RP:Think of the Consequences
Part of the And it Harm None Do What Ye Will Arc
Summary: After going through a bit of a rough patch within their relationship, Talyara and Linn find themselves having a sweet moment as they discuss issues in Sage as well as a menacing mana crystal that has recently made its home with the couple.
Opening in the Mountains
It was just a day or two after Linn returned with the massive mana crystal that he actually came back to the new camp in Xalious much earlier than he did most days. Without a word he came in before dropping down to sit against the wall of the shack he had been building up across from the temporary storage he made for the giant crystal in the wall. He was already in disbelief when he first brought it back, but now he seemed to have some sort of dread towards the object of power as he looked at it, trying to figure out what to do next before taking a deep sigh and burying his face in his hands.
The past few days had been better for Taly in that the anger that seemed to be pumping through her veins as of late had dissipated. She still had moments of disorientation and confusion and her belt had to be taken in another notch, but mentally she felt better. She had found a hidden pool nearby and had taken to swimming there when Bachias was out playing with Stitch and Pinky like they were doing now. So when Taly walks into their makeshift home, a towel is wrapped snuggly around her body, her long hair damp. She pads barefoot across the cavern floor but halts when she sees Linn. She quickly walks towards him leaving watery footprints as she moves and kneels beside him, her hand reaching out to touch his shoulder. “Are you alright, Linn?” She asks softly.
Linn only managed to shrug when Talyara approached to ask about how he was doing with a small shake of his head. “Sage…” he weakly muttered out before looking back up at the crystal stashed in the hole in the wall. “I…” A huff as he tried to figure out what to say. “Everything I went by carrying that thing back died out there.” Rubbing his brows he set his head back against the wall, trying to keep his breath even and figure out what to do. “I knew that damn thing was going to be problematic. I need to put it away. Somewhere no one can find it.”
Talyara does not withdraw her hand when Linn speaks, shaking her head as she casts a curious look. “Sage?” She waits quietly for Linn to explain, her emerald eyes wide when he mentions that the giant crystal caused the death of part of her beloved woods. “You didn’t know that was going to happen Linn," she offers consolingly before moving to take a seat beside him. “Any ideas on where you’re going to put it?”
Linn blinked, his gaze set forward as he was lost in thought for a moment as Talyara consoled him. Funny, what seemed to provoke her anger. Then again life was never known to be predictable. Releasing his plates he reached around her and let his head lean over onto her shoulder with a sigh. “Not right now. Just… somewhere people won’t look. There are very few people out there that won’t do something stupid for something like this. Most would kill for it…” Some already have. “Some of the elves saw me while I was out at the forest looking at what happened. Hopefully they realize just how dangerous this is now, and whatever they want to see it for involves fixing whatever… curse it is on the forest.” A brief nod. “They said the forest was cursed. I’d bet this did something with it to kill everything.”
Talyara leans into Linn when he drapes his arm across her shoulders, nuzzling her face against his shoulder. There had been a distance between them lately, probably due to her attitude, but it didn’t mean she missed this, missed him. She listens quietly as he explains about the curse on Sage, a frown tugging at the corners of her lips. “Who would want to hurt Sage?” She inquires. The talk of the powerful nature of the crystal had Taly wrinkling her nose. “Are you going to hide it in here?”
Linn shrugged weakly. Without being around for the war against the drow he didn’t know any of the details surrounding Sage. “Someone malicious no doubt. But I don’t really know who. All I know is that the forest is dying, and magic has something to do with it if that thing managed to cause that kind of a reaction.” When Taly asked about keeping it here he shook his head quickly, looking at her with a mock look of ‘are you serious?’ “Noooo. Wherever I put it, it won’t be close. If I managed to stumble on this place, someone else might. It has to go somewhere it can’t be found by accident. And even if someone’s looking for it they’re going to need a hell of a time finding it.”
Talyara sighs heavily when Linn talks about Sage dying. She hadn’t necessarily seen it, but she had felt it during her excursions. Being magically inclined, rooted in nature, she could feel these things, and it caused pain in her heart. She draws her knees up and close to her body as she lobs her head to the side and looks up at Linn. She studies his face for some time after he’s finished. “Well, I can’t say I’ll be sad when it goes. It’s just...too powerful. And just imagine if Bachias got a hold of it,” she teases, nudging Linn in an attempt to lighten up the mood a bit.
Linn was a little sullen himself on the topic of Sage dying, his guilt in the process notwithstanding. When Taly spoke of it being –too- powerful he nodded, the mention of Bachias breaking his mood with a chuckle. “Oh man… what would happen if he got a hold of it…” He actually seemed to entertain the idea for a bit, his head tilted off to the side. “All things considered it probably wouldn’t be all that bad. The most he’d do with it is blow something up I think. How bad that is might depend on how –big- of an explosion it could make though…” With something that big a proper explosive would be… enormous. With their current closeness he may have felt that the witch had slimmed down a bit, but without actually looking for it (Or being any closer…) he wouldn’t be able to truly tell yet.
Talyara joins Linn in the contemplation of what Bachias would do with such a powerful crystal. Oh yeah, exploding something is the -worst- that could happen. Taly just worried that it might be their home. She cuddles a bit closer to Linn, the dampness of her skin and hair combined with the chill of cave making goosebumps pop up on her exposed flesh and a shiver to run up her spine. “Well, don’t blame yourself for Sage. You didn’t put the curse there.”
Linn released a weak sigh with a nod as Talyara consoled him. “I just hope I can do something to make up for what this thing did. See to this curse. See if I can help find a way to break it.” It was gonna be a hell of a project, but it was an important one now. Feeling her shiver he cracked a weak smile before releasing the rest of his plates and reaching around to pull her up into his lap and give her another full hug. He hung there for a couple seconds before he broke the silence again, still rather light but a little worried. “Have you been starving yourself again?” he inquired as he continued to gently hold her there.
Talyara nods her head in agreement, she wanted to help Sage as well. It’s what reminded her of home. She smiles softly when he speaks of saving it though, shaking her head slightly. She wasn’t surprised that Linn wanted to help out there; she only worried that he was spreading himself too thin. She giggles quietly when he draws her close and pulls her into her lap. Taly lays her head against his chest and allows her eyes to drift close. She had -missed- this, and for the first time in a long time she felt at peace. When he asks about her starving herself, the witch’s face screws up into one of confusion. “Huh?” She asks as she lifts her head to look into his face. “No, why do you ask?”
Linn couldn’t help a giggle himself as Taly and him managed to find some peace amongst everything together. It was a very welcome respite from some of the crazier events going on. Just… a break from all the death, destruction, and fighting. With his question met with confusion of all things he shrugged. “I don’t know. You just feel a little thin I guess.” Another weak chuckle as he gave her a squeeze. “With all the fights you seem to have been having with yourself I guess I just thought that.” A sigh as he put his head over her shoulder, looking rather exhausted mentally. “Maybe I’m just seeing things. I don’t know.”
Talyara looks down at her stomach and places her hand there. “I’ve lost a bit of weight,” she admits with a weak smile. “But I haven’t been intentionally starving myself, I promise.” As if to punctuate that statement, she leans forward and gently presses her lips against his.
Linn gave an accepting nod with a smile. “You better not be.” He chuckled out before leaning in to return the kiss. It was reassuring, but he couldn’t help but continue worrying for her. For –everything-. It all just sent him up into a state of mind where something was always going wrong, and it was hard to get back out of, especially when worse and worse things kept happening to reaffirm it. “Just make sure you’re eating enough okay? You don’t really need to lose any.” It was his turn to lean in for a reassuring kiss of his own before he finally looked forward at the bright purple mass with a sigh. “Alright. I need to get this thing out of here and then I’ll be back okay? I’ve had enough going on today.” It would take him maybe an hour to return, whatever tracks he may have made hiding it ending abruptly on a stone ledge somewhere as he climbed upwards into the mountains.
Talyara smiles against Linn’s lips as he gives her another kiss before untangling herself from his lap and standing. “Okay, just be safe, alright?” She fixes Linn with an intense stare, as if to say ‘you better be’. “I’m kind of tired, I’m still not sleeping the best, so I’m going to lay down.” She pecks his cheek before moving off into their room where she pulls off her towel and bathing suit and pulls on her oversized shirt. By the time Linn returns, she is snuggled under the blankets and dozing.