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Post by Elvander on Jul 29, 2019 19:56:14 GMT
Talion was also fleeing an unsavoury situation. At the ruined city, his path had crossed with a very odd gypsy girl, whom he had abandoned when she dissociated. Now, he was mounted atop his warhorse, galloping through the forest with his maned wolf keeping pace. As he rounded a corner, leaning low over the neck of his horse, his loose brown hair whipped about by the wind, he almost collided with Blythe.
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Post by Elvander on Jul 29, 2019 19:56:24 GMT
She hadn't been paying attention. That, coupled with her leaking her own negative emotions, caused her mare to not be paying attention. The duo whipped past Talion and his horse, only barely able to avoid colliding with the larger males. Her horse complained as she turned them both, eyes burning into Talion. She recognized him, sure enough. Another damn Reavaryn, Gods she was tired of the lot. She knew she was being unfair, but it didn't stop her from loudly snapping at him, "Watch where you're going!"
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Post by Elvander on Aug 2, 2019 19:35:31 GMT
Talion yanked on his reins, swinging his horse around to face Blythe. He recognized that voice anywhere, it haunted him. Her biting remarks, her quick wit. He glowered at her as she snapped at him, nudging his horse to a walk towards her. "I could say the same to you. How can you just come careening down the middle of the trail?" He grumbled back at her, though there was a certain gleam in his eyes. Blythe intrigued and excited and challenged him, and even though her presence was an annoyance, he found it to be an annoyance he could bear.
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Post by northy on Aug 5, 2019 15:35:45 GMT
"I was thinking," she grumbled back, pausing before she turned her horse away from him. She should leave. This wouldn't help her either. But the man had something about him that Blythe trusted, something about his apathetic attitude. Like he didn't care enough to lie to her or screw her. It was the last quality she expected to ever need. But boy did she suddenly realize she needed that. She paused again, this time turning to face him and pulling her mare into a gentle gait next to him, her face still worried. "I have a question." Surely this blunt, honest man would have the answer to her problem.
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Post by Elvander on Aug 6, 2019 22:35:21 GMT
If he'd been asked, Talion wouldn't have been able to explain what had made him stay. He steadied his mount, facing her. He noted the worry in the lines of her face, and despite himself, felt concerned for her. Not that it showed, and his features remained the same as ever, impassible. It was his eyes that often gave him away, the gates holding back all of the emotions he felt. "What?" he prodded, not one to waste his time on too many words when one would do just fine. He was almost convinced that she was about to ask him something sarcastic, and would almost be surprised if her question was serious. He'd encountered the mage several times by now, and he felt he was beginning to know what to expect from her.
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Post by northy on Aug 24, 2019 17:53:47 GMT
She quieted a moment, thinking. This wasn't her strong suit, asking advice. In fact, this might be a first entirely. She ignored his wary contempt, she could feel it swimming around him. He didn't trust her, but it seemed he didn't exactly dislike her. Haha. Always full of surprises, this one. "Would you tell someone the truth, even if you knew it might just...destroy them?" Saying the words aloud pretty much solidified the answer she'd had in her head. But she wanted to know Talion's opinion too. She slowly glanced over, gauging his reaction.
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Post by Elvander on Aug 24, 2019 21:05:17 GMT
"Of course," Talion answered without hesitation. Honor, integrity, they were the pillars of his life. Telling the truth when it would impact someone in an important way, whether that was positive or negative, was the right thing to do. "What are the consequences if you don't tell this person the truth?" Talion prodded after a moment, curious what sort of situation she was in that was causing her such strain. Talion gestured for her to fall in with him as he nudged his horse into a walk, moving peacefully through the forest with the mage at his side. Perhaps he could learn to enjoy her company.
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Post by northy on Aug 25, 2019 14:41:51 GMT
Huh. So he was one of those, all honor bound suckers. It made sense Blythe guessed. He always had this stiff but decent air around him. He felt warmer and brighter than Bram, who even when he was under her spell, still fell cold and dark. "I used my magic on someone after we agreed not to," she answered, obliging in his request and slowly moving her mare next to him. It felt almost peaceful now, and it only made it easier for her to think. "You'll probably hear about it soon enough," she added with a grimace. "I like to think your head mage will still be fond of me. But honestly, I'm not so sure. I have no idea what he will do once I tell him." Her voice was small and hesitant. She didn't like feeling so powerless in a situation, but she knew Talion was right too.
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Post by Elvander on Aug 26, 2019 18:45:51 GMT
Talion felt himself tense at the mention of Bram. Had Blythe messed with him in some irreparable way? That was dangerous territory, and the last thing Talion wanted was to be at the head of an army over a skirmish between two magic-users who couldn't keep themselves under control. His jaw was tight as he responded, "What did you do to Bram?" He asked bluntly, needing the answers. It was a more complex situation than he could have anticipated, and he was dreading the answer. Did those with positions of power ever think before they acted? Talion tried to calm himself and not take it out on her until he had all the details. "If you've done something terrible, we'll need to sort this out before it causes any damage that leads to the loss of innocent lives."
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Post by northy on Aug 26, 2019 19:03:57 GMT
She felt the sudden tension return to him, and it made her blood run cold. It wasn't that bad right? Surely she could just talk to Bram and smooth it over. Worsr case, well, he would probably hate her. But that would be it right? She chewed her bottom lip, growing nervous now. "I can mess with emotions. I can calm people down or make them do things," she explained softly, avoiding his gaze. For once her voice wasn't full of boasting. "Or in this case, make people like me, and wanna be around me. Be with me." She stopped there, feeling her eyes begin to sting with tears as she fully realized how silly it seemed now. "It's not that bad, I mean, I'll just tell him the truth. He'll probably never wanna see me again but I guess I deserve that," she struggled to explain herself, her pale eyes desperate now. "It's not like he's crazy or something, right?" Surely she'd have sensed that.
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Post by Elvander on Aug 26, 2019 20:38:12 GMT
Talion, had he had less restraint, would have sighed and shook his head in disbelief. On a certain level, he could feel empathy for her situation. Talion could understand the loneliness of walking alone, and the desire to be loved. True, his path was a little different from hers. He'd already had the great love of his life, and he would never be so greedy as to ask for another. But still, sometimes, he wondered what it would be like to lay with another again. The thoughts always made him feel guilty, and so he pushed them away. Talion took a breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as she confessed. He knew Bram was a deeply sick and sadistic individual. There was a lot to unpack here. "Why Bram? Don't you know what he's like?" He gazed up at the canopy of leaves as they walked beneath their cover, noting that the leaves were changing colours. Fall was near. "He's not someone you want to run afoul of, Blythe. I don't understand why you would resort to magic to make someone like him love you." Not when she was so beautiful, so charming. Surely she could snag any man she chose.
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Post by northy on Aug 26, 2019 20:53:44 GMT
He fell silent, thinking. Blythe had the urge to pry, to figure out what was going on in his head. But she resisted, deciding that had already caused enough damage. She waited for him to speak again before answering, bothered by Talion's opinion of Bram. "We were working on a few things together, keeping the mages peaceful, stopping anything before it got crazy," she explained. It was common knowledge lesser mages tended to be wild cards on occasion, hence the need for her and Bram to interfere. "And I just decided I liked having him around. At first I was just trying to keep him coming back. But then it kinda... got out of my control." She didn't like admitting her magic had a few drawbacks, one being that she could easily trick her own emotions. But she knew she hadn't been careful enough here. "And now I feel bad, I know it isn't right and it isn't exactly how I intended it to be." What she left out was she knew she'd been dumb and selfish. "I know I've got to be honest with him now though," she sighed, lowering her eyes to her horse.
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Post by Elvander on Aug 26, 2019 21:00:34 GMT
"The reason for your initial contact is honorable. Did you succeed in doing what you had set out to do?" Talion inquired, trying to find a silver lining of some sort. Talion's instincts told him not to trust Bram. The man hadn't done anything wrong as of yet, technically speaking. But his abilities, combined with her cold and distant air, gave Talion the impression that something sinister and awful lurked beneath. The potential was there. Perhaps danger recognized danger. If this had been anyone else talking, Talion wouldn't have been so quick to be kind or sympathetic. But something about Blythe made him feel soft. He scowled suddenly, "Have you ever used your powers on me? Are you using them now?" He had to set that straight before he could help her. Talion refused to be manipulated in any way. The man had no problem riding away from things, people, and places who tried to take advantage of him. He'd learned that lesson the hard way. Perhaps he could be there when Blythe told Bram the truth. It might help to mitigate the fall out.
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Post by northy on Aug 26, 2019 21:53:07 GMT
Honorable. That was something seldom used to describe her. She smiled lightly to herself, her worries temporarily lifted. "We did," she confirmed. She didn't want to go into detail about that particular story just yet though, remembering how the rogue mage was dealt with made her shudder. "It all worked out. That was why, initially, he didn't intend on coming back." It was the truth. She fell silent, surprise crossing her face as Talion asked her if she was up to her tricks with him now, feeling his sudden suspicion. That was fair. She shook her head, raising a hand to push her pale hair from her face. "No, you're safe from me," she answered with a humorless smile. "You'll have to excuse me though, I can tell what you're feeling. That part doesn't really go away." Honesty was good right?
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Post by Elvander on Aug 26, 2019 22:07:36 GMT
It was good that she told him, but it made him feel a bit embarrassed. Could she tell that he felt softly towards her then? Best not to follow that line of questioning. "What do you think about me being there when you can tell Bram? I can help keep him in line, and report any alarming behaviour to the king." He offered, reaching up to pluck a golden leaf from a tree overhead as they passed. He studied it, twirling it in his fingers to admire it from every angle. "Do you love Bram, or were you just lonely?"
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