A tear threatened to roll on her cheek and Fire swiped at it angrily, she didn’t want to show weakness. Shock had started to set in a bit from the act that she’d performed but it was done and there was nothing that she could do about it now, she felt Bitzer had silently confirmed that when she didn’t answer if they could fix what happened. Warmth came around her and she realized that Bitzer had thrown her cloak around her shoulders. This threatened the tears anew, the shocking contrast between the two strangers that she’d come into contact today proving the madness of Sunberth.
Fire’s feet continued to move thoughtlessly, keeping her with the other woman. She listened to the instructions that she was being given and made a mental note. Bitzer seemed as though she’d been through this kind of thing before and her words were from experience, Fire would heed them.
Her shoulder caught another’s as they walked, barely registering the curses coming from the other person she just tried to focus on getting back and listening to her companion. The further they got away from the alley the less she felt weighed down with the thoughts of her actions. It started to feel surreal, that it might not have actually happened. Bitzer’s presence was the constant reminder that it had.
As the other woman spoke she realized how true her words were. She couldn’t afford to wallow in her self doubt and fear. How many times had she killed an animal for survival and food? Yes, it was slightly different because the life that she had taken wasn’t for sustenance but that didn’t mean it was any different. Shaking her head slightly, she tried to loosen the fog in her mind. Filling her lungs with air she slowly let out the deep breath, a long and slow white cloud flowing from her mouth.
“I understand. You’re right, I… I got lucky this time. Next time…” she paused for a moment wondering if she might encounter a next time. She didn’t want to encounter a next time. What she needed to do was get out of Sunberth. It was becoming more and more apparent that she was not meant for this town as everyday passed. “If there is a next time… I only hope to be as lucky.”
Fire had not been paying attention to the direction they were heading, trusting the woman that she’d briefly met before to lead her in the right direction. Glancing up she realized that they’d not come upon the bar but were passing a gate that lead to a few buildings. Bitz told her to come there if she were in trouble again and that gave Firenze some relief, she had somewhere more secure looking to go, other than the bar. The courtesy of security came with a warning though. Firenze nodded, “Yes, understood. What is that place?” She’d passed by it before but had not really paid attention to it, her mission always elsewhere.
Glancing over to the other woman she wondered if she was cold, her cloak secured around Fire’s shoulders. She was cold, the chill that had sunk into her bones in that alley felt like it was deep and that it would never leave. Her eyes turned to the street, looking but not really seeing, her thoughts frazzled her mind. Quickly her attention was torn from her thoughts and she was grateful to the woman next to her for keeping her from turning too far inward.
“I...I am staying at the Drunken Fish. I’ve had their ale before and it is rather strong,” the bitter false heat of an ale sounded good, hoping it would help her to relax, “do you want to have a cup with me? I'll pay, for your troubles of course.” Bitz noted her frown and Fire realized that she did indeed have her mouth turned down. She hadn’t even noticed, maybe her thoughts had placed it there without her knowing. Looking over, unfurling the crease between her brows she lifted the edges of her mouth and tried to give her best smile to Bitz, it was not her usual brilliant smile but a half one that was strained.
They approached the door for the Drunken Fish and Firenze grabbed the handle automatically, pulling it back. Warmth drifted over her, running along her exposed skin. As they entered, she dragged out a seat near one of the back tables for her companion and then grabbed another and plunked down into it. She waved a hand limply in the air at Miriam to come with drinks.
“I’m from Sunberth as far as I know, I’ve been here as long as I can remember. It is starting to become very clear that I may not be suited for this city…” her lips came together in a hard line, a heavy sigh escaping her. Her eyes turned onto the table, hands clasped together on the worn top.
Miriam plunked a couple of mugs onto the table, the liquid sloshing over the side. “Thanks. Add it to a tab, I’ll pay you later,” Fire dismissed her, the barmaid knew she was good for her word and then some. She enjoyed the voluptuous woman, although they’d never be friends she liked the simple banter and bargaining with her from time to time.
Attention back on the other woman, she asked, “Are you from here?” The question was simple enough but there were other questions that were bothering Firenze that she wanted find out. Thumbs fiddle together debating whether to ask or not, her curiosity won, “How did you find us? How did you know we were there? I'm grateful you were, I’m not sure how things would have turned out had you not been…" Chair creaking she shifted in her seat, "I owe you a debt, you saved my life," it was a grim realization but Fire was truly grateful, "Anything you need, let me know and I will do it the best that I can.” She did owe the woman her life. It was risky leaving the debt favor open-ended but she wasn’t exactly sure how she could repay her. Taking a long pull from the ale she closed her eyes for a moment letting it sink in and warm her belly and bones, hoping that it would clear her head as well.
Fire’s feet continued to move thoughtlessly, keeping her with the other woman. She listened to the instructions that she was being given and made a mental note. Bitzer seemed as though she’d been through this kind of thing before and her words were from experience, Fire would heed them.
Her shoulder caught another’s as they walked, barely registering the curses coming from the other person she just tried to focus on getting back and listening to her companion. The further they got away from the alley the less she felt weighed down with the thoughts of her actions. It started to feel surreal, that it might not have actually happened. Bitzer’s presence was the constant reminder that it had.
As the other woman spoke she realized how true her words were. She couldn’t afford to wallow in her self doubt and fear. How many times had she killed an animal for survival and food? Yes, it was slightly different because the life that she had taken wasn’t for sustenance but that didn’t mean it was any different. Shaking her head slightly, she tried to loosen the fog in her mind. Filling her lungs with air she slowly let out the deep breath, a long and slow white cloud flowing from her mouth.
“I understand. You’re right, I… I got lucky this time. Next time…” she paused for a moment wondering if she might encounter a next time. She didn’t want to encounter a next time. What she needed to do was get out of Sunberth. It was becoming more and more apparent that she was not meant for this town as everyday passed. “If there is a next time… I only hope to be as lucky.”
Fire had not been paying attention to the direction they were heading, trusting the woman that she’d briefly met before to lead her in the right direction. Glancing up she realized that they’d not come upon the bar but were passing a gate that lead to a few buildings. Bitz told her to come there if she were in trouble again and that gave Firenze some relief, she had somewhere more secure looking to go, other than the bar. The courtesy of security came with a warning though. Firenze nodded, “Yes, understood. What is that place?” She’d passed by it before but had not really paid attention to it, her mission always elsewhere.
Glancing over to the other woman she wondered if she was cold, her cloak secured around Fire’s shoulders. She was cold, the chill that had sunk into her bones in that alley felt like it was deep and that it would never leave. Her eyes turned to the street, looking but not really seeing, her thoughts frazzled her mind. Quickly her attention was torn from her thoughts and she was grateful to the woman next to her for keeping her from turning too far inward.
“I...I am staying at the Drunken Fish. I’ve had their ale before and it is rather strong,” the bitter false heat of an ale sounded good, hoping it would help her to relax, “do you want to have a cup with me? I'll pay, for your troubles of course.” Bitz noted her frown and Fire realized that she did indeed have her mouth turned down. She hadn’t even noticed, maybe her thoughts had placed it there without her knowing. Looking over, unfurling the crease between her brows she lifted the edges of her mouth and tried to give her best smile to Bitz, it was not her usual brilliant smile but a half one that was strained.
They approached the door for the Drunken Fish and Firenze grabbed the handle automatically, pulling it back. Warmth drifted over her, running along her exposed skin. As they entered, she dragged out a seat near one of the back tables for her companion and then grabbed another and plunked down into it. She waved a hand limply in the air at Miriam to come with drinks.
“I’m from Sunberth as far as I know, I’ve been here as long as I can remember. It is starting to become very clear that I may not be suited for this city…” her lips came together in a hard line, a heavy sigh escaping her. Her eyes turned onto the table, hands clasped together on the worn top.
Miriam plunked a couple of mugs onto the table, the liquid sloshing over the side. “Thanks. Add it to a tab, I’ll pay you later,” Fire dismissed her, the barmaid knew she was good for her word and then some. She enjoyed the voluptuous woman, although they’d never be friends she liked the simple banter and bargaining with her from time to time.
Attention back on the other woman, she asked, “Are you from here?” The question was simple enough but there were other questions that were bothering Firenze that she wanted find out. Thumbs fiddle together debating whether to ask or not, her curiosity won, “How did you find us? How did you know we were there? I'm grateful you were, I’m not sure how things would have turned out had you not been…" Chair creaking she shifted in her seat, "I owe you a debt, you saved my life," it was a grim realization but Fire was truly grateful, "Anything you need, let me know and I will do it the best that I can.” She did owe the woman her life. It was risky leaving the debt favor open-ended but she wasn’t exactly sure how she could repay her. Taking a long pull from the ale she closed her eyes for a moment letting it sink in and warm her belly and bones, hoping that it would clear her head as well.
Others | Firenze | Thoughts
