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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Mar 15, 2021 23:24:46 GMT -6
Argoth awoke to sharp, throbbing pain from his inflamed wounds. He felt like he'd been trampled by a stampede of elephants. All the adrenaline of yesterdays events had dissipated, and the feeling of perhaps he'd pushed himself too far was settling in. His body definitely thought so. The lacerations from Striska's blades to his shoulder and abdomen were pulsing dully, but that was mostly drowned out by the myriad puncture wounds he received. The one on his sternum hurt the worst. It protested any movement Argoth attempted to make with violent resistance. Argoth groaned aloud as he rolled onto his back. Pain flooded his senses and he laid there focusing on nothing but breathing until it subsided. He opened his eyes for the first time that morning.
And then remembered where he was, and who was with him in bed. He could suddenly feel her presence in a way he had never experienced before. He couldn't tell if it was all the pain making him hallucinate, or perhaps these newfound feelings he had toward the healer, but she felt more real to him. He was suddenly aware of every sensation they were sharing. The way her scales felt against his skin as she leaned against him, the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept, the way she smelled, how little she was, everything suddenly became important to him. Yet without his consideration or permission, fear of this special new bond with Rii arose in him like an unwanted guest at a very nice dinner party. A fear of what this meant for him. A fear of being close to another person. A fear of being vulnerable. Argoth had never experienced these emotions for someone in this way. It was all quite difficult to parse.
The real question gnawing at Argoth was if Rii would still feel the same after she woke up. Everything happened so fast yesterday he wouldn't be surprised to learn it was all a dream, and that Striska had really knocked him out. The only reason he was waking up with Rii was because of his injuries and nothing else. She was merely looking after him in the night. Argoth lifted a battered right hand to his face and brushed the fingertips along his lips. Those kisses were real though, he thought, suddenly realizing he had turned his head to look at Rii. His arm was underneath her neck and she leaned against his side. Her presence was a level of comfort Argoth had never known before.
Just then, as he admired her form in the hafts of light spilling through the window, she began to stir against him. A flutter skipped his heart a beat and turned his stomach over. He didn't know why she made him react this way, but he did know that he liked it. A smile touched his lips as Rii began to move a little more.
"Good morning," he said.
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Post by Rii/Thell on Mar 24, 2021 19:54:59 GMT -6
The battle sleep waged against Rii was quick. One moment she was wrapping her spare bandages, eyelids drooping while she ensured Argoth fell asleep. The next moment saw the tightly wrapped bandages tumble from her webbed hands and unwind against the sheets. Her body went slack against Argoth, head pillowed on his arm. Sleep won.
In her dream there was water, lapping at her gray scales, splashing against the sides of a stone pool. She knew the water was cool, a pleasant chill, and yet she felt hot all the same in the pit of her stomach. The heat was not like the kiss of the sun, but cruel and hungry, eating at her. It was unfamiliar, but for once it was also unwelcome. She knew this with certainty.
When Rii woke, the heat was gone, and a warm whisper was all that remained, pressed against her neck and cheek and chest. Drowsiness still clung to her, but she shifted and made her eyes flutter open. Argoth. That was where the warmth came from. She met his gaze and a smile crept onto her face.
"Good morning."
Was it? She was in Argoth's company, Argoth was alive and in her care, and the inn was safe for now, so surely it was. But yesterday... Well, she would get to yesterday. For now it could just be a good morning, like Argoth had said.
"You woke before me, I see," she murmured back, gazing up at him to appreciate the soft smile on his face and the subtle skew of his hair from sleep. Hylian hair was always interesting to her, but there was something about seeing the skilled assassin and Maximus' caretaker with his hair out of place. Then her smile fell. "It wasn't from the pain, was it?"
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Mar 31, 2021 23:40:35 GMT -6
As Rii stirred, the light from the window danced along her scales, reminding Argoth of early morning sunlight glistening off a lake. The blanket, pulled up to their shoulders, created a warm atmosphere underneath that Argoth knew was only his. Rii, being zora, was an endothermic creature, and could not produce such heat. This didn't bother Argoth, even if it was unfamiliar to him.
"You woke before me, I see. It wasn't from the pain, was it?"
Argoth temporarily flirted with lying to her. Thoughts of portraying a tough, tenacious attitude crossed his mind, but that wouldn't have been true to how he felt. In all honesty Argoth felt like shit. He was battered, bruised, and aching like hell. The bandages upon his chest and arms were soaked through with dark red blotches and Argoth knew they needed changing.
"I could use some more of those salves," he said, half chuckling at the pain slowly pulsing from his wounds.
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In the next room over, young Maximus rolled away from the blinding morning sunlight. He was awake now, but had no desire to be. The comfort of his bed was far too great. But then his own injuries began to wake up too, and he groaned as they throbbed. He forced his eyes all the way open and sat up in bed. Rii was not in the bed with him this time, and he couldn't suppress the slight tinge of anxiety at her absence. After all that had happened yesterday Max knew that it wasn't the end. Argoth and Max had managed to thwart the enemy's plot to take Rii, but they'd be back. They always come back.
Max habitually ran a hand through his mussed blonde hair and huffed out a sigh of exhaustion. He'd slept like a rock, but the exertion plus the beating he'd received yesterday made him feel like he had aged sixty years. And that wasn't easy to do to a nine year old. He desperately hoped today would be a relaxing day of Rii, Argoth, and himself going for a nice hot meal and a bath. Goddesses knew he needed one. The hand he'd used to run through his hair was slick with grease and sweat. Max curled his lip in disgust, but laughed as he wiped his hand onto his tunic. He might have been dirty, but at least his friend was safe.
Maximus stood up and stretched, reaching his arms out wide and groaning. His groans turned into a massive yawn, and he nearly stumbled as he walked toward the door. Those two better be awake, he thought, opening the door to the hallway, because I'm starving.
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Post by Rii/Thell on Apr 11, 2021 20:25:28 GMT -6
Rii arched her brows and just as quickly smoothed her expression. If she was being honest, and she almost always was, she had anticipated Argoth refusing to admit to any pain. After all, it was how most warriors and protectors handled their injuries. Many a guard had huffed and turned away her healing despite the scrapes and darkening bruises and flowing blood. If they didn't act hurt, then surely it wasn't so. If they pushed and they pushed, there would be no need to ever heal or take time to recover. To maintain that rough and tough exterior, they felt they needed to be quiet and unaffected. More than one adventurer had laughed and limped away from her care, hunched and battered and teeth clenched. The fact that Argoth had been willing to admit it brought the smile back to her face. "That can be arranged," Rii assured him. She pushed herself up to look down at him, not resisting when the urge came to slip a webbed hand through his hair, appreciating the feel of it parting against her fingertips. Her hand slowed to a stop, cradling the side of his head. "Thank you for being honest with me," she added, voice a touch softer.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on May 4, 2021 20:29:53 GMT -6
Argoth smiled up at Rii as she ran a hand through his hair. Her cold fingers felt nice against his scalp. An urge to return affection flooded him and he didn't resist it, couldn't, if he were honest. Argoth leaned up and kissed her, but the severe protest of his chest wound cut it shorter than he would have liked. As his head met the pillow again, he could tell Rii had seen him wince from the effort. Her concern filled him with mixed emotions: happiness, at knowing she cared about him, and concern, knowing he had something new to lose now. Argoth smiled up at Rii and said, "Thank you for taking care of me, Rii. I know its your job and all, but I appreciate it all the same." Before she could respond the door to their room slammed open, and a disheveled and tired looking boy sauntered in.
"Oh good, you're up!" he nearly shouted. "I'm starving, and kinda gross, too. I could really use a bath. Oh also, Rii, could you change my bandages please they're bugging me." And to illustrate his point he began attempting to unwrap them himself. Max struggled with his bandages like any uncomfortable child, by viciously tearing at them with abandon.
Argoth laughed and said, "Woah there max, you're gonna hurt yourself, let Rii do it."
"But its itchy and I want it oooffff" he whined. Argoth rolled his eyes with a smile and looked back at Rii. "Better get those off him before he does something he'll regret later," he chuckled.
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Post by Rii/Thell on Aug 6, 2021 20:00:35 GMT -6
Rii opened her mouth to respond to Argoth, brow pinched, but the door flew open before she could speak. Another time, then. Instead she looked towards Maximus, a fond smile creeping onto her face as he took out his frustration and discomfort on the innocent bandages. For a moment she wondered about his small face, nose scrunched, discontent with his injuries and his hunger all at once. The sight felt familiar, making her feel warm and just a bit giddy, even though it could not have been from recalling other times with other children. Maximus was quite unique in her travels, being the youngest adventurer she'd met who could fight off such dangerous foes. She'd never had to care for so many wounds on a child before, and so had never had to see one quite so bandaged. But all the same she felt that familiarity, and the warmth she felt grew hot in her stomach.
Another time, she repeated to herself.
"Come here, Maximus. You can sit on my lap and feast upon a snack from my satchel while I tend to those," she offered, forcing a soft laugh. This could be a good morning if her thoughts would let it be one. She leaned forward to gingerly take his little hands in hers and spare her handiwork from the night before.
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