RP:Shield's Promise

The Healing Sky

Cuki sat on a rather uncomfortable chair that was clearly made for a person without a spine seeing as how the back bent uncomfortly inwards. There next to him is a bit of a grumpy shaman redressing his hand. The little healer was waving around some sort of stick on a skull as he tightened the bandage. Great. He was being taken care of by a crazy person.

Satoshi stumbles unceremoniously from one of the partitioned-off 'bedrooms'--which really consisted of a bedroll and a few animal skins as 'walls'. The feline's footsteps are slow and heavy, a side-effect of the anti-magic blood as well as her only just waking from an almost comatose sleep. For now she's still too drowsy to be hungry, something that allows her to notice Cuki being bandaged, voice a self-conscious squeak, and duck her head. Cue awkward silence and fidgetting.

Cuki was not quite sure why the Feline had wandered into the center of healing...if it could be called such a thing. The healer tending to him attempts to stick several long, thin needles made of bone into his elbow to help "open up his animal pathways." Whatever made the little man feel like he was actually doing something, Cuki supposed. So with his still free hand Cuki motions to his friend to come closer. "Don't be a scaredy cat. I didn't hit you that hard." An effort is needed to shoo the Shaman away before returning to conversation with Satoshi, "Can you believe these guys? What a joke. They even have me drinking this stuff that smells worse than your rat stew." Clearly the Human was attempting to relax the situation for her.

Satoshi manages a small laugh as she shuffles forward and takes a seat on the floor beside the monk. "That must smell truly awful, then..." Trailing off, the weakened mage takes a moment to simply eye shaman and human, gaze lingering on the wound in his hand. A gaze without so much as a gleam of that bloodlust, the desire for Cuki's blood chased out of her system. After a moment, the cat coughs and speaks up in a quiet but steady voice, "I can't apologize for that, you know. Et I won't. I made the choice, fully aware. But... did you really have to hit me?" Satoshi fixes Cuki with a look that's both perplexed and amused, without a hint of anger.

Cuki holds his voice until the Shaman finishes exiting the room. After which he turns to Satoshi. His steel blue eyes seem rather sadden, "Yes. I did. I was hoping to knock some damn sense into you. You made yourself a..." With a sigh Cuki stops himself. Trying to sit back the best he can on the stupid chair he continues, "At least you understand why I am so upset, correct? You do understand what you are now?"

Satoshi said to Cuki, "Hitting folks knocks the vampirism out of them? Who knew." There's the hint of an edge to the feline's voice now, unable to keep it out with the monk's avoidance of a word. "Made myself a what? 'Monster'? Hah. I've always been one, behind a pretty mask. What am I now? Not much different. A hunter, a killer, and so on. There's just... new instincts to grow accustomed to. Like a kitten has to learn to control his claws and fangs." The mage's features take on a wry look there, shoulders slumping. "Gods know I'm as weak as one at the moment. Heh."

Cuki face contorts, clearly slightly hurt. "Yes. To me...as a Human you are a monster. A dreadful monster. You attacked me as if I was a rabbit, a simple meal. You lost control and forgot all we had gone through with just a few drops after I risked my life for you." Cuki's gaze drops to his charcoal scarf as he sort of plays with the end. "You have been a many things, but monster was not one of them."

Satoshi takes her own turn to look slightly hurt. "You say that like I didn't try to stop myself, as if I wasn't fighting my entire instinct so I wouldn't hurt you. You can't win every fight, though, not even the really important ones... Still," and here the feline gives into her growing weariness and flops back on the floor with a sigh to stare at the tent roof. "I am what I am. If you see a new monster where one as always been, so be it. But, I can't be too much of one, if I've chosen to stay here in seclusion while I learn, instead of parading into Kelay Tavern for a massacre or two, right?"

Cuki said to Satoshi, "That is what makes you a monster though. No matter what. No matter how close you are to someone when your lust gets the better of you, they will be a meal. It does not matter if it is a Feline, a Human, another Vampire, or even someone like me that makes you weak. It will overcome you. You are a sensible and caring being to try and control it, but it will always control you. That is what I fear. That it will be the end of you...or worse the end of someone helpless and innocent. You asked me to let you go. So I have, but I will always be around to assist you if you need. It has always been so. But now I must tell you something else. That if I see that lust get the better of you. If I do see you rampaging then it will not be my protection you should seek. No-no. You should run and hide because I will be there to defend them against you."

Satoshi props herself up on her elbows to watch the monk as he speaks, ears pressed forward and face carefully neutral. After a long pause of silence, she slumps back to her prior position with another sigh. "It can't be completely controlled. I'm not unaware of that. You can't bend a sword completely to your will, but you can guide it, with practice and skill. And even then, it is still a risk to yourself and those around you. But, I will not swing that sword blindly, Cuki. As much as you look out for me, Kasyr does as well. I'm his responsibility in this. He knows to leave me unchecked will be my undoing, and likely his, and he won't let that happen. I think... between my Shield, my Guardian, and my own stubbornness to not be a slave to instinct... we won't be facing each other as enemies. I will hunt, I will kill, of course. But I will learn to stay that blade from erratic actions, in time. Let this kitten find her paws, hm~?"

Cuki said to Satoshi, "I understand. More than you know I understand the harm caused by simply trying to live. Speaking of which. I hope you are not too ill from me. I simply acting to remind you what it is to be weak. I hope the lesson is well learned and that you will keep it in your mind. That being said I do ever so hope that you are right. That you will learn to control it. If I did not have faith in you, I may have very well ended your life in the forest. I trust you, Satoshi. Find those paws of yours. For everyone's sake."

Satoshi replaces a good portion of her serious mood with a one of sarcasm and playfully feigned annoyance. "Oh, lesson well-learned, teacher. Being used to magic running in your veins and then suddenly being without that... es most exhausting. I wasn't this worn even when I drained my magic to stop a kraken... Hellfire, I haven't left this tent since Kasyr brought us here despite how hungry I am. So, I couldn't wander off even if I wanted to. All I want to do, really, is sleep. And with that," the mage climbs to her feet with a groan and a stretch. "I'm going back to sleep until I have the energy to hunt and feed again. So, I'll find my paws after a nice, long nap, mayhaps~. Don't forget to rest yourself. I hear massive bloodloss is taxing on humans." Giving a wink, the mage turns and stumbles back to her temporary bedroom for another doze.

Cuki groans. Taxing she says. What an understatement. Cuki can't even stand up from this damn uncomfortable seat. That damn creepy healer had to help him walk. "Satoshi?" He calls out before she exits, "Do me a favor at least and keep in touch. I wish to be there to congradulate you properly when you return to civilization." An afterthought, "And tell Kassy thanks for carrying me."

Satoshi said to Cuki, "Will do, on both counts, of course~."