Igostrom Proposes

Well, that wasn't quite what Solstice had expected to happen. The encounter's emotional toll on Kara was obvious, which was why she had tried to give her friend a way out, but it seemed that wasn't necessary. Glancing over to Dhaunmyr, she shrugged and stepped aside to give Kara some space; they tried at least, but if Kara had decided not to stall or refuse, that was her right. She nodded to the much shorter human woman, an encouraging smile on her lips. Whatever her friend decided, it would work out as long as it was fully her choice and not one given out of pressure.

She shifted her gaze back to Igostrom, eyebrows raising once again as his mood shifted to a celebratory one and he called out for drinks in that great booming voice of his. The patrons instantly cheered, most probably neither knowing nor caring about the event that prompted this so long as they received a free drink in their hands. Any tension within subsiding as matters had ended peaceably, she grinned at the centaur and nodded her approval. "A fine thing to celebrate, and good on you for including the rest. Now, are we to get proper introductions at last? I'd know the name of my friend's centaur battle-partner."

Dhaunmyr turned around. For Igostrom, he had a look of nothing but malice. “Could you give her a goddamn minute to recover, sir? Like, am I the only one who can see that Kara is not happy? For Eilistraee’s sake...” He shook his head, then returned to Kara. “Hey, sweetie, do you-“

God he hated the noise that voice was.

He knew if he turned to see her, he’d be overwhelmed again. Citrine had no right to be like she was. Perfect but in an imperfect way, everything exactly how it, probably, shouldn’t be. And she was exceptional at getting a rise out of him. But he hadn’t known Kara, then, and, to be honest, he’d done a lot of development and growth since meeting her. He didn’t know, and assumed a negative, if he was helping her at all. But the thought that she enjoyed having him around, presumably more than anyone else she knew, it was delightful. It wasn’t like he was a priestess’s pet, he was Kara’s equal. They respected each other.

Dhaunmyr was Citrine’s equal.

There was a way to treat people. A softer glare was sent her way, as soon as his name was spoken. He wanted to stay with Kara, she deserved it, she needed it, he was devoted to her, but if she sent him away, he had another mouthful for Citrine.

He’d done some soul-searching. And, as it would turn out, he was Dhaunmyr fucking Vivacity, after all. He was the most beautiful person in the room, aside from Kara? He wasn’t sure on that front. Equal. But that phoenix, as captivating as she was, had no right to assume she knew, or had experienced, or was, in any regard, better than him, because, to start, he didn’t comment on people like that. It was one thing to think, another to open an entitled mouth.

She’d won the prize, she was reincarnated, whatever (first off, so were elves), but Dhaunmyr was sure it didn’t ruin her, but just made her far more interesting and captivating, it made her sooo much more of a better person.

At least Dhaunmyr was grounded.

Igostrom was just downing his first ale when he saw the firbolg come up to greet him. He turned to greet her in kind, but then he realized, that ale hit him really hard. See, Igostrom had 3 modes. Normal mode, which is what he was before he started drinking. This mode is usually pretty chill, and just a great guy that people can hang out with (He was just really excited today is all). Then he has Noble mode, where he acts very dignified and refined. This is most of what Ainsley and Kara would know from their first meeting, because he knew Ainsley was royalty. Then he has Soldier mode, where he just has a steely 1000 yard stare, and becomes a stone cold killer. This is mostly what the party who he went with to kill orcs saw. But what no one knew, was that he had a 4th mode, Drunk mode. Drunk mode, well it tended to get him into trouble. And this time, Biggsby wasn't around to bail him out.

"Aye, how ye doin lass? Meh naymes Iogohstrum, whut's yers?"

Solstice stopped short, eyebrows raised at Igostrom's sudden shift in demeanor. She had expected a bit more clarity for at least a while, but then alcohol rarely affected her in the quantities she tended to consume. The firbolg preferred her clarity, especially in a public place...and in private, she now had a reason not to overindulge.

She glanced over to Kara briefly, noting the tension within her friend but uncertain how to best help directly. Perhaps that was best left to Dhaunmyr, who knew her better, while her talent for befriending people could be put to use with Igostrom. The longer she could keep him focused on herself, the more time Kara would have to regain some equilibrium.

"I'm Solstice, a paladin of Mielikki..first and foremost, though I pay homage to Corellon as well. It's a rare sight, to see another of the fey in this mostly-human city. What made you decide on Waterdeep? Tell me more about your decision and I'll tell you of mine."

That they had an audience didn't go unnoticed, and though Solstice didn't know Citrine at all, the woman stood out enough to catch her eye. She winked before turning her gaze back to Igostrom.

Dhaunmyr wanted to know what to do, how to help. Kara looked up at him, then down at the table, at the bloody smear against the wood, thinking it over. It had been a long time since she had felt - so - since Sundabar.

It wasn’t helpful to think of such things.

Kara didn’t know what she needed. Perhaps if they had been in private she would have asked for a hug - perhaps. Such things were still new to the Kara-she-had-become. But she certainly couldn’t ask for that here, nor could she cry. Kara had rediscovered both crying and hugs thanks to Dhaunmyr, and she wasn’t altogether sure she was grateful.

But - maybe - later.

For now she only needed to get to a state where she could make it home. That level of control wasn’t new - it shouldn’t be hard. She didn’t need Dhaunmyr for that, even if she had known what to ask for.

“I just - need to breathe,” Kara looked up at her friend, then back down. She rubbed her thumb along the glaive; it was more than she could manage to close her eyes here, but she focused on long, even breaths, pulling her attention away from Dhaunmyr, away from the fear, away from the moment.

Kara rose again, slowly, after a few moments. She peeled her hand from the glaive, noticing the bloody splotches, and grimaced. Selfish of her to do that. “I’ll be back,” she told Dhaunmyr, and headed to the back to clean the weapon and find bandages for her hands. And if the errand gave her a few extra moments - well - Kara was glad for them.

In the back room, Kara washed her hands clean first, dabbing a little soap into the cuts. Her left had stopped bleeding, but she wrapped a bandage around her right palm, pressing the pad of it into the deeper of the cuts. Next she wiped the blood from her glaive and polished the shaft, bringing the shine back to it.

Kara rested the butt of the glaive on the floor, holding the shaft with her right hand, and rested her forehead against it, just below the blade. She closed her eyes for a long moment.

Was this - what Gigi had meant? Uneasily, as if she could feel it if she tried, Kara probed at her forehead. A bruise on her brain.

With a deep breath, Kara lifted the glaive and carried it back out. Her usual stoic expression was back in place, and she nodded at Dhaunmyr, sitting back down at the table. Her posture was still stiff, but she looked much more herself again.

Kara nodded when Dhaunmyr asked if he could ask her something, and promptly leaned in to meet him, looking up at him. He glanced around and - whispered?

Kara blinked. He wanted her to help him... tell someone something? A brief look of panic flittered over Kara’s face; she couldn’t imagine that was a good idea. Dhaunmyr continued. He only wanted her not to... hit him? Kara frowned. She wouldn’t hit him.

Oh, he wanted to say that they were a... thing? Kara paused, puzzling over the words in her mind. Abruptly she understood, and her eyes widened slightly. She scowled at Dhaunmyr, but - he had asked for her help, and she wouldn’t refuse him.

Kara sighed, rubbing the shaved part of her head, and nodded. “Now?” She asked. If he said yes, she would stand, taking the glaive with her, and follow him as requested.