Similar Scars

Log Info

• Title: Similar Scars
• Emitter: Vaera
• Characters: Aryia, Vaera
• Place: PrP Room:Four (TaRaCe, Bathhouse)
• Time: Monday, September 13, 2021, 5:00 PM
• Summary: Vaera is making use of an offer from Sabina: Free baths at the bathhouse in exchange for exotic meats for the kitchens, in addition to payment. Aryia finds the red sith-makar preparing to bathe, and sees the numerous scars upon them, and the slightly too thin figure, as well as a fresh bandage. Vaera tells Aryia about her recent job, where someone complained about wild boar problems, but failed to mention they were of the dire variety. Thankfully the injuries aren't too severe, and the too submerge into the water to relax. Aryia asks about being called out on the tenderness comment the previous day with Venom, and Vaera explains how the gestures seemed to be something more than just one wishing to be friends. Vaera tries to help the mul'niessa see what may be there, and reassure Aryia to at least see how things would be, lest they overthink it so long nothing happens, speaking from experience. Aryia asks what she means, and Vaera tells her about her Cihuaa, who she did not realize harbored such feelings, and she did not realize she had feelings for herself, until much later, which left her with less time than she could have had. They had been taken to Charn, and she had to kill them when they were changed to a forgotten. She also speaks of another Mul'niessa she knew in Charn with unrequited love, but misreads Aryia's question about their fate, telling them of how they passed. The two share many similar experiences, but Vaera believes Aryia can have a much better life now, if she makes the effort. Both agree to attempt to move forward, and relax into the rest of the bath.

It was a quiet evening that day at the TaRaCE. Most people were done with their meals, and The baths were relatively empty.

Vaera was making good on an offer from Sabina that was posed the other day. between her and a small group of other adventurers, they had carried in a dire boar for the ever curious chefs of the building. And in addition to the payment, free baths was another bonus, one she was making use of. Off to the side, the red sit-makar was sitting on the ground, working on undoing the wood and metal appendage. there was a fresh bandage wrapped around their stomach, as well. without their coat, they looked much thinner. And even at a distance, the scars were apparent.

There's a soft padding of feet from the entrance of the bathhouse, a grey, short stature pausing just at the edge and off to the side. It was a familiar, heavily scarred mul'neissa, dressed down into a pair of black bathing trunks and a wrap around her chest. The scars that lined her arms and face extended down to her trunk and under the clothing.

She blinks a few times, staring at Vaera. Odd it was for both to be vulnerable, despite their vague rivalry(?). The elf slowly raises a hand, dropping a towel and a bag off in a chair beside her. "Hi." <Handspeech>

Vaera paused upon hearing someone coming, and seeing the mul'niessa. perhaps considering ceasing what they were doing, but they chuff and continue with the numerous straps until they could pull off the leg, which remained covered in bandages. Closer and staring a bit, she could see the extent of the injuries. Many oddly grown scales, and scars, not all looking like they were from combat. Vaera looks back, perhaps gauging the scars of the other.

"Hello, Aryia. Are you feeling better after the other day? Magic takes a lot out of you when you are not used to it." She asks.

Damn. Perhaps the two of them weren't so different after all. Well, despite the scales. Aryia finishes staring at the scares, shaking her head and padding around to get herself situated. She sits a bit of a ways away, soaking her feet in the waters.

"Yes, I just needed to lay down for a bit. It felt so strange to be tired yet not actually do anything." She looks down to her legs, then back to Vaera, eyes lingering idly on the wooden prosthetic. "I'm surprised you're in here." <Handspeech>

Vaera chuffs. "The baths were free if I brought in some exotic meats for the chefs, the owner offered." Vaera explains while she undoes the bandage on her stomach where there was a healing wound, and those on her remaining leg. where the scales ended near the stump, was a disturbing amount of crude, but intentional horizontal scars.

"It will get easier with practice. And eating a good amount of food helps. in Am'shere, the shaman caste often gets additional food when it can be spared, and they are actively using magic."

Aryia's face pinches in a frown at the sight of the wound. She points at it, "Did the game get you?" she asks with a hand, the vaguest hint worried. Her eyes did linger on the stump, but it was nothing she hadn't seen before. Just taking the whole picture that is Vaera. She nods, using that motion to slide into the warm waters with a satisfied sigh. "I'll do it again before resting, to get the hang of it. I'll keep all that in mind."

The shadow elf falls silent, a thumb running over her her recently healed hands. <Handspeech>

"I will be fine. There's a reason the guilds send out groups when they can. In case a farm complaining about boars rooting through their vegetables fail to mention they are of the dire variety, and the size of a horse." Vaera replies with a shake of her head. They had on a pair of trunks for some manner of modesty, and they slip into the water with the smallest flicker of a wince when the stump is submerged.

"Keep at it. I believe softskins say practice makes perfect, but perfection is an ideal, not a truth. But you can always get as close as possible."

There's just a faint 'ah' that comes from Aryia, her nodding in understanding. She glances over to Vaera as she sinks in. There's not a lot she would talk about right now. Though...

She continues to fidget with her fingers, looking like she wished to ask something, but couldn't word it at all.

Vaera didn't sink too far into the bath with how tall they were. but they seemed relaxed, as the spines on their head were not completely flat. She looks to Aryia, and her head tilts.

"Is something on your mind, Aryia?" She asks. "Speak your mind if you wish."

Aryia sighs and rubs her arm. Glancing off to the side. Timidly, with small gestures as if it would not belie her actually saying something, she signs "The other day... you... why did you call me out?" <Handspeech>

"Call you out how so?" Vaera asks, keeping their head tilted. "I am a blunt person at times, in many matters."

Vaera was curious what Aryia meant, but not pushy. Her arns were beneath the water, seemingly rubbing against her leg.

The elf sinks into the water up to her chin, grumbling something inaudible. "... with.. the stew... tender..." her hands weakly explain, popping up above the waters to be seen. <Handspeech>

"Ah, with the stew." Vaera repeats, and chuffs. "I am sorry if that was unpleasant. It was, I can not say for certain. I am happy to see you both together like that, but at times, it feels as if you are struggling with feelings." They say, focusing more on what was visible of the Mul.

Hersryia purses her lips, a light red dusting her scarred cheeks. "Felt like I wanted to hide under the table after that.

She crosses her arms, glancing over to the redscale. A sigh leaves her, and she scoots a bit closer towards Vaera. "What do you mean by, 'together like that'?" <Handspeech>

"But you liked what Venom did." Vaera notes. "There is nothing to be ashamed of with your feelings."

"You like Venom, perhaps as more than just a friend or comrade. And while I would not make assumptions or a definitive statement, I feel she feels the same way. And by together, I mean it is nice to see how happy you make each other."

Aryia shakes her head at the notion of being ashamed, her rubbing at her face. She leaves her visage in her hands, the bloom of color not abating. She does perk up at Vaera's insight, but it's quickly squashed. "... for fuck's sake, am I that bloody obvious?" she gestures to herself, mostly for herself. Her head snaps up to look at Vaera, seriousness seeping into her flustered expression. "Don't.... don't tell her. Please. I really don't think she does." <Handspeech>

"It's a bit obvious. Especially with how you seem to perk up whenever she is around, and pay such attention to what she likes." Vaera notes, looking to Aryia. She was tall, but not as imposing wothout the coat, which revealed how thin they were. "I will not tell her if you do not wish. But I think she does. She shows great care for you, a desire to help and comfort. And like how you care about her wants, she always seems to want to know more about you."

Aryia sighs, exhaling a long breath as she goes face first into the waters, bubbles rising up and around her head. A moment, then she resurfaces. She does have to crane her head up to look at Vaera, her being so short. But it was odd to see the profile so... lean. "Because we're friends. That's why. I don't... I don't think she's aware of... uh... er.... wait- how did I end up talking about this with you?" she jabs a finger at Vaera to accentuate her point, brows knitted. "I thought you didn't like me." <Handspeech>

"I changed my mind." Vaera chuffs. She slides down in the bath until they were relatively eye level. It was a sign of respect, to meet eye to eye. "I am not trying to lead you astray, or twist your thoughts. Merely see what is there."

Aryia's neck is thankful that it gets to even out. Another 'ah' sound leaves her, the elf nodding and looking off to the side. "I see. Well, uh, I'm gladd. I think."

A sigh leaves her, the mute woman lulling her head back until it rests against the side of the baths. "Look... I... I really don't know what I'm doing here. I feel kind of lost with it all and she's really... she's got a lot on her mind, she just never says anything about it. I... don't want to add to that..." <Handspeech>

Vaera nods, and leans back as well, continuing to massage her leg. the warmth did wonders for it. "You are not like many Mul'niessa I have known." She states. And then she pauses, looking across the bath.

"If she likes you as well, then it would not be a burden. And having someone to listen, who cares and understands is good. No one knows what they are doing the first time."

"And if she does not?" Aryia motions back, briskly, worried. "That would tarnish so much..." <Handspeech>

"You will consume yourself with worries of potential failure to see how she does feel, and what could happen." Vaera replies firmly. "But you can see how she feels too, take time. Realize what is present, as I have noticed before. Friends do not normally act as she does towards you."

Vaera chuffs, and pauses. "I may have had many more happy years if I had acted sooner myself."

Aryia sighs and crosses her arms. Vaera was right, loathe she was to admit it. "... - g-ss..." she mumbles to herself in a hiss. Now there were two vectors pressuring her. Great.

She does tilt her head to the side, looking over to the eye level redscale. "Did you have a... sorry, I don't know sith-makar culture that well. I don't know the word with my hands." Instead, she voices, "Ch-..?" <Handspeech>

Vaera says, "Cihuaa. Life-bond." She states. Almost imperceptibly hanging her head. She offers the translation to the Mul'niessa after bringing her hands up. There was an emphasis on the flexing of fingers, perhaps something more obvious with the claws of a makari. "I did, yes."

Aryia rubs her arm, taking in the gesture, but hanging her head afterwards. This was not an easy topic to breach in the slightest. A small sploosh, hand coming out of water. "... tell me about them?" she subtly requests. <Handspeech>

Vaera looks to the hands. Tilts her head. She had not been expecting the curiously. The dark red makari chuffs. "You would hear about them? Very well. What would you lime me to tell you about?" She asks.

Aryia shrugs. "I don't know. What they looked like? What they liked to do? How you two met? Stuff like that?" <Handspeech>

Vaera stops, and thinks about it a moment. "They were strong, and dependable. I met them when they joined my tribe. Warrior caste. They were shorter than me, but not by much, and their scales were a deep green, mostly. Some of their scale were a white tone instead, in several patches."

Vaera relaxes some as she recounts, spines raising just a bit. "We worked together for many years, and he had a tendency to linger after tasks, to talk, or help with maintenance of weapons, or tending to animals. One of my friends pointed out they mostly did that when it was my job to do so. For things they liked to do, when he was not hunting or fending off threats, he liked wood carving. He would make necessary things, yes, but always he spent time to add ornamentation to it. Something about making others happier to use them and see them."

Aryia listens quietly, not having much to add as she listening to the rumblings of the sith woman next to her. A glance is stolen to the wooden leg off to the side, seeing the intricate carvings and details. A light smile, empathetic smile crests her lips. "They sound nice. I take it that's where you got the skill to do all that?" she asks, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder towards the wooden leg. <Handspeech>

"Yes, I picked up the skill, so I could help. And I realized later, that I picked it up just as much to spend time with them, as I did to learn." She says. "They were nice."

"That's... good." Aryia taps her fingers together, looking at the wavering waters. "So... I guess you kind of already knew just from how I've been acting based on... you already going through all that." <Handspeech>

"Perhaps, yes." Vaera nods. She looks at the movements, and chuffs. "But everyone is different. I knew another Mul'niessa, who acted similarly. That also led me to believe you were going through something similar."

Now that got the mul'neissa to tilt her head to the side. "You did? What was happened with them?" <Handspeech>

"They are gone." Vaera states. "Charn does not take kindly to harboring fugitives."

It was simple as that, and Vaera chuffs.

Aryia blinks. "... I... alright. Not what I was asking, but I guess that explains everything."

Silence. A long sigh escapes her, lips falling under the water level to blow raspberries in the water. "... Man... fuck Charn." <Handspeech>

"Ah. Apologies." Vaera chuffs. "It is why I remember it so well. Charn is a terrible place. The only good memory I have, was snuffed out for not conforming with the atrocities committed there."

"The mul'neissa?" Aryia asks, trying to connect the dots. Then, admits "I have maybe... a few good memories there. But in the grand scheme of things they were more desperation for something nice to happen." <Handspech>

"The mul'niessa, yes. There is some good in the lands, even if they get drowned out." Vaera nods. "I am sure there was some genuine good there that you found. But being out of there, it is much better."

Aryia gives a small shrug. "Small and minor, and the good that happened was always treated with intense suspicion. But, yes, being out of there has been so much better, despite how stressful it sometimes gets here."

Another pause. "I... take it your Cuhiaa was... taken them," she slowly gestures, looking towards Vaera with a soft expresion. <Handspeech>

"We both were." Vaera says after pause, meeting the soft expression, and bowing her head. "My family, tribe, all. And I had to kill him."

Aryia blinks. And slooooooowly rotates to fully face the redscale. "... don't tell me they turned into..."

Her visage turns regretful, as well as sorrowful. Her hands move a bit fast, splashing some water around. "Fuck, I'm sorry that happened..." <Handspeech>

"They did." Vaera states, shaking her head. "I do not know for certain what transpired. I had to leave when I had a chance to escape. Cowardice. And when I went back, I could not leave them like that."

It was some of the only emotion the redscale had shown. But the sorrow ran deep, and she shakes her bowed head, stopping when she caught any hand movement.

Aryia shakes her head. "Not cowardice. Getting out of Charn is good in its own right. Leaving the place is like crawling out of a sand trap."

She blinks, her face softens, and she reaches out, a hand resting on Vaera's shoulder. "Hey. You did the right thing. I would not leave them like that either." <Handspeech>

"It is easier than they make it out to be." Vaera notes with a shake of her head. "It is all the image of making it seem impossible to escape. Stop attempts before they even begin with hopelessness. Snuff out any thoughts of working together with distrust."

"I thought I did the right thing. I can not change my actions."

Aryia gives a languid sigh, her lips canted sideways as she looks Vaera over from the waters. "I.. take it that's when... all that happeend... ," she vagues gestures to the makari's trunk. <Handspeech>

"It was all around that time." She nods, looking down to her own chest. Aryia would recognize the style of many, of punishments. "You probably know what it is like."

Vaera looks down to the water, where her leg ended. "I am fairly certain that my leg was given to them."

Aryia's eyes settle on the punishments of old, her face grimacing in pain as her back ached. "... I do," she dejectedly signs, looking off to the side for a moment. But she glances down, and frowns slightly. "That's when you lost your... oh. I see. Well.. I don't know what to say to that." <Handspeech>

"It's alright. You do not need to say anything. I have come to terms with everything." Vaera says, reaching to pat the Mul'niessa on her shoulder. "I just wished for you to know that I understand what you have been through, the struggles. Even if the timeline of events has been reversed. Yet, this is a good thing. Things will be better for you."

Aryia softly sighs, and nods, glancing to the scaled hand on her bare shoulder. "That... is a good point. And you do know the same is true for you. They will better for you too." <Handspeech>

"You just need to give them a chance to be better, Aryia." Vaera chuffs, a much more good natured puff of air than the prior. "I know it may be difficult. I still find it hard to trust."

"It is hard, after spending so much time, with everything that happened. But, I am trying to allow things to be better. I cannot forget things, but I can move forward, as can you."

Aryia gives a slow nod, turning with her back against the bath wall, and closes her eyes, resting. "That's all I can do, Vaera. Move forward. My past is shitty enough as is, as it likes to creep up on me all the time." <Handspeech>

"Move forward and away from the past. If it creeps back-."

Vaera looks at the knuckles of the mul'niessa, and chuckles. "Beat it back to keep it there however you can."

Aryia smirks, snaps a finger, and points at Vaera while her eyes were closed. "You're absolutely fucking right." <Handspeech>