We All Fall Down (Nai'a)

[Theia]

39th of Winter, 512AV East street could be described as an elegant disaster or to some an elegant dump. No one was ever far from some sort of mischief or some sort of deviant-like behavior. It was not that it was entirely separate of Zeltiva and its ways, East street just chose to show its faults without shame. As such there are few who could live comfortably in the area if they were not raised there but everyone was eyed with suspicion all the same and none left their backs unprotected. It was survival of the fittest or the sneakiest. So it was no surprise that when the illness that had struck previously re-emerged fingers began to point and nefarious actions were best hidden. The real point being that it was far from a safe haven ad trouble was just beneath the surface. This evening Theia shouldn't have been surprised because any blind person could see that it was not a great hour for Zeltiva but this is what happens when ones head is in the proverbial clouds on a regular basis. She had barely noted the way the city was growing ill from the inside and worse in East street, everyone needed someone to blame. Theia just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her form was flickering but she didn't know couldn't feel anything but by the heaviness of the day and herself baring down upon her. It ran farther than her bones even, as if the very life had been and was still being sucked out of her chime by chime. In fact, she almost did not hear the voice shouting angrily, loud enough to cause a commotion. "She did it, not me! I didn't steal nothing, taking from a curse is asking to be haunted." And when the hand touched her shoulder it abruptly pulled back, staring at her strangely and then at the body. "You sure she didn't come from the body?" "You just touched her you fool, how could she?" It was said calmly enough but there was a few that backed away and a few that moved closer. Whether she did or not didn't seem to be the problem and things were entirely wrong, Theia should be at home and ready for work because her brother said she could look for a dress tomorrow and she really wanted to stop on her way back from...where? Where had she been going? "I didn't do anything." Of course, no one of East Street cared and the small gathering was growing torn between wondering if the woman herself was dead and knowing it and not caring and getting rid of her anyway.

[Nai'a]

Nai’a had found herself on East Street it seemed. She was still getting used to Zeltiva, so her sense of direction was not yet perfected. Rats were running all over the streets here, up and down, scurrying and squeaking. The sight made her stomach roll; this was no place for someone as soft as Nai’a. She needed to turn around and head… Where? Which way would lead her away from this place? Nai’a was utterly lost, and searching for an exit. This place made a chill run down her spine, it seemed danger lurked around every corner, and unknown horrors lived in the shadows. Nai’a pulled the hood of her cloak further down her face, not wanting her prominent pink hair to bring her any unwanted attention.

As she rounded a corner she heard a few people shouting, something about stealing, and a body, and someone saying she didn’t do anything. She could not help but stop in her tracks, lingering there, and peering around the corner. She saw a small gathering of individuals, a woman lying on the street that appeared to be dead or severely hurt, and then a woman floating there looking at the scene. The healer urge inside her, wanted to rush forward and try to help the woman, but the coward inside her told her to stay put. She wavered between coward and healer, for a few chimes as the men started arguing about what to do with the girl’s body. Healer won over, and she rushed down the cold dark alley, the musky scent making her stomach roll.

“Stop this! Just stop it!” Nai’a yelled angrily, but still with a soft tone. She shoved two of the men out of the way, coming down to her knees beside the woman, checking for a pulse at the base of her neck. The heart beat there was faint, she was about to slip away. Nai’a checked her body for wounds, trying to determine what caused this to happen to the woman. It was dark and she could barely see, and the crowd of men started to make her nervous, her hands shaking as they worked over the woman’s body trying to see what was wrong. Her hand brushed over a slick wetness, on the left side of the woman, where her kidney was. The wound was deep, and her healing power from her Gnosis mark would not be able to really mend it. But she decided to try and save her anyways, she had to try, she had to.

Nai’a placed her hands over the wound and closed her eyes; a soothing white light appeared from the palm of her hands, carrying a blue tint to the light. Her brows furrowed as she focused her attention on the wound, pulling strength from within herself in hopes that it would work. She sat there for 5 chimes, trying repeatedly to close the deep wound, but she only had 1 mark, and it was impossible to close the deep wound, she could only purify it. Nai’a pulled back, and checked the pulse again, the woman was dead, and she was working on someone that had passed away. Silent tears streamed down the healer’s face, the feeling of being a failure tore at her heart and soul. The mark was supposed to save people, to help people, and she had failed. The men surrounding her were silent during the act, perhaps shocked or in awe, she did not know which. She raised herself to her feet. She is dead. She said solemnly to the five men that were left.

They looked at her, their smudged faces contorting in angry scowls.

“It is her fault! She killed her! You saw that light, she killed her I say!” One of the men said, he was a rather large man, tall and plump around the middle, a ominous scar running down his jaw line to the base of his neck. Nai’a took a step back, her back hitting the cold wall. Snowflakes drifted around them, falling silently to the ground. Nai’a’s breath came out in small puffs of white, as she started to breath heavily. She looked up and saw something strange, at least she thought she saw something or someone. She squinted her eyes and looked harder at what she thought she seen, what could or could not be there.

She gasped when she saw a woman floating there, hovering over the scene. She remembered vaguely in the wilds that she met a ghost, but she couldn’t see him and barely heard him. She supposed being exposed to a ghost before, made her see this ghost better now.

With the distraction of the ghost woman above her, she did not notice the men starting to come closer to her, an evil smirk on their faces, and death dancing in their eyes. She looked away from the woman and looked at the men starting to approach her. They were all ugly, as if the ugliness on the inside of them was portrayed on their physical aspects. She had been searching for a way out, and stumbled upon trouble and perhaps her own death.

Nai’a didn’t like hurting others she was a healer, she helped people no matter their past, no matter if they were evil or good, she helped them. But these men were going to hurt her if she didn’t do something, and do it soon. She slid her back to the left, trying to get away from a couple of the men, but was only met by two other burly men. She had to do something, and soon.

Nai’a pushed herself away from the wall; she had no weapon, only her water reminancy and her hands. She was out numbered, but she was not going down without a fight, she only needed to make an exit for herself, then she could run away from the men. Her water reminancy was unpredictable, she was still a novice and casting would take too much time as well as energy, and she may hear those sweet whispers again that tormented her when she first started learning the skill. Magic was out of the question, she had to fight, she had to use her small knowledge of acrobatics and hand to hand combat to get herself out of this situation. Nai’a attacked one of the men, punching him quickly in the nose. He did not expect her to do this, the shock on his face told her that, and his hands went instantly to the blood beginning to pour from his nostril. She did not waste time to watch the man cursing grabbing his nose, as he stumbled back a few steps. She kicked the other man beside him in the groin, all men’s weak spot. She started to run as she got two of the men busy with other things, but before she could get away she felt pairs of strong hands jerking her back, making her land on her rear, near the dead woman. She scrambled on her bottom, scooting herself away from the men.

She needed help, there were just too many to get away from, she looked up at the ghost that was watching the scene below her and yelled, Please help me! to the woman. She did not know if she could hear her, and if she did hear her, she did not know if she would bother to help the living anymore. Tears streamed down her cold pale face, as she watch the men approach her. Fear raced through her veins making her heart slam wildly against her chest. Is this it? Is this the end? Nai’a asked herself, as she started to breath heavily, the cold shocking her lungs, and her exhaled breath being seen in the cold air as continuous white puffs.

OOCSorry it is so long, I usually do not write such long posts, but I did not know how to really proceed, so I hope it is going in a way you like, if not let me know and I will revise and edit!

[Theia]

It was common nature in East street for things to spiral out of control, for tempers to be high and with the given circumstances of the year, well, no one was happy at this point. So the crowd was swift to turn on everyone and everything and Theia found herself forgotten, watching with growing panic at how wrong, wrong, wrong everything was going. It was like she was watching things from someplace else or was imagining a tavern story and not liking the outcome. A part of her had already gone away, wanting nothing to do with it. Covering her eyes, keep her lips sealed and block out the sound and maybe things would go away. However, anyone would know it doesn’t work that way and she found herself coming back and flinching, panic mixing with anger both at herself and simply everything. The girl the crowd had turned on was a fool for behaving the way she had and so where the people. And a Zeltiva citizen was no fool. “Enough!” The sound of her own voice surprised her and she made to shove at the man but found her hands just wouldn’t obey. Instead she lurched and stumbled and grew even more angry. Why was this happening all the time? And now she could hear people shouting to get rid of the body and the witnesses, others were shouting about ghosts and inching back. And she was so tired of the word, people ignoring her, of not being able to do what she should. What she could. “The woman was already dead before she got here. What could she have done?” The men looked around, back and forth, back and forth. Even to Theia that had seemed a weak argument considering how everyone didn’t seem to actually care. And no one seemed to really understand what was going on or maybe they did and they were not being foolish but smart by shifting the blame. And she was done with this whole incident. Focus on something she just had to focus, focus on how she wanted to push the man away, to move him to do something. If she could just…focus on her, on inside of her and use that to…to what? She could use it to just give one single… ”Move damn you!” For a chime she thought she would fall and she heard could hears the whispers… “Gone!” “Did you see?” “She has a ghost with her!” “Get you in your sleep!” And they moved away from the pink haired girl tentatively, while the man but to Theia tried to shove just swayed a tiny bit. Obviously that was not going to work. Gods, this was why she couldn’t wait to have her own cottage back out of this area. Around them the crowd grew slightly smaller, people losing interest, people fleeing, and only those few men stayed still. Theia looked at the girl and wasn’t sure how to proceed. But no one seemed to be moving for the moment, unsure of where Theia had gone or what to do with the pink-haired woman. So, Theia found herself beside the woman, unsure, this was not what she was supposed to be doing at this moment but, “Just get up and walk away.” OOCIt takes two to make a thread We can really go in any direction so no worries, the post was interesting! Theia used up too much soul-misty energy and has blinked out for the moment but you can still hear her.

[Nai'a]

Nai’a flinched when she heard the woman scream, Enough! . It was a haunting yell, shaking the foundation of her soul. She decided right then and there that she did not want to be on the receieving end of the woman’s anger. Voices all around her started shouting in mild panic, it was either to get rid of the evidence, the witnesses, and some were shouting about the woman, the ghost. The woman spoke again, making the men looking around, back and forth, fear dancing in their evil eyes. Then the woman shouted again, telling the men to move. The men began to panic , moving away from Nai’a tentatively. The crowd of people began to shrink it seemed, except for the men that attacked her. One was rubbing his croctch and looked to be murmuring curses about her under his breath, the other was holding his still bleeding nose shooting her daggers.

The men seemed lost, confused, and she could see the fear in their eyes. Nai’a sat there, about to try to escape again. Then she felt a rush of cold air, and the woman’s voice seemed to be right at her ear, telling her to get up and walk away from the men. Nai’a nodded to the soft voice, whispering thank you, and stood up, walking away from the men slowly, escaping the alley and turning the corner she began to run, running for her life, fearing that the men would follow her if she stopped. Nai’a continued to run until she came to a bar, called Kelp Bar. She did not realize how long she had been running; the only thing that was on her mind was getting away from the danger, and the grubby men.

She glanced around herself nervously, making sure she was not followed. She leaned up against the wall of the Kelp Bar, noticing that she was really winded. She kept inhaling deep breaths and exhaling them slowly trying to calm down her racing heartbeat, she would have been sweating if it were possible. Nai’a placed her hands over her heart and kept breathing deeply, waiting patiently for her heart to calm down. Her legs felt numb and like jello as she stood there, and she could not help but slid down the wall landing on her arse in the snow. She sat there for 15 chimes, and finally got her breathing under control and her nerves neutralized.

She stood up and was about to head into the bar, when she heard a deep chuckle of a man from the shadows. Nai’a’s hand froze over the door knob fear, her body would not move. She slowly turned around to a chubby face, dark black eyes, a round head with random patches of hair, a mouth missing teeth, and a nose that was bleeding. Nai’a could not help the muttered curse word that came out of her mouth at seeing the man. She felt bad for hurting him, and did what the healer instinct told her to do, what she had to do. “I am sorry about your nose, I can heal it if you wish?” Nai’a said nervously with a even more nervous sounding chuckle.

The man looked taken aback, and he took a step back examining her. “Why would you help me?
The man asked her cautiously.
“Because you are hurt.” Nai’a replied softly and simply, pointing at his bleeding nose.

The man stood there silently for 3 chimes, just staring at her and examining her. This examination made Nai’a nervous, and she started to pick at a loose string on her cloak, as she waited for the man to answer. It seemed like he would never speak, but finally he did, and Nai’a was shocked but pleased by his answer. “Okay. Heal it.” He spoke silently, somewhat cold. But Nai’a complied to his answer, more than happy to help. She placed her hands inches above his nose, noticing the small flinch from the man at being so close, and a warm radiating light appeared, the blood stopped coming out and the swelling went down, and the pain was removed. She could not help with the break, but she could relieve him for a time of the effects of the broken nose.

The man’s eyes went wide with shock and he poked his nose. Nai’a spoke quickly before he did more damage to himself. “Your nose is broken, but the pain and swelling is gone, as well as the constant blood flow. I cannot help with the break; you will need to go to the infirmary for that. Nai’a’s words rushed out but she smiled at the man at the end. He just nodded at her without giving a thank you and stomped off into the darkness. Nai’a released a pent up nervous breath and leaned back up against the wall. This night had been full of trouble and danger, she really needed a break. But then her mind wandered to the woman, and she wondered where she was and if she was okay.

[Theia]

Theia was worried, and she wasn’t sure of what just happened. At least, not entirely. One moment things had looked as if they were going to go up in smoke and then, nothing. The pink haired woman was successfully fleeing and the men were just hovering. It wasn’t what could and sometime did happen in East Street, and she was worried the other young woman would do something foolish again. Which is how she found herself wandering, and forgetting at times what she was supposed to be doing and what she was about to do until she heard the voices. It came back to her abruptly, reminding her of what she was supposed to be doing, and what she was currently doing. She knew she shouldn’t have gotten involved but… Had one of the men followed the pink woman? Theia crept around the corner, noting that there wasn’t many people here either, it was more of an alley but mostly clean. Save for the bugs and few rats, lovely, really she really didn’t want to be involved again. But both parties looked fine, a bit haggard, likely from running but they were still technically out of harm’s way except for the fact that the man was still there and Theia figure no one would be outrunning him a second time. The Wavegaurd, she thought, maybe she could go get them or go to the university. The real question was whether or not to report it, if someone else reported it and blamed them it wouldn’t end nicely. By the time Theia was sorting through her thoughts the other woman had healed the man who was now leaving as if he hadn’t previously threatened their lives. “You shouldn’t have done that.” She scolded the other sharply, hovering nearby. So long as everyone was fine maybe she should just leave. But she didn’t. “You might have them coming back.” Theia stayed silent and stiff, not trying to comfort the other. “We might have to report this so there’s no confusion and…” Her voice trailed off as she watched the young woman, she looked shaky. Probably never been in East Street or had any trouble period. A sigh shuddered through Theia, “My names Theia, do you know how to get back to your home? I can take you there if you like.”

[Nai'a]

It seemed that Nai’a’s thoughts of the woman brought her forth, in some mystical fashion. Although the woman seemed angered at Nai’a, which just made her frown in confusion. The ghost woman asked her why she healed the man, as it may bring them back, then went on to say that they should report the incident to the authorities. Nai’a stayed silent, with the small frown on her pleasant face, letting the woman continue to speak with no interruptions from her, as her body was still shaking from the recent fright and run. She introduced herself as Theia, and then asked about her home.

Nai’a finally came out of her silence, speaking in a slightly shaky voice, ”I must heal those who are harmed, it is the will of my goddess, no matter what wrongs they have done to me or others, all shall be healed in the name of Rak’Keli.” Nai’a paused for a moment, inhaling a deep breath to try and calm the small tremors in her body, ”I agree with you about reporting this. There is no need in innocents being accused of the cruel acts of others. I am Nai’a by the way, it is a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for your help back there, it will not be forgotten.” Nai’a’s body started to finally settle down, it seemed talking healed her of most of the tremors, as a soft smile lifted her lips. ”I would not mind the company to where I am staying, and maybe on the way we could tell the wave guard of tonight’s happenings, if that is okay?”

Nai’a did not want to walk the rodent, bug, and sick infested streets alone. It had seemed as of late that those suffering from fevers were becoming a touch insane as well, acting without thinking, being driven in their insanity from the fever. The streets were a dangerous place for a young woman like herself to be walking alone at night. Danger and sickness lurked in the shadows it seemed, even with the lingering protectiveness of the wave guard.

[Theia]

“That is good of you but Goddess or no you should be more careful.” Theia said sharply, then softer, “And I’m sure she wouldn’t want you dead cause you tried to help some vagik.” The woman never understood people’s devotion to their Gods, she even envied it a bit, wanting to have the connection but she just hadn’t found it yet. Looking the woman over again –Nai’a was her name she felt herself ease up a bit more as the Nai’s shakes died down. Something told her she wouldn’t be able to do much for the pink-haired girl if she passed out on Theia. “You’re welcome.” Nothing else need be said, Theia hadn’t wanted to get involved but she was glad she did. Glad but tired. Heaving another sigh she moved closer to the other woman and gestured farther down the street. She nodded along with the words, they’d have to stop by the docks likely but that was fine, whatever she had been going to do had slipped her mind anyway. “We’ll have to swing by the docks to let someone know then to your house. So if its good by you its good by me.” She started out ahead of the other, wracking her brain for something else to say to keep the other calm. Strangely she wasn’t really feeling shaken up herself anymore. “You from around here?” It was a slightly guarded question, if the Nai’a was from Zeltiva that stunt back there had been foolish but if she wasn’t Theia figured she better let the girl know now about where not to go. That or inform her that some people might just not be worth healing. She walked without looking back to ensure the other was following, keeping a wary eye out that no one would pop out or follow them. “Docks’ will be over this way.”

[Nai'a]

Theia’s words came out a bit harsh, it seemed the ghost did not understand how devotion worked. You could never turn your back on someone that needed to be healed, even if you inflicted that damage yourself. It was hard for Nai’a to do that just because it was her personality, plus if she did do that with the mark of Rak’Keli it would have negative side effects. Nai’a sighed but stayed silent and just nodded her head at her words.

The woman’s question did not seem too personal, it was a normal question to be asked of someone as exotic looking as Nai’a, ”No I am not sure where I was born, but I am from Riverfall. I just got here a few weeks ago, so I do not own a house yet, but I do have a room at the Worlds End Grotto, so we can go there after the docks.” Nai’a gave the wispy woman a bright smile, and then looked ahead of them as they walked in the direction of the docks.

When they reached the docks there were several different Wave Guards standing around, some chatting among themselves. She did not see anyone she recognized. Though the only Wave Guard she really knew was Ricky, and he was not where to be seen. Nai’a heaved a sad sigh; she did not like those in authority. Just because Ricky turned out to be a very kind man, did not mean that the others were going to be kind. Nai’a chewed her lower lip nervously, inhaling a deep breath of the salty air, as she looked up at the woman.

”Should we go together, or should I go alone?” Nai’a asked pleasantly. She did not know whether or not the ghost liked to be around humans, or if she even wanted to approach the guards. Nai’a was not that wise when it came to ghosts, so she had to ask the question, hoping it did not upset the woman.

[Theia]

“Riverfall? That’s another port city, right?” It was all Theia vaguely new about the city, sometime Svefra and sailors mentioned it as having quite a few boats too but nothing like Zeltivas, she thought with not a small bit of pride. “Just a visitor then or you planning on staying awhile? The cottages here aren’t bad, used to have one myself.” When they reached the docks Theia hesitated like Nia’a. She didn’t want any trouble but she shook her head at Nia’s words and sighed loudly, “No, got to have us both since we were both there. A witness helps make sure that everyone knows you wouldn’t but judging from your magic hands we won’t be called liars.” And the area helps too, she added without shame. As they approached she seen why there were so many in one area, a body was at their feet and it looked worse for the wear. “Hold up a second.” Moving ahead of Nia’s she tried to get a closer look but one of the guards stepped away and towards them, ignoring Theia and heading straight for Nia’a. Theia huffed and followed him. “Sorry Miss, I’m going to need you to go around. We don’t want anyone too close in catch it still can catch.” “What was it?” Theia asked moving to stand back beside Nia’a and nearly forgetting what she was supposed to report. The Waveguard looked confused for a moment, turning this way and that before answering slowly and unsure. His eyes searching Nia’s face. “Two ill dropped on the docks.” He gestured to their left, and in the general direction of the Grotto, “Just head that way.” Ill? Theia couldn’t really remember if anyone was ill but that was right because the streets had seemed less crowded, people not bumping shoulders or shaking hands. Vague images of people being carted of homes assaulted her but it seemed like something she dreamed instead of what was real. oocTheia’s distracted at the moment, so feel free to state the case about the lady. Also, I don’t know if you wanted to continue the thread a bit more after this with Theia escorting her home or…?

[Nai'a]

Nai’a nodded her head vaguely to Theia’s assumption of Riverfall. It was indeed something like that. ”Well I do not plan on buying a cottage till Spring maybe. For now I am volunteering at the Orphanage, which provides rooms to those who help out there. Plus I go from the Worlds End Grotto to… A friend’s house.” Nai’a whispered the last part. What was she to call Valo, other than a friend, for at the moment that was indeed all they were.

Theia went over to the men that were standing around what looked to be a body. A chill raced down Nai’a’s spine, another death to behold on such a cold night. It did not help that the red beady eyes of the rats peered out of the shadows, like demons staring straight into her soul. This night just became more and more horrific.

Theia trailed behind one of the Wave Guards that began to approach Nai’a. The Kelvic inhaled deeply, wringing her hands nervously. She really did not like being around authority figures, they frightened her. But she bucked up and decided to look pass that fear and do what must be done. Nai’a stayed silent when the man told the two women they had to go around, Theia bravely asked what it was at their feet. Nai’a thought it was only one body, but it was actually two bodies at their feet. Both had dropped dead on the decks from the illness. Nai’a gasped softly, her hand going to her mouth.

Theia looked to be off somewhere else, so Nai’a gulped down the nervous lump in her throat and decided she needed to tell the guards, ”I am so sorry to hear that Sir, as well as to interfere with your work. But we were coming here to tell you that there is another body, down an alley a little ways from the Kelp Bar.” Nai’a cleared her throat, then looked up at the guard, ”She was murdered. I tried to save her, but it was too late.” Nai’a’s bottom lip trembled slightly and she bit down on it. She really did try to save the woman but it seemed that she arrived a little too late to be of much help.

The Wave Guard nodded and motioned a few of the other guards forwards, he ordered them to go to where Nai’a told them the woman was. ”Thank you ladies for reporting the crime. We will come find you if any further questions that needs to be asked. Now go on home, there has been enough death for one night.” The guard waved them on and turned his back on the two women, going back to the two bodies on the docks. Nai’a sighed softly, her nerves feeling much better now that he had left. Nai’a looked up at the ghost woman and smiled softly.

”Well, it has been one helluva night I must say. I think it is best that we both just go on home. I am just right around the corner at the Worlds End Grotto, so I can carry on alone. It was a great pleasure to meet you Theia, I hope to see you around again soon. If you ever need me I am at the Grotto.” Nai’a waved bye to the ghost woman, as she turned on her heel and started walking to the Grotto, so ready for a nice hot bath and to cuddle down in her bed with Meka and go to sleep.

OOCOkay, I think the thread can end after Theia’s post . This was a lot of fun, if you ever wanna start up another thread PM me!