RP:A Bard Worth Fighting For

Part of the Thy Kingdom Come Arc

Summary: Alex and Khitti are finally reunited after his near death experience and the attack on the war camp in the park. He's told of the attack itself, the ambush, the subsequent passing of the frost giant Mikael, and Hildegarde's sorrow-filled state. The bard is finally left to rest then with the promise of music to return to his life.

East Hall

Alex is standing in the hall arguing with one of the nurses over her critical analysis that he really shouldn't be up and moving as much as he has been, an argument that the raven haired bard doesn't care much for as he whines while trying to maintain balance on his single crutch that has a towel wrapped around the top to help with the burning in his armpit. The two are both visibly red from frustration and when the nurse has her final word it must sting because Alex throws the crutch after her even though it doesn't even come close and now he's stuck grabbing onto the wall with one arm while the other holds close to his broken ribs. A heavy and drawn out sigh is given as he closes his eyes and swallows the lump in his throat, instantly regretting his attitude and blaming it on the frustration of being cooped up all the time.

Khitti had finally returned to the mansion after another trip to Kelay and immediately heard shouting. "A-Alex?", she calls up the staircase, crimson brows knitted together as she made her way to the east wing of the house. The crutch flies past her as she finds her best friend, a frown lining her lips. Without a word, she moves to his side and grabs his arm. Despite still being beat up herself and her own wincing in pain, she dips her head beneath his arm and puts it around her shoulders, attempting to help him keep himself stable.

Alex thought he was just hearing voices when Khitti called his name but as she tugs at his arm, which causes him to jerk his eyes open, he quickly realizes it's really her. Khitti. The man hadn't seen the vampire in quite some time and still had no idea that she was the one who had collected him from Adagio and brought him to the camp. When he woke up, he found Aira staring at him and during their reunion, asked her specifically to find Khitti and have her come see him... but the bodies fell before that could happen. The expression of frustration is wiped away in an instant as pearly white reveal from behind chapped lips and a still heavily bruised face, "Why, hello there good lookin'. Come to check out my new place? It's got all the amenities like running water that's often brown and food that taste like used bandages!" He laughs while steadying himself in her hold.

Khitti was definitely never found by Aira, but considering things, if she knew she wouldn't be surprised. Hell, she still didn't even know that him and Aira were together. "New place? Oh. I've been here before. A few months ago." She leaves it at that however. "How are you feeling?" She leads him over to the closest chair to help him sit, "From vhat I could here, you don't sound like you should be up yet..."

Alex struggles even with the help of Khitti to reach the seat and his teeth could almost pop from the pressure of him gritting them together so tightly as he lowers himself into it. "Oh, well then I guess it's used", he jokes "Eh, the nurse should be worried about those who need worrying about. Most of the others are here because of the war, I'm here because things didn't go according to plan in the tournament." He scoffs and recalls vivid details of him having his ass beaten by Ayras in the garden which cause him to cringe in embarrassment. "To be honest, I don't even know how I got to the camp. I haven't seen Adagio or Rattimus since everything happened. Aira said that Ratt was fine but as far as I know she hasn't found Adagio yet... I'm hoping he made it away from the giants."

Khitti tilts her head. He still didn't know? The healers must not have told him. She sits on the floor in front of the bard, peering up at him. "I brought you." She pauses, shifting her attention away from him as she remembers how awful he looks when Adagio had found her and frowning at the mention of Aira. "Adagio just happened to run in zhe right direction apparently. You vere gone for such a long time. I'm going to assume your match didn't go vell. I haven't even seen zhat Ayras since zhe tournament has been over." She'd only met the other red-head once, but she knew from talk around the camp that he'd been one of the Knights of the Black Ice and would've likely been with Hildegarde. "Anyway...Adagio is fine. I asked him to hide because I vas quite sure zhat zhe people in zhe camp veren't going to be entirely okay vith a dire bear hanging about. Xenophobic giants is bad enough. I vas making sure he vas fed too."

Alex perks his ears as Khitti confesses to bringing him to the camp and is about to ask how she found him when she follows up with details on Adagio, the man tilting his head to the side as he listens about the well being of his bear and pondering on the name 'Ayras', he wasn't sure if he had heard it before or not but he immediately pictures the vampire's mithril gauntlet slamming into his face over and over which makes him very self aware of the stinging still in his cheek bones. "Thank you", he states in a monotone before reaching out to brush away a strand of her hair while staring down at her, "For everything I mean. I'm sorry I pulled you into all this crap. Judging by the looks of you, it hasn't been to easy or fun." A short forced chuckle is given while shaking his head back and forth, "All this crap over some stupid racists. You know, if I'm being completely honest, I planned to be this big help through it all. I figured after my exile I'd show up, find you and we'd go in together swinging. Instead, I got hooked on drugs and wandered around in the woods while everyone else was doing the lifting. I couldn't even get back into my old room to grab my instruments because instead of getting medical attention back home I got knocked out and drug around by a bear for who knows how long." A pause is given before a genuine smile fills his features, "Thankfully, Hildegarde and her lot don't have much use for a scrawny singing human." Wrinkling his nose while eyeing Khitti with twisted lips shows that something else is on the mans mind though for reasons known only to him, he opts to leave it for the time being and instead awaits some kind of reply from the woman.

Khitti doesn't look at Alex as he messes with her hair, instead focusing on nothing in particular down the hallway. "You came to me for help and zhat's vhat I'm doing. Vhile you vere gone, I pledged myself to Hildegarde. I'll be going to Frostmaw and likely living zhere after everything is all said and done. Provided ve can not get ambushed again and I can not get hit vith flying, exploding trees and throwing myself into a fight vith zhe frost giants in our camp." She shakes her head, finally looking at him, "Ve have a need for you. You're more zhan just a 'scrawny singing human' and you damn vell know zhat." Her tone becomes stern for a moment, but eventually softens, "I'm just glad you're okay..."

Alex is a bit taken back as Khitti explains what he assumes is a vague recollection of events that happened during his time either black out or at the medical camp, a sense of dread pulling the human off of his high horse as he quickly pieces together that Khitti has become more involved with Frostmaw and the resistance than he ever had - the woman who'd only been allied with the faction since his recommendation was already a far more valuable asset than he had ever been. There it is again, the self pity that he keeps letting himself wallow in, a disgusting thing for a mind to be wasted on and yet the man struggled to escape from what was becoming a self inflicted recurring illness that threw all logic out of the window. This sealed his mind on the topic he'd initially wanted held back on, those words couldn't be said now or likely ever, it would be a betrayal and disservice to the alliance he had helped Khitti form and he damn sure wasn't about to push his problems on to her - to put it simply, Khitti had her hands full. A smile is forced though the vampire would never know the difference, those blue eyes of his shining with life despite the borderline self inflicted brutality he had suffered, "I'm always going to be okay, Kat. It's kind of my thing." Surviving, running and living. Chalk that up on the board of Alex's greatest accomplishments which also consisted of being a great musician and making his bed without being told.

Khitti certainly had her own things that she wasn't going to tell Alex. Like the fight that almost separated her and Daermon forever. The fact that she could no longer go back to House Dragana now, even though she was the ambassador for the house. She no longer had a home. A place to call her own. Instead, she'd just wander as she had since the war camp had been destroyed. She was used to that though. The wandering. The being alone. It was like an old, faithful friend that'd never leave her. "You almost veren't. I could..." She frowns, looking down at the floor as she idly plays with the tattered remains of her precious duster, "...I could hear your heart. You almost didn't make it."

Alex feels a bit of concern for his closest friend as she painfully recollects an event that he never knew happened, the mention of his heart bringing him to a full stop that he can't find the right words to jump out of with a familiar sense of humor and lightheartedness. However, the lack of speech doesn't stop the man from trying to set the mood right, instead of offering a one off joke about how his drug addiction had stopped his heart more often than a silly little duel he chooses to bring his right hand up to his mouth and lick the inside of all four fingers before slapping Khitti right across the face. Not hard enough to cause her pain of course, just the exact amount of force he used that night to 'encourage' her to get on stage and do her thing. A smirk is given regardless of whatever emotion she chooses to display and to cut her off from any snide remark he declares quite confidently, "I love you". She won't have the chance to be angry, sad, or hopeless. That was his burden for now. If only the two idiots would tell the whole truth they'd realize they were in the same boat and could run off to Gamorg together. Though his wanting to bring Aira would probably cause some friction.

/blinks a few times as she's slapped, much like that fateful night. She's stunned for a moment, whatever thought she had about his almost death gone for now. And then there were those three words. Despite both of their injuries, she hops up from her spot on the floor and throws her arms around his neck to hug him, doing her best to be as gentle as possible. "Oh, Alex...I love you too." She sighs softly, doing her best to focus on the moment and not the war that loomed over head of them.

Alex feels a sense of pride that his plan had a positive reaction and he doesn't waste time hugging the woman back despite the stinging and aches and pains and all of the discomfort in every part of his body. To hell with the war, to hell with the Frost Giants and to hell with his self pity. The only thing that had been accomplished from all of this was the separation of him and the few friends he had in Hollow. A battle of sides took place in his mind as he forced himself to remember that Hildegarde was his friend, one who had given him a home and title, never mind that he had neither of those things now, they were reason to keep fighting. His plans of running away are silently dropped as he turns his head, opens his mouth and promptly bites down on Khitti's neck - hard.

Khitti loosened her grip on him somewhat as she's bit. If only he didn't have that fear of his, he'd certainly make a good vampire. Grinning, she snickers softly, "If you're trying to be a vampire, dear, you'll never get anywhere vith zhose teeth of yours. I could always show you...", her tone a teasing one. Of course, she'd never bite him unless he told her too, which was likely to be never. Even if she managed to get on some blood-crazed killing spree, she'd use everything in her power to keep from harming him.

Alex finally releases her neck when she goes to pull away and quickly shakes his head in decline of the offer, "No thanks. I'm afraid I might like it too much and we'd find ourselves in quite the predicament." Widened eyes with wiggling eye brows help increase the power of the joke though there might be some truth there, assuming the aftermath didn't include becoming a member of the undead. "So what's the plan then? Aira told me a bit of what's happened and though I'm not too interested in going into crazy detail, I'd still like to be semi in the loop. Also, yes, I said Aira and I swear to whatever god you believe in I'll drop kick you with my bum legs if you make that face you always make."

Khitti can't help but giggle and offer him another grin at his joke, "You might like it...and zhere's no chance of you becoming a vampire so..." She just shrugs, her own tone joking still though it almost seemed like she was actually offering to do so if he ever decided to try it. Once Aira is mentioned, she actually -does- almost go to make 'that face', but manages to stop before she's ultimately drop kicked. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she shrugged, "I don't know vhat zhe plan is. I haven't talked to Hildegarde since zhe ambush. I...I don't zhink she's all zhere right now." She wasn't sure if the high elf had told him, so she proceeded to do so, "Mikael is dead, Alex."

Alex probably doesn't have the reaction Khitti expected as she dropped the news, instead of drained color from his face, a gasp, solitary tear or anything of the sort the human merely lofts a brow and provides a genuinely confused expression. "Mikael?" he inquires with a hint of troubled memory, "The giant?" he confirms knowledge of the man but apart from seeing him about, hearing his praise back home and a brief interaction here and there the bard barely knew him. "What happened to him?"

Khitti frowned a little and shook her head as a hand moved up brush away a few strands of his hair, dark eyes taking in his features. It's much in the same way someone would act if they were never going to see their friend or loved one again, though hopefully, that wasn't the case. The memory of Mikael's death is pushed to the back of her mind with a sigh, "He sacrificed his life for her. Besides that, it doesn't matter, Alex. Vhat does matter is ve need to try to get Hildegarde back on track. I haven't seen much of her since zhe attack, but I can imagine she's definitely hurting." The vampiress knew too well about that sort of thing, the recent past with Alex's almost demise lingering in her head. She had gone every day to check on him, and sit outside the tent he had been placed in, but she'd likely never tell him.

Alex notes the features of his closest friend and while a bit of sympathy falls into his heart his expression doesn't change to reflect that but instead turns into one with a trademark smirk spilling across his complexion. "If there's anything I've learned in the past six months or so, it's that death isn't always the end. As for Hildegarde, she's a strong woman, she's quite literally been to hell and back and while the loss of a friend can be a heavy burden, she isn't foolish enough to let it interfere with her priorities. That woman is notorious for defending her friends and mourning the loss of one might lead to the loss of another, Hildegarde won't let that happen, she's better than that. The last thing she needs is a whiny bard and stressed out vampire trying to give her life advice bundled with hugs and kisses." Reaching out to take her chin with a curled index finger Alex forces Khitti to look him in the eyes, "Back home, we had an old saying, sorrow is a gift, without it, there would be no happiness. Stop worrying all the time or it won't be a war that sends you to your grave."

Khitti's crimson brows knit together as he forces her to look at him, a sigh passing her lips once he's finished speaking. "I'll try." Of course, she would at least -try-, both for him and Daer as she'd also been scolded by him too, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't happen occasionally. She draws that emotional mask back up, hiding her feelings as a smirk emerges, "You're not whiny. Shut up." Taking his hand that was on her face, she opened her mouth and bit down softly on his finger, careful to do so with only her front teeth and not a fang. "Vould you like me to try to acquire some sort of instrument for you? I'm sure if you had -something- to do, you'd be much less opposed to sitting around all day. Plus, a bit of music might do us all good here."

Remember two posts ago when Alex didn't lose color in his face? Boy, oh boy was that foreshadowing. As Khitti puts his finger in her mouth the man turns solid white and a cold sweat immediately breaks out, his skin is suddenly clammy and he actually starts shaking while his heart visibly pounds against his chest - it looks like the guy might suddenly go into a full blown panic attack but instead he curls the finger to tug on one of her fangs. "I should become a dentist" he remarks with a nervous laugh, he didn't want Khitti to feel bad in fact he appreciated the closeness between the two of them but he still had a long way to go before he was one hundred and ten percent ok around those that literally drink blood to live or well, unlive? "Sorry" he comments while wiping his forehead with his now freed hand, "Yeah, that would be fantastic actually. I wanted my stuff but that didn't go so well and I can't find any damn thing around here apart from that busted violin in the storage room."

Khitti blinks as his heart rate rises, a sweat breaks out, and his face turns white. She goes to immediately apologize, but once he snakes a finger around her fang, she grins a bit, "A musical dentist, hm? Zhat vould be...interesting." Snickering softly, merely shakes her head at his apology, continuing on with the conversation, letting him keep his dignity intact, "Zhere's a music store in Cenril, or if I can sneak into House Dragana, Larewen had a violin zhere zhat I always favored a bit." It really wouldn't be hard for her to do so, thankfully, now that Daer was essentially in command with Larewen's continued absence. "I'll find a vay to get you something. I promise."

Alex perks up at the promise of an instrument, the excitement allowing his appearance to restore back to it's natural state. Aira had loaned him the charm he'd made for her, so the man literally had a piano in his pocket but when he tried to play it the nurses had badgered him into packing it up due to all the space it took up. He was eager to have something small out out of the way, hell he might even be able to bring up morale in the medical area with music, now there's something he's pretty decent at! "That would be amazing! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" he lurches forward despite his injuries and hugs Khitti tighter than ever.

Khitti does her best to hide the cringing of pain from her own injuries as she's hugged ever so tightly, but certainly doesn't resist hugging him back. "You're velcome, Alex. You know I can't let you sit around here and go mad. Zhat vould make me a very awful best friend." She presses a kiss to his cheek, then rests her head on his shoulder for the moment, "Gods, I'm so glad you're okay." There's a pause and another squeeze from her, "I should leave you be so you can rest...you von't have any chance of seeing an instrument if I stick around here bothering you all day."

Alex nearly turns his head to place a kiss on her lips in return for the one she planted on his cheek but he manages to stop himself as he suddenly remember his relationship status with Aira, this would take a bit of getting used to. Instead he slowly releases the woman with the creaking of his bones and stabbing pain in his side as he scrunches his nose and presses it against her own, "You know, I'd like to argue with you and beg you to stay but I really want to play something so go, get the hell out of her and do my bidding. Lest you face thirty lashes."

Khitti will probably never find out about his relationship with that high elf, and at this point, it's probably for the better. As he gets all high and mighty with her, she can only grin evily at him, biting her lip to stifle a bit of snickering, "You really shouldn't talk to me like zhat, you know." Despite her own injured shoulder, she stands up swiftly and scoops the male up into her arms, "I'll have zhem strap you to zhe bed and feed you zhe vorst kinds of medicine to help you." There's a small amount of struggle at keeping him held, much unlike when she carried him to the medical tent in the park, but she manages nevertheless and carries him into the nearest room, placing him in an empty bed, regardless of whether or not it was his. It was now. "You get better, you hear? I need you for moral support. Pilar's failing horribly at it, zhough if you see her, don't tell her I said zhat." The vampiress coughs awkwardly, then walks backwards towards the door, making a face and squinting her eyes at him in an attempt to look suspicious, "You. Stay zhere. I mean it. I vill return as soon as possible." The index finger on her left hand juts out, pointing at him, as if to say there'd be consequences if he didn't.

Alex isn't embarrassed to be carried by the vampire, in fact he's kind of into it, but that's totally for another time. As she makes the off remark about Pilar he retorts quickly, "I'm writing her a letter with full transcript as soon as you leave" and then she's making those odd eyes at him, squinting and pointing with her judgemental judginess causing him to smile and turn red with embarrassment before shouting out "Just leeeeeeeeeeave!" proving that he is indeed a whiny bard, then he winks at her with a wave before staring up at the ceiling of the room. There was no way to tell if Alex and Khitti would see each other again, no way to know if he'd get that instrument she'd promise, no way to know if she'd finally found out about Aira, no idea about anything. The war made life unpredictable and even though Alex maintained that he was moving along just fine, the human wanted nothing more than to cut and run just like he had from his home and yet something nagging in the back of his mind kept him here with all the smelly injured people who more often than not couldn't even eat solids. He sighs and lets his eyes fall shut, dreaming of running away from everything with only his thoughts, it was a sweet thought but one that he couldn't justify, like it or not, Alex was stuck in Hollow.

Khitti moves out of the room entirely as she yells, "Fiiiiiinnnnnneee.", giving a wave before she goes. For the moment, she only pretends to leave, looking in on him when she senses his heartrate changing to that of someone that was sleeping. She'd slip back around the corner for a minute or two, watching him sleep in a not so creepy manner. If only he knew that she felt the same way. Wanting to run away and never return here. She'd likely go with him in a heartbeat. Time was up for now, however, and her fun with her dear friend over. Her mood shifts back to it's typical somber, stoic one and a frown alights her pallid lips. There were things to be done and people to save. She was no hero like Hildegarde, but now she had a job, and the moment to do it was almost here. Frostmaw needed to be protected and she had sworn to do so. In time, Khitti would return while Alex was sleeping and leave the old violin for him by his bedside as he slept as well as a small vase of flowers, but there'd be no sign of the dark ranger at all.