Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The Eternal Feast (Any and all may join)!

Lief paused, his eye widening slightly as he watched the drink spill. He awkwardly stood there for a moment, deciding it was best not to follow her like a duckling to its parent. The thief didn’t know if she found it bothersome, so he stayed back.

He wondered what had gotten her mood to snap, then, with the negativity drowning him, he realized it could’ve been his fault. Was he asking too many questions? How many times has he apologized in the past ten minutes? Was his fidgeting and witty remarks becoming annoying?

Ember hastily filled up the cup of drink again with more drink, groaning in frustration as it leaked to the ground. Already forgot that it was broke. She tossed it aside with a slight attitude before grabbing a random cup nearby, not bothering to check for foulness, and filled it with the warm clear drink. The woman held the cup with only three fingers now as a precaution to not break it again, spinning on her heel and making her way back to Liefthous.

Ember felt her chest slowly become closer, the temperature rising slightly. Keeping it to herself, the red-head finally looked directly at the man, realizing he had stopped moving.

He was waiting for her, casually glimpsing over his shoulder. As he looked back and spotted Ember, he slowly met her halfway. "Are you alright..?" He blinked, lowering his chin to meet her eyes. "You seem.. frustrated. What happened..?" He spoke quietly, as he was told it usually calmed people quicker than speaking with a risen voice.

Though he was going through the tips he was told as if checking a checklist, he didn’t realize the actual concern in his tone. His eye glistened underneath the shade of his hair as he looked down, the silver lining around the pupil of his emerald eye still faded. He was still exhausted, though he acted as if he were fine.

He brought his focus back to the female, questions ringing throughout his mind.

Ember took a breath in and a shaky breath out- her body buzzing softly and increasing in warmth. "F-f-fi-ine...just o-on edge.", the woman stuttered over her single word reply, hissing and inhaling at the same time so stop herself from shaking all over. She looked up at him with a concentrated but dazed look on her expression. "We ar-e to...go here.", Ember forced out and slowly rounded to his side, butting her head into him gently, since her hands were full with the cup of drink.

She had a slight idea of what it might be but even if she addressed aloud, there was nothing that could be done. The herbs usually used for it were no where near this Hall and it wouldn't heal naturally on it's own. Most would be feeling intense pain from it- but it had been happening for a long time, and her hands have grown numb to the anguish. Plus, she didn't want to upset Liefthous more with something else. Ember will deal with the problem eventually.

He took the cup from her hands, setting it down on a nearby counter. He studied Ember with worry flashing through his thoughts. "You.. You’ve never stuttered before." He stated, confused. "Are you sure you’re alright?"

He brushed back her hair, holding the back of his hand on her forehead. He was probably overstepping boundaries, though he was extremely concerned. He looked around, searching for an empty seat. His eyes landing on one, he grabbed her hand and swiftly pulled her behind as he made his way to the booth.

"You’re burning up. What’s going on?" He took out his own hair-tie, handing it to her. "Pull your hair up, would you..?" Lief gestured to the booth. "Now it’s your turn to take a seat, I believe."

Ember allowed it to happen, too tired from holding back her shaking to used any of her strength to pull back. She semi-crashed, semi-sat in the wooden chair and closed her eyes, her head rushing. Opening one eye she took hold of the string for hair and tiredly put it up with a struggle. The red-head could feel her hands being torn little by little. The grey-eyed woman didn't even feel his hand on her forehead and just sat there, getting hotter by the second. She heard him under water and replied unsteadily. "It is infection...", she slowly brought her hands up, palms to the ceiling, exposing all open scars caused by burning. Red and partly puffing and the other parts...something. "It happens often, for they do not close.", Ember explains with a dull look towards her hands.

((Apologies for the extremely late reply, a few things came up!))

Lief anxiously looked back and forth from the woman and her hands. He opened his mouth to ask questions, but seeing as she looked as if she were struggling to speak, he didn't say anything at the moment. He turned look gaze over his shoulder before turning back.

The feeling of panic was rising in his throat, but he managed to remain easy-going as he observed her hands once more. The thief had absolutely no idea of what to do or how to handle the situation, for he had never dealt with burns. In his hometown, Hellions- or, the creatures such as himself with similar horns and scaly, mid-length tails with a arrow-shaped tip at the end- were common and usually used to aid a blacksmith due to their lack of getting burned or setting aflame to their skin. Of course, Lief had never been burned, and since he came from a family of Hellions, he didn't deal with much burns, either.

Exhaling, he looked down at her. "What can I do to help?"

(( No Worries! ))

Ember took the brief silence of the man to close her eyes again, finding the surrounds too much to take in at the moment, and leaned back slightly in the chair. Perhaps it was a bad idea to try and get as far away as she possible could from her House. This place was unfamiliar to her as is any medical herbs nearby- which she didn't remember seeing too much of anywhere near here. When the white-haired male spoke though she could only pick up a few words clearly while the rest were mumbles.

At the question she shook her head. How would he know of the herbs found in her House? Let alone find anything here to help? He was injured and it would hurt him greatly to even get his way outside- let alone go searching for something he doesn't know and then come back. With her memory hazy and head spinning, the woman latched onto one flash back of Impetus forcing her to hold broken wood and screaming followed. Ember had an idea.

"Li-lieftho-us has a weap-pon...?", Ember asked him scratchily, her throat feeling as if it were closing in on itself.

Lief blinked, taking the small shake of Ember’s head as he couldn’t do anything to help. With a sigh, he waited in the silence. It wasn’t until she spoke that he straightened his posture.

He nodded once and reached for his dagger, drawing it from the loop on his belt. He held the hilt towards her, the blade facing his chest. He was being cautious, wishing for himself to accident be harmed rather than her. He would give her his sword, or perhaps a larger sized knife, but he had given it to Hans earlier that evening in case he needed to defend himself against Erika.

"Why do-" He cit himself off once more, deciding it was best if she didn’t use her vocals. He just had to trust she wouldn’t bring more pain to herself.

Ember had opened her eyes not long after she finished and watched Liefthous pull out his sharp weapon, it's non-sharp end towards her. Going by that and the from what she had gathered in the brief time the two have known each other, the woman had a very strong feeling that is she told him what she was planning- he wouldn't have given his weapon to her in the first place. Guilt was slowly making it's way into her chest as she took the weapon from him.

"Apol-ogies...but it i-is the only wa...way I know from he-re...", Ember excused herself for her next actions. Non-sharp end in one hand, the red-head grabbed the sharp end with her other. Instantly her hand starting burning again and small blue flames rose from under the sharp. It hurt to no end and she doubled over in pain; half-cries carrying out of her.

Before Lief could react and question her words, he watched as she grasped the blade of his dagger. As she called out in agony, Lief could feel the stares and murmurs of the people in the tavern build, though, for once, he didn’t think about the judgmental yet concerned looks.

He was confused and startled and panicked,- which wasn’t unusual, but this time was different. "Why- Why did you-?!" He could barely finish his sentence, his eye wide and glistening with hints of alarm. He reached for the dagger, but winced and pulled his hand back. He didn’t wish to harm her anymore and rise the pain she was already in. "Tell me what to do-" He inhaled, "-and I’ll help you- just- Are you- are you alright?!"

Ember tried to quiet down a bit, not wanting to frighten Liefthous more than she already has, but didn't work out completely. She breathed heavily and could feel a huge headache coming. Eyed shut tightly and arms pulled to her stomach, she let go of the weapon after a few seconds with it landing just on her lap. The hand used to grab said sharp was in a small fist whilst shaking quite a lot. The red-head could hear the man clearly now- the pain sweeping away the clouded thoughts from her mind before.

"D-dr-drin-k...ple-ase...", Ember squeezed out through her teeth, her voice strained and grazed with rush. The burning was being to sizzle down just a bit by then and it turning to a throbbing but deep ache.

Lief immediately recoiled from his stance, swiftly turning on his heels and fetching the cup he had set down not long ago. Despite his injury in his leg, he was practically running towards the opposite table to retrieve the drink.

He could smell hints of toxic beverage as he grasped the cup, so he raised it to his lips and sipped it. The drink stung the back of his throat, and he quickly washed it out and replaced it with water. He didn’t know what he had just consumed, but it was strong and.. 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.

He fumbled back to Ember, holding the newly cleaned drink towards her. He used his free hand to tighten the cloth around his leg wound, hoping it would lessen the pain. He understood he was wrong when it felt like a snake had coiled around his leg before the misery finally was too much to handle. Eventually, he stopped messing with it, ignoring the strange sensation in his throat.

He still held the cup, loosening his hold on it.

Ember watched through half-opened eyes as Liefthous went to the table across from them at almost the speed of light seemingly. In a state of slight hysteria, she laughed airily. It was a turn of events; not even ten minutes ago it was her trying to help him. Though the man was putting himself in harms way by aiding the woman...and it made her chuckle in helpless guilt. Oh her hand hurt so much!

By the time he came back she had gone quiet again. The red-head's less injured hand grabbed the cup of drink offered to her and, with a firm grin, Ember drank half of it in a single go. Coolness spread down her throat and into her chest causing a grateful sigh to part her lips. Grey eyes closing in bliss.

"Than-k you...", the Leader eventually spoke to Liefthous. She didn't know how to thank him in proper and so left it at that. Self-blame was eating her alive.

The thief would smile lightly, relieved she was starting to appear alright. "No problem.." It took him a moment to respond, seeming as he was surprised he was even receiving a thank-you.

"Y’know.. If it still hurts to speak, you don’t have to talk at all." He would look around the tavern twice before taking a seat on the opposite side of the booth. "Don’t stress yourself too much.." He would begin to properly readjust the cloth around the wound, wincing every time he accidentally made contact with it.

((I accidentally reloaded this page instead of the other one and my reply was lost before I sent it ;-; Oh my baby heart))

Ember nodded at the man's point, and slowly placed the cup of drink on the wooden table near. She tilted her head back to stretch her neck, arms loose and legs planted onto the floor at different spots. The woman stayed like that for a while before the blood began rushing to her head, and she brought it back up straight.

The red-head's tired sight instantly landed on Liefthous, her grey orbs wandering from his leg wound from time-to-time.

(( I Know That Kind Of Pain Too Well. Lmao ))

Eventually, he gave up on trying to be comfortable, since the cloth was deciding to be difficult, and he rested his arm on the table. He inhaled and laid his gaze on the wood of the surface, studying each line and detail. Every now and then, he moved his leg, rather tapping his foot or just folding his legs over one another.

The silence was ringing in his ears, and he avoided the temptation to speak. He knew he should let her rest her voice, let alone rest at all. So, he just sat, the silence devouring him before his thoughts could.

Ember saw Liefthous shift a fair bit. Her mind was blank and it felt okay to look on. Stress was gradually leaving each muscle in her hand and arm, a familiar numbness settling there instead. A while passed before she blinked in surprise. The red-head forgot to give him back his weapon.

The red-head looked down to her lap and saw it still resting there, giving off a semi-threatening aura. She took a breath in and held it in attempts to keep her hand steady, taking the weapon by it's non-sharp with two fingers. Once it was secured as much as she could make it be, Ember slowly but surely offered it back to the male.

The movement caught his attention, and he looked up once more. He took his weapon back, shifting his belt slightly to the right so it could fit in its place.

He exhaled and smiled. "Didn’t I say don’t stress yourself? Damn. Even the weapon looked like it was heavy for you." He joked, chuckling. "No offense, of course. Just.." He couldn’t help but snicker. It was an awful attempt of lightening the mood, but it 𝘸𝘢𝘴 an attempt.

Ember blinked again in mild surprise at Liefthous' sudden change in demeanor from his previous restless silence. It was interesting. Bringing her free hand to her chin the woman placed her head in it. She didn't mind his speech though. The red-head noticed that he made amusing comments often and it made him smile...if she did the same would it work as well? She never made an amusing comment before. There's a first for everything.

"...Well-", Ember started with a squint, trying to think. "-you must be very un-heavy, to have grown such.", she got out her amusing comment with imitating one of Liefthous' laughs, at the same tone too.