Completed An Unexpected Rescue (Venser)

[Scarlet Rose]

24th of Summer, 514 AV Scarlet had only been in Ravok for the past 5 days and no matter how many bells she had traveled the canals and the foot bridges of the city she felt like she was in a dark labyrinth that continuously changed its paths. She had no idea how she found it back to the boarding house each night but when she did she always passed out with sore feet and exhaustion settled into her bones. She had to find her sister; this was the closest possible explanation to where the Kelvic would have gone if she didn’t stay in Nyka. Scar refused to accept the fact she might be dead yet, not until she searched all of Sylira would she accept the possibility of that outcome. I don’t even know her name. The thought echoed in her mind like a plague, how was she supposed to find someone she didn’t even know the name of? Her doubt planted itself like a seed in her mind though she refused to pay attention to it hoping if she ignored it that it would just go away. Determination was a great personality trait and so as she rounded the corner of yet another building she paused in the mouth of the space between the buildings she looked around suddenly trying to remember how she had ended up where she was. “Left … right … down a couple buildings … right …” She spun trying to figure out which way she had come; somewhere along the way she had stopped paying attention. Sometime when the doubt had settled in her stomach she had made a grave mistake. Facing between the buildings she thought she recognized a business that peeked through the gaps so she headed off in that direction, the bustle of the main canals and bridges quieting behind her. Her steps echoed between the buildings and she stepped with a sure foot despite being completely and utterly lost in hopes that getting lost might lead her to the one she searched for. There had to be a silver lining in this somewhere after all … it was her birthday. The sound of feet shuffling brought her thoughts to the present and it echoed slightly off the timing of her own steps. There were several dips and alcoves ahead of her but she glanced behind her anyways just to see if someone happened to be walking with her. She didn’t see anyone with her quick glance so she went back to facing forward and ran her fingers over the edges of her fitted brown shirt smoothing it along the tops of her pants so there was no skin exposed. Her shirt had long sleeves that were just a bit longer then her wrists, and her forest green pants disappeared into her matching brown boots. When her eyes faced forward again she saw no one in that direction either and though she slowed her steps a fraction of a tick she continued in the direction she was planning on going. Nothing seemed out of place after that muffled sound so when she rounded the corner that was leading towards the building the hand that suddenly wrapped into her hair and yanked her into a darker corner caught her off guard. Without thought her hands came up to try to pry the thick fingers from her hair, a cry left her lips in her shock but it was silenced as she was slammed into the back of a building. A dull pain ached between her shoulder blades and her eyes took in her attacker. He was a large man, heavy and sweating with breath that smelt like stale ale. Her eyes widened and she swore at him “What the petch?! Let me go!” Her words were followed by her knee trying to come up between their bodies and impale him where Syna sure as petch didn’t shine. Her knee collided with some squishy bit of flesh and her hands that were clawing at his in her hair finally broke skin; she could feel the lubrication of forming droplets of blood making her nails slide easier. He grunted and the twisted smile that fell across his chapped lips contorted in pain, she felt her body slide down the wall as he hunched but didn’t let go of her hair. Instead her attack only seemed to invigorate him despite the pain she caused, he tightened his grip on her hair and leaned in closer so she could now smell the scent of fish on his breath underneath the ale. Her stomach churned wanting to gag from the smells coming off him as he whispered in a deep scratching timbre “Oye, I like it when you struggle.” In the small space between them she abandoned her hands from his in her hair, her nails caked in his skin, dirt and blood as she tried to push against his body to give her frame more space to move so she could properly attack him. Her heart rate pounded in her ears and she could feel the panic rising under the surface of her skin as he pushed his body against hers finally, pinning her hands where she couldn’t get leverage. “Get ….off…” she growled between quickened breaths and her arms burned with her struggle to free them. She felt his breath on her neck at the same time one arm slid between the sweat of his body and now hers as her adrenaline kicked in. With her arm free she reached up to his face trying not to waste time she went for the only thing she could think of with her limited movement and she attempted to press her thumb into his eye socket causing him to bellow out in pain. Under her thumb she felt the softness of the socket giving way but that satisfaction was short lived for the struggling female. In the midst of his pain he jerked back from her but he also used his grip in her hair to slam her head back against the building making her vision swim and stars to blind her. “You little wench!” He growled out as he got ready to slam her head back again with one hand while his other went to cover the eye socket she had pressed into.

[Venser Rush]

A deep breath filled Venser Rush's lungs as he sat upon the docks. The Flux flowed through his body, the wellspring of his djed pulsing, expanding, reverberating through the layout of his astral pathways as he carefully guided the djed through the course of his body. Slow, sluggish work was what transpired, the djed flowing through the foundations of his body. Venser felt the familiar pulses, the spiking nature of djed rushing through his nerves.

The rhythm of djed pulsed, Venser's heart rate jumping as a result. He felt his eyes, closed against his lids, bulge in their sockets as the wellspring of the Flux echoed its emotional rush through his mind, bright, vibrant giddiness exploding through his thoughts as Venser raised his hands. He felt the Flux course through him, the power inevitably traveling through each hand in turn, fists clenching, nails puncturing the surface of his palms, but the pain was not felt. Blood oozed from the tiny wounds, immediately clotting and sealing them from further leaking.

Thoughts were clouded by the movement as Venser Rush's mind closed to the world around him, the movement of djed from his hands moving to his shoulders, then pooling within his abdomen and finally the Rush twin's legs. Powerful pulses of djed racked through the Fluxist's form, the deep, welling sensation compelling the Rush twin to open his eyes as his thought finally calmed. The settling of the djed for a temporary basis, that was the reason he had come out to the docks. The crisp sensation of evening wind, the light touch of Leth's light brought a sense of tranquility to the Rush twin.

This sensation is a lie. The feeling of tranquility and with it the concept of peace are lies. The Flux is the disruption of balance between the mind, body, and soul, by no means is it finding a balance. Intimate knowledge of the body is necessary, knowledge of djed and the identity of the soul is tantamount, and... the preservation of the mind is a necessity. The Flux is being able to preserve the tipping balance of each state and acting upon it.

The thoughts brought a resolute expression upon the Rush twin's eyes as he sought to improve himself. That was the reason he steered djed through his entire body this evening, intent on pushing beyond the limitations of driving djed in a single directions. Miro had showed him the true nature of the Flux in their combat, in the saving of his life. In the battles that Venser witnessed him fight in, and though Miro was much more powerful than he was with the Flux, Venser knew that despite the state, he was not inferior.

I will someday grasp at the reigns of his power...

The resolution coursed through his mind just as Venser's earns processed the sounds of a struggle taking place. From what he heard, it was one distressed woman being accosted by some stranger. Venser couldn't tell if either was a citizen or not, papers usually not presented for all to see, but he decided that he didn't care. The assault of a woman, with what Venser perceived as disturbing intent, was by no means allowed in the Rush twin's mind. He shook his head, rage pooling within his senses as he tugged at his djed. It welled within him, pulled from the depths of his soul as he siphoned djed towards his right arm, melding it within the astral pathways and pulling from it the inlaid djed of his arm.

His right arm went limp, utterly unable to be used as a grand pasture of djed was pulled from his arm and directed towards the other. Venser Rush's mind was directly and entirely towards the offensive. Lacking hand to hand experience, Venser's left hand imitated the posture of the wielding of his punch daggers. His left hand was slightly open at the opening of Venser's strike. He pulled his arm back as he took several steps forward, then set forth his fist. The trajectory was straight, though rather than striking him at the base of the skull as intended, the Rush twin made contact at the swell of the neck, his fist clenching at the last moment as the impact of the Flux heightened the speed and strength of his blow significantly.

A choked gasp escaped the assailant's lips as he collapsed against the woman's body, pressing his weight to her form before Venser used the remaining djed within his arm to pull the man off from her. The Rush twin did not yet smooth out his djed, instead keeping it within his arm, waves of deep, coursing pleasure welling within his body as he maintained the flow of djed, keeping it moving within his arm as he asked the woman,

"What happened here? This man looks to have assaulted you..." The Rush twin looked down at the body, intent on checking his pockets to see if citizenship papers existed. They did not.

An assailant without papers... Perhaps later I will report him to the Ebonstryfe. I could be rewarded for this... But, for the moment, I will question the victim.

[Scarlet Rose]

Scarlet used the space caused by her attacker’s recoil to attempt another slug of her knee between his legs. She felt her knee connect for a second time just before her head connected with the building at her back yet again. The pain spider webbed through the back of her skull and her vision darkened into blackness long enough that she didn’t see the other man approach but as it focused in and out she saw the fist colliding with the assailant. Again the blackness claimed her, breaking her concept of time for several ticks until consciousness returned she was on the ground and a heavy weight was being pushed off of her. Looking towards where she felt the weight rolled she slowly connected the dots noting the unconscious man and beside him someone crouching down to look through pockets as he spoke. "What happened here? This man looks to have assaulted you..." His words took a moment to process as her mind struggled to stay conscious and focus on his questions. Pushing herself into a better seated position she reached up and touched the back of her head where it had connected with the building, a swear was whispered under her breath when her fingers touched tender flesh. She was definitely going to have a bad bruise there probably within the next bell or two, she was just happy she wasn’t bleeding. Unfortunately a concussion was definitely a possibility and when that thought crossed her mind she turned golden hues onto the man in front of her again. “I’m fine …” She murmured and looked around to see if they were the only ones in the area. “…I mean … thanks … I’m fine, yeah he attacked me. I could have handled it ... eventually, just a few more kicks would have dropped him ... maybe....” With a frown tugging at her lips she reached out and used the wall to start inching her way into a standing position. Her progress was slow and her breathing was taken in slow deep inhales and exhales so that her vision wouldn’t swim again. Pausing halfway she leaned her lower body against the wall and placed her hands on her knees in her hunched position staring at the ground for a focal point. What had happened? Her mind tried to wrap around those last few ticks when she was bouncing between consciousness and unconsciousness. Had this man before her really just punched him once and dropped him? He was the only one around but maybe she had missed a second attack when her vision blackened. Maybe not. She had seen the punch and the next thing she knew the fat man had been knocked out on top of her and he was pushing him off like the guy barely weighed a thing. Lifting her gaze she settled it back on the man using him as her focus now so that the dizziness that was threatening to empty her stomach contents did not overcome her. “Did you do that by yourself?” When she spoke again the awe that she felt at the thought of dropping someone his size with one hit couldn’t be hidden from her voice. Carefully Scarlet pushed herself into a fully standing position and began straightening out her clothes in an almost obsessive need to look like she didn’t just let someone get the best of her. “Thank you.” The appreciation was tight on her lips as if she wasn’t used to actually needing the help of others, in fact she prided herself on being a rather independent person. However it was also clear to her that she probably would never have gained the upper hand in what just happened so she thanked him reluctantly. Her ego was slightly bruised as the situation actually settled into reality for her. She was a good fighter and yet she hadn’t been able to stop the man on the ground and she doubted he actually had much, if any, combat experience. Maybe she wasn’t as good of a fighter as she thought she was. Scar wondered if this was how he got his women, surprising them in alleys where no one would hear them screaming. This man before her had heard her though, or at least he had seen and he had come to protect her when he didn’t even know her. She hoped he had come to her aid with protection in mind rather than just stealing another man’s capture at least. Another deep breath was drawn before she spoke again deciding to assume the better of him rather than the other possibilities as it gave her more time to recover from the attack. “I’m Scar.” She offered figuring it was the least she could do is give her savior her name. The female’s hand ran careful fingers through her red curls to untangle them from the mess they had been disheveled into. When she was done fumbling with her hair she held a hand out to him almost awkwardly because she didn’t really know what else to do. She couldn’t help but notice the startling blue of his eyes first above all else, the color was definitely not something that you saw on every passerby on the streets. He was handsome, not traditionally so but definitely not harsh on the eyes so she didn’t mind staring at him while she held out her hand expecting him to return the shake. “You?”

[Venser Rush]

The pitiful, foolish victim collapsed upon the floor at the wake of Venser's blow. The blonde had thought he heard a crack at the impact, a fissure of some sort, though perhaps it was only his imagination. The Rush twin had make quick work with a blow behind the throat, and the fool had collapsed upon the helpless woman he had accosted, now on the ground at her complete mercy, and still breathing. Venser felt that the presence of extraneous djed within his arm was no longer strictly necessary, a breath taken to disperse the djed, a slow, even flow returning the djed to his right arm, which would gain back its vitality in time to shake the woman's hand.

It was a strange thing to shake one's hand with a less dominant arm, a sort of exchange of control over the situation in mind, but the Rush twin merely smiled. His face clearly and easily hid the emotion behind the even, lips curled into the smallest of smiles as he allowed instead the pleasure of magic to build within him, welling... stirring, casting its expression over his face. It gave the illusion of relaxed posturing, the blonde more than willing to allow this illusion to cover his true face as he allowed his thoughts to instead fester in his mind. Questions with little by means of an answer made their way into his mind, thoughts bubbling at the surface as he noted her perplexed expression.

This woman seems to be lost in thought. Trauma makes sense. Perhaps I should look to make sure that her body is in no way broken. I know nothing about medicine, but I have an understanding of the body built by the Flux. Perhaps I can, at the very least, see if anything is ailing her.

When the Rush twin let go of the woman's hand, he began to hold her in a different regard. Djed built within his eyes as he cast forth his djed and intricately wove it with her aura. The process took several ticks, his thoughts inexorably directed towards the woman's aura, which upon sight, spread several feet in any given direction. It invaded the space of his own, proximity bringing ease to his reading, the Rush twin clearly seeing past the confines of flesh to look into the body. Skeletal structure made itself clear to him.

Venser could hear the thud and tap of the woman's heart against her undamaged rib cage. He heard the contraction and relaxing of the muscle as it pumped the blood through her body. There was nothing wrong there. Venser looked instead to her extremities, casting his gaze upon her. Venser saw nothing. No sort of fracture, torn tendons or ligaments. The woman seemed to be fine, though perhaps the impact of the blows upon her was more superficial rather than deep to the bone. He looked up to her head and noted an odd discoloring of her aura there, a jagged swoop of crimson held at the back of her head which alarmed him, but he could assume, due to her state of consciousness, that it was by no means fatal.

Regardless, it meant that the woman was safe. The Rush twin allowed the djed to dissipate from his eyes, the sight that came with it inevitably fading into obscurity and leaving Venser with only his normal, mundane sight.

The process had taken the better part of a chime, and the Rush twin coughed to break the tension of his stare, knowing that the enhanced sight granted with Auristics brought with it an incredibly intense stare. He chuckled, looking to the woman with a smile before he replied,

"I did. I didn't expect for it to go that way, either. Thought I was going to have to turn and run to get him away from you. Lucky shot, I guess."

Venser grinned at the woman before he looked around, a frown pursing his lips as he realized just how close they were to his room. They might as well just go back there and continue this conversation. Venser wanted away from the body.

"I live less than one-hundred meters away. Would you care to go to my room? We can have a proper look at you there and you can rest in a place that'll keep you away from Ravok's scrutiny."

Besides, I am actually interested in your aura at the moment... I've never used the magic to look at an injured person's aura... That crimson mark was incredibly intriguing.

[Scarlet Rose]

Scarlet grasped her savior’s hand when he reached out to meet hers, she gave him a firm shake all the while not letting her eyes leave his face. His expression was one of ease and calm and the smile that hinted at his lips made her head tilt ever so slightly before she took her hand back and pursed her lips. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the man on the ground, unless maybe he was trying to remain calm for her sake until he knew if she was going to have a mental break down or something? That was probably it, men didn’t tend to like when girls go emotional – lucky for him she didn’t seem to care that there was an unconscious man on the ground who tried to harm her. The silence stretched after she offered her name, he was staring at her while she stared back only there was something in his gaze that seemed to penetrate deeper than a normal glance. She felt stripped bare in the intensity and it made her narrow her eyes in annoyance. Why is he staring like that? The chime that passed seemed like a suspended eternity and then he coughed, severing the stare off and softening it with a soft laugh and a smile. Scar shook her head and ran her hand over her face feeling as if she needed to break contact somehow between them before she slid her hand to the back of her neck rubbing it slightly under the flaming locks. A smile broke across her face as he spoke "Some lucky shot …. well I’m glad you didn’t run off with him, I’d still have no idea where I was if that was the case.” She did not miss that he didn’t give his name, whether it was on purpose or not she wasn’t sure though she’d ask again eventually. The next words that fell from his mouth made her eyes widen in surprise at his offer. She didn’t answer at first, instead she looked around weighing her options. Her head swam when she accidently glanced to the side to quickly and she closed her eyes taking a deep breath to calm the nausea that was stirred in her gut. She really did need to sit down and she had no idea where her own rented room was after getting herself so turned around between her own horrible ability to get used to a city and the fight she was just saved from. Scar opened her eyes again and when she did she locked the golden-green hues on his blue ones and frowned finally asking her earlier question again in a more direct manner “What is your name?” Her eyes would flick towards the fat man before she looked back up to him and shrugged a shoulder lightly to give off an air of indifference to going somewhere else. She wanted to get out of the ally and his offer was tempting but who really offered to take someone they just met to their room? Men who saved girls in back alleys? Confusion swam in her brain. To trust or not to trust the handsome blonde stranger? That was the question. If he finally give her his name she’d nod and then motion a hand “I’m really fine, nothing wrong with me …” Except that my head is pounding and I want to throw up “…but I don’t really know where my own room is …” She drifted off briefly before adding almost as if she was defeated by his suggestion since she wasn’t entirely sure what else to do and if she was being truthful with herself she wanted to learn more about the man before her. “….lead the way”

[Venser Rush]

The attacker lay on the ground, inert save for the shallow breathing that alerted Venser to the being's survival. In truth, Venser was relieved, for the Flux had in recent days become much more dangerous for Venser. He was able to perceive it in a new light, a new understanding and strength welling within him, stretching, waxing in his mind as his soul grew and evolved. He knew what Miro was referring now. Being a wizard in the true sense of the word. A magic user capable of feats of increased capability. A soul with purer and more powerful djed than a lesser practitioner. Venser felt invincible now, though he knew himself to be nothing of the sort.

A pensive expression materialized upon his features before he looked to the woman he had just saved. Crystalline blue eyes fixated upon the woman once again as he led her towards Tarsin's Boarding House. There was very little to do here. And though Venser could not assist the woman medically, he could give her a place to rest until the morning. To lay low, as well. Venser was saved by his citizenship, but Scarlet likely did not have that advantage. The Rush twin smiled at her, a reassuring tug to pull her slightly closer to him as he, at last, introduced himself,

"My name is Venser, Scar. Is that name short for something?"

Venser asked for a two-fold reason. The first in an attempt to set the woman at ease. Venser did not appreciate social interaction, but he was in a good mood this evening, and most of all, he disliked nicknames. The only person he personally tolerated a nickname from was Verin, and it was begrudgingly done. And he never utilized a nickname. It was distasteful, in his opinion. Pursed lips marked his features for but a moment before he led Scar past the desk of Tarsin's Boarding House and up the stairs. He searched for his key, opening the door to his room and motioning for Scar to sit down on the bed as Venser took a place on the single chair that the room held. It was by no means a large room, but more than enough so for Venser to live in comfort by himself.

"Would you mind telling me what happened before I 'rescued' you? It will be of use in the event that the man decides to retaliate. And, you are, of course, welcome to stay here as long as you need to."

The djed was beginning to build and work its way into his eyes again, Venser Rush synchronizing his mind with Scarlet's aura, quickly recreating what he had done earlier. The red splotch pulsated as he focused deeper on it, a soft hum escaping his lips as he focused further.

Auristics is definitely showing me her wound... It looks rather painful. But... how serious is it? If I keep looking in, maybe I'll find out.

And so he would, his ears still set and waiting to hear her story, but mostly, he prompted her to speak so that he had a chance to observe.

[Scarlet Rose]

The tug to bring Scar closer was met with little resistance, her eyes tilting up to his as he introduced himself and a smile graced her lips briefly, at least until he asked if her name was short for anything. She didn’t answer right away; instead her eyes shifted to the path they walked trying to understand where he was taking her. The surroundings were becoming vaguely familiar to her until finally they were stepping into the entrance of Tarsin’s. She smirked to herself at the amusement she found in the situation, she wasn’t lost anymore but rather then telling him she could just go to her room instead and leave him be she followed him up the steps.

His room was nicer then hers, though that wasn’t hard since she had rented out the lowest she possibly could. Taking in the surroundings of his room, trying to pick up any quirks she could while frowning when he took the chair and left her to his bed. Perhaps it was meant to be a kind gesture to make her more comfortable but when she set on the edge of the bed she tried to take up as little room as possible to not disturb anything. She would have preferred the chair. Finally she spoke, a single shoulder shrugging as she talked “Scar I guess is short for my name. It stuck because of my scars.” She nodded lightly and then added “It’s short for Scarlet Rose.” Her nose crinkled at the name she was never a fan of, it was far too feminine for her tastes. She was no rose.

His questions made her pause again, pursing her lips she thought back to just before she was attacked. “Nothing happened before he attacked me.” Sighing she ran a hand through her hair and shifted her weight pulling herself into a more comfortable position allowing her feet to dangle off the bed though she was sitting more completely on it now. She wasn’t a heathen and she wasn’t going to put her boots on his bed and muss it up. Slowly her muscles relaxed and as they did her head gave into the throbbing at the back of it where her head had been hit. Deep breath in and then out again Scar’s face faintly became flushed as the blood pounded in her head “I was just out, took a wrong turn and there he was.”

Unconsciously her hands found each other in her lap and she itched at the healing pink skin where a knuckle had been scraped at some point recently, she wasn’t even sure where it happened since she was so used to the scrapes and scuffs. “Sorry, I know that’s not a lot of information.” Watching Venser closely she tilted her head to the side, acknowledging his offer for her to stay “Thank you, I appreciate your help.” Slowly her mind was working around the male sitting across from her, Venser he had said his name was. Odd name, then again she supposed it held more creativity then her own.

Glancing down at her hands she caught herself itching and instead shifted to slide one hand under each thigh to keep herself from bothering with the healing skin. Considering the events that led her to his room Scar frowned slowly. She didn’t like owing people anything and she suddenly seemed to grasp the fact that she did owe Venser something for helping her out when he could have just walked by. Not being one for many manners though she took a moment of just closing her eyes and letting her sore head consume her before she asked him, peeking one golden-green eye out to him “I should probably offer you help with something shouldn’t I?” She opened both eyes now watching him carefully “I don’t really have much money, I’m just visiting but maybe I can help you with something? What do you do Venser?”

Normally this would be the point where she asked if he needed someone beaten up or at least something along those lines but considering he just saved her from an embarrassing situation she didn’t offer that. It was laughable to see how quickly she had been taken down by the fat man. There were more questions on her tongue, curiosities that she assumed were only natural but for once she kept her mouth shut waiting to hear his response. Her questions could be asked later if the time was right. Really she was a carefully spoken person, most of the time, as long as she wasn’t angry – unfortunately when she was even the slightest bit angry angry it was the complete opposite.

[Venser Rush]

Scarlet. Venser clearly noted the change in expression when she mentioned her full name. Venser personally had no desire for nicknames, but Auristics was still active. Venser noted the shift in her aura, the fringing at thbe edges, the readings alerting the Rush twin to the changing comfort level. Her aura seemed visibly taken aback and on edge. But, it then seemed to dim as the woman continued speaking. She seemed uncomfortable on the bed for a moment, but later she set at ease, moving back on the bed. She even closed her eyes, which prompted Venser to raise his gaze and note the shrinking nature of the crimson splotch that marred her aura. She seemed to be relaxing, and though pain was likely still racking the woman's form, Venser saw no need to further the use of Auristics and drain his djed to the point of exhausting himself.

The Rush twin pulled at the djed within his eyes, compelling it to recede as Auristics faded, the pleasurable chill that flowed from his spine during its use fading entirely, a momentary surge of exhaustion tearing through Venser as his strength waned. Venser was mentally drained from using the magic he was as of yet unpracticed in, but he was glad. He felt that he knew Scarlet a bit better, drawing information from her aura. She seemed to be tough in nature, independent, even. It was rather alluring, but most importantly, her words spoke of an honour born from gratitude, a similar type that Venser himself possessed. Perhaps she could be useful to him. She even asked him if there was anything she could do to help him. Gratitude would forge a relationship, and Venser found himself formulating a plan, a chuckle escaping his lips.

After several moment, Venser nodded. He produced his waterskin, taking several sips from it as he attempted to collect his thoughts. And when he was done, he said,

"Yes, I do have something you could help me with, actually. I live here in Ravok as a woodcarver, but my aspirations are to reach higher. I'll tell you about it later, though. For now, let's have you relax a bit. You have been through a fair amount of trauma, and I have something that can help you. Are you familiar with Heldrog? It's a substance that you smoke and when inhaled, it relieves both pain and tension. I live a rather active lifestyle and tend to use it when I have overextended myself. Would you like some?"

Venser could not help by means of medicine or healing, but he wished to help the woman, especially with the thought crossing his mind. Venser Rush needed an assistant, and reading into this woman's personality as he had, he could draw to the conclusion that she could be extremely useful to him. Venser's traveler's pipe and his bag of heldrog were produced from his rucksack, Venser slowly packing the pipe's piece with the substance, being sure to not do so too tightly, for air needed to enter the apparatus and through the leaves. When he finished gathering it, he reached for his flint and steel, drawing a match and striking it against the steel.

Three breaths filled his lungs as he drew from the pipe, puffs of smoke streaming from his lips as he felt clarity again draw into his thoughts, a grin casting upon his features before he passed the pipe to Scar,

"Try it, it'll help you feel better."

Part of the Rush twin wanted to check with Auristics one last time while she smoked and see what changes the herb did to the body. And he considered it for a moment.

Maybe I should.

[Scarlet Rose]

Scar’s eyes followed the motions of him drinking from his water skin, noting the time he took to respond to her when she asked questions. It was relieving in a way, coming from a house that thrived on the quickness of one’s response or fist the fact that he took his time set her more at ease in his presence. He was a woodcarver. That had not been the job she had expected him to mention, with the punch he had thrown on the man who had attacked her seemed like it shouldn’t have belonged to a wood carver. Maybe his calm nature led to such a slow form of art but with his statement that he’d explain more later and that he was looking to become more then his current job she nodded softly in acknowledgement.

Heldrog was not an herb she was familiar with, she wasn’t really familiar with any herbs to be honest so when he spoke she leaned forward slightly almost as if that would help her pay attention to his words better. “Truly I’m fine.” Her words were a bit stubborn, her head was still hurting her but she didn’t immediately turn away the idea of the herb he was offering either. Again he was helping her and Scar wasn’t sure how to react to it other than try to claim she wasn’t really in pain. “You live an active life style as a woodcarver?” She tilted her head to one side and moved back to the edge of the bed slowly so that at least the tips of her boots touched the floor and she could study him a little closer. He must after the punch he had thrown but it was just such a strange concept – woodcarver by day, who knows what by night. A smile slowly grew across her features at the ideas that were forming inside her mind.

“I’ve never had it before.” She finally admitted as he began packing the pipe with dried herbs from a bag, for all she knew it could be something that might harm her. Again Scar was watching his every move, a little wary at trying the pipe but when he took his own drags from it her eyes quietly searched his and then followed the expel of smoke. His smile was answered with one of her own in return and the only reason she took the pipe from him was because he had smoked it first, she had to be a little cautious after all.

Taking a deep breath of normal air she chewed the inside of her cheek and looked up at him again before bringing the pipe to her lips and filled her mouth with the smoke. At first she held it there in her mouth, her cheeks puffed slightly from the smoke within. It tasted foul but he said it would make her feel better and he had inhaled it so finally she forced more air into her lungs to make her throat yield to the smoke. One moment she was breathing in some fresh air through her nose in order to push the Heldrog into her system and then the next she was coughing in a burst. Scarlet turned into her arm so that her seizing lungs weren’t trying to expel everything right into his face. A volcano of smoke slammed into her inner elbow and then pushed its way out dispersing into the room while her body shook in her coughing fit.

Her face reddened almost to match her hair and her eyes watered during her fit. It was awful but as her coughing slowly subsided and her throat decided it was going to feel like it was on fire she could feel the muscles in her body relaxing slowly. Wiping away the tears that had unwillingly formed Scar took one more breath from the pipe, coughing again but this time rather than holding any of it in her mouth she pushed it through the first time and expelled with a hint of more control. Offering the pipe back to him she spent a moment holding her breath, not trusting the tickle in her throat that was mocking her so she waited until the tightness lessened.

“Great, it’s great…I love choking.” The teasing sarcasm in Scar’s voice was rougher than usual from fighting against the attack of her lungs. Even now she would cough a time or two but that didn’t matter because muscles she didn’t know were tense were beginning to loosen. Knots she never knew existed in her shoulders began to unravel. Her head pounded from the pressure of her coughs and from the earlier attack but even that pain started to subside after a moment as the herb worked its way through her system. It didn’t completely go away but the loosening of the rest of her muscles was enough to make her forget about her head for now.

She offered him a smile, her lungs choosing them to constrict in another small cough that she covered with her arm again. It didn’t take long for this round to subside so when it did she sighed in comfort and spoke again “Despite the coughing fit…” She chuckled slightly, the laugh catching in her throat “…I do feel a bit better, thanks.” That was when she slid from the edge of the bed and stood up, her arms raised above her head and slowly she let herself stretch before relaxing and shoving her hands into the small pockets of her pants. Her eyes scanned him, assessing him as if she was the one about to engage him to help her and not the other way around. “How can I help you with wood carving?” The curiosity she had been holding onto bubbled out now that standing didn't make her want to throw up and now that her frustrations at losing to the fat man faded with the relaxation of her muscles.

[Venser Rush]

Despite the momentary discomfort of coughing, the effect was encouraging. Taking in as much of the smoke as possible, then reverberating coughs through the body created the intended effect. Coughing made the heart beat faster, which propelled the blood through the brain and body much faster than it would have done so in a calm state. Already, Venser could see the woman relaxing, and he knew that he had suggested the right thing. Were she a citizen, the Rush twin could take her to the Healing Hand to make for absolute certainty that she would be alright, but at this point, it was not possible.

Plans formulated within the Rush twin's mind as he noted her grateful nature and her desire to repay due compensation for saving her from what would likely have turned into disgusting and non-consensual sexual depravity. While Venser indulged himself in what would be perceived by some as morally depraved, tampering with the dead and lifting djed from it, what he considered the truth of abomination was to subjugate the innocent. Tyrek Velkor was nothing of the sort, and thus Venser had condemned him to a life of slavery after the fact had been revealed. Had the man not attempted to kill him, he would not have suffered as he had. But, this scenario, this moment, was a completely different situation altogether.

The idea to utilize the woman before him, who owed him a debt and offered to repay it through 'assisting' him, would quickly find herself thrust into the role of an assistance. A smile graced Venser Rush's lips as he decided to begin with a small idea. A trial to see just how far the woman would be willing to go to repair her debt. The Rush twin had no intention of telling her anything to do with magic or the transmundane just yet. He did not bring her into the realm of trust, but would instead begin this from an outsider's perspective. Venser Rush did not reveal the true workings of his mind without extending trust to the person who was listening. After all, the mind is the most intimate thing that a person held with the exception of their soul. Lips parted as the younger of the Rush scions spoke, crystalline eyes capturing the woman's gaze as he spoke out,

"There are several ways you could assist me with the craft of woodcarving. In fact, Scar,"

The Rush twin made a rare exception and kept to the use of her shortened name, far more focused on the beginnings of a solid, secured relationship than his own preferences,

"I would like for you to come with me in the morning. My employer, the renowned Mikayas the sculptor, has tasked me to open his shop because he has dealings that he needs to indulge in tomorrow. Which was, in fact, the reason why I was out this evening.

We'll begin the morning by carrying the supply of wood into the shop. They are rather large and require the use of a handcart to carry. So, we will begin there. Then, I will task you into sorting the sizes as I begin the first order of the day. We will enter the shop by the morning's sixth bell and leave by midday. Perhaps, if I find additional uses for you and you deem it agreeable, I will hire you as my personal assistant. I have other tasks that require an additional set of hands and an intelligent mind."

Truth and lies were infused, mixed and stirred together as one. Yes, Mikayas the sculptor had dealings in the following morning. No, he was not at the docks this particular evening in order to further those dealings. Yes, she would be hired by Venser himself if she showed aptitude, but they had absolutely nothing to do with what he understood of him. Venser looked at the woman, his mind geared towards the future and what possibilities were held there, a thought filling his mind as he asked,

"Is this agreeable?"

It will begin here.