Detailed Roleplayers discussion
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McKensie and Lara II :)
Stefan stiffened and shook his head "no...just enjoy your crab..." He whispered and stepped back "have a good night and sleep...swimmingly." He gave a smirk and blew a kiss before going back to his or and showing his back.Drina looked at him and shook her head "I still won't be you little lap dog! Whether I'm alive or not! So just go and I bid you goodnight!" She said angrily and then winced crumbling in pain.
Charlotte watched him recede back into his pen, without showing her his back. She bit her lip, looking down at the crab, and then back in the direction he had gone. She was hungry, and his kiss had made her stomach flip flop, but her mind was swirling, worried about him. "Goodnight." She whispered, knowing that she could not argue with him. She slowly ate her crab, wishing he had stuck around a little longer. Jay tipped his head. "You don't have much of a choice..." He pointed out. Then he frowned, watching her crumble. "Can't have you dying on me though." He said softly, picking up a rag and a bucket of water. He dipped the rag in the water and moved over to her, starting to dab down her back, washing out the sand.
Stefan crawled onto the dusty blankets and shut his eyes wincing in pain. She was worried about him? It's just because she felt indebted to him because he helped her. "My name is Stefan...by the way."Drina moved quickly away not trusting him to touch her "don't touch me!" She hissed and moved her hand across her face to dry her tears and turned away from her "let me be in peace!"
Charlotte was a little surprised when his voice carried up to her again, from the dusty interior of his pen. "Charlotte." She replied. "But those who knew me used to call me Char." She said softly. When she had finished picking the meat out of the crab, she carefully dumped it outside her tank. She bit her lip. "Stefan... I know you're hurt. I saw the pain in your eyes. What happened?" She asked, pleading him to tell her. "I could help you..."Jay moved his hand back away from her, rolling back on his heels as he watched her. "I thought you wanted to live, witch." he said softly. "I'll have to wash you back if you want any chance of healing."
Stefan listened to her melodic voice and sighed, he couldn't hide it from her though he had tried diligently. He waited for a brief pause the night sounds softly humming "I got caught...and they punished me..." He said quietly "but, I really am fine. I'll heal and I don't want you to blame yourself...alright?" He sighed listening to the splashing of water and imagining the look on her face. Drina winced ducking her head more into the fetal position she lay in, she loathed that awful word, the word that was to describe anyone different from his sort of people. She shut her eyes listening to his words only slightly, did she want to live? No, not like this...she'd rather die in this miserable tent than help them with their dastardly plans "go..." She whispered again not wanting him to touch or look at her, she was trying to contain what dignity she had left.
Charlotte could not keep back a soft gasp of horror. So they had got him. And she knew all to well what they did to escapers. She winced and closed her eyes, trying to take deep breaths to calm down. She let herself sink below the water for a moment, just resting, thinking. When she rose again, she whispered. "I'm sorry." She said softly. "If I was... was stronger I'd heal you..." she shook her head. "I can't, not now, but I could clean the wounds, and speed up the process, if you'll let me." She offered softly, biting her lip. She figured it was the least she could do after everything he had done for her. Jay sighed, standing finally. So maybe she had broken after all, lost all will to live. "I'm surprised you gave up that easily." He said softly, dumping the rag in the bucket to the side. "If you change your mind, tell the guards to get me. Otherwise, I doubt you'll survive the night." He said seriously, not a threat, just the truth. "Goodnight..." He almost added 'witch', but decided against it, and sighing, left the tent again.
Stefan listened to her soft kind and worried voice, he was grateful that she hadn't said it was her fault, it gave him the will to let his pride down enough for her to help him. He slowly rose cringing all the way, the skin stretched and stung every step he took till he reached the top of the tank. "As you wish..." He took off the stained tunic and turned to reveal the ropes of puckered skin stretch down his spine bloody and gaping.Drina swallowed waiting for the dark silence, when she had knew that he had left she broke down into heavy sobs releasing all the pent up pain and agony. She hated that she was so weak, her family would turn their backs to her if they had seen her now. She clutched the talisman around her neck, a sabot tooth and the feather of a Phoenix strung around the framed web of designs that had been passed on for generations. She ripped it from her neck and threw it to the side not feeling worthy of it. The night air chilled her bare body and she wrapped herself around the pole to get some warmth, she would survive just to prove him wrong.
Char relaxed a little when he gave in. At least if she could help with his pain, she would feel better about what had happened, and knowing that she had been a cause for it. When he came to the top of the tank and took of his thin shirt, turning, her hand rose to her mouth and her eyes flooded with tears. These men were so cruel. If she had the chance she'd drown them, and then feed them to the sharks. "You'll have to join me for my magic to work." She said finally, when she got control of her tongue again. "It only works under the water." She explained, holding up her arms for him to lean back into them. "Do you trust me?"Jay walked tiredly back to his tent, sighing heavily. The girl was stubborn. That was a fact, but he was rather disappointed that she had chosen the easy way out instead of trying to survive, trying to live. He lay down on his hammock, running a hand through his hair before turning over and closing his eyes. The morning would tell whether she had given up or not.
Hours later, he woke again, stretching and yawning. He changed into fresher clothes, pants, a tunic, and another white hood which he wore down in the early hours of the day. He walked to the girl's tent then looking to the guards. "She still alive?" He asked.
Stefan hesitated when she said he had to be in the water with her. Water was not something he was too comfortable with, being born of fire and the control of a flame water was something he had avoided all of his life. Would his flame sputter if he was immersed? He heard her soft question of trust and nodded "of course...i just cannot swim, nor have I ever really submersed myself..." He said quietly but sat on the brim of the tank waiting to fall back.The guards nodded with annoyed looks upon their faces "she has been crying all the night long! We finally got her to shut up at dawn...it's pathetic, you have nothing to fear from this wench. She'd be more useful to us dead then alive, too much trouble." He grumbled and lifted the flap so the captain may enter.
Char nodded, listening to his words. So he was nervous. It was normal for not many to have swam before. Most here in England never even saw the sea, just this river through the city. So she could understand. "I won't let you go all the way under." She promised softly. "I'll keep your head out, I'm a strong enough swimmer." she promised, her arms still raised to lower him into the water. She had no intention of keeping him in longer than he wanted, only long enough for her to clean and start healing his back. Besides, she figured the water would help calm the pain in his wounds. Jay nodded, pushing into the tent. He was a little surprised that she had been crying. He had naturally thought all witches to be heartless cruel things. Animals with the body of a human. "So I hear you had enough spirit to survive the night." He said, observing her broken body. He would need to wash her back today, if she was to survive longer, he knew that much. But he hoped that she'd be more willing, now that she had lived a night with the pain.
Stefan swallowed and nodded leaning back into her surprisingly strong arms and his bottom half splashing in the water. He blinked the water freezing! He tried to keep his flame going and nodded showing her that he was fine. He turned so he was facing her and tried not to focus on her warm breasts pressed against his chest. "All..right...what do you need me t-to do n-now?"Drina weakly lifted her head barely any strength for that motion, not only coated in blood bruises splashed across her body and face. The guards had beat her to shut her up. Her head landed back in the sand not wanting him to look at her, she was hardly covered and vulnerable it was humiliating.
Char lowered him in as slowly as she could when he leaned back, her tail flicking back and forth slowly to keep them both up. He was close, a lot closer than anyone had been to her, and certainly a lot closer than anything with legs had ever been. "Just hold still." She said gently, trying to sooth him. She noticed that he was shivering, and she held him against her, hoping to keep him warm with her own body heat. Wrapping one arm around his waist to hold him up, she brought the other to his back and gently touched it, closing her eyes. And then she started to sing, the song of healing taught to every merfolk. Jay looked even more shocked when she turned her head towards him. Those were new wounds. Jay frowned a little, wondering at the integrity of his guards. That had not been necessary. He wanted her alive, not pulp! "Well you're no use to me like this." He said heavily. "I'm going to have to wash those wounds you know." He said, slitting away the ropes around her wrists. He picked her up then, just the weight of a child in his arms. Carrying her back to his tent, he lay her on the rug in his room and took down a pail of water and a rag. "Hold still." he instructed, as he moved away what little was covering her body and started to wipe down the palpated flesh.
Stefan could hardly concentrate, she was so close he had never been this close to a woman. Well, mer-woman but she was beautiful and her voice was hypnotizing. He felt his flame dwindle and blinked trying to stay awake "Char, I'm a flame imp..,I can't be in water too long!"Drina stiffened when he picked her up, he was being kind of gentle with her but she still was an object to him, no use to him broken...that's the only reason he wanted to help her. The rug felt so comfortable until she felt her clothes be taken away and she shut her eyes.
Char finished her song, having stopped the blood and blocked as much of his pain as she could. She swallowed and blinked, coming back out of her trance. Looking at the boy in her arms, she frowned in worry. "Fire affinity?" she repeated, "Why didn't you say so!" She quickly lifted him to the side of the tank, helping him get over the edge. She didn't want to hurt him further! "I'm sorry..." She said softy. "You're ok, right? I didn't hurt you with the water?" She sank a little lower, suddenly conscious of how close they had been, and how bare she was by human standards. Jay worked quickly, dabbing down her back first, washing out her wounds. Then he rung out the rag, washing off the blood, before carefully dabbing down her face. When all the dirt and blood was off of her, he could start to make out her feminine features. He paused, watching her for a moment, before he realized he was looking and quickly went to his drawer, pulling out a small vial of something. "So you'll heal." He said softly, even though he was using something expensive on her... and started to rub the salve into her back.
Stefan grabbed his tunic and dried off, a flame birth Mark started to show on his chest. He took a deep breath "I'm good Char, don't worry thank you for healing my back...your voice is magical...you don't belong here..."Drina flushed as he looked at her, all of her. No one had looked at her before and she felt so exposed. She shook her head "it's fine..." She whispered and sighed wrapping her arms around her knees "do you have a tarp or something?..." She hoped he wouldn't think that was too much.
Char relaxed then, leaning her elbows on the edge of her tank as she looked at his birthmark in curiosity. "It was the least I could do." She said seriously, before adding. "Thank you. But neither do you, nor anyone else here. I am no more special than any of you." She said seriously, not liking being raised above others. She usually put her status below those around her. "So you... control fire?" She asked, curious. "Hush." Jay said, concentrating on the salve he was rubbing into her lash wounds. He needed her to heal. And he felt a little bit badly about her wounds... just a little bit... He finished with the salve and put it away, before grabbing the nearest shirt he could find, one of his old tunics, and tossing it to her. "You have two options from here. Stay of your own free will. Or get tied to that pole again. And make your decision quickly. You've already been out of that tent too long." He said seriously.
Stefan nodded and started to juggle fire balls for her and tossed it in his mouth and made smoke shapes. "I don't perform anymore...I hate it, it's insulting..." He looked up at the moon "it will be a total eclipse soon and that's when my powers evolve." Drina winced, he wasn't treating her human after all. She was let out of her cage and now had to go back in. She pulled the tunic on and swallowed "just tie me back up..." She said quietly and slowly started to stand but collapsed back down. "What do you even want me for?..."
Char's eyes grew wide. When he was done, she clapped a little. "You're amazing!" She congratulated. "I've never seen anything like that!" When he said his next words, she sighed and nodded, looking down through the water at her tail. "I know what you mean... I wish I had a way to hide this, so people would stop looking at me..." She sighed. "But that's a useless dream." She shook her head. "Eclipse?" She asked, looking a little worried. "Your powers evolve on eclipses?" She clarified. "I am effected by them as well. But not in that way..." She said softly, shaking her head as if sad about something. Jay sighed, nodding. He figured she would choose that. "I can't and won't keep my guards from doing what they see fit with you then. Because you are choosing the status of a prisoner, forfeiting any rights you may have had, even as a witch." he said seriously. Then he frowned. "As for what we need you for. Well. You shall see. All in good time."
Stefan touched her scales and tail with a smile "don't wish it away...it's what makes you, you. If you were in the ocean no one would stare and tap on your glass..." He sighed "why does an eclipse make you sad?"Drina sighed and nodded she walked back to the tent and let the guards tie her up as they harassed her and touched her. She couldn't stand to look at any of then. She was escaping tonight.
Char smiled softly, not used to the feeling of human fingers running over her tail, but if felt nice, and it made her shiver. "I suppose. But I doubt I'll be seeing the ocean again. I wouldn't last more than a few minutes out of my tank when you run. And there's no use carrying it. You wouldn't be able to get away fast enough then." She sighed. "I'll end up being stuck here forever..." she shook her head. "The eclipse? Well. Some call it a siren's moon, and for good reason. Even the most honorable of mer-folk go mad on those nights." She said softly. Jay sighed, watching her walk out. She really was a puzzle to him, and he was starting to wonder more and more what she classified. It was less of an animal now, she had too many educated thoughts to be an animal. So she was something humanoid. Maybe not human, but close. Huffing, he lay back on his hammock and let his eyes drift closed.
Stefan frowned "is it true that on a full moon you can walk on land? I thought I read that once, my mother would read manuscripts of the old times when the magic ruled the land..." He leaned his head on her tank and smiled "then you could leave!"Drina was feeling less hard and more...well hurt, she was tired of being an object or wild beast she had never hurt anyone! All of the sudden she felt as knife at her throat and the guard grinning at her "do what we want or we slit your throat..." The other guard tossed out her food and water which wasn't much anyways.
Char nodded. "I've heard the rumor, but never tried it. My kind is too afraid of drying up." She explained. "So none of us have ever had the guts to actually go on land to see if it would work." She explained. She shrugged. "I suppose I could try on the next full moon." She offered, a little nervous. Jay was sleeping in his tent, having drifted off, and had no idea of what went on in the other tent. He trusted his guards to do their duty. His mind was troubled however, on the status of the girl, and who, or what she really was in his eyes. Was she girl? Or animal? Or something else entirely.
Stefan smiled lightly "that's coming up in three days...we could work on you coming out of the water slowly...so you still have a safety net. Do you trust me?" He asked holding out a hand and smiling kindly.Drina had to be submitted to them until she just couldn't take it and the tent exploded in a fiery ball wounding the guards as she ran trying to get away from this horror show.
Char bit her lip, thinking about that. He could easily keep her from the water once she was out, killing her. But what would be his reasons for doing that. "Yes." She whispered, nodding. She gingerly placed her hand in his, her tail swishing in nervousness. Jay woke with a start when the sound of an explosion rocked the camp ground. He leaped to his feet, sword drawn, and dashed out into the cool desert night air. When he saw the burning tent and all but incinerated guards, he swore and took off after the shadow that he knew was the girl.
Stefan pulled her up to the edge and held onto her waist her tail on the edge. He smiled lightly "I think you'll like it...you like to dance in the water right? It's a lot more expressive with legs!" He explained and smiled "there's a lot more you can do..."Drina kept running, she wasn't going to look back at the destruction she caused. That wasn't her nature but she lost it with the wounds and invading, she was glad they would die!
It was weird for her to trust another being, and being held in the air likethis was beyond every limit. She closed her eyes, listening to his voice, relying on it to calm her. She nodded to his question, just trying to breathe slowly and make herself last. "The air.... its bigger." She said, unable to describe it. "Noises are louder, smells are stronger... colours are sharper. Its scary." She said softly.Jay was catching up to her quickly. Uninjured and well rested, he was quick on his feet. He leaped at her and rolled, coming out on top, pinning each of her wrists with one of his hands. "Where did you think you were going?" He asked. "There is no way you would survive out there!"
Stefan frowned listening to her "but there is so much beauty...if you allow yourself you could really like it...I liked the water even though it was life threatening it is nice..."Drina tried to push him off but was too weak "is rather die out here then...be...touched and harassed like that! I'm not an object! I'm not your new play thing and I wish I had died last night!"
Char nodded, opening her ryes again. It really wasnt so bad at night... the world... it was quiet, and like he said, it was beautiful. "I... I suppose it isnt so bad..." shesaid soflty. It was also quite nice to be held in his arms, which felt strong, and safe. She blushed a little and tried to think of some thing else.Jay frowned, confused. "I never touched you, girl." He said, not using 'witch' at all this time. "So what do you mean by harassment?" He asked, suddenly curious. He had whipped and cut her, yes, but he did not approve of harrassmemt. No, that was too low in his oppinion.
Stefan smiled a little down at her, her skin was so warm next to his and she was relaxed and trusting. He nodded "the sunrise will come up in a few hours...I'll open the flap so that you can see it. It's magnificent a painting across the sky, a gift of mercy before the circus opens again."Drina turned her head away from him, knowing he wouldn't believe her but she could at least try to make him see "as a prisoner...you said I had no rights...that the guards could do whatever they wanted to me...could force me..." She whispered shaking her head not wanting to say it. She tried to pull away from his grip "so...just let me go!"
Char smiled, liking the beautiful way he put things. "You should be a poet." She whispered, smiling. Her head turned to look at the tent flap, to watch and wait for the sun. She herself was slowing down a bit, her movements taking more time, but she was still doing alright. Not panicking yet.Jay's frown deepened. What had they done to her? He could only assume the worst. His hands loosened a little around her wrists and he sat back. "Well that was never my intention." He said finally. "But I can no longer do anything about it, because you killed them." He said seriously, not sure how to feel. He felt sort of sick that that was what his guards had chosen to do of all things.
Stefan shook his head "imps usually talk like that, they lure people with their charm and words...I for one am not fond of it, but it comes in handy at times." He watched her closely observing every movement, her scales were nearly dry. "Are you still doing alright?..." He didn't want to hurt her, that wasn't his intention at all! He wanted to help her, escape and not be afraid.Drina scooted a couple of feet from him and just watched his face, did she see sympathy? No, must be grief for the deaths of his two faithful guards. "They deserved to die." She said finally and played with her talisman "not even...witches." She cringed hating that word "should have to endure what I did...though I am sure you disagree, after all I'm just an object a thing among others you strive to destroy..."
Char nodded in understanding. She wondered if he had used that to get her to trust him, or if she had just been eager on her own. Eager for a friend after many months of solitude. "Im alright." She promised, her eyes on the horizon. "I want to see the sun." Sue was barely moving now, her tail feeling like a dead weight. But she wanted to hold out just a little longer. To see the sunrise like he had described.Jay's frown stayed almost permanent, but otherwise, his expression didnt change. "My arent you quick to judge." He commented. "If you really think me that heartless, then you would be thinking of me as you say I think of you." He said. "Maybe those men deserved to die, I know not. But it isnt my place to judge either. I do not approve of what they did to you, but I did give you tue opportunity to avoid them altogether, and you turned it down." He said seriously, watching her.
Stefan watched her worriedly and splashed some water on her tail just so she wouldn't dry out, her scales absorbed it quickly and he just spread it with his hands all the way down to her wry transparent fragile tail. He looked back towards the horizon and saw the first sign of light, a striking orange as the silhouette of the hills became visible "just keep watching..." He said softly watching her face eager for the awed look of adoration to appear.Drina snapped back "I am quick to judge? Oh really, I think you are telling that to your reflection! Tell me what you honestly think of me, of people like me. I want to be enlightened by your non-judgemental and heartfelt opinion...for the person you portray yourself to me is exactly as I said it, I am merely a witch. One of many, and just as expendable. You do not know my name nor did you ever think to ask, you think I attacked you as my natural order of things. The boy you had captured was my brother, you destroyed my family taking him away...but of course, witches don't have emotion, they can't love or feel...I feel pain, that is all I have felt. Yes I could have avoided the situation but me giving into your wants is abandoning my heritage, surrendering to your side and I couldn't bare it."
Char's eyes widened a little when she saw the first sign of light. She had forgotten about her body, forgotten about how much her tail was starting to burn, even with the water Stefan splashed on it. She could only watch in awe and wonder as the sun started to rise, bathing the hills in gorgeous colours. She gasped softly, but that gasp quickly turned into a moan, and then a cry as her tail started to wither and change. It was breaking in half... splitting into two... as the scales peeled away, leaving two pale unused legs, attached to one unconscious girl.Jay was stunned to say the least, by her volley of words. What was she? She asked, but he didnt know. "I, like everyonr else, beleived what we were told by the state. That magic is the mark of an animal. That it is dangerous, and an abomination." He said softly, as if just voicing a thought. "Now... well. You seem to be more humam than they said. But.... I dont know what to think. I.... I just dont know."
Stefan cried out in horror and quickly took her in his arms, he covered her with the tunic now a greater temptation to wandering eyes. Smoothing back her wavy hair he watched her face in worry dabbing water on her cheeks and the back of her neck. "My fault...I am so sorry..." He whispered as the tent and their figures were bathed in the light that was visible now above the hills. He had to hide her, protect her! He went to the elephant pen and set up a bed with blankets and his cushion laying her in the hay, the gentle creatures did not bother her and kept their distance.Drina felt tears trickle down her face and she wiped them away sniffing and nodding. "I see. I know not why the state has marked us so...my grandmother would tell me stories of the olden times when we lived in peace, your people and mine...but your people got greedy, saw our powers as an opportunity for them. They trapped us and made us their slaves....my people revolted and attacked. You only see one side of the story, you were taught that we were beasts and would attack if given the chance...honestly we are scared, their is only so little magic left...if gone nothing would be the same. Seasons wouldn't change, the oceans would dry up...the land is living magic, living energy...it is not anything that you don't already understand."
Char woke up an hour later to angry shouts. She sat up woth a start, looking down the row at the circus master who was shouting at a tank. Her tank! Then where was she? Charlotte felt the soft trunk of the baby elephant then, brushing against her.... legs!? Char squeaked in surprise, staring. "So thats what happens when I dry out." She whispered reverently. Ducking a little lower into the hay to hide, she watched as the people passed. Where was Stefan? She wanted to talk to him.Jay listened to her, feeling nore and more sick as she continued. For he knew she spoke the truth. He swallowed, looking down at the sand beneath his feet. "Choose to go where you will." He whispered. "You are not our prisoner."
Stefan was taking the brunt of the blame, the masters shouted at him angrily wanting an explanation for the empty and clean tank. He looked at them innocently confused "sir, how would I transport the fish anywhere in one night? I was asleep! I know not where she is!" He watched at the corner of his eye as the baby elephant was sniffing at her form in the hay. 'Just stay hidden...' He begged in his mind.Drina was shocked to hear the sadness in his voice, he was letting her go? She couldn't be more grateful, somehow she had wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. She felt dizzy at that point all of her excess energy gone as she collapsed into his chest unconscious. The stain on his shirt started to grow as her black split open from the tension she could while running.
Char lay back, not daring to try and move these new foreign limbs. She didnt even know if she could move them... and she certainly didnt know how. Closing her eyes, she let herself rest, enjoying actually not being stared at for once in her life. It was just her and the elephants here. It was strange being human, very strange, but not entirely unpleasant either. The sounds were overwhelming, and she was nervous without Stefan's calming voice to help her along, but it wasn't totally unbearable. She let herself drift off, waiting for the coming night.Jay's eyebrows rose when she hugged him, not used to that sort of affection directed towards him. As a General, he didnt have any friends, just men under his order. There were no women in the camp. When she collapsed, he swore again, lifting her up. She had lost a lot of blood, he knew that. He also knew that he had to get her wrapped up before she bled to death. He carried her back to his tent, laying her on the carpet again. Pulling up the back of her shirt, he ripped up bits of his own and started to bind her wounds.
The crowds were more sparse that day, not having anything remarkable to gawk at they left. The night seemed far more peaceful, the animals were calm and the other performers felt merciful relief that it was such a slow day. Stefan leaped over to the elephant pen and moved the hay to find her sleeping figure. She was beautiful and the peace on her face eased any pain he was suffering "Char?"Hours went by until she finally stirred, her body felt heavy like she couldn't move it. Weakly she opened her eyes and saw the white tent...not the stained patched one she was expecting. She was in the captain's tent, but why? She clutched her stomach feeling sick, starvation was starting to show it's ugly head and she had to hold back the bile.
Char slept through the whole day, her body recovering from the recent, and first metamorphosis it had gone through. She woke slowly from a blissfully dreamless sleep to that voice that she had grown to recognize. Her eyes blinked open and she sat up, smiling softly. "Hi." She said. "Uh... how did I get here? I've been waiting to ask you... what happened exactly?" She asked, interested in how the legs actually came. They lay still beside her, as she still was too nervous to try and move them. Jay had finished binding her torso, as well as dabbing her face with a wet cloth again, to get the dirt and sand away. Then he had just sat on his hammock, watching, waiting... the hours passed in suspense as he waited to see if she would survive. When she finally stirred, her eyes opening slowly, he sighed and stood, grabbing a canteen and coming over to her. He lifted her head a little with one hand. "Drink." He said simply, holding the edge of the canteen to her lips.
Stefan ran his hand down them, they were perfect in human standards. Long and fit with her soft skin. He cleared his throat and gave a smile "you went unconscious in my arms, your tail split into two as soon as the sun reached over the hills...I brought you here to rest, the circus owners are furious!" He said with pure joy "we could escape! Get you back and I could live my life!"Drina rested her head against his hand, she tried to sip at the cool water but it just made her feel I'll as she finally threw up coughing up dried blood. She looked at him in horror and flinched "I'm...s-sorry..." She said weakly grateful none got on him or the rug...but still.
Char watched him run his hand over her leg. She blushed a little, not used to the feeling of skin there, and certainly not used to anyone touching her at all. She smiled then, her heart pounding with newfound hope. "I wish I could have seen them." She said honestly. Then she laughed in anticipation. "Yes. Let's run. Let's run as soon as possible. Get far away. Somewhere near the sea." She couldn't wait to see it again, the rolling waves, sandy beaches, miles and miles of cool, un charted waters. Jay just scuffed sand over the spot where she had thrown up, disregarding it. "You're malnourished." He stated. "You need to get food and water in you." His tone was serious. "Try again." He held the water to her. He knew it was crucial to get her hydrated and fed again, especially in the desert heat, even if she didn't really want to eat. It was for survival.
Stefan smiled lightly but he wanted to go his own path, start his own life and she needed to get back into the water and find her own kind. He helped her sit up and nodded "first you need to learn to use your legs before you run...try and feel your toes at the bottom of your feet and wiggle them." He showed her his own feet to demonstrate.Drina shook her head not wanting to drink anything after that, but the serious tone in his voice made it impossible to argue. She slowly sipped at it again, feeling the burn down her throat and to her empty stomach. Why was he helping her? She fidng understand but she was grateful none the less.
Char watched him and then nodded, biting her tongue as she concentrated, her face screwing up. Her toe twitched, and once she recognized the feeling of it, she started moving them slowly, flexing and unflexing her feet. She giggled in excitement, her eyes lighting up. "Look, look! They work!" She exclaimed, thrilled. Jay was worried he would have to force some down her throat, when she finally sipped a little, and he relaxed. He knew it would get easier for her as time went on and she got used to it again. He needed to make sure she would live before he let her go off on her own again. He felt obligated to that much at least. He couldn't have anymore innocent blood on his hands. "Good," He whispered. "That's enough for now."
Stefan laughed watching her and nodded "that's good! Your feet seem to be just fine! Let's try bending your knees." He scooted to the edge of the hay and demonstrated bending and extending to her "just imagine it like your tail." He tried to help and held her leg under her thing to support as she bent and extended.Drina felt relief in that and nodded, she looked up into his dark eyes with her violet ones and smiled, a true innocent smile. Something she hadn't done in a long time "thank you...captain." She whispered quietly her voice still weak. She coughed out more blood but the water stayed in thankfully.
Char nodded eagerly, staring at her legs in determination again as she slowly inched them into a bent position, and then back out straight again. She did this a couple times, faster each time before she was happy and nodded. "I'm moving them! Really moving them!" She grinned. "So what's next? Can we run now?" She asked hopefully. She just wanted to get out of there. Jay screwed the cap on the canteen and nodded curtly. "You're welcome." he said, softly. He stood and stretched his tired knees from crouching. "You should probably rest now." he suggested. "I have work I need to attend to." He said, giving her one last glance before leaving the tent again.
Stefan shook his head "running is the last thing you'll learn, you have to strengthen your legs and learn to walk first." He helped her carefully into a standing position supporting her back and using his body as a sort of wall that she could lean against "steady..." He said watching her closely so she wouldn't fall.Drina sighed, she thought that things would be different but they weren't. She curled up on the soft rug and stared at the map, the frustrated charcoal marks and circled caravans. She slowly stood going over to his desk and looking over his plans trying to understand what he wanted with her and where they were going.
Char wobbled and her eyes widened as he slowly lifted her up. "These spindly things can hold my weight? How on earth do they not break?" She asked, trying to get her feet situated so she would not be standing at such an awkward angle. Twice she swerved and toppled back into Stefan, blushing a little each time she did. When she finally could stand successfully on her own, she bit her lip. "I suppose I'll be needing some clothes now..."Jay had to explain to his men why he was helping the girl, and not killing her. And it took a heck of a lot explaining to get them to stop shouting angrily, and trying to start a flash mob to go kill her then and there. His only method of getting them to calm, was to assure them he was only keeping her for their later use. He would have to explain away her leaving later. When he came back to his tent, he frowned. "Strong enough to snoop I see." He said, his hands on his hips.
Stefan caught her everytime and kept encouraging her. He chuckled and held her waist "they have muscles that support them...and they are really strong, it takes a lot to break a bone. He flushed at her last comment and nodded "um...yes have you ever I mean...had those parts?" His face was crimson as he focused on the canvas ceiling.Drina stumbled gripping onto the desk and looking up sheepishly "I was just...it distracted me...I can't read your language anyways...so don't worry." She put the papers back and stepped away from the desk before tripping and landing back on the carpet. She watched him in fear wondering if this is when he would stop his hospitality and recapture her again.
Jay almost grinned. Almost. "So you do have some fight left in you." He whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. She would do well for their purposes. Maybe not for a seer any more, but... he may have finally found the one. The one he had been looking for, one strong enough to survive their needs. "Perfect." He said, nodding and standing.