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RESPITE STREETS - MORNING
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Louma is already growing tired of being inside, despite only being home for a few days. She's just seen May off, somehow managing to let the stoat go to work. A chill runs up her back as she remains outside the front of their home, enjoying the slight breeze and waving to everyone who passes by. Any time there's nobody near her, Louma settles on her coil with her back towards the wall, hands crossed on her tail. She's not in a rush to get back inside. After all, outside or in, she's still resting.
Nesseth half-jogs along the lane, getting something of an early start on his duties for the day. Today's morning routine involves stationing at the northern wall around town, a thankfully peaceful moment in what's been a hectic several weeks since the first caravan attack. There's a slight awkwardness to his stride, however, maybe too subtle to be noticed, but present nonetheless as a show that his attention to movement isn't quite razor sharp.
Louma waves to a mother and daughter as they pass, a little embarrassed when she hears the child asking mommy about the bandaged lady's bandages, though her attention moves from that as she looks towards quicker footfalls. She grins, waving at Nesseth as he approaches, before calling out to him as he seems to intend on passing her without a word. "Ahem! Hello Nesseth! Good morning!"
Nesseth blinks and nearly stumbles as he looks around upon being called to. He manages a wave, but only slows his pace down, rather than stopping. "Oh, morning, Louma! Enjoying the morning sun?"
Louma nods, smiling at Nesseth as he comes up even with her. "A bit, yes. What little this bit of patio gets, anyways. Are you heading on patrol?"
Nesseth nods as he slows down a little further, just to carry the conversation for a few more moments. "Yeah, got a morning shift at the northern wall. Much as I'd prefer being in bed still, it's at least not an active patrol like beyond the walls."
Louma hums, glancing Northward, then down the street in the opposite direction, where May'd gone. "I'll tag along, there's a lot of sun on the North wall this time of day." She nods at Nesseth, uncoiling her tail as she starts to slither along next to him. "Sun is good for healing, after all. Just don't let me do any guard things."
Nesseth smiles a bit as he continues on his way towards the wall, keeping his pace slow so he can continue talking with Louma. "Don't worry, I know you're under orders from Plume to rest. You can bet that you're not going to be doing anything strenuous without me getting on your case about it while we're talking, too."
Louma chuckles, managing to keep with Nesseth's pace without any trouble. It may help that she'd just had some of Plume's painkilling tea, but that's fine. She's not slithering any more than she would in circles within the house, anyhow. "I'd appreciate you not bringing it up with Plume, no need to make them worry. How have things been that way, by the by?"
Nesseth hums, shrugging as he reaches the ramp/staircase that leads up to the wall's topside. "Not bad, overall. About as expected for what they've been having to deal with, though I've been having to make sure Plume takes care of themself while they're tending to patients."
Louma chuckles, following Nesseth up to the top of the wall. She looks out over the edge for a few moments before turning to Nesseth. "You've been taking care of them properly, right? I won't have any of my guards slacking on their spouses after all."
Nesseth takes a few moments to catch his breath as he comes to a stop at his post, then nods at the question. "Of course. I do what I can to make sure they're as comfortable as possible when they're off of work, so they can relax and unwind."
Louma giggles, coiling her tail and relaxing next to Nesseth. "Good, I'm glad. And keeping up with your duties." She takes note of his moment of breath-catching. "Perhaps keeping up a little too well. I'll be back soon enough. You must be sick of reports by now, hmm?"
Nesseth shrugs as he removes a guard-issue spear from his back and rests the butt of the shaft against the ground, adopting an 'on duty' semi-alert pose. "It's not bad, since most of the reports are focused on the main issues at hand right now. The entire town's been surprisingly well-behaved ever since this all started."
Louma tilts her head, sighing after a few moments as she looks in toward the town rather than out at the field. "Figures. And they're readable? Of course the penmanship courses would probably wrap up shortly after..."
Nesseth nods as he shifts his stance a bit, his legs not exactly appreciating the extra running he's been doing as of late, then opts to sit down instead and stretch his legs out. "The reports aren't bad, nowadays. Still some illegible scratchings here and there, but it's easier to figure out context compared to before."
Louma watches Nesseth sit down, giving him a mockingly stern look. "And now the guards are allowed to sit on duty? Gods, this outfit has actually fallen to shambles while I was away!" She chuckles after a moment. "You've been doing an excellent job, though, Nesseth. Thank you for stepping up."
Nesseth simply casts a bit of a look up at Louma. "It's either I sit down now, or collapse with leg cramps later..." He sighs and bends forward, really getting a good stretch into his thighs for a few seconds, "I dunno, though... always feels like I could be doing more, considering what's been at stake."
Louma rests a hand on Nesseth's shoulder, sighing. "You... Really didn't have time to even stretch this morning, hmm? I... I understand, though. I can't tell you to stop, but after all this is over, we'll be reviewing your schedule for a bit."
Nesseth shakes his head. "More that I just woke up a bit later than normal. Usually, I'm up a fair bit before my patrols, but Vix had to wake me up this morning, since I missed the alarm." He chuckles a bit, "It's why I was jogging to my post just a few minutes ago."
Louma chuckles patting his shoulder before she releases it fully. "Definitely going to give you a bit of vacation, then. I've known you to doze off on guard, but that's common enough. Sleeping in is a bit different for you, though."
Nesseth shrugs. "Afraid I can't help it lately, considering how much extra stuff has been happening. My own duties in addition to coordinating with the other Captains and such, it's, uh... I could start maybe renting a room at the barracks, soon."
Louma gives him a stone-faced look. "What? And try to get any sleep on those cots? Forbidden. Besides, I don't blame you, it was much the same for me when I first started as a Captain, remember? I was still trying to pull the daily patrol shifts, run my old scout route, and figure out the new role." She hesitates, "Of course, your challenge is considerably more dangerous."
Nesseth groans quietly to himself as he adjusts his position, settling into a cross-legged posture after he's done stretching. "Dangerous? How do you mean?"
Louma settles into her coil, the tail shifting outward a bit until it bumps against Nesseth's side. "In the literal sense. The enemy is bloodthirsty, Nesseth. And organized." She sighs, shrugging. "I would like to go back a few months. Maybe to the moment you started tumbling down that hill. That was a good day." She bumps him again, a little more deliberately with a cheeky smile.
Nesseth rocks a bit at the second bump and chuckles. "Yeah... that'd be nice... At least at that time, the only thing that got really hurt was my dignity. The scrapes and cuts healed up fast enough."
Louma runs a hand over her bandages, smiling. "Well your lover is an incredible doctor, after all."
Nesseth hums, nodding in agreement as he smiles. "That they are... Plume's amazing at what they do. Still, they sometimes stretch a bit too thin trying to do everything." He laughs quietly, "At least, now, they've got Tarbin and Melia helping out."
Louma pauses, humming. "Melia?"
Nesseth blinks, looking up at Louma again. "Oh, right. Yeah, Melia's the name of the elemental that was inhabiting Erika's garden. She's linked to Tarbin, now, and the two have been assisting Plume with more mundane tasks."
Louma blinks, looking back into the streets. "Oh. That sounds... Complicated. And Tarbin is the... Shipwrecked lizard healer? Okay yeah, I remember that now that I say it out loud." She sighs, shaking her head. "Much to catch up on. But it's good to know that even through all this, Plume is well supported. Not that I doubted you."
Nesseth snorts in amusement as he nudges Louma's coil gently with an elbow, aiming for an unbandaged part of her scales. "Don't you worry, Louma. I'm a fully faithful and supportive lover to both Plume and Vix."
Louma chuckles quietly, nodding. "I see that's all working out well, then? I was wondering how those two would work things out, but then I suppose you're enough of a catch. Vix... And Plume. I owe them a lot, actually. They were both there for May..."
Nesseth chuckles in turn. "Vix is even helping with the provisions for the rescue effort. She's been baking up a storm in her kitchen for the past few days, now, trying to make as much good food as she can to help keep spirits up out away from town." He nods, "And... yeah, I'd have pitched in to help keep May's spirits up too, but, well... duty called. I'm just glad Vix and Plume were able to do that for her."
Louma nods, leaning back and closing her eyes as she just enjoys the sun washing over her scales for a few moments. "I worried, but at the same time I knew that she had friends here to lean on. Even if many would be busy dealing with defense. After everything you've been up to, I wouldn't expect it."
Nesseth hums again, nodding as he adjusts his posture, now letting one of his legs stretch out again. "Maybe, but there's always that little feeling that I could do more. For my friends, like you and May... or for Plume and Vix, things like that."
Louma chuckles, looking at Nesseth. "More? I don't think so. You're giving more than enough, perhaps too much. With the extreme circumstances, nobody will stop you, but just wait for the end and see. Tizza kept saying she wanted to do more for Usid, but what could that blood-focused warrior want more than to fight? Poor girl has her eyes on an impossible goal, no matter her talents."
Nesseth tilts his head curiously. "Tizza? Who might that be?" He pauses for a moment, then nods, "I think I remember you mentioning Usid a couple of times in your report, and your description of him combined with some descriptions from the more recent caravan help narrow down who that one is. Is this Tizza a combatant, or someone we should be worried about?"
Louma shakes her head slightly, "No... She's a doctor, and talented at that considering everything. She and others among them are against the attacks. Tizza healed my wings... She was a comfort while I was trapped there. And she helped me escape. That's why we can't just rush in with our spears forward, too much innocent blood would be spilled. That is not our way." She leans a bit against Nesseth, sighing. "Sorry, you're out on guard to have a little peace and here I am with all this."
Nesseth leans lightly against Louma in turn, shaking his head. "It's fine. The more information we have, the more we can do to wrap this all up a bit more cleanly..." He glances over at Louma again, "So... not all of them want bloodshed, hm? Maybe Xochi coming along will actually work, then... We're not going to march over unarmed, of course, but..."
Louma nods slowly, then pauses, quickly glancing around before she replies. "So what is the plan after Xochi becomes their new leader and begins the next reign of coatl supremacy?"
Nesseth purses his lips a bit and throws Louma a bit of a flat look for a moment. "Not funny, Louma..." He sighs and shakes his head as he continues to lightly lean against her coils, "But hopefully, if Xochi can get some peace talks going, we won't have a full-blown war on our hands. We're guards, not military. A good chunk of us wouldn't last more than maybe two or three fights, tops."
Louma stifles her giggle at his reaction, before sobering at his assessment. "Even those of us that were military are too out of step for it." She sets her hand on his shoulder again, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Peace talks might be the best hope... But there will be more bloodshed before this is over. I guarantee it. Just... Prepare for it, my friend. In fact, as your commanding officer, I order a bit more rest. It's just a wait now, until everyone is ready to move. That is an opportunity for you."
Nesseth hums and nods as he reaches up and gently pats Louma's hand, grateful for the subtle comfort. "I'm fully expecting at least one more skirmish before this is done... As for rest, I can't, really. Lots of stuff to prepare outside of reports and the like, especially since I've been helping put together the rangers in a... I dunno, like some kind of artillery team?"
Louma shakes her head, smiling at Nesseth. "You're Captain material, you know. I just don't think your body is ready for it." She looks towards the town again, sighing quietly. "I went and made all this work for you, and then doubled down and go hurt. With luck I'll be healed up before everyone heads out."
Nesseth smiles tiredly in turn. "You might think I'm Captain material, but it's also why I prefer being your Lieutenant, honestly... I can do everything I need to do to help you, but without the stress of carrying all that responsibility you shoulder." His smile slides a bit as he shakes his head after a moment, "...And even if you recover in time, I don't think you should come along. You only just got back, and I don't want to pull you away from May again so soon."
Louma glances down at Nesseth nodding. "I know, I promised her I wouldn't do anything reckless, and I'd be an anchor out there. I just want to return to my post while you are all out there. To do something rather than sit at home and worry. All this said, though... If you come back dead, you're getting a demotion."
Nesseth chuckles, meeting Louma's glance with a wry smirk. "A demotion would be the least of my worries, if I came back dead. Pretty sure Plume would find a way to revive me and then kill me themselves for doing that."
Louma nods solemnly. "It would be deserved." She catches his eye, smirking. "With those baggy scales, you look halfway there already. Please consider delegating some duties out for a couple days, if just so you're rested for the excursion."
Nesseth yawns slightly, feeling a bit cozy right where he is at the moment. "Sometimes I feel like I'm three-quarters of the way there. Not going to lie, though... I do wonder how you manage to keep yourself looking good with all this stress that you deal with during a normal day."
Louma blushes slightly, looking back toward the streets again when she shrugs. "Well for one I'm not normally dealing with such a threat. And we have slightly different backgrounds. You also seem to be a magnet for stressful events. You did barely get to relax after the elemental fiasco."
Nesseth chuckles as he shifts against Louma a bit, unconsciously getting a little more comfortable. "Heh... the elemental fiasco's still going. Remember, we only helped Melia out, so we've still got to deal with the one occupying Cavro's forge. But hopefully figuring that out will be a walk in the park after all this..."
Louma hums as she considers this. "Then... I won't wonder if leaving it there for so long has made it impossible to move." She gently nudges Nesseth with a slightly nervous chuckle, though her tail shifts a bit to support his seated position better. "No matter... Someone else can take over that, if you feel like it."
Nesseth hums a bit at the nudge, but only makes a token effort to shift again, knowing she's at least trying to make sure he stays awake. "Maybe... if someone else is willing to pick up the case? Not sure if anyone else is, though." He shrugs a bit, "Could be something to talk about once all this is done, I guess."
Louma shrugs, considering it for a few moments. "I'll post out some requests for information, and have someone look in at the forge a few times before you're back. if nobody does volunteer to take over, maybe a little bit of extra intel will be here for you, at least. For you to pick up a week after you return." She glances at him, turning her torso without disturbing her coils to look out over the wall.
Nesseth nods rather sleepily. "Yeah... yeah, a bit of info would go a long way to helping out, I think." He sighs a bit as he glances up at Louma again, "So... all that aside... how've you been holding up?"
Louma keeps her gaze out on the distant edge of trees, delayed in her reply. "Well enough... Sleeping far better with May by my side, but every time I doze off without her around it's... Restless. That's another reason I want to get back to work, so I keep occupied enough to stay awake all day." She glances toward the clouds floating slowly across the North horizon, then to Nesseth. "Nothing I can't handle."
Nesseth holds Louma's look, then smiles softly. "You know, you've got your own tells when you've got things on your mind weighing you down. I'm not the only one that's obvious about it." He smiles a bit more cheerfully, "I've known you long enough to pick up on the subtle cues... What's on your mind, Louma?"
Louma shakes her head a little, unable to keep the hint of smile as she looks back out to the North. "I... They shot my wings with arrows to bring me down... Usid threatened to cut them off... They were bound when I was being moved, and there were always guards with bows around when I was allowed to move on my own... My dreams have been interrupted by such injuries since then." She glances at Nesseth. "Don't repeat it to anybody, though, please. I'll deal with it."
Nesseth 's smile slides as he listens, then nods. "I won't tell anyone else. If there's any way I can help, though, just let me know, even if it's something as simple as running to grab Plume for an examination or something."
Louma hums, smiling appreciatively at Nesseth. "Thank you. I'll consider it, if the dreams don't stop." She watches the fields again, shrugging. "I sleep fine with May there... I figure that stoat's support is probably enough to get me through anything I could face."
Nesseth nods, though it's clear he's starting to lose the fight for wakefulness as he meets Louma's smile. He might be just a little too comfortable using Louma's coils as a pillow at the moment. "Good... I'm glad May's presence helps you sleep so well. Awful dreams... aren't fun at all..."
Louma feels Nesseth resting his head against her coils, giggling quietly to herself, speaking just as quietly without turning to him. "No, they aren't, so have some sweet ones. I'll take your shift for now." She settles just a little bit more, letting the lizard relax against her.
Nesseth doesn't quite hear Louma as he starts to drift off to sleep again, his morning rush having finally caught up to him. His head slowly droops to the side, coming to a rest against Louma's coils as he starts to relax again. "Just... glad you're back home, now, Louma..."
Nesseth drifts off to sleep as the stress from one of his closest friends being missing these past few weeks finally completely drains away.