|
|
Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 1, 2023 13:23:27 GMT -5
It was mid-afternoon along the sea-side of Kaladesh when Sae and Taliesin had finished their appraisal of ships, crews, and Captains. Taliesin opted for a path that continued along the waters edge, looking out across the open water and sky.There were any number of things that he wanted to say or do, but he remained silent for the moment.
He had forced himself to be accustomed to not speaking with Sae unless there was a guided purpose regarding the group as a whole. That was the only way he allowed himself to speak with her without breaking the agreement with Felix. After all, it had to be Sae's choice to broach any other subject.
His body language did not suggest that he was deliberately being cold or avoidant. Though it could easily be read as lost in thought.
|
|
|
|
Post by redcoat on Oct 2, 2023 18:53:23 GMT -5
"Well, at least we're near the water." Sae said, tilting her head back. "I'm not looking forward to going inland again, on a ship or not."
|
|
|
|
Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 2, 2023 19:06:00 GMT -5
Taliesin slowed his walking pace and looked over to Sae, then back to the water. "There are worse things than going inland." He said softly. There was a brief pause before he piped up with a lighthearted tone. "It isn't caves, a mine shaft, or strange tunnels from weird bug like critters."
He let himself look back to Sae for a reaction or response. He was in no rush to repeat errors so he simply let the ball lay in her court.
|
|
|
|
Post by redcoat on Oct 2, 2023 19:08:16 GMT -5
Sae chuckled. "Truer words never spoken. I'd even take your forest with your giant dive-bombing cow-beetles over being in that mineshaft again. Gods above I hope the next god we kill prefers being above ground."
|
|
|
|
Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 2, 2023 19:15:23 GMT -5
Taliesin chuckled and shook his head. "The next two Gods are likely to be well above ground ... well, maybe at least the first." He shrugged. "Unless Kyr has a network of tunnels that Kilamo decided she wants to dwell in rather than be out and about."
"It's not like the Taurus beetles are a pest or creepy crawly. They're just ... flying oxen ... that are quite loud when flying."
|
|
|
|
Post by redcoat on Oct 4, 2023 16:42:39 GMT -5
"They make up for being creepy and crawly by being all together too big- though I do appreciate that they aren't sneaky at the same time."
|
|
|
|
Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 4, 2023 18:35:35 GMT -5
Taliesin opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it and simply gave a light snort.
"Give me a Taurus Beetle over a Bullette or tainted Kurnothi any day." He added in a lighthearted tone.
|
|
|
|
Post by redcoat on Oct 7, 2023 14:57:38 GMT -5
"Ugh, fair. I can logically admit that the Taurus beetle is probably not trying to kill me. Probably." Sae admitted, looking out to the ocean.
"How are you doing, Tali?"
|
|
|
|
Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 7, 2023 15:40:26 GMT -5
Taliesin had a smirk peek at the corner of his lips. He looked out at the sea and the horizon beyond. Her question landed, and he managed to hold back what his initial response would have been.
He looked away from the sea and off in the general direction where they entreated with Aurelius Cayne. While looking inward to the city he answered. "I'm doing better." He offered as he looked back towards Sae. "Still reconciling our choices against the driving force of nearly 11 years of my life and the additional knowledge we now have."
He shrugged his shoulders the slightest bit. "And you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by redcoat on Oct 7, 2023 16:11:45 GMT -5
"I know you want to kill him. But the enemy of my enemy is my... distrusted ally, I suppose." Sae said, looking out to the ocean.
"I'll be alright. The early parts of taking the Vale hit me hard, and I'm not sure I won't have nightmares about it... but we are doing good."
|
|
|
|
Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 7, 2023 16:18:52 GMT -5
Taliesin sighed at Sae's statement regarding Cayne, but he avoided talking back about that. "Which parts? The tunnels within Ferrovax's lair? The mines?" He waited for her response. He knew what he expected to be the answer, but with things changing he wasn't certain.
|
|
|
|
Post by redcoat on Oct 8, 2023 8:50:29 GMT -5
"The 'executing unarmed prisoners'." She said, a bit flatly as she looked out to the ocean in front of them. "I'm happy to kill people in battle. But after they've surrendered is something else completely."
|
|
|
|
Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 8, 2023 10:01:54 GMT -5
Taliesin nodded in understanding. He didn't talk about it, but his similar choice in the Underdark weighed on him as well.
As they had stopped moving he shifted his position and simply looked out over the ocean as well. He spoke flatly in kind, reciting words that he knew Sae understood. "The first duty of a soldier as a prisoner of war is to escape. The second duty is to reunite with your nearest forces to disseminate information." The words were meant as a means to reconcile the choice, though he knew she had already accepted those words and still found the act horrible.
He moved a little closer and leaned over enough to give her shoulder a gentle bump with his arm. "The Refuge and all there are safer for your choice." He had other words in mind, but they didn't feel helpful.
|
|
|
|
Post by redcoat on Oct 8, 2023 18:59:21 GMT -5
"Logically, strategically I know that. And in the future... I'll do a better job of planning on people surrendering. Still a sore spot though."
|
|
|
|
Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 9, 2023 9:55:52 GMT -5
Taliesin nodded again. He let silence fall for a moment to let things sit. The sound of the waves lightly crashing taking the air along with the other sounds of industry nearby.
"I wanted to wield the bracers." He finally said softly, breaking the silence, before leaving a small gap again.
"Though I think that you should instead." He focused his eyes far out on the horizon. "There would be some poetic justice in me wielding them, but with your position and how often the enemy focus fires on you ... " he trailed off leaving room for her to respond.
|
|
