brave_kreyu | OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part 12

They wind up staying two full cycles of the Moon with Tyr's tribe.

Time enough to learn the various dances, share recipes, race through the Teeth, make friends, share stories, BELONG.

It might even be enough time for Skellig to sort out how he feels about being among other people with wings!

Tyr clasps Skellig's forearm in farewell. "I would call you my brother, if you would permit it?" he says, voice soft.

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From:

27_53

Outwardly Skellig does not lean into her touch, but she will be able to sense the reassurance that comes with the contact.

"There is no need for apologies," he says quietly. "I did not tell you of my profession before, so there was no way you would have known. And today has been a day of new developments, of all types."

From:

brave_kreyu

"An understatement, I feel," Ajax drawls. "Can the mind be healed, as flesh can be?"

"I, I don't know how to explain it, my heart," she tells Skellig. "I will leave explanations to you."

From:

27_53

Skellig ponders a moment how to best explain things, as he has no desire to alarm any of them (and some of the things he is capable of - not that he would ever choose or consider to do with Ajax's mind - are not the nicest) with the idea.

"I do not pry deep," he says quietly, reassurance under his words. "It is not my place or my right. But there are echoes that are louder than others which can be deflected a bit by softly shifting the direction of things, and that helps, sometimes."

He smiles softly. "At the very least it might aid your sleep in preparation for tomorrow."

From:

brave_kreyu

"I trust you," Ajax replies. "And I fear I will not sleep at all, without some assistance." His smile turns wry. "And I suspect your arts are safer than some of the methods I have used in the past."

He finishes his glass of wine. "Is there anything I need to...do, for you to help me?"

From:

27_53

"Not anything in particular," Skellig says, shifting his body to rise from the couch where he has been sitting beside Kreyu. "I just need to sit beside you for a moment, lay a hand upon your skin so that I can better hear the noise."

He already can hear a great deal of it in the background of the room not only from Ajax bit also from Koschei, though he would not actively engage with a dragon outright without EXPRESS permission.

As he settles himself beside Ajax, he places a hand on the other man's forearm.

"I will likely not be able to settle everything at once, nor would it be healthy for me to do so. But I should aid enough to assist you in finding sleep tonight when you retire to your bed."

From:

brave_kreyu

Ajax nods in understanding. "All things must have their season, must have time."

"Would help if I am not touching?" Koschei asks.

From:

27_53

"It would," Skellig says, almost apologetically. "Dragons have quite a large amount of energy in their bodies and it can...interfere, a bit, with what I am able to hear when I listen."

He specifically does not say 'Karma', as he is not sure if that is common knowledge among those who know of dragons.

From:

brave_kreyu

Koschei lets go of Ajax, shifts further down the couch.

The echoes of Gorgon's attack are loud, still, reverberating in Ajax's mind if not his bones. Terror and pain and helplessness like an acid eating away at him. Frozen in place by terror and the gaze of enormous eyes like fiery pits in the body of a black beast, the biggest living thing Ajax has ever seen.

From:

27_53

The echoes are LOUD and in Skellig's mind they are practically vibrating as he cocks his head slightly to the side to truly focus and LISTEN. It takes him a brief moment to get past the initial horror and shock from the 'image' of Gorgon, but outwardly he doesn't really show much emotion.

"Not the nicest looking guy, is he," he mutters.

From:

brave_kreyu

Ajax chuckles slightly. "Not to my eyes, certainly. I had not thought any creature could be that BIG."

He shivers. "Felt like a mouse before a cat, a thing to be played with."

From:

27_53

"The first time I laid eyes on a dragon, I also was amazed by the sheer size they possess," he says. "It was unlike anything I had ever seen. Though my introduction was much less stressful than yours."

Redirection helps, so he allows his words to wander a bit. "One advantage that the mouse has is size, though," he points out. "We can fit much smaller places than the cats can, and while their senses may be sharper, our desperate feelings can sometimes come to our aid, allow us to throw aside our caution and simply flee."

From:

brave_kreyu

"If I hadn't been trapped under my horse, I would have run," Ajax replies. "Just like a mouse, found a hole to hide in."

"You were not attacked, I take it? Were you rescued, as Koschei rescued me?"

From:

27_53

"Yes, rescued is a good way to describe it, when I first met the dragon. They were not in their dragon form, otherwise I also would have likely run and tried to hide. They came across me as I was wandering, blinded by the sand and sun of the desert."

He knows Kreyu is listening, and Koschei likely is also. But he does not mind if his story is heard, as he works to realign the thoughts running through Ajax's mind.

"With the power that comes with their abilities, some choose to act in the name of kindness and good," he says. "Others are less benevolent, quicker to anger and harm. Gorgon is one of those types. He has chosen that path, of his own volition. All dragons desire to add to their wealth, grow their hoard...some are just more ruthless than others."

From:

brave_kreyu

"I am glad the dragon you met was one like Koschei," Ajax says, sincere. "And not like Gorgon."

He smiles at Koschei. "A hero I certainly don't deserve, but am most grateful for."

Koschei snorts. "Deserve is matter for philosophers. Follow heart, rest will sort itself out."

From:

27_53

"Wise words," Skellig agrees. "You will be well-served to follow his mindset."

Follow heart, rest will sort itself out.

If he was closer to Kreyu he might lean his shoulder against hers in solidarity; as it is, he only sends a bump of Light across their connection.

"Your injuries have been healed by Koschei's efforts, healed well. You will not have to fear a resurgence or pain from those wounds."

From:

brave_kreyu

"Overturning what one has been taught from childhood is a tricky thing, but I will try."

She sends a little bump of Love back to him.

"Good," Koschei rumbles. "Fix self times beyond counting, but spell different."

"I'm glad you got it to work," Kreyu tells Koschei. "It can be tricky."

He nods in agreement. "Didn't dare long way, took wounds into self."

Ajax frowns in concern. "What do you mean by that?"

From:

27_53

Skellig does not feel it is his place to explain just what the 'taking wounds into self' means - that is for Koschei to tell Ajax, perhaps in private once he and Kreyu have retired to their own suite.

(However, he takes advantage of Ajax's 'distraction' to push just slightly deeper and readjust those echoes; Gorgon's fearsome, fiery stare fades to more of an angry gaze, the screams of those around them on the battlefield shift to more of a murmur, the pain which was vibrant and sharp dulls to more of a background irritating soreness.)

From:

brave_kreyu

"Will explain later," Koschei replies. "Is...complicated." In many ways.

Ajax relaxes under Skellig's efforts, the echoes fading. He's starting to become truly tired now, the events of the day catching up to him.

"I feel better," he tells Skellig. "Although quite tired."

"You did have quite the busy day," Kreyu quips.

Ajax laughs softly when she says that.

From:

27_53

"Tired is good," Skellig says honestly. "That is your body able to communicate with your mind and it means that the signal is not getting lost along the chaos and the chatter."

He smiles gently.

"And I suspect once you find space in your bed, sleep with not be difficult to find either. You should rest easier than you would have, now. I have done what I can to start you towards being more settled."

From:

brave_kreyu

"Thank you, truly," Ajax tells him, sincere. "And a hopefully more pleasant adventure for all of us tomorrow," he adds, wry. "At least if we end up finding the Procession of the Stars."

From:

27_53

"Yes, we will aim for a much more enjoyable experience for us all."

Of course there will be last minute details to sort out, but Skellig is quite content to leave that to be dealt with in the morning AFTER breakfast - he can see the weariness growing with each passing moment as Ajax relaxes back against Koschei.

"I am certain our room is ready by now, don't you think, love?" He asks Kreyu.

From:

brave_kreyu

"I think so," she says, nodding. "We should take our leave, get some rest before the excitement of tomorrow."

From:

27_53

"I think that would be wise," he says, yawning faintly - a true reaction. "We will want to be at the top of our abilities, in all forms."

He rises to his feet and offers his hand to Kreyu to help her up.

From:

brave_kreyu

She takes his offered hand, smiling.

They say their farewells, for now, go to THEIR room.

She kisses him gently after the door of their room is latched behind them. "I am glad you could help Ajax."

From:

27_53

Once their door is latched securely, he relaxes just a bit and sighs as she leans in to kiss him.

"It was mostly fear that he was plagued with, that is one of the more intense types of emotions to realign, but at the same time, it is often straightforward. His was strong but not complicated. I am glad it was that way, and that I could help him."

He leans down to rest his forehead against hers.

"I feel he will need all the strength and courage he can manage for tomorrow."