The First Blight: Curse of Dumat [RP/Closed]

[FortyThree]

Diocles nodded attentively. He was learning much, this was definitely a good id-What was she on about?!

"I-no, I-.. I'm not taken with him! Dragon's balls! He's a comrade, a brother in arms. We're squadmates. He needs to trust me, and I need to trust in, or we won't survive. Even Thaedrin knows I'll have his back on the battlefield. .. And I would like it if he could find some value in this life. But I have no designs on him! My actions are governed by more than just.. My libido!"

Clearly, Thaedrin's words were still in his mind. Not only was he flustered and angry, but he was actually blushing a little.

 

[Cinnonym]

Ghil came at him; she had height, weight and experience on the willowy elf, and there was no contest. They both knew it, however, so she may as well amuse herself by pinning him between her thighs and watching him struggle to escape.

"Obey, or they beat you. Obey, or they kill you. Perhaps that is why she wants you calm. She does not want to see you beaten or killed for insolence." She let him up, but only long enough to flip him back into the floor again. Her expression as she bent his arm behind his back was pensive. "I, too, was sent to death for fighting orders. Only for me, I kept winning. I won so much he had to be rid of me, for no one would place a bet anymore." Ghil tilted her head, eyeing the elf. "...What is this elf you know who died of obedience?"

 

[ShadowFolk]

"Oh. Forgive me. I misunderstood." and why was that a relief? "To be perfectly honest, I barely understand him myself. All we do is bicker at each other. We are very different, he and I. But I must say, I am glad you're so willing to try with him. Maybe he will see that all humans are not the same. And...I am sorry to have embarrassed you."

A moment passed in silence, "Is there anything more?"

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin grunted and struggled against Ghil's might. To her he was sure tossing him around was as easy as tossing about a doll. None the less he tried to pry her legs off of him, gasping and scratching at her skin. "D-death! D-death was what I asked for when I came! And here I am alive!"

He gave up when she twisted his arm behind his back. Ulrin lay flat on the floor shaking his head in defeat. "The one that died- her name was Twynne, she was my sister... We were going to run together. But she was obedient. When the opportunity came, she would not flee. So...I fled alone. I thought I could come back for her. But there was no one to come back to."

 

[FortyThree]

"I'm not -embarrassed-, I mean, I have had dalliances with.. Well, never mind, you don't want to hear.."

He threw himself back on the bed in frustration as an eternity of silence passed.

"No, I guess that's.. Well, actually, feel free to turn me down-But would you mind trying to see what you can do about my back? I've as much tension as an arbalest."

 

[Cinnonym]

She listened to his words and was silent for a time after; her gaze rolled up to contemplate the ceiling as she put just the slightest bit more pressure on his shoulders. "What is the thing the Tevinters say... When something is unlike the rest. Exceptions and rules." Ghil finally released him and drew back, sitting on her knees beside him. As she watched the elf catch his breath, questions crossed her mind: What became of the sister, before her death? Was it truly obedience that had killed her, or was it Ulrin's running that had sealed her fate? In the end, she opted not to ask. It was not her business. "I am sorry for your sister. And I am sorry that you had to drink that black bile. I did not want this life, either. None of us did, not even Soolanin."

 

[ShadowFolk]

She snickered before she could stop herself. Had he no idea? "Trust me. I have seen it all. There is nothing wrong with the act itself. It is just not something discussed at the table." the elf approached him now that she'd been given permission. "I do not mind, I said I would, did I not? You'll need to remove your top. I will be putting my hands on your person, your skin, if this makes you uncomfortable..."

 

[FortyThree]

"Well, good thing there's no table in here. No, that's fine. Just a moment."

Diocles stood, and undressed as he did the night before. Bow, quivers, knives, mail, and tunic. He had gotten quite efficient at the process, and his possessions were neatly stacked in less than a minute. He stood in just his trousers, glancing about the room.

"Shall I sit, or..?"

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin rolled over and slowly sat up. He rubbed his arm wincing a bit at the pain. Even a 'gentle' round of wrestling whit Ghil was rough on him. "...I know, none of us did. None of us picked this life or the lives we had before that. Tevinters picked them for us. And I do not forgive them for that. I do not want to, nor do I want to get along with the ones here. Maybe there are exceptions to the rules, but all I see in the Wardens are the same behaviors as the magisters that I served before being sent here. The only human I've met that is different... Well, is you, Ghil." He let go of his arm and nodded to her. "You are the only different human here. If I can trust one, it would be you."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Well. It was a good thing for her that the sight of a stripping man did not make her bashful. Just everything else, apparently. It was difficult to pretend she wasn't taking glances. There was just so much to take in and compare to others. By far, Diocles beat out any magister. Ever.

Sulahn'nehn guided him back to where he was before, instructing him to lay on his stomach. "If it is your back, and not simply your shoulders, this is best. I will do my best. It is a shame there are no oils here, I am used to working with oils. Nevertheless."

Her warm hands glided over his back at first. She followed up with long strokes that ran the length of his back, occasionally applying pressure here and there. Kneading fingers feeling for tension while her ears listened for cues. It would be the first time enjoying giving anyone a massage. It was such a treat to the eyes. And she should not have been thinking it.

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles declined to ask what sort of work she was used to doing-It felt rude, and he was beginning to piece it together regardless, given her knowledge base. He tried to dismiss those thoughts, focusing on the sensation. She seemed to melt away muscles that felt like they had been tensed for years and tendons that had stretched from many a day overextending the strength of his bow arm. The damage done to his back last night seemed to be last years. Sometimes the pressure was a bit much, but it was worth the relief. He hadn't realized quite how tense he was.

"Soolanin. ... You are magic."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Yes, of course she was magical. She was a mag- it had meant to be a compliment.

"It is my pleasure." She let her hands run over his shoulders and arms. Why not? May as well work the rest in while she was at it. "Do let me know if you need me to stop. Or need more or less anywhere."

Her mind wandered elsewhere, pondering questions.

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles was uncharacteristically quiet, except for the occasional grunt or sigh as his muscles were worked. In keeping him quiet for multiple minutes, Sul was in an elite class. Ultimately, however, he found the silence uncomfortable and felt the need to break it.

"Heh. So, what's going through your mind, Soola?"

 

[ShadowFolk]

He did not want to know and she was having a hard enough time believing she was thinking half of what was on her mind.

"Oh. That depends. You let me speak freely, but, if I were to speak candidly you may think less of me. Let us say I am thinking of... Hmm it may have been the first time we spoke. Just.pondering. Do you recall?"

 

[FortyThree]

"Mmmm... Right now I couldn't think badly of you, I'm sure. Do you mean when you were in that cell?"

Komnenos shifted slightly, moving his head to the other side and flexing his bow arm. He actually felt stronger.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Do not ask. You will ruin everything. Or- no, no, no. That's foolish.

"Shortly thereafter." The voice of reason was pushed away. "In the armory, you helped me. I've wanted to ask...and please, be honest with me. Is what Ghil said true? That your intent was simply to watch me undress?"

Of course, after the words left her mouth, so did her courage. A bad idea, really. She pondered on if there was any way possible for magic to reverse time so she could not say it at all.

 

[Cinnonym]

She grinned at his words, reaching over to clasp his shoulder. "It is because I am not Tevinter. No one is telling you not to hate, not I. Yet, here we are obeying. Because otherwise it is death, and I will not die to the men here nor to Darkspawn."


Ghil stood, and reached out a hand to help him do the same. "Nor will you, is that right? You are still here, are you not?"

 

[duckflesh]

Heavy footsteps only became apparent to Diocles and Sulahn'nehn a moment before the door to the spare bedroom swung open. Alrik strode into the room without pausing, though he did take a second to obviously inspect the pair on the bed.

After a moment he walked forward to a cupboard located just next to them; this was revealed to be full of potions and poultices, which Alrik began to sort and inventory, occasionally selecting one to put in his bag. It was an oddly delicate task for his enormous, war-painted, scarified arms.


---------

Trajan entered the training room just as Ghil was helping Ulrin back up.

"Ah... Ghil." The name sounded strange pronounced in his precise tone. "I was looking for you. I wanted to get your opinion on some things."

 

[FortyThree]

"Well, ah.. No, I mean.. Desire and intent aren't exactly-Oh, griffon shit."

Underneath an elf, Diocles did not have time to get his tunic before Alrik entered. The larger man was, like Ghil, far too hard to read, and Diocles didn't have any idea what to say to him. He had made the bastard laugh once, though. Maybe he remembered that.

"Ah-Would you like any help?"

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin slowly stood with Ghil's help a slightly pensive look on his face, "I am here. But truth be told, Ghil I asked for them to take my life." The elf didn't get the chance to continue as Trajan arrived. He dusted himself off and inspected his arm. It was going to be sore for the rest of the day of that he was sure.

The elf wondered what the man wanted of the barbarian. Considering the way Theadrin reacted to her, he didn't think any of them would ever want her opinion on anything.