November 25, Part III: Reunited with Dizzy, Oliver Leaves

To Macglynn: And then there's a wave of nausea, despair, and loss. And then just blankness, an emptiness of any emotion. Her thoughts sound more than a little odd. "You can come in now."

Ziichi is soaking wet. Yay. "Sinka?!"

Macglynn smiles at Dizzy. "Hey. Ha' 'bout we go an' say hi t'yer mother?"
Macglynn says this very loud.

Senkha 's voice is flat and emotionless. Her expression is blank. She looks at Ziichi. "Ludo is gone."
Senkha says: I am going to see my daughter now.

Ziichi creases her eyebrows. "Where did 'e go?"

Senkha doesn't answer this. Her expression remains completely blank as Oliver and Dizzy enter the room. "Hello."

Ziichi growls and then turns and leaves, quickly. When Ludovick outright breaks promises, something is up.

Macglynn looks at Senkha, brows lofted almost as though he expects something. "Hey."

Ariadine smiles and runs over to the bed, "Momma!"

Macglynn whispers: "Look at 'er. She's jus' -terrifahd- 'a th' state yer in, ain't she."

Senkha lets Dizzy hug her, though she doesn't return the hug, except with a light pat with her right hand. "Hello," she repeats.

To Macglynn: Nothing.

Macglynn leans on the doorframe. His expression goes from expectant to unimpressed.

Senkha 's head wound has begun to bleed again.

Ariadine crawls onto the bed beside Senkha, "'M sorry! I was 'fraid you were dead!" She looks over her mother, "Are you okay?"

Senkha says: ...no.

Ariadine smiles, "'Kay..."
Ariadine says: Have 'y seen Stehl?

Macglynn turns abruptly and leaves.

Senkha blinks a few times, shaking her head. She frowns, touching her hand to her head wound and bringing it down to see blood on her fingers. She finally turns to -look- at Dizzy. "--Dizzy."

To Macglynn: Her entire mind is hugely suppressed, but the suppression is starting to fail. She barely squeezes something out. "Ludo is going to kill himself and I couldn't stop him."

Ariadine looks up at Senkha and answers reluctantly, "...Yeah?"

Senkha lifts her right hand to touch Dizzy's face. "Why'd you have to run off?" she asks before her voice breaks. She pulls Dizzy tightly against her, shaking with sobs.

Macglynn whispers: His response is a quick and very direct, "Why." He's obviously referring to his reasons for killing himself, not why she couldn't stop him.

To Macglynn: More of the emotion leaks out, and none of it's good, save for a sort of minor key version of the joy he felt earlier. "Faronne was unfaithful. He's going to carve out his own heart."

Ariadine wraps her arms around Senkha and remains silent, letting her mother cry. "'M-m sorry."

Senkha just holds Dizzy tight for a long moment, crying, before pulling back and giving her daughter a very watery, very weak smile. "I'm s-so glad you're alright."

Macglynn whispers: King of sensitivity he is, today. "Whore girlfriends is th' best thing ta kill yerself over."

Ariadine says: I'm glad 'y are too...
Ariadine eyes Senkha's bloodied hands, "Momma... 'y okay?"

To Macglynn: Once again, it's as though she's been slapped. The slow leak of emotions gets larger, but she draws back. If this was happening face to face, she'd be leaning back and staring at him like D:

Macglynn whispers: Good thing he's not there, then. He's pacing out on the ship's deck, milling over what's gone on today, but not really to any end. Just milling.

Ziichi comes inside and then starts rifling through Marius' desk drawers to find the GOOD STUFF for pain killers. She's leaving burnt fleshy bits stuck in the process; her hand to her shoulder is... burnt up badly, and smells disgusting. The leather has melted into her flesh as well.

Senkha has put Dizzy to sleep on the bed, touching the girl's face with her good hand, before standing. She would be alarmed at Ziichi, but at this point it's like, what else is new? So she simply asks, "What happened."

Ziichi glances over, shrugs her undamaged shoulder, and returns to looking. She finds a small bottle and pulls it out, then finds herself a syringe. Based on her expression and demeanour, she's pretty much in the same space as Senkha is about injuries.

To Macglynn: She listens. Less willingly and more because she wants to know what he's thinking of her at the moment. Because she needs more punishment.

Senkha says: Did you find them?

Ziichi shakes the bottle a bit, then growls and grabs the bottom drawer, ripping it open and breaking the lock. She is going to be in shit later. So much shit. She hurts too much right now to care, though. Her only response to Senkha is a grunt as she finds herself some morphine. Yes, please.

Senkha sighs, giving up on getting any information tonight. Cradling her left arm against her chest, she turns and very stiffly leaves the room.

Macglynn whispers: His thoughts are kind of a tangled mess on stream-of-consciousness, though an overlying theme to them that she may find, and probably find suitable punishment, is an uncharacteristically angry internal monologue about keeping up face in front of children. This past week has been brutal to him, hell, the past ten years have been brutal, but that's not his daughter's concern.

Senkha sags against the doorframe, as if she's just been punched in the gut. The wound on her head is bleeding profusely now, making her look quite the gory mess. She takes a deep breath and exhales before stumbling forward, towards the dock.
Senkha doesn't even see Oliver. Capital!

Macglynn has since quit pacing and has seated himself, looking dully out over the water. There's also a... really large grub in his hand. It squirms, and he sighs and throws it onto the dock. Go away. It lands with a thud.
Macglynn looks at you.
Macglynn says: ... Sen-
Macglynn stops. No, screw this.

To Macglynn: She's trying to withdraw even further, but her emotions are -screaming-. She's terrified, angry, heartbroken, confused, and a failure. And she keeps feeling like she's in that space again. And it won't stop.

Senkha doesn't hear him. She does, however, stop once she reaches the dock, more because she's lightheaded than anything. She takes a knee, closing her eyes and trying to think of -something- to calm her, but she usually thinks of Oliver...and he's angry.

Macglynn gets up and walks back inside.
Macglynn walks by Senkha, blade slung over his shoulder. His thoughts are closed, the old but familiar haze blocking anything that'd pry.

To Macglynn: "Wait."
Senkha says: Wait.
Senkha says: Wait. Please...I'm sorry. I'm sorry...

Macglynn whispers: There's nothing. Emptiness. A sort of dark, allowing nothing in nor out.

Senkha is hobbling as fast as she can, which isn't fast at all, considering. But she's a rogue. She starts to break into a run.
Senkha grabs Oliver's cloak and falls on her bad hand, crying out. "Please! Please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry--"
Senkha says: Don't make me do this alone, I can't be alone, please, please...
Senkha says: I'll do whatever you want me to do, please, please, don't leave me alone again...

Macglynn turns, causing his cloak to tear free from her hands. Something isn't right about his eyes. "Go back to th' ship."

Senkha falls back when he does this, looking like hell. She catches his eyes and instantly her mood changes. "Go. Feed your blade. Go -now-."
To Macglynn: The command comes mentally, too. She doesn't command him...well, ever. But now she is.

Macglynn turns sharply and walks away, without so much as another word.

Senkha sits for a moment and then pushes herself up. She squares her shoulders, wincing in pain at the left, and begins to walk, shufflingly and slowly.

November 25, Part II: Senkha and Ludovick

Senkha is muttering something under her breath; it almost sounds like the words to a song. Her voice is shaky and breathless. Her right hand clutches at the bed, trying to pull herself over to the side, but she can't quite manage it. This sucks.

Ludovick knocks on the door, hood pulled well over his face.

Ziichi sets her gauntlets aside as well, leaning her hip against the table as she watches Senkha. When Ludovick approaches, she glances towards him. "Hi."

Ludovick gives Ziichi a dead stare, pale as a ghost, making his bruises stand out further. "I do not have much time for talking," he says flatly.

Senkha 's panic attack actually steadies slightly at the sound of Ludo's voice. "Lu-- Ludo?" she asks in less than a whisper.

Ziichi moves over and pulls Ludovick's hand softly. "C'mon an' see 'er, Ludo."

Ludovick just found out his wife is fucking around. He is a robot. He steps into the room, looking Senkha over with a blank expression. The hand that holds Ziichi's is limp.

Senkha is all jacked up to hell, left hand swollen and unable to close. She's also halfway between a panic attack and trying to be normal. She gives a half-sob and sounds insane. "H-hi, Ludo. I'm gl-glad...glad you're alive."

Ludovick simply tosses his stave aside where it clatters to the ground. He's banged up, but not nearly as bad as Senkha. He looks very close to saying something, but keeps his lips pursed, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Ziichi watches each of them, then steps back and heads into the front of the ship to check on Dizzy, chewing away at her lip as always.

Senkha has no idea what's going on with Ludo, but as he doesn't freak out at her appearance or ask what happened to her, she looks very happy to see him. She tries to push herself towards him, but it hurts too much. "Ludo. Ludo, y-you're alright. I'm so glad."

Ludovick simply stares down at Senkha, as if she's no more interesting than a bug on the sidewalk. "You do not seem to be," he says flatly.

Senkha frowns at his tone more than his words, finally managing to get herself into a sitting position with some pain. "...what's wrong?" she asks in a low voice. She's calmed significantly, though she still lets out small hiccups every now and again.

Ludovick shakes his head, keeping his hollow eyes on her. "Nothing."

Senkha says: Ludo, you look like you're dead. -Tell- me...we've known each other our whole lives, don't shut me out.
Senkha says: Is Faronne alright? She didn't get hurt, did she?
Senkha tries very hard to make it sound like Faronne getting hurt would be a bad thing.

Ludovick, at the mention of Faronne, looks away and to the floor. His posture is that of someone who is wholly defeated, and wouldn't fight off death for anything if it came to them.

Macglynn holds up a finger to Dizzy as if to say he'll be back in a moment, and walks briskly to the back room.
Macglynn says: What th' shit are you wearin'.

Senkha tries to push away from the headboard and towards Ludovick. This doesn't work, so she just reaches out towards him...and drops her hand when she sees Oliver, her concern fading into a deadened expression that matches that of Ludo's.

Ludovick ignores MacGlynn, keeping his eyes on the floor. He's also ignoring Senkha, and, well, everything.

Senkha 's expression remains flat and dead; the gash on her head, however, reopens. A tiny trickle of blood starts down the side of her head.

Macglynn stares you down.
Macglynn says: Senkha.

Senkha looks at Oliver, looking not at all unlike a crazed rabbit about to be caught by a snake.

Macglynn also looks at her. He doesn't say anything, though, and eventually just leaves.

Ludovick continues to be a dead robot.

Senkha sags in relief as Oliver leaves. It's only then that she touches her hand to her head and sees the blood on her fingers. "--fuck."

Ludovick 's eyes lazily drift over to Senkha. "You are bleeding," he observes.

Senkha swallows hard several times and closes her eyes, her hand still over the gash. It slowly seals itself, though she glances to the door warily. "...I can't...I...fuck." She drops her hands to her lap, defeated. "Ludo."

Ludovick is now staring at Senkha, unblinking. "I am here to be used. Do what you need with me," he says in monotone, as if he's a vending machine that dispenses only deadpan stares and bad advice.

Senkha looks at Ludovick. "Tell me what happened. That's what I want from you right now. I need to think about something other than how I feel right now."

Ludovick takes this as his cue to look away, pulling his hood back. He looks like his world has pretty much just ended. "My efforts were in vain."

Senkha 's expression becomes sympathetic, no longer panicked. "...not Urien, I hope?"

Ludovick shakes his head.

Senkha says: But someone.

Ludovick shrugs, resting two fingers against his temple.

Senkha nods and pushes herself forward with an enormous amount of effort. She tries to rest her right cheek against Ludo's shoulder, but her lack of left hand results in it being just her forehead against his shoulder, like a shoulderpalm or something.

Ludovick doesn't respond to this at all, despite Senkha's obvious physical pain. "I should go," he says flatly. "I have work to do tonight. The Light's justice will see this through."

Senkha doesn't move from this position, despite its awkwardness. "Ludo...I need you to stay alive for me tonight."

Ludovick 's head slowly turns to regard Senkha. "My heart has been taken from me. I have one no longer. With no heart, I do not live."

Senkha looks up at Ludo from his shoulder, her eyes filled with tears. "Ludo...please don't do this. -Please-. I...I can't do this. My daughter's out there. We just found her alive, she was missing for three days."
Senkha says: And I'm so -angry- with her, she broke my heart. And I'm afraid to see her because I don't want to break hers.
Senkha says: She -hurt- me. And I can't do this alone. Oliver doesn't understand it at all. But I know...I know that -you- do.

Ludovick 's eyes are clearly watching Senkha, but they are glazed over. "What do you wish me to do," he says in monotone. "I am but a tool now." Yes, he is a tool.

Senkha finally manages to lift her right arm to go around Ludo's waist, holding herself close against his side. "I need you to stay alive for me, until I've come back to myself more, until I'm less broken. When I'm not in pieces anymore, when I'm whole again..."
Senkha says: ...if you still want to die then, if you still want to kill yourself then, I won't stop you. Light knows I've wanted to kill myself more times than I can count.

Ludovick shows the first hint of emotion he has during the entire conversation, huffing through his nose. "I can make no promises," he sighs. "You are my friend, and I care for you."
Ludovick looks away, and back to the floor.

To Mariius: Her mental voice is very tightly controlled, as if she's holding a LOT back. "Ludovick is going to kill Faronne and himself. I'm trying to talk him out of it. I'll let you know if I need help."

Mariius whispers: "Just tell me. I'll disable him."

Senkha looks up at Ludo again, swallowing hard and letting out a quiet sob. "Ludo...I care for you, too. You're all I have of my past anymore that made me happy. I...can't lose you now, too. Not after losing Riley."
To Mariius: "I will."
To Macglynn: If Oliver is paying attention at all, he'd notice that her thoughts are about six billion times calmer...and not at all on her family. They're also about six billion times sadder. The saddest thoughts.

Ludovick shifts slightly, leaning back and pulling Senkha's head into his lap to rest. He has yet to smile or even frown. "I have never wanted to die. However, lessons must be taught to those who would seek to toy with my very dreams."

Macglynn whispers: If Senkha is paying attention, Oliver is discreetly discussing with Marius that his daughter was encased in shadow magic when he found her and wtf is dis.

Senkha turns her head in his lap so that she's looking up at him. "What will your death teach her?" she asks in a thick voice.

Ludovick has one arm wrapped around Senkha's side, the other hand resting on his knee. "That she has broken my heart. She wanted it, after all. I will simply deliver it to her personally."

Senkha grimaces at this statement and shakes her head. "Ludo...I think that by her actions, she's shown that she's unrepentant. If she -is- unrepentant...what's to make her so punished by your death?"
Senkha says: If she's cruel enough to break her heart, why would she be soft-hearted enough to have her heart broken by you?

Ludovick shakes his head. "She flogged herself...the night before. I suppose after she...," he trails off, choosing not to finish that sentence. "She is the only woman I have ever given my love to, or my fidelity." He gulps, reaching into his robes to ferret about for a cigarette, lighting up and taking a long drag. "I have a dead heart in a dead world, Senkha. There is nothing for me here."

Senkha resists the urge to facepalm at this emoness and pushes herself up from Ludovick's lap. She cringes in pain as she does so, a pain that's not only outward but inward as well. "And what of those who haven't hurt you? Why would you punish us?"

Ludovick slides his hand from Senkha, simply leaving it to rest by his side. "Life moves on," he says with a shrug. "I may survive this, after all. It depends on if my hand is steady enough, and my mind is quick. The removal of my heart may go smoothly."

To Mariius: "...he wants to remove his own heart. Does that even work?" Again, she's holding back a torrent, but she's reaching out for him quite a bit more than usual. Healing Senkhas = bad idea, Marius.

Mariius whispers: ~He'd die before he actually managed it, I'd imagine."

To Mariius: "Then you may want to knock him out shortly. I don't know that I'm getting through to him."

Mariius whispers: "Alright."

Senkha says: ...you'd die before you even reached your heart, Ludo.

Ludovick shakes his head. "Not with the proper mending and will. The Light will see that the woman I thought I would be atoning for every misdeed with together will suffer just as I have."

To Mariius: "...yeah, he's a loss. How do I knock him out?"

Senkha just sort of stares at Ludo as if he's speaking a different language. The language of the even crazier than Senkha.

Mariius fits at his gloves. -And then whips around like a two-ton truck to SLAM Ludovick in the back of the head-- knuckles crooked-- and aim to knock him straight out.

Ludovick is cracked in the back of the head, falling to the floor and crumbling into a heap. He seems shocked, and even more betrayed than before, still just a bit conscious. -

Mariius says: -This is so you don't kill yourself. Stop making the 'woe is me' eyes.

Senkha peers over the side of the bed, looking very apologetic. "...I'm sorry. You're not thinking clearly. We'll talk about it more when you wake up."

Ludovick taps the wedding ring on his finger, disappearing with a loud crack.

Senkha says: --No!
Senkha is staring at the spot where Ludo was on the floor, face aghast. "--no, no-- LUDO!"
Senkha yells: LUDO!

November 25, Part I: Oliver Finds Dizzy

Macglynn whispers: Suddenly, there's a spark of pure -joy- from his end.

To Macglynn: Senkha is too deep asleep to notice.

Macglynn whispers: JOY.

To Macglynn: SLEEP.
To Macglynn: She's starting to wake up, slowly, but there's a lot of pain. "...Oliver, what..."

Macglynn whispers: JOY.

To Macglynn: Now she's awake. "Is she...?"

Macglynn whispers: "She's safe."
Macglynn whispers: JOY. ALSO BAWW.

To Macglynn: "Is she hurt. Is she awake."
To Macglynn: Also a whole lot of pain.
To Macglynn: "Oliver, answer me. Is she hurt? Is she awake?"

Macglynn whispers: "We'll be there soon. She's fahn."

To Macglynn: Sudden panic. "No. No no. Not here. No."

Macglynn whispers: "We're coming there." He sounds firm.

To Macglynn: "NO."
To Macglynn: "Take her home, please, take her anywhere but here, SHE CAN'T SEE ME LIKE THIS."

Macglynn whispers: "She's upset an' wants t'see you, dammit!"

To Macglynn: "NO."
To Macglynn: "Take her home. Don't let her see me like this, I can't see her like this."

Macglynn whispers: "Fer Light's sake, what's more importn', yer pride, or yer daughter?"

To Macglynn: Mental silence, as if she's just been slapped. But there's a sense that it's not about pride. She doesn't want to scare Dizzy. She doesn't want Dizzy to know how hurt she is. And...she's angry? Hurt? Betrayed? None of that makes sense. She pushes it away.

Senkha is half awake and groaning something panicked under her breath. She's trying to get off the bed on the opposite side.
Senkha is not doing very well with this.

Ziichi moves over towards Senkha, touching her arm softly at first, and then holding her firmly. "Sinka, Olly's bringin' 'er. Don' fall down an' git y'self 'urt. Tha' ain' help no one."

Macglynn whispers: His thoughts are curious. Is it really about not wanting to scare her? What's more terrifying to a child, seeing a hurt parent, or being told that they can't see a parent right now?

Senkha panics more at the touch. "Get off of me, she CAN'T COME HERE, get off of me!"

Ziichi moves her hand away and creases her eyebrows. "W-Why, why ain' she come 'ere, Sinka?"

To Macglynn: Senkha's gone into total panic mode because SOMEONE IS TOUCHING HER. Dancing at the Shady Serpent, dancing at the Shady Serpent, dancing at the Shady Serpent--

Senkha doesn't answer, just trying to get away to absolutely no avail. It hurts too much to move so she just tries to pull the covers over her instead.

Ziichi sits back a bit and watches Senkha, chewing her bottom lip. After some time, she pulls her boots off and sets them beside the bed, then settles with her back against the headboard and sings softly in Thalassian; it's pretty much her one talent. ...although she's not bad at sewing.

Senkha manages to get most of the blankets over her left side, though she only keeps them over her head for about half a second before throwing them off. She looks like she's gone -completely- insane (Gone? ha.).

Macglynn whispers: A mental sigh, if one is possible. Also something of a mental wince. He's going to get anger-braned later and he knows it.

Senkha throws the blankets from the bed to the floor in her increasing panic. And then cringes in pain, right hand shooting to her left arm. She just gives up and lies back, sobbing silently and squeezing her eyes shut.

Ziichi watches Senkha quietly, then looks over towards the windows. She slides off the bed and pads barefoot over towards the bank of glass, opening them one at a time to get air and light in. Dizzy did this for her; it's only fitting she do the same.

To Macglynn: Dancing at the Shady Serpent, dancing at the Shady Serpent, dancing at the Shady Serpent...

Senkha, Ludo, Ziichi & Faronne: October 24

Senkha makes her way towards the house bearing a mug of hot tea and two small cups. She stares at the door and looks around, half-expecting to see Marius somewhere nearby. When she doesn't, she walks forward to knock.

Ziichi wrinkles her nose at this. "Mar ain' jus' m'friend... tha's... he's like..." She just sighs. "Sure."

Senkha says: --Light, I hope this is the right place.

Ludovick pats her hair, running his fingers through it. "That is all I wanted to-" He breaks off, staring at the door. What. Now.
Ludovick slowly begins to push Ziichi away from him, holding a finger to his lips as he slides off the bed.

Ziichi slides over and out of his way. "Maybe Mar fergot t'give y'somethin' t'take?" She quiets after this, however..

Senkha knocks again, lightly, trying to balance the thermos and cups in one arm. "Ludo? It's Senkha," she calls out, a note of uncertainty in her voice.

Ludovick looks back to her, whispering. "If it is Lady Price, I want you to go to the balcony and climb down. Do not come back." And with that, he makes his way over to the door with a bit of a groggy limp, unlocking it and flinging it open. -
Ludovick, at the sound of Senkha's voice, and the sight of her, visibly softens, his expression still deadpan, but no longer tinged with anger or fear. He doesn't look all to well, but better after Marius has gotten a hold of him, his torso covered in bandages underneath his thin shirt. "Senkha," he says flatly.

Ziichi doesn't listen, as always, getting up and grabbing her sword. She approaches behind him, carrying it with her, then pauses and peers around his arm. "Senkha?"

Senkha smiles to see Ludo, not looking too wonderful herself. There are dark circles under her eyes, as if she hasn't slept in a couple of days, and on her cheek and abdomen are two new scars...though these scars are kind of silvery compared to the others for some reason. She blinks to see Ziichi. "Oh! I...is this a bad time? I brought...tea?"

Ludovick slowly turns his head to look at Ziichi, as if disappointed that she disobeyed him, but not all that surprised. He looks back at Senkha, shoulders slumping. "Everyone has felt themselves free to barge into my house today. You are no exception," he sighs, though steps back for her to enter.

Ziichi offers Senkha a wan smile. She, too, looks exhausted. The kid hasn't slept yet, and the night before included waking Ludovick up with nightmares, so she's been better. "Tha' means c'mon in, nice t'see yeh."

Senkha chuckles and makes her way through the door, settling her tea down on the nearby table. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in or anything. Has it been an insane weekend for you lot too?" She doesn't bother to question why Ziichi is there because who is she to judge?

Ludovick follows Senkha over to the chairs with a limp, gesturing for her to sit. He grabs Ziichi's hand as he goes, attempting for force her, if gently, to lay down on the rug, pulling the blankets Marius had laid out earlier over her.

Ziichi glances up at Ludovick, then sighs and looks down at the rug. She grumbles, "Y'better be sittin' wi'me," before flopping down on her ass, accepting the blankets onto her lap.

Senkha looks at Ziichi and Ludo both on the rug and decides that sitting in a chair would be impolite. She takes a seat on the rug in a more ladylike manner than she usually would.

Ludovick deadpans, though he sits with Ziichi anyhow, letting out a grunt. Looking over at Senkha he inclines his head, staring at her. "How did you know where to find me?"

Senkha looks more than a little embarrassed, taking the thermos of tea from the table and smiling with relief that she brought four cups. "I, um. Followed Marius. He'd mentioned he wanted to speak with you last night and I felt horrible about missing our tea."

Ziichi gives Ludovick no chance at all. She moves over and settles herself behind him, wrapping her arms around his chest and then leaning her cheek against his shoulder. Apparently Senkha being there doesn't bother her at all when it comes to affection.

Ludovick gives Ziichi's face a quick nuzzle with his cheek before composing himself, looking across at Senkha with his usual blank expression. "I am sorry I missed it as well, Senkha. Things came up. Are you well?"

Senkha unscrews the top of the thermos of tea and pours three cups, distributing them with all of the proper Lordaeronian pinky-extensions she can. "Mm, I'm getting better. Things came up for me as well."

Ziichi doesn't move, still hugging Ludovick tightly. She rests her feet on the rug on either side of his legs, pretty much like a human sweater right now. She looks to Ludo and then at the tea, clearly expecting him to pass her some.

Ludovick takes his tea, and Ziichi's as well, handing it over to her as he sips his politely. "Thank you kindly," he says flatly, keeping the cup by his face. "I see neither of were destined to have peace, hrm?" He says so with the slightest hint of humor, face still completely blank.

Senkha allows a wry smile to come to her face, sipping at her tea. She reaches up a hand to touch the scar on her face self-consciously. "Unfortunately, I am beginning to believe that you are entirely correct. Admittedly, I'd hoped things were beginning to calm down recently, but...well." She sips her tea again, making the kind of face that indicates they haven't calmed down.

Ziichi sighs and then kisses the back of Ludovick's head, taking the tea. She sits back a bit to drink some, then sighs. "Needs more sugar. Do we gots sugar?"

Ludovick rolls his eyes back towards Ziichi. "Upstairs, lamb," he says flatly, rising to get it. He isn't letting Ziichi run errands in her sleepy state. Or, perhaps, he doesn't want her rummaging through his things. He continues to speak to Senkha as he attempts to get up. "You have my deepest sympathy, Senkha." He sounds like he means it.

Ziichi sits back and lets him go, looking rather regretful about this. "Sinka, why'd y'bring tea?"

Senkha give Ziichi a slanted grin. "It's sort of a -thing- in Lordaeron. Or...well. Was. Every afternoon at four, right Ludo?"

Ziichi peers up at Ludovic, fascinated with this. "Were y'guys rich growin' up or somethin', havin' all've these fancy things?" Her nerves from SUDDENLY MARIUS have her much better at the acting thing, now that she's more alert and not trying to stop POSSIBLE FITE.

Ludovick nods his head at this, making his way up the stairs and taking quite a strained effort to do so. "Quite right, Senkha. It is a shame some traditions have died."

Senkha actually wrinkles her nose at the thought of being rich. "My parents had quite a bit of money, yes. Ludo's father used to stay with us when he was in town, and my parents treated him a bit like royalty because he had money."

Ziichi stares at Senkha in amazement at this. "So y'really are a laydee."

Ludovick digs around through the stacked crates upstairs, still rather unpacked. He eventually finds his sugardish, which looks so neglected, having not even been used in probably ages, the sugar inside clumped together in a near brick.

Senkha speaks more into her cup than to Ziichi, her voice intentionally low to keep Ludo from hearing. "Don't let it get around."

Ziichi snorts and shakes her head. "Did y'take milk baths?"

Senkha says: Light, no.

Ludovick begins to hobble his way down the stairs with the sugar, a spoon sticking out of the bowl as his heavy boots thump against the stone steps.

Senkha amends, "...or at least I didn't. I've no idea what Selvie did."

Ziichi turns a bit and looks up at Ludovick, looking emotionless again as she relaxes in the house. She holds her hand out towards him, clearly hoping for the sugar.

Ludovick finishes his descent, leaning heavily on the banister before pushing off and handing the clumped, old sugar to Ziichi. "Apologies, lamb, but I fear I have never been one for sweets." He sits with as much dignity as possible back onto the rug, staring at Senkha. He reaches over and grabs his blood-encrusted robe from the floor, producing a cigarette from its pockets. "Do you mind such?" He asks, tilting his head down to the cigarette.

Senkha seems more startled by the robe than by the cigarettes. She shakes her head. "Of course not. I only smoke when I'm with my confessor, but I don't mind it."
Senkha says: ...are you a confessor as well?

Ziichi cocks her head to the side, regarding the sugar with utter confusion. After a moment, she puts it onto the ground, stands up, and then steps into it. Once she's crushed it, she scoops a great deal up and puts it into her cup. As an afterthought, she brushes the remainer under the rug, before resealing the container with what's left.

Senkha asks this with a slanted sort of grin that turns into a look of surprise when she sees Ziichi stomping on sugar like grapes. What.

Ludovick opens his mouth to reply to Senkha, then slowly turns his head upwards to stare at Ziichi. "Lamb...," he trails off, blank. "Just ask for me to help you next time, please." With a shudder, he turns his attention on Senkha. "And yes, I am."

Ziichi drinks some of her tea, scooting over on her butt to sit behind Ludovick again, cuddling up against him. Setting the mug down, she rests her head against his own and smiles, nodding.

Senkha sips at her tea again, her smile genuine despite the what-the-fuck going on around her. "I believe it. I think you'd make an excellent confessor...you're just peculiar enough to make it work."

Ludovick actually smiles at this. Hey, a compliment that isn't from a crazy woman shoving drugs down his throat. He cuddles back against Ziichi, lighting his cigarette up and taking a long drag from it before returning to his tea. "You flatter me."

Ziichi is pretty much just being a human sweater, draping her limbs around the priest and leaning on him. Clingy and possessive. Yay. Enjoy that, Ludo.

Senkha smirks, pouring a bit more tea into her cup and cooling it with a soft breath. "Less flattery, more honesty. How did you come to join the Church? The last I saw you was..." She exhales, her eyes widening. "...a long time ago."

Ludovick sets his tea aside, focusing on just smoking his cigarette now, resting it in between his lips as he rolls his shoulders with a wince. "A long story," he says flatly in response to her question. "I am blessed to have come into my work."
Ludovick pauses.
Ludovick corrects himself, looking back at Ziichi. "My joy," he says with a raised brow. Gotta make kids learn.

Ziichi sighs softly and relaxes, closing her eyes and curling up against him like this. Eventually her eyes close and she smiles a bit. "Y'calllin' me wha'?" Such a pain.

Senkha smiles at the two of them, not remarking on their snuggling. "I imagine it would be a joy to work in the Church. Unfortunately, my own past is checkered enough that it isn't an option for me, but I'm happy for you."

Ludovick deadpans at Ziichi, instead patting one of her hands around his middle. That'll do, pig. That'll do. -
Ludovick focuses on Senkha, smiling as well. "Thank you. Though, I must admit that my past is not washed in ivory. If you wish to help, I am sure I could pull some strings...?"

Senkha gives a wry smile and shakes her head, holding up her right hand to show her wedding ring. "I have an obligation to my family...they need me. And, well..." She flushes somewhat as she murmurs, "...-they- are my joy."

Ziichi quiets as she listens to them talk, intertwining her fingers with his own. She murmurs nonsense to him, her weight increasing against his back as she starts to drift off.

Ludovick exhales, blowing smoke away from the group. "I am glad to hear that you have found such joy," he says flatly. "I have my own," he says with a soft smile, eyes slowly turning to look at the sleepy Ziichi.

Senkha 's smile softens as she looks at the two of them. Once again, she can't really judge because she's married to a dead guy, hey. "She's lucky to have you," she remarks quietly, sipping her tea again.

Ludovick fidgets at this, his lips a thin line. Just to be polite, he nods his head a little, slowly wriggling from Ziichi's arms as he stands to snuff his cigarette out into a nearby ashtray. "I believe I will put her to bed. We may converse upstairs, if you wish."

Senkha nods, scooping up the thermos and cups as she stands. "That's fine. Will she be alright here?" She glances to the door nervously, not sure how warded the place is.

Ziichi doesn't seem that bothered, curling up once Ludovick settles her down.

Ludovick purses his lips at this, considering. "I believe she will be tired enough to not be awoken by our conversation. We will remain here. Please, have a seat," he says, gesturing to one of the chairs as he makes his way over to Ziichi, scooping her up in his arms. At the quake he grits his teeth, but does his very best to not drop her, hobbling over to the bed with a stiff limp, trying his very best to not use his left arm much.

Senkha takes a moment to get settled in the chair, largely because it's so huge. Why do Dwarves have such big chairs, anyway? She settles the tea and teacups on the table. "Do you need any assistance?" she asks, noticing Ludo's limp.

Ludovick shakes his head at this, going about his work as he lays the girl atop the bed, pulling the loose covers around her before placing a soft kiss to her forehead. Limping back to Senkha, he takes a seat, still staring over at the sleeping Ziichi. "She had a long day," he comments, as if this is enough.

Senkha nods her understanding and takes her cup of tea again, sipping it. Her shoulders sag some at the mention of long days. "Mm. Marius and Kyrita brought her to my house last night after the ball...apparently, there was a lot of excitement there and both she and my daughter were sound asleep by the time they came home."

Ludovick leans back in his chair, smoothening out one of his pant legs, which are a little bloody, but not near to the level of the robe near his feet. At the mention of the Hallow's End party, Ludovick frowns. "Yes, excitement," he says flatly. "I did not see you in attendance, though I was rather...busy," he stresses the last word.

Senkha shakes her head, smoothing down her robe and touching the scar on her face again, self-consciously. "Oliver and I were resting...both of us spent the better part of the weekend trying to destroy the man who kidnapped our daughter, and though he was temporarily neutralized, we both came away worse for the wear. He's still recovering." She brings her hand to cover the scars on her abdomen at this, strangely embarrassed about them for some reason.

Ludovick quirks a brow at this, taking his cup of tea from the table and sipping politely. "Your daughter? You have a daughter?" He asks, his voice showing a tinge of emotion as he looks over at her, not even commenting on the kidnapping until he is answered.

Senkha nods, smiling fondly. She keeps her hand over her abdomen still. "Dizzy. She was a war orphan in Stormwind...we adopted her a few weeks ago."

Ludovick smiles, albeit wobbily, remembering that Oliver, is, well, undead. "That is quite noble of you." He reaches a hand to scratch at the bandages underneath his clothing as subtly at he can. "Children are a joy, are they not?" -
Ludovick 's eyes drift over towards the bed with the sleeping Ziichi, who is probably snoring loudly.

Senkha follows Ludo's gaze and smiles fondly. "Ziichi's a sweet girl. Like I said, she's lucky to have someone like you. I can see that you're very close." And she leaves it at that.

Ludovick places a hand to his forehead, rubbing his temple. "I do not think your friend Marius is fond of her and I's situation," he says, speaking freely in a rare turn of events.

Senkha leans back in her chair some, chewing on her lower lip. "Marius sees Ziichi as a daughter...he worries for her. I don't know enough about your situation to comment about whether this worry is warranted, but rest assured that he only ever has her best interests in mind."

Ludovick huffs through his nose at this, grunting a little. "I am doing my best to keep the girl happy. I am not pleased with the company I have seen her in. It disgusts me."

Senkha frowns contemplatively, setting her teacup down and turning to face Ludo more directly. "What sorts of company? We know many of the same people; perhaps I can alleviate some of your fears."

Ludovick 's eyes drift over towards her, though he doesn't turn his head, still massaging his forehead in a tired manner. "Drunken draenei, self-pleasuring device toting riff raff, and not to mention just about every one of them swearing up a storm in front of the poor dear. How does anyone expect her to grow into a lovely young lady with these influences?"

Senkha sneers at the mention of the drunken draenei. "I don't suppose that draenei is the...-creature- named Kialthos, is he? He disgusts me. He -sent- my daughter into a -bar- to pick up his -drugs-."

Ludovick coughs at this, jerking his head to stare at Ziichi as if almost afraid she's got Zeal hidden in her boots. "I would love to end him," he says through grit teeth, grumbling a little to himself before settling down. "And yes, I believe that is the one I am speaking of."

Senkha looks more than a little disgusted. "He somehow was there when Dizzy was kidnapped...whenever he is around, she gets hurt. I don't like him in the least and would be very happy to throw him off of a dock with a pair of lead shoes."

Ludovick leans forward at this, his expression that of pure distaste. "I sometimes wish I was allowed to indulge in such hated," he says, a mix of humor and wistfulness in his voice.

There's a loud crack of arcane energy; teleportation. And then, an unceremonious thud of a body landing on the floor. Shit's going down upstairs!

Senkha smiles wryly, reaching across to give Ludo's wrist a squeeze...and frowns at the crack of energy. "...what was that?"

Ludovick jerks his head to stare at the ceiling, throwing a hand out towards Senkha. He doesn't know how capable she is, so he simply spits out a "Run!", clambering up the stairs with quite the effort.

Senkha says: --wha-
Senkha doesn't run, instead hitching up her skirt and grabbing for the dagger she keeps for just such an occasion. She steps back into the shadows.

There's a body on the floor. It's a heap of ghastly pale skin and a mane of black hair. She's got a sheet haphazardly wrapped around her, and otherwise, no clothing. Her left hand is still smashed, and she's got drawings all on her chest, and left arm. She's traced the blood vessels coming from her heart, extending down her arm with ink. Her right hand is completely stained with black from the ink.

Ludovick doesn't notice Senkha, hobbling as quickly as he can up the stairs until the body of Faronne comes into view. "Get out!" He bellows, already beginning to chant a prayer, hand outstretched towards her form on the floor.

Senkha presses her back against the wall, slowly creeping up the stairs. She remains silent as she takes in the scene, though she mouths 'what the fuck.'

Faronne groans, and turns over onto her back. Her bare, inked chest is showing, and her crippled leg is contorted at a painful angle. "..." She -stares- at Ludovick.

Ludovick throws a shield of Light over himself, releasing the spell with a flourish of his right arm. Unable to strike her now, or her him, he is content to scream at her, his voice nearly breaking from being so loud. "I will not be your pet!"

Senkha just sort of stares and then makes a funny squawking sound, coming out of the shadows, when she recognizes the body on the floor. "Ms. Price?!"

Faronne reaches the ink-covered hand over her face and begins sobbing near-uncontrollably. Nervous breakdown is now. "Didn't-- didn't WANT to-- d-don't have any--"

Ludovick balks at this, though is still quite wary, given Faronne's, er, history, He pushes the Light shield away with a wave of his hand, turning to Senkha, his expression tinged with fear. "Get Ziichi and leave. Now."

Senkha is stupid. "--she gave Oliver something that made him -alive- again," she says in a choked voice, not leaving.

Faronne chokes back another sob, and pushes her hair from her face. She gets a big black ink smear on her face, and her fingers tangled in her beyond messy hair. "I don't know why I'm here."

Ludovick snarls at Senkha, as if through with playing nice with 'idiots' for the day. He screams at her, livid. "You are to take Ziichi and leave, now!" With this, he turns, tearing the shirt from his torso, revealing the bandage around his upper left arm around his shoulder, along with the hideous scars on his back, which are now joined by four long, deep rivets of carved out flesh. He steps over to Faronne, as if disgusted by her, tossing the shirt to her with a sneer.

Senkha stares at Ludo's scarred up chest, startled by his screaming, but doesn't disobey any longer. She hurries down the stairs to gather Ziichi...but leaves the tea. TEA FOR LUDO AND FARO :D

Senkha & Ziichi, October 6

Ziichi says: How long y'know Mar?

Senkha frowns, considering. "...mmm. Since about March, I think. Maybe February. It feels like it's been much longer."

Ziichi says: Y'know Ky's out 'ere, ain't yeh?
Ziichi looks at Senkha nervously, chewing her lip.

Senkha says: Mm. We've come to an agreement of sorts. Kind of an...hmm. Like "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" sort of thing.

Ziichi looks visibly relieved. "Tha's good t'hear!"

Senkha says: I still don't know what happened with her and Arubrey, but seeing how she treats you and Dizzy, I can't imagine she'd lie about it.

Ziichi says: An' she bakes cookies wi'me!

Senkha smiles and gives a small laugh. "That she does."
Senkha says: Want to sit somewhere?

Ziichi looks around, then heads over, pointing as she goes, "There's a dock, y'know!"
Ziichi says: Me an' Larrk found this...

Senkha follows, her smile growing fonder as she looks around. "Mm. I'm pretty fond of this place. It's where Oliver and I were married, almost six months ago."

Ziichi looks over her shoulder, surprised, then grins. "Were it a nice weddin'?"

Senkha says: Small. But perfect. Just the people we loved.

Ziichi snorts in amusement at the idea, then turns to look out over the water, swinging her legs and allowing her heels to hit lightly against the wood.
Ziichi says: Did y'meet Rasik?

Senkha says: In passing. I'm sorry I wasn't more focused on taking care of him when I did meet him...things were sort of chaotic that night.
Senkha gives Ziichi a wry smile, clearly not pleased with the way that night turned out.

Ziichi says: Tha's okay, Sinka. Shit's bin crazy... think we's all bin a bit...
Ziichi tries to articulate with a rather crazy hand motion, then shrugs and drops her hand to her lap.

Senkha nods her understanding, even without the specific word. "To say the least. You'd think the universe would afford some of us a break from this sort of madness, yeah?"
Senkha says: Feels like I haven't had more than a day's peace since the year began.

Ziichi leans back against her hand, looking up at the light house. "Dunno, las' couple days - leas' onna ship - bin quiet... feels like somethin's comin', y'know... somethin' bad an' we're jus' in th'calm part b'fore th'shit starts up."
Ziichi says: Like a storm.

Senkha says: ...that's how it felt my wedding day, too. And that's what happened...literally within an hour of the wedding, I was bruised and bleeding, and not three days later, Oliver was gone.
Senkha says: I hope there's no storm this time.

Ziichi doesn't look away from the lighthouse, but her expression looks pinched. She finally sits properly, then reaches over and takes Senkha's hand softly in her own.
Ziichi says: Me too.

Senkha squeezes Ziichi's hand and gives her another wry smile. She does that a lot. "We'll ride it out, even if there is a storm. We're all stronger together, after all."

Ziichi worries at her lip, then looks at Senkha and smiles softly. "Tha's right, we are..." Shuffling a bit, she scratches at her cheek. "Rasik got beat up 'gain. 'e were drunk."

Senkha 's shoulders sag slightly, and she shakes her head. "It's one of the reasons we--I mean, me and Marius and Kyrita--are all so worried about you and Dizzy drinking. It's harder to stop bad things from happening to you when you're drunk."
Senkha says: Is he alright?

Ziichi says: I... I ain't drinkin' no more, Sinka. M'hands shook fer a week when I stopped... but ain't doin' it no more. Don' wanna dis'point Mar. An' Rasik... ain't jus' got beat up. Don' know if'n 'e e'er be okay. Like no matter wha' 'e do, someone's doin' somethin' t'him.
Ziichi lets out a sharp, icy-sounding bark of a laugh, suddenly, after saying that.

Senkha watches Ziichi carefully and squeezes her hand again. "I'm glad you're not drinking anymore. I'm really proud of you. And...some people attract trouble like that. Oliver and I do, that's for sure."

Ziichi works her teeth again at the scar on her lip, staring into the water. "Yeah..." she finally concedes, before continuing with, "Priest looked inta Ras's head, t'see who done it."

Senkha says: What'd the priest find out?

Ziichi says: Described guy t'me. Tall. Redhead. Scars on 'is nose an' forehead, like a... like acid.
Ziichi doesn't look at Senkha at all, staring down into the water again.

Senkha 's mouth becomes a thin, grim line. To say that she looks nauseated would be an understatement. She waits a moment before speaking and then asks Ziichi, "Do you think it was Patrick?"

Ziichi glances to Senkha, finally, and nods. "Were in th'Dwarven area. Pattick an' Nicene are stayin' there fer th'Brewfest. Pattick... 'e drinks lots, y'know..."

Senkha hums, not in agreement, but more in thought. "It doesn't surprise me that he drinks lots. Do you think he'd have a reason to beat up Rasik?"

Ziichi says: I... 'e 'ates draenei, leas' tha's wha' I 'eard...

Senkha pauses to consider her words carefully, trying to stay as neutral as possible. "He's a very angry man with a very troubled past. It doesn't excuse it if he does bad things to people, but...well."
Senkha says: Not everyone is strong and capable of dealing with a painful past. And sometimes, people deal with pain by lashing out to hurt others.

Ziichi sighs and nods, swinging her legs again for awhile. After doing this, apparently collecting her thoughts, she looks to Senkha. "I tol' Helly who I though' it were, when Rasik were sleepin'. Now Rasik won' tell no one nothin'. I feel real dumb."

Senkha says: Are you afraid that it makes you look like a liar?

Ziichi says: Yeah... but 'm more 'fraid that 'e DID do somethin', an' now 'e ain't gonna get no reper... repuri... bad affects.

Senkha grimaces, looking out toward the lighthouse. "The injustice of Patrick Morgan has long been one of the things that I...don't really know how to deal with, to be honest."

Ziichi mumbles, just loud enough to be heard, "I know where 'e an' Nicene live."

Senkha doesn't answer this for a long time, though she finally gives a small smile. "You remember the first time we met? Right after Marius threw the bench at them?"

Ziichi blushes deeply at this, nodding. "An' I still know wha' a womb is," she offers helpfully. "But ain't 'member much as I wanna, 'cause so much happenin'..."

Senkha laughs quietly and nods. "Understandable. I remember...Marius scared the shit out of you that night because he was so angry. He wanted to kill Nicene and Patrick for what they did. He may have been right to do so." She shrugs, not much advice to be found just thoughts on a similar situation.

Ziichi creases her eyebrows, then turns to look at Senkha. She looks older than fifteen like this, the iciness Borgen left her showing when she's not joking around. "Do y'think I shoul' tell Mar where 'e lives?"

Senkha doesn't seem phased by the slight change in Ziichi's appearance; if anything, she looks like she's familiar with such a look. "I think you could, though keep in mind that Marius probably won't go there to kill or hurt them."
Senkha says: Oliver asked him not to.

Ziichi says: Well... jus'... Helly were talkin' 'bout arrestin' him.
Ziichi says: I... I don' know. Is not tellin' wha' I know like a kinda lyin'?

Senkha says: It can be. But it...I think you have to decide for yourself if you think it's worth it to tell the truth in this case. If you did tell the truth, it's possible that Patrick would not just be arrested, but would actually be killed.
Senkha says: Stormwind's got a long memory.

Ziichi chews on her lip, looking more conflicted than ever, the iciness fading as she tries to work through these thoughts. "I... I don' know wha's th'right thing t'do." Shoulders slumped in defeat she adds, "Wish things ain't so... grey."

Senkha lets go of Ziichi's hand--or stump, one of the two--and puts her arm around the girl's shoulders, hugging her close.

Ziichi leans against Senkha, sighing softly. "Thanks fer listenin'... jus'... life's dumb."

Senkha says: It is. And the grey areas don't ever go away. It's...well. Part of growing up, unfortunately.
Senkha gives Ziichi another squeeze and a sad smile. "I'd tell you what I think you should do, but I'm not really an unbiased person when it comes to Patrick."

Ziichi turns a bit and leans her head back against Senkha's shoulder, avoiding the pointy bits of her armour. She peers at the woman's face, clearly hanging on her words. "Wha'd y'do, if y'were me?"

Senkha deadpans, considering this. She seems to honestly be trying to put herself into Ziichi's shoes. When she finally does speak, it's in a tentative voice.
Senkha says: I'd tell Marius what I knew...not because I want to see Patrick hurt, but because I wouldn't want to see him hurt someone else. And because I'd know that Marius would do the right thing with what I told him.

Ziichi considers this, then seems to react as though a weight has been taken off of her. She even physically relaxes, and allows a genuine smile to show. "Yeah... jus' won' tell th'Sigil, jus' Mar."

Senkha says: You know, right after the riots, all Marius wanted to do was to help Patrick.

Ziichi says: Really?

Senkha nods. "That's probably wise. And yeah...he had me find Niami and bring her up to where they were holding him after the riots ended. You know Marius. If it's broken..." She gestures, with her free hand, to her own abdomen. "...he likes to fix it."

Ziichi follows Senkha's hand with her eyes, then glances to the woman's abdomen. She nods, absently tracing her own through her vest. Yet more in common, dear lord.
Ziichi says: Tha's kinda wha' he do... so wha' happened?

Senkha says: Well. From what I understand, Patrick attacked his sister's boyfriend at a picnic. His sister responded by locking him in a cage and then asking Oliver to come undo the damage in Patrick's mind.
Senkha 's voice gains a very slightly bitter edge as she talks about this, despite her efforts to sound neutral.
Senkha says: We went. Oliver...Light, sometimes I can't believe how good and trusting he is. He tried to undo the damage, but in the process, Nicene attacked him, and he lost control. And, well. Oliver and I almost died. Marius found us.

Ziichi listens quietly; if she notices the bitterness, she doesn't show it, merely lolling against Senkha's shoulder and staring out towards the lighthouse as the woman talks. She rubs her thumb over the ring on her finger absently during.
Ziichi says: An' tha's when Mar had t'fix y'up?

Senkha nods, a soft, fond smile on her face. "It was. I suppose that's when he stopped feeling sorry for Patrick Morgan."

Ziichi says: Why'd Nicene attack 'im?
Ziichi says: Other'n her hatin' undead.
Ziichi does not sound impressed, in the least, when she says this.

Senkha grimaces and swallows hard. Trying -really- hard to remain neutral. "There was that, yes. She also...well. Part of the process of what Oliver did caused Patrick a lot of pain. Like...mm. Have you ever broken a bone?"

Ziichi looks at Senkha, momentarily amused in a rather morbid way. She lifts her amputated arm up wordlessly, then settles it at her side again.

Senkha chuckles. "Kind of like that, yeah. When you set a broken bone...it hurts like fuck, worse almost than breaking the bone. But you have to do it. And that's what happened with Patrick."
Senkha says: Nicene...I told her not to attack, told her that things were under control, but...well.
Senkha very, -very- neutrally says, "We're not always at our brightest when someone we love is hurt."

Ziichi considers this, then sighs and nods. "Don' member much, but think Larrk kinda lost 'is shit when I were 'urt, even though Mar were tryin' t'help. But 'e ain't -attacked- Mar fer doin'
Ziichi says: wha' he had t'do... ain't like like no kinda excuse fer somethin' like tha'...

Senkha slowly nods her agreement. "The saddest part is that if she hadn't attacked Oliver, Patrick probably would've been fixed completely."

Ziichi 'hmms' at this, then rubs her face, looking a bit distraught at first, before settling back to being calm. She asks, tentatively, "Were y'friends, b'fore all've tha'?"

Senkha says: Me and Patrick?

Ziichi says: Yeah, an' Nicene, too?

Senkha , to her credit, manages to keep from laughing at this. She simply shakes her head. "The first I knew of Patrick was when he came to Stormwind and started trouble...murdering death knights, dumping bodies in the canals, bringing heads into bars."

Ziichi says: Bringin'--- wha'?
Ziichi looks rather shocked, staring at Senkha with a wide-eyed expression. She looks more owlish than ever.

Senkha says: ...before the riots. He came into a bar where a friend of mine was drinking and dropped a few heads on the table. Death knights. He was very proud of himself. My friend was not impressed.

Ziichi looks shaken by this; she has a fondness for a number of Death Knights, and this apparently is very upsetting. Drawing her legs up to her chest, she elects to quietly rest her chin upon her knees now.

Senkha glances sideways at Ziichi with a slight frown. "...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," she says quietly. "It was a pretty ugly time in Stormwind."

Ziichi shakes her head, her spiky hair bobbing almost comically. "No, wanna 'ear th'truth. I jus'... Mn, Pattick were nice t'me, weird thinkin' him doin' this kinda stuff, y'know?"

Senkha says: He can be nice. The very first time I met him face-to-face, I knew who he was, but he didn't know who I was.
Senkha says: He was nice enough then. It was kind of eerie.

Ziichi says: Met 'im in Dalaran, after th'bench shit. He were... drinkin'. An' had a look like 'e seein' ghosts, y'know?
Ziichi says: Were somethin' like three inna mornin'...

Senkha nods, also pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on them. "After the riots, I actually came across him in Shattrath. We had a drinking contest."

Ziichi snorts at this, and can't help but laugh a little. "Y'did? Who won?"

Senkha says: ...I don't remember. I stupidly decided to take a look in his mind, he took it as an attack and tried to kill me.

Ziichi says: A look in 'is mind? Why'd y'do tha'?

Senkha shrugs, looking not a little bit sheepish. "Shouldn't have poked around in his mind, but I wanted to see if I could help."

Ziichi makes a 'hm' in response, wondering at this. "Can... can y'fix nightmares?"

Senkha says: I...don't know, honestly. Not yet. If I could...well. I'd sleep a lot better, that's for sure.

Ziichi creases her eyebrows, watching the sunlight play on the water. She scratches at her scalp where Senkha had healed it earlier -- the hair hasn't finished growing in -- and then angles her head to look at the woman beside her.
Ziichi says: So... y'have nighmares too?

Senkha doesn't quite look at Ziichi, instead glancing out towards the lighthouse, though she doesn't seem to really see it. "More often than I'd like to," she admits in a quiet voice.

Ziichi lowers her voice, tone soft -- and a bit nervous. "Are they... bout tha'... draenei?" As soon as she asks, she tenses and ducks her head a bit, as though to defend from a blow.

Senkha turns to look at Ziichi, though it's more a surprised look than an angry look. "How'd y--" she starts, but then stops, her shoulders sagging. "A lot of the time, yeah. After we were in the cage...he turned into Patrick a lot of the time."
Senkha says: ...are yours about Borgen?

Ziichi at first looks unwilling to open up at all, until she hears mention of Patrick. She swallows and nods, resting her hand against her head, as though defensive. "Borgen, an' Larrk. Sometimes th'same person..."

Senkha grimaces and nods, closing her eyes and hugging her knees closer to her chest. "...one time it was Oliver. No. Not Oliver. Blightreaver. I'd never felt sicker when I woke up from that one."

Ziichi hunches her shoulders up, then asks, almost frightened to, "Blightreaver?"
Ziichi says: Y'mean... like from when 'e los' control?

Senkha nods, still not quite looking at Ziichi. "The monster in him," she clarifies. "Does Larrk have a monstrous side?" Somewhere, some part of her brain is happy to finally find out that his name isn't Lurk.

Ziichi shakes her head, then looks confused as she tries to search for the words. "No... jus'... Larrk left me when I... when I needed 'im mos'. It hurt. Now... I... have these nightmares where 'm... with him, but he's Borgen... sometimes it's like th'dungeon when Borgen were-- but-- it's like th'same person. E'ery night. I... it's so hard not t'drink."

Senkha is quiet for a long time, thinking about this. She chews on her lower lip and finally speaks in a sort of shaky voice. "...the nightmare I had. Patrick kept telling me that everyone would leave me...Marius, Nialos, Riley..."
Senkha says: I told him Oliver never would, but he just laughed, and then I was back on that boat, back tied up on that bed. And he-- and I kept asking for Oliver to come and save me, screaming for him, but he never came.
Senkha adds, almost too quietly to be heard, "...just like on the boat."

Ziichi creases her eyebrows and shuffles backwards, then moves her arms around Senkha; she wants to talk, but finds comforting someone she cares for far less frightening. She holds onto the woman tightly, seeming almost protective.

Senkha slips her arms around Ziichi's waist and leans against her, closing her eyes and just sitting in silence for a moment. Her lips are moving, as if she's repeating a mantra to herself, but it's nothing that can be heard.

Ziichi chews her lip, watching Senkha's expression. She murmurs, "Do it e'er get better?"

Senkha takes another moment, but finally speaks quietly, her eyes closed. "...some days. Yes. There are days when I forget that it happened. And then there are days when I have to remind myself..."

Ziichi looks back out to the lighthouse, a little disheartened. "I... I gotta sleep beside someone, or I get th'nightmares. Mar's bin puttin' up wi'me when e's onna ship."

Senkha says: ...they get worse when life is hard. When I'm angry or sad or guilty, I think. Right after it happened, I couldn't sleep at all, so Stehl taught me to meditate.

Ziichi seems startled, then stares at Senkha. "He... he wha'? Ain't tha... um."
Ziichi misunderstands this word.

Senkha blinks a few times at Ziichi, as if not sure what she's saying, and then laughs when she understands. "Oh! Oh, no. Not that. I don't think he knows how to do that. No...meditating is learning to quiet your mind and just be. It's...hard."

Ziichi seems perplexed at first, then blushes deeply. She mutters something about Stehl and sex and her head hurting, before paying attention to the conversation again. "Sounds kinda like... fishin'."

Senkha says: ...I guess it kind of is. I've not done much fishing myself, but...it's sort of like that, yeah. You're not thinking about anything at all, really, when you do it. You just are.

Ziichi says: Is tha' anythin' like wha' you an Mar work on t'gether, wi'the mind stuff?

Senkha says: Sort of. When he has the time, he teaches me to defend my mind against attacks and to heal. Meditation is part of it, though, so I don't -lose- my mind with everything in it.
Senkha looks very relieved to be no longer talking about draenei and nightmares.

Ziichi seems to be a bit more relaxed as well, once they're off the topic. She stretches her legs out again, taking in the sun. "Is tha' wha' yer book were 'bout? Wha' were those... drawin's in it? Looked kinda... weird." She wrinkles her nose, but smiles.

Senkha nods, smirking and reaching back to pat the book with one hand. "Marius wrote it three thousand years ago. It's called 'Viramata Nas Vox: A Planar Guide.' Don't ask me what the title means."

Ziichi snorts loudly and then laughs, shaking her head. "Him bein' so ol' is real weird, y'know? Sayin' three thou'and like it's jus' nothin'."
Ziichi says: Ain't know wha' t'do, livin' so long...

Senkha says: Me neither. I can't imagine it...but then, Marius and Oliver and, well, a lot of people will probably still be around three thousand years from now.

Ziichi says: Yeah, Olly an' Nialos said they's were gonna live fer a real long time... How old're yeh, Sinka?
Ziichi looks her over, curious.

Senkha says: Twenty-four this past May.
Senkha chuckles dryly. "Wasn't the best birthday ever."
Senkha says: ...when's your birthday?

Ziichi looks impressed, eyebrows jumping upwards almost ridiculously. "Yer older'n I thought y'were, Sinka! Mus' be nice, bein' growed up an' doin' wha y'wan', most've th'time..." Picking at the material of her pants, she adds with a tone of bitterness, "February. February fourteen."

Senkha says: It's not always so great. Sometimes, I wish I was younger...you know, go back in time, be a bit more innocent. And hey, that's right before Oliver's birthday.

Ziichi says: Guess so... ain't so fun havin' people thinkin' yer dumb cause yer young. When's Olly's birfday?

Senkha says: You are anything but dumb, Ziichi. And trust me, people think I'm dumb all the time, even though I'm almost ten years older than you are. His birthday's February 18.

Ziichi says: 'm gonna make 'im a cake, then, when it's February! An' we can put streamers in 'is hair or somethin'.
Ziichi says: An' get Turry, an' have Death Knight joustin'.

Senkha grins, leaning back on her hands and finally stretching out her legs. "I think he'd appreciate that...well. The jousting at least. He can't eat and he can't taste, which is very depressing."

Ziichi holds her finger up in the air, looking much more excitable and fifteen, now that they're not discussing serious topics. "Ain't y'tell 'im wi'yer brain magics tha' it tastes good?"

Senkha says: That I do! We've tried steak and cookies before, but never cake.

Ziichi says: Gonna make real cake, not th'weird stuff tha' Kia got. Like... fuzzy moldy bread.

Senkha 's cheek twitches slightly at the mention of Kialthos, but she nods. "I'll sneak around and find out for you what kind he likes best."
Senkha says: I know he likes pie, too, though. His old wife used to make pie.

Ziichi grins broadly now, then hugs Senkha abruptly. "Then maybe I'll make 'im pie!" She squeezes tightly; one-armed bear hug time. "Thank y'fer talkin' wi'me an' not flippin' yer shit. People... like t'do tha' when they's talk 'bout serious stuff."

Senkha grins knowingly. "They do. Or they don't know how to react. It's kinda weird, isn't it?"

Ziichi sits back a bit and then nods, sighing and rubbing the back of her head. "Yeah, don' know why people do tha'... jus' talkin'-- they all wanna fight instead."

Senkha says: I think it's because they don't know what to do with things...they want to make life better for people, but they don't know how.

Ziichi says: Mhn... learned hard way tha' y'ain't ne'er make nothin' better no more, y'jus' learn t'get by. Issat selfish, y'think?

Senkha says: Not at all. I mean...it's what you've got to do for yourself. You can't be good to other people if you're a mess yourself, yeah?

Ziichi sighs at this, then creases her eyebrows and looks thoughtful. "Do y'think it's okay t'think tha' way, if'n I wanna... y'know... work wi'Mar?"
Ziichi ducks her head down after saying that, as though embarrassed at voicing the concern.

Senkha smiles and nods, shrugging. "I think it's okay, but at the end of the day, you'd have to ask him. And...it does get better. Slowly. It might take years, but it does get better."

Ziichi smiles a bit at this, then nods. "Still 'member when I were too scared t'leave Mar's room. Used t'sleep behind a chair... an' now I wanna... DO somethin'."
Ziichi says: How long did it take yeh t'get t'where y'are now?

Senkha says: ...it's been almost eight months. I...still. I don't think I'm really fixed, yet. Last week, I did some pretty nasty stuff...felt like I did back there again.

Ziichi says: Some... nasty stuff? Wha' kinda stuff are y'meanin'? Do y'mean... all tha' stuff wi'Aroo?

Senkha says: ...that was part of it. But...well. I was kind of stupid. Marius was disappointed in me and I thought I should punish myself, so I did.
Senkha shifts to the side and lifts up the back of her vest, just enough to show some of the crosshatch of whip scars.

Ziichi leans a bit to look, then turns and touches the marks softly with a finger. She looks at Senkha questioningly.

Senkha speaks quietly, a note of shame in her voice. "...whip scars. In the Church...some people whip themselves to punish themselves for what they do wrong."

Ziichi considers this, then her expression becomes almost understand. She holds her left hand out to Senkha; the Signet ring from Marius is there, but beneath it is a huge black burn scar, looking as though the skin had been torn away at some point.

Senkha looks at the burn scar, her expression softening. "What happened there?" she asks quietly, as if she already knows.

Ziichi bites into her lip, then moves her hand to rest against her stomach, cradling it almost protectively in the curve of her vest. "Mhn. All do stuff tha's kinda dumb, tha's all." She glances down towards her hand, then elaborates briefly with, "Were tryin' t'burn him inta me, instead'a wonderin' if I needed 'im at all."

Senkha says: ...that happened a few times with Oliver. I threw myself into the relationship with him because it made me feel less empty inside.

Ziichi flinches when she hears that, then almost chokes. She has to turn away; talk about pressing buttons. "Y-yer happy now, ain't yeh? Wi'Olly?"

Senkha nods slowly, not looking at Ziichi again. She's staring back at the lighthouse, not seeing it. "We had to realize...both of us...that I couldn't depend on him for my happiness."
Senkha says: And vice versa.

Ziichi says: Y'can still be happy t'gether, e'en if'n y'both know tha'? It ain't bug 'im or nothin'?
Ziichi keeps herself turned a bit, staring down into the water. She runs her hand over her face, clearly bothered by the topic.

Senkha shakes her head. "It doesn't bother him. I think he likes it better this way...I'm a more complete person without depending on him."

Ziichi creases her eyebrows, holding her hand against the side of her head for awhile as though staving off a headache. Finally she asks, "How did y'learn t'do tha'? Stop bein'... needin' him?"

Senkha says: --he almost killed me.

Ziichi snaps her head up and looks over at Senkha again, startled.

Senkha says: It was my fault. I knew he was dangerous, but I tried to...well. Tried to convince him to do some things with me. I almost died.
Senkha doesn't explain the things because that would take about fifty years.

Ziichi says: But... yer okay now, ain't yeh? Were... were it worth doin' tha'? Wha'ever it were? T'get t'where y'are now?

Senkha finally smiles and nods, turning to look at Ziichi. "Yes. I don't know that I'd almost die again, but it was worth it."

Ziichi narrows her brows and thinks about the situation. "Ain't... well... ain't like Larrk tried t'kill me or somethin', but him leavin' felt like dyin'. I... I dunno... if'n I were ready fer..."
Ziichi says: I feel bad fer bein' angry wi'someone fer somethin' so dumb.

Senkha shakes her head. "It's not dumb. It hurt when he left, and when things hurt, you get angry. Just because you love him doesn't mean you can't be angry with him."

Ziichi stares over at Senkha again, then lets out a soft, helpless laugh. "Wish e'eryone were as..." She considers a word, then snorts, "SANE? as y'are."

Senkha blinks a few times about being called sane and also laughs. "Yeah, I wish more people understood things like you do. It's...well. Nice."

Ziichi smiles and nods at this, finally settling herself again, apparently not so upset now. "Yeah... are nice talkin' wi'yeh, Senkha. Feels like ain't gotta 'splain in between e'erythin'... like y'get it?"

Senkha nods her agreement. "Same. Like...like there's not this barrier. Like we're sort of in the same world?"

Ziichi brightens at this and nods enthusiastically, then bumps her shoulder lightly against Senkha's -- she's getting the hang of avoiding the spiky things. "Yeah... jus' like tha'!"

Senkha grins and laughs, nudging Ziichi with her arm...not her spiky shoulder but her arm. "Good to have someone here with me, then."

Ziichi says: Real glad tha' Dizzy has you an' Olly. She's real special, needs people what'd love 'er like parents oughta. Feel safe knowin' she's got you guys.

Senkha smiles warmly, nudging against Ziichi again. "I'm glad you think so. She means a lot to us both."

Ziichi gets up and brushes herself off, then stretches and cracks her back. "E'ery time I seen 'er, she's real happy. Tha's wha' matters t'me. If'n y'guys e'er do somethin' bad..." She gets a rather dark expression for a moment, then shrugs and looks away again, clearly very protective of the other girl. "Well, ain't think y'will."

Senkha stands, smiling fondly at Ziichi's dark expression. "Don't worry. We'll take care of her. You ready to head back to the boat?"

Ziichi nods, her hand moving to her locket at her throat. She moves her fingers softly over it, and then the ring. "Yeah," she murmurs, distant sounding. "Think from talkin' wi'you... think 'm ready t'let some things go now..." She drops her hand from the locket, then smiles at Senkha.

Senkha smiles gently at Ziichi and gives her a sideways hug before hopping down from the post. "I'm glad."

Ziichi says: When y'think y'gonna do writin' stuff?

Senkha says: Well. If you like, we can do that this weekend?

Ziichi says: Sure! Long as there ain't dorfs tryin' t'blow shit up or somethin'!
Ziichi rolls her eyes at the idea.

Senkha says: ...it's happened before. One killed my horse. That was a special time.

Ziichi says: Yer... horse?

Senkha says: Mm. Was an asshole of a horse. I like Merry better.

Ziichi snorts at that, resting her hand behind her head as they walk, kicking a stone along.
Ziichi says: Weird how much people gots a problem wi'the Sigil...

Senkha says: It really is. Who hates -charity-, really?

Ziichi says: Guess dorfs wi'bombs an' Jadagar.

Senkha says: And radioactive elves.

Ziichi says: .... Jus' crazy shit.

Senkha says: Pretty much. They're all mad.

Ziichi says: Need more hugs or somethin'.
Ziichi says: Or chairs.