Citrine
Approved
6 Wild Blooded Sorcerer+ 1 Celestial Warlock
Posts: 328
|
Post by Citrine on Mar 4, 2019 20:23:45 GMT
"…Cit-" She'd started to say, dumbfoundedly staring at Orin as she confirmed just like she'd known deep down in her soul that she was indeed Orin. The scene of commotion around then was paid no head by the phoenix, but seemed to be important to the elf as she put a mask of elven attitude over her. If she'd been in a better mood Citrine would have rolled her eyes and ragged on Orin for behaving so Holly like… but now wasn't the time.
Snow and mist was what rested in her wing hold, the red and gold fluttering and shaking as the spell residue drifted over them. The excitement that Orin could misty step did nothing to change Citrine's demure. Deflating, her wings slumped to the group as Orin left her. Turning she watched as she turned away, fumblingly standing there, with her cat in her arms, as Thea made it.
"She doesn't remember me." No accent, no thrill, no emotion whatsoever in her voice. As she spoke the reality out loud the color began to seep from her feathers - the red changing to brown, orange to khaki, and yellow to cream, now a perfect mimic of the color pattern of an osprey. The smells faded too, as if the thing that made her wings tick were no longer present.
The cat clambered up from her arms, scratching Citrine's skin near the collarbones as she purred and pushed her hair out of the way so she could stretch her long feline body across her shoulders like a scarf, purring, and cleaning a paw as if nothing earth shattering had happened.
"It's like she'd never seen me before. At all. Or met me." Dejected and utterly confused, Citrine kept her eyes trained like a hunting dog on the retreating elf. Clenching her jaw the phoenix turned osprey clamped down on saying anything else. If she did? She doubted she'd be able to say anything without starting to tear up. Orin kept walking away further, Citrine standing there with Thea. "I don't understand." Sure enough, Citrine sounded like her throat had gotten swollen and raspy, her quiet whisper words enough to set off tears falling down her cheeks.
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 4, 2019 20:32:04 GMT
The answer was – not what Thea expected, not remotely. It was Orin; it seemed Citrine was sure about that. Thea shot another glance at the back of the retreating blonde, who seemed to be walking away without even a backwards look. She… didn’t remember Citrine? Did dimension-hopping scramble one’s brain? Did memories – reset, after a hundred years, leaving a blank slate? Thea didn’t understand it, couldn’t understand it.
But she understood that Citrine was… changing, like the fire was draining out of her, even as the cat licked unconcernedly at its paw. Careful not to bump it, Thea wrapped her arms around Citrine, squeezing her close with a hug that she had no expectations Citrine would return. Orin had forgotten her? From the way Citrine spoke about her – about them – it wasn’t possible. It wasn’t possible.
“Perhaps she – hit her head?” Thea offered, tentatively. “I – I know sometimes people can lose their memories that way, or through a spell, I…” Her voice trailed off. No words would make a different now; Citrine’s tears were sparking a heaviness in Thea’s chest as well, although the genasi didn’t cry (Thea was pretty sure she’d used up her allotment of tears already this spring).
“… Did she say… anything?” Thea asked, tentatively. In truth, she didn’t know what to say. She wanted to encourage Citrine, to pledge that they’d force Orin to remember, but – was such a thing even possible? What if, somehow, it was Orin but… not Citrine’s Orin? What if there was nothing to bring back? Thea felt cold and miserable at the thought; just the way Citrine had spoken of Orin had helped her believe in love again, just a little, and… it was miserable to think of that love being broken.
|
|
Citrine
Approved
6 Wild Blooded Sorcerer+ 1 Celestial Warlock
Posts: 328
|
Post by Citrine on Mar 4, 2019 20:51:17 GMT
The confusion and depressing thought swirled in her head, beginning to spark a storm within the redhead. Quicker and quicker her breathing increased, hyperventilating, as reality started to shatter and break around her. Reasons and excuses began to flood her head - the logical Holly side of her head trying to get ahold of, and salvage, this situation. But Citrine had never been logical. She didn't think things through, or listen to reason. She was a small 4 foot and change being of emotional explosion.
Spells…. Yes. Thea was right. There were spells that could take away memory. Traumatic events could block memories, as she herself had once experienced. Injuries too, though with modern spell healing that wasn't anything that held high on Citrine's radar of reasons. "No… just she was going back to the temple." Whatever or where ever the hell that was. She didn't move within the hug, staying still, yet stiff, in the genasi's arms.
The emotion inside Citrine was growing even more now, her answers back to Thea becoming more terse and enunciated. Then the anger started to settle in, it igniting over through the stillness of her pain, discomfort, confusion, and despair. It was an anger that sprang from bitter pain, loss, and a refusal to accept the reality around you as truth. A cover for the soul-splitting wrenching in her heart. Kree-whistling sharply she shoved Thea away, feathers in her hair bristling like the hackles of a dog as she turned and jumped harshly into the air, hovering up off the ground to look over the crowd like a looming angel of death.
Being able to spot the tall eladrin from here once more Citrine pitch whistled again, echoing all around the streets of the Castle Ward and drawing even more attention to the commotion that she (again) completely ignored. 'Hey you~!' the whistle seemed to say. 'Don’t you turn your back on me~!' Still though Orin kept walking, and Citrine, wiping the tears from her eyes, bird hissed and nearly pulled out her own braid as she reached for the copper wire in her hair.
"Corrina Ellethwen Izuki." She message spelled to her Neach-Gaoil, staring at her from her vantage point only a foot or so above the general head height of the public. "Your name is Corrina Ellethwen Izuki, and I am Citrine Rain Redbriar. You somehow don't remember me, but I fucking remember you, and I am not letting you walk away from me like this." There was anger in her mental words, yes, but deeper too through the mental message was a feeling of anguish and loss, but a determination that would not be disappearing anytime soon. It was sheer dumb stubbornness. It was dedication and a refusal to take this twist of fate sitting down. It was pure Redbriar.
|
|
|
Post by Ossular on Mar 4, 2019 21:15:43 GMT
Orin had been walking down the street. Granted, she didn't have a cat anymore, but she still pondered over her thoughts, trying to put it behind her as she was doing physically. When Citrine's Message spell came through, she was no more than sixty feet away, but it was the contents of the message that had come in. Corrina.Ellethwen. Izuki. The eladrin stopped on a dime, even mid stride with her foot raised off of the ground. Even in the weight of everything she was carrying and wearing, she paused, obediently. There was only one other person that knew of her full name, and that was the Winter Lady, her matron, her Lady of Air and Darkness. The presence of sunlight started to illuminate stronger around Orin, and her hair looked as if it were on fire with the way that it carried all around her. Slowly, the eladrin now turned back toward Citrine, a look of disbelief, confusion, and in some lights (like the one she was enveloped in?), rage. "What did you just call me?" Orin responded, both audibly and through the message. She took a step back toward Citrine, then another as she hurriedly made her way back in Citrine's direction. "What was th- how- how do you know that name?!" As she moved back, in her left hand, a rapier of frost and snow appeared, though sheathed. Even angry, she was well aware of the rules in Waterdeep and wouldn't be getting a fine for brandishing a weapon in public unless it was absolutely worth the gold dragons. Still, it was a chilled presence despite the ambient heat that was coming from the Summer-aligned eladrin, a strange coagulation of scents and energies that emanated from her. "How do you know that name?!" Orin repeated with a wicked growl in her voice, completely uncharacteristic of an average elf. "Who gave you that name? Who sent you here? Did SHE send you?" It had been the most venom that she had ever alluded to Lady Susan with, and even has the scar above her heart hurt and she couldn't quite place the feeling. Even a foot above the general populace around them still put Citrine just over Orin, but the eladrin didn't care at the moment. "Tell me. Now." Orin demanded, her eyes narrow, her lips pressed flat.
|
|
Citrine
Approved
6 Wild Blooded Sorcerer+ 1 Celestial Warlock
Posts: 328
|
Post by Citrine on Mar 4, 2019 21:43:25 GMT
Even though her feathers were still without their fire, Citrine's demure was one of cocky pride, glad to have somehow provoked such a reaction out of Orin. At the mental and verbal response? She kree-whistled back, drawing the taunt out, to ensure the eladrin didn't decide to stop her march back over. Heart racing, a sort of tunnel vision keeping Orin in her sights, and a pulse that threatened to cause her to pass out if she gave her health any thought Citrine kept a hover in order to match as close as possible eye-to-eye height.
Flaring her nose and grinning her teeth, the adrenaline fueling the glint in her eyes, Citrine paid no heed to the rapier that appeared in the other's hand. There was no fear, she doubted the blonde could even reach her here worse case scenario. Just in case she rose another few feet…
"Aye've knaen tha' name fer o'er ah'undred years, Captain." She grinned, extraordinary pleased that Orin was paying her attention, any attention at all, even if it was coming from a place of well-matched anger and demands upon her person. It was something. And that's all that mattered right now. After so long of not seeing her, speaking with her, hearing her voice - this was paradise.
"Ye gave et tae me." She taunted, accent flooding back into her voice as the anger knocked the sadness out of her being. No one but the owner of that name would have responded like this, guaranteeing now without a doubt this was her Orin. "An' 'Olly sent me 'ere, the naggin bookworm, because some'ow she figured out ye'd be 'ere, instead o' anywhere en Golarian." She dragged out her responses - answering too quickly would just mean she would turn around and walk away again. And she doubted Orin would react as strongly to anything else she might say to her.
"Sae unless teh 'She' ye mention es 'Olly Aye've nae idea what ye're talkin' about." She dropped some height then, floating herself a bit closer to Orin to close the gap between them, unable to stay too far away, like a moth to flame. This hot-heat of anger was getting close to the heat of passion though Citrine kept her hands and wings to herself, even as she longed to wrap around the elf and pop them both away from the public eye. The demand from her lips struck her through her spine, just as it had that day in the shambling mound garden and Orin had pulled out the fire in her wings.
"Anythin' else ye wish tae demand o' me, Neach-Gaoil?" Even a bit closer now Citrine skirted the edge of how close was too close, the osprey nearly nose to nose with a chaotic grin on her face and features. She was enjoying the tit-for-tat! From her shoulders Khalessi mearowed, looking at Orin, and flicked her tail lazily to cross over Citrine's neck, somehow, looking smug as shit.
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 4, 2019 22:05:57 GMT
Citrine was still and uncomfortable against her for a long few moments. Thea gave her another squeeze. “It’ll be okay, Rain,” Thea promised, softly. She wasn’t sure how; she wasn’t sure if Citrine was even listening. But, like the phoenix-woman had done for her so many times, Thea did her best to provide a soft, comforting flow of words. “We’ll figure it out. She’ll remember you – I don’t think anyone could forget you. Somehow, I’m sure we’ll be able to figure it out.”
Thea didn’t think Citrine heard a word she said. She shoved at Thea; Thea let go and stepped back, leaving Citrine space for her bristling feathers and the spread of her wings as Citrine launched herself into the air. A piercing whistle cut through the air, then another, and Thea winced, ears ringing. She could tell Citrine was playing with her braid, was saying – something.
Whatever it was had an instant effect. Orin spun, almost rushing back towards them, an angry, intense look on her face. Despite everything going on, Thea couldn’t help the tiny smile that flickered across her face – trust Citrine to pick a woman willing to challenge her on… er, whatever she had said. A blade appeared in Orin’s hand, sheathed, and Thea eyed it nervously, still not entirely over having been stabbed herself, recently; a sharp pain throbbed in her side at the reminder. She took another half step back, leaving the two to it, cognizant of the energy that crackled between them like a storm.
Who was… she? Thea glanced at Citrine, wondering at her answer to Orin’s demanding question. Citrine looked like herself again, Thea was pleased to note, angry instead of sad; it was a much more natural state for the sorcerer, and Thea was glad she had that fire to draw on once more. It didn’t seem like Citrine knew the answer any better than Orin did, but Thea was thoroughly grateful that they were talking – or at least shouting – it seemed infinitely better than Orin walking away in angry silence. The cat thought so too, based on what seemed like a subtly smug paw-lick. Somehow, Thea had the feeling that the cat understood what was happening better than anyone else; that, or it just didn't care, oddly comfortable on Citrine's shoulders in mid-air.
All the same, Thea kept a wary eye on Orin’s blade.
|
|
|
Post by Ossular on Mar 4, 2019 22:51:15 GMT
Orin's lips remained flat and pressed, her eyes focused on Citrine as the winged woman spoke. Known the name for over one hundred years? Orin had given her name to this woman? Citrine? At the mention of Holly, though, Orin finally took a quick breath. She nervously ground her lips back and forth, taking another breath through her nose as her grip on the rapier slowly slackened though her stance didn't change.
"No... it's not the same she," Orin would speak, looking away from Citrine to look back at the air genasi that was also here for a moment, then take a look around. The people that were around them were watching the commotion happen, including several guards that had come closer to the confrontation. Orin closed her eyes as Citrine closed in, taking a calming breath before releasing the blade at her side. Before it even touched the ground, it faded into non-existence with a crackle of power and a flash of snow on the warm spring afternoon.
"But-" Orin opened her eyes, focusing back on the dull phoenix woman- "you did say Holly. That is a name I recognize." The proximity of the phoenix was awkward, but Orin didn't back down. She had stood nose to nose with entities that were a lot more powerful, angry, and she was still here. Lessi let loose a sassy meow, but Orin didn't look back to the cat, staying innately focused on Citrine instead, unblinking, even as her scar hurt. A hand came up to adjust her armored leather jacket under the old khaki robes.
Still, though, this could have all been a trick. All of this could have been, right? Her heart thumped as if Lady Susan held the dagger nearby, and Orin's posture was one of attention, despite the stand-off that was happening. The smugness of the phoenix didn't do her any favors in Orin's gaze, but the eladrin didn't feel like continuing to press Citrine in public. "I have to get back to the temple," Orin told Citrine, bluntly. "If you want, you can walk with me... or stop by later. So we can speak away from prying eyes and ears?" the eladrin would offer. "But if I'm any later than I already will be, the high cleric is going to make me work late. Again-" implying that it had happened often- "Or I could meet you in whichever tavern you're probably staying in after I get out?" She knew of Holly, and that was enough to go off of for now, despite the possibility that this was all an elaborate trick at the hands of Lady Susan- another mercenary to dispatch or problem to ignore, or even another person from her past bent on revenge because of something that Orin herself had done in service to the Winter Lady.
But with all of the others... it didn't feel-
"I need to start walking, though, whatever your decision is." She ignored her own thoughts at the moment before taking a step back and turning on heel, starting her walk down the street once again.
|
|
Citrine
Approved
6 Wild Blooded Sorcerer+ 1 Celestial Warlock
Posts: 328
|
Post by Citrine on Mar 4, 2019 23:31:07 GMT
"Ye recognize 'Olly an' nae't me?" She said in the most aghast and dramatic way possible, anger still tinging the edge though it was fading bit by bit with each sentence Orin' spoke. She was talking with her Beloved, and that was all she needed. But seriously… she remembered Holly! It was a personal insult, one Citrine would never let the eladrin forget once she no longer forgot everything.
She thought of it in terms of 'when' not 'if'. She wouldn't make a mockery of their history together by saying 'if'. Things more potent than memory loss hadn't managed to keep them apart before.
The realization of Orin heading back to the temple started to creep into her awareness, paired with the brown robes. "Ye work at the temple?" She quizzed, losing a few more feet of height before giving up on hovering to land with a quiet scratch of claws on stone. "What en teh world would ye work at teh temple?" She questioned that out loud, though more to herself than anything else.
Desperately she wanted to walk with Orin, more than anything. But she'd promised the afternoon to Thea. Plus, it seemed her Luv wasn't free anytime soon. Frustrated, she skree-huffed and looked from one woman to the other, Orin and Thea. Thea, who she hadn't realized had worked her way over here, looking uneasy as if not sure how to react to this scene. Well, her and she both, by the Goddess.
The blonde began to walk away, but Citrine stayed rooted to the spot. The spike of energy she'd gotten from her aggression was fizzling, leaving her feeling exhausted and unsure.
"Teh fook do Aye dae nae Thea?" She asked, though she stared after the retreating Orin. Hands wove into her hair, or would have, had the soft warm pelt of her familiar not interrupted their route. Hybrid taloned fingers clenched the fur, her nose wrinkling as a second wave of anger was directed towards a second living creature. Her mage hand appeared, grabbing the cat by the scruff, and hulling it out from under her hair.
"And YE! Ye damned moogie!" She swore at the feline, who was limp in the grip of the mage hand just as a kitten would. "Es tha' who ye've been with? Why ye 'aven't shown up! Aye thought ye were ah gonner, ye stupid, flea crusted, eejit o' a --" She cut herself off though, as more emotion came up as she spoke, translating as tears on her face. First Orin then Khalessi. Tail twitching she brought her wings up, still as brown and dull as an ospreys, and made a tent around herself to hide her face. Still no scents came off the feathers. From within the tent of feathers Citrine hugged her cat close, shoving her nose in her fur and inhaling, deeply. There was a smell of Orin there, at the very edge. She had indeed been with her Captain.
Looking up from her moogie Citrine saw Thea walk and crouch into the little tent of feathers she'd made, and sniffled - all anger gone how to be replaced with shock and numbness. "Aye dunno what tae do Lass. She's 'ere… an' et's 'er. But… she… she… she's nae fully 'erself."
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 5, 2019 0:00:55 GMT
The tension de-escalated, a little, with the mention of Holly – Citrine’s sister. How could Orin remember Holly and not Citrine? Thea felt a tickle of unease at the back of her mind; this sounded like some very strange amnesia, if indeed that’s what it was. A spell? Thea shivered a little. There were plenty of sorcerers – Citrine was one – with the ability to mess with one’s mind. It was a type of magic Thea had no interest in; she was happy enough just trying to keep track of her own mind, let alone playing with anyone else’s.
Thea expected Citrine to rush after Orin; the fact that she didn’t told Thea something about how frightened, how unsure she was. Citrine hadn’t even told Orin where to find her! She swore at the cat instead, then closed her wings over her head like a blanket.
Thea squeezed her eyes shut, and made her decision. She wouldn't just sit by and let Citrine let Orin walk away; she was sure her friend would regret it forever, if she didn't take this chance. Thea dashed forward, boots thudding against the walk’s heavy stones, with just enough speed to catch the elf, and hopefully so much that Thea would frighten her. “Citrine’s staying at the Mariners’ Hall,” Thea told Orin, looking up at the taller woman, eyes searching for something Thea couldn't explain. “Come at sunset – she’ll be there. Please.”
Thea made her way back to Citrine, crouching down and pushing her way through Citrine’s feathers. Citrine was sniffling into her cat, shocked and numbed and red-eyes. She knelt on the cobblestones, wrapping one arm around her friend and carefully hugging her, trying hard not to squish the cat; she seemed remarkably well-behaved, but Thea still didn’t want to tempt fate.
“You are going to come with me and have some lunch,” Thea said, seriously. “Then, you’re going to relax, maybe have a bath, maybe a shot of whiskey - whatever you need. Tonight, at sunset, Orin will meet you at the Mariners’ Hall,” Thea leaned in and kissed Citrine’s cheek, comfortingly. “Whatever’s going on, Rain, it’s Orin. She’s in there – all of her. I saw some of her today,” Thea grinned a little, “and she’s pretty magnificent. You’ll get her back, even if it means winning her again. Of that, I have no doubt.”
|
|
Citrine
Approved
6 Wild Blooded Sorcerer+ 1 Celestial Warlock
Posts: 328
|
Post by Citrine on Mar 5, 2019 0:19:30 GMT
Sniffling again, leaning fully into Thea for a physical closeness that she yearned for in times of distress. Khalessi, having reached her limit of being squished today, squeezed out of between the two of the two woman as if made of goo and landed silently on the ground. Rubbing against both woman, making a circle around then, the cat mearowed again, then stepped out from underneath Citrine's wings and went on her merry way.
Looking up as Thea went on about the new plan of action today she shakily inhaled, and nodded. A plan, there was a plan now. "Aye." She stated, though perhaps a little less jovial than she would have normally agreed. "Et's 'er alright." She grinned even as the corners trembled lightly. "Staring down ah angry firebird like me? Et's part o' why Aye love 'er." Her voice hitched only once. "Magnificent, like ye say." She drifted off a bit, mind almost becoming lost in the mental escalation of what would happen tonight.
Winning her back.
Yes.
That was it.
"Ye're right Lass." This is why she made intelligent friends, the phoenix preened in the back of her head. She'd be lost without them. "Aye'll just 'ave tae win 'er back. Make 'er remember. She's there somewhere… an' Aye'm nae living centuries more without 'er!" Bolstered, but not enough to let go of her friend (whom she'd practically climbed into her kneeling lap seat to hug like a child hugged a parent before being picked up) Citrine snuggled her face into Thea's chest and just - breathed.
The question though that she was too afraid to say out loud?
What if she wasn't enough anymore?
What then?
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 5, 2019 0:36:34 GMT
Citrine was cuddling against her, her wings fully encircling the both of them. “Who could resist your charms?” Thea teased. “You’ll have her in your arms again before long,” she gave Citrine another squeeze, just holding her close for a few long more moments, Thea’s own eyes half-closing. She herself had only stood and watched, but Thea still felt oddly drained, as if she’d shared in the intense emotions felt by Citrine and Orin.
A few more moments passed, the two women kneeling together on the ground. Thea kept one hand on Citrine’s back, sliding it slowly up and down between her wings, feeling Citrine tremble. “Before you know it,” Thea murmured, “it’ll be just like old times. Better, even. You’ll see, Rain.”
There was, however, only so long Thea felt like they could just kneel there, Citrine curled against her. She unfolded, gently, half straightening to Citrine was forced to climb off her lap. “Come on, then,” Thea gave Citrine a last hug, and gently pushed back a little, putting some gentle pressure against Citrine’s wings to try and pry them open. “Step one is food.”
Citrine seemed half-dazed, and Thea found herself with a hand on the firebird’s elbow, guiding her down the street. She found an inn before long, settled them at a table. Citrine was just sort of… staring, off into the distance, so Thea ordered for them both – fish stew, with a heavy bread and plum cider (non-alcoholic; probably not Citrine’s first choice, but Thea figured her friend didn’t need to start drinking yet).
The food came, and Thea reached forward, placing a spoon into Citrine’s hand. “Go on, eat,” Thea said, encouragingly. “At least a few bites. It looks good!” It did, too; the soup was a heavy orange-yellow broth, with chunks of fish, shrimp and clams swirled together, cooked with peppers, onions and tomatoes, with thyme and parsley swirling through, with just a faint smell of garlic and saffron wafting from the bowl. Each of them had also been given a chunk of light, airy bread, the sort found in the castle ward rather than the heavy brown bread of the dock ward.
|
|
Citrine
Approved
6 Wild Blooded Sorcerer+ 1 Celestial Warlock
Posts: 328
|
Post by Citrine on Mar 5, 2019 1:13:32 GMT
There was a debating going on inside Citrine's head as Thea guided the bird to a place suitable for lunch.
I told you. I told you from the start. Go to Waterdeep. Go to the Castle Ward. Go to the temples. But did you listen? No. Of course not. 'Olly You just couldn't stand the thought of going near the temple. Because where there's temples there's books. 'Olly And, by Mephistopheles, you just couldn't stomach the thought of going near books. 'Olly, please…
And so the sibling argument cycled, Citrine surrounding herself with the chaos of imagining she was talking to Holly all while Thea acted as her eyes and feet.
It wasn't until the spoon was put in her hand that she was drawn into the land of reality from her illusionary world. "Oh… aye." She said, a bit dazed, trying to focus on the task at hand. Eating. The first taste of the spiced stew brought the firebird's mind the rest of the way into the present. "Oh, et es quite grand." Well spiced dishes like this were rare in the Dock Ward, though she'd been expanding her tastes to become more elevated since moving into the Mariners' Hall. At sea she surprisingly, or, perhaps not as surprising, they had a wide range of food that was possible, from biscuits and cut-ale to marvelously seasoned fish - spices being a prime trade good. Holy luck it was her ship came across such well stocked cargo bays?
The redhead focused on eating, using bread and utensil in equal measure to eat the stew. Eating meant she didn't have to talk. But soon enough the bowl was empty.
"Aye'll 'ave tae get Lessi tae lead me tae which temple she's stayin' at." She finally started speaking, not realizing that Thea had already set up a date between the two. "Rascal's been with 'er teh entire time! Eejit moogie." She cursed the cat, but in a much more endearing sort of way then the scolding from earlier. "Wonder ef tha's why she 'asn't come when called." Musing, Citrine rolled her head slowly from shoulder to shoulder, feeling tense and stressed even after eating.
A server came to clear her dish and refill her juice (non-acholic she'd noticed immediately… arse…) and once he left? Her head then thumped down to rest, forehead first, on the tabletop. "Somethin's 'appened tae her, this last century. Aye daen't even knae 'ow she's here!" She exclaimed into the table. "Et doesn't make sense. "Last Aye knae we were leaving therapy island… an' Aye was standin' on teh deck of Mani's ship ready tae hand et over along with teh Mantle o' Harold and… and… nae one would tell me what'd 'appened tae Orin." Despite the months of sharing stories, histories, and secrets Citrine had barely mentioned the time immediately surrounding the moment of time when her and Orin were split apart, leaving it vague or simply waving it off.
"What ef makin' o' tryin' tae get 'er tae remember hurts her more than helps?"
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 5, 2019 1:35:19 GMT
The stew was actually excellent; Thea had felt a bit nauseous herself, the lingering effects of the heavy emotional charge in the air, but at the first bite her hunger re-awakened. She ate as silently as Citrine, happy for a little respite herself, soaking up the fragrant, spiced broth with the bread, and nibbling her way through the fish and shellfish.
Thea was still eating when Citrine spoke again, and she set her spoon down, patting her mouth clean and taking a little sip of the cider, which fizzed pleasant and sweet in her mouth.
“Or you could just ask Orin,” Thea said, grinning at Citrine, unable to help a little amusement at how out of it her typically sharp friend was. “When she comes to the Mariners’ Hall at sunset.”
Thea quieted when Citrine spoke again, her hands playing with the cloth napkin in her lower, folding little pleats in it then smoothing it out. “You don’t know where she was?” Thea asked, hesitant. “I thought -“ she hesitated, not quite sure what she had thought. They had been apart for over a century, yes. Holly had cast a spell to transport Citrine to Orin, but it had taken her here instead.
Thea exhaled a little. “I think it’s not an all or nothing decision,” she said, seriously. “I don’t know what’s... wrong with her, exactly, but it doesn’t seem as if it will be easy to fix. Maybe start by getting to know her as she is now? Let her set the pace on asking questions.” Thea was sure Orin would have a thousand questions for Citrine. Whether she would ask them? She thought of the proud, strong, stoic woman, and doubted a little. But, if anyone was good at drawing you out, it was Citrine. “At least for tonight,” Thea added.
|
|
Citrine
Approved
6 Wild Blooded Sorcerer+ 1 Celestial Warlock
Posts: 328
|
Post by Citrine on Mar 7, 2019 15:51:27 GMT
"Nae, never heard what 'appened tae her, o' where she went, or stayed, while Aye was servin on teh seas." The mute colored firebird said, muffled from her face in the table. It was depressing, the thoughts running through her head. A Holly sized list of potential what ifs, scenarios, and whatnot filled her head. What if. What if. What if. It was maddening. Her fingers clenched lightly as it made her remember another time, long ago, where she wasn't sure of anything. She hated being unsure. It's not what or who she was. She was always sure of herself! She made a decision and stuck to it - for better or worse.
But seeing not even a flicker or any sort of remembrance in her eyes? It lead Citrine to a world of doubt. The only thing preventing her from assuming even more of an absolute worse was that somehow she'd known of Holly. Had Holly done something? That… fucking… bit~
She refocused on Thea, lifting her head up and whistled dejectedly. It was a good idea, letting Orin set the pace. Getting to re-know Orin. It would be like trying to woo her all over again! Not a bad thing, she'd done a right grand job of it the first time around if she said so herself. But the worry was there.
"What ef Aye'm nae someone she'd even be pinin' fer anymore though?" Her voice was quiet, too quiet for the normally larger than life firebird. "What ef she's seein' someone else right nae!" The idea hit her, sending an uncertain twinge through her spine. "What ef whatever has taken 'er memories, took what she saw en me? Aye'm ah right pain en teh arse - daen't say Aye'm nae, Lass, Aye knae et just as much as anyone who's met me. Aye get carried away tae much. What ef tha' pushes her away?"
The worry was spreading, but still, no scents came from her brown, tan, and cream wings. Fingers dove through her mane of hair as she massaged at her temples. "Aye should see about findin' out which temple she's at. Aye daen't want tae nae show up tanight an' make 'er think this was all ah passin' joke o' something."
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 16:03:52 GMT
Thea winced slightly, more at the utter despair in Citrine’s posture than the actual admission that her friend knew – well – nothing about what the last hundred years had been like for her lover. Less than nothing. Would Orin even remember? If she remembered Holly, but not Citrine… how was that even possible?
“Hey,” Thea’s voice sharpened a little. “If she’s seeing someone else, you’ll win her back.” Thea promised. “If – if whatever took her memories took the part of that made her the one for you, then you’ll find that part, and you’ll drag it back.” Thea slapped the flat of one hand against the table, gently, but with enough noise to at least be heard by Citrine.
“And yeah, you are a pain in the – um,” Thea would have giggled if the situation wasn’t so intense; she settled instead for clearing her throat. “But those of us who love you? We love you for it, not in spite of it. Even if, maybe, it takes us a little while to come around.” It wasn’t, really, very long ago that Thea had refused to talk to Citrine for several weeks. Not long as in – er – days ago. Thea didn’t think about that.
“She’ll come tonight,” Thea promised. “I saw it on her face. Trust me, Rain, she – she wants to know too.”
|
|