Don't Dance Til You Drop
Log Info
- Title: Don't Dance Til You Drop
- Emitter: Aelwyn
- Place: Alexandria Temple District
- Summary: Eztli goes looking for Aelwyn to make sure he is okay after his recent misadventure at the circus.
Early in the morning, the Temple District
Amidst all the people, headed for their destinations and duties of choice, a curious sight beheld those who wandered in the Temple District today. A ring of clay pots has been settled near one of the more quieter sections of the district. A lone cloaked figure was slowly walking within the circle, holding a bladed spear in his hand. Rhythmically, he swung the polearm up and down, occasionally tapping one of the clay pots.
The ruddy sith-makar took few glances, but mostly people left the bandaged figure alone. With all that was going on in the City, a few clay pots and a bit of a beat was not the most exciting sight.
Eztli was off on the Alexandrian streets a bit earlier than usual, which was not often the case. The small makari even got around to the temple districts, and managed to find where Aelwyn was practicing, given the fact that he was not in the hospital like he most likely should be.
The small sorceress was looking more than a bit singed, but they take a wander up to where Aelwyn was putting on a show. "Hey Aelwyn, how're you feeling today? Have you had a chance to get anything to eat?" They ask curiously.
Aelwyn turns his head when he is addressed; he still had a bandage around his face and his usual red ribbons were gone. In fact, most of his usual shine and lustre were gone. He looked like the autumn was on its last breaths. "Ah, ah." He takes a moment, before he bows his head. "Eztli."
The steady clicking of his polearm continues; just tapping at the rims of the clay pots. It is curious he always seems to manage find those, despite the circumstances. "No, this one has not." He says, then looks at the shorter makari. "How are her scales?"
"Yes, that's me. Eztli, in the flesh." The small makari huffs, crossing their arms. "You should have something to eat, you're not going to heal up proper if you don't get some food and rest."
"I'm fine, just a few burns, but nothing time won't heal." The slightly singed sorceress shrugs. Thankfully their robes were more soot stained than actually damaged. "And, you? How are you holding up? You look like you need a good bit of polishing, to be completely honest."
Click. Click. Clack. "Tch, this one was told not to bath. Or use scale polish." The not-so-ruddy sith-makar spreads his free hand towards the side. Most of his chest and abdomen were wrapped in bandages. "What can this one do?" He flashes his teeth. There's a low rumble in his chest, "One is always so concerned, it is quite warming in this weather."
Clack. Click. Click. Clack. "The scales will grow back, this one was told. The burns will eventually fade away." Clack. Clack. Aelwyn turns around the circle, keeping the steady beat going; his tail making a motion as he sways. "She did a brave thing. This one is grateful."
Click. Click.
"Well, that makes sense then. You need to rest, I'm sure you'll look just fine when you have some time to pass." The small makari, nods, pausing and giving another huff. "Of course I'm concerned! You were so excited to go out and take part in that celebration, and you were chained by devils, and well, I'm not entirely sure what was going on, but well, all of that."
"I didn't really do much to be completely honest, everyone else did." Eztli sighs. "Harkashan was the one who was actually able to save this Jacob person at the end of it all."
Click. Aelwyn turns his head and flashes his teeth at. "This one thought they did not look familiar of the Troupe." He rumbles in amusement. "Hard times when one must solicit the demons to fill the crew?" He asks, giving another grin. "Wish they had told this one beforehand. It is hard to improvise on a show like that."
There is a slow, methodical roll of his shoulders and finally, a shake of his head. The ruddy sith-makar stops his clay clicking and walks closer towards Eztli, looking at her. Then, without more than a warning, he attempts to give her a hug.
"Aelwyn, that's well, I guess things weren't how you expected them to be, I'm sorry." Eztli attempts to apologize, only to be blindsided by a hug. The sorceress huffs, and hugs Aelwyn close.
"I know it's not something you really want to joke about, and you hide a lot of things behind joking." They sigh. "I'm just sorry about all that Aelwyn, and I know it was a lot. Enough for you to put self preservation to the side, after all."
Aelwyn remains quiet for a moment. "This one's Brother. That is who he was." He explains to her. "My gratitude for what she did. There was no need for her."
The Dragoon slowly straightens away. "And she does apologize a lot for things." He rumbles in amusement, flashing a teasing grin at her. "Perhaps she should try occasionally blaming others?"
"Your brother? That's really, shit, I didn't know that, Aelwyn." Eztli admits with another sigh. The straightening dragoon just gets pulled into another hug. "Of course there was a need for me, my friend was in trouble." They answer with another huff.
"I'm not just apologizing for myself, I'm saying that I understand what you went through, and that's making me feel worse." Eztli admits. "And what good would blaming others do in this situation?"
Aelwyn doesn't resist the new hug, just lets Eztli pull him into it. There's a click of his tongue. "This one hopes she would not understand. But sometimes the flow of the path is the way it flows." He wraps his arm more tightly around her.
At her question though, there's a light rumble. "Ah, if nothing else, eases one's heartbeat for a moment?" He offers, flicking his tail behind him. "Hmmh." He lets out after a moment. "You did hear him."
"It's certainly something to hope for, isn't it? But, no. I understand a lot of things Aelwyn, because my life hasn't been the best at a lot of times." Eztli chuckles sadly. "But hey, it lets me empathize, too. I've lost a lot of family, and while I haven't met any again, I can understand how that might feel."
"Course Aelwyn, I figured you were more ill at ease than you're letting on. You have a habit of that." Eztli points out, hugging Aelwyn a bit tighter. "Only bits and pieces, but you were shouting an awful lot, and everyone was focused on keeping the both of you safe, after all."
"Tch, this one's an open book at worst of times," Aelwyn protests with a tilt of his head and an audible click of his tongue. "That is what Ribbon insinuates, after all." He pats her on the back. "This one is sorry for her family." He takes in a deep breath. "Though in this one's case, this one had hoped he would not have met them again."
Momentarily contemplating trying to slide away from her hug, Aelwyn shrugs his shoulders and just hugs her back a little tighter. "Remember the settlement of orcs and the wights? It was the first guild mission this one took." He flashes his teeth. "She was so loud. Tch, how can this one be ill with someone like that around?"
"You claim that, but I'm really not sure how much of an open book you are, Aelwyn." Eztli huffs once. "You keep a lot of your feelings to yourself, you don't talk much about your past, and it's hard to get a straight answer out of you sometimes on some of the most inconsequential things."
"... Yeah, of course I remember that, I wasn't here very long. I was really frustrated, it reminded me so much of stubborn people back home who didn't realize the threat they were dealing with. And those people are all dead, maybe even the wights that were attacking that place."
"This one didn't speak of this one's past since..." Aelwyn starts, then pauses. "Less this spoke, less there was to say." And at the rest, he flashes his teeth. "This one does not keep one's feelings to himself - if nothing but. Down to the last hour at the TarRaCe." He slowly moves to part from her, trying to move her to sit instead. "Some families are not as open to discussion as others, Spellreader."
At her words, Aelwyn tilts his head curiously. "Her place was attacked by the wights?" He lets out a click of his teeth. "Tch. This one had no idea."
"And yet, I can't really trust you when you say that, Aelwyn." Eztli sighs, taking a seat down next to the dragoon and shaking her head. "Just getting you to admit you couldn't write was difficult."
"But, I won't pry, even if it seems there's a lot to talk about there. Like, if you never wanted to see him again, why did you agree to do a performance there again?"
"My place was attacked by more than just wights Aelwyn, they're a small part of everything that happened. I lived in Dragonier Aelwyn, and that place is inhospitable and filled with undead now, almost in it's entirety." She answers with another sigh. "Not to mention the giant undead dragon that seems to be in control of everything there."
"... ah." Aelwyn lets out then. He wraps his arm around Eztli's shoulders. "I am not aware of everything that happened, but my condolences." He bows his head; which may look a little stranger now without his usual cascade of red ribbons. "World is not a gentle thing, is it?"
Sliding away from her, the once ruddy sith-makar moves a hand over his bandages. Adjusting them in place. "Why shouldn't this one?" He glances at her, flashing his teeth. "Once more, onto the stage. It is intoxicating poison." He takes in a deep breath, looking away again. "And they already knew where I was."
Then back at her. "This one _knew_ how to write! Not just... the way she does. Or reads."
"No, it's not great sometimes, but that doesn't mean I can't stop enjoying life where I can, I realize now. I can't focus all on everything lost."
"Well, you just said you hoped not to see them again. But you were willing to go back and perform. It's something you missed though, right? And, what now? I don't know what happened to them after the fact, or what you want to do about them."
"Just like that." Eztli huffs, poking the dragoon on the snout. "You say that, but you danced around admitting that almost as well as you actually dance, Aelwyn."
Aelwyn's nostrils flare at the boop, and he makes a bit of a face. "Hrrmh. Is it dancing if it is true?" The draconian protests. "This one understands his writing just fine." Some of the time. The Dragoon pats Eztli's shoulder then.
"Then she should understand why this one performed anyway. What is there left to regret, if this one takes one last dance?" The ruddy sith-makar flashes his teeth, though it starts to fade away at her question. "... this one will find out. What happened, that is."
The grin returns onto his snout. "The dance is quite something to see, is it not?" His tail flicks. "These streets never quite had the same power."
"Yes, that is still dancing around the subject. But besides the point, I'm just happy you were willing to learn."
Eztli shakes her head, and sighs. "I understand, even if I don't like it. But I don't agree with that." The small makari pouts. "If you say there's nothing left to regret, then what? Do I, Slix, all your friends in Alexandria mean absolutely nothing?" She asks, fixing the dragoon with a stare. "It was a beatiful dance, even if it only took several years to actually see it. But I don't know if I'd want to if it meant you possibly dying again."
Aelwyn grits his teeth, before he levels a stare at Eztli. "That is a hurtful thing to say." The draconian points out. "There was very little else I could have done, now that they were here." He gestures towards the sea. "Except to leave again, without saying a word, so I cannot be followed."
There's a roll of his shoulders and he looks away. "The baths of TarRaCe are warm and the season is cold." He pauses and then flashes his teeth at. "So why would this one let only his friends have that?"
"And it's hurtful to say that there's nothing to regret if you die doing that." Eztli huffs. "Let us know? I wasn't expecting anything to happen, but maybe I could do more if you let us know. I wasn't going to that performance assuming that my friend thought they could die doing it."
"The baths are quite nice, yes. Maybe I should go there."
"... I was not expecting that to happen." Aelwyn says, then turns to look away. "For it to be more subtle." He stares at his hands for a time. "Not but everyone in danger." He lets out a long sigh, then. "Yes, in the end, I danced with regret still."
The Dragoon picks up his glaive and starts to get up onto his feet; letting out a grunt. "This one hopes her wounds heal quick." He bows his head again. "My gratitude, again."
"I don't think you were, but I wasn't expecting anything. So if there was danger, I'd like to help, you know." Eztli sighs. "Because I care if you're in danger Aelwyn, since you're my friend."
"I'm sure they will, I'm not really concerned about a few burns on my part." They shrug. "You're welcome, but please, take care of yourself Aelwyn, and get something to eat."
Aelwyn looks at her, then gives a bit of a grin. "This one should have. Sorry." He bows his head. "And thank you." He stretches the glaive across his shoulders, pinning his cape in place.
"This one will see if they still have some of that bread. It was very good the last time this one had it." He replies to her, waving his tail. Then with a bow of his head, he starts to leave. "Tell Sharkie I won't be coming for the shifts for a while!"