Early One Morning (Eoin)

by **Vala** on July 28th, 2011, 8:12 am

It was obvious, even Eoin had noticed, it’s possession of Vala was severely draining her life energy, to dangerous levels. It watched stoicly as Eoin grabbed their stuff, weight carefully balanced only on her right foot. Eoin returned, determined. “Let me carry you.” Eoin said. Her gaze did not waver from his face. It scanned the weary lines without reaction. He was the epitome of a gentleman. He had successfully avoided its persistent wiles; no matter how transparent her motives may have been, a willing girl, is still a willing girl. Now instead of leaving her to crawl back to the gates, he was offering to carry her, the loathsome creature, without even a hint of hesitation. Why?

It raised a hand. The muscles were beginning to stiffen from lack of circulation; the translucent skin of her fingertips were a ruddy blue. “You cannot carry me.” Her eyes hardened, silencing Eoin’s protests. “I am not finished.” She lowered her hand. “You cannot carry me… but you can carry her. I am weak. You know my weakness. It does not suit my needs. I must be fixed. Only force can fix-“ Its head dipped, chin touching her chest, as her hands reached out to clutch her head; Vala was fighting against her gilded cage with all her might. Her temperature dropped yet another degree, this time her core was starting to fade, but at least it was able to regain dominance. “She is fighting me now. I might get sick, even die. Listen. I must be quick now.” Its words came faster but her tone was still as calm as a still ocean. “You must fix her. Few can handle me as you have. I do not understand your motivation. It does not matter to me now. I am asking for help. Will you help me?” Before Eoin could answer that, it continued; time was running short. “If you do not want to help me, at least help her. To do this you must carry her to a spot by the mountain edge, preferably one with an expansive view of Kalea. You must hold her tight in your arms, let her face forward so she can focus on the view. We find it pleasing.” A drop of blood, no larger than a star in the sky, fell from Vala’s nose. “You must hold her tight. She will fight, scream, and beg. Do not listen to anything she says. Hold her tight. If you loosen your grip you only risk your own health. I expect her struggle to last no longer than ten chimes, she lacks the energy to fight for long. You will be tempted to crush her; I know you are strong enough. Please don’t; healing ribs takes quite a bit of energy…” Grey gave way to inky blue. The muscles in her face grew tense, then lax again, then distorted into marring streaks of fear. “Quick, before I lose control.” It reached out to Eoin, arms outstretched.

OOC Note :

by **Eoin** on July 28th, 2011, 10:29 pm

The words seemed to flow endlessly from her lips, her tone unwavering. Eoin could only watch as the temptress continued, giving little opportunity for interjection should he have comments of value. The man was in disbelief, for despite Vala’s tumultuous emotional highs and lows, she had somehow managed to take on an entirely different persona. At least, this was the only conclusion he could come to considering the facts given. She continued to ramble about fixing someone, herself he presumed, or rather Vala. His gaze briefly faltered as the signs of confusion slipped through his composure, his mind muddled with wordless thoughts. If anything had remained relatively comprehensible, it would be the girl’s deteriorating appearance, her skin limp from a lack of blood flow. Whatever this doppelganger demanded was fine with Eoin, so long as he can bring Vala back to Wind Reach safely.

The stranger beckoned him, but he needed no initiative to lend aid. He received her gesture with light touch to the wrist, guiding one hand over his neck as he reached beneath both kneecaps, hoisting Vala up easily. Quickly, he scanned the area with a sweeping once-over, searching for a stable viewpoint of their mountain home. Any minute now, the thrashing he was warned of would begin, and Eoin did not doubt the ferocity of Vala’s defense, its impending entrance pushing the man act swiftly. Luckily, there was one spot not too far from their current position, only a few, large steps to their right. There, he carefully lowered the Chiet down to the next level of height, placing her feet down in the nook of two boulders lest she struggle, for they’d keep her contained. Supposedly the temptress’s control over Vala had been relinquished, for she began to push and shove with greater force. Naturally, to force her limbs to a halt, Eoin then wrapped his arms around her in a tight but breathable embrace. Her head now laid in the crook of his collar bone, a soothing heat emanating from his skin. She fought admirably, but lacked the strength to escape his inflexible hold. Easily, he held her against him, his eyes having nowhere to go but forward toward the sights before them.

The mountains were hopeful as they reached for the skies, resilient and constant, some brimmimg with force that could destroy their very way of life. Dark hues of blue and grey covered each mountain side, their peaks as at home as the wandering clouds reflecting Syna’s descending light. However, none could reach as high as the birds that flew past with silent grace. Every view of their home was spectacular, but the residents had merely grown used to the sights, seeing only their memories. Now that they stood together, looking over with new eyes the beauty that surrounded them, Eoin could find no words. He merely did what he could and remained steadfast, lowering his head to hers to prevent movement, unwilling to let Vala look away from the truth.

by **Vala** on July 29th, 2011, 7:01 am

Eoin did just as it expected. He moved quickly and efficiently, finding a perfect spot just off the path. In essence, it was Vala’s superego, referred to only as a genderless figure because what is a conscience if it is not pure of mortal defect. The everyday Vala, the one who feared another’s’ touch, despised the weak – hypocritically, and even took pleasure in acts of subtle sadism – she was a full unbridled id. Vala lacked a intermediate ego – all or nothing.

As the logical control began to slip, it was quickly replaced by frantic desperation. Still weak from being so forcefully subdued - it had taken far too many liberties during her coup – Vala had to rely on unrelenting will power to fight back. First she shoved, scratched, and squirmed trying to annoy, she knew she was too weak to force Eoin, to the point where he just dumped her, left her, and let her do what she wanted to do. Hubris came at the worst times. She hated him. She loathed everything about him. She wanted his skin to boil, his blood to run, and his life drained drop by drop. [i]But then why did she feel better than she had in years?

Eoin was hugging Vala. It had been so long. She stopped struggling, for a moment. Vala began to cry. She wasn’t faking. Real tears began to stream down her face, her chest heaving with wrenching sobs. She could barely breathe, but she didn’t dare fade into unconsciousness, just yet. It would have been easy, the coward’s way out just to let sweet waves of darkness sweep her away to a place where she would be safe, for a time. She was fighting now because she was hurt and tired and just being an utter child. She didn’t dare foster any more thoughts that maybe, just maybe, it was necessary not to be strong all the time, not to have to control everything, that maybe, Vala needed someone to rely on, even just for a moment.

When she was composed enough, just barely, to speak, Vala began to whimper pitifully. “Why are you doing this? This isn’t right. Let me go. Please. Please. Please let me go. You’re killing me. I don’t feel well. Please. I hurt so much. Please. Please stop touching me. You were right. There I said it. You were right. I hate being touched. Why are you torturing me? Please. You’re killing me. Why are you torturing me?” She continued to mewl pitifully, plying him with guilt. But even as she pleaded will all the innocence that still dared reside in her cold shell, Vala couldn’t help but melt.

It had taken three chimes before full fatigue had set into her weary muscles; the throbbing of her ankle was the least of her concerns. Unable to struggle, Vala shivered. It had left her body near frozen and was only now being slowly kindled back to a living heat by Eoin’s embrace. Embrace. Vala shivered harder, not from cold.

It didn’t take long for Vala to hush up either. Only involuntary whimpers of pain, more emotional than physical, escaped her trembling lips. Vala looked out at the expansive view of her home world. Eoin’s grip tightened slightly, gently, as he had to support her dead weight. She couldn’t see him; she didn’t want to. Her breathing fell in step with his, slow and steady. Her heart beat was still weak, near half the rate of his. Her vinati only covered her chest and upper back, her lower back was pressed flush against his bare flesh; Eoin was warm.

In the distance Vala saw two eagles with her fading vision. They circled each other in the air, no doubt calling to each other, but Vala could not hear if they did. She watched their aerial dance, graceful yet deadly. Vala could just make out that they had no mounts. They were Wind Eagles, they had to be. At that distance but still visible? They flew further and further away until they disappeared into the horizon. Vala could no longer look up at the sky, her weary eyes content with scanning the lush green of the Unforgiven. The thick canopies would occasionally rustle to strong winds, of which she only felt as a light breeze atop their secluded peak. She began to forget why she was in pain; then she began to forget the pain altogether. It was not Eoin holding her, supporting her, it was just unrequited safety, warm enveloping safety, rocking her to peace. Everything was just so beautiful, right now. Vala’s lids began to droop, heavy with exhaustion.

Vala faded away.

Finished? :

by **Indigo** on September 2nd, 2011, 8:23 pm

Eoin:
Skills: +2 organization,
+1 wilderness survival,
+1 observation,
+1 socialization,
+1 philosophy
Lore: wilderness organization, the music festival, being seduced, resisting seduction, sucker for a pretty face, surviving the mind games, reviving suppressed memories, lost in painful memories, multiple personalities, meaning behind a wink, compassion, nature appreciation, which way is up?

Vala:
Skills: +2 auristics,
+1 singing,
+1 manipulation,
+1 seduction,
+1 socialization
Lore: the music festival, paranoia, pain of an (ankle) injury, ice to nymph to ice in a chime, giggling, clutching your bow, playing coy, how not to treat an ankle injury, confronting your fear, multiple personalities, hints of insanity, touch me-don't touch-touch me, fainting at the perfect time.

Notes: Great read! It was fun to see the dance of male to female, sanity to insanity and coy to independent. I look forward to reading more of both of your threads. If you have any questions or concerns about your grading, please don't hesitate to PM me.