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Post by Kelathi on Jul 29, 2019 12:05:53 GMT
Elisabel’s hands dropped to her sides obediently, but would probably return later, when she forgot about the gentle chastisement. At Don’s confirmation of Tiamat’s welfare, she looked relieved. “That’s good!” and had merely nodded as Don explained that the woman would need to rest up, presumably on the bed he was tending. She followed him dutifully out of the room, and was pleased to see that Tiamat did indeed look better, her eyes no longer flashing with the pain of hunger. Elisabel smiled shyly back in response to the intense gaze, her heart somersaulting, but then she was moving on, and the little bird assumed, with a tinge of sadness, that that was probably the last time she would see her.
To her surprise, Don didn’t direct her to the door, but rather, offered to feed her. She followed without question with the ease of someone that was used to being told what to do, and they ended up in a kitchen area. Elisabel was not particularly hungry, but she was a people-pleaser, so she accepted food. Her diet, in stark contrast to the Scythians, was dominated by greens.
***
Since she’d left home, she’d never been somewhere so welcoming. Those already in the kitchen had been engaged in a boisterous, light-hearted argument, punctuated by good-natured laughter. They’d welcomed Elisabel and treated her with a friendliness she’d been yet to receive, and so she found herself spending a longer time there than she had intended. Whilst initially shy, it soon became clear that she had a quick wit, once she was brave enough to let it show and contribute to the conversation. They were all laughing by the time Don returned, and with her ease of the situation, her other side had begun to show, as she gradually forgot to keep up the façade of being human. Just like it had with Tiamat, her other side faded in and out, her legs occasionally looking to be replaced by great talons like that of a bird of prey, whilst the rest of her body remained human except for the glimpse of great wings on her back, the long primary feathers trailing against the floor. Little bird, indeed.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Dec 5, 2019 3:11:16 GMT
Tiamat was restless.
She could feel her coils scraping against the furniture and the far wall, a slithering pile of cold scales and sinewy muscles. With a deep, hissing breath, she lifted her head, still drowsy from digesting, but disturbed. Idly, she watched the security camera feed at Don’s desk, the staff diligently clearing out some of the shelves to fill in the order she had nearly swallowed whole. It took her a while to notice, her eyes drifting down to her hand with a widening gaze. Her fingers had been drumming against one coil, the action finally subsiding as her attention was drawn to it. The gesture was one her mentor had used quite often, a silent show of anxiety, anticipation. She had learned it was a bad sign.
One she had yet to do herself.
Something was wrong. She could feel it in her bones, a sense of lingering threat that was just outside her senses. Her lip coiled as she twisted around, burying her head and torso from the light and tried to calm her center, to be present in her surroundings rather than thinking beyond as her prey so often did. It didn’t help.
It might have amused her to know that her frustrated tail strike against the warehouse wall, strong enough to shake it, had spooked three workers into the far room before they realized nothing was following them. As it was, she took another deep breath in, the hiss in her voice deep even as her form flickered again. Leather coat once more hanging off her frame loosely rather than taut from the size difference, she walked through the door, surprising a troll as she came out. Normally, she would be out for several more hours, and the dark circles under her sharp eyes showed she could easily have slept longer. And yet she sniffed the air, looking for Don.
Another scent hit her, making her pause. This was what she followed, leading her back to the kitchens, where the staff were too busy laughing and enjoying one another’s company to notice her silent presence. The little bird was at the heart of the conversation, finally showing glimpses of the bird that Tiamat had been scenting the entire time. It was almost odd, to see proof of what her nose already knew.
Even Don didn’t realize Tiamat had wandered into the kitchen as he walked in, drying his hands on his apron after his work. “So, Elisabel, right? Where are you staying?” he asked in that fatherly tone, the serious tone only there because he was genuinely concerned where the young woman would be staying the night. Ending up under the Scythian’s protection… she must have been on her own. No way would any family allow a child with such a dangerous figure. Rather than call attention to herself, Tiamat remained in she shadows, shy of the halo of light around the others, letting herself meld into the background as she listened in. Did the girl have somewhere to go? If not, she would volunteer to house her.
The little bird didn’t smell wrong, but it hadn’t been until she had shown up that this feeling of wrong had overcome the private investigator. Tiamat would be damned if she didn’t find out why.
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Post by Kelathi on Dec 26, 2019 21:38:26 GMT
At mention of her name, Elisabel had turned her attention to Don, the afterglow of an easy, sunny smile still on her face, a response to a joke recently told by one of the others. At the man’s words, however, the smile faded a little, and she appeared mildly embarrassed, a touch of pink reaching her cheeks. “I... haven’t really found anywhere yet.” She didn’t mention that she had left her home with next to no money, nor the complete lack of understanding that she had as to how to acquire such a place should she actually have said money. Her hands went back to the bandage around her palm, a nervous reaction with the intention to fidget, but she caught herself and let her hands fall into her lap instead. “I’m sure I’ll find somewhere though, I’ve not been here long.” She dismissed breezily, attempting an easy smile. If she was trying to appear unperturbed, it was apparent then that she was a bad actress.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Dec 27, 2019 23:31:29 GMT
Don watched patiently as Elisabel spoke, the others looking at one another, mouthing, considering what options were available. She’d charmed the workers, and they were more than happy to help figure out arrangements for her. Don sized up the situation quickly, a smile responding to Elisabel’s dismissal. Obviously, he was about to solve things by taking her under his wing, so to speak.
“I’ll take her.”
Tiamat’s voice broke through a moment before Don could propose anything, the suddenness of her presence making everyone jump. Everyone but the newcomer. “What? But-“ Don began, worried that the Scythian had managed to slip out so quietly… and so damn early. No one had expected to see her until at least the next day.
She walked towards the table, hands slid into the large pockets of her jacket, considering the people at the table. Interestingly, her attention focused first on all but Elisabel herself, as if ready to counter any arguments against her taking in the newcomer.
Don, of course, was the first to speak against it.
“Eh, you don’t have to. I mean, you never seemed to want to live with anyone after…” he began, but a sharp look silenced him. Tiamat was always territorial of others speaking of her old mentor, but there was no denying that after a full meal, she was safe for some time - at least in that respect.
“What do you say?” Tiamat asked, eyes still watching Don, but as her gaze fell to Elisabel, it was clear the question was for her.
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Post by Kelathi on Dec 28, 2019 0:29:08 GMT
Elisabel’s eyes widened, not only in surprise at Tiamat’s offer, but also the fact that the question was actually directed at herself, and not at Dom, whom was clearly the most dominant in the room- or at least, from what Elisabel had assumed from the short time she’d been here. Tiamat was asking her what she thought of the idea. This was exactly why she had left home, to have the freedom to make her own choices, instead of having her actions dictated to her by others. She felt almost giddy with the prospect, and whilst she tried to keep the extent of her euphoria under wraps, her face practically glowed with happiness at the offer. “Yes please!” She announced, eagerly, before pausing, a little embarrassed at how high-pitched her voice had sounded. Ignorant she may be, but she had not been oblivious to the tense air in the room in response to Tiamat’s suggestion. Even so, without context she came to the wrong conclusion as to why that was. “...that is, if it’s not too much trouble.” She added, shyness returning.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Dec 28, 2019 4:57:14 GMT
Everyone looked about nervously as Tiamat asked the girl what she wanted, clearly thinking the same thing; the fox guarding the henhouse. These furtive glances only stilled at Elisabel’s own eager response, as if shocked.
No, not true… they were shocked. Did the newcomer really have no idea how dangerous the Scythian could be? Hadn’t she seen what she could do? In a very real sense, the community was using the Scythian. Food and shelter for the best protection they could find? All they had to do was keep her at arm’s length - close enough to be safe, and… well, far away enough to be safe.
Tiamat obviously ignored the looks of panic around her, particularly Don’s, who was nearly sputtering at the thought of Elisabel actually staying with the predator. It was bad enough that she’d been brought in with her… but this was putting her back in danger. Instead, the woman stepped forward again until she was towering over the newcomer, the little bird who shyly worried if she would be an imposition.
For a moment, Tiamat doubted her initial analysis. Surely someone this delicate couldn’t be a threat? But maybe the threat followed her. And the predator in her was unhappy at the notion of anyone else threatening her territory. So instead of backing off on her offer, Tiamat tilted her head to the side a little, sizing up the other. “Well then. When ready, we go home,” she stated calmly, with an added smile to soothe any concerns Elisabel had about moving in with her. Tiamat’s gaze was now clear and strong, not like how she had been when first meeting Elisabel, and rescuing her from the foolish human who had nearly become an appetizer. Now she was in her element - calm, collected, poised.
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Post by Kelathi on Feb 6, 2020 22:42:05 GMT
In fact, Elisabel had no concerns, perhaps to her eventual detriment. It just didn’t seem possible for her to consider that Tiamat might be a danger to her, not after saving her as she had. In her mind, she was already made up as to what kind of person the woman was, a naïve trait that was certain to get her into trouble if it hadn’t already. Turning her light, innocent gaze to Tiamat’s, her gratitude was clear. “Thank you, that’s very kind.” Before the others could sputter anymore concerns, Elisabel piped up again, this time to the room in general. “Forgive me, but… what kind of place is this? I mean, this is the first time I’ve seen…” Anyone like me? Anyone not strictly human? Elisabel seemed embarrassed to continue her sentence, as if worried her choice of words might cause offence. “…well, you know.” She finished sheepishly.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on May 5, 2020 2:58:48 GMT
The only thing Don saw in Tiamat’s smile was hunger; he tried to swallow his concern, particularly as Elisabel had already proved somehow hardy enough to avoid being eaten so far. The fact too that she had been brought along when Tiamat was so hungry… when she was bleeding all over the place… there was more to the dynamic between the two. But what, he couldn’t say.
At Elisabel’s disarming question, she earned a few smiles of understanding, which managed to knock out most of the fears they had of her heading home with the Scythian. Not all, but most. Several had their moods soured simply by her presence, and would not waver from that scowl.
“Well, my dear,” began Sarah, the cook who had been insisting on Elisabel eating more as she was merely skin and bones, “The best way we describe ourselves is a community of… like people. We watch out for one another, care, protect… and are cared and protected in turn. What threatens one of us threatens all of us, be it in exposure to the mortal world, or danger among our ranks.”
“Yes, there is no eating of others of community.”
The table paused at Tiamat’s unexpected addition, but at her raised eyebrow and deadpan tone, a chuckle started amongst some of them, turning into a laugh at the rare joke. If nothing else, it helped to ease the tension that Elisabel’s question had already cracked.
“As for… description, one must be polite and wait to be told what terms may be used,” Sarah went on, noting how sheepish the little bird had become at not knowing how to describe the community. “Some find offense in things others don’t, so let them describe themselves. And we are simply, the community. Your community, now.”
Tiamat watched this quietly, still able to clearly recall her own acceptance into the community. By most, it had been reluctant at best, but she had helped fight off a monster hunter. The fact that she ate him only showed she wasn’t just a shapeshifter who could look like a Scythian. Slowly, she had become accepted, if perhaps only tolerated in some areas.
“Let’s go home,” she interrupted, again some of the gazes at the table uncertain about the sweet Elisabel going home with… well, a predator was the only word to use. But Tiamat had again focused her gaze on Elisabel, her words more of a question than a command.
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Post by Kelathi on Jun 3, 2020 22:24:14 GMT
At mention of her acceptance into the community, Elisabel could not help her response, a genuine smile that spread across her face, practically glowing at the thought. It was this wide-eyed innocent and open hopefulness, much like how a child might express themselves, that only seemed to further warm those present towards her, Elisabel naively oblivious to the affect she was having, equally as unaware of the few disapproving face of those whom were not so swayed. All she knew, was that these people seemed to be welcoming her, and they were not so different from her at all. A flare of a feeling of belonging rose up in her, and she felt her heart fit to burst with the possibility of finally finding where she was supposed to be. Tiamat’s voice did not quite break her from her wistfulness, but it brought her back to the present, her heart leaping once more, but this time for a different reason. This… woman. This Valkyrie. Her saviour. Wanted her around, was giving her a place to stay. She was eager to go wherever Tiamat suggested. “Yes, lets!” She agreed, before turning to the room as she stood. “I… look forward to getting to know you all.” Her words were heartfelt and sincere as she bid them goodbye.
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