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frostsinth · 4 years

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Lost Time - Pt. 3

- Part 1|2 - NjordArt

Nrggarhhh... So I’ve had the majority of this done for a while. it was just the end that took me an extra few days for whatever reason! But here you wonderful people go: some lovely little angst for you.

This chapter is brought to you in part by @exophile3d, who would repeatedly chat “NjordNjordNjordNjord” in my DMs to encourage me to work on it! Lots of love and thank you for your motivation! Thank you to everyone who has expressed their adoration for these two so far!

Check out my MasterList for more of my inane ramblings, and feel free to BuyMeACoffee while you are there. I am thinking to have some NSFW exclusive art over on that page if I can figure out how, so be sure to check it out soon if you’re interested.

The leaves and branches seemed to shake around us. The whole forest seemed to be coming alive, breathing and rattling like a singular great beast. I gasped as the first emerged from amid the canopy, a shock for its small size despite the noise, but promising more to follow. My first instinct said ‘cat, but not cat’. It was a deep red, and human-like eyes flashed in a horned, child shaped face as it chittered and lunged for me. It was quickly followed by its brethren, so quickly I didn’t have time to overly assess their strange forms, varying in shades from deep scarlet to fiery orange.

My cry of surprise at the most forward creature dove for my face was dampened by the roar from Njord. With a mighty swat of his huge arm, he sent the strange beast flying. It screeched, falling into its fellows. Giving the half-second my huge green protector needed to scoop me back up into his arms. He tucked me into his elbow, his free hand reaching for the handle of his broadsword. Another of the creatures lunged, sharp teeth biting for his knuckles. But Njord growled, stubbornly grabbing the hilt and sucker punching the beast straight in its tiny humanoid face.

Then the sword was up, and three powerful strokes cleared a notch in the swarm of creatures around us. I clung to him for dear life, ducking my head as yet another of the devilish looking cat-lizards attacked, diving straight for me. There were so many! Two dozen at least! Some flittered on wings, others bolted across the ground. Njord’s swinging sword barely keeping them at bay. A few fell to the side, badly injured or perhaps dead from his blows. But most were too quick.

He snarled, gracefully sweeping his sword out and around his head parallel to his body in a tight circle, dislodging one that had latched onto his shoulder by my head. He shouted something in his deep guttural language, and the wide, human eyes of the creatures considered him warily. Intelligently even. He managed to keep up his strikes enough that they did not dare venture closer. But it left us horribly pinned in the center of the camp, surrounded.

A tingling hum ran suddenly over the back of my neck, tearing my attention from the battle surrounding us. Then a soft whisper brushed past my ear, and I knew without looking there would be no source. Words I couldn’t make out, almost lyrical. I twitched, my eyes shooting wide. The sounds of the battle dampened and became muffled as if heard from under a blanket; Njord’s roar, the chittering of the strange horned creatures. I jerked, looking around but feeling as though I wasn’t moving at all. The colors of the world drained. There it was again. Then again, from the other direction. I wanted to turn my head, to move my eyes to search for what I knew was not there. But I couldn’t. I sensed something in it, something drawing me to it. Something… familiar, though I couldn’t even begin to fathom it. I felt a zapping, tingling energy in my palm. I stiffened, pulling my hand from around Njord’s neck. Looking down at it numbly even as I felt him duck and dodge around me. My center moving as he kept me clasped against him protectively. I felt as though someone else controlled my body, a familiar warmth seeping across my skin, lifting me like a puppet master manipulates strings.

The sounds of the battle came back in a rush, like a slap to my face. I jerked, turning my head. The beasts had coordinated an attack, and were lunging from multiple sides at once. And beyond them, I could see a dark ash gathering. Slowly beginning to pulse and take form. A deep dread pitted my stomach. I didn’t know what exactly was coming, though a small part of me flickered with a familiarity of fear. Nothing like the comforting warmth from before. I couldn’t remember how I knew. But I did know we didn’t want to be here when whatever was beyond that ash finally stepped through.

In the same breath it took me to come back to the present, I raised my tingling palm. Or more, the strange force did. The whisper seemed to shoot through me, lifting my hair and rushing out like a breathy exhale and suddenly… everything froze.

The wind, the branches and leaves. Flying particles of dirt and debris. And, most importantly, the swirling ash and attacking creatures. Each pinned in place; their eyes unmoving, unseeing, their teeth bared, their claws outstretched. Trapped. Like some sort of terrifying, life-like sculpture. My eyes nearly popped out of my skull. But I wasn’t about to question a blessing.

“Njord!” I cried, spinning.

At first, I thought he was frozen too. But I could feel his hitched breath in his chest and realized he was frozen only from shock. I saw his copper eyes blink, and his big jaw shift. I reached up, touching his face.

“Njord!” I cried again, and he jumped at my touch.

His eyes met mine, and he frowned slightly. Then nodded with a gruff grunt. The unspoken understanding going between us. One fell swoop cleared the frozen creatures to our right, knocking them aside like rocks tumbling from a stone wall. He had the presence of mind to grab a bag resting beside the opening of the spiked gate, perhaps previously readied supplies for the day. and hook it over his shoulder. But his long stride never broke, and the ground thundered with his footsteps.

Branches and leaves wiped at us, snapping at my skin and face. I curled into Njord’s chest, and felt him wrap himself tighter around me as I did. Sheltering me from the battering. I could feel his heart ramming against his ribs, and his arms constricted around me with each deep, huffing breath. On and on he ran. I lost track of how long, and strained my ears to try and hear if there were sounds of pursuit. But I could make nothing out beyond his drumming heart. I squeezed my eyes shut and buried myself against him. My own pulse racing and my thoughts swirling.

I jerked in a panic as he suddenly skidded to a halt, my hands reaching for better purchase on the straps of his armor. I felt him straighten warily around me, saw his big head turn and look over his shoulder. He was panting, his big chest heaving up and down. I laid my palm flat against it to find it damp with sweat.

Njord looked down at me at my touch. His thick lips worked around his tusks, and he seemed to have something waiting on them. But after a moment, he just shook his big head. Giving a final look over his shoulder, before turning and trudging on. Eyes set ahead of us. His stride was long, but steady, and I tried to pull myself higher to look over his shoulder as well. I knew that if we weren’t running again, he must feel safer. Though obviously not safe enough to stop entirely. Unless he had a new destination in mind. I felt a stab of remorse as I realized he may have just lost his home to those creatures. I looked back up at him, trying to tell if he was saddened or maybe angry by this fact. But his brow and jaw were clenched and unreadable. Another stab washed through me, thinking the appearance of the creatures might be the least surprising thing so far, considering... whatever I had done...

The sun was rising higher in the sky, and I glanced up at it pelting down at us through the canopy. I shook my head, slowly loosening my grip from his armor. Fear rattled me down to my core, and without thought, I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck. Pulling myself closer to him. I felt him stiffen at first, then his own arm curled tighter around me. Stilling my shivering.

“Anha wet, Shikobakin.” He murmured after a breath, his thick voice rumbling through his chest against my body.

My ankle and head both began to scream their protest at their rough handling in our escape. But I ignored them, unable to loosen my hold just yet. I felt myself lulled by his steady step, like the rocking of a boat on the ocean waves. Slowly, my heart rate quieted, and my breathing became less shallow. I felt his do the same, though his dark green skin was still coated in beads of sweat.

Finally, I eased myself back into the crook of his elbow and glanced around. I wondered where we were going, but I found this part of the forest looked no different than the last. I glanced up at Njord’s face, and although he didn’t look at me, I saw him turn slightly. Offering his unscarred side to my gaze.

“What were those things?” I asked him softly, even though I knew he couldn’t understand. I tugged myself up to look over his broad shoulder again. “Where did they come from?” I resisted the urge to shiver. “What did they want?”

Njord didn’t answer, unless I wanted to count the rumble in his chest. I didn’t care that he had no idea what I was saying. There was only one obvious thing that I could be asking about now. I glanced at his face again, but his heavy brow, while knotted with determination, did not seem to hold any answers either. I sensed he had never seen such creatures before. And I hoped I had not… They were horrifying. Creatures of orange and red, with scales and fur and horns. Faces of children with sharp teeth and elongated mouths.

I shivered involuntarily, and felt Njord’s grip tighten slightly. I sensed that we both felt very much the same way about those creatures. Even without the words to say it.

Not much later, the sound of rushing water filtered through the other forest ambiance, and my heart skipped a beat as it steadily grew louder. A river, I thought to myself, and a few minutes later the treeline fell away. Confirming my assumption. He made his way steadily down to the slow moving shallows, and I felt a little of the tension in his shoulders dissipate.

With a final scan, he slowly placed me on a large rock protruding from the water. His large hand lingered, brushing against my shoulder. I looked up at him, and his copper eyes seemed pinched with worry. It pained me, and I felt myself reaching up of its own accord. I saw him jerk, attention snapping to my extended hand. His own came up, wrapping gently around my fingers. He stared at it, then his big thumb pushed apart my fingers, running along my palm. My heart fluttered, and I swallowed hard. Wondering what he was thinking. The whole thing felt like a blur, and remembering what had happened… Was he afraid of me? What had I even done back there?? Or had I done anything? I remembered the strange but familiar force, yet had no name for it... My head throbbed as I tried to reconcile what had occurred. I sensed the answer was there. Somewhere buried in the fog. But it was still impenetrable, so I sighed deeply instead as Njord slowly released my hand.

I glanced down, then patted the rock and looked up at him sheepishly. “... Wutbat.”

He looked surprised, but it quickly faded into timid amusement. He nodded. “Ar’stok, Shikobakin. Wutbat... Rock.”

His big hand came down, and rested on top of mine. Covering the entirety of it as well as a large portion of the rock beneath it. I gasped, my eyes alighting on the back of his hand. I turned mine, catching his and bringing it to cup in both hands on my lap.

“Njord! Your hand!”

The back of his knuckles were covered in blood, and I held them gently. Inspecting the small puncture wounds there. He gave a deep grunt, crouching down properly to be more at my eye level.

“Ksapa, Shikobakin,” He assured me, “Non shet ‘vatna dun.”

I kept his hand in both of mine, even as he tried to pull it away. I scooched to the edge of the rock, sliding my good foot into the water and balancing myself against the stone. My bad one didn’t hurt much… as long as I didn’t touch it. I brought his hand down to gently douse with the cool, clear water. He gave another soft rumble, but didn’t resist my administrations. I looked him over as I carefully washed off the blood. I saw another deep scratch on the meat of his broad shoulder at the edge of his armor, and brought a handful of cupped water up to slowly clean that as well. He had more, smaller ones, zig-zagging up and down his arms. I wasn’t sure if they were from claws or the branches he passed through in our flight. I used both my hands to rinse those, running them up and down the length of his long limbs. My fingers and hands seemed tiny compared to his muscular arms, like pale leaves against a deep green tree trunk. It could take me all day to rinse him off, one small palmful at a time, but I didn’t care. I wanted to make sure he was properly attended to. No matter how small the injury. It was the least I could do. I heat settled in my stomach as I wished I could do more. Could comfort him. Answer his questions. Help him in some way.

He stayed still, his head bowed as I ran my hands over his shoulders and arms. I remembered the dampness of the sweat on his chest, and began to run my hands over his muscular breast next. All the way up to his thick neck. I felt him stiffen slightly beneath my fingertips, and I raised my eyes to meet his.

My pulse skittered, and my breath stopped. The intensity in his eyes… there were no words to describe it. I wondered how I had not noticed before how the sunlight made the color sparkle. We stayed like that, our eyes locked again, for a time so long I couldn’t count it.

He broke my gaze, dropping his and starting to turn his head. To present his untouched skin to me again. A hot poker stabbed at my gut as I recognized the repeating pattern of his behavior.

He flinched as I laid my hand gently against his cheek. On his good side first, then reached up with my other, still dripping from the river water. And cupped the opposite. I saw his hand coming up to pull mine away. I gently turned him back to me first, cradling his big head between my tiny hands. Running my palm tenderly over the knotted scar tissue. Tracing along his cheek with my thumb

“Please,” I told him, “Don’t be ashamed… don’t think you’ll frighten me away if I see this-” I ran my hand from his chin to his hairline, tracing the edge of the scar “-it doesn’t scare me. Or sicken me.” He watched me, his eyes tentative. I smiled, flattening my palm against his broad cheek. “I think you look…” I stopped, and my heart fluttered. But what did it matter? I told myself. He couldn’t understand me, after all. “... I think you look good… just as you are.”

His copper eyes watched my lips move, and his big hand froze halfway up to take mine. I tried to keep his gaze, but the intensity of it made my cheeks flush. A shy smile twisted the corner of my lips, and my eyes darted away. As if maybe he might have understood my confession. But I kept my hand on his cheek, and snuck a peek at him from beneath my pale lashes.

“You’ve been… very kind to me, Njord,” I told him softly, the words spilling out of me, “You’ve been understanding, and patient, and… and…” I felt my frustration welling in the corners of my eyes, the fear, the confusion; all compiling against me in that moment, “And I cannot even thank you… Not properly…”

His hand did come up now, cupping mine on his scarred cheek. My heart-rate spiked, and my breath fluttered in my throat. I looked up at him again, fearful that I had overstepped. Or that perhaps I had infringed on the traditions of his kind, or gravely insulted him. But I saw nothing like that in those copper depths when I finally met them. Instead, I saw warmth. Like the caressing tendrils of a lit fireplace in a familiar home. I was lost in the warmth, felt it spread comfortingly through my veins. Sweeping away the fear and frustration. I hardly noticed the brush of the fingertips of his opposite hand along my own cheek. But I did feel him lean deeper into my palm. Saw his dark lashes dip as his eyes fluttered. He leaned forward, and I found myself stretching up to meet him.

Njord delicately rested his broad forehead against mine. I breathed in his exhale, reveling in the scent of him. Drawing his breath into every inch of my own body, as if I could trace its progress through my veins. I closed my eyes, unable to hold the sight of him and wanting desperately to commit this moment to memory. A new memory, to lay soundly amid the fog of those I had forgotten. A fresh memory, like the first wet brick on a path. Leading out of my old life, whatever that was, paving a path to a new one.

My old life… A cold wash swept down my spine from the base of my skull, shooting a tingling numbness to the rest of my body. All because of a single thought that managed to pierce through the warmth of his touch like a hot arrow through snow. My old life… What if I already had someone?

What if I had a husband, or was already promised? What if I was in love? If there was someone looking for me? Waiting for me? I opened my eyes, the realization tickling through me almost painfully. If I did… I felt his shift, felt him lean back between my hands still cupped around his face. I met his copper eyes as they slowly opened with uncertainty and hesitation. I saw them study me, considering whatever now rested across my features. I struggled with myself, running my thumb back and forth over his scar. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t allow myself to… I blinked and shifted, wincing as my sore ankle bumped the rock with my movement.

That broke whatever spell we had been under. He dropped his hands, and I let mine fall as well as his gently scooped me up by the waist and settled me properly on the rock. I watch him numbly as he pulled the sack from over his shoulder, slinging it down and digging through its contents. He mumbled things in his own tongue, deep in his throat, nodding along as he did. When he glanced back up at me, I felt my heart skip.

I had to know. I had to know for sure that there was no one else. It pained me to think of denying… whatever this was growing between us. But it pained me even more to think I might hurt him if my old life did come back. If I had a husband, or a lover. Maybe even a family! My hand went unconsciously to my abdomen, my head swirling, my heart aching. Had I ever lain with a man? Had I ever born a child? I would know, I thought silently, trying to reassure myself, I would remember. I would sense it. The truth though? I couldn’t say. I couldn’t say with any certainty and without hesitation… I just didn’t know...

I prodded at the fog in my mind, trying to find the answer. But there was nothing, like I was cupping sand between open fingers. The hint of something there, but it quickly slipped from my grasp before I could analyze the grains. My eyes trailed over to him as he pulled out what he had been searching for, grunting with an unmistakably pleased tint. A rolled up piece of parchment in hand.

“The map.” I said aloud, recognizing it as he spread it over the rock next to me.

Not the same one, I realized as he grunted the affirmative. This one was smaller, more focused on the local region. Most specifically, the villages surrounding the forest. He pointed to one spot, along the river, speaking in his own tongue. His hand briefly gestured to our surroundings, and I nodded my understanding. When his big finger returned to the parchment, he traced it along, still explaining, leading the way to a village. The nearest one, it seemed. He tapped his finger on it.

When I looked up from the map, he was looking at me again. He nodded, then tapped the map again. “Ntol’ma, ya liell.”

I glanced down, and a small frown formed on my lips. I put my smaller finger on our spot by the river. “But why did you go this way?” I asked, tracing along the same path he had followed, or very near to. “This way looks quicker.” I retraced my finger, and then moved through a different part of the forest, then across a short open plane, in a more direct line to the village.

The air felt stiffer, and when I looked up, I found his brow thunderstruck. He swallowed, rubbing at his chin with one hand. His eyes seemed… troubled, and instantly I straightened. Reaching out to him before I had even realized what I was doing.

I quickly dropped my hand, and saw his copper eyes watching the movement. He glanced back down at the map. Then gave a small, curt nod. Speaking in his own thick tongue. His big finger came back to the parchment, and he traced along the route I had drawn. I saw his finger hesitate over the clearing, which seemed to connect to the larger planes of the map beyond. But then he continued on until he reached the village.

“Dun echetu. Ya liell, Shikobakin.” He mumbled, his deep voice oddly thin somehow.

He rolled back up the map and put it into the pack before slinging it over his shoulder once more. The waters splashed about his ankles as he shifted, stepping over and holding out his hands to me. I hesitantly nodded my consent, knowing what his touch would elicit, and he scooped me back up. I tried not to think about the warmth of his arms around me as he trudged through the shallows to the opposite bank. Resisting leaning against his broad chest and inhaling his thick scent.

I swallowed hard, and noticed him glance down at me. Those copper eyes sending my heart into spasms. This was going to be a long, hard road...

....

To be continued ...

#orc #orc lover #orc boyfriend #monster x human #monster romance #monster lover #slow burn #angst #Lost Time #terato #exophilia #language barrier #monster boyfriend #citrus #update #oc

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shameless-selfship-indulgence · 3 years

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Girl Help Part 2

I wrote this in a fucking frenzy

there’s no, like, content worth warning about in this one though

"calais," said Marvus. "cuh-LIE-is. soundz like a troll name."

"A troll name?" asked Calais.

"fo sho babe," said Marvus. "six n six. marvus xoloto. trizza tethis. all part o da fxxked up hellawhack shiznack dat dictates r planets whole history n shit. twelves all over da dam place."

"Is that what you are?" asked Calais. "A...troll?"

Marvus blinked at her, a slow, lizard-like blink. He gave a low whistle. "dam we gotta start w da basics here."

The planet was called Alternia, the species was called trolls. The entire society revolved around a rigid caste system based on blood color, which divided trolls into twelve distinct subtypes with different physical traits. Red was at the bottom, Fuchsia at the top.

"its all bullshit tho," he added at the end. There was a flash of something in his eyes.

"What was that thing you were doing?" asked Calais. "Earlier. To me."

Did Marvus stiffen ever so slightly? Was that a flare in his nostrils? His eyes flicked up and down Calais with lightning speed before he leaned back with affected nonchalance.

"chucklevoodoos," he said. There was something guarded in his voice.

Calais blinked at him for a second, hoping that the jumble of noise he had just poured at them would sort itself out. No luck.

"Chuck-a-what?"

"chuck-el-voo-doos," said Marvus again. "purpleblood shit. wuz doin it 2 every1, not jus u."

"You mean like...mind control?" Calais guessed.

Marvus frowned. "controlz a strong word 4 it, my dude. its more like vibez."

Calais suddenly understood something.

Should she say it? She usually liked to have her cards on the table. She did it as often as she could, in the hopes that the other person would do the same. She got the feeling this man wouldn't, though.

But then again, he already had all the power in this situation. The only hope that she had was to try to build some sort of relationship with him, and she liked it when those were built on trust. Besides, she liked being honest better. Easier to remember her answers.

But still, a voice in the back of her head screamed at her to think it through a bit more, even as she opened her mouth and blurted out-

"You don't like that you can't control me."

Marvus looked slightly taken aback. He narrowed his eyes a bit. "no, I don't," he said slowly. Candidly. His hand started to edge towards his cane.

Oh shit, he thought she was trying to flex on him. Calais started to fumble, multiple different de-escalators and disclaimers colliding on the way out of her mouth and throwing random sounds everywhere.

Eventually she managed to concentrate enough to form real words.

"I-I mean you CAN," said Calais. "You CAN control me. I just hate it. I hate it enough that I can tell that it's happening."

Marvus paused. Calais continued, trying to explain everything in a rush.

"Not that it feels bad. It feels good. That's what I hate about it. I can tell in my head that it's not how I'd normally feel. I know that normally I'd be...repulsed. Normally I'd have a sense of...boundaries. And what's gross and what's not. And whatever the chuckle thing does, it doesn't stop me from being scared. I'm always scared of that."

"scared of wat?" Marvus asked. His teeth glinted in a smirk. "gettin ur pail on?"

"My what?"

"dam. dunno wat pailing is? gettin freaky, babe. all concupiscent n shit."

"Oh. I mean. Yeah? I'm kind of scared of it...I mean." Calais stress stimmed a little. "It's more that I'm scared of not being in control? Like, did you know that being horny actively lowers your disgust response? Even without the voodoos or whatever. Literally, the only reason that we can enjoy reproducing is because we no longer have an accurate sense of what's gross and what isn't. That's what I don't like. The idea that I could be in a situation where I'm doing all these, just. Objectively disgusting things? And LIKING it? And not being able to tell that it's nasty? Or even being able to tell and not caring. I hate it. I hate it so much. It scares me. And I definitely don't want to be like that around another person."

"huh," said Marvus. "never met any1 else like dat."

Calais shrugged. "Maybe because they don't come to whatever it was you were doing."

"nah," said Marvus. "I seen ppl roll up who didn't want 2 b there. they come around in the end." He tilted his head at them. "prolly cause ur an alien," he said, seeming to decide it as he said it. "pailing n murder r pretty normal mental states 4 us. disinhibition doesn't bother ppl."

He looked a little more relaxed now for having come to this conclusion. Calais figured that was a good thing.

"so wat r u?" he asked.

"Oh! Um. We call ourselves humans," said Calais. "Uh, we all have the same blood color, so that's not a thing...and I'm pretty sure nobody has any psychic powers, either."

"dam. wat do u do then?"

"Uh..." Calais puffed air through her cheeks. "I dunno. I'm not sure what to tell you. Whatever it is would be completely normal for me, so..."

"wat color's ur blood?"

"Um, red?" said Calais.

Marvus winced, but he was smiling. "ooh. dats gonna b rough."

"Yeah, I was gonna say..." Calais curled into herself a little, then remembered her ribs and winced, stopping up short.

"how'd u get here?" asked Marvus.

"I...have no idea," said Calais. She blinked. "I don't know. I don't know at all. I was suddenly just. Here."

"where were u b4?"

Calais looked around, as if the answer were written somewhere in the room. "I...I don't know!" she exclaimed. "I mean, I must have been somewhere, but I don't...I can't..." she started to wring her hands.

"woah, woah, babe, calm down," said Marvus, lifting his hands in a placating gesture. "it's all gonna b ok."

Calais shied away from him instinctively. He was awfully close. But she realized that the fact that this bothered her was a good thing.

"What did you see?" she asked.

Marvus shrugged. "u weren't there. then u were."

Calais wondered briefly if he was telling the truth. But even if he weren't, there was no way they would be able to tell. They would have to take him at his word.

"That's...not very helpful," they said absently.

Marvus laughed. "guess not. dam."

"I don't know what I was doing before I came here, I don't know how I got here, and I don't know how to get back." Calais thought for a bit, chewing her lip. "M-maybe someone at the concert saw? Someone in the mosh pit?"

"m tellin u babe, there was nuthin 2 c," said Marvus.

"Can we...check?" Calais asked carefully, looking warily at her clown host.

Marvus smiled, a somewhat easygoing smile that was nevertheless a little too toothy. "my concerts r wild, my dude," he said. "they was deffs all distracted. n they're all prolly all hells 2 the indisposed atm."

Calais dimly remembered the general reaction - or lack of reaction - to their appearance and realized that this was probably true.

Calais looked at Marvus, running calculations in her head. She was starting to realize how this was going to go, although she didn't want to believe it. Didn't want to need him. But she needed somebody, and...

"u don't have anywhere 2 go, do u," said Marvus. It wasn't really a question.

Calais flinched. "Yes," they said.

Marvus drummed his fingertips against the table he was leaning on. They clicked on the wood. Calais realized that his fingernails were claws and swallowed hard.

. "tell u wat, babe," said Marvus. "m on the homeward part of my tour atm. y don't u come w me n we'll see if we can figure out how 2 get u home."

Calais closed their eyes and took a deep breath. Don't think about the creepy clown, don't think about how you feel, just consider him, consider yourself, consider the situation, there's no need to be scared if you just figure out what's going on and why you're afraid...

Blessedly, Marvus let her sit there in shut-eyed silence until she was able to put her thoughts together and turn to him.

Direct communication. It was something that she liked.

"You want to keep me near you," she said. "You don't know what to make of me, and you want me in...in, like, your hand."

"well yh," said Marvus. "dats all true. but dat doesn't mean it can't b mutually beneficial, ufeelme? yeah ur an alien n u might b useful n shit but dat doesn't mean I can't help u 2. u do need somewhere to stay right? alternia is vy dangerous. 'specially 4 mutants n aliens. 'specially 4 mutants n aliens w red blood."

"I do need your help," said Calais. "I just..." pain and trauma emboldened her; fear wasn't enough to keep her quiet. "I just don't want you to pretend your motives aren't selfish. I don't want you to pretend anything. It's okay that you want to use me...I mean, it's not okay, but I don't exactly have a choice and I probably can't fight you so at the very least I want to know that that's what's happening, get it?"

She picked at flecks of teal under her fingernails and realized for the first time that it was blood. Their stomach lurched and they froze, setting their hand back down. "I'll probably be more cooperative than you think," she said quietly. "As long as I know what I'm getting into. I mean. When you manipulate someone, you want to make them feel at ease, right? Like they can trust you? So they'll do what you want? Well, I'll feel way more at ease if I think I can trust you. If I know you're telling the truth. Even if it's bad. So just...don't try to sell me anything. Do you understand?"

She glanced up at Marvus. He was shaking his head slowly. "ur a rlly weird alien," he said. "sure. if dats wat u want."

"Do you promise?" asked Calais.

Marvus nodded. "fo sho, babe. promise. but m not tryna use u. not yet @ least. ur a wild card. jus wanna keep an eye on u 4 now."

"Right," said Calais.

"so it's a deal, then?" asked Marvus with a smirk. He held out his hand.

Calais looked at his hand, then back up to his face. Hesitated. Then reached out and took his hand.

Marvus' grip was strong, and his hand seemed to swallow up her own. Calais strengthened her grip, but she got the feeling that no matter how tight she squeezed, it wouldn't impress him.

He grinned at her and gave her hand a quick up and down shake. She seriously doubted that he was trying to make a show of strength, but it still felt as though he could wrench her shoulder from its socket, just by shaking her hand.

"alrite then. it's a deal," he said.

Calais pulled their arm back against her chest. A deal.

This creature was, evidently, not Satan. Just an alien with horns and freaky mind powers. But that didn't keep the phrase "deal with the devil" from reverberating wryly through her mind.

#Selfship hours #calais' words #💜 Clownfucker 💜

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shapeshifting-arch-mage · 5 years

Text

12/04/2018

Raver Temmie and I fly on our broom to the Island. When was the last time we were here? We've come here again because we need to buy some glowsticks to pass out to the partygoers who've agreed to come to our private rave party. The one that we never got around to having because we went to Baku's rave over at Port Town's dance club. Now that was an experience.

"hey tem?"

"ya, hooman?"

"wen we get back, were gonna rite Baku a nice thank yu lettr, okay?"

"ooo, yaya!! thank u letr!! dats a grate idea!!1!" We fly our broom to the seaside store, which, unbeknownst to us, now has a new owner...

Raver Temmie and I fly our broom to the seaside store, where we'd last browsed for glowsticks. We dismount our broom, put it back inside our hat, and open the door. "i hope dis time i can find some-"

...The store looks different. We do not remember the store looking like this when we were last here. We step inside and close the door behind us. "h-hooman...?"

"yea?"

"wat happend to da store??"

"i dunno, its been a wile since we wer here. maybe sum1 redecorated it?"

We haven't seen who that someone is just yet, but if he were to look at the one who'd just entered his store, he'd see a bipedal Temmie in a pointy hat who appeared to be having a conversation with herself, as if she were two people.

"ok, but who did it?"

"i dunno." Our eyes look left and right as we take turns talking out of the same mouth.

[Salandit] The lizard frowned a little, holding the sandwich in its mouth. So... he could take random trash he didn't want, give it to this person, and they'd give him sandwiches...? ...He'd have to remember that, then. His tail flicked once more, and... before Jevil even finished his sentence, he was out the door- running at full speed towards... somewhere.

[Jevil] Jevil exhaled happily, tail wagging a bit. From his perspective, it had worked. It now knew the basics of capitalism. He laughed a little, having been greatly amused with the creature. Now though, he had a new priority. His small pointed ears shot up at the sound of the entrance bell and his attention was drawn to the newcomer: some sort of anthropomorphic white cat/dog. Them holding a conversation with themself was slightly off-putting to Jevil, but he wouldn't judge! Well at least he wouldn't let himself be too nervous, he had to serve this creature after all!

"Hello, hello to you, you! You come seeking wares is that true, true? Well, well tell me what you're looking for and I'll see what I can do, do!" Jevil wore his iconic joyous grin, mitten covered hands tucked beneath his chin as he awaited an answer.

[Rave Witch Temmie] Whoa! What was that that just darted by?! We flinch a little as the Salandit runs out the door. Once the door closes again, we turn back towards the counter and...

...Oh dear lord, what the heck is HE doing here?! He's not supposed to be out of his cell! We flinch again when he greets us, and begin to shiver, a look of dread forming on our face as he talks. After he finishes, our shivering culminates in a shudder as we cry out, "w-w-waaaaah!" We then hide our face behind our front paws.

[Jevil] He blinked once at the flinching reaction, deciding that it was only due to how loud he can become and often is to counteract the quieting nature of the shop's fabric walls. His voice would trail off somewhat as he noticed the shaking and expression. Maybe if he was quieter when he next spoke, this customer would be more comfortable here. The shudder and tears truly did distress the imp-like being, causing him to recoil a bit and spend a bit trying to figure out what he had said to cause such a reaction. Or maybe this person had very recently heard the rumors he had spread in his own world. He tensed a bit, taking in a breath, holding his hands out in front of him in the universal sign of harmlessness.

"H-hey calm down, calm down I say! There is no need for tears and no need for fears, I promise you won't be hurt, dears!" He had mainly pluralized it for the sake of rhyming rather than any knowledge of the newcomer's state.

[Rave Witch Temmie] Eugh, that voice... our shivering subsides somewhat, but not entirely. And did he just call us dears? Nnnngh...

We gingerly lower our paws from our face. They feel a bit moist... did we stain them with a tear or two? Oh geez, I didn't even notice- now that I think about it, our eyes do feel a little wet. How embarrassing...

"w-w-w-w-wat'd yu do to da store???"

[Jevil] "Just a little bit of renovation. I added a little things here and there to create what i saw in my imagination! Uee hee hee, and what a creation i've worked to see, see! No harm either considering the shop belongs to me, me!" He couldn't help but smile at the sensation of pride that whirled around in his stomach and warmed his chest. Jevil knew that there could have been countless others who sought this job and store, so he couldn't help but pride himself in the fact that the higher-ups, whoever they might be, had chosen him as the shopkeeper. No matter the poor experiences he has had so far, the bird-based robbery and the assault via spaghetti, he couldn't help but be happy and excited for all the new faces he'll be able to bring smiles to. His T ended tail swayed gently as he stared off into the distance at the thoughts.

Jevil was somewhat embarrassed when he emerged from his little day-dream. "Well, well now that you know my little slice of the resort, may I ask what wares you seek with some importe?"

[Rave Witch Temmie] "i... uh... um..." Oh geez, the little snot's gone and taken over the place, has he? Well, isn't that just faaaaan-tastic!

"human, whys a scary clown guy in da store??" Temmie thinks to me.

"Er, um, well, I don't know, but I'm pretty sure he's actually a jester." I think back.

"watsa jester??"

"It's just what it sounds like- someone who jests."

"wats that mean??"

"You know... they tell jokes, and act silly..."

"u mean liek a clown??"

"Er..."

...Well, she's got a point there. I suppose if you think of it that way, they are kind of the same thing. Anyway, back to answering said clown/jester/whatever's question. We glance to the side, unable to bring ourselves to make eye contact with him.

"i was, uh... i was g-gonna hav a hapy fun rave party... a-and i-i needa get some stuff..."

"Glowsticks." I remind her mentally.

"o-oh ya!1! glowsticks!!" We say, looking at Jevil briefly before averting our gaze once more, "i needa glowsticks for my friends at da party... i came hear to buy sum befor but dere werent none..."

[Jevil] "Glowsticks, glowsticks..." He echoes in thought, mentally running through his stock, trying to determine if he would have them. For a while he didn't think so until he recalled their wide colour variety and knew where he would have stored them. Her perks up with excitement and giggles.

"Yes, yes I think I have a set in the back, I wouldn't think glowsticks would be something we would lack, lack! Wait here a second and I'll return with the items, I reckon!" With that, the leapt down from his chair, landing with a small thud and symphony of bell jingles. He remained in a crouching position for a second, showing just how small the once-court jester was, before he bounded into the back, passing through the fabric flaps that had matched seamlessly into the wall. A series of bells and other noises emitted from the back room as Jevil scurried about to find the glowsticks he was increasingly certain he had. He remembered having some in his old shop and had brought along many of his unsold wares from there when he moved his base of operations to the island. Where, oh where, though?

Jevil leaned backwards, holding himself up with his tail as he looked through the massive selection of colorful items, a few dozen pinwheels, plastic flowers, ball-pit balls, glow- There they were! He grabbed the glass jar filled with the unused tubes of chemicals and bounced out from the back.

"I return, return with the items you yearn! I have about twenty four glowsticks as you can see here, here now, lean in close, lend an ear: 2 of whatever you have for money each, it's a rather fine deal I preach!"

[Rave Witch Temmie] Once he goes to the back room and out of our sight, Temmie whispers to me, "whys he so scaryyyy...??"

"uh, cuz of his creepy face an' his creepy voice an' his, uh, "chaos chaos" thing, or sumthin?" I whisper back.

"wats dat???" She asks.

"i dunno, youd have to ask him!" I reply.

...Wait, I shouldn't have said that. I don't want us to ask him- oh no, he's back. Wait, are those... Hey, look at that, he does have glowsticks! Who would have thought?

"...Lean in close and lend an ear? ...Really?" I think, "Hardee har har. Just because we have four ears doesn't mean we're lending that creep any of 'em!"

"uh... o-okay, y-ya, ill buy em all..." We nervously approach the counter and pay 24 credits.

[Jevil] He giggled slightly, eyeing the 24 credits.

"I believe you miscounted, miscounted! 24 credits is only enough for half of the glowsticks, not all of them, them!" He seemed rather amused by the situation though, holding onto the product a little while longer as he waited to see if they will accept only half or seek out the remaining 24 credits to pay. He thankfully seemed to be rather patient, his tail wagging slightly as he hoped up onto his chair, putting the jar of glowsticks on the counter.

"Now now, would you like to pay the full price for all of them, them, or pay what you've already paid and take only half of them, them?"

"awawawa!!1 oh nooo!1 im sorry!11! heres da rest!1!"

We quickly put 24 more credits on the counter and then take a few steps back. Geez Louise, what is with us tonight? We already embarrassed ourselves in front of this guy once; we just had to go and do it again, didn't we! Sheesh...

[Rave Witch Temmie] ...Oh, wait- the glowsticks. We can't pick them up from over here. We'll need to walk back toward him to get them- actually, no, we won't! That's right! We're a Temmie! We stick our arms out in front of us and stretch them towards the jar of glowsticks.

[Jevil] He gave an amused laugh, happily accepting the payment and pushing the jar forwards towards them, blinking as they backed away. Frankly Jevil really wasn't sure what to make of this person, he was completely unfamiliar with Temmies after all.

"It's alright, alright! You can take the glowsticks whenever you'd li-" He was taken aback by the way the customer's arms seemed to just burst forward towards him. He looked absolutely horrified for a moment, recoiling as far back as he could, taking in these rapid, quick breaths. He had his eyes squeezed shut, not opening them up again until he thought it was safe. He pressed a gloved hand into his chest. Nothing happened. He was ok. He was ok. Seam didn't come back for revenge. It's ok. He's fine. Jevil took in a deep, shaky breath.

"Sorry I... I wasn't expecting that, that..."

[Rave Witch Temmie] Whoa, hold on... we scared HIM? Are we seeing this right? Did he just dart back behind the curtains again when we reached for the jar? You've got to be kidding... He's the creepy one, not us! What's so scary about us stretching our arms out, we wonder? Maybe being in this body for so long has made me forget that Temmies can be off-putting to those who aren't used to being around them...

We grasp the jar between our paws and then retract them towards us.

"uh... y-yu ok??" We call out.

[Jevil] "Y-yes, yes! I'm ok! Just- just shaken is all, all..." He emerged still looking very much unnerved. He fidgeted with his thumbs almost as if trying to distract himself from something, yellow eye-dots tiny in residual fear. He glanced off, making sure not to look at the creature's arms, part of him terrified they'll come after him again if he looks.

"Just shaken..." He repeats, taking in a deep breath. He tries to shake himself out of the fear, forcing a small smile until it became genuine. "But don't worry about that now, now, if there anything else you want or shall we say ciao?"

[Rave Witch Temmie] "is dere, uh..." Temmie remembers something she wanted to ask him. The thing I didn't want her to ask him.

"Temmie, no! Don't-"

"w-wats ur "chaos, chaos" thing?? human dint want me to- mmf!"

Since both our paws are full, I press the jar against our mouth to silence her.

[Jevil] "My chaos, chaos thing?" He seems confused for a moment, wondering what they could be referring to. Perhaps a combination of his repetition and his shop's title perhaps?

"Well if you're asking about the shop's name, that's easy, easy! It's important, so important not to fall into routine or it could suck up all your glee, glee! So I made a little shop back home just like this one, one where people can come and buy the things they need while also having a little fun, fun!" He giggles happily, tail wagging, mind seemingly off whatever had him so terrified before.

"As for saying things twice, twice, well I'm just following my own advice! Keep things fun, keep things nice, and life is sure to entice, entice!"

[Rave Witch Temmie] Sigh... why'd she have to ask him that...? Thanks to her, we had to listen to him yap at us in that spooky voice again! Though, on the other hand, I'm now very confused by his answer. We were not talking about this store, or his quirky speech patterns, at all. I had wanted to leave as soon as we'd bought our glowsticks, but now, I'm curious as to why he didn't seem to know what we were really referring to.

I decide to take control of our mouth from Temmie for a moment, and ask, "yu had anothr store? wat yu mean?? what happend to da cat guy??"

[Jevil] His mood shifted to discomfort at the mention of "da cat guy". Well, there was another question in there so he could ignore that part for longer.

"Yes, yes, I had another store, store. I opened it myself after the King decided he didn't want a court jester anymore, anymore. I could have done anything, anything indeed, but I thought that a shop of fun is what the kingdom would need. Then, then just recently, I got a letter in the mail, mail asking if I would be interested in coming here to do sale! I took it, took it I did, and that's why the island I now work amid!"

[Rave Witch Temmie] We shiver a little again as we listen to his creepy, singsong rhyming.

"yea, but, wat about dat cat guy, da one wit da button eye?"

Oh geez, now he's got us rhyming, too! Curses!

"i thot he was suppost to hav a store!1"

[Jevil] Oh god they really were talking about him. Jevil's pupils started to shrink again, seeming to grow panicked again. He seemed to grab onto his tail for comfort.

"I know who you're talking about but not what. Seam went mad years, years ago, it was very unfortunate... I just hope that now that his life in done, he isn't insane in heaven." He seems to be shaking a bit, really not wanting to recall those memories. That battle. That grin. By god, that grin. He tried squeezing it out of his mind, pressing his eyes shut and holding his head. That grin. That grin. It persisted even as Jevil had watched Seam rip his arm half-off to use as a weapon. He let loose a whine, shivering.

[Rave Witch Temmie] Our face goes blank. "...hes ded??"

[Jevil] Jevil nodded, trying to return to reality the best he could. Trying to pry himself away from the memories. Away from that battle. Jevil had technically won, but that did nothing to help his conscious. He held onto his tail tightly.

"Yes... Yes the once magician is gone, gone like the rain, only I, the once jester, remain."

[Rave Witch Temmie] Our jar of glowsticks in hand, we take several more steps back, uneasy at the thought of Seam being dead. Or at least I am. Temmie doesn't know who he is. While Jevil laments his loss, we back out the door with our purchase.

#discord #discord rp #undertale temmie #deltarune #deltarune jevil #jevil

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forged-through-trials · 3 years

Photo

It was a new day, and the first order of business, was drinking away the depression and existential dread left by the last job. Second order of business, was talking to Ongnar once more, and trading him some hot goods! Had to do so quickly, and early in the morning, before Ruin woke for the day and wondered where I’d gotten off to. While we did business, I asked Ongar about the word around town. He had this to say: Ongar: “Heard of Arnora and Jorundr? They were once a happy couple but that’s over now. I hear that he took all of their money and stashed it after he committed a robbery.” Trials: “...’stashed money,’ you say?” Ka-ching! Ongar: “You’ve got that look in your eye. Like a lizard after a payday, you are. She lives in the south end of town. Go talk to her and see if she’s offering any kind of reward for help.” Arnora will be step four for today. Step three will be checking on Ruin, just to let him know I’ll be taking care of some business in town and he can just chill for the day.

When I found him again, he had a strange grin on his face. Trials: “What’s got you so happy this morning?” Ruin: Ruin smiled broadly, obviously amused by my question. “You ask me why I am so cheerful? I will tell you; I have been meditating much on morality of late, and how, somehow, I have regained mine. “As you know, I was once lived in a society--” Trials: “--Bottom Text.” Ruin: “...” Ruin rolled his eyes briefly, before continuing. “--of wickedness. I witnessed much depravity, but kept my objections to myself. “Perhaps if I had voiced my objections, I could have prevented suffering. Or perhaps, I would have suffered along with the victims. I’ve agonized much over whether or not I should have stood up.” Trials: “You were just being cautious. You can’t help anyone if you’re dead.” Ruin: “A very pragmatic analysis. Perhaps I have been too idealistic? “Yet, I cannot help but feel that in remaining silent, I ultimately condoned the cruel actions of my kindred. I wanted to put an end to the suffering caused by my fellows, but I was afraid.” Trials: I raised a brow at him, and crossed my arms. “Why would that thought make you so cheerful?” Ruin: He smiled a little more broadly at that. “I would have thought the answer was obvious. Yesterday, helping the Lirrian Widow find justice, things like that have helped to bring morality into focus, for me. Whereas before, everything blended into a mush of gray, I’m beginning to see the world in the appropriate shades of black and white; good and evil. “I am cheerful because, for the first time in a long time, the world feels as though it is making some sense. Properly divided into black, white, and the gray in between.” Trials: I clicked my tongue, meditatively, and scratched my chin. “...which color do you think you fall into?” Ruin: His brow furrowed in surprise at that pointed question. “I’m... not entirely sure, just yet... though I’m starting to get an idea. Now that I’ve established a firmer moral scale, I can begin to determine where I reside on it. And I suspect some aspects of your moral shading will rub off on me, if we continue to travel together. “By my reckoning, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.” I blushed at that last statement, and Ruin gave a chortle as he managed to get under my scales. He thanked me for my time. Now that Ruin had spent the morning practicing his Speechcraft on me, I asked him if he’d be willing to take an easy day off while I looked into what we should do next. He was more than happy to kick back and drink the Fighters Guild’s mead while I did the legwork, which freed me up to look the rumor Ongar fed me about this woman, “Arnora.”

It took a little convincing to get her to open up, but that was accomplished easily enough. People always seem to open up to me after a little talk, a little pie, and maybe some greased palms. Arnora: “I’m sure you’ve heard of the details I’ve leaked; about Jorundr and his run in with the law. Well that may not necessarily be the whole story.” Trials: “So what is the ‘whole story’?” Arnora: “If you want to know that, you’ve got to agree to my scheme, first. Until then, all I can say is, there’s a lot of gold in it if you’re willing to do some work for me.” Trials: “...sssounds legit.” Arnora: “Smart answer. “Jorundr is, to put it succinctly, a thug and an ass. He’s dragged me all over hither and dither, helping him with his petty crimes. “I wouldn’t say we’re thieves . I mean, we’ve stolen things.” Trials: “As one thief to another; that is the literal definition of a thief.” Arnora: “Okay, we’re thieves. But we’re not, like, super greedy. We only take enough to get by.” Trials: “Oh, I can understand that. I only take enough to get pie.” Arnora. “...” She blinked. “Well, to put it in your terms, Jorundr kept wanting more and more ‘pie’. Then, last year, he took way, way too much pie, and--” Trials: “--Got a tummy-ache?” Arnora: “...” She groaned and rubbed her forehead. “Killed. A. Guard.” Trials: “...the analogy kind of breaks down right about here.” Arnora: “We’d waylaid a tax shipment, and Jorundr, mad with greed, killed a guard before he’d realized it. “I was mortified. We stashed the gold and hid out. But while I was off gathering food, the Bruma City Guard found our camp--” Trials: “Wow! They actually did something!” Arnora: “I know. Amazing how they can actually manage to get away from their desks and do some real work when someone messes with the Emperor’s gold, isn’t it? “Jorundr was captured--and served him right--but he’d moved the stolen gold without telling me, that fetcher! “So what I need you to do is go to Bruma Castle’s dungeon, and speak to him for me. Convince him to tell you where the gold is, and then we split it.” And that was my new job. To get some thug to spill the beans about where he stashed some stolen gold. Sounds simple enough.

In the dungeon, I was stopped by the Jailor, “Greeban.” He wasn’t too happy to see me. Less so to hear that I wanted to visit a prisoner. Jailor Greeban: “What a bother. Don’t be too long. I gotta stay with you so there isn’t any funny business.” Trials: “No funny business?” Jailor Greeban: “None. And no tomfoolery, either!” Trials: “What about mischief?” Jailor Greeban: “No mischief! And no horseplay, no shenanigans, or chicanery! No devilry, no deviltry, no pranks, japes, or jigs, and absolutely no naughtiness!” Trials: “...what about a little razzle-dazzle?” Jailor Greeban: “...” He frowned harder at me, sticking out his lower lip. “...Okay, a little razzle-dazzle, because I wanna see it. But just a little!”

Geeban followed me into the dungeon. Jorundr was easy enough to spot, having a large cell to himself. I approached the bars, and spoke to him. Trials: “You’re ‘Jorundr’, right? I’m here to ask you about the Tolen-say Old-gay.” Jorundr: “...wat?” Trials: “The Tolen-say Old-gay. Tell me what I want to know, and maybe I’ll slip you a Ock-lay Ick-pay.” Jorundr: “...whatever you just said, you can forget it!”” Trials: I grit my teeth, balled fists shaking. “Listen, Upid-stay! Tell me about the Tolen-say Old-gay, and I’ll give you a Ock-lay Ick-pay, so you can Eak-bray out of the Ungeon-day!” Jailor Geeban: He knocked on the wall next to me. “Hey! That’s sounding an awful lot like horseplay over there!” Trials: “It’s more like ‘wordplay’.” Jailor Geeban: “No ‘play’ of any sort while you’re down here. Hurry it up!” Jorundr: “Look, I don’t talk to outsiders. No way to know if the guards put you up to this. So you might as well just blow away, because you’re not getting anything out of me.” Huh. So, the trick here is to convince him I’m not in league with the guards. I considered the problem, sizing up the imprisoned Nord, and the jailor. I grumbled, knowing one quick way to get on the Nord’s good side, but being unwilling to do it. Turning to the guard, I sighed and grumbled to myself; “Think of the gold, Trials. Think of the gold.” That decided, I held up both hands, palms open, reminding Geeban about how I’d promised to show him a little razzle-dazzle... then I quickly balled a fist and punched him right in the nose. He managed to shout: “You’re under--” before the sucker-punch took effect, and he flopped over like a cinder-block, crashing through a table on the way down. Jeez, it’s gettin’ so that a lizard-gal can’t even get arrested properly around here! About an hour later, he finally woke up and arrested me, throwing me into lockup, next to Jorundr. ...I’m beginning to think this wasn’t such a good idea. Plans that involve me ending up in the dungeon rarely go good places. Plus, how am I going to explain this to Ruin? “Hi, Ruin, I kind of got arrested. Bring bail-money.” He’ll never let me live it down!” But, I’m here, so there’s nothing to do but try to charm the info about the gold out of Jorundr.

Before I could, however, a guard approached his cell. From what I could pick up of the conversation, the guard was named ‘Tyrellius Logellus’ ... or possibly ‘Horse’s Ass’, as Jorundr called him both. Tyrellius: “Ready to talk, yet? You’ve got nothing to lose, so why not just tell me about the gold and save us both a heap of trouble?” Jorundr: “Yeah, sure, and I suppose I just end up rotting while you spend it all? Forget it!” Tyrellius: “You’re gonna end up rotting here anyway, you idiot!” Jorundr: “I never trusted city guardsmen. Never. So I’m definitely not going to start trusting you!” Tyrellius: “Suit yourself. Enjoy your stay.” Tyrellius stormed off in a huff after that, clearly quite butt-mad that Jorundr wouldn’t tell him what he wanted to hear.

Trials: “...did he just not even offer you any kind of deal? Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve personally never found ‘just tell me, bruh’ a persuasive argument.” Jorundr: “It wouldn’t matter if he did offer me a deal. I’d never cut one with that Milk-Drinker. You, on the other hand, hehe, I can tell you’re no friend of the guards. Not by the way they chucked you in here for that love tap you gave Geeban.” Trials: “FIN-ally! Okay, let’s talk about that Tolen-say Old-gay.” Jorundr: “...listen, I’ll talk to you about the Stolen Gold, but knock it off with the Pig-Imperial, will you?” Trials: “...you understood me this whole time?” Jorundr: “I did. I just didn’t trust you. Also--” He proceeded to punch me right in the snout, knocking me on my tail. “--that’s for calling me ‘stupid’ earlier.” I awoke an hour later in a daze, but Jorundr helped me up, and explained to me what he wanted. Jorundr: “I want you to kill Arnora for me.” Trials: “...I’m not really an assassin. Can I just give her a strongly worded letter from you instead?” Jorundr: “Only if you stab her with the pen.” Trials: I paled a little at that. “Why do you even want her dead so badly?” Jorundr: “Because she sold me up the river! Can you believe it? She killed a guard, and had the nerve to pin it on me, selling out our camp to the Bruma City Watch!” Trials: “Huh. She said you’re the one who killed the guard.” Jorundr: “That treacherous witch would say something like that! Everyone is willing to believe I’m violent, just because I punch people who annoy me!” Trials: “...” I rolled my eyes at him. “Yeah, who could possibly get that impression about you? “Now, I don’t suppose you’d take something else in trade for the location of the gold, would you?” Jorundr: “No. And I want proof that she’s dead. Like that amulet she’s always wearing. You bring me it as proof she’s dead, and I’ll tell you where the gold is.” Gentle-reader, I don’t think I need to tell you that I ain’t killin’ nobody in cold blood. But this scheme has effectively hit a wall, so I will need to talk to Arnora and try to figure out what we’re going to do next. ...after I get out of the dungeon. There’d better be a lot of gold in that stash to make up for this indignity. Thankfully, nobody here really likes Geeban, so punching him in the face only holds a maximum sentence of ‘cool your heels for a day’. I was out and about shortly there after, and I rushed over to Arnora’s house to fill her in.

I arrived in time to interrupt her Destruction Practice. I stepped in front of the target to get her attention... and got zapped for my trouble! Arnora: She gasped. “Wh-why would you just walk in front of my spells like that!?” Trials: Still crackling with shock-energy. “Hehehehe, it kind of tingles.” Arnora: “...well, no one ever said I was a good wizard.” Trials: “Anyway, we have a problem. Jorundr says he won’t tell me where the gold is stashed unless I bring him proof that you’re dead.” Arnora: “...y-you’re not actually going to do it, are you? Kill me, that is...” Trials: “Relax. I’m coldblooded, but I’m not a murderer.” Arnora: She sighed with relief. “Good, because otherwise I’d have to defend myself!” Trials: “What? With your puny shock-magic? Feel free to do it again. It tickled!” Arnora: “...” She groaned and sat back on the chest behind her. “I admit it, if you really wanted to kill me, you could. But maybe we can just make Jorundr think I’m dead. Just long enough for him to tell you where he stashed the gold. “What did he want as proof?” Trials: “He said he wants ‘the amulet she’s always wearing’.” Arnora: “Ugh! Of course that pig would ask for that. It’s a family heirloom!” She proceeded to retrieve a red-gemmed amulet, completely separate from the blue one she was actually wearing, from a nearby chest. “Here, take it!” Trials: “...so, I tell you he wants the amulet you’re always wearing, and you give me one that you weren’t actually wearing.” Arnora: “What? They’re both family heirlooms. Besides, Jorundr likes to play mind-games like that. Trust me, this is the one he wants.” Trials: I rolled my eyes. “Fine, but if he punches me again, I’m passing it on to you!”

From there, it was a quick trip back to the castle dungeon. Geeban was... not happy to see me again, but kept his distance as I went in to visit Jorundr. Jorundr: “Did you take care of Arnora?” Trials: “Oh, yes, she’s totally dead. Dead as a door-nail. Dead duck. Dead meat. Dead, dead-dead! She is no more. She’s ceased to be! She’s expired and gone to meet the Nine. She’s now the late Arnora. She’s a stiff! Bereft of life, she rests in peace! If not for all the snow she’d be pushing up daisies! She’s pulled down the final curtain and joined the Choir Invisible. She... is your EX... girlfriend!” Jorundr: “...guess I’m single, now!” He rubbed his hands together. “Okay, now show me the proof.” Trials: I retrieved the red amulet from my pack, and showed it to him. Jorundr: “Wow, you got the one she keeps stowed away! She must really be dead because she’d never even pull that one out of her trunk!” Trials: I rolled my eyes at him. “Yeah... never... anyway, let’s talk about the gold!” Jorundr: “Right, right. The gold is buried outside the walls of Bruma, near the North Gate.” Trials: “Neat! Pleasure doin’ business with you.” Jorundr: “Goodbye. I don’t expect to be seeing you anytime soon. If I were you, I’d get out of Bruma fast before the guards catch on that she’s dead.” And there we have it. A bit more complicated than I would have preferred, but I have the info. That gold is as good as mine!

#the elder scrolls #oblivion #modded #let's play #roleplay #ask blog

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