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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 27, 2020 22:15:53 GMT
It had been several years since Evadne Demaris had attended Nethilor’s courts. The woman had grown up knowing the people and the halls of the palace as well as her own home- that is, until her studies took her abroad to lands many would only dream of seeing. There, she had trained with the best scientists in fields of maths, physics, magics, and biologists to try to learn as much as possible about the many unknowns in the world. Upon hearing word of the werewolf threat in Alynthia, Evadne had returned with haste at the request of Alaric. Now she swept into the dungeons, adorned in a blue, floor length coat trimmed with white fur. Her dark blonde hair was twisted into two thick braids on either side of her face, her bright blue eyes adorned with black kohl. Behind her, a fluffy white dog named Hux trailed her. The dungeons weren’t so unpleasant in Nethilor- there were several windows which allowed for natural light and fresh air. As she approached Sebastian’s cell, guided by a guard, she wondered what she would find. “Sebastian Van Dam, I presume?” She stopped in front of the bars, removing her dainty leather gloves. She smelled of forest and flowers, her voice lilting with a soothing, faint accent. Evadne had learned to speak in dozens of languages on her journeys, and they had all but work out the complex northern inflection of her native village.
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Post by eragon on Jan 28, 2020 1:58:41 GMT
After being pulled out of Evolet's room, Sebastian hadn't been surprised that the guards had brought him to a cell in the dungeons. What had surprised him was that he'd now been here for several days when he'd expected to be handed over to Alister almost immediately. Evidently, Alaric planned to keep him here, a fact that was rather distressing to Seb. At least in Raevaryn, he would have been at home, investigated by his own court and ruler; he had no idea what would happen to him here.
Seb heard the footsteps of Evadne and the guard who was leading her echo down the corridor as they approached, and he rose to his feet and tried to peer out of the bars to see who was coming. As they neared his cell, he took a step back and surveyed the elegant looking woman, wondering what her purpose in all of this was. What Evadne found was a slim teenage boy wearing a dirty dress shirt and dress pants that remained from the night of the wedding. At this point, his shirt was untucked and rumpled, and he'd undone the first few buttons to make it a bit more comfortable. His hair was honey blonde and just as messy as the rest of him at the moment; there hadn't exactly been an opportunity for a bath during his imprisonment. Seb's eyes, however, remained clear, and the way he held himself betrayed his noble birth. He glanced briefly at the dog and the guard before returning his gaze to Evadne, who was obviously in charge. "Yes," he said in response to her question. "And you are?"
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 28, 2020 21:30:39 GMT
Evadne took in his appearance and tsked her tongue. She was not a cruel woman, though Sebastian was right- she was in charge here. At least, when it came to Sebastian. "Evadne Demaris. Pleased to meet you, though I do loathe meetings of this nature." She offered a delicate hand to him through the bars for him to shake, unafraid that he would try anything. He didn't seem like the violent type, and if he was, Hux would rip his hand off for touching her in a less than pleasant way. "No doubt you're wondering who I am and why I am here. Yes, you have my name, but it likely means nothing to you." She turned to look at the guard, "I demand a bath for Lord Van Dam, some clean clothes, and a hearty meal." She focused her attention back on the little lord. "I am here at the request of King Alaric to test you, to make sure you are as you say you are. Clean of the werewolf gene."
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Post by eragon on Feb 5, 2020 23:21:07 GMT
Sebastian glanced down at her outstretched hand and hesitantly shook it. He listened to her speak and then watched the exchange between her and the guard in silence; indeed, he was wondering why she was there, and her name hadn't been very enlightening in that department. Clearly though, based on her interaction with the guard, she had some power over things. At the mention of testing him, her purpose became clear, and his interest was piqued. Seb was a scholar himself, after all. "How do you plan to do that?" He asked, looking more curious than worried. "Do you think... That if you find something... Er, that is... Something you find, it might help my brother?"
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 6, 2020 22:06:38 GMT
As the guard hurried away to do as he was asked, Evadne gently tucked her hands back inside her gloves. It was curious that Sebastian seemed more intrigued than scared, but that would work out well for both of them. “I don’t know, as of yet. I thought we could start by getting to know one another a little bit. I’d like for you to be comfortable while we do that, hence the bath and the food. I’d like to start by asking you some questions, to get a better idea of what’s been going on in your family.” Evadne moved out of the way as servants came down with a tub, and pails of hot water. The guard gestured for Sebastian to step away from the bars. “Step back so we can set this up,” he grunted, and Evadne moves aside as well. The servants set up the tub and dumped the water in with a bar of soap. Clean, plain clothes were tossed on the floor, and soon, another scurried down with a tray of stew and a small loaf of bread and a cup of water. Satisfied, Evadne dismissed them all and settled on a small stool as the bars were locked up to keep Sebastian secured once more.
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Post by eragon on Feb 8, 2020 0:13:45 GMT
Seb backed up, watching as the servants carried in the bathwater, tub, clothes, and food. The scent of the stew made his mouth water. "Okay, well you can ask, but to be honest I don't know that much about my brother's, uh, condition," Seb said. As the servants dispersed and the door clanged shut again, he glanced at Evadne, who was taking a seat, and then at the tub. "Um," he said. "Are you just going to... Stay there? While I...?" He gestured toward the tub.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 8, 2020 21:06:06 GMT
"Oh, my apologies. I forget that this place is so proper. I'll turn around, but I'd still like to speak while you bathe." Evadne turned on the stool, facing away from the bars. Hux settled at her feet and she stroked his ears thoughtfully. "Did you know your brother was a werewolf? If so, for how long? What has been your relationship to the curse?"
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Post by eragon on Feb 13, 2020 0:59:38 GMT
Sebastian shrugged with indifference at the mention of speaking while he bathed; even if she hadn't turned around, he still probably would have gotten in the tub, for the temptation of a hot bath was too much to refuse. Hurriedly, he yanked off his dirty clothing and tossed it to the ground, then climbed into the warm water, shivering slightly at the feeling of it. "I didn't know until recently, when he shifted and ended up attacking me," Seb said. As he spoke, he grabbed the bar of soap and began scrubbing himself down. He couldn't help but rub his thumb of the thick scar that had been left on his leg from the attack. "That was a few months ago. I don't really... Have a relationship to the curse. Where is it you're from?"
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 16, 2020 0:12:41 GMT
"I see," Evadne murmured, contemplating that. So far, she wasn't seeing Seb as any sort of threat. It would be far more useful for her to be meeting the werewolf in question. But she could still extract samples from this one, and study his genetic makeup to draw her conclusions. She would still need a sample to compare it against, and hoped to get permission from King Alister to do so. "My condolences on the attack. I'm sure it was very traumatic for you." Evadne stroked Hux's ears thoughtfully. "Oh, I'm from a small city called Lund. Quite unremarkable, really, but I haven't lived there in a very long time. I did some very complex schooling all over the world, you see. Are you a learned man as well?"
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Post by eragon on Feb 20, 2020 2:58:56 GMT
Seb's hand holding the soap paused when she remarked on the attack, and for a moment he remained still. Then, he gathered himself and once more began to scrub away the grime accumulated on his skin. "It was," he said, not elaborating further. The memories weren't pleasant ones, and he was still often plagued by them, more so now after the attack at the wedding. "My family runs, or uh, ran the University in Raevaryn, so I grew up receiving the best education possible... I'm trying to study the development of magic now. And a cure for some types of magic. Not only for my brother but for others too," he said, thinking briefly of his promise to Lacey.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 26, 2020 17:07:53 GMT
“It is a worthy pursuit, though I think you will find that only magic cures magic.” Evadne mused, listening to the tone and cadence of Seb’s voice as he spoke. She could tell he was suffering. Her recommendation to Alaric would be to allow him to go free. “Perhaps we ought to work together. I was sent here to determine if you are a threat, and to examine your genetics. It would go easier if you consented to the extraction of some of your blood.”
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Post by eragon on Mar 1, 2020 20:43:45 GMT
"What do you mean by that? Only magic cures magic?" Seb asked, splashing water over his arms and chest to rinse off the soap. Had she met people who possessed magic that could erase other magic? Having finished rinsing the soap from his body, he dunked his head underwater briefly to wet his hair, then began washing it too. "I never intended on being uncooperative, you know. If you need my blood to test it, by all means; I'll just be glad people will have proof that I don't possess the same abilities my brother does. Now, what would this partnership you mentioned entail?" From the tone of his voice, it was obvious he was intrigued.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Mar 4, 2020 21:02:21 GMT
"I haven't seen it happen, per se. But I can't imagine that there would be any natural remedies to unnatural conditions." Evadne mused, listening to the sounds of the water splashing gently in the basin as Seb washed himself. This meeting was going better than she could have hoped. It was always best when the subjects were willing. "But I've seen many things, learned many things about magic and the natural world. I think that our partnership would entail you supplying samples, and perhaps allowing me to test out some theories on you. Of course, I'd like to gain access to your brother too. I have heard he will be having a trial- I would like to go and speak on his behalf." Evadne didn't particularly care about letting Wolfgang die for moral reasons. She cared about him dying for the impact it would have on science- a live specimen was always better than a dead one.
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Post by eragon on Mar 5, 2020 4:19:37 GMT
"I suppose," Seb mumbled, dunking his head under the water again to rinse his hair now. Having finished cleaning up, he climbed out of the bath and grabbed the towel provided to dry off, then began hastily dressing; the dungeons weren't exactly warm, especially without clothes on. "Your partnership sounds more like me just being your willing subject," he said, yanking the shirt over his head. "Which I'm not saying I'm not, necessarily; I'm just saying that's not really a partnership. I need to know more though. Samples of what, besides blood? And what theories?" Fully clothed now, he stepped over to the bars, wrapping his fingers around the metal, so as to be nearer to Evadne. "A trial? What do you intend to say? Do you want to run the same tests on him?" For the moment, he seemed distracted from the tray of food waiting for him.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Mar 11, 2020 23:12:13 GMT
"I don't know yet, darling. My theories won't be developed until I get samples of your blood and hair most likely." Evadne turned around as he dressed, fixing him with her intelligent, sparkling eyes. "Very well then, Sebastian, you're right. Let's not call it a partnership, because you are certainly not my equal. You're in a prison, if you hadn't noticed. I believe I can convince Alaric to release you to me, though you wouldn't be a free man immediately." Evadne pursed her lips, "Yes, I do want to run the same tests on Wolfgang. If he is executed, I won't be able to study him as his condition mutates and changes over time, or reacts to potential antidotes." Evadne studied Sebastian, "Do you care if he dies?"
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