004 // the house of sin

[serpentis]

Who: Dorian and assorted guests
Broadcast: Fleet-wide, 3/10
Action: In a villa practically in the forest (THE HOUSE OF SIN)
When: Broadcast- 3/10 // Action- 3/9-3/31? Until we leave.

Broadcast:

[The broadcast goes out on 3/10, and Dorian smirks a bit into the feed.]

I believe I've secured lodging for myself, with room enough for several others. If you need a place to stay, do let me know. It's a quaint little villa a bit outside of town. ...please don't mind the suspicious glances, I assure you, I've done nothing entirely against the guidelines that were set.

---------

Action:

[Dorian has secured a villa, but the residents of Mor don't seem too keen on having an evil mage for a neighbor. As the month goes on, more and more villagers will show up to stand at the gates of the villa and threaten to come in after the "evil wizard".

Maybe he shouldn't have gone so overboard with the whole "contacting the spirits of the dead" thing.]

((OOC: Mingle post for the House of Sin. We'll pretend there are enough rooms in here for everyone! Even if you character only drops by to rest their feet a bit, everyone is welcome to visit and stay the night if they want.))

Comments

[dawnwillcome]

[As if he wasn't already terribly charming, now he has to go and add that.]

How terribly dastardly. Did the gallant knight at least get his payback?

[serves]

[Cullen has to look elsewhere, although his lips curve into a faint smile.]

I can't say. His shoes may have been cleverly hidden when he went to sleep, but I haven't the faintest idea of who would do that.

[And then he slept with them on for a month. Because Cullen threw them into a tree.]

[dawnwillcome]

I'm sure we'll never know. A mystery for the ages. Now then, come with me.

[As nice as it had been to walk side by side with him, now Jove reaches for his hand and starts to tug him out into the forest proper. She picks out a careful path, keeping his feet on nothing but soft grass.]

Would you like to see that grove? It's not far.

[serves]

[He'd been so careful not to tug her, but he'll gladly be tugged along.]

I would.

[He'd go anywhere she wanted.]

[dawnwillcome]

[With only the moon to light her path, the going isn't as quick as it could be if it were day and she weren't leading someone along who was much larger than she is. It's a light jog so he won't stumble, her hand tight around his so he'll know she won't let him get lost.

She'd been doing this on her own, running through the woods wherever her heart felt like taking her, almost since her feet had touched the ground of this planet. The homesickness was nearly gone after the first few days, but now? She hasn't been this happy since her arrival on the Marsiva.

True to her word it doesn't take them long to reach their destination, a small clearing with thick grass to make for excellent padding under bedrolls, the sound of running water indicating the stream is nearby. The moon lights up the grove well enough and when Jove stops and turns to smile at Cullen, it lights up the bright smile on her face.]

See? Isn't it lovely?

[serves]

[It's certainly lovely. But Cullen is more focused on her than their surroundings.

Carefully, lightly, his hand comes up to touch her cheek.]

It is.

[dawnwillcome]

[It's easy enough to blame the flush on her cheeks to the run through the woods, but there really is no explaining away how caught up Jove feels in the simplicity of his bare hand on her cheek. As far as she's concerned, this is a first. On the rare occasions Cullen had ever touched her, there had always been gloves on his hands.

She laughs, breathless, and ducks her head.]

I'm glad we agree on that, then.

[serves]

[His touch his gentle despite the callouses on his hand from years of training. Even with gloves, the skin there suffered.

He's feeling much better.]

Thank you.

[dawnwillcome]

[That catches her by surprise, has her looking up at him again.]

For what?

[serves]

For making sure I was alright.

[He doesn't like her seeing him like that, frightened and vulnerable and frustrated with himself, but he's not ungrateful. Knowing that she cares enough, even if it's a thing he's dealt with for a long time--it's something.]

[dawnwillcome]

[And that is a bit upsetting. She frowns faintly, lifting her hand to cover his.]

You shouldn't have to thank someone for doing the decent thing. I just hope you'll go on letting me keep an eye on you.

[serves]

[It's not that simple and he's a man that gives thanks where it's due. He's always careful with his touch, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable, and that's how he brings her hand to his lip to place the briefest of kisses against her knuckles.]

If you insist, Jove. But this is a thing I've endured for many years. They come and go.

[The withdrawal is worse, he thinks, but he'll do everything he can to keep his trembling hands hidden, when it does occur.]

[dawnwillcome]

[She must be red all the way to the tips of her ears by now, but oh well. The gesture isn't unwelcome and if it helps him it's something she has no problem allowing.

He really is just like a knight out of those stories Cassandra is so fond of. Gallant, painfully sweet, the type any young woman could easily fall in love with.]

That may be so, but that doesn't mean you've got to endure it alone. You've got Dorian and I, and there are a number of people here who are good people. You can always turn to us if you need help.

[But more importantly, because they're alone in the woods and he's just kissed her hand and it's impossible to ignore this,]

Let me help you where I can, Cullen. You deserve a good night's rest as much as any other man. More, perhaps.

[serves]

[If she's turned any colors, he doesn't draw attention to it. All he does is lower her hand, slowly letting it fall from his grasp, fingertips brushing over hers.]

I'll try. [That's really the best he can offer. It's hard to let people in, especially when you're not quite sure where you stand with them.]

[dawnwillcome]

[That will have to be good enough for now.]

Do you want to walk a little farther? There's a path down to the stream and the rocks there are perfectly safe for both our feet.

[serves]

I'd like to, yes. [He's not quite ready to go back and leave this moment in the past.]

You're not tired?

[dawnwillcome]

[She reclaims his hand then, leading him towards the path.]

Haven't you heard? Elves get energy from the moon the same way flowers get energy from the sunlight.

[serves]

[His fingers entwine with hers, a little more confidently this time, a little more comfortable.]

Is that so? Was that supposed to be a well-kept secret?

[dawnwillcome]

One of our biggest. You should consider yourself blessed to know such deep, dark secrets.

[She's hoping this distracts him from his nightmares, from darker thoughts. Act silly, hold his hand, give him better things to think of. True to her word, it's only a few feet before she's bringing him right to the edge of the stream, the sound of water soothing as it runs placidly on by.]

It's too shallow for swimming, but it might let out into something deeper.

[serves]

[He chuckles. Elves are very much mysterious to him, especially ones like Jove. But he finds that he likes it. He likes the teasing, likes the little glimpses into her mind.]

Do you know how to swim?

[dawnwillcome]

[Well. Now this is a little awkward.]

Ah... no, actually. My clan mostly traveled through the plains, the deepest water I ever came across only came up to my waist and even then there were better things for me to be learning than how to swim.

[How to control her magic, for example. The stories and the histories of her people, medicine, which herbs did what, all those practical things a Keeper would need to know in an instant.]

It can't be hard, though, can it?

[serves]

If you're not afraid of the water, no. Most people are so afraid of drowning that they never give it an honest try. My siblings and I picked it up as children without anyone giving proper instruction.

[Just keep him off boats and ships please.]

[dawnwillcome]

[Letting go of his hand, she jumps into the stream and causes only the smallest of splashes. Her nightdress is short enough the hem is in no danger of getting wet and her feet are bare anyway, so why not?

The water is a bit cold for her taste, but it only comes up to her ankles this close to the edge.]

I'd never really considered it before, if I'm honest. It's just water, I don't see what's so frightening about it.

[serves]

[He almost reaches after her to pull her back onto dry land, but the water is shallow and she doesn't seem intent on going far. He can relax.]

It's the depths that scare people. It is a little unnerving, not being able to see the bottom or what might be down there.

[dawnwillcome]

[Well that gets her attention very quickly.]

What do you mean, what might be down there?

[She's picturing aquatic dragons now.]