Take Back the Crown

Oceana noted his words and harrumphed, the sound somewhere between bitterly amused and exasperated.


Her foreboding  posture relaxed somewhat and she began to glare less heavily at the stone floor where her bare feet tapped a soft rhythm.


The elf could feel it no matter how hard she fought it; her ice was melting, her wall had been breached again by such kindness from these odd strangers.


First Yaroslav... Hjalmar... Now even the blasted fey boy...


she grumbled inwardly, not able to muster enough ire to actually be upset.


Who next?, she mused, trying to stay upset but her imagination was getting the better of her.


The Sylph? With her strange blueberry complexion and lofty speech?


Suddenly an image flashed through her mind: Phaedra large and round like a blueberry smashing through a wall of hewn stone before belching miniature tornadoes.


Immediately the elf was fighting a smile, her shoulders shaking with the effort. Her breathing was uneven, huffs and gasps betraying her shift in mood to the fey walking beside her.


Hearing her own snuffling attempts to hold it in made it worse.


An elegant hand flew up to her face, trying to clamp down on her amusement.


Her cool facade was broken thanks to the meddling of a certain half-fey and despite herself, Oceana couldn't find the heart to mind. 


Not that she would ever admit it.


@GalacticRam
 
He was more than bewildered by the sudden burst of laughter from the shorter elf beside him. He gave a night glance, but whatever the reason, he wouldn't question it. Actually, he couldn't hold back his own grin as her attempts to hide hers only failed. "What is so funny?" He pondered to her, the curiosity gnawing at him now. 


@OlKaJa77
 
      Svetlana led them to the large hall they had dined in the night before, the halls now pristine and clean like the Battle of Sustanence never happened. Though, it would never be forgotten.


      It seemed that Helgi already had breakfast spread about on the table, the room was filled with sweet smells of hot pastries, syrup, and crispy rolls. Instead of mead, the jugs were filled with milk. The dwarf smiled at them and waved, urging them to sit down and eat her food again, "This time, please refrain from food fights." She said pleadingly, it was a pain to clean up after the company, that was clear from the expression on her face.


      "Ah, do not worry, my friend." Svetlana smiled, taking a seat, "We are all tired, and we have a long day ahead of us." She added, she was sure no one would cause shenanigans when they were on the edge of finding the first stone, it was a daunting task. Their tomfoolery and mischief would need to be put aside so they could focus on the task at hand.


@ everyone


      Hjalmar groggily wiped his eyes, having not slept well the night before. Though he was thankful to see his comrades were seemingly well rested and ready for the journey ahead of them- or, as ready as they could be.


      He took notice of Phaedra, who was quizzically staring at the newcomer, and he realized she was not present for introductions. Was she such a heavy sleeper that the crash did not wake her? He tapped her shoulder with a smile, and kept his voice slightly hushed, "It's another newcomer... again." He chuckled, "I'm half expecting someone to literally pop out of nowhere- like with a teleportation spell or something. I wouldn't be surprised." He laughed, "Anyway, she calls herself Cassandra Steelbourne. But beyond that, I have no idea who she is. Apparently she was traveling in the desert, stumbled upon the canyon passing, and the rocks gave out beneath her and bam- she wound up here."


@TeeKay
 
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As they sat down for breakfast, the elf surprisingly sat next to Foxrun.


But if asked, she would assure it was convenience.


She was still struggling to rein her amusement in enough to tell him. 


But I can't tell him that! She thought.


"I was just-erm.. Ahem..." She was having trouble fighting chuckles.


"I was just imagining something amusing is all." The elf's voice cracked at the end of the statement; a result of holding back laughter.


"Using poor Phaedra as a siege device." Was what she choked out before snorting, the words conjuring the image of the Sylph from earlier.


To her left a dwarf offered her a bowl of something and she turned to see blue, round fruit in the copper drum.


Oceana lost it.


A loud shriek followed by manic cackling arose from her lips, her abdomen convulsing in painful amusement.


No doubt the others were staring at her by now but she just couldn't stop. Her stomach and face were painfully tight in mirth and she begged herself and the gods to stop it.


"G-godsss ha-have merc-cy!" She laughed uncontrollably, trying to get a grip but failing.


@GalacticRam @TeeKay
 
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His daze only worsened, but none the less he laughed now as well. Momentarily looking around to take in all of the wonderful breakfast dishes set on the table. Her amusement of whatever it was, was amusing itself. "You are an odd one today." He joked, though he meant it in a good way anyways. Really, he still had no clue what it could possibly be, her statement only making it even more unclear in fact. However, it was nice to see the elf no longer frowning, so no objections would be coming from him. And even more astonishing, she chose to sit with him as he picked his seat. As the elf still tumbled with laughter, he noticed the two siblings practically shoving past one another to get in the dokr, deja but much? He waved them down, particularly Valeiah. He wouldn't mind continuing their eased conversations from just the other day. And surely Oceana wouldn't mind, well, or so he hoped. After all, if he recalled correctly, they had sat nearby one another at the last meal taken at this table.


@OlKaJa77@Danika
 
Valeiah was on Alo's back trying to knock him down to the ground and get her bag from him, when she saw Foxrun wave her over. "Fine, take the stupid bag. For now. If I don't get it back, I'm gonna shove mint leaves up your nose." She had a some of them in her bag because her mom liked how they smelled. And she liked the memory.


Valeiah jumped off of her brother and scampered over to the seat next to him. She wished he wasn't sitting next to the chunk of salt, but oh well.


"Hello, Foxy. What've they made for breakfast?" She sat down and eyed one of the pastries. "Do you think that's raspberry? I always ask that before eating pastries." She doubted they had raspberries in the middle of a desert, but she was not about to swell up and pass out.


Never again.


@GalacticRam @OlKaJa77
 
Dorian, where he was sitting at the table, was completely igboring the food. He seemed to be concentrated on one of his forearms. The sleeve of his shirt was rolled back, revealing a strange patchwork of geometric black lines forming exact circles and lines, some full, some dotted. The skin on some parts of the tattoo was red, as if bruised, and he was poking at it with a frown on his face.
 
Bo found that even after the large feast last night, he still had a big appetite, and was more than ready to eat again. He looked down the table to a lone Dorian, sitting by himself, and plopped down in the seat across from him, immediately beginning to add food to his plate. He noticed the fellow wasn't really eating, and he was poking at his arm. Looked like a tattoo or something like it.


"Something on your mind?"


@L1d1ja (sorry this is so short hh)
 
Dorian, surprised by Bo's question, instantly yanked the sleeve of his shirt down to hide the mark on his arm.


"It's nothing of importance." He stated, but even to himself those words sounded like a lie. "Don't worry."


@soundofmind
 
Bo couldn't help but to smile a little. He found it amusing that his first gut reaction was to worry, and even more so at being told not to. But he just nodded, "If you say so." 


He didn't want to pry, even though he did wonder what was wrong. "Are you gonna eat?" 


@L1d1ja
 
"No." Dorian shook his head. "Not hungry at all"


He noticed that he was gripping his sleeve with enough strength to make his knuckles turn white, so he quickly tried to regain his carefree composure.


@soundofmind
 
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Lucasta followed Svetlana into the dining hall, which was in much better state than it was the night before. She sat beside Svetlana, and stared aimlessly. The whole scene that happened with the others, and with Oceana snapping at her made her uneasy. Even with the crown's assurance, Lucasta wasn't completely sure of the whole journey was worth taking. She blinked and looked at Svetlana. "Svetlana...?" She asked. "I was wondering if you knew that the crown could speak. Last night when I excused myself from the group, I was talking to myself... The crown responded."


@Lo Alyssa


Lilith and Lucas entered the Dining hall togther. Lucas had the cat Jinx in his arms and Lilith watched, carefully. She knew if the cat was uncomfortable it would make it known. She sat down beside Bo and Dorian, Lucas sat beside her. She grinned at the two. "Good morning." She said, her face looking more like she hadn't had sleep. 


@L1d1ja @soundofmind
 
"Good morning!" Bo smiled over at the perpetually-tired-looking Lilith but his smile quickly faded as his eyes landed on the cat in Lucas's arms. Eyes locked on the feline creature, he blurted out a apprehensively. "Um, I'm... I'm allergic to cats." He began munching on a pastry. "So please don't let your cat friend get too close."


@Queen of Fantasy
 
Cass followed the group to the breakfast table and hung back for a moment watching people begin to settle in. As people took their seats she deliberately chose a seat separated from the main group. She grabbed a couple rolls and sat back in her chair nibbling, the inside of her mouth always concealed. She peered quizzically around at the group noting the hysteria amongst a couple of them and the quiet conversation between the one who had questioned her purpose and one who had not spoken earlier when she had crashed in amongst them. The two who seemed like siblings had sat down, seemingly disregarding her presence for the moment. She wondered at the purpose of this strange group of people, who seemed so at home in a place that wasn't said to exist by most. It was certainly a fascinating assortment, although she recognized most of the races present. She relaxed and continued eating, wondering whether the questions would begin again.
 
Nameen sauntered slowly into the dining hall, her lack of sleep beginning to catch up with her.  Not in the mood to even try to talk to anyone, Nameen sat herself down at the very end of the table, a distance from the rest of the group.  The closest to her was probably the newcomer, Cassandra, whom Nameen watched from her peripheral vision.  There were many questions that Nameen wanted to ask her, particularly what she had been doing alone out in the middle of the desert.  


Still full of suspicion (probably unnecessary as the stranger did not seem to be much of a threat) Nameen surveyed the assortment of breakfast dishes spread out in front of her.  She selected a good assortment, wanting to get a good meal before they headed back out.  Her thoughts then turned to the previous day, and she let out a tired groan upon remembering how sick she had felt after spending only several hours out in the scorching sun.  


I'll need to figure something out, she thought as she ate.  She wouldn't be a lot of help retrieveing the gemstone passed out on a rock.  Perhaps one of her companions knew of a remedy of sorts? But even if they did, Nameen never felt comfortable approaching people.  Frustrated, she finished her meal, contemplating what to do.  
 
Her giggling finally dying down, Oceana glanced down the table to see Dorian prodding his forearm, an angry mark on his tan skin.


Him too?, she wondered.


Shaking her head she turned back to the pastries paid out on the table. The elf figured the familiar could take care of himself.


She scowled witheringly at a pile of cream pastries as if they would suddenly become filled with meat or fruit by the gesture.


Sniffing with her keen nose the elf soon discovered a plate of meat hand pies, small and crispy, down the table.


Smiling, Oceana leaned over at an odd angle, her flexible body twisting just under her ribs to retrieve the heavy platter of breakfast pies, wiry muscles flexing effortlessly as made obvious by the sleeveless tunic.


It was a strange scene that caused some of the dwarves to stare, even as she piled cactus fruit and fleshy succulent leaves onto her plate along with several meat pies.


The elf noted a male dwarf with strawberry-blonde hair gaping at her a little.


She paused, A meat pie poised inches from her mouth.


"What?" She demanded crisply.


The young dwarf flinched slightly, eyes wary but still curious.


"Elves arenae weak little twigs."


Her already angular eyes narrowed.


Suddenly an bulky arm was clearing a space of plates on the heavy-laden table.


Said arm belonged to a dwarven female who sat across from the elf; her beard was cropped short elegantly, with a single small braid extending from the tip of her chin.


Her hair was the same strawberry-blonde as the young man next to her and fell in glossy waves to her shoulders.


With a proud nose and faintly freckled cheeks her face was further accented by steel grey eyes that held a quiet cunning.


To Oceana, she looked quite handsome even with the strange addition of facial hair.


Her arm jutted up from the table, bent at the elbow- a challenging smile on her lips.


"Ya think you're a tough pebble, eh?" The dwarf mocked in good humor. Her voice was surprisingly sweet yet guttural, as dwarven accents were prone to be.


A strawberry blonde eyebrow raised in theatrical skepticism when the elf hesitated, surprise written in the crinkle of her black brows.


"Oh? Are you going to and hide in a tree now, moy malen'kiy prutik?"


Oceana smiled a sharp smile, and nodded- The gauntlet had been thrown.


"I accept." The highland accent intoned with affected gravity.


They locked hands, and pushed.


The dwarves around them leaned in, some cheering for their champion and others merely watching with wide eyes.


Rosen and ebony brows both slanted in unison and their owners tensed with effort.


The dwarf was winning.


The cheering and jeering got louder until the elf groaned with effort at one last push- too late, the warm, bulky forearm of her opponent lay over her own in triumph.


The redheaded dwarf grinned smugly.


Oceana was more amused than upset.


"It seems I've lost." She admitted with a wry smirk.


"Indeed you have, prutik."


"Care for another round, clachan beag?"


"Net, I think one is enough."


"Clinging to your meager victory?" The elf asked haughtily, her smirk growing.


The dwarf shook her head, the gesture chiding and amused.


"It seems you are the one clinging." She said "To me."


Oceana started at the statement and looked down to see their hands still interlocked.


The elf retracted her hand as if she had been burned; she certainly felt burnt with the fiery blush that erupted over her whole body.


The dwarf laughed- a deep, hearty chuckle- and downed her mug of milk before pushing her chair back to stand.


That was when the elf noted the tough leather harness on her former opponent, attached with pieces of armor and dozens of pockets.


The telling sign of a dwarven scout.


The handsome scout bowed then winked. 


The elf's tattooed cheeks grew impossibly hotter.


"See you around, Traveler." And in a flash of rose-gold hair, she was gone down some corridor.


Oceana picked up a mug of water and took a sip, trying desperately to cool her steaming face.


The young dwarf lad who she had snapped at earlier spoke then.


"That's my sister, Nikita," his small voice rumbled. He smiled a tiny smile.


"She likes you."


Oceana choked on her water, before coughing violently, trying to fight the burning on her cheeks and in her lungs.


The elf suddenly wished she was eaten by coyotes in the night and saved herself all this trouble of dying of embarrassment. 
 
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He chuckled as the girl hurried over and remarked about the food "I think they've made a little of everything again. I can be your taste tester if it's that serious." He grinned, poking at a pastry on his own plate before trying it "this one's safe." He muttered, just before being cut off my the commotion to his left. It seemed a dwarf and Oceana had some sort of interaction going on. And the next thing he knew, he found himself rooting beside her in their little duel. And in her loss and embarrassment, here out a cry of defeat as well. And as her face turned a nice scare hue, he patted her shoulder "not a total loss then right?" He joked and let out another laugh before returning to his food. "I think I like the dwarves, what do you ladies think?" He directed the question to both Oceana and Valeiah now. 


@Danika@OlKaJa77
 
Oceana averted her eyes, face still warm.


"They are an alright sort." She muttered before finally biting into her meat pie. 


Still, she fought a smirk as thoughts of the silly bow Nikita had awarded her before leaving returned to her.


And some dark, heavy corner of her heart lightened just a fraction.


@GalacticRam
 
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He could not hold back another laugh "alright? Well we'll take what we can get!" He stated quickly before taking another pastry, seeing as his other had disappeared rather fast. Seeing the simple interaction warmed him over, as much as the elf tried to hide it, she was just like the rest of them in some ways. And at least to him, that made it even easier to understand and forgive her hot temper.


@OlKaJa77
 
"Sounds good." Valeiah plucked the pastry from his hand.


"I like them. They're not chopping my head off or making a snack out of my fingers, and that's usually how I determine if I like someone or not." She gave a sideways glance at Oceana. "Or how they treat people." She said and took another bite of the sweet pastry.


"They're pretty nice and welcoming."


@GalacticRam @OlKaJa77
 
Oceana froze at Valeiah's comment, her mouthful of meat pie suddenly tasting sour.


Then she swallowed and sighed, drinking a sip of water as she tried to distance herself from her anger. 


It coiled inside of her like a savage serpent, poised to strike, but she did not let it show on her face.


That the human decided to bring up such sensitive matters now was a foolish thing.


Silly girl...


Oceana was a hunter.


Clever and patient, when she needed to be.


There could be no more hang-ups. They had to find the first stone.


The elf said nothing, her face a mask of tentative disinterest.


Valeiah needs to give less back talk else she will find herself without an archery teacher.


@Danika
 
He furrowed his brows slightly at the snatching of his pastry, just reaching for another as he listened. And for that split second, he froze, fearing the reaction of the elf. He cast a tense, side glance her way, then eyes widened as she merely stayed quiet. He felt himself visibly relax. Getting caught between a cat fight was something he had no interest in adding to his list of today's events. He tried to ignore the small yet very evident statement the other girl had made. Instead he asked her, with a quizzical look "A snack out of your fingers? Well I can't imagine too many instances of that happening?" The simple notion perplexed him, that was for sure, as he threw yet another question her way "How many times has that happened then? I mean, assuming it has?" He hurriedly added the last one, realizing just how much prying he was doing.


@OlKaJa77@Danika
 
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Valeiah took a bite out of her stolen pastry. "Well, it happened to my sister." She said. "Four fingers on her right hand cut clean off. I'm assuming they were eaten since I found her leg around five feet away from her with a chunk bitten out of it." She said the last part a little quieter.


@GalacticRam @OlKaJa77
 
At first, he had thought she was .very kidding, like she usually does. But as he turned to look at her, it dawned on him she was being completely honest. He grew quiet momentarily, allowing her to speak. "I'm so sorry." He found himself speaking more softly as well "I didn't mean to bring up something so dark for you." He stumbled on his own words, not sure what else to say before spitting out "I won't let anybody take your fingers, they can have mine before they even attempt to get at you." He offered a small smile, hoping to lift her spirits back up


@Danika
 
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