Desperation and Dissapointment (Elem Bree)

by **Sariana** on May 4th, 2012, 9:47 am

The woman could appreciate his dedication, knowing that if the situation called for it, she would lay down her life to help those in her care. Still, at least she had her blades. He had...nothing.

Sipping the minty concoction, Sariana raised her mug in appreciation, enjoying the scent as it filled the air.

"Very good, thank you. I haven't had tea in a really long time, its nice to just sit and savor the small things." Sitting for a moment in silence as the pair sipped their brew, the drykas chuckled as his words. Obviously the doctor hadn't been in anything particularly life threatening, and with good reason she deduced. She had meant what she had said, offering her blades in service for his kindness. Good people, good men...they were hard to come by. So far, only one man had held any meaning for her, and he was more like a grandfather than a friend.

Placing the tea on the table, Sariana looked at Elem and nodded her head.

"You are a good person, Elem. It's nice to see something good rise above all the chaos out there. Thank you again, for opening your door to me." Lifting her arm again, the woman looked over the spot where the gash had been, running her fingers lightly across it. There would be no-one who would believe her story.

by **Elem Bree** on May 5th, 2012, 1:10 pm

Sipping his tea, Elem surmised the woman before him, no longer in a shallow, physical way. Her words about little things and the pledge to protect brought the life of the warrior to the forefront of his mind. " What else is there, besides little things? Forgive me for making an assumption, but you chose the life of a warrior, did you not? I am neither disrespecting your life or your ethics. I think it is honorable and noble of you to take your friend to his final resting place. However, do you think you would have been accosted by the people in the streets were you unarmed? I have lived in Zeltiva for my entire life and have yet to be assaulted."

Standing and returning to the hearth, his face still held the countenance of benevolence. Pouring the cooling water into his mug, he turned again to face her as she examined her arm. "Perhaps it is luck, but I believe it to equally be a matter of presence. If you present yourself as an adversary, you are bound to find antagonists. If you present yourself a friend, chances are you will find friends. As I found you." He walked toward the small window in the room, looking outside at the cloudy sky. The same sky looked down on Mizahar, whomever looked back up from wherever they stood.

by **Sariana** on May 5th, 2012, 2:34 pm

As the doctor spoke, Sariana tilted her head with a slightly taken aback look on her face. She allowed a bemused smile to soften her features.

"I think, had I been unarmed, I would be laying in that street bleeding out my life for a couple of miza's and half a sliver of dried meat. I approached a child, offering food and comfort in a time and place no child - or person - should have to bear. The fact that he was a decoy to draw in prey doesn't alter whether you have a knife strapped to your belt or not." Her blue eyes followed him across the room, gauging his intentions with his words.

"I chose the path of a warrior because its what I am born to do. I am of the Diamond Clan. It's in my blood, its where I belong. I might not have had the voice of a Goddess announce my destiny, but that doesn't mean its no less real. The little things are but a moment in time, when for just a second you can sit and remember what it's like to just...to just be." Picking up her mug, Sariana sipped the tea and stared into the steam.

"Just because I wear weapons, does not mean I see everyone as a foe. I believe everyone deserves a chance to be liked, till they proove otherwise." Her blue eyes looked at him again, and her smile faltered.

"Is that how you see me, Elem? A swords-woman with ill intent before she's had the chance to prove otherwise?" Her voice was quiet, soft. It wasn't an accusation, but a genuine question.

by **Elem Bree** on May 5th, 2012, 2:46 pm

Elem looked back to his new friend, rubbing his eyes with the thumb and index finger of his right hand. Her words were honest and true He held no contempt for her. Why then, did he find himself irritated? She had done nothing but answer his questions to the best of her ability and retorted as anyone would be expected to do. Her points were valid, though. he tried desperately not to slough off the conversation in exchange for a hasty retreat.

" I suppose it makes sense. I'm sorry for questioning you. As I said, I meant no disrespect. Having rubbed the doubt from his eyes, he stepped over to the door and opened it, the fresh air a blessing. Now standing behind her, mostly to avoid her crystalline eyes, he tried to make sense of it all. " I suppose it is inevitable that the world would become hard. I guess I felt like ....I don't know what I am talking about." Leaving the door open and passing her again, he returned to his bunk and took a seat.

" I have no idea who you are, aside from what we have shared today. I have my own concerns and fears about things, I suppose. Your being duped by a child, my wanting to keep my extra food hidden....I don't know." He eased back against the meager bed and stretched out, his eyes perusing the ceiling as if his answers would simply appear. " Being a healer has its downfalls as well. As you might expect, I have no training to know how to defend myself. So I just hope no one attacks me. Even if they do, I am sworn to repair the damage. So, violence seems counterproductive in my case."

by **Sariana** on May 5th, 2012, 11:54 pm

As she felt the cool of the outside world sweep across her shoulders, Sariana felt the time had come to make her departure. The doctor had shown her hospitality, had healed her arm, and now seemed on the edge of almost irritated. The drykas placed the mug down carefully, unsure of what had caused his ire. Perhaps she had said something that had struck a nerve? Perhaps she had missed some sign that she had outstayed her welcome. She wasn't familiar with the region or their customs...so there was no way to be truly sure.

Standing, the warrior turned to face Elem as he perched on the side of his bunk, lifting her hands to push her black locks back behind her ears.

"These are hard times we live in, people are driven by hunger and despair. But it will get better, with time." Moving forward, she shifted the holster that her rapiers sat in and looked to the night time outside. It was quiet, almost peaceful. The brunette would be making straight for her room at the inn and nothing else. Zeltiva held no sway for her, yet there had been no sign that it was time to leave. Something needed to happen in this city for her, but what, she wouldn't know till it occurred. Glancing back at the doctor, she smiled.

"Thank you again, for the arm, and the tea. I should probably leave you to rest." She hesitated, unsure whether there was anything else she should say to the man.

by **Elem Bree** on May 8th, 2012, 7:28 am

Elem remained on the bunk, but rolled to his side facing her, propped up on his elbow. His eyes looked tired, no doubt. He smiled at the lovely warrior, nodding slightly. "I appreciate all you have said, Sariana of the Diamond Clan. I'm sorry that I became so tired, it just becomes overwhelming at times. Elem closed his eyes for a moment, her flawless face crystallizing in his mind's eye. Opening them again, he took another breath. His voice was quieter and less full of nerves this time.

"Healing requires empathy and empathy requires vulnerability. As much as I enjoy channeling Rak'keli's love and healing things like your arm, I feel like I am failing in healing much greater things, like the violence that caused it in the first place. I do not believe that it is necessary or inevitable. I like to believe in a world where people can coexist, using ideals and discourse to settle differences. Perhaps I am living a fantasy, but I am going to live my life to see that dream realized, or die trying." Elem sat up and stretched his legs, standing and bowing politely to Sariana.

"You are always welcome in my home and I accept you as a friend. I pray the rest of your journey is peaceful."

by **Paragon** on May 17th, 2012, 9:39 pm

Adventurer's Loot

Sariana's Loot :

Elem's Loot :

Lovely thread, I really enjoyed it. I think it's especially awesome you explored some of the storm aftermath and how it has affected the city, I haven't seen enough of this elsewhere, so kudos! - if you have ANY questions or concerns about this grading, don't hesitate to PM me.