Completed Essentials (Edreina)

[Razkar]

81st Day of Spring, 513AV
The Docks
8th Bell

Razkar is not, by nature, a mischievous person. And yes, I know that you know where this is heading, but I'm the storyteller here, so indulge me.

He was raised in discipline, self-reliance and honor his blood and his Goddess-Queen. Mischief was permitted, but not encourage. It served no purpose and often was more detrimental to the clan that constructive... though morale was always a factor, he supposed. As he got older and the world became a harder place, such predilections for humor started to dry up. Pools remained, here and there - a dry sense of humor, joking with fang-mates, teasing of his close friends - but pranks and such were forever alien to Razkar.

I can sense my audience is craving a point. Very well.

Bearing that in mind, one can assume a great deal of trust and affection for Edreina and from here, that he would wake with the sun already risen, seeing her swinging gently from her hammock, sound asleep... and go to fill up a nearby jar with seawater.

Floorboards creaked under him, and he cursed every squeaking, informing sound they made, until he was at the bottom of the stairs. A shadow crept over the sleeping maiden like a monster from the dark ages, bearing a stein of blood... or a jar of cold water.

"Happy birthing day, Edri!"

A whoosh. A splash. A squeal from the id that became the waking roar of feminine indignation-

-and a giggling Myrian running for the deck and the sun, happy to start his day in such fine form.

Yes. Giggling. You read that right. What a difference the right female makes...

[Edreina]

Edreina's dreams tended, more often than not, to be colored orbs that shifted and changed, carrying a voice or a meaning that made sense only to her unconscious mind and would be forgotten upon the instant that true light filtered into her vision. Upon this particular morning, however, Edreina's mind was particularly full of motion, sound, and a dancing, flickering light. But that was all that she would remember. For just when the dream began to reach a climax, it was flooded. No, she was doused. Initial shock hooked and reeled a high pitched shriek from her throat, likely a long forgotten defense mechanism, that lasted just long enough for her eyes to clear and her water-woken mind to realize what was going on. That banshee's shriek dropped in pitch to a tiger's roar escaping from a whispy woman's maw. She flipped in her hammock, sending her sprawling on the ground for an instant before she could rise from all fours to chase the cackling Myrian across the lower deck, tail him up the ladder, and then around the mast. "Petchin' bastard!" She yelled, leaping behind him and planting both palms in the center of his back in an attempt to push him overboard. They both flailed for a moment, trying to regain balance. Edreina eventually tipped too far one way and fell flat on her rear end with a huff, dissolving into a fiery puddle of laughter. "S'this 'ow you're gonna wake me e'ry mornin' that you're stayin' here?" She laughed and rolled her eyes, realizing how sloppy her Common was first thing in the morning.

[Razkar]

Such a curious thing when laughter and winces of pain mingle together. She may not have knocked him into the lapping Suvan, but Edri's push did send Razkar thudding into the mast. Yellow wood and black rings dances before his eyes briefly, but even as he slid down chuckles still wracked his body, grin splitting his face.

"S'this 'ow you're gonna wake me e'ry mornin' that you're stayin' here?"

That just set Razkar off again, eyes widening at a butchery of Common that even he would be hard-pressed to accomplish. He held his hands up in mock surrender, even as they shook with mirth.

"Oh, give up, give up! Would not want you to slay poor Common language even more! Have mercy on poor savages ears!"

Something small and hard was thrown at him, and from the pier below there was a questioning whinny. Mrrko had wakened, wondering what mischief his two-leg master was up to. He always seemed to be up to something, the horse thought. Never just stood still and chewed the grass, two activity's he happened to enjoy immensely.

Finally the laughter subsided and Razkar leaned back on the mast, early sun still not too baking and the cold of night still clinging desperately to the air. He knew it would not last, so...

"Come." He said plainly, still smiling as he got to his feet. "Day should start with train. If only body, not weapon or fighting." Razkar walked to the edge of the Goldengrotto and, practical as always, looked left and right. No ships ploughed through the water surrounding the pier, and he nodded. "Time to swim..."

He turned to face her, arms held out straight... and smiled...

"Unless you afraid savage can swim better?"

... then fell back into the waves with a splash and a roar and a full-body punch of icy water and a massive freezing glove that wrapped around his very being, searing every nerve ending and obliterating all traces of exhaustion. He remembered to close his eyes though, body righting under the water, head bobbing back to the-

His head flung back from the waves, mouth open wide and gasping, letting loose a whoop into the early sky to the disapproval of some passing gulls. Remembering his teacher's words, he let himself lean back in the water, feet kicking gently... arms spread... and started to swim on his back.

Get used to the temperature of it, then go to your front and swim. That should work your arms and your legs, actually. Very useful.

"Come on, Edri!" He called out to the unseen figure still on deck. "Don't be so-"

A flash of red and a shadow before the sun, eclipsing it. Edreina flew.

[Edreina]

"Oh, give up, give up! Would not want you to slay poor Common language even more! Have mercy on poor savages ears!" Edreina's jaw dropped at his jibe and, instead of giving him more to laugh at, picked up a chunk of wood and hurled it at him. His fluttering attempt to bat away the attack only made Edreina laugh harder, true laugh becoming a gasping, yelping sound that she only made when truly surprised or had multiple funny events piled onto one another. It was so rarely heard that she saw Razkar's eyes widen before he began to laugh even harder. It took several minutes for them to calm down, still occasionally chuckling or letting a stray giggle escape. She watched him stand and make his way over to the edge of the boat with slight curiosity. "Come. Day should start with train. If only body, not weapon or fighting. Time to swim... Unless you afraid savage can swim better?" Edreina watched his wonderful attempt at grace when entering the water and shook her head, knowing from experience how much a flat entry into the ocean could hurt, even knock out one's breath. Time to show him how it's done. Edreina backed up a few paces and then began to run. Legs pumping, arms swinging back and forth wildly, she had to get enough speed to do this. With a well placed strep, she flung herself up into the air, up and over Razkar. Her legs came together instinctively and she brought her arms up from her side to knife out in front of her, sending her momentum forward so that she sliced into the water at the perfect angle. Her body entered the water so well, in fact, that she found herself several paces beneath the churning surface. It was chilly, to be sure, but not as much as the open ocean. Here, water was more stationary as the wind had less time to build up speed and send it whirling about. Her limbs locked for only a fraction of a second and she was paddling her way upwards, towards a still inefficiently flailing Myrian. Oh... I can't waste this opportunity. Despite the fact that her breath was running low, Edreina slowed her approach to the Myrian. With one pale, slender hand, she planned her attack. It was slow, fingertips running over his ankle, up his calf, confusing him. When her hand reached his knee, she locked her fingers just under the join, elbow bending to capture his foot. With one swift yank, she pulled him beneath the waves, releasing right away as the momentum of the pull in this weightless situation sent her drifting upwards. She breached the surface with a gasp and a malicious giggle, waiting for her friend's rage to breach the surface. When it finally did, she had to back-paddle a few paces and hold up her arms in surrender, yet unable to banish the impish grin. "Afraid savage can swim better? Ha!" She dodged away from his splash. "Oh ho ho? Well c'mon then! Let's race, savage." Already she was backing up against the stern of the ship, placing both feet against it and taking her stance. "Out to that buoy and back!" She turned and grinned to her friend, waiting for him to take a position that he thought would help him. "Ready? Go!" They both exploded forward, but Edreina quickly lost sight of him as she went beneath the waves, knowing that starting there would mean less friction against the waves. She attempted to stay beneath the water for as long as possible, keeping her body packed close and moving it in a continuous wave - like a fish on its side - to capitalize on the momentum left over from her take off. When she breached the waves, she did not pause to look for her friend, automatically hurling her lithe form into a powerful stroke, in which her arm is shot up and over to stab into the water and draw her forward with each stroke, legs kicking constantly and furiously.

[Razkar]

The Myrian felt like prey, which was not a feeling he enjoyed. The Svefra vanished under the waves with a smooth splash that stunned him. He saw briefly kicking feet, red hair swirling under the waves... and then nothing.

"Edri?" He said, feeling foolish even as he spoke. Like she would actually hear him. "Are you-"

Something brushed against his ankle, moving up fast. He stiffened, waiting for scales and... no... it was flesh. Like fingers-

"Ah, pet-"

Suddenly his world of boat hulls and sunlight and surface waves became a confused mess of choking water, and he was utterly submerged in it. He flailed madly as something deceptively strong pulled him down, rocketing passed him, water vibrating as it went upwards.

With a whoosh and a roar he broke the surface, wet black strands whipping around him like angry snakes, finding the laughing Svefra and fixing her with a glare through dripping locks.

"Fucking hells, female!"

"Afraid savage can swim better? Ha!"

He lunged but whatever the prodigy he was in the land as far as combat went, he was but a babe who'd yet learned to walk properly in the water. She dodged away from him with a giggle and floated towards her ship, still smirking.

"Oh ho ho? Well c'mon then! Let's race, savage. Out to that buoy and back!"

Razkar narrowed his eyes and lined up next to her. "Think I my surpr-"

"Ready? Go!"

"Petch!"

A wave of water splashed him again as she exploded away from him, faster than he could have believed. Her legs threw her into and under the waves so... cleanly. He had to remind himself to follow and did, but not nearly as smoothly. His arms were still in front of him, not straightened as hers were, and the resistance slowed him.

Razkar glimpsed through barely-open eyes, saw her sinuous movement under the waves. He'd seen fish move with less grace, and knew right away he couldn't match her, not even to the buoy a hundred yards away.

Didn't mean he wasn't going to try, though.

Muscles straining through the unfamiliar element, he pounded his legs straight as she'd taught him, arms like pistons, face turning to the side to drink. Arm up... breath... arm down... arm up... and Goddess, he was actually doing it! Even through the water he smiled, sun warming his back as he reached the buoy.

"Reached" is perhaps the wrong word, though. He smacked his head into it.

"Fuck!"

Edreina heard the garbled curse in Myrian but didn't slow, Razkar rubbing his head behind her and turning swiftly, arms now burning. Water was so deceptive, he thought. So soft and pliable, gentle and nourishing... but throw a man into it, and that gentle element would kill him without a single chance to fight back. And as for journeying through it? Not for the weak or unskilled, certainly...

She was giggling and grinning and radiating smug satisfaction when he finally stopped by the Goldengrotto, panting and sputtering as he grasped the netting. She quirked an eyebrow and he shrugged, doing his best to remain unconcerned.

"Ah, male has to let female win, hmm? Is to be polite." Her mouth opened and a hand shot up, droplets of water flying. "No! No need to thank, Edri..."

He smirked out at the pier and let the water dry him. Why rush, after all? Then he thought on that question... and realized. Or remembered, more accurately. A man with a scar on his head and a slip of paper that Razkar now had in his purse.

Spinning Coin. Warehouse District. That was all it said, and all it needed to. The Myrian had said he would come today, and so he felt that he had to. He didn't need a reputation for being flimsy with his words, though sellswords weren't exactly known for being otherwise.

Yes, well, that's them; this is you.

And besides that, his healing and trapping kits needed to be replenished. He was down to the bare bones and that was no longer acceptable, not in his line of work. Razkar let his head fall back and smirked up at the slightly-pouting female, comfortable enough to give her a pat on the thigh.

"Busy day today, Edri. Not start with pout. Oh! And how does old lady feel now she is twenty three years in world?"

[Edreina]

Edreina had already looped her body and reversed her direction when she heard a garbled exclamation rumble through the water. But she did not have time to stop, to laugh at his blunder, she was going to win this. So far, his strength had given each of his strokes the power of two of hers. But she had technique. Her motions were practiced so that there was no wasted energy. In a few years, she would not have to breathe with every stroke, would be able to get more distance from each motion of her body. But for now, she would have to stick with beating a Myrian. When she touched the wood of her ship, her fingers automatically sought and found the lip of the railing and used to to haul herself up and out of the water. With a twist of her body, she was sitting on the railing, feet pressed against the swaying side for balance, a grin of pure exhilaration split the freckled face even as her shoulders were heaving from the exertion. Watching him pull himself in the final strokes to the ship was... for lack of better terminology... petching hilarious! All that uselessly exerted energy had taken its toll and made his final strokes sloppy. Edreina could not fight the giggle that seeing a grown man struggle like a child evoked. "Ah, male has to let female win, hmm? Is to be polite." The true victor rolled her sea-foam eyes at the Myrian's bravado. Her lips parted as a retort formed- "No! No need to thank, Edri..." Her lip jutted in annoyance, eyes narrowed. When he moved into the boat, she spun on the railing and glared down at him. "Busy day today, Edri. Not start with pout. Oh! And how does old lady feel now she is twenty three years in world?" Edreina jumped from her perch and went to where she had hung her clothes. "How does it feel to be twenty-six? You decrepit old man. I'm surprised that you're not ancient history already," she sniffed, silently proud to have found a use for the fancy Common word she had learned years ago. Retrieving her comb from the puddle of cloth, she began to yank knots from the flame, forcing it to dry at the same time. After that was complete, she pulled it up into a ponytail that was bound by a single strip of yellow fabric. Once that was done, she pulled on her shirt and skirt in quick succession, holding the corset in her hand for a thoughtful moment. With disdain, she opened the hatch with her toe and tossed the mess of leather and lacings into the darkness. From there she sat on the railing and began pulling on her stockings. "So, what's the plan today? I was thinking about stopping by that employment office." Shoes were the one thing that Edreina happily donned for the city. These people... they could not keep their homes and their streets as clean as easily as the Svefra. Sometimes, the wanton filth roils Edreina's stomach. "Thought about heading to the Bazaar too. Just to see what it's like... how it's changed. Wanna tag along?" She grinned up at him. "Don't worry. I won't make you carry anything this time."

[Razkar]

"How does it feel to be twenty-six? You decrepit old man. I'm surprised that you're not ancient history already."

Razkar chuckled as she swanned off, fixing her hair, finding the rest of her clothes and generally ignoring the barbaric male. He hauled himself up to the deck, surprised his arms could be so tired after such a simple thing as swimming.

Not simple though, is it? Well, it might be. But that doesn't mean it's easy...

"Dee-crep-eet?" He parroted the word back to her, tasting yet a new morsel of Common and shrugged. "Did not feel so when was beating shyke out of you in Flotilla, hmm? Pretty good for old man..."

As she prepared herself, so did he, thought it was a much quicker process for the most part. His loincloth was already on and he pulled his breeches on over them, sandals covering his feet. The neat sand of Taloba was far from here, and the cobbles of Syliras, covered in effluence from countless animals, left much to be desired.

His cloak swung gently in the breeze on the mast, but first... his harness.

There was a definite reverence that was not lost on Edreina, watching the Myrian cover himself with steel and leather. Each weapon, six of them in total, was examined and caressed like a friend or lover before slid into its proper sheath. Finally, silent words in his own tongue on his lips, he raised his claw necklace up and settled it around his neck.

"Ah, good thing to see," he said with a smile as she discarded that evil corset. He frowned in something between disgust and bewilderment. "No idea why females here wear such thing. So... painful. Women in Taloba, now, never wear. Too tight. Make fight harder..."

"So, what's the plan today? I was thinking about stopping by that employment office."

Razkar snorted softly, impressed with her thrift. Everyone needed to earn, after all, at least until the day when food was free and shelter under the stars would be enough for all.

"Sounds like good idea," he said, fastening his cloak around his shoulders, "I must go to..." he frowned again, digging into his purse and reading the note again, burning the words into his memory "... Warehouse... District. Meet with some people."

Razkar saw but a flicker of concern on Edreina's face, but it passed quickly, he was pleased to see. She must have heard stories of sellswords, mercenaries, men who lived and died in the killing of others. They couldn't have been pleasant tales, and yet, here she was, about to accompany one to his next contract. But she was his friend, and so she went.

The best measure of a friend.

"Thought about heading to the Bazaar too. Just to see what it's like... how it's changed. Wanna tag along? Don't worry. I won't make you carry anything this time."

That darkened mood passed when she spoke again and Razkar nodded quickly. "Ah, yes, have other things to get. Must go to healer, and tracker... and food, I think. Need biscuit or something, ah... food to last." He gestured helplessly around with his arms at the endless expanses of stone and cobbles. "Not much for game, like deer and boar... maybe go outside walls. Find some there..."

The maiden's preparations were complete and Razkar grinned like one far younger than he when he saw the yellow bandanna waving at him, nestled in her red hair. She was ready. So was he. With a sigh directed at the waking morass that was Syliras, already crammed with carts and horses and travelers, he jumped lightly off the ship and patted Mrrko's black snout.

The Myrian pressed his forehead between those deep, placid eyes. "Time for us to go a-wandering, my friend..."

"Not worry about bags, mistress," the Myrian said lightly as they began walking, just a hint of a swagger in his gait as he led Mrrko behind them, "That is what horse is for..."

[Edreina]

"Not worry about bags, mistress. That is what horse is for..." Oh... A... A horse... Shark in the water? No problem. Myrian with an armory on his back? Pft. No big deal. Four legged animal with hooves and pinching teeth... I'm just going to... uh... Walk this direction now. In fewer words, Edreina does not like horses. Actually, she is terrified of them. She could predict a shark; she could swim away from Razkar, or run and hide. But a horse? That was a whole new element. Edreina stepped off of the ship and eyed the creature carefully, eyes wide with apparent trepidation. Even from behind, the creature was fearsome. Such big legs... With such sharp hooves... Edreina began to scoot around the monster without taking her eyes off of it until she was next to Razkar. Surely the beast would not attack with its master so close. Attempting to keep the fear from being too apparent, Edreina began to walk alongside her friend towards the city. At the door of the employment office, Edreina grinned and held up one hand. "Be right back", the gesture said as she trotted inside, cloth unaccustomed to such gay movements whirling about as if alive itself. The fiery female appeared only a few chimes later, smile still in place. "I will need to visit the Herald's Arms sometime soon. Maybe later today if I can find it again." Together, the duo continued towards the heart of the city, Edreina constantly tense because of the damned beast accompanying them.

[Razkar]

They'd not gone more than a few streets before Razkar realized something was wrong with his friend. The one with two legs, anyway. For good or ill, the Myrian knew well what fear looked like. How it smelled, how it manifested... even the different strains. Fear of pain; of death; of darkness; for kin; for your children; for your gold and for your reputation...

And, apparently, fear of poor Mrrko.

"Be right back."

She trotted away through the crowd that had gathered before the imposing Employment Office, leaving the Myrian with his face contorted in confusion. How could she be afraid of Mrrko? So gentle and obedient a steed? He sighed and turned to the jet-back horse, who regarded him with the same despairing features.

"Maybe it is because she is of the Sea People, my friend," he said softly, stroking the horse's snout and shining flanks, "She is not used to big, lumbering animals like you and me. Don't worry. We'll win her over."

A questioning whinny that ended with a hefty snuffle of Rakar's face, and he chuckled in response.

"Oh, yes. We'll most definitely have some fun with her first..."

They didn't have long to wait before a familiar shock of red hair came bounding towards them, smiling and satisfied and clutching a scrap of paper bearing good news.

"I will need to visit the Herald's Arms sometime soon. Maybe later today if I can find it again."

Razkar nodded, impressed at her luck and grudgingly impressed at the ability of this city to provide work for its people. Taloba was different; if you could work, you did work, and there was always something to do. If you had no trade or profession, well, hard luck for you. You didn't get to choose: you just did it, or you were punished. But here... there always seemed to be an opening. Razkar had seen people walk into the office, tell the clerks what they were good at, and chimes later, an option was presented. Or three.

"I have surprise that people rule here always find work for people." He said, shaking his head as they meandered further into the city. "I thought that finding work for so many people, be too hard. But all work, and all make money. It is... impressive."

The gate to the Warehouse District loomed ahead of them, and to familiar faces eyed the Myrian with a lessened weariness than they did before. Helmet still not fitting properly, Nathan smiled at the warrior nervously... and then tried his most charming grin for the red-head accompanying him.

Razkar crushed a smile as the youth spoke.

"Good morning to you, madam! How fare you on this-"

"Oh, stop bugg'rin' about, Nate," the older, sourer guard grumbled, jerking his chin towards the Myrian as Nathan blushed, "Still doing what we said?"

"Stay out of trouble? Yes. But need to find somewhere."

"Where?"

"Place called Spinning Coin?"

Harald chuckled in a wet, throaty way, dented armor shining in odd sections in the morning sun. Nathan was caught between bashfully avoiding glancing at Edreina and trying every chance he got to sneak a peek. Even Mrrko rolled his eyes.

"Aye... seems like your kind of place." He thumbed behind him, clear directions telling Razkar that it was perhaps Harald's kind of place, too. "Keep headin' down the road there until you get the Valini Trading, make a left all the way to the fountain, and you'll see the coin sign outside the warehouse. You'll probably hear it from outside, too. Lots of noise, that place, but keep all of..."

He paused, and Razkar was surprised to find he was actually trying to find a tactful way if phrasing "the dregs of all Mizahar".

"... their customers, in one place. Er... which makes sense, doesn't it?"

Rakar grinned crookedly and gave a mock salute, moving through the gate with a relieved Edreina fast on his heels. Still she kept her distance, eyes flitting nervously to Mrrko, who was apparently ignoring her. He'd already deduced he couldn't eat or fuck her, and neither would she ride him nor try to harm him, so she fell into that vast category he called "Background Two-Legs".

Then the Myrian's eyes saw the fruit stall, bearded old man crowing about his wares and he grinned even wider.

Perfect!

"Oh, Edri," he said suddenly, stopping without a warning and shoving the reins into her hand, voice radiating innocence, "Hold for one moment. I be back."

And then he was gone, the bastard, trotting across the road to get some apples for their little group, and already grinning where she could not see, imagining her terror...

No, she won't find the humor in it. But just because it isn't funny to her, doesn't mean it isn't funny.

[Edreina]

Edreina smiled back at the young guard, blue eyes flickering over him in a curious instant. As Razkar and the two spoke, Edreina found herself searching for places to look, things to look at. It was awkward for her to be standing there as Razkar spoke to others with whom he obviously knew, at least slightly. When Razkar began to move again, Edreina nearly tripped over herself in her haste to catch up with him once more and avoid the monster at his side. That earned a blush-worthy laugh from the old and young guard. "Oh, Edri, hold for one moment. I be back." Those would be the words written into her gravestone. As Razkar shoved the reins into Edreina's hands, a warrant for her death was signed. Blue eyes wide, pupils contracted to fearful pinpoints, the sea-dweller grasped the reins with both hands, as tightly as she could. Bastard! her mind gasped as her mouth was frozen to the point that she could not call after the retreating Myrian. Stupid, stinking, savage, BASTARD!!! As if reading her thoughts, the ink-colored monster turned its ebony eyes upon the fiery haired Svefra. They were a cold, deep, bottomless black that reminded Edreina of an Eel's burrow, a place where evil things existed. When they landed upon her, the chilly, still gaze sent chills up her arms, to the back of her neck. No creature should be able to hold so even a glare, it was as if it was capable of planning some fiendish scheme for the demise of the woman holding its reins. At any moment, it could pull back those fleshy lips and use its teeth to take a perfect chunk out of her flesh. So what if it ate grass! That does not mean that it would not take the chance to rip into a defenseless creature. She could always run. Edreina looked down at the reins clenched tightly in her hands. Impossible. It would outrun her and use those killer hooves to take her down. At this point, she was utterly trembling from head to toe, making her pony tail appear to be a flickering tongue of flame. When the creature was distracted by Razkar's return, bright red apples lining his arm, Edreina realized what had happened. You sick fuck... Her glare quickly became a sickly sweet smile. "Oh! Glad you're back. Here is your be-... steed." She tossed the reins to him and began to walk again, ignoring any reply from her friend. Already her mind was filling with possible ways to get him back. But which one would work?