Blackburn's Crossing Chapter 4: Snake Eater

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As they walk down the stairs, Yelcan completely tunes out Violette's story about her man problems and thinks about the scene that just transpired. He knows something must have happened, and it must have been pretty scary to have shook Leone like that...but why didn't they tell him? Maybe they didn't trust him? Or maybe they didn't wanna talk in front of Violette? Either way, Yelcan couldn't help but feel a little hurt that his science buddy wouldn't be able to turn to him when something was wrong, even though the logical part of his brain knew there had to be a reason for it.

Just as they got to the bottom of the stairs, and Violette finished her story about whatever the hell she was rattling on about, Yelcan was shaken from his thoughts with a very welcome familiar sight. The worry he felt immediately dies away and he smiles happily at Peri as they pass by the large butler, taking a quick moment to hug Peri, and after a seconds hesitation, Kallisto as well. "Ah, just the two ladies I was hoping to see! I take it the pixie healing went well, yes? My own task went pretty...meh at best. But oh, don't let me interrupt, what was it the two of you needed? If it involves Mr. Blackburn, you might need to wait, he is currently...unavailable, unless it is really urgent I'm sure." Although Yelcan is talking to both Kallisto and Peri, his eyes almost never stray from Peri's.
 
Léone chuckles slightly, waving Violette and Yelcan off as they leave before turning back to James. "A bed doesn't sound like a bad idea right now," she says, taking his hand and standing up slowly. She glances out the window, noting that almost no time had passed at all. "I don't think that much time passed? Seems like a minute or so, at most."

She frowns, glancing back at James. "But yes, you were out of it for a second and I think I was too. I don't know if it's a side effect, I just know it... usually doesn't work like that." She sighs, rubbing her temples. "I guess we're done here for now? I'd like to get in some sleep while we can, I feel like there's a lot of... business to look forward to." Her eyes drift momentarily to the Helle Welle again, and she instinctively pulls out her wand and sets an alarm around the room before turning back to James with a tired smile. "Ah well, just gotta keep pushing forward right? Not much else we can do."
 
Bernard frowned as Thomas scolded Annabelle. He held his tongue.

When Thomas commented on Arissa and Bernard, he nodded. "I don't know what to say." Bernard gets visibly uncomfortable but takes Arissa's hand and continues. "I held on to Paulina, she will always have a place in my heart, but she is gone and I had to accept that." He squeezed Arissa's hand lightly, "I've finally found the strength to move on and with that the freedom to love. I did not mean to fall in love with her and It's been complicated and difficult, but she's an angel and I would be in a much worse state without her." Bernard smiles, "I don't mean to make you uncomfortable or bring up so much pain in one evening, but you've always had my respect and I want to be straight with you. If you, or Annabelle, ever need anything, let me know."
 
Giving a tired nod, Kallisto agreed, "Yes -- running back and forth, constantly. Seems all we've done these past few days is sprint from one place to the next ... I agree some things have been urgent, but what have we missed in our haste?" She rubbed at her eyes -- feeling better than the day before but still not the best, "Dragged back and forth ... with all the information we've gathered on the serpent, at some point we have to sit and discuss it with those who are helping, to get everyone on the same page."
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Following Perian to the manor, Kallisto began to focus herself to be able to understand Aluc, intending to ask why she had gotten so cuddly. As they arrived, Kallisto's focus finished, her eyes gained their strange reflectivity, but before she could speak to Aluc, the door opened and Yelcan greeted them, along with a white-haired woman.

"Hello again Yelcan." She bowed her head slightly, before glancing towards the other woman, unsure who she was. "I'm ... not entirely sure we've met before, I'm Kallisto. I think the Pixie went fine ... considering this," she held up the still purring cat, "is actually Aluc. Not ... sure if this is permanent or not ... but I think she's enjoying herself. She's been purring since it happened."

Resting Aluc back in her arms she rubbed her ears again, "Which do you prefer Aluc, being a raven or being a cat?" Kallisto gave a faint smile before glancing up again, "I think Perian wanted to speak to him ... I've mostly just been ... moral support I think so far."
 
Peri quietly hugged Yelcan back, and gave a small wave to Violette “Good to see you again Ms. Reiner.” plastering on another forced smile she wasn’t feeling. Her hopes of good news a bit dashed as he mentions James being preoccupied. “Lina is doing well and she was able to give some I hope to think it good news. Momma doesn’t appear to be in immediate danger.”

“I was hoping to speak with James about Isaiah, but I guess it will wait.” Her voice goes quiet “like every else.” She mumbles swallowing a knot in her throat that stung in her eyes as she refused to let this small thing break the weak determination she had pulling her eyes from Yelcan’s.

He often made her feel strong, but at this moment she wanted to just fall into him and sob. The more that happened to them in Blackburn’s Crossing the more independent she was forced to become and it was an adjustment and he would be her new crutch if she let him.

Looking to Grimdosh she asks him to tell James she was looking for him and to send word when he has a moment. Seems she would need to make an appointment if she wanted to talk to him. She wasn’t willing to interrupt things. “It’s not urgent but it is important” Looking back to the others she took in a deep breath. “Was there nothing in the library at all helpful?
 
Arissa immediately blushed as Thomas called out her and Bernard’s closeness, tensing up and pulling away for a moment until Bernard took her hand. She glanced over to him and slowly relaxed, although she was uncertain of how Thomas would react, and somewhat uncomfortable at the mention of Paulina. I understand that Bernard does not wish to keep anything from Thomas... but could this not have waited until we knew ourselves what this was? I suppose that Bernard’s relationship with Thomas is far more complicated than I understand...

Arissa squeezed Bernard’s hand for a moment before frowning apologetically to Thomas. “I cannot dream to replace your daughter, nor pretend to comprehend the relationship that she and Bernard shared... All I know is that being with him brings me such joy amongst the darkness of this land, and I pray that I offer even a fraction of that in return.”
 
Blackburn Manor:

Violette upon seeing the exchange smiled a bit and took a step off to the side to watch the proceedings rather than interrupt them. When Kallisto speaks to her she nods. "It is nice to meet you Kallisto, I am Violette Reiner, hopefully a friend of both Yelcan and James though I am easily over looked sometimes," she says shrugging before looking at the cat. The cat and her lock eyes for a moment and she tilts her head. "That isn't a cat.... is it?" she states more than asks before Kallisto turns to the cat and seems to speak to it. "And what is this of a Pixie?"

Meanwhile Grimdosh looks at Peri and pats her on the head, before nodding and walking off slowly.
 
Blackburn Manor:

"It is odd that it had an unintended affect, like it mingled with something residual and had a reaction...." says James before looking back to Leone. He walks up close to her putting hands behind her back and pulling her close. "Well regardless of what you saw or what happened, I want you to know it doesn't change anything about how I feel. Do you want me to walk you to your room or...?"
 
Von Brekker House:

Thomas leans back scratching his beard a bit looking between you two. "What the hell do you think I am? Heartless?" asks Thomas all of a sudden chuckling and shaking his head. "You both look like you're about to face an executioner. People move on, I totally get it. Honestly, I'm not all too surprised you both did tend to show up around the same time. It doesn't take an investigator to notice that. You two do what you need to. Stay happy and live a long life, and that's about all I can ask. Paulina's resting peacefully, and that's all that matters. So now that I've given you both 'the talk' at least in regards to that awkward subject. You planning anything special? I'm sure James is probably thinking along the same lines as you right now. I just wish Annabelle had someone like you." Thomas seems to contemplate for a moment then shakes his head.
 
Léone nods slowly at James's hypothesis, still fairly distant from the ordeal. "It's a memory hidden even to James... but not me? How is that even possible... ?" Still unsure what to make of this new development, she's shaken out of her thoughts by his sudden embrace. Blinking back to reality, she looks up into his eyes and smiles warmly. "Don't worry, I trusted you before and getting into your head didn't change that one bit. Except for making me want to protect you even more," she jokes, trying to reassure him that she was alright.

At his mention of walking her back, she mulls it over for a bit before glancing back up to him curiously. "Um... 'or'? did you have something else in mind...?" Her eyes dart around awkwardly before resting back on him. "... And where are you going after this?"
 
Blackburn Manor:

James is relieved to hear Leone say whatever she saw had not changed anything between them, and when she brings up his thinly veiled attempt to flirt his face grows hot. Her eyes avoid his for a moment and then meet again seemingly equally embarrassed by the subject. "I thought since we'll be married soon it might be best if we.... got used to sleeping in the same room," he said testing the waters. Then he threw away his fear with abandon, and smiled. "I guess you're room is a bit too far to walk anyways, when mine's right outside the door." Grinning he suddenly picks her up.

"As for where I'm going.... no where without you," says James happily before kissing Leone as they went. Grimdosh gets to the top of the stairs seeing James and Leone crossing rooms for a moment and reaches a hand up as if to say something but they are already in the next room. He walks up to the door and places a small wooden sign. "Do not disturb" before heading back down stairs. On his face there is the slightest of grins.

-FADE TO BLACK-
 
Yelcan noticed the tears that attempted to form on Peri’s face, as well as the large gulp she took to calm herself. His immediate instinct is to embrace her again, but the way she’s fighting off the tears makes him hesitate. Instead he takes a step back so that he can address both Kallisto and Peri, this time looking at them equally. “Okay, so we found a decent amount of information on the Naga itself, but that’s about it. The snake has many magical abilities, such as spellcasting and charm resistance. It also has the ability to speak multiple languages. It can easily see in the dark, and once killed, it can respawn in under a week. The cannibals that live in the swamp have significantly decreased the frequency that they attack travelers which could indicate them dying out and not needing the Great Serpent anymore, but I cannot say for sure. That’s...about it actually. Nothing on the children of the Naga, nor the connection between the naga and the people’s of the swamp.” Yelcan shrugs apologetically, disappointed that he hadn’t been able to come up with more answers. His eyes light up as he remembers the last piece of info he got. “Oh, we did manage to find one other thing! Violette, the map if you please?”
 
Replying to Violette, "Mm...yes ... and no. This little one is usually a raven, but ... while I was at the Marsh House, I helped Perian check on a small pixie named Lina that was injured. I guess she was feeling better, since she did something to Aluc. She knew a few things about what happened last night, then we came here to share what was learned, and find out what had been learned."

As Yelcan listed out his findings she nodded in appreciation, "...if ... attacks have lessened, I feel the serpent is probably part of that. I believe I mentioned before, Aluc told me she found a group of dead bodies out in the swamps that were quite recent. If it does not take long to revive itself ... then it's a losing battle for them -- especially if it can return in a week at most." Shifting her hold on Aluc to almost holding a toddler, she ran a clawed hand through her hair, "I ... had hoped you might find more on the rest, but I understand. At some point we will need to gather all who have offered to help, and share all we know. When it comes to magic ... I have no idea what to do, or how to defend against it..."

Hearing the map mentioned she looks toward Violette, "If we have a map -- we can hopefully figure out how far away its nest is -- I was planning to ask Aluc to show me where it is, but I'm not sure that will work anymore. Though ... I can still ask her about landmarks and direction."
 
Bernard smiled at Thomas before looking to Arissa a bit sheepishly. "I'm not sure. I would like nothing more than to be Arissa's partner now and into the future, but we live such dangerous lives." Bernard stops addressing Thomas, instead speaking directly to Arissa. "It feels unfair to ask you to stand by my side when there is death and darkness around every turn. I thought I fought because I had lost so much, but now I fight because I have so much to lose." He reached for her other hand, turning his whole body toward her. "Arissa, I don't know what the future holds. I am not a Vistani Fortune Teller nor a Great Diviner. I'll never be a wealthy noble like James, I'll never be free of my calling - an Oath, a Goddess, a Light. But, Arissa, I promise that I will always be there for you and do what I can to make every day bright. I don't need a Deck of Fate or some offering to Ezra to know that when we're together my Light shines brighter than the light house of Mordentshire. I am not foolish enough to think that I could ever own you or have you - you would never be my wife. What I ask of you is be a partner. Let us face our problems as a team - together."

Bernard looked into Arissa's eyes with a nervous excitement. He hadn't planned on this, he wasn't prepared but he said what he felt and it felt right. He'd grown to love her over time, so many admirable qualities hidden just beneath the surface. Once he'd broken through the self pity and the doubt, he found that though she was tortured, she was strong and fierce, a fighter who held values similar to his own.
 
Arissa felt oddly relieved that Thomas was not somehow offended by the relationship. Despite their many disagreements, she found herself glad that they had his approval. As he asked about their future plans, Arissa immediately began to think of ways to deflect the line of questioning in order to not show her uncertainty, but lost focus on those thoughts as Bernard began to speak.

As Arissa listened, it felt as if her and Bernard were the only ones in the room. Counter arguments to his points flew into her head unbidden. He may not know what the future holds, but I do. There is a reckoning in my end, and he does not deserve to be forced to bear witness... I am not his perfect, good and kind Paulina... I bring so much darkness with me wherever I go. A paladin of light deserves better than I...

Arissa then met Bernard’s gaze, and saw the happiness and certainty in his eyes, and felt her misgivings fade away. I know nothing of love, but Bernard has felt it before, and I trust him to know it again. If he believes this to be real... Gods damn me if I am to stand in the way of our happiness. Arissa leaned in and kissed Bernard deeply for a long moment before pulling back and looking back into his eyes with a nervous smile, but clarity in her violet eyes. “There is nothing in this world or the one I came from that could make me happier than to spend my days with you.”

After several moments longer, Arissa remembered Thomas’s presence, and looked back at him, blushing furiously. “My apologies, Thomas... I had not planned for my visit to turn into a relationship counseling session.”
 
Von Brekker House:

"Well I only charge by the hour so lets talk a bit more about your feelings," said Thomas smiling before shrugging. "It's good that you're honest with each other and I hope it works out in the end. You've probably been put through a lot in these past few weeks. I've seen how crazy the world can feel sometimes, and as much darkness in the world there is just as much light if you can take a moment to see it. So is there anything else you wanted to talk about before I head over to visit Marcus? I have some money to win back."
 
Blackburn Manor:

Violette unfolds the map and holds it up for Kallisto to inspect. "The best way to deal with magic in my experience is more magic users, and I feel like we should probably have that part covered with Yelcan, Leone, and maybe Arissa if she is coming?" says Violette before looking back at the cat. "She definitely doesn't act like a lot of cats I know."

"She smells funny," says Aluc as Violette scratches the top of her head. Meanwhile over with Peri and Yelcan, Lina pokes her head out of a pocket. "Please don't squish me again!"
 
Arissa’s blush faded somewhat and her smile widened. “Thank you, Thomas. I must say, we seem to get along far better when we are not arguing over the means to the same end, ja? I do wish to apologize for some of my previous... outbursts. I am glad that our arguments do not cause you to think I’ll of me. I respect you greatly for what you have done for this town.”

Arissa then pauses as she recalls a question she had. “There was in fact another thing I had wished to discuss with you, something significantly less sappy and emotional... Annabelle is part Vistana, ja? It took me a while to recognize her exotic features, but during the time I spent with the Dizaverni tribe, I had grown rather accustomed with their appearance. I promise, I mean no offense by the question, and I will keep her heritage a secret so long as you will it.”
 
Kallisto glanced over the map, though it still had a fair amount of blank areas to it. "Of those who have told me they will help, we have Bernard, Arissa, Leon, Yelcan, and Perian. Basically ... everyone has some sort of magic except myself."

Speaking to both Aluc and Violette at the same time she asked, "What do you mean?"
 
Peri managed a giggle patting Lina gently then whispers. “I’m so sorry I get many hugs, I’ll be more careful.” Looking over the map pointing at the many lakes. “I think this is what Aluc was speaking of.” As she pointed with one hand Peri’s free hand gravitated to hold onto Yelcan’s sleeve a comforting habit she seemed to naturally pick up with him since the beginnings of their friendship.
 
Bernard leaned into the kiss, happy for the response that he believed would follow. He was not disappointed when Arissa spoke. As Arissa addressed Thomas, things came back into focus, he remembered they were not alone. Looking back to the old man, he smiled. "I'm sure Annabelle will find someone who makes her happy." As Arissa speaks Bernard nods his agreement until he is surprised by her questions. Unsure how else to respond, Bernard chuckles, "If this is true then perhaps Ferrin was right, 'Love can be found in the strangest of places.'" He waited for Thomas' response, wondering if the cards in his pack were better in the hands of a Vistana than his own.
 
Von Brekker House:

"Me and Simon have had our share of disagreements as well, they are just normally behind close doors," says Thomas noncommittally. When Arissa moves onto the subject of his daughter however and her being part Vistani his expression grows serious. The face he wore as the Sheriff on most days. "Don't go spreading that around. I'm sure you're aware of the reputation they get, and I won't have none of that nonsense for Annabelle."

There is a tempered edge to his voice as he speaks. "What specifically did you want to discuss about it?"
 
Blackburn Manor:

"I don't know, cats haven't ever seemed to like me," said Violette pulling back from Aluc who looked up at Kallisto before poofing back into a bird with Lina's giggle from Peri's pocket. Violette peeks around the side of the map for a moment to see where Peri is pointing and then smiles. "Well at least we have a location figured out. Is that were it's lair is supposed to be?"

Aluc ruffles her feathers for a moment and then looks back to Kallisto. "That was.... weird."

Brian Wescote comes down the stairs and spots the group. "Ah Peri and Yelcan it is fortuitous that I see you both on the way out. I was afraid since I didn't know where you lived, I might have to have regrettably had to leave a message for you," says Brian as he walks up curious about the map being held up. "Looks like you all might be preparing for a hunt so I will not hold you up too long. Thank you for you're kind words last night Peri and introducing me to your friends Yelcan and Kallisto. She is not what she first seemed and I am grateful to have met a wide variety of people last night. I hope one day you might come visit up north."

A large figure stepped down the stairs with a pack on his back. Shih put a hand on Brian's shoulder. "I'll meet you at the ship," says Shih before moving to walk past the group. He stops for a moment to look at Violette with a curious look. Violette seems to notice turning to him and plays with a strand of her hair. "Most men seem to stare at me when I'm not looking," says Violette looking pointedly at him. Shih doesn't seem to break eye contact but his teeth does form into a grin.

"As you might have noticed I am not like most men. Perhaps we'll meet again lady of white hair," said Shih as he then continued to walk out. Violette watched him go with interest for a moment before looking back and shrugging. "He is rather unusual...."
 
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Arissa’s expression shifts to match Thomas’s serious expression. “My apologies, Thomas, I meant no offense by it. As I am certain you have noticed, my curiosity can get the better if me from time to time... and I figured it would be best to ask you yourself before making some sort of mistake on the information. I promise you, my lips are sealed. I am more than capable of keeping a secret.”

Arissa pauses for a moment before deciding to venture a little further. “Does Annabelle know? She has seen Vistani before, ja? Was she not curious of the resemblance between them and her mother?”
 
Bernard smiled, "No need for concern Thomas, I think Arissa and I understand." Bernard tugs an ear slightly, the Crossing always seemed so blind to them, but they had been an issue when he'd left. He didn't deem it important to explain why Arissa might understand.

As Arissa asked her questions, Bernard dug into his pack making some noise as the plate clanged, removing the small velvet bag containing the wooden deck box which held a second bag protecting the Vistani Tarokka cards. He waited for Thomas' response.
 
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