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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 22, 2018 6:02:14 GMT -8
/The Boardwalk/
With the battle finally over, it seemed, a gentle shower began to sprinkle over the group. Rainclouds starting to collect over the beach as the grey that had haunted the party since the arrival finally gave way to gentle violets and oranges of a setting sun. The shadows drew long across the flotsam, and the distant trees cast webs of darkness over the water and ground.
Small crabs still skittered about the Boardwalk, but they were no longer malignantly aimed towards them; instead they wandered about, aimless, some returning to the water.
Tilly's collection of loot was slower, but netted a bit more profit; three more sphere-cut sapphires were in her palms, as well as two emeralds that looked eerily familiar.
In addition, she managed to scoop up about 100 gold pieces, tied together by seaweeds and nets.
As she dug through the gore and trash, she would suddenly prick her finger on something sharp. There was a glimmer of a blade folded amidst the remains, what it belonged to would demand some rummaging and rooting around in the slimey blue meat.
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/Lekalis/
He watched her swear and concede with thin lipped amusement, nodding as he looked her head to toe; making his own idle assessment, squinting as he finished, he would produce two bandage rolls from their packs. A bit sodden, but workable.
"... Aye, they certainly fucked us didn't they." He mused, glancing over to the floating corpse of the Fishman as he unravelled one roll and began applying the bandages around her arms.
His mind wandered, and he made a mental note to gather some samples before he left.
Though, Lekalis' mind swiftly turned back to Courcy as he finished one arm and moved to the next.
"I'll have to take a look at these back at the camp... Try not to flex your lovely arms too much on the way, yeah?" He smirked and offered a comradic smile as he tied off the other loop of bandages, staunching the blood on either side.
"I've to clean them, pack them with some herbs..." He listed off quietly, more to himself as he tried to remember the way Florence would do things in such times.
By the end of it, he wiped his hands and looked to the blackish water around them; thinking twice before deciding to not dip his hands into the bloody water. Instead, he moved over to the nearby corpse and cocked his head from one shoulder to the other like a crow was want to eye a meal.
"... Think you can make it back?" He asked, looking up to her with his brows risen expectantly.
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Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 22, 2018 6:56:23 GMT -8
The rain on her back made her feel more rejuvenated than anything, and she quietly hoped that it would wash the goop off of her attire.
She felt more at peace than horrifically exhausted, and was content to idle in the rain for a bit.
With the wayward crabs looking lively again, and the clouds beginning to break, she made a weary smile as she more carefully shifted the guts around to pull the blade out from the gore.
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Post by black379 on Mar 22, 2018 8:16:37 GMT -8
She didn't fuss too much while Blood bandaged her arms. Rain washed over to signal the end of their quarrel, but it did nothing to soothe Courcy's injuries. She nodded slowly to Blood and hugged her arms close to her person.
"Yeah, I think so." The hellion moved back toward to boardwalk to pull herself atop it again. It would be easier to walk back to shore than wade through the cold water. Briefly looking back toward Tilly, she gave a halfhearted smirk, then turned to make her way back to the beach. It seemed pertinent to make sure Elaine and her squire were safe as well.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 22, 2018 14:27:50 GMT -8
/The Boardwalk/
With a wet 'schlelp', the blade was freed from the muck and mire rather easily; its length was immediately familiar, in that it was Tilly's dagger she'd thrown at the head of one of the first Fishmen.
Curiously; as the crabs around Tilly scittered away, a few were holding Sapphires and gold pieces aloft in victory as they fled and hopped off the Boardwalk's edge. It seemed they were stealing away the remains back to the water.
As Courcy moved back onto the Boardwalk and approached the beach, The Squire and Elaine would be hunched over a growing fire, the campfire the party'd used prior to expediting proper; both making ritualistic hand motions, or perhaps vigorous attempts to warm up at the blaze. Both looked to be in fair shape.
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/Lekalis/
He followed Courcy to the Boardwalk, and helped her up before pushing himself up onto the woody platform. Deciding to forgo samples for now, as his gaze locked onto Tilly in the distance.
Lekalis waved to her in vain, as he stood up and approached at a light jog. His foot slipping a moment before he came up to her, though he recovered quickly enough.
"Find anything?"
He inquired for a report as he sheathed his falchion, only now realizing the danger of running with particularly sharp objects... Speaking of, his eyes fixiated on the dagger, raising a brow skeptically,
"You going to talk to this one too?"
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Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 22, 2018 14:46:09 GMT -8
Tilly grinned wearily at Lekalis, only shaking her head in reply; she wiped the blade off with the toe of her boot before slipping it back in its rightful place inside her coat pockets.
She neglected to reply, only smiling sweetly at her Beloved. She felt infinitely woozy, but blissful; they'd all survived.
She tugged on her arms, both to raise herself up onto her knees and to bring him down to her level. She kissed him on the mouth, uncaring of who would see, and relishing in the taste for a few moments before pulling away, beaming triumphantly.
"We made it!"
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 22, 2018 15:10:13 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
Admittedly, he was taken by surprise; his mind raced and he thought she may have been possessed. His hands braced on her shoulders for a moment but he was loathe to truly push away her warmth, as gore raddled and slimey as it was.
Still, as she pulled away he gave her an incredulous look, sharing her smile all the same.
"Aye... We did." He agreed flatly, granted, he stifled a small chuckle at the end of it as he looked her head to toe and slowly wiped his lips with his thumb. With his other hand he softly rubbed her shoulder and slipped his hand under the pit of her arm in an effort to help her stand up so he wouldn't have to stoop.
"Did you expect anything less from professionals?" He scoffed with an exaggerated pomp, letting a hand flick back some sodden hair behind his ear as he posed before her with his hip cocked and a cheeky smirk spread over his lips.
It lasted for a moment before it subdued and he eyed the spines poking out from her ribs.
"... Are... you alright?"
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Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 22, 2018 15:32:36 GMT -8
"Oh, don't tell anyone it's all luc--" Tilly stood on oddly-weak legs, with a deep breath, she leaned somewhat on his hand as she craned her neck to follow his gaze and look behind herself.
She noted the legs with some disinterest; she'd been stabbed in the ribs before, and it felt nothing like that.
"Ah, that's... disgusting."
She frowned, and pawed unhappily at the chopped-ends of her hair. The ends of it just brush past her shoulders. And then she shrugged,
"I feel like a stagecoach wheeled right over me. I'll sleep for days." She twisted her arm behind her back to begin to pluck the spines out. "Are you alright?"
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 22, 2018 15:47:35 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
He frowned lightly, nodding with a small laugh as he plucked out the eight legs jutting out of his lover's ribs with as much discrimination as an ex-noble could muster.
Done with it, his smile returned, a bit tersely though;
"Disgusting, aye. I thought the Weald's muck and sap was foul but... ech..." He mused, shaking his head, then looking to his cloak; the black blood of the fishmen had rather stained the hems and he indulged in an exasperated sigh before cocking back a frown again.
"... I'll be fine, but I don't know how I'm supposed to sleep like this." He grumbled, glancing down to the gore Tilly found herself in as well. He held a dignified sneer as he peeled off a tendril still latched to her person.
"You certainly have more guts than I do." Lekalis made for a jest, his smile spreading in contrast to the growing disgust.
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Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 22, 2018 16:34:19 GMT -8
"I don't really have a choice in it... don't think you look too bad, though." Tilly yawned, fanning her fingers out in front of her mouth. She gave the longsword a look over and resolved to simply carry the thing back, instead of putting it back into her satchel.
She tapped up at the top of her hat, to confirm that Beansprout was on her person. And then she rubbed her brow.
"A fight's never taken me out like that before..." For a moment, she seemed troubled by the revelation, and then asked with more purpose,
"Let's head back then?
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 22, 2018 16:50:55 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
"I'm glad that's the case; you look ripe as death... Any more than this fight and I'd wager you'd be unconscious on this bloody pier, or worse!" He guffawed, though worry leaked into his tone as he nodded and started down the Boardwalk all the same; confidence surged by her ginger peck, he wrapped his arm around her waist, thinly veiled with comradic aide.
"The sooner we put this behind us, the better I say..." He looked to Tilly with a familiar catty cocksuredness as he strutted on,
"... I'll need something to put those bloody beasts out of my mind: Wine, Games, a good bath... Maybe two." He mused with a salacious shrug as he made his way onwards to the shoreline...
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Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 22, 2018 17:08:48 GMT -8
Tilly smiled some, still, and mirrored his wrapped arm with one of her own, though she did pull him a touch closer.
She wasn't so interested in being secretive anymore; there wasn't much purpose in it, she decided.
"Hm... we're a bit far away from a bath." She pointed out with a lazy shrug. Her feet dragged some on the boardwalk.
The thought of the bits of treasure she'd found revived some pep in her, though.
"How's a campfire and a good dinner sound in the meantime?"
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Post by black379 on Mar 22, 2018 18:04:17 GMT -8
Courcy meandered up the beach, her legs felt heavy and sluggish. She was cold and wet and bloody, so she made her way to sit at the fire herself, opposite of the two who had been trapped in the tower. Watching Elaine across the firepit, she held a silent vitriol toward the holy woman, however unfounded it may have been. Still, it was better the pair was uninjured.
"We'll be alright here." The ginger promised with a sigh. Her head turned to watch Lekalis and Tilly start back, supporting each other's weight. Courcy at least had her weapon - it served her well enough in its first bout.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Mar 22, 2018 18:21:38 GMT -8
/The Flotsam Beach/
The Squire knelt nearby Elaine, watching her foot worriedly, almost as much as he'd watched the Party make their trek over. He'd watched Courcy with a glimmer in his eye, and he placed a hand on the hilt of his sword as she approached.
Elaine was slumped against a nearby tree, seemingly resting with her eyes almost closed, watching the fire. Her amulet seemed to glow in the firelight.
"You fought well."
The Boy offered, rolling his shoulders and looking to Elaine who stirred and opened her sleepy eyes. The Squire rose and walked a few paces to face Courcy properly, before unsheathing his shortsword and taking a knee; plunging the blade into the dirt.
"I, Squire to Promos, would like to requisition you as my temporary martial trainer."
He stated boldly, stiffly, his head bowed in due respect to the Hellion...
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/Lekalis/
"I'm not sure whether the dinner could be called good but... well, I'll try my best." He offered with hope and idle amusement as he watched her; expecting more but... what precisely that was, was rather unclear.
Regardless, his grip on her loosened as he neared the camp, huffing up to stand in the ring of light produced by the fire. He stood on the beach-flank of Courcy, raising a brow as he looked to the Boy.
"... What's this then?" He mumbled, to himself and Tilly.
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Post by black379 on Mar 22, 2018 19:41:41 GMT -8
She was worried at first, as the boy handled his hilt. Courcy was too weary to fight anymore. When he approached and knelt before her, her brows furrowed and she looked about curiously for a moment.
"I err..." The hellion wasn't quite sure how to respond and cleared her throat. She rigidly extended her arm to raise the boy's chin, his bowing made her uncomfortably proud. She didn't know what she could do for the squire, as his 'martial trainer', yet she was eager to befriend him all the same.
"You'll need a name."
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Post by Vanitypirate on Mar 22, 2018 21:00:54 GMT -8
Tilly shrugged; her thoughts were foggy, there was no imminent danger, it seemed. So her mind wandered and she lost focus.
Whatever was happening, she could find out more in the morning.
"Dunno." She said simply, with another yawn. She eyed the other two for another brief moment before planting a brief goodnight-kiss on Lekalis's cheek, and then parting from him.
She'd stumble off wordlessly to go sit against some tree, pushing down her hat over her eyes to blot out the fading sunlight and the light rain. In another short moment, she'd removed Beansprout from her hat and planted him in the soil beside her, and circled her arms around her torso contentedly, feeling the front of her shirt, and then the sides of her jacket, brushing fingers up against her pockets.
She had discovered an obscene amount of treasure among the flotsam. Enough, even, to make her feel more secure for a short time until she remembered that this would be her very last expedition for the foreseeable future.
This made her feel significantly less secure, and she felt a pang of worry and panic rise in her chest.
And then she fell asleep.
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