RP:You and Me and Your Friend Kasyr

From HollowWiki

Part of the Lies Within Us Arc


Part of the Weave Your Own Fate Arc




Summary: "Candlelight and moonlight all around us/I look into your eyes/You hold my hand underneath the table/And I can’t disguise the way I feel."

"I could’ve wished a thousand wishes/For this night, I can’t believe/That it’s finally me and you, and you and me/Just us, and your friend Kasyr."


The Refurbished Cabin

Kasyr is less than thrilled with his current condition. In this particular instance, that's not actually referring to his right arm, and the splint that it resides in- though it certainly factors into the situation. No, what has the Kensai internally grousing is Frostmaws bitter cold- and the way it invasively finds a way to creep under the fur lining of his coat. "Yet another reason I miss the fangs, en fait." And yet, he's obliged to be here- if only because the seamstress had promised to introduce him to a healer. An offer that she had yet to rescind- though, she'd wound up scarce at some point after she'd demonstrated a questionably large supply of illicit swords. ...That he might have gotten distracted by. ...Okay, so the situation may have wound up slightly more complicated due to his own failure to remind her- but, that was fine. he could correct his mistake. All he had to do was follow her empathic trail until he inevitably met her- or, potentially whatever she was in the process of mauling. And, to be fair, It's frostmaw. There's almost always something in need of mauling. Though, admittedly, the cabin that's creeping up into view doesn't really look all that threatening. It's not even made of gingerbread.

Iintahquohae got up from her seat in the midst of the conversation she and Odh had been having about her previous teacher. Having forgotten to bring in more firewood, she wanted to run out and drag some more in. Before stepping out, she straightens the circlet on her head and looks over her shoulder at the terramancer. “...so I had to run over to the fountain in their courtyard and just...chuck myself into it to stop the fire from spreading. Learning magic in Trist'Oth probably wasn't a good idea, but! We're going to freeze, back in a moment.” With the door opened, she steps out, and before she can turn to head to the wood pile, her footsteps come to an abrupt halt at the sight of her sire. “Kas? How did you...Oh! Right.” Forgetting that their bond made her traceable, her eyes quickly flit to the cabin's door and back to him. Sure, the seamstress is happy to see him, but also the scene inside her hideout might look compromising. At least in her head. Hopefully she's wrong. A hiss in the back of her mind seems to agree, anyway. It's fine. “Well come on in,” greets, pushing the door open to a slight crack so hopefully the terramancer can overhear. “I don't need you freezing to death, Kas. Make yourself comfortable while I get more wood.”

Odhranos can't help but break into laughter. "And that's exactly why pyromancer's should keep water buckets on hand at all times. Still, a fountain!" The terramancer devolves into gales of laughter as he pictures the soggy scene. "Ah! Do you want some help?" He calls out over the tall back of the armchair, where they are turned to form a cozy book facing the fireplace. Hearing no reply, Odhranos settles down into his chair, scratching the ears of the nearest lazing dog, before he hears Inks' voice outside. Yet it doesn't sound like she's addressing him. Odhranos eyebrows plummet into a concerned valley as he shoots from his chair, edging over towards the door, before peeping his head out gingerly around the frame. There's Inks, heading for the woodpile, at least she seems fine. As for who she was addressing; it takes a little time for Odhranos' human eyes (damned vampires and their good eyesight) to adjust to the sudden darkness, and he makes out a strange figure approaching which slowly resolves itself into a familiar coat-clad Kensai. Odhranos reaction is concern, and he slowly tucks his head back around the door again, dithering for a moment, before returning to his seat. Best feign like he hadn't left his seat at all, yes, that seems smart. He'd prepare his surprised face for when they came back inside.

Kasyr nods in such a way that it's 1 part enthusiasm, and a whole bunch of parts shivering. She even gets a tentative thumbs up from him when she mentions that she's going to fetch more wood. Wait. More wood? She's a vampire, it's not like she's going to freeze to death. "See you soon?" Before he can contemplate too much on the possibility of her missing her humanity, he becomes duly aware that he's not alone. And not in a 'the wildlife is peering hungrily at him manner. Though, to be fair, he's rather certain it is. No, there's a sense of familiarity and ...anxiety . . . coming from the cabin? He squints a little bit, but frankly, he's too cold to really second guess or think on it further- and thus slides into the front door. Before, awkwardly backing off for a moment to kick off his boots. That sorted, he's back inside within a moment, trying not to let out an excess of warm air out. It's only then that he takes in the sight of the Terramancer, and his oddly ill-fitting look of surprise. Then again, the Kensai's expression probably was a bit awkward as well. Especially since he's just sort of staring. "...So. Hi?" This is earlier than he planned. Calice. "Hi. Uh, how have tu been?" Daedria, strike him down now.

Iintahquohae;; “It's fine,” seems to be the mantra for the day now, as Inks finally reaches the woodpile and stacks as much as she can into her arms. This is beneficial in two says: Less trips outside for the evening, and a moment alone to pull herself together. She's overthinking this, and it's incredibly unlike her to do so. Exhaling a breath and re-balancing the split logs in her arms, she heads back into the cabin. Backing into the door to push it open and then catch it with her foot to close it behind her in an awkward sort of twirl, Iintahquohae is back in the cabin and piling wood up by the hearth. What in the world is she supposed to say now? Offer him some tea? Did he want to crash here for the night? Thankfully she can use the excuse of adding more wood to the fire as her reason for not looking at either man in the room while she talks, and that the warmth creeping up her face is the fire's fault and absolutely nothing else. “I suppose we can skip introductions,” a somewhat forced laugh follows. Sometime down the road, she'll look back at this evening and think it hilarious. Hopefully. Turning, she looks from Odhranos to Kasyr. “...Have you been here before since I've fixed the place up, Kas?” She considers explaining to the terramancer that he sired her here, but realized she had likely said that a few times before. “It's...it's a lot less run down than it was back then, at least.”

Odhranos turns with awful surprised face and it is predictability awful. He even went for the super-wide eyes too. Amateur. Odhranos turns and rests his elbows on the back of the armchair, kneeling on the seat as Kas and Inks bumble their way back into the cabin. "I've been alright, all things considered. The break's been nice." And back to awkward silence. Sven above, you'd think between three of them, someone would have got the "socially capable" genes, but apparently that doesn't come with Coterie admission or the Mage's Guild Library Card. Who'd have thought. "How's everyone back at the tower? Any news?" Odhranos tries valiantly to save some semblance of conversation, glancing at Inks for help. "Would you like some tea? I wa just going to make another cup."


Kasyr continues to blankly stare for a few more moments, before he rather stiffly steps over to the nearest viable chair and takes a seat- albeit after shedding his coat. Which, honestly- he somewhat regrets given the burst of cold air that sweeps in when the seamstress returns to the cabin.He awkwardly tries to rub some warmth back into himself, the words finally starting to return to him, "I haven't been here since, I don't think. To be fair- I haven't frequented Frostmaw that much since I returned to being a human, en fait." It's with this remark that his attention flickers over towards the Terramancer, "A hell of a ...vacation spot, enfin." There's a wryness in the Kensais expression- though, it doesn't quite reach his eyes. Held at bay by the consideration required by Odhranos question. "Things are still a mess, enfin. Et I can't imagine they'll get better any time soon. Frankly, your sabbatical was probably well timed." There's more that Kasyr can say- an awareness of certain details that had been passed onto him. But he finds himself practicing his old habits as a diplomat, his lips settling into a faintly neutral expression, with just a hint of what could be interpreted as a smile. "I'd love some tea, however. Daedria knows I could use it to warm up. What have you been up to, since you . . ."There's a vague sort of gesture towards the cabin.

Iintahquohae catches Odhranos' glance and nods. “Sure, I'd like some too.” She's quiet while the two talk about goings on in the tower, unsure of what she could contribute to that bit of conversation. Returning to her seat, the seamstress looks to Kasyr, particularly his jacket. “Remind me to make you warmer ones going forward,” she says. “I sort of forgot that you're...different now. What's it like, anyway? Feeling cold again? And we've bee- Er...I, just me. I've been studying. Working,” a pause follows in which she makes a vague gesture at the door. “..Hunting.” It sounds better than saying murder. While she considers asking Kasyr the same question, she remembers. His arm! That may be why he's here. She owed him a healer. “Oh – Your healer. She's outside. The winter willow. I told her you needed help.”

Odhranos nods, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth. If there is anything that pleases the terramancer, it is putting on a pot of tea. There’s a certain calming spell to the ritual of boiling water, letting fragrant leaves brew and carrying pleasantly clinking mugs over to your companions that sets the man at ease. A decidedly more relaxed terramancer trots back over from the kitchenette with a trio of mugs of warm spiced tea and he passes one to Kasyr, another to Inks, then he turns to find a seat. Given that the cabin is really only designed for two, there are only two armchairs, both of which are now occupied. Odhranos turns about on the spot as he dithers, before he decides it would make more sense to face the guest, and he sits on the arm of Inks’ chair, crossing one leg over another as he blows on his steaming mug. Odhranos is wearing informal clothes for quite possibly the first time Kasyr has ever seen him, and his hair is down, draped in a messy bundle over one shoulder. Is this even Odhranos anymore? My how Frostmaw and cabin life have changed him. “Mmm, I heard that the Larket debacle had been settled when I was in the city, but no specifics about how it happened. I’m glad my outburst didn’t cause any more harm.” The Magister looks subdued as he sips his tea, evidently still bearing troubles despite his vacation, but he perks up a bit when Kasyr asks how he’s been spending his time away from the hustle and bustle of Xalious. “Nothing too revolutionary, I’m finding myself missing the library and all my books, but I’ve had time to properly think and read for the first time in what seems like an age.” Odhranos’ eyes seem less tired than ever before, and he has a certain sprightliness to him that would be quite alien to any who knew him from the Mage Tower. “Other than that, I’ve been helping Inks with her work where I can.”


Kasyr more than happily clutches the tea mug, engaging in equal parts of blowing at the steaming beverage, and breathing in the spiced aroma that billows up from it. That said, the real entertainment for the swordsman comes in Odhranos' anxious decision making- the likes of which culminates in his position on Inks chair. "You really do look awfully cozy here, enfin." His glance slides down slightly over towards the seamstress in an effort to gauge her expression, before it slips back up. "Et a fair bit...healthier. "Certainly less of a bawling mess, "Bureaucracy did not suit you well, mon ami. Especially not with how things were." Iintahquohae's message of a healer waiting in the wings is enough to provoke a long relieved exhale- " Je vous en prie, merci. Er, Thanks even. I've become exhausted by dragging myself from fight to fight in a perpetual state of injury." A blink, and then he casually adds, "I think if I best had to describe mortality- Painful, for better and worse." Odhranos mention of the Larket issue being settled causes the Kensais lips to purse together, his attention suddenly a lot more focused on the tea. Had the implications of that meeting had meant not dawned upon him? Had the stress of the situation allowed him to conveniently forget? He sets the cup down carefully onto the arm of the chair, and begins to scrutinize the terramancer a bit more. "Resolved for the moment in what es hopefully a mutually beneficial outcome. As much as there can be, anyways. I'd actually been meaning to find you, before all this tragedy consumed us- to ask you for help with those books I'd been meaning to jot down. I'm not a researcher nor writer by trade, so - some oversight, to help bring a more academic edge to what I was writing, when instincts and affinty fell short seemed appropriate. Well, that, et a more pressing project - but I wasn't really sure if you'd be up for heroics."The cup is tentatively taken hold of again, the Kensais fingers having cooled enough that he can carry it back up with little issue, "Though, dead gods are generally less daunting then demagogues, in my opinion."

Iintahquohae gratefully holds onto the teacup given to her by Odhranos, if only to prevent herself from fidgeting with her clothes or mess with her hair. When he sits himself down on the chair's arm she momentarily freezes in place and lets her gaze fall downward to the warm contents of her cup. She doesn't miss Kasyr's glance, but tries – and very likely fails, to act less stilted and more like herself. Uncertain as to how to address his cozy comment, she takes a drink, then holds onto the teacup for dear life. “I sort of miss it,” she confesses. One of her hands leaves the cup to rub at the tattoo on her throat. “Being human, I mean. Especially after the other day...” The terramancer's mention of Larket brings her to silence once more, unsure of what all she can contribute. There was something brewing that she knew of from Hudson, but perhaps that was best left quiet for now. When her sire mentions writing books, she blinks. “You're an author now? Dead gods?” she asks, head turning from him to Odhranos. “Goodness, I've missed a lot...”

Odhranos is oblivious to the connotations of Kasyr’s comment, thinking it refers to the cabin rather than the company shared there. “Well, I suppose it is cozy. Homely though.” The terramancer’s gaze is turned upwards, smiling softly at the wooden rafters rather than down at his esrtwhile roommate, so he misses Inks’ reaction. Odhranos turns back to Kasyr and shrugs, a pleasant smile on his face. “I feel a lot better, stepping out of the spotlight was the best decision i’ve made in a long time. I’ve slept properly for the first time in what feels like years. No one’s come kicking down the door of my office looking for corrections, I choose my own teaching hours. Kind of makes me wonder if I’m not better off as a freelance tutor.” Kasyr and Inks’ musings on mortality elicit a brief chuckle from Odhranos, a deeper laugh than one would normally expect, which he tries to mask with a cough, turning his eyes to glare upwards at the loft before turning back to the conversation. “I’d be happy to help. Are you planning on staying long?”

Kasyr takes the cue from the others that the tea is, by this juncture, safe to sip at. It also means he now can hide the small smirk that creeps up at the seamstresses reaction. Admittedly, her comment on the other day is a bit sobering, enough so that he can feel pangs of sympathy, " I think the difficulty with the situation es a good sign, au moin. Some completely lose their empathy over the years. You're still keenly holding onto yours." This is definitely not a concerning conversation to have with Odhranos right there. Out of respect to him, and mostly so as not to spook him, the Kensai changes gears, "I could see it. Tea time et tutelage, though I fear this would not be the best of climes for a long term career, non?" Taking another sip of the tea, he sets it down to his lap before addressing the pair of them, " I've business to attend to in the morrow- but I do intend to return quite soon. That said, this matter of a dead god refusing to stay as such es...pressing, et the current item on my agenda requires me to venture rather far. I need to go to the Underdark, to restore something that was broken in the hopes it may serve as some sort of bulwark against this thing." it's with this said that the swordsman turns his attention more towards his fledgeling, "There's a few ...disasters unfurling over the continent right now. To say it's poorly timed es the largest understatement imaginable. One of them es a undead god." Really, the Kensai can't resist the next comment, "I may have taken to calling him Calice- just to bastardize his name, and refuse falling into the trap of granting him respect. Or garnering his attention, if I can help it." That latter is certainly a pressing matter, really. "Er, et. I'm not a writer. Yet. It's a work in progress. Just rough notes asofar." Though to be fair, deicidal driven dives into the dark certainly play a factor in the long term notes of one such book- as well as everything leading up to them.

Iintahquohae can't help grinning at Odhranos' comments about the cabin, even if it isn't about her at all. She does try to hide the grin with another sip of tea, and unfortunately misses Kasyr's smirk. Probably for the best, really. “It's nice being away from everything just to learn...Though I think I've been away most of the time since I came back home. Here or in Cenril, I guess.” Her shoulders rise and fall with a shrug. She did miss exploring with the rest of Coterie, but work and her previous illness made her less useful. The Kensai's mention of the Underdark does grab her attention, however, as he might expect with how many times she's mentioned wanting to go there, then changing her mind, then changing her mind again. “What do you need to restore?” Iintahquohae asks. “Maybe I could help.” The desire to change her mind yet again kicks in the instant she offers, however, as a glance is shot the terramancer's way. She didn't want to leave him alone here. Too much is happening at once, she thinks with a frown.“An undead god? Is this anything like before, with Vailkrin?” Curious about what Kasyr is writing about, she adds, “What will it be about?”

Odhranos nods along with the discussion on vampiric morality, but being the only unsullied human at the party, he can't say a whole lot on the topic and any pearls of wisdom he could muster would just be theories. "Ah, there are worse places one could teach. I'm actually a citizen of Frostmaw, spent enough time here after the war that the cold doesn't bother me much anymore. Better than the desert any day. And what with the proximity of the Eyrie and the Fort, well, other than those in the Guild, anyone I really know or care about is here." Odhranos shrugs, it's unfortunate, but the path of the exile doesn't promise many long reaching relations, and Odh really hasn't traveled further than the twin mountain settlements in years. Kasyr's mention of the drow city makes Odhranos' eyebrows furrow and he rears back slightly in distate. "More dealings with "her"? I'd have thought you'd want nothing to do with her after the debacle with Lanlan." Odhranos sups his tea with displeasure, it's evident that Matron Gevurah is not the most favoured monarch of the terramancer. Neither is her Larketian counterpart. Funny, how such coincidences happen. "Is it something… magical you're looking to restore? Or something more mundane? I didn't think you dabbled much in abjuration or enchanting much. How does this "something" work?" How to grab the Magister's attention? Vague discussion of magical paraphernalia. Hook, line and sinker, every time.

Kasyr allows both the seamstress and the terramancer to ask their questions- sitting and silence and working away at his drink as they do. And honestly, he manages a more than adequate job of keeping a neutral expression the whole way through. Still, he does feel the need to interject once, "Necessity overrules distaste, monsieur. Et she represents one of the few bastions against an apocalyptic threat. I can set aside my misgivings, even despite how close I came to dying. Because that's what making a better future will take." That said, the rest of the questions that have yet to be answered are certainly a lot more easier to contend with, "As for the thing in need of being restored. It es a statue of her god- which also serves as a ...polar opposite to this 'Calice'. I've specifically been in search of someone adept at manipulating the earth to try et see if they might be able to...seek out the shards from the area, feel out how they once fit together, et restore it. That seemed like your purview, vraiment." I mean, yes, he did try to seek out a deranged dryad for it, but. . . Anyways. Inks is given a nod at this point, "I wouldn't say no to you coming along as well, en fait. Though as to the threat. It might be more dangerous to you. It's a fallen god tied to undeath- which may spell out trouble for you. Though, perhaps not. I can't really say, vraiment. That'd be a question for the person we'd be meeting." Considering Gevurah had been mulling over the concept of seeing Kasyr restored to Revenant-Dom, perhaps there was something about Vampirism in particular that was less susceptible to the god. Or perhaps she'd simply be counting on just how powerful he'd been at his peak. "...Mm. Oh, et, there's a few book ideas. Swordsmanship et magic in general. Things tied to my style of lightning usage." COUGH DEICIDE COUGH "...I've also been thinking of something that I might want to dub the well of heroes? J'en sais pas. It sounds good, anyways." Catchy. Very Bardic.

Iintahquohae, wanted to interrupt them to ask who “her” was, but figured the answer to the question would come eventually. A statue in need of repair seemed fairly cut and dry, though knowing what Kasyr got his hands into, it wouldn't be easy...And there it is. Frowning, she drains the remainder of her tea and lets the empty cup balance on her leg. “How dangerous? Oh-” She had a tendency to forget what she had become in this cabin long ago. Her hand, now free from holding the teacup, reach up to the serpent on her neck. At some point, possibly when terramancer and Kensai weren't looking at her, it had shifted position just enough so it did not appear to be attempting to devour its own tail, but instead the serpent's head sat just below her ear. Something in her typically dull eyes seemed to glimmer in the instant. “I can handle the danger, I'm sure. ...I would like to see this undead deity myself, or at the very least help.” The book ideas are of interest, but she's divulged her desire to Kasyr to learn how to use a sword, particularly because of the tattoo. The well is a curious addition, however. “Well of heroes? What do you mean?”

Odhranos, despite his unhappy expression, shrugs and nods along. "I suppose there's some sense in that. The "enemy of my enemy" and whatnot. Still, Trist'oth doesn't bring back pleasant memories. That was a seriously bad experience." The terramancer shudders involuntarily, and he squeezes his eyes shut before he can recall the smell, which would have him gagging involuntary at just the memory. Thankfully, he manages to ward off the recollection and shivers, cradling his tea to steal it's warmth. He tunes back in to the conversation and nods in understanding when Kas explains about the statue. "Ahh, Vakmatharas. Yes, I'd imagine if anyone could specialise in keeping the undead to stay dead, it's Gevurah. Just… don't ask me to be there when she does her work. I'd be happy to help fix a statue, something minor like that is a paltry task, but after I had the honour of being a pylon for her last display I don't ever want to be around that woman when she's doing her business. Honestly, I'm still recovering from the experience. She's a monster." Odhranos sips his tea then adds: "But a useful one, I suppose." His thoughts turn to happier topics when Kasyr moves on to his books, particularly the title of his latest proposal. "Very inspired, Monsieur. Perhaps your talent in titles might rub off on me during our work. I've been told off more than once for my blunt naming schemes." Odhranos smirks, he's a scholar, and while he dabbles in music, his bardic flair has not stretched to his research.

Kasyr doesn't even notice the shift in Inks. To be fair, Coterie Mates leaping headlong into danger seems more like a given, then any sort of longstanding issue he's had to contend with. Probably because of his own inclinations. "Business first, however. The way I figure it, we'll arrive. Fix the statue- I'll drop Lanlan his notes in the hopes that maybe he'll be less ...sour about the whole ordeal. That should avoid any unnecessary fraternisation, et quoi-cela" Kas. You skewered him. Also, they nearly killed you. Why are you like this. " Et then, I'll probably get you a room at the tavern there, while I go (mis)adventuring with Inks for a bit." The kensai nods at this train of thought, before adding, "Et then you can return to your winter-y wonderland." The Kensai glances at the seamstress now, "I -probably- should have asked how long your healer needs. I have a tourney match tomorrow, et the day prior es a bit short notice. Oh, but." The Kensai almost makes a pounding motion with his left hand as he's brought back on topic of the well, only to remember the cup. Draining it's contents, he carefully sets it to the side of the chair before he proceeds, "So, in the course of my time working with et against the gods, I learned that they garner a not-inconsiderable amount of strength from mortal worship. Et it got moi thinking- were they the only ones that did so? Dark cults form around entities, around monsters, et there seems to be a strength in that. But there's something similar as well for heroes. A sort of strength found in the faith people invest in them, which allows them to push past their limits, at times. Ou survive things they have no business surviving." Definitely speaking from the choir here. "It's a bit capricious, et difficult to pin down, but- I do think there's something there. a sort of Intuitive sense I'm on to something. Figuring out the finer details though es? Well. Something for another time. I've still so much to do."

Iintahquohae, well, Sacred, really, seems to be fixated on learning more about this undead god. Also potentially devouring mind flayers, which Inks is much more curious about. At mention of Gevurah's name, her brows raise with some recognition. Quintessa mentioned her to the seamstress once. “A monster? Is she really that bad?” she asks the terramancer, before turning to Kasyr. “I...I don't know how long she might need to fix up your arm. She's a dryad. Works with ice a lot. That's her tree out there.” She forgot about the tourney match. Maybe she could ask of Odhranos might want to go with her. The thought quickly disappears, however. That's probably too forward. Also, Larket. “Whenever you're ready to travel down to the Underdark, I'm ready. Should be fun.”

Odhranos grimaces. How best could one sum up the unparalleled experience that is the Grand Matron of the Underdark? Odhranos leans across and whispers to Inks. "A city worth of dinosaurs. Turned to soup. The stink would have you retching for weeks and would never leave your clothes. That's the sort of thing she gets her kicks out of." Odhr straightens and pulls a face as he turns back to Kas. "Well, so long as it won't be like the last time, I'm happy to help. Maybe this will change my opinions on Trist'oth. I mean, it's an underground city, and I loved Craughmoyle, so how bad could it be?"