Closed Facing Your Demons (Khara)

[Azira]

She laughed at Khara's ink joke, recalling the incident in a more positive light in hindsight and through her current, growing alcoholic haze. If she had really thought about it while in a sober mood, she would have realised that it wasn't funny at the time, not at all. The scout probably hadn't enjoyed it at the time either but now it was possible for it to be a private joke between them.

She continued her dabbing, a look of great concentration on her face as she tried to remove the stubborn stain. She scrutinised it, staring hard and rubbed at it vigorously after awhile when the dabbing seemed futile. She was spreading it but she didn't seem to notice. All she knew was that it wasn't going away and getting rid of it was her own goal. The Dek who she'd taken the cloth from remained unnoticed, the huntress missing the signs of laughter that danced in his eyes and threatened at the corners of his mouth as he watched the scene. Anyone who looked over at them would get a very different idea of what was going on but yet Azira couldn't see it. It was annoying though that Khara seemed to be squirming. How was she supposed to rub in the right place if she kept shifting about? She was just making things more difficult and the Avora was growing close to complaining.

Her companion's stuttering stopped her actions, surprising her. Her eyebrows raised in question as she took in the Chiet's expression. Was she blushing? Why was she blushing? Well, it was Khara, she did blush a lot but it was still a little unexpected. There was normally a reason for such a thing and so Azira puzzled over it as she withdrew the cloth. Her eyes flickered between the scout's face, the cloth and the wine stain that had spread over the front of Khara's vinati. A crease appeared between her brows as she thought it over, piecing things together in slow stages.

"Oh. Oh! Yes, fine!" she exclaimed as it finally clicked into place. The cloth was dropped on the table. "Well, I can't be expected to clean up wine either, can I? That was silly of me to think I could clean that. Sorry. I've probably made it worse as well. Sorry," she added quickly, trying to patch things up. It was clumsy, it was sloppy and she was also sure that it was quite translucent. She was thinking a little more clearly now, the realisation of what she'd been doing acting as sufficient to knock a bit of sobriety into her. She also found that she was feeding off Khara's embarrassment as colour came into her own cheeks and her hands fidgeted within her lap until they found their way to the wine glass again.

What was left of the alcohol that hadn't been spilled was knocked back and poured herself a fresh glass, emptying the bottle in the process. She sipped at it, the alcohol seeming to provide some relief although that was only psychological for the moment. A hiccup escaped her halfway through the glass and she found herself giggling again. The hiccuping continued, nearly choking on the wine as she tried to drink it. There was just a bit more to knock back and she would have drank nearly a whole bottle herself. That seemed like something of an achievement to the huntress and it brought a smile to her face between hiccups and the occasional giggle. It seemed like a bit of silliness now, what had happened with the wine stain and Khara's vinati and so she felt more at ease again.

"I think... I think one bottle will do me. If I drink more... I don't need to drink more," she explained. She drank the last of her drink and stood up. "Did you want to- Woah!" The huntress almost fell over as the world spun around her. A hand on the table steadied her before she addressed Khara again. "Got up a bit too fast there. Did you want to stay longer? I think I'm done but you can stay. I don't know what you could do. Dance or something," she explained, removing her hand from the table and taking an unsteady step away, head still turned towards the Chiet as she prepared to go.

Nari | Common

Template courtesy of Khara

[Khara]

The apologies made it all the more awkward, but it wasn't exactly like Khara could exactly come right out and tell Azira to stop saying sorry. If she did then she would have to quickly follow with one of her own for speaking out of line, which could very well cause another to come from Azira given her current state and then they would just go around in an endless circle. They may have finished off a bottle of wine - okay, so Azira mostly finished it - but they weren't nearly tipsy enough for that sort of thing! Were they?

Despite the fact that Khara was fairly certain the redness had spread from her cheeks down her neck, she was fairly certain that she wasn't. She'd only had two glasses. Or was it three? Petch. Either way it seemed that Azira was content to avoid more trouble and not order another bottle. Which was probably a good thing. Any more and someone would have to escort the both of them back to their rooms. As it was, if Azira was determined to leave the very least Khara could do was make sure that the Avora made it back to her door without any further incident.

She knew that she wasn't exactly imposing, and if Cedrin was really as bad as Azira had made him out to be then there would be little the Chiet could do to stop him. But that didn't seem like the important part. The important part was that she would try. Or, at least, she hoped she would. The strange little pluck of courage that surged within her wasn't typical and Khara wasn't sure if it was the wine or maybe the fact she just wanted to help that was causing it, but she wasn't sure just how long it would stay either. Best to get everyone back to bed then before it wore off!

"I'm no good at dancing and I said I would stay with you so you don't have to be alone right now - So if you go, then I go. Simple as that." The bit of determination in her voice startled her, especially with how much she had only been stammering a few ticks ago. The blush that had started to fade came back with complete vengeance as Khara suddenly felt like her skin was on fire. "I-I mean, i-if that's okay. I just figure... Well... If you have someone with you, then no one else will disturb you, right?"

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Azira]

Khara looked very uncomfortable and Azira couldn't understand why. She had stopped dabbing at the Chiet's chest and that incident was far in the past as far as the huntress was concerned. She squinted at the other, trying to determine whether or not a flush of colour had spread across Khara's face or if it was a trick of the lighting. She wasn't sure but she guessed that it was an extreme case of blushing. The scout did seem to have a tendency of flushing with embarrassment as well as every other emotion as far as the Avora could tell. Azira was sure that the scout would get over it, she always did eventually.

The girl's reply to her suggestion was an unexpected one, the Avora still having enough of her wits about her to manage to raise an eyebrow at her tone. She sounded so certain of herself and her tone brooked no arguments. If she said was going with Azira then it seemed that she was going with her no matter what. It was just surprising because the hierarchy was supposed to work the other way; Azira was supposed to say things that Khara couldn't argue against.

Whatever sense of confidence had possessed her companion evaporated as soon as her decision was announced. She'd remembered her place, either on her own or by looking at the Avora's expression. She'd seen the error of her ways, left stuttering in the wake of that knowledge. The huntress frowned at her for a few moments before shrugging. It didn't make any difference to her whatever the teen chose to do. If she wanted to keep her company then so be it. It wasn't like they were going to be together for too long. It was only a walk through the Warrens to the Darniva Commonrooms, not terribly exciting but she supposed that Khara was going that way anyway so it was probably more convenient for her. Her logic interested her though. If Azira had company then no one would bother her. The corners of her mouth turned down as her thoughts turned to Cedrin. Yes, that was why she'd come here in the first place, wasn't it? To hide from him, to forget him. Khara's offer of company sounded far more appealing now.

"Yes, I think that's a good idea. I'm probably better off with you with me. Doesn't hurt to stick together, right?" she murmured, forgetting that the scout might not hear such a low tone in the club's noise. She gestured for the other to follow her, figuring that that would convey enough of her meaning, before she tottered off towards the exit. There were a flow of Inarta still making their way into the Inclement Weather and she had to find a gap to slip out through them. She hovered near the entrance as she waited for Khara to follow her, nervous glances shot around her. The Chiet shouldn't have reminded her about Cedrin. She'd managed to forget, even if only a little while but it had given her some peace of mind at least.

Please hurry, Khara, she thought, cursing the incoming crowd as they stood between herself and her companion. When she appeared, she breathed a sigh of relief. "It's busy tonight, isn't it?" she commented, giggling nervously and glancing furtively around her again.

Nari | Common

Template courtesy of Khara

[Khara]

There were only a few words that Khara could make out as Azira mumbled her reply, but the way her expression seemed to stumble away from the blissful veil that had formed gave Khara a decent idea of what the huntress had meant. A pang of guilt followed as she was motioned at before Azira stood and left. The other teen had been happy for a moment, and all the scout had managed to do was drive that away. Never know when to keep quiet do you, Sparrow?

It was Khara's turn to feel a frown tug at the corners of her lips before she quickly pushed herself away from the table and made to follow the huntress. Leaving the Inclement Weather, however, proved to be far more arduous a task than entering had been. The first complication came from - embarrassingly enough - just standing and walking. Khara hadn't expected the sudden unsteady feeling that came with getting to her feet so quickly and for a moment she had to grasp hold of the back of the chair she had been sitting in to steady herself. But I didn't drink that much! Other people could drink an entire bottle of wine and seem just on the edge of being tipsy so Khara couldn't figure out what her problem was. Maybe because I don't ever really drink? Her mind suggested but didn't really sound convinced. Maybe it's because you're so small. The accusation came as she glanced about at the others as she slowly walked past them. It wasn't that they were taller than her; well, most were but not by any real noticeable amount. They just seemed... Not so scrawny? Another unhelpful chime in and Khara immediately shoved the entire thought process aside. She could muse on the effects of alcohol on herself another time, Azira was waiting.

The second obstacle to overcome was the sheer amount of people that had arrived in the time the two girls had been there created a sea of Inarta that Khara had to carefully navigate through. Unsteady sidesteps had to be taken, apologies tumbled out almost continually from her lips as attempts to move shoulders or elbows before connecting with another didn't quite happen fast enough. She was proud for a split second as she managed to swerve and spin around on her foot fast enough to avoid being barreled into as one man was shoved into her path by another in the process of some sort of argument. Still, it was some sort of small miracle that the Chiet managed to finally reach where Azira was waiting near the entrance without being knocked to the floor.

The effort, perhaps combined with the wine, had left her slightly winded when she finally saw the huntress and she glanced back at the crowd after Azira asked her question. A somewhat puzzled look formed as she looked back and a shoulder was shrugged.

"I guess so? I don't really know what it's like normally." Khara responded, another quick glance cast back towards the inside of the Inclement Weather. "I don't... I don't think I want to find out."

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Azira]

Bouncing nervously from foot to foot, the huntress nodded quickly and set her head spinning. "I don't what it's normally like either. It just looks like everyone wants to get in. You're right though. I don't want to stay and find out either. Come on," Azira replied, throwing one final look at the crowd pushing into the night club before she set off down the Warrens.

There wasn't anyone going the same way as them at first, those they passed heading in the direction of the club. Once they entered the more traversed tunnels though, they met more activity. Dek still hurried back and forth to carry out their tasks. Weary hunters dragged themselves in late from the mountainside, shivering with cold and looking ready to drop from exertion. It wasn't yet late and so the city was still alive with activity. People's destinations were predictable. The baths, the kitchens, the Aeries, the Commonrooms and the Inclement Weather were all the places people would be going. Soon most of that activity would die and all that would be left would be the late night revellers stumbling back to their beds and the beds of their new lovers.

The Avora was heading to the safety of her room. She hadn't wanted to stay behind in the Inclement Weather and get drunk and end up doing goodness knew what. Now that she was out of the club, she was feeling the effects of the alcohol she had drank and wanted nothing more than to sleep it off. A hand trailed along the stone wall beside her to help support her as she moved forward on unsteady feet. It was not an enjoyable experience at all. It hadn't been like this the last time but perhaps she was merely more aware this time, her fear giving some clarity to her senses. She scrutinised Khara, checking to see how drunk the game scout was. She hadn't drank as much as the huntress had but maybe she was just as much a lightweight as Azira. The Chiet appeared better off then her and so the huntress decided that Khara would have to support her. Her companion couldn't refuse either; Azira outranked her.

"Now, Khara. Soon we'll be home free!" she hiccuped, grabbing the other's arm so she could link her own through it. "I'm sure we can get back without running into any trouble. It's not like either of us is drunk" she laughed, pausing thoughtfully before continuing, "Tipsy, now I'll admit to that one." She giggled, attempting to tug the other close to her side and lock them together. There was no way that the Chiet would risk trying to pull away for fear of offending her and the huntress would revel in the closeness.

In the club, she hadn't noticed as much about the girl. The place had reeked of sweat, alcohol, old blood and vomit. Now that they were out of that place of smells, sights and sounds, she could appreciate the scent that wafted off the other's hair, the way the strands fell on her face, the flush that had entered her cheeks. It stirred something within the huntress, bringing brightness to her eyes and colour to her cheeks that had nothing to do with the wine. A Chiet had to do what she asked, whatever she asked. Khara was coming to her room anyway. It'd be so easy to tell her to stay, to explore her soft flesh, to taste her sweet lips and make them part in a sigh, a gasp, a scream. All she'd have to do was tell her and the girl would give in to every whim and desire of the huntress.

You can't force her like that! Some part of her still possessed sense, was sober enough to have a conscience in the face of such innocent temptation. The girl had looked after her and cared for her when she had had nobody else. She had proved herself to be worthy of the Avora's respect. It would be cruel and unjust to repay her with such treatment. Not that it couldn't be enjoyable for us both, she reminded herself although she had already come to a decision. She looked away from her almost lover and shook her head, inducing a sense of the Warrens spinning around her.

"Gods, I really need to lie down," she groaned, giving her companion a slight tug to spur her on. The faster they got to her room, the sooner she'd get to lie down. Also she might not have time to change her mind about Khara. Khara would never forgive her she was sure but sometimes lust could get in the way of logic. The huntress had certainly experienced that situation before. She didn't want a repeat of it either.

Nari | Common

Template courtesy of Khara

[Khara]

She couldn't quite decide if she liked or didn't like Azira linking arms with her and tugging her close. Having the huntress close was okay, she guessed, but the scout was already feeling off balance and she felt like Azira was threatening to topple the both of them. Still, she couldn't stop a foolish grin from being plastered on her lips as the Avora admitted to being tipsy.

Why couldn't Azira be like this more often? Not the scared part of course, Khara hadn't liked seeing that side of her at all - but the other side, the one that was determined to crush and bury any semblance of a bad mood, this was actually nice. It felt like they were friends, actually, something Khara had to admit to herself that she really did want. There was plenty to learn from the huntress professionally and Khara hadn't taken any of the time the Avora was willing to spend with her for granted, but having a friend would be nice too. Who knew, maybe she was actually seeing the real Azira for a change. It was a shame it took wine to do it, not that Khara particularly minded the warm fuzzy haze it seemed to have caused.

She wasn't quite sure what was going on within the huntress' mind, but Khara watched from the corner of her eye curiously as she caught Azira looking at her a bit differently. Not that Khara could tell exactly what the look was for, but she smiled anyway, even as Azira abruptly looked away.

"No worries, we're getting close to the Commonrooms. Just a little farther," Khara said, a bit more brightly than she expected to sound as she encouraged the huntress onward.

The warrens felt like they would go on forever though, twisting and turning as they made their way back towards the living areas. It dawned on the scout then that she hadn't ever actually been to Azira's room and she was quite thankful the huntress was still conscious so she could point the way. Otherwise things might have gotten rather awkward. Well... More awkward. Not that Khara felt things were awkward now, but they very well could become that way, especially if Azira let the other teen insist on seeing that the huntress was okay before leaving for the evening.

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Azira]

Despite her attempts to resist, the huntress found herself looking at Khara beside her. Mainly it was just watching her from the corner of her eye but there was also the occasional glance as well. Alcohol could be messing with her head, making her think that she could see things that weren't there but there was no mistaking the fact that the game scout was smiling at her. Her brain was too confused by the drink and her own lust without needing anything to mess with her head more. They were standing close together, Azira had been looking at the girl a certain way and now she was smiling back at her.

She giggled a little hysterically. She had no idea what to make of this. Had the Chiet realised what she'd been thinking? Had her look given her away? Was the smile an invitation or an affirmation? Was it purely friendly? The Avora tried to gather her thoughts and piece them together but they slipped almost lazily from her grasp. The smile wasn't seductive as far as she could tell but it was maybe a little coy, which amounted to the same thing. At least, Azira thought so. There was something pleasantly innocent about the other's look that was incredibly enticing. What if it was pure innocence though and the girl wasn't even aware of what Azira was thinking? The Avora had doubts, so many doubts, but also some hope that all the positive signs she thought she was reading were really there.

The bright manner in which Khara announced the nearness to their destination had Azira's heart speeding up. Excitement built up in her quickly. If she didn't know what the huntress had in mind then why did she sound so eager? A quick glance in the girl's direction before she looked at her more closely, scrutinising her. How could she be sure? Ask if she wants to come into the room? No reason for her to agree unless she was interested, her mind managed, adding a quickness to her step. She felt a little more steady, a little more sober as she dragged Khara along. It seemed that way to her but she might easily be wrong.

The scout was steered in the direction of the Avora's room as she remembered that the Chiet hadn't been there before. There was no reason for her to resist her guidance and so Azira was happy to lead her along, to bring her to her room as quickly as possible. Once they got there, Khara was released and the huntress leaned against her door in the most nonchalant way she could muster. "Do you want to..." The question died on her lips as what she was doing hit her. Her awareness of an interest in women had been a long one but yet the teen had never touched one, hadn't even kissed one. The idea was both thrilling and terrifying.

The Chiet had to endure a sweeping look as the Avora looked her up and down before the huntress met her gaze and found some wine fuelled courage within herself. "Do you want to come in?" she asked, tapping a finger on her door to indicate her meaning as if it wasn't already plain.

Nari | Common

Template courtesy of Khara