Since I’m getting dizzy from staying awake so long after a rough day, I figure I’d better eat. Being awake longer takes more calories after all, even if I have been eating giant dragon hearts recently, for some reason I’m operating as if I’ve barely been having a bowl of stew here or there each day. Speaking of stew, hopefully eating can keep Induul’s mind occupied for a while so that I don’t have to. I’m running out of things to say to him. Or rather, I’m stumbling towards incoherent thoughts that would be of no use in trying to keep him distracted from his cravings. I guess I’ll go make a giant pot of stew, and leave it simmering so that it’s ready for those that wake up over the next few hours. Fifty odd gallons of stew or so, over a semi-magical flame, in some sort of legendary artifact cauldron. Yep, absolutely normal way to prepare a midnight snack. Snirk. Heh.
Hell, "The Four." Am I really the wielder of "The Four"? I mean, I have them, and several are soulbound to Shellcrackers. Is it really me though? The prophecy talked about some sort of true king business, and I hate the idea of royalty. Plus, I’m not exactly “descended from royalty,” or any nonsense like that. Though maybe it’s more about power in titling rather than any sort of monarchy business. I mean, Vylon and Vyela are titled Queens, granting them some semblance of mastery of movement in Mount Solace. What the hell would the power of a king be?
They’re free to move in multiple directions, but limited in the distance traveled, without sacrificing other—. Heh. Wow. Yeah, that does sound sort of familiar now doesn’t it? Reggie Shellcracker, able to make lateral strides, but to travel fast or far, I had to combine abilities, or get help from other players, pieces, people. Trying to be speedy always came at a cost. Sort of like castling in chess. With the aid of a rook, I can cover half of a board, sure. I don’t exactly instantly sacrifice the rook, the power, the friend, whatever helped me achieve speeds, but it tends to take something out of one of the two of us.
Anyway, that’s tangential. I don’t like monarchy nonsense, but it’s not like anyone’s going to suddenly recognize me as ruler of a region or something. I’d shun the opportunity if given one, and tell the people to govern themselves. Hell, I’ve already done exactly that out on the plains west of Autumn Brook. Sort of anyway. It’s not exactly the same, since that was a regrettable patented Reggie Shellcracker Accidental Assassination Mission, patent pending. Heh. Oy vey, I’m loopy and I’ve only been up about twenty two hours so far. It’s only going to get worse from here on out.
I can see why Induul would normally be good at his little social dynamic power plays. He’s fairly charming, aside from the occasional angry aside due to his cravings. We while away the time as best we can, each of us getting slightly more irritable and tired by the hour. I’m getting to the point where if I keep forcing myself to be awake without even a nap, I’d snap at anyone who even mildly upset me. Not the worst price to pay to keep someone occupied from their cravings, but it’s a price that will mostly come from those around me. Huff. I don’t like mistreating people. I really, truly don’t. I hate bullying people, snapping at people, abusing or misusing people or their trust.
As I’m finding it harder and harder to keep Indy’s brain occupied, his behavior is getting more erratic. Disconcertingly, he mumbles, “There’s one escape. Maybe. Not sure I could do it.”
I’m about to address the elephant in the room, when suddenly, Induul comments, “Need something fresher for breakfast. Going for a hunt. Should keep me occupied for a couple of hours without needing a supervisor Schism. Thanks for taking my mind off things for a while. See you in a few.”
With that, Induul begins marching away. Phew, I can get a nap in. I’m not sure I like the idea of him going off by himself especially after what he just said, but I don’t know him well enough to know how much of a danger to himself he is right now. We did learn a bit about each other over the course of the night, but he seems fine, almost amiable, aside from the spurts of ire. I mean, okay, that’s sort of a lie, he doesn’t seem fine at all, because he’s suffering, and the symptoms are more and more apparent. What I meant was more along the lines of his emotional state doesn’t seem to be heading towards self destruction at the moment.
Is there someone I could get to tail Induul? What could someone even do if he was really determined? They’d need to be an archmage to be able to safely protect him from himself, and I’m the only one the Order has. Ugh. Do I betray his trust, possibly sabotaging my attempts to keep him safe in the long run, to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself in the short term? Plus, I’d be doing it without even a nap. Huff, grr. No, I can’t risk it. I’ve been given an opportunity to catch some sleep that I sorely need in order to keep myself as close to my best as possible for assaulting Vorzog’s keep tomorrow.
Friggin’ hell, dang it all Indy. This wasn’t part of the plan. Wait. Yui and Yuri are essentially archmages. They’re Draconiacs, so they’d go unnoticed if Indy has his dragonforce senses open. Hm. I feel awkward asking them for a favor right now, but awkward is better than failing to save someone. Off to the prison in the wee hours of the morn’ it is. I close up my vault, having accomplished basically nothing of note in it over the last few hours, and TK Surf my way towards the prison.
Unsurprisingly, Yui is up, going over her equipment, working an enchantment to repair the dents in the armor, and polishing various inlaid runework. Of course, she’s doing it in naught more than a loincloth, because reptiles don’t need the same modesty as most mammalian humanoids. She’s an absolutely gorgeous teal Draconiac, the firmness of her muscles evident even beneath her scales. I try not to glance at her pectoral ridge, and fail. It’s pert to say the least. Rattling my skull, I roll my eyes at myself. I never fixated on crap like this before Mount Solace and the whammy. I’m going to be stuck second guessing myself forever whenever I notice someone’s physical appearance.
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Noticing me rattling my skull in the prison entryway, Yui comments without looking my way, “Morn’ Hero. Got a battle you want me to fight already?”
Blinking, a bit stunned, I try to—, ah, right. We bonded in a hivemind, she intimately knows my thought processes, and why I’d be visiting. Chagrined, blushing, I mutter, “Something of the sort, a favor. Our, ‘The Green,’ Induul, is, well, going through withdrawals of a piping substance, and it’s pretty bad. His head has been in some less than good places over the last night, and he went out for an early morning hunt just now. I’m not sure how good you are at tracking and spying on some—.”
Yui stands up quickly, causing me to cut myself off mid-sentence. She marches into one of the cell’s with its door open, and unceremoniously kicks her brother’s ass, literally. He snorts and grumbles, swatting at her, and she blows a raspberry before commenting, “Up brother. Schism’s got a job you’re better suited for. Sneaky stuff. I’ll tail in case you need backup.”
Continuing to feel a might surprised, and stunned, I try not to chuckle at the simultaneous demonstrations of sibling love and rivalry. Figuring I’d better clear the air, I comment, “I just want to make sure that he’s safe, and doesn’t do something that’ll hurt himself, or that he’ll regret later. I don’t know how confident you two are about—.”
Yui turns to face me, grinning like a lunatic. I’m about to plead that she not go for the kill, when she assures me, “Relax Schism, under the Ice of Rage’s banner, what do you think we got the most practice fighting? Subduing is just as important as the kill. Erm, was. I suppose it’s more important now, with a leader like you.”
Grumbling, I mumble, “I’m not a lea—.”
Scoffing, still grinning, Yui laughs as she cuts me off, “Take it how you will. We pledged ourselves to *you* for your feelings on family. If the Order is one big happy family, then of course we’ll look out for one of our new brothers. Get it?”
My words get stuck in my throat as I literally choke on the sentiment. My eyes water as I nod lamely at Yui. Wow. I really lucked out offering mercy during the Spellknight fight. Hellspit and Fel Fires, I try not to sob as I inhale a ragged breath while my lower jaw quivers. Great, I’m over-emotional probably from the lack of sleep. Maybe. I’d probably be teary eyed at the sentiment regardless though. Ugh, I hate having reasons to second guess myself, moreso when I’m loopy like this.
Yui begins donning her armor, and motions as if to dismiss or shoo me away. I’d find it rude normally, but it is a bit time sensitive if they are to catch up to a dragon. Speaking of, I hear her comment, “Get your nose out for poisons, we’re tracking ‘The Green,’ hurry up lazybones. How does that perception misdirection spell work again? Umbral shadow shady sneaky something. Can you teach me on the fly?”
Her brother groans from inside the cell as he starts to rouse himself. He nonchalantly waves my way with his eyes still closed as he staggers towards his own armor. Yuri mutters something in that alien brain-melting hiss that the various dragonkind use, so I figure I’m probably not needed here any longer. It seems they’ve the situation well in-hand. Hopefully. Ahliyui didn’t look happy at the response Ahliyuri had given her, but she’s not motioning for me to stay or asking any questions about the situation, so I’ll leave them to it.
Floating my way back up Mount Solace I check the walls of my psychic network, finding a number of them lazily half-up, unmaintained due to my unrested state. Thankfully it doesn’t seem like there are any recipients awake to bother hearing my overtired brain.
In a lighthearted, loving cadence, Luni sends telepathically, “Au contraire mon frère. Come rescue me, please?”
My eyes flash wide as I drop from my TK Surfboard to sprint in the vague direction I get of Luni’s whereabouts. She tries to quell my fear by adding, “It’s not urgent sweetie, just awkward, sorry, I just wanted to see you. Didn’t mean to spook you.”
Huffing, I roll my eyes slightly. I’m not annoyed at Lu, but I am a bit tired of my own overreactions to things in my current state. When I arrive at what must be the twin Fires’ dorms, I find an odd sight. Rubbing my eyes to make sure I get the details correct, I cast a glance over Luni and her current predicament.
I think that that’s Ixey’s hand, firmly grasping her—. I mean, it must be, it’s an arm belonging to whomever is on the other side of Lil, partially spooning him. Zayzi is halfway down the bed in an awkward pile of limbs, wrapped mostly tightly around Ixey’s hips and waist, keeping everyone else distant, and keeping Ixey from being able to spoon Lil entirely. Lil seems to be doing his best to keep Luni and Ixeyla close while still asleep, snoring on his back. Of course, everyone other than Luni is topless. Lu smiles helplessly my way as she tries to pry Ixeyla’s hand free from her breast.
I’d facepalm, or avert my gaze, but at this point, I’m too tired to care about walking in on the immodest scene. It seems Lil’s confession was successful, that’s for sure. I can’t help snorting a quarter chuckle as I shake my head incredulously at my too-obvious observation. Rolling my eyes at myself, I attempt to use my telekinesis to help Lu extricate herself from the fondling hand of the sleeping Ixey.
Lu grumbles telepathically, “It’d be one thing if we were flirting and she was awake and did it, but she flopped her arm over in her sleep, and just grabbed and held on for dear life. My titty is sore. Thanks for coming to my rescue my Hero. I suppose you want to go get some sleep with Kinzul, Prinny, and Farzee. Mind if I tag along?”
I blush at Luni’s mention of her sore bodypart, as I don’t think I’ve ever heard her call it that before. As she finishes with a question, I half pout at Lu as I query mentally, “Why the heck would I mind Lu? I love you you goof, of course I don’t mind. Ugh, I want your snuggles so friggin’ bad. My night was bluh. Yours seems to have been eventful though. Thought you said you weren’t going on their date?”
Lu titters nervously across our mental wavelength before she sticks her tongue out at me. Thinking better on it, she answers, “I wasn’t, and didn’t. Lil just was nervous, and I knew I wasn’t going to get your snuggles, so, well, yeah.”