the thought under his hat, intending perhaps to bring it up again later.
His blue eyes followed her briefly as she went for the supplies from the kitchen, and then dropped back to the knife in the flames. Alone, he grumbled at it miserably, not that it did any good. It wasn’t his first time with wounds like this, so he knew what to expect. But why did fire have to hurt so much in this form? Why couldn’t it just be warm and comforting and perfect, as it was when he was a dragon? Humans were so weak… The gods had gifted dragons with the ability to transform, but at times like this, it felt like a curse. And of course, a human had been a cause of all of this. Sure, there had been others who had hurt Lux, but this one had been human. Cedric sunk a little further into his chair, sulking. Damn bastard. . .
The dragon looked up at the fae as she returned, offering a twinge of a smile. Despite their circumstances, it actually was very nice to have company. To not be alone. He was looking forward to getting this all over with so that he could offer her food and drink, and pay proper respects to the first guest he had… possibly ever. He caught her worried expression, and looked at her curiously as he wondered how else she had expected him to treat the wounds. This was how people lived who did not have magic - or who refused magic - to heal them. It was terrible, but it was a common procedure. He held up a hand between them, a gesture he hoped might negate her troubles when she appeared flustered at the sight of the knife, the thought of actually using it. That was not what he had intended. “No, no, I can do that.” he reassured her. “I just need you to pass that here, and tell me which cuts need it. The rest I can do myself.” His eyes turned up to her when she said she didn’t want to hurt him. Of course… she would understand exactly how this felt. He had witnessed more scars than he could count on her. “It’s ok.” he said, though it was almost like a promise. It wasn’t mentally scarring when one was aware it was done as a method for healing, especially after great wounds had been inflicted. Cedric couldn’t imagine what it must be like, used as a source of pain, done by someone who intended to hurt you. These were very different situations. And as he comparison of them occurred to him, whether or not it was what she had meant, he pitied her more.
Taking the towel she had brought, he twisted it several times and secured it in his mouth to protect his tongue. In his left hand he took the damp cloth. He waved for her to pass him the knife, then opened his palm to receive it. His chin lifted, allowing her a good look at all of the cuts in the firelight. “Whith one?” he asked, his speech muffled, wondering where to start.
|
|
Hetero.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Rook.
Offline.
|
Post by Lux Volkov on Nov 26, 2017 20:07:50 GMT
The thought of hurting Cedric, burning his flesh with that blade…she couldn’t do it. Lux stared at him worriedly until he spoke. Calming her frantically spinning mind with ease. He was getting rather skilled at it, knowing when she was spiraling. Or maybe she was just an open book and wore her emotions on her sleeve. “It’s ok.” Her gaze which had fallen to his wounds moved back up to his face then, her head tipping forward slightly and her answer bursting forth in a slow exhale. ”Ok.” She parroted.
He twisted the second towel and placed it between her teeth, the action making her stare after he had directed her to get the knife before she blinked and returned from thoughts in her mind. Lux stared at the blade with a feeling of dread but slowly took in hand. Her slender fingers holding it firmly but carefully to give Cedric room to take it without touching the hot blade. She hated the weight of it, the capability of it, her aversion making her stomach churn at just a touch. But this wasn’t about her hang ups. This was about Cedric and he needed the dagger. She handed it over to him and once she was certain he had it in hand her fingers sprang away as if it burned to touch it.
His voice was muffled but she understood what he meant. She knelt before him so that her face would be closer to the wounds and not looking down on them. Her thin arms touching his knees before springing away, returning a beat later so that she could lean closer and find the worst of the cuts. Her fingers grazed beneath a wound a bit toward his side, but deep. Shaking she reached up to touch his wrist, moving the blade until he had it positioned just over the wound. ”There.” She said nervously and sat back to give him space. Knowing that he would likely react harshly to the pain.
Lux folded her arms and clung to her upper arm on each side. She turned away a bit, not wanting to see the pain register on his face. She wished he would have just used a stone and then he wouldn’t be going through all of this. ”Just breathe through it.” She said softly, her voice would have been easy to miss. Just a gentle creak of the woodwork. She knew that if he held his breath it would make it worse, much worse. But the way he didn’t hesitate made her think he had done this before.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedric Von Abendroth on Nov 27, 2017 5:43:47 GMT
Lux’s staring and her delayed movements were beginning to worry him… though he wasn’t sure there was much he could do about it. He didn’t want to trigger any sort of horrific memories in her, but he also needed to get the cuts sealed as soon as possible before infection had a chance to set in. Cedric accepted the knife from her, noting how gingerly she handled it. His eyes followed her as she kneeled, eyebrows momentarily raised at the awkward proximity they found themselves in. She as a constant enigma to him, hardly ever consistent with her actions or emotions. He breathed deeply as she moved his hand over the wound, and exhaled slowly. If he hadn’t already killed the man, he would have liked to have killed him again, just for this.
He waited until she backed away before he started. His left hand moved the dampened towel once move over the wound, wiping away the most recent blood before he quickly pressed the blade to his flesh. The dragon’s eyes shot open, a growl erupting from his throat as muffled expletives shouted into the cloth in his mouth. He seemed more angry than in pain, but his hand gripped the arm of the chair and his foot slammed aggressively against the floor, as if stomping out a flame. His breathing became heavy, and then he stopped, jerking the knife away so fast he almost threw it into the fireplace. He bowed his head to look at the wound before throwing it back, looking up at the ceiling. Catching his breath, his chest rose and fell as he panted. “Anythinth elth?” his muted voice was ragged against the towel, eyes closed, not looking at Lux just yet.
|
|
Hetero.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Rook.
Offline.
|
Post by Lux Volkov on Nov 27, 2017 7:09:32 GMT
His reaction to the pain was sudden, his body going rigid and a roar tearing from his chest. Lux knew it was coming but still she flinched away and pulled her knees to her chest. Her wings encircling her suddenly like a shield. She waited for Cedric to ride through the waves of pain. She didn't look at him. He deserved that much respect. His boot stomped the floor with enough force to send the vibrations across the wood beneath her. And still, she didn't look. Her heart beat faster with a mixture of concern and unavoidable fear. But eventually he spoke muffled words and Lux reluctantly turned to him, her wings parting to allow her to see him. "That was the worst of them.." She said softly. The others didn't appear so bad now that they had been cleaned. Bleeding lightly but not a constant flow.
Lux slowly climbed up from her awkward position sprawled on the floor. The simple dress that swallowed her falling back around her thighs when she stood. She was shaking a bit but appeared to be alright for the most part. Cedric, on the other hand, looked like he had been through hell. Lux moved to the table and let her fingers brush against the bag of salt. "Do you need this now?" She inquired. A little unsure what he would need salt for. But she was a magical healer, the more common ways were foreign to her.
She fiddled nervously with the top of the bag. Cedric was likely not feeling up to answering any questions now. Given the pain he had just been through. But she felt one rising on her tongue regardless of that. Slipping past her lips before she could catch it. "Do you regret it?" Her words were quiet but not timid. She wanted to know if he could take it all back if he would. If he had allowed the first guard to keep berating her he could have avoided so much pain and additional work.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedric Von Abendroth on Dec 10, 2017 5:38:52 GMT
It didn’t register that she had shielded herself behind her wings, or even that she had remained on the floor. His eyes were closed, and he could focus on little else than the burning at his side. Slowly he was able to take in more information as the worst of it subsided. He was sweating. His jaw hurt from biting into the towel. His tongue was dry. It hurt to breathe; his lungs stretched his skin as they drew in air.
When at last he opened one eye, Lux was standing beside him, also shaking. His other eye opened as she asked about his need of the salt. He had planned on pressing it into the lesser wounds, but now in this moment the thought seemed overzealous. Forcing himself to look at his abdomen, the man dabbed a hand at the other cuts, checking for blood. He almost preferred infection at this point rather than going through anything else, but maybe his worries were beyond what he faced. Some of them had begun the early stages of clotting into what would be scabs as thick as his scales. One shaking hand lifted to his mouth, pulling the towel free from his jaws. He stretched them sorely and rubbed his jawline. “On second thought, actually… I think I’m alright. But thank you for bringing it.” She was so kind to him, even when he hardly listened to her. She had told him to spare the torturer; he killed him. Told him to use her tear stones. He cauterized his wounds. Hard-headed as he was, he really did appreciate the fae.
The dragon watched her nervous fiddling, feeling another question rising in her before she spoke it. But when it came, he was surprised. “Regret what? Helping you?” A small smile played over his lips as he shook his head. It was ridiculous. Cedric never regretted anything. At least, he wouldn’t know it if he did. But there was another reason for his smile. “That’s what friends do.” It might have been a bit forward, but at this point Cedric no longer cared. His brain was buzzing, his limbers tremored with both adrenaline and exhaustion. “If you mean, do I regret it from the very beginning? No. You were worth it. You deserved better.” And she was worth it. If given the chance, he would do it again. It had been a long time since he had had enjoyed someone’s company, just for the sake of company. It was more than what many people ever had.
A growl rumbled in his stomach, revealing the appetite he had worked up from the day’s… adventures. Despite the pain he had endured, it was enough to drive a man to cook. Bracing his arm over his wounds, he grunted as he stood from his chair. His steps were shaky at first, but he found stability as he grasped the furniture and walls as he crossed the short distance to the kitchen. On the counter, on a board beneath a towel, was prechopped ingredients that he had prepared that morning for a stew. Carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, and rabbit beside sprigs of rosemary and sage. As he lifted the towel, the scent of it made his stomach rumble loudly again. He almost wanted to eat it raw. But no… best to cook it. Cedric picked up, the board carefully, and slowly carried it back to hearth. Rejoining Lux, he dumped the contents into the now boiling kettle. “I hope you’re hungry.” he told her, guessing from her slightly emaciated form that she probably was. “I usually eat alone, but I am very glad to have a guest.” His eyes moved to and fro as he browsed over the bottles he kept on the shelf. “What do you like? I have wine, ale, rum, honeymead…” he offered, taking two glasses as he gently pulled down the rum for himself and set it and the glasses on the table in front of the fire. After everything they had been through, they were both probably in need of a drink.
|
|
Hetero.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Rook.
Offline.
|
Post by Lux Volkov on Dec 10, 2017 9:48:52 GMT
He thankfully didn’t need the salt. She could only imagine that whatever he had in mind was undoubtedly going to cause more pain. A small nod was given in reply to his thanks, her bottom lip sucked in between her teeth where she would chew it thoughtfully. She had asked him the question about regret at that point. His reply made her pause with her fiddling of the salt bag. Pale eyes turning to him. ”I suppose it is.” She said softly, the tiniest of smiles on her lips. It had been a long while since she had a friend. Well…the ones she left back in Niwetri, but they hardly felt important now. They likely wouldn’t like the new Lux. The changed woman that would return after so long.
”Friends.” She tried out the word. She had heard it back at the camp of course but only when used as a coercion. ”Aren’t we friends, Lux?” They hadn’t been her friends. But Cedric…he was. Even as briefly as she had known him, it just felt right. He continued to speak, kind words that sent her gaze skittering away from him. She didn’t know about all of that. She had hardly done any kind acts that would make her deserve better. That would put her above those people. But she appreciated the sentiment no less.
A low growl made the winged woman tense and hurriedly look back at Cedric. Then fall down to his stomach with a raised brow. He pushed himself to his feet, looking pained all the while. Lux stepped back to keep out of his way as he moved to the kitchen. Grabbing an assortment of foods that were already chopped. She watched then as he dumped them into the pot. Eyes turning up to his face when he said he hoped she was hungry. Was she? Hunger had become a constant for her. It was bad that she rarely even noticed it now. She would have probably more readily noticed the lack of the gnawing feeling in her gut. ”I don’t know if I am.” She answered truthfully. Her words might sound strange or even condescending with the wording but she wasn’t insulting his cooking. She truly just didn’t know.
Before long he was offering her a drink and rambling off names. Lux stared at him with a crease of uncertainty carved into her brow. ”I…it’s been a while. Can you pick one for me?” She couldn’t even remember what she had liked to drink other than water before being captured. But nearly a hundred years of torture had a way of wiping lots of memories clean. It was harder sometimes to remember that there was something better, that false hope of being rescued. She looked back to the food that was in the pot over the fire then took one of the open seats at the table. She could still feel the warmth from the fire here and it was heavenly. Relaxing.
”Does your kind heal quickly?” She ask while peering at the glasses. She tucked a blonde strand of hair behind her ear and looked up to him. Lux was concerned with his wounds and the matter of the body out back. How could he heft that man around when he had open wounds? She wouldn’t be able to lift him, she was weak. But she would help as best she could. ”It will be a few scars to brag about to the ladies at least, no?” There was the hint of a smile before she would lift the glass he had sat down for her. Taking a sip of whatever he had poured inside.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cedric Von Abendroth on Jan 9, 2018 7:41:37 GMT
As the cubes of ingredients plopped into the kettle, they perfumed the steam that rose from the boiling water with tantalizing scents that teased his nose… and his belly. Cedric was no master cook, but he could make a good meal. That she wasn’t sure if she was hungry came as no insult to him, and neither was it a surprise. A day such as the one they had shared, with the extreme swings it had brought, would affect each person differently. Death, perhaps, might have stolen her appetite. But killing and recovering from the fight had piqued his own hunger. It was possible that it hadn’t affected her at all, but the blur was just a blur. Whatever the case, he still thought she could benefit from some sustainable food. “Well, you’ll find out. Eat if you’re hungry.” he said simply with a hint of a smile.
The smell of cooked rabbit came with the bitter-sweet twinge of nostalgia as well as the promise of a full and sleepy gut. It reminded him of his years with his parents, and it was that nostalgic twinge he sought to wash away with a swish of a well-earned and deserved drink. He browsed through his small stash of liquor on the shelf, searching also for something for Lux as she had requested. Most of the women with whom he had shared a drink or two had preferred something less bitter and less strong than the raw alcohol he favored. His hand oscillated between the red wine and the mead as he considered. “Hmmm… For you, I think something sweet.” he murmured, eventually deciding on the mead. If she didn’t like it, she could always try something else. The dragon pulled it from the shelf, along with the rum for himself.
When he turned to place them on the table, he was met with the sight of a Lux that seemed to finally be relaxing. Smiling contentedly, he slowly took to his seat. Cedric uncorked the bottles and poured their drinks, hers first and then his own, watching the flames reflect on the amber liquid as he filled the glasses to something a little more bountiful than just one serving. “Ah, medicine for the soul.” he sighed, pleased. Taking his glass from the table, he lifted it with a grin. “To… to us.” he decided, slightly unsure of what to toast to. After such a day, they both deserved a toast. “And as I’ve heard it said: May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past." The rum warmed him from the inside as it slid down his throat, a small sip that felt the way fire was supposed to feel. Like happiness. It was a very welcome feeling.
Cedric’s blue eyes looked across to her as he set his glass back on the table, met with her question. “Quickly as compared to humans?” he clarified. “I suppose we must… but to tell you the truth I don’t know.” The dragon had not had much contact with his own kind at all, and so he had very little idea of the general characteristics of his own race as a whole. “It is rare that I ever get sick, even when the humans do.” he thought aloud, as if considering the evidences. “When I am not… like this,” he gestured to his own body, intending to refer to his human form, “My wounds are proportionate. But I always feel they are more bearable when I am in my natural state. I couldn’t tell you very much about my kind.” Her question made him curious about her race, and if she also healed faster than humans. If she did, it begged the question as to how recent those wounds were. But Cedric had better taste than to voice it.
As she mentioned the scars that would form from his own wounds, something of a smug smile crossed his face. Brag to the ladies? Maybe he would. The dragon was generally cautious with serious relationships, but it was not above him to have a little fun every now and again. He slyly turned the question back on her. “Would it impress you if I bragged about my scars?” Of course he would love to brag about himself. It was one of his favorite pastimes, and always proved to be an interesting subject. But the thought occurred even to him… not all scars were meant for bragging. He took a drink of his rum to mask the fall of the smile that had rested on his lips. Again the liquid burned delightfully as it made its way down his throat. The scar on his arm he had received the night he lost his mother. There was no bragging to be had there… only anger and shame. And Lux herself, she… she had many scars. More, he imagined, than even what he had seen. Cedric thought for a moment, the image of her beaten skin reappearing in his mind as clearly as if he were viewing it. “... Sometimes…” he said slowly, as if his thought hadn’t fully processed. It was a complex idea he wanted to express, and transforming it into words was rather difficult. “Sometimes our scars aren’t meant to impress other people at all. Sometimes they are reminders that we survived, proof of the challenges we endured. Evidence of our perseverance… and its just for us.”
His gaze met her eyes as he thought to ask a personal question to which he believed he already knew the answer. “Were you the only one? There must have been more of you, weren’t there?” The dragon set his glass on the table, listening for her response.
|
|
