A Favor (Mature Theme)

[Roland]

Roland sits in his infirmary bed reading looking out the window with a stack of reports sitting on the stand next to him. He'd already read through them and now he was just...well he was bored. He considered sending the helper golem to go get him more reports, but unfortunately he'd already sent it on a different task.

However, he had also sent a servant to do a different important task. Bring Aria to him. Roland found himself in a complicated situation, and in truth he needed help, and finding help that would not sway to Severine was not the easiest thing in the world. However Aria seemed to have little like for the woman, and more importantly Aria was capable, possibly as much so as himself and he needed that right now...they needed that right now if they were going to deal with Severine.

[severine]

There would be a swift knock on the door to Aria’s room near the servants quarters- someone was expecting her. That someone was Aveline who stood with more than a little trepidation outside of the girl’s room. The young woman was dressed in her summer court wear, in floaty light silks that stood in sharp contrast to the deep color of her skin. Her hair was hidden today, wrapped in gold silk to hide it entirely.

Dealing with her mother would be a delicate task at best and while Roland had assured her that Aria was not truly a monster, she was still anxious about what exactly this girl could do for them. She knocked again, a bit firmer this time, calling into the room.

“Is this Aria’s room? Captain Walker wishes to speak with you.”

[Deleted]

The door would open; the small red head would stand there with an eyebrow raised. The room itself was very plan just consisting of a bed and a dresser and a simple desk. Nothing else was in it; Aria had just been given the room and had yet to add a bit of the comforts from home in it. She was still in the fine gown that Lucinda had been so kind to give her. Her hair was still straight from the morning styling; a small half braid with a cream rose woven in behind a delicately pointed ear. Since it was straightened her hair now came just past her hips. Her feet however were bear, her shoes tucked neatly in the corner along with a pair of boots that were beginning to wear.
She looked up at the woman who had tasted the wine the previous day; also the one who seemed to think she was more scary then an angry king…. She tilted her head to the side with a small smile; a bit surprised that she managed to work up the courage to come fetch her for mr. grumpy guard.

”Good evening, I guess you would call it my room….sorta….I have shoes in it does that count?”

[severine]

Aveline managed a smile down at the girl- they were very close in height, she noticed. The young woman looked like a proper lady instead of a prisoner. Aveline nodded to Aria, taking a small step out of the way so Aria could exit. “I need you to follow me, if you could. It’s not a very far walk, but we- he. He needs to see you now.”

Aveline patted the side of the swept up gold sash covering her hair out of force of habit, making certain it was secure with the jewel in place there. “We were not properly introduced before- my name is Aveline.” she started walking down the hallway towards the office, gesturing for Aria to follow her.

[Deleted]

Aria nodded and fallowed Ave out of the room, not missing the we correction. However she made a mental note of it but chose to to say anything about it for the moment. She wondered what the grumy pants needed her for, and how it involved this skittish woman. Aria returned the woman’s smile with one of her ear to ear grins.

”It’s a pleasure to properly meet you Aveline, you seem to already know my name though.”

Aria continued to fallow Ave, keeping stride beside her.

”Are things calming down for you since yesterday?”

[severine]

Aveline’s cheeks went a bit darker at the remark of ‘calmed down’, unable to stop the reflex. “Very much so. It has been… quite a few days but we will recover smoothly enough.” she looked back to the young woman and her heavily scarred face, a small smile forming on her face. “We all know your name, Aria.”

When they reached the infirmary Aveline leaned in at the door, knocking. “Captain Walker? I’ve brought Aria. We’re coming inside.” She opened the door, allowing Aria to pass through before entering the room herself, shutting the door behind him. “Please, sit.”

[Deleted]

Aria scratched the back of her head and sighed when she mentioned everyone knew her name, it was fairly strange to know that she was probably right. Though was that a good thing or a bad thing? When they got to the office Aria skipped on in with a large ass grin. She skipped right up to the bed and dramatically plopped herself down on the foot of it. Her legs hanging over the edge and swinging back and forth casually. She looked over at Roland with a mischievous glance.

”What’cha need my pin cushion brother”

She waggled her eyebrows as she gave him a toothy grin.

[Roland]

"Come," calls a business like voice in response to Aveline's knock. As Aria sits down Roland winces obviously annoyed, but trying not to speak out. As he looks at Aria Roland's eyes are a deep brown, and he seems to have finally gotten a full nights sleep. A modest stack of papers sits beside him and he laces his fingers together as Aveline shuts the door.

"Aria, can you make a ward against eavesdropping? Using magic is a...challenge for me right now." He admits with a grim expression.

If she refuses he will simply thank her for coming and ask her to leave. Otherwise he continues after she is done.

"Thank you," his expression changes to one of guilt as he unlaces his fingers and places them flat on the table before lower his head. "First I would like to apologize, I lost your sword when the woman from the gallows broke into my office."

[Deleted]

Aria raised an eyebrow at the request to eavesproof the room…. Now those were definitely one of her specialty spells…but she wondered why he would ask her.

”You have successfully caught my interest mr. Grumpy guard…..alright”

Aria stood up and walked to the middle of the room; the first thing to glow was her eyes. A deep orange gold glow took over the blue green of her eyes; then the tips if her fingers glowed. The pressure in the room seemed to grow immensely. Symbols began to appear around her in the same color as her magic. With a wave of her hand the stream of symbols whipped out like a ribbon, wrapping around the entirety of the room. They filled the room until not a spot was missing. Suddenly they burned brighter and with a small pop like feeling the pressure in the room disappeared and the marks faded completely into their surroundings. The spell itself was almost undetectable hiding beneath other spells in the room such as the normal fire wards and sickness wards that were often found in infirmaries. If someone was to look all they would see would be already existing spells and not the spell that now was set beneath it.

”The silencing spells are up, no one can listen in, if someone were to listen they would hear a murmur of voices but understand nothing. No one can scry this room either; and if any listening spells were on the room they would also just hear murmuring.”

She use to have to read off of the symbols she needed to have memorized the spell; but after years of doing them it was second nature for her.

”Along with the silencing spell there is an illusion one as well, if anyone would look through the window, and or any other means to see into this room they would just see use having a normal conversation that would match the murmurings.”

When Aria did an eavesdropping ward, she did them right…..and it was a good thing to….especially after Roland dropped the bomb that he had lost her sword. Any amusement or good natureness melted from her eyes.

”You what….”

Claire had taken Core; she KNEW that sword was hers. SHE KNEW how long he had been with her. Aria closed her eyes; and punched the bridge of her nose as she took a deep breath.

”You realize Roland to me that is telling me you lost one of the only family to me that I have left from my world. I have not been separated from that sword in eight years; eight years that person you spoke to in the sword was one of my only companions. THAT is not something I can take lightly.”

Her hand went up to the shoulder that had been injured; and sighed her eyes opening. She wasn’t in a condition yet to go after him.

”Did you lose my dagger as well? Or any of my other weapons…”

Aria never raised her voice; and her tone remained calm. Her hands sat crossed across her chest as her mind added yet another item on the list of things that she needed to do.

[Roland]

As Aria turns frigid Roland raises his head and stares her in the eyes. He did regret the loss of the sword. "I have apologized, I will do everything in my power to get it back. I am not about to start groveling for forgiveness, I was stabbed trying to stop the people who took it. I did not give it away." He replies in a level and controlled tone.

"No I have those still, but it was your friend Claire who took it. Well friend is a strong word, your acquaintance.” He replies as he begins to shuffle the paper on his desk and rubs his eyes. He looks over to Aveline, but sees that the girl seemed worried and scared.

Well this is not going well, I suppose I'll need to give up on getting her help. He begins to think, he takes stock and closes his eyes. “Perhaps we should talk about the other things at some other time.” He sighs, he did not have the energy to deal with this.

[severine]

Aveline sat at the back of the infirmary, looking through the paperwork that had begun to collect but in truth was listening and watching rather closely. As Aria and Roland spoke, her brow began to furrow from behind her paperwork. The longer the woman spoke the more convinced Aveline became that this woman was not entirely there- she was not only frightening with her transformation, but potentially mad as well. As Aria spoke of a sword as if it were sentient she gave Roland a clearly questioning look from across the room.

When Roland made the dismissal clear, Aveline stood. This wasn't going to work with this girl. "I can show you out. Can you find your way back to your quarters from here?" She walked to the door, placing her hand back on the latch.

[Deleted]

Aria nodded, knowing that he seemed like the type once he had given his word on something he would fallow threw. She raised an eyebrow when he decided to cop an attitude with her.

”I did not ask for you to grovel, get the stick out of your ass. As far as I am aware normal human social conventions allows me to be more than a little pissed right now. Forgive me for not being all sunshine and rainbows with the news I was just given…”

She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Core was a person to her and not just a sword after all. It wasn’t a matter of losing a weapon when it came to him.

”I would like those back please, the plain dagger is of sentimental value….and I would not call that igit of a woman a friend. She’s as much your acquaintance as she is mine. I hold no fond feelings for the woman. For the record I’m more pissed at her at the moment then I am at you, neither of us are in a condition to go off trekking after the sword. As long as it’s on a priority list to go after the sword then I will considered that the end of the matter for now.”

Aria leaned against the door way, her gaze out the window. She would have to send search groups to find Claire’s location. She was also getting her anger under control and storing that rage for later. There was very few things in this world that could piss her off this badly and this quickly…. Loosing someone close to her was one of them. Aria looked over at Ave who must think she was insane at the moment.

”To elaborate for you, my weapon has a soul trapped inside it. Mylee placed his soul in the sword from the time that I am fated from. The sword came into my possession when I was sixteen after I recovered it from the body of the man who’s soul now resides in the sword. He can speak to others as long as you have contact with the sword. To me while the sword itself is a weapon that I am familiar with and I’m sore to part with it, it’s losing the soul inside that I have the largest problem with….I realize it sounds crazy, but I believe your captain here can back me up. I could see the blue light glowing in the forest when he found me and Garrett, I know he talked to him. ”

Aria turned her attention back to Roland, her temper being better controlled at the moment. When she spoke with Ave there was no ice I her voice or stare, just a bit of sadness.

”You might as well get you what you need to talk about now, I don’t think you would have had me ward this place just to tell me my swords missing. A distraction may be welcomed at the moment….”

[Roland]

Roland sighs in response to Aria's comment and gives her a flat stare. “That is true, but neither you or I are 'normal' by any definition of the word. I have promised I will do everything I can, I have apologized, venting at me more is not going to help me find it any faster. If you can help me figure out where Claire is I can send a force to go take it back.” He offers, as he places his stubbled cheek on his palm.

“Beside, if I recall correctly if not for me you and Garrett would be dead in the Forever Forest, and the damage to my magical pathways from healing both of you and getting us out of the forest without being eaten is the reason that I cannot use magic to solve my problems now.” He points out as he sits back up again. Roland's eyes scan the room and fall on Aveline before turning back to Aria. Then he reaches into his desk and extracts the items that were taken from her placing them in front of her.

“I intended to give these and the sword back to you after the king's little ceremony, but this is all I can present you with now.” He explains before rubbing the bridge of his nose, this appeared to be a habit he had picked up from many nights without much sleep despite his relatively healthy condition currently.

As Aria explains there is a soul stuck in the sword Roland speaks to clarify. “It's not just a soul it is the soul of a Noru, though I don't know which one. This is also why it is such a big deal that this sword in particular was stolen.” He admits in a gentler tone than the one he had used with Aria.

In response to Aria's final comment Roland replies with another question. “If I needed to ask you a couple of large favors that would potentially put you on the wrong side of someone important who is not the king. What would you ask of me?”

After this question he looks at Aveline again apparently waiting for something.

[severine]

Aveline's expression clearly turned to shock when the topic turned to a "Noru Soul" trapped within the sword. She looked to the back of Aria's head and then to Roland, her already wide dark eyes huge. That was impossible, wasn't it? Why would that girl have something so precious?

Then as Roland turned the topic back to the topic of her mother. She eyed Roland, her expression suddenly turning serious as she shook her head. No. She didn't want this girl to be part of this now. Their mission was already perilous enough without an unstable fated girl hanging around. She couldn't feel that she could trust her.

[Deleted]

”No we’re not…. But that doesn’t mean we can’t experience the same range of emotions....”

Aria pouted a bit and sighed; venting made her feel better but she could see the pointlessness in it now. That and he did go into the forest to make sure she didn’t bleed out to death. As her weapons were taken out she walked back over to them and smiled, picking up the plain one first and inspecting that it was alright. It then absorbed back into her skin, becoming a black tattoo on her arm. She then took her belt of similar daggers that had sapphires that presently were not glowing. She had taken all the enchantments off of them before she had turned herself in. She wrapped the belt around her waist, the whole thing looking odd with Lucinda’s fancy dress. But Aria herself, seemed to visibly relax, she felt like a declawed cat without her weapons.

As for who Core was, that as his information to share and not her own. So she would remain silent on that matter. She raised an eyebrow at the favor comment. Him asking for favors, particularly large ones didn’t strike her as something this sort of man normally did.

”Honestly it would depend on 1. How much fun could I have with it, 2. Who the person this would put me against is, 3. The nature of the favor; my price would vary depending on the nature of the favor. Frankly though right now my price would probably be lower than most times, because you DID help in the forest….that and the nature of you asking for any sort of favor intrigues me. My price would be a replacement short ranged weapon. Daggers and such are nice but when you’re my size you want something with a bit more reach.”

She looked back at Aveline as Roland looked at her; a curious expression on her face as a nonverbal communication went on. Apparently the young woman was involved enough in these ‘favors’ that she was included somehow. She stored that little piece of information away for later; after all hypothetical questions always had some base to them. Especially when asked in a room that was so heavily guarded against eavesdropping.