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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - RESPITE CAMP - LATE AFTERNOON
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Usid has spent some time trying to convince the healers to let him in to see Lianne, trying his best not to just 'barge in' and freak her out, though he's entirely sure she will not appreciate his presence. Gareth's words are in his mind, as are Dyvrisse's. In the grand scheme of things, he still doesn't really know what he will do, but at the very least, he's offered to try and talk to this 'Ray' whom he imprisoned in the first place. When the nurses finally agree to let him, sans armor and weaponry, he slowly parts open the fabric into the tent where Lianne is laid out, clearing his throat quietly to announce his presence.
Lianne Sparr turns to face the source of disturbance. Usid. Immediately, her eyes focus, expression sours and her hands reach for her Sai, despite her wounded form obviously not fit for any sort of movement, let alone combat. None-the-less, she aggressively holds one of her Sai by it's tip, threatening to throw it at Usid.
Usid raises his hands, hissing quietly, "Hold! Hold, please. Usid did not come to fight. Usid came to... Usid not know. Talk? Usid is bad at talk. Apologize? Usid doubts words enough to make up for pain he caused. Usid came... to try?" He sighs. "Usid can leave if you'd rather."
Lianne Sparr With a heavy sigh, and the understanding that Usid's assistance is something of a diplomatic need for Respite at this precise moment in time, Lianne overcomes her immediate, murderous anger enough to at least lower the Sai, though she is evidentially still hostile, remaining silent and simply glaring death as a substitute.
Usid slowly lowers his hands, the tiny feathered winglets extending out from his forearms down folding back in against his side. He sighs. "Usid is... sorry, for whatever that is worth. Very little, Usid is sure. A month ago, Usid would have been happy to die in combat with your knives in his gut. A fitting end for a warrior. Now? Usid has others depending on him. His clan. His people. And now it seems Usid's people... are Respite's people. This is hard for everyone. But Usid is trying." He extends a hand cautiously towards Lianne in a gesture. "...Usid does seek... to make amends. Usid does not wish to die. But Usid will do what he must, to make amends. What would you seek of Usid?"
Lianne Sparr eyes Usid's hand warily, thinking of how to respond. Killing Usid in the future will be much easier if she feigns making amends at this moment in time, but she's simply too upset to be able to believably put on that act. She knocks Usid's hand away, caring not for his story of duty and responsibility. "What could you offer, if not your life? I don't know what Gareth sees in you." She venomously replies.
Usid brings his hand back towards him, clenching it into a fist. "Usid's life is owed to more than just you. Usid cannot know what the One-Eyed Wolf thinks of Usid, but he stood his ground to defeat Usid in combat. Usid is making an offer to you because of his respect for Gareth, to find a way to atone. But if you do not care, so be it."
Lianne Sparr: "You are most certainly correct. Your words and apology means very little for the pain your actions have caused. Forgiveness is earned, not given." Lianne pauses. "You respect Gareth because he bested you? And you are only here to appease him?" Lianne questions.
Usid shakes his head. "Not only, but in part. Gareth gave advice... Usid is following. Usid does not know what else to do, yet, until Respite seeks its justice upon him. There are more as well. Saiza. Revill. Nyzai. These are names that mean nothing to you, but they now weigh on Usid. Usid will learn the rest of the names, those who died for his action. His own people, and Respite's." He reaches down to where he would normally keep that symbolic knife, though it was of course not allowed in the medical tents.
Lianne Sparr So the deaths of Usid's own people weighs on him. It's an admission Lianne mentally files away. If true, it can provide an angle for Lianne to exploit in the future, assuming that there is a future. "So you have come to understand the horror of war." Lianne coldly notes. "Your actions make sense to me now, though you will still not find my sympathy."
Usid nods slowly, crossing his arms. "Usid not asking for sympathy. Or forgiveness. Bah. Usid not know what he seeks. Usid has seen horrors. Committed horrors. Usid understands his people were lied to... but Usid did what he did not caring. Not understanding. Now Usid sees. Usid should pay for what he has done. But cannot. Not until Usid's clan is safe. Then... if you wish for Usid's life... it is yours."
Lianne Sparr Usid's words are familiar to Lianne, though perhaps aptly, she still does not care. That last part makes Lianne perk up, though she is extremely sceptical. "You would freely give it?" She questions. It doesn't particularly matter how Usid responds, she wouldn't believe him.
Usid nods, "If it is yours to take. The Leaders of Respite have first choice, for Usid already agreed to face punishment for his actions when all is over."
Lianne Sparr A sense of honour, if true. Lianne mentally files this away too. Still, having Usid's fate in the hands of the leaders. . .Either he'll be imprisoned, and Lianne can't touch him, not without diplomatic fallout, or executed. Either way, her revenge isn't looking good. Not without being willing to burn Respite should she get caught. "Then you are braver than most." Lianne indifferently 'compliments'.
Usid hmphs. "Usid will face his fate, whatever it will be. This is what Yzzayt teaches."
Lianne Sparr doesn't reply, falling into silence, staring at Usid.
Usid sighs, lowering his arms and shaking his head. He is silent a moment as well, then lifts his head to look back up at Lianne. "I have nothing more to say, or offer, then." He turns, giving Lianne one last look over his shoulder before departing out of the tent.
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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - YZZAYT'S ABYSS - LATE EVENING
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Vandal is sitting at the edge of a low campfire, one of many scattered among the camp, feeling far more crowded, though in no unwelcome way. Some groups are quiet, others are completely asleep despite a third type, being somewhat rowdy as they celebrate everything. Nobody in the lower ranks has the heart to tell them to shut it down completely, and if anything their joy at least brings a smile to many others. Vandal leans against a lumpy bundle of ratty looking blankets, sighing quietly to himself through a mild smile, his eyes locked on the sparks floating up from the crackling flames in front of him.
Nesseth walks slowly through the camp, mostly just trying to unwind while pulling a "patrol" shift in case the Saurs of the Abyss go back on their word. However, things have been quiet since the duel, and that feeling of relief at having rescued the prisoners is definitely a welcome one after so many weeks. As he comes into range of the glow of Vandal's campfire, he raises a hand and waves. "Evening, Vandal. You holding up okay?"
Vandal looks up toward Nesseth, straightening up a little and giving him a salute. "Yessir! Just sort of basking in the crowd." He chuckles, hesitating before he motions toward an empty patch of flattened grass. "Ah... Been watching you walk in circles for a while though, lieutenant. Will you rest your feet a minute here?"
Nesseth chuckles and waves his hand a bit as Vandal straightens up. "Don't worry about protocol, Vandal, especially tonight of all nights." He does, however, grin and nod as he makes his way over and takes a seat with a bit of a groan, "Ahh... Much better..."
Vandal laughs quietly, gingerly leaning back in place. "Even if something stupid happens, I think we've got the numbers to deal with it. Then again, I ain't been much for strategy. Or patrolling. Hunts." He clears his throat a bit before chuckling again, a bit more nervously this time. "Messages and prisoners don't pose much of a uh... Tactical threat."
Nesseth shrugs a bit. "Everyone has a role they're comfortable with. This whole thing was just... way out of the ordinary, and we needed everyone on hand for it. I'm just glad the folks that don't normally do this stuff came through intact."
Vandal nods, looking aside. "I know. I know that some say I'm lazy or... Always taking anything in the barracks for shifts." He seems a little ashamed at the admission, though it is well known that the porcupine tended to trade shifts so desperately early on that his captain gave up on pushing him into patrols. His name being in the first five on the volunteer sheet might have sent a bit of a ripple in the rumor mill, the day the call went out.
Nesseth leans back a little, his tail helping to prop him up even as he uses his arms to brace himself. He casts a look over at Vandal, and gives the porcupine a bit of a smile. "Every job is important, you know. Running messages and prison guards help keep the gears turning, as it were." He lets out a bit of a laugh, "As for lazy... you should hear how many people just assume I'm sleeping whenever I'm on wall duty."
Vandal chuckles, casting a look to Nesseth. "It doesn't help that I stumbled on you dozing a bit... Er, with all due respect sir." He shakes his head. "I mean, you're right. About the jobs. I couldn't sit at home, though."
Hector jiggles, the bundle of dishevelled blankets that Vandal is leaning on quietly chuckling. A face looking much like the other porcupine's poking out with a yawn. "You would if it meant getting paid..." He looks at Vandal with a grin. "Glad you didn't, though! I don't know anybody here..."
Nesseth chuckles and shakes his head. "Not like I keep it secret, anyway. But, uh..." He trails off, noting... another porcupine...? He glances between the two, a questioning look on his face, plain as day. "Uhm... hi, there?"
Hector looks at Nesseth, still wearing a tired grin. "Ello. You're a bit familiar, I think... You ever go with caravans to the Folly?"
Vandal glances between Nesseth and Hector. "Oh ah... This is my little brother, Hector. Hector, this is lieutenant Nesseth." He looks to Nesseth. "He is ah... Why I volunteered."
Nesseth nods at the other porcupine. "Once in a while, yeah. I tend to be one of the folks that man the gates, or else patrol the walls otherwise." He looks over at Vandal, "Your... little brother? Huh... good to meet you, Hector."
Hector lets his grin slip a bit as Vandal starts to explain, nodding to Nesseth. "Yeh, I thought so. I have a good memory for faces. I thought it might be fun to try that, the caravan guarding... Visit the middle of nowhere, right?"
Nesseth raises a curious eyebrow. "Thinking about becoming a guard, then? Well... caravan guards tend to have it..." He falls quiet for a few seconds as he recalls the caravan he'd seen way back when all this started, "...Not necessarily easy, but... it's usually safe aside from the occasional wild animal or bandit."
Vandal shakes his head a little, looking at Nesseth as he leans against Hector, the other porcupine leaning back with another yawn. "He's been a guard in Bairnell for a couple years... That was his first escort. The third caravan..."
Hector chuckles a bit, shrugging. "No dwelling on it... You're all here, we're safe. It worked out..."
Nesseth draws in a breath and lets out a soft sigh. "So the one that Emmeline was on, then." He furrows his brow as he looks at Hector, "So you were in the mines with everyone else, then?"
Hector nods quickly. "I was, yeah. I can tell you... It was alarming seeing almost no guards for a bit, and then the little feathered one showed up. But he brought your friends, and let us out. Respite must be a lot nicer than Van's letters let on if they turned sides for you!"
Vandal blushes, clearing his throat. "I never said a-anything bad about home, lieutenant..."
Nesseth laughs. "It's a frontier town with barely any amenities compared to the likes of Ondoga, Glaushire and Westport. The draw is in the freedom and sense of community, I'd say."
Vandal sighs, shrugging. "It is nice that it's a frontier town with a lot of watchful eyes... Heard tales a few times of towns being taken over by criminals and stuff."
Hector yawns again, eyes drifting closed. "Not a good bedtime sto--ory..."
Vandal adjusts the blanket on Hector, covering his head up again so the exhausted porcupine can sleep some more.
Nesseth nods. "It's happened elsewhere. I've heard rumors of some of the Westport higher-ups being a bit shady, as an example, but I don't know how substantial those rumors are. Not exactly taken over, but I can see how it'd happen."
Vandal nods, chuckling quietly. "I don't know if it'd happen in Respite, though. I mean, there's rumors about that Shaw fellow, but I've never heard anything really solid." He tilts his head, looking to Nesseth. "What're you going to do when we get back, sir?"
Nesseth shakes his head a bit, smiling as he watches Vandal tuck Hector back into his blanket. "Not sure what to make of Shaw, still. I've had some direct contact with them, and it's... odd." He sighs again, "As for what I plan on doing... maybe take a bit of a break, and definitely spend a lot of time with my partners."
Vandal blinks, clearing his throat a bit. "Soorry, I know it's not proper to ask but... 'Partners'? Like... More than one."
Nesseth tilts his head a bit, not exactly bothered by the question at all. "Hm? Oh, yeah. Vix and Plume."
Vandal mutters under his breath, "I gotta get a promotion..." before shaking his head. "Well I mean, we've all earned a bit of vacation, right?" He grins, though his tone is only half-joking.
Nesseth hums and nods. "Considering all the crap we've been through on this trip and how long we've been away, vacation time to unwind would be entirely reasonable." He lets out a single, low laugh, "Heh... maybe even pay raises, if we're lucky."
Vandal shakes his head, laughing. "Oh, good luck with that. I know my Captain probably wont consider it, but Louma? She'll tell you to file the request and then forget it ever happened."
Nesseth ends up laughing as well. "I don't know, maybe I'll get lucky and she'll just be so happy to be handling paperwork again that she approves it without really reading it."
Vandal shakes, trying not to laugh too hard for Hector's sake. "How long do you think she waited while healing? A week?"
Nesseth shakes his head. "No idea, honestly. She was still out when we left. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if she jumped the gun on Plume's clearance to get back to work."
Vandal chuckles into his hand, shaking a bit with the stifled laughter. He tries to speak again but breaks back into chuckling. It takes a couple tries before he gets his words out. "I meant before she flees back to that village to get away from the office."
Nesseth breaks into a grin when he realizes what Vandal was actually trying to say. "Oh! Nah, I think she's had enough of the Saurs for a lifetime. More likely, we'll have to try and drag her out of the ductwork at the generator."
Vandal hums, tilting his head a bit. "You mean the barracks?"
Nesseth shakes his head. "No, the generator. She'd probably run away from her paperwork and hide somewhere near where her partner works. Or at home."
Vandal chuckles, blushing. "Oh... Oh right, the engineer lady. Haaa... You know I didn't know she was... Well, I mean lieutenant Carter was a guy." He clears his throat again.
Nesseth chuckles. "No idea, but I guess she made an exception for May, or something." He shrugs, "Or maybe Louma swore off dating guys after she broke up with Carter."
Vandal sighs, shaking his head a little. "I get it, that stoat is cute." He looks to Nesseth. "Saying she broke up with the lieutenant is probably a little unfair to her, though. I mean, it's all rumors..."
Nesseth nods. "I don't know what all happened between the two, except for Louma's promotion playing a part of... whatever it was. Either way, I was just saying the two split, not that Louma was at fault."
Vandal nods, blushing again, though more for embarrassment. Before he can speak up, though, he's interrupted by a slightly muffled voice.
Hector moves slightly next to Vandal. "...always with gossip..." Vandal lets out a quiet chuckle at this.
Nesseth ends up chuckling when he hears Hector's comment. "Not much else to do, at the moment, really. The past is the past, of course."
Vandal nods, "Yeah, sorry. I get a bit caught up. Maybe I need to start taking patrols, keep my mind a bit more busy?"
Nesseth hums and nods. "Wall patrols are pretty quiet for the most part. You could even opt for evening patrols if the sun isn't something you're fond of. There's gate duty, too, and most of the activity is at the northern one, where caravans pass through."
Vandal smiles, nodding. "Maybe... I'll ask when we get back. Oh, I do wish you all luck on the rest of the mission. I'm heading back to Respite with the rescued folks..."
Nesseth smiles a bit. "Understandable. It'll be good having some capable guards going back with the prisoners and the wounded. We've got the trail back secured, what with Nyzai gone and Usid helping us, but there are still wild animals and such."
Vandal chuckles, shrugging. "I don't know about capable, but I want to see everyone home safe. Maybe a bit selfish, but I wont sleep until I see Hector walk through the gate..."
Nesseth smirks a bit. "Well, I read the battle reports from that counter-ambush. You held your own pretty well, out there." He nods and smiles as his eyes flick towards the bundle Vandal's leaning again, "And it's hardly selfish when you've spent this long worrying about your brother. I'd be doing the same if I was in your shoes."
Vandal smiles at Nesseth, visibly relaxing a bit. "Thank you, lieutenant, I appreciate that. You know, you'd probably make a good captain if the spot opens up. I mean, it looked like you were talking even with the captains for this whole thing."
Nesseth chuckles and shakes his head. "Mostly because I'm filling in for Louma while she's back at town. I'm not fully sure if I've got the proper mentality to be a Captain, at least not right now. Maybe one day in the future, though."
Vandal grins, shrugging slightly. "I can see it being more stressful for extreme circumstances, but how tough could it be the rest of the time?"
Nesseth smiles at Vandal, perhaps just a touch wryly. "It can be hard, especially when one has that sort of power backing their word. That whole thing about corruption and whatnot we were talking about earlier? Yeah... I don't really trust myself to not slip up as a Captain, when folks go by my word alone."
Vandal hums, shrinking a little. "Oh... Y-you're right but.. I mean, you're aware of the problem, right? Yeah. Maybe you just need a bit of time?" He chuckles a little nervously.
Nesseth nods. "That's what I'm hoping. If I wind up becoming a Captain, I'll hopefully have some more confidence about it at that time." He pauses, then chuckles, "Though, if Louma's still a Captain at that time, I'm sure she'll keep me in order."
Vandal lets out a couple quiet chuckles, nodding. "A captain of the captain? I... Don't know if I want to imagine Louma as the commandant. How many more penmanship classes would we be stuck in?"
Nesseth grins. "Mandatory penmanship lessons for all new recruits in Bairnell and Respite. First raise depends on getting a passing mark in the finals."
Vandal nods, grinning as well. "Torture for some, but just a nice refresher for me and Hector."
Nesseth chuckles. "It'd make reading the reports easier in the long run once one or both of you get promoted and start dealing with the forms." He sighs and stretches a bit as he gets more comfortable in his seat, "But yeah... mostly just thinking that, because it'd feel really weird to be a Captain and not have Louma as my immediate superior after so many years."
Vandal smiles, leaning against Hector. "A way to think of it, yeah. At least if you're equal you can still refer to her for advice."
Nesseth hums quietly. "True. And she does have years of experience in the position, too."
Vandal chuckles. "I'm sure she has experience in a few positions, considering..." He blanches, shaking his head. "S-sorry lieutenant! I-it slipped, I shouldn't have opened my mouth..."
Nesseth stifles a chuckle, clearly not caring for protocol at the moment due to the mood the camp is currently in at large. "Don't worry, you're not going to get reprimanded or anything. Though, you'd best not let Louma hear that one."
Vandal relaxes, but it takes time. "I... Yeah, I won't. I-I might need a few hours of sleep after all..."
Nesseth nods. "A bit of sleep will at least help sharpen you up for the trip back. I know you said you weren't going to sleep until you got Hector back to Respite safely, but get some rest when you can."
Vandal nods, settling a bit under his own blanket. "Well, I know you're on patrol, that should help me sleep easier."
Nesseth nods as he goes to stand up again, and dusts his pants off. "Hopefully you can get a good night's sleep, then, Vandal. I'll be making the rounds, so I'll stop by this campfire every so often to check in. I won't bother you if you're asleep, though." He smiles, "Have a good night, both of you."
Vandal nods to Nesseth, giving him a quick salute. "Thank you, goodnight sir." A muffled set of syllables in the cadence of a goodnight comes from under Hector's coverings to which Vandal appreciatively chuckles before settling in a similar manner.
Nesseth returns the salute, then goes to resume his patrol. The night passes pretty uneventfully beyond the celebrations that slowly peter out over the next few hours, and any worries of an ambush or surprise attack from the Abyss fade into nothing more than a vague afterthought as the sun begins to rise the next morning.