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Post by Ancelas on Jun 23, 2022 18:55:43 GMT -5
Tobias' drink and muffin fell from his hands, chai spilling across the floor. His expression was blank, eyes distant and staring at - no, through - 'Si'. It was as though the moment the man had said the name, he had simply... shut down.
It's not possible. She didn't survive, no one did.
We saw her. In the camp, after we killed-
That wasn't her, it was a trick, just like this is a trick. It's her trick, a way of punishing us for leaving.
They don't even know we're here, no one does except for the Ty-
I dropped the hints! You saw him, he didn't so much as flinch when I mentioned the Reach, the Lake-
Would we have? If someone brought that up to us out of the blue, would we have reacted any differently? I would have played it off, you would have-
-protected us, that's what I'm here for! To remember the things that are too painful and protect us from-
-getting hurt, but that's all of our jobs. We just don't want
to be hurt anymore
and this isn't helping, this is
bringing back all the things I've tried not
to think about if she survived
because that would mean
she was alone
like I was alone
but what if it's true?
Seconds after the food had dropped from his grasp, Scion stepped forward and slammed his hands on the table, leaning forward to stare into 'Si's' eyes. As he did, the color seemed to drain out of him, his black hair bleaching to white before his companion's eyes, his skin turning alabaster, his eyes deepening to black. His face was somewhere between Ellie and Tobias, but looked younger, yet his expression still betrayed no clear emotion.
He didn't say anything. His mouth opened but nothing emerged saved for rapid breaths that accompanied the full-blown panic attack that this situation had created.
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Post by redcoat on Jun 23, 2022 19:15:40 GMT -5
"You son of a bitch!" Si said as the form in front of the group quickly shifted from the average brown haired man to something quite changed- her own illusions and form dropping from the shock of Scion's sudden shift. Her own hands slammed on the table as she went- quite literally- head to head with Scion.
She was similar in coloring- pale skin, pale white hair cut short into a pixie cut- longer on the top and shaved under. Her eyes were white- changeling eyes were usually one or the other. She was also small- lithe, and just over five feet.
Si's clothes looked worse, without the illusion magic. A shirt that had once been a uniform shirt- crisp and white- was now a rumpled mess of stains and worn enough that even Porter couldn't press a seam into it. Her pants were similar- once a deep black, now faded into an uneven dark grey with blown out knees and missing pockets. Her boots didn't even match.
"Do you have any idea what you cost me?" She snarled.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jun 23, 2022 19:33:34 GMT -5
Pheuse's eyes went wide at the sudden double shift. He had known about Ellie/Tobias, but this was ... well something. "Um ... I -" He held up his finger and realized he might not be registered.
He climbed onto the table proper and got in the center and spoke softly. "Excuse me ... but you two are drawing undesired attention. Can we take this ... whatever it is ... back to the Cannith Adventuring house? Or maybe hold off on whatever vendetta you have for each other until after we get Brynna out."
(Insight 9)He could sense there was tension but couldn't really figure the source with so little to go off of. And he knew that at least E/T/S was very careful about broadcasting what they were. So much unnecessary sound and flamboyant signaling. This would surely get them permanently banned from Tal Bot's if it continued.
Trying to think quick he eyed Si up and down and quickly spoke. "You clearly don't have the money to get Brynna out, but you seem like you might know where she is." He pointed to Scion. "He's Mr. Moneybags, sent with the coin to get her out and get her transported safely out of town. If your crew was as tight knit around Brynna as it sounded surely you can bury the hatchet at least until she's free." (Persusasion 13)
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Post by resonance on Jun 24, 2022 4:28:59 GMT -5
Neuks lept up and in one swift motion she wrapped an arm around Scion and turned them both around so that her back was facing Si, and Scion was now loosely in her embrace. She whispered to Scion, "I've got you, you're safe," and cast Sanctuary. Little green sparkles trickled down around Scion, and Neuks looked over her shoulder at Si, her face like stone, "if you hurt my friend, I will whittle your bones into toothpicks. Now lower your voice." (Intimidation 8, lol)
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Post by vandalaria on Jun 24, 2022 8:43:29 GMT -5
"..." The realization came too late. The irises of Porter's eyes opened like the lens of a camera, but they were unable to say anything before Tobias stood. Before Si did the same, and shifted to match Scion. "Ah," was all they said at first. Si's change went beyond what they'd anticipated, despite the realization of the illusion. Everyone was on their feet and Porter was, as well, but attempting to exude calm and propriety.
"Mistress Neuks, your desire to protect a friend is admirable, but everyone at this table is safe." It wasn't said without sympathy, and looking Scion and Si they imagined both were in shock? In pain? At least no weapons were drawn, and hopefully it remained that way. "Master Pheuse is correct. Having an opportunity to express this may help, if you wish" -- "if you both wish", Porter corrected quickly. "Surely we could offer more privacy there for you to do so, should you accept the hospitality of our House." Their voice was as calm and evenly modulated as they could make it, but with so little specifics they struggled to find the right tactic to de-escalate the situation (Persuasion 13). Then, on the off chance their main recollection of Brynna would also remind Si of her, they added, "Perhaps it's something we can do to pay it forward," adding a bit of an emphasis the last three words. Porter really hoped this was a recurrent theme of Brynna's, but was guessing at this point.
As they spoke, they continued to glance back and forth between the two, attempting to anticipate an attack -- just in case. If either lashed out, they hoped to raise an arm to stop the blow even if they had to take it themself.
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 24, 2022 10:14:52 GMT -5
Her face... it was the same face from years ago, and it was the same face-
Neuks grabbed him and pulled him away, and Scion didn't react. His breathing grew more labored, his expression one of distant shock. He barely registered being held.
It's her... she's alive... she was alive when...
Interest.
Okay... okay, we can handle this. Just... we need to calm down. Breath. Just breath.
Scion's breathing was still rapid and uneven, and he held his hands to his chest, brow furrowing in concentration. A touch of red entered his white hair, starting at the roots and spreading to the tips.
She's alive...
...We were lied to, we're always lied to...
...breath, just breath, let me take over. I'll get us through this.
But that means
we almost... yeas ago, if I hadn't
breathe, don't remember, don't think, just
breathe.
Just... breathe...
Scion's breathing began to even out, slowly, as pale color returned to his skin, his body changing slowly as he focused his efforts on controlling the panic attack. She did not fight Neuks' hug, but instead leaned into it, the firbolg the only thing keeping her on her feet at the moment.
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Post by redcoat on Jun 24, 2022 10:34:32 GMT -5
Si's eyes flicked at Porter- something in them recognizing the term, and a secondary, harder to read emotion there for a moment before it disappeared, her attention on Neuks, on Scion, on Pheuse.
While Pheuse could feel the charm spell was in place- probably the only thing keeping the changeling woman from laying hands on any weapons- the bounds of 'friendly acquaintance' had been pushed to the breaking point.
"Right. Thank you for breakfast. No, I have no interest in freeing Brynna, you all have fun with that one. She's in the Dreadhold. I also have no interest in going anywhere with you all. Please, enjoy your time here in the frozen asshole of Thrane. I think it's best we part."
Her voice was icy, and she looked over Ellie with a shake of her head.
"Consider this payment for only leaving me for dead, instead of killing me outright. We should not cross paths again."
And with that, she would turn once more into the Brelish Man and head towards the door.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jun 24, 2022 11:16:15 GMT -5
Pheuse watched and listened and was left with more questions than answers. Brynna had for all accounts seemed like a great person. And Si, though she had a rocky start due to Tobias she seemed as honest as anyone. Tobias drama streak, which was uncharacteristic from he knew of them in the trip had certainly triggered something.
This was a member of Brynna's unit, but was not as well off based on clothing. And she knew Tobias. He watched as she got to the door as the Brelish man. (Wisdom save nat 1 for a total of 7)
"Porter ... remember my instructions." And with that he hopped down and dropped Charm Person in order to recast Locate Object on the ring again. From there he wove his way around legs as only something a Gnome's size could to get closer while also being harder to see.
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 24, 2022 11:18:07 GMT -5
((Reaction))"N-no," Ellie gasped, reaching one hand after Si. "Don't.... I'm still.... I'm alive... Scion... I'm alive...!"
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Post by resonance on Jun 24, 2022 11:26:01 GMT -5
As Ellie leaned into Neuks's hug, she had tightened it enough to keep her secure and safe from falling. She didn't let go when Ellie tried to reach out for Si, "no, Ellie, it's okay, we'll figure it out later. We can look for Si later."
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Post by vandalaria on Jun 24, 2022 12:59:56 GMT -5
Porter watched Si as she turned to walk away, considering her expression. Fleeting and unclear as it was, they puzzled on it for a moment until Pheuse interrupted their thoughts. They looked down at him, as serious as Porter has ever looked. "Understood, Master Pheuse. Please do endeavor not to get yourself killed without me."
Porter glances at the clock outside to see the time before turning back to Neuks and Ellie, estimating the amount of time left before the charm dropped. "I'm afraid we must make ready immediately. And do not trust that Si will not be looking for us -- perhaps she is not the traitor Ket mentioned, but I do believe that our knowing who she is puts us all at risk. We should avoid crowds where she might hide." Porter opted for general caution rather than saying Ellie could specifically be a target. "We must take shelter for the moment within our House." Once the charm drops...
Porter said all of this calmly; their voice remained perfectly level. They were instructions delivered without leaving space for questions. Thus delivered, they quickly gathered up their things and expected the others to do the same. Given the nature of their own instructions, the wondered if "I will meet you there" was a prohibition against leaving again once they arrived at their destination. Perhaps Pheuse would be amused by them looking for a loophole. With a sigh, they made like they were retrieving their weapon from the ground and willed it to return to their hand, this time as a smaller messer. Annoyed by its diminution, it complied but it cracked their mask audibly in protest and ruined their attempt to do so subtly. (SoH 5)
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Post by redcoat on Jun 24, 2022 13:39:18 GMT -5
Scion. Alive.
The words stopped Si in her tracks and she turned and looked at the group. Porter was already preparing his weapon, Pheuse was trying to chase her down, and Neuks stood in between the two of them.
Her eyes narrowed.
"I will give you one chance to prove that statement before I gut you like a fish for using that name, and your friends here can watch."
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 24, 2022 13:46:45 GMT -5
Ellie slumped in Neuks' arms, grateful for her support as she let her arm fall. "Eldeen Reaches," she gasped between breaths. "Silver lake. We used to... go swimming there... in the summer."
She swallowed hard, finally forcing her breath into an even rhythm, although it was still a fight to get her hyperventilating under control. The entire situation in the cafe was ridiculous, surreal, and far beyond any measure of control they had - which meant Ellie was the best to handle it, given how relaxed she was about going with the flow of events.
"The tree - th-the diving tree.... big willow, forked branches... nearly broke my arm jumping from it.... never wanted you... to hurt yourself..."
She managed a week smile. "Never... stopped you, though..."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jun 24, 2022 13:56:27 GMT -5
Pheuse stopped in his tracks when Si turned and said her piece. He stayed where he was and made no other movements while Ellie spoke. This was confusing and he could probably wrap his head around it with context clues, but he wasn't going to waste the bandwidth now while he had his spell up.
As Ellie finished he turned to look up at Si and waited to see her reaction. He did have something up his sleeve if it was needed, but he hoped that what was said was what needed to be heard.
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Post by resonance on Jun 24, 2022 14:16:30 GMT -5
Neuks turned enough so that Ellie and Si could see each other without issue, and she craddled her friend closely and gently. Her gaze was still hard as she stared at Si, though, and Chev moved to stand protectively in front of them. He lowered his antlers slightly, but otherwise stood still.
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