|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
Apr 30, 2010 15:36:11 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Apr 30, 2010 15:36:11 GMT -5
Kvothe knew that by this point, he really shouldn't have been surprised by Alindra. After all, the woman had, time and time again, caught Kvothe off guard throughout the course of the day. When she stated that her lightsaber was indeed still functioning, he'd expected her to give him the go ahead to sink his blade into the dragon's neck, with the hope that their concerted strikes would end the life of the creature quickly, and as painlessly as possible.
That, however, was not at all what happened.
Instead, she struck, sinking her saber into the thick neck of the once-mighty Kell dragon, and a howl that--to Kvothe's ears--almost sounded more animal than human tore from her throat, matched only the one that came from the fallen beast. Kvothe withdrew his sword and only looked on as the dragon, a victim of Alindra's wrath, died.
Of course, if what she'd done in killing the dragon surprised Kvothe, what she did next disturbed him, to a degree. Kvothe turned and crouched down by the pool of water. He dipped his sword into it, and watched the Kell dragon's dark blood spread out through the water. But sounds coming from Alindra caught his attention and he stood up, leaving his weapon by the water's edge, to see what was going on.
She was eating it. Kvothe's eyebrows shot up at the site, and his words failed him. A tinge of revulsion shot through his stomach, though he forced it down. She offered some of the meat to both him and Fas. "I, uh, think I'll pass, thank you," he said slowly. Fas, on the other hand, looked quizzically at the piece she tossed him for a moment before deciding to take a bite. That bite led to another one, and the flickercat decided to lay down on the ground and go to work on his meat.
Kvothe, for his part, merely watched on quietly as a number of things ran through his head. And, through all of the sudden thoughts and questions that Alindra's sudden display gave rise to, some words that she'd spoken earlier rose to the surface.
"I spent a year living in the wilderness, doing whatever I could to survive. Fighting to stay alive, either to find a meal or to keep from being something else's. Attack. Defend. Fight. Kill. We do what we can to keep going. And if that means you have to tear out a living being's throat using nothing but your teeth, then that's what you do."
Perhaps that's what it is then? He shifted his weight from one leg to another as he watched. The echoes of the instincts that kept her alive in the wilderness? Kvothe knew that, though someone else might label her crazy or something of the sort, he could not judge her, not after what she'd told him of what she'd been through. So instead, he stood there, waiting to see what Alindra would do when she'd had her fill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
Apr 30, 2010 16:18:06 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on Apr 30, 2010 16:18:06 GMT -5
Kvothe had passed on his share of the kill. Alindra didn't know why this mattered so much that her comrades get a share. Perhaps it was pack mentality, but she felt better knowing that she could feed those she stood with, even if she'd only been standing with them a few short hours.
She tore off another strip of muscle, devouring it until it was gone. Another large piece came out of the beast and Alindra ate it carefully, making sure she filled her stomach. She remembered what it was like to not eat for several days in a row, so not taking her fill seemed foolish, a reason to die, not live. Her heart beat at a calm rate, making her feel satisfied with everything that had transpired.
Except, she was keenly aware that she likely looked horrific. Her hands and mouth were definitely saturated with Kell dragon blood. "Sorry," she said, walking over to the pool, hoping to use the water there to wash herself off. At least her face. "I'm sorry if I seemed... uncivilized there. I did what I had to do."
Alindra looked into the pool, seeing that she was on her way to integrating the major parts of herself. She would be able to be both savage and elegant once she started converting others. It would be easy for her to lose herself to the process of guiding others to the Dark Side. It was only the natural order of things that she wanted to help restore. It was her divine mission now. And with her face clean, she accepted it.
"I was wondering," she said, looking at the Kell dragon. "Would that thing's hide make a decent leather armor?"
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
Apr 30, 2010 19:18:08 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Apr 30, 2010 19:18:08 GMT -5
"Don't worry about it," Kvothe said as he kneeled back down near the pool to wash away what blood remained from the surface of his blade. He sighed as he watched the dark, murky cloud expand, both from the point where he'd dipped Orcus into the water and from where Alindra was cleaning her face.
He nodded to himself when he was satisfied that the sword was properly clean, and stood. He took the hanging end of the dark green sash that was wrapped around his waist and wiped the dark metal to dry it before sticking the sword back through the sash behind his back.
He turned to see Fas was finished with his portion as well, and was drinking from the pool. The Mythos flowed into him for a moment, and a gently current of air brought his staff to him from where he'd dropped it on the floor. Alindra spoke again as it came into his hand. Kvothe pondered her question in silence for a little while.
"Perhaps." He took a few measured steps toward the corpse, avoiding looking at the front of it, which was an absolute wreck. "A good set of armor's a good thing to have," he said as his mind went for a moment to his own red and gold armor, which was stowed away on the Masada for the time being. The staff reached out, and Kvothe prodded the creature's hide in various places, using the single blade at the bottom of his weapon to get a feel for things. "It might provide some protection against a blade, depending on the quality of the weapon and how strong the wielder is. There's also the consideration of what type of hit you take--I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a thrust in this thing's skin, but it might stop a cut or two, and some glancing blows. I can't say for ranged weapons fire. Lightsabers are obviously out of the question. You could certainly do better, but it would be better than nothing.
"Of course, you'd have to find someone to skin it and make something out of it for you." Kvothe had been walking in a slow circle around the fallen dragon, prodding it in random places as he went. Now he looked up, bringing his eyes to look at Alindra. "I don't really have any experience with that, though."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 1, 2010 0:28:32 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 1, 2010 0:28:32 GMT -5
"I've got a plan." Alindra went back over to the spot where she'd fed from, seeing the flap of hide she'd lifted earlier. Grabbing it with both hands, she started pulling on it again. The hide was firm and only opened a little. "This is nuts," she said.
Pacing around the beast for a moment, she started to put together a new plan. Something had to be able to make it give way like she knew it could, though if it was easy, it wouldn't really be all that much worth it. Stronger hide meant firmer, tougher armor.
"You know." Alindra tilted her head for a moment and took her lightsaber back out. "I think I could cut off a few patches and take them to a tanner. You want a bit of it too?"
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
May 1, 2010 1:08:31 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on May 1, 2010 1:08:31 GMT -5
Alindra's offer was a tempting one. Most of whatever hide would be able to be taken from the dragon would probably go into making whatever it was Alindra had in mind, but if a little bit could be spared... Perhaps a bracer of some sort to go on his left arm, which, when he was in his armor, was left free to provide mobility. A little extra protection couldn't hurt. Or perhaps he could have some simple thing made, and keep the hide as a memento of his time on Ruusan. I can decide along the way.
"Sure, if you can spare any." Kvothe snorted a laugh to himself at a sudden thought--the thought that, soon, the very creature that, no doubt, had intentions to kill them only a few moments early would provide protection against future enemies. And with that some cosmic circle is now complete, I'm sure.
"I guess we know our next destination, then," he went on idly. "Once you've taken what hide you can, we'll head back up to the surface and go about finding a tanner." Kvothe smiled a bit at a Alindra as memories of their run-in in the bar came back.
"You know, I told you I'd come to this world looking to see if I could find any interesting people. You certainly haven't disappointed." He shook his head lightly and chuckled. "Can't say I expected any of this little misadventure we've been on when I first landed here."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 1, 2010 8:25:27 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 1, 2010 8:25:27 GMT -5
Alindra laughed. "I thought I was going to take a few days off from what I usually do, maybe squeeze in some flying lessons." She popped out her lightsaber blade and started making some cuts. "But this is the most action I've seen in a while."
She didn't add the last part of the statement, the part where she mentions how most people she works with look down at her. Among the Sith, Alindra was less than developed. Her skills lacked training and refinement, so, only through manipulation and cunning could she hope to pick up the skills she actually needed. The Sith did not sell their skills for free or for cheap.
Sparing the blade as much as she could, Alindra still relied on brute strength and strength of will to free the hide from the large beast. For all the ferocity Alindra had shown in recent years, she was sure there had to be something to come from it. Perhaps a tailor-made bit of leather armor was what she needed. Cold didn't bother her like it bothered most women; she had endured worse without a coat to speak of.
But her sister was a different matter. Laira Vordrinn was still young and sheltered, oblivious of the true depth of her heritage. Alindra knew the next time she saw her sister would be difficult. There would only be one edict: conversion. Conversion could bring with it no gifts and little initial joy. Laira would have to earn her training, just as Alindra had earned the makings of her future armor.
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
May 1, 2010 22:27:27 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on May 1, 2010 22:27:27 GMT -5
"I'd thought that coming here would be a break from my usual business as well," Kvothe said as he leaned back against a rocky pillar and watched Alindra do her work. The realization dawned on him that, though he'd told her some things about himself and his past, he'd never really told her what it is that he did. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of if it would be wise to let Alindra know what he did, but the thought that, outside of Aiaru, his title meant little was enough to push him forward.
"I was actually sent away from Aiaru. Back there, I'm what's known as a Sword of Diligence." A smile crossed his face for a moment at the memories of some of the jokes he got from Mythics that belonged to other castes within the order at his title--especially the abbreviation of it. "It's basically a title that means I deal with hunting down those that have betrayed my order. And then I put an end to them. Of course, some of the other Swords take their targets prisoner, but after what I've been through at the hands of the people I hunt..." He shifted his weight and shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, they ought to be happy that all I do is kill them.
"Anyway, my superiors thought the pressure of my work--combined with the conflict with my brother that I've told you of--was getting to me, and sent me away for a while. To get away from the pressure. Away from the fighting. Away from the killing. They claimed it was changing me. Making me colder. Darker." He smiled a joyless smile and laughed a humorless laugh. "Yet here I am, fighting men in the street and that... thing." A gesture toward the fallen dragon was all it took to indicate what it was he was talking about. "It's not so bad though, I suppose. It's different than when you're killing people you grew up with--people you thought to be friends."
Kvothe could feel his mood darkening as he spoke and shook his head, as if to clear the thoughts away. "But enough about that. For now, anyway."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 2, 2010 22:22:28 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 2, 2010 22:22:28 GMT -5
"The question is, are you getting away from fighting, or are you getting away from fighting something in particular." Alindra gave a sharp tug to the Kell dragon's hide, tearing loose a little more of the section she was trying to free. Pausing for a moment, Alindra looked back to Kvothe and said, "Perhaps you tire of fighting someone in particular."
She went back to her task, tearing out pre-cut sections, trying to give a new purpose to the beast who'd sought to make a snack of her, Kvothe, and Fas. That was over now. The dragon would come to serve them, soon enough.
"It's amazing that I've been lucky enough to find someone who has been able to gain his own title, something fierce and strong. That's something worthwhile in its own right."
Alindra gathered together the few sections she'd already loosened before making her way to the opposite side of the Kell dragon to repeat the process.
"You say you feel dark and cold, but I think you're just seeing things the wrong way. I was filled with light and warmth for years until I started to look inside. There are times when I had to reach into darker parts of myself just to keep going. How else was I going to fight back when I was enslaved? The idea is to use those things as tools--and try not to get lost in something you don't want."
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
May 3, 2010 0:20:21 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on May 3, 2010 0:20:21 GMT -5
"Perhaps you tire of fighting someone in particular," Alindra said.
Kvothe looked up at that. His eyes narrowed just a hair, though it wasn't in anger at Alindra. Instead, the image of his brother, smirking as always, flashed through his mind. Kvothe scowled silently at the image as it faded away. Perhaps Alindra had meant Vorian in particular, but then again, his brother was far from the only Unum member that infected Aiaru. Kvothe had dedicated himself to fighting them, and that was something he refused to give up. They'd pay. He'd be sure of it. Even if it cost him his life, he'd be sure of it.
She went on, saying that he should be open to using whatever tools were available to him. Kvothe sighed, knowing what she'd brought up was a question he'd dealt with on his own numerous times. He silently watched her continue to work for a few moments as he gathered his thoughts. The thought of using the darkness within him wasn't a new one to him. In fact, it could be said that a great deal of his drive in the things he did to make himself stronger came from the anger that was almost always burning, deep within the confines of his heart.
"I know. I'm not afraid of reaching into the darker parts of me if I have to, but..." He shook his head frustrated. "I don't want to lose who I am in fighting this fight. The Mythos only knows I've already changed enough since this damn thing started." Kvothe sighed heavily and leaned his head back against the rock of the pillar behind him. His eyes slid closed, but he continued on, though he suddenly sounded very weary. "I'll do whatever I have to do to protect my order, of course, but if I keep digging deeper into the dark I'll end up like my brother." He shifted, bringing his head back down to look at Alindra with eyes that were suddenly a brilliant gold. "And I refuse to do that."
But that thought brought another question Kvothe had struggled with, late at night, when sleep was hard to find: Could he beat his brother without giving himself over in some degree to the dark? He certainly hoped so, as doing so would prove he could best Vorian without having to play the same game as Vorian. But on the other side, if he couldn't how far would he be willing to go? It was a question he'd have to answer at some point, and he wasn't sure if he liked what he thought the answer would be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 3, 2010 23:48:42 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 3, 2010 23:48:42 GMT -5
The color of Kvothe's eyes shifted, turning a brilliant gold. It may have been because of his emotions boiling to the surface, but Alindra was enchanted. Her hand reached out, nearly touching Kvothe's face. She couldn't resist the urge to go forward, to feel his face, to know how warm or cold he was.
She stopped herself. It wasn't the right time. Alindra wanted it to be the right time, needed it to be the right time, but her survival instincts were still flaring from the encounter with the Kell dragon. Though it was pushing her to try and engage Kvothe, she had to finish attending to the patches of dragon hide she was taking off, large sections that could easily be made into something worthwhile.
Alindra's hand pulled away. She'd felt the most open moment of sympathy since she'd left Almania the last time. Since she'd held her sister, Alindra had immersed herself in blood, killed dozens of people, and knowingly--willingly--allowed herself to become a murderous, manipulative harlot. As her hand moved, she felt more naked than she had when she disrobed at the edge of the pool. Her heart was filled with an ache that she didn't understand, and emptiness she'd never known how to fill.
Walking back to her work of loosening the hide pieces, Alindra looked at the cave floor more than anything else. She pulled out the hide with greater ease than she had a few minutes earlier. It was her emotions, blocking out the burning lactic acid, letting her work her muscles harder than she was accustomed.
A single sound came from her mouth when she stepped back to her chore. At the softest edge of all volume, she said, "'M sorry."
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
May 4, 2010 0:52:38 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on May 4, 2010 0:52:38 GMT -5
Kvothe's eyes widened in surprise when Alindra moved toward him, hand reaching out toward his face. He thought, for those few fleeting moments, that the woman take his face in her hand, though why, or what she intended to do, he hadn't a clue. To his surprise, he didn't shy or shrink away, no that he really had anywhere to go, leaning against the stone as he was. Perhaps it was because it came so quickly, so suddenly, that he hadn't the time to react. Or maybe it was another part of him, the part deep within that was ruled by primal urges--the part that wanted Alindra to touch him, wanted to feel the touch of her hand against his skin. I don't even know her that well, another part of his mind whispered. I've only known her for a few hours. What right do I have to want such things?
But those warring forces within him fought for naught, because Alindra brought her hand to stop before her fingers could brush against Kvothe cheek. For a moment, they just hovered there, barely more than an inch away from him. A number of colors seeped into his gold irises--threads of purple, and a hint of a very pale blue, with some specks of green--reflections of the maelstrom of emotions that roared within Kvothe.
She pulled away, though, and Kvothe released a breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He realized how quiet things had grown within the cavern for those few fleeting heartbeats. Kvothe turned his gaze away from Alindra, and looked to Fas, who was sitting on his haunches, head just barely tilted to the side. He smiled just a little bit at the feeling of curiosity that drifted through their bond and turned to watch Alindra as she continued to go about removing the hide from the Kell dragon.
"No, you don't have to apologize," he said after taking a few moments to find words to say. "It's no worry." His eyes, which were mostly green, with some lingering touches of the fading gold and other colors, took in the dragon's corpse. Alindra had done well, and, from the looks of things, not much remained to be taken from the creature.
"So, uh," he started, unsure of what to say next, "need any help?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 4, 2010 20:29:15 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 4, 2010 20:29:15 GMT -5
It was an impossible feeling. Alindra couldn't believe it, that she, the evolved, emerging Sith could actually feel embarrassed. There were things running around inside her, things that any creature would have felt upon puberty sooner or later. Servant girls and slave dancers aren't considered people, and thus, she'd never really had a chance to be around any teenage boys when she was growing up. Among the Sith, Alindra had a few encounters with men, but it was more a function of training, so she kept those thoughts distant from her mind and biology.
Dealing with Kvothe was a different matter. Alindra had met him in a social setting. She'd enlisted his aid as a flight instructor, trading that knowledge for the story of her past--just the parts about her enslavement and some of her time in the wild. Showing off to him, feeling the endorphin rush after a battle, combining those with basic attraction, changed Alindra into something she'd never been before: a confused young woman.
"If you could find a box that would hold all these, that would be great." Alindra had finished stacking the sections of hide, but still felt bloody residue on her hands. Her heart had been constantly beating faster for a few minutes, enough where she could feel the blush in her cheeks.
But she had no girlfriends to ask for advice. She had no transmitter capable of calling across systems to speak to her mother or to her sister. Laira would have helped her, advised her to the best of her ability, but that was an impossible avenue. Alindra was a wanderer, isolated and alone.
Glancing to the side, she looked at Fas and laughed to herself. A thought crossed her mind. Fas, if I thought you could help me, I'd ask.
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
May 4, 2010 22:25:25 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on May 4, 2010 22:25:25 GMT -5
Alindra was not the only stuck in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. No, though he stood as he had been for the past few minutes, leaning against the pillar, Kvothe's mind continued to spin as it tried to wrap itself around what just happened. Kvothe was no stranger to such urges, such emotions. There were females aplenty in the Tower, and he'd gone through the same things in puberty that every other boy did. But it wasn't something he'd ever put much focus on. He was a warrior, the defender of the ideals of his order and the hand that carried out its judgment. Between his duties and his near-constant training to push himself up to his brother's level, he'd not had the time to let his mind drift to such things.
However, now Kvothe was away from both of those things, and his mind wandered. And, as it wandered, Kvothe found himself feeling woefully unprepared to deal with the situation. Physical exertion, he could deal with, with his body that'd been strengthened and honed through his years of training. Combat didn't faze him, as he could defend himself with or without his armor, and even then, he could always rely on the Mythos, as it was always there for him. But how could he deal with the urges that arose? These wants he had little such little experience with? Perhaps the answer to that question was something he'd have to find out on his own, as time went on.
Maybe she did that on purpose, he thought with an amused sniff, thinking back to the question she posed when she was going about redressing after their visions. After all, surely Alindra had more experience with these things than he, right? Perhaps it was a tease, or some kind of joke.
He let his wondering fade into silence when Alindra spoke. "There are a few boxes back on the Masada. I could go one and bring it back here. Or we could both carry what you've got here and just box it up when we get back to the ship." He fell silent for a moment. "Whatever you think will work best."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 5, 2010 0:59:24 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 5, 2010 0:59:24 GMT -5
"Let's carry it all out and box it up there." Alindra gave another look around the cave and realized there wasn't anything else she needed. It hurt a bit, carrying all the hide out of the cave. It was a long trek and Alindra didn't have much she could say about it.
All she could do was look on the opposite side of the stack of hide, watching Kvothe as they carried the fresh flesh out into the light. Alindra was becoming more and more fond of Kvothe's face, the way his red hair framed his face. She even started to think that his scar seemed endearing and attractive, rather than a pox on his looks. Strong and tall, Kvothe was handsome and Alindra knew it. She smirked without realizing it. Her heart wanted to beat for someone and Kvothe seemed a fine choice.
When they came close to the light, Alindra got a clearer view of Kvothe. Neither of them were concealed by shadows and darkness any longer. Winds from the coastline pushed the scent of Kvothe toward Alindra. She felt the thought of his closeness and decided she wanted it, wanted it enough to pursue Kvothe if necessary. Should it be brief, it would have at least happened.
Alindra gave a knowing smile, waiting to know which way they would have to go to load a box full of hide.
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
May 5, 2010 14:00:43 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on May 5, 2010 14:00:43 GMT -5
Well here you are, Kvothe, he mused silently as he went about taking up whatever bits of hide Alindra couldn't carry in his free hand. You came here looking for something interesting, and now you've found it. He looked at Alindra and small smile touched the corners of his mouth. She could be a wild thing, and unpredictable, but he was growing to like that. And she'd been through some of the same thing he'd been through, with being forced to survive on her own in the wilderness, in a world that cared little for her or her life. What have you gotten yourself into, Kvothe?
A few clicks of his tongue called for Fas to follow Alindra and himself as they left the cavern. The flickercat came after them, bounding ahead and lighting the way with the lights on his tails. As he walked on, he stole glances at Alindra, at the sea green of her eyes, or the honey blonde of her hair. Her form , her face, all of them came together to form something that near-forgotten part of Kvothe realized he wanted. But the other part of Kvothe, the part that wasn't used to those feelings was unsure. What if she didn't want him? What if she refused him out right, or if any advances he made put her off? Perhaps it would be worth it to just try, to see what came of it. After all, surely it would be better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all, right?
Well, he could see how things went later. There wasn't any need to push things right now, right? Maybe it would just be best to ride things out and see where they went for the time being, and if something came of it? Well, that'd be just fine with him.
They continued on in silence, back out they way they'd come in until finally, they exited the cavern once more. Kvothe didn't know how long they'd been inside the cave, but the sun was lower now, and the sky's brilliant oranges and reds flared as that great ball of gases moved on to kiss the horizon. A wind was blowing in from the nearby coast, bringing with it the light smell of salt. It was a beautiful scene, to say the least. He looked at her, and felt his cheeks heating from the smile she gave him. What have you gotten yourself into Kvothe?
"There are some boxes down in the storage level," he said, walking up the ramp back up into the Masada. He'd lead her to a small staircase within the ship that led to the lower level, where various supplies and things of that nature were kept. And, once there, he found a crate that looked large enough to hold what she'd gathered and nodded in satisfaction. "Here we are," he said, setting what hide he had down on the ground. "This should be able to hold everything."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 6, 2010 3:48:35 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 6, 2010 3:48:35 GMT -5
The daylight had taken on a much warmer tone since they first went into the darkness. Alindra looked at the box Kvothe had brought for her and, pleased with it, said, "Thanks." She loaded the sections of hide one by one.
Fas loyally arrived and Alindra bent down and ran her fingers through the flickercat's fur. But it was not Fas' fur that she wanted to touch. Alindra knew that hair was just another word for fur, the animal in her knew it, just as the dancer, the Sith, and the slave did as well. But the time hadn't quite come, at least not quite yet.
Standing again, she moved to look out at the sun, lower than it had been when she started loading the hide into the box. She approached the side of the Masada, her hand flexed. Alindra knew she was reaching for something, but as her head turned back and saw Kvothe, she knew she was trying to find him. I have to stop this. It's just too much.
Turning to look at Kvothe fully, she said, "Think I can open up the throttle a little bit on the way back? I don't want to leave this stuff just sitting in a box too long. Besides, fresh hide probably means better armor, right?" Her excuses were simple and thin. The truth was she wanted to get back to civilization where she could change clothes. In her heart, just for a little while, she wanted to dress nicer. Just for a while.
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
May 6, 2010 12:14:59 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on May 6, 2010 12:14:59 GMT -5
Kvothe thought about Alindra's question in silence for a moment as he stared out toward the setting sun. Alindra was still very new to piloting, but then again, she'd done well enough on their flight out to the cave. Perhaps it would be good to let the Masada open up a bit for once. It'd been a while since he'd done that anyway...
"I suppose so," he replied with a smile and a nod. "You can start off like you did on the flight out here, but once we get going you can open her up a bit." He shifted his stance, leaning some of his weight onto his staff has he stretched a bit, working a bit of the lingering tension from the encounter in the cave out of his muscles. "I think you flew well enough your first time to be able to go for it."
Green and purple mixed within Kvothe's ever-shifting eyes as he looked at Alindra. The breeze from the sea picked up for a few moments, moving her golden hair about her face, and Kvothe smiled at the sight of it. As he looked at her, he found himself wanting to take her, and hold her slender form in his arms, to let her know of the growing feelings within him, and to hope beyond hope that she felt the same. But again, shyness, or perhaps sense, told him that such wants would have to wait. They still had some things to do.
"Well, let's get going then, eh?" He turned to head back onto the ship. "Hopefully we can make it back to the town before nightfall."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 6, 2010 12:48:52 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 6, 2010 12:48:52 GMT -5
With a bit of excitement, Alindra climbed back into the pilot's seat. There were things she wanted and most of them would be easier to get back in civilization. Having armor prepared, scouting ships for one she could have as her own, and maybe, possibly finding something new to wear, something that might catch Kvothe's eye even more.
Something in her felt powerful. She knew what she wanted, she knew that she'd chosen what was important to her and found a way to taste every bit of it. The galaxy was opening more and more to her, even if she wasn't taking the Masada out into it right away.
Lifting off like before, Alindra kept her eyes sweeping over the controls, reassuring herself that everything was stable and moving properly. Then she sped up, wanting to feel the speed of a ship, which was impossible to do in space.
"You know," Alindra said, her smile crawling over her face. She felt so smooth in the approach she had to her ideas. "You were going to have me tell you more about myself. It's a story I wouldn't mind telling, but I don't think I could stand to do it just sitting in a ship. Would you be interested it--"
Alarms went off and impact explosions began to rock the Masada. Out the front window, the shadow of a small craft could be seen flying over the ship, while another still rang shots off the back of the hull. "What the hell is this?!?" Alindra's rage began to course through her bloodstream, creating an effect that she'd never realized she was capable of. Her irises began to turn yellow, filled with the pure rage of the Dark Side.
|
|
|
|
|
Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
1,102 likes
Friendly neighborhood CEO
|
|
last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
Administrator
|
|
|
May 6, 2010 14:07:13 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on May 6, 2010 14:07:13 GMT -5
Kvothe took up his place in the co-pilot's seat once again after dropping his weapons, along with the two crystals he'd taken from the cave, off in his private quarters in the main level of the ship, down below the bridge. He came in to see Alindra running through all of the preliminary checks before takeoff, and nodded in satisfaction as he strapped himself in. Fas decided to lay down in his usual position near the entrance to the bridge.
The ship lifted off of the ground smoothly, and Alindra turned them off the way they'd come, back toward the town. For a time, everything was going smoothly. It should have been, by all indications, a short relaxing, ride back, with little to worry about. Kvothe went so far as to lean back almost lazily in his chair to enjoy the trip back. He turned an eye to Alindra as she started to speak, and remembered that she had, in fact, not finished telling all of her story. Well, he certainly wouldn't mind hearing some more of it. The sight of something flashing on one of the screens took his attention and his attention drifted away from Alindra as he sat up. Wait, what are those blips on the ra-
The Masada suddenly shook violently as laser fire slammed into it. Kvothe let loose a string of curses in the Rilan tongue as he sat bolt upright, and his hands started to fly over various controls. "We're under attack," he said, though it was clearly stating the obvious. Red and gold flooded into his eyes, chasing away the greens and purples and blues that had been there only a few moments before.
"Climb. Take us up away from the ground so we have more room to maneuver." He glanced over at a Alindra, but what was supposed to be a quick look lingered for a moment when he noted that her eyes were a different color. They'd been green a before. But now they were yellow. How strange. As far as Kvothe knew, she wasn't a Rilan, as he was, but her irises changed none the less. Perhaps it had something to do with the power he felt coursing through her, a power that was, strangely enough, quite dark. But he didn't have time to waste thinking about that, and returned to what he was doing.
"Shields are holding," he said as he looked over the displays. "We haven't taken a hit to the hull yet." As if on cue, the Masada was racked by another hit, and Kvothe swore in Rilan once more. "And I'll be damned if I let them get one in." He stood up from his seat, and ran back to a room behind the staircase that led up to the bridge. Within were controls for the weapons systems, for the two dual laser canons mounted on the vessel's exterior, one on top, with the other on the bottom. Kvothe took control of the top cannon, swinging it around to get try to get a shot at their attackers.
"Alindra," he yelled back up toward the bridge, "try to keep us moving unpredictably! I'll do what I can to take 'em down!" With that, he turned to look out of the sights of the weapon that were displayed before him. Someone was going to die for attack him. And though he had a hunch who the attackers might be as he opened fire on the ship trailing behind them, he knew that when he found out for sure, there would be hell to pay for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 10, 2014 12:08:08 GMT -5
Knight
|
|
|
May 7, 2010 5:20:57 GMT -5
Post by Nightender on May 7, 2010 5:20:57 GMT -5
"We're under attack."
Alindra scowled and asked, "Did the explosions tell you that, or did you feel them through the Mythos?" It was a hard questions, much meaner than Alindra was used to, but she'd been angered in a way she wasn't used to at all.
Other than climbing, Alindra had other ideas. She wanted to move closer to one of the enemy ships, throw open the door, jump the other ship, and carve a hole in it so she could claim it as a prize. But that was just a sign that she didn't know enough about flying. Alindra would tie herself closer to the ground when she needed as much freedom to move as possible.
"Alindra, try to keep us moving unpredictably! I'll do what I can to take 'em down!" With that note in her mind, Alindra calmed and began to grin. Grasping the controls tightly, she made sure she knew where the attitude controls were, as well as the throttle.
"Then hang on." She jerked the controls to turn on a hard upward curve, one that began to veer off to the left of their heading, before twisting on a slight spiral. Alindra figured she didn't know what she was doing and decided to use that to her advantage.
|
|
|
|