RP:The Atrocities Catch Up
Part of the What Dreams May Come Arc
Summary: Irenic is still in a slump after his wife died, but he sees an unexpected face when an even further unexpected thing happens... Well, not to Irenic.
Behind a Hemlock Grove
You begin to hear the soft sounds of water again, though you are far beyond the waters of Vibrance. Curiosity urges you forward, towards a particularly dark part of the forest and to a strangely well-tended grove of tall hemlock trees. A small path, one worn through the forest by travel, leads behind the grove and to a wide glade. Wildflowers and sweet grass grow hip-high in some places here. A stallion, easily twenty hands high and black as pitch, grazes lazily, unconcerned with his surroundings. A stream runs along the eastern edge of the glade and a well stands close to it. A stable of stone, the word 'Fury' carved above the wide open doors, rests between the well and the cottage. Standing tall in the west of the glade is a two-story cottage of the same stone. Smoke, white and wispy, floats from the chimney and the pointed top of the curiously crooked tower that seems to be attached towards the back. The wooden arched door is bold, berry stained red with a heavy owl carved doorknocker of iron. The windows are wide, with diamond patterned muntin work and stained glass. A small pebbled pathway winds between flower beds, shrubs, and droopy branched willow trees. It leads behind the home and to a fenced garden. A fat, long-tailed inky black cat can be found resting drowsily on the fence in a patch of golden sun and watching you with heavy-lidded emerald eyes. Here, the heady scent of herbs and flowers in bloom greet you. The garden itself boasts plants of all types, both useful and purely aesthetic, in full and clearly enchanted bloom. The herbs and flowers are arranged in spirals around a bubbling fountain. The carved image of a woman stands in the middle of the water with hands cupped around a crescent moon and raised above her head. Cool and clear water tumbles from her fingertips into the wide fountain's base. The forest presses close behind the garden's fence, the tall trees casting long shadows. The rounded and slightly crooked tower is seen more easily from here. Its odd shape boasts a lower oriel window and a balcony on it's highest floor. Ivy climbs and covers the beautiful stone face.
Irenic is outside for once, in the stables he would be easily found cursing under his breath that Bitney Spurs needs to stop gnawing on all of his good belts. It’s only felt like days since he watched his wife be burned before his eyes even though it was a good month or so now, but he doesn’t look too good, himself. Depression has obviously taken him as he looks half the avian he once was and he seems even older for it, possibly bitter. Metal wings gleam brightly in the sun’s rays and though they seem beautiful, expertly crafted, one of them seems bloodied at the tip of which has been dried by now - was it his own blood? He’s went all this time without talking to anyone save for sweet Maude, who is like a mother in law to him. Speaking of which she comes out with some food for Irenic to which his gravely low timbre responds, as kindly as he could muster, “no thank you Maude. I had a big breakfast,” a false smile shown down at the woman and even though she knew he was lying she nodded and he watched her retreat back inside. Once alone again, save for the two horses trotting around together within the fenced in area, he pulls a silver flask from his back pocket and the clink of his wedding ring against it sounds out before downing some of the contents. He goes back to cleaning out the stables with a blank look upon his face, but he stops when he sees Bitney Spurs playing with Fury who stopped to trot over to him. The black mare reaches her head in the stable from the grazing area and drags her tongue over the rough stubble that’s grown on Irenics face. Irenic backs away and wipes the side of his face with a cleaning towel stuffed in his back pocket, “you sap.” Bitney Spurs rears playfully before going joining back up with Fury. He dabs some sweat from his brow before tossing the towel aside and running a hand through his dusky hair which is gotten a bit out of control and longer than usual, but even though he looks like he smells - he wouldn’t because of that whole avian thing.
It has been a decent chunk of time since Meri has been seen in Larket and it had been even longer since Meri ventured out into this space. The last time she had meandered in this direction was before Valrae died and before Callum lost his job, Meri traveled back this way frequently up until that point. Today was a fluke. Today restlessness and anxiety were getting the better of Meri. She did not want to stay at home by herself all day, that made her feel lazy and unproductive. She did not have the heart to return to work, every attempt thus far has been fruitless. At best Meri has managed to complete some basic accounting, but when it comes to creating any amount of art...? Meri just ends up staring at a blank canvas, completely lacking any amount of inspiration. Frustrated with herself and the rut that she finds herself in, Meri decided to go for a walk to clear her mind....but before she knew it she was consumed by her thoughts and has lost track of where she has wandered to. The next thing she knows she is standing outside of Valrae’s home. It is entirely plausible that Irenic and Maude are visible within the stables. If they are or are not, it did not seem to matter to Meri. She did not register the presence of anyone at the moment. Her thoughts were too consumed by the face of a ghost (not literally), to have any solid grasp of any of the real life faces that might be within sight, or ear shot. Meri would stand in front of Valrae’s home, looking distraught and guilt ridden.
Irenic noticed Meri after a long moment when he started toward the entrance of the home to refill his flask with… Uh… water. Long strides halted a decent distance away from Meri, “uh, hey Meri.” He never even knew that Meri and Valrae were friendly, but his rough tone asks anyway, “what are you doing here?” Understanding she wasn’t here for him because he hadn’t seen her in… Who cares how long. Also understanding that Meri isn’t good with emotions or even other people’s emotions he doesn’t burden her with his own guilt and depression. A half grin offered down at the blonde woman, but whatever answer she has to his question those mismatched eyes are occupied by something above her head, in the distance, in the skies. He felt an unnatural breeze around him and watched the phantom air next to him, could Valrae be here and he’s just been too blinded by grief to see her? He is, but it’s still not clear to him. Meri would hear a commanding base of a voice come from behind her, “Edlin Corier.” Irenic smoothed the greying hair back on the top of his head, “yeah…” If Meri turned to see who was speaking she would find four tall, dark skinned, heavily tattooed and heavily armored avians pointing arrows or crossbows at Irenic. “By the crimes you’ve committed against Island Vere we have been permitted within Lithrydel in order to apprehend our prisoner… Come quietly and be escorted back with your life, but try to run and we have been instructed to return you alive or dead.” Irenic grins now and it looks a little wicked, but it softens when he heard Maude run out and gasp, “Irenic?”
It is true, Meri did not come to check on Irenic. While she had last seen him at Valrae's burning, she did not fully understand the extent of the man's relationship with the woman. Valrae's marriage to Irenic was not news that had reached Meri's ears, so she was not anticipating seeing Irenic at this location in particular at all. She really was not anticipating seeing anyone really, not even Maude -- who has has formally met only one other time. Meri might not have had the chance to respond with any sort of verbal answer but her expression probably reveals to Irenic that she has no clue why she was here. Well there was a small clue, but today will not be the day that they establish any concrete details on how they both may have known Valrae. The voice from behind causes Meri to slowly turn her head and peer over her shoulder at the group of avians looming behind her. It was not her they were interested in though. The look is not on the avians behind Meri, her blue find focus on Irenic again. What happened next was his choice. Two against four were not the best odds, they were not the worst though, and surely Irenic by now is aware that Meri is not a helpless dame. She could very easily hold her own, which probably lended to her hard demeanor that he was also familiar with. If Irenic wanted to go with them peacefully, that was his choice, but if he felt inclined to give them a run for their money...? Well the psion that stood before him was more than capable to offer some amount of assistance.
Irenic had his hands up, “took you long enough.” Always the smartass and Maudes arms wrapped around his waist as she held back tears in her eyes when she angrily barked at the imperial officers, “leave a grieving man alone! Can’t you see he’s just lost his wife?!” One of the guards scoffs, “sure, Edlin settle down?” The wedding band on his ring finger is spotted, the matching one to the witch at her burning. One of the guards points it out, “look there, she’s telling the truth.” It matters not when the leading officer speaks over them, “citizen, we wish you no harm. We have come for the fugitive, Edlin. We care not of what you speak.” It was easy enough to tell they were foreign with those Veretian accents. Irenic wrapped his arms around Maude, gave her a squeeze and a kiss to the top of her head before he gently unravel himself from the motherly figure, “I love you Maude… Keep your head up. For Valrae.” She nods before making her way near Meri with a kerchief drying her eyes, “ohhh dear, first Valrae and now Irenic, he’s just given up since she died. These two were cursed from the beginning… What will I do?” She cowered at the tall avains as they made their way around the women. Irenic lowered to his knees and put his hands behind his head, but offered that mischievous smirk to Meri, “nice seeing you again, Meri.” The officers read him his rights while placing shackles on his wrists, legs and metal wings before escorting him off the premises never to be seen in these lands again.
Irenic’s choice was obvious to Meri. He was turning himself over willingly and he would not want Meri to take the offensive with Maude standing right next to her. So Meri would stand guard next to the grieving woman. It did not seem as though those looking to haul Irenic off had an interest in causing trouble for Maude or Meri but the blonde was still overly cautious regardless. A frown weighs on Meri’s lips but the woman remains silent. After Irenic is gone from sight, Meri would escort Maude back to her home. Meri is not entirely sure what comfort can be offered, but if Maude would let Meri then the woman would come inside. Meri may not be the best with this emotional stuff, but she would at the very least offer to make Maude some tea. Something that would help the woman relax, maybe even aid her in falling asleep. In the end, Irenic was gone, Valrae was gone, and Meri knew there was not much to cheer Maude up. Once the woman was settled, Meri would take her leave.