Private Tales There is Only One Motion

A private roleplay only for those invited by the first writer
"Not quite. She's pretty nice. I expected she'd be more bitchy."

Elias loosened his grip on Ralene and kept his arms lazily slung around her as he answered. The thought of meeting his sister wasn't one he ever frequently had, so he couldn't say for sure that he had any specific expectations of Elspeth.

It was good that she was kind. Stubborn, and strong willed as he'd rudely put it before, but kind. He couldn't say she was a boring girl, and slowly Elias began to anticipate meeting her again.

Elias stared off at the ocean. Licked his lips. Salty. His demeanor soured.

"How was she when you and Ed rescued her?"
 
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Even if the evening wasn't going according to plan, Ral couldn't say she'd complain about how it was presently going. A physical beast in her own right, time spent in another's arms without a battle was time well-enjoyed, especially when the walls came down. She could feel Eli's heart beating against her in his chest and discovered if she stared without focusing out across the waves of the ocean, the rhythms almost matched.

"She was scared," Ral replied quietly after a chance to recall that mission, "but not ... helpless like you'd expect of other nobles. She hid herself in plain sight as a barmaid. Didn't want to trust us at first, didn't want to make it easy for us to rescue her either. She wanted to stay so she could help the people there."

Ral's brow furrowed slightly, "She's one of the few people I've met that I would say genuinely gives a shit about others."
 
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Elias ran his hands over Ral's arms, gently kneading her muscles. He enjoyed doing this with Ralene specifically. To feel the muscle that had been built up over years, hardened to the point that they felt like corded iron. His touch trailed up her biceps and to her shoulders.

"Isn't that just special," Eli leaned forward and nuzzled into the back of Ral's head. He closed his eyes.

"So she's kind and beautiful, with some grit too." Then Elias grumbled to himself, "Ollie's gonna have his hands full."
 
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The massaging kneaded against the dying embers of pain in her muscles, stinging and sore so much more than they had any right to be. Like the delicate, hyper-sensitive nature of burnt flesh to touch that saturated layers deep, down to the bone. Ral winced against it and did her best to bite back any sounds of distress, finding some strange semblance of relief as his hands migrated up her arms.

As if the effort were releasing the last of the hot coals in her veins and finally allowing the ocean breeze to cool her skin.

When he reached the bulk of her shoulders though, Ral couldn't hold back the hiss of pain and gripped at Eli's thighs at either side of her. She wanted to ask who Ollie was but instead it came out: "Fuck - everything burns."
 
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Elias breathed in deeply, filling himself with Ralene's scent. Then sighed heavily, his hands pausing from traveling further across her skin.

"I gave you too much," Elias reflected, and a long pause fell between them. "I just wanted you to go higher."
 
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Ral wasn't one to let her emotions get the best of her, but presently the struggle between the desire to peel herself away from Eli and away from the pain and wanting to remain as she was just for the comfort that the closeness of his presence and touch brought ... it was not one she'd ever dealt with before.

There was also the concern of what had just transpired - something she'd had no control over - and the agony she'd endured during it. Made her wonder about the newest piece of ink on her back that Alistair had finished nearly two months ago. And the dragon she'd hunted down with Sagarus. What had actually happened there at the end? And how the fuck was it related to tonight?

The flush of Eli's breath across her neck brought her back and she relaxed the grip of her hands on his thighs enough to curl one hand over to her opposite arm where her fingers kneaded at the muscle his own hands already had. Still sore, but no longer painful. The crack of a half grin to her face, "Never would have hit those clouds without ya," and she gently tipped her head back into his with a nudge.

Her same hand found his where it had stopped just below her shoulder and squeezed. Much like his boost of power earlier - "It's ... helping. Keep going?" but at least a shoulder rub wouldn't unleash a dragon.
 
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Elias smiles, but there is no joy in it. "Yeah," he says with a grunt as he shifts behind Ralene to make a bit of space. "How 'bout I do it properly," the Dreadlord-to-be says aloud to nobody in particular and begins to effleurage Ral's shoulders—up her delts, then across her traps. He rubs his comrade's muscles with flattened hands, gradually increasing the pressure until he is deeply kneading his thumbs and the heels of his palms into her shoulders.

The technique is clearly a practiced one, though this is the first time Ralene would have experienced it from him.
 
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Exhausted in a way she couldn't recall being in many years, Ralene was almost too tired to be confused by what he meant in saying do it properly. The moment his hands connected with her shoulders again caused her to wince and brace against those first flows of contact that released the initial fire from her veins and muscles. Eli would feel the heat dissipate through his hands, though if that felt any different than normal for him was anyone's guess.

Ral began to relax then, arms slung loosely over knees, head slightly hanging forward.

"Where... did this come from?" she managed through a wince as his hands found a particularly stubborn knot. He'd laid his hands on her plenty before, both in aggression and in intimacy (sometimes even both at once), but never like this.
 
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"Used to be a wench that would do this for me," he answers and, with one thumb over the other, twists and kneads into her shoulder, just at the base of her neck, to loosen up the taut sinews there. "I learned a couple things."

Ral and Eli were two who spent countless hours honing their bodies to perfection. They shared tips and training often, and for all of the time they had fought together, the hours they spent practicing eclipsed that threefold.

"It's worse than I could've expected," Elias muses, and he can't begin to imagine how badly the rest of her body needs the same treatment that her shoulders are receiving. "How about maybe twice... er, at least once a week, I do this for you? It'll make you feel loads better, I reckon."
 
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As accustomed to living in discomfort and with various levels of wounds, injuries, and pain on a daily basis, Ralene found herself a bit surprised by just how tender and sore some of these spots were that he found. Her face shifted between winces and cringing, lip curling as his thumbs hooked into a particularly angry spot between her shoulders.

Who was this wench he spoke of and how much did she cost?

"It's worst than I could've expected."

"You're tellin me-" Ral did her best not to flinch away or strain against him, "gehh."

Hell she'd pack that wench away in her trunk once she graduated and take her off to Holstag's keep. Sure, he'd probably be cross but Ral was pretty sure she could convince the man it was a good idea once the wench got her hands on him, too.

"You'd do that?" a dark brow arched back at him over her shoulder before she gave a snort at her own idea, "Gonna join the Knights with me after graduation then? Be a hell of a lot easier to convince Holstag to take you in than that wench..."
 
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"The woman passed a while ago," Elias says casually, like one would when commenting on the weather.

His thumbs pause for a breath and soon continue without another break in rhythm.

"You serious?" Elias makes a low noise in the bottom of his throat. Something between a grunt and a chuckle.

He isn't like Ralene, not a bit. The boy is firmly aware that he's still kicking only because of the extraordinary gift he'd manifested.

"I'd make a piss Knight, though. No discipline. No, uh, burning patriotism. You know, I'd been hoping for a real laid-back and lavish life after graduation. Then everything had to go and change on us." He whispers his thoughts, a bit skeptical about sharing them even after all this time. "But, hey, yeah. I'd do that for you."
 
"The woman passed a while ago."
"Pity."

She wasn't actually sure if she was serious. The Knights had hand-picked her alongside a select few other students in their youth and spent the last ten years grooming them for the job. Elias hadn't been one of them; he was absolutely right, his personality didn't lend well to the sort of warriors found among the ranks of the Knights. Ralene wasn't entirely sure she could convince Holstag to let him in - the old man wasn't a fool and he kept tabs on the other Initiates for the off-chance one of them survived and developed into the right sort that would make a good Knight.

Elias was powerful and highly skilled in combat. He could kill effectively, there were no doubts about that. But his temper was about as predictable as the weather on the southern seas.

Ral made a noise of thought, brow furrowing, "What would you do otherwise? Reserves and go work for one of the noble families? ... exile?"
 
"Maybe," Elias replies gleefully, "Maybe I'll be dead tomorrow. Or in a week. Not even have to worry about it all."

He shrugs, and his hands pause against Ral's back. Knighthood would at least keep him sharp, Elias thinks to himself. Much sharper than the Reserve would. And while he enjoys freedom, exile was certainly out of the question. There was no desire to see the world, nor is there for throwing away all his current and potential comforts as a Dreadlord.

"I don't know."
 
That was a rather ... bleak outlook on things, even for Elias. He could be morose and grumpy at night, but Ralene couldn't recall him being quite so defeatist or existential before. It was weird and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Her silence hung for perhaps a bit too long after he stopped speaking.

"Mm ... I can put in a good word for you with Holstag," she offered at length, a delayed smirk pulling at her lips as she straightened her back and rolled her loosened shoulders, spine loudly cracking in response, "may have to fib a little. Tell him that you'll at least listen to me ... usually."
 
"Nothing like being indebted to keep the ol' behavior in check," Elias thinks to himself that he must be a lot better at massaging than he'd been giving himself credit for. It seems to him that Ral intends to do a lot to keep those hands of his around. He gently pats her shoulder once.

"I'd appreciate that."
 
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Well, that wasn't quite what she'd meant. Having Elias in her debt wasn't the goal here - giving him a purpose beyond the listless I don't know was her aim.

The Anirian Knights weren't exactly living in the lap of luxury, but they were well paid and well cared for when they were home. The missions were interesting and more importantly challenging, and then every now and then they got tossed into warfronts with the rest of the Guard. At least as a Knight they had a bit more autonomy over themselves than the basic footsoldier. More opportunity as well, especially for a higher level Dreadlord which she had zero doubts Elias would attain.

It would suit him better than becoming some noble house's errand boy or body guard. What a drag that would be and what a waste of his skills, powers, and talents.

Ral took hold of the hand on her shoulder, gave it a squeeze in response, then pulled it down and around her middle, tugging Eli closer before leaning back into him.

"We could have some fun as Knights, you and I."
 
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"Sure," he says as she settles into him. His other arm snakes around her, and Eli leans forward to rest his chin on Ralene's shoulder. "You're always a good time."

And there aren't any others Elias fully trusts to have his back when things get rough. She's always (well, mostly always) patient with his capricious nature. And it's always been easy for him to keep his wild temper in check around her.

"When you're not... giant and scaly, anyways."
 
"Yeah..." Ral frowned. This wasn't going to go away, was it? Something told her she'd need to find someone to talk to about it but she had no idea who that someone should be. A Proctor? Another Dreadlord? Had there ever been one before with this ...problem?

"I'll try to keep that in check."

She'd never dealt with being given the magical power of another before so ... maybe this was a one-time thing. Maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe if she just left it alone it would go away. Maybe she was an idiot.

Ral leaned her head against his and let her gaze linger over the dark line on the horizon where the sea and the night sky swallowed one another, "You going to help me in the forge again tomorrow?"
 
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It was just a joke, but Elias had a way of flourishing his childish humor at the worst of times. It was a talent, really. Not everyone could be so obnoxious.

"Unless we go back to the old ways and somebody stabs me in the back when I go to take a piss, then yeah. I'll be there."

He remembers the exhaustion from before. He frowns, never recalling another time that he had felt such a thing from using his magic in such a way. Perhaps it was a one-time thing. A fluke. Though it raised concerns, it wouldn't stop him from helping Ral.

Eli nuzzles underneath her jawline and closes his eyes. Knighthood with her didn't seem like such a bad deal.

"I'm kinda jealous that little Al gets a fancy new toy," Elias says with a playful, lighthearted tone. He knew the project was a challenge for Ralene. It's an opportunity to learn and also one to put into practice what she's spent years mastering. "You ever gonna make me anything?"
 
That was just what she wanted to hear. Ral smirked with a short breath of amusement. Meant she could get so much more done this weekend and maybe the progress would keep Al off her back for a while. Had another mission to rove out for so it'd be some time before she could work on the runesaber again.

Relaxed and content to be nuzzled and held as she was, a deep and slow breath sighed out from the Initiate. A quiet brow larked at her companion. To be perfectly fair, that she was building a weapon for Alistair was quite a surprise, even for her. A year ago she would have laughed at the idea ... but a year ago she'd been a different person.

"Maybe," Ral turned her face into his hair and was greeted by the strong aroma of the sea. He was still a bit soggy from his earlier swim, not that she really cared. She'd always enjoyed the ocean.

"What do you want me to make you?"
 
Eli softly laughs. It's muffled as he nudges deeper into Ral's neck, "I don't know. I don't really use weapons."

Though he could keep up with the best of those that did. Eli prefers to fight with his hands and feet. His body is a weapon, he'd say to anyone that pressed the topic. And he's adept enough to improvise with anything he could get his hands on at the moment.

"You could always surprise me."
 
"I know."

Worked with him enough to know he'd be the first one out of the boat with his bare hands. They all had their thing - Eli's just happened to be not using weapons. He didn't need to with the amount of firepower he had at his disposal. It was Initiates like Elias that had made her as hard and ruthless as she was.

Ralene didn't have immense magical power like him - she had her knowledge, her intellect, and her willingness to do whatever it took to come out a victor. For now, that had been enough to garner her a position with the greats of her class.

"Surprise you..." she was going to have to put some effort into thinking of something that would actually do that. A rumble of thought reverberated in her chest. Taking weapons off the table greatly reduced her ability to make something useful for him, though it did leave her with the option for pieces of armor or some kind of apparel or accessory. Now that she'd made at least one working amulet there was a whole aspect of forging and alchemy she could pursue: enchantment.

"Did I tell you about the amulet I made in Wissburg?"
 
She smiled briefly into his hair, "Yeah."

A beat went by, Ralene's stomach gurgled and she winced at the sound.

"Was that me or you?"
 
"Dunno," Eli responds almost groggily and leans his head into the girl with a bit more weight. With all of the excitement that had happened, from Ral's new spell to what had happened far above the cove, Eli's body had forgotten that it was well into the nighttime hours.

"Tell me something 'bout your mission in Wissburg."
 
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