Flashback Poisenous Revenge {Ninus}

[Ronan Dugal]

All throughout the night, Ronan kept slipping in and out of sleep. Sometimes he would wake up burning hot and moaning from the heat and the pain. As the night passed, he woke up less and less but when he did he seemed to be more comfortable, although he was still sweating and hot. Whenever he was out, his mind pulled him back into the box. As his body reached it's highest temperatures, the box felt like it was on fire and Ronan tried in vain to get out of his corner and away from the burning hot walls and floor. But there was never a place to run to. When he woke up again things had changed and Ronan found himself half asleep on the bed. His feet touched the ground. The first thing that came to mind was how he had gotten to where he was. And where that was. Then it slowly dawned on him. He groaned and pulled his legs up into the bed. Everything around him was wet, as if someone had decided to empty a few rainbarrels in the room. When he pushed himself up in a seated position the headache started. Massive banging near his temples, combined with the sand dry mouth and throat, told Ronan that he needed a drink. Or several ones. Swallowing hurt as Ronan ladled himself a few sips of water. Besides it not being very cool, the barrel was almost near empty. Only then did Ronan see his friend sitting in a corner of the room, apparently asleep. "Ninus?" His voice sounded like sand on sand, rasping the words. Still mostly unaware of his nakedness, Ronan walked over to Ninus, half stumbling and touched his friend's shoulder, trying to determine if he was awake, asleep or maybe even dead. The constant banging in his head kept going.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus startled, looking up and smiling. He held Ronan's hand in his, looking up at him. "Ah such pounding the insane tree has given you, such anger he has. But thou art alive, and will become alive for many years yet. But now that thou has tasted his madness...such a small dose will not harm thee again." he said softly, rising exhaustedly to his feet. He kissed Ronan's palm. "To bed, to slumber in peace with you. I..I must rest. I did not sleep, I fought the mad cherry tree all night. Come, I will share a bed with thee." he patted Ronan's shoulder and walked slowly to the bed, shedding his shirt and climbing onto the covers. He sighed and ran his fingers over his face. Ninus wanted nothing more than to sleep. He turned over and sighed deeply. "Come, rest thy weary bones next to me." he patted the bed sleepily. "I shall break my fast with you late in the day, for you need good food and nutrients. The tree has sapped them from you in his madness, causing dizziness and faintness." Ninus stretched and closed his eyes, sighing deeply.

[Ronan Dugal]

At first, Ronan was glad to see Ninus awake and well, although obviously exhausted. When he was told he would live and that his body had developed some very minor resistance to the very small amount of poison he had ingested, he felt a little... victorious, perhaps, although his memories of the burning in his mind never quite let him feel the complete winner. When Ninus mentioned sleeping together, however, Ronan hesitated. Sure, Ninus had told him there would be nothing personal between them but it didn't make it easier for Ronan to be invited to bed by another man of Ninus'... tastes. Ronan pushed the thought from his mind as he saw Ninus take off his shirt. Only then did Ronan fully realize and come to grasp with the fact that he had been completely naked. And he had no idea for how long he had been like this. "Could you point me in the direction of my underwear first, please?" Very unlike Ronan, he was covering up his personal parts with his hands, suddenly blushing. He had never blushed in front of a woman so why was he blushing now. His headache continued to pound his head and after he had put on his underwear he got into bed with Ninus, very aware of the distance of their bodies and the fact that Ninus could touch him if he so desired. But nothing happened. Ninus almost immediately fell asleep and Ronan wasn't far behind. In no time, the young man found himself in a dreamless sleep, which his body used to recuperate from its recent battle with the poison. The rest of the morning passed by with Ronan asleep, left alone by burning fires or scorching heat trying to end him. Since there was no definite way of telling the time, Ronan was confused and disoriented when he woke up. The light of the torches and fireplace was ever present in the lower streets of the city. He blinked several times as he once more tried to determine where he was.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus opened an eye and looked over at Ronan. "I would not have touched thee. The knife thou hast put in my spine is still quite readily felt, ser. You are a patient, and a dear friend. I would not have you fear me like a woman in a crowded hall of drunks. This is my bed, my domicile. I shall respect your right to feel the way you do, and you shall respect my right to sleep where I wish after saving your hide." he growled, a little nastier than he meant to. He was simply irritated by the hesitation, and even after a long rest it still stung a bit. He sighed and sat up, rubbing the heel of his hand into his eyes. "Come. I hunger, and the poisoner will be trying to end the other witnesses. He has my compatriots on a leash...Madness and Wasting he already possesses...I wonder if he has use of Nausea, with all her hideous gifts?" He sighed and stood up, getting dressed. He looked over at Ronan, and picked up his clothes, setting them on the bed. "Thou dost not tempt me any longer." he said, a bit coldly. It was a baldfaced lie, but more than anything Ninus hated being treated differently because of what he was. He wasn't as angry at Ronan as he appeared to be, just hurt.

[Ronan Dugal]

Yes, it hadn't been Ronan's most appreciative moment but Ninus didn't have to growl at him like that. Ronan was just a little unsure, that was all. Normally men were just men and Ronan had no problem undressing in front of other men or bathing with other men but Ninus' case was a first for Ronan and he wasn't quite sure how to deal with it. "Of course, I apologize. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful or anything. You saved my life. I only hope that I live long enough to repay the favor." Ronan made a bow with his head towards Ninus before he moved away from the bed, looking around Ninus' home. Although he enjoyed the time he spent with Ninus it was obvious that that same time was always spent in pain. Either through getting beaten up by a bunch of thugs or because of poison. In the odd 24 years of his life so far, Ronan had never come into contact with poison of any kind, not even rat poison. And in the past two weeks he had dealt with and investigated 1 poison case, 1 poison death and now he got poisoned himself. Ronan picked up the clothes from the bed, wondering if Ninus was telling the truth. But even if Ninus felt nothing for him, it was still a big thing to get used to. "Food sounds like a good idea. Food and Beverages. Lots of beverages." As a trader, Ronan rarely took real offense from anyone and was quick to ignore or forget other people's outbursts or irritations. He slipped on his trousers and shirt, feeling sweaty in them even though they had been taken off before the worst of the poison had hit him. He had no other outfit to wear so Ronan put on his bordeaux-red outfit, making sure that all the details were correct. The neck of the outfit stood up, his raven black hair flowing down over it. The fringes and decorations at the shoulders were more or less in order and the ends of his sleeves were smoothed out. From the waist up he started to button up the outfit, covering his shirt completely, although it did nothing to hide the smell of sweat. Ronan needed a bath.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats "No more water. Thine stomach has drunk a quarter of a barrel of water, more will make you ill. Ale may serve but no more than a simple cup." Ninus told him, a little more gently. He looked Ronan up and down. "We could both use a bathe, but why is it that our adventures end with cleansing?" he chuckled and approached Ronan, smiling wryly at him. "Unless you object, if thou willst feed me, I will bathe thee." He locked the apartment behind them, walking beside Ronan in the streets. "I know thee as a great companion. Forgive my outburst, only a pained heart guided my tongue." he said. "We have one more death, and one more poison, to see. Perhaps we shall see it in time before death spreads. This poisoner...he will not stop. Perhaps has chosen another victim already. We must kill him. Though it will be in the worst way. He will experience the burning you have, but worse. Fire shall sprout from his head and throat, even as he passes blood and wastes to naught but a corpse." Ninus picked a modest inn that provided bathing services in addition to food and ale. He sat down at a table, preparing himself to watch over Ronan a little longer. He had to make sure he didn't glut himself on water.

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan followed after Ninus as they walked out of his apartment. "I guess adventure makes you dirty?" Ronan shrugged slightly as he was about to start walking. Ninus moved closer to him and smiled at him, although the smile was off, somehow. "How about you feed and bathe you and I feed and bathe me?" He turned from Ninus and started walking. Every muscle in his body told him he had overused it. Every movement felt strained and difficult and he was still thirsty, no matter what Ninus said about no drinking. Glad that Ninus changed the subject to the victims, Ronan listened to his words. "There's actually two more deaths, although the slit throat doesn't leave much room for investigation." Ronan was a little set back by Ninus' desire to kill whoever was responsible. Sure, something had to be done but poisoning someone in a way that they would burn like he had done? He wouldn't wish it on anyone. But he kept his thoughts for himself. If needed, Ninus could be contained or stopped. There was always the knights. Not Ronan's most favorite solution but if he had to he would. He followed after Ninus and entered the inn together with his friend. Everything about the inn said low class and the early hour of the day had kept most of the regulars still out and asleep at home or in their rooms. The common room was quiet, apart from the serving girl who greeted them when they walked in. Ronan ordered breakfast for himself. "Do you happen to have any fruit juice? My friend tells me water will kill me." With tired eyes, Ronan smiled at the girl who turned her attention to Ninus to see what he would like to order.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus didn't miss the odd smile. He frowned slightly in confusion. Yes, he had rather vitriolic hatred for the man who had poisoned his friend. Was that out of the norm? Or was there another reason Ronan had treated him differently? He followed Ronan into the inn, a bit chagrined. He settled down and ordered a simple meal of eggs and toast, with a cup of juice to wash it down. He chewed the inside of his lip. "If my fiery speech has offended thee, I apologize. But it is with a heavy heart I go forth, for this creature must be stopped in his rampage. He hath abused plants I count as friends, poisoned you, dearest ser, and committed a trail of theft and murder we only begin to hack the bushes from." he said slowly as he ate. "Justice must be served here, for Turan. For you. For the trees." He finished his plate without preamble and paid for a bath. He would need some time to think. He would make a poison to kill the poisoner that was running about, but it would have to be delicate with all the rage of the cherry, the protective nature of the peach, and the gripping hand of the apple. He could do it, the different forms of cyanide were resistant to change...and to combine the three? A very nasty poison indeed. He bathed himself while he thought, the plain wood tub filled with lukewarm water obviously heated from the sun and billed as 'hot'.

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan looked at Ninus, silently, as he listened to the man. Why was it that whenever someone was against someone else the first thing humans resorted to was to kill them? If Ninus wanted to stop the poisoner why would he not just tie him to a chair? He would stop then, considering that the chair was tied to him. Everyday people died left and right in Syliras, under the noses of people who could easily do something about it without even noticing the dent in their monetary reserves. But Ninus didn't knew them so he didn't care. But now that he had met some of the victims he suddenly was all justice and righteous fury. Ronan just shook his head. The food was passable although the bread was a little tough. The leftover meat from the night before was cold but good. Ronan didn't like eggs and the smell of Ninus' plate had him lean back in his chair, which he tried to hide by stretching his arms and bending over backwards to crack his spine. He attacked the food as soon as it was placed in front of him, his stomach suddenly grumbling for it. He finished his meal quickly, feeling a little less hungry after that. Ninus left first, while Ronan enjoyed sipping from his juice. He counted out the money for the food, the drink and the bath he was about to have from his purse and put it on the table with half a silver Miza tip for the girl. The water was nice, not cold, which was a huge bonus considering, and not too hot either. Ronan carefully took off his clothes and hung them neatly on the wall near the door. From there he walked towards the bath and lowered himself in it. The water felt nice on his skin and he was quickly starting to soap himself up. He hummed softly to himself, happy to be bathing, which was not something a lot of people in Syliras thought when they were covered with water. With both hands pushed tight against his eyes and nose, Ronan let himself slid deeper into the tub, his head quickly submerging as his feet and legs popped out the other end of the bath. From early on Ronan had always insisted on some form of bathing, preferably several times per week. When he got more and more in touch with people and became more of a social person this habit continued on strongly up to the point of him bathing every day. Most of his more streetwise friends thought he was wasting perfectly good drinking water. Ronan had never stopped doing it no matter what people had said or done.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus was concerned for Ronan, and where their quest was taking them. They had been frighteningly close to the poisoner at the house where Ronan had almost fallen. But as Ninus had been distracted by his dear friend, the man had slipped away and with the only evidence of his crime. Ninus was frustrated, clearly they were close. It was morning, and they had little time left. If the man laid low, he could simply disappear out of the city...but if he was desperate and decided to try and destroy the last bits of evidence from his third crime they could be lost. Ninus already assumed the family that had its throat cut was clean of evidence, and that would be the last place he turned. He was hoping to harry the poisoner into coming after them. He stood from the bath and dried himself, going into the main common room to wait for Ronan. Cricet rejoined him, settled on the table in contentment, and went back to sleep. Ninus petted her idly. "Is it right to kill such a fox as the one we pursue?" he asked quietly. "Yes, he has insulted and hurt me so, and without care. But who is to say he did not have reasons, or was handed gold by a larger master?" He shook his head. "I am ready to kill him, with the poisons of his own making at mine hands, but at the very least I will speak to this one who disrespects his own craft." Ninus waited patiently for Ronan, deep in thought. Ronan was acting so strangely. He had been thirsty for revenge this entire time...at least in Ninus' mind...now he edged away from the poisoner's company. Was he frightened of him? Disgusted? Ninus couldn't pin down which. Had the cherry poison changed him, or hung on in some way..?