Of Akvatari Bondage - Emmadalor

[Colombina]

20-21st of Winter, 512 AV: Continued from here. Lifting his glass in cheer, Rezon politely clinked it against Emmadalor's. Her gratitude was not lost on him. It encouraged him to continue to press through the melancholy she wreathed around herself. "To joy," he said with a grin. While Emmadalor daintily sipped her elixir, Rezon foolishly gulped his. His eyes watered a trace and his voice was held aloft between a wheeze and a laugh. "Oh, Syna, that's terrible." His warm laugh won out in the struggle. "I'm trying to remember a worse taste. Maybe bilge water, or kelp beer?" Not wanting to be perceived as a coward he continued drinking the tonic. "I hope yours is better, or I have done us both a disservice." Rezon kept a pleasant pace of conversation as Emmadalor sipped her violet colored brew. He had a talent for telling a story, and displayed a breadth of knowledge that was more practical than pedantic. Each topic seemed a newly found bright thing, brought out to please the Akvatari, like seashells freshly plucked from the break water for her to peruse. As Emmadalor was reaching the dregs of her glass, Rezon was concluding the myth of Eypha and the river god. "...And that is why Eypharians have so many arms. Or so it is said. It is interesting that such a proud people would embrace as their origins a simple love story." Rezon paused to read Emmadalor's expression, unsure of whether or not he was succeeding in his attempts to charm and entertain. He had never felt particularly talented at either, but the Akvatari seemed in sore need of distraction. Understanding the feeling of being seemingly lost at sea, he was nimble to mend the feeling in others. "So what do you hope to find here in Ahnatep, Emmadalor?" He asked thoughtfully.

[Emmadalor]

Emmadalor listened in fascination as Rezon told her stories she had never heard before. She'd had no idea the world outside Abura was so fascinating. Not to mention it was a welcome distraction from the blandness of her drink. She had to drink it slowly to be able to swallow it at all, but at least it didn't taste like...what had Rezon said? Bilge water. And taking her time gave her a chance to listen to the Eypharian's stories, to spend more time in his company. It had been so long since someone wanted to spend time with her. She wanted to make this moment last as long as possible.

When he finally reached the end of his tale, she was left with a pensive frown. "Why is it strange that they would embrace a love story? Love is... so powerful. I can't think of anything I'd rather have... to... explain where I came from..." Her voice broke on the last several words, and hot tears streamed down her face as she tried to keep her sobs under control (so as not to disturb the other patrons).

"I...was in love," she told him through her tears. "My...my heart was...broken!" She buried her face in her hands, unable to contain her sorrows any longer. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be troubling you with this. I just... I just wanted to start over, somewhere new. Somewhere nobody knows me. Where people wouldn't know...how unworthy of love I am!" This last confession sent for a fresh burst of tears. She was no longer concerned about disturbing others; her pain was far more important than their comfort.

[Colombina]

OOCSorry to have taken so long, since it was an edit it didn't show up recently on the "view your posts", which is how I normally keep track of what's been answered. Herp Derp. Rezon's expression of polite interest paled into one of mild panic. Some men were so exposed to a woman's tears they had built an immunity to their effects, Rezon was not one of those men. All the women of his acquaintance were covetous of their tears, so he was at a loss when met with them in such a public fashion. It was one thing to cry alone, another to bawl in public. He scanned the table for linen napkins and his hands fumbled about his person for some sort of handkerchief. What he produced was mildly embarrassing, a practical thing made to be tied about a sailor's neck, embroidered with letters from the Arumenic alphabet. It was thrust into Emmadalor's hands in a frantic fashion. "Er...Don't cry?" He winced, knowing it was not the proper thing to say, but having no better words. "I mean things are bound to get better." Distraction, distraction, where could he find one that would stop a woman's tears!? A few disapproving female faces were turning sharply toward him, pinched and pale with spite. They had assumed he was the source of Emmadalor's pain. A cad who dragged her out on Cheva's day only to break her watery heart. Rezon had seen a great many things, but few were as terrifying as this frigid contempt. He feared the women might grow claws and tear him to pieces. One shook her head and mumbled, "Couldn't wait til after Cheva's day..." Rezon hunched lower over the table, trying to make himself a smaller target. "Maybe some air would help?" he added weakly.

[Emmadalor]

Emmadalor's body was wracked by sobs deep in her throat. Her pain was still so fresh, she couldn't control herself. Every sadness and regret was pouring out of her all at once. She held the handkerchief numbly, not really understanding its purpose. She was oblivious to their observers. If she'd ever had an audience before, they were always Akvatari, who understood, so she had no notion that she was making anyone feel uncomfortable.

At Rezon's suggestion they get some air, she tried to pull herself across the sand to the exit. But her arms were too weak from the continuous crying, and she flopped to the sand. Lacking the will to go any further, she rolled over onto her stomach, wrapping her wings around herself like a blanket.

Words and persuasion were unable to reach her. The emotion had too tight a hold on her. There was nothing to be done but to cry herself out. And that could take bells. Later, when she realized what grief she was causing her only new friend, she would feel even worse, but for now, all she could feel was everything she had done in Abura, and everything she had left behind.

OOCI'm so sorry Rezon! I tried to get you out of that situation, but it's just not going to happen XD

[Colombina]

OOCThe idea of a hysteric Akvatari refusing to "walk" then rolling on the floor crying is kinda hilarious. Not gonna lie. Rezon's leading hand was pulled immediately to the ground, tilting half of him with it. He grunted with surprise as he was thrown off balance. Saving himself, he abandoned any hope of leading Emmadalor out gently. What had begun as a small display was now a full spectacle. People stood from their chairs and the Dhani proprietor, Lanendiarasssken, was beginning to notice. "Take her elsssewhere!" Rasken demanded without pity. A writhing Akvatari did nothing for business. While he didn't mind a reputation for strong brews, he would not have it said his concoctions reduced customers to sniveling balls. Rezon tried to find a place for leverage on the Akvatari. He didn't want to hurt her, but the look in the Dhani's eyes said the Eypharian needed to remove her now. "Please, Emma. We really must go..." He looked around with a grimace and waning color. Emmadalor was still unmoved by his entreaties. She had wrapped her wings about herself and decided it was high time for hysterics. Any suggestion to the otherwise did not pass the colorful barrier she had made for her face. "You leave me no choice," the Eypharian announced with mild sternness. Using all of his arms, he managed to roll and tug her into a portable state. He was carrying her out, whether she liked it or not. Though deaf to the world, Emmadalor could feel the sunlight on her skin as she was transported outside. "I'm taking you to a medic, or something of the like!" Rezon announced in a tone that managed to wed exasperation with concern. "And that's that!"

[Emmadalor]

OOCI live to amuse

In her misery and despair, Emmadalor almost didn't notice Rezon picking her up. But once outside, the dry breeze on her wings made her aware of her change in surroundings, and the comforting sensation of many arms holding her close made her feel just the tiniest bit less abandoned and alone. She haltingly waned her tears down to sniffles, just in time to hear Rezon's last few words.

She unfurled one of her wings just enough to peep out at the man carrying her. Her eyes were red and her face blotchy. She had no will to refuse his decision, and in fact was more than willing to go along with whatever plan he had in mind. "Why are you being so nice to me?" she mumbled, her prior experience not allowing her to believe that anyone could possibly find her worth helping.

[Colombina]

Emmadalor's question momentarily baffled the young Eypharian. "Why wouldn't I be?" And that little phrase was part of the beauty of his nature. He hefted her a little higher, adjusting her weight. Akvatari were denser than they looked. "This'll do," he finally said of a modest looking building with a foreign inscription over the lintel. After pressing the carved screens open that served as doors, he spoke to a young woman in Arumenic. A few glances were given the blotchy Akvatari who had cried herself to exhaustion. After a little more conversation, Emmadalor was deposited on a cot in another room, while Rezon was shuffled out. "You're just over-tired," a feminine voice observed, "Drink this and lie down for a bit. It will soothe your nerves." One hand pet the Akvatari's brow, "Your friend is going to get you some food for when you come around." The drink smelled of chamomile and had a wonderfully calming effect. It felt like sinking into warm tides under sunshine. It bid Emma close her eyes and dream of rosier things than the bands about her heart. Voices filtered into the haze of her thoughts but she could not rise to reach them. "Gone?" Rezon asked. "Yesss," a sibilant voice answered. "She felt better and wanted to sssee the parade. We could not keep her asss she ssseemed in good health." "How long ago?" "Half a bell, you may find her ssstill." What a pretty thought. Rezon would look for her. A wave of sleep pulled over her skin again. It was like laying in the sand at high tide. When she awoke, the day had spent itself. Or so it seemed. It was dark, but light striped her in thin lines. A curious sky indeed. It took a few blinks longer to realize her new room: a box. She was in a box, nestled in a bed of fabric.

[Emmadalor]

Emmadalor fell into sleep with relief. It was so exhausting sometimes, living with the pain, remembering every terrible thing that had happened to her, that she had done.

She awoke feeling better than she had in...well...years probably. Though that feeling was short-lived. She tried to sit up, to get her bearings, but when she tried to stretch her wings, they were bound by the edges of the impossibly small room she seemed to be in. How had she gotten here? Where was Rezon? She reached out her hands, trying to determine the size of her prison, and trying not to think about how cramped she felt.

Unable to take it anymore, she pounded on the walls and started shouting. "Hello? Is anybody there? Let me out! Please let me out!" Her words quickly turned into a wail, anguished enough to touch even the stoutest heart. (She was unaware that it would touch them in more via annoyance than pity.) When she was not instantly released and thrown into the sky, she peered through the slats in the box, trying to see where she was.

[Colombina]

The room beyond Emma's cage was pale adobe with windows near the ceiling. A table and hearth were within the narrow purview of the slats in her box. An older Eypharian of decent means was talking with a Viper Dhani. "I can't find a placssse for an Akvatari. She couldn't afford her debtsss to me, sssso I will sssell her for four hundred mizasss." "Four hundred? They're rare but useless. One-hundred." "Obsscene nonsssensse, they are learned. Good for tutorsss. And they have wingsss..." The bartering over Emma's future continued as each railed and flared over offensive offers. Her talents and deficits were strung up and evaluated with shrewd eyes. How their appraisals might wound the living creature in the box, didn't even flicker in their consciousness. It was a pantomime, rehearsed as the purchase of a rug. Her whole worth was finally reduced to coins and the sale was made. Even her personal effects were handed over to the Eypharian in the bargain. He paused at the kerchief Rezon gave her, squinting at the Arumenic embroidered in it. It troubled him enough to make him take a seat and splay it on the table in front of him. "Where did you get this?" he asked the box Emmadalor inhabited.

[Emmadalor]

Emmadalor quieted down just enough so that she could hear what the voices outside were talking about. They began discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the Akvatari, though considering they had never met her, she cold not help but assume they were making everything up. She protested shrilly when her belongings were handed over. "Those are MINE! Return them at once!" Her maps and sketches were in there... the only thinks on this world which distracted her from her bitter loneliness.

At the Eypharian's question, the Akvatari stubbornly settled to the floor of her crate. "I do not know what you mean, for I cannot see what you are referring to from within this box." In truth, until seeing it again through the slats of the box, she had all but forgotten Rezon's kerchief, having barely registered him giving to her. upon being reminded of Rezon's existence, she emitted a piercing wail from her throat. He had left her after all. Was she doomed to have all those claiming to be friends abandon and betray her? Sobbing so hard she almost felt as though she were vomiting, she moaned, "I truly have no friends in this world! Even Rezon has left me to this cruel and mysterious fate! Is there no one who could stay with one such as I?"