Completed Fortune Turned

[Garrod Arlette]

The look on Detlef's eye was all the Hunter had to see. He cleared his throat, and sat up a bit straighter, a hand quick to button up his shirt some.

It was uncomfortable, yes, but, well... That was her brother. Garrod had no sisters of his own, but he was no stranger to creeps being just a little too casual. Gods. Was he one of those creeps?

He blinked his eye and looked away as the retelling occurred. Answering whatever question came his way, briefly and, with some necessary omissions. He definitely did not like the look behind Detlef's eye when they got to the story of the fight in the demon realm. He could do little more than bow his head and accept the unspoken scorn.

Hell, he felt it too. He... Well. It was behind them now. He would just have to... make up for it somehow. How the hell was he going to do that?

The talk turned more... familial. The tension seemed to bleed out a little as the magick did its work, and Lechies' wounds took on the familiar silver of healer's work. A private thought popped into Garrod's mind. Less clothes, warm embraces and fingers tracing over silvered lines.

His eye went wide with realization and he averted his gaze. Looked at one of the many books on Janik's shelves. A laugh bubbled through the air, and his eye found Detlef again. "Right," he said with a cleared throat.

The new shirt covered the wound, dark rusted red stained through the light colored fabric.

"Should I... remove my shirt?" Different healers had different practices. Many could heal without sight but, well, best to ask in his experience.

 

[Lechies Delrio]

Detlef blinked. The way his smile widened, he looked not unlike a cat offered a juicy morsel of chicken.

"'Twould be best, yes. I do prefer to see what I'm mending, after all."

He glanced sidelong at Lechies. She was doing an admirable job of maintaining a look of indifference, but with her hair tied back there was nothing to hide the way a flush crept up her neck, turning the tips of her ears rosy.

"That being said," Detlef continued, sounding delighted, "perhaps we should ask our fair ladies to leave the room."

He looked to the guard, whose eyes darted uncertainly between them. "Um."

"We can do that," Lechies chimed in, and came off the desk she'd been sitting on. "No need to worry; even if my brother was foolish enough to try and help him escape, you'd still have me in custody."

One could almost see the moment the guard apparently decided that going against three of Damelin's guests at the same time was above her pay grade. She sighed and opened the door.

"As you wish. Please don't take too long."

 

[Garrod Arlette]

Garrod blinked. Swallowed some spit. "R-right," had already started to peel the stolen shirt. But, Detlef interjected. Garrod laughed nervously. "Right," he let go of the hem of his shirt, and looked to Lechies. Found himself blushing as she hurried the guard away.

Had she always been so smooth?

He guessed their adventures had never really called for it. Or the wilds had a certain affect on their nature. He grinned at that, a bit shameless.

They left, and the door shut behind them. Garrod gulped and pulled his shirt off, revealing the red wound raked across his chest. Deep, and grossly sealed with flame. A desperate gambit. His old adventuring crest, mostly visible beneath the stinging wound.

Five roses, spread proudly with arms crossed before stout shield, branch and thorn tangled with each tool. A cruel sword for the black rose, a fine dagger for the blue, a proud hammer for the gold, a stave for the red, and a tome for the white.

"Had to act fast," he said, diving into an explanation, for fear of seeming, well, too stupid. "Blood mage and all," he said as if it were common knowledge to know how to deal with the bastards.

 

[Lechies Delrio]

Detlef gave a brief nod of thanks as Garrod's shirt came off. With Lechies and the guard gone, the jovial air that seemed to perpetually buoy him faded away into a more serious, professional countenance. He made no outward reaction to the tattoos, impressive as they were, as he stepped in. Only a contemplative "hm" echoed in his throat as Garrod explained his injuries.

"I've not had the misfortune of running across a blood mage myself, but if you thought self-cauterization was the best decision to make at the time, then all I can say is that you did a good job of preserving your own life."

Detlef placed his hand over the ugly, blistered flesh. The glow about his palm strengthened, and as the magic began to weave into Garrod's wound, he would feel a sensation of softness and warmth and distant sweetness--fingers running over flower petals, or passing over a patch of young grass. The tightness in his chest would loosen, breathing coming easier.

"You were caught by the same beast that Lechies fought? The claws left a similar pattern."

Detlef wasn't looking at Garrod's face as he asked the question, and the way it had been said gave the impression of casual small talk, to ease the awkwardness of being in Garrod's personal space as Detlef worked.

 

[Garrod Arlette]

Garrod nod, and, sat in the quiet that fell between them. What else could he say?

Healers. Life at their fingertips. Calming and soothing. He felt himself relax some as the magick flowed in to his ruined flesh. Helped the wound cool. Felt the familiar reconstruction of fiber and muscle.

It always made Garrod feel funny. To be in a healer's hands. For all that he did was the antithesis of their craft. A hunter. Noct Yaegir. A killer for higher. Adventurer just made it easier to keep in town. Talk to the locals.

Why the rediculous sword and weird armor? Oh, an adventurer. They had been adventurers then too, hadn't they. His merry band of five.

You were caught by the same beast...

Garrod's eye widened some, his right hand instinctively clenched, and he could feel Belephus smile proudly behind his own eye. Could Detlef feel the demon inside him? His magick so linked to Garrod's own lines of mana?

"Yes," Garrod said simply. Let out long breath and felt his body slack some with the half truth he had offered. "We, well," he looked away from his hand, hid his missing eye. "It was the same beast, as you say," his voice was downcast.

"I feel no small measure of guilt for having failed to keep her from harm," he shook his head. "Not that, well... she was the one to fend the beast off in the end," he wore a wistful smile. "I likely would've died in the mirror, if it wasn't for her,"

 

[Lechies Delrio]

Detlef's eyes flicked upward at that. His gaze crossed over Garrod for a beat, then two.

"She said something similar earlier tonight. How you saved her life during that bandit attack near Vallond."

The verdant glow dampened some, and Detlef lifted his hand to inspect his work. The char and laceration had mostly disappeared, what remained well on its way to fully mending. However, from the shape and thickness of the magically-healed flesh, Garrod would most certainly take another scar away with him.

"If I know Lechies at all, any feat of saving you is just tit for tat. And anyway, I'm sure you're well aware that she mislikes holding anyone except herself responsible for her own safety."

A smile curled over his lips, but there was no playfulness to it this time. Only genuine kindness and gratitude.

"But as her brother, I thank you for watching out for her."

Detlef then considered Garrod's abnormal arm--the pale, almost shiny look to it. He tilted his head and held out his hand, clearly expecting Garrod to place it into his grasp that he might better examine it.

"And this? What sort of injury did the mirror's horrors inflict here?"

 

[Garrod Arlette]

Garrod laughed, small and warm with a nod of his head. "Aye," he agreed. He knew, as well as Detlef knew, Lechies could more than handle herself.

But as her brother...

That did surprise the hunter. The look in his eye wide with a hint of wonder. A warm smile slow to do away with some of the worry that lingered about the corners of his eyes, and the crook of his lip.

"Of course," he just said.

Detlef's gaze fixed on his right arm. The thing was starting to feel so... natural he didn't really register it at first. His own eye went wide again, this time with a cold splash of reality. But, Detlef had been nothing but kind. Professional. Garrod's brow scrunched.

"I'm... not entirely sure," he said. Another half truth. He lifted his white chitinous hand, the thing smooth and near seamless save for the long elegant lines and grooves that ran where bone and muscle once were, from his fingertips all the way to his shoulder, where his flesh met the pale plate, and placed it in Detlef's hand. This man who was blood to Lechies. "I... carried a relic," he began to confess. "It," he felt the fear well up inside of him. "Had a demon within, to which I was pacted,"

He was her brother. She had a demon too. Garrod could trust him. Right? If he could trust her, and this was her blood. If he had any hope of... he suddenly felt queasy.

Belephus smiled a wide and hungry smile. Fool Bearer Mine. He rumbled from the darkness of his mind.

 

[Lechies Delrio]

Detlef cradled Garrod's hand in his own, palm up. The other hand swept slowly, firmly up the length of Garrod's arm, tracing a silver vein line. He would press down here and there with a couple of fingers, seemingly fascinated by its contradictory qualities, rigid like armor yet also flexible as an arm should be. A green pulse of healing power, testing its effects.

A relic. Detlef nodded.

A demon within. Detlef stopped nodding, and his grip on Garrod's arm suddenly went tense.

His eyes snapped upward first, searching Garrod's expression for a joke. Finding none, he straightened. Glanced down at the silver arm with a thoughtful frown, before his gaze bounced back to Garrod.

"Hm. Is that so."

Detlef's tone was flat, in the same cold, closed-off way that Lechies sometimes sounded like when she was deciding whether to get angry or try for understanding. Perhaps it was a Delrio trait.

"There is much I could reply with here, Mr. Arlette. So very many words I could say to you right now." His smile returned, but it didn't reach the rest of his face. "But let me pose these words first: what are your intentions with Lechies?"

 

[Garrod Arlette]

The arm seemed to breath the magic in.

"Without a doubt," Garrod answered as he averted his gaze, his head filling . Come the question, his lone eye came back to the healer. Detlef Delrio. Lechies brother.

"None," he said flatly. Smiled. "Whatever intentions she'd have with me, Mr. Delrio," He laughed a little. Warmed by the prospect. "Grab a coffee, have some cake. Adventure together, maybe?" He smiled again, just at the thought of it. "Whatever comes after, comes in its time," it was no half truth.

 

[Lechies Delrio]

Detlef hummed, thoughtful, still scanning Garrod's face for any sign of insincerity or lies. Studying for the slightest hint that this pact-bearer spoke even the tiniest bit false.

But centimeter by centimeter, Detlef's smile spread to the rest of him, until his eyes were lit with a glow warmer than the pull of the candles around them.

"Then I have no objections to your lack of intentions." His hold on Garrod's arm untightened, and the hand that had been examining his arm went to clasp the monster hunter's in a firm, brotherly handshake. "I do not know how much you and Lechies have told each other, and it's not my place to intrude, but--I believe it is the right of every mortal to pursue their own happiness. And that includes the both of you, no longer what other burdens you may carry."

Detlef's gaze softened. "I have seen the way she looks at you, Mr. Arlette. I have never seen that look on her before. So please, continue watching over her.

"And to do that, of course, also means taking greater care of yourself." His grin went sharp. "I shall be very cross if I hear you are in need of my services again in the near future."

Detlef drew back then, and gestured at the silver limb. "Unfortunately, there's little I can do for your arm. The limb is not injured; put simply, there is nothing to heal."

 

[Garrod Arlette]

Garrod felt his face flush some, his smile remained, and he couln'dt help but to look away from Detlef. Only when the man took Garrod's left hand into a firm handshake, did Garrod's eye rise again to meet the brother's soft gaze.

Kind and sincere, words were shared with him. And Garrod could but listen to them. Struck by their earnest truth. The way she looks at you. Garrod's smile made a funny line, his gaze tender. A pat against his shoulder and a warning.

Garrod laughed. "Of course, Mr. Delrio, ," he said, still half naked as he was upon the table. He shook his head. "And please, just Garrod is fine," he shook his head, looked to his own hand, the one made of his own flesh and bone still.

"And," he looked back to the brother, reflected on the words he had shared. He laughed and grabbed up the shirt he had rested beside him. "Well, this is all rather new to me, to tell it true," he said with a funny look on his face. "The formalities," he said as he slipped his shirt back on. He sat in the feeling for a moment. "I apologize if my general lack of propriety well, causes friction at some point," he smiled sheepishly.

A warm haze, tinged with the cold anxiety that came with most new things in life. The unknown and unseen. Excitement founded in a feeling felt most deeply.

He had almost not heard the last bit. His eye went back to the arm. The thing that had turned into a sword that burned with green wrath. "No, I don't imagine there would be," he said, turned his hand one way, then the other, and rubbed his finger to the pads of each digit. He slipped the glove had been wearing on over it shortly after.

"I am in your debt, Mr. Delrio," Garrod said as he got up from the desk he had sat on. Gave him a slight bow, golved hand over his chest. He rose up, and felt more strength in his limbs. The food, and the gentle energies of Detlef's magick having done wonders.

 

[Lechies Delrio]

Detlef only grinned in his cat-like way, and went to call the women back in.

The guard was first to return, looking thoroughly relieved to be back at her proper post. Lechies followed after, lips pursed. Her eyes dartly sharply from Garrod to Detlef and back again, checking for outward signs that he had been subjected to any sort of interrogation--motivated only by brotherly love, of course. Finding nothing but the usual faint smirk on Detlef's face, his favorite mask, Lechies turned to Garrod instead, and put her hand in his. She squeezed gently.

"How was it? Any lingering pain? Or other issues?"

Her eyes were wide, intense. Did he say anything strange?

"How you doubt my capabilities, Lechies!" Detlef laughed. He swept a hand through his hair, the green sparkle of healing energy following in its wake. "He's right as rain now. Just be sure to heed my earlier advice, please. Even magically-healed wounds can re-open. Best refrain from any... strenuous activity in the coming days. At least until his strength and stamina fully return."

He had been looking directly at Lechies as he spoke, but here he glanced at Garrod, and flashed a wink. Lechies felt heat gather at the tips of her ears, and folded her hand back into her lap.

"... Your help and advice are most appreciated," she said, with more teeth than was probably necessary. "I expect you'll be returning to the party, then?"

"Hm, yes, I should. Margaret's probably wondering why our fine guard dragged me away all of a sudden. I should go allay her fears. If that's alright with you?"

He spoke to the guard, who had been watching the exchange with an expression like she was doing her best not to watch. The woman nodded, putting a fist to her chest.

"Yes, sir. Do you need an escort?"

"To be escorted by you again would be an honor, haha! But no, no need to trouble yourself. I know the way." Detlef bowed to the room as he left. "Look after these two for me!"

The door shut. The ensuing silence was broken by the guard's deep sigh.

 

[Garrod Arlette]

"No, no, its..." he squeezed her hand in return. Glad to have her touch returned to him. His eye found her gaze. It's fine, really. The look he gave her assured.

Detlef, confident man that he was, showed off some, green ether shimmering through his hair before he poked and prodded at his sister. Made sure to give Garrod his own dose of brotherly medicine.

The wink though, that had caught the Hunter completely off guard, and where his words still took some seconds to sink in, the roguish gesture struck Garrod like a well thrown dart. Made his cheeks flush ruddy, and had a coy smile creep across his lips as he looked away. Lechies' hand slipped out of his like a scared fish.

Garrod laughed. A small nervous thing. Not without its own warmth.

Lechies did her best to hurry him along. Her cool demeanor, a worn down, chipped and rough. Still proper though. Detlef took the glaring sign, and off he was.

Just Lechies, Garrod, and the guard.

"Mind uh, well, giving us some privacy?" Garrod asked, sheepishly.

The guard scowled at him. I just got back to my post. The look said.

"Just a moment, really," he asked kindly.

Maybe it was because she too was a commoner, or maybe she had just grown to not care anymore. Her eyes still squinted. "Fine, I'll be back in two minutes," she said, and stepped out once more.

Garrod grinned, and took back Lechies' hand. "Your brother is quite funny," he said, and pulled her close. "Said, you look at me special like," he teased, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Nothin much weirder than that though," he said and nuzzled her ear. "This arms made me more greedy, I think," he said through a smile. "Or maybe its just the whole, being honest,"

---

It wasn't too long after before one golden haired, captain of the Allirian City Guard appeared in the room. His eyes pointedly sharp as they looked at the way the two mangled adventurers held hands so... earnestly.

"Well," he said, with a sharpness to the tone of his voice. "We have found enough evidence within the journal, along with the chamber and the studies to substantiate your claims," he said to both of them, though his eyes were only fixed on Garrod.

There is no way in hell any of this would have happened if you weren't here. The look said.

Garrod bowed his head in acceptance of the statement. "Then we are free to go?"

Alonse closed his eyes and huffed. "Yes, Garrod," his eyes came open and he glared at the hunter. "Noct Yaegir, Monster Hunter, Resident Adventurer with residence in the Outer Ring's Iron district, " he wore a proud little smirk. "You are free to go,"

As if i would ever allow Lechies to be detained due to your debacle of an investigation you buffoon. Again, it was all in the eyes, and the raise of his chin.

Garrod laughed. "Right then," he said and looked to Lechies, gestured to the open door behind Alonse. "Shall we?"

Lechies Delrio

 

[Lechies Delrio]

Lechies sent a look of gratitude to the guard for her repeated act of lenience, but it was missed, the other woman not bothering to look back as she, probably gladly, removed herself from the room once more. Lechies could only glance at Garrod instead, brow pinched coyly. He took her hand, and she hooked her arms around his waist in turn, glad to be able to do so without pain now that Detlef had seen to both of them.

"My brother says a lot of things. I'm sure you realize this, but the man loves the sound of his own voice. And please don't tell him he's funny; his ego doesn't need the stroking."

Lechies hummed with contentment, sinking into Garrod's hug. She rocked them gently back and forth, and laughed. "Well, for what it's worth, I don't mind being stolen by you." Lechies leaned away to take in the view of him fully, a smile warm on her lips. " It's wonderfully freeing, isn't it? To be able to admit to your own wants, pursue your own greed."

Not even as bearers of demons. But as humans, ever chasing after their ambitions and dreams.

---​

When Alonse entered the study, face stern with the look of an authority figure ready to mete out punishment for an offense, Lechies wondered if she would have to goad him into another duel to keep his temper in check. But no, despite whatever feelings he may have harbored, Alonse had not forgotten that he was also Captain Dreixmond. Given what had transpired on the Damelin estate, and evidently had been transpiring for weeks, there was a duty to carry out, and it must come first.

The moment of tension between him and Garrod passed as quickly as it came. Perhaps the two had reached some sort of silent agreement, some wordless exchange of mutual respect. Lechies wasn't sure. The ways of warriors could be so foreign at times.

"We shall," she replied to Garrod. She would follow him out, but not before flashing Alonse a final, sheepish smile. "I'm terribly sorry about all the ruckus tonight, and all the work this will create for you."

Alonse only sighed. "Please, Lechies. We both know you're not the least bit sorry." The hard glint in his eyes briefly softened to something more gentle. "Always on the heels of danger... You really haven't changed." She gave no reply to that, so Alonse could only shake his head. "Just be careful out there on your adventures." His gaze darted to the door. "Let that oaf take the blows for you, if you must."

"Certainly. And may I just say how delighted I am that you trust Garrod with my safety."

"What? No, that's not what I-" He stopped at the broad grin on her face. Alonse put his face to his palm, and made a shooing gesture with the other hand. "Ugh. Just go, will you. Before I change my mind and drag him back here for further questioning."

"Of course, Captain. Have a good night."

Once back in the hallway, Lechies met Garrod's eyes, still bright with laughter from teasing Alonse, and immediately had to suppress the urge to twine her fingers with his. It wouldn't do for someone to see. Though, knowing what kinds of rumors would surely spring up about her after tonight's escapade, one more hardly seemed like a thing to worry over.

"I don't know about you, but I'm more than ready to leave this party behind. I'm going to look for my other brother, and his wife. I expect Detlef will have given him... Oh."

Detlef most certainly had given Allos at least a surface explanation of what trouble Lechies got herself into, because the eldest of the Delrio children was storming down the hall in their direction, face pale, red ponytail flapping behind him. Juliote trailed after, her dress bunched in her hands to keep from tripping on the fabric as she practically jogged to keep up.

"Lechies!" Allos paused to give Garrod a quick, stiff-necked nod of acknowledgement before he grabbed Lechies by the shoulders, eyes wild. "What happened! Detlef said you were hurt in a fight!"

"And is just fine now, by the look of her," Juliote called, panting slightly as she closed the distance. "Loosen your grip, love, or we'll have to call Detlef back for another round of healing. Hello, ser."

Juliote smiled at Garrod as Allos put his arms down and took a reluctant step back. Lechies's own smile was strained, almost guilty. Allos could be a great worrywart; another trait of many that he'd inherited from their father. His eyebrows looked about ready to leap off his face at the unkempt sight of her. "Oh, dear. Right, I suppose I should explain, yet again... But can we do it from the privacy of our carriage, please?"

---​

Lechies would make hurried introductions, and Allos would lend Lechies his coat to shield the still-healing gashes on her shoulder from prying eyes. And many pairs of prying eyes there were, latching onto Lechies and Garrod in particular, the hallways thick with whispering as a servant guided them to the front garden. Lechies couldn't help but duck her head a little. Even knowing that plentiful gossip about her passed among the gentry, it was one thing to hear her mother complain about them within the walls of their own home, and quite another to feel the weight of such stares for herself. Given the demon hiding beneath her flesh, it was only natural to be unsettled by a certain amount of attention.

Thankfully, their carriage stood with doors already open, Detlef waiting and evidently having seen to preparations. A pair of horses black as the night pawed at the stone, eager to move.

"There you are! I knew Allos wouldn't take long to find you. Shall I?" Detlef nodded at Lechies's bare feet, and motioned as if to bodily lift her into the carriage himself.

"Sure, thank you. Oh-" Lechies turned to Garrod. "I'd completely forgotten; do you need to send a message to your friend first? Gid- er, Master d'Raino?"

 

[Garrod Arlette]

Well, for what it's worth, I don't mind being stolen by you.

Garrod grinned. Lost in the dreamy look of her eyes. The warmth of her smile, spread across her pink lips.

It's wonderfully freeing, isn't it? To be able to admit to your own wants, pursue your own greed.

"I'd say so," he said, leaned close, and stole another kiss with firm press of his lips. Tasted the wet warmth of her mouth. His arms pulled her tight and against him, and he felt her pulse beat with his. Felt his breath taken by hers, and took hers in turn.

A brief bout of greed. But all their own.

---

"Everything go alright?" he asked as she returned from speaking with the good Captain. Her eyes said it all, and they turned to go. His hand wanted to wrap around hers, and he would let it. Had a man who looked like a different Delrio not been marching up the hallway.

A brief exchange of head nods, and Garrod just hung back, letting family be, well, family. Though he couldn't help but smile sheepishly in mild embarrassment. She had helped him after all. It was all his fault. She was just here for the ball. In... the manor of a man who possessed a demon mirror.

The woman who accompanied the brother must have been his wife. "Madame," Garrod replied with a gentle bow of the head to her greeting, and appreciated her cool and level headed manner.

Garrod nod his agreement. "I can recount the story next," he added with caution. "I'm a little less racked by, well, societal pressures, as it were," he smiled blissfully as he scratched at a snag of his borrowed shirt against his shoulder.

---

Garrod stood tall and straight backed, his eye uncarring to what the gentry whispered and said. Tired, yes, but from the battle. From the fight. From not being able to hold her hand due to the unspoken pressure their stares put upon them.

Allos seemed the most afflicted, and Juliote was a portrait of grace and dignity. Though he could see the worry that strained at the corners of her eyes.

No. To hell with them. Garrod took Lechies hand as they walked on. They had uncovered something. They had saved people. One of the gentry in fact! He did not glare at them. But he did not hid either.

At the carriage though, he felt the cold of the air. Detlef's warm voice called out, offered to help her up, and Lechies turned to him again.

"What?" he asked absently, looked down to meet Lechies' eye, his hand still wrapped around hers. He cupped it with his white hand. Could feel her warmth come through his new skin now, even through the lether of the glove they'd found him. "No, he'll be alright I think," he kissed her knuckles. "Let me help you up?" he asked with a smile, and without waiting scooped her up off her feet and helped her onto the carriage, into Detlef's arms.

He smiled at them all. Felt a little cold. Probably best he not.. get in. Right? "Well... I guess, we'll..." his eye looked to Lechies. And new he had already presumed so much. Stole more than was appropriate.

It was silly. But the same hurt panged in his heart as it had that day when he clutched her letter to his chest atop the ox-cart they'd won.

 

[Lechies Delrio]

Lechies made a half-hearted noise of protest as he kissed her knuckles again, almost afraid to see what sort of expressions her family were making at this public display. Detlef was, of course, absolutely delighted. Juliote as well, though she hid it better, her mouth a neutral shape with all the joy held in her eyes. Allos had a faintly puzzled but not displeased look, his attention mainly on Garrod, as if he might be able to take the warrior's measure if he stared hard enough.

It was going to be a long night.

Well, Garrod did admit his greed back there, and Lechies did admit in turn that she didn't mind. Perhaps she only had herself to blame for his aggressive affections.

And it was not altogether objectionable, knowing she could inspire this sort of reckless behavior in him.

Onto the carriage Garrod lifted her--a momentary sensation of weightlessness, cradled in the sturdy safety of his arms. To Lechies's credit, she managed not to squeak or otherwise emit any other embarrassing noises. Detlef helped her the rest of the way, and once seated on the cushions, Lechies nudged herself over to make room for Garrod. Allos helped Juliote on board from the other end, while Detlef climbed into the driver's seat.

An awkward pause, as all eyes went to Garrod. Still on the ground. Lechies glanced between them, blinking. Why wasn't he getting on?

"We'll...?" she parroted, head tilted.

Then she understood. Realized the hint of unhappiness behind his smile. How he stood apart from them, as if--as if he really thought he stood apart from them. Somehow unworthy, despite all he'd done, all the feats he could claim, simply by consequence of his birth. Sorrow burrowed into her chest, but Lechies was only kind as she scooted near him again, and extended a hand down.

"Would you like to come to our estate, Garrod?"

"We insist," Detlef said, reins in hand, eyes twinkling. "Stay the night, in fact!" He pretended not to notice how Lechies shot him a look, a silent warning to choose his next words with care. "A proper night's rest will do your recent injuries more good than any magic or medicine, and I can personally vouch for the softness of our guest beds. You'll sleep like a baby. Or like the dead. Whichever you prefer."

Juliote hid a giggle behind her hand, and Allos sighed. But he nodded in agreement as well. "As they have said, you are more than welcome to spend the night, Mr. Arlette. If nothing else, our parents will need to know what happened tonight, and I'm sure Lechies would appreciate your support in the retelling."

 

[Garrod Arlette]

Meet again, he was going to say. But the words died in his mouth.

Lechies repeated his awkward phrase, and looked confused, till the light in her hazel eyes seemed to shift. Brighter with awareness.

Would you like to come to our estate, Garrod?

We Insist.

As they have said... I'm sure Lechies would appreciate your support in the retelling.

He scratched the side of his nose and laughed. "Yes, I would very much like that," he said, his face warm and bowed, after his eye had bounced between the lot of them, it remained on Lechies alone. "If only to support," but the easy crook of his lip hinted at more.

At the appreciation of being invited. Welcomed. To be able to admit his own wants, and have her there, already saving him a seat.

He stepped onto the carriage, and took the space Lechies had made for him. Settled in close to her, slipped his left hand beneath her right, grabbed at her fingers in a way that had them twine between his knuckles, let their tips curl against his palm as he gave her a squeeze. He had to crane his neck to let his right eye see her, and opted better to just, rest his head against her.

A deep sense of ease washed over him. And he shut his eye for a sweet moment of bliss.

"This is nice," he said, soft and quiet.

The smell of fire and ice, the feeling of blood and fear, were done away with the soft scents of the carriage. Perfume that still lingered about Lechies, made stronger by her family. The scent of fine leather from the seats, the solidness of the construction.

What a far cry from the road this was. And yet. He gave her hand a squeeze again as he went on smiling. It felt so oddly familiar.

Lechies Delrio

 

[Lechies Delrio]

His fingers slipped between hers, and there was no protest on her part this time, not with the privacy afforded them by the walls of their carriage. Her family would just have to deal with it.

A contented hum echoed in her throat as Garrod leaned against her. He was a little heavy, but even so -- 'This is nice' -- there was no lie to be found there.

She turned her head towards him, relishing the brush of his hair against her cheek, breathing in the smoky musk that was uniquely him. A hint of perfume as well, lingering on the clothes he'd borrowed from Janik. Lechies thought about planting a kiss at his temple, but perhaps she was still more beholden to her upbringing than she'd thought, because the knowledge of her brother and sister-in-law's watching eyes kept her still.

She did squeeze back, though, stroking the length of his thumb with hers.

Lulled into a state of meditative bliss by the rumbling of wheels over cobblestone, and Garrod so very warm where he was pressed into her side, Lechies would happily have ridden in silence all the way back to the Delrio estate. Alas, there were accounts to give, a fact Allos reminded them of when he cleared his throat.

"Forgive me, I know you must be exhausted," he began, perfectly diplomatic in tone, though Lechies as his sister heard the undercurrent of 'I can't believe you're snuggling right in front of me' all the same, "but I must ask for a proper explanation. Detlef only cared to say that you had been wounded by some manner of wild beast, and that Master Damelin's guards had you in custody. Given that I'd last heard Captain Dreixmond stepped into the dueling square for your honor, you can well imagine how baffled I was at how matters could have escalated so dramatically." Allos gave a weak smile. "So, I beg of you. Tell me what in the gods' names happened."

Juliote put a placating hand on Allos's shoulder. "Aside from that, I'm sure there's also an interesting story about how this came about." She gestured at Lechies's and Garrod's intertwined hands. "I didn't take you the type for dalliances, Lechies. Or is that just the way of adventurers?"

Allos looked appalled by his wife's boldness, but Lechies only laughed. "We adventurers aren't known for discretion, no. I promise I will share the tale with you later, Juliote. But first," here she gave Garrod a gentle nudge with her shoulder, "I believe you volunteered to take charge of the recounting this time?"

 

[Garrod Arlette]

Garrod's eye popped open, and his head was slow to rise from the crook of Lechies' shoulder, a tired look in his eye, as if the brief moment of reprieve, the soothing rasp of Lechies' thumb gliding across the back of his, all tingling and bright and into him, as if it was all enough to lull him straight to sleep.

He cleared his throat. Blushed as the lady Juliote asked the real question, but he just held Lechie's hand all the surer, made to feel warmer as he heard her laugh. She nudged him. "Yes," he admitted, as his eye looked out the window and he held onto her hand. "Right," he looked back to Allos, and Juliote as the carriage rumbled on. "Well, you see, I was hired to investigate the manor..."

The tale came. Quick and to the point. How he and Lechies had adventured together prior, and that she had offered him her aide in the investigation only after the duel. "Knowing too well that my dumb luck wouldn't hold out," he added with a warm grin, his eye full of admiration as he looked to her.

He shared with them the details of the study. The map and all its markings. The journal, the secret bookcase. He skipped over a few things. Like the stolen kiss, the visions of fire, the syncopathic conversation he had with the beast. "The demon pitted us against each other," he told them, a measure of guilt clear on his face as his features tightened up. He knew that Lechies did not hold him wholly accountable for what had occurred. "I became a beast," he admitted. Something like the truth. "Lost in... something the demon had brought out of me," he bowed his head and raised Lechies hand to his lips once more.

Kissed her knuckles tenderly.

"Lechies brought me back," He confessed with a raw smile. Remembered himself. Cleared his throat, and went on with the tale. "When we left the demon's realm, we were ambushed by Janik, and Lady Forster acted as his unwitting accomplice," he leaned back again, and let their coupled hands rest easily between them, slid his grip around to let their palms meet, their fingers braided tight. "We were able to convince Lady Forster of Janik's intentions, and she, well, spared us," he smiled small. "So maybe my luck worked out just fine?" an impishness there in his lone green eye.

Lechies Delrio

 

[Lechies Delrio]

He joked, but the sentiment wasn't returned by Allos or Juliote sitting opposite. Both of them looked too concerned for smiling. Allos was even paler now than he had been coming down the hall to meet them back at Damelin's manor, and Juliote had one hand pressed to her chest, eyebrows high.

Silence would ensue for some seconds. Then Lechies squeezed Garrod's hand one more time and withdrew from his grip, to better make a grand gesture at herself using both hands. She smiled.

"Come now, was the tale that frightening? Not that I don't appreciate an invested audience, but you weren't nearly this alarmed when I recounted my other adventures on the way to the party."

"No, but..." Allos sighed and leaned back in his seat, fingertips pressed to his temples. "I suppose it didn't really strike me until now, just how close you actually come to death during all these escapades of yours. While it's true that Detlef already saw to your hurts, it's very clear that until recently, you were quite injured. It's so much easier to get wrapped up in the thrill and excitement of your stories when you don't look like a large, hungry animal got ahold of you."

No arguing against that. Lechies didn't consider herself someone bound by vanity per se, but even she felt some measure of guilt and sorrow at the damage her dress had sustained this evening. Not to mention the shoes, forever lost to the mirror. Perhaps Daranthii would add them to her eclectic collection.

Lechies had the good grace to look down. She toyed with one of her earrings, if only to make sure its sapphire was still attached. "That's true. I'm sorry, I don't mean to worry you. And I'm not just talking about tonight. I don't mean to worry any of you. This is just... how an adventurer's life is."

"Well, at least there'll be no shortage of tales for the bards to sell." Juliote had smoothed her expression back to one of gentle charm. "No point agonizing over what's already done. We're only relieved you're alright."

"No thanks to that Damelin! Really, what on earth was the man thinking?" Allos shook his head. "No regard or respect for the powers he toyed with! 'Twould seem only proper if his house fell right back into the destitution he dragged it out of!"

"Love," Juliote chided, but Allos only squinted angrily out the window.

"Lady Forster suffers no treachery. She'll not be amused to have been involved in this. Damelin will be lucky to have a cell above ground once she's through."

Allos would rant on for some time, declaring all sorts of unkind statements about Janik, which would eventually segue into a legend about one of his great-great-great grandfathers, and how rumors of the day insisted that this Damelin ancestor had romantic relations with one of his nieces despite no evidence ever coming to light, and that perhaps depravity simply ran through the Damelin blood if Janik was any indication, and so on and so forth.

He probably meant the chatter as a distraction from all that they had gone through, so Lechies let him speak to his heart's content. Her hand would again find Garrod's, seeking solace in his warmth, and let the rattle of the carriage and her brother's voice wash over her, a balm. She closed her eyes.

Not to doze, but to draw strength. The most difficult part was yet to come.

Explaining this to her mother.

 

[Garrod Arlette]

Garrod's smile quickly faded. "Right, pardon my callous humor," he suppressed the urge to smile wider, part of him even wanted to titter. "Way of dealing with the realities of the calling," he muttered to himself.

Lechies gave him a little squeeze. A reminder that he had not faced it alone, and that he was not alone in this either. His head really swam with everything, the press of her strength helped ground him. Kept him anchored amidst the warm sea of fire that stirred in his heart, hot enough to burn as the fuel of their shared ordeal lived again in his mind.

His wounds ached, and his changed arm felt cold. Alien. Not his own, yet his all the same. Lechies slipped her hand free and cut in to the conversation. His want for warmth so true, he felt the fluttering wings of grief glide across his heart. Cold as burning ice. His eye looked to her family as they traded words. Their eyes too, seem coated by that cold worry. That reality that loss of love had come so close.

Detlef had smiled and trusted easy, at least, after a few pointed questions. Allos and Juliote seemed more practical. More grounded. More forthcoming with their concerns.

He had been the hungry animal. And now they brought him into their home. He flexed his right hand, and felt the want to grin, but his face remained a placid mask. It would not do well to show doubt now, or seed more. He breathed in deep, the twinkle of the jewel upon Lechies' ear caught his eye.

The blue sapphire only served to bring out all her loveliness. He smiled, wistful.

Juliote's kind words came in before any more of his weird worries could take root. Allos gave voice to his feelings. Anger, frustration, a gentleman's fury if Garrod had ever heard or seen it. The fire of anger, oddly enough, warmed the tattered Yaegir. "Fuck Janick." he muttered with half grin. "May he rot,"

Twisted fingers bound he and Lechies together again, as Allos went on with his story, and the carriage rattled ever on its course toward the Delrio estate. Garrod let out a deep breath, and rest against the seat once more. Let his eye close again.

There was something about the way Lechies was sitting that made him feel as if the night's challenges were not over just yet. An electricity that sparked from her skin that made him think of storm clouds and lightning bolts. Flashes and rumbles. He squeezed her hand, as she had his.

I'm here with you.