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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 6:55:13 GMT
 | Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
Standing out on his now owned front porch, Dorian looked across the tranquil, undisturbed surface of the water in the lake, where his newly built house had been located. With a gentle sigh, he shifted himself as he remained leaning over the railing, staring out at his gorgeous view as he enjoyed the warm reflection of the sun, simply basking in the glow of the day. "I could get used to this," he muttered under his breath, closing his eyes as the sun lifted up in the sky just a little more, causing it to reflect at just the right angle off the lake to glow over his face, spreading a pleasant warmth over his skin.
It had been a few days since the Moonrise Festival, and the Shaman had given himself ample time to recover after revelling in the festivities. It had been an interesting day, that was for sure; surely, he had thought, nothing would intrigue him more than the ceremony at the beginning, giving the gift to the Sakura Tree Spirit and having his fortune told in the form of a story. As of yet, he had not figured out what the spirit woman had meant, but he was sure there was a meaning behind it. However, what seemed to pique the Shaman's interest further that day, was his interactions with the lovely fox tail, Artemisia.
It had been a rough time for the Sorceress, but he hoped that she had been pulling through since then; they had managed to get a few bits of conversation in, though the day was mostly filled with enjoying the celebration and, of course, the food and beverages on offer; Dorian could still taste the delicious meat that he had shared with the fox tail, and it always sent pleasant shivers down his spine whenever he recalled back to it. Shaking his head, he propped himself up to stand properly, hands lazily hanging upon the railing along the front of his new home's porch, still glancing over the lake's waters.
Blinking slowly, he wondered what the fox tail was up to at this moment; perhaps she had gone back to Londinium, or could she have decided to stick around in the village after the festival? Humming curiously to himself, the Shaman opened his interface, swiping his hand carefully through the air to flip to his friend's list; a rather measly list still, but it wasn't indicative of the many people he had so far become acquainted with. His hand darted over to Artemisia's name, pressing upon the button that created a prompt for a voice message. Dorian remained silent for a moment, unsure what to say, before swallowing his nerves and speaking into the prompt.
"Hello there, Artemisia, it's Dorian," he began, rolling his eyes at his own formal tone of voice; but alas, it was second nature to him. "I hope you have been well since the Moonrise Festival ended, it's been a few days since we last spoke." Looking over his shoulder at the front door of his new home, an idea sparked into his mind. "I have a new house in the Moon Dance Forest, and I was wondering if you'd perhaps like to come and visit. It's easy to find, simply follow the stream that runs through the borders of Moon Dance until you come upon a lake; my house is situated just on the lake's shore."
"There is still a bit of a winter chill here, so you may want to bring a coat. In any case, I look forward to perhaps seeing you again." With that, he pressed the button on his interface once more, collecting the data in a tidy voice message. Nodding his head, Dorian promptly activated the 'Send' icon, causing an animation to show the voice message being folded into a cute little envelope and slipping away, indicating it was on it's way to it's designated recipient, Artemisia. Releasing a sigh of relief that it had worked, Dorian stepped back from the railing, turning on his heels to face the front door and step towards it.
Grabbing a hold of the door knob, he twisted it on itself, turning it left and tugging it towards him to swing the door open, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. The house was - just as he had warned the Sorceress - somewhat colder than he would have liked, but there was a simple solution to that. Moving through the main hallway and towards the small living room at the back of the house, Dorian spotted the currently unlit fireplace and made a beeline for it. Crouching down in front of it, he grabbed a few logs from the pile, setting them delicately into the ashes and smoulder, before waving his hand over them to give out a small bit of jolted mana, igniting a cozy, warm fire that began to illuminate and heat up the house.
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 21:06:07 GMT
Her shoulders, angled and ready to strike, rose and fell quickly with her accelerated breath. Grasped tightly in her hands, crossed across her chest defensively, was her weapon – an ornate blue and golden staff known as Midnight Sky. The Sorceress, who was usually so careful, had allowed herself to be surrounded by several Lesser Oni in the depths of the Moon Dance Forest. Although individually they were of a lower level than she, the three combined had proven to be a bit of a challenge. While she was certainly capable of taking care of herself, a Sorceress being attacked from all angles made it difficult to cast some of her spells, which often required her to prepare for several seconds. Fortunately, she was able to make use of her Spell Walk ability, giving her the chance to still dodge and move about, although slower than usual, between her attacks. To add to her frustration, the monsters were resistant to her go to spell repertoire, fire.
Her green eyes scanned the forest, waiting. She knew the moment of quiet was only a deception. Although half of her health had slipped away from her along with almost all of her mana, she had already defeated two of the three demons. It was not wrong to think that Artemisia was not performing to her best ability, allowing hits here and there which she usually would have seen or dodged. Recent events in her life had left the petite blonde mentally and emotionally drained, which was surely how she had ended up in this situation in the first place. The fox ears twitched atop her head, flicking and scanning for any sound of the remaining monster. To add to the constant drain on her mana pool, she also had toggled on her Hearing Aptitude skill. As she listened, she heard it – a shift in the brush, the crunch of a leaf, the preparation for another attack.
She spun around, somehow the creature had managed to get behind her, her blonde pigtails whipping around her frame. The two weapons collided, her staff thrust forward in front of her chest to catch the handle of the hammer as it swung down. The sound of the connection echoed through the trees as the two locked eyes for a moment. The Oni grinned devilishly at her, knowing it had the physical advantage as it gave a push forward. Artemisia's arms shifted slightly, giving way and allowing the hammer to come just ever so closer to her face, which had been the monsters target. The blonde grit her teeth and dug her heels into the soft earth, holding her position. She was not built for hand to hand combat and the strain on her body was obvious.
It was in this moment that a tiny notification appeared in the upper corner of her vision. She had a message. Artemisia almost laughed aloud as she considered the timing, whoever sent her that probably had no idea the situation she had found herself in. She knew she needed to put distance between herself and this nightmare creature. Looking at her mana reserves, she knew she didn't have many bursts left in her, although one solid hit should finish things off, if she could get the time to cast. The creature before her was down to thirty percent of its health and was only besting her due to the prolonged and close range fighting. Keeping her eyes locked on the creature to distract it from what she was doing, Artemisia began to channel some of her remaining mana to her feet. It only took a few moments for the spell to be ready, although during that brief time, she could feel her grip slipping, her arms giving out as the hammer slowly slipped closer and closer...
Just as the strength left her arms and the hammer swung forward, with a grin on the Oni's face, a solid wall earth, complete with a spiky top, burst from the ground and blocked the weapon. Behind the rock and dirt, the Sorceress collapsed to her knees. It would only hold for a moment, she could already see tiny cracks forming in her temporary shelter as the Oni beat on it from the outside. She heard it howl in frustration and anger as it swung its hammer again. Artemisia frowned as she watched the wall shake but still took the moment, which allowed her to rest, to check the notification she had received. A voice, which had become familiar to her recently, played in her ears. It was Dorian, the Shaman she had been spending time with recently. He was inviting her over to his new house, which wasn't really all that far from her current location. Artemisia smiled, appreciating the invite, but she had more pressing issues to attend to at the moment. As the message finished, the Oni took one more swing at the wall and it began to crumble. She wanted to hurry and finish this now for two reasons – she wouldn't last much longer and she wanted to hurry and reply to the message she had received.
It was going to have to be all or nothing, this would use all of her remaining mana. Artemisia had never been forced into such a situation before and she wasn't sure she would need to do this but she decided to go for it. Perhaps it would be overkill but she needed it to be, which was why a magic circle formed at her feet, indicating she had toggled on yet another mana draining ability, Robust Battery. So long as she didn't move, her next attacks would be more powerful. This was why she now activated Last Stand – she was most likely going to have to take an attack due to her immobility. Last Stand, an emergency spell used to leave an Adventurer with 1 HP when an attack would otherwise drop them to 0. A light red glow formed over her body as she knelt in the dirt. The crack in the wall expanded and the top of it flaked away. Her heart raced as her defense quickly disappeared, she had to get this timing perfectly. Two more casts had to happen and they had to happen perfectly. One of these two was Celerity, an instant activation skill which allowed her very next attack to strike instantly, so long as it was performed in the next ten seconds. This number, ten, had never been so important to the girl. Last Stand also only lasted ten seconds. This was why the timing had to be so perfect.
Ten... nine... eight... the wall shook once more, fell apart and exposed her entirely. The Oni grinned, seeing her kneeling helpless before him and raised his hammer yet again. Everything in her body screamed at her to run but she couldn't, she had to hold her position and allow this to happen, if she moved not only would the spell deal less damage but she may miss and this was the last of her mana. Seven... six... the hammer swung and crashed down onto her back. At that same exact moment, a bolt of blue-purple lightning streaked down from the otherwise beautiful sky and struck the Oni, her spell Magi Lightning, Grand Fall had been activated just in time. The wind rushed out of Artemisia and she collapsed to the ground, her health slipping further and further. The red glow of Last Stand, however, was what made the difference in this fight. While her health stopped at one, the health of the Oni before her slipped away entirely. The monster burst into tiny bubbles with one more roar, probably of shock, and vanished, leaving her alone in the forest.
Face in the grass, she laid there for a moment, depleted of both her health and mana, the magic circle beneath her vanished and the red glow faded, having lasted its duration. Everything she had used went on cool down and the irritatingly slow regeneration kicked in. Slowly, she forced herself to a sitting position and pulled open her inventory. First, she needed to do something about the annoying red flashing in the corner of her vision, telling her what she could easily feel – she was nearly dead. It was embarrassing in it's own way that she was in such a situation but she knew, deep down, that perhaps she had known this would happen, she could have fought with more reserve in the first half, she could have probably even run away but she had been reckless and hadn't cared about her own safety. Artemisia sighed and sipped on the health potion she had, which immediately restored four hundred of her health. It was enough, at least, that she didn't feel quite so vulnerable. Just to be safe, though, she also downed a similar mana potion. Her toggle abilities had automatically switched off when she had run out of magic but she didn't have any plans to turn them back on.
Feeling a little more comfortable, Artemisia stood and opened the message from before. Clearing her throat and taking a moment to make sure her breathing was back under control, she flipped on a cheerful tone. “Thanks for the invitation, Dorian!” She prepared the message. “I'm actually nearby so I'll be there in just a few minutes, I'll see you soon,” She smiled as she spoke, hoping to get across her excitement. She sent the message, knowing he would receive it before she arrived and turned on her heel, towards the location he had described.
It really did only take her a few minutes of quick paced walking (she didn't want to run into anything else on the way) for her to see his small house come into view. It didn't really occur to the Sorceress what she looked like until she had already knocked on the front door. It was then that she looked down at herself... she was covered in dirt and mud with little sticks and leaves in her tangled blonde locks. A bit of blood stained her outfit, which was torn in a few places. She really did look like someone who had almost just died. It was too late now to do anything about it... she just hoped she didn't freak him out too badly and that maybe he would allow her to use his bathroom to clean up some. Once he opened the door, she would only be able to smile sheepishly and greet him quietly. She had a feeling the Shaman, who was focused on protecting and healing, might be more than a little concerned about his half dead, dirty and bruised friend.
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Notes: I didn't intend for that to go on so long, it just happened. Sorry haha. Artemisia is definitely dealing with some stuff mentally, huh? lol I hope Dorian isn't too shocked when he sees her!
Words: 1789
Tags: @serenityspace
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 22:13:55 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
As the Shaman shifted himself to sit down comfortably on the floor in front of the slowly burning embers of the fireplace, he wondered curiously why he had yet to receive a reply; after all, it wasn't a long message he had sent. Alas, it could be that Artemisia just wasn't up for it, to which Dorian would simply accept understandingly. Reaching out for the fire poker, he released a heavy sigh as he began to prod the iron prong into the fireplace, moving the wood around and causing more sparks to jolt up, the fire gradually spreading and growing in size; already he could feel himself melting from the pleasant warmth radiating around him. The flames themselves were akin to dancers, flickering and swaying against the air that fuelled them, exotic and warm as they wrapped around one another in a fantastical display. Perhaps he could learn some new techniques for himself in his sword dancing, but that would have to wait for another time. Grasping out again for another fresh log, Dorian held it into the fireplace to let it catch on the already burning flames, the crackle of bark and wood a soft background noise as he delicately dropped the wood into the smouldered build up of ashes. Soon, it too had begun to catch aflame, joining in the warm chorus of the fireplace. As Dorian stood up from the floor, dusting himself off as he glanced across to the couch that sat opposite from the fireplace - strategically placed so that it was far enough to avoid melting, but close enough to revel in the heat - he heard the soft blinked tone from his interface, indicating he had received a message. A pleasant smile curled upon his lips as he brought his interface back up and opened it, hearing the familiar voice of Artemisia begin to speak and relay her reply. She was thankful for being invited, happily and rather excitedly accepting the offer had given; though, curiously, despite her attempts to hide it, she seemed somewhat out of breath. Intrigued and altogether excited himself, Dorian closed the message prompt, turning on his heels to check that the living room was up to snuff for her visit. The fireplace was starting to get warmer now, the flames licking back and forth within it; the heat was becoming rather pleasant, though it meant that the Shaman was not dressed very occasionally. His hands swiftly slid up the hems of his jacket, grasping at the open linings and tugging them backwards, one after the other, over his shoulders. With gliding motions, he removed the hefty winter clothing item, patting it down flat in his arms and moving towards the door where he hung it up for later. Now in just the green t-shirt and olive long pants that came with the vanity ensemble he was wearing, Dorian remembered that Artemisia had said she was only minutes away; this didn't leave much room to prepare, but he would have to make do. Luckily, he was a well organised individual, and most rooms were kept relatively tidy and clean of dust already. Releasing a sigh of relief, the Shaman darted into the kitchen, looking around for the cleaning cupboard so as to give the place one more last minute sweep. Spotting the door, he reached out and swung it open, being careful not to rip it off it's hinges, before pulling out the broomstick that lay within. Closing the cupboard, Dorian was immediately hard at work, sweeping the brush of the broom over the kitchen floor, the almost undetectable grime now being collected upon the bristles. Forward and back, he kept up his rigorous motions until the floor was left spotless; perhaps he had gone a little overboard for a friendly visit, but one could never be too careful when it comes to cleanliness. As he propped himself up on the broomstick, looking over his work, he heard the gentle knock on the door that indicated Artemisia had arrived. Blinking in surprise, he turned towards the cupboard and opened it once more. Stashing away the broom and closing the door on it, he gave himself one last look over, hoping the Sorceress would appreciate a simplistic appearance thanks to his jacket being removed. Taking in a deep breath to calm his nerves, he drew his palette up into a grin as he approached the door, reaching for the handle and twisting it to gently and slowly push it away from himself, opening it out to reveal his visitor. He stood motionless as his eyes fell on the fox tail, quickly picking up that she had not merely strolled here; the forest was known for it's dangers, and the Shaman had rather idiotically forgotten that.
"Well, it certainly is good to see you, Artemisia, but..." Dorian looked her up and down, varying degrees of shock gracing his features as he spotted the sticks and dirt and mud, the specks of blood, and of course the places where her outfit had been torn slightly. "I apologise if your coming here put you in danger, I forgot how bad it can get in Moon Dance; please, come inside, you can freshen up in the bathroom." The Shaman, eager to see his friend healed and fixed up, stepped to one side and held the door open for the Sorceress, waiting until she was indoors before closing it behind her, the warmth of the fireplace having now reached out to the rest of the house, enveloping them both in a soft heat. "Here, this should help get rid of any unseen damages you may have sustained; I can see that your health is a little worse for wear." Dorian stepped towards the Sorceress, his height hopefully not too imposing as he made a soft motion with his hand up towards her face. She would likely remember this gesture from their encounter in the labyrinth, as his palm pressed to her cheek, his mana surging into the activation of his Anima Gathering Talisman. Just like the last time he had healed Artemisia, a familiar runic crest marked itself onto her skin where his hand made contact, the magic channelling through it to reinvigorate and restore the damage Artemisia had taken. And then, just as quickly as it had formed, the rune swiftly vanished, leaving the fox tail already looking much healthier, though still covered in the evidence of her previous adventures. "Apologies if that was forward of me..." Dorian muttered, realising he hadn't even bothered asking whether she approved or not. Hanging his head low, he gave a soft nod before gesturing towards the nearby door. "Bathroom is there, if you wanted to clean up; though to be honest, it's surprising how well you pull off the rugged look." Chuckling under his breath, the Shaman hoped a little humour would stave any awkwardness that had been born of the day's events.
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2016 23:31:39 GMT
There was indeed a quiet, awkward moment as her Shaman friend regarded her, taking in her battered appearance. The fox-tail merely stood there quietly, allowing her condition to be assessed, although she felt a tinge self conscious as his eyes looked her over. He spoke slowly, probably a bit unsure as to how she had ended up in such a state. Her green eyes, after noting the shock and concern on his face, subtly drifted to catch a glimpse of the house behind him, beyond the doorway they stood in. She was surprised when Dorian apologized, she hadn't expected him to draw the conclusion that his invitation had been the cause of her injuries. After a moment, he stepped aside and welcomed her into his home, indicating that the bathroom was hers to make use of. The blonde stepped inside and heard the door click shut softly behind her. It seemed as if Dorian had a fire going – she could feel the warmth against her skin. It was very welcoming and a nice change from the cooler winter air outside.
Artemisia, not entirely sure how she wanted to explain what had happened, as it wasn't something that ever should have happened in the first place, turned around to open her mouth to concoct some sort of tale. However, she was met with a familiar scene of the Shaman resting his hand on her cheek. The two fox ears atop her head drooped down slightly as she considered the action. Clearly, this person was concerned about her well being, much more than she was right now, and she felt a tiny bit of guilt for being so reckless. As his palm lingered there and the green crest appeared on her cheek, she felt as if she was being held tightly in a warm embrace. There was something so very comforting about it and she felt her shoulders relax, some of the ache disappearing from her limbs. In the corner of her vision, the bar which indicated her health shot up, filling significantly. After what felt like only a brief moment, the warmth faded and his hand disappeared from her cheek, leaving her feeling healthier but somehow disappointed that it was over so quickly. Dorian apologized quietly for being so forward, she assumed he meant with touching her without permission but she was surprised to realize she hadn't even noticed that it might seem strange. It hadn't bothered her at all. He followed this up with directions to the bathroom and a teasing comment.
Artemisia huffed and rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, using her hand to dismissively flip one of her tangled pig tails. “That's because I look good in anything,” She said jokingly, laughing as she did. She was not nearly that confident or cocky in her opinions of herself. “Thanks for the heal,” She switched to a slightly more serious tone, turning her face up as he was quite taller than she. “This wasn't your fault, though. I actually might have died if I hadn't of gotten your message when I did,” Receiving his invitation had, although maybe she hadn't realized it right away, given her a renewed desire to beat that monster. “Now, if you'll excuse me a moment...” She smiled at him and turned on her heel towards the restroom. It was only a moment until she was inside the small, simple washroom. She shut the door behind her and locked it with a soft click. Not that she particularly felt there was a need to secure the entrance but it was more of a habit than anything.
She stood in front of the mirror and frowned, seeing herself in full for the first time. Although the color had returned to her cheeks and she physically appeared healthy, there were still obvious signs of her previous encounter. Slowly she reached up and began to pull the twigs out of her hair, setting them on the edge of the sink. The Sorceress sighed heavily as she removed one particularly stubborn stick from the middle of her extraordinarily long hair. This was going to take forever like this. As she glanced at herself again in the mirror, her eyes caught sight of the shower behind her. Hopefully Dorian wouldn't mind if she borrowed it. Artemisia reached behind herself and unclasped the back of her armor-like dress, allowing it to slip to the floor with a soft plop. From there, she pulled off the gloves and dropped them on top of the fabric pile. With a little difficulty she managed to yank off her boots, leaving her bare after they were tossed aside as well. She would need to take the outfit in for some repairs as soon as possible.
Having stripped herself of her armor, the fox tail reached up and removed the two bands which kept her hair secure on either side. Free from their restrictions, the blonde locks unfurled and flowed freely around her bare back and sides, nearly surrounding her entirely. Feeling a slight chill, she immediately wrapped her tail around her lower half and although it was still dirty, it was at least warm. Quickly, she twisted the faucet to turn the shower on, letting the cold and hot water mix perfectly to create the right temperature. Artemisia pulled back the curtain and in a moment of almost pure bliss, stepped under the stream of water. She returned the curtain to its proper place, to keep the water from splashing out and then simply stood there a moment, allowing the warmth to wash over her entirely. She closed her eyes and sighed contently, feeling the water surround her. After a moment, she raised her arms and began to gently slide her hands across her skin, first up each arm, then over her shoulders and down her chest and sides, gently massaging her worn body with the heat of the water. Dirt and blood washed away as the water soaked her hair and body further.
Carefully, she began to run her fingers through her twisted locks, slowly and gently untangling the strands and pulling the debris out. It was a difficult and long process, given her hair was nearly as long as she was tall. Although delicate, she eventually finished and moved onto her equally fluffy tail. This was a bit easier as she was able to pull it around to her front, allowing the heat of the water to pound against her back and shoulders as she worked on it. Free of the sticks and leaves, she set about actually cleaning herself with more than just her fingertips and water, a hint of a quiet hummed melody beginning from her throat. A bit of soap, borrowed of course, and she was quickly lathered up in slippery bubbles. She scrubbed and scrubbed, ridding herself of the last of the signs of her earlier fight with the Oni before rinsing it all away. She wasn't sure entirely how much time had passed but it was probably longer than she had intended, given her enjoyment of the water.
Artemisia shut the water off and pulled the curtain back. The mirror was fogged over from the heat but she was feeling much better. Her discarded armor was still laying in a heap on the floor so she returned it to her inventory, she wouldn't be able to put it back on right now. Grabbing a towel, again hoping Dorian wouldn't mind her helping herself, she scooped her hair up and wrapped it around with the towel, to catch the dripping and begin the drying process. Borrowing another, she began to pat down her body, rubbing the towel over herself to collect the water. She gave her fox tail a few strong flicks, getting off the majority of the water while still inside the shower before squeezing the remaining bits out with the towel she was holding. She didn't want to make any more of a mess of his bathroom than she already had. As she stood there, hair wrapped up and barren of her clothing, she wondered for the first time if Dorian had any plans for their day, since he had invited her over.
Stepping out of the shower and opening her inventory to select a new outfit, she suddenly felt awkward. This whole time she hadn't even really stopped to consider the situation, she had only been interested in cleansing herself. Here she was, standing entirely exposed, inside the house of a guy she hadn't even really gotten to know that well yet. Was it weird that she had been so willing to come over, alone, to his home? It was probably more weird that she was using his shower. Well, nothing to be done about it now, except to see where the day went. Shrugging, Artemisia selected her Victorian Winter outfit, which she had worn at the festival. Yanking the towel out of her hair, she dropped it in the corner of the bathroom. Her hair was still much too wet to put up so she left it down for now, allowing it some more time to dry.
The fox tail unlocked the door and twisted the handle, pulling it open. She stepped back out into the main part of the Shaman's house, wondering if he was going to be displeased she had helped herself to a shower. “Dorian?” She peeked around the wall, her long hair falling freely over her shoulders. “Sorry I took so long, I hope you don't mind,” She stepped out into the room with the fireplace and walked over towards it, allowing the heat from the fire to help dry her hair faster. “So, you just got the place, huh?” She looked around, “Looks like a nice house, I gotta say I liked the shower, at least,” She smiled teasingly, wondering in the back of her mind if he had had any thoughts about her being clothing-less in his home. Her fox tail swished from side to side steadily, slowly drying further. “Any plans for the day or was this just a spur of the moment invitation?” She wondered aloud, waiting to hear what he had to say.
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Notes: Eh forget the spoiler tags, they're giving me too much trouble to be worth including.
Words: 1696
Tags: @serenityspace
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 4:35:25 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
It was interesting to witness the somewhat awkward emotions that played between them as the Sorceress entered and was subsequently healed of her injuries; despite his apologies, she seemed rather calm about the situation, though Dorian was certainly thankful of her understanding. With a chuckled smile, he replied to her comment with a simple nod of his head, his hands instinctively swiping around his sides to clasp his digits amongst one another behind his back. "Undoubtedly," he muttered politely; of what little he had seen of the fox tail's wardrobe choices, she seemed to be able to pull off any outfit quite remarkably. Whether it was the innate grace of the fox tail as a race, or Artemisia's own beauty, the Shaman couldn't tell.
Then, of course, she had to go and surprise him; after a brief mention of thanks, the Sorceress revealed it had been his message that would keep her from perishing out in the forest. While she didn't reveal the nature of the encounter, the thought of her so close to death wounded Dorian; especially since all the help he'd given was a message, or so she explained. "I see... Well, I am of course glad to have been of help." He would have said more on the matter, but owing to his earlier gesture towards the bathroom, the fox tail eagerly darted away from the conversation to no doubt freshen up. The Shaman stood for a few seconds, watching her walk into the room and close the door behind her, before shaking his head and returning back to reality.
Assuming the Sorceress could handle herself in that regard, Dorian instead walked past the door towards the living room once again, his legs already charting their course to the front of the fireplace. Squatting down in front of it, he grasped at yet another log to add to the now pleasantly warm fire, keeping it fuelled for when Artemisia would return from the bathroom. There was little else to do but wait for her now, but the Shaman sometimes despised idleness, especially when he had company over. Moving back towards the hallway, he passed by the bathroom once more, this time hearing the steady rush of water that signalled the fox tail was occupying his shower. He did not mind, of course; he had offered the bathroom to her, and that came with all of it's services.
Moving towards the front door, Dorian picked his coat up off of the rack and swung it 'round over his shoulders, giving his upper torso a gentle shrug as he slipped his arms into the sleeves, making sure it fit snugly and comfortably upon his form. Glancing over his shoulder, he was about to call out to Artemisia, informing her that he was just popping outside for a bit; shaking his head, he simply remained quiet and reached out for the door handle. This wouldn't take long, and there was no need to interrupt her. Pulling on the door, he opened it wide and stepped out onto the front porch, closing the oak entryway behind him.
Descending down the steps to the soft, earthy ground that made up the shoreline of the lake, Dorian moved to the edge of the water, kneeling down to brush his hand over the soil; it was of course dampened and sank slightly under the pressure of his knee, though the lake water was unmoving and tranquilly still. Releasing a content sigh, he placed his flat palm down onto the surface of the water, watching the various ripples begin to form due to the impact he had made, so fragile was the lake's peaceful existence. Holding his palm upon the water, he began to hum and concentrate as he channelled his mana into the ritual skill, Holy Water Divination.
The water began to glow in his vision, as over the course of a full minute, his mana and essence flowed from his body, through his hand and into the water. Multiple waves of energy gradually pulsed from his palm, sending illusory ripples just like the one's his hand was forming, only these ones spread out through the entire lake's surface. And yet, the water itself remained as calm and tranquil as he had found it, only now it was even more peaceful, it's reflective sheen becoming a new eye, a window for the Shaman to see through; the minute was up, and the ritual complete, bringing a newly found sight to the Shaman's eyes.
Stepping back from the water's edge and standing up tall, Dorian closed his eyelids, taking on a calm, almost empty expression as he tapped into his newly found connection with the lake. Thanks to his skill, he was now able to see from the surface, as if he was underneath the tranquil waters, staring up at the sky and the forest itself. What was he looking for? Artemisia may have survived her encounter with the denizens of Moon Dance, but there were still dangers out in the wilds around the lake and following the stream. A highly spiritual place, unfortunately not all apparitions that graced the world were as kind and benevolent as the Sakura Tree Spirit. Nevertheless, Dorian continued scanning the nearby area, making sure to note any potential threats that they would be best to avoid.
All of this was of course in line with his current plan; while it had been a somewhat random happenstance that he had chosen to invite Artemisia over to his new home, he hadn't just asked her to come simply to 'check out his new crib', as they say. In his explorations of the area surrounding his new home, he had discovered a clearing a short walk upstream that would make for a bountiful harvest of apples; though he had planned on trekking back there on his own at some point, perhaps to try and cook the apples into a recipe of some sort, he now had someone to go with him. If she wanted to, that is.
After deeming the area clear and safe, the Shaman opened his eyes and released a calming sigh of air to draw himself back into reality, his vision returning to normal. He turned on his heels in a swift motion, heading up the steps up onto the porch and slipping inside through the door once again. Not bothering to take off his coat, he could hear that the shower was now off, Artemisia no doubt finishing up her cleaning. Wandering past the bathroom door and into the living room, the Shaman noticed that the fireplace had begun to dwindle slightly during his time outside, quickly kneeling down beside it yet again and stoking it with the fire poker to keep it burning hot.
Just as he set the fire poker back into it's place, he heard the gentle footsteps of the Sorceress approaching, her voice calling out to him as he turned his head to look over his shoulder. He gave a smile and shook his head at her apology, his hands once again clasping together behind his back, propping his form up into a gentlemanly posture. "Not at all, you're welcome to use my shower any time you like," he replied, a calm and gentle expression gracing his features. "You are the first visitor here to my humble abode, might as well make the most of it." Bowing his head in her direction, he stepped forward to approach her, hands unclasping to fall by his sides.
It was then that the Shaman noticed the slight difference; while she was wearing the familiar winter attire she had shown off during the Moonrise Festival, Artemisia's long blonde locks were left loose, no doubt still wet from the shower. It was an odd sight at first, so familiar was he with her trademark pigtails, and - untied - her hair seemed to wrap around her body; it was quite an impressive appearance. "I would compliment you on your lovely new hairstyle, but as you aptly put earlier, you look good in anything." Dorian chuckled under his breath after his teasing remark, gracefully turning on his heels to slump back into the couch as she approached the fireplace to get warm and dry her hair faster.
He nodded his reply as she asked about the house, agreeing with her question as to whether it was new. "Commissioned it a couple weeks back, a bit before the festival; it's served me well so far, and the view of the lake from the front is beautiful to behold." In saying this, he had reminded himself he would need to show her said vista before they departed. "I'm glad," he muttered politely in reply to her compliments on the shower, the teasing remark completely going over his head. Though this was more due to his current train of thought, brought about by her last question, as well as his contemplations seconds before.
"As a matter of fact, both!" Dorian laughed softly as he draped his arm over the top of the rest by his side, his other hand idly laying with the palm flat over the cushion beside him. "We hadn't spoken in a while, and today seemed as good as any, so I invited you over; however, I do have an idea of what we can do today, if you'll indulge me." He gestured with his head towards the hallway back to the front door, indicating they would be going back outside. "There's a nice clearing with ripe apples for the picking just upstream; we could go collect some and bring them back for some cooking, perhaps I can even show you the less dangerous side to the Moon Dance Forest." A teasing smirk graced his palette, his eyes remaining politely glued to her own as he awaited her response.
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2016 4:25:14 GMT
The heat of the fireplace was welcoming for her damp locks, helping to hold in the warmth from her shower. The fox tail grinned contently, almost feeling a bit like she was melting in a good way while wiggling her butt ever so slightly in the face of the embers, her long tail jostling from the motion. It was around that time that Dorian seemed to take notice of her slightly modified appearance, in particular her hair style. Although she hadn't thought much of it, she supposed it was true that she didn't often show off her hair in any other style other than her usual dual pony tail style. Artemisia smiled as she received his compliment, coy as it were. Subconsciously, her hands reached up and fanned out her unrealistically long hair, letting it slowly float back down to settle around her. Her host turned and moved to the couch, taking a seat and looking quite relaxed and comfortable. From there, he went on to explain that he had had the house made a few weeks ago, not long before the festival. She didn't linger on that particular detail for long, while parts of the festival had been quite memorable, there were a few parts she wasn't exactly keen to remember.
One comment did stick with her, though, in regards to his home. It was but a passing comment but it piqued her curiosity... apparently he had quite the view of the lake. I wonder which would look nicer, sunset or sunrise? She wondered silently. She briefly considered vocalizing the thought although her mind flashed to the idea that in order to properly see both, she would need to spend the night here. Her heart thumped as she played the scenario over in her mind. She flicked the idea away, mentally glaring at her mind for even putting such thoughts into her conscious. Dorian, thankfully, brought up a new subject, giving her something else to think about besides what the potential sleeping arrangements of an impromptu slumber party would be. The blonde followed his hand as he motioned towards the front door. He seemed to have a small expedition into the forest on his mind. Specifically, he knew of an apple orchard which was ripe for the picking. Although the fruit was typically not in season this time of year, it didn't seem all that odd to her, given that this world was not entirely that of reality.
Artemisia took a moment to think about the apple picking adventure, making a bit of a show about her consideration. She hmm'ed audibly, fiddling with her hair again as her eyes drifted up and to the side. She already knew the idea sounded fun and she was more than willing to take him up on the offer. There were plenty of things they could cook or bake with a bundle of apples as the star, each one sounding more delicious than the next. But, she wanted to put the Shaman on edge for but a moment and not allow him to see her true excitement immediately. She couldn't help the smile that pulled at her lips though as she drew out the fake consideration just a little too long. “That does sound fun,” She said, her face fully expressing her smile now. “I'm sure the area is plenty safe but even if it weren't, I'm sure you and I could handle it,” She nodded, knowing there was no way he'd simply stand there and watch her get attacked by something.
She reached behind herself and fluffed out her tail, which was nearly entirely dry by now. “Did you want to go now, then?” She asked, her hands shifting to comb through her long locks, prepping one side and pulling it together between her fingers. While she waited for his answer, she quickly twisted her hands around, her wrists working smoothly to pull her hair up into her signature pig tails. With a quick tighten of each, she was back to her normal appearance. Spending the afternoon with Dorian was definitely nothing she was going to complain about. To add to it, from the sounds of it she was going to get something to eat by the end of it and that was always worth her time. A tiny little version of her voice squeaked back up at her, recalling her previous thoughts - perhaps it would get so late while they were out there would be no choice but to catch the sunset on the lake. She firmly clamped down on her subconscious, forcefully preventing herself from getting ahead of herself. It was one thing to borrow his shower, it was entirely another to invite herself over for the night.
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Notes: Nothing all that exciting this time around.
Words: 788
Tags: @serenityspace
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2016 7:39:01 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
Artemisia seemed to be enjoying the fireplace, her hair gradually taking on the warmth and flowing back out into the familiar vibrant blonde locks that the Shaman had become acquainted with during their brief but memorable occasions spent with one another. He couldn't help but smile as he remained comfortably seated within the cushions of the couch, eyes remaining glanced up at the Sorceress' own. He was... glad to have her here; surely this was a strange predicament for her, spending her day with a man she barely knew, even using his shower. He felt a little bad for taking up her time here, but for the most part she seemed happy about it.
The fox tail seemed to sway slightly, her back towards the fire as she continued to soak in it's warmth, her hips moving from side to side as her somewhat soaked tail gained attention, the water dripping and evaporating off of her form. It was an odd sight to see, and he couldn't help but glance at the swivelling appendage, almost with a life of it's own; he had only met a few fox tails, and Artemisia was really the only one he spent most of his time with, but the tails always seemed to mesmerise him, like an odd hypnotic pendulum. Giving a subtle shake of his head, he returned himself to the current conversation, not wanting to seem rude. 'A gentleman never stares', as his step-mother would lecture and berate him with.
When the topic at hand - the expedition to the orchard - was brought up, Artemisia seemed to shift into a contemplative expression, humming against her palette as she thought on his proposal. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but was she taking a while on her thoughts? It could be that she was against the idea; after all, she had just gotten back from a traumatic tussle with whatever she had encountered on her way here, and he doubted she would approve of going back out into the forest, even if it was with him. His brow cocked marginally on one side, rising up against his forehead to draw out an expression of concern as her contemplation became rather prolonged.
Finally, however, she continued to surprise him as her lips formed into a smile; of course, there was the slight hint of a mischief within her features, but Dorian merely shrugged them off as his own paranoia and wild imagination. Her voice finally came out in a reassuring acceptance of the proposal, a hint of excitement in her tone and smile. "The area isn't too dangerous, like I said," he replied, bobbing his head in a gentle nod to affirm her assumptions. "Whatever we do find, I doubt it would last long against the two of us." He planted his hands down either side of him into the couch, pushing himself back up onto his feet. Out of habit, his hands ran down his front, flattening his jacket and shirt and removing the creases that had no doubt formed. One must always look presentable for company. "After all, I think we make a great team, you and I."
Seemingly having dried herself out quite sufficiently, Artemisia pondered on whether they would depart now, as her hands idly fluffed up her tail and returned her hair to what was no doubt a more comfortable style, her usual pig tails now bobbing off the top of her hair. "I don't see why not; we can always come back later, depending on how long we're out." Dusting himself off a little, he gave Artemisia an excitable grin as he extended his hand out to take her own, making sure his hold was gentle and delicate. Stepping past her and around the couch, he carefully tugged on her hand to lead her behind him, the both of them stepping down the hallway and back towards the front door.
With his free hand, he grasped the handle, turning it and swinging it forward on it's hinges to open the way out towards the front porch. From here they could just see the gentle glow of the sunlight off the lake waters, a dazzling display that reflected towards them; hopefully they wouldn't be out too late, but perhaps Artemisia wouldn't mind staying to watch the sunset. In any case, Dorian lightly released his grasp on the Sorceress' hand, instead stepping aside and directing it outwards through the door, indicating for the fox tail to step ahead of him. "Ladies first, of course," he uttered to break the silence, giving her a devilish smirk as he gestured for her to take the lead, hand still holding the door out for her.
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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